Demonstration of a 100 Hz repetition rate gain-saturated diode-pumped table-top soft x-ray laser

We demonstrate the operation of a gain-saturated table-top soft x-ray laser at 100?Hz repetition rate. The laser generates an average power of 0.15?mW at λ=18.9 nm, the highest laser power reported to date from a sub-20-nm wavelength compact source. Picosecond laser pulses of 1.5?μJ energy were produced at λ=18.9 nm by amplification in a Mo plasma created by tailoring the temporal intensity profile of single pump pulses with 1?J energy produced by a diode-pumped chirped pulse amplification Yb:YAG laser. Lasing was also obtained in the 13.9?nm line of Ni-like Ag. These results increase by an order of magnitude the repetition rate of plasma-based soft x-ray lasers opening the path to milliwatt average power table-top lasers at sub-20?nm wavelengths.     

Gabor systems and almost periodic functions

Inspired by results of Kim and Ron, given a Gabor frame in $L^2(\mathbb{R})$, we determine a non-countable generalized frame for the non-separable space ${\mathit{AP}}_2(\mathbb{R})$ of the Besicovic almost periodic functions. Gabor type frames for suitable separable subspaces of ${\mathit{AP}}_2(\mathbb{R})$ are constructed. We show furthermore that Bessel-type estimates hold for the AP norm with respect to a countable Gabor system using suitable almost periodic norms of sequences.     

Diastereoselective multicomponent Amine-Aldehyde-Dienophile (AAD) process for the synthesis of polysubstituted cyclohex-2-enylamines

The multicomponent Amine-Aldehyde-Dienophile reaction is optimized employing benzyl or 4-methoxybenzylamine. The interest of the transformation consist in the synthesis of polysubstituted cyclohex-2-enylamines. The study of the scope of this AAD process is carried out, as well as the diastereoselective version, employing commercially available chiral benzylic amines and a maleimide with the chiral information at the N-substituent. VCD spectroscopy is a very useful tool for the determination of the absolute configuration of the isolated enantiomerically enriched compounds.     

Magnetic Hyperthermia Enhancement in Iron-based Materials Driven by Carbon Support Interactions

Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) shows great potential in clinical applications because of its very localized action and minimal side effects. Because of their high saturation magnetization values, reduced forms of iron are promising candidates for MH. However, they must be protected in order to overcome their toxicity and instability (i. e., oxidation) under biological conditions. In this work, a novel methodology for the protection of iron nanoparticles through confinement within graphitic carbon layers after thermal treatment of preformed nanoparticles supported on carbon is reported. We demonstrate that the size and composition of the nascent confined iron nanoparticles, as well as the thickness of their protective carbon layer can be controlled by selecting the nature of the carbon support. Our findings reveal that a higher nanoparticle–carbon interaction, mediated by the presence of oxygen-containing groups, induces the formation of small and well-protected α-Fe-based nanoparticles that exhibit promising results towards MH based on their enhanced specific absorption rate values.     

An Efficient RuII–RhIII–RuII Polypyridyl Photocatalyst for Visible‐Light‐Driven Hydrogen Production in Aqueous Solution

The development of multicomponent molecular systems for the photocatalytic reduction of water to hydrogen has experienced considerable growth since the end of the 1970s. Recently, with the aim of improving the efficiency of the catalysis, single‐component photocatalysts have been developed in which the photosensitizer is chemically coupled to the hydrogen‐evolving catalyst in the same molecule through a bridging ligand. Until now, none of these photocatalysts has operated efficiently in pure aqueous solution: a highly desirable medium for energy‐conversion applications. Herein, we introduce a new ruthenium–rhodium polypyridyl complex as the first efficient homogeneous photocatalyst for H₂ production in water with turnover numbers of several hundred. This study also demonstrates unambiguously that the catalytic performance of such systems linked through a nonconjugated bridge is significantly improved as compared to that of a mixture of the separate components.     

