Current gain and external quantum efficiency modeling of GeSn based direct bandgap multiple quantum well heterojunction phototransistor

This paper aims to provide the performance characteristics of proposed, strain balanced direct band gap multiple quantum wells (MQWs) hetero phototransistor (HPT) made of SiGeSn/GeSn alloys grown on Si substrate which is compatible with recent CMOS fabrication technology. This also presents a comprehensive comparison of this proposed structure with the existing HPT structure made of indirect gap Ge/SiGe MQWs. Alloys of Ge and Sn grown on Si platform shows about tenfold increase in absorption over Ge at C and L-bands due to direct nature of band gap in GeSn. Initial work begins the solution of continuity equation to solve the different terminal current densities and optical gain of the multiple quantum well structure. Main analysis was concentrated on finding the external quantum efficiency depending on the doping variations of emitter and base, base width etc. Finally the photocurrent density variations are estimated for the structure and compared with existing indirect band gap HPT. The calculated values for direct band gap GeSn HPT device are found to be comparable with those for indirect band gap SiGe device to flourish as a potential candidate of photo detectors for the present day telecommunication network.     

Dinucleosides with non-natural backbones: a new class of ribonuclease A and angiogenin inhibitors

Ribonuclease?A (RNase A) serves as a convenient model enzyme in the identification and development of inhibitors of proteins that are members of the ribonuclease superfamily. This is principally because the biological activity of these proteins, such as angiogenin, is linked to their catalytic ribonucleolytic activity. In an attempt to inhibit the biological activity of angiogenin, which involves new blood vessel formation, we employed different dinucleosides with varied non-natural backbones. These compounds were synthesized by coupling aminonucleosides with dicarboxylic acids and amino- and carboxynucleosides with an amino acid. These molecules show competitive inhibition with inhibition constant (K(i)) values of (59±3) and (155±5) μM for RNase A. The compounds were also found to inhibit angiogenin in a competitive fashion with corresponding K(i) values in the micromolar range. The presence of an additional polar group attached to the backbone of dinucleosides was found to be responsible for the tight binding with both proteins. The specificity of different ribonucleolytic subsites were found to be altered because of the incorporation of a non-natural backbone in between the two nucleosidic moieties. In spite of the replacement of the phosphate group by non-natural linkers, these molecules were found to selectively interact with the ribonucleolytic site residues of angiogenin, whereas the cell binding site and nuclear translocation site residues remain unperturbed. Docked conformations of the synthesized compounds with RNase A and angiogenin suggest a binding preference for the thymine-adenine pair over the thymine-thymine pair.     

Dinucleosides with Non‐Natural Backbones: A New Class of Ribonuclease A and Angiogenin Inhibitors

Ribonuclease A (RNase A) serves as a convenient model enzyme in the identification and development of inhibitors of proteins that are members of the ribonuclease superfamily. This is principally because the biological activity of these proteins, such as angiogenin, is linked to their catalytic ribonucleolytic activity. In an attempt to inhibit the biological activity of angiogenin, which involves new blood vessel formation, we employed different dinucleosides with varied non‐natural backbones. These compounds were synthesized by coupling aminonucleosides with dicarboxylic acids and amino‐ and carboxynucleosides with an amino acid. These molecules show competitive inhibition with inhibition constant (K_i) values of (59±3) and (155±5) μM for RNase A. The compounds were also found to inhibit angiogenin in a competitive fashion with corresponding K_i values in the micromolar range. The presence of an additional polar group attached to the backbone of dinucleosides was found to be responsible for the tight binding with both proteins. The specificity of different ribonucleolytic subsites were found to be altered because of the incorporation of a non‐natural backbone in between the two nucleosidic moieties. In spite of the replacement of the phosphate group by non‐natural linkers, these molecules were found to selectively interact with the ribonucleolytic site residues of angiogenin, whereas the cell binding site and nuclear translocation site residues remain unperturbed. Docked conformations of the synthesized compounds with RNase A and angiogenin suggest a binding preference for the thymine–adenine pair over the thymine–thymine pair.     

