Simple and inexpensive method for cryopreservation of fish sperm combining straw and powdered dry ice

Here, we propose a simple and inexpensive method for fish sperm cryopreservation. Sperm samples of the loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Teleostei: Cobitidae) were diluted 7-fold by an extender containing 63.5 mM NaCl, 114 mM KCl, 20 mM Tris and 10% methanol. The cryogenic straws were placed in three kinds of self-made tubes which diameter was changed by commercially available materials and then immersed into powdered dry ice for 2 min and plunged into liquid nitrogen. This procedure resulted in a cooling rate at -421.4 +/- 119.84 (control), -55.8 +/- 4.32 (tube 1), -40.2 +/- 3.43 (tube 2) and -33.3 +/- 2.09 C/min (tube 3). In the slowest cooling rate by the tube 3, total motility (72 +/- 3 %), duration (146 +/- 12 s) and hatching rates (29 +/- 04 %) were higher than those by other rates. Progressive motility (83 +/- 5 %) did not differ significantly from fresh samples.     

An M/M/1 Driven Fluid Queue – Continued Fraction Approach

This paper presents complete solutions of the stationary distributions of buffer occupancy and buffer content of a fluid queue driven by an M/M/1 queue. We assume a general boundary condition when compared to the model discussed in Virtamo and Norros [Queueing Systems 16 (1994) 373–386] and Adan and Resing [Queueing Systems 22 (1996) 171–174]. We achieve the required solutions by transforming the underlying system of differential equations using Laplace transforms to a system of difference equations leading to a continued fraction. This continued fraction helps us to find complete solutions. We also obtain the buffer content distribution for this fluid model using the method of Sericola and Tuffin [Queueing Systems 31 (1999) 253–264].     

Photografting as a versatile,localizable, and single‐step surface functionalization of silica‐based monoliths dedicated to microscale separation techniques

In this work, we developed a surface functionalization way of silica monoliths with a rapid, simple, versatile, and localizable photografting step. The elaboration of a photoreactive layer at the surface of monoliths was first optimized. The functionalization with [γ‐(methacryloyloxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane at 80°C in a hydro‐organic solution containing triethylamine as catalyst allows reachng the highest density of methacrylate photoactive moieties on silica surfaces. These methacrylate reactive surfaces were subsequently photografted within few minutes with acrylate monomers bearing alkyl chains (C₁₂ and C₁₈). The photografting efficiency was determined by monitoring the retentive properties of monoliths in the RP mode. The retention factors are of the same order of magnitude as highly retentive columns obtained by modification of silica surface with long‐alkyl chain silanes or by thermal polymerization of long‐alkyl chain monomers. It was also verified that such grafting neither impaired the efficiency of the monolithic stationary phase (H_min = 6–8 μm in nano‐LC) nor its permeability (about 6 × 10^?14 m²). Further, it was also demonstrated that photografting is localizable in nonmasked defined areas. Results obtained in anion‐exchange chromatography after photopolymerization of [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride are presented as well to demonstrate the versatility of the developed approach.     

The Baylis–Hillman Adducts as Valuable Source for One‐Pot Multi‐Step Synthesis: A Facile Synthesis of Substituted Piperidin‐2‐ones

A facile, convenient, and one‐pot multi‐step synthesis of substituted piperidin‐2‐ones from the Baylis–Hillman alcohols derived from various aldehydes and acrylonitrile, involving Johnson–Claisen rearrangement, reduction of an α,β‐unsaturated nitrile moiety into the saturated amine‐skeleton, followed by cyclization, in an operationally simple procedure, is described.     

Phase and Order Behavior of Charged Asymmetric Diblock-Copolymer Melts in Bulk

The phase and order behavior of charged asymmetric diblock-copolymer melts is studied by using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation. One of the blocks is made charged and other one is kept neutral, and the study systematically explores how the charged diblock-coploymer responses as the charge fraction of the charged block is varied from 10% to 50%. When charge fraction increases, the study finds ordered transitions from interconnected cylinder-like structures to lamellae, then to gyroid structures. It is also found that domain size of the obtained equilibrium morphology decreases slightly with the increase in charge fraction of the charged block.     

Retention of β blockers on native titania stationary phase

In recent years, metal oxides such as titania have been commercially available as chromatographic beds that can potentially be used to achieve novel separations of polar compounds. For example β blockers, which are more often encountered in environmental sciences, have a wide range of polarity, and their basic character leads to difficult sample treatment and separation on conventional silica‐based sorbents. The contribution of titania to the selective analysis of nine β blockers was evaluated in terms of retention mechanisms observed in hydrophilic interaction LC using acetonitrile/water mobile phases with various additives. The mobile phase additives enabled to control the β blocker charge as well as the titania surface charge. Depending on their respective ionic state, various retention mechanisms were identified at low water contents (<40%), including mainly adsorption mixed with hydrophilic interaction LC partition, ion exchange and ion exclusion. An unexpected retention was also observed for high water content and high pH, changing the selectivity of the support.     

Growth and characterization of sulphamic acid single crystals grown by Sanakaranarayanan‐Ramasamy (SR) method

By directional solidification, single crystal of Sulphamic acid (SA) was successfully grown from aqueous solution by Sankaranarayanan‐Ramasamy (SR) method. A vertically designed L‐bend was used to avoid the effect due to spurious nucleation. A vertical bottom‐seeded ampoule was used for the growth of single crystal. A seed crystal was mounted at the bottom of the ampoule. Sulphamic acid crystals of up to 40 mm in diameter and 60 mm in length have been grown with a growth up to 10 mm per day. The grown sulphamic acid single crystal was characterized using X‐ray powder diffraction analysis, Raman, FTIR, and optical transmission studies. The dielectric behaviour was measured in the frequency range of 1 kHz–10 MHz for the temperature ranges from 30 °C to 170 °C. The sulphamic acid single crystal was also grown by conventional method. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Use of N-trifluoroacetyl-protected amino acid chlorides in peptide coupling reactions with virtually complete preservation of stereochemistry

The use of protected amino acid chlorides for peptide coupling reactions has long been avoided due to the extensive racemization that commonly occurs during either the acid chloride formation or the coupling reaction itself. Conditions are described which allow N-trifluoroacetyl-protected amino acid chlorides to be generated in high purity and with high retention of stereochemical integrity. Control of temperature is the predominant factor in controlling racemization, and rapid formation of acid chlorides under low temperature can be conveniently achieved using Vilsmeier reagent. Stereochemical integrity is further maintained when coupling of N-trifluoroacetyl acid chlorides is carried out with amino acid esters under Schotten-Baumann conditions using specific controls on pH, temperature, and agitation. Second order rate constants for coupling and the azlactone formation associated with racemization were measured to be 4260 and 3.6 L/mol s, respectively. This high rate differential allows for the reaction to be run with a minimum excess of amine ester, and makes it suitable for continuous processing. The applicability of the preferred coupling conditions to a range of amino acid couplings is described.     

Advances in Chalcogene Glycerophosphate Chemistry

Abstract

Achievements in the chemistry of trivalent phosphorus and phosphocyclic compounds find wide application in the synthesis of natural compounds. This paper provides fresh data on the possible use of these substances for the production of glycerophospholipids as well as their thio- and seleno-analogues. Thiol- and selenoanalogues of phosphatidylhomo-choline were obtained by a convenient thion-thiol/selenone-selenole isomerization of triester glycerophosphates in the presence of phosphonium salts as catalysts.