Effect of bovine serum albumin on the surface properties of ionic liquid-type Gemini surfactant

The effect of bovine serum albumin on the surface properties of IL-type gemini surfactant ([C₁₀-4-C₁₀im]Br₂), have been investigated by surface tension method. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) as a function of BSA concentrations at various temperatures was investigated. The CMC of [C₁₀-4-C₁₀im]Br₂ increases with increasing the concentration of BSA as well as the temperature of the system. The interfacial parameters viz; maximum surface excess concentration (Γ_max), the minimum area per molecule (A_min), and surface pressure at CMC (Π_cmc) were calculated. In addition, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption and micellization were evaluated by using surface tension data. The results indicated that the binding of [C₁₀-4-C₁₀im]Br₂ to BSA is spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The process is entropy driven and hydrophobic interactions are the major driving forces.     

A relaxation times coupling method to construct acoustic relaxation calibration for two-frequency measuring gas compositions

In our previous work (Hu et al., 2014), a method has been proposed to detect gas compositions by locating the acoustic spectral peaks, which can be detected only by two-frequency acoustic measurements in practice. However, as a ‘Detection Calibration’, the effective relaxation area (ERA) constructed by existing theoretical model cannot match the two-frequency measurements when there are more than one strong relaxational components in gas mixtures. This paper proposes a method to construct the ERA by coupling the decoupled single relaxation times together to a whole relaxation time. For gas mixtures with only one single relaxation process, the predicted ERA results match with the experimental data better than those predicted by the existing model. Moreover, for gas mixtures in which more than one relaxation process are significant, the ERA results predicted by the proposed method also match with the detection results of two-frequency measurements better than the existing model. This relaxation time coupling based ERA constructing method is validated by the application in low-quality natural gas detection.     

Intra-abdominal fat area is a predictor for new onset of individual components of metabolic syndrome: MEtabolic syndRome and abdominaL ObesiTy (MERLOT study)

Objective: To investigate the significance of intra-abdominal fat area (IAFA) on new onset of individual components of the metabolic syndrome: high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or hyperglycemia. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study using checkup data of a hospital from 1994 to 2010. Of 25,255 subjects, we examined 1,380 Japanese, who underwent computed tomography to measure IAFA and had no metabolic syndrome components at baseline. Results: During 3.6 years of the mean follow-up period, one of metabolic syndrome components occurred in 752 subjects. Of three components, high blood pressure was more prevalent. The multiple Cox regression analysis disclosed that IAFA is significantly associated with onset of metabolic syndrome components (HR: 1.05 per 10 cm², 95%CI: 1.03–1.07). This finding was independent of BMI, and significant even in non-obese individuals with body mass index <25 kg/m². Conclusions: MERLOT study demonstrates that IAFA is an independent predictor for new onset of individual components of the metabolic syndrome, even in non-obese healthy Japanese.     

Relation between structure and enthalpy for stacking interactions of aromatic molecules

An approximately linear correlation has been found between the enthalpy of complexation and the area of overlap of the chromophores using published structural and thermodynamical data on the self- and hetero-association of aromatic molecules measured under similar solution conditions. This finding is consistent with the assumption that short-range van-der-Waals forces dominate over other contributions to the enthalpy of stacking of aromatic molecules. It provides a ‘model-independent’ approach for a priori estimation of the enthalpy of aromatic–aromatic stacking interactions from knowledge of the structural properties or vice versa.     

反导火力单元空间杀伤区内拦截概率研究

拦截概率是评价反导作战效能的重要指标,对交战前任务规划至关重要。选取某一拦截弹建立其在空间的可达集区域,针对中段反导逆轨拦截情况,确立其在空间中的杀伤区。针对杀伤区内任一点可能为拦截点的情况,对某一来袭导弹的弹道轨迹,选取可拦截弧段上的理论拦截点,通过在选取不同高度上的理论拦截点上,调整拦截弹的发射位置,从而得到拦截点在杀伤区内不同高度,不同距离以及在不同的交汇角时对拦截概率的影响。为反导作战的阵地部署研究和交战策略提供了一定的参考。     

An analysis of peak overpressures in vented gaseous explosions

Experimental data from vented explosion tests using stoichiometric methane–air and 18% hydrogen–air mixtures in a 63.7 m³ chamber with a 2.7 or 5.4 m² vent are presented. Results from experiments conducted using stoichiometric propane–air in 2.42 m³ vessel with a 0.26 m² vent are also reported. The tests were focused on the effect of fuel, enclosure size, ignition location, vent size, and obstacles on the pressure development of a propagating flame in a vented enclosure. The dependence of the maximum pressure generated on the experimental parameters was analyzed. It was found that the pressure maxima may be caused by pressure transients controlled by the interplay of the maximum-flame area, the burning velocity, and the overpressure generated by an external explosion. A simple model was proposed to estimate the maximum pressure for each of the main pressure transients. The model was found to agree with the experimental data within the experimental uncertainty.     

FEW: A workflow tool for free energy calculations of ligand binding

In the later stages of drug design projects, accurately predicting relative binding affinities of chemically similar compounds to a biomolecular target is of utmost importance for making decisions based on the ranking of such compounds. So far, the extensive application of binding free energy approaches has been hampered by the complex and time‐consuming setup of such calculations. We introduce the free energy workflow (FEW) tool that facilitates setup and execution of binding free energy calculations with the AMBER suite for multiple ligands. FEW allows performing free energy calculations according to the implicit solvent molecular mechanics (MM‐PB(GB)SA), the linear interaction energy, and the thermodynamic integration approaches. We describe the tool's architecture and functionality and demonstrate in a show case study on Factor Xa inhibitors that the time needed for the preparation and analysis of free energy calculations is considerably reduced with FEW compared to a fully manual procedure. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities—Surface Active Properties Relation of Novel Dischiff Base Cationic Gemini Amphiphiles Bearing Homogeneous Hydrophobes

A novel series of cationic Gemini amphiphiles containing Dischiff base species were synthesized and their chemical structures were determined using different analytical tools. Their surface properties were determined using surface tension measurements. The adsorption and micellization thermodynamic parameters were calculated using Gibb's equations at 25°C. The surface parameters were also determined including critical micelle concentration, effectiveness, efficiency, maximum surface excess, minimum surface area, interfacial tension, and emulsification power. The synthesized cationic Gemini surfactants were evaluated as bactericides for gram negative and gram positive bacteria and also against sulfur reducing bacteria (SRB). The results of the cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds against the targeted bacterial strains were promising and completely dependent on the surface activity of these compounds.     

Pairwise decomposition of an MMGBSA energy function for computational protein design

Computational protein design (CPD) aims at predicting new proteins or modifying existing ones. The computational challenge is huge as it requires exploring an enormous sequence and conformation space. The difficulty can be reduced by considering a fixed backbone and a discrete set of sidechain conformations. Another common strategy consists in precalculating a pairwise energy matrix, from which the energy of any sequence/conformation can be quickly obtained. In this work, we examine the pairwise decomposition of protein MMGBSA energy functions from a general theoretical perspective, and an implementation proposed earlier for CPD. It includes a Generalized Born term, whose many‐body character is overcome using an effective dielectric environment, and a Surface Area term, for which we present an improved pairwise decomposition. A detailed evaluation of the error introduced by the decomposition on the different energy components is performed. We show that the error remains reasonable, compared to other uncertainties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.