Design,Synthesis, and Self-Assembly Studies of a Suite of Monodisperse,Facially Amphiphilic,Protein–Dendron Conjugates

The custom design of protein–dendron amphiphilic macromolecules is at the forefront of macromolecular engineering. Macromolecules with this architecture are very interesting because of their ability to self-assemble into various biomimetic nanoscopic structures. However, to date, there are no reports on this concept due to technical challenges associated with the chemical synthesis. Towards that end, herein, a new chemical methodology for the modular synthesis of a suite of monodisperse, facially amphiphilic, protein–dendron bioconjugates is reported. Benzyl ether dendrons of different generations (G1–G4) are coupled to monodisperse cetyl ethylene glycol to form macromolecular amphiphilic activity-based probes (AABPs) with a single protein reactive functionality. Micelle-assisted protein labeling technology is utilized for site-specific conjugation of macromolecular AABPs to globular proteins to make monodisperse, facially amphiphilic, protein–dendron bioconjugates. These biohybrid conjugates have the ability to self-assemble into supramolecular protein nanoassemblies. Self-assembly is primarily mediated by strong hydrophobic interactions of the benzyl ether dendron domain. The size, surface charge, and oligomeric state of protein nanoassemblies could be systematically tuned by choosing an appropriate dendron or protein of interest. This chemical method discloses a new way to custom-make monodisperse, facially amphiphilic, protein–dendron bioconjugates.     

Thermal post buckling behavior of rectangular antisymmetric cross-ply composite plates

Summary The thermal post buckling behavior of simply-supported, antisymmetric cross-ply plates with immovable edges is investigated in this paper. For this purpose, a one term approximation for the inplane and transverse displacements is assumed and Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to obtain the equations of equilibrium. The question, whether the true thermal buckling (bifurcation buckling under thermal loads) exists for such plates is also addressed to. The conditions under which the thermal buckling in the classical sense occurs are derived. It is shown that nonlinear bending stiffness for such plates is direction dependent, because of an extra quadratic nonlinear term in addition to the usual cubic nonlinear term in the governing equilibrium equation. Results are presented for various plate configurations.     

A semiparametric model for compositional data analysis in presence of covariates on the simplex

Compositional data occur as natural realizations of multivariate observations comprising element proportions of some whole quantity. Such observations predominate in disciplines like geology, biology, ecology, economics and chemistry. Due to unit sum constraint on compositional data, specialized statistical methods are required for analyzing these data. Dirichlet distributions were originally used to study compositional data even though this family of distribution is not appropriate (see Aitchison, 1986) because of their extreme independence properties. Aitchison (1982) endeavored to provide a viable alternative to existing methods by employing Logistic Normal distribution to analyze such constrained data. However this family does not include the Dirichlet class and is therefore unable to address the issue of extreme independence. In this paper generalized Liouville family is investigated to model compositional data which includes covariates. This class permits distributions that admit negative or mixed correlation and also contains non-Dirichlet distributions with non-positive correlation and overcomes deficits in the Dirichlet class. Semiparametric Bayesian methods are proposed to estimate the probability density. Predictive distributions are used to assess performance of the model. The methods are illustrated on a real data set.     

Signal recognition and integration by Gs-stimulated adenylyl cyclases

Six Gs-stimulated adenylyl cyclases have been cloned. Two additional forms have been identified as partial cDNAs. These adenylyl cyclases have distinct functional properties and are differentially regulated by protein kinases. The adenylyl cyclases have distinct patterns of distribution in peripheral tissues and various brain regions. The unique functional characteristics of the members of this effector family may allow each cell type and/or brain region to customize the signal-recognition and integrative properties of its cAMP-generation system by varying the ratios of the various adenylyl cyclases.     

Foundations of data fusion for automation

This article discusses about the developing paradigms of data for sensor-actuator networks that perform engineering tasks. We provide a new foundation for data fusion based on two concepts: a conceptual framework and the goal-seeking paradigm. The conceptual framework emphasizes the dominant structures in the system. The goal-seeking paradigm is a mechanism for representing system evolution that explicitly manages uncertainty. The goal-seeking formulation for data fusion helps to distinguish between subjective decisions that can be executed by computers. These notions are useful for critical tasks, such as security management in large-scale distributed systems. Investigations in this area, and further refinement of the goal-seeking formulation for instrumentation and measurement applications, are likely to future systems that facilitate holistic user decision making.     

