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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2011

An Insight into the Interaction Mode Between CheB and Chemoreceptor from Two Crystal Structures of CheB Methylesterase Catalytic Domain

We have determined 2.2 {angstrom} resolution crystal structure of Thermotoga maritima CheB methylesterase domain to provide insight into the interaction mode between CheB and chemoreceptors. T. maritima CheB methylesterase domain has identical topology of a modified doubly-wound {alpha}/{beta} fold that was observed from the previously reported Salmonella typhimurium counterpart, but the analysis of the electrostatic potential surface near the catalytic triad indicated considerable charge distribution difference. As the CheB demethylation consensus sites of the chemoreceptors, the CheB substrate, are not uniquely conserved between T. maritima and S. typhimurium, such surfaces with differing electrostatic properties may reflect CheB regions that mediate protein-protein interaction. Via the computational docking of the two T. maritima and S. typhimurium CheB structures to the respective T. maritima and Escherichia coli chemoreceptors, we propose a CheB:chemoreceptor interaction mode.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Anisotropic spin structure along the easy axis of magnetization in epitaxially grown MnAs/GaAs(100) thin films

We grew epitaxial MnAs thin films on GaAs(100) substrates using molecular-beam epitaxy and investigated their magnetic properties. The crystal orientation of the film was type-B. Measurements of the film's magnetization revealed two-fold symmetric magnetic anisotropy on its surface, with the easy and hard directions of magnetization along GaAs[1{sup ¯}10](MnAs[1{sup ¯}1{sup ¯}20]) and GaAs[110](MnAs[11{sup ¯}02]), respectively. We found breakage of the uniaxial anisotropy in magnetization along the easy direction of magnetization for both the magnetization versus magnetic field and magnetization versus temperature measurements. We suggest that the origin of this peculiar pinned ferromagnetism in the MnAs layer is the spin-exchange interaction between the MnAs film and the ultra-thin Mn layer formed at the interface of MnAs film and GaAs(100) substrate.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Adjustable, rapidly switching microfluidic gradient generation using focused travelling surface acoustic waves

We demonstrate a simple device to generate chemical concentration gradients in a microfluidic channel using focused travelling surface acoustic waves (F-TSAW). A pair of curved interdigitated metal electrodes deposited on the surface of a piezoelectric (LiNbO{sub 3}) substrate disseminate high frequency sound waves when actuated by an alternating current source. The F-TSAW produces chaotic acoustic streaming flow upon its interaction with the fluid inside a microfluidic channel, which mixes confluent streams of chemicals in a controlled fashion for an adjustable and rapidly switching gradient generation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Surface interactions and degradation of a fluoroquinolone antibiotic in the dark in aqueous TiO 2 suspensions

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) are important drugs used in human and veterinary medicine. Their detection in natural waters and waste water treatment plants, along with increased resistance to FQs among some bacteria, have generated an increased interest in the fate of these drugs in the environment. Partitioning of FQs between an aqueous solution and attendant substrates depends, in part, on the surface reactivity of the adsorbent, commonly a function of particle size, surface charge, and functional groups. In this paper, this study investigated the surface interactions between the FQ drug ofloxacin (OFL) and titanium oxide (TiO 2 ), a common catalyst and widely-observed constituent in many consumer products. Raman and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques, as well as LC/MS, were used to determine the OFL moieties present on TiO 2 surfaces and in attendant solutions. Raman spectra indicate that the C==O (ketone) group of the quinolone core, the NH + of the piperazinyl ring, and CH 3 of benzoxazine core are the most active in sorption onto the TiO 2 surface. Raman spectra also show that the sorbed benzoxazine–quinolone core and piperazinyl moieties are readily desorbed from the surface by re-suspending samples in water. Importantly, we found that OFL could be degraded by reacting with TiO 2 even in the dark. Complementary LC/MS analysis of the attendant supernatants indicates the presence of de-piperazinylated and de-carboxylated OFL breakdown products in supernatant solutions. Together, both Raman and LC/MS analyses indicate that TiO 2 breaks the compound into piperazinyl and carboxylate groups which attach to the surface, whereas de-carboxylated and hydroxylated quinolone moieties remain in solution. Finally, the present study thus identifies the sorption mechanisms and breakdown products of OFL during dark reactions with TiO 2 , which is critically important for understanding the fate and transport of OFL as it enters the soil and aquatic environment.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS2025

