Fast determination of thyroid stimulating hormone in human blood serum without chemical preprocessing by using infrared spectroscopy and least squares support vector machines

The least squares support vector machines (LS-SVM) was used to model infrared spectral data for TSH hormone secreted by thyroid, which regulates the basal metabolic rate. This model was used for direct estimation of the content of TSH in blood serum samples, and the results were comparable with those obtained with the conventional analytical method based on chemoluminescence methodology. Excellent agreement was observed between the conventional method and the newly developed calibration model based in analysis of spectral data with LS-SVM. The latter has clear advantages, because it is fast and requires no reagent once the measurements were done directly in the serum by using a simple mid-infrared spectrometer in the ATR mode. An important advantage observed in this calibration method based on LS-SVM is the remarkable capacity to avoid overfitting in the model-building step, that is, the developed method is highly robust.     

Combination of cysteine- and oligomerization domain-mediated protein immobilization on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) gold chip surface

Here we report an effective method for protein immobilization on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) gold chip, describing the combination of cysteine- and oligomerization domain-mediated immobilization of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as a model protein for the purpose of orientation-controlled surface density packing. In order to facilitate the oligomerization of EGFP, the dimeric and trimeric constructs derived from GCN4- leucine zipper domain were chosen for multimeric EGFP assembly. For orientation-controlled immobilization of the protein, EGFP modified with cysteine residues showing excellent orientation on a gold chip was used as a starting protein, as previously reported in our earlier study (Anal. Chem., 2007, 79, 2680-2687). Constructs of EGFP with oligomerization domains were genetically engineered, and corresponding fusion proteins were purified, applied to a gold chip, and then analyzed under SPR. The immobilized EGFP density on a gold chip increased according to the states of protein oligomerization, as dimeric and trimeric EGFPs displayed better adsorption capability than monomeric and dimeric forms, respectively. Fluorescence measurement corroborated the SPR results. Taken together, our findings indicated that the combination of cysteine- and oligomerization domain-mediated immobilization of protein could be used in SPR biosensor applications, allowing for an excellent orientation and high surface density simultaneously.     

Innovative synthetical and structural features of new aryltellurenyl iodides

The syntheses and the structural characterization of the compounds [(mes)₂Te–Te(I)mes], (PyH)[mesTeI₃(I₃)] (mes = mesityl = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl; Py = pyridine), (PyH)₃[dmephTeI₂(I₂)]₂(I₃) (dmeph = 2,6-dimethylphenyl), (PyH)₂[RTeI₄]₂·(CH₃)CO(CH₃)·C₆H₅CH₃ (R = p-tert-butylphenyl) and (PyH)₂[PhTeI₄]₂ (Ph = phenyl) are presented. Some earlier analog preparations are compared and the influence of ortho substituents in the aryl group on the oxidation state of tellurium is discussed, as well as the observed conditions for the formation of poly-iodides chains.     

A simple and green analytical method for determination of glyphosate in commercial formulations and water by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

This article describes a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly method for the monitoring of glyphosate using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The proposed method is based on reflectance measurements of the colored compound produced from the spot test reaction between glyphosate and p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (p-DAC) in acid medium, using a filter paper as solid support. Experimental designs were used to optimize the analytical conditions. All reflectance measurements were carried out at 495 nm. Under optimal conditions, the glyphosate calibration graphs obtained by plotting the optical density of the reflectance signal (AR) against the concentration were linear in the range 50-500 μg mL(-1), with a correlation coefficient of 0.9987. The limit of detection (LOD) for glyphosate was 7.28 μg mL(-1). The technique was successfully applied to the direct determination of glyphosate in commercial formulations, as well as in water samples (river water, pure water and mineral drinking water) after a previous clean-up or pre-concentration step. Recoveries were in the ranges 93.2-102.6% and 91.3-102.9% for the commercial formulations and water samples, respectively.     

A study of early career teachers’ practices related to language and language diversity during mathematics instruction

The role of language in mathematics teaching and learning is increasingly highlighted by standards and reform movements in the US. However, little is known about teachers’, and especially early career teachers’ (ECTs) practices and understandings related to language in mathematics instruction. This multiple case study explored the language-related understandings and practices of six ECTs in diverse elementary classrooms. Using iterative cycles of analysis, we found that all ECTs regularly attended to students’ mathematical vocabulary use and development. Yet, there was variability in ECTs’ focus on how to teach mathematical vocabulary, expectations for students’ precise use of mathematical terminology, and the use of multiple languages during instruction. These findings indicate that ECTs need more targeted support during teacher preparation and early career teaching in order to better support all students’ language development in the mathematics classroom.     

Site-diluted quantum Heisenberg spin model applied to the magnetic properties of Fe–Al disordered alloys

In this work we present a theoretical study of the magnetic behavior of disordered Fe–Al alloys on the basis of a simple-diluted quantum Heisenberg spin model with the assumption that the exchange interaction J depends on the Al concentration q. We calculated the critical temperature and exponents through the mean field renormalization group method. An acceptable fit to the experimental phase diagram for Al concentration in the range 0.30q0.45 is obtained.     

Structural properties of PbTiO3 and PbZrxTi1−xO3: A quantum‐chemical study

We investigate the structural and electronic properties of pure and Zr‐doped PbTiO₃ crystals. The nature of atomic relaxation around the Zr impurity is studied through quantum‐chemical simulations based on the Hartree–Fock theory and a periodic large unit cell model adopted within the so‐called intermediate neglect of differential overlap approximation. The most stable defect configurations are predicted for different impurity concentrations. The results obtained are compared with those from other theoretical studies and a number of experimental measurements carried out on this technologically important perovskite‐type crystal. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Thiophene‐cored 2,2‐bis(methylol)propionic acid dendrimers for optical‐power‐limiting applications

The synthesis and characterization of dendron‐coated 2,5‐bis(phenylethynyl)thiophene chromophores are described. The dendrimers were grown divergently on the arylthiophene core with the versatile anhydride of 2,2‐bis(methylol)propionic acid. The arylthiophene core was synthesized with Sonogashira coupling reactions. Structurally well‐defined dendrimers up to the fourth generation were grown, as confirmed by size exclusion chromatography, NMR, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight analysis. The different dendritic substitution did not influence the absorption spectra of the compounds in or near the visible region. Solutions of arylthiophenes had good transparency at wavelengths greater than 400 nm. The dendritic thiophenes exhibited an optical‐power limit at the laser wavelength of 532 nm. However, the magnitude of the optical‐power limit of these compounds was slightly lower than that of a nondendritic arylthiophene with n‐pentyl substituents. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1177–1187, 2005     

All local classical symmetries in Hamiltonian mechanics

Using the formalism of symplectic group actions and coadjoint orbits, we give a complete list of all classical simple Lie algebras which are local symmetries for a given Hamiltonian vector field.