Ultrafiltration membrane for electrophoretic capturing of pathogens for AFM imaging

This communication describes a simple and rapid technique for electrophoretically assisted capture of phages, viruses, and other pathogens on the surface of an ultrafiltration membrane that can be considered smooth at the nanoscale. The surface was prepared by coating commercial dialysis membrane with a micrometer-thick layer of cross-linked dextran or globular proteins. To ensure strong adherence of the coating, the surface of the dialysis membrane was activated in cold plasma. It was shown that the root-mean-square roughness of the coating was well below 1 nm when the polymer solution used for coating was allowed to slowly dry through a dialysis membrane left in direct contact with mica. Relatively small viral particles (e.g., fd phages 0.7 microm long and only 3.5 nm high in the dry state) are readily visible by AFM following electrophoretic capture from suspensions containing as few as 1 x 10(6) particles/mL onto membranes prepared as described.     

Collapse of single-wall carbon nanotubes is diameter dependent

We present classical molecular dynamics simulations demonstrating that single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles collapse under hydrostatic pressure. The collapse pressures obtained as a function of nanotube diameter are in excellent quantitative agreement with new data presented here for small diameter (d approximately 0.8 nm) SWNTs, and the majority of previously published results, although there remain some unreconciled contradictions in the literature. The collapse pressure is found to be independent of the nanotube chirality, and a lower limit on the largest SWNT that remains inflated at atmospheric pressure is established (d>4.16 nm).     

Dynamic Data Structures for a Direct Search Algorithm

The DIRECT (DIviding RECTangles) algorithm of Jones, Perttunen, and Stuckman (Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, vol. 79, no. 1, pp. 157–181, 1993), a variant of Lipschitzian methods for bound constrained global optimization, has proved effective even in higher dimensions. However, the performance of a DIRECT implementation in real applications depends on the characteristics of the objective function, the problem dimension, and the desired solution accuracy. Implementations with static data structures often fail in practice, since it is difficult to predict memory resource requirements in advance. This is especially critical in multidisciplinary engineering design applications, where the DIRECT optimization is just one small component of a much larger computation, and any component failure aborts the entire design process. To make the DIRECT global optimization algorithm efficient and robust on large-scale, multidisciplinary engineering problems, a set of dynamic data structures is proposed here to balance the memory requirements with execution time, while simultaneously adapting to arbitrary problem size. The focus of this paper is on design issues of the dynamic data structures, and related memory management strategies. Numerical computing techniques and modifications of Jones' original DIRECT algorithm in terms of stopping rules and box selection rules are also explored. Performance studies are done for synthetic test problems with multiple local optima. Results for application to a site-specific system simulator for wireless communications systems (S ⁴ W) are also presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed dynamic data structures for an implementation of DIRECT.     

Photoleucine Survives Backbone Cleavage by Electron Transfer Dissociation. A Near-UV Photodissociation and Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation Action Spectroscopy Study

We report a combined experimental and computational study aimed at elucidating the structure of N-terminal fragment ions of the c type produced by electron transfer dissociation of photo-leucine (L*) peptide ions GL*GGKX. The c ₄ ion from GL*GGK is found to retain an intact diazirine ring that undergoes selective photodissociation at 355 nm, followed by backbone cleavage. Infrared multiphoton dissociation action spectra point to the absence in the c ₄ ion of a diazoalkane group that could be produced by thermal isomerization of vibrationally hot ions. The c ₄ ion from ETD of GL*GGK is assigned an amide structure by a close match of the IRMPD action spectrum and calculated IR absorption. The energetics and kinetics of c ₄ ion dissociations are discussed.

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Functional polymers and sequential copolymers by phase-transfer catalysis. 15. Thermotropic copolyethers based on 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl,bisphenol a and 1,9-dibromononane

Thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) copolyethers have been synthesized from 1,9-dibromononane, a nonmesogenic bisphenol (4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol [BPA]) and a mesogenic bisphenol (4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl [HB]) by a two-phase (organic solvent—aqueous NaOH) phase-transfer catalyzed polyetherification. LC polyethers were obtained for copolymers containing as much as 70 mol % BPA. Optical polarizing microscopy and DSC have revealed smectic mesomorphism for all the copolyethers. The influence of both copolymer composition and microstructural changes, including the nature of the chain ends, upon the mesomorphic properties of these copolyethers have been discussed.     

Mechanism and dynamics of azobenzene photoisomerization

The excited-state dynamics of trans-azobenzene were investigated by femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics. Two near-degenerate pipi* excited states, S2 and S3,4, were identified in a region hitherto associated with only one excited state. These results help to explain contradictory reports about the photoisomerization mechanism and the wavelength dependence of the quantum yield. A new model for the isomerization mechanism is proposed.     

Ion trap MS(n) genealogical mapping-approaches for structure elucidation of novel products of consecutive fragmentations of morphinans

The analysis of data within multi-generational, genealogical, electrospray ionization/MS(n) fragmentation maps is discussed in reference to the structure elucidation of morphinans, an important class of pharmacological compounds. Various general approaches to separate and understand observed processes are discussed. These include: (1) Simple synthetic schemes incorporating deuterium and (13)C into morphinans to study later-generation, O-methyl group migration; (2) labeling to understand 'intense' signals for even-electron to odd-electron ion 'switching' events; (3) gas phase 'synthesis' of proposed MS(3) ions via an independent route, using chemical ionization (CI) MS/MS of naphthalenes and analysis via a bench-top El/Cl ion trap; (4) a useful synthetic paradigm for generating proposed carbonium ion structures at MS(4) via electrospray ionization (ESI) of easily synthesized amines; (5) the analysis of an oxidation product and correlation of MS(n) data of a switched, odd-electron species with electron ionization and low-pressure, low-energy charge exchange data; and (6) a new way of summarizing MS(n) data. Copyright -Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stark slowing asymmetric rotors: weak-field-seeking states and nonadiabatic transitions

Stark deceleration is one of the few methods that can be used to slow polyatomic molecules. We present calculations of Stark shift energies, a quantitative analysis of nonadiabatic transition probabilities, and orientational distribution functions applicable to typical Stark slowing conditions for the two small asymmetric rotors nitromethane and acetaldehyde. We show that asymmetric polyatomic molecules are good candidates for Stark slowing.     

Particle-stabilized surfactant-free medium internal phase emulsions as templates for porous nanocomposite materials: poly-Pickering-Foams

We report on the successful use of particle-stabilized Medium Internal Phase Emulsion (MIPE) templates for the synthesis of porous polymer foams. In this case, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to stabilize the minority phase as the continuous phase, through adsorption at the interface. The addition of the CNTs not only provides processing advantages (no need for traditional non-ionic molecular surfactants) but also enhances the mechanical and electrical properties of the final polyFoams. This approach allows the manufacture of both closed- and open-celled porous polymer foams in a one-pot process with porosities up to 66%.