PDMS-based microfluidic device with multi-height structures fabricated by single-step photolithography using printed circuit board as masters

We have developed a method for fabricating microfluidic devices with multi-height structures using single step photolithography. The whole fabrication process is executed by conventional printed circuit board (PCB) technology without the need of having access to clean room facilities. Specifically designed "windows" and "rims" architectures were printed on films that were used as photomasks. Different levels of protruding features on the PCB master were produced by exposing a photomask followed by chemical wet etching. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) was then moulded against the positive relief master to generate microfluidic structures. In this report, we described the fabrication of a microfluidic device featured with a multi-height "sandbag" structure for particle entrapment and peripheral microchannels. Controlled immobilization of biological cells and immunocytochemcial staining assays were performed to demonstrate the applicability of the microfluidic device for cellular analysis. The integrity of the microdevice remained stable under applied pressure, indicating the robustness of the elastic PDMS structures for analytical operation. The simple microfabrication process requires only low-cost materials and minimal specialized equipment and can reproducibly produce mask lines of about 20 microm in width, which is sufficient for most microfluidic applications.     

CAST/CNMR: highly accurate C NMR chemical shift prediction system considering stereochemistry

Accurate, practical prediction of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts has been achieved with a new system, CAST/CNMR, taking account of stereochemistry. The CAST/CNMR system has solved the critical problem of the accurate distinction of differences and similarities in stereochemical structures around a specific carbon, which has not yet been achieved by any other database-oriented system for prediction of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts. CAST/CNMR uses a three-dimensional structural database together with a ¹³C NMR spectral database. Absolute/relative configurational and conformational structural information are described by the CAST (CAnonical-representation of STereochemistry) coding method. This paper provides an overview of the CAST/CNMR system, and describes its application to two natural products as examples.     

Studies on Hydroiodination and Deconjugation of 5—Aryloxy—（thiophenyl）—3—pentyn—2—one

One-pot hydroiodination and deconjugation of 5-aryloxy(or thiophenyl)-3-pentyn-2-one with a reagent system of sodium iodide/trimethylsilyl chloride/water in acetonitrile at 25℃ have been described.The plasuible mechanism was discussed.The reaction provided a simple and useful method for the preparation of (Z)-β-substituted β，γ-enones and (Z)-β-substituted α，β-unsaturated ketones.     

Furostanol saponins with inhibitory action against COX-2 production from Tupistra chinensis rhizomes

Two furostanol saponins were obtained from the n-butanol fraction of methanol extract from Tupistra chinensis rhizomes,a folk medicine of Shennongjia Forest District of Hubei Province.Their structures were determined as (25S)-26-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)- furost-1β,3β,22α,26-tetrol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (25R)- 26-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-furost-1β,3β22α,26-tetrol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glu- copyranoside (2),on basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidences.1 and 2 displayed marked inhibitory action towards COX-2 production in macrophages of the rat abdomen induced by LPS at 20μg/mL.     

Amperometric Biosensor for Hydrogen Peroxide Based on Electrodeposited Sub-micrometer Gold Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

IntroductionAmperometricbiosensorofhydrogenperoxideisofpracticalimportancebecauseofitswideapplicationsinchemical,biological,clinical,environmentalandmanyotherfields.Forimprovementofsensor抯quality,vari-ouskindsofchemicalmodificationmethodshavebeendevelopedforreducingredoxoverpotentialsofH2O2atelectrodesurfaces,increasingthedetectionsensitivity,linearrange,stabilityandlivetime.Ithasbeenshownthattheuseofsub-micrometersizedmetalparticlessuchasPt-blackcansignificantlyimprovethequalityofthebiosens…     

A highly stereoselective synthesis of the C10–C31 (BCDEF ring) portion of pinnatoxin A

An efficient, highly stereoselective synthesis of the C10–C31 (BCDEF ring) portion of pinnatoxin A has been achieved utilizing tandem double hemiketal formation/intramolecular hetero-Michael addition to construct the 6,5,6-dispiroketal (BCD ring) system and subsequent intramolecular ketalization to form the 5,6-bicycloketal (EF ring) system as key steps.     

Electronic Structures, (d-p)π Conjugation Effects, and Spectroscopic Properties of Polyoxometalates: M6O19 2− (M=Cr, Mo, W)

The electronic structures and bonding of isopoly oxometalates M₆O₁₉ ^2– (M=Cr, Mo, W) have been investigated by using ab initio and relativistic density functional methods. We have discussed the role of the central oxygen atom and the (d-p) conjugation interactions between the metal and bridging oxygen atoms. It is found that there exist 12 three-centered two-electron (d-p-d) bonds for the three M₄(-O)₄ planar rings in M₆O₁₉ ^2– ions and these hexametalates are considered to have quasi-aromaticity. The (d-p) conjugation effects play essential role in stabilizing these cluster compounds, and the reduced (d-p) conjugation effects account for the instability of the isopoly oxochromate ion, Cr₆O₁₉ ^2–. The vibrational spectra and electronic spectra of M₆O₁₉ ^2– ions are evaluated and assigned theoretically and the calculated spectra are in fairly good agreement with the measured experimental results.     

A High－efficiency Preparation, Properties and Structure of （R, S ）－and （ S, S）－Pyrrolidine－2－carboxylic Acid 3,5－Dioxa－4－boracvclo.hepta [ 2,1－α; 3,4－α′] dinaphthalen－4－yl Esters

A highly-efficient preparative procedure for ( R, S )- and ( S, S)-pyrroHdine-2-carboxyHc acid 3,5-dioxa-4-boracyclohepta[2, 1-α ; 3,4-α′] dlnaphthalen-4-yl esters [ namely ( R, S )-BNBAP and (S, S )-BNBAP] is described and the crystal structure of (R, S )-BNBAP was obtained. The data indicate that ( R, S )-BNBAP is a spirocyclic inner borate salt with almost normal te-trahedral configuration. This structural form may be the basic reason for their high chemical, optical and thermodynamic sta-bility.     

The effect of β-cyclodextrin on the properties of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide micelles

The effect of ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) on cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micellar properties was studied by the determination of the diffusion coefficient, D. When the CTAB micelles have a spherical structure, D firstly increased and then remained unchanged, while the micellar aggregation number, N, decreased with the addition of ß-CD. When the CTAB concentration was less than the first critical micellar concentration, CTAB molecules could be included into ß-CD cavities with the molar ratio of CTAB to ß-CD being about 1:1. However, when the CTAB concentration was higher than the first critical micellar concentration, mixed spherical micelles were formed with the molar ratio of CTAB to ß-CD being 9:1.     

Infrared (1.2-1.6 microm) luminescence in Cr4+:Yb3Al5O12 single crystal with 940 nm diode pumping

Infrared (1.2-1.6 microm) luminescence in a ytterbium aluminium garnet (YbAG) crystal, doped with Cr (0.05at.%) ions, was investigated under CW laser diode pumping (lambda=940 nm). The Cr4+ emission band was observed with its peak at 1.34 microm and measured to be about 1.3 times with respect to Yb3+ IR luminescence (lambda=1.03 microm). We demonstrate that for the excitation wavelength of 940 nm Yb3+ ions act as sensitizers of the 3B2(3T2)-3B1(3A2) emission of Cr4+ ions. This crystal is promising as a high-efficient system for tunable laser (1.2-1.6 microm) output.