On graphs determining links with maximal number of components via medial construction

Let G be a connected plane graph, D(G) be the corresponding link diagram via medial construction, and μ(D(G)) be the number of components of the link diagram D(G). In this paper, we first provide an elementary proof that μ(D(G))≤n(G)+1, where n(G) is the nullity of G. Then we lay emphasis on the extremal graphs, i.e. the graphs with μ(D(G))=n(G)+1. An algorithm is given firstly to judge whether a graph is extremal or not, then we prove that all extremal graphs can be obtained from K₁ by applying two graph operations repeatedly. We also present a dual characterization of extremal graphs and finally we provide a simple criterion on structures of bridgeless extremal graphs.     

Pressurized hot water extraction of bioactive or marker compounds in botanicals and medicinal plant materials

To reduce the use of organic solvent, pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) has been shown to be a feasible option for the extraction of bioactive and marker compounds in botanicals and medicinal plants. The parameters that may affect the extraction efficiencies in PHWE include temperature, extraction time and addition of small percentage of organic solvent or surfactants. Currently, applications of PHWE for the extraction of thermally labile compounds in botanicals are still rather limited. PHWE with and without the additional of a small percentage of organic solvent such as ethanol is highly suited for the chemical standardization and quality control of medicinal plants. At the same time, it can be applied at the pilot scale as a manufacturing process for medicinal plants. Surfactant assisted PHWE was found to enhance the extraction of thermally labile and more hydrophobic species in medicinal plants at a lower temperature. The addition of small amount of surfactants in PHWE is highly suited for the determination of bioactive or marker compounds in medicinal plants. With proper optimization, PHWE was observed to have good extraction efficiency and precision when compared to other reference methods of extraction.     

Irregular elliptical plasmonic rings for engineering near-field and phase

Metallic glasses find wide applications in nanotechnology and micro electro-mechanical systems because of their unique physical properties due to their amorphous structures. The material removal mechanism in nanometric cutting of Cu₅₀Zr₅₀, a typical metallic glass, is studied using molecular dynamics method. The chip formation, workpiece deformation and scratching forces under various scratching depths, scratching velocities and temperatures are investigated. The effect of void defect on the cutting behaviors of metallic glass is also explored. The results show that the material removal in nanometric cutting process is based on extrusion instead of shearing, achieving a good understanding of material removal at the nanoscale.     

Unique geometric and electronic structure of CO adsorbed on Ge(100): A DFT study

CO adsorption on the Ge(100) surface has been investigated using a slab model with density functional theory implemented in SIESTA. CO was found to be exclusively adsorbed on the asymmetric dimer with C attaching on the lower Ge dimer atom. The adsorption process is barrierless. The calculated adsorption energy and vibration frequencies are comparable to previous experimental results. The crystal orbital Hamilton analysis showed that the bonding between Ge and CO is mainly attributable to the Ge 4p_z orbital overlapping with C 2 s, or with CO molecular orbitals 3σ and 4σ. The repulsive energy between adsorbed CO molecules is less than 1 kcal/mol. The diffusion barrier of CO on the Ge(100) surface is about 14 kcal/mol.     

Synthesis,characterization and electrical properties of hybrid Zn2GeO4–ZnO beaded nanowire arrays

We report the syntheses of vertically aligned, beaded zinc germinate (Zn₂GeO₄)/zinc oxide (ZnO) hybrid nanowire arrays via a catalyst-free approach. Vertically aligned ZnO nanowire is used as a lattice matching reactive template for the growth of Zn₂GeO₄/ZnO nanowire. The morphology and structure of the as-prepared samples were characterized using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). TEM studies revealed the beaded microstructures of the Zn₂GeO₄/ZnO nanowire. The thickness and microstructures of crystalline beads could be easily controlled by tuning the growth duration and temperature. The photoluminescence spectrum of the Zn₂GeO₄/ZnO nanowires is composed of two peaks, i.e., the ultraviolet (UV) peak and the defect peak. For longer treatment duration of the samples, both the UV and defect peak intensities decrease dramatically. One application of the as-prepared Zn₂GeO₄/ZnO nanowire is to use the nanowire as template for the growth of three-dimensionally (3D) aligned, high-density ZnO nanobranches en route to hierarchical structure. The study of field emission properties of the as-prepared samples revealed the low turn-on voltage and high current density electron emission from the 3D ZnO nanobranches as compared to the ZnO nanowires and Zn₂GeO₄/ZnO nanowires. Furthermore, the electrical transport behavior of single hybrid nanowire device indicates the formation of back-to-back Schottky barriers (SBs) formation at the contacts and its application in white-light response has been demonstrated.     

Antioxidative properties of defatted dabai pulp and peel prepared by solid phase extraction

Solid phase extraction (SPE) using Sep-Pak^? cartridges is one of the techniques used for fractionation of antioxidant compounds in waste of dabai oil extraction (defatted dabai parts). The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in crude extracts and several SPE fractions from methanolic extract of defatted dabai pulp and peel. Based on SPE, Sep-Pak^? cyanopropyl and C₁₈ cartridges were used to fractionate the antioxidant-rich crude extracts into water and methanolic fractions. Analyzed using LC-MS, flavonoids, anthocyanins, saponin derivatives and other unknown antioxidative compounds were detected in the defatted dabai crude extracts and their SPE fractions. Anthocyanins were the major phenolic compounds identified in the defatted dabai peel and detected in most of the SPE fractions. Methanolic fractions of defatted dabai parts embraced higher total phenolics and antioxidant capacity than water fractions. This finding also revealed the crude extracts of defatted dabai peel have the most significant antioxidant properties compared to the methanolic and water fractions studied. The crude extract of defatted dabai parts remain as the most potent antioxidant as it contains mixture of flavonoids, anthocyanins and other potential antioxidants.     

Separation and identification of volatile compounds from liquid cultures of Trichoderma harzianum by GC-MS using three different capillary columns

A simple, fast, repeatable and less laborious sample preparation protocol was developed and applied for the analysis of biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum strain FA1132 by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The match factors for sample spectra with respect to the mass spectra library of fungal volatile compounds were determined and used to study the complex hydrocarbons and other volatile compounds, which were separated by using different capillary columns with nonpolar, medium polar and high polar stationary phases. To date, more than 278 volatile compounds (with spectral match factor at least 90%) such as normal saturated hydrocarbons (C7-C30), cyclohexane, cyclopentane, fatty acids, alcohols, esters, sulfur-containing compounds, simple pyrane and benzene derivatives have been identified. Most of these compounds have not previously been reported. The method described in this paper is a more convenient research tool for the detection of volatile compounds from the cultures of T. harzianum.     

Differential stable isotope labeling of peptides for quantitation and de novo sequence derivation.

We have demonstrated the use of per-methyl esterification of peptides for relative quantification of proteins between two mixtures of proteins and automated de novo sequence derivation on the same dataset. Protein mixtures for comparison were digested to peptides and resultant peptides methylated using either d0- or d3-methanol. Methyl esterification of peptides converted carboxylic acids, such as are present on the side chains of aspartic and glutamic acid as well as the carboxyl terminus, to their corresponding methyl esters. The separate d0- and d3-methylated peptide mixtures were combined and the mixture subjected to microcapillary high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS). Parent proteins of methylated peptides were identified by correlative database searching of peptide tandem mass spectra. Ratios of proteins in the two original mixtures could be calculated by normalization of the area under the curve for identical charge states of d0- to d3-methylated peptides. An algorithm was developed that derived, without intervention, peptide sequence de novo by comparison of tandem mass spectra of d0- and d3-peptide methyl esters.