Small-angle neutron scattering from mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulfate and a cationic, bolaform surfactant containing azobenzene

This paper reports on the microstructures formed in aqueous solutions containing mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and a photosensitive, bolaform surfactant, bis(trimethylammoniumhexyloxy)azobenzene dibromide (BTHA). By using quasi-elastic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering, we determined that aqueous solutions containing SDS and the trans isomer of BTHA (0.1 wt % total surfactant, 15 mol % BTHA, 85 mol % SDS) form vesicles with average hydrodynamic diameters of 1350 +/- 50 angstroms and bilayer thicknesses of 35 +/- 2 angstroms. The measured bilayer thickness is consistent with a model of the vesicle bilayer in which the trans isomer of BTHA spans the bilayer. Upon illumination with UV light, the BTHA underwent photoisomerization to produce a cis-rich photostationary state (80% cis isomer). We measured this photoisomerization to drive the reorganization of vesicles into cylindrical aggregates with cross-sectional radii of 19 +/- 3 angstroms and average hydrodynamic diameters of 240 +/- 50 angstroms. Equilibration of the cis-rich solution in the dark at 25 degrees C for 12 h or illumination of the solution with visible light leads to the recovery of the trans-rich photostationary state of the solution and the reformation of vesicles, thus demonstrating the potential utility of this system as the basis of a tunable fluid.     

Interfacial properties of semifluorinated alkane diblock copolymers

The liquid-vapor interfacial properties of semifluorinated linear alkane diblock copolymers of the form F(3)C(CF(2))(n-1)(CH(2))(m-1)CH(3) are studied by fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The chemical composition and the conformation of the molecules at the interface are identified and correlated with the interfacial energies. A modified form of the Optimized Parameter for Liquid Simulation All-Atom (OPLS-AA) force field of Jorgensen and co-workers [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106, 6638 (1984); 118, 11225 (1996); J. Phys. Chem. A 105, 4118 (2001)], which includes specific dihedral terms for H-F blocks-and corrections to the H-F nonbonded interaction, is used together with a new version of the exp-6 force field developed in this work. Both force fields yield good agreement with the available experimental liquid density and surface tension data as well as each other over significant temperature ranges and for a variety of chain lengths and compositions. The interfacial regions of semifluorinated alkanes are found to be rich in fluorinated groups compared to hydrogenated groups, an effect that decreases with increasing temperature but is independent of the fractional length of the fluorinated segments. The proliferation of fluorine at the surface substantially lowers the surface tension of the diblock copolymers, yielding values near those of perfluorinated alkanes and distinct from those of protonated alkanes of the same chain length. With decreasing temperatures within the liquid state, chains are found to preferentially align perpendicular to the interface, as previously seen.     

Effect of phase angle on multibladed rotor flutter

A theoretical technique for predicting the flutter characteristics of a helicopter rotor is presented. The effect of phase angle on flutter speed of a two-bladed rotor in hovering and axial flight is determined. For this purpose, a uniform and untwisted rotor blade with coupled flapwise bending and torsional degrees of freedom is considered. The transmission matrix method is used to obtain the natural vibration characteristics of the system. An unsteady aerodynamic theory is used to obtain the aerodynamic loading in compressible flow.     

The nuclear microprobe as an analytical tool

The nuclear microprobe is a spatially sensitive analytical instrument which exploits measurement of the particles or other radiations emitted when specimens are irradiated with beams of energetic charged-particles, most often having energies lying the range 0.5–4 MeV. Factors affecting the analytical and technical performance are discussed and examples given of application of the instrument to the fields of nuclear science and metallurgy, biology and geology.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of rhodamine derivatives

The microwave synthesis of 12 rhodamine-derived imines is described. The present work involves condensation of rhodamine hydrazide with various aromatic aldehydes in ethanol under microwave irradiation. The results obtained indicate that, unlike classical heating, microwave irradiation results in higher yields, shorter reaction time, mild reaction condition and simple work-up procedure. The structures of synthesized compounds were confirmed by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, FT-IR and high-resolution mass spectra data.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Natural Product Lipoxazolidinone A

Natural products have historically been a major source of antibiotics and therefore novel scaffolds are constantly of interest. The lipoxazolidinone family of marine natural products, with an unusual 4‐oxazolidinone heterocycle at their core, represents a new scaffold for antimicrobial discovery; however, questions regarding their mechanism of action and high lipophilicity have likely slowed follow‐up studies. Herein, we report the first synthesis of lipoxazolidinone A, 15 structural analogues to explore its active pharmacophore, and initial resistance and mechanism of action studies. These results suggest that 4‐oxazolidinones are valuable scaffolds for antimicrobial development and reveal simplified lead compounds for further optimization.