Temporal Control of Seed Development in Dicots: Molecular Bases,Ecological Impact and Possible Evolutionary Ramifications

In flowering plants, seeds serve as organs of both propagation and dispersal. The developing seed passes through several consecutive stages, following a conserved general outline. The overall time needed for a seed to develop, however, may vary both within and between plant species, and these temporal developmental properties remain poorly understood. In the present paper, we summarize the existing data for seed development alterations in dicot plants. For genetic mutations, the reported cases were grouped in respect of the key processes distorted in the mutant specimens. Similar phenotypes arising from the environmental influence, either biotic or abiotic, were also considered. Based on these data, we suggest several general trends of timing alterations and how respective mechanisms might add to the ecological plasticity of the families considered. We also propose that the developmental timing alterations may be perceived as an evolutionary substrate for heterochronic events. Given the current lack of plausible models describing timing control in plant seeds, the presented suggestions might provide certain insights for future studies in this field.     

Hyaluronan/Diethylaminoethyl Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes as Carriers for Improved Colistin Delivery

Improving the therapeutic characteristics of antibiotics is an effective strategy for controlling the growth of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to develop a colistin (CT) delivery system based on hyaluronic acid (HA) and the water-soluble cationic chitosan derivative, diethylaminoethyl chitosan (DEAECS). The CT delivery system was a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) obtained by interpolymeric interactions between the HA polyanion and the DEAECS polycation, with simultaneous inclusion of positively charged CT molecules into the resulting complex. The developed PEC had a hydrodynamic diameter of 210–250 nm and a negative surface charge (ζ-potential = −19 mV); the encapsulation and loading efficiencies were 100 and 16.7%, respectively. The developed CT delivery systems were characterized by modified release (30–40% and 85–90% of CT released in 15 and 60 min, respectively) compared to pure CT (100% CT released in 15 min). In vitro experiments showed that the encapsulation of CT in polysaccharide carriers did not reduce its antimicrobial activity, as the minimum inhibitory concentrations against Pseudomonas aeruginosa of both encapsulated CT and pure CT were 1 μg/mL.     

Emission properties of colloidal quantum dots on polyelectrolyte multilayers

We present steady state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of differently charged CdTe quantum dots (QDs) adsorbed onto a polyelectrolyte (PE) multilayer. The PE multilayer is built up using a layer-by-layer assembly technique. We find that the diffusion of the QDs into the PE multilayer is an important factor in the case of 3-mercapto-1, 2-propanediol stabilized QDs (neutral surface charge), resulting in a ～31-fold enhancement in PL intensity accompanied by a blue shift in the PL spectra and an increase in decay lifetime from 3.74?ns to a maximum of 11.65?ns. These modified emission properties are attributed to the enhanced surface related emission resulting from the interaction of the QD's surface with the PE. We find that diffusion does not occur for thioglycolic acid (TGA) stabilized QDs (negative surface charge) or 2-mercaptoethylamine stabilized QDs (positive surface charge), indicating localization of the QDs on top of the PE multilayer. However, the PL lifetime of the TGA stabilized QDs decreases from 9.58 to 5.78?ns with increasing PE multilayer thickness. This provides evidence for increased intrinsic exciton recombination relative to surface related emission, which results in an overall reduction in the average lifetime. Our studies indicate the importance of the QD surface charge in determining the interaction with the PE multilayers and the subsequent modification of the QD emission properties.     

Filter diagonalization method-based mass spectrometry for molecular and macromolecular structure analysis

Molecular and macromolecular structure analysis by high resolution and accurate mass spectrometry (MS) is indispensable for a number of fundamental and applied research areas, including health and energy domains. Comprehensive structure analysis of molecules and macromolecules present in the extremely complex samples and performed under time-constrained experimental conditions demands a substantial increase in the acquisition speed of high resolution MS data. We demonstrate here that signal processing based on the filter diagonalization method (FDM) provides the required resolution for shorter experimental transient signals in ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) MS compared to the Fourier transform (FT) processing. We thus present the development of a FDM-based MS (FDM MS) and demonstrate its implementation in ICR MS. The considered FDM MS applications are in bottom-up and top-down proteomics, metabolomics, and petroleomics.     

Multifrequency imaging in the intermittent contact mode of atomic force microscopy: beyond phase imaging

The cantilever dynamics in single-frequency scanning probe microscopy (SPM) are undefined due to having only two output variables, which leads to poorly understood image contrast. To address this shortcoming, generalized phase imaging scanning probe microscopy (GP-SPM), based on broad band detection and multi-eigenmode operation, is developed and demonstrated on diamond nanoparticles with different functionalization layers. It is shown that rich information on tip-surface interactions can be acquired by separating the response amplitude, instant resonance frequency, and quality factor. The obtained data allow high-resolution imaging even in the ambient environment. By tuning the strength of tip-surface interaction, different surface functionalizations can be discerned.     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(L-histidine) and its use as a hybrid silver nanoparticle conjugate

Poly[(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(L-histidine)] (PMMA-b-PHIS) was synthesized by combining atom transfer radical polymerization and living ring-opening polymerization of alpha-amino acid-N-carboxyanhydride. The resulting hybrid block copolymer forms reverse micelles in the mixture solution of water and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and self-assembles into PHIS/PMMA core/shell spheres with controllable size in the range of 80 to 250 nm depending on the micellization temperature. The self-assembly of PMMA-b-PHIS was carried out in H2O/DMF (3/7) mixture in the presence of AgNO3. Reduction of the resulting Ag ions encapsulated inside of the reverse micelles yielded an attractive Ag nanoparticle core/polymer shell conjugate system.     