Thermochemical Stability of Ca2Yb8(SiO4)6O2 Apatite in Presence of Molten Calcium-Magnesium-AluminoSilicate (CMAS)

Thermochemical stability of ytterbium silicon oxyapatite Ca 2 Yb 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 (CYbS) in the presence of molten calcium-magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) has been investigated at elevated temperatures. CYbS apatite powder was synthesized from the constituent oxides via solid state reaction method. Hot pressed apatite substrates were exposed to molten CMAS at 1200, 1300, and 1400 °C for 1, 10, and 50 h. Development of phases in the interaction region of the heat-treated specimens was monitored using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high angle annular dark field imaging, selected area electron diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Monoclinic cyclosilicate Ca 3 Yb 2 (Si 3 O 9 ) 2 formed from interaction of CYbS apatite with CaO in the CMAS melt at the apatite-CMAS reaction front and continued to nucleate and grow within the residual CMAS in diffusion couples annealed for 1-50 h at 1200 °C and those heat treated at 1300 °C for 1 h. Residual CMAS was Ca-depleted when cyclosilicate was present. Dendritic wollastonite CaSiO 3 was observed within the residual CMAS in couples annealed at 1200 and 1300 °C. Ingress of molten CMAS, because of its exponential decrease in viscosity, occurred through open pores and along the grain boundaries of the apatite substrates without any detectable chemical reaction at 1300 and 1400 °C. Results of this study indicate that Ca 2 Yb 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 apatite has the potential to mitigate the CMAS corrosion up to about 1200 °C but not at higher temperatures.

X-ray diffraction↗
DOE OSTI2016

Local Environment and Interactions of Liquid and Solid Interfaces Revealed by Spectral Line Shape of Surface Selective Nonlinear Vibrational Probe

Vibrational spectral lineshape contains important detailed information of molecular vibration and reports its specific interactions and couplings to its local environment. In this work, recently developed sub-1 cm-1 high-resolution broadband sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (HR-BB-SFG-VS) was used to measure the -C≡N stretch vibration in the 4-n-octyl-4’-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) Langmuir or Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer as a unique vibrational probe, and the spectral lineshape analysis revealed the local environment and interactions at the air/water, air/glass, air/calcium fluoride and air/-quartz interfaces for the first time. The 8CB Langmuir or LB film is uniform and the vibrational spectral lineshape of its -C≡N group has been well characterized, making it a good choice as the surface vibrational probe. Lineshape analysis of the 8CB -C≡N stretch SFG vibrational spectra suggests the coherent vibrational dynamics and the structural and dynamic inhomogeneity of the -C≡N group at each interface are uniquely different. In addition, it is also found that there are significantly different roles for water molecules in the LB films on different substrate surfaces. These results demonstrated the novel capabilities of the surface nonlinear spectroscopy in characterization and in understanding the specific structures and chemical interactions at the liquid and solid interfaces in general.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Assessment of ABCG2-mediated transport of pesticides across the rabbit placenta barrier using a novel MDCKII in vitro model

