Five novel norcembranoids from Sinularia leptoclados and S. parva

Three new norcembrane-based diterpenoids, leptocladolides A (1), B (4) and C (5), along with five known metabolites 6-10, have been isolated from the dichloromethane extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia leptoclados. Furthermore, a chemical investigation on the dichloromethane extract of S. parva has resulted in the isolation of two new related isomers, 1-epi-leptocladolide A (2) and 7E-leptocladolide A (3), in addition to 1 and 7. The structures of new metabolites 1-5 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and their relative stereochemistries were determined by NOESY experiments. The new metabolites 1 and 3 have been shown to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against KB and Hepa59T/VGH cancer cell lines.     

Electrodeposition of Platinum Nanoparticles on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol

Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were deposited at the surface of well-aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by potential cycling between +0.50 and −0.70 V at a scanning rate of 50 mV · s⁻¹ in 5 mM Na₂PtCl₆ solution containing 0.1 M NaCl. The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol at the nanocomposites of Pt nanoparticles/nanotubes (Pt_nano/MWNTs) has been investigated using 0.2 M H₂SO₄ as supporting electrolyte. The effects of various parameters, such as Pt loading, concentration of methanol, medium temperature as well as the stability of Pt_nano/MWNTs electrode, have been studied. Compared to glassy carbon electrode, carbon nanotube electrode significantly enhances the catalytic efficiency of Pt nanoparticles for methanol oxidation. This improvement in performance is due not only to the high surface area and the fast electron transfer rate of nanotubes but also to the highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles as electrocatalysts at the tips and the sidewalls of nanotubes.     

Metabolites with Cytotoxic Activity from the Formosan Soft Coral Cladiella Australis

The metabolites, (24S)‐3β‐acetoxyergost‐5‐en‐21‐oic acid ( 2 ), 5′‐O‐acetylthymidine ( 3 ), 3′‐O‐acetylthymidine ( 4 ), and p‐vinylbenzyl alcohol ( 5 ), along with a known steroid ( 1 ) were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the Formosan soft coral Caldiella australis. The structures of new metabolites were determined on the basis of spectroscopic (including 1D and 2D NMR) analyses and by comparison of their NMR spectral data with those of related compounds. Except for 3 , all compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity of various degrees of potency against a limited panel of human liver and breast cancer cell lines.     

Interfacial Electrochemical Behavior of RuS2 Single Crystal Electrodes in Sulfuric Acid Medium

The electrochemical behavior of RuS₂ has been studied using cyclic voltammetry and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. Cyclic voltammograms reveal one major anodic peak and two major cathodic peaks on the reverse sweep; these peaks are attributed to the electroadsorption/desorption of OH^? groups on the electrode surface. It is proposed that the electroadsorption of the OH^? group on RuS₂ is due to the presence of Ru 4d electrons in the uppermost part of the valence band. Thus, OH^? is oxidized by holes on Ru 4d states in the first step. These groups are transferred to S₂^2?sites in the second step. EDX surface analysis reveals preferential release of S₂^2? from the pyrite lattice. A mechanism for the anodic dissolution of RuS₂ is proposed, according to which elemental sulfur is not a direct product, but rather the end product which forms from thiosulfate.     

Low temperature synthesis of bilayer hydrated cesium cobalt oxide

Bilayer hydrated Na_0.35CoO₂·1.3H₂O structure has re-directed superconductivity research in recent years. Here, we develop a low temperature synthesis method to prepare a novel hydrous Cs_0.2CoO₂·0.63H₂O compound in one step. The bilayer-hydrate of Cs_0.2CoO₂·0.63H₂O with a greatest interlayer spacing d=10.0(2) Å among alkali cobalt oxides has been grown in crystal form. Magnetic susceptibility measurement of Cs_0.2CoO₂·0.63H₂O displays a paramagnetic behavior down to 1.9 K. With the assistance of low temperature molten CsOH solvent, crystals of Rb_0.30CoO₂·0.36H₂O and K_0.35CoO₂·0.4H₂O can be grown. The results provide the capability for preparing a novel hydrous structure and the systematic investigation of interlayer coupling effect of alkali ion insertion compounds.     

