Characterization of microcystins using in-source collision-induced dissociation

The efficiency of the in-source collision-induced dissociation (in-source CID) technique for the structural characterization of microcystins (MCYSTs) was evaluated. Microcystins that did not contain arginine underwent facile fragmentation to produce characteristic product ions at relatively low cone voltage and could be fully characterized based on their mass spectra. On the other hand, cyclic peptides possessing arginine residues, such as MCYST-RR, -LR, -YR and nodularin, were considerably more stable under in-source CID conditions and required higher cone voltage to induce fragmentation. This behaviour is explained in terms of the mobile proton model for peptide fragmentation that can be used as an indication for the presence of arginine when unknown microcystins are analyzed. In-source CID was applied to the characterization of microcystins released into water from a Microcystis aeruginosa culture (UTCC299) (UTCC: University of Toronto Culture Collection of Algae and Cyanobacteria). Six microcystins were detected in extracts from UTCC299: I, [D-Asp(3)]MCYST-LR; II, MCYST-LR; III, isomer of MCYST-LR; IV, isomer of methyl MCYST-LR; V, [D-Asp(3), Glu(OCH(3))(6)]MCYST-LR; and VI, [D-Glu(OCH(3))(6)]MCYST-LR. In-source CID provided mass spectral patterns similar to those obtained by CID in the collision cell of the mass spectrometer but was more sensitive for the analysis of microcystins.     

Dipolar and V-shaped structures incorporating methylenepyran and diazine fragments

Thirteen novel dipolar and V-shaped chromophores with pyranylidene electron-donating part, diazine electron-withdrawing part and various π-linkers were synthesized. The extent of intramolecular charge transfer, structure-property relationships and optical properties were further investigated by UV/Vis absorption, electrochemistry, and DFT calculations.     

On the liquid-crystalline properties of methacrylic polymers containing 4′-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)azobenzene mesogens

In this article, we report on the synthesis and thermotropic behaviour of methacrylic polymers containing 4′-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)azobenzene mesogens attached to the backbone through n-alkyloxy spacers of 6 or 10 methylene groups. Polymerisations were carried out via free radicals using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. Chemical structures of polymers and their precursors were characterised by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that azopolymers are thermally stable up to temperatures around 300°C. The thermotropic liquid-crystalline (LC) behaviour was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicate that all synthesised mesogens, monomers and polymers developed two or more orthogonal LC phases in wide temperature ranges. Mesogens and monomers developed nematic and smectic phases, whereas polymers exhibited only smectic phase. In polymers, the arrangement of mesogens depends on the relative length of the spacer and the terminal flexible chain; two distinct structural models were proposed based on chemical interactions and steric constrains. The trans–cis photoisomerisation of monomers and polymers in solution was also studied. High cis-isomer contents (>80%) were reached in relative short irradiation times despite the steric constrains imposed by the polymer backbone.     

Dual Electroactivity in a Covalent Organic Network with Mechanically Interlocked Pillar[5]arenes

The synthesis and characterization of a polyrotaxanated covalent organic network (CON) based on the association between the viologen and pillar[5]arene (P[5]OH) units are reported. The mechanical bond allows for the irreversible insertion of n-type redox centers (P[5]OH macrocycles) within a pristine structure based on p-type viologen redox centers. Both redox units are active on a narrow potential range and, in water, the presence of P[5]OH greatly increases the electroactivity of the material.     

Hartley’s oscillator: The simplest chaotic two-component circuit

This paper shows an experimental evidence of chaos in one of the simplest imaginable autonomous implicit Hartley’s oscillator made simply of a junction field effect transistor (JFET) and a tapped coil. The experimental setup is implemented. The variations of amplitude of the oscillations through the control element are obtained showing the domain of existence of chaos. Phase portraits of the PSpice simulation, of the numerical integration and of the experiment are displayed, confirming a good agreement between theory and praxis.     

Beyond odious and evil

In a recent post on the Seqfan list the third author proposed conjectures concerning the summatory function of odious numbers (i.e., of numbers whose sum of binary digits is odd), and of evil numbers (i.e., of numbers whose sum of binary digits is even). We prove these conjectures here. We will also study the sequences of “generalized” odious and evil numbers, and their iterations, giving in particular a characterization of the sequences of usual odious and evil numbers in terms of functional equations satisfied by their compositions.