Phase retrieval from fringe pattern with 1-D discrete wavelet transform

This paper proposes a novel method to obtain frequency modulation (FM) signals from a single fringe pattern for phase retrieval. First, a 1D discrete Meyer wavelet is employed to decompose the pattern image signal row by row and the soft-thresholding approach is applied to remove noise. The low frequency coefficients of the wavelet decomposition are then set to 0, and the signal is reconstructed. Moreover, the optimal wavelet decomposition level is adaptively determined using a cost function-based method. The reconstructed signal, which no longer contains a background component, is normalized using a nonlinear and piecewise normalization method. The proposed method is faster and more accurate than some other phase retrieval approaches, which is illustrated with two test cases.     

Complementary MS Methods Assist Conformational Characterization of Antibodies with Altered S–S Bonding Networks

As therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) become a major focus in biotechnology and a source of the next-generation drugs, new analytical methods or combination methods are needed for monitoring changes in higher order structure and effects of post-translational modifications. The complexity of these molecules and their vulnerability to structural change provide a serious challenge. We describe here the use of complementary mass spectrometry methods that not only characterize mutant mAbs but also may provide a general framework for characterizing higher order structure of other protein therapeutics and biosimilars. To frame the challenge, we selected members of the IgG2 subclass that have distinct disulfide isomeric structures as a model to evaluate an overall approach that uses ion mobility, top-down MS sequencing, and protein footprinting in the form of fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP). These three methods are rapid, sensitive, respond to subtle changes in conformation of Cys?→?Ser mutants of an IgG2, each representing a single disulfide isoform, and may be used in series to probe higher order structure. The outcome suggests that this approach of using various methods in combination can assist the development and quality control of protein therapeutics.      

Synthesis, structure, and activity evaluation of two silver(I) complexes as Helicobacter pylori urease inhibitors

Two silver(I) compounds, [Ag(R,R-hxn)](C₇H₄BrO₂) · 2H₂O (I) (Chxn = 1,2-diaminocyclohexane) and [Ag(C₅H₆N₂)₂]₂(C₈H₄O₄) · 10H₂O (II), were synthesized and complex I was structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Compound I contains a catena-(trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) silver polycation ([Ag(Chxn)]_∞) in a roughly linear fashion, while II possesses a linear-type silver monocation. Compounds I and II were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against Helicobacter pylori urease in vitro. Both were found to have strong inhibitory activities against H. pylori urease comparable to that of acetohydroxamic acid.     

Biochemical and Structural Studies of Conserved Maf Proteins Revealed Nucleotide Pyrophosphatases with a Preference for Modified Nucleotides

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Hierarchical ZSM-11 with intergrowth structures:Synthesis,characterization and catalytic properties

Hierarchical ZSM-11 microspheres with intercrystalline mesoporous properties and rod-like crystals intergrowth morphology have been synthesized using a spot of tetrabutylammonium as a single template.XRD,FTIR,SEM,TEM and N2 adsorption analysis revealed that each individual particle was composed of nanosized rod crystals inserting each other and the intercrystalline voids existing among rods gave a significant mesopore size distribution.Steam treatment result demonstrated the excellent hydrothermal stability of samples.Various crystallization modes including constant temperature crystallization (one-stage crystallization) and two-stage temperature-varying crystallization with different 1st stage durations were investigated.The results suggested that the crystallization modes were mainly responsible for the adjustable particle size and textural properties of samples while the small amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide was mainly used to direct the formation of both ZSM-11 framework and its intergrowth morphology.Furthermore,the performance of optimal ZSM-11 as an active component for the catalytic pyrolysis of heavy oil was also investigated.Compared with the commercial pyrolysis catalyst,the hierarchical ZSM-11 catalyst exhibited a high selectivity to desired products(LPG+gasoline+diesel),as well as a much lower dry gas and coke yield,plus a high selectivity and yield of light olefins(C=3 C=4)and very poor selectivity to benzene.Therefore,fully open micropore-mesopore connectivity would make such hierarchically porous ZSM-11 zeolites very attractive for applications in clean petrochemical catalysis field.     