Dressings Loaded with Cyclodextrin–Hamamelitannin Complexes Increase Staphylococcus aureus Susceptibility Toward Antibiotics Both in Single as well as in Mixed Biofilm Communities

Bacteria reside within biofilms at the infection site, making them extremely difficult to eradicate with conventional wound care products. Bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) systems to regulate biofilm formation, and QS inhibitors (QSIs) have been proposed as promising antibiofilm agents. Despite this, few antimicrobial therapies that interfere with QS exist. Nontoxic hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin‐functionalized cellulose gauzes releasing a burst of the antibiotic vancomycin and the QSI hamamelitannin are developed, followed by a sustained release of both. The gauzes affect QS and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in an in vitro model of chronic wound infection and can be considered as candidates to be used to prevent wound infection as well as treat infected wounds.

     

Genomic clustering of the Trypanosoma cruzi nonlong terminal L1Tc retrotransposon with defined interspersed repeated DNA elements

We have analyzed the genomic distribution and organization of the long interspersed nucleotide element (LINE) L1Tc, a nonlong terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon of Trypanosoma cruzi. The results indicate that the L1Tc element is dispersed along the parasite genome and that in some regions it is organized in tandem repeats. The data allowed us to define the existence of short direct-repeated sequences flanking the genomic L1Tc elements. Relevant is the finding that the LINE L1Tc is located in genomic regions rich in short interspersed nucleotide elements (SINE)-like sequences. In particular, the L1Tc element is found associated to E13-related sequences, redefined in this work and renamed RS13Tc, and to a newly described RS1Tc sequence. The RS1Tc sequence is present, per haploid genome, in about 3,200 copies. Northern blot analysis showed that the RS1Tc is being transcribed into RNAs of different sizes. The analysis of the chromosomal distribution of these elements in various strains of T. cruzi suggested that this type of clustering might be a common feature of the genome of these parasites.     

Organic thin-film transistors as transducers for (bio) analytical applications

The use of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) in sensorics is relatively new. Although electronic noses, electronic textiles and disposable biochemical sensors appear to be viable applications for this type of devices, the benefits of the technology still have to be proven. This paper aims to provide a review of the recent advances in the area of chemically sensitive field-effect devices based on organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), with emphasis on bioanalytical applications. Detection principle, device configuration, materials and fabrication processes as well as sensor performances will be discussed, with emphasis on the potential for implementation in real applications and the important challenges ahead.     

Thermodynamics of fuels with a bio-synthetic component (IV): (Vapor + liquid) equilibrium data for the ternary mixture (ethyl 1,1-dimethylethyl ether + 1-hexene + toluene) at T = 313.15 K

The paper reports experimental p–x data for the ternary system (ethyl 1,1-dimethylethyl ether + 1-hexene + toluene) at T = 313.15 K. The ether, synthesized from ethanol of biological origin, increases the interest of this compound as an additive for gasolines. An isothermal total pressure cell was used for the measurements. Data reduction by Barker’s method provides correlations for G^E, using Wilson, NRTL, UNIQUAC models and the Wohl expansion for the ternary system and the calculation of the vapor phase composition. Good results are obtained for the correlation by all the models.     

Total solid-phase synthesis of the azathiocoraline class of symmetric bicyclic peptides

Thiocoraline is a potent antitumor agent isolated from the marine organism Micromonospora sp. This symmetric bicyclic depsipeptide binds the minor groove of DNA. Here we report two solid-phase strategies for the syntheses of azathiocoraline and its analogues. The thioester linkage was replaced by an amide bond to improve the compound's pharmacokinetic properties. The first strategy is based on a convergent (4+4) approach, whilst the second is a stepwise synthesis, cyclizations in both approaches occurring on the solid support. These two strategies were designed to overcome problems caused by the presence of consecutive noncommercial N-methyl amino acids, to avoid epimerization during cyclization and/or fragment condensation, and to form the disulfide bridge under solid-phase conditions. The heterocyclic moiety was added in the last step of the synthesis to assist the preparation of libraries of new compounds with potential therapeutic applications.