In humans, the ATP-binding cassette efflux transporter ABCG2 contributes to the fetoprotective barrier function of the placenta, potentially limiting the toxicity of transporter substrates to the fetus. During testing of chemicals including pesticides, developmental toxicity studies are performed in rabbit. Despite its toxicological relevance, ABCG2-mediated transport of pesticides in rabbit placenta has not been yet elucidated. We therefore generated polarized MDCK II cells expressing the ABCG2 transporter from rabbit placenta (rbABCG2) and evaluated interaction of the efflux transporter with selected insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The Hoechst H33342 accumulation assay indicated that 13 widely used pesticidal active substances including azoxystrobin, carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, chlormequat, diflufenican, dimethoate, dimethomorph, dithianon, ioxynil, methiocarb, propamocarb, rimsulfuron and toclofos-methyl may be rbABCG2 inhibitors and/or substrates. No such evidence was obtained for chlorpyrifos-methyl, epoxiconazole, glyphosate, imazalil and thiacloprid. Moreover, chlorpyrifos (CPF), dimethomorph, tolclofos-methyl and rimsulfuron showed concentration-dependent inhibition of H33342 excretion in rbABCG2-transduced MDCKII cells. To further evaluate the role of rbABCG2 in pesticide transport across the placenta barrier, we generated polarized MDCKII-rbABCG2 monolayers. Confocal microscopy confirmed correct localization of rbABCG2 protein in the apical plasma membrane. In transepithelial flux studies, we showed the time-dependent preferential basolateral to apical (B > A) directed transport of [{sup 14}C] CPF across polarized MDCKII-rbABCG2 monolayers which was significantly inhibited by the ABCG2 inhibitor fumitremorgin C (FTC). Using this novel in vitro cell culture model, we altogether showed functional secretory activity of the ABCG2 transporter from rabbit placenta and identified several pesticides like the insecticide CPF as potential rbABCG2 substrates. - Highlights: • Generation of MDCKII-rbABCG2 monolayers with epithelial barrier function • Detection of rbABCG2 in the apical plasma membrane of polarized MDCKII cells • Several pesticides interact with the ABCG2 transporter from rabbit placenta. • rbABCG2 mediates transport of the insecticide chlorpyrifos. • MDCKII-rbABCG2 cells are a suitable model to study transport in rabbit placenta.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2026

Thermochemical Stability of Ca2Yb8(SiO4)6O2 Apatite in Presence of Molten Calcium-Magnesium-Aluminosilicate (CMAS)

Thermochemical stability of ytterbium silicon oxyapatite Ca 2 Yb 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 (CYbS) in the presence of molten calcium-magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) has been investigated at elevated temperatures for consideration as a thermal and environmental barrier coating (T/EBC) material. CYbS apatite powder was synthesized from the constituent oxides via a solid-state reaction method. Hot-pressed apatite substrates were exposed to molten CMAS at 1200, 1300, and 1400 °C for 1, 10, and 50 h. Development of phases in the interaction region of the heat-treated specimens was monitored using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark-field imaging, selected area electron diffraction, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Monoclinic cyclosilicate Ca 3 Yb 2 (Si 3 O 9 ) 2 formed from interaction of CYbS apatite with CaO in the CMAS melt at the apatite-CMAS reaction front and continued to nucleate and grow within the residual CMAS in diffusion couples annealed for 1 to 50 h at 1200 °C as well as in those heat treated at 1300 °C for 1 h. Residual CMAS was depleted of Ca when cyclosilicate was present. Dendritic wollastonite (CaSiO3) was observed within the residual CMAS in couples annealed at 1200 and 1300 °C. Ingress of molten CMAS, because of its exponential decrease in viscosity, occurred through open pores and along the grain boundaries of the apatite substrates without any detectable chemical reaction at 1300 and 1400 °C. Results of this study indicate that Ca 2 Yb 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 apatite has the potential to mitigate the CMAS corrosion up to about 1200 °C but not at higher temperatures.

Narottam P Bansal↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cryo-EM structures of full-length Tetrahymena ribozyme at 3.1 Å resolution

Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become a standard technique for determining protein structures at atomic resolution1,2,3. However, cryo-EM studies of protein-free RNA are in their early days. The Tetrahymena thermophila group I self-splicing intron was the first ribozyme to be discovered and has been a prominent model system for the study of RNA catalysis and structure–function relationships4, but its full structure remains unknown. Here we report cryo-EM structures of the full-length Tetrahymena ribozyme in substrate-free and bound states at a resolution of 3.1 Å. Additionally, newly resolved peripheral regions form two coaxially stacked helices; these are interconnected by two kissing loop pseudoknots that wrap around the catalytic core and include two previously unforeseen (to our knowledge) tertiary interactions. The global architecture is nearly identical in both states; only the internal guide sequence and guanosine binding site undergo a large conformational change and a localized shift, respectively, upon binding of RNA substrates. These results provide a long-sought structural view of a paradigmatic RNA enzyme and signal a new era for the cryo-EM-based study of structure–function relationships in ribozymes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Etching of Si 3 N 4 induced by electron beam plasma from hollow cathode plasma in a downstream reactive environment

