Inter- and intra-agglomerate fracture in nanocrystalline nickel

In situ tensile straining transmission electron microscopy tests have been carried out on nanocrystalline Ni. Grain agglomerates (GAs) were found to form very frequently and rapidly ahead of an advancing crack with sizes much larger than the initial average grain size. High-resolution electron microscopy indicated that the GAs most probably consist of nanograins separated by low-angle grain boundaries. Furthermore, both inter- and intra-GA fractures were observed. The observations suggest that these newly formed GAs may play an important role in the formation of the dimpled fracture surfaces of nanocrystalline materials.     

Enhanced Pre-Strain Application for Goodman Data Generated with Vibration-Based Testing

Experimental Mechanics - Imparting residual stress is an essential step in the generation of Goodman data via Air Force Research Laboratory’s vibration-based fatigue test. Conventional...     

Halogen–Aromatic π Interactions Modulate Inhibitor Residence Times

Prolonged drug residence times may result in longer‐lasting drug efficacy, improved pharmacodynamic properties, and “kinetic selectivity” over off‐targets with high drug dissociation rates. However, few strategies have been elaborated to rationally modulate drug residence time and thereby to integrate this key property into the drug development process. Herein, we show that the interaction between a halogen moiety on an inhibitor and an aromatic residue in the target protein can significantly increase inhibitor residence time. By using the interaction of the serine/threonine kinase haspin with 5‐iodotubercidin (5‐iTU) derivatives as a model for an archetypal active‐state (type I) kinase–inhibitor binding mode, we demonstrate that inhibitor residence times markedly increase with the size and polarizability of the halogen atom. The halogen–aromatic π interactions in the haspin–inhibitor complexes were characterized by means of kinetic, thermodynamic, and structural measurements along with binding‐energy calculations.     

Complexes formed by the reactions of fluorinated and non-fluorinated organonitriles with [Zn(SO2)2][AsF6]2: A structural study

[Zn(SO₂)₂][AsF₆]₂ (1) has been prepared from zinc metal and AsF₅ in liquid sulfur dioxide, and crystallized from sulfur dioxide giving crystals of [Zn(SO₂)₄(AsF₆)₂] (1a). The compound 1 forms the homoleptic complexes [Zn(NCR)₆](AsF₆)₂ (R: CH₃ (2a), C₆H₅ (3a), C₆F₅ (3b)) with the corresponding nitriles. In these complexes, the metal center is octahedrally surrounded by six ligands (average Zn–N 2.13 ?). Reaction of 1 with the weaker ligand F₃CCN results in dicoordination at the metal center complemented by a two-dimensional polymeric network (2b) containing bridging AsF₆ ⁻ anions. [Zn(SO₂)₄(AsF₆)₂] (1a): monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=8.5176(8) ?, b=13.5787(14) ?, c=14.7661(15) ?, β=99.296(2)°; [Zn(NCCH₃)₆][AsF₆]₂ (2a): rhombohedral, R-3, a=11.2225(8) ?, b=11.2225(8) ?, c=16.9393(14) ?; [Zn (NCCF₃)₂][μ-FAsF₅)₂( (2b): monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.226(3) ?, b=6.6147(19) ?, c=10.460(3) ?, β=104.028(5)°; [Zn(NCC₆H₅)₆][AsF₆]₂ (3a): monoclinic, P2₁/n, a=13.7968(10) ?, b=19.8861(15) ?, c=16.1692(12) ?, β=91.563(2)°; [Zn(NCC₆F₅)₆][AsF₆]₂·2SO₂ (3b): monoclinic, P2₁/n, a=10.8448(9) ?, b=154456(13) ?, c=17.5206(15) ?, β=104.158(1)°.     

[Ag{NCC(O)CN}<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript>n</Subscript> [SbF<Subscript>6</Subscript>]<Subscript>n</Subscript>, the first metal complex of carbonyl cyanide

The first metal complex of carbonyl cyanide [Ag{NCC(O)CN}₂]_n [SbF₆]_n was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The silver(I) centers are bridged by the cyanide groups of the carbonyl cyanides giving a two-dimensional layer structure. The SbF₆⁻ anions are embedded in the cationic framework to neutralize the charge with only very weak contacts to the Ag⁺. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 11.8737(13) Å, b = 10.2497(13) Å, c = 10.5883(13) Å, β = 90.183(3)^∘.     

A note on planar semimodular lattices

In an earlier paper, we constructed all finite, planar, semimodular lattices in three simple steps from the direct product of two finite chains. In this note we prove that one of the three steps can be eliminated. The research of the first author was supported by the NSERC of Canada.     

Auto-hydroxylation of FIH-1: an Fe(ii), alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent human hypoxia sensor

HIF-asparaginyl hydroxylase (FIH-1) normally couples O(2)-activation to hydroxylation of Asn(803) on the alpha-subunit of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIFalpha), a key step in pO(2) sensing; in the absence of HIFalpha, O(2)-activation becomes uncoupled, leading to self-hydroxylation at Trp(296) and a purple Fe(iii)-O-Trp chromophore-this alternative reactivity may affect human hypoxia sensing.     

Turn-on fluorescence detection of H2O2 and TATP

Peroxide-based explosives, like triacetone triperoxide (TATP), are important targets for detection because of their broad use in improvised explosives but pose challenges. We report a highly sensitive turn-on fluorescence detection for H2O2 and organic peroxides, including TATP. The detection strategy relies on oxidative deboronation to unmask H2Salen, which subsequently binds Zn(2+) to form fluorescent Zn(Salen). Sensitivity is excellent, with detection limits below 10 nM for H2O2, TATP, and benzoyl peroxide. In addition, acid treatment is necessary to sense TATP, suggesting the potential to discriminate between H2O2 and TATP based upon minimal sample pretreatment.