Adiabatic squeezing of molecular wave packets by laser pulses

Strong pulse sequences can be used to control the position and width of the molecular wave packet. In this paper we propose a new scheme to maximally compress the wave packet in a quasistatic way by freezing it at a peculiar adiabatic potential shaped by two laser pulses. The dynamic principles of the scheme and the characteristic effect of the different control parameters are presented and analyzed. We use two different molecular models, electronic potentials modeled by harmonic oscillators, with the same force constants, and the Na(2) dimer, to show the typical yield that can be obtained in compressing the initial (minimum width) molecular wave function.     

Synthesis of nanosized TiO2/SiO2 particles using microwave processes and their photocatalytic activity on the decomposition of orange II

The nanosized titania and TiO₂/SiO₂ particles were prepared by the microwave-hydrothermal method. The effect of physical properties TTIP/TEOS ratio and calcination temperature has been investigated. The major phase of the pure TiO₂ particle is of the anatase structure, and a rutile peak was observed above 800°C. In TiO₂/SiO₂ particles, however, no significant rutile phase was observed, although the calcination temperature was 900°C. No peaks for the silica crystal phase were observed at either silica/titania ratio. The crystallite size of TiO₂/SiO₂ particles decreases as compared to pure TiO₂ at high calcination temperatures. The TiO₂/SiO₂ particles show higher activity on the photocatalytic decomposition of orange II as compared to pure TiO₂ particles.     

Capillary and microchip gel electrophoresis for simultaneous detection of Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarum by rfbS allele-specific PCR

We report the use of capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) based on a rfbS allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the analysis and simultaneous detection of Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarum, which are the major bacterial pathogens in poultry. rfbS allele-specific PCR was used to concurrently amplify two specific 147- and 187-bp DNA fragments for the simultaneous detection of S. pullorum and S. gallinarum at an annealing temperature of 54 ± 1 °C and an MgCl₂ concentration of 2.8-5.6 mM. Under an electric field of 333.3 V/cm and a sieving matrix of 1.0% poly(ethyleneoxide) (M_r 600 000), the amplified PCR products were analyzed within 6 min by CGE separation. This CGE assay could be translated to microchip format using programmed field strength gradients (PFSG). In the microchip gel electrophoresis with PFSG, both of the Salmonella analyses were completed within 30 s, without decreasing the resolution efficiency. rfbS allele-specific PCR-microchip gel electrophoresis with the PFSG technique might be a new tool for the simultaneous detection of both S. pullorum and S. gallinarum, due to its ultra-speed and high efficiency.     

Effect of ionic strength, pH and polymer concentration on the separation of DNA fragments in the presence of electroosmotic flow

DNA separations in the presence of electroosmotic flow (EOF) using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions have been demonstrated. During the separations, PEO entered capillaries filled with Tris-borate (TB) free buffers by EOF and acted as sieving matrices. We have found that ionic strength and pH of polymer and free solutions affect the bulk EOF and resolution differently from that in capillary zone electrophoresis. The EOF coefficient increases with increasing ionic strength of the free TB buffers as a result of decreases in the adsorption of PEO molecules. In contrast, the bulk EOF decreases with increasing the ionic strength of polymer solutions using capillaries filled with high concentrations of free TB buffers. Although resolution values are high due to larger differential migration times between any two DNA fragments in a small bulk EOF using 10 mM TB buffers, use of a capillary filled with at least 100 mM TB free buffers is suggested for high-speed separations. On the side of PEO solutions, 1.5% PEO solutions prepared in 100 to 200 mM TB buffers are more proper in terms of resolution and speed. The separation of DNA markers V and VI was accomplished less than 29 min in 1.5% PEO solutions prepared in 100 mM TB buffers, pH 7.0 at 500 V/cm using a capillary filled with 10 mM free TB buffers, pH 7.0.     

Self-assembly of rectangles and prisms via a molecular "clip"

Aromatic molecular "clips" bearing two symmetrically bound platinum moieties have been prepared. The molecular "clip" 4 readily self-assembled with linear linkers such as 4,4'-bipyridyl, 1,4-bis[2-(4-isocyano-3,5-diisopropylphenyl)ethynyl]benzene, and nicotinic acid to form molecular rectangles. The overall dimensions of the rectangle 7 were 7.3 Angstroms x 15.3 Angstroms. The molecular "clip" also self-assembled with tritopic pyridyl and isocyanide ligands to form trigonal prismatic frameworks. The characterization of the supramolecules by multinuclear NMR, electrospray mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystal structures is also reported.     

