Bacterially induced mineralization of calcium carbonate: the role of exopolysaccharides and capsular polysaccharides.

Bacterially induced carbonate mineralization has been proposed as a new method for the restoration of limestones in historic buildings and monuments. We describe here the formation of calcite crystals by extracellular polymeric substances isolated from Bacillus firmus and Bacillus sphaericus. We isolated bacterial outer structures (glycocalix and parietal polymers), such as exopolysaccharides (EPS) and capsular polysaccharides (CPS) and checked for their influence on calcite precipitation. CPS and EPS extracted from both B. firmus and B. sphaericus were able to mediate CaCO3 precipitation in vitro. X-ray microanalysis showed that in all cases the formed crystals were calcite. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the shape of the crystals depended on the fractions utilized. These results suggest the possibility that biochemical composition of CPS or EPS influences the resulting morphology of CaCO3. There were no precipitates in the blank samples. CPS and EPS comprised of proteins and glycoproteins. Positive alcian blue staining also reveals acidic polysaccharides in CPS and EPS fractions. Proteins with molecular masses of 25-40 kDa and 70 kDa in the CPS fraction were highly expressed in the presence of calcium oxalate. This high level of synthesis could be related to the binding of calcium ions and carbonate deposition.     

Potassium ion transport by valinomycin across a Hg-supported lipid bilayer

A biomimetic membrane consisting of a lipid bilayer tethered to a mercury electrode via a hydrophilic spacer was investigated in aqueous KCl by potential-step chronocoulometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, both in the absence and in the presence of the ionophore valinomycin. Impedance spectra, recorded from 1 x 10(-2) to 1 x 10(5) Hz over a potential range of 0.8 V, are satisfactorily fitted to a series of four RC meshes, which are straightforwardly related to the different substructural elements of the biomimetic membrane. The frequency-independent resistances and conductances of both the lipid bilayer and the hydrophilic spacer show a maximum when plotted against the applied potential. This behavior is interpreted on the basis of a general approximate approach that applies the concepts of impedance spectroscopy to a model of the electrified interphase and to the kinetics of potassium ion transport assisted by valinomycin across the lipid bilayer.     

Complexation behavior of cucurbit[6]uril with short polypeptides

The binding properties of cucurbit[6]uril towards various peptides have been investigated in acidic aqueous solution. Stability constants and thermodynamic values of the complex formation between following peptides: glycyl-l-alanine, l-leucyl-l-valine, glycyl-l-asparagine, l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine, l-leucyl-l-tryptophan, glycyl-l-histidine, l-glutathione reduced (γ-l-glutamyl-l-cysteinyl-glycine, GSH), and dl-leucyl-glycyl-dl-phenylalanine) with cucurbit[6]uril in aqueous formic acid (50%, v/v) have been calculated from calorimetric titrations. From these results it can be seen that the peptides form exclusion complexes with cucurbit[6]uril. Due to the polar peptide bond they are not included within the hydrophobic cavity of cucurbit[6]uril. The complex formation is favoured by entropic contributions. The release of water molecules from the polar amino groups of the peptides and the carbonyl groups of cucurbituril are responsible.     

Micellar Effects on S(N)2 Reactions of Alkyl Naphthalene-2-sulfonates:The Role of Hydrophobic Substituents

Reactivities of methyl naphthalene-2-sulfonate, MeONs, and its 6-alkyl derivatives, alkyl=Me, n-C(6)H(13) and n-C(12)H(25), 6-Me-MeONs, 6-Hex-MeONs, and 6-Do-MeONs, respectively, are compared for reactions in cetyl trialkylammonium bromide micelles, n-C(16)H(33)NR(3)Br, R=Me, Et, n-Pr, n-Bu, CTABr, CTEABr, CTPABr, CTBABr, respectively. Similar experiments were made on reactions of Br(-) with n-butyl and n-decyl naphthalene-2-sulfonates, BuONs, and DeONs, respectively. Reactions with OH(-) were followed in cetyl trialkylammonium hydroxide, alkyl=Me, Et, n-Pr, CTAOH, CTEAOH, and CTPAOH, solubility permitting. Some reactions with OH(-) or Br(-) were also followed in mixed-ion systems of CTAOMs or CTPAOMs (OMs=MeSO(3)). Micellar rate effects were analyzed by using pseudophase treatments including interionic competition in mixed-ion systems. Second-order rate constants in the micellar pseudophase increase systematically with increases in substrate hydrophobicity and for reactions with Br(-), but not OH(-), they also increase with bulk of the cationic head group. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Determining of trace metals in nuclear-grade uranium dioxide by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

A method is described for the simultaneous determination of low concentration of Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni in nuclear-grade uranium dioxide by x-ray fluroescence spectrometry, without the use of chemical treatment. The lower limits of detection range from 2 μg g^?1 for nickel and manganese to 5 μg g^?1 for copper. Samples are prepared in the form of double-layer pellets with boric acid as a binding agent. Standards are prepared in a U₃O₈ matrix, which is more chemically stable than UO₂ and has similar matrix behaviour. The correlation coefficients for calibration curves are better than 0.999. Errors range from 2.4% for chromium to 6.8% for nickel.     

Cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes withN-cyano-N′-methyl-N″(2-[(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methylthio]ethyl)guanidine

Summary N-Cyano-N-methyl-N(2-[(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-methylthio] ethyl) guanidine cimetidine (CM), complexes with Co^II, Ni^II and Cu^II are described. The compounds are of stoichiometry [M(CM)₂]SO₄ · nH₂O [M = Co^II, Ni^II or Cu^II; n = 3,3 or 4, respectively], [M(CM)₂](ClO₄)₂ [M = Co^II or Ni^II], [M(CM)₂]Cl₂ · nH₂O [M=Co^II, Ni^II or Cu^II; n = 1, 2, or 2, respectively] and [Cu(CM)SO₄] · 2H₂O. The electronic spectra of the compounds in solid state, magnetic susceptibilities and i.r. and e.p.r. spectra were studied. Octahedral environments are proposed for the complexes: [M(CM)₂]SO₄·nH₂O, [M(CM)₂](ClO₄)₂, [Ni(CM)₂]Cl₂ · 2H₂O, [Cu(CM)₂]Cl₂ · 2H₂O and [Cu(CM)SO₄] · 2H₂O and a tetrahedral structure for [Co(CM)₂]Cl₂ · H₂O.     

Individual Reduction Potentials of the Iron Ions in Fe(2)S(2) and High-Potential Fe(4)S(4) Ferredoxins

The DelPhi program package has been used to confirm that the span in reduction potentials among high-potential Fe(4)S(4) ferredoxins must be mainly ascribed to the net protein charges arising from acidic and basic residues. Subsequently, the order of the individual reduction potentials of the iron ions in Fe(2)S(2) ferredoxins as found from NMR spectroscopy was explained mainly on the basis of different solvation contributions to the electrostatic potential. The individual reduction potentials of the iron ions in high-potential Fe(4)S(4) ferredoxins, again available from NMR spectroscopy, are only qualitatively reproduced. It is proposed that the protein triggers a distortion in the cluster which would be a further contribution to the electrochemical inequivalence of the individual iron ions.     

New insights into the material chemistry of polycaprolactone-grafted cellulose nanofibrils/polyurethane nanocomposites

Polycaprolactone (PCL) was grafted to TEMPO-oxidized nanocellulose (TONCs) through a classical ring-opening polymerization reaction mediated by the surface TONC hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. The PCL increased the thermal stability and hydrophobicity without compromising the crystallinity. When TONCs and PCL-grafted TONCs (PTONC) were compared with respect to their perfusion within a segmented polyurethane matrix (CLPU), PTONC dispersed far better as evidenced by increased storage modulus and Young’s modulus. The mechanical strength of the PTONC nanocomposites was nearly that of unmodified TONCs while at a low content (<3 wt%). Furthermore, PTONC in CLPU promoted micro-phase separation of the matrix leading to a smaller decrease in loss factor and elongation at break for the nanocomposites, highly superior to unmodified TONCs. Thus, PTONC as a reinforcement agent enhanced the mechanical properties and ductility of CLPU.     

Liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry enantioseparation of pomalidomide on cyclodextrin‐bonded chiral stationary phases and the elucidation of the chiral recognition mechanisms by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling

A sensitive and validated liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry method was developed for the enantioseparation of the racemic mixture of pomalidomide, a novel, second‐generation immunomodulatory drug, using β‐cyclodextrin‐bonded stationary phases. Four cyclodextrin columns (β‐, hydroxypropyl‐β‐, carboxymethyl‐β‐, and sulfobutyl‐β‐cyclodextrin) were screened and the effects of eluent composition, flow rate, temperature, and organic modifier on enantioseparation were studied. Optimized parameters, offering baseline separation (resolution = 2.70 ± 0.02) were the following: β‐cyclodextrin stationary phase, thermostatted at 15°C, and mobile phase consisting of methanol/0.1% acetic acid 10:90 v/v, delivered with 0.8 mL/min flow rate. For the optimized parameter at multiple reaction monitoring mode 274.1–201.0 transition with 20 eV collision energy and 100 V fragmentor voltage the limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 0.75 and 2.00 ng/mL, respectively. Since enantiopure standards were not available, elution order was determined upon comparison of the circular dichroism signals of the separated pomalidomide enantiomers with that of enantiopure thalidomide. The mechanisms underlying the chiral discrimination between the enantiomers were also investigated. Pomalidomide‐β‐cyclodextrin inclusion complex was characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular modeling. The thermodynamic aspects of chiral separation were also studied.     

Functional Arrays for Light Energy Capture and Charge Separation

This article draws, with a simplified but rigorous approach, the typical procedure for the design and optimization of functional multicomponent structures for light to chemical energy conversion for two series of multipartite structures based on prototypical chromophores: polypyridyl metal complexes and porphyrinoids. Starting from a photophysical study performed by steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopic methods, the full deactivation dynamics of the light‐absorbing chromophore(s) are disclosed. The preferred deactivation step (electron transfer in this case) is then optimized. This can be done by simply operating on the solvent, but also by changing structure/components that can alter electronic and nuclear factors, via continuous feedback with the research groups in charge of the synthesis. With a presentation suitable for a wide audience, it is here discussed how the effective design of functional multicomponent structures for charge separation can be achieved.