Growth of high quality a-plane GaN epi-layer on r-plane sapphire substrates with optimization of multi-buffer layer

Nonpolar (1 1–2 0) a-plane GaN films have been grown using the multi-buffer layer technique on (1–1 0 2) r-plane sapphire substrates. In order to obtain epitaxial a-plane GaN films, optimized growth condition of the multi-buffer layer was investigated using atomic force microscopy, high resolution X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy measurements. The experimental results showed that the growth conditions of nucleation layer and three-dimensional growth layer significantly affect the crystal quality of subsequently grown a-plane GaN films. At the optimized growth conditions, omega full-width at half maximum values of (11–20) X-ray rocking curve along c- and m-axes were 430 and 530 arcsec, respectively. From the results of transmission electron microscopy, it was suggested that the high crystal quality of the a-plane GaN film can be obtained from dislocation bending and annihilation by controlling of the island growth mode.     

Broadband Light Source for Wavelength-Division Multiple Access Passive Optical Network

We demonstrated a unified two-band broadband light source based on erbium-doped fiber. The proposed scheme generates high output power at both bands and saves doped-fiber and pump lasers.     

Application of ultrasound as pretreatment for extraction of podophyllotoxin from rhizomes of Podophyllum peltatum

The effect of high-power ultrasound pretreatment on the extraction of podophyllotoxin from Podophyllum peltatum was investigated. Direct sonication by an ultrasound probe horn was applied at 24 kHz and a number of factors were investigated: particle size (0.18-0.6 mm), type of solvent (0-100% aqueous ethanol), ultrasonic treatment time (2-40 min), and power of ultrasound (0-100% power intensity, maximum power: 78 W). The optimal condition of ultrasound was achieved with 0.425-0.6 mm particle size, 10 min sonication time, 35 W ultrasound power, and water as the medium. There was no obvious degradation of podophyllotoxin with ultrasound under the applied conditions, and an improvement in extractability was observed. The SEM microscopic structure change of treated samples disclosed the effect of ultrasound on the tissue cells. The increased pore volume and surface area after ultrasonic treatment also confirmed the positive effect of ultrasound pretreatment on the extraction yield of podophyllotoxin from the plant cells.     

Use of particle image velocimetry to study heterogeneous drag reduction

Large polymer filaments can form when drag reducing polymers are injected through wall slots. The presence of these structures enhances the performance of the drag reducing function by mechanisms which are not understood. This paper shows how particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques can be used to study changes in the configuration of the injected polymer and in the structure of the velocity field with increasing drag reduction. The filaments are found to behave as solid bodies which break up in high shear regions close to a boundary. The breakup process provides an explanation of why the filaments are not observed close to a wall and offers the possibility of providing a heterogeneous distribution of small aggregates of polymers which could be more effective than uniformly distributed molecules as suggested by Hoyer and Gyr (J Non-Newton Fluid Mech 65:221–240, 1996; J Fluids Eng 120:818–823, 1998), Dunlop and Cox (Phys Fluids 20:203–213, 1977) and Vlachogiannis et al. (Phys Fluid 15:3786–3794, 2004). PIV measurements show dramatic qualitative changes in the velocity patterns at maximum drag reduction.     

The origin of the ligand-controlled regioselectivity in Rh-catalyzed [(2 + 2) + 2] carbocyclizations: steric vs. stereoelectronic effects

Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the reversal of regiochemical outcome of the addition for substituted methyl propiolates in the rhodium-catalyzed [(2 + 2) + 2] carbocyclization with PPh₃ and (S)-xyl-binap as ligands is both electronically and sterically controlled. For example, the ester functionality polarizes the alkyne π* orbital to favor overlap of the methyl-substituted terminus of the alkyne with the p_π-orbital of the alkenyl fragment of the rhodacycle during alkyne insertion with PPh₃ as the ligand. In contrast, the sterically demanding xyl-binap ligand cannot accommodate the analogous alkyne orientation, thereby forcing insertion to occur at the sterically preferred ester terminus, overriding the electronically preferred orientation for alkyne insertion.     

Computationally designed and experimentally confirmed diastereoselective rhodium-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction at room temperature

The computational analysis of the rhodium-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction indicates that the key transition state is highly charge-polarized, wherein different diastereoisomers have distinctively different charge polarization patterns. Experimental studies demonstrate that chloro-enynes provide the optimal σ-electron-withdrawing group to promote polarization and thereby reduce the activation barrier to provide a highly diastereoselective reaction at room temperature.     

A novel pH-responsive polysaccharidic ionic complex for proapoptotic D-(KLAKLAK)2 peptide delivery

We report charge-switching ionic nanocomplexes comprised of glycol chitosan grafted with 2,3-dimethylmaleic acid (DMA) (denoted as 'GCS-g-DMA' hereafter) and a proapoptotic peptide. This system allowed for improved peptide delivery to tumor sites via a mechanism of selective peptide release when the pH was dropped from 7.4 to 6.8.