Length scales in glass-forming liquids and related systems: a review

The central problem in the study of glass-forming liquids and other glassy systems is the understanding of the complex structural relaxation and rapid growth of relaxation times seen on approaching the glass transition. A central conceptual question is whether one can identify one or more growing length scale(s) associated with this behavior. Given the diversity of molecular glass-formers and a vast body of experimental, computational and theoretical work addressing glassy behavior, a number of ideas and observations pertaining to growing length scales have been presented over the past few decades, but there is as yet no consensus view on this question. In this review, we will summarize the salient results and the state of our understanding of length scales associated with dynamical slow down. After a review of slow dynamics and the glass transition, pertinent theories of the glass transition will be summarized and a survey of ideas relating to length scales in glassy systems will be presented. A number of studies have focused on the emergence of preferred packing arrangements and discussed their role in glassy dynamics. More recently, a central object of attention has been the study of spatially correlated, heterogeneous dynamics and the associated length scale, studied in computer simulations and theoretical analysis such as inhomogeneous mode coupling theory. A number of static length scales have been proposed and studied recently, such as the mosaic length scale discussed in the random first-order transition theory and the related point-to-set correlation length. We will discuss these, elaborating on key results, along with a critical appraisal of the state of the art. Finally we will discuss length scales in driven soft matter, granular fluids and amorphous solids, and give a brief description of length scales in aging systems. Possible relations of these length scales with those in glass-forming liquids will be discussed.

White light emissive molecular siblings

The design and synthesis of two structurally close and complementarily fluorescent boron based molecular siblings 2 and 3 are reported. The luminescence properties of individual triads are modulated to complement each other by controlling the intramolecular energy transfer in 2 and 3. The binary mixture of 2 and 3 emits white-light.

Hydrogen Bonds Computing Server (HBCS): an online web server to compute hydrogen-bond interactions and their precision

Hydrogen bonds in biological macromolecules play significant structural and functional roles. They are the key contributors to most of the interactions without which no living system exists. In view of this, a web-based computing server, the Hydrogen Bonds Computing Server (HBCS), has been developed to compute hydrogen-bond interactions and their standard deviations for any given macromolecular structure. The computing server is connected to a locally maintained Protein Data Bank (PDB) archive. Thus, the user can calculate the above parameters for any deposited structure, and options have also been provided for the user to upload a structure in PDB format from the client machine. In addition, the server has been interfaced with the molecular viewers Jmol and JSmol to visualize the hydrogen-bond interactions. The proposed server is freely available and accessible via the World Wide Web at http://bioserver1.physics.iisc.ernet.in/hbcs/.

Molecular Dynamics Study Of The Mechanical Behavior Of Nickel Nanowire: Strain Rate Effects

We present the analysis of uniaxial deformation of nickel nanowires using molecular dynamics simulations, and address the strain rate effects on mechanical responses and deformation behavior. The applied strain rate is ranging from 1 x 10(8) s(-1) to 1.4 x 10(11) s(-1). The results show that two critical strain rates, i.e., 5 x 10(9) s(-1) and 8 x 10(10) s(-1), are observed to play a pivotal role in switching between plastic deformation modes. At strain rate below 5 x 10(9) s(-1), Ni nanowire maintains its crystalline structure with neck occurring at the end of loading, and the plastic deformation is characterized by {111} slippages associated with Shockley partial dislocations and rearrangements of atoms close to necking region. At strain rate above 8x10(10) s(-1), Ni nanowire transforms from a fcc crystal into a completely amorphous state once beyond the yield point, and hereafter it deforms uniformly without obvious necking until the end of simulation. For strain rate between 5 x 10(9) s(-1) and 8 x 10(10) s(-1), only part of the nanowire exhibits amorphous state after yielding while the other part remains crystalline state. Both the {111} slippages in ordered region and homogenous deformation in amorphous region contribute to the plastic deformation. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Prognostic Role of Host Cyclooxygenase and Cytokine Genotypes in a Caucasian Cohort of Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma

11 p.

