First observation of the decay Ds+-->pn

Using e+e--->Ds*-Ds+ data collected near the peak Ds production energy, Ecm=4170 MeV, with the CLEO-c detector, we present the first observation of the decay Ds+-->pn. We measure a branching fraction B(Ds+-->pn)=(1.30+/-0.36(-0.16)+0.12)x10(-3). This is the first observation of a charmed meson decaying into a baryon-antibaryon final state.     

Observation of J/psi-->3gamma

We report the first observation of the decay J/psi-->3gamma. The signal has a statistical significance of 6sigma and corresponds to a branching fraction of B(J/psi-->3gamma)=(1.2+/-0.3+/-0.2)x10;{-5}, in which the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. The measurement uses psi(2S)-->pi;{+}pi;{-}J/psi events acquired with the CLEO-c detector operating at the CESR e;{+}e;{-} collider.     

Precision measurement of the mass of the hc(1P1) state of charmonium

A precision measurement of the mass of the h_{c}(1P1) state of charmonium has been made using a sample of 24.5x10;{6} psi(2S) events produced in e;{+}e;{-} annihilation at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR). The reaction used was psi(2S)-->pi;{0}h_{c}, pi;{0}-->gammagamma, h_{c}-->gammaeta_{c}, and the reaction products were detected in the CLEO-c detector. Data have been analyzed both for the inclusive reaction and for the exclusive reactions in which eta_{c} decays are reconstructed in 15 hadronic decay channels. Consistent results are obtained in the two analyses. The averaged results of the present measurements are M(h_{c})=3525.28+/-0.19(stat.)+/-0.12(syst.) MeV, and B(psi(2S)-->pi;{0}h_{c})xB(h_{c}-->gammaeta_{c})=(4.19+/-0.32+/-0.45)x10;{-4}. Using the ;{3}P_{J} centroid mass, DeltaM_{hf}(1P) identical withM(chi_{cJ})-M(h_{c})=+0.02+/-0.19+/-0.13 MeV.     

Synthesis of some novel imidazolidine derivatives and their metal complexes with biological and antitumor activity

Halogenated imidazo(pyrazine,[1,4]diazocine and quinoxaline), 9,10‐anthraquinone‐ [6,7‐e], phenanthroline[5,6‐e] {imidazo[4,5‐b]pyrazine}, and naphtho[1,8‐ef]imidazo[4,5‐b][1,4] diazipen were obtained through interaction of imidazolidineiminothiones with the corresponding diamino compounds. Imidazo[4,5‐e] triazine and pyrrolo[2,3‐d]imidazole were prepared when the iminothiones were reacted with thiocarbohydrazide and with ethylphenyl acetate, separately. Some of the synthesized compounds exhibited better biological and antitumor activities. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 17:634–647, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20244     

The transfer of alkali metal ions across the water-nitrobenzene interface facilitated by neutral macrocyclic ionophores

The alkali metal ions transfer from water to the nitrobenzene phase containing macrocyclic neutral ionophores (crown polyethers, nonactin) has been investigated, applying the electrolysis at the interface of two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) in the single-sweep voltammetry mode. The stability constants of complexes formed in the non-aqueous phase have been determined from the peak voltammograms, as well as value of complex formation enthalpy. It has been concluded that the facilitated ion transfer in the temperature range 5–65°C is a diffusion-controlled process.     

In-phantom neutron dose distribution for bladder cancer cases treated with high-energy photons

This work presents an estimation of the neutron dose distribution for common bladder cancer cases treated with high-energy photons of 15 MV therapy accelerators. Neutron doses were measured in an Alderson phantom, using TLD 700 and 600 thermoluminescence dosimeters, resembling bladder cancer cases treated with high-energy photons from 15 MV LINAC and having a treatment plan using the four-field pelvic box technique. Thermal neutron dose distribution in the target area and the surrounding tissue was estimated. The sensitivity of all detectors for both gamma and neutrons was estimated and used for correction of the TL reading. TLD detectors were irradiated with a Co⁶⁰ gamma standard source and thermal neutrons at the irradiation facility of the National Institute for Standards (NIS). The TL to dose conversion factor was estimated in terms of both Co⁶⁰ neutron equivalent dose and thermal neutron dose. The dose distribution of photo-neutrons throughout each target was estimated and presented in three-dimensional charts and isodose curves. The distribution was found to be non-isotropic through the target. It varied from a minimum of 0.23 mSv/h to a maximum of 2.07 mSv/h at 6 cm off-axis. The mean neutron dose equivalent was found to be 0.63 mSv/h, which agrees with other published literature. The estimated average neutron equivalent to the bladder per administered therapeutic dose was found to be 0.39 mSv Gy^?1, which is also in good agreement with published literature. As a consequence of a complete therapeutic treatment of 50 Gy high-energy photons at 15 MV, the total thermal neutron equivalent dose to the abdomen was found to be about 0.012 Sv.     

