Electrically pumped edge-emitting photonic crystal lasers with angled facets

We demonstrate electrically pumped large-area edge-emitting InGaAsP/InP two-dimensional photonic crystal lasers with angled facets at room temperature. The laser uses a weak index perturbation surface photonic crystal structure to control optical modes in the wafer plane. Measurements of the laser spectra show that the modal selection is due to satisfying the Bragg resonance conditions in both the longitudinal and the transverse directions. The lasing wavelength is tuned lithographically by changing photonic crystal lattice constants. We demonstrate a fine lasing wavelength tuning sensitivity (change of lasing wavelength over change of lattice constant) of 0.08 through the transverse lattice constant tuning.     

A chemo- and regio-selective three-component dihydropyrimidinone synthesis

A selective three-component coupling, involving co-condensation of aldehyde pairs with substituted ureas under Lewis acid catalysis, provides rapid access to highly functionalised dihydropyrimidinones; sulfamides react analogously.     

New bis(benzimidazole) cations for threading through dibenzo-24-crown-8

[reaction: see text] We report a simple bis(benzimidazole) dication which can act as new template for threading through dibenzo-24-crown-8. The effect of the solvent and counterion on the magnitude of the binding interaction and on the hydrogen bonding array in the solid state is described.     

On the Fourier tails of bounded functions over the discrete cube

In this paper we consider bounded real-valued functions over the discrete cube, f: {−1, 1}ⁿ → [−1, 1]. Such functions arise naturally in theoretical computer science, combinatorics, and the theory of social choice. It is often interesting to understand when these functions essentially depend on few coordinates. Our main result is a dichotomy that includes a lower bound on how fast the Fourier coefficients of such functions can decay: we show that

Experimental ultrasound characterization of red blood cell aggregation using the structure factor size estimator

The frequency dependence of the ultrasonic backscattering coefficient (BSC) was studied to assess the level of red blood cell (RBC) aggregation. Three monoelement focused wideband transducers were used to insonify porcine blood sheared in a Couette flow from 9 to 30 MHz. A high shear rate was first applied to promote disaggregation. Different residual shear rates were then used to promote formation of RBC aggregates. The structure factor size estimator (SFSE), a second-order data reduction model based on the structure factor, was applied to the frequency-dependent BSC. Two parameters were extracted from the model to describe the level of aggregation at 6% and 40% hematocrits: W, the packing factor, and D the aggregate diameter, expressed in number of RBCs. Both parameters closely matched theoretical values for nonaggregated RBCs. W and D increased during aggregation with stabilized values modulated by the applied residual shear rate. Furthermore, parameter D during the kinetics of aggregation at 6% hematocrit under static conditions correlated with an optical RBC aggregate size estimation from microscopic images (r(2)=0.76). To conclude, the SFSE presents an interesting framework for tissue characterization of partially correlated dense tissues such as aggregated RBCs.     

Protective Effect of Dermal Brimonidine Applications Against UV Radiation‐induced Skin Tumors,Epidermal Hyperplasia and Cell Proliferation in the Skin of Hairless Mice

Brimonidine at 0.18%, 1% and 2% concentrations applied topically in hairless mice significantly decreased tumor burden and incidences of erythema, flaking, wrinkling and skin thickening induced by UVR. The unbiased median week to tumor ≥1 mm was increased by the 1% and 2% concentrations. The tumor yield was reduced by all concentrations at week 40 for all tumor sizes but the ≥4 mm tumors with the 0.18% concentration. At week 52, the tumor yield was reduced for all tumor sizes and all brimonidine concentrations. The tumor incidence was reduced by all concentrations at week 40 for all tumor sizes, but the ≥4 mm tumor with the 0.18% concentration and at week 52 for all tumor sizes with the 1% and 2% concentrations and with the 0.18% concentration only for the ≥4 mm tumors. Reductions in ≥4 mm tumor incidences compared to the vehicle control group were 54%, 91% and 86% by week 52 for the 0.18%, 1% and 2% concentrations, respectively. Brimonidine at 2% applied 1 h before or just after UVB irradiation on hairless mice decreased epidermal hyperplasia by 23% and 32% and epithelial cell proliferation by 59% and 64%, respectively, similar to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor.     

