The adsorption of lysozymes: A model system

Hen egg white lysozyme was adsorbed onto clean borosilicate glass and n-pentyl silane-treated glass surfaces. Both modified (reductively methylated) and native lysozyme were studied. Variable angle X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (VA-XPS) suggested differences in the nature of the adsorbed layer depending on substrate properties, as well as on degree of methylation of the protein. Adsorbed film thickness (as measured in the dehydrated state by XPS) ranged from 14 Å on hydrophilic glass to 25 Å on the hydrophobic surface. Degree of surface coverage ranged from 45% on the hydrophobic to 69% on the hydrophilic surface. The results suggest that lysozyme unfolds to a greater extent and covers more surface on the hydrophilic glass, possibly due to strong electrostatic interactions at the pH 7.4 conditions used in the study. An analysis of the surface structure of native hen lysozyme by molecular graphics has also been performed, suggesting that adsorption on hydrophobic surfaces should occur via the hydrophobic patch opposite the enzyme active site cleft. A comparison with human lysozyme has also been made using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) spectroscopy to measure protein adsorption on model surfaces. The two proteins have significantly different interfacial properties.     

Generalized parton distributions from lattice QCD

We perform a quenched lattice calculation of the first moment of twist-two generalized parton distribution functions of the proton, and assess the total quark (spin and orbital angular momentum) contribution to the spin of the proton.     

Small Embeddings of Partial Steiner Triple Systems

It was proved in 2009 that any partial Steiner triple system of order u has an embedding of order v for each admissible . This result is best possible in the sense that, for each , there exists a partial Steiner triple system of order u that does not have an embedding of order v for any . Many partial Steiner triple systems do have embeddings of orders smaller than , but much less is known about when these embeddings exist. In this paper, we detail a method for constructing such embeddings. We use this method to show that each member of a wide class of partial Steiner triple systems has an embedding of order v for at least half (or nearly half) of the orders for which an embedding could exist. For some members of this class we are able to completely determine the set of all orders for which the member has an embedding.     

Transverse spin structure of the nucleon from lattice-QCD simulations

We present the first calculation in lattice QCD of the lowest two moments of transverse spin densities of quarks in the nucleon. They encode correlations between quark spin and orbital angular momentum. Our dynamical simulations are based on two flavors of clover-improved Wilson fermions and Wilson gluons. We find significant contributions from certain quark helicity flip generalized parton distributions, leading to strongly distorted densities of transversely polarized quarks in the nucleon. In particular, based on our results and recent arguments by Burkardt [Phys. Rev. D 72, 094020 (2005)], we predict that the Boer-Mulders function h(1/1), describing correlations of transverse quark spin and intrinsic transverse momentum of quarks, is large and negative for both up and down quarks.     

Aryl-aryl bond formation by the fluoride-free cross-coupling of aryldisiloxanes with aryl bromides

The prevalence of the biaryl structural motif in biologically interesting and synthetically important molecules has inspired considerable interest in the development of methods for aryl-aryl bond formation. Herein we describe a novel strategy for this process involving the fluoride-free, palladium-catalysed cross-coupling of readily accessible aryldisiloxanes and aryl bromides. Using a statistical-based optimisation process, preparatively useful reaction conditions were formulated to allow the cross-coupling of a wide range of different substrates. This methodology represents an attractive, cost-efficient, flexible and robust alternative to the traditional transition-metal-catalysed routes typically used to generate molecules containing the privileged biaryl scaffold.     

Thermal properties of defect melting

Using mean field theory and high temperature expansions the transition temperature, entropy jump and heat capacity are calculated in the recent microscopic model of defect melting proposed by Kleinert. The results are compared with the experimental data for almost isotropic substances.     

Runaway Electron Measurements in the EAST Tokamak

An experimental study of runaway electrons in the EAST tokamak has been performed by a recently developed multi‐channel hard x‐ray diagnostics based on NaI(TL) scintillator detectors. It is found that in the current quench phase, the inductive loop voltage plays an important role in the generation of runaway electrons. And the avalanche mechanism was the main mechanism for runaway electrons after the disruptions. The distribution and transportation of runaway electrons were also investigated by multi‐channel hard x‐ray diagnostics. It is also found that the intensity of runaway electrons emission in the core plasma was much higher than those in the downside of the cross‐section, while the emission intensity of runaway electrons in the core plasma was almost the same. Calculated shrinking coefficient of runaway electrons emission after the plasma disruption was about 26 m/s according to the experimental data (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)