Study of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of odorant-binding protein/amphiphile for odorant biosensors

To make ultrathin films for the fabrication of artificial olfactory systems, odorant biosensors, we have investigated mixed Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of odorant-binding protein/amphiphile. Under optimized experimental conditions (phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.5, OBP-1F concentration of 4 mg L(-1), target pressure 35 mN m(-1)), the mixed monolayer at the air/water interface is very stable and has been efficiently transferred onto gold supports, which were previously functionalized by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with 1-octadecanethiol (ODT). Atomic force microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films before and after contact with a specific odorant molecule, isoamyl acetate. AFM phase images show a higher contrast after contact with the odorant molecule due to the new structure of the OBP-1F/ODA LB film. Non-Faradaic electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS) is used to quantify the effect of the odorant based on the electrical properties of the OBP-1F/ODA LB film, as its resistance strongly decreases from 1.18 MOmega (before contact) to 25 kOmega (after contact).     

Comparison of low-order multireference many-body perturbation theories

Tests have been made to benchmark and assess the relative accuracies of low-order multireference perturbation theories as compared to coupled cluster (CC) and full configuration interaction (FCI) methods. Test calculations include the ground and some excited states of the Be, H(2), BeH(2), CH(2), and SiH(2) systems. Comparisons with FCI and CC calculations show that in most cases the effective valence shell Hamiltonian (H(v)) method is more accurate than other low-order multireference perturbation theories, although none of the perturbative methods is as accurate as the CC approximations. We also briefly discuss some of the basic differences among the multireference perturbation theories considered in this work.     

Substituent Effects on 31P NMR Chemical Shifts and 1JP–Se of triarylselenophosphates

The effect of electron-withdrawing (EW) and electron-releasing (ER) substituents on the ³¹P NMR chemical shifts and the structural parameters of a series of tris-(p-X-aryl)selenophosphates is reported in this article. Similarly to O-aryl phosphates and O-aryl thiophosphates, EW groups attached to aromatic rings induce a shielding effect on the ³¹P NMR signal. After a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis, we confirmed that the selenium atom is the main part responsible for the charge density transfer toward phosphorus through a back-bonding effect. The obtained ¹J_P-Se values for the complete series agree with this observation.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

Experimental and theoretical vibrational study of silyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, CF3SO2OSiH3

Infrared and Raman spectra were obtained for liquid silyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, a silylating agent of limited stability. The molecular geometry was optimized by means of density functional theory and M?ller-Plesset second order perturbation theory methods, using different basis sets. The optimized structure presents a gauche conformation, similar to that adopted by methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, which was determined experimentally a short time ago. The wavenumbers for the normal modes of vibration and the corresponding force constants were also calculated, facilitating the interpretation of the vibrational data. The harmonic force constants given by theory were scaled to reproduce adequately the experimental wavenumbers.     

Phosphine and Thiophene Cyclopalladated Complexes: Hydrolysis Reactions in Strong Acidic Media

The mechanisms for the hydrolysis of organopalladium complexes [Pd(CNN)R]BF₄ (R=P(OPh)₃, PPh₃, and SC₄H₈) were investigated at 25 °C by using UV/Vis absorbance measurements in 10 % v/v ethanol/water mixtures containing different sulphuric acid concentrations in the 1.3–11.7 M range. In all cases, a biphasic behavior was observed with rate constants k_1obs, which corresponds to the initial step of the hydrolysis reaction, and k_2obs, where k_1obs>k_2obs. The plots of k_1obs and k_2obs versus sulfuric acid concentration suggest a change in the reaction mechanism. The change with respect to the k_1obs value corresponds to 35 %, 2 %, and 99 % of the protonated complexes for R=PPh₃, P(OPh)₃, and SC₄H₈, respectively. Regarding k_2obs, the change occurred in all cases at about 6.5 M H₂SO₄ and matched up with the results reported for the hydrolysis of the 2‐acetylpyridinephenylhydrazone (CNN) ligand. By using the excess acidity method, the mechanisms were elucidated by carefully looking at the variation of k_i,_obs (i=1,2) versus ${c_{{\rm{H}}^ + } }$ . The rate‐determining constants, k_0,A‐1, k_0,A‐2, and k_0,A‐SE2 were evaluated in all cases. The R=P(OPh)₃ complex was most reactive due to its π‐acid character, which favors the rupture of the trans nitrogen–palladium bond in the A‐2 mechanism and also that of the pyridine nitrogen–palladium bond in the A‐1 mechanism. The organometallic bond exerts no effect on the relative basicity of the complexes, which are strongly reliant on the substituent.     

A Flexible Pro‐porous Coordination Polymer: Non‐conventional Synthesis and Separation Properties Towards CO2/CH4 Mixtures

The novel coordination polymers [Cu(Hoxonic)(H₂O)]_n ( 1 ) and [Cu(Hoxonic)(bpy)_0.5]_n ? 1.5 n H₂O ( 2?H₂O ) (H₃oxonic: 4,6‐dihydroxy‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2‐carboxylic acid; bpy: 4,4′‐bipyridine) have been isolated and structurally characterised by ab initio X‐ray powder diffraction. The dense phase 1 contains 1D zig‐zag chains in which Hoxonic dianions bridge square‐pyramidal copper(II) ions, apically coordinated by water molecules. On the contrary, 2?H₂O , prepared by solution and solventless methods, is based on 2D layers of octahedral copper(II) ions bridged by Hoxonic ligands, further pillared by bpy spacers. The resulting pro‐porous 3D network possesses small hydrated cavities. The reactivity, thermal, magnetic and adsorptive properties of these materials have been investigated. Notably, the adsorption studies on 2 show that this material possesses unusual adsorption behaviour. Indeed, guest uptake is facilitated by increasing the thermal energy of both the guest and the framework. Thus, neither N₂ at 77 K nor CO₂ at 195 K are incorporated, and CH₄ is only minimally adsorbed at 273 K and high pressures (0.5 mmol g^?1 at 2500 kPa). By contrast, CO₂ is readily incorporated at 273 K (up to 2.5 mmol g^?1 at 2500 kPa). The selectivity of 2 towards CO₂ over CH₄ has been investigated by means of variable‐temperature zero coverage adsorption experiments and measurement of breakthrough curves of CO₂/CH₄ mixtures. The results show the highly selective incorporation of CO₂ in 2 , which can be rationalised on the basis of the framework flexibility and polar nature of its voids.     

Simplified categorization of outdoor activities for male and female U.S. indoor workers-a feasibility study to improve assessment of ultraviolet radiation exposures in epidemiologic study questionnaires

Skin cancer studies depend on questionnaires to estimate exposure to ultraviolet light and subsequent risk but are limited by recall bias. We investigate the feasibility of developing a short checklist of categories comprising outdoor activities that can improve sun exposure questionnaires for use in epidemiologic studies. We recruited 124 working and retired U.S. radiologic technologists (52% women). Each subject was instructed to complete a daily activity diary, listing main indoor and outdoor activities between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. during a 7 day period. A total of 4697 entries were associated with 1408 h (21.1%) of the total 6944 h spent outdoors. We were able to classify the activities into seven main activity categories: driving, yard work, home-maintenance, walking or performing errands, water activities, other recreational or sports activities and leisure activities or relaxing outside. These activities accounted for more than 94% of time spent outdoors both for working and retired men and women. Our data document the feasibility and guidance for developing a short checklist of outdoor activities for use in epidemiologic questionnaires for estimating sunlight exposures of working and retired indoor workers.