A comparative study of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis for element concentrations in aluminum alloy using artificial neural networks and calibration methods

A comparative study of analysis methods (traditional calibration method and artificial neural networks (ANN) prediction method) for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) data of different Al alloy samples was performed. In the calibration method, the intensity of the analyte lines obtained from different samples are plotted against their concentration to form calibration curves for different elements from which the concentrations of unknown elements were deduced by comparing its LIBS signal with the calibration curves. Using ANN, an artificial neural network model is trained with a set of input data of known composition samples. The trained neural network is then used to predict the elemental concentration from the test spectra. The present results reveal that artificial neural networks are capable of predicting values better than traditional method in most cases.     

Synthesis and properties of a cyanate ester containing dicyclopentadiene(II)

A 2,6‐dimethyl phenol‐dicyclopentadiene novolac (DCPDNO) was synthesized from dicyclopentadiene and 2,6‐dimethyl phenol, and the resultant DCPDNO was reacted with cyanogen bromide into 2,6‐dimethyl phenol‐dicyclopentadiene cyanate ester (DCPDCY). The structures of the novolac and cyanate ester were confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance. For the purpose of increasing the mobility of residual DCPDCY during the final stage of curing and achieving a complete reaction of cyanate groups, a small quantity of a monofunctional cyanate ester, 4‐tert‐butylphenol cyanate ester (4TPCY), was added to DCPDCY to form the cyanate ester copolymer. The synthesized DCPDCY was then cured with 4TPCY at various molar ratios. The thermal properties of the cured cyanate ester resins were studied with dynamic mechanical analysis, dielectric analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. These data were compared with those of the commercial bisphenol A cyanate ester system. Compared with the bisphenol A cyanate ester system, the cured DCPDCY resins exhibited lower dielectric constants (2.52–2.67 at 1 GHz), dissipation factors (0.0054–0.0087 at 1 GHz), glass‐transition temperatures (261–273 °C), thermal stability (5% degradation temperature at 406–450 °C), thermal expansion coefficients (4.8–5.78 × 10^?5/°C before the glass‐transition temperature), and moisture absorption (0.8–1.1%). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 671–681, 2005     

Diterpenoids from the Wood of Cunninghamia konishii

Investigation of the wood of Cunninghamia konishii resulted in the isolation and characterization of one new abietane diterpenoid, (6α,7β)‐7,8‐epoxy‐6‐hydroxyabieta‐9(11),13‐dien‐12‐one ( 1 ), and two new labdane diterpenoids, (12R)‐12‐hydroxylabda‐8(17),13(16),14‐trien‐19‐oic acid ( 2 ) and (12R)‐12‐hydroxylabda‐8(17),13(16),14‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 3 ). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data.     

An image analysis strategy to study cell adhesion

A semi-automated in situ technique has been developed for the study of the extent and kinetics of cell adhesion at the individual cell level. Our investigation involves the static sedimentation of glutaraldehyde-fixed human erythrocytes suspended in 10 mM NaCl or 10 mM NaCl containing 2% (v/v) 1-propanol onto flat, horizontal, and transparent surfaces. The surfaces used are glass, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polystyrene, and fluorinated ethylene propylene. An inverted microscope is utilized for observations. Brownian motion is used as the distinguishing criterion between adherent and non-adherent cells. The extent of adhesion is expressed as the percentage of adherent cells. Two digital image processing techniques, image averaging and image subtraction, are presented for automation of the methodology. Although all non-adherent cells undergo Brownian motion, they exhibit this behavior to varying degrees. Factors under consideration are the liquid medium's surface tension (γ_LV) and the solid substrate surface tension (γ_SV). Preliminary results reveal that, in general, variations of γ_SV and γ_LV have a statistically significant effect on the extent of adhesion at the 99% and 96% confidence levels, respectively. A time depepdence for the adhesion of populations of cells is observed. However, individual cells either instantly or gradually adhere. Image subtraction generally overestimates the number of adherent cells due to the difficulty in detection of minute oscillations. The deviation between the adhesion percentage obtained from visual observations of the monitor and image subtraction is less than 10%.     

Preparation and characterization of an ordered 1-dodecanethiol monolayer on bare Si(111) surface

We have grown 1-dodecandthiol (DDT) monolayer on a bare Si(111) surface through ultraviolet-assisted photochemical reaction. The resulting monolayer was investigated by means of water contact angle measurement, synchrotron radiation-based high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and polarization-dependent near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. These combined probes for characterization reveal a hydrophobic ambient surface; the DDT was directly attached to Si through a Si-S bond, and the molecules formed an ordered monolayer with an average tilt angle of 57° of the alkyl chains relative to the substrate surface.     

