Graphical representation and the similarity of DNA primary sequences

In this article, graphical representations of DNA primary sequences were generated. Topological indices and molecular connectivity indices were calculated and used for the comparison of similarities among eight different DNA segments. The satisfactory results were achieved by this analysis.

Influence of intermolecular entanglements on the glass transition and structural relaxation behaviors of macromolecules. 2. Polystyrene and phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone)

The effect of entanglements on the glass transition and structural relaxation behaviors has been studied for polystyrene (PS) and phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone) (PES-C) samples by fast evaporation of the solution of concentrations varying from above the overlapping concentration to far below it, and compared to the results we have studied previously in PC. It has been found that for all the polymers we have studied, in the concentrated solution region, the T-g of the samples obtained from solution are independent of the change of concentration and are very close to that of normal bulk samples, whereas in the dilute solution region the T-g of the samples decrease with the logarithm of decreasing concentration. The critical concentrations that divide the two distinct regions for the three polymers are 0.9% g/mL for PC, 0.1% g/mL for PS, and 1% g/mL for PES-C. The decrease of T-g of the samples is interpreted by the decrease of intermolecular entanglements as the isolation of polymer chains, and the entanglement of polymer chains restrained the mobility of the segments. The structural relaxation behavior of the polymers is also found to be different from that of normal bulk samples. The enthalpies of single-chain samples are lower than that of the bulk ones, which correspond to the lower glass transition temperature; the peaks are lower and broader, and the relaxed enthalpy is much lower as compared to that of bulk samples. In the three polymers we have studied, the influence of change of entanglements on both the decrease in glass transition temperature and relaxed enthalpy is the most significant for PS and the least for PES-C. It is indicated that the interactions in the flexible polymers are weak; thus, the restraint of the entanglements on the mobility of the segments plays a more important role in the flexible polymers, and the change of entanglement in the flexible polymers has a more significant influence on the physical properties.

Poly(phenylene sulfide-tetraaniline): The soluble conducting polyaniline analogue with well-defined structures

A novel conducting polymer poly(phenylene sulfide-tetraaniline) (PPSTEA), with tetraaniline (TA) and phenylene sulfide (PS) segments in its repeat unit, has been synthesized through an acid-induced polycondensation reaction of 4-methylsulfinylphenyl-capped tetraaniline. The new polymer, which represents the first soluble conducting polyaniline analogue with well-defined structure, has high molecular weight, good solubility in common solvents, and good film-forming properties. Its electrical property is analogous to polyaniline. The conductivity of preliminarily, protonic-doping PPSTEA is up to 10 degrees S/cm. This synthetic strategy appears to be general for developing novel well-defined polyaniline analogue containing much longer fixed conjugation length.

Human catalytic antibodies with glutathione peroxidase activity

In order to generate catalytic antibodies with glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, we prepared GSH-S-DNP butyl ester and GSH-S-DNP benzyl ester as the haptens. Two ScFvs that bound specifically to the haptens were selected from the human phage-displayed antibody library. The two ScFv genes were highly homologous, consisting of 786 bps and belonging to the same VH family-DP25. In the premise of maintaining the amino acid sequence, mutated plasmids were constructed by use of the mutated primers in PCR, and they were over-expressed in E. coli. After the active site serine was converted into selenocysteine with the chemical modifying method, we obtained two human catalytic antibodies with GPx activity of 72.2U/mu mol and 28.8U/mu mol, respectively. With the aid of computer mimicking, it can be assumed that the antibodies can form dimers and the mutated selenocysteine residue is located in the binding site. Furthermore, the same Ping-Pong mechanism as the natural GPx was observed when the kinetic behavior of the antibody with the higher activity was studied. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BY. All rights reserved.

Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics: poly(ethylene terephthalate)-poly(ethylene oxide) segmented copolymer and poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer

The nonisothermal crystallization behavior of polyethylene oxide (PEO) in poly(ethylene terephthalate)poly(ethylene oxide) (PETPEO) segmented copolymer and PEO homopolymer has been studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry, as well as transmission electron microscope. The kinetics of PEO in copolymer and PEO homopolymer under nonisothermal crystallization condition has been analyzed by Ozawa equation. The results show that Ozawa equation only describes the crystallization behavior of PEO-6000 homopolymer successfully, but fails to describe the whole crystallization process of PEO in copolymer because the secondary crystallization in the later stage could not be neglected. Due to the constraint of PET segments imposed on the PEO segments, a distinct two stage of crystallization of PEO in copolymer has been investigated by using Avrami equation modified by Jeziorny to deal with the nonisothermal crystallization data. In the case of PEO-6000 homopolymer, good linear relation for the whole crystallization process is obtained owing to the secondary crystallization does not occur under our experimental condition. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular dynamics simulation of sub-transition for polyethersulfone

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a polyethersulfone (PES) chain are carried out in the amorphous state by using the Dreiding 2.21 force field at four temperatures. Two types of molecular motion, i.e, rotations of phenylene rings and torsions of large segments containing two oxygen atoms, two sulfur atoms, and five phenylene rings on the backbone, are simulated. The modeling results show that the successive phenylene rings should be in-phase cooperative rotations, whereas the successive large segments should be out-of-phase cooperative torsions. By calculating the diffusion coefficient for the phenylene ring rotations, it is found that this rotation contributes to the beta -transition of PES.

Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of PEO in ethylene terephthalate-ethylene oxide segmented copolymers

The nonisothermal crystallization behavior of Ethylene Terephthalate-Ethylene Oxide (ET-EO) segmented copolymers has been studied with the use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The kinetics of PEO in ET-EO segmented copolymer under nonisothermal crystallization conditions has been analyzed with the Ozawa equation. The results show that there is no agreement with Ozawa's theoretical predictions in the whole crystallization process owing to the constraint of ET segments imposed on the EO segments. A distinct two-crystallization process has been investigated by using the Avrami equation modified by Jeziorny to deal with the nonisothermal crystallization data. The value of the Avrami exponent n is independent of the length of soft segments. However, the crystallization rate is sensitive to the length of soft segments. The longer the soft segments, the faster the crystallization will be.

Synthesis and properties of alternating copolymers containing PPV and hole-transporting units for light-emitting devices

A series of alternating copolymers containing triphenylamine (TPA) moieties and oligomeric PPV segments in the main chain have been synthesized by Wittig condensation. The resulting polymers exhibit good thermal stability with decomposition temperatures (Tds) above 305 degreesC under nitrogen at 10 degreesC/min, and high glass transition temperatures (Tgs). They show intense photoluminescence in solution and film. The single-layer electroluminescent device using TAA-PV1 as emissive layer emits green light at 522nm with a turn-on voltage of 6V and maximum brightness of about 200cd/m(2) at 20V.

Experimental measurement of polyethylene chain modulus by scanning force microscopy

Nanoindentation technique and scanning force microscopy have been used to measure directly the polyethylene modulus along the chain axis. Single crystals of polyethylene were employed in order to obtain well-aligned chain segments. To minimize effects of scanner creep, a Z scan rate of 3 Hz was employed. The "X Rotate" value of 25 degrees was selected to eliminate effects of lateral tip motion. The results were analyzed by the Oliver -Pharr method for which direct observation and measurement of the contact area are not required. Considering the influence of tip roundness on the projected contact area, the nanoindentation results were analyzed by the Sawa method. The chain modulus obtained from the thinner polyethylene single crystal sample was 204 +/- 21 GPa by the Oliver-Pharr method and 168 +/- 17 GPa by the Sawa method. The lower values than expected were due to substrate effects and anisotropy of chain deformation during nanoindentation. An extrapolation of the chain modulus obtained by various strains to zero nanoindentation eliminated the effect of substrate and anisotropy of chain deformation. The corresponding chain modulus obtained from the thicker sample was 278 GPa by the Oliver-Pharr method and 267 GPa by the Sawa method, respectively, in better agreement with the value of 340 Cpa determined theoretically. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of entanglements an the glass transition and structural relaxation behaviors of macromolecules. 1. Polycarbonate

We obtained the single-chain polycarbonate sample, by a new fast evaporation method and found that the polycarbonate sample obtained by this method is completely amorphous, while the polycarbonate sample obtained by other methods all have a certain degree of crystallinity. The glass transition temperature (T-g) of the sample decreases with the decreasing of concentration when the concentration of the prepared solution is below the critical value. The critical concentration we obtained from the T-g dependence of concentration is 0.9% g/mL and is in accord with that obtained by viscometry and light scattering methods directly from the solution. The structural relaxation behavior is found also different from that of a normal bulk sample of polycarbonate. The enthalpic peak of the single-chain sample is lower: than that of the bulk one, which corresponds to the lower glass transition temperature. The peak of the single-chain sample is lower and broader, and the relaxed enthalpy is much lower compared with that of the bulk sample. These results have been explained in terms of the effect of entanglement on the mobility of the segments in polymer and the compact conformation in the single-chain sample.

