High-order harmonic generation from boron plasma in the extreme-ultraviolet range

We demonstrate the generation of up to the 63rd harmonic (lambda = 12.6 nm) of a Ti:sapphire laser pulse (150 fs, 10 mJ), using a prepulse- (210-ps,24-mJ) produced boron plasma as the nonlinear medium. The influence of various parameters on the harmonic conversion efficiency was analyzed. The steep decrease in intensity for low-order harmonics (up to 19th order) was followed by a plateau. Typical conversion efficiencies were evaluated to be 10(-4) (for a 3rd harmonic) to 10(-7) (within the plateau region). Harmonic generation appeared to be efficient for the plasma that comprised neutral atoms and singly ionized boron.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of structural disordering and forming defects in a milling process for selenium

In our previous paper, structural changes of selenium powders ground by a planetary ball mill at various rotational speeds were investigated for the nanostructural modification of particles using mechanical grinding process. The experimental results indicated that the amorphisation of Se by grinding accompanies lattice strain, and the lattice strain arises from impact energy which is more than an energy related to intermolecular interaction. In this paper, molecular dynamics simulations of selenium have been carried out under compressing conditions of various pressure strengths for obtaining information of the lattice strain at atomic level. Then, dynamical behaviour of atomic configuration has been discussed in this process. The structural disordering and formation of the structural defects were estimated by deviations of bond length and angle and the number of created defects before and after compressing from simulated results. The disordering took place during compressing at various pressure strengths, and the disordered atoms return to their initial positions at lower pressure. Stable disordered state and defects after the compression can however remain by compression at more than a certain pressure strength mainly associated with binding energy of selenium.     

Ryogo Kubo in his formative years as a physicist

The European Physical Journal H - The Japanese theoretical physicist Ryogo Kubo made remarkable contributions to statistical mechanics and condensed matter physics, amongst which his name is most...     

Reuse of chiral cationic Pd-phosphinooxazolidine catalysts in ionic liquids: highly efficient catalytic asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions

Chiral cationic palladium-phosphinooxazolidine catalysts in ionic liquid afforded excellent enantioselectivity in Diels-Alder reactions and the catalyst was easily recycled eight times without any significant decrease in chemical yields or enantioselectivity (89-99%, 88-99% ee).     

Synthesis of (--)-Muricatacin via alpha- and alpha'-C-H bond functionalization of tetrahydrofuran

(--)-Muricatacin, a potent cytotoxic (4R,5R)-5-hydroxyheptadecan-4-olide, has been synthesized through alpha-C--H hydroxyalkylation and alpha'-C--H oxidation of tetrahydrofuran. This study presents a novel method for C--H bond functionalization as a means for preparing gamma-(hydroxyalkyl)-gamma-butyrolactones.     

Phenylselenenyl chloride in acetonitrile-water : A highly convenient reagent for hydroxyselenation of olefins and preparation of cyclic ethers from dienes

The reaction of phenylselenenyl chloride with olefins in aqueous acetonitrile affords β-hydroxyalkyl phenyl selenides in excellent yields, providing the most convenient method for hydroxyselenation of olefins so far reported. When the reaction was applied to conjugated dienes, monohydroxyselenated products were obtained in good to excellent yields. From non-conjugated dienes, on the other hand, cyclic ethers containing two phenylseleno groups were produced in good to excellent yields, the first step of this reaction being the hydroxyselenation of one double bond.     

Aryne reaction with trifluoromethyl ketones in three modes: C-C bond cleavage, [2+2] cycloaddition and O-arylation

Trifluoromethyl ketones were found to be coupled with arynes in three modes depending upon their substitution patterns, namely C-C bond cleavage, [2+2] cycloaddition and O-arylation.     

Structural confirmation of oligosaccharides newly isolated from sugar beet molasses

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Sugar beet molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar beets into sugar. The molasses is known to contain sucrose and raffinose, a typical trisaccharide, with a well-established structure. Although sugar beet molasses contains various other oligosaccharides as well, the structures of those oligosaccharides have not been examined in detail. The purpose of this study was isolation and structural confirmation of these other oligosaccharides found in sugar beet molasses. RESULTS: Four oligosaccharides were newly isolated from sugar beet molasses using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and carbon-Celite column chromatography. Structural confirmation of the saccharides was provided by methylation analysis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionaization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. CONCLUSION: The following oligosaccharides were identified in sugar beet molasses: beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1- > 6)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 <-> 1)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (named beta-planteose), alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1- > 1)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 <-> 1)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (named1-planteose), alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1- > 6)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 <-> 2)-beta-D-fructofuranoside (theanderose), and beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1- > 3)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 <-> 2)-beta-D-fructofuranoside (laminaribiofructose). 1-planteose and laminaribiofructose were isolated from natural sources for the first time.     

Real-time measurement of nitric oxide using a bio-imaging and an electrochemical technique

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator responsible for numerous physiological phenomena. Transient levels of NO in biological systems usually range from nanomolar to micromolar concentrations, with a rapid return to basal levels normally seen following these increases. Because NO can diffuse only over a local area in limited time due to such low levels of production and due to its short life-time prior to degradation, high spatial and temporal resolutions are required for direct and continuous NO measurement if the physiological role of NO is to be investigated in any system. For such purposes, analytical methods based on bio-imaging and electrochemical techniques for the measurement of NO are useful. In this paper, we describe the successful application of these methods to a number of biological systems. Specifically, complementary application of these methods demonstrate that it is possible to detect real-time NO production from nervous tissue with high spatial and temporal resolutions.