A novel integrated method realizing iteratively optimized modeling for proximity field patterning nanolithography

Processing methods used in photonics and nanotechnology have many limitations hindering the ability to realize devices and restricting the actual number of applications. An ideal processing method should require low-cost equipment, be able to produce very fine details, and be scalable to process large area specimens in an acceptable amount of time. Proximity field nanopatterning (PnP) is a lithography method possessing these features. By using interference patterns produced by a two-dimensional phase mask, the technique is able to generate a submicron detailed exposure on a millimeter-size slab of light sensitive photopolymer, which is then developed like a photographic plate to reveal three-dimensional interference patterns from the phase mask. While it is possible to use computer aided simulations to obtain the interference patterns produced by a mask with a certain pattern, the inverse problem of producing a mask for a desired interference pattern cannot be solved in the same way due to the intricacies of light interactions involved in producing the final interference pattern. An alternative method is to iteratively optimize the phase mask so that the interference patterns obtained converge to the desired pattern. The method is elaborated in this article.     

Practical and reliable synthesis of dialkyl N-arylphosphoramidates with nitroarenes as substrates

A new single-step transformation of readily available nitroarenes with trialkyl phosphites, which can be performed both under thermal and microwave conditions, delivers dialkyl N-arylphosphoramidates in good yields and short reaction times.     

Kinetic Spectrophotometric Determination of Famotidine in Pharmaceutical Preparations

A kinetic method for the accurate and sensitive determination of famotidine has been described. The method is based on the alkaline oxidation of famotidine with potassium permanganate at a fixed time of 10 min. The formed manganate ion is measured at 610 nm. The concentration of famotidine is calculated using the calibration equation for the fixed time method. Beer's law was obeyed in the range of 1–10 μg/mL and the R.S.D. (n = 10) was 0.47%. The method has been applied successfully to commercial tablet dosage form.     

Cytotoxic,Apoptosis-Inducing Activities,and Molecular Docking of a New Sterol from Bamboo Shoot Skin Phyllostachys heterocycla var. pubescens

Phytochemical screening of nonpolar fractions from the methanol extract of the Bamboo shoot skin Phyllostachys heterocycla var. pubescens resulted in the isolation of a new sterol-glucoside-fatty acid derivative (6’-O-octadeca-8″,11″-dienoyl)-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside (1), together with six known compounds. The chemical structures of the pure isolated compounds were deduced based on different spectral data. The isolated compounds were assessed to determine their cytotoxic activity, and the results were confirmed by determining their apoptotic activity. Compound 1 was more cytotoxic against the MCF-7 cells (IC₅₀ = 25.8 µM) compared to Fluorouracil (5-FU) (26.98 µM), and it significantly stimulated apoptotic breast cancer cell death with 32.6-fold (16.63% compared to 0.51 for the control) at pre-G1 and G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest and blocked the progression of MCF-7 cells. Additionally, RT-PCR results further confirmed the apoptotic activity of compound 1 by the upregulation of proapoptotic genes (P53; Bax; and caspases 3, 8, and 9) and downregulation of the antiapoptotic genes (BCL2). Finally, the identified compounds, especially 1, were found to have high binding affinity towards both tyrosine-specific protein kinase (TPK) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR-2) through the molecular docking studies that highlight its mode of action.     

New dimeric Schiff base quinoline complexes: Synthesis,spectral characterization,electrochemistry and cytotoxicity

A novel Schiff base ligand (H‐DPPMHQ) derived from 2‐hydrazineylquinoline and 1,3‐diphenyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐5‐carbaldehyde and its dimeric complexes with compositions [Cr(DPPMHQ)Cl]₂?2Cl and [M(DPPMHQ)Cl]₂ (where M = Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)) have been synthesized and characterized using physicochemical methods like elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility and molar conductivity measurements, multispectral techniques and electrochemical studies. The molar conductance data reveal that all metal chelates are non‐electrolytes, except the Cr(III) complex which shows a Λ_M value of 146.82 Ω^?1 cm² mol^?1, indicating that it is a 1:2 electrolyte. Infrared spectral results show that the metal is organized through four nitrogen atoms (azomethine and deprotonated imine groups, pyrazole and quinoline rings) besides chlorine atoms. The NH proton is also displaced during complexation, as indicated by ¹H NMR spectral data. Based on the electron spin resonance and ligand field parameter data, the bonding parameters of these complexes have been calculated. Using Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger equations, thermodynamic parameters were determined. The spectral data indicate that the dimeric complexes have octahedral geometry around the central metal ions. The cytotoxic activities of all compounds were evaluated towards human breast cancer (MCF‐7) and lung cancer (A549) cell lines.     

