Taxol® (Paclitaxel)

Taxol® (paclitaxel) has been hailed by many as the most promising new cancer treatment in two decades. The FDA requires that paclitaxel intended for human consumption be obtained only from the bark ofTaxus brevifolia, the Pacific yew. As this may become increasingly uneconomical, new strategies must be explored to ensure the continued availability of taxol and related molecules. This article examines the planning that must be engaged in and the contingencies that must be prepared for in this changing arena.     

Uniaxial stress effects and excited states for multiple bound excitons

The theoretical model for multiple bound excitons (MBE) recently introduced by Dean et al¹ is used to discuss uniaxial stress effects in silicon. The fine structures observed in MBE spectra for SiC and Si are qualitatively strikingly similar. However, the interpretation of the strongest features in terms of a specific model for excited states suggested by Kirczenow² and Thewalt³ is not valid for SiC.     

Transition metal-stabilized arenium cations: protonation of arenes dihapto-coordinated to pi-basic metal fragments

A series of metal complexes was synthesized in which arenes were dihapto-coordinated to pi-basic metal fragments having the general form [TpM(pi-acid)(L)], where Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate, M = rhenium, molybdenum, or tungsten, pi-acid = CO or NO(+), and L = 1-methylimidazole, 1-butylimidazole, pyridine, or trimethylphosphine. The arene complexes were shown to be significantly more basic than the analogous pentaammineosmium(II) arene complexes and were protonated by moderate acids to give remarkably stable eta(2) and eta(3) arenium cation complexes. A crystal structure of [TpRe(CO)(MeIm)(5,6-eta(2)-2H-anisolium)](OTf) confirmed the eta(2) coordination of the anisolium ligand, but suggests a weak long-range interaction between the metal and C1 of the anisolium.     

Thermal properties of nuclei: The implications of Levinson's theorem

Using only the close connection between the bound-state properties of a potential and its scattering phase shifts, a limiting excitation energy of a finite nucleus is predicted. Calculations for²⁰⁸Pb give its value as 8.2 MeV/A. The excitation-energy dependence of the level-density parameter is also discussed and the connection with astrophysical calculations of stellar collapse rates is indicated.     

Functional integration of microdevices by field assisted manipulation and trapping

A novel programmable force field method is presented which enables controlled electric field assisted transport and localization of microdevices at silicon chip substrates. Electrically addressable chips bearing n×n arrays of receptor electrode sites are developed and field directed assembly methods are optimized for on-chip transport, trapping and integration of sub-100 m discrete GaAs-based optoelectronic devices. Tweezer-less field assisted manipulation and trapping of discrete 50 m diameter 670 nm emitting GaAs-based light emitting diodes is achieved. Following assembly in this manner, the LED devices are permanently integrated by solder reflow bonding to the receptor sites enabling direct device electrical characterization and successful demonstration of light emission. PACS 81.16Dn; 81.05.Hd; 42.82.Fv; 42.82.Gw     

Alpha-decay of neutron-deficient 200Fr and heavier neighbours

A new measurement of the ²⁰⁰Fr -decay half-life, with improved accuracy compared to previous measurements, has been carried out at the Isolde-CERN on-line mass separator. A half-life of 49(4) ms has been obtained, which is substantially different from earlier literature values. For the ¹⁹⁶At daughter decay, a half-life of 389(54) ms and an branching ratio b = 94(5)% were measured. In addition, the half-lives of ^{201, 203, 205}Fr and ^197,199At are reported.     

Optical characterization of ultrasmall Si nanoparticles prepared through electrochemical dispersion of bulk Si

Studying the properties and stability of silicon nanoparticles (Si-np) in aqueous environments may lead to novel applications in biological systems. In this work, we use absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy to characterize ultrasmall Si-np prepared through anodic etching and ultrasonic fractionation of a crystalline Si wafer. Their behavior is studied over time in 2-propanol and during treatments with water, NaOH, HCl, and H(2)O(2). The observed population is divided into two types of material: bright species consisting of well-etched Si-np, approximately 1 nm in diameter, and dark species derived from partially etched or aggregated Si structures. The dark material is seen by its scattering in the 2-propanol and water solutions and is largely removed via precipitation with the NaOH or HCl treatment. The bright material includes three distinct species with their respective emissions in the UV-B, UV-A, and hard-blue regions of the spectrum. The hard-blue PL is shown to have a simple pH dependence with a pK(a) approximately 3, providing an important insight into its chemical origin and signaling for possible application of Si-np as environmental probes. Our results offer some potential for tailoring the PL properties of ultrasmall Si-np through control of their surface chemistry.     

Microscale simulation of martensitic microstructure evolution

A new model for the evolution of multivariant martensitic microstructure in single crystals and polycrystals is developed. In contrast with Landau-Ginzburg models, which are limited in practice to nanoscale specimens, this new scale-free model is valid for length scales greater than 100 nm and without an upper bound. It is based on a thermodynamic potential in the volume fractions of the martensitic variants that exhibits an instability resulting in microstructure formation. Simulated microstructures in elastic single crystals and polycrystals under uniaxial loading are in qualitative agreement with those observed experimentally.