Delamination of sodium montmorillonite in PA6 in the presence of melamine polyphosphate

This study describes the influence of melamine polyphosphate (MPP) flame retardant addition on layered structure of virgin sodium montmorillonite (MMT) in PA6/MMT system obtained in extrusion process. It was found that the extrusion of the PA6/MMT binary system in co‐rotating twin screw extruder gives intercalated clay nanocomposites, while during extrusion of ternary PA6/MMT/MPP composite, full exfoliation of clay was obtained in the system. Structure of the composites was proved utilizing wide angle X‐ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy techniques. Exfoliation of MMT in ternary PA6/MMT/MPP system was also confirmed by rheological studies (viscosity and creep measurements) which were carried out using rotational rheometer. Young's modulus of PA6/MMT/MPP was found to be ~25% greater comparing to PA6/MPP of the same filling level. Cone calorimetry experiments proved decrease of heat release rate peak of PA6/MMT/MPP by ~55% comparing to PA6/MPP with the same total filling level. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure and Biosynthesis of Crocagins: Polycyclic Posttranslationally Modified Ribosomal Peptides from Chondromyces crocatus

Secondary metabolome mining efforts in the myxobacterial multiproducer of natural products, Chondromyces crocatus Cm c5, resulted in the isolation and structure elucidation of crocagins, which are novel polycyclic peptides containing a tetrahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole core. The gene cluster was identified through an approach combining genome analysis, targeted gene inactivation in the producer, and in vitro experiments. Based on our findings, we developed a biosynthetic scheme for crocagin biosynthesis. These natural products are formed from the three C-terminal amino acids of a precursor peptide and thus belong to a novel class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). We demonstrate that crocagin A binds to the carbon storage regulator protein CsrA, thereby inhibiting the ability of CsrA to bind to its cognate RNA target.     

Substitution reactions of gaseous ions in a three‐dimensional quadrupole ion trap

Substitution reactions between gaseous ions and neutral substrate molecules are of ongoing high interest. To investigate these processes in a qualitative and quantitative manner, we have constructed a device, with which a defined amount of a volatile substrate can be mixed with a defined amount of helium gas and added into a three‐dimensional quadrupole ion trap. From the known inner volume of the device, the known ratio n_substrate:n_He of the mixture, and the determined absolute partial pressure of helium in the ion trap, we can derive the partial pressure of the substrate in the ion trap and, thus, convert the directly observable pseudo–first‐order rate constants of the substitution reactions into absolute bimolecular rate constants. We have tested the device by investigating a series of S_N2 reactions of Br ^? and CF₃CH₂O ^? anions as well as ligand exchange reactions of ligated Na⁺ cations. As the obtained results suggest, the described device makes it possible to determine the bimolecular rate constants of substitution reactions as well as other ion‐molecule reactions with satisfactory accuracy and reliability.     

A multi-coincident study of the quasimolecular 1s σ radiation and its angular distribution in 40 MeV Ni-Ni collisions

The production mechanism of quasimolecular (MO) x-rays in 40 MeV Ni-Ni collisions was investigated in a multi-parameter experiment. Impact parameter dependent MO x-ray production probabilities were determined. The study of the angular distribution of the emitted radiation allowed the determination of impact parameter dependent alignment parameters for this process. Triple coincident MO x-ray — NiK x-ray — scattered projectile data provided for the determination of state selective MO x-ray production probabilities. The results are compared to dynamical calculations describing the time dependent evolution of the relevant quasimolecular states and the radiative couplings among them.     

Synthesis of β-cyclodextrin-lysozyme conjugates and their physicochemical and biochemical properties

Recently a great interest in the field of protein engineering and the design of innovative drug delivery systems employing specific ligands such as cyclodextrins is observed. The paper reports the solid state, thermal method for protein coupling with β-cyclodextrin and the physicochemical and biological properties of the obtained conjugates. The structure of the obtained conjugates was investigated via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, dynamic light scattering and circular dichroism analysis. The presented conjugates were biologically active and covalently bound β-cyclodextrin preserved the ability to form inclusion complexes with the model compound. This report demonstrates the great potential of cyclodextrin as a modifying unit that can be used to modulate the properties of therapeutic proteins, additionally giving such conjugates the possibility to transport many therapeutic substances in the form of inclusion complexes. In addition, the paper presents the potential of protein-cyclodextrin conjugates to construct innovative bioactive molecules for biological and medical applications.     

Splitless injection of up to hundreds of microliters of liquid samples in capillary GC: Part II,experimental results

Sample evaporation in splitless injection of large volumes is rapid: depending on the experiment, results indicate that 200 μl of hexane, for instance, evaporates in 2–10 s, producing vapor at a rate of many hundreds of milliliters per minute. A 60 × 4 mm packed bed of 20–35 mesh Tenax TA enabled injection of 200 μl volumes of all solvents tested, and even 1 ml injections were possible provided they were performed over a period of 30 s. Retention of volatile sample components depends on the sample solvent, the injection volume, and the injection speed, but only little on the injector temperature. Losses of n-tridecane varied from hardly 15 % (when dissolved in pentane) to ca 60 % (ethyl acetate); losses of n-heptadecane were usually below 20 %. The column temperature during injection should be at least ca 20–30°C above the standard solvent boiling point.     

Die Reaktion von Tellurhexafluorid mit Trimethylamin,Strukturen der TeF5−- und SeF5−-Anionen

Reaction of Telluriumhexafluoride and Trimethylamine, Structures of the TeF₅^? and SeF₅^? Anions The reaction of TeF₆ and (CH₃)₃N is of the redox kind, resulting in reduction of tellurium: X-ray single crystal analysis reveals the compounds (CH₃)₂N? CH₂? N(CH₃)₂⁺TeF₅^? and [(CH₃)₃NH⁺]₅(TeF₅^?)₃(HF₂^?)₂. By comparison with published data it can be shown that this mixture is identical to previously published [(CH₃)₃N]₂TeF₆. The latter was supposed to be one of the few examples of tellurium in a coordination state of eight. (CH₃)₄N⁺TeF₅^? and (CH₃)₄N⁴SeF₅^? are obtained and their structure is investigated by single crystal x-ray methods also. The anions SF₅^?, SeF₅^? and TeF₅^? are discussed in terms of weak interactions.     

Asymptotic properties of the exchange energy density and the exchange potential of finite systems: relevance for generalized gradient approximations

It is shown that generalized gradient approximations (GGAs) for exchange only, due to their very limited form, quite generally can not simultaneously reproduce both the asymptotic forms of the exchange energy density and the exchange potential of finite systems. Furthermore, mechanisms making GGAs formally approach at least one of these asymptotic forms do not improve the corresponding quantity in the relevant part of the asymptotic regime of atoms. By constructing a GGA which leads to superior atomic exchange energies compared to all GGAs heretofore but does not reproduce the asymptotic form of the exact exchange energy density it is demonstrated that this property is not important for obtaining extremely accurate atomic exchange energies. We conclude that GGAs by their very concept are not suited to reproduce these asymptotic properties of finite systems. As a byproduct of our discussion we present a particularly simple and direct proof of the well known asymptotic structure of the exchange potential of finite spherical systems.