Unusual nitrogenous derivatives from Alstonia

Five new nitrogenous compounds were isolated from the Malayan Alstonia angustifolia and their structures determined based on interpretation of spectroscopic data.     

A Small-Molecule AIE Chromosome Periphery Probe for Cytogenetic Studies

The chromosome periphery (CP) is a complex network that covers the outer surface of chromosomes. It acts as a carrier of nucleolar components, helps maintain chromosome structure, and plays an important role in mitosis. Current methods for fluorescence imaging of CP largely rely on immunostaining. We herein report a small-molecule fluorescent probe, ID-IQ , which possesses aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property, for CP imaging. By labelling the CP, ID-IQ sharply highlighted the chromosome boundaries, which enabled rapid segmentation of touching and overlapping chromosomes, direct identification of the centromere, and clear visualization of chromosome morphology. ID-IQ staining was also compatible with fluorescence in situ hybridization and could assist the precise location of the gene in designated chromosome. Altogether, this study provides a versatile cytogenetic tool for improved chromosome analysis, which greatly benefits the clinical diagnostic testing and genomic research.     

Phosphorescent Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes That Contain Substituted 2‐Acetylbenzo[b]thiophen‐3‐olate Ligand for Red Organic Light‐Emitting Devices

We report the synthesis of a new class of thermally stable and strongly luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes 1 – 6 , which contain the 2‐acetylbenzo[b]thiophene‐3‐olate (bt) ligand, and their application in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). These heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes with bt as the ancillary ligand have a decomposition temperature that is 10–20 % higher and lower emission self‐quenching constants than those of their corresponding complexes with acetylacetonate (acac). The luminescent color of these iridium(III) complexes could be fine‐tuned from orange (e.g., 2‐phenyl‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)benzo[d]thiazole (cf₃bta) for 4 ) to pure red (e.g., lpt (Hlpt=4‐methyl‐2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)quinolone) for 6 ) by varying the cyclometalating ligands (C‐deprotonated C^N). In particular, highly efficient OLEDs based on 6 as dopant (emitter) and 1,3‐bis(carbazol‐9‐yl)benzene (mCP) as host that exhibit stable red emission over a wide range of brightness with CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.67, 0.33) well matched to the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standard have been fabricated along with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) and current efficiency of 9 % and 10 cd A^?1, respectively. A further 50 % increase in EQE (>13 %) by replacing mCP with bis[4‐(6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalin‐6‐yl)phenyl]diphenylsilane (BIQS) as host for 6 in the red OLED is demonstrated. The performance of OLEDs fabricated with 6 (i.e., [(lpt)₂Ir(bt)]) was comparable to that of the analogous iridium(III) complex that bore acac (i.e., [(lpt)₂Ir(acac)]; 6 a in this work) [Adv. Mater.­ 2011 , 23, 2981] fabricated under similar conditions. By using ntt (Hnnt=3‐hydroxynaphtho[2,3‐b]thiophen‐2‐yl)(thiophen‐2‐yl)methanone) ligand, a substituted derivative of bt, the [(cf₃bta)₂Ir(ntt)] was prepared and found to display deep red emission at around 700 nm with a quantum yield of 12 % in mCP thin film.     

Fast and efficient separation of cytokinins from auxin and abscisic acid and their purification using mixed-mode solid-phase extraction

A method for separation of cytokinins from auxin and abscisic acid, which allows further separation of cytokinin ribotides from cytokinin bases, ribosides and glucosides and their purification on a single Oasis MCX column was developed. Due to the mixed reversed-phase and cation-exchange mode of the Oasis MCX sorbent the cationic cytokinin bases, ribosides and glucosides as well as the anionic auxin, abscisic acid and cytokinin ribotides are retained and can be sequentially eluted by solvents containing different concentrations of methanol and ammonium hydroxide. Characteristics of the method are high recoveries of analyzed phytohormones and their sufficient purity for quantification by HPLC–ELISA (RIA) or HPLC–MS.     

