Some cyclic codes of length 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Superscript>

Explicit expressions for 4n + 2 primitive idempotents in the semi-simple group ring $R_{2p^{n}}\equiv \frac{GF(q)[x]}{p and q are distinct odd primes; n ≥ 1 is an integer and q has order \fracf(2pⁿ)2{\frac{\phi(2p^{n})}{2}} modulo 2p ⁿ . The generator polynomials, the dimension, the minimum distance of the minimal cyclic codes of length 2p ⁿ generated by these 4n + 2 primitive idempotents are discussed. For n = 1, the properties of some (2p, p) cyclic codes, containing the above minimal cyclic codes are analyzed in particular. The minimum weight of some subset of each of these (2p, p) codes are observed to satisfy a square root bound.     

Macrocyclic β-Sheets Stabilized by Hydrogen Bond Surrogates

Mimics of protein secondary and tertiary structure offer rationally-designed inhibitors of biomolecular interactions. β-Sheet mimics have a storied history in bioorganic chemistry and are typically designed with synthetic or natural turn segments. We hypothesized that replacement of terminal inter-β-strand hydrogen bonds with hydrogen bond surrogates (HBS) may lead to conformationally-defined macrocyclic β-sheets without the requirement for natural or synthetic β-turns, thereby providing a minimal mimic of a protein β-sheet. To access turn-less antiparallel β-sheet mimics, we developed a facile solid phase synthesis protocol. We surveyed a dataset of protein β-sheets for naturally observed interstrand side chain interactions. This bioinformatics survey highlighted an over-abundance of aromatic–aromatic, cation-π and ionic interactions in β-sheets. In correspondence with natural β-sheets, we find that minimal HBS mimics show robust β-sheet formation when specific amino acid residue pairings are incorporated. In isolated β-sheets, aromatic interactions endow superior conformational stability over ionic or cation-π interactions. Circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopies, along with high-resolution X-ray crystallography, support our design principles.     

Effect of pyrolysis temperature and operating temperature on the performance of nanoporous carbon membranes

Technology designed to capture and store carbon dioxide (CO₂) will play a significant role in the near-term reduction of CO₂ emissions and is considered necessary to slow global warming. Nanoporous carbon (NPC) membranes show promise as a new generation of gas separation membranes suitable for CO₂ capture.We have made supported NPC membranes from polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) at various pyrolysis temperatures. Positron annihilation lifetime spectrometry (PALS) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) results indicate that the pore size decreases whilst the porosity increases with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The membrane performance results support these findings with a significant increase in permeance being seen with increasing pyrolysis temperature, which relates to the increase in porosity.Mixed gas performance measurements also show an increase in CH₄ permeance as the operating temperature is increased from 35 to 200 °C, which can be related to an increase in the rate of diffusion. However, the selectivity decreases with increasing operating temperature due to the smaller changes in the CO₂ permeance. These smaller changes in CO₂ permeance can be related to the stronger adsorption of this gas on the carbon surface at lower operating temperatures. Interestingly, regardless of the original pyrolysis temperature, the selectivity at higher operating temperatures is similar, whereas the permeance remains related to this pyrolysis temperature.     

Bundled Slash: A Potential New Biomass Resource for Fuels and Chemicals

Postharvest residues for southern pine species have not previously been quantified to compare volumes produced from both thinnings and clearcut volumes. A John Deere 1490 Slash Bundler bundled postharvest residues following a first thinning of a 14-year-old stand, a second thinning of a 25-year-old stand, and a clearcut of a naturally regenerated mature stand of 54 years of age. Regardless of stand type, nearly one-fifth of merchantable volume harvested was collected as postharvest residue. Initial bundle moisture contents were 127.3, 81.1, and 49.4% dry basis (db) for the first and second thinnings and mature stands, respectively. Bundle needles content was found to significantly influence the relative moisture contents of the bundles by stand type due to the high moisture content of needles compared to other bundle components. Bundles were stored outside and exposed to very hot and dry conditions and dried very rapidly to lowest moisture contents of 22.8, 14.5, and 13.5% (db) for first and second thinnings and mature stands, respectively. Response to moderating temperatures and higher precipitation resulted in rapid moisture content increase to 69.9, 46.2, and 38.1% (db) for the first and second thinnings and mature stand bundles by the end of the study. Temperature and precipitation and bundle percentage needles content all significantly influenced the rapid moisture content variations observed over the study periods.     

