Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Listeria innocua Dps (DNA‐Binding Protein from Starved Cells): A Study with the Wild‐Type Protein and a Catalytic Centre Mutant

A comparative analysis of the magnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles grown in the cavity of the DNA‐binding protein from starved cells of the bacterium Listeria innocua, LiDps, and of its triple‐mutant lacking the catalytic ferroxidase centre, LiDps‐tm, is presented. TEM images and static and dynamic magnetic and electron magnetic resonance (EMR) measurements reveal that, under the applied preparation conditions, namely alkaline pH, high temperature (65 °C), exclusion of oxygen, and the presence of hydrogen peroxide, maghemite and/or magnetite nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 3 nm are mineralised inside the cavities of both LiDps and LiDps‐tm. The magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) thus formed show similar magnetic properties, with superparamagnetic behaviour above 4.5 K and a large magnetic anisotropy. Interestingly, in the EMR spectra an absorption at half‐field is observed, which can be considered as a manifestation of the quantum behaviour of the MNPs. These results indicate that Dps proteins can be advantageously used for the production of nanomagnets at the interface between molecular clusters and traditional MNPs and that the presence of the ferroxidase centre, though increasing the efficiency of nanoparticle formation, does not affect the nature and fine structure of the MNPs. Importantly, the self‐organisation of MNP‐containing Dps on HRTEM grids suggests that Dps‐enclosed MNPs can be deposited on surfaces in an ordered fashion.     

Highly selective vapochromic fluorescence of polycarbonate films Doped with an ICT‐Based solvatochromic probe

The vapochromic properties of a fluorescent 3‐[2‐(4‐nitrophenyl) ethenyl]‐1‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐2‐methylindole (NPEMI‐E) characterized by intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character, dispersed in polycarbonate (PC) films is reported. NPEMI‐E solvatochromism is investigated by means of experimental and computational methods. Fluorescent PC films containing 0.1 wt % of NPEMI‐E are prepared and exposed to saturated atmospheres of different volatile organic compounds (VOCs). NPEMI‐E/PC films show remarkable and reversible vapochromism when exposed to VOCs with high polarity index and favorable interaction with PC matrix such as CHCl₃. Only minor variations in the emission wavelength are actually recorded for all other classes of VOCs investigated. The hue parameter is also used for the effective extraction of spectral information from digital color images without the need for wavelength discriminators. Overall, the present results support the use of NPEMI‐E/PC films for the cost‐effective detection of CHCl₃ vapors. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1171–1180     

Detailing Losses in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>/1/1 Transient Loss System

This paper is aimed at investigating the transient losses in the M/M/1/1 Erlang loss system. We evaluate the explicit form of the probability distribution of the number of losses in the time interval [0, t) and provide two alternative representations: one based on the iterated derivatives of hyperbolic sinus and cosine and the other on the spherical modified Bessel function of the second kind. The mathematical structures of the transient loss rate and of the transient probability of losing all customers are described and several analytical properties are derived.     

Optimality principles and uniqueness for Bellman equations of unbounded control problems with discontinuous running cost

We study viscosity solutions of Hamilton-Jacobi equations that arise in optimal control problems with unbounded controls and discontinuous Lagrangian. In our assumptions, the comparison principle will not hold, in general. We prove optimality principles that extend the scope of the results of [23] under very general assumptions, allowing unbounded controls. In particular, our results apply to calculus of variations problems under Tonelli type coercivity conditions. Optimality principles can be applied to obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for uniqueness in boundary value problems, and to characterize minimal and maximal solutions when uniqueness fails. We give examples of applications of our results in this direction.     

Lyapunov Functions for Infinite-Dimensional Systems

We study Lyapunov functions for infinite-dimensional dynamical systems governed by general maximal monotone operators. We obtain a characterization of Lyapunov pairs by means of the associated Hamilton-Jacobi partial differential equations, whose solutions are meant in the viscosity sense, as evolved in works of Tataru and Crandall-Lions. Our approach also leads to a new sufficient condition for Lyapunov pairs, generalizing a classical result of Pazy.     

An Iterative Variant of the Degenerate Kernel Method for Solving Fredholm Integral Equations

An iterative variant of the classical degenerate kernel method for solving Fredholm integral equations of the second kind is presented and its convergence properties are studied.     

Rate determining factors in protein model structures

Previous research has shown a strong correlation of protein folding rates to the native state geometry, yet a complete explanation for this dependence is still lacking. Here we study the rate-geometry relationship with a simple statistical physics model, and focus on two classes of model geometries, representing ideal parallel and antiparallel structures. We find that the logarithm of the rate shows an almost perfect linear correlation with the "absolute contact order", but the slope depends on the particular class considered. We discuss these findings in the light of experimental results.