A Fully Synthetic Globo H Carbohydrate Vaccine Induces a Focused Humoral Response in Prostate Cancer Patients: A Proof of Principle

Human trials on the globo H carbohydrate vaccine (see picture, KLH=the carrier protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin) show that it produces strong IgM, and in some cases IgG, responses in patients with progressive and recurrent prostate cancer. Furthermore, these antibodies not only recognize synthetic antigens, but also globo H‐positive tumors in biopsy extracts and tumor tissues.     

Photoelectrochemical properties of TiO x layers prepared by DC pulsed unbalanced reactive magnetron sputtering

Three sets of titanium oxide layers with different oxygen content were prepared by DC pulsed reactive magnetron sputtering. The layers were characterised by their thickness, conductivity, refractive index, band-gap and flat band potential. The photoelectric and photocatalytic activities of the layers irradiated by Xe discharge lamp were tested in NaOH and phenol water solution, respectively. Rather high activity of prepared layers was found; no expressive activity increase was, however, observed in contrary to the expectation connected with suboxide forms of TiO _x .     

Phase retrieval from the spectral interference signal used to measure thickness of SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin film on silicon wafer

A new method of phase retrieval from the spectral interference signal is presented, which is based on the use of a windowed Fourier transform in the wavelength domain. The phase retrieved by the method is utilized for measuring the thickness of SiO₂ thin film on a silicon wafer. The numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate high precision of the phase retrieval. The feasibility of the method is confirmed in processing experimental data from a slightly dispersive Michelson interferometer with one of the mirrors replaced by SiO₂ thin film on the silicon wafer. We determine the thin-film thickness for four samples provided that the optical constants for all the materials involved in the experiment are known. We confirm very good agreement with the previous results obtained by the fitting of the recorded channelled spectra to the theoretical ones. PACS 07.60.Ly; 42.30.Rx; 68.55.Jk; 78.20.Bh     

Displacive and order-disorder behavior of KDP-type ferroelectrics on the local scale

The modified strong dipole-proton coupling (MSDPC) model, which predicted several static and dynamic dielectric properties of KH₂PO₄ or KDP-type ferroelectrics, was used to investigate the properties of these crystals on the local scale. Results calculated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation show that both order-disorder and displacive characteristics of one PO₄ dipole are present in KDP and KD₂PO₄ (DKDP). These results correlate with experimental data from NMR and neutron scattering studies of local properties.     

Direct measurement of group dispersion of optical components using white-light spectral interferometry

We present a simple white-light spectral interferometric technique employing a low-resolution spectrometer for a direct measurement of the group dispersion of optical components over a wide wavelength range. The technique utilizes an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a component under test inserted in one arm and the other arm with adjustable path length. We record a series of spectral interferograms to measure the equalization wavelength as a function of the path length difference. We measure the absolute group refractive index as a function of wavelength for a quartz crystal of known thickness and the relative one for optical fiber. In the latter case we use a microscope objective in front and a lens behind the fiber and subtract their group dispersion, which is measured by a technique of tandem interferometry including also a Michelson interferometer.     

Direct C-arylation of free (NH)-indoles and pyrroles catalyzed by Ar-Rh(III) complexes assembled in situ

Ar-Rh(III) pivalate complexes assembled in situ from the reaction of [RhCl(coe)2]2 (coe = cis-cyclooctene), [p-(CF3)C6H4]3P, and CsOPiv effectively catalyzed the direct C-arylation of free (NH)-indoles and (NH)-pyrroles in good yields and with high regioselectivity. The reaction displayed excellent functional group compatibility and low moisture sensitivity. Kinetics studies support a mechanism involving phosphine displacement by indole in complex 2 (resting state of the catalyst), followed by a rate-limiting C-H bond metalation.     

Operators that admit a moment sequence

We consider the question of which operators on Hilbert space admit a moment sequence, and show, in particular, that ifT is any operator inL(itH) that can be written asT=N+K, whereN is normal andK is compact, andM⊂itH is any invariant subspace forT, then the restrictionT/itM admits such a sequence.     

Almost Automorphic Functions in Frechet Spaces and Applications to Differential Equations

In this paper we first develop a theory of almost automorphic functions with values in Frechet spaces. Then, we consider the semilinear differential equation x'(t) = A x(t) + f(t, x(t)), t ∈ ℝ in a Frechet space X, where A is the infinitesimal generator of a C₀-semigroup satisfying some conditions of exponential stability. Under suitable conditions on f, we prove the existence and uniqueness of an almost automorphic mild solution to the equation.     

Oxidative C-arylation of free (NH)-heterocycles via direct (sp3) C-H bond functionalization

The development of a new chemical transformation, namely oxidative C-arylation of saturated (NH)-heterocycles, is described. This reaction combines dehydrogenation and arylation in one process, leading to cross-coupling of (NH)-heterocycles and haloarenes. Typical reaction conditions involve heating the reaction partners in anhydrous dioxane at 120-150 degrees C in the presence of RhCl(CO)[P(Fur)3]2 as the catalyst and Cs2CO3 as the base. Addition of tert-butylethylene as the hydrogen acceptor increases the chemical yield by diminishing the dehalogenation pathway. This method demonstrated a good substrate scope, allowing for cross-coupling of a variety of (NH)-heterocycles (e.g., pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine, morpholine) and halo(hetero)arenes to afford valuable heterocyclic products in one step. The preliminary mechanistic studies provided some insight regarding the key events in the proposed catalytic cycle, including beta-hydride elimination of an amido rhodium complex and carbometalation of the resulting imine. A large kinetic isotope effect [KIE (kC-H/kC-D) = 4.3] suggests that one or both beta-hydride elimination steps are rate determining. The central role for the phosphine ligand was established in controlling the partitioning between the oxidative C-arylation and N-arylation pathways.