Compact 10-GHz Nd:GdVO4 laser with 0.5-W average output power and low timing jitter

We demonstrate a compact, diode-pumped Nd:GdVO4 laser with a repetition rate of 9.66 GHz and 0.5-W average output power. The laser is passively mode locked with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM), yielding 12-ps-long sech2-shaped pulses. For synchronization of the pulse train to an external reference clock, the SESAM is mounted on a piezoelectric transducer. With an electronic feedback loop of only a few kilohertz loop bandwidth we achieved a rms timing jitter of 146 fs (integrated from 10 Hz to 10 MHz). This is an upper limit because it is mostly limited by the measurement system. The laser setup with a simple linear cavity has a footprint of only 130 mm x 30 mm.     

Synthesis and Optical Properties of Cinnamylidene Derivatives of Malononitrile Trimer

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - Potassium salts of cinnamylidene derivatives of malononitrile trimer were obtained by the reactions of malononitrile trimer with cinnamaldehyde derivatives....     

Integration of the Matrix Modified Korteweg-de Vries Equation with an Integral-Type Source

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics - We derive time evolution equations for the scattering data for the matrix Zakharov-Shabat system with a potential that is the solution of the matrix modified...     

Rapid and cost-effective LC–MS/MS method for determination of hydroxycitric acid in plasma: Application in the determination of pharmacokinetics in commercial Garcinia preparations

Garcinia cambogia is one of the most commonly used anti-obesity dietary supplements, and hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a major constituent in the commercial preparations of Garcinia. High doses of HCA are often consumed without much awareness of its pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic parameters, and therefore, a complete understanding of its effects is lacking. The first step in understanding these parameters is the availability of a reliable bioanalytical method. Here, we present the first report on a UPLC–MS/MS method for analysis of HCA in rat plasma after a simplified and cost-effective protein precipitation. Chromatographic separation of the analytes in the supernatant was achieved using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, where mass parameters were optimized and a rapid 5-min quantitative assay was developed. The method was highly sensitive, accurate, precise and linear in the concentration range of 10.5–5000 ng/mL (validated according to the United States Food and Drug Administration guidelines). Further, the method was successfully used to describe the pharmacokinetic profile of HCA in rat plasma after the administration of pure HCA and commercial Garcinia preparations.     

Luminescent amphiphilic nanogels by terpyridine-Zn(II) complexation of polymeric micelles

In this work, we investigated terpyridine (tpy)/Zn(II) complexation for the crosslinking of polymeric micelles of the branched poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide) block copolymer Tetronic® 1107 (T1107) in water and produce physically stable amphiphilic luminescent nanogels. Nanoparticles displayed a size of 235 ± 25 and 318 ± 57 nm before and after Zn(II) crosslinking, respectively, as measured by dynamic light scattering. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the multimicellar nature of the crosslinked nanoparticles. In addition, Zn(II) complexation prevented nanoparticle disassembly after extreme dilution below the critical micellar concentration and reduced the minimum concentration required for the reverse thermal gelation of concentrated aqueous T1107 systems. The cell compatibility and uptake were initially assessed in the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Results showed that complexation increases the cell compatibility of the nanoparticles with respect to the non-complexed counterparts. In addition, non-crosslinked nanoparticles accumulated in the cell membrane, while the complexed ones were internalized, as observed by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy. Then, the antiproliferative activity of the crosslinked nanoparticles was confirmed in the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line Rh30; their inhibitory concentration 50 (IC₅₀) being 101 μg/mL (6.7 μM). Finally, the encapsulation and release of the hydrophobic antiretroviral efavirenz was characterized in vitro. Complexation slightly reduced the release kinetics with respect to the pristine nanoparticles. Overall results demonstrate the promise of this simple modification strategy to produce amphiphilic nanogels with a set of advantageous physicochemical, optical, and biological properties.     

On Free Fall of a Particle into a Black Hole and Falling Below the Event Horizon in Kramer’s Metric in the Presence of Dark Energy

Russian Physics Journal - For a model of decaying dark energy with a fermion (τ-lepton), additional corrections to the classical estimate of the time of falling of particles into a static...     

A Molibdenum(VI)–Gallein–Diphenhydramine Ion Associate and Its Application to the Extraction-Photometric Determination of Diphenhydramine

Optimum conditions for the formation and extraction of a slightly soluble ion associate of diphenhydramine with the anionic complex molibydenum–gallein were determined. The ternary complex was extracted with butanol at pH 4–7. In the presence of diphenhydramine, the color strength became stronger, which was manifested in the absorption spectra as hypsochromic and bathochromic shifts. Some physicochemical characteristics of the complex were determined, the specificity of the reaction with respect to diphenhydramine was studied, and the probable complexation scheme was proposed. It was found that the molybdenum–gallein–diphenhydramine complex forms at a component ratio of 1: 2: 2. A procedure for the extraction–photometric determination of diphenhydramine in injection solutions and tablets was developed (RSD = 15–20%). The linearity range of the calibration graph was 0.02–0.20 mg/mL.     

Chemical shifts in ESCA and NMR

A detailed examination of the relationship between chemical shifts in ESCA and NMR is presented. It is demonstrated that even in series of closely related compounds a linear correlation between ESCA and NMR shifts cannot be expected. Included is a discussion of reorganization effects on electron binding energies. The close relation between chemical shifts of ESCA and NMR and the spin—rotation constants of molecules is pointed out.