Terahertz generation based on parametric conversion: from saturation of conversion efficiency to back conversion

By stacking alternatively rotated gallium phosphide (GaP) plates, the maximum photon conversion efficiency of 40% for the terahertz (THz) generation based on difference-frequency generation has been achieved. The corresponding peak power generated inside the four GaP plates approaches 4 kW. As the number of plates is increased from four to five, the THz output power is significantly decreased, due to back parametric conversion.     

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of non-natural modulators of quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Many species of bacteria employ a mechanism of intercellular communication known as quorum sensing which is mediated by small diffusible signalling molecules termed autoinducers. The most common class of autoinducer used by Gram-negative bacteria are N-acylated-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs). Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a clinically important bacterium which is known to use AHL-mediated quorum sensing systems to regulate a variety of processes associated with virulence. Thus the selective disruption of AHL-based quorum sensing represents a strategy to attenuate the pathogenicity of this bacterium. Herein we describe the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a collection of structurally novel AHL mimics. A number of new compounds capable of modulating the LasR-dependent quorum sensing system of P. aeruginosa were identified, which could have value as molecular tools to study and manipulate this signalling pathway. Worthy of particular note, this research has delivered novel potent quorum sensing antagonists, which strongly inhibit the production of virulence factors in a wild type strain of this pathogenic bacterium.     

Enzymatic reductions for the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of hydroxy-keto esters and dihydroxy esters

Ketoreductases were utilized for the stereoselective synthesis of δ-hydroxy-β-keto esters, β-hydroxy-δ-keto esters, and β,δ-dihydroxy esters. Seven out of eight possible stereoisomers were obtained from the enzymatic reduction of the corresponding β,δ-diketo ester in high enantio- and diastereomeric excess.     

One Step Reduction of Diaryl Ketones to Hydrocarbons by Etherated Boron Trifluoride-Triethylsilane System

A convenient one step reduction of diaryl ketones to hydrocarbons using etherated boron trifluoride-triethylsilane is described.     

Organic residue analysis of Neolithic pottery from North Greece

Organic residues associated with Neolithic pottery from two Late Neolithic sites, Paliambela and Makriyalos (Northern Greece), were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The study aimed at identifying the origin of the tar used for waterproofing and gluing broken pots. Reference tars were prepared in laboratory conditions by pyrolysis of the bark from three tree species, namely from Betula pendula (silver birch), Ostrya carpinifolia (hop hornbeam) and Carpinus orientalis (Eastern hornbeam). The results suggest that mostly birch bark tar was used as glue for fixing broken pieces of the pots as well as for waterproofing close-shaped vessels. None of the archaeological tars derived from the two hornbeams. The analysis shows certain variability in the composition of birch bark tar, which is related to the production technique and to the re-use of tar. Of particular interest is the presence of characteristic diterpenoid biomarkers in several samples, which indicates that pine pitch was used for gluing and pine resin for waterproofing vessels for liquids. Correspondence: Sophia Mitkidou, Department of Science, School of Technological Applications, Technological Institute of Kavala, Greece     

Mechanically manipulating the DNA threading intercalation rate

The dumbbell shaped binuclear ruthenium complex DeltaDelta-P requires transiently melted DNA in order to thread through the DNA bases and intercalate DNA. Because such fluctuations are rare at room temperature, the binding rates are extremely low in bulk experiments. Here, single DNA molecule stretching is used to lower the barrier to DNA melting, resulting in direct mechanical manipulation of the barrier to DNA binding by the ligand. The rate of DNA threading depends exponentially on force, consistent with theoretical predictions. From the observed force dependence of the binding rate, we demonstrate that only one base pair must be transiently melted for DNA threading to occur.     

Selective Reduction of Diaryl or Aryl Alkyl Alcohols in the Presence of Primary Hydroxyl or Ester Groups by Etherated Boron Trifluoride-Triethylsilane System

Diaryl or aryl alkyl carbinols bearing a second reducible functional group (such as hydroxyl or ester) are selectively deoxygenated in high yields by the action of etherated boron trifluoride and triethyl silane reducing system.     

Efficient full Newton–Raphson technique for the solution of molecular integral equations – example of the SPC/E water-like system

It is shown how a full Newton–Raphson technique speeds up in impressive proportions the iterative resolution of molecular integral equations and makes it possible to reach quadratically complete convergence down to machine precision in a very few cycles. The technique generalises what has been originally proposed by Zerah and extensively used since then with great success for various fluids and mixtures of spherical objects. At each main iteration, the linearised cycle obtained by differentiating the Ornstein–Zernike and the integral equations is itself solved iteratively in terms of Δg^mnl_μν(r) projections. Its solution is reached very rapidly thanks to the powerful biconjugate gradient method and to the absence of any Euler angle manipulation. The virial equation is written in a shape formally different from the standard one, which allows a much higher numerical precision for the pressure without extra numerical work. The complete scheme is illustrated on the popular SPC/E water model.