Polarity dependence of the radiative and nonradiative rates of flavone derivatives comprising structurally similar amino moieties: change in the nature of the emitting state

Photophysical behavior of several structurally related electron donor-acceptor flavone derivatives, which have been synthesized and characterized, has been studied as a function of the polarity of the media. Significant variation of the absorption and fluorescence response of the systems has been observed with change in the polarity of the medium. The results show an increase in the radiative rate constant and a decrease in the nonradiative rate constant of the systems with increase in the polarity of the media. This finding has been attributed to the change in the nature of the emitting state from a mixed n-pi* and pi-pi* state to a dominant pi-pi* state with increase in the polarity of the medium. The results of single-crystal diffraction studies and theoretical calculations based on density functional method support the idea of close proximity of the n-pi* and pi-pi* states and the change in their relative contributions toward the emission process with the polarity of the medium. Laser flash photolysis studies show that the triplet state is not involved in the variation of the fluorescence response of the systems.     

Unexpectedly large binding constants of azulenes with fullerenes

In spite of having small pi-conjugation systems, azulenes show large binding constants (10(4)-10(5)) to C(60) and C(70), which are larger than those of monoporphyrins and alternant aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Spectroscopic investigation of 3-pyrazolyl 2-pyrazoline derivative in homogeneous solvents

How solvent conditions such as solvent polarity and hydrogen-bonding affect the fluorescence of a newly synthesized 3-pyrazolyl 2-pyrazoline derivative (Pyz) having pharmaceutical activity has been explored. The solvatochromic effect of Pyz is due to a change in dipole moment of the compound in the excited state. The relaxation of S1 state is perturbed in hydrogen-bonding solvents. The fluorescence properties of the systems are strongly dependent on the polarity of the media. The non-radiative relaxation process is facilitated by an increase in the polarity of the media. The photophysical response of Pyz in different solvents has been explained considering solute-solvent interactions.     

PCR-based detection in a micro-fabricated platform

We present a novel, on-chip system for the electrokinetic capture of bacterial cells and their identification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The system comprises a glass-silicon platform with a set of micro-channels, -chambers, and -electrodes. A platinum thin film resistor, placed in the proximity of the chambers, is used for temperature monitoring. The whole chip assembly is mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and wire-bonded to it. The PCB has an embedded heater that is utilized for PCR thermal cycle and is controlled by a Lab-View program. Similar to our previous work, one set of electrodes on the chip inside the bigger chamber (0.6 microl volume) is used for diverting bacterial cells from a flowing stream into to a smaller chamber (0.4 nl volume). A second set of interdigitated electrodes (in smaller chamber) is used to actively trap and concentrate the bacterial cells using dielectrophoresis (DEP). In the presence of the DEP force, with the cells still entrapped in the micro-chamber, PCR mix is injected into the chamber. Subsequently, PCR amplification with SYBR Green detection is used for genetic identification of Listeria monocytogenes V7 cells. The increase in fluorescence is recorded with a photomultiplier tube module mounted over an epifluorescence microscope. This integrated micro-system is capable of genetic amplification and identification of as few as 60 cells of L. monocytogenes V7 in less than 90 min, in 600 nl volume collected from a sample of 10(4) cfu ml(-1). Specificity trials using various concentrations of L. monocytogenes V7, Listeria innocua F4248, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 were carried out successfully using two different primer sets specific for a regulatory gene of L. monocytogenes, prfA and 16S rRNA primer specific for the Listeria spp., and no cross-reactivity was observed.     

Diastereoselective addition of planar N-heterocycles to vinyl sulfone-modified carbohydrates: a new route to isonucleosides

Michael-type addition reactions of planar N-heterocycles at the C-2 positions of vinyl sulfone-modified carbohydrates provide an efficient and general route for the carbon-N-heterocycle bond formation. Therefore, the addition pattern of planar heterocycles, such as imidazole, triazole, thymine, and adenine to 3-C-phenylsulfonyl-hex-2-enopyranosides (1α/1β) and 3-C-p-toluenesulfonyl-pent-2-enofuranosides (2α/2β) was studied for developing a general methodology for the synthesis of new classes of isonucleosides possessing a carbon-N-heterocycle linkage at C-2 positions of furanosyl and pyranosyl sugars. To a great extent, the anomeric configurations of the starting vinyl sulfones play crucial roles in deciding the diastereoselectivity of addition of heterocycles. However, the trityl protected 3-C-p-toluenesulfonyl-hex-2-enopyranosides (33α/33β) were judged to be more practical starting materials for desulfonylation and deprotection for the synthesis of a new class of thymine and adenine deoxyisonucleosides.     