An etching system based on the interaction of electrons extracted from a direct current (DC) hollow-cathode (HC) Ar plasma and injected towards a Si3N4 covered silicon substrate located in the downstream reactive environment created by an additional remote CF 4 /O 2 plasma source was developed and evaluated. By controlling the properties of the injected beam electrons, this approach allows to deliver energy to a surface functionalized by exposure to reactive species, and initiate surface etching. The energy of the primary beam electrons is controlled by the acceleration voltage relative to the HC discharge. Ar atoms flow from the high-pressure HC discharge into the low pressure downstream reactive environment in the process chamber. For an acceleration voltage greater than the ionization potential of Ar and/or process gas species, the energetic primary beam electrons produce a secondary plasma in the process chamber, and can also cause additional dissociation. We have characterized the properties of the secondary plasma and also surface etching of Si 3 N 4 as a function of process parameters, including acceleration voltage (0-80 V), discharge current of the HC discharge (1-2 A), pressure (3.5-20 mTorr), source to substrate distance (1.5 to 5 cm), and feed gas composition (20% and 80% O2 in CF 4 /O 2 ). The electron energy probability function (EEPF) measured with a Langmuir probe about 2.5 cm below the extraction ring suggests several major groups of electrons for this situation, including high energy primary beam electrons with an energy that varies as the acceleration voltage is changed and low energy electrons produced by beam electron-induced ionization of the Ar gas in the process chamber. When a remote CF 4 /O 2 plasma is additionally coupled to the process chamber, Si 3 N 4 surfaces can be functionalized, and by varying the energy of the beam electrons, Si 3 N 4 etching can be induced by electron-neutral synergy effect with plasma-surface interaction. For conditions without beam electron injection, the remote plasma etching rate (ER) of Si 3 N 4 depends strongly on the O 2 concentration in the CF 4 /O 2 processing gas mixture and can be suppressed for O 2 -rich process conditions by the formation of a SiONF passivation layer on the Si 3 N 4 surface. The combination of the HC electron beam source with the remote plasma source (HCEB-RP) makes it possible to induce Si 3 N 4 etching for O 2 -rich remote plasma conditions where remote plasma by itself produces negligible Si 3 N 4 etching. The electron enhanced etching of Si 3 N 4 depends strongly on O 2 /CF 4 mixing ratio reflecting changing arrival rates of O and F species at the surface. Optical emission spectroscopy was used to estimate the ratio of gas phase F and O densities and found to be controlled by the gas mixing ratio and independent of HC EB operating conditions. At this time the detailed sequence of events operative in the etching mechanism is unclear. While the increase of the electron energy is ultimately responsible for initiating surface etching, at present we cannot rule out a role of ions from the simultaneously produced secondary plasma in plasma surface interaction mechanisms.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Structural Basis for Selectivity in Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenase-Catalyzed Oxidative Dearomatization

Biocatalytic reactions embody many features of ideal chemical transformations, including the potential for impeccable selectivity, high catalytic efficiency, mild reaction conditions, and the use of environmentally benign reagents. These advantages have created a demand for biocatalysts that expand the portfolio of complexity-generating reactions available to synthetic chemists. However, the trade-off that often exists between the substrate scope of a biocatalyst and its selectivity limits the application of enzymes in synthesis. We recently demonstrated that a flavin-dependent monooxygenase, TropB, maintains high levels of site- and stereoselectivity across a range of structurally diverse substrates. In this study, we disclose the structural basis for substrate binding in TropB, which performs a synthetically challenging asymmetric oxidative dearomatization reaction with exquisite site- and stereoselectivity across a range of phenol substrates, providing a foundation for future protein engineering and reaction development efforts. Our hypothesis for substrate binding is informed by a crystal structure of TropB and molecular dynamics simulations with the corresponding computational TropB model and is supported by experimental data. In contrast to canonical class A FAD-dependent monooxygenases in which substrates bind in a protonated form, our data indicate that the phenolate form of the substrate binds in the active site. Furthermore, the substrate position is controlled through two-point binding of the phenolate oxygen to Arg206 and Tyr239, which are shown to have distinct and essential roles in catalysis. Arg206 is involved in the reduction of the flavin cofactor, suggesting a role in flavin dynamics. Further, QM/MM simulations reveal the interactions that govern the facial selectivity that leads to a highly enantioselective transformation. Thus, the structural origins of the high levels of site- and stereoselectivity observed in reactions of TropB across a range of substrates are elucidated, providing a foundation for future protein engineering and reaction development efforts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ultrafast exciton and trion dynamics in highly 𝑛-doped Mo⁢S 2 monolayers: Many-body effects

