Amino Acid-Derived Sensors for Specific Zn2+ Detection Using Hyperpolarized 13C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Alterations in Zn²⁺ concentration are seen in normal tissues and in disease states, and for this reason imaging of Zn²⁺ is an area of active investigation. Herein, enriched [1-¹³C]cysteine and [1-¹³C₂]iminodiacetic acid were developed as Zn²⁺-specific imaging probes using hyperpolarized ¹³C magnetic resonance spectroscopy. [1-¹³C]cysteine was used to accurately quantify Zn²⁺ in complex biological mixtures. These sensors can be employed to detect Zn²⁺ via imaging mechanisms including changes in ¹³C chemical shift, resonance linewidth, or T₁.     

Setting sensitivity in Talbot interferometry with modified gratings

A dual field grating has been introduced for use in Talbot interferometry. We report here results of an experimental investigation on setting sensitivity when using these gratings for testing.     

Novel routes for the generation of structurally diverse labdane diterpenes from andrographolide

Andrographolide 1, the major constituent of the Indian medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata (Acanthaceae) was converted into the key intermediate 4 by selective oxidative degradation of the C-12,13 olefin bond. The aldehyde functional group present in 4 has been utilized for synthesizing a number of structurally diverse labdane diterpenes. Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxic activity results of the compounds prepared are discussed.     

Synthesis of side chain truncated 3"-aldehyde, 3"-carboxylic acid, and 1"-aldehyde from nodulisporic acid A

An efficient synthesis of the truncated 3"-aldehyde (3) from nodulisporic acid A (1) under mild conditions is described. Further oxidation of 3 to 3"-carboxylic acid (4) and its subsequent oxidative degradation produced 1"-aldehyde (5). These new derivatives are versatile intermediates for the preparation of new, side chain modified derivatives of nodulisporic acid A. [reaction: see text]     

Quantification of phase shift in the simulation of shallow water waves

Numerical simulation of nonlinear waves to reproduce the laboratory measurements has been a topic of great interest in the recent past. The results reported in the literature are mainly focused on qualitative comparison or on the relative errors between the numerical simulation and measurements in laboratory and hence lack in revealing the existence of phase shift in nonlinear wave simulation. In this paper, the simulation of nonlinear waves in mixed Eulerian and Lagrangian framework using finite element method (FEM) is investigated by applying two different velocity calculation methods viz, cubic spline and least squares (LS). The simulated wave surface elevation has been compared with the experimental measurements. The coherence analysis has been carried out using the wavelet transformation, which gives a better understanding between the numerical and the experimental results with respect to the time–frequency space, compared with the conventional Fourier transformation. It is observed that the application of cubic spline approach leads to a higher phase difference for steeper waves. The present study has shown that the phase difference exists at the higher modes rather than at the primary period. For waves with steepness (wave height/wave length) higher than 0.04, LS approach is found to be effective in capturing the higher‐order frequency components in the event of nonlinearity. In addition, the comparison of numerical simulations with that from PIV measurements for the tests with solitary waves is also reported. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dislocations and grain boundaries in quasicrystals

This is a brief review of the theory of topological defects in quasicrystals, within a densitywave picture.     

Homogeneously alloyed CdSxSe1-x nanocrystals: synthesis, characterization, and composition/size-dependent band gap

Alloy nanocrystals provide an additional degree of freedom in selecting desirable properties for nanoscale engineering because their physical and optical properties depend on both size and composition. We report the pyrolytic synthesis of homogeneously alloyed CdS(x)Se(1-x) nanocrystals in all proportions. The nanocrystals are characterized using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractrometry, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry to determine precisely structure, size, and composition. The dependence of band gap on nanocrystal size and composition is elucidated, yielding a bowing constant of 0.29, in agreement with bulk values. In addition, the morphology of the resultant nanocrystals can be altered by changing the reaction conditions, generating structures ranging from homogeneous, spherical nanocrystals to one-dimensional gradient nanorods.     

Facile three-component domino reactions in the regioselective synthesis and antimycobacterial evaluation of novel indolizines and pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

The domino reactions of pyridine/isoquinoline, bromoacetonitrile/ethyl bromoacetate and a series of β-nitrostyrenes in the presence of triethylamine afforded novel tri-/disubstituted indolizines and pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines regioselectively, presumably via substitution-dipole generation-1,3-dipolar cycloaddition-elimination and/or aromatisation sequence. In vitro screening of all the seventeen compounds synthesized against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv discloses that ethyl 2-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-3-carboxylate displays maximum potency with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.0 μM, being 7.6 and 4.7 times more potent than the standard first line TB drugs, ethambutol and ciprofloxacin, respectively.     

Epibatidine and its analogues as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist: an update

Epibatidine (EPB) (1), an alkaloid isolated from the skin of the Ecuadorian poison frog, Epipedobates tricolor has attracted attention because of its exceptionally powerful analgesic properties: several hundred times greater than those of morphine, and the fact that it acts at nicotine rather than opiate receptors. Although the substance is toxic, it does serve as a lead compound in the development of drugs for pain relief as well as treatment of disorders whose pathogenesis involves nicotinic receptors. In this article, isolation, synthetic methods, effect on neuronal and neuromuscular nicotinic receptors, therapeutic potential, toxicity, nicotinic pharmacophore structural modifications related issues of 1 are discussed.