Two-level structured self-adaptive surfaces with reversibly tunable properties

We report a route to fabricate two-level structured self-adaptive surfaces (SAS) of polymer materials. The first level of structure is built by a rough polymer film that consists of needlelike structures of micrometer size. The second level of structure is formed by the nanoscopic self-assembled domains of a demixed polymer brush irreversibly grafted onto the needles. By exposing the surface to solvents that are selective to one of the components of the brush, we reversibly tune the surface properties. The large-scale surface structure amplifies the response and enables us to control wettability, adhesion, and chemical composition of the surface over a wide range.     

Novel ligands based on bromosubstituted hydroxycarbonyl [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives: synthesis and application in asymmetric catalysis

New planar-chiral hydroxycarbonyl [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives, 4-acetyl-13-bromo-5-hydroxy[2.2]paracyclophane (Br-АНРС, 63%) and 4-benzoyl-13-bromo-5-hydroxy[2.2]paracyclophane (Br-BHPC, 53%), were synthesized and reacted with the enantiomers of α-phenylethylamine to form corresponding Schiff bases, 12-bromo-4-hydroxy-5[1-(1-phenyl-ethylimino)-ethyl]-[2.2]paracyclophane and 12-bromo-4-hydroxy-5[1-(1-phenyl-ethylimino)-(phenyl)methylen-[2.2]paracyclophane. The diastereomers of the imines were resolved and their absolute configurations and consequently the corresponding configurations of the enantiomers of Br-АНРС were determined by X-ray diffraction. Enantiomerically pure Schiff bases were applied as ligands to form catalysts for the enantioselective addition reaction of diethylzinc with benzaldehyde where 1-phenylpropanol was obtained with 77–91% ee.     

Non-linear inplane vibrations of wrinkling films

This paper presents analytical investigations of non-linear effects caused by wrinkling of films in the course of contraction and shearing. As shown, such non-linearities are important even for very small amplitudes of vibrations. Approximate analytical solutions for inplane vibrations are derived.     

Dynamics of film

The general theory of films as two-dimensional continua are elaborated upon. As physical realizations of such a model this paper examines: inextensible films, elastic films, and nets.The suggested dynamic equations have enabled us to find out the characteristic speeds of wave propagation of the invariants of external and internal geometry and formulate the criteria of instability of their shape. Also included herein is a detailed account of the equation describing the film motions beyond the limits of the shape stability accompanied by the formation of wrinkles.The theory is illustrated by examples.The effort was supported by Dr. A. Amos, Materials and Structures Division, Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.This paper presents the results of one phase of research carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under Contract No. NAS7-100 sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.     

Stereoselective electrocatalytic transformation of arylidene- or alkylidenemalononitriles and malonate into alkyl (1R,5R,6R)* 6-substituted 5-cyano-4,4-dialkoxy-2-oxo-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-1-carboxylates

Electrolysis of arylidene- or alkylidenemalononitriles and malonate in alcohol in an undivided cell in the presence of sodium halide as mediator results in the stereoselective formation of alkyl (1R,5R,6R)* 6-substituted 5-cyano-4,4-dialkoxy-2-oxo-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-1-carboxylates in 50-70% yields.     

Effect of size and protein environment on electrochemical properties of gold nanoparticles on carbon electrodes

We studied the electrochemical properties of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and their complexes with proteins using square-wave voltammetry. Effect of the nanoparticle size and detection procedure was explored upon the oxidation of GNPs on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). For pre-characterized GNPs of 13, 35 and 78 nm diameter, the oxidation peak potential was + 0.98, + 1.03 and + 1.06 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively. The conjugation of GNPs with four different proteins was verified by UV–Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy indicated the formation of protein shells around GNPs. This process hampered the oxidation of GNPs on bare GCE causing pronounced decrease in the current response by an average factor of 72. GCE modification with carbon nanotubes weakly influenced the sensitivity of GNP detection but resulted in a 14.5-fold signal increase averaged for all GNP–protein complexes. The acidic dissolution and electrodeposition of GNPs or their complexes adsorbed on GCE allowed superior signal amplification directly proportional to nanoparticle size. The results are useful for the optimization of voltammetric analysis of GNP–protein complexes and can be extended to the characterization of other metal nanostructures and their complexes with biological components.     

Acid-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of N-(4,4-diethoxybutyl)sulfonamides as a novel approach to the 1-sulfonyl-2-arylpyrrolidines

Herein we report our studies on the acid-catalyzed cyclisation of N-(4,4-diethoxybutyl)sulfonamides at the presence of polyatomic phenols as an efficient one-pot approach to the synthesis of 1-sulfonyl-2-arylpyrrolidines from the acyclic precursors.     

A common repressor pool results in indeterminacy of extrinsic noise

For just over a decade, stochastic gene expression has been the focus of many experimental and theoretical studies. It is now widely accepted that noise in gene expression can be decomposed into extrinsic and intrinsic components, which have orthogonal contributions to the total noise. Intrinsic noise stems from the random occurrence of biochemical reactions and is inherent to gene expression. Extrinsic noise originates from fluctuations in the concentrations of regulatory components or random transitions in the cell's state and is imposed to the gene of interest by the intra- and extra-cellular environment. The basic assumption has been that extrinsic noise acts as a pure input on the gene of interest, which exerts no feedback on the extrinsic noise source. Thus, multiple copies of a gene would be uniformly influenced by an extrinsic noise source. Here, we report that this assumption falls short when multiple genes share a common pool of a regulatory molecule. Due to the competitive utilization of the molecules existing in this pool, genes are no longer uniformly influenced by the extrinsic noise source. Rather, they exert negative regulation on each other and thus extrinsic noise cannot be determined by the currently established method.     

Engineering the plasmon resonance of large area bimetallic nanoparticle films by laser nanostructuring for chemical sensors

Large area fabrication of metal alloy nanoparticles with tunable surface plasmon resonances on low-cost substrates is reported. A UV excimer laser was used to anneal 5 nm thick Ag Au bilayer films deposited with different composition ratios to create alloy nanoparticles. These engineered surfaces are used to investigate how the wavelength of the surface plasmon resonance affects the optical detection capability of chemical species by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.     

On the probability of the outcomes in buckling of an elastic beam

A nonlinear time-varying one-degree-of-freedom system, which is used for the modelling of the buckling of a loaded beam in Euler??s problem, is considered. For a slowly changing load, the deterministic approach in this problem fails if the trajectories pass through the separatrix. An expression for the probability of possible outcomes of the evolution of the oscillations is obtained. The analytical and numerical results are compared.