Effect of gamma irradiation with or without hot water dip and transportation from Thailand to Canada on nutritional qualities, ripening index and sensorial characteristics of Thai mangoes (Nahng Glahng Wahn variety)

Two lots of mangoes of the Nahng Glahng Wahn variety from Thailand were irradiated at the Thai Irradiation Center (TIC) at 0.49 to 0.77 kGy. Following this, one batch was retained in Thailand while the other was shipped to the Canadian Irradiation Center (CIC) for investigation of the same variables during storage. This way, it was hoped to compare the effects of gamma radiation with hot water dip (HWI) or without (I) before and after transportation on the ripening, vitamin C and vitamin A content and sensory qualities of mangoes. The results indicate that the I and HWI treatments delayed the ripening of the mangoes. The irradiated groups appeared to have a slightly higher content of ascorbic acid on the first day after irradiation than their corresponding controls. The sensory evaluation indicates that the panelists mostly favoured the I and HWI irradiated groups for the overall appearance and texture of whole mangoes and pulp and in taste and palatability of the pulp alone. Transportation stress did not appear to have much of an effect on the ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid levels and the sensorial tests. The mangoes stored and studied in Canada appeared to have a lower vitamin A content.     

A Conventient Synthesis of 3-Hydroxy-4-chromanone Using Iodobenzene Diacetate

A useful synthesis of 3-hydroxy-4-chromanone (6) is not currently available. Lead tetraacetate oxidation of 4-chromanone (4) yields the C(3) acetoxy derivative but this compound could not be deacetylated to 6.¹ Recently Donnelly and Maloney reported² that the Algar-Flynn-Oyamada reaction (H₂O₂/CH₃OH/NaOH), which is commonly used for the conversion of o-hydroxychalcones (1) into 3-hydroxyflavanone (2) and 3-hydroxyflavones (3), does not yield 6 when applied to o-hydroxya-crylophenone 1 (R = H). The authors found that under less basic conditions using K₂CO₃ some 6 is formed but the major product is catechol. These observations clearly indicate the necessity of developing a method for making 6. The present note describes a staightforward way of preparing 3-hydroxy-4-chromanone (6) in good yield.     

Ionic conductivity enhancement of PVA: carboxymethyl cellulose poly-blend electrolyte films through the doping of NaI salt

Cellulose - In this paper, we report the effect of doping sodium iodide (NaI) salt into a polymer blend matrix of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Solution...     

The Role of Methoxy Group in the Nazarov Cyclization of 1,5-bis-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-1,4-Pentadien-3-one in the Gas Phase and Condensed Phase

ESI-protonated 1,5-bis-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadien-3-one (1) undergoes a gas-phase Nazarov cyclization and dissociates via expulsions of ketene and anisole. The dissociations of the [M + D]⁺ ions are accompanied by limited HD scrambling that supports the proposed cyclization. Solution cyclization of 1 was effected to yield the cyclic ketone, 2,3-bis-(2-methoxyphenyl)-cyclopent-2-ene-1-one, (2) on a time scale that is significantly shorter than the time for cyclization of dibenzalacetone. The dissociation characteristics of the ESI-generated [M + H]⁺ ion of the synthetic cyclic ketone closely resemble those of 1, suggesting that gas-phase and solution cyclization products are the same. Additional mechanistic studies by density functional theory (DFT) methods of the gas-phase reaction reveals that the initial cyclization is followed by two sequential 1,2-aryl migrations that account for the observed structure of the cyclic product in the gas phase and solution. Furthermore, the DFT calculations show that the methoxy group serves as a catalyst for the proton migrations necessary for both cyclization and fragmentation after aryl migration. An isomer formed by moving the 2-methoxy to the 4-position requires relatively higher collision energy for the elimination of anisole, as is consistent with DFT calculations. Replacement of the 2-methoxy group with an OH shows that the cyclization followed by aryl migration and elimination of phenol occurs from the [M + H]⁺ ion at low energy similar to that for 1.

Shannon entropy as a predictor of avoided crossing in confined atoms

Avoided crossing is one of the unique spectroscopic features of a confined atomic system. Shannon information entropy of the ground state and some of the excited states of confined H atom as a predictor of avoided crossing is studied in this work. This is accomplished by varying the strength of the confinement and examining structure properties like ionization energy and Shannon information entropy. Along with the energy level repulsion at the avoided crossing, Shannon information entropy is also exchanged between the involved states. This work also addresses a question: In addition to that regarding localization, what other property of the system can be extracted from Shannon entropy? Insightful connection is discovered between Shannon entropy and the average value of confinement potential, Coulomb potential, and kinetic energy.     

Selective and Wash-Resistant Fluorescent Dihydrocodeinone Derivatives Allow Single-Molecule Imaging of μ-Opioid Receptor Dimerization

μ-Opioid receptors (μ-ORs) play a critical role in the modulation of pain and mediate the effects of the most powerful analgesic drugs. Despite extensive efforts, it remains insufficiently understood how μ-ORs produce specific effects in living cells. We developed new fluorescent ligands based on the μ-OR antagonist E-p-nitrocinnamoylamino-dihydrocodeinone (CACO), that display high affinity, long residence time and pronounced selectivity. Using these ligands, we achieved single-molecule imaging of μ-ORs on the surface of living cells at physiological expression levels. Our results reveal a high heterogeneity in the diffusion of μ-ORs, with a relevant immobile fraction. Using a pair of fluorescent ligands of different color, we provide evidence that μ-ORs interact with each other to form short-lived homodimers on the plasma membrane. This approach provides a new strategy to investigate μ-OR pharmacology at single-molecule level.     

Dilepton and strange particles production by neutrinos in gargamelle

New results are presented of an analysis of pictures taken during an exposure of Gargamelle to the CERN ν beam in 1975. In addition to three ν_μ+N→μ^?+e⁺+V⁰+ hadrons events previously reported, an excess is found of events of the type ν_μ+N→μ^?+e⁺+ hadrons without V⁰. An analysis of strange particle production in charged current events suggests a possible violation of the ΔS=ΔQ rule. Interpreted in terms of charm production, the data permit an estimate of branching ratios and production rate of charmed particles. A limit is also placed on charmed particle production by neutral currents.     

In situ SIMS analysis and reactions of surfaces prepared by soft landing of mass-selected cations and anions using an ion trap mass spectrometer

Mass-selected polyatomic cations and anions, produced by electrosonic spray ionization (ESSI), were deposited onto polycrystalline Au or fluorinated self-assembled monolayer (FSAM) surfaces by soft landing (SL), using a rectilinear ion trap (RIT) mass spectrometer. Protonated and deprotonated molecules, as well as intact cations and anions generated from such molecules as peptides, inorganic catalysts, and fluorescent dyes, were soft-landed onto the surfaces. Analysis of the modified surfaces was performed in situ by Cs⁺ secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) using the same RIT mass analyzer to characterize the sputtered ions as that used to mass select the primary ions for SL. Soft-landing times as short as 30 s provided surfaces that yielded good quality SIMS spectra. Chemical reactions of the surfaces modified by SL were generated in an attached reaction chamber into which the surface was transferred under vacuum. For example, a surface on which protonated triethanolamine had been soft landed was silylated using vapor-phase chlorotrimethylsilane before being returned still under vacuum to the preparation chamber where SIMS analysis revealed the silyloxy functionalization. SL and vapor-phase reactions are complementary methods of surface modification and in situ surface analysis by SIMS is a simple way to characterize the products produced by either technique.