Catalytic effect of bases in impregnation of guanidine nitrate on Poplar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus</Emphasis>) wood

Wood, one of the flammable material, was treated with aqueous solution of guanidine nitrate (GUN) and also with small amount of bases like N,N-dimethylformamide, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, pyridine, and triethylamine in the treating solution. These bases catalyze the impregnation of GUN as indicated by increase in mass gain percentage, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. To study their thermal behavior, dynamic thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) analysis under nitrogen atmosphere have been applied from ambient temperature to 973 K on all samples, at multiple linear heating rates 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 K min⁻¹. Non-isothermal, “model free” iso-conversional multiple heating rate methods, Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (O–F–W) and modified Coats–Redfern are used to calculate activation energy of samples. The activation energy of samples is found in the range 109–208 kJ mol⁻¹. Thermal parameters like overall pyrolysis duration, maximum mass loss rate, corresponding to DTG peak maximum and percentage char yield calculated at 873 K from TG curves are used to appraise the flammability of samples. Also, flammability of samples is determined by reliable methods namely limiting oxygen index and underwriters laboratories 94 (UL 94) test. The aforesaid study indicates that base catalyzed impregnated samples are less flammable than those impregnated with only GUN and untreated ones.     

Unraveling the role of membrane proteins Notch, Pvr, and EGFR in altering integrin diffusion and clustering

The role of three membrane proteins in altering the diffusion and clustering of integrin receptors has been measured. Integrins are membrane proteins responsible for integrating intracellular and extracellular signaling events and anchoring cells to the extracellular matrix. The methodology used to elucidate the role of other membrane proteins in altering integrin diffusion and clustering combines fluorescence microscopy with RNA interference (RNAi), which is a technique to reduce the expression of a target protein. The three RNAi-targeted membrane proteins were epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor-related receptor (Pvr), and Notch. Real-time polymerase chain reaction or quantitative immunocytochemistry was used to measure a reduction in mRNA or protein concentration after RNAi treatment, respectively. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching showed that reducing the concentration of EGFR or Notch results in less constrained integrin diffusion and, in the case of Notch RNAi, 4?% more mobile integrins. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements performed before and after RNAi treatments indicate that clustering decreases for wild-type integrin, but increases for a high-ligand-affinity integrin mutant after reducing the expression of EGFR, Pvr, or Notch. A model to explain the measured changes after reducing the expression of these three membrane proteins involving cholesterol-enriched nanodomains is proposed.

Minimizing Carry-Over in an Online Pepsin Digestion System used for the H/D Exchange Mass Spectrometric Analysis of an IgG1 Monoclonal Antibody

Chromatographic carry-over can severely distort measurements of amide H/D exchange in proteins analyzed by LC/MS. In this work, we explored the origin of carry-over in the online digestion of an IgG1 monoclonal antibody using an immobilized pepsin column under quenched H/D exchange conditions (pH 2.5, 0?°C). From a consensus list of 169 different peptides consistently detected during digestion of this large, ~150?kDa protein, approximately 30?% of the peptic peptides exhibited carry-over. The majority of carry-over originates from the online digestion. Carry-over can be substantially decreased by washing the online digestion flow-path and pepsin column with two wash cocktails: [acetonitrile (5?%)/ isopropanol (5?%)/ acetic acid (20?%) in water] and [2?M guanidine hydrochloride in 100?mM phosphate buffer pH 2.5]. Extended use of this two-step washing procedure does not adversely affect the specificity or activity of the immobilized pepsin column. The results suggest that although the mechanism of carry-over appears to be chemical in nature, and not hydrodynamic, carry-over cannot be attributed to a single factor such as mass, abundance, pI, or hydrophobicity of the peptides.     

Polymeric stabilization of hybrid nanocomposites: a comparison between in situ and ex situ-grown CuInS2 in poly(3-hexylthiophene) polymer

CuInS₂ (CIS) particles were directly synthesized in P3HT matrix with different concentrations ratio of P3HT and CIS (1:2, 1:4, and 1:8) by decomposition of copper indium xanthate (CIX). Here, copper indium xanthate and P3HT were mixed homogeneously in o-dichlorobenzene (DCB), which induced the formation of the CIS nanoparticles by the thermal decomposition of the precursor compound in situ at temperatures as low as 110 °C. The effects of the precursor concentration on the size of the CIS nanoparticles was studied by microstructure investigations (TEM, AFM, XRD) and UV–vis measurements show that these CIS composites possess a direct bandgap energy higher than 1.45 eV depending on the concentration of P3HT. PL quenching of P3HT polymer (i.e., higher accessible fraction of fluorophores) was found to be more for in situ rather than ex situ conditions for comparable CIX concentrations or particle size. This can be attributed to the fact that in in situ synthesis, P3HT act as surface directing template for CIS nanoparticles which is not so in the case of ex situ synthesis. Due to this, the polymeric stabilization of the CIS nanocomposites is better realized for in situ synthesis as compared to ex situ synthesis.     

Comparative analysis of continuous cooling transformation behaviour in CGHAZ of API X-80 and X-65 line pipe steels

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Continuous cooling transformation diagrams were obtained for a simulated coarse-grain heat-affected zone of API X-80 and X-65 steels using Gleeble-3800...