Observation of the semileptonic decays B-->D*tau-nutau and evidence for B-->Dtau-nutau

We present measurements of the semileptonic decays B--->D0tau-nutau, B--->D*0tau-nutau, B0-->D+tau-nutau, and B0-->D*+tau-nutau, which are potentially sensitive to non-standard model amplitudes. The data sample comprises 232x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays collected with the BABAR detector. From a combined fit to B- and B0 channels, we obtain the branching fractions B(B-->Dtau-nutau)=(0.86+/-0.24+/-0.11+/-0.06)% and B(B-->D*tau-nutau)=(1.62+/-0.31+/-0.10+/-0.05)% (normalized for the B0), where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and normalization-mode-related.     

Monitoring the non-radiative relaxation time of PpIX solution with Au nanoparticles using Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

In this work we have used the Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (PAS) to determine in vitro the non-radiative relaxation time (NRRT) of a protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) standard solution and samples of PpIX(1), PpIX(2) and PpIX(3) with Au nanoparticle concentrations of 0.001008, 0.00504 and 0.01008 mmol in 25 mL of water respectively. We have used PpIX disodium salt (DS) solution of 25% HCl. The results show that the NRRT average values, obtained for each one of the solution were: τ = 29 ± 0.001, 84 ± 0.001 and 62 ± 0.009 ms for PpIX(1), PpIX(2) and PpIX(3), respectively. These values were compared with some NRRT of triplet states reported in the literature for molecules with tetrapyrrolic structure, increasing the NRRT considerably. From each solution it was obtained its PAS signal phase as a function of the light modulation frequency from 17 to 80 Hz. UV-vis spectrophotometer, photoluminescence spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used in order to obtain the optical absorption spectra, the photoluminescence intensities, and the gold nanoparticle sizes respectively. Our investigations are devoted to improve the thermal treatments of drugs the porphyrins as photosensitizers used in image photodynamic therapy.     

Structured Hybrid Nanoparticles via Surface‐Initiated ATRP of Methyl Methacrylate from Ordered Mesoporous Silica

Structured hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized via surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of MMA from ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) nanoparticles with various morphologies. The design of the OMS particles was adjusted to target either spherical core‐shell or cylindrical morphologies with a mean diameter below 400 nm. The polymer growth via ATRP from the silica surface was well‐controlled as demonstrated by the macromolecular characteristics of the grafted chains. Original hybrid multilayered nanoparticles composed of either a dense silica core or hollow core; an inner OMS shell showing radial orientation of the mesopores and an outer PMMA shell with controlled thickness were successfully prepared.

     

Rains of solitons in a figure-of-eight passively mode-locked fiber laser

We report experimental observation of rains of solitons in figure-of-eight fiber laser passively mode-locked through nonlinear optical loop mirror. Soliton pulses are created from an extended noisy background and drift until they reach a condensed phase comprising several tens of aggregated solitons. The observation of this dynamics tends to strengthen the idea of the universality of the collective behavior of solitons.     

X-ray diffraction study of ammonium octamolybdate

Ammonium isopolymolybdate (NH₄)₄[Mo₈O₂₆]·4H₂O was prepared for the first time and studied by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

On a class of bounded trajectories for some non‐autonomous systems

We prove, by variational arguments, the existence of a solution to the boundary value problem in the half line ((0.1)) where c ≥ 0 and a belongs to a certain class of positive functions. The existence of such a solution in the case c = 0 means that the system (0.1) behaves in significantly different way from its autonomous counterpart. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Elaboration of monodisperse spherical hollow particles with ordered mesoporous silica shells via dual latex/surfactant templating: radial orientation of mesopore channels

Monodisperse spherical hollow nanoparticles of mesoporous silica featuring mesopores with a radial orientation in the silica shell were synthesized via a dual-templating method. Specifically designed polystyrene latexes with anionic or cationic surface charges acted as the core templates, while cetyltrimethylammonium bromide served as a co-template to structure the mesopore formation during tetraethoxysilane hydrolysis/condensation. The particles were well-separated and presented homogeneous mesoporous silica shells. Average particle diameters were less than 200 nm, and the particles displayed high values of specific surface area and pore volume. The shell thickness and the hollow core diameter could be tuned independently while the radial pore structure was preserved. A detailed analysis of the nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms proved that the central cavity was completely isolated from the external medium, that is, only accessible through the radial mesopores of the shell. Consequently, our particles gather the advantages of a well-defined structure, straight penetrating channels across the silica shell, and a high accessible porous volume of the central core. These properties make them far better candidates than simple mesoporous particles for any storage and/or controlled release applications.     

Convergent assembly of highly potent analogues of bryostatin 1 via pyran annulation: bryostatin look-alikes that mimic phorbol ester function

Highly potent bryostatin analogues which contain the complete bryostatin core structure have been synthesized using a pyran annulation approach as a key strategic element. The A ring pyran was assembled using a pyran annulation reaction between a C1-C8 hydroxy allylsilane and an aldehyde comprising C9-C13. This pyran was transformed to a new hydroxy allylsilane and then coupled with a preformed C ring aldehyde subunit in a second pyran annulation, with concomitant formation of the B ring. This tricyclic intermediate was elaborated to bryostatin analogues which displayed nanomolar to subnanomolar affinity for PKC, but displayed properties indistinguishable from a phorbol ester in a proliferation/attachment assay.