Spirocyclic Amide Acetal Synthesis by [CpRu]-Catalyzed Condensations of α-Diazo-β-Ketoesters with γ-Lactams

The synthesis of spirocyclic amide acetals (33–93 %) has been achieved through Ru(II)-catalyzed condensations of N-carbamate protected pyrrolidinones with metal carbenes derived from α-diazo-β-ketoesters. Thanks to the mildness of the diazo decomposition conditions induced by a 1 : 1 combination of [CpRu(MeCN)₃][BAr_F] and 1,10-phenanthroline, the formation of the sensitive products is possible. Full characterization of this carbonyl-ylide mediated process is provided by DFT calculations.     

High-resolution line-scanning optical coherence microscopy

An optical coherence microscopy system based on line illumination and detection is demonstrated. The system uses a Linnik-type interferometer illuminated by a broadband Ti:sapphire laser and detected by a high-speed, line-scan CCD camera. This approach is less sensitive to incoherent scattering and sample motion than full-field imaging. Spatial resolutions of approximately 2 microm x approximately 3 microm(transverse x axial) are achieved. The sensitivity of the system is 93 dB with averaging over 30 line scans. En face real time, cellular-level imaging of biological tissues is demonstrated at approximately 2 frames/s.     

Wetting on the microscale: shape of a liquid drop on a microstructured surface at different length scales

Describing wetting of a liquid on a rough or structured surface is a challenge because of the wide range of involved length scales. Nano- and micrometer-sized textures cause pinning of the contact line, reflected in a hysteresis of the contact angle. To investigate contact angles at different length scales, we imaged water drops on arrays of 5 μm high poly(dimethylsiloxane) micropillars. The drops were imaged by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), which allowed us to quantitatively analyze the local and large-scale drop profile simultaneously. Deviations of the shape of drops from a sphere decay at two different length scales. Close to the pillars, the amplitude of deviations decays exponentially within 1-2 μm. The drop profile approached a sphere at a length scale 1 order of magnitude larger than the pillars' height. The height and position dependence of the contact angles can be understood from the interplay of pinning of the contact line, the principal curvatures set by the topography of the substrate, and the minimization of the air-water interfaces.     

Fast method for the experimental determination of vaporization enthalpy by differential scanning calorimetry

A simple method is proposed to estimate the vaporization enthalpy of the palmitic acid (hexadecanoic acid) at its normal boiling temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was the technique used to directly measure these thermodynamic properties. The advantages of this method are its speed and small amount of sample required. In order to avoid evaporation and to ensure equilibrium conditions, the experiments were carried out including a-alumina in contact with the fatty acid. The effect of the alumina concentration is discussed. The obtained experimental data (T_bp=625.4±0.5 K, D_vap H=237.6±5.9 J g^-1) is compared with that obtained by using thermodynamic equations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Persistence of Diflubenzuron on Conifer Forest Foliage in a Mediterranean-Climate Ecosystem Following Aerial Application

Dimilin 45 ODC (diflubenzuron) was applied in a Mediterranean-climate conifer forest, near Vitoria, Basque Country, Spain. Pine needles were collected at post-treatment 5-day intervals for analysis of the diflubenzuron residues. A liquid chromatography method with on-line diode-array and electrochemical detection was developed for the determination of the pesticide diflubenzuron and its main metabolites: 2,6-diflurobenzamide, 4-chlorophenylurea, 4-chloroacetanilide, 4-chloroaniline and N-methyl-4-chloroaniline in forestry matrices. Aerial application at 56.3 g AI ha^?1 resulted in deposition levels of the insecticide of 1080 ng g^?1. Within 40-65 days following treatment, 51-73% of the insecticide had been removed from the foliage. During this period, the concentration of diflubenzuron was higher than 295 ng g^?1. The only metabolite detected was 2,6-difluorobenzamide and this persisted on foliage until the first rainfalls occurred. An empirical mathematical correlation was found to express the influence of rainfall, solar radiation and temperature on the persistence of the insecticide.     

Electrodetermination of Gallic Acid Using Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrodes and N-Octylpyridinium Hexafluorophosphate

In this work, the determination of gallic acid was performed using surface-renewable carbon paste electrodes fabricated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and a mixture of N-octylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (OPyPF₆) ionic liquid with mineral oil (MO) as binder. This system shows remarkable amperometric sensor characteristics and promotes a better electronic transfer. An electroanalytical study of gallic acid shows a linear range from 4.98±0.25 to 74.1±2.2 μmol L⁻¹, with R²=0.9958 and an experiment a limit of detection of 2.70±0.08 μmol L⁻¹ (S/N=3), and a sensitivity of 0.029 μA μmol⁻¹ L.     

High-resolution optical coherence microscopy for high-speed, in vivo cellular imaging

Optical coherence microscopy (OCM) is demonstrated with a high-speed, broadband, reflective-grating phase modulator and a femtosecond Ti:Al2O3 laser. The novel system design permits high-resolution OCM imaging in a new operating regime in which a short coherence gate is used to relax the requirement for high-numerical-aperture confocal axial sectioning. In vivo cellular imaging is demonstrated in the Xenopus laevis tadpole and in human skin with a 3-microm coherence gate and a 30-microm confocal gate. The ability to achieve cellular imaging with a lower numerical aperture should facilitate the development of miniaturized probes for in vivo imaging applications.     

Generation of entangled states of qudits using twin photons

We report an experiment to generate entangled states of D-dimensional quantum systems, qudits, by using transverse spatial correlations of two parametric down-converted photons. Apertures with D slits in the arms of the twin photons define the qudit space. By manipulating the pump beam correctly, the twin photons will pass only by symmetrically opposite slits, generating entangled states between these different paths. Experimental results for qudits with D = 4 and 8 are shown. We demonstrate that the generated states are entangled states.     

Micromotor endoscope catheter for in vivo, ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography

A distally actuated, rotational-scanning micromotor endoscope catheter probe is demonstrated for ultrahigh-resolution in vivo endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. The probe permits focus adjustment for visualization of tissue morphology at varying depths with improved transverse resolution compared with standard OCT imaging probes. The distal actuation avoids nonuniform scanning motion artifacts that are present with other probe designs and can permit a wider range of imaging speeds. Ultrahigh-resolution endoscopic imaging is demonstrated in a rabbit with <4-microm axial resolution by use of a femtosecond Cr:forsterite laser light source. The micromotor endoscope catheter probe promises to improve OCT imaging performance in future endoscopic imaging applications.