Azamerone, a terpenoid phthalazinone from a marine-derived bacterium related to the genus Streptomyces (Actinomycetales)

A novel meroterpenoid, azamerone, was isolated from the saline culture of a new marine-derived bacterium related to the genus Streptomyces. Azamerone is composed of an unprecedented chloropyranophthalazinone core with a 3-chloro-6-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexylmethyl side chain. The structure was rigorously determined by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. A possible biosynthetic origin of this unusual ring system is proposed. [structure: see text]     

Eu-doped B2O3–ZnO–PbO glass phosphor powders with?spherical shape and fine size prepared by spray pyrolysis

Eu-doped B₂O₃–ZnO–PbO glass phosphor powders with spherical shape and fine size were directly prepared by spray pyrolysis. The glass phosphor powders prepared at a temperature of 1100°C had broad XRD peak at around 28°. One glass phosphor powder was formed from one droplet at the preparation temperature range from 900 to 1100°C. The mean size of the glass phosphor powders was 0.75 μm. The glass transition temperature (T _g ) of the glass phosphor powders prepared by spray pyrolysis was 378.5°C. The excitation spectrum of the glass phosphor powders prepared at the optimum preparation temperature of 1100°C had bands at 362, 381, 392, 463, 525, and 532 nm. The glass phosphor powders had emission spectra with bands at 579, 614, and 653 nm. The glass phosphor powders with doping concentration of Eu of 7 wt% had the maximum photoluminescence intensity. The glass phosphor layer formed from the glass phosphor powders had high transparencies above 90%.     

Ultrasonic differentiation of normal versus malignant breast epithelial cells in monolayer cultures

Normal and malignant mammary epithelial cells were studied using laboratory measurements, wavelet analysis, and numerical simulations of monolayer cell cultures to determine whether microscopic breast cancer can be detected in vitro with high-frequency ultrasound. Pulse-echo waveforms were acquired by immersing a broadband, unfocused 50-MHz transducer in the growth media of cell culture well plates and collecting the first reflection from the well bottoms. The simulations included a multilayer pulse-reflection model and a model of two-dimensional arrays of spherical cells and nuclei. The results show that normal and malignant cells produce time-domain signals and spectral features that are significantly different.     

Controlled drug release applications of the inclusion complex of peracetylated-β-cyclodextrin and water-soluble drugs formed in supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) processing was performed with mixtures of CO₂-soluble peracetylated-β-cyclodextrin (PAc-β-CD) heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl)-β-cyclodextrin, and highly water-soluble drug molsidomine (MOL) to prepare inclusion complexes of MOL and PAc-β-CD. The MOL/PAc-β-CD inclusion complex was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, and ¹H NMR analyses. The complexes were further investigated for their potential use in controlled drug delivery applications. The in-vitro release of MOL from the peanut oil suspensions into aqueous phase was found to be significantly retarded by the complexation with PAc-β-CD, mainly due to the hydrophobic properties associated with the PAc-β-CD.     

Disposable and compact integrated plasmonic sensor using a long-period grating

This Letter theoretically proposes and investigates an integrated plasmonic sensor that is based on a grating-assisted coupling between a surface plasmon polariton (SPP) and a dielectric waveguide (DW) mode. It consists of a glass slide with a gold film for the propagation of an SPP and a separate DW with a long-period grating. For sensing, the two parts are temporarily combined. After sensing, the former is replaceable, and so the sensor has disposability. The design procedure and analysis method for the sensor are explained. The designed sensor is shown to be very compact. Its characteristics of sensing a change of the refractive index of liquid are analyzed and discussed.     

Ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide in supercritical carbon dioxide using PDMS based stabilizers

Ring-opening suspension polymerization of l-lactide in supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) was investigated in the presence of different stabilizer architectures based on poly(dimethyl siloxanes) (PDMS). Two amphiphilic AB type block copolymers, a graft copolymer, and an ester-capped PDMS were selected to find their efficacy as stabilizers for the synthesis of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) in scCO₂. The stabilizer’s efficiency was analyzed in terms of the molecular weight, yield, and particle morphology of PLLA. The block copolymers, poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PDMS-b-PAA) and poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(methacrylic acid) (PDMS-b-PMA) were found to be effective, leading to the formation of fine, discrete PLLA microparticles. On the other hand, the graft copolymer, poly(dimethylsiloxane-g-pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid) (PDMS-g-PCA) and acetylated PDMS (PDMS-OAc) failed to give an enough stabilization to the PLLA due to their short polymer-philic chains, resulting in hard agglomerates.     

Synthesis of Poly(2,5‐benzimidazole) for Use as a Fuel‐Cell Membrane

Summary: Poly(2,5‐benzimidazole) (ABPBI) was synthesized in a novel polymerization medium containing CH₃SO₃H and P₂O₅. 3,4‐Diaminobenzoic acid, a monomer for ABPBI, is soluble in the medium and the polymerization was therefore performed in a homogeneous state. It produced polymer fibers, thus simplifying the work‐up process. The membrane was cast directly from the polymerization mixture. Proton conductivities of the ABPBI membranes ranged from 0.02 to 0.06 S · cm⁻¹ above 100 °C, without humidification, and the tensile strength of the membrane was approximately 100 MPa.

Synthesis of ABPBI in a medium containing methanesulfonic acid and P₂O₅.     

Orthogonal polynomial eigenfunctions of second-order partial differerential equations

In this paper, we show that for several second-order partial differential equations

which have orthogonal polynomial eigenfunctions, these polynomials can be expressed as a product of two classical orthogonal polynomials in one variable. This is important since, otherwise, it is very difficult to explicitly find formulas for these polynomial solutions. From this observation and characterization, we are able to produce additional examples of such orthogonal polynomials together with their orthogonality that widens the class found by H. L. Krall and Sheffer in their seminal work in 1967. Moreover, from our approach, we can answer some open questions raised by Krall and Sheffer.

     

Pulsed laser deposition of hard magnetic films

Pulsed laser deposition from elemental targets was used to prepare highly textured hard magnetic Nd–Fe–B and Fe–Pt films with coercivities of 2 T and 5.2 T, respectively. In situ methods such as reflection high energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy were applied to analyse film composition and structure during growth. Optimisation of the hard magnetic properties is discussed together with the specific advantages of pulsed laser deposition. PACS 81.15.Fg; 75.50.Ww; 75.50.Vv     

Recent advances in controlled/living radical polymerization in emulsion and dispersion

Effective ways to conduct controlled/living radical polymerization (CRP) in emulsion systems are necessary for commercial latex production without significant modification of current industrial facilities. Conducting CRP in emulsion media is more complicated and more challenging than its application in homogeneous bulk. These challenges come from the intrinsic kinetics of emulsion polymerization. They include mass transport, slow chain growth mechanism, and exit of short radicals from polymeric particles. This review describes the recent developments of CRP in heterogeneous dispersion, including miniemulsion, microemulsion, dispersion, and especially emulsion. Various approaches for conducting emulsion CRP are detailed, including controlled seeded emulsion polymerization, nanoprecipitation, use of short oligomers as macroinitiators for in situ block copolymerization, and RAFT‐mediated self‐assembly. In addition many remaining challenges of the current methods barring wide spread industrial application of emulsion CRP are also suggested. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6983–7001, 2008