Optical Control of Insulin Secretion Using an Incretin Switch

Incretin mimetics are set to become a mainstay of type 2 diabetes treatment. By acting on the pancreas and brain, they potentiate insulin secretion and induce weight loss to preserve normoglycemia. Despite this, incretin therapy has been associated with off‐target effects, including nausea and gastrointestinal disturbance. A novel photoswitchable incretin mimetic based upon the specific glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R) agonist liraglutide was designed, synthesized, and tested. This peptidic compound, termed LirAzo , possesses an azobenzene photoresponsive element, affording isomer‐biased GLP‐1R signaling as a result of differential activation of second messenger pathways in response to light. While the trans isomer primarily engages calcium influx, the cis isomer favors cAMP generation. LirAzo thus allows optical control of insulin secretion and cell survival.     

Synthèses de la benzo[b][1,4]diazocino[7,6-f]indole,de pyrrolo[f]phtalazines et réactions de cycloadditions

From l-methyl-5,-dibenzoyl-1H-indole two new ring system, mainly a benzob[b][1,4]diazocino[7,6-f]indole and a pyrrolo[2,3-f]phthalazine are obtained. From 2-methyl-5,6-dibenzoyl-2H-isoindole a pyrrolo[3,4-f]phthalazine is obtained and the cycloaddtion reations with electron deficient dienophiles have been investigated.     

Oxidative addition of boron–boron, boron–chlorine and boron–bromine bonds to platinum(0)

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of the new diborane(4) compounds B₂(1,2-O₂C₆Cl₄)₂ and B₂(1,2-O₂C₆Br₄)₂ are reported together with the diborane(4) bis-amine adduct [B₂(calix)(NHMe₂)₂] (calix=Bu^tcalix[4]arene). B–B bond oxidative addition reactions between the platinum(0) compound [Pt(PPh₃)₂(η-C₂H₄)] and the diborane(4) compounds B₂(1,2-S₂C₆H₄)₂, B₂(1,2-O₂C₆Cl₄)₂ and B₂(1,2-O₂C₆Br₄)₂ are also described which result in the platinum(II) bis-boryl complexes cis-[Pt(PPh₃)₂{B(1,2-S₂C₆H₄)}₂], cis-[Pt(PPh₃)₂{B(1,2-O₂C₆Cl₄)}₂] and cis-[Pt(PPh₃)₂{B(1,2-O₂C₆Br₄)}₂] respectively, the former two having been characterised by X-ray crystallography. In addition, the platinum complex [Pt(PPh₃)₂(η-C₂H₄)] reacts with XB(1,2-O₂C₆H₄) (X=Cl, Br) affording the mono-boryl complexes trans-[PtX(PPh₃)₂{B(1,2-O₂C₆H₄)}] as a result of oxidative addition of the B–X bonds to the Pt(0) centre; the chloro derivative has been characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

MLCT state structure and dynamics of a copper(I) diimine complex characterized by pump-probe X-ray and laser spectroscopies and DFT calculations

The molecular structure and dynamics of the photoexcited metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer (MLCT) state of [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+), where dmp is 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, in acetonitrile have been investigated by time-domain pump-probe X-ray absorption spectroscopy, femtosecond optical transient spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT). The time resolution for the excited state structural determination was 100 ps, provided by single X-ray pulses from a third generation synchrotron source. The copper ion in the thermally equilibrated MLCT state has the same oxidation state as the corresponding copper(II) complex in the ground state and was found to be penta-coordinate with an average nearest neighbor Cu-N distance 0.04 A shorter than that of the ground state [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+). The results confirm the previously proposed "exciplex" structure of the MLCT state in Lewis basic solvents. The evolution from the photoexcited Franck-Condon MLCT state to the thermally equilibrated MLCT state was followed by femtosecond optical transient spectroscopy, revealing three time constants of 500-700 fs, 10-20 ps, and 1.6-1.7 ns, likely related to the kinetics for the formation of the triplet MLCT state, structural relaxation, and the MLCT excited-state decay to the ground state, respectively. DFT calculations are used to interpret the spectral shift on structural relaxation and to predict the geometries of the ground state, the tetracoordinate excited state, and the exciplex. The DFT calculations also indicate that the amount of charge transferred from copper to the dmp ligand upon photoexcitation is similar to the charge difference at the copper center between the ground-state copper(I) and copper(II) complexes.