Ideal‐filter capillary electrophoresis: A highly efficient partitioning method for selection of protein binders from oligonucleotide libraries

Selection of affinity ligands for protein targets from oligonucleotide libraries currently involves multiple rounds of alternating steps of partitioning of protein‐bound oligonucleotides (binders) from protein‐unbound oligonucleotides (nonbinders). We have recently introduced ideal‐filter capillary electrophoresis (IFCE) for binder selection in a single step of partitioning. In IFCE, protein‐binder complexes and nonbinders move inside the capillary in the opposite directions, and the efficiency of their partitioning reaches 10⁹, i.e., only one of a billion molecules of nonbinders leaks through IFCE while all binders pass through. The condition of IFCE can be satisfied when the magnitude of the mobility of EOF is smaller than that of the protein‐binder complexes and larger than that of nonbinders. The efficiency of partitioning in IFCE is 10 million times higher than those of solid‐phase‐based methods of partitioning typically used in selection of affinity ligands for protein targets from oligonucleotide libraries. Here, we provide additional details on our justification for IFCE development. We elaborate on electrophoretic aspects of the method and define the theoretical range of EOF mobilities that support IFCE. Based on these theoretical results, we identify an experimental range of background electrolyte's ionic strength that supports IFCE. We also extend our interpretation of the results and discuss in‐depth IFCE's prospective in practical applications and fundamental studies.     

Making and breaking of small water clusters: A combined quantum chemical and molecular dynamics approach

We present a combined quantum chemical and molecular dynamics study of cyclic and noncyclic water n-mers ([(H₂O]_n, n = 2–6) at four different temperatures and showcase that the dynamics of small water clusters can reproduce the known properties of bulk water reasonably well. We investigate the making and breaking of the water clusters by computing the hydrogen bond strengths, average lifetimes, and relative stabilities, which are important to understand the complex solution dynamics. We compare the behavior of water clusters in the gas phase and in the solution phase as well as the variation in the properties as a function of cluster size and highlight the notably more interesting cluster dynamics of the water trimer when compared to the other water clusters. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Influence of Musa acuminate bio-filler on the thermal,mechanical and visco-elastic behavior of poly (propylene) carbonate biocomposites

Biocomposites were fabricated using poly(propylene) carbonate as matrix and cellulosic polysaccharide banana (Musa acuminate) peel powder as filler in varying concentrations (5–25?wt.%) and were characterized for their functional properties. Microscopic analysis indicated the uniform distribution and existence of microfibrils in the filler. The thermal stability of the composites was lower than the matrix till 320?°C, beyond which it increased. The visco-elastic and mechanical behavior of the biocomposites was found to be enhanced with the addition of fillers. Thus, with better thermal, visco-elastic, and mechanical properties, the biocomposite films can be a replacement for the non-biodegradable polymers for packaging applications.     

Facile strategy of fabricating multifunctional hydrogel with high performance based on hybrid graphene oxide and carbon nanotube

Here we report a facile strategy of fabricating multifunctional polyacrylamide(PAM) hydrogels based on hybrid graphene oxide (GO) sheets and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Compared to original PAM hydrogels cross-linked chemically with N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS), the hybrid hydrogels exhibit high mechanical strength (strength > 90?kPa and broken strain > 2000%), well adhesion, environmental stability, dye-loading capacity, and excellent self-healing property. This study provides a new insight for the preparation of functionalized hydrogels with carbon nano-materials, and the resultant material shows very promising performance for a range of applications.     

Predicting Mole‐Fraction‐Dependent Dissociation for Weak Acids

We demonstrate for formic and acetic acid dissolved in water as examples that the binary quantum cluster equilibrium (bQCE) approach can predict acid strengths over the whole range of acid concentrations. The acid strength increases in a complex rather than a simple way with increasing mole fraction of the acid from 0 to 0.7, reflecting the complex interplay between the dissociated ions or conjugate bases available as compared to the acid and water molecules. Furthermore, our calculated ion concentrations meet the experimental maximum of the conductivity with excellent agreement for acetic acid and satisfactorily for the formic acid/water mixture. As only a limited number of simple quantum‐chemical calculations are required for the prediction, bQCE is clearly a valuable approach to access these quantities also in non‐aqueous solutions. It is a highly valuable asset for predicting ionization processes in highly concentrated solutions, which are relevant for biological and chemical systems, as well as technological processes.     

