Generation of high-contrast and high-intensity laser pulses using an OPCPA preamplifier in a double CPA, Ti:sapphire laser system

We demonstrate a high-contrast, high-intensity double chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) Ti:sapphire laser system using an optical parametric chirped-pulse (OPCPA) pre- amplifier. By injecting cleaned microjoule seed pulses into the OPCPA, a temporal contrast greater than 10¹⁰ within picosecond times before the main femtosecond pulse is demonstrated with an output pulse energy of 1.7 J and a pulse duration of 30 fs, corresponding to a peak power of 60 TW at a 10 Hz repetition rate. This system uses a cryogenically-cooled Ti:sapphire final amplifier and generates focused peak intensities in excess of 10²⁰ W/cm².     

Analysis of the paramagnetic susceptibility of Fe(HCOO)2·2H2O

The paramagnetic susceptibility of powdered Fe(HCOO)₂·2H₂O is analysed by the combined method of high temperature expansion and molecular field approximation. The experimental data are well explained by the consistent model obtained in the previous specific heat analysis.     

Electrical detection of hepatitis C virus RNA on single wall carbon nanotube-field effect transistors

We report the unambiguous detection of a sequence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) at concentrations down to the fractional pM range using Single Wall Carbon Nanotube (SWNT) Field Effect Transistor (FET) devices functionalized with Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA).     

Intersection theory over quantum ruled surfaces

In this paper, we will extend several results on intersection theory over commutative ruled surfaces to quantum ruled surfaces. Typically, we define the fiber of a closed point, the quasi-section, and the quasi-canonical divisor on a quantum rules surface, and study how these “curves” on a quantum ruled surface intersect with each other.     

Efficient solid-phase synthesis of cyclic RGD peptides under controlled microwave heating

Cyclic RGD peptides are potent antagonists for the α_vβ₃ integrin receptor. In this Letter, microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis of cyclic RGD peptides is described. In a coupling reaction between Fmoc-Arg(Pbf)-OH and high-loading H-Gly-Trt(2-Cl) resin, multiple coupling reactions were required for completion under the conventional HBTU activation. We found that the use of COMU, a new coupling reagent, under microwave heating to 50 °C accelerated the reaction even inside the resin. This method was applicable to the synthesis of linear pentapeptides, H-Asp(OtBu)-Xxx-Yyy-Arg(Pbf)-Gly-OH (Xxx = d-Phe(p-Br) or d-Tyr, Yyy = Lys(Boc) or MeVal). Cyclization of these peptides followed by deprotection gave the desired cyclic RGD peptides with high purity.     

Effect of calcination temperature during preparation of Ru?Sn-alumina catalysts on the hydrogenation of carboxylic acid

The conversion of a carboxylic acid was increased to 90% with 100% selectivity to the corresponding alcohol by calcination of the catalyst precursor, Sn/alumina, of Ru–Sn/alumina in the hydrogenation of the carboxylic acid.     

Enhanced percutaneous penetration of flufenamic acid using lipid disperse systems containing glycosylceramides

The usefulness of lipid disperse systems, containing soybean phosphatidylcholine (PC) and glycosylceramide (GC) as lipid components, to enhance the percutaneous penetration of flufenamic acid (FA) through rat abdominal skin was examined by both in vitro permeation and in vivo absorption studies. The penetration of FA from a simple buffer suspension (pH 3.0) containing no lipid component was poor, but was markedly enhanced when FA was incorporated in PC-dispersions. However, this enhancing effect disappeared when the PC concentration in the preparation exceeded 40 mumol/ml. Enhanced penetration of FA from PC-dispersions could also be recognized when 30% propylene glycol or 30% glycerol was used as the dispersing medium instead of the aqueous buffer solution. Addition of GC to the PC-dispersions brought further enhancement of FA penetration through the skin. The maximal effect was observed when FA was incorporated in a 10%-GC system, and the cumulative amount of FA penetrating through the skin in 24 h from this system was approximately 6-fold larger than that from the simple buffer suspension. Enhanced absorption of FA from lipid disperse systems was also confirmed by in vivo application of these preparations.