Multiple collisions in molecular beam scattering experiments

Due to the forward peaked differential cross section for elastic atom—atom scattering the effect of multiple collisions has to be considered in the analysis of crossed beam measurements of the total cross section and especially of the small angle differential cross section at large values of the beam attenuation. At angles θ ≈ θ₀, with θ₀ the quantum mechanical scaling angle of the elastic differential cross section, the correction for the latter case amounts to 20% at beam attenuations I/I₀ = exp(?1). Firstly, a careful analysis of the probabilities for single and multiple scattering is given, resulting in an expression for the measured beam signals which is correct for all values of the beam attenuation. The probability for multiple scattering is then calculated for an inverse power potential V(r) = ?C_sr^?s, with s = 4 through s = 7, which include both the case of ion—atom scattering (s = 4) and atom—atom scattering (s = 6). The results are given as effective differential cross sections σ_n(θ) for n-fold scattering. They are described by a single, simple analytical function with four free parameters that have been determined for n = 2, 3 and 4 by a least squares method. The σ_n(θ) are normalised to the total cross section Q.     

Monte Carlo calculation of angular transmission functions for small angle scattering

We define an angular transmission function η in the center of mass system. The convolution of the differential cross section σ with η yields the signal in the laboratory system. For the case of elastic small angle scattering by spherically symmetric potentials we calculate η by a Monte Carlo method. Random positions are taken in the beam defining collimators, resulting in a trajectory with a deflection angle at the scattering centre. These deflection angles are transformed to the c.m. system with the small angle tranformation formulae. From the distribution we calculate η as a histogram and the central moments of η. The function η depends on the velocity ratio and on the mass ratio of the scattering partners. We store the results in such a way that the central moments can be calculated afterwards for all mass and velocity ratios. By using the central moments the convolution integral can be reduced to a simple weighted sum of σ-values at different scattering angles. The r.m.s. deviations of the central moments scale with N^{$\text{1}\text{2}$}, with N the number of Monte Carlo trajectories. A typical deviation is 1% in the second order moment for N = 2 × 10⁴, increasing slightly with increasing order of the moments. This method of calculation gives a large degree of freedom for optimisation of the collimation geometry. The use of an angular transmission function defined in the center of mass system gives a good insight in the experimental reflection of the physical events. As an example we apply the method to the case of small angle scattering of Ar as a primary beam by Kr as a secondary beam and the inverse configuration of Kr by Ar.     

Non-locality effects on the pion nucleon form factor

We investigate effects of the non-locality in the elementary pion quark coupling on theπNN form factor in the framework of the chiral bag model. We show that this nonlocality leads to shorter ranged form factors thereby reducing the discrepancy between large bag-model confinement radii and empirically found small-ranged cut-off parameters.     

Gbit/s rate bipolar pulse modulation of semiconductor injection lasers

Using a bipolar drive current pulse shape and very low threshold (9 mA) lasers, zero-background pseudorandom optical pulses were generated and detected at a rate of up to 4 Gbit/s without a pattern effect. The drive current pulse consists of a forward pulse followed by a reverse pulse, each of 70 ps duration and about 400 mA amplitude. No DC bias was applied, which is a necessary condition for pattern-effect-free modulation.     

Nanotube molecular transporters: internalization of carbon nanotube-protein conjugates into Mammalian cells

The interactions between various functionalized carbon nanotubes and several types of human cancer cells are explored. We have prepared modified nanotubes and have shown that these can be derivatized in a way that enables attachment of small molecules and of proteins, the latter through a novel noncovalent association. The functionalized carbon nanotubes enter nonadherent human cancer cells as well as adherent cell lines (CHO and 3T3) and by themselves are not toxic. While the fluoresceinated protein streptavidin (MW approximately 60 kD) by itself does not enter cells, it readily enters cells when complexed to a nanotube-biotin transporter and exhibits dose-dependent cytotoxicity. The uptake pathway is consistent with adsorption-mediated endocytosis. The use of carbon nanotubes as molecular transporters could be exploited for various cargos. The biocompatibility and unique physical, electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of nanotubes provide the basis for new classes of materials for drug, protein, and gene delivery applications.