Preparation and mechanical properties of layers made of recombinant spider silk proteins and silk from silk worm

Layers of recombinant spider silks and native silks from silk worms were prepared by spin-coating and casting of various solutions. FT-IR spectra were recorded to investigate the influence of the different mechanical stress occurring during the preparation of the silk layers. The solubility of the recombinant spider silk proteins SO1-ELP, C16, AQ24NR3, and of the silk fibroin from Bombyx mori were investigated in hexafluorisopropanol, ionic liquids and concentrated salt solutions. The morphology and thickness of the layers were determined by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) or with a profilometer. The mechanical behaviour was investigated by acoustic impedance analysis by using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCMB) as well as by microindentation. The density of silk layers (d<300 nm) was determined based on AFM and QCMB measurements. At silk layers thicker than 300 nm significant changes of the half-band-half width can be correlated with increasing energy dissipation. Microhardness measurements demonstrate that recombinant spider silk and sericine-free Bombyx mori silk layers achieve higher elastic penetration modules E_EP and Martens hardness values H_M than those of polyethylenterephthalate (PET) and polyetherimide (PEI) foils.     

Synthesis and Isolation of the Titanium–Scandium Endohedral Fullerenes—Sc2TiC@Ih‐C80, Sc2TiC@D5h‐C80 and Sc2TiC2@Ih‐C80: Metal Size Tuning of the TiIV/TiIII Redox Potentials

The formation of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) in an electric arc is reported for the mixed‐metal Sc–Ti system utilizing methane as a reactive gas. Comparison of these results with those from the Sc/CH₄ and Ti/CH₄ systems as well as syntheses without methane revealed a strong mutual influence of all key components on the product distribution. Whereas a methane atmosphere alone suppresses the formation of empty cage fullerenes, the Ti/CH₄ system forms mainly empty cage fullerenes. In contrast, the main fullerene products in the Sc/CH₄ system are Sc₄C₂@C₈₀ (the most abundant EMF from this synthesis), Sc₃C₂@C₈₀, isomers of Sc₂C₂@C₈₂, and the family Sc₂C_{2 n} (2 n=74, 76, 82, 86, 90, etc.), as well as Sc₃CH@C₈₀. The Sc–Ti/CH₄ system produces the mixed‐metal Sc₂TiC@C_{2 n} (2 n=68, 78, 80) and Sc₂TiC₂@C_{2 n} (2 n=80) clusterfullerene families. The molecular structures of the new, transition‐metal‐containing endohedral fullerenes, Sc₂TiC@I_h‐C₈₀, Sc₂TiC@D_5h‐C₈₀, and Sc₂TiC₂@I_h‐C₈₀, were characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The structure of Sc₂TiC@I_h‐C₈₀ was also determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, which demonstrated the presence of a short Ti=C double bond. Both Sc₂TiC‐ and Sc₂TiC₂‐containing clusterfullerenes have Ti‐localized LUMOs. Encapsulation of the redox‐active Ti ion inside the fullerene cage enables analysis of the cluster–cage strain in the endohedral fullerenes through electrochemical measurements.     

Computerprogramm zur interaktiven Auswertung von 15N-tracerkinetischen Stoffwechselexperimenten

The theoretical concept of the computer program is based on the compartment theory for the 3-pool model using single pulse administration of the tracer. The code estimates the model parameters by means of the non-linear method of least squares fit under steady state conditions. Furthermore the parameters of the protein metabolism are calculated. The program works interactively and allows reading and modifying the experimental ¹⁵N tracer data via terminal and controlling the program.     

A comparative study of the electric giant dipole resonance of 24−26Mg

The electric giant dipole resonance of ^24?26Mg has been explored up to 30 MeV excitation energy with bremsstrahlung. ΔE, E spectra of charged photo-particles and spectra of prompt deexcitation γ-rays from excited residual nuclear states were obtained at various bremsstrahlung endpoint energies. The ²⁵Mg(γ, p₀), (γ, d), ^24,25Mg(γ, α) differential cross sections as well as ^24?26Mg(γ, xγ′) integrated cross sections are presented. The results are discussed in terms of one-particle, one-hole excitations and isospin composition of giant resonance states. A comparison with calculations for ²⁴Mg gives poor agreement. Excitations from deeper shells were found in the giant dipole resonance of ²⁴Mg, but do not seem to be concentrated at higher energies. In ²⁵Mg, only weak excitations of this kind were found, and they are completely absent in ²⁶Mg.     

Methane as a Selectivity Booster in the Arc‐Discharge Synthesis of Endohedral Fullerenes: Selective Synthesis of the Single‐Molecule Magnet Dy2TiC@C80 and Its Congener Dy2TiC2@C80

The use of methane as a reactive gas dramatically increases the selectivity of the arc‐discharge synthesis of M‐Ti‐carbide clusterfullerenes (M=Y, Nd, Gd, Dy, Er, Lu). Optimization of the process parameters allows the synthesis of Dy₂TiC@C₈₀‐I and its facile isolation in a single chromatographic step. A new type of cluster with an endohedral acetylide unit, M₂TiC₂@C₈₀, is discovered along with the second isomer of M₂TiC@C₈₀. Dy₂TiC@C₈₀‐(I,II) and Dy₂TiC₂@C₈₀‐I are shown to be single‐molecule magnets (SMM), but the presence of the second carbon atom in the cluster Dy₂TiC₂@C₈₀ leads to substantially poorer SMM properties.     

Cyclization of 4‐Phenylthiosemicarbazide with Phenacylbromide Revisited. Formation of 1,3,4‐Thiadiazines and of Isomeric 1,3‐Thiazoles

The cyclization of 4‐phenylthiosemicarbazide with phenacylbromide, carried out in refluxing ethanol, afforded 1,3,4‐thiadiazine 1 as the major product. In contrast to a previous report, 2‐phenylimino‐4‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,3‐thiazol‐3‐amine ( 2 ) and not 2‐hydrazono‐3,4‐diphenyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,3‐thiazole ( 8 ) was formed as a side‐product. This product is the main product when the reaction is carried out in concentrated hydrochloric acid. Our findings were independently confirmed by independent syntheses of the isomeric products and by a thorough study of their reactivity. It is important to note that the product distribution of the cyclization of thiosemicarbazides with haloketones strongly depends on the substitution pattern and on the reaction conditions.