The fallaxidin peptides from the skin secretion of the Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog Litoria fallax. Sequence determination by positive and negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry: antimicrobial activity and cDNA cloning of the fallaxidins

The glandular skin secretion of the Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog Litoria fallax contains nine peptides named fallaxidins. The sequences of these peptides were elucidated using a combination of positive and negative electrospray mass spectrometry together with Edman sequencing. Among these peptides are: (i) fallaxidins 1.1 and 2.1 which have the sequences YFPIPI-NH2 and FWPFM-NH2. The activities of these peptides are unknown, but it has been shown that they are not smooth muscle active, opioids or antimicrobially active, nor do they effect proliferation of lymphocytes; (ii) two weakly active antibiotics, fallaxidins 3.1 and 3.2 (e.g. fallaxidin 3.1, GLLDLAKHVIGIASKL-NH2), and a moderately active antibiotic fallaxidin 4.1 (GLLSFLPKVIGVIGHLIHPPS-OH). Fallaxidin 4.1 has an unusual sequence for an antibiotic, containing three Pro residues together with a C-terminal CO2H group. cDNA cloning has confirmed the identity of the nine isolated peptides from L. fallax, together with five additional peptides not detected in the peptide profile. The pre-regions of the nine preprofallaxidins are conserved and similar to those of the caerin peptides from L. caerulea and L. splendida, suggesting that the fallaxidin and caerin peptides, although significantly different in sequence, originated from a common ancestor gene.     

Variable incidence angle X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy: a zirconia film study

Variable incidence angle X-ray absorption fine structure (VIAXAFS) spectroscopy offers a non-destructive ability to investigate film nano-structures. This technique was applied, spanning sample-beam angles from a grazing to normal incidence on a film obtained by zirconia sputtering on flat sample of stainless steel. X-ray absorption fine structure analysis on the Zr K edge identified chemical, defects and fractal structures through the film depth. VIAXAFS revealed occurrence of zirconium monoxide fractions at the surface a reduced state of zirconium oxide vs. the zirconium dioxide bulk. The discussion underlines that the technique may quantify the profile of various sub-layers, nano-pores, dislocations, vacancies or defect features.     

"Tethered" Ru(II) catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Stereochemically well-defined ruthenium(II) catalysts have been applied to the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of a series of ketones. In one case, statistical experimental design was employed to optimize the enantiomeric excess of the product. In the case of the TsDPEN-based systems, the replacement of trans-1,2-diphenyl substitution with cis-, or deletion of one of the phenyl groups, results in significant deterioration of the enantiomeric excess. A new method is described for the synthesis of tethered amino alcohol-containing catalysts.     

Synthesis,characterization and photochemistry of some monometallic and bimetallic 2,2′-bipyrimidine complexes of chromium and tungsten carbonyls

Synthesis, electronic absorption spectra, ¹³C NMR and photochemistry are reported for the complexes M(CO)₄bpym (M = Cr or W) and [W(CO)₄]₂bpym. The electronic absorption spectra indicate, for these complexes, that the lowest lying metal-to-ligand (L) charge transfer (MLCT) excited state is lower in energy than the ligand field (LF) excited states. The ¹³C NMR spectra showed that the chemical shifts of C(5) and C(6) for the M-bpym complexes move downfield with respect to that of the free ligand, bpym, while C(4) moves upfield upon complexation. Small, wavelength-dependent quantum yields for loss of CO were obtained upon irradiation. These quantum yields were an order of magnitude larger for the Cr-bpym complex than for the W complexes (Φ = 2.4 x 10^?2 quanta/min for Cr-bpym, 2.5 x 10^?3 quanta/min for W-bpym and 1.1 x 10^?3 quanta/min for W-bpym-W, λ_irr = 366 nm).     

Determination of selected trace metals in scallops by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after removal of sodium on hydrated antimony pentoxide

Hydrated antimony pentoxide is used to remove sodium ion for the determination of trace metals in scallop specimens of Plactopecten magellanicus. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Au, Fe, Pb, Mn, Hg, Ni, Ag and Zn were determined in the samples and in a standard reference material. This method yields improved detection limits with simple apparatus.     

Optical characterization of pristine poly(3‐hexyl thiophene) films

We describe a comprehensive model for the optical properties of pristine films of poly‐(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT). The presented model is anisotropic with the optical axis normal to the substrate plane, which is consistent with previous x‐ray diffraction studies that show preferential edge‐on packing of the polymer chains on the substrate. Peak locations and spacings are defined using a Huang‐Rhys vibronic progression consistent with known phonon energies. We demonstrate that the model fits variable‐angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and normal‐incidence transmission data well, and accurately predicts angle‐ and polarization‐dependent transmission and reflection data. The spectral features of the optical constants used in the model are in excellent agreement with published spectroscopic data on P3HT. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010     

New Prospects for the Grafting of Functional Groups onto Aliphatic Polyesters. Ring-Opening Polymerization of α- or γ-Substituted ε-Caprolactone Followed by Chemical Derivatization of the Substituents

Recent progress in the synthesis of aliphatic polyesters, substituted by pendent functional groups, has been reviewed. Two main strategies have to be distinguished. The first route consists of the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone substituted by various functional groups, protected if needed, in α- or γ-position. In a second strategy, the functional groups are grafted onto preformed polyesters chains in α-position of the carbonyl groups. α-chloro-ε-caprolactone is quite an interesting monomer because, after polymerization, the activated chloride can be easily derivatized by atom transfer radical addition and “click” chemistry, respectively. Similarly, γ-acrylic-ε-caprolactone is precursor of (co)polyesters well-suited to derivatization of the pendent double bonds by Michael addition.     

Variable Selection in Regression via Repeated Data Splitting

Abstract

A new algorithm—backward elimination via repeated data splitting (BERDS)—is proposed for variable selection in regression. Initially, the data are partitioned into two sets {E, V}, and an exhaustive backward elimination (BE) is performed in E. For each p value cutoff α used in BE, the corresponding fitted model from E is validated in V by computing the sum of squared deviations of observed from predicted values. This is repeated m times, and the α minimizing the sum of the m sums of squares is used as the cutoff in a final BE on the entire data set. BERDS is a modification of the algorithm BECV proposed by Thall, Simon, and Grier (1992). An extensive simulation study shows that, compared to BECV, BERDS has a smaller model error and higher probabilities of excluding noise variables, of selecting each of several uncorrelated true predictors, and of selecting exactly one of two or three highly correlated true predictors. BERDS is also superior to standard BE with cutoffs .05 or .10, and this superiority increases with the number of noise variables in the data and the degree of correlation among true predictors. An application is provided for illustration.