Highly convergent one-pot four-component regioselective synthesis of 4H-benzo[f]chromenes via annulation of β-oxodithioesters

Highly efficient regioselective protocol for the synthesis of hitherto unreported 4H-benzo[f]chromenes has been developed by one-pot four-component coupling of aromatic aldehydes, β-naphthol, β-oxodithioesters, and primary alcohols in the presence of InCl₃. This transformation presumably proceeds via domino Knoevenagel condensation/Michael addition/intramolecular cyclodehydration/transesterification sequence creating four new bonds and one stereocenter in a single operation. Further, alcohol plays dual role as a reactant as well as reaction medium.     

Effect of dispersion on the diffusion zone in two-phase laminar flows in microchannels

Aim of the present work is to investigate the reaction–diffusion process of a two species system under laminar flow in a T-shaped microchannel. A zone formed at the interface between the aqueous solutions of these two species is affected by advection and diffusion. Through theoretical analyses and experimental results, the effect of dispersion has been shown to influence this diffusion zone. We have defined a parameter called effective diffusivity, to account for the dispersion effects and observed it to be a function of the channel Peclet number. In the limiting case of low Peclet number, this parameter is constant and turns out to be equal to the molecular diffusivity. We have also related effective diffusivity and the dispersion coefficient through scaling estimates.     

Multiporous Materials From Thermoreversible Poly(vinyledene fluoride) Gels

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVF₂) produces thermoreversible gels with alkyl diesters of general formula (CH₂)_n (COOEt)₂ as well as with camphor, a naturally occurring ketone. These gels containing polymer-solvent intercalates yield multiporous materials when subjected to controlled solvent removal techniques. The micro and meso pores are attributed to polymer-solvent complexation while the macro pores are formed as a result of removal of the solvent trapped in the fibrillar network. PVF₂ –diethyl azelate (DEAZ, n = 6) and PVF₂ -camphor gels produce porous polymer network when dried by cyclohexane leaching. FESEM images exhibit porous network structures with fibrillar morphology. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) shows presence of pores having diameter in the range 4 nm–400µm for both the systems. The BJH pore size distribution curves for both systems confirm the presence of mesoporosity. The HK pore size distribution plots indicate that micropores are also created and it also puts evidence of single molecule solvent intercalation between the PVF₂ strands. The hysteresis between the extrusion and the intrusion curves indicates the presence of channel type/ink-bottle type structure in these systems.     

Synthesis of New Benzosubstituted Dioxaphosphonines Containing Quinoxaline Subunit

A simple and efficient synthesis of previously unknown benzosubstituted dioxaphosphonines containing a quinoxaline subunit is described. Reasonably good yields of the products, mild reaction conditions, and convenient work-up are the advantages of this method. The procedure does not require any catalyst or activator and can be efficiently achieved via dianion cyclization. All the synthesized compounds have been characterized by satisfactory elemental analyses and spectral (IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR, and mass) studies.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

Selective lighting up of segments around Gly,Ala and Ser/Thr in proteins

Direct detection of ¹³C nucleus can be used as a valuable alternative where ¹H detection poses a challenge due to relaxation effects, chemical exchange and poor chemical shift dispersion. In this context, we have designed a suite of 2D ¹³C^α‐detected hNCA experiments that provide sequential correlations of ¹³C^α with ¹⁵N on one hand and efficient spectroscopic labeling of certain groups of residues, namely, Gly, Ala, Ser and Thr, on the other. These residues act as checkpoints in the sequential walk, which in turn offer new possibilities of backbone assignment of small proteins from a set of 2D experiments, thereby providing great economy in terms of spectrometer time. The direct identification of peptide segments around Gly, Ala, Ser and Thr residues along a protein chain will be highly valuable for deriving important information on sites of ligand binding, phosphorylation, inhibitor/substrate binding, understanding protein folding pathways, comprehending local conformational dynamics etc. without having to obtain complete sequence‐specific assignments, which can be time consuming and at times formidable, especially in large proteins. We have illustratively demonstrated the multifaceted applications of these variants of 2D experiments on ubiquitin and M‐crystallin. We foresee that these 2D hNCA experiments will provide economic and efficient strategies for studying the structure and function of proteins. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.