Design of sextuple-mode triple-ring HTS UWB filter using two-round interpolation

A single-stage ring resonator capable of introducing six modes within the ultra-wideband (UWB) passband is presented. The sextuple-mode resonator consists of three rings and three sets of stepped-impedance open stubs. Based on this sextuple-mode resonator, a UWB filter fed by the interdigital-coupling line (ICL) is designed. And we propose a two-round interpolation method to obtain the filter's initial dimensions. The designed filter is fabricated on a double-sided YBCO/MgO/YBCO high-temperature superconducting (HTS) thin film for demonstration. The experimental results show that this UWB filter produces eight resonances in the passband eventually, which effectively improves the in-band reflection and the band-edge steepness. Moreover, the upper stopband performance is enhanced due to the transmission zeros (TZs) generated by the stepped-impedance open stubs and the ICL structure. The measured good performance verifies the practicability of the two-round interpolation approach, which can also be extended to other odd-even-mode filter designs.     

Two questions on semi-clean group rings

It was proved in [4] that every group ring of a torsion abelian group over a commutative local ring is a semi-clean ring. It was asked in [4] whether every group ring of a torsion abelian group over a commutative clean ring is a semi-clean ring and whether every group ring of a torsion abelian group over a commutative semi-clean ring is a semi-clean ring. In this paper, we give a positive answer to question 1 and a negative answer to question 2.     

The Effects of Ring Strain on Cyclic Tetraaryl[5]cumulenes

Cyclic tetraaryl[5]cumulenes ( 1 a–f ) have been synthesized and studied as a function of increasing ring strain. The magnitude of ring strain is approximated by the extent of bending of the cumulenic core as assessed by a combination of X-ray crystallographic analysis and DFT calculations. Trends are observed in ¹³C NMR, UV-vis, and Raman spectra associated with ring strain, but the effects are small. In particular, the experimental HOMO-LUMO gap is not appreciably affected by bending of the [5]cumulene framework from ca. 174° (λ_max=504 nm) in 1 a to ca. 178° (λ_max=494 nm) in 1 f .     

Ion transmission in an electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry interface using an S-lens

We present the design and performance of an in-house built electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) interface equipped with an S-lens ion guide. The ion source was designed specifically for our ion beam experiments to investigate the chemical reactivity and deposition of the clusters and nanoparticles. It includes standard ESI-MS interface components, such as nanoelectrospray, ion transfer capillary, and the S-lens. A custom design enables systematic optimization of all relevant factors influencing ion formation and transfer through the interface. By varying the ESI voltage and flow rate, we determined the optimal operating conditions for selected silica emitters. A comparison of the pulled silica emitters with different tip inner diameters reveals that the total ion current is highest for the largest tip, whereas a tip with the smallest diameter exhibited the highest transmission efficiency through the ESI-MS interface. Ion transmission through the transfer capillary is strongly limited by its length, but the loss of ions can be reduced by increasing the capillary voltage and temperature. The S-lens was characterized over a wide range of RF frequencies and amplitudes. Maximum ion current was detected at RF amplitudes greater than 50 V peak-to-peak (p/p) and frequencies above 750 kHz, with a stable ion transmission region of about 20%. A factor of 2.6 increase in total ion current is observed for 650 kHz as RF amplitudes reach 400 V p/p. Higher RF amplitudes also focus the ions into a narrow beam, which mitigates their losses when passing through the ion guide.     

Synthesis and Applications of Peptides and Peptidomimetics in Drug Discovery

Peptides are described as naturally occurring short chains of amino acids and offer great potential as therapeutic agents because of their target selectivity, safe, and well tolerable. Hence, there is an increased interest in peptides in pharmaceutical research and development and approximately more than 170 peptide therapeutics are currently being evaluated in clinical trials and many are being used as therapeutic drugs for various diseases including COVID-19. The present Review article focuses on recent progress in peptide drug discovery and advancements in synthetic methodologies to enhance their stability and physiological activity of peptides and as well peptidomimetics.     

β-N-Heterocyclic Cyclobutane Carboximides: Synthesis through a Tandem Base-Catalyzed Amidation/aza-Michael Addition Protocol and Facile Transformations

A stereoselective one-pot double derivatization of cyclobutene-1-carboxylic acid via a mild organic base catalyzed amidation/aza-Michael addition of benzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-ones has been developed. This unprecedented tandem reaction provides access to novel β-N-heterocyclic cyclobutane carboximide derivatives with a trans geometry. The carboximide moiety reacts smoothly with nucleophiles, allowing access to diverse derivatives of trans-β-N-heterocyclic cyclobutanecarboxylic acid, including peptidomimetic structures.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of organic multilayer films based on the layer‐by‐layer assembly

Two polymers containing pyridine rings were prepared by free‐radical polymerization and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectra. The preparation of four multilayer films that were obtained by self‐assembly of the polymer and the transition metal neutralized polyelectrolyte on PE substrate was described. UV–vis spectra and atomic force microscopy images were applied to characterize these films and indicate the uniform assembling process. The driving force for building up the multilayer films was identified by infrared spectroscopy to be the coordination interaction. The magnetic behavior was examined as a function of magnetic field strength at 30 kOe and as a function of temperature (5–300 K). All films display strong soft ferromagnetic properties and higher than those of the bulk materials. The magnetic results show that the layer‐by‐layer self‐assembling approach is beneficial to the ordered alignment of adjacent paramagnetic spins and induces better magnetic phenomena. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Nature‐Inspired Medium‐Sized Fused Heterocycles from Amino Acids

Herein, we describe the synthesis of molecular scaffolds consisting of medium‐sized fused heterocycles using amino acids, which are some of the most useful building blocks used by nature as well as chemists to create structural diversity. The acyclic precursors were assembled by using traditional Merrifield solid‐phase peptide synthesis, and cyclization was carried out through acid‐mediated tandem endocyclic N‐acyliminium ion formation, followed by nucleophilic addition with internal nucleophiles. The synthesis of molecular scaffolds consisting of seven‐, eight‐, and nine‐membered rings proceeded with full stereocontrol of the newly generated stereogenic center in most cases.