Understanding many-body interactions of excitons and charge carriers in monolayer semiconductors is crucial for tuning their unique optical properties and optimizing their performance in optoelectronic devices. However, the sensitivity of these atomically thin semiconductors to doping, defects, and strain–arising from synthesis, substrate, and environmental conditions–hinders consistent observation of many-body effects. In this work, we employed linear and ultrafast transient optical absorption spectroscopy to investigate the influence of background doping on exciton many-body interactions in Mo⁢S 2 monolayers. Using reversible molecular physisorption gating, we achieved a high background doping density of 4.9 × 10 13 c⁢m −2 in an argon environment, which is significantly higher than those attainable with conventional electrical gating. Our results reveal a photoinduced 𝐴-exciton resonance redshift, attributed to band-gap renormalization at a low background-doping density of 4.3 × 10 12 c⁢m −2 in an air environment, transitioning to a blueshift at a high background-doping density of 4.9 × 10 13 c⁢m −2 due to dominant Pauli blocking effects and vertical excitation shifts. We further observed transient energy splitting between free-exciton and -trion states up to 57 meV due to exciton-electron interactions. The ultrafast spectroscopy further revealed exciton and trion dynamics, including fast energy splitting of exciton and trion resonances within 1 picosecond (ps) followed by a rapid decay having a lifetime of ∼5.4 ps. Furthermore, our results demonstrate the critical role of background-doping conditions in tuning many-body interactions and quasiparticle dynamics in 2D semiconductors, providing valuable insights for future device design and material engineering.

Doped semiconductors↗
DOE OSTI2018

Evolution of archaeal Rib7 and eubacterial RibG reductases in riboflavin biosynthesis: Substrate specificity and cofactor preference

Highlights: • The first archaeal dimeric structures of Methanosarcina mazei Rib7 are reported. • Our studies show the divergences between archaeal and eubacterial Rib7 reductases. • Asp33 together with Arg36, had been evolved to ensure the substrate specificity. • Unexpectedly, an endogenous NADPH cofactor is observed in M. mazei Rib7. • The endogenous NADPH greatly enhances the structural stability of archaeal Rib7. Archaeal/fungal Rib7 and eubacterial RibG possess a reductase domain for ribosyl reduction in the second and third steps, respectively, of riboflavin biosynthesis. These enzymes are specific for an amino and a carbonyl group of the pyrimidine ring, respectively. Here, several crystal structures of Methanosarcina mazei Rib7 are reported at 2.27–1.95 Å resolution, which are the first archaeal dimeric Rib7 structures. Mutational analysis displayed that no detectable activity was observed for the Bacillus subtilis RibG K151A, K151D, and K151E mutants, and the M. mazei Rib7 D33N, D33K, and E156Q variants, while 0.1–0.6% of the activity was detected for the M. mazei Rib7 N9A, S29A, D33A, and D57N variants. Our results suggest that Lys151 in B. subtilis RibG, while Asp33 together with Arg36 in M. mazei Rib7, ensure the specific substrate recognition. Unexpectedly, an endogenous NADPH cofactor is observed in M. mazei Rib7, in which the 2′-phosphate group interacts with Ser88, and Arg91. Replacement of Ser88 with glutamate eliminates the endogenous NADPH binding and switches preference to NADH. The lower melting temperature of ∼10 °C for the S88E and R91A mutants suggests that nature had evolved a tightly bound NADPH to greatly enhance the structural stability of archaeal Rib7.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of Orthogonal Efflux and Permeation Properties of Compounds Leads to the Discovery of New Efflux Pump Inhibitors

