Perturbed recurrence relations II the general case

In this paper, we give some new explicit relations between two families of polynomials defined by recurrence relations of all order. These relations allow us to analyze, even in the Sobolev case, how some properties of a family of orthogonal polynomials are affected when the coefficients of the recurrence relation and the order are perturbed. In a paper we have already given a method which allows us to study the polynomials defined by a three-term recurrence relation. Also here some generalizations are given.     

Synthesis and preliminary investigations of the siRNA delivery potential of novel, single-chain rigid cationic carotenoid lipids

The success of nucleic acid delivery requires the development of safe and efficient delivery vectors that overcome cellular barriers for effective transport. Herein we describe the synthesis of a series of novel, single-chain rigid cationic carotenoid lipids and a study of their preliminary in vitro siRNA delivery effectiveness and cellular toxicity. The efficiency of siRNA delivery by the single-chain lipid series was compared with that of known cationic lipid vectors, 3β-[N-(N',N'-dimethylaminoethane)carbamoyl]-cholesterol (DC-Chol) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphoethanolamine (EPC) as positive controls. All cationic lipids (controls and single-chain lipids) were co-formulated into liposomes with the neutral co-lipid, 1,2-dioleolyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE). Cationic lipid-siRNA complexes of varying (+/-) molar charge ratios were formulated for delivery into HR5-CL11 cells. Of the five single-chain carotenoid lipids investigated, lipids 1, 2, 3 and 5 displayed significant knockdown efficiency with HR5-CL11 cells. In addition, lipid 1 exhibited the lowest levels of cytotoxicity with cell viability greater than 80% at all (+/-) molar charge ratios studied. This novel, single-chain rigid carotenoid-based cationic lipid represents a new class of transfection vector with excellent cell tolerance, accompanied with encouraging siRNA delivery efficiency.     

Nitrogen‐Rich Compounds of the Lanthanoids: The 5,5′‐Azobis[1H‐tetrazol‐1‐ides] of some Yttric Earths (Tb,Dy, Ho,Er, Tm,Yb, and Lu)

A set of N‐rich salts, 3 – 9 , of the heavy lanthanoids (terbium, 3 ; dysprosium, 4 ; holmium 5 ; erbium, 6 ; thulium, 7 ; ytterbium, 8 ; lutetium, 9 ) based on the energetic 5,5′‐azobis[1H‐tetrazole] (H₂ZT) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, vibrational (IR and Raman) spectroscopy, and X‐ray structure determination. The synthesis of the lanthanoid salts 3 – 9 was performed by crystallization from concentrated aqueous solutions of disodium 5,5′‐azobis[1H‐tetrazol‐1‐ide] dihydrate (Na₂ZT?2 H₂O; 1 ) and the respective Ln(NO₃)₃?5 H₂O and yielded large rhombic crystals of the type [Ln(H₂O)₈]₂(ZT)₃?6 H₂O in ca. 70% of the theoretical yield. The compounds 3 – 9 are isostructural (triclinic space group P ) to the previously published yttrium salt 2 ; they show, however, a clear lanthanoid contraction of several crystallographic parameters, e.g., the cell volume or the Ln? O bond lengths of the Ln³⁺ ions and the coordinating H₂O molecules. The lanthanoid contraction influences the strengths of the H‐bonds, which can be observed as a red shift by 4 cm^?1 in the characteristic IR band, in particular from 3595 cm^?1 ( 3 ) to 3599 cm^?1 ( 9 ). In good agreement with previous works, 2 – 9 are purely salt‐like compounds without a coordinative bond between the tetrazolide anion and the Ln³⁺ cation.     

Towards a receptor-free immobilization and SERS detection of urinary tract infections causative pathogens

Based on molecular-specific surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy we were able to discriminate between rough and smooth strains of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis bacteria. For this purpose, bacteria have been immobilized through electrostatic forces by inducing a positive charge on the glass slide. This way, SERS spectra on bacterial biomass and also on single bacteria could be recorded in less than 2 h, by using concentrated silver nanoparticles as SERS-active substrate. Single-bacterium SERS spectral fingerprints showed to be sensitive to the presence of the O-antigen at strain level and to the microorganisms growth phase. By using principal component analysis (PCA) on the SERS spectra recorded from E. coli and P. mirabilis, these two uropathogens could be fairly discriminated.     

