Pulsewidth dependence of ozone interference in the laser fluorescence measurement of OH in the atmosphere

By varying the pulsewidth of the output from two dye lasers, we have verified experimentally that the steady‐state interference level of OH due to laser‐induced dissociation of ozone decreases linearly with decreasing pulsewidth of the exciting radiation. At low pressures, further reduction in the interference level due to the transient nature of OH formation processes was also observed. These results should greatly facilitate measurements of OH concentrations in the atmosphere.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70170/2/JCPSA6-66-5-2118-1.pd

Theoretical models of nonlinear effects in two-component cooperative supramolecular copolymerizations

The understanding of multi-component mixtures of self-assembling molecules under thermodynamic equilibrium can only be advanced by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. In such systems, small differences in association energy between the various components can be significantly amplified at the supramolecular level via intricate nonlinear effects. Here we report a theoretical investigation of two-component, self-assembling systems in order to rationalize chiral amplification in cooperative supramolecular copolymerizations. Unlike previous models based on theories developed for covalent polymers, the models presented here take into account the equilibrium between the monomer pool and supramolecular polymers, and the cooperative growth of the latter. Using two distinct methodologies, that is, solving mass-balance equations and stochastic simulation, we show that monomer exchange accounts for numerous unexplained observations in chiral amplification in supramolecular copolymerization. In analogy with asymmetric catalysis, amplification of chirality in supramolecular polymers results in an asymmetric depletion of the enantiomerically related monomer pool

Associations of Amylin with Inflammatory Markers and Metabolic Syndrome in Apparently Healthy Chinese

BACKGROUND: Cellular and animal studies implicate multiple roles of amylin in regulating insulin action, glucose and lipid metabolisms. However, the role of amylin in obesity related metabolic disorders has not been thoroughly investigated in humans. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the distribution of circulating amylin and its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and explore if this association is influenced by obesity, inflammatory markers or insulin resistance in apparently healthy Chinese. METHODS: A population-based sample of 1,011 Chinese men and women aged 35-54 years was employed to measure plasma amylin, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP] and interleukin-6 [IL-6]), insulin, glucose and lipid profiles. MetS was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Asian-Americans. RESULTS: Plasma amylin concentrations were higher in overweight/obese participants than normal-weight counterparts (P<0.001) without sex difference. Circulating amylin was positively associated with CRP, IL-6, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, amylin/insulin ratio, HOMA-IR, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while negatively associated with HDL cholesterol (all P<0.001). After multiple adjustments, the risk of MetS was significantly higher (odds ratio 3.71; 95% confidence interval: 2.53 to 5.46) comparing the highest with the lowest amylin quartile. The association remained significant even further controlling for BMI, inflammatory markers, insulin or HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that amylin is strongly associated with inflammatory markers and MetS. The amylin-MetS association is independent of established risk factors of MetS, including obesity, inflammatory markers and insulin resistance. The causal role of hyperamylinemia in the development of MetS needs to be confirmed prospectively

Enantioselective component selection in multicomponent supramolecular gels

We investigate a two-component acid-amine gelation system in which chirality plays a vital role. A carboxylic acid based on a second generation l-lysine dendron interacts with chiral amines and subsequently assembles into supramolecular gel fibers. The chirality of the amine controls the assembly of the resulting diastereomeric complexes, even if this chirality is relatively "poor quality". Importantly, the selective incorporation of one enantiomer of an amine over the other into the gel network has been demonstrated, with the R amine that forms complexes which assemble into the most stable gel being primarily selected for incorporation. Thermodynamic control has been proven by forming a gel exclusively with an S amine, allowing the R enantiomer to diffuse through the gel network, and displacing it from the "solidlike" fibers, demonstrating that these gels adapt and evolve in response to chemical stimuli to which they are exposed. Excess amine, which remains unincorporated within the solidlike gel fiber network, can diffuse out and be reacted with an isocyanate, allowing us to quantify the enantioselectivity of component selection but also demonstrating how gels can act as selective reservoirs of potential reagents, releasing them on demand to undergo further reactions; hence, component-selective gel assembly can be coupled with controlled reactivity