The link between the emergence of the GIM mechanism and the nature of the neutral-current parity violation

We show that minimization of the Higgs potential within the unifying symmetry [SU(4)]⁴ together with the requirement that the GIM mechanism should emerge as a consequence of spontaneous breakdown of the symmetry on the flavor side leaves us with onechoice regarding the nature of parity violation: charged current as well as neutral current parity violations must have one and the same origin; if the former is à la SU(2)_L×U(1), so must be the latter. Furthermore, there appear to be only two possible alternative forms for the low-energy electroweak symmetry: (i) the familiar SU(2)_L×U(1), and (ii) and extended symmetry SU(2)_L×U(1)_L×?(1)_R differing from the former only in the parity-conserving neutral current sector.     

A one-pot stereoselective synthesis of trans-1-aryl-2-aminotetralins from 2-arylethyl styrenes

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of trans-1-aryl-2-aminotetralins has been achieved via Cu(OTf)₂ catalyzed one-pot aziridination and regioselective intramolecular arylation of in situ generated aziridines from 2-arylethyl styrenes and PhINSO₂(4-NO₂C₆H₄) [PhINNs]. Reaction of a mixture of E/Z-styrenes (?85:15) provided trans-N-protected-1-aryl-2-aminotetralins with high diastereoselectivity (dr > 95:5), which are important synthons for many artificial pharmaceuticals.     

Preparation of uniform rich cholesterol unilamellar nanovesicles using CO2-expanded solvents

Nanoscopic and uniform unilamellar vesicles, rich in cholesterol, have been prepared by a new procedure, named "DELOS-SUSP", which is based on the depressurization of a cholesterol solution in CO2-expanded acetone into an aqueous solution containing a surfactant. The CO2 is used here as a cosolvent medium, allowing the straightforward preparation of vesicular systems with controlled size distribution, uniform shape, and stability unachievable by conventional mixing technologies. The resulting nanoscopic vesicular systems dispersed in water were characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, turbidity, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The influence of operational parameters of this new methodology on the physicochemical characteristics of the vesicular systems is also reported.     

Kagome network compounds and their novel magnetic properties

Compounds possessing the Kagome network are truly interesting because of their unusual low-energy properties. They exhibit magnetic frustration because of the triangular lattice inherent to the hexagonal bronze structure they possess, as indeed demonstrated by some of the Fe(3+) jarosites, but this is not the general case. Kagome compounds formed by transition metal ions with varying spins exhibit novel magnetic properties, some even showing evidence for magnetic order and absence of frustration. We describe the structure and magnetic properties of this interesting class of materials and attempt to provide an explanation for the variety of properties on the basis of theoretical considerations.     

Laplacian Spectrum of Weakly Quasi-threshold Graphs

In this paper we study the class of weakly quasi-threshold graphs that are obtained from a vertex by recursively applying the operations (i) adding a new isolated vertex, (ii) adding a new vertex and making it adjacent to all old vertices, (iii) disjoint union of two old graphs, and (iv) adding a new vertex and making it adjacent to all neighbours of an old vertex. This class contains the class of quasi-threshold graphs. We show that weakly quasi-threshold graphs are precisely the comparability graphs of a forest consisting of rooted trees with each vertex of a tree being replaced by an independent set. We also supply a quadratic time algorithm in the the size of the vertex set for recognizing such a graph. We completely determine the Laplacian spectrum of weakly quasi-threshold graphs. It turns out that weakly quasi-threshold graphs are Laplacian integral. As a corollary we obtain a closed formula for the number of spanning trees in such graphs. A conjecture of Grone and Merris asserts that the spectrum of the Laplacian of any graph is majorized by the conjugate of the degree sequence of the graph. We show that the conjecture holds for cographs. Prof. Bapat and Prof. Pati take this opportunity to thank the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur for the invitation. The authors also wish to thank the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi for the project grant.     

Half-metallicity in undoped and boron doped graphene nanoribbons in the presence of semilocal exchange-correlation interactions

We perform density functional calculations on one-dimensional zigzag edge graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) of different widths, with and without edge doping including semilocal exchange correlations. Our study reveals that, although the ground state of edge-passivated (with hydrogen) ZGNRs prefers to be anti-ferromagnetic, the doping of both of the edges with boron atoms stabilizes the system in a ferromagnetic ground state. Both the local and semilocal exchange correlations result in half-metallicity in edge-passivated ZGNRs at a finite cross-ribbon electric field. However, the ZGNR with boron edges shows half-metallic behavior irrespective of the ribbon width even in the absence of electric field and this property sustains for any field strength, opening a huge possibility of applications in spintronics.     

Chiral Separation of Carboprost Isomers by Normal Phase LC Using Amylose Chiral Stationary Phase

LC separation of carboprost diastereomers in bulk drug was developed and validated using normal-phase amylose stationary phase Chiralpak AD-H. The effect of the organic modifiers, namely 2-propanol and ethanol in the mobile phase was optimized in order to obtain the best separation. The retention time of (R)-carboprost and (S)-carboprost were 15.3 and 17.1 min, respectively. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.2–1.0%, with the regression coefficient (R ²) of 0.9997. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.07 and 0.2%, respectively. The method was accurate, precise and suitable to use for the purpose of controlling unwanted (R)-isomer in the carboprost active pharmaceutical ingredient. This method can be successfully applied to the analysis of chiral purity of carboprost in pharmaceutical bulk drug samples.     

Divergent Pd-catalyzed and radical cyclizations of nucleophilic cyclic enamines derived from functionalized amine and aldehyde fragments

Tetrahydropyridines carrying pendant halide functionality at the enamine beta-carbon have been prepared by condensation between appropriately functionalized aldehydes and a vinylogous Mannich adduct. Those enamines display divergent behavior in radical and Heck reactions. Thus, radical addition takes place in a 5-exo-trig fashion whereas Heck couplings follow a 6-endo-trig pathway. The resulting polycyclic products are obtained with high regio- and stereoselectivity.     

3D Bioprinting of Tissue/Organ Models

In vitro tissue/organ models are useful platforms that can facilitate systematic, repetitive, and quantitative investigations of drugs/chemicals. The primary objective when developing tissue/organ models is to reproduce physiologically relevant functions that typically require complex culture systems. Bioprinting offers exciting prospects for constructing 3D tissue/organ models, as it enables the reproducible, automated production of complex living tissues. Bioprinted tissues/organs may prove useful for screening novel compounds or predicting toxicity, as the spatial and chemical complexity inherent to native tissues/organs can be recreated. In this Review, we highlight the importance of developing 3D in vitro tissue/organ models by 3D bioprinting techniques, characterization of these models for evaluating their resemblance to native tissue, and their application in the prioritization of lead candidates, toxicity testing, and as disease/tumor models.