Organocatalysis applied to the ring‐opening polymerization of β‐lactones: A brief overview

Organocatalysis offers a number of prospects in the polymer community and presents advantages over metal based and bio‐organic methods. The use of organic molecules for performing chemical reactions is not a new concept, and any research into organocatalytic reactions builds on a respected history. Compared to the organocatalysis of large lactones, which began in the early 2000s, the examples presented here will demonstrate that few metal‐free initiating systems had been applied to β‐lactones well before the beginning of the current millennium. These metal‐free initiating systems present indisputable advantages over metal‐based processes. In the following paper, ring‐opening polymerizations (ROPs) of various β‐lactones for the preparation of poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s will be presented, as will the types of mechanisms involved, that is, zwitterionic and anionic, and cationic or supramolecular‐based ROPs. The advantages and drawbacks of the different technics will be discussed in the domain, which, for us, is important in the overall production of bioplastics. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 657–672     

Talarophenol sulfate and talarophilones from the Australian mud dauber wasp-associated fungus,Talaromyces sp. CMB-W045

Chemical analysis of a jasmine rice cultivation of an Australian mud dauber wasp-associated fungus, Talaromyces sp. CMB-W045, led to the discovery of a new p-terphenyl, talarophenol sulfate (1). The structure elucidation of 1 was achieved by detailed spectroscopic analysis supported by acid hydrolysis to the p-hydroquinone talarophenol (2), and subsequent in situ air oxidation to trace amounts of the p-quinone talaroquinone (3). The same jasmine rice cultivation also yielded the new talarophilones A (4) and B (5), and known (+)-mitorubrin (6) and pochonin D (7), with structures assigned by detailed spectroscopic analysis. Neither 1 or 4–7 exhibited growth inhibitory properties against a panel of human cell lines, or bacterial or fungal pathogens, although 1 did exhibit selective antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 12344 (IC₅₀ 10 µM).     

Graphitic solid core carbon nanorods grown on silica sands using electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition as a highly efficient and green sorbent for removal of phenol derivatives from water sources

In this study, graphitic solid core carbon nanorods (GSCNRs) were, for the first time, anchored to the surface of silica sands through the electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition method to provide coated silica sands as a new, low-cost, green, and efficient adsorbent for the removal of organic pollutants such as phenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) from aqueous mediums. The characteristics of GSCNRs/SiO₂ were confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. After the optimization of several parameters, the removal efficiency of phenol and 2,4-DCP using 1 g of adsorbent amount, the initial concentration of pollutants (10 mg/L phenol and 15 mg/L 2,4-DCP), a contact time of 10 min (phenol) and 20 min (2,4-DCP), and pH = 7 were 69 and 89%, respectively. The adsorption isotherm models of Langmuir and Freundlich, as well as pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, were examined under optimal conditions. Eventually, GSCNRs/SiO₂ was regenerated five times for the removal of phenol and 2,4-DCP. The removal efficiency of the tested contaminants from inlet raw water of a water treatment plant using the proposed adsorbent was investigated.     

Solvation Rule for Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Enabler in Lithium-Metal Batteries

Despite the exceptionally high energy density of lithium metal anodes, the practical application of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) is still impeded by the instability of the interphase between the lithium metal and the electrolyte. To formulate a functional electrolyte system that can stabilize the lithium-metal anode, the solvation behavior of the solvent molecules must be understood because the electrochemical properties of a solvent can be heavily influenced by its solvation status. We unambiguously demonstrated the solvation rule for the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) enabler in an electrolyte system. In this study, fluoroethylene carbonate was used as the SEI enabler due to its ability to form a robust SEI on the lithium metal surface, allowing relatively stable LMB cycling. The results revealed that the solvation number of fluoroethylene carbonate must be ≥1 to ensure the formation of a stable SEI in which the sacrificial reduction of the SEI enabler subsequently leads to the stable cycling of LMBs.