Hysteresis behaviour of the nematic-cholesteric phase transition for liquid crystals on polyimide films without use of the rubbing technique

Abstract

The hysteresis behaviour of the nematic-cholesteric phase transition in liquid crystals is closely connected with the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules on the surfaces of treated solid substrates. We have investigated the hysteresis as a function of rubbing strength, using rubbing technology that controls the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. The surface alignment direction contributes to the hysteresis width, is not dependent on rubbing strength, and is only slightly related to pretilt angles. A no-rubbing treatment, that is, random alignment, is important in-order to create a large hysteresis width on homogeneously aligned polyimide films.     

Determination of PF‐04620110, a novel inhibitor of diacylglycerol acyltransferase‐1, in rat plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application in pharmacokinetic studies

In this study, we developed a method for the determination of PF‐04620110 (2‐{(1r,4r)‐4‐[4‐(4‐amino‐5‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydropyrimido[5,4‐f][1,4]oxazepin‐6(5H)‐yl)phenyl]cyclohexyl}acetic acid), a novel diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT‐1) inhibitor, in rat plasma and validated it using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). Rat plasma samples were processed following a protein precipitation method by using acetonitrile and were then injected into an LC‐MS/MS system for quantification. PF‐04620110 and imipramine (internal standard) were separated using a Hypersil Gold C₁₈ column, with a mixture of acetonitrile and 10 mm ammonium formate (90:10, v/v) as the mobile phase. The ion transitions monitored in positive‐ion mode [M + H]⁺ of multiple‐reaction monitoring were m/z 397.0 → 260.2 for PF‐04620110 and m/z 280.8 → 86.0 for imipramine. The detector response was specific and linear for PF‐04620110 at concentrations within the range 0.05–50 µg/mL and the signal‐to‐noise ratios for the samples were ≥10. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy of the method matched the acceptance criteria for assay validation. PF‐04620110 was stable under various processing and/or handling conditions. PF‐04620110 concentrations in the rat plasma samples could be measured up to 24 h after intravenous or oral administration of PF‐04620110, suggesting that the assay is useful for pharmacokinetic studies in rats. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile synthesis of 4″-O-alkyl-(–)-EGCG derivatives through regioselective deacetylative alkylation

Therapeutic potential of the D-ring methyl ethers of (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate [(–)-EGCG] warrants extensive structure–activity relationship study of various D-ring ethers of (–)-EGCG but, for this purpose, efficient synthetic strategy needs to be developed. In this study, efficient preparation of the 4″-O-alkyl-(–)-EGCGs (4a–e) was demonstrated using KI/K₂CO₃-promoted deacetylative alkylation of peracetyl (–)-EGCG, which could be broadly utilized for the preparation of various D-ring alkyl ethers of (–)-EGCG and thereby extensive structure–activity relationship study.     

Electroreduction of oxygen on Pd catalysts supported on Ti-modified carbon

Carbon supports modified with well dispersed anatase TiO₂ (C–Ti-X; X (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0) represents mass ratio of Ti precursor to carbon) were synthesized with various Ti loadings and used to support Pd catalysts for oxygen reduction. The anatase nanoparticles increased in size with increasing Ti loading. Pd dispersion improved with increasing Ti loading up to the C–Ti-0.75, which resulted in the best catalytic activity. Although the Pd dispersion was lowest on the C–Ti-1.0, it showed better catalytic performance than the catalysts supported on C–Ti-0.25 and C–Ti-0.5. At 0.8 V (vs. RHE), the best catalytic activity achieved was respectively 2.7 and 2.7 times the mass and specific activities of Pd supported on un-modified carbon. The interaction between Pd and highly dispersed TiO₂ is believed to improve the catalytic activity of Pd supported on TiO₂-modified carbons.     

Viscosity dependence of electrochemical etching for gold tip fabrication

We suggest an electrochemical etching method with viscous etchant to enhance the sharpness of tip of scanning probe microscope. The viscosity of the etchant mixed with HCl solution and glycerol was used as a control parameter in addition to the voltage applied to the tip. In order to improve the sharpness of the tip, a nano-scale meniscus formed between the end of the tip and the liquid level was used. The shapes, aspect ratios, and radii of tips were measured depending on the concentration of the etchant. It was found that the tip etched with the mixed liquid with glycerol was sharper than the tip with the pure HCl solution. This can be explained by the fact that the meniscus formed by viscous liquid is maintained with a thinner diameter and causes final etching until the meniscus bridge is ruptured.