Dependence of pulser driving responses on electrical and motional characteristics of NDE ultrasonic probes

Acoustic performance in ultrasonic transmitters can be improved by means of a suitable electrical driving response and matching/tuning networks. It is important to predict this electrical response, but doing so is not easy because it departs notably from the nominal pattern with the loading probes. In practice, the analysis of HV pulser spikes in NDE applications requires fairly complex models in the transient regime and, in addition, non-linear problems could arise, especially in the case of tuned transmitters. In this paper, the most relevant influences of loading characteristics of NDT ultrasonic probes on the pulser electrical driving responses are evaluated in time and frequency domains. Conventional pulse generators and typical NDE pulsers are considered. Driving responses are analysed across commercial ultrasonic probes and, alternatively, across similar purely electrical loads. Distinct influences on pulser responses from electrical and motional sections of the probes are identified. All these aspects are studied on the basis of experimental and computer results.     

The use of Raman spectroscopy to provide an estimation of the gross biochemistry associated with urological pathologies

Near-infrared Raman spectroscopy, an optical technique that is able to interrogate biological tissues, has been used to study bladder and prostate tissues, with the objective being to provide a first approximation of gross biochemical changes associated with the process of carcinogenesis. Prostate samples for this study were obtained by taking a chip at TURP, and bladder samples from a biopsy taken at TURBT and TURP, following ethical approval. Spectra were taken from purchased biochemical constituents and different pathologies within the bladder and the prostate. We were then able to determine the biochemical basis for these pathologies by utilising an ordinary least-squares fit. We have shown for the first time that we are able to utilise Raman spectroscopy in determining the biochemical basis for the different pathologies within the bladder and prostate gland. In this way we can achieve a better understanding of disease processes such as carcinogenesis. This could have major implications in the future of the diagnosis of disease within the bladder and the prostate gland.     

A thermodynamic study of the aggregation process of oxacillin sodium salt in aqueous solution

The aggregation characteristics of oxacillin in aqueous solutions have been examined by means of conductivity measurements over the temperature range 288.15-313.15 K and by static light scattering measurements at 298.15 K. Two critical concentrations were detected in conductivity and light scattering over the concentration range 0-0.35 mol kg^-1. Light scattering measurements indicate the formation of dimers at the first critical concentration (0.024 mol kg^-1) and the subsequent formation of aggregates with an aggregation number of 8 at the second critical concentration (0.104 molkg^-1). The thermodynamic parameters of aggregation were derived from the critical concentration data using a mass-action model that has been modified for application to systems of low aggregation number. Values for the enthalpy of aggregate formation calculated by this method showed that the aggregation became increasingly exothermic with increasing temperature. The values of the two critical concentrations show that this penicillin, oxacillin, is more hydrophobic than other molecules of similar structure.     

Further Insight into the Photostability of the Pyrene Fluorophore in Halogenated Solvents

Pyrene fluorophores of pyrene‐functionalized CdSe quantum dots (QD@Py), as well as alkylpyrene and pyrene itself (Py), undergo fast degradation in aerated chloroform under ultraviolet‐A (UV‐A, 316<λ<400 nm) illumination. Steady‐state fluorescence studies of irradiated chloroform solutions of QD@Py show formation of new bands, red‐shifted compared to that of the pyrene moiety. Similar behaviour is observed for pyrene and the alkylpyrene system. Column chromatography of the pyrene photolysate in chloroform allowed us to isolate photoproducts arising from pyrene degradation, and to obtain information on the structure of the photoproducts responsible for the emission bands. The most predominant photoproducts were those originating from the reaction of pyrene with dichloromethyl radicals. The phototransformation of QD@Py and the alkylpyrene involves mainly detachment of the alkyl chain from the aromatic ring, induced also by dichloromethyl radicals, and oxidation of the alkyl chain at the benzylic position was detected as well. By contrast, these pyrene systems show a high photostability in aerated dichloromethane. Transient absorption measurements showed formation of both pyrene triplet and pyrene radical cation for all pyrene systems in these halogenated solvents. The yield of pyrene radical cations for Py is higher than for QD@Py and the alkylpyrene. In addition, pyrene radical cations were longer‐lived in dichloromethane than in chloroform. The reason for the pyrene photostability in dichloromethane is the different reactivity of chloromethyl and dichloromethyl radicals towards pyrene and oxygen. These studies show that the use of dichloromethane can be a suitable alternative to chloroform when the good solubility properties of these halogenated solvents are needed to dissolve pyrene when this chromophore is used as a fluorescent probe.     

