The explicit construction of irreducible polynomials over finite fields

For a finite field GF(q) of odd prime power order q, and n 1, we construct explicitly a sequence of monic irreducible reciprocal polynomials of degree n2 ^m (m = 1, 2, 3, ...) over GF(q). It is the analog for fields of odd order of constructions of Wiedemann and of Meyn over GF(2). We also deduce iterated presentations of GF (q ⁿ 2).     

Surface forces,supramolecular polymers,and inversion symmetry

The effects of supramolecular equilibrium polymers on surface forces are studied by both a phenomenological Landau type analysis and a molecular model based on a Bethe-Guggenheim approximation. We point out that surface forces brought about by equilibrium polymers may be completely different from what can be found with "ordinary" polymers. The new feature is the role of inversion (a)symmetry or "directionality" of the associating unit molecules ("monomers"). Symmetric B-B monomers (where B denotes a self-complementary binding group) give rise to nondirectional chains and lead to attractive forces between similar surfaces. Asymmetric A-D monomers (where A and D denote complementary acceptor and donor groups, respectively) produce directional chains and can cause strong repulsion. The range of the attractive force has a maximum at intermediate concentration, while the range of the repulsive force increases over the whole concentration range.     

Compensation of steric demand by cation-pi interactions,cobaltocenium cations as guests in tetraurea calix[4]arene dimers

The affinities of ferrocene (2) and the cobaltocenium cation (3+), which have roughly the same size and differ in their charge, towards the inner cavity of the dimeric capsule formed by tetraurea calix[4]arene (1) were studied in C2D4Cl2 solutions. While 3+, which occupies more than 75% of the internal volume of the dimer, is readily encapsulated this is not the case for 2. This is probably due to cation-pi interactions, which operate only between 3+ and the aromatic rings of the calix[4]arene dimer. We found that the affinity of the cobaltocenium cation is higher than that of the tropylium cation (4+) and is only 2-3 times less than that of the tetraethylammoniun cation (5+). From the variable temperature 1H NMR spectra of this capsule, the free energy of activation at 298 K (deltaGdouble dagger(298K)) for the reorientation of the hydrogen bonded belt between the two parts of the dimer could be determined by total line shape analysis for the aromatic protons of the calixarene. The value of 14.3 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1) for the dimeric capsules of 3+ PF6- is very similar to the free activation energy found for dimeric capsules of 1 with 4+ PF6- and 5+ PF6- in C2D4Cl2. It becomes significantly lower, if PF6- is replaced by BF4-. We also found that ten times more DMSO is needed to disrupt the capsule 1 x 3+ x 1 than the corresponding 1 x 1 dimer containing benzene as guest. This demonstrates again the importance of the cation-pi interactions for the stability of such hydrogen-bonded dimeric capsules.     

Isotope fractionation of water during evaporation without condensation

The microscopic events engendering liquid water evaporation have received much attention over the last century, but remain incompletely understood. We present measurements of isotope fractionation occurring during free molecular evaporation from liquid microjets and show that the isotope ratios of evaporating molecules exhibit dramatic differences from equilibrium vapor values, strong variations with the solution deuterium mole fraction, and a clear temperature dependence. These results indicate the existence of an energetic barrier to evaporation and that the evaporation coefficient of water is less than unity. These new insights into water evaporation promise to advance our understanding of the processes that control the formation and lifetime of clouds in the atmosphere.     

Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of adenine and monomethylated adenines in solution: implications for the nonradiative decay mechanism

The DNA base adenine and four monomethylated adenines were studied in solution at room temperature by femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. Transient absorption at visible probe wavelengths was used to directly observe relaxation of the lowest excited singlet state (S(1) state) populated by a UV pump pulse. In H(2)O, transient absorption signals from adenine decay biexponentially with lifetimes of 0.18 +/- 0.03 ps and 8.8 +/- 1.2 ps. In contrast, signals from monomethylated adenines decay monoexponentially. The S(1) lifetimes of 1-, 3-, and 9-methyladenine are similar to one another and are all below 300 fs, while 7-methyladenine has a significantly longer lifetime (tau = 4.23 +/- 0.13 ps). On this basis, the biexponential signal of adenine is assigned to an equilibrium mixture of the 7H- and 9H-amino tautomers. Excited-state absorption (ESA) by 9-methyladenine is 50% stronger than by 7-methyladenine. Assuming that ESA by the corresponding tautomers of adenine is unchanged, we estimate the population of 7H-adenine in H(2)O at room temperature to be 22 +/- 4% (estimated standard deviation). To understand how the environment affects nonradiative decay, we performed the first solvent-dependent study of nucleobase dynamics on the ultrafast time scale. In acetonitrile, both lowest energy tautomers of adenine are present in roughly similar proportions as in water. The lifetimes of the 9-substituted adenines depend somewhat more sensitively on the solvent than those of the 7-substituted adenines. Transient signals for adenine in H(2)O and D(2)O are identical. These solvent effects strongly suggest that excited-state tautomerization is not an important nonradiative decay pathway. Instead, the data are most consistent with electronic energy relaxation due to state crossings between the optically prepared (1)pipi* state and one or more (1)npi* states and the electronic ground state. The pattern of lifetimes measured for the monomethylated adenines suggests a special role for the (1)npi* state associated with the N7 electron lone pair.     

Continuous sample deposition from reversed-phase liquid chromatography to tracks on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization precoated target for the analysis of protein digests

Peptide mass fingerprinting by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the standard high-throughput methods for protein identification today. Traditionally this method has been based on spotting peptide mixtures onto MALDI targets. While this method works well for more abundant proteins, low-abundance proteins mixed with high-abundance proteins tend to go undetected due to ion suppression effects, instrumental dynamic range limitations and chemical noise interference. We present an alternative approach where liquid chromatography (LC) effluent is continuously collected as linear tracks on a MALDI target. In this manner the chromatographic separation is spatially preserved on the target, which enables generation of off-line LC-MS and LC-MS/MS data by MALDI. LC-MALDI sample collection provides improved sensitivity and dynamic range, spatial resolution of peptides along the sample track, and permits peptide mass mapping of low-abundance proteins in mixtures containing high-abundance proteins. In this work, standard and ribosomal protein digests are resolved and captured using LC-MALDI sample collection and analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS.