Close‐to‐convexity of normalized Dini functions

In this paper necessary and sufficient conditions are deduced for the close‐to‐convexity of some special combinations of Bessel functions of the first kind and their derivatives by using a result of Shah and Trimble about transcendental entire functions with univalent derivatives and some newly discovered Mittag–Leffler expansions for Bessel functions of the first kind.     

Asymmetric Modulation of Protein Order–Disorder Transitions by Phosphorylation and Partner Binding

As for many intrinsically disordered proteins, order–disorder transitions in the N‐terminal oligomerization domain of the multifunctional nucleolar protein nucleophosmin (Npm‐N) are central to its function, with phosphorylation and partner binding acting as regulatory switches. However, the mechanism of this transition and its regulation remain poorly understood. In this study, single‐molecule and ensemble experiments revealed pathways with alternative sequences of folding and assembly steps for Npm‐N. Pathways could be switched by altering the ionic strength. Phosphorylation resulted in pathway‐specific effects, and decoupled folding and assembly steps to facilitate disorder. Conversely, binding to a physiological partner locked Npm‐N in ordered pentamers and counteracted the effects of phosphorylation. The mechanistic plasticity found in the Npm‐N order–disorder transition enabled a complex interplay of phosphorylation and partner‐binding steps to modulate its folding landscape.     

A panchromatic boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel distyryl-substituted boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) dye displays interesting properties as a sensitizer in DSSC systems, opening the way to further exploration of structure-efficiency correlation within this class of dyes.     

Parametrization, molecular dynamics simulation, and calculation of electron spin resonance spectra of a nitroxide spin label on a polyalanine alpha-helix

The nitroxide spin label 1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline-3-methyl-methanethiosulfonate (MTSSL), commonly used in site-directed spin labeling of proteins, is studied with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. After developing force field parameters for the nitroxide moiety and the spin label linker, we simulate MTSSL attached to a polyalanine alpha-helix in explicit solvent to elucidate the factors affecting its conformational dynamics. Electron spin resonance spectra at 9 and 250 GHz are simulated in the time domain using the MD trajectories and including global rotational diffusion appropriate for the tumbling of T4 Lysozyme in solution. Analysis of the MD simulations reveals the presence of significant hydrophobic interactions of the spin label with the alanine side chains.     

Quantum dot nanocrystals having guanosine imprinted nanoshell for DNA recognition

Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) as a recognition element for sensors are increasingly of interest and MIP nanoparticles have started to appear in the literature. In this study, we have proposed a novel thiol ligand-capping method with polymerizable methacryloylamido-cysteine (MAC) attached to CdS quantum dots (QDs), reminiscent of a self-assembled monolayer and have reconstructed surface shell by synthetic host polymers based on molecular imprinting method for DNA recognition. In this method, methacryloylamidohistidine-platinium (MAH-Pt(II)) is used as a new metal-chelating monomer via metal coordination-chelation interactions and guanosine templates of DNA. Nanoshell sensors with guanosine templates give a cavity that is selective for guanosine and its analogues. The guanosine can simultaneously chelate to Pt(II) metal ion and fit into the shape-selective cavity. Thus, the interaction between Pt(II) ion and free coordination spheres has an effect on the binding ability of the CdS QD nanosensor. The binding affinity of the guanosine imprinted nanocrystals has investigated by using the Langmuir and Scatchard methods, and experiments have shown the shape-selective cavity formation with O6 and N7 of a guanosine nucleotide (K(a) = 4.841x10(6) mol L(-1)) and a free guanine base (K(a) = 0.894x10(6) mol L(-1)). Additionally, the guanosine template of the nanocrystals is more favored for single stranded DNA compared to double stranded DNA.     

Examination of phase changes in the CuAl high-temperature shape memory alloy with the addition of a third element

In the present study, a ternary CuAl-based alloy was produced by adding 2% chromium, niobium, titanium and hafnium instead of 2% copper from the Cu₈₈Al₁₂ (% in mass) shape memory alloy, and the phase changes in the alloy were examined. As a result of the X-ray analyses performed at room temperature, the α phase, which is rich in copper, was detected in the main sample, i.e., the Cu₈₈Al₁₂ alloy, and the β ₁ ¹ and γ ₁ ^? phases were detected in the four of the Cu₈₆Al₁₂Cr₂, Cu₈₆Al₁₂Nb₂, Cu₈₆Al₁₂Ti₂ and Cu₈₆Al₁₂Hf₂ alloys. All of phases were clearly seen in SEM images. As a result of the mapping performed during chemical analysis, it was observed clearly that there appeared a precipitation phase in the Cu₈₆Al₁₂Cr₂, Cu₈₆Al₁₂Nb₂, Cu₈₆Al₁₂Ti₂ alloys due to the additions. It was also observed that the additions were effective in forming a martensite phase in the Cu₈₈Al₁₂ alloy. In differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, which were taken to support these measurements, no martensitic phase transformations were detected in dual primary alloy (Cu₈₈Al₁₂); however, a clear martensite phase transformation was detected in ternary alloys (Cu₈₆Al₁₂Cr₂, Cu₈₆Al₁₂Nb₂, Cu₈₆Al₁₂Ti₂ and Cu₈₆Al₁₂Hf₂) in the first DSC measurement. Then, when the DSC cycle was applied to the ternary alloy, both the austenite transformation and martensite transformation temperatures were clearly seen, and it was claimed that all the alloys showed high-temperature shape memory alloy properties.     

Convolutive blind source separation by minimizing mutual information between segments of signals

A method to perform convolutive blind source separation of super-Gaussian sources by minimizing the mutual information between segments of output signals is presented. The proposed approach is essentially an implementation of an idea previously proposed by Pham. The formulation of mutual information in the proposed criterion makes use of a nonparametric estimator of Renyi's /spl alpha/-entropy, which becomes Shannon's entropy in the limit as /spl alpha/ approaches 1. Since /spl alpha/ can be any number greater than 0, this produces a family of criteria having an infinite number of members. Interestingly, it appears that Shannon's entropy cannot be used for convolutive source separation with this type of estimator. In fact, only one value of /spl alpha/ appears to be appropriate, namely /spl alpha/=2, which corresponds to Renyi's quadratic entropy. Four experiments are included to show the efficacy of the proposed criterion.     

Monitoring the conformational fluctuations of DNA hairpins using single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

We present single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spFRET) observations of individual opening and closing events of surface-immobilized DNA hairpins. Two glass-surface immobilization strategies employing the biotin-streptavidin interaction and a third covalent immobilization strategy involving formation of a disulfide bond to a thiol-derivatized glass surface are described and evaluated. Results from image and time-trace data from surface-immobilized molecules are compared with those from freely diffusing molecules, which are unperturbed by surface interactions. Using a simple two-state model to analyze the open and closed time distributions for immobilized hairpins, we calculate the lifetimes of the two states. For hairpins with a loop size of 40 adenosines and a stem size of either seven or nine bases, the respective closed-state lifetimes are 45 +/- 2.4 and 103 +/- 6.0 ms, while the respective open-state lifetimes are 133 +/- 5.5 and 142 +/- 22 ms. These results show that the open state of the hairpin is favored over the closed state of the hairpin under these conditions, consistent with previous diffusion fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) experiments on poly(A)-loop hairpins. The measured open-state lifetime is about 30 times longer than the calculated 3 ms open-state lifetime for both hairpins based on a closing rate scaling factor derived from a previous FCS study for hairpins in diffusion with 12-30 thymidines in their loops. As predicted, the closed-state lifetime is dependent on the stem length and is independent of the loop characteristics. Our findings indicate that current models should consider sequence dependence in calculating ssDNA thermostability. The surface immobilization chemistries and other experimental techniques described here should prove useful for studies of single-molecule populations and dynamics.     

Ti (IV) attached‐phosphonic acid functionalized capillary monolith as a stationary phase for in‐syringe‐type fast and robust enrichment of phosphopeptides

In this study, poly(vinylphosphonic acid‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate), poly(VPA‐co‐EDMA) capillary monolith was synthesized as a starting material for obtaining a stationary phase for microscale enrichment of phosphopeptides. The chelation of active phosphonate groups with Ti (IV) ions gave a macroporous monolithic column with a mean pore size of 5.4 μm. The phosphopeptides from different sources were enriched on Ti (IV)‐attached poly(VPA‐co‐EDMA) monolith using a syringe‐pump. The monolithic capillary columns exhibited highly sensitive/selective enrichment performance with phosphoprotein concentrations as low as 1.0 fmol/mL. Six different phosphopeptides were detected with high intensity by the treatment of β‐casein digest with the concentration of 1.0 fmol/mL, using Ti (IV)@poly(VPA‐co‐EDMA) monolith. Highly selective enrichment of phosphopeptides was also successfully carried out even at trace amounts, in a complex mixture of digested proteins (molar ratio of β‐casein to bovine serum albumin, 1:1500) and three phosphopeptides were successfully detected. Four highly intense signals of phosphopeptides in human serum were also observed with high signal‐to‐noise ratio and a clear background after enrichment with Ti (IV)@poly(VPA‐co‐EDMA) monolith. It was concluded that the capillary microextraction system enabled fast, efficient and robust enrichment of phosphopeptides from microscale complex samples. The whole enrichment process was completed within 20 min, which was shorter than in the previously reported studies.