Synthesis of orthogonal end functionalized oligoethylene glycols of defined lengths

The synthesis of oligoethylene glycols of defined lengths possessing different end functionalities is described. The utility of these molecules towards the development of a generic membrane anchor is demonstrated.     

In-situ probing of the biotic-abiotic boundary of plants by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (LDI-TOF) mass spectrometry was applied for the direct analysis of cuticular waxes on intact plant tissues. Cuticular wax compounds were ionized by laser desorption in the presence of colloidal silver. Silver-adduct ions were detected on samples from Arabidopsis thaliana and from maize. Good spot-to-spot reproducibility indicated homogeneous coverage of the sample by the fine colloidal material. The results were consistent with GC-MS analyses of cuticular extracts, thus confirming the feasibility of direct analysis based on this protocol. Molecular masses of the adduct ions correspond well with the known composition of cuticular waxes. Moreover, LDI-TOF gave good estimates of the relative local abundances of a given compound. However, bias was found in cases where compounds with different ionization efficiencies were analyzed.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Fusarium oxysporum

An α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Fusarium oxysporum F3 was purified to homogeneity by a two-step ion exchange intercalated by a gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 66 kDa and was optimally active at pH 6.0 and 60°C. It hydrolyzed aryl α-l-arabinofuranosides and cleaved arabinosyl side chains from arabinoxylan and arabinan. There was a marked synergistic effect between the α-l-arabinofuranosidase and an endo-(1 →4)-β-d-xylanase produced by F. oxysporum in the extensive hydrolysis of arabinoxylan.     

Raman study of SO2 at high pressure: aggregation,phase transformations,and photochemistry

We report Raman measurements made on SO₂ in a diamond cell up to 75 kbar showing two new phases, solid II and solid III, which differ from known, zero-pressure solid I. Spectra indicate that SO₂ molecules aggregate in solid III to possibly form a cyclical trimer; solid III is shown to be photochemically active to blue radiation.     

The use of vibrational spectroscopy to study the pathogenesis multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions

Spectroscopy techniques are valuable tools in biomedical research and have been used extensively in the study of disease. However, neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) have received little attention and the available spectroscopy studies are limited, both in overall numbers of patients studied and the disease samples considered. MS is a complex immune-mediated disease, with variable clinical courses and limited therapeutic options. This review aims to summarize current literature in the area, demonstrating how spectroscopy techniques can provide valuable information to inform and advance research into the most common neurological condition affecting young adults.     

Modular Transformations of Ramanujan's Fifth and Seventh Order Mock Theta Functions

In his last letter to Hardy, Ramanujan defined 17 functions F(q), where |q| < 1. He called them mock theta functions, because as q radially approaches any point e ^2ir (r rational), there is a theta function F _r(q) with F(q) – F _r(q) = O(1). In this paper we obtain the transformations of Ramanujan's fifth and seventh order mock theta functions under the modular group generators + 1 and –1/, where q = e ⁱ. The transformation formulas are more complex than those of ordinary theta functions. A definition of the order of a mock theta function is also given.     

Enhancing photoinduced hydrophilicity of micro arc oxidized TiO2 nanostructured porous layers by V-doping

This study sheds light on the effect of vanadium doping on hydrophilicity properties of micro arc oxidized TiO₂ porous layers. Pure and V-doped titania layers, with a pore size of 50–400 nm, were grown by micro arc oxidation method. Morphology and topography of the layers were studied by SEM and AFM techniques where formation of a porous structure with a rough surface was confirmed. Moreover, phase structure and chemical composition of the samples were investigated employing XRD and XPS techniques. The pure TiO₂ layers consisted of anatase and rutile phase. Vanadia phase was also detected in V-doped layers. It was also revealed that V₂O₅ not only dispersed in the TiO₂ matrix, but also doped into the crystalline lattice. Optical properties and band gap energy of the synthesized layers were evaluated by a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Our results showed that the band gap energy decreased when vanadium was introduced into the titania lattice. Finally, hydrophilicity of the pure and the doped layers was studied under ultraviolet and visible illuminations by measuring the water contact angle on their surface. The V-doped layers, especially those which were grown under intermediate voltages, revealed an enhanced hydrophilicity when compared to the pure TiO₂ layers.     

Die Bestimmung der Malons?ure durch Kaliumpermanganat

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