Modeling and Simulation of Bonding and Optical Characters of Ternary Nanocrystals

In this paper, conformations of the ternary structures ZnSe(Te), ZnS(Te), ZnS(Se), CdSe(Te), CdS(Te) and CdS(Se) were optimized, and their orbital, spectra have been investigated at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level. First, we have found some rules which agreed with experimental results. HOMO–LUMO gaps, WBI values and the wavelengths of the absorption peaks of ternary structures changed gradually with the ratio of Te, Se and S atoms in ternary structures. Second, analysis of Raman spectra revealed that doped structures had the spectra of two relevant binary clusters. Namely, Raman spectra of ternary ZnSe(Te) clusters had the Raman peaks of ZnSe and ZnTe. In this way, with the help of the Raman spectra, the formations of the ternary structures can be determined in experiment. This was important to estimate during synthesis progress. Finally, calculated results have proved that ZnS and CdS structures had the shorter wavelengths of the absorption peaks, the higher excited energies of singlets, and good stability.     

Theoretical investigation of a high density cage compound 1,3,5,7,9,11-hexanitrotetradecahydro-1H-1,3,4,5,7,7b,9,11,12a,12b1,12b2,13-dodecaaza-4,8,12-(epimethanetriyl)cyclohepta[l]cyclopenta[def] phenanthrene

The B3LYP/6-31G** method was used to investigate IR and Raman spectra, heat of formation, and thermodynamic properties of a new designed polynitro cage compound 1,3,5,7,9,11-hexanitrotetradecahydro-1H-1,3,4,5,7,7b,9,11,12a,12b¹,12b²,13-dodecaaza-4,8,12-(epimethanetriyl)cyclohepta[l]cyclopenta[def]phenanthrene. The detonation and pressure were evaluated using the Kamlet–Jacobs equations based on the theoretical density and HOFs. The bond dissociation energies and bond orders for the weakest bonds were analyzed to investigate the thermal stability of the title compound. The results show that N₈–NO₂ bond is predicted to be the trigger bond during pyrolysis. There exists an essentially linear relationship between the WBIs of N–NO₂ bonds and the charges – $ Q_{{{\text{NO}}_{ 2} }} $ on the nitro groups. The crystal structure obtained by molecular mechanics belongs to the P2₁ space group, with lattice parameters Z = 2, a = 11.4658 Å, b = 15.2442 Å, c = 10.2451 Å, ρ = 2.07 g cm^?3. The designed compound has high thermal stability and good detonation properties and is a promising high-energy density compound.     

Laser desorption VUV postionization MS imaging of a cocultured biofilm

Laser desorption postionization mass spectrometry (LDPI-MS) imaging is demonstrated with a 10.5 eV photon energy source for analysis and imaging of small endogenous molecules within intact biofilms. Biofilm consortia comprised of a synthetic Escherichia coli K12 coculture engineered for syntrophic metabolite exchange are grown on membranes and then used to test LDPI-MS analysis and imaging. Both E. coli strains displayed many similar peaks in LDPI-MS up to m/z 650, although some observed differences in peak intensities were consistent with the appearance of byproducts preferentially expressed by one strain. The relatively low mass resolution and accuracy of this specific LDPI-MS instrument prevented definitive assignment of species to peaks, but strategies are discussed to overcome this shortcoming. The results are also discussed in terms of desorption and ionization issues related to the use of 10.5 eV single-photon ionization, with control experiments providing additional mechanistic information. Finally, 10.5 eV LDPI-MS was able to collect ion images from intact, electrically insulating biofilms at ～100 μm spatial resolution. Spatial resolution of ～20 μm was possible, although a relatively long acquisition time resulted from the 10 Hz repetition rate of the single-photon ionization source.