Effect of gamma irradiation on Burkholderia thailandensis (Burkholderia pseudomallei surrogate) survival under combinations of pH and NaCl

This study evaluated the effect of gamma irradiation on Burkholderia thailandensis (Burkholderia pseudomallei surrogate; potential bioterrorism agent) survival under different levels of NaCl and pH. B. thailandensis in Luria Bertani broth supplemented with NaCl (0–3%), and pH-adjusted to 4–7 was treated with gamma irradiation (0–0.5 kGy). Surviving cell counts of bacteria were then enumerated on tryptic soy agar. Data for the cell counts were also used to calculate D₁₀ values (the dose required to reduce 1 log CFU/mL of B. thailandensis). Cell counts of B. thailandensis were decreased (P<0.05) as irradiation dose increased, and no differences (P≥0.05) in cell counts of the bacteria were observed among different levels of NaCl and pH. D₁₀ values ranged from 0.04 to 0.07 kGy, regardless of NaCl and pH level. These results indicate that low doses of gamma irradiation should be a useful treatment in decreasing the potential bioterrorism bacteria, which may possibly infect humans through foods.     

Direct catalytic C–H arylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine with aryl bromides using magnetically recyclable Pd–Fe3O4 nanoparticles

The direct C–H arylation of a heteroarene with aryl bromides has been achieved under the catalysis of magnetic nanoparticles. In the presence of bimetallic Pd–Fe₃O₄ heterodimer nanocrystals (1 mol % in palladium), the reaction of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine with various aryl bromides gives the corresponding arylated products with exclusive C3-selectivity. The highly regioselective method is applicable to a wide range of aryl bromides with varying electronic and steric properties. The Pd–Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals can be recoverable by simple magnetic separation and have been recycled ten times without loss of catalytic activity.     

Biodegradable Polycarbonate Synthesis by Copolymerization of Carbon Dioxide with Epoxides Using a Heterogeneous Zinc Complex

As a means for the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide and the synthesis of biodegradable polycarbonates, copolymerizations of carbon dioxide with various epoxides such as cyclohexene oxide (CHO), cyclopetene oxide, 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene-1,2epoxide, phenyl glycidyl ether, allyl glycidyl ether, propylene oxide, butene oxide, hexene oxide, octene oxide, and 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane were investigated in the presence of a double metal cyanide catalyst (DMC). The DMC catalyst was prepared by reacting K₃Co(CN)₆ with ZnCl₂, together with tertiary butyl alcohol and poly(tetramethylene ether glycol) as complexing reagents and was characterized by various spectroscopic methods. The DMC catalyst showed high activity (526.2 g-polymer/g-Zn atom) for CHO/CO₂ (P_CO2 = 140 psi) copolymerization at 80 °C, to yield biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonates of narrow polydispersity (M_w/M_n = 1.67) and moderate molecular weight (M_n = 8900). The DMC catalyst also showed high activities with different CO₂ reactivities for other epoxides to yield various aliphatic polycarbonates with narrow polydispersity.     

The definition of basic TEDS of IEEE 1451.4 for sensors for an electronic tongue and the proposal of new template TEDS for electrochemical devices

It is important to define a standard method to store basic sensor information, such as the type and the structure of sensors for an electronic tongue system and there is no such method defined in the IEEE 1451.4 transducer electronic data sheet (TEDS) so far. The major challenge is to choose a suitable standard template that can be used with sensors for electronic tongues. However, the standard templates provide an imprecise specification when used with sensing devices for electronic tongues. In this paper, we present definitions of the basic TEDS of IEEE 1451.4 for sensors for an electronic tongue system and propose a new template TEDS for IEEE 1451.4 for potentiometric devices.     

Genkwalathins A and B,new lathyrane-type diterpenes from Daphne genkwa

Screening for new natural anti-neuroinflammatory compounds was performed with the traditional folk medicine Genkwa Flos, which potently inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production by LPS-activated microglial BV-2 cells. Two new lathyrane-type diterpenes, genkwalathins A (1) and B (2), and 14 known daphnane-type diterpenes (3–16) were isolated. The lathyrane-type diterpenes were isolated for the first time from the Thymelaeaceae family in this study. Compounds 1 and 2 moderately inhibited LPS-induced NO production in BV-2 cells without affecting cell viability, while six daphnane-type diterpenes (3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10) potently reduced NO production with IC₅₀ values less than 1 μM, although they did display weak cytotoxicity. A structure–activity relationship study on the daphnane-type diterpenes indicated that the stereochemistry at C-19, the benzoate group at C-20, and the epoxide moiety could be important for their anti-neuroinflammatory effects.     

Wavelength-dependent photofragmentation and photoionization of gaseous (eta4-cycloocta-1,5-diene)(eta5-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt

Gas-phase photoreactions and photoproducts of the mixed-ligand compound (eta(4)-cycloocta-1,5-diene)(eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt are reported. Significant amounts of the monoligated complexes CoCOD and CoCp are produced, and the relative amounts are wavelength dependent. The COD ligand (with the weakest metal-ligand bonds) is always preferentially labilized as expected, but the relative amounts of the CoCOD and CoCp fragments change by 1 order of magnitude as the excitation wavelength is changed. The gas-phase photoreactions exhibit other surprising features that are uncommon in the photoreactions of organometallic compounds in the gas phase. Significant amounts of the intact cation are formed, in contrast to most reported reactions where fragmentation of the weak metal-ligand bonds precedes ionization. Most surprisingly, fragmentation of the ligands occurs while the ligands are still coordinated. The resulting metal complexes contain ligand fragments that remain coordinated to the metal. Breaking several carbon-carbon bonds with retention of weaker metal-ligand bonds is unexpected. For example, C(5)H(5) undergoes fragmentation while still coordinated to the cobalt, yielding smaller compounds such as Co(CH)(+), Co(C(2)H(2))(+), Co(C(3)H(3))(+), and Co(C(4)H(6))(+). Correspondingly, coordinated COD yields Co(C(6)H(6))(+), Co(C(5)H(5))(+), Co(C(4)H(6))(+), Co(C(3)H(3))(+), Co(C(2)H(2))(+), and Co(CH)(+). The wavelength dependence of the ligand labilization is examined by utilizing mass-selected resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy. Both broad bands and sharp lines are observed in the mass-selected excitation spectra. The action spectra obtained in the gas phase while monitoring the cobalt ion follow the absorption onset found in solution. The changes in fragmentation pathways are interpreted in terms of the initially accessed excited state.     

Polymerizations of ethylene and styrene initiated with trisiloxane-bridged dinuclear titanium metallocene/MMAO catalyst systems

Two kinds of the trisiloxane-bridged dinuclear titanium metallocene-type complexes were synthesized. They are monocyclopentadienyl and biscyclopentadienyl dinuclear titanocenes with trisiloxane bridges. The above complexes with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) cocatalyst initiate the polymerizations of ethylene and styrene to produce high-density polyethylene and syndiotactic polystyrene. In addition, a copolymer of ethylene and styrene was obtained.     

Semi-analytical study of meniscus oscillation in an electrospray under AC voltage

In this paper, the oscillation of the meniscus in an electrospray with AC voltage is semi-analytically investigated. The electric field is achieved using the charge simulation method and the mutual interaction between the electric field and hydrodynamics is iteratively explored to investigate the oscillation. After determining the static meniscus shape on a nozzle, the meniscus oscillation is simulated under sinusoidal AC voltage. The semi-analytic simulation can offer the oscillating meniscus shapes and contours of the electric field outside the meniscus according to the applied frequency. Furthermore, the velocity profile of the liquid inside the meniscus is achieved.