Contribution to the study of complexing properties of Zn-metallothioneins by CZE-DAD

The complexing properties of the sub-isoforms of several mammalian Zn-containing metallothioneins (ZnMT) from different origins (rat, rabbit and human foetal livers) have been investigated by capillary zone electrophoresis coupled to diode array detection (CZE-DAD). MTs were submitted to three different experiments: gradual additions of Cd to MT at pH 8.0, variation of the pH and addition of Cd followed by a variation of the pH. On the whole there seems to be no displacement of the zinc originally present in the MT, but incorporation of Cd in the molecule in order to reach saturation. Furthermore, the pH variations allow one to conclude a certain reversibility of the system. All these results confirm those previously obtained by differential pulse polarography (DPP). The procedure used in this work shows that the sub-isoforms of an MT may exhibit variable complexing properties. This is particularly well illustrated in the case of rat liver MT-2. Much likely there are different mixed complexes of Cd and Zn in each sub-isoform, forming various metalloforms. This work illustrates a different and original use of CZE-DAD for studying the complexing properties of metal-binding proteins.     

Measuring non-Gaussian fluctuations through incoherent cooper-pair current

We study a Josephson junction (JJ) in the regime of incoherent Cooper-pair tunneling, capacitively coupled to a nonequilibrium noise source. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the JJ are sensitive to the excess voltage fluctuations in the source, and can thus be used for wideband noise detection. Under weak driving, the odd part of the I-V can be related to the second cumulant of noise, whereas the even part is due to the third cumulant. After calibration, one can measure the Fano factors for the noise source, and get information about the frequency dependence of the noise.     

Density and current response functions in strongly disordered electron systems: diffusion,electrical conductivity and Einstein relation

We study noninteracting quantum charged particles (electron gas) subject to a strong random potential and perturbed by a weak classical electromagnetic field. We examine consequences of gauge invariance and charge conservation in the space of Bloch waves. We use two specific forms of the Ward identity between the one- and two-particle averaged Green functions to establish exact relations between the density and current response functions. In particular, we find precise conditions under which we can extract the current-current from the density-density correlation functions and vice versa. We use these results to prove a formula relating the density response and the electrical conductivity in strongly disordered systems. We introduce quantum diffusion as a response function that reduces to the diffusion constant in the static limit. We then derive Ficks law, a quantum version of the Einstein relation and prove the existence of the diffusion pole in the quasistatic limit of the zero-temperature electron-hole correlation function. We show that the electrical conductivity controls the long-range spatial fluctuations of the electron-hole correlation function only in the static limit.Received: 10 June 2003, Published online: 22 September 2003PACS: 72.10.Bg General formulation of transport theory - 72.15.Eb Electrical and thermal conduction in crystalline metals and alloys - 72.15.Qm Scattering mechanisms and Kondo effect     

Relationships between strain,microstructure and oxide growth at the nano‐ and microscale

In the present article, the relationships between oxidation processes, surface strains and the microstructure of duplex stainless steels were investigated. Specimens were oxidized at 500 °C under secondary vacuum for 1 h to form a thin oxide film (thickness in the range of 20–50 nm). Such specimens were considered as the model system for developing novel methods of analysis in understanding the behavior of passive films. The interfacial strain field after oxidation was measured experimentally at the microscale using the point grid method. On the other hand, the chemical composition of the oxide film was determined at the submicroscopic scale by means of local scanning Auger spectroscopy (with a spot diameter of 50 nm). Local variations of the chemical composition of the oxide film were analyzed according to the specimen microstructure and the strain field. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid solidification processing in molten salts chemistry: X-ray analysis of deeply undercooled cryolite-alumina melts

Rapid solidification processing (cooling rate from the interval 10⁵–10⁶ K s⁻¹) was used to prepare deeply undercooled cryolite-alumina melts. Such prepared samples were analyzed by the XRD method. Besides cryolite, XRD patterns belonging to ι-Al₂O₃ were recorded. The influence of annealing on the XRD patterns of deeply undercooled melts was also investigated.     

Nanotubes Made from Deeply Undercooled Cryolite/Alumina Melts

The rapid‐solidification processing (by a cooling rate of 10⁵–10⁶ K/s) was used for the preparation of deeply undercooled cryolite/alumina (Na₃AlF₆/Al₂O₃) melts. We found a mass of nanotubes on the surface of these undercooled melts. The nanotubes were preferentially located on the defect places of the surface with the following approximate dimensions: base≈100×100 nm, length≈1000 nm. The solidified samples with the nanotubes on the surface were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and infrared spectroscopy (IR).     

Nature of bonding in group 13 dimetallenes: a delicate balance between singlet diradical character and closed shell interactions

The nature of metal-metal bonding in group 13 dimetallenes REER (E = Al, Ga, In, Tl; R = H, Me, (t)Bu, Ph) was investigated by use of quantum chemical methods that include HF, second order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), coupled cluster (CCSD(T)), complete active space with (CASPT2) and without (CAS) second order perturbation theory, and two density functionals, namely, B3LYP and M06-2X. The results show that the metal-metal interaction in group 13 dimetallenes stems almost exclusively from static and dynamic electron correlation effects: both dialuminenes and digallenes have an important singlet diradical component in their wave function, whereas the bonding in the heavier diindenes and, in particular, dithallenes is dominated by closed shell metallophilic interactions. The reported calculations represent a systematic attempt to determine the metal and ligand dependent bonding changes in these systems.     

A disposable biosensor for the determination of alpha-amylase in human saliva

A disposable tri-enzymatic biosensor is presented for the determination of α-amylase in human saliva. It is based on the quantity of maltose generated by hydrolysis of maltopentose in the presence of salivary α-amylase. The biosensor is fabricated by co-immobilization of the enzymes α-glucosidase, glucose oxidase, and mutarotase on screen-printed electrodes modified with Prussian Blue. The assay can be performed with a “drop” of sample, this allowing for ease and simplicity. A linear relationship is found for the range from 5 to 250 units per mL, with an LOD of 5 units per mL. The biosensor is stable for at least one month and over this time retains 80% of its original activity. The system was then evaluated for matrix effects of human saliva and compared to a spectrometric method using a commercially available kit.     

Novel Mn(III) heterochelates: synthesis,thermal, spectroscopic,and coordination aspects

This article describes the synthesis, structural features, and thermal studies of novel Mn(III) heterochelates of the type [Mn(SB _n )(L)(H₂O)]·xH₂O [H₂SB _n  = Nicotinic acid [1-(3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4,5 dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4yl)-acylidene]-hydrazide where acyl = acetyl (H₂SB₁); benzoyl (H₂SB₂); propionyl (H₂SB₃); buteryl (H₂SB₄); phenyl acetyl (H₂SB₅); and HL = 5-Chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline (clioquinol)]. The heterochelates have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility measurements, cyclic voltammetric studies, (FTIR and electronic) spectra, and thermal studies. The FAB mass spectrum of [Mn(SB₁)(L)H₂O]·3H₂O has been carried out. The cyclic voltammetric studies reveal that quasi-reversible reduction process of Mn(III)/Mn(II) coupled system suggesting that the ligands readily destabilize higher oxidation states of metal ion. Kinetic parameters such as order of reaction (n) and the energy of activation (Ea) were calculated using Freeman–Carroll method. The pre-exponential factor (A), the activation entropy (S*), the activation enthalpy (H*), and the free energy of activation (G*) were calculated using Horowitz–Metzger equations.