Preparation of some functionalized quinoxaline 1,4-dioxides

The preparation of some functionalized quinoxaline 1,4-dioxides is described from the reaction of benzofurazan oxide with 2-acetylbutyrolactone, ethyl acetopyruvate, and acetylacetaldehyde dimethylacetal.     

Heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers through the combination of the Diels–Alder reaction and controlled/living radical polymerization techniques

Heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers (PS)(PtBA)–PEO–(PtBA)(PS) and (PS)(PtBA)–PPO–(PtBA)(PS) [where PS is polystyrene, PtBA is poly(tert‐butyl acrylate), PEO is poly(ethylene oxide), and PPO is poly(propylene oxide)], containing PEO or PPO as a backbone and PS and PtBA as side arms, were prepared via the combination of the Diels–Alder reaction and atom transfer radical and nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization routes. Commercially available PEO or PPO containing bismaleimide end groups was reacted with a compound having an anthracene functionality, succinic acid anthracen‐9‐yl methyl ester 3‐(2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionyloxy)‐2‐methyl‐2‐[2‐phenyl‐2‐(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yloxy)ethoxycarbonyl]propyl ester, with a Diels–Alder reaction strategy. The obtained macroinitiator with tertiary bromide and 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐oxy functional end groups was used subsequently in the atom transfer radical polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate and in the nitroxide‐mediated free‐radical polymerization of styrene to produce heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers with moderately low molecular weight distributions (<1.31). The polymers were characterized with ¹H NMR, ultraviolet, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3947–3957, 2006     

Effect of bosentan on the production of proinflammatory cytokines in a rat model of emphysema

Endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists have been developed to produce a reduction of ET related effects in various diseases, as well as in animal models of airway inflammation. We aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of bosentan on a rat model of emphysema. Thirty Wistar male rats were classified as control group (group 1), intratracheally (i.t.) instilled with saline, treated with vehicle solution; elastase group (group 2), i.t. instilled with porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE), treated with vehicle solution; and PPE+bosentan group (group 3), i.t. instilled with PPE, treated with bosentan. The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue, cell counts in BALF, and histologic analysis of all groups were evaluated. Neutrophile granulocytes (NG) and alveolar macrophages (AM) were increased more in group 2 than in group 1 (P<0.001, P=0.04, respectively). Compared with group 2, neutrophil granulocyte (NG) and alveolar macrophages (AM) counts were decreased in group 3 (P<0.001). Histological examination confirmed a diffuse neutrophilic inflammation and irregular alveolar air space enlargement in group 2. Treatment with bosentan partially reduced the enlarged lung volumes. Compared with group 1, the BALF levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, and the lung tissue levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 were increased in group 2 (P=0.028, P=0.005, P=0.001, P=0.019, P<0.001, respectively). The TNF-alpha and IL-8 levels of BALF (P=0.007, P=0.001, respectively), and the TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and the IL-8 levels of lung tissue (P=0.031, P=0.017, P=0.007, P<0.001) were decreased in group 3 compared to group 2. In conclusion, bosentan decreased the inflammatory response by reducing numbers of inflammatory cells and proinflammatory cytokines.     

Fork in the road: patterned surfaces direct microcapsules to make a decision

Using computational modeling, we simulate the motion of compliant microcapsules on patterned surfaces. The microcapsules, which consist of an elastic shell and an encapsulated fluid, model biological cells or polymeric particles. We focus on a surface that is decorated with a Y-shaped pattern. As compared to the stem of the Y, one branch is relatively soft, and the other branch is relatively sticky. The capsules are driven to move over this substrate by an imposed fluid flow. Upon reaching the junction point, we find that deformable capsules preferentially move onto the sticky branch and stiffer capsules move onto the soft branch. Thus, through their inherent interactions with the patterned domains, the microcapsules are driven to "make decisions" about their path along the surface. Such surface patterning provides a facile means of routing particular capsules to specified locations in microfluidic devices and can form a fundamental component in creating fluidic circuits where microcapsules carry out simple logic operations.     