Chemistry of 4-alkylaryloxenium ion "precursors": sound and fury signifying something?

Quinol esters 2b, 2c, and 3b and sulfonamide 4c were investigated as possible precursors to 4-alkylaryloxenium ions, reactive intermediates that have not been previously detected. These compounds exhibit a variety of interesting reactions, but with one possible exception, they do not generate oxenium ions. The 4-isopropyl ester 2b predominantly undergoes ordinary acid- and base-catalyzed ester hydrolysis. The 4-tert-butyl ester 2c decomposes under both acidic and neutral conditions to generate tert-butanol and 1-acetyl-1,4-hydroquinone, 8, apparently by an SN1 mechanism. This is also a minor decomposition pathway for 2b, but the mechanism in that case is not likely to be SN1. Decomposition of 2c in the presence of N3- leads to formation of the explosive 2,3,5,6-tetraazido-1,4-benzoquinone, 14, produced by N3--induced hydrolysis of 8, followed by a series of oxidations and nucleophilic additions by N3-. No products suggestive of N3--trapping of an oxenium ion were detected. The 4-isopropyl dichloroacetic acid ester 3b reacts with N3- to generate the two adducts 2-azido-4-isopropylphenol, 5b, and 3-azido-4-isopropylphenol, 11b. Although 5b is the expected product of N3- trapping of the oxenium ion, kinetic analysis shows that it is produced by a kinetically bimolecular reaction of N3- with 3b. No oxenium ion is involved. The sulfonamide 4c predominantly undergoes a rearrangement reaction under acidic and neutral conditions, but a minor component of the reaction yields 4-tert-butylcresol, 17, and 2-azido-4-tert-butylphenol, 5c, in the presence of N3-. These products may indicate that 4c generates the oxenium ion 1c, but they are generated in very low yields (ca. 10%) so it is not possible to definitively conclude that 1c has been produced. If 1c has been generated, the N3--trapping data indicate that it is a very short-lived and reactive species in H2O. Comparisons with similarly reactive nitrenium ions indicate that the lifetime of 1c is ca. 20-200 ps if it is generated, so it must react by a preassociation process. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* level coupled with kinetic correlations also indicate that the aqueous solution lifetimes of 1a-c are in the picosecond range.     

Molecular hydrogen in a-si:H

It is demonstrated that in high quality hydrogenated amorphous silicon films nearly 40% of the contained hydrogen is in the form of hydrogen molecules individually trapped in the amorphous equivalent of tetragonal T sites. The majority of these molecular hydrogens are in the less-clustered component of the contained hydrogen. These results could have major implications for the understanding of light-induced defects and hydrogen mobility.     

Pyrimidoquinazolinophenanthroline Opens Next Chapter in Design of Bridging Ligands for Artificial Photosynthesis**

The synthesis and detailed characterization of a new Ru polypyridine complex containing a heteroditopic bridging ligand with previously unexplored metal-metal distances is presented. Due to the twisted geometry of the novel ligand, the resultant division of the ligand in two distinct subunits leads to steady state as well as excited state properties of the corresponding mononuclear Ru(II) polypyridine complex resembling those of prototype [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine). The localization of the initially optically excited and the nature of the long-lived excited states on the Ru-facing ligand spheres is evaluated by resonance Raman and fs-TA spectroscopy, respectively, and supported by DFT and TDDFT calculations. Coordination of a second metal (Zn or Rh) to the available bis-pyrimidyl-like coordination sphere strongly influences the frontier orbitals, apparent by, for example, luminescence quenching. Thus, the new bridging ligand motif offers electronic properties, which can be adjusted by the nature of the second metal center. Using the heterodinuclear Ru−Rh complex, visible light-driven reduction of NAD⁺ to NADH was achieved, highlighting the potential of this system for photocatalytic applications.