Genetic stability assessment of plants regenerated from cryopreserved embryogenic tissues of Dioscorea bulbifera l. Using RAPD,biochemical and morphological analysis

Embryogenic tissues of Dioscorea bulbifera were cryopreserved using the encapsulation-dehydration technique. Genetic stability of plants regenerated from cryopreserved embryogenic tissues was assessed using molecular, biochemical and morphological analysis. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of 60 cryopreserved-derived and 20 in vitro grown (control) plantlets showed that 10 primers produced 62 clear reproducible DNA fragment profiles. The amplification products were monomorphic for all the plantlets except one. A total of 4960 DNA fragments were obtained from this study showing no variation in RAPD profiles. The diosgenin content of cryopreserved-derived plants, analyzed using HPLC, was similar to that of control plants. Morphology and the ability to form microtuber were also found to be unaltered in cryopreserved embryo-derived plantlets. Thus, the D. bulbifera plants regenerated from cryopreserved embryogenic tissues were genetically stable at the molecular, biochemical and morphological levels.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Block Copolymer by Block Copolymerization of Butadiene and Acrylamide using Macroazoinitiator

Abstract

Macroazoinitiator (MAI) was prepared from hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and 4,4′‐azobis‐4‐cyanopentanoic acid by direct polycondensation in the presence of 1‐methyl‐2‐chloropyridinium iodide at room temperature. This MAI used for block copolymerization of AAm at 60°C gave the best results in chloroform but the formation of a crosslinked product could not be ruled out in dioxane. It was inferred that for production of a linear block copolymer, homogeneous reaction mixture was required.

The resulting products were characterized by spectral studies IR and NMR, viscosity measurements. Distinct phase segregation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks was evident through DSC analysis.     

An efficient synthesis of 4,5-dihydronaphtho[2,1-b]furan through a novel ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-one

An innovative route for the synthesis of substituted naphtho[2,1-b]furan has been delineated through a ring transformation reaction of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones by reaction with 6,7-dihydro-5H-benzofuran-4-one, in good yield.     

An innovative synthesis of dibenzofurans through a carbanion-induced ring transformation reaction

An innovative route for the synthesis of substituted dibenzofurans has been delineated through a ring transformation reaction of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones by reaction with 7-methoxybenzofuran-3-one, in high yield. The novelty of the procedure lies in the creation of an aromatic ring from a 2H-pyran-2-one involving the -COCH₂-moiety of the substrate.     

Annealing effect on the structural and magnetic properties of nickel ferrite thin films

Nickel ferrite is a soft magnetic material with inverse spinel structure. Soft ferrite films are used in microwave devices, integrated planar circuits, etc., because of their high resistivity. In this work, thin films of nickel ferrite were deposited on Si (100) substrate by using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. The thickness of the film was measured by surface profilometer and also by X‐ray reflectivity (XRR). The films were annealed at three different temperatures to observe the effect on the structural and magnetic properties of the film. The films were characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) to study the structural and magnetic properties. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ab initio studies of properties of small potassium clusters

We have studied the properties of various isomers of potassium clusters containing even number of atoms ranging from 2 to 20 at the ab initio level. The geometry optimization calculations of the isomers of each cluster are performed by using all-electron density functional theory with gradient corrected exchange-correlation functional. Using the optimized geometries of different isomers we investigate the evolution of binding energy, ionization potential, and static polarizability with the increasing size of the clusters. The polarizabilities are calculated by employing M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory and time-dependent density functional theory. The polarizabilities of dimer and tetramer are also calculated by employing large basis set coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations and perturbative triple excitations. The time-dependent density functional theory calculations of polarizabilities are carried out with two different exchange-correlation potentials: (i) an asymptotically correct model potential and (ii) within the local density approximation. A systematic comparison with the other available theoretical and experimental data for various properties of small potassium clusters mentioned above has been performed. These comparisons reveal that both the binding energy and the ionization potential obtained with gradient-corrected potential match quite well with the already published data. Similarly, the polarizabilities obtained with M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory and with model potential are quite close to each other and also close to experimental data.     

Novel carbazole/fluorene hybrids: host materials for blue phosphorescent OLEDs

[reaction: see text] A series of carbazole/fluorene (CBZm-Fn) hybrids were effectively synthesized through Friedel-Crafts-type substitution of the carbazole rings. These compounds were thermally and morphologically stable host materials for OLED applications. Efficient blue phosphorescent OLEDs were obtained when employing CBZ1-F2 as the host and FIrpic as the guest.     

Free-energy component analysis of 40 protein-DNA complexes: a consensus view on the thermodynamics of binding at the molecular level

Noncovalent association of proteins to specific target sites on DNA--a process central to gene expression and regulation--has thus far proven to be idiosyncratic and elusive to generalizations on the nature of the driving forces. The spate of structural information on protein--DNA complexes sets the stage for theoretical investigations on the molecular thermodynamics of binding aimed at identifying forces responsible for specific macromolecular recognition. Computation of absolute binding free energies for systems of this complexity transiting from structural information is a stupendous task. Adopting some recent progresses in treating atomic level interactions in proteins and nucleic acids including solvent and salt effects, we have put together an energy component methodology cast in a phenomenological mode and amenable to systematic improvements and developed a computational first atlas of the free energy contributors to binding in approximately 40 protein-DNA complexes representing a variety of structural motifs and functions. Illustrating vividly the compensatory nature of the free energy components contributing to the energetics of recognition for attaining optimal binding, our results highlight unambiguously the roles played by packing, electrostatics including hydrogen bonds, ion and water release (cavitation) in protein-DNA binding. Cavitation and van der Waals contributions without exception favor complexation. The electrostatics is marginally unfavorable in a consensus view. Basic residues on the protein contribute favorably to binding despite the desolvation expense. The electrostatics arising from the acidic and neutral residues proves unfavorable to binding. An enveloping mode of binding to short stretches of DNA makes for a strong unfavorable net electrostatics but a highly favorable van der Waals and cavitation contribution. Thus, noncovalent protein-DNA association is a system-specific fine balancing act of these diverse competing forces. With the advances in computational methods as applied to macromolecular recognition, the challenge now seems to be to correlate the differential (initial vs. final) energetics to substituent effects in drug design and to move from affinity to specificity.     

Probing Electronic Symmetry Reduction during Charge Migration via Time-Resolved X-Ray Diffraction

The present work focuses on probing ultrafast charge migration after symmetry-breaking excitation using ultrashort laser pulses. LiCN is chosen as prototypical system because it can be oriented in the laboratory frame and it possesses optically-accessible charge transfer states at low energies. The charge migration is simulated within the hybrid time-dependent density functional theory/configuration interaction framework. Time-resolved electronic current densities and simulated time-resolved x-ray diffraction signals are used to unravel the mechanism of charge migration. Our simulations demonstrate that specific choices of laser polarization lead to a control over the symmetry of the induced charge migration. Moreover, time-resolved x-ray diffraction signals are shown to encode transient symmetry reduction at intermediate times.