Reinforcing of a calcium phosphate cement with hydroxyapatite crystals of various morphologies

A series of biocomposite materials was successfully prepared by reinforcing advanced calcium phosphate cement with hydroxyapatite fibrous and elongated plate-like particles. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that ball-milled biocomposite precursors (dicalcium and tetracalcium phosphates) entirely transform to a single phase hydroxyapatite end product within 7 h at 37 °C. Electron microscopy showed that the resultant biocomposites are constituted of nanoscaled cement particles intimately associated with the reinforcement crystals. The influence of shape, size, and concentration of the hydroxyapatite filler on the compression strength of reinforced cements is discussed. The best compression strength of 37 ± 3 MPa (enhancement of ～50% compared to pure cement) was achieved using submicrometer-sized hydroxyapatite crystals with complementary shapes. Nanoindentation revealed that averaged elastic modulus and hardness values of the cements are consistent with those reported for trabecular and cortical human bones, indicating a good match of the micromechanical properties for their potential use for bone repair. The stiffness of the biocomposites was confirmed to gradate-compliant cement matrix, cement-filler interface, and stiff filler-as a result of the structuring at the nanometer-micrometer level. This architecture is critical in conditioning the final mechanical properties of the functional composite biomaterial. In vitro cell culture experiments showed that the developed biomaterial system is noncytotoxic.     

Aggregation of experiments for estimation of hydrogen permeability parameters

The study of the hydrogen permeability of materials employs a variety of methods with their own specific features, advantages and drawbacks. The penetration method allows determining the diffusion coefficient from so-called lag time. The accuracy of the estimation depends on the degree of proximity to the DLR (diffusion limited regime) mode. The method of ‘communicating vessels’ is more sensitive to surface processes. ‘Separate’ application of these methods leads to a situation where the materials studied are in fact somewhat different (for example, due to different impacts on the surface), and significant differences in parameter estimates ensue. This paper suggests and implements a cascade experiment technique and the corresponding mathematical toolkit. The informative capacity of experimental studies and the accuracy of the estimation of hydrogen permeability parameters (diffusion, absorption, desorption) are thus enhanced.     

Progress in Development of Russian National Measurement Standards in the Field of Mass Concentration Measurement of Suspended Particles

Aerodisperse system (ambient aerosol) is a dynamic system, thus its physical and chemical properties change continuously in the atmosphere. In addition to the changing characteristic of atmospheric aerosols, their accurate and precise measurements are a challenging task because these measurements depend on several parameters for which the traceable standards/calibration are essentially required. In Russia, the traceability for these measurements is provided in accordance with the recommendations of the Russian national regulatory standard “State hierarchy scheme for the instruments deployed for the measurements of the disperse parameters of aerosols, suspensions and powdered materials.” The State primary standard for the units of disperse parameters of aerosols, suspensions and powdered materials (GET-163) and the State primary special standard for the unit of mass concentration of particles in aerodispersed media (GET-164) are placed at the top of the hierarchy scheme. This paper describes the State primary special standard GET-164 and the specificity of ensuring the traceability in disseminating the unit realized by this primary special standard to working measurement instruments. Methods used to generate aerodispersed media with desired properties are validated and the problem for achieving the highest accuracy in the measurements related to the primary special standard GET-164 is discussed. The SI unit of mass concentration of particulate matter is disseminated from the State primary special standard GET-164 to the working instruments through a set of working standards. The methods, which are used to generate aerodispersed media in disseminating the unit of mass concentration, provided for carrying out investigations and calibration of measurement instruments over a wide range of the mass concentration of suspended particles of different disperse composition. The main ways of improving the standard facilities in the field of measurements of the mass concentration of suspended particles are (i) related to the improvement of the method used to measure concentrations by means of a beta-ray analyzer-comparator (included in the composition of the State primary special standard GET-164) by reducing the uncertainty of the approximation of the conversion characteristics and (ii) due to implementation of methods providing for accurately controlled dilution of aerosols to extend the ranges in which the mass concentration values of suspended particles are reproduced. In order to develop a procedure for international comparisons of such standards, the corresponding investigations of the State primary special standard GET-164 were carried out.     

Small-angle neutron scattering characterization of the structure of nanoporous carbons for energy-related applications

We used small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and neutron contrast variation to study the structure of four nanoporous carbons prepared by thermo-chemical etching of titanium carbide TiC in chlorine at 300, 400, 600, and 800 °C with pore diameters ranging between ∼4 and ∼11 Å. SANS patterns were obtained from dry samples and samples saturated with deuterium oxide (D₂O) in order to delineate origin of the power law scattering in the low Q domain as well as to evaluate pore accessibility for D₂O molecules. SANS cross section of all samples was fitted to Debye-Anderson-Brumberger (DAB), DAB-Kirste-Porod models as well as to the Guinier and modified Guinier formulae for cylindrical objects, which allowed for evaluating the radii of gyration as well as the radii and lengths of the pores under cylindrical shape approximation. SANS data from D₂O-saturated samples indicate that strong upturn in the low Q limit usually observed in the scattering patterns from microporous carbon powders is due to the scattering from outer surface of the powder particles. Micropores are only partially filled with D₂O molecules due to geometrical constraints and or partial hydrophobicity of the carbon matrix. Structural parameters of the dry carbons obtained using SANS are compared with the results of the gas sorption measurements and the values agree for carbide-derived carbons (CDCs) obtained at high chlorination temperatures (>600 °C). For lower chlorination temperatures, pore radii obtained from gas sorption overestimate the actual pore size as calculated from SANS for two reasons: inaccessible small pores are present and the model-dependent fitting based on density functional theory models assumes non-spherical pores, whereas SANS clearly indicates that the pore shape in microporous CDC obtained at low chlorination temperatures is nearly spherical.