Design and synthesis of quasi-diastereomeric molecules with unchanging central, regenerating axial and switchable helical chirality via cleavage and formation of Ni(II)–O and Ni(II)–N coordination bonds

9 p.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the flocculation of charged particles in aqueous solutions by polyelectrolytes of opposite charge

An electrostatic mechanism for the flocculation of charged particles by polyelectrolytes of opposite charge is proposed. The difference between this and previous electrostatic coagulation mechanisms is the formation of charged polyion patches on the oppositely charged surfaces. The size of a patch is primarily a function of polymer molecular weight and the total patch area is a function of the amount of polymer adsorbed. The theoretical predictions of the model agree with the experimental dependence of the polymer dose required for flocculation on polymer molecular weight and solution ionic strength.

A theoretical analysis based on the Derjaguin-Landau, Verwey- Overbeek electrical double layer theory and statistical mechanical treatments of adsorbed polymer configurations indicates that flocculation of charged particles in aqueous solutions by polyelectrolytes of opposite charge does not occur by the commonly accepted polymerbridge mechanism.

A series of 1, 2-dimethyl-5 -vinylpyridinium bromide polymers with a molecular weight range of 6x10^3 to 5x10^6 was synthesized and used to flocculate dilute polystyrene latex and silica suspensions in solutions of various ionic strengths. It was found that with high molecular weight polymers and/or high ionic strengths the polymer dose required for flocculation is independent of molecular weight. With low molecular weights and/or low ionic strengths, the flocculation dose decreases with increasing molecular weight.

Aplicação da calibração multivariada de ordem superior na resolução de espectros de fluorescência molecular para a quantificação de levofloxacino

Levofloxacino é uma fluorquinolona sintética de 3 geração. É eficaz contra uma variedade de infecções, incluindo o trato respiratório superior e inferior, trato urinário, obstétrico, ginecológico, e infecções dermatológicas. Com o objetivo de quantificar o levofloxacino em medicamentos e amostras de pacientes saudáveis e ter a resolução de seu espectro, foram realizados estudos preliminares em medicamento utilizando espectrofluorescência molecular com concentrações na faixa de 28,8 108 ng/mL e cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC) na faixa de concentração de 2,9 10,8 g/mL; e também quantificação em urina de paciente em tratamento com o medicamento, usando os dois métodos citados. Após isso, foram feitos estudos conclusivos utilizando espectrofluorescência molecular e os métodos univariado e PLS para determinação de levofloxacino na faixa de concentração de 0 250 ng/mL e PARAFAC combinado com o método da adição de padrão, para quantificação de levofloxacino em urina de paciente saudável, na faixa de concentração de 0 150 ng/mL, com diluição da amostra em três níveis (100 x, 500 x e 1000x). O método de ordem zero se mostrou mais eficiente na determinação de levofloxacino em medicamento que o de primeira ordem, seus desvios padrão foram 2,0% e 7,9%, respectivamente. Já o PARAFAC com o método de adição de padrão apresentou melhores resultados com a urina, pois possibilitou a quantificação do antibiótico em uma amostra complexa, de forma mais precisa e exata com o aumento da diluição da urina, sem necessidade de tratamento prévio.

Produção Cultural na Baixada Fluminense: Lira de Ouro, Revolução Molecular

A Sociedade Musical e Artística Lira de Ouro, que existe há 57 anos na cidade de Duque de Caxias RJ, é trazida para estudo, como um exemplo dos movimentos culturais que ganham força nas periferias do Brasil nesses tempos, e despontam como espaços onde se afirmam as diferenças e singularidade de seus integrantes e dos coletivos que constituem. Após dois anos de pesquisa, algumas das características estruturais da Lira são apontadas como diferenciais responsáveis pelos anos que a sociedade (r)existe ao contexto periférico em que se encontra, atuando como importante linha de fuga de produção cultural e espaço de vida social. Essas características são analisadas e é sugerida uma aproximação da Lira de Ouro com os movimentos que Félix Guattari chama de Revolução Molecular.

