Interactions of single-stranded DNA on microcantilevers

The microcantilever approach has attracted considerable attention in recent years as a means of label-free detection of a variety of biomolecular and chemical reactions. The underlying physics of the intermolecular interactions that result in mechanical motions is yet to be fully explored, but it seems both rich in science and of technological importance. This paper presents an overview of experiments and theories related to interactions of single-stranded DNA immobilized on microcantilevers. Experiments and theories show that, at high grafting density, hydration forces are the dominant factor determining cantilever deflections, not electrostatics or conformational entropy.     

Fullerenes without symmetry: crystallographic characterization of C1(30)-C90 and C1(32)-C90

Fullerenes are generally considered as highly symmetric, yet fullerene isomers with only C(1) symmetry, such as C(1)(30)-C(90) and C(1)(32)-C(90) whose structures are reported here, become increasingly numerous as fullerene size increases.     

L-arginine trifluoroacetate salt bridges in its solid state compound: the low-temperature three dimensional structural determination of L-arginine bis(trifluoroacetate) crystal and its vibrational spectral analysis

Structural varieties of L-arginine trifluoroacetate (abbreviated as LATF) and L-arginine bis(trifluoroacetate), LABTF, in the solid state compounds were observed and analyzed by the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The guanidinium-carboxylate interaction plays an important role involving in the crystal structure construction. Conformational changes of L-Arg(+) and L-Arg(2+) cations result from the intrinsic structural difference by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. The low-temperature structure of its crystalline salt, L-arginine bis(trifluoroacetate), was determined to describe the hydrogen bonding interactions. In comparison with the crystal structure at room temperature, the low-temperature L-Arg(2+) cations present tiny conformational difference and the rotational disorder of CF(3) group disappears. FT-IR and Raman spectra were investigated and hydrogen bonding interactions were analyzed on the basis of its vibrational spectra. Results indicate that this type interaction is greatly contributive to the structural features and vibrational spectral properties.     

Thermal behavior and thermal safety on 3,3-dinitroazetidinium salt of perchloric acid

3,3-Dinitroazetidinium (DNAZ) salt of perchloric acid (DNAZ·HClO₄) was prepared, it was characterized by the elemental analysis, IR, NMR, and a X-ray diffractometer. The thermal behavior and decomposition reaction kinetics of DNAZ·HClO₄ were investigated under a non-isothermal condition by DSC and TG/DTG techniques. The results show that the thermal decomposition process of DNAZ·HClO₄ has two mass loss stages. The kinetic model function in differential form, the value of apparent activation energy (E _a) and pre-exponential factor (A) of the exothermic decomposition reaction of DNAZ·HClO₄ are f(α) = (1 − α)⁻¹/2, 156.47 kJ mol⁻¹, and 10^15.12 s⁻¹, respectively. The critical temperature of thermal explosion is 188.5 °C. The values of ΔS ^≠, ΔH ^≠, and ΔG ^≠of this reaction are 42.26 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, 154.44 kJ mol⁻¹, and 135.42 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The specific heat capacity of DNAZ·HClO₄ was determined with a continuous C _p mode of microcalorimeter. Using the relationship between C _p and T and the thermal decomposition parameters, the time of the thermal decomposition from initiation to thermal explosion (adiabatic time-to-explosion) was evaluated as 14.2 s.     

Distinct Young's modulus of nanostructured materials in comparison with nanocrystals

Young's modulus (Y) of nanostructured materials (NSs) free of porosity is modeled with regard to the coordination number imperfection at grain boundaries. In light of it, Y of NSs is suppressed substantially in the whole solid temperature range, differing from the case of nanocrystals (NCs) where Y is enhanced at lower temperature (T) but weakened at higher T. It is found that, similar to NCs, the thermally-driven decline associated with the melting point depression plays an increasing role in suppressing Y of NSs on raising T. On the other hand, the lattice expansion and the bond weakening lead to a further suppression in Y of NSs independent of T, while the lattice contraction and the reinforced bonding strength result in an enhancement in Y of NCs, which should be responsible for the distinction in Y between NSs and NCs. The established functions were supported by available experimental and computer simulation results.     

Determining excitation temperature of fragmented C60 via momentum distributions of fragments

Hot C(60) molecules under nanosecond laser excitation decay by a variety of fragmentation channels. An experimental search has been made to determine the excitation temperature of fragmented C(60)via analyzing the momentum distributions of the prompt ionic fragments C(n)(+) (n ≤ 58). It was found that all the C(60) precursors appearing as these ionic fragments have almost the same temperature and the temperature shows little variation with the laser fluences in our limited range. The results provide a clear evidence that a first-order phase transition in the fragmented C(60) is occurring at this temperature. The value of phase transition temperature is found to be about 6050 ± 250 K, which is in a good agreement with the most recent estimations based on the molecular dynamics simulation. This approach offers an experimental opportunity for studying the fragmentation thermodynamics of more complex polyatomic molecules under excitation temperature determined conditions.     

Cloud point and solid phase extraction of vanadium in surface and bottled mineral water samples using 8-hydroxyquinoline as a complexing reagent

Cloud point extraction (CPE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) methods were developed for the determination of ??g l^?1 of vanadium ions in surface, tap and bottled mineral water samples, based on the rapid reaction of vanadium(V) with 8- hydroxyquinoline (8-quinolinol) at pH 3?C5. Both the sensitive extraction methods were successfully employed for the preconcentration of V in real samples. For CPE, V complexed with 8-quinolinol and then was entrapped in non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114, while for SPE, V was adsorbed on XAD -2 impregnated with 8-quinolinol. The experimental conditions for SPE (pH, eluent, and contact time between the liquid sample and the resin) and CPE (pH of sample solution, concentration of 8- quinolinol and Triton X-114, equilibration temperature and time period for shaking) were investigated in detail. The validity of SPE/CPE of V was checked by certified reference material of water (SRM-1643e). The extracted surfactant-rich phase (200 ??l) was mixed with 200 ??l of HNO₃ in ethanol and this final volume was injected into electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with different modifiers. Under these conditions, the preconcentration of 25 ml sample solution allowed the raising of an enrichment factor of 100 and 10 folds for CPE and SPE, respectively. The concentration of V in surface water (river and lake), tap water and bottled mineral water samples was found to be in the range of 1.30?C19.9, 1.05?C5.25 and 0.67?C1.21 ??g l^?1, respectively.