Solution-deposited organic-inorganic hybrid multilayer gate dielectrics. Design, synthesis, microstructures, and electrical properties with thin-film transistors

We report here on the rational synthesis, processing, and dielectric properties of novel layer-by-layer organic/inorganic hybrid multilayer dielectric films enabled by polarizable π-electron phosphonic acid building blocks and ultrathin ZrO(2) layers. These new zirconia-based self-assembled nanodielectric (Zr-SAND) films (5-12 nm thick) are readily fabricated via solution processes under ambient atmosphere. Attractive Zr-SAND properties include amenability to accurate control of film thickness, large-area uniformity, well-defined nanostructure, exceptionally large electrical capacitance (up to 750 nF/cm(2)), excellent insulating properties (leakage current densities as low as 10(-7) A/cm(2)), and excellent thermal stability. Thin-film transistors (TFTs) fabricated with pentacene and PDIF-CN(2) as representative organic semiconductors and zinc-tin-oxide (Zn-Sn-O) as a representative inorganic semiconductor function well at low voltages (<±4.0 V). Furthermore, the TFT performance parameters of representative organic semiconductors deposited on Zr-SAND films, functionalized on the surface with various alkylphosphonic acid self-assembled monolayers, are investigated and shown to correlate closely with the alkylphosphonic acid chain dimensions.     

A residual transcendental extension of a valuation on K to K(x1, … , xn)

Let v be a valuation of a field K, G_v its value group and k_v its residue field. Let w be an extension of v to K(x₁, … , x_n). w is called a residual transcendental extension of v if k_w/k_v is a transcendental extension. In this study a residual transcendental extension w of v to K(x₁, … , x_n) such that transdegk_w/k_v = n is defined and some considerations related with this valuation are given.     

Designing patterned substrates to regulate the movement of capsules in microchannels

Using computational modeling, we simulate the fluid-driven motion of microcapsules on patterned surfaces to establish guidelines for creating simple microfluidic devices for bioassays and multistage chemical reactions. The microcapsules, which consist of an elastic shell and an encapsulated fluid, model biological cells or polymeric particles. We focus on patterned substrates that encompass chemically adhesive and mechanically compliant domains. By probing the interactions between the microcapsules and these patterned surfaces, we determine the factors that control the movement of the capsules along the substrates. Using this information, we optimize the arrangement of the adhesive and compliant surface domains to create robust systems that effectively discriminate between various soft particles moving through the microchannels and "autonomously" direct certain species to specific locations. These findings could facilitate the fabrication of low-cost, portable microfluidic devices for sorting cells or performing fundamental chemical studies.     

Synthesis and characterization of electron-deficient and highly soluble (Bis)indenofluorene building blocks for n-type semiconducting polymers

New electron-deficient and soluble indenofluorene-based and bisindenofluorene-based ladder-type building blocks embedding carbonyl and dicyanovinylene functionalities were synthesized, and their optical and electrochemical properties were characterized. These derivatives exhibit optical band gaps of 1.83 to 2.44 eV and low LUMO energies of -3.24 to -4.30 eV, representing a promising new building block class for n-type polymeric electronic materials.     

Gröbner-Shirshov Bases of Irreducible Modules of the Quantum Group of Type G2

First, the authors give a Grbner-Shirshov basis of the finite-dimensional irreducible module Vq(λ) of the Drinfeld-Jimbo quantum group U_q(G_2) by using the double free module method and the known Grbner-Shirshov basis of U_q(G_2). Then, by specializing a suitable version of U_q(G_2) at q = 1, they get a Grbner-Shirshov basis of the universal enveloping algebra U(G_2) of the simple Lie algebra of type G_2 and the finite-dimensional irreducible U(G_2)-module V(λ).     

Dithienosilole- and dibenzosilole-thiophene copolymers as semiconductors for organic thin-film transistors

The synthesis and physicochemical properties of a new class of thiophene/arenesilole-containing pi-conjugated polymers are reported. Examples of this new polymer class include the following: poly(2,5-bis(3',3' '-dihexylsilylene-2',2' '-bithieno)thiophene) (TS6T1), poly(2,5'-bis(3' ',3' '-dihexylsilylene-2' ',2' '-bithieno)bithiophene) (TS6T2), poly(2,5'-bis(2' ',2' '-dioctylsilylene-1' ',1' '-biphenyl)thiophene) (BS8T1), and poly(2,5'-bis(2' ',2' '-dioctylsilylene-1' ',1' '-biphenyl)bithiophene) (BS8T2). Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with hole carrier mobilities as high as 0.02-0.06 cm2/V s in air, low turn-on voltages, and current on/off ratios >105-106 are fabricated using solution processing techniques with the above polymers as the active channel layer. OFETs based on this polymer class exhibit excellent ambient operational stability.