毛乌素沙地中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌遗传多样性对柠条生态系统功能的影响

生物多样性科学（BiodiversityScience）的国际规划提出生物多样性对生态系统功能的影响是整个研究计划五大核心的核心.生物多样性包括遗传、物种和生态系统三个水平,其中遗传多样性是其它两个水平多样性的基础和最终来源.该文在实验室多年研究毛乌素沙地柠条遗传多样性的基础上,分别从表型（生理生化）、蛋白质、同工酶以及遗传型（rDNA）水平探讨中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌的遗传多样性,并模拟沙地生境,建立人工共生体系,以期发现最有效的共生伙伴关系,这不仅有得提高毛乌素地区农牧业产量,更重要的是在当今沙尘暴肆虐的情况下,发挥柠条防风固沙的能力具有现实意义. 1.毛乌素沙地中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌遗传多样性(1)全细胞可溶性蛋白质谱将供试中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌菌株分为两大类群，其中硬梁覆沙地菌株GH72不同于来自沙丘顶部和底部的菌株，而且中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌独立于参比菌株。酯酶同工酶谱分析表明，中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌与参比菌株仅存在一个等位酶位点差异，其余等位点与参菌株共享，因此，酯酶同工酶反映出中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌的异质性。(2)16SrDNA部分序列与16S-23S rDNA IGS结果表明，所有供试菌株扩增产物均较前人报道的分子量偏高。经16S rDNA PCR-RFLP分析，中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌共形成12种基因型，表现出丰富的遗传多样性，其中属于基因型2的菌株占42.4%。代表菌株GH33 16S rDNA全序列结果显示，与已知的快生型根瘤菌同源性在95%以上。(3）中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌生理生化反应特性B．T．B实验证明所有中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌均产酸，符合快生型根瘤菌的特征．唯一碳源测试显示，95%中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌不利用淀粉，33%菌株不利用乳糖，对其他测试碳源不具有选择性。检洲在不同盐离子浓度、不同酸性梯度以及不同温度条件下菌株生长状况，发现毛乌素沙地中间锦鸡儿根瘤菌具极强的耐盐性．53.8%的菌株可以在9%NaCl的YMA培养基生长．75%的菌株在pH4．O和pHl0,0 环境中仍能生长，66.7%菌株在60℃处理1 0min后仍具有生活力。体现出对于干旱沙地的适应。 2．不同实验共生系统中植物和根瘤菌对生态系统功能的影响14株根瘤菌分与三个柠条种（小叶锦鸡儿，中间锦鸡儿和柠条锦鸡儿）回接，用土壤上覆沙模拟毛乌索沙地景观生态条件，以多石砾贫瘠土壤为对照，比较不同基因型柠条与根瘤菌人工共生体的长和结瘤与生境的关系，初步证明根瘤菌很可能是该生态系统的关键种。寄主植物与共生根瘤菌的遗传多样性对生态系统功能的影响与生态环境有关。实验还表明，选择适当的共生组合对于防治沙漠化有很大潜力。3．银染变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测RAPD遗传模式以85株小钻杨F2代为材料，用本实验室改良的银染变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法检测RAPD遗传模式。结果表明，仅用9个引物共扩增到399个位点，其中98个位点表现为多态性，卡方测验显示，79个多态位点符合经典的孟德尔遗传(3：1)，占多态位点80.6%。这种改良的检测RAPD标记的方法必将推动RAPD标汜构建连锁图谱的进程。

Numerical simulations of unsteady wet steam flows with non-equilibrium condensation in the nozzle and the steam turbine

Numerical techniques for non-equilibrium condensing flows are presented. Conservation equations for homogeneous gas-liquid two-phase compressible flows are solved by using a finite volume method based on an approximate Riemann solver. The phase change consists of the homogeneous nucleation and growth of existing droplets. Nucleation is computed with the classical Volmer-Frenkel model, corrected for the influence of the droplet temperature being higher than the steam temperature due to latent heat release. For droplet growth, two types of heat transfer model between droplets and the surrounding steam are used: a free molecular flow model and a semi-empirical two-layer model which is deemed to be valid over a wide range of Knudsen number. The computed pressure distribution and Sauter mean droplet diameters in a convergent-divergent (Laval) nozzle are compared with experimental data. Both droplet growth models capture qualitatively the pressure increases due to sudden heat release by the non-equilibrium condensation. However the agreement between computed and experimental pressure distributions is better for the two-layer model. The droplet diameter calculated by this model also agrees well with the experimental value, whereas that predicted by the free molecular model is too small. Condensing flows in a steam turbine cascade are calculated at different Mach numbers and inlet superheat conditions and are compared with experiments. Static pressure traverses downstream from the blade and pressure distributions on the blade surface agree well with experimental results in all cases. Once again, droplet diameters computed with the two-layer model give best agreement with the experiments. Droplet sizes are found to vary across the blade pitch due to the significant variation in expansion rate. Flow patterns including oblique shock waves and condensation-induced pressure increases are also presented and are similar to those shown in the experimental Schlieren photographs. Finally, calculations are presented for periodically unsteady condensing flows in a low expansion rate, convergent-divergent (Laval) nozzle. Depending on the inlet stagnation subcooling, two types of self-excited oscillations appear: a symmetric mode at lower inlet subcooling and an asymmetric mode at higher subcooling. Plots of oscillation frequency versus inlet sub-cooling exhibit a hysteresis loop, in accord with observations made by other researchers for moist air flow. Copyright © 2006 by ASME.