Synthesis and functionalization of new polyhalogenated BODIPY dyes. Study of their photophysical properties and singlet oxygen generation

A theoretical and experimental study on the iodination of BODIPY dyes with different degrees of substitution has been developed. Polyhalogenated BODIPYs synthesized in this work are the first examples of this type of dyes with more than two halogen atoms in the BODIPY core and they can be selectively functionalized. Surprisingly, the position in which halogen is attached has a marked effect in the photophysical properties and modulates the fluorescence capacity of the resulting BODIPY. These iodinated BODIPYs are efficient singlet oxygen generators.     

Solution conformation of a nitrobenzoxadiazole derivative of the polyene antibiotic nystatin: a FRET study

Nystatin is a polyene antibiotic frequently applied in the treatment of topical fungal infections. In this work, a 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) hexanoyl amide derivative of nystatin was synthesized and its detailed photophysical characterization is presented. The average conformation of the labelled antibiotic in tetrahydrofuran, ethanol and methanol was determined by intramolecular (tetraene to NBD) fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements. At variance with the literature [Can. J. Chem. 63 (1985) 77-85], it was concluded that there is no need to invoke a solvent-dependent conformational equilibrium between extended and closed conformers of the antibiotic, because the mean tetraene-to-NBD separating distance was found to remain constant (approximately 18 A) in all the solvents studied. In addition, the large solvent dependence of the fluorescence anisotropy observed for the non-derivatized nystatin, was rationalized on the basis of the prolate ellipsoidal geometry of the molecule. It was concluded that the rod shaped and amphipathic antibiotic remains monomeric in different solvents within the concentration range studied (2-20 microM).     

(Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile as a chiral dienophile: diels-alder reactions with furan and acyclic dienes

The behavior of (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile (1) as a chiral dienophile has been evaluated from its reactions with furan and acyclic dienes. Electrostatic interactions of the cyano group with the sulfinyl one restrict the conformational mobility around the C-S bond, thus controlling the pi-facial selectivity, which is almost complete in all cases, the approach of the diene from the less-hindered face of the dienophile (that bearing the lone electron pair) in the predominant rotamer being the favored one. The regioselectivity is also completely controlled by the cyano group. Additionally, the reactivity of compound 1 as well as its endo-selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (Z)-3-sulfinylacrylates, thus proving the potential of sulfinylnitriles as chiral dienophiles.     

Additions of enantiopure alpha-sulfinyl carbanions to (S)-N-sulfinimines: asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino sulfoxides and beta-alphamino alcohols

The addition of the lithium anions derived from (R)- and (S)-methyl and -ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides to (S)-N-benzylidene-p-toluenesulfinamide provides an easy access route to enantiomerically pure beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides. Stereoselectivity can be achieved when the configurations at the sulfur atoms of the two reagents are opposite (matched pair), thus resulting in only one diastereoisomer, even for the case in which two new chiral centers are created. The N-sulfinyl group primarily controls the configuration of the carbon bonded to the nitrogen, whereas the configuration of the alpha-sulfinyl carbanion seems to be responsible for the level of asymmetric induction, as well as for the configuration of the new stereogenic C-SO carbon in the reactions with ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides. An efficient method for transforming the obtained beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides into optically pure beta-amino alcohols, based on the stereoselective non-oxidative Pummerer reaction, is also reported.     

One‐Pot Cooperation of Single‐Atom Rh and Ru Solid Catalysts for a Selective Tandem Olefin Isomerization‐Hydrosilylation Process

Realizing the full potential of oxide‐supported single‐atom metal catalysts (SACs) is key to successfully bridge the gap between the fields of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Here we show that the one‐pot combination of Ru₁/CeO₂ and Rh₁/CeO₂ SACs enables a highly selective olefin isomerization‐hydrosilylation tandem process, hitherto restricted to molecular catalysts in solution. Individually, monoatomic Ru and Rh sites show a remarkable reaction specificity for olefin double‐bond migration and anti‐Markovnikov α‐olefin hydrosilylation, respectively. First‐principles DFT calculations ascribe such selectivity to differences in the binding strength of the olefin substrate to the monoatomic metal centers. The single‐pot cooperation of the two SACs allows the production of terminal organosilane compounds with high regio‐selectivity (>95 %) even from industrially‐relevant complex mixtures of terminal and internal olefins, alongside a straightforward catalyst recycling and reuse. These results demonstrate the significance of oxide‐supported single‐atom metal catalysts in tandem catalytic reactions, which are central for the intensification of chemical processes.