Charge carriers dynamics in PEO + NaSCN polymer electrolytes

Sodium-ion-conducting poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolyte films mixed with salt sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) have been prepared by solution-cast method. Films were characterized in detail using optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and impedance spectroscopy. The drop in ionic conductivity with increasing salt concentration is supported by a decrease in number of charge carriers. Dielectric constant is supported by decreases in numbers of charge carriers and increase in mobility. The maximum ionic conductivity and number of charge carriers for material are found 9.86 × 10^?6 S/m and 1.21 × 10²⁰, respectively, for weight % ratio (95:05) of PEO:NaSCN polymer salt complex. The maximum mobility of material is found 2.58 × 10^?6 m²/Vs for weight % ratio (80:20) of PEO:NaSCN polymer salt complex.     

Assessment of the metabolic profile in Type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism through proton MR spectroscopy

The metabolic changes in the brain of patients affected with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) alone, both Type 2 DM and hypothyroidism and hypothyroidism only were investigated using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS). Single-voxel spectroscopy was carried out in right and left frontal lobe white matter, left parietal white matter and left occipital gray matter. Choline (Cho)/creatine (Cr) value was found to be increased in the left occipital gray matter of the subjects affected with Type 2 DM and both Type 2 DM and hypothyroidism as compared to controls. No significant change in the Cho/Cr value in the occipital gray matter was observed in hypothyroid subjects as compared to controls. However, they showed an increased level of Cho/Cr in the frontal white matter. High Cho is associated with altered membrane phospholipid metabolism. The high Cho in frontal white matter in hypothyroids and occipital gray matter in diabetic patients suggests that, though both the diseases are endocrine disorders, they differ from each other in terms of regional brain metabolite changes.     

Sequence dependence of DNA translocation through a nanopore

We investigate the dynamics of DNA translocation through a nanopore using 2D Langevin dynamics simulations, focusing on the dependence of the translocation dynamics on the details of DNA sequences. The DNA molecules studied in this work are built from two types of bases A and C, which have been shown previously to have different interactions with the pore. We study DNA with repeating blocks A(n)C(n) for various values of n and find that the translocation time depends strongly on the block length 2n as well as on the orientation of which base enters the pore first. Thus, we demonstrate that the measurement of translocation dynamics of DNA through a nanopore can yield detailed information about its structure. We have also found that the periodicity of the block sequences is contained in the periodicity of the residence time of the individual nucleotides inside the pore.     

Susceptor-Assisted Enhanced Microwave Processing of Ceramics - A Review

Susceptor-assisted microwave processing is a rapidly growing technology due to its superiority over the conventional processing. In contrast to the conventional heating from the surface, the microwave heating occurs volumetrically via direct interaction with the material. Correspondingly, the microwave heating rates are in general much faster than the heating rates in the conventional furnaces, where heat has to be transferred from the heat sources to the material via conduction, convection and radiation. The need for the susceptor stems from the fact that the majority of the ceramics are low lossy materials and they cannot couple well with the microwave at room temperatures. The susceptor provides an easy and non-invasive technique to exploit the rapid microwave processing even for the highly microwave transparent ceramics, such as alumina, silicon nitride, quartz, etc. This article critically evaluates the susceptor-assisted microwave sintering and solid state synthesis of ceramics which have been reported over the last two decades. A wide range of ceramics has been considered and each case has been analyzed in terms of the enhancement of the processing rates and product qualities (grain structure, material properties, etc.) compared to the conventional processing. It has been shown that the susceptor-assisted microwave processing can greatly reduce the processing time while providing an easy pathway to achieve the desired product qualities. The use of the appropriate susceptor is the key to achieve the fast, smooth, and reliable microwave processing of ceramics and this article provides the required database for the appropriate design of the susceptor based on the process requirement.