Jerdonase, a novel serine protease with kinin-releasing and fibrinogenolytic activity from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom

A novel kinin-releasing and fibrin (ogen)olytic enzyme termed jerdonase was purified to homogeneity from the venom of Trimeresurus jerdonii by DEAE Sephadex A-50 anion exchange, Sephadex G-100 (superfine) gel filtration and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Jerdonase migrated as a single band with an approximate molecular weight of 55 kD under the reduced conditions and 53 kD under the non-reduced conditions. The enzyme was a glycoprotein containing 35.8% neutral carbohydrate. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of jerdonase was determined to be IIGGDECNINEHPFLVALYDA, which showed high sequence identity to other snake venom serine proteases. Jerdonase catalyzed the hydrolysis of BAEE, S-2238 and S-2302, which was inhibited by phenymethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), but not affected by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Jerdonase preferentially cleaved the Aalpha-chain of human fibrinogen with lower activity towards Bbeta-chain. Moreover, the enzyme hydrolyzed bovine low-molecular-mass kininogen and releasing bradykinin. In conclusion, all results indicated that jerdonase was a multifunctional venom serine protease.

Updating the East Asian mtDNA phylogeny: a prerequisite for the identification of pathogenic mutations

Knowledge about the world phylogeny of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is essential not only for evaluating the pathogenic role of specific mtDNA mutations but also for performing reliable association studies between mtDNA haplogroups and complex disorder

Altering the ordering and disordering of a triangular nanographene at room temperature.

Molecular self-organization has the potential to serve as an efficient and versatile tool for the spontaneous creation of low-dimensional nanostructures on surfaces. We demonstrate how the subtle balance between intermolecular interactions and molecule-surface interactions can be altered by modifying the environment or through manipulation by means of the tip in a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) at room temperature. We show how this leads to the distinctive ordering and disordering of a triangular nanographene molecule, the trizigzag-hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes-phenyl-6 (trizigzagHBC-Ph6), on two different surfaces: graphite and Au(111). The assembly of submonolayer films on graphite reveals a sixfold packing symmetry under UHV conditions, whereas at the graphite-phenyloctane interface, they reorganize into a fourfold packing symmetry, mediated by the solvent molecules. On Au(111) under UHV conditions in the multilayer films we investigated, although disorder prevails with the molecules being randomly distributed, their packing behaviour can be altered by the scanning motion of the tip. The asymmetric diode-like current-voltage characteristics of the molecules are retained when deposited on both substrates. This paper highlights the importance of the surrounding medium and any external stimulus in influencing the molecular organization process, and offers a unique approach for controlling the assembly of molecules at a desired location on a substrate.

Thickness control of Molecular Beam Epitaxy grown layers at the 0.01-0.1 monolayer level

Electron tunnelling through semiconductor tunnel barriers is exponentially sensitive to the thickness of the barrier layer, and in the most common system, the AlAs tunnel barrier in GaAs, a one monolayer variation in thickness results in a 300% variation in the tunnelling current for a fixed bias voltage. We use this degree of sensitivity to demonstrate that the level of control at 0.06 monolayer can be achieved in the growth by molecular beam epitaxy, and the geometrical variation of layer thickness across a wafer at the 0.01 monolayer level can be detected.