Synthesis of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitriles and -6-carboxylic acid esters

Dieckmann ring closure reactions of 4-[(2-cyanoethyl)substituted amino]-2-phenyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylates (Ha-f) afforded several 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5-oxo-2-phenylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6- carbonitriles (IIIa-f). The open-chain intermediates (IIa-f) were prepared by dechloroamination of 5-carbethoxy-4-chloro-2-phenylpyrimidine (1a) with several 3-substituted amino- propionitriles. Alkylation of the sodium salt of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-methyl-5-oxo-2-phenyl-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6- carbonitrile (IIIa) with methyl iodide in DMF resulted in methylation at C-6 to afford IV. Tosylation of IIIa in pyridine gave the corresponding tosyl ester (V) of the enolic form. Oxidative dehydrogenation at the 6,7-position resulted when IIIa reacted with thionyl chloride, affording 5,8-dihydro-8-methyl-5-oxo-2-phenylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6- carbonitrile (VII). Dechloroamination of la or 5-carbethoxy-4-chloro-2-methylthiopyrimidine (Ib) with ethyl 3-ethylaminopropionate followed by Dieckmann cyclization of the resulting open-chain intermediates gave the corresponding ethyl 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carboxylates IX'a and IX'b, respectively. These exist predominately in the enol form and undergo alkylation and oxidation reactions similar to IIIa.     

An anomalous reaction of 10-chloro-5H-benzoxazolo[3,2-a]quinolin-5-one with sodium diethyl malonate to form 9-chloro-8-ethoxy-12-hydroxy-5H-dibenz[c,f]quinolizin-5-one

Treatment of 10-chloro-5H-benzoxazole[3,2-a]quinolin-5-one (I) with an excess of sodium diethyl malonate at 190° for 3 hours in hexamethylphosphoramide gave, in 38% yield, 9-chloro-8-ethoxy-12-hydroxy-5H-dibenz[c,f]quinolizin-5-one (IV) which, on heating with acetic anhydride, afforded monoacetylated product, V. A possible reaction mechanism for the novel ring expansion reaction is suggested.     

Radiometric observations of the 752.033-GHz rotational absorption line of H2O from a laboratory jet

The intensity and lineshape of the Doppler-broadened 752.033-GHz (2₁₁ 2₀₂) rotational transition of H₂O has been studied passively using a high-resolution two-stage heterodyne radiometer with single-sideband system noise temperature of 45,000 K. The purpose of the experiments was to demonstrate the observability at submillimeter wavelengths of a high-altitude rocket plume simulated by a laboratory H₂O jet in a vacuum chamber. First-stage mixing was accomplished by means of a GaAs Schottky diode with first local-oscillator power supplied by a CO₂-laser pumped formic-acid laser (761.61 GHz), generating and X-band IF signal. Second localoscillator power was provided by a tunable C-band source. One-MHz resolution capability was obtained by means of a 3-GHz waveguide cavity filter with only 9-dB insertion loss. In the H₂O jet experiments, the center frequency of the line was determined to within 1 MHz of the previously reported value. A rotational temperature 75 K, a linewidth 5 MHz, and a Doppler shift 3 MHz (from a 45-degree rotation of the flow direction) were measured with the line-of-sight intersecting the jet axis at a distance downstream of 30 nozzle diameters. These absorption data were ogtained against continuum background radiation sources at temperatures of 1175 and 300 K.     

Self-assembled amphiphilic fluorescent probe: detecting pH-fluctuations within cancer cells and tumour tissues

Abnormal anaerobic metabolism leads to a lowering of the pH of many tumours, both within specific intracellular organelles and in the surrounding extracellular regions. Information relating to pH-fluctuations in cells and tissues could aid in the identification of neoplastic lesions and in understanding the determinants of carcinogenesis. Here we report an amphiphilic fluorescent pH probe (CS-1) that, as a result of its temporal motion, provides pH-related information in cancer cell membranes and selected intracellular organelles without the need for specific tumour targeting. Time-dependent cell imaging studies reveal that CS-1 localizes within the cancer cell-membrane about 20 min post-incubation. This is followed by migration to the lysosomes at 30 min before being taken up in the mitochondria after about 60 min. Probe CS-1 can selectively label cancer cells and 3D cancer spheroids and be readily observed using the green fluorescence channel (λ_em = 532 nm). In contrast, CS-1 only labels normal cells marginally, with relatively low Pearson''s correlation coefficients being found when co-incubated with standard intracellular organelle probes. Both in vivo and ex vivo experiments provide support for the suggestion that CS-1 acts as a fluorescent label for the periphery of tumours, an effect ascribed to proton-induced aggregation. A much lower response is seen for muscle and liver. Based on the present results, we propose that sensors such as CS-1 may have a role to play in the clinical and pathological detection of tumour tissues or serve as guiding aids for surgery.

A self-assembled amphiphilic fluorescent probe allows pH-fluctuations within cancer cells and tumour tissues to be readily detected.     

Preparation of nanometer FeCuP alloy and its application in decomposition of PH3

A new ternary Fe-based alloy catalyst FeCuP applied to decompose PH_3 was prepared with low-cost material by chemical reduction deposition method.The properties of it were characterized by XRD,ICP and SEM.Its catalytic activity on the decomposition of PH_3 and the decomposition conditions were studied.FeCuP alloy exhibits high thermal stabilities and high catalytic activity.Using it as catalyst,the decomposition temperature of phosphine decreases from over 800℃to 400-500℃.The decomposition rate of phosphine achieved 100%.