Complexation and coacervation of polyelectrolytes with oppositely charged colloids

Polyelectrolyte-colloid coacervation could be viewed as a sub-category of complex coacervation, but is unique in (1) retaining the structure and properties of the colloid, and (2) reducing the heterogeneity and configurational complexity of polyelectrolyte-polyelectrolyte (PE-PE) systems. Interest in protein-polyelectrolyte coacervates arises from preservation of biofunctionality; in addition, the geometric and charge isotropy of micelles allows for better comparison with theory, taking into account the central role of colloid charge density. In the context of these two systems, we describe critical conditions for complex formation and for coacervation with regard to colloid and polyelectrolyte charge densities, ionic strength, PE molecular weight (MW), and stoichiometry; and effects of temperature and shear, which are unique to the PE-micelle systems. The coacervation process is discussed in terms of theoretical treatments and models, as supported by experimental findings. We point out how soluble aggregates, subject to various equilibria and disproportionation effects, can self-assemble leading to heterogeneity in macroscopically homogeneous coacervates, on multiple length scales.     

Skeletons and Central Sets

Let be an open proper subset of Rⁿ. Its skeleton is the setof points with more than one nearest neighbour in the complementof its central set is the set of centres in maximal open ballsincluded in . Intuitively, if we think of as a land mass inwhich height is proportional to distance from the sea, its skeletonand central set can be thought of as corresponding to ridgesin the mountains of . In this note I discuss the metric andtopological properties of such sets. I show that any skeletonin Rⁿ is F, and has dimension at most n – 1, by any ofthe usual measures of dimension; that if is bounded and connected,its skeleton and central set are connected; and that separatesRⁿ iff its skeleton does iff its central set does. Any centralset in Rⁿ is a G set of topological dimension at most n –1. In the plane, I show that both skeletons and central setsare locally path-connected, and indeed include many paths offinite length. For any , its central set includes its skeleton;I give examples to show that the central set can be significantlylarger than the skeleton. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification:54F99.     

Micro- and macro-phase behavior in protein-polyelectrolyte complexes

Negatively charged polyelectrolytes such as carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, and alginate are commonly present in food products. These polyelectrolytes serve a variety of functions such as controlling viscosity and stabilizing emulsions. Proteins are also present in many food formulations. Because of their high charge density, polyelectrolytes can be expected to interact with these proteins. Hence, an understanding of the parameters controlling protein-polyelectrolyte interactions is useful.     

Thermally excited modes in a pure electron plasma

Thermally excited plasma modes are observed in near-thermal-equilibrium pure electron plasmas over a temperature range of 0.05相似文献   

Substrate–polymer interactions in liquid exclusion chromatography (GPC) in N,N-dimethylformamide

The importance of nonexclusion effects in the GPC behavior of several stationary phases was investigated with DMF, 0.01M LiBr, as the mobile phase. Various low MW solutes and narrow MWD polymers, encompassing a wide range of polarities, were studied. The elution of the polymers was examined in terms of “universal calibration” behavior. Styragel and silanized glass both exhibit affinity for apolar polymers in DMF; for the former substrate this effect shows a strong inverse dependence on MW. As a consequence, application of polystyrene calibration curves to GPC analysis of more polar polymers with these substrates leads to overestimations of MW parameters. These errors are not corrected when universal calibration procedures are used. Ideal exclusion chromatography is exhibited by a number of polymers on untreated porous glass substrates. However, polymers with strong hydrogen-bonding functionality appear to be susceptible to marked adsorption in this system.     

Feedback cooling of a single trapped ion

Based on a real-time measurement of the motion of a single ion in a Paul trap, we demonstrate its electromechanical cooling below the Doppler limit by homodyne feedback control (cold damping). The feedback cooling results are well described by a model based on a quantum mechanical master equation.     

The gas-phase acidity of HCP,CH3CP,HCAs, and CH3CAs: an unexpected enhanced acidity of the methyl group

The gas-phase acidities of methylidynephosphine, HCtbond;P, ethylidynephosphine, CH(3)Ctbond;P, and ethylidynearsine, CH(3)Ctbond;As, have been measured by means of Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry and calculated at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p)//QCISD/ 6-311+G(df,p) level of theory. An analysis of these results shows that, in contrast to the well-known fact that HCtbond;N is a stronger acid than CH(3)Ctbond;N, CH(3)Ctbond;P and CH(3)Ctbond;As are more acidic than HCtbond;P and HCtbond;As, respectively. The most important consequence of this unexpected effect is that while HCtbond;P and HCtbond;As are found to be weaker acids than HCtbond;N, the opposite trend is found for the corresponding methyl derivatives, the acidity of which increases as CH(3)Ctbond;N相似文献   

Laser-generated waves and wakes in rotating ion crystals

Locally excited plasma waves are generated in a Coulomb crystal by "pushing" with radiation pressure on a rotating cloud of laser-cooled 9Be+ ions. The waves form a stationary wake that is directly imaged through the dependence of the ion fluorescence on Doppler shifts, and theoretical calculations in a slab geometry are shown to accurately reproduce these images. The technique demonstrates a new method of exciting and studying waves in cold ion clouds.