Calculating Helix-to-Coil Transitions of Duplexes Formed by Phenazine-Conjugated Oligonucleotide, Using Flourescence Melting Data

A novel intercalating phenazine derivative (Pzn) was covalently linked to the 3-end of decathymidylate via a ribose residue of the dye. A fluorescence technique was used to study double helix formation by this conjugate with poly(rA) in aqueous solutions of neutral pH, at the presence of 0.1 and 1 M sodium ions. Proportionality between thermally induced changes in the fluorescence intensity of the free conjugate and bound one was revealed, that made it possible to calculate the helix-to-coil transition from fluorescence melting data using a simple equation. The transition curves were found to be in well conformity with those constructed from absorption measurements. It was shown that the attachment of Pzn significantly enhanced the stability of poly(rA) · (dT)₁₀ duplex due to intercalation of the dye chromophore into the adenine strand. The temperature of half-dissociation was increased by 12°C, and the stabilizing increment of standard free energy was 3.2–3.6 kcal/mol at 37°C.     

Charge exchange collisions of H<Superscript>+</Superscript>/D<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions with alkaline Earth atoms (Ca,Mg)

The Classical Trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) Method has been used to calculate the differential, partial and total single electron capture cross sections for the collision of H⁺/D⁺ with Ca and Mg atoms in the energy range of 1–100 keV. The differential cross sections at angles near the diffraction limit (<0.1^○) in both systems show a forward peak followed by an asymptotic fall at higher angles. Total and partial capture cross sections are found to be in good agreement with the experimental observations. Oscillations in the partial capture cross sections have been explained due to the swapping of the field electron. Isotope effect in the electron transfer is reported to be negligible.     

The method of lines applied to nonlinear nonlocal functional differential equations

This paper discusses nonlinear functional differential equation in a real reflexive Banach space with nonlocal history condition. By using the method of lines, the existence and uniqueness of a strong solution are established. Finally, some applications of the abstract results are presented.     

An enantiodivergent synthesis of both (+)- and (−)-disparlure from (R)-2,3-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde

Reduction of ketone 3 derived from (R)-2,3-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde 1 with some common hydrides took place with syn-selectivity. The resulting major product 4a has been exploited as a common chiral template to prepare both enantiomers Ia,b of disparlure.     

Molecular deformation mechanisms of isotactic polypropylene in α‐ and β‐crystal forms by FTIR spectroscopy

The orientation behavior of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) in α‐ and β‐crystal form was investigated by rheo‐optical Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. This method enabled quantification of the degree of orientation as a feature of structural changes during uniaxial elongation in not only the crystalline phase but also the amorphous one. Molecular orientation mechanisms can be successfully derived from experimental results. Generally, three mechanisms were detected for iPP: (1) interlamellar separation in the amorphous phase, (2) interlamellar slip and lamellar twisting at small elongations, and (3) intralamellar slip at high elongations. The third mechanism was favored by α‐PP, whereas β‐PP favored the second mechanism, which, in fact, was responsible for the different mechanical properties of both materials at the macroscopic level. On the other hand, crystallization conditions may have significantly affected the amorphous orientation. Nevertheless, for both iPP types the chains in the amorphous phase always oriented less than did those in the crystalline phase. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4478–4488, 2004     

Enantioselective organocatalytic α-sulfenylation of substituted diketopiperazines

The asymmetric organocatalytic α-sulfenylation of substituted piperazine-2,5-diones is reported, with cinchona alkaloids as chiral Lewis bases and electrophilic sulfur transfer reagents. Catalyst loadings, the type of sulfur transfer reagent, temperature, and solvent were investigated in order to optimize the reaction conditions. The effects of ring substitution and the type of catalyst on the yield and enantioselectivity of the reaction are reported.     

Electrochemical approach for synthesis of 3-substituted indole derivatives

An efficient and economical method was developed for synthesis of 3-substituted indole by using electrochemically induced condensation of various aldehyde, indole and malononitrile.     

Porous silicon layers prepared by electrochemical etching for application in silicon thin film solar cells

In this paper, multilayer structures of porous silicon were fabricated by using electrochemical etching and characterized for its optical properties and surface morphology. Samples of monolayer of porous silicon were grown to study the characteristics of porous layer formation with respect to applied current density, etching time and hydrofluoric acid concentrations. Photoluminescence peaks of red emission at wavelength 695 and 650 nm were observed from multilayer porous silicon structures. By atomic force microscopy measurement, hillocks like surface were clearly observed within the host material, which confirmed the formation of pores.