Biological trace element research: a multidisciplinary science

The last decade may be regarded as a crucial turning point in new developments in many areas of biological trace element research. It is slowly being recognized as a multidisciplinary science which requires a combination of biological insight and analytical awareness in planning the studies. It is also acknowledged that the complexities involved in dealing with the requirements of trace element research studies in the life sciences demand comprehensive planning of the investigations and use of a variety of techniques, thus bringing together a variety of talents. It cannot be emphasized enough that accurate analytical measurements on biologically and analytically "valid" samples hold the key for success in future biological trace element research studies. These aspects are illustrated.     

Synergic influence of a surfactant and ultrasonication on the preparation of soluble,conducting polydiphenylamine/silica‐nanoparticle composites

Conducting polydiphenylamine was used to encapsulate silica nanoparticles through the oxidative polymerization of diphenylamine in the presence of ultrasonic irradiation. The polymerization was performed in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant. Experiments performed in the absence of ultrasound clearly demonstrated that the application of ultrasonication played multiple roles in the preparation of a composite of polydiphenylamine with silica nanoparticles. Ultrasonication dispersed the silica nanoparticles, converted sodium lauryl sulfate to lauryl alcohol, and augmented the dispersion of the silica‐nanoparticle/polydiphenylamine composite in an organic medium. Silica‐nanoparticle/polydiphenylamine composites were also prepared in the absence of ultrasound and/or sodium lauryl sulfate. The silica‐nanoparticle/polydiphenylamine composites were characterized with Fourier trans form infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible/near‐infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3912–3918, 2006     

Role of adhesive–substrate compatibility in adhesion

For substrates such as polyesters having limited capacity for hydrogen bonding or other specific interactions, thermodynamic compatibility of the substrate and adhesive is shown to be a key factor in promoting bondability to the substrate. Such compatibility occurs, as shown by Abere, when the cohesive energy densities (CED) or solubility parameters (δ = √CED) of substrate and adhesive are matched. Investigations with polyester film-adhesive-film model systems with the use of a variety of nonpolar (hydrocarbon) and polar (chlorinated compounds, ethers, esters) adhesives illustrate how compatibility promotes bondability to poly(ethylene terephthalate). The poor adhesion of polyester fibers to resorcinol–formaldehyde–latex (RFL) adhesives is attributed to the incompatibility of resorcinol (δ = 16.0) with the polyester (δ = 10.3). Adhesion to RFL was improved by substituting the more compatible n-hexyl resorcinol (δ = 12.5) for resorcinol in RFL adhesives. Currently, the best adhesive systems for polyester tire yarns are those (e.g., isocyanate–epoxy) involving formation of urethane polymers having matching δ values with poly(ethylene terephthalate).     

Novel electrically conductive and ferromagnetic composites of poly(aniline‐co‐aminonaphthalenesulfonic acid) with iron oxide nanoparticles: Synthesis and characterization

Nanocomposites of iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) with a sulfonated polyaniline, poly(aniline‐co‐aminonaphthalenesulfonic acid) [SPAN(ANSA)], were synthesized through chemical oxidative copolymerization of aniline and 5‐amino‐2‐naphthalenesulfonic acid/1‐amino‐5‐naphthalenesulfonic acid in the presence of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The nanocomposites [Fe₃O₄/SPAN(ANSA)‐NCs] were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, UV–visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), superconductor quantum interference device (SQUID), and electrical conductivity measurements. The TEM images reveal that nanocrystalline Fe₃O₄ particles were homogeneously incorporated within the polymer matrix with the sizes in the range of 10–15 nm. XRD pattern reveals that pure Fe₃O₄ particles are having spinel structure, and nanocomposites are more crystalline in comparison to pristine polymers. Differential thermogravimetric (DTG) curves obtained through TGA informs that polymer chains in the composites have better thermal stability than that of the pristine copolymers. FTIR spectra provide information on the structure of the composites. The conductivity of the nanocomposites (～ 0.5 S cm^?1) is higher than that of pristine PANI (～ 10^?3 S cm^?1). The charge transport behavior of the composites is explained through temperature difference of conductivity. The temperature dependence of conductivity fits with the quasi‐1D variable range hopping (quasi‐1D VRH) model. SQUID analysis reveals that the composites show ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. The maximum saturation magnetization of the composite is 9.7 emu g^?1. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007