Characterization and Monitoring of Porous Media with Electrical Imaging: A Review

Transport in Porous Media - Electrical geophysical imaging is a widely used noninvasive technology for visualizing porous media at scales larger than individual pores. Originally developed for...     

Counting bridgeless graphs

Methods are developed for finding the number of unlabeled bridgeless or 2-line-connected graphs of any order. These methods are based on cycle index sums, but it is shown how to avoid explicit compution with cycle index sums by using suitable inversion techniques. Similar results are obtained for unlabeled bridgeless graphs by numbers of points and lines, and connected graphs by numbers of points and bridges. Corresponding results for labeled graphs are found as corollaries. When lines or bridges are required as enumeration parameters in the labeled case it is also shown how to obtain improved recurrence relations. The latter appear to have no analog for unlabeled graphs.     

Discrete-event simulation: from the pioneers to the present,what next?

Discrete-event simulation is one of the most popular modelling techniques. It has developed significantly since the inception of computer simulation in the 1950s, most of this in line with developments in computing. The progress of simulation from its early days is charted with a particular focus on recent history. Specific developments in the past 15 years include visual interactive modelling, simulation optimization, virtual reality, integration with other software, simulation in the service sector, distributed simulation and the use of the worldwide web. The future is then speculated upon. Potential changes in model development, model use, the domain of application for simulation and integration with other simulation approaches are all discussed. The desirability of continuing to follow developments in computing, without significant developments in the wider methodology of simulation, is questioned.     

Photophysical properties of 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine supported 6-membered 2,2'-diphenyl-X platinacycles (X = CH2, NMe, O)

The six-membered platinacycle complex, Pt((t)Bu(2)bpy)(C(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)) (6) ((t)Bu(2)bpy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) has been prepared from Pt((t)Bu(2)bpy)Cl(2) and 2,2'-dilithio-diphenyl ether. Platinacycle 6 and its analogs with X = CH(2) (4) and NMe (5) exhibit intense solid-state photoluminescence and nearly identical crystal structures. The photophysical properties of 4-6 in the visible range are dominated by mixed metal-ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (MLL'CT) transitions involving high-lying filled mixed metal-ligand orbitals (ML), composed primarily of platinacyclic ring-based d- and π-orbitals, and a low lying vacant π* orbital (L') of the (t)Bu(2)bpy ligand. Lone pair donation from the bridging oxygen atom and especially the NMe group increases the energy of the mixed metal-ligand orbital (ML) without altering the energy of the (t)Bu(2)bpy π* orbital. As a result, the MLL'CT state energy decreases and the absorption and emission wavelengths are red-shifted. DFT and TD-DFT calculations support the experimental results. Additional calculations on the unknown platinacycles with X = CO (7) and SO(2) (8) predict a blue-shift for the MLL'CT absorption and emission. Two nearly equal energy triplet minima were located on the DFT triplet surface for 4-6. One of these (4T-6T) has a geometry very similar to the ground-state singlet (as represented by 4-6) and is associated with the emissive (3)MLL'CT excited state. The other triplet-state (4T'-6T') has a distorted structure where the platinacycle ring is twisted out of the Pt((t)Bu(2)bpy) plane. Thermal access to this distorted triplet may be responsible for the loss of photoluminescence in room temperature solutions of 4-6.     

Determination of Fucose Concentration in a Lectin-Based Displacement Microfluidic Assay

We compare three different methods to quantify the monosaccharide fucose in solutions using the displacement of a large glycoprotein, lactoferrin. Two microfluidic analysis methods, namely fluorescence detection of (labeled) lactoferrin as it is displaced by unlabeled fucose and the displacement of (unlabeled) lactoferrin in SPR, provide fast responses and continuous data during the experiment, theoretically providing significant information regarding the interaction kinetics between the saccharide groups and binding sites. For comparison, we also performed a static displacement ELISA. The stationary binding site in all cases was immobilized S2-AAL, a monovalent polypeptide based on Aleuria aurantia lectin. Although all three assays showed a similar dynamic range, the microfluidic assays with fluorescent or SPR detection show an advantage in short analysis times. Furthermore, the microfluidic displacement assays provide a possibility to develop a one-step analytical platform.

     

21 Tesla Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer Greatly Expands Mass Spectrometry Toolbox

We provide the initial performance evaluation of a 21 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer operating at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The spectrometer constructed for the 21T system employs a commercial dual linear ion trap mass spectrometer coupled to a FTICR spectrometer designed and built in-house. Performance gains from moving to higher magnetic field strength are exemplified by the measurement of peptide isotopic fine structure, complex natural organic matter mixtures, and large proteins. Accurate determination of isotopic fine structure was demonstrated for doubly charged Substance P with minimal spectral averaging, and 8158 molecular formulas assigned to Suwannee River Fulvic Acid standard with root-mean-square (RMS) error of 10 ppb. We also demonstrated superior performance for intact proteins; namely, broadband isotopic resolution of the entire charge state distribution of apo-transferrin (78 kDa) and facile isotopic resolution of monoclonal antibody under a variety of acquisition parameters (e.g., 6 s time-domains with absorption mode processing yielded resolution of approximately 1 M at m/z?=?2700).

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Interfacing Formate Dehydrogenase with Metal Oxides for the Reversible Electrocatalysis and Solar‐Driven Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

The integration of enzymes with synthetic materials allows efficient electrocatalysis and production of solar fuels. Here, we couple formate dehydrogenase ( FDH ) from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) to metal oxides for catalytic CO₂ reduction and report an in‐depth study of the resulting enzyme–material interface. Protein film voltammetry (PFV) demonstrates the stable binding of FDH on metal‐oxide electrodes and reveals the reversible and selective reduction of CO₂ to formate. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopy confirm a high binding affinity for FDH to the TiO₂ surface. Adsorption of FDH on dye‐sensitized TiO₂ allows for visible‐light‐driven CO₂ reduction to formate in the absence of a soluble redox mediator with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 11±1 s^?1. The strong coupling of the enzyme to the semiconductor gives rise to a new benchmark in the selective photoreduction of aqueous CO₂ to formate.     

Conductance of tetraalkylammonium salts in propylene carbonate at 25°C

Conductance measurements of 12 quaternary ammonium salts in propylene carbonate (PC) have been made at 25°C. The cations were either tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, or tetra-n-butylammonium, and the concentrations of salt varied from about 2×10^–4 to 5×10^–3 M. The data were analyzed by the equation of Pitts. The results showed that the benzoate, nitrobenzoate, and pentachlorophenolate salts are completely dissociated. The nitrophenolate, chlorophenolate, methylsulfonate, and nitrate salts are only slightly associated (K _A from 2.5 to 6.5), while the acetate, phenylacetate, and nitrophenolate salts display somewhat more extensive association, with ionpair association constants from 17 to 45. Limiting molar conductances for the anions were derived. The factors affecting ionic mobilities in this dipolar aprotic solvent are discussed.On leave 1973–1975 from the University of Gdask, Poland.