Flattened chromatic dispersion in square photonic crystal fibers with low confinement losses

This research presents a simple index-guiding square photonic crystal fibers (SPCFs) that has a silica core surrounded by air hole with two different diameters. It is demonstrated that the designed two-different-size hole-arrayed index-guiding SPCFs has a ultra-flattened chromatic dispersion of 0 ± 0.9 ps/(nm·km) in a wavelength range of 1.34 to 1.61 μm and low confinement loss of less than 10⁻⁷ dB/m in a wavelength range of 1.2 to 1.7 μm. It has also been shown that the proposed SPCFs show reasonable dispersion tolerance.     

Preconcentration of trace silver with yeast for river water analysis

A new preconcentration method with yeast is presented. The method was evaluated for the determination of trace silver in river waters by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). A suitable cultivation bed for preconcentration of silver was 1.75 mg ml-1 2-ammonium hydrogen phosphate. The optimal cultivation time and temperature were 2 h and 25 degrees C. Under optimal conditions, silver in aqueous sample was concentrated to 6.9-fold by yeast. The detection limit was 4.6 pg ml-1 (3S/N) for silver in river water. The yeast preconcentration method was applied to the determination of silver in river waters. The recovery of spiked silver was in the range of 89 to 110%. By the preconcentration, it was found that ultra trace silver in river waters could be determined without interferences of matrix elements, after only the cultivation and with no chemical treatment.     

Daturacin, a new withanolide from Datura innoxia

The methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Datura innoxia afforded a new withanolide, daturacin, the structure of which was elucidated as (20R, 22S)-21,24-epoxy-1,6-dioxo-14alpha-methoxy-5beta-witha-2,25(27)-dienolide (1) by an analysis of the spectroscopic data, including extensive NMR experiments.     

Phytochemical studies on the seed extract of Piper nigrum Linn

The petroleum ether extract of dried ground seeds of Piper nigrum Linn. and some column fractions of this extract were subjected to GC and GC-MS analysis, resulting in the identification of fourteen compounds (1-14) by using NIST Mass spectral search program 1998 and the Kovat's retention indices. Ten of the compounds (1, 2, 4-12) are reported for the first time from this plant. All the fractions showed insecticidal activity against the fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti and against the fourth instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi Liston, determined by the WHO method.     

New insecticidal amides from petroleum ether extract of dried Piper nigrum L. whole fruits

The petroleum ether extract of dried ground whole fruits of Piper nigrum L. afforded 20 compounds (1-20) including two new insecticidal amides named as pipnoohine (1), and pipyahyine (2), seven reported for the first time from this plant (12, 13, 15-17, 19, 20), and eleven known compounds (3-11, 14, 18). The structure of 1 has been elucidated as (2E,4E,12Z)-N-(4-methylpentyl)octadeca-2,4,12-trienamide and that of 2 as (2E,4E,11E)-12-(benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)dodeca-2,4,11-trien-amide through extensive ID-, 2D-NMR spectral studies and chemical reactions. The known compounds have been identified through comparison of their spectral data with those reported in literature. 1 and 2 exhibited toxicity at 35.0 and 30.0 ppm respectively against fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L. by WHO method.     

Two-dimensional protein map of human vastus lateralis muscle

Protein samples of human vastus lateralis muscle were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, using immobilized pH gradients encompassing several pH regions in the first dimension and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the second dimension. More than 500 protein spots on each gel were detected by silver staining, of which 150 were excised, digested in-gel with trypsin and characterized by matrix assisted laser desorptioin/ionization-mass spectrometry and tandem electrospray mass spectrometry. Using these techniques, 124 spots including contractile proteins and metabolic enzymes were identified. This database should provide a valuable resource for the definition of the functional properties of muscle fibres and for assessment of the influence of e.g., hypoxia, ischaemia and ageing on protein level.     

Isolation and structure determination of a benzofuran and a bis-nor-isoprenoid from Aspergillus niger grown on the water soluble fraction of Morinda citrifolia Linn. leaves

The leaves of Morinda citrifolia, Linn. afforded a new benzofuran and a bis-nor-isoprenoid, blumenol C, hitherto unreported from this source. The structures of these have been elucidated as 5-benzofuran carboxylic acid-6-formyl methyl ester (1) and 4-(3'(R)-hydroxybutyl)-3,5,5, trimethyl-cyclohex-2-en-1-one (2) respectively through spectroscopic studies. The NMR data (including 1D, 2D techniques) and stereochemistry at C-3' of Compound 2 is also being reported for the first time.     

Dispersion and Confinement Loss Control in Modified Hexagonal Photonic Crystal Fibers

This paper presents a novel technique for the control of chromatic dispersion and confinement loss in hexagonal photonic crystal fibers (H-PCFs). It is demonstrated that it is possible to obtain very low chromatic dispersion of 0 ± 0:38 ps/(nm·km) in the wavelength range of 1.41 to 1.66 μm and confinement loss of less than 0.0001 dB/km from a six ring modified H-PCF (MH-PCF). The higher order dispersion at 1.55 μm is about −0.001 ps/(nm²-km).     

Theoretical insight of nitric oxide adsorption on neutral and charged Pdn (n = 1–5) clusters

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations within the framework of generalized gradient approximation have been used to systematically investigate the adsorption of nitric oxide (NO) molecule on neutral, cationic, and anionic Pd_n (n = 1–5) clusters. NO coordinate to one Pd atom of the cluster by the end‐on mode, where the tilted end‐on structure is more favorable due to the additional electron in the π* orbital. On the contrary, in the neutral and cationic Pd₂ system, NO coordinates to the bridge site of cluster preferably by the side‐on mode. Charge transfer between Pd clusters and NO molecule and the corresponding weakening of N? O bond is an essential factor for the adsorption. The N? O stretching frequency follow the order of cationic > neutral > anionic. Binding energy of NO on anionic clusters is found to be greater than those of neutral and cationic clusters. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Initiation of polymerization of methyl methacrylate by oxalic acid and iron(III) mixtures

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate either by free radical or charge transfer mechanism has been studied in dimethyl sulphoxide at 60° in the presence of oxalic acid and hexakis dimethylsulphoxide iron(III) perchlorate, [Fe(DMSO)₆](ClO₄)₃. Increased rate was noticed for 1:1 mole ratio of oxalic acid to Fe³⁺ for charge transfer polymerization; a well defined induction period was found for free radical polymerization in the same systems. Mechanisms for the two types of reaction are proposed. The rate constant for the interaction of poly(methyl methacrylate) radical with the iron-oxalate complex was found to be 1.52 × 10⁵ l. mol^?1 sec^?1 at 60°.