Synthesis and Mossbauer Spectra Studies of Mono-Binuclear Iron(III) Complexes with a Quinquedentate Ligand Derived from Saucylaldehyeds and Diethylenetriamine

Mono- and bi-nuclear iron(III) complexes of general formula [FeXL] and [LFe-Y-FeL](Bph₄)₂ have been prepared, and their spin state of iron atom in the complexes has been studied by means of the temperature dependence of the Mössbauer spectra, electronic spectra and magnetic measurement, where X is a mono- dentate ligand such as Cl-, NCS-, NCO-, N3-, pyridine and L denotes a quinquedentate Schiff base derived from salicylaldehyde and diethylenetriamine, and Y denotes bridged ligand such as pyrazine(pyr), 4,4′-bipyridine(bpy) and 4,4′-vinylenebipyridine(vibpy). On the basis of the Mössbauer and magnetic data, it was concluded that these complexes were all the high-spin (S = 5/2) slate. The effect of gamma ray irradiation for these complexes has been discussed.     

E.S.R. of a one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet which undergoes a crystalline to discotic phase transition

Abstract

Single crystals and polycrystalline samples of the compounds bis(1,3-di(p-n-octylphenyl)propane-l,3-dionato)copper(II) [I], and bis(l,3-di(p-n-octyloxy-phenyl)propane-l,3-dionato)copper(II) [II] have been studied by E.S.R. The E.S.R. spectra of single crystals of [I] at 298 K have the features associated with a spin 1/2 one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet while the spectra of single crystals of [II] do not. E.S.R. of single crystals of [I] and [II] provides a reliable means of detecting previously reported crystalline to discotic phase transitions. Single crystals of [I] heated beyond the temperature of the first discotic phase transition yield single line E.S.R. spectra which have an angular dependence and an asymmetric lineshape; these observations suggest that, in the discotic phase, exchange interactions are still significant and a degree of long range order is maintained.     

A hybrid neuro-fuzzy analytical approach to mode choice of global logistics management

This paper presents a hybrid neuro-fuzzy methodology to identify appropriate global logistics (GL) operational modes used for global supply chain management. The proposed methodological framework includes three main developmental phases: (1) establishment of a GL strategic hierarchy, (2) formulation of GL-mode identification rules, and (3) development of a GL-mode choice model. By integrating advanced multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques including fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP), Fuzzy-MCDM, and the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS), six types of global logistics and operational modes coupled with corresponding fuzzy-based multi-criteria decision-making rules are specified in the second phase. Using the specified fuzzy decision-making rules as the input database, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is then developed in the third phase to identify proper GL modes for the implementation of global supply chain management. A numerical study with a questionnaire survey database aimed at the information technology (IT) industries of Taiwan is conducted to illustrate the applicability of the proposed method.     

Electrical-optical analysis of a GaN/sapphire LED chip by considering the resistivity of the current-spreading layer

The effects of current distribution in LED chips on the electrical potential and optical light extraction efficiency are investigated by a numerical simulation. The results show that when the resistivity of the current-spreading layer is decreased there is current-crowding near the n-contact. On the other hand, when the resistivity in the current-spreading layer increases, there is current-crowding near the p-contact. When the current is crowded near the n-contact due to less resistivity of the current-spreading layer, the input power is lower because of the smaller series resistance in the chip, and the light extraction efficiency is higher since the shadowing effect of the p-contact can be avoided. For L _p = 50 μm in this study, the light extraction efficiency at ρ _ITO = 0.1 × 10⁻³ Ω·cm is 1.4 times better than that when L _p = 100 μm, even though the driving voltage is raised 1.02 times.