Spiro-Azoles Thiazolidinone in the Synthesis of Polymethine Cyanine Dyes

A series of some spiro azoles (pyrazolone, oxazolone, and/or imidazolone) inconjucton with heterocyclic thiazolidinone derivatives were prepared as starting materials in the synthesis of polymethine cyanine dyes. Reaction of spiro 2-formyl (oxime) azoles thiazolidinone derivatives with equi- and/or molar ratios of 2(4)-methyl substituted heterocyclic quaternary salts afforded the corresponding compound pentamethine, aza-mero cyanine, and azapentamethine cyanine dyes respectively. Elemental analyses, IR, 1 H-NMR, and mass-spectra identified the new spiro heterocyclic compounds and polymethine cyanine dyes. The visible absorption spectra of all new polymethine cyanine dyes were investigated.     

Studies on the Chelation of Cyclodiphosph(V)azane Complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Pd(II): Preparation,Characterization, Thermal,Solid State Electrical Conductivity,and Biological Activity Studies

Cyclodiphosph(V)azane of chromene, (1,3-diphenyl-2,4-bis(3-amino-9-methoxy1-tolyl-3H-benzo[f]chromene-2-carbonitrile)-2,2,4,4-tetrachlorocyclodiphosph(V)azane (III), reacts with stoichiometric amounts of transition metal salts such as Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Pd(II) to afford colored complexes in a moderate to high yield. The structure of the isolated complexes was suggested based on elemental analyses, IR, molar conductance, UV-Vis, ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P-NMR, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and dark electrical conductivity of solid state from room temperature up to 450 K. The complexes have been investigated in solution by spectrophotometric molar ratio and conductometric methods. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed from the thermal decomposition data using the Coats and Redfern method. The prepared complexes showed high to moderate bactericidal activity compared with the ligand.     

Removal of Cu(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III) ions from aqueous solution by dam silt

The removal of heavy metals, such as Cu(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III) from aqueous solution was studied using Chorfa silt material (Mascara, Algeria). The main constituents of silt sediment are quartz, calcite and mixture of clays. The experimental data were described using Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) and Langmuir–Freundlich models. The adsorbed amounts of chromium and copper ions were very high (95% and 94% of the total concentration of the metal ions), whereas cadmium ion was adsorbed in smaller (55%) amounts. The Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm model was the best to describe the experimental data. The maximum sorption capacity was found to be 26.30, 11.76 and 0.35 mg/g for Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺, respectively. The results of mean sorption energy, E (kJ/mol) calculated from D–R equation, confirmed that the adsorption of copper, chromium and cadmium on silt is physical in nature.     

Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of Organophosphorus Pesticide Profenofos

The presence of profenofos (PFF) in food has been strictly limited by legislation due to its genotoxic and toxic effects on health. It is therefore very important to establish simple and rapid analytical methods to detect traces of this insecticide. A reusable molecularly imprinted polypyrrole MIP(O-PPy) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) has been developed to measure PFF. The PPy was polymerized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in the presence of template molecules (PFF) in an acidic solution on a GCE. The various experimental parameters such as film thickness, analyte/monomer ratio, and removal/rebinding requirements were examined and optimized. The signal of the redox probe (ferrocyanide/ferrocyanide) was used for the electrochemical detections. All steps of the sensor manufacturing, removal/rebinding of template molecules, and response to different PFF concentrations were tested by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The MIP sensor was able to detect PFF in the linear ranges of 1.0×10⁻⁹ to 1.0×10⁻⁶ M and 1.0×10⁻⁹ to 5.0×10⁻⁶ M, with detection limits, a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of three was used to estimate LOD, of about 1 nM using DPV and EIS, respectively. The MIP (PPy) GCE provided excellent PFF recognition performance and was successfully used to quantify PFF in sweet pepper samples, yielding recoveries not greater than 108 %.