(1,3‐Diphenyl‐1H‐Pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐Methylamine Analogues as Inhibitors of Dipeptidyl Peptidases

A number of pyrazole compounds reported in literatures elicit anti‐hyperglycemic effects. By modifying the side chain of the heterocyclic skeleton, a new chemical class of DPP‐IV inhibitors structurally derived from the (pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐methylamine scaffold have been discovered and evaluated the biological activities of these inhibitors against DPP‐IV, DPP8, DPP‐II and FAP. The SAR studies showed the (1,3‐diphenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐methylamines with 2,4‐dichloro substituents at the 3‐phenyl ring selectively preferred as DPP‐IV inhibitors, whereas with difluoro substituents at the 3‐phenyl ring selectively preferred as DPP8 inhibitors. The binding mode of representative compound 15h at the active site of DPP‐IV was predicted by computer model. In additional, 15h exhibited the ability to significantly decrease the glucose excursion in mice.     

Kinetic study of the Ce(III)‐, Mn(II)‐, or ferroin‐catalyzed Belousov‐Zhabotinsky reaction with pyruvic acid

The Ce(III)‐, Mn(II)‐, or ferroin (Fe(phen)₃²⁺)‐catalyzed reaction of bromate ion and pyruvic acid (PA) or its dimer exhibits oscillatory behavior. Both the open‐chain dimer (parapyruvic acid, γ‐methyl‐γ‐hydroxyl‐α‐keto‐glutaric acid, DPA1) and the cyclic‐form dimer (α‐keto‐γ‐valerolactone‐γ‐carboxylic acid, DPA2) show more sustained oscillations than PA monomer. Ferroin behaves differently from Ce(III) or Mn(II) ion in catalyzing these oscillating systems. The kinetics of reactions of PA, 3‐brompyruvic acid (BrPA), DPA1, or DPA2 with Ce(IV), Mn(III), Fe(phen)₃³⁺ ion were investigated. The order of relative reactivity of pyruvic acids toward reaction with Ce(IV), Mn(III), or Fe(phen)₃³⁺ ion is DPA2 > DPA1 > BrPA > PA and that of metal ions toward reaction with pyruvic acids is Mn(III) > Ce(IV) > Fe(phen)₃³⁺. The rates of bromination reactions of pyruvic acids are independent of the concentration of bromine and the order of reactivity toward bromination is (DPA1, DPA2) > BrPA > PA. Experimental results are rationalized. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 408–418, 2000     

Partially Fluorinated Copolymers as Oxygen Sensitive 19F MRI Agents

Effective diagnosis of disease and its progression can be aided by ¹⁹F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. Specifically, the inherent sensitivity of the spin–lattice relaxation time (T₁) of ¹⁹F nuclei to oxygen partial pressure makes ¹⁹F MRI an attractive non-invasive approach to quantify tissue oxygenation in a spatiotemporal manner. However, there are only few materials with the adequate sensitivity to be used as oxygen-sensitive ¹⁹F MRI agents at clinically relevant field strengths. Motivated by the limitations in current technologies, we report highly fluorinated monomers that provide a platform approach to realize water-soluble, partially fluorinated copolymers as ¹⁹F MRI agents with the required sensitivity to quantify solution oxygenation at clinically relevant magnetic field strengths. The synthesis of a systematic library of partially fluorinated copolymers enabled a comprehensive evaluation of copolymer structure–property relationships relevant to ¹⁹F MRI. The highest-performing material composition demonstrated a signal-to-noise ratio that corresponded to an apparent ¹⁹F density of 220 mm , which surpasses the threshold of 126 mm ¹⁹F required for visualization on a three Tesla clinical MRI. Furthermore, the T₁ of these high performing materials demonstrated a linear relationship with solution oxygenation, with oxygen sensitivity reaching 240×10⁻⁵ mmHg⁻¹s⁻¹. The relationships between material composition and ¹⁹F MRI performance identified herein suggest general structure–property criteria for the further improvement of modular, water-soluble ¹⁹F MRI agents for quantifying oxygenation in environments relevant to medical imaging.     

Sterols from the Stems of Momordica charantia

A new sterol, 5α,6α‐epoxy‐3β‐hydroxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐8,22‐dien‐7‐one ( 1 ), together with eight known sterols, 5α,6α‐epoxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐8,22‐diene‐3β,7α‐diol ( 2 ), 5α,6α‐epoxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐8,22‐diene‐3β,7β‐diol ( 3 ), 5α,6α‐epoxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐8(14),22‐diene‐3β,7α‐diol ( 4 ), 3β‐hydroxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐5,8,22‐trien‐7‐one ( 5 ), ergosterol peroxide ( 6 ), clerosterol ( 7 ), decortinol ( 8 ), and decortinone ( 9 ), were isolated from the stems of Momordica charantia. Their structures were elucidated by mean of extensive spectroscopic methods, including ¹H, ¹³C, 2D‐NMR and HR‐EI‐MS, as well as comparison with the literature data. Compounds 1 , 4 , 5 , 8 , and 91 were not cytotoxic against the SK‐Hep 1 cell line.