Studies on blends of LLDPE and ethylene-methacrylic acid random copolymer

Blends of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMA) random copolymer were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and excimer fluorescence. In binary blends, crystallization of EMA was studied, and no modification of crystal structure was detected. In excimer fluorescence measurements, emission intensities of blends of EMA and naphthalene-labeled LLDPE were measured. The ratio of the excimer emission intensity (I-D) to the emission intensity of the isolated "monomer" (I-M) decreases upon addition of EMA, indicating that PE segments of EMA interpenetrate into the amorphous phase of LLDPE. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd,. All rights reserved.

Effect of polymer chain structure and chain distance on luminescent efficiency

Three kinds of PPV-based copolymers were synthesized and characterized. Their luminescent properties were investigated and discussed by PL spectrum, and time-dependence luminescent spectrum in film and solution stare. The results show that in the range of our study, the PL intensity and lifetime of luminescent decay increase with the increasing length of flexible segments and the solution diluting, indicating the tendency of the increase of luminescent efficiency.

Compatibilization effect of graft copolymer on immiscible polymer blends: 1. LLDPE/SBS/LLDPE-g-PS systems

compatibilizing effect of graft copolymer, linear low density polyethylene-g-polystyrene (LLDPE-g-PS), on immiscible blends of LLDPE with styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer (SBS) has been investigated by means of C-13 CPMAS n.m.r. and d.s.c. techniques. The results indicate that LLDPE-g-PS is an effective compatibilizer for LLDPE/SBS blends. It was found that LLDPE-g-PS chains connect two immiscible components, LLDPE and SBS, through solubilization of chemically identical segments of LLDPE-g-PS into the amorphous region of LLDPE acid PS block domain of SBS, respectively. It was also found that LLDPE-g-PS chains connect the crystalline region of LLDPE by isomorphism, with serious effects on the supermolecular structure of LLDPE. The effect of LLDPE-g-PS on the supermolecular structure of LLDPE in the LLDPE/SBS blends obviously depends on the composition of the blends, but has little dependence on the PS grafting yields of LLDPE-g-PS. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Morphology and properties of [PPO-PDMS-PHS](n) segmented ternary copolymers

The morphology and properties of [ PPO-PDMS-PHS](n) segmented ternary copolymers were investigated by DMA, TEM and SAXS techniques. It is shown that the continuous phase of [PPO-PDMS-PHS](n) is the compatible phase composed of PDMS, PPO and PHS segments, and that there exist two dispersed phases, i, e. the PDMS phase and a mixed phase of half hard ( PHS) and hard ( PPO) segments. The tan delta vs. T curve of the segmented ternary copolymer with 66.7% (W/W) PDMS shows a rather high plateau in the temperature range from -120 degrees C to 200 degrees C, which indicates that the copolymer has the characteristics of microphase separation as well as compatibility of block copolymers, respectively. Meanwhile, it has good tensile properties, which means that [PPO-PDMS-PHS](n) has overcome the weakness of low strength of block or segmented copolymers containing PDMS.

The formation of ring-banded spherulites of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) in its miscible mixtures with poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile)

Ring-banded spherulites in polymer blends of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) were investigated by optical microscopy equipped with a digital image analysis system. PCL/SAN blends exhibit not only spherulites with a Maltese cross, but also distinct extinction rings. The periodic distance of rings changes with blend ratio and crystallization temperature and was plotted as a function of the undercooling and overall mobility of the mixtures, respectively. It was found that the overall mobility of chain segments in the mixtures could be mainly attributed to the origin of the formation of ring-banded spherulites. It was believed that for the first time a quantitative experimental result was obtained about the relationship of periodic distance of rings and the overall mobility of the mixtures. This relationship may be useful to explain the formation mechanism of ring-banded spherulites in polymer blends or even in homopolymers in the future. (C) 1977 Elsevier Science Ltd.