Optimization of compound permeation into Gram-negative bacteria is one of the most challenging tasks in the development of antibacterial agents. Two permeability barriers–the passive diffusion barrier of the outer membrane (OM) and active drug efflux–act synergistically to protect cells from the antibacterial action of compounds. In Escherichia coli (E. coli) and relatives, these two barriers sieve compounds based on different physicochemical properties that are defined by their interactions with OM porins and efflux pumps, respectively. In this study, we critically tested the hypothesis that the best substrates and inhibitors of efflux pumps are compounds that can effectively permeate the OM and are available at relatively high concentrations in the periplasm. For this purpose, we filtered a large subset of the ZINC15 database of commercially available compounds for compounds containing a primary amine, a chemical feature known to facilitate the uptake through E. coli general porins. The assembled library was screened by ensemble docking to AcrA, the periplasmic component of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump, followed by experimental testing of the top predicted binders for antibacterial activities, efflux recognition, and inhibition. In this work, we found that the filtered primary amine library is a rich source of compounds with efflux-inhibiting activities and identified efflux pump inhibitors with novel chemical scaffolds effective against E. coli AcrAB-TolC and efflux pumps of multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii. However, primary amines are not required for the recognition of compounds by efflux pumps and their efflux-inhibitory activities.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Characterization of the N-Acetyl-[alpha]-d-glucosaminyl l-Malate Synthase and Deacetylase Functions for Bacillithiol Biosynthesis in Bacillus anthracis

Bacillithiol (Cys-GlcN-malate, BSH) has recently been identified as a novel low-molecular weight thiol in Bacillus anthracis, Staphylococcus aureus, and several other Gram-positive bacteria lacking glutathione and mycothiol. We have now characterized the first two enzymes for the BSH biosynthetic pathway in B. anthracis, which combine to produce {alpha}-D-glucosaminyl L-malate (GlcN-malate) from UDP-GlcNAc and L-malate. The structure of the GlcNAc-malate intermediate has been determined, as have the kinetic parameters for the BaBshA glycosyltransferase ({yields}GlcNAc-malate) and the BaBshB deacetylase ({yields}GlcN-malate). BSH is one of only two natural products reported to contain a malyl glycoside, and the crystal structure of the BaBshA-UDP-malate ternary complex, determined in this work at 3.3 {angstrom} resolution, identifies several active-site interactions important for the specific recognition of L-malate, but not other {alpha}-hydroxy acids, as the acceptor substrate. In sharp contrast to the structures reported for the GlcNAc-1-D-myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase (MshA) apo and ternary complex forms, there is no major conformational change observed in the structures of the corresponding BaBshA forms. A mutant strain of B. anthracis deficient in the BshA glycosyltransferase fails to produce BSH, as predicted. This B. anthracis bshA locus (BA1558) has been identified in a transposon-site hybridization study as required for growth, sporulation, or germination [Day, W. A., Jr., Rasmussen, S. L., Carpenter, B. M., Peterson, S. N., and Friedlander, A. M. (2007) J. Bacteriol. 189, 3296-3301], suggesting that the biosynthesis of BSH could represent a target for the development of novel antimicrobials with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive pathogens like B. anthracis. The metabolites that function in thiol redox buffering and homeostasis in Bacillus are not well understood, and we present a composite picture based on this and other recent work.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Anisotropic Diffusion of Polyelectrolyte Chains within Multi-layer Films

We found diffusion of polyelectrolyte chains within multilayer films to be highly anisotropic, with the preferential chain motion parallel to the substrate. The degree of anisotropy was quantified by a combination of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and neutron reflectometry, probing chain diffusion in directions parallel and perpendicular to the substrate, respectively. Chain mobility was controlled by ionic strength of annealing solutions and steric hindrance to ionic pairing of interacting polyelectrolytes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Measurement of ablation threshold of oxide-film-coated aluminium nanoparticles irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

We report the results of experiments on estimation of femtosecond laser threshold intensity at which nanoparticles are removed from the substrate surface. The studies are performed with nanoparticles obtained by femtosecond laser ablation of pure aluminium in distilled water. The attenuation (or extinction, i.e. absorption and scattering) spectra of nanoparticles are measured at room temperature in the UV and optical wavelength ranges. The size of nanoparticles is determined using atomic force microscopy. A new method of scanning photoluminescence is proposed to evaluate the threshold of nanoparticle removal from the surface of a glass substrate exposed to IR femtosecond laser pulses with intensities 10{sup 11} – 10{sup 13} W cm{sup -2}. (interaction of laser radiation with matter)

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