Developing rapid detection of mycobacteria using microwaves

In this paper, we describe the development of a culture-based biochip device for rapid detection of mycobacteria in environmental samples. Individual biochips rely upon the unique paraffinophilic nature of mycobacteria to rapidly and selectively adhere to the surface of the device. We used prototype biochips to experimentally demonstrate the concept of rapid and selective detection of mycobacteria by testing pure cultures and using epifluorescence microscopy to visualize microorganisms on the surface. As an alternative, rapid approach for identifying the biomass on the biochip surface, we used microwaves in the 10 to 26 GHz frequency range. The results of this study indicate that different microorganisms are responsible for specific shifts in resonance frequencies of a microwave cavity. By combing the semi-selective paraffin surface of the biochip with the microorganism-specific response to the microwaves, we have developed an improved analytical system with the potential to rapidly identify and enumerate mycobacteria in environmental samples in as little as 2 h.     

The first structural characterization and determination of the isomerization activation parameters of a chiral phosphatitanocene

The activation parameters (delta G++298 = 11.5 (+/- 1.0) kcal mol-1, delta H++ = 16.3 (+/- 3.0) kcal mol-1, delta S++ = 16 (+/- 11) cal mol-1 K-1) have been determined for the rac to meso isomerization of a phosphametallocene, bis(3,4-dimethyl-2-phenylphospholyl)titanium dichloride, 2, which has been structurally characterized.     

Synthesis of 3,4‐dihydro‐1(2H)‐isoquinolinonesxs

Approaches toward the preparative‐scale synthesis of target 3,4‐dihydro‐1(2H)‐isoquinolinones 1–3 are presented. Compounds 1 and 2 were prepared via a Schmidt rearrangement on easily obtained indanone precursors, but in low overall yield. A better method to make this class of compounds is exemplified by the large‐scale synthesis of 2 via a Curtius rearrangement sequence. Thus, high‐temperature thermal cyclization of an in situ formed styryl isocyanate from precursor 8 in the presence of tributylamine gave the corresponding 1(2H)‐isoquinolinone ( 9 ). Catalytic hydrogenation of 9 provided the desired 3,4‐dihydro‐5‐methyl‐1(2H)‐isoquinolinone ( 2 ) in 65 % overall yield. Similar reduction of a commercially available 5‐hydroxy‐1(2H)‐isoquinolinone precursor 10 followed by an O ‐alkylation/amination sequence gave target 3 in good overall yield. The route proceeding via the Curtius rearrangement is recommended for large scale synthesis of other 3,4‐dihydro‐1(2H)‐isoquinolinones. Only when deactivating substituents or sensitive functionality within the benzenoid ring render the high temperature ring closure of the intermediate isocyanate inefficient might a Schmidt rearrangement protocol be the method of choice.     

1,4-Addition of aryl boronic acids to α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by a CCC–NHC pincer rhodium complex

An air- and water-stable CCC–NHC pincer Rh complex catalyzed the 1,4-addition of aryl boronic acids to α,β-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes. This bench top method proceeds in eco-friendly solvents including methanol and water. The scope of boronic acids was expanded to include heterocyclic examples.     

Anticancer anilinoacridines. A process synthesis of the disubstituted amsacrine analog CI-921

An improved process for the synthesis of bulk quantities of the clinical amsacrine analog CI-921 is reported. Described also are detailed analytical and spectroscopic data for this agent.     

Functionalization of substituted 2-(1H)pyridones. I. A novel synthesis of a-arylgyloxylates and related systems

A novel synthetic strategy is presented in which the heteroaryl[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]acetonitrile intermediate 3 is utilized either as a homologation or reverse-polarity synthon for convenient entry into its corresponding α-hydroxy- and α-ketoarylalkanoate 4 and 6 , respectively. Further functionalization, including a stereo-selective oximation procedure, is described.     

An invariant theory of the constitutive parameters of a plasma and a ferrite

Under the influence of a constant magnetic field, the electric property of a plasma and the magnetic property of a ferrite are anisotropic. In this paper, the general coordinatefree invariant forms of the dielectric tensor of a plasma and the permeability tensor of a ferrite are obtained. The tensors are expressed explicitly as a sum of three tensors: a unit tensor, a symmetric tensor and an antisymmetric tensor, each of which is weighted by different constants. The symmetric and antisymmetric tensors are related to the unit vector of the constant magnetic field. The invariant forms in terms of the sum of the projectors of the tensors are also derived. When a Cartesian coordinate system is introduced, the invariant forms are easily reduced to the commonly used matrix representations. The invariant forms clearly show the effects of the constant magnetic field on the anisotropies of the media. Moreover, they effectuate and simplify the deduction of the general solutions of problems involving wave propagation and excitation in plasma and ferrite and thus facilitate interpretations of the final results.     

Studies related to the total synthesis of pentostatin. Approaches to the synthesis of (8R)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo-[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8-ol and N-3 alkyl congeners

A number of synthetic approaches to the (8R)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8-ol ring system ( 3 ) of pentostatin ( 1 ) are reported. These involve the synthesis of a number of 4-C-derivatives of N-alkyl-5-amino- and 5-nitro-1H-imidazoles derived from 4-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole.     

Orientational dependence of linear dichroism exemplified by dyed spherulites

D-sorbitol forms so-called spherulites from under-cooled melts. These polycrystalline formations have optically uniaxial radii. Melts pressed between glasses crystallize as plane sections of spheres. Dyes that are soluble in molten sorbitol become oriented as the crystallization front passes through the melt so as to form disks with large linear dichroism in the absorption bands of the dyes. The dyeing of spherulites is thus a general method of solute alignment. The linear optical properties of sorbitol spherulites containing the azo dye amaranth were analyzed in detail so as to correct a persistent confusion in the literature regarding the orientational dependence of linear dichroism. In cases involving thin film dichroism of multilayered samples requiring many corrections of intensity data in non-normal incidence, some authors have taken transmittance and others absorbance as having a cosine-squared angular dependence on the plane of the electric vector of linearly polarized light. Plane sections of doped spherulites present all orientations of an electric dipole oscillator in spatially localized region in normal incidence. As such, the samples described herein are ideally suited to resolving this confusion. Images of transmittance of dyed spherulites in polarized light were recorded with a CCD camera and simulated under the assumption that both absorbance and transmittance show a cosine-squared angular dependence but with respect to different angles. Transmittance with a cosine-squared dependence follows azimuthal rotations of the spherulite radii around the wave vector, while absorbance with a cosine-squared dependence follows rotations about axes perpendicular to the wave vector, natural consequences of the properties of the optical indicatrix that are often overlooked. Spherulites obviate the substantial experimental complexities that are engendered in non-normal incidence by sample reorientation. Thus, the principles of anisotropic absorption are given in a complete and intuitive fashion.     

Integrated systems for rapid point of care (PoC) blood cell analysis

Counting the different subpopulations of cells in a fingerprick of human blood is important for a number of clinical point-of-care (PoC) applications. It is a challenge to demonstrate the integration of sample preparation and detection techniques in a single platform. In this paper we demonstrate a generic microfluidic platform that combines sample processing and characterisation and enumeration in a single, integrated system. Results of microfluidic 3-part differential leukocyte (granulocyte, lymphocyte and monocyte) counts, together with erythrocyte and thrombocyte (platelet) counts, in human blood are shown and corroborated with results from hospital clinical laboratory analysis.