Metric Embeddings—Beyond One-Dimensional Distortion

The extensive study of metric spaces and their embeddings has so far focused on embeddings that preserve pairwise distances. A very intriguing concept introduced by Feige allows us to quantify the extent to which larger structures are preserved by a given embedding. We investigate this concept, focusing on several major graph families such as paths, trees, cubes, and expanders. We find some similarities to the regular (pairwise) distortion, as well as some striking differences.     

Resolution of four k-region arene imines and mutagenicity of the optically pure aziridines

Racemic K-region imines of benz[a]anthracene, 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene, chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene ( 1–4 , respectively) have been resolved by high performance liquid chromatography on a column packed with amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) on silica gel. The absolute configuration of the resolved aziridines was assigned by comparison of their circular dichromism spectra to those of the corresponding enantiomerically pure arene oxides. The mutagenicity of the enantiomers of the arene imines was investigated using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. Although all arene imines investigated were potent mutagens, quantitative and qualitative differences in the mutagenic activity were observed between enantiomers.     

Using spin dynamics of covalently linked radical ion pairs to probe the impact of structural and energetic changes on charge recombination

We have synthesized a series of structurally related, covalently linked electron donor-acceptor triads having highly restricted conformations to study the effects of radical ion pair (RP) structure, energetics, and solvation on charge recombination. The chromophoric electron acceptor in these triads is a 4-aminonaphthalene-1,8-dicarboximide (6ANI), in which the 4-amine nitrogen atom is part of a piperazine ring. The second nitrogen atom of the piperazine ring is part of a para-substituted aniline donor, where the para substituents are X = H, OMe, and NMe(2). The imide group of 6ANI is linked to a naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide) (NI) electron acceptor across a phenyl spacer in a meta relationship. The triads undergo two-step photoinduced electron transfer to yield their respective XAn(*)(+)-6ANI-Ph-NI(*)(-) RP states, which undergo radical pair intersystem crossing followed by charge recombination to yield (3)NI. Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance experiments on the spin-polarized RPs and triplet states carried out in toluene and in E-7, a mixture of nematic liquid crystals (LCs), show that for all three triads, the XAn(*)(+)-6ANI-Ph-NI(*)(-) RPs are correlated radical pairs and directly yield values of the spin-spin exchange interaction, J, and the dipolar interaction, D. The values of J are all about -1 mT and show that the LC environment most likely enforces the chair conformation at the piperazine ring, for which the RP distance is larger than that for the corresponding boat conformation. The values of D yield effective RP distances that agree well with those calculated earlier from the spin distributions of the radical ions. Within the LC, changing the temperature shows that the CR mechanism can be changed significantly as the energy levels of the RPs change relative to that of the recombination triplet.     

Velocity-independent microfluidic flow cytometry

Pressure-driven flow in microfluidic channels is characterized by a distribution of velocities. This distribution makes it difficult to implement conventional flow cytometry data analysis. We have demonstrated a method to measure velocity as an independent parameter when performing microfluidic flow cytometry. This method allows velocity-independent analysis of particles such as beads or cells, and allows flow cytometry analysis of extended objects, such as long DNA molecules. It allows accurate flow cytometry in transient and nonuniform flows. This general measurement method could be used in the future to measure the velocity of particles in a variety of existing microfluidic devices without the need for changes in their design.     

Pressure enhancement of the giant magnetocaloric effect in Tb5Si2Ge2

Effects of temperature and pressure on magnetic, elastic, structural, and thermal properties of Tb5Si2Ge2 have been studied by means of macroscopic (thermal expansion and magnetization) and microscopic (neutron powder diffraction) techniques. We present evidence that the high-temperature second-order ferromagnetic transition can be coupled with the low-temperature first-order structural phase change into a single first-order magnetic-crystallographic transformation at and above a tricritical point in the vicinity of 8.6 kbar. This pressure-induced coupling has a remarkable effect on the magnetocaloric effect, transforming Tb5Si2Ge2 from an ordinary into a giant magnetocaloric effect material.     

High yield production of long branched Au nanoparticles characterized by atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy

Long multi-branched gold nanoparticles have been synthesized in a very high yield through a facile synthesis combining two different capping agents. The stability of these materials with the time has been tested and their characterization have been performed by diverse advanced electron microscopy techniques, paying special attention to aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy in order to unambiguously analyze the surface structure of the branches and provide insights for the formation of stellated gold nanoparticles.     

Microspheres of Mixed Proteins

This paper describes the synthesis of mixed proteinaceous microspheres (MPMs) by the sonochemical method. The current fundamental research follows the research of Suslick and co‐workers who have developed a method by which high‐intensity ultrasound is used to make aqueous suspensions of proteinaceous microcapsules filled with water‐insoluble liquids. 1 By using high‐intensity ultrasound, we have synthesized microspheres made of a few different proteins. The three proteins used in the current experiments are bovine serum albumin (BSA), green fluorescent protein (GFP), and cyan fluorescent protein–glucose binding protein–yellow fluorescent fused protein (CFP‐GBP‐YFP). The two synthesized microspheres made of mixed proteins are BSA‐GFP and BSA‐(CFP‐GBP‐YFP). This paper presents the characterization of the sonochemically produced microspheres of mixed proteins. It also provides an estimate of the efficiency of the sonochemical process in converting the native proteins to microspheres.     

Amplified analysis of DNA by the autonomous assembly of polymers consisting of DNAzyme wires

A systematic study of the amplified optical detection of DNA by Mg(2+)-dependent DNAzyme subunits is described. The use of two DNAzyme subunits and the respective fluorophore/quencher-modified substrate allows the detection of the target DNA with a sensitivity corresponding to 1 × 10(-9) M. The use of two functional hairpin structures that include the DNAzyme subunits in a caged, inactive configuration leads, in the presence of the target DNA, to the opening of one of the hairpins and to the activation of an autonomous cross-opening process of the two hairpins, which affords polymer DNA wires consisting of the Mg(2+)-dependent DNAzyme subunits. This amplification paradigm leads to the analysis of the target DNA with a sensitivity corresponding to 1 × 10(-14) M. The amplification mixture composed of the two hairpins can be implemented as a versatile sensing platform for analyzing any gene in the presence of the appropriate hairpin probe. This is exemplified with the detection of the BRCA1 oncogene.     

Novel bromination reagents · hexabromocyclopentadiene: bromination of activated saturated sites

Hexabromocyclopentadiene (HBC) readily brominates α-keto and benzylic sites, apparently by bromonium ion transfer.     

Nanoscale mapping of plasmon resonances of functional multibranched gold nanoparticles

The optical response of multibranched gold nanoparticles is studied by means of electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in aberration corrected STEM mode. In every case the plasmon response is constant and variations in the maxima positions were found to be dependent on the branches aspect ratio. The good spatial resolution combined with the high energy resolution (0.18 eV) of the monochromated electron beam allows mapping the different plasmonic modes along the entire nanoparticles ranging from 0.7 eV up to 2.25 eV.