Nonplanar aromatic compounds. 9. Synthesis, structure, and aromaticity of 1:2,13:14-dibenzo[2]paracyclo[2](2,7)- pyrenophane-1,13-diene

Pyrenophane (6) and an octaphenyl derivative (16) were synthesized using two different routes. Both cyclophanes contain a severely bent pyrene unit (6: theta = 93.6 degrees and 16: theta = 95.8 degrees , according to DFT-calculations (B3LYP/6-311G**)), which was generated at room temperature by a valence isomerization/dehydrogenation (VID) reaction. HOMA and NICS indicate 92-98% retention of aromaticity of the highly distorted pyrene systems compared to planar pyrene.     

Synthesis of boron macrocycles from 1,2‐aminoalcohols and 2‐formylphenylboronic acid

Condensation of aminoalcohols with 2‐HC(O)C₆H₄B(OH)₂ afforded the macrocyclic compounds 1–7 with an OBOBO structural unit. Crystals of 1 were triclinic, space group P‐1, a = 9.9818(12) Å, b = 12.8302(15) Å, c = 13.1663(15) Å, α = 105.503(2)°, β = 94.860(2)°, γ = 92.585(2)°, Z = 2.     

Fabrication of biomolecular nanostructures by scanning near-field photolithography of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated self-assembled monolayers

The UV photo-oxidation of oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG)-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) has been studied using static secondary ion mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle measurement, and friction force microscopy. OEG-terminated SAMs are oxidized to yield sulfonates, but photodegradation of the OEG chain also occurs on a more rapid time scale, yielding degradation products that remain bound to the surface via gold-sulfur bonds. The oxidation of these degradation products is the rate-limiting step in the process. Photopatterning of OEG-terminated SAMs may be accomplished by using a mask and suitable light source or by using scanning near-field photolithography (SNP) in which the mask is replaced by a scanning near-field optical microscope coupled to a UV laser. Using SNP, it is possible to fabricate patterns in SAMs with a full width at half-maximum height (fwhm) as small as 9 nm, which is approximately 15 times smaller than the conventional diffraction limit. SNP-patterned OEG-terminated SAMs may be used to fabricate protein nanopatterns. By adsorbing carboxylic acid-terminated thiols into oxidized regions and converting these to active ester intermediates, it has been possible to fabricate lines of protein molecules with widths of only a few tens of nanometers.     

Excitation-resolved hyperspectral fluorescence lifetime imaging using a UV-extended supercontinuum source

We present a time-gated, optically sectioned, hyperspectral fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) microscope incorporating a tunable supercontinuum excitation source extending into the UV. The system is capable of resolving the excitation spectrum, emission spectrum, and fluorescence decays in an optically sectioned image.     

Magnetic resonance in the era of molecular imaging of cancer

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has played an important role in the diagnosis and management of cancer since it was first developed, but other modalities also continue to advance and provide complementary information on the status of tumors. In the future, there will be a major continuing role for noninvasive imaging in order to obtain information on the location and extent of cancer, as well as assessments of tissue characteristics that can monitor and predict treatment response and guide patient management. Developments are currently being undertaken that aim to provide improved imaging methods for the detection and evaluation of tumors, for identifying important characteristics of tumors such as the expression levels of cell surface receptors that may dictate what types of therapy will be effective and for evaluating their response to treatments. Molecular imaging techniques based mainly on radionuclide imaging can depict numerous, specific, cellular and molecular markers of disease and have unique potential to address important clinical and research challenges. In this review, we consider what continuing and evolving roles will be played by MRI in this era of molecular imaging. We discuss some of the challenges for MRI of detecting imaging agents that report on molecular events, but highlight also the ability of MRI to assess other features such as cell density, blood flow and metabolism which are not specific hallmarks of cancer but which reflect molecular changes. We discuss the future role of MRI in cancer and describe the use of selected quantitative imaging techniques for characterizing tumors that can be translated to clinical applications, particularly in the context of evaluating novel treatments.     