高温作用后黄砂岩三轴压缩及细观破裂机制

为了研究高温损伤作用后黄砂岩的压缩力学性质和细观破裂机制的变化情况,对高温损伤作用后的黄砂岩进行三轴压缩实验,并对黄砂岩压缩断口进行扫描电镜(scanning electron microscope, SEM)试验,系统地分析了高温损伤对黄砂岩压缩破坏特征、压缩强度及断口细观特征的影响。通过三轴压缩实验发现:随着轴压的不断增加,温度对于黄砂岩整体强度影响更为明显;初始高温损伤程度的增加,黄砂岩三轴抗压强度呈现出先上升后下降的趋势,塑性应变程度增加;细观断口形貌主要以脆性断裂为主,局部范围内存在韧性断裂,随着温度的增加,晶体结构内部中裂纹发育更为完整,从而导致岩石宏观破坏越严重。     

Laser gain by electron collisional pumping of Ar VII–V XII

Gain coefficients have been calculated for transitions of singlet levels ns–np of orbital n=4 and n=5 in magnesium-like ions with atomic numbers Z=18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. Population inversions for 4p and 5p levels in these ions were also calculated, via electron collisional excitation, for electron temperature range of 93–231 eV and electron density range of 10¹⁶–10¹⁷ cm⁻³. Under these plasma conditions, the maximum gain that occurred for 4s–4p transition was at electron temperature of 231 eV and electron density of 4×10¹⁷ cm⁻³. Scaling of the maximum gain coefficients with atomic number Z and the plasma parameters is also presented.     

New method for strength improvement of silica optical fibers

The reliability and the expected lifetime of optical fibers used in telecommunication technologies are closely related to the chemical environment action on the silica network. To ensure the long-term mechanical strength of the optical fibers, a polymer coating was applied onto the fiber surface during fiber fabrication. This external coating is vital to ensure a long optical fiber lifetime. Its protective action includes several functions, such as to protect glass fiber from any external damage, to limit chemical attack, in particular that of water, and finally to ensure fatigue protection and bending insensitivity, especially during handling and in-service installation. Since the mechanical strength of the fiber is controlled by its surface characteristics, we propose a new method for increasing fiber strength.The silica optical fibers used were 125 μm in diameter, with a 62.5 μm thick epoxy-acrylate coating. Fibers were rolled up around two similar cylinders. Using a screw, these cylinders moved away from one another and thus subjected the fibers to stretching. Submitted to this mechanical loading, the distended fibers were plunged into hot water at 65 or 85 °C and aged for several days. Then, the fibers were removed from the water and various weights were suspended on the fiber ends. Thus, the fibers were subjected to a tensile loading in static fatigue for several days. Just before fiber rupture, the fibers were unloaded and subjected to dynamic tensile tests at different velocities.Result analysis proved that the aging in hot water increased the fiber strength. The Weibull's diagram study shows a bimodal dispersion of defects on the fiber surface and the important role of polymer coating.     

Effect of annealing temperature for Si0.8Ge0.2 epitaxial thin films

This study investigates the effect of annealing temperature on the Si_0.8Ge_0.2 epitaxial layers. The Si_0.8Ge_0.2 epitaxial layers were deposited by using ultrahigh vacuum chemical vapor deposition (UHVCVD) with different annealing temperatures (400-1000 °C). Various measurement technologies, including high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and interfacial adhesion tester, were used to characterize the materials properties of the SiGe epilayers. The experimental results showed that the SiGe epilayers gradually reduced lattice-mismatch to the underlying substrate as annealing temperature increased (from 400 to 800 °C), which resulted from a high temperature enhancing interdiffusion between the epilayers and the underlying substrate. In addition, the average grain size of the SiGe films increased from 53.3 to 58 nm with increasing annealing temperature. The surface roughness in thin film annealed at 800 °C was 0.46 nm. Moreover, the interfacial adhesion strength increased from 476 ± 9 to 578 ± 12 kg/cm² with increasing the annealing temperature.     

Absorptivity and fluorescence properties of 9,10-diiodoanthracene in solutions

The molar extinction coefficient, oscillator strength, natural fluorescence lifetime, and fluorescence quantum yield have been determined for 9,10-diiodoanthracene in ethanol at 20°C. The temperature effect on the quantum yield was studied in the range 120–300 K. The fluorescence lifetime was measured at 77 K. During glassification of ethanol, the fluorescence intensity of 9,10-diiodoanthracene increases by more than 50 times due to the activation nature of the intersystem crossing from the S₁(¹B_2u⁺) state. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor for the probability of the intersystem {ie319-01}-crossing are found. The long-wavelength shift of the absorption spectrum with increasing bulk polarizability of the solvent is interpreted as evidence of changes in the nonspecific interactions. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 3, pp. 304–308, May–June, 2008.