Overview of DWDM/ODC Project

Abstract

This article introduces the main achievements resulting from the DWDM/ODC project. The five areas of research activity within the DWDM/ODC project cover some of the main issues of design and development of dense wavelength division multiplexing systems for transparent optical networks. These issues are: performance assessment with arbitrary optical filtering; performance of signaling formats; dispersion compensation strategies for directly and externally modulated systems in presence of nonlinear transmission-induced degradation; and the impact of noise and crosstalk in the extent of transparent optical networks. All five areas of research activity have contributed significantly to a better understanding of the limitations present in dense wavelength division multiplexing systems.     

ZIF-Induced d-Band Modification in a Bimetallic Nanocatalyst: Achieving Over 44 % Efficiency in the Ambient Nitrogen Reduction Reaction

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) offers a sustainable solution towards ammonia production but suffers poor reaction performance owing to preferential catalyst–H formation and the consequential hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Now, the Pt/Au electrocatalyst d-band structure is electronically modified using zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF) to achieve a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of >44 % with high ammonia yield rate of >161 μg mg_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ under ambient conditions. The strategy lowers electrocatalyst d-band position to weaken H adsorption and concurrently creates electron-deficient sites to kinetically drive NRR by promoting catalyst–N₂ interaction. The ZIF coating on the electrocatalyst doubles as a hydrophobic layer to suppress HER, further improving FE by >44-fold compared to without ZIF (ca. 1 %). The Pt/Au-N_ZIF interaction is key to enable strong N₂ adsorption over H atom.     

Production and Accumulation of 4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-Methyl-α-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-Glucuronosyl-Xylotriose by Growing Culture of Thermophilic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anoxybacillus</Emphasis> sp. Strain JT-12

A thermophilic Anoxybacillus sp. strain JT-12, isolated from soil, produced acidic xylotriose, 4-O-methyl-α-d-glucuronosyl-xylotriose (MeGlcAX₃), as a main product from birchwood xylan and accumulated them in the culture under optimum conditions at pH 7.0 and 55 °C using 0.75% (w/v) birchwood xylan as a carbon source for 42–72 h. The acidic xylotriose was purified by ethanol precipitation and high-performance liquid chromatography using NH₂ Lichosher® 100 column. The results of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, mass to charge ratio (m/z) 603.23, confirmed that the purified sample was acidic xylotriose that had benefits and applications in many fields.     

Dynamics of Arabidopsis thaliana soluble proteome in response to different nutrient culture conditions

In an effort to determine the best extraction procedure compatible with the high-reproducible 2-DE, different methods of soluble protein extraction from Arabidopsis cell culture suspensions grown in Gamborg B5 medium were tested. A reference 2-DE map was established for this soluble extract revealing 1184 spots. The most abundant protein spots were excised, trypsin-digested, and mass spectra obtained via MALDI-TOF and/or LC coupled to ESI-MS. Three hundred and thirty one proteins were identified and their functions were defined based on sequence comparisons and classified in different protein families. In order to analyze the impact of culture medium on the Arabidopsis proteome, we performed the 2-DE map from Arabidopsis cell suspensions cultured in another growth medium Murashige and Skoog (M-S) and 327 major spots were identified. Using PDQuest imaging analysis, significant increases in the amount of several housekeeping enzymes, stress/defense proteins, and heat shock proteins were found in M-S medium. Modified expression of certain proteins and detection of new isoforms involved in nitrate assimilation, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism were also observed in the M-S medium. This study provides the first 2-DE maps of the soluble proteome of Arabidopsis cell suspensions. The comparative analysis of the Arabidopsis proteome in respect to different nutrient supplies shows that the culture medium may significantly influence the expression pattern of major soluble proteins in Arabidopsis cells. This work also constitutes an important step for further proteomic analysis concerning cell responses to abiotic or biotic stresses.     

Synthesis of Lewis a and Lewis X Pentasaccharides Based on N-Trichloroethoxycarbonyl Protection 1

Abstract

Thexyldimethylsilyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino-β-D- glucopyranoside (4), having the 3-hydroxy group unprotected, is a versatile starting material for the synthesis of glucosamine containing oligosaccharides. Thus, reaction with galactosyl donor 5 or fucosyl donor 6 afforded the desired β(1-3)- and α(1-3)-linked disaccharides 7 and 8, respectively, in high yields. Reductive opening of the benzylidene moieties in 7 and 8 gave access to the 4-hydroxy groups in 9 and 10. Ensuing fucosylation of 9 or galactosylation of 10 led to Lewis A (Le^a) and Lewis X (Le^x) trisaccharide building blocks 13 and 14, respectively. Their transformation into glycosyl donors 19 and 20 and subsequent reaction with 3b-O-unprotected lactose derivative 23 as acceptor furnished the Le^a? and Le^x pentasaccharide precursors 24 and 25. Exchange of the N-trichloroethoxycarbonyl group for an N-acetyl group and removal of the O-benzyl and O-acetyl protective groups afforded the desired Le^a? and Le^x? pentasaccharides 1 and 2.

     

Search for magnetic fields due to anyons in high-T c superconductors

We have searched for anomalous internal magnetic fields in highT _c materials which are predicted to occur in anyon and flux phase models of superconductivity. The magnitude, anisotropy and temperature dependence of the observed fields inc-axis oriented samples of sintered YBa₂CuO₃O₇ and of thick-film Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ are consistent with a conventional nuclear dipolar origin. An upper limit of ≲0.08 mT is set for any anomalous magnetic fields along thec-axis atμ ⁺ sites in bulk CuO₂ superconductors.     

Growth of Ge nanofilms using electrochemical atomic layer deposition, with a "bait and switch" surface-limited reaction

Ge nanofilms were deposited from aqueous solutions using the electrochemical analog of atomic layer deposition (ALD). Direct electrodeposition of Ge from an aqueous solution is self-limited to a few monolayers, depending on the pH. This report describes an E-ALD process for the growth of Ge films from aqueous solutions. The E-ALD cycle involved inducing a Ge atomic layer to deposit on a Te atomic layer formed on Ge, via underpotential deposition (UPD). The Te atomic layer was then reductively stripped from the deposit, leaving the Ge and completing the cycle. The Te atomic layer was bait for Ge deposition, after which the Te was switched out, reduced to a soluble telluride, leaving the Ge (one "bait and switch" cycle). Deposit thickness was a linear function of the number of cycles. Raman spectra indicated formation of an amorphous Ge film, consistent with the absence of a XRD pattern. Films were more stable and homogeneous when formed on Cu substrates, than on Au, due to a larger hydrogen overpotential, and the corresponding lower tendency to form bubbles.     

Novel carbohydrate-based bifunctional organocatalysts for nucleophilic addition to nitroolefins and imines

Glucosamine has been selected as a cheap and readily available chiral scaffold for the synthesis of a series of novel enantiomerically pure bifunctional organocatalysts bearing a tertiary amino group in proximity to a (thio)urea group. The catalytic behaviour of these compounds, both as neutral and N-protonated species, was investigated using the addition of acetylacetone to β-nitrostyrene as a model reaction. Under optimized experimental conditions, chemical yields up to 93% and enantioselectivities up to 89% were obtained. Semiempirical (AM1) computational studies allowed to find a theoretical rationale for the chemical and stereochemical behaviour of the catalyst of choice. These catalysts were also preliminarily investigated as promoters in the addition of diethyl malonate to the N-Boc imine of benzaldehyde, affording the product in up to 81% ee.