A Catalogue of Stable Equilibria of Planar Extensible or Inextensible Elastic Rods for All Possible Dirichlet Boundary Conditions

We catalogue configurations that locally minimize energy for a planar elastic rod (extensible-shearable or inextensible-unshearable) subject to arbitrary Dirichlet boundary conditions in position and orientation. Via a combination of analysis and computation, we determine several bifurcation surfaces in the 3-parameter space of boundary conditions and explore how they depend on the rod material parameters, including in the inextensible limit. For each possible boundary condition, we find all stable equilibria with sufficiently low energy that they might be competitive within a Boltzmann distribution if the rod were used to model DNA with tens or hundreds of base pairs, the length-scale relevant for DNA looping. Depending on the boundary conditions, there are as many as three such equilibria.     

Global Weyl modules for the twisted loop algebra

We define global Weyl modules for twisted loop algebras and analyze their highest weight spaces, which are in fact isomorphic to Laurent polynomial rings in finitely many variables. We are able to show that the global Weyl module is a free module of finite rank over these rings. Furthermore we prove, that there exist injective maps from the global Weyl modules for twisted loop algebras into a direct sum of global Weyl modules for untwisted loop algebras. Relations between local Weyl modules for twisted and untwisted generalized current algebras are known; we provide for the first time a relation on global Weyl modules.     

Simultaneous PET–MRI in oncology: a solution looking for a problem?

With the recent development of integrated positron emission tomography–magnetic resonance imaging (PET–MRI) scanners, new possibilities for quantitative molecular imaging of cancer are realized. However, the practical advantages and potential clinical benefits of the ability to record PET and MRI data simultaneously must be balanced against the substantial costs and other requirements of such devices. In this review, we highlight several of the key areas where integrated PET–MRI measurements, obtained simultaneously, are anticipated to have a significant impact on clinical and/or research studies. These areas include the use of MR-based motion corrections and/or a priori anatomical information for improved reconstruction of PET data, improved arterial input function characterization for PET kinetic modeling, the use of dual-modality contrast agents, and patient comfort and practical convenience. For widespread acceptance, a compelling case could be made if the combination of quantitative MRI and specific PET biomarkers significantly improves our ability to assess tumor status and response to therapy, and some likely candidates are now emerging. We consider the relative advantages and disadvantages afforded by PET–MRI and summarize current opinions and evidence as to the likely value of PET–MRI in the management of cancer.     

Finding vibrations of inclined cable structures by approximately solving governing equations for exterior matrix

In this paper, how to compute the eigenfrequencies of the structures composed of a series of inclined cables is shown. The physics of an inclined cable can be complicated, so solving the differential equations even approximately is difficult. However, rather than solving the system of 4 first-order equations governing the dynamics of each cable, the governing equations are instead converted to a set of equations that the exterior matrix satisfies. Therefore, the exterior matrix method (EMM) is used without solving the original governing equations. Even though this produces a system of 6 first-order equations, the simple asymptotic techniques to find the first three terms of the perturbative solution can be used. The solutions can then be assembled to produce a 6 × 6 exterior matrix for a cable section. The matrices for each cable in the structure are multiplied together, along with the exterior matrices for each joint. The roots of the product give us the eigenfrequencies of the system.     

Reduction of Se(VI) to Se(-II) by zerovalent iron nanoparticle suspensions

The reaction of selenate (Se(VI)) with zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nano Fe⁰) was studied using both conventional batch equilibrium and X-ray spectroscopic techniques. Nano Fe⁰ has a high uptake capacity for removal of dissolved Se(VI) reaching concentrations as high as 0.10 Se:Fe molar ratio in the solid product mixture. Kinetic studies of the Se(VI) uptake reaction in batch experiments showed an initial reaction rate (0–30 min) of 0.0364 min^?1 which was four times greater than conventional Fe⁰ powder. Analysis of the oxidation state of Se in the solid products by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy showed evidence for the reduction of Se(VI) to insoluble selenide (Se(-II)) species. Structural analysis of the product by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy suggested that Se(-II) was associated with nano Fe⁰ oxidation products as a poorly ordered iron selenide (FeSe) compound. The fitted first shell Se–Fe interatomic distance of 2.402 (±0.004) Å matched closely with previous studies of the products of Se(IV)-treated Fe(II)-clays and zero-valent iron/iron carbide (Fe/Fe₃C). The poorly ordered FeSe product was associated with Fe⁰ corrosion product phases such as crystalline magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and Fe(III) oxyhydroxide. The results of this investigation suggest that nano Fe⁰ is a strong reducing agent capable of efficient reduction of soluble Se oxyanions to insoluble Se(-II).