A probabilistic simulator for population dynamics of quasispecies

We constructed a probabilistic simulator that allows all the events in population dynamics such as death, birth, mutation, and suppression/stimulation to be described by probabilistic rules. The simulator also facilitates a lattice used for expressing distribution and diversity (number of distinct strains) of quasispecies. The simulator is used to investigate the diversity threshold in HIV and T-cell interaction. This work was presented in part at the 13th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 31–February 2, 2008     

Piezoelectric Nanogenerators for Self-Powered Nanodevices

A novel approach converts nanoscale mechanical energy into electric energy for self-powering nanodevices.In our own work, we've used piezoelectric zinc-oxide nanowire (ZnO NW) arrays to demonstrate a novel approach for converting nanoscale mechanical energy into electric energy. Here, we review the fundamental principle behind the nanogenerator, present an approach for improving its performance, and discuss some of the challenges we face in pushing this technology to reach its potential.     

Studies of substrate specificities of lipases from different sources

Although lipases are widely applied in a wide variety of reactions, available information on the factors that are responsible for the substrate specificities of lipases from different sources is scarce. In this paper, nine lipase‐producing microorganism strains were isolated from oil‐containing samples. The properties of these enzymes, including pH optima, temperature optima, thermal stability, and pH stability, vary significantly with the different sources from which these lipases were isolated. The substrate specificities of the nine lipases, including fatty acid and positional specificities, were also studied. The fatty acid specificities of the nine lipases were observably different toward 15 substrates with different carbon chain lengths, different saturation degrees and different side chains. The lipases from S₃ Penicillium citrinum (PCL), MJ₁ Aspergillus niger (ANL), MJ₂ Aspergillus oryzae (AOL), YM Bacillus coughing (BCL), S₉ Geotrichum candidum (GCL), and S₁₁ Candida lypolytica (CLL) showed the strongest specificities to short‐chain esters, and the other lipases showed strong selectivity for medium‐ or long‐chain and branched esters. The positional specificities were examined by analyzing the hydrolytic products of triolein catalyzed by the nine lipases, using TLC. The lipases can be mainly classified into two groups by their specificities for the ester bond at position 2 of triglycerides; one group can selectively hydrolyze the ester bond at position 2 of the triglycerides, the other group cannot. All these nine lipases were divided into four groups by hierarchical clustering analysis on the basis of the results of fatty acid and positional specificities.     

Syntheses and Structural Characterization of Triorganotin Derivatives of Bis(carboxymethyl)trithiocarbonate: X-ray Crystal Structures of 2D Network Polymers

Six triorganotin(IV) complexes of the type {(R₃Sn)₂[C₃S₃(COO)₂]}_n (R = C₆H₅ 1; n-Bu 2; PhCH₂ 4; p-F-PhCH₂ 5; o-F-PhCH₂ 6) and {(R₃Sn)₂[C₃S₃(COO)₂]}_n·[EtOH] (R = Me 3) have been synthesized by the reaction of bis(carboxymethyl)trithiocarbonate with triorganotin(IV) chloride in the presence of sodium ethoxide. All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. Except for 4–6, all complexes were also characterized by X-ray crystallography. The X-ray date revealed that complexes 1–3 show two-dimensional network polymeric structure in which the geometries of tin atoms are trigonal bipyramid with the axial positions occupied by carboxylic oxygen atoms.     

Concomitant Crystallization of Copper(II) Sachharinato Complexes with 2-methylpyrazine as a Monomer and an One-dimensional Polymer: Syntheses,Crystal Structures,Spectroscopic and Thermal Properties

The reaction of [Cu(sac)₂(H₂O)₄] · 2H₂O with 2-methylpyrazine (mpyz) leads two complexes, concomitant crystallization of a mononuclear complex [Cu(sac)₂(mpyz)(H₂O)₂] (1) and a polymeric complex [Cu(sac)₂(μ-mpyz)]_n (2). Both complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic measurements, FT-IR and ESR, TG-DTA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Single-crystal X-ray analyses show that complex 1 consists of discrete molecules in which the copper(II) ions exhibits a square-pyramidal coordination geometry. The individual molecules of 1 are connected into a hydrogen-bonded chain structure, which is further assembled to form a three-dimensional network by π–π stacking interactions. Complex 2 is an 1D coordination polymer in which copper(II) centers are bridged by the mpyz ligand. The chains are further assembled to form two-dimensional frameworks by π–π and C–H···π stacking interactions.     

Real world applications of a fuzzy decision model based on relationships between goals for finance services and sequencing for the assembly of cars

Real world applications of a decision model of relationships between goals based on fuzzy relations are presented. In contrast to other approaches the relationships between decision goals or criteria for each decision situation are represented and calculated explicitly. The application fields are decision making for financial services and optimization of production sequences in car manufacturing.