Molecular Encapsulation of Trimeric Chromium Carboxylate Clusters in Metal–Organic Frameworks and Propylene Sorption

Oxo-bridged trimeric chromium acetate clusters [Cr₃O(OOCCH₃)₆(H₂O)₃]NO₃ have been encapsulated for the first time in the mesoporous cages of the chromium terephthalate MIL-101(Cr). The isolated clusters in MIL-101(Cr) have increased affinity towards propylene compared to propane, due to generation of a new kind of pocket-based propylene-binding site, as supported by DFT calculations.     

Continuous sliding mode controllers for multi-input multi-output systems

Nonlinear Dynamics - This paper develops new continuous sliding mode controllers for multi-input multi-output mechanical systems in the presence of unknown, but bounded uncertainties in the given...     

Novel fabrication route for carbon-free and dense CuInSe2 (CIS) thin films via a non-vacuum process for solar cell application

Carbon-free CuInSe₂ (CIS) thin film with a dense microstructure has been prepared using a novel non-vacuum based fabrication route. Cu_xS_y and In₂Se₃ binary nanoparticles, approximately 10 nm in size, were synthesized by a low temperature colloidal process. The precursor film was deposited using the coating ink formulated with the binary nanoparticles and pyridine, and then annealed in the rapid thermal annealing (RTA) chamber at 540 °C for 15 min under selenium (Se) atmosphere. Scanning electron micrographs, X-ray diffraction patterns and Raman spectra showed a phase pure carbon-free and dense CIS thin film was prepared in this method. A solar cell device fabricated using this CIS thin film showed the following photovoltaic characteristics: V_OC = 350 mV, J_SC = 24.72 mA cm⁻², FF = 38.73% and η = 3.36% under standard AM 1.5 condition.     

Constraining WIMP magnetic moment from CDMS II experiment

We consider a degenerate or a nearly degenerate dark matter sector where a sizable magnetic moment of a (almost) Dirac type neutral dark matter candidate N is anticipated. Then, due to soft photon exchange, the cross-section in direct detection of N   can be enhanced at low Q²$Q^2$ region. We discuss the implication of this type of models in view of the recent CDMS II report.     

Automatic Transformation of Membrane‐Type Electronic Devices into Complex 3D Structures via Extrusion Shear Printing and Thermal Relaxation of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene Frameworks

This work demonstrates a means of automatic transformation from planar electronic devices to desirable 3D forms. The method uses a spatially designed thermoplastic framework created via extrusion shear printing of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) on a stress‐free ABS film, which can be laminated to a membrane‐type electronic device layer. Thermal annealing above the glass transition temperature allows stress relaxation in the printed polymer chains, resulting in an overall shape transformation of the framework. In addition, the significant reduction in the Young's modulus and the ability of the polymer chains to reflow in the rubbery state release the stress concentration in the electronic device layer, which can be positioned outside the neutral mechanical plane. Electrical analyses and mechanical simulations of a membrane‐type Au electrode and indium gallium zinc oxide transistor arrays before and after transformation confirm the versatility of this method for developing 3D electronic devices based on planar forms.     

Tensile-Strained Germanium CMOS Integration on Silicon

Monolithic integration of tensile-strained Si/ Germanium (Ge)-channel n-MOS and tensile-strained Ge p-MOS with ultrathin (equivalent oxide thickness ~14 Aring) HfO₂ gate dielectric and TaN gate stack on Si substrate is demonstrated. Defect-free Ge layer (279 nm) grown by ultrahigh vacuum chemical-vapor deposition is achieved using a two-step Ge-growth technique coupled with compliant Si/SiGe buffer layers. The epi-Ge layer experiences tensile strain of up to ~0.67% and exhibits a peak hole mobility of 250 cm²/V ldr s which is 100% higher than the universal Si hole mobility. The gate leakage current is two orders of magnitude lower compared to the reported results on Ge bulk.     

A novel synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine skeleton and biological evaluation of isoquinoline derivatives.

Benzo[c]phenanthridine skeleton was synthesized from easily available starting N-methyl-o-toluamide 2 and o-methylbenzonitrile 5 in 7 steps. Radical cyclization of styrene 10 afforded 6,11-dimethyl-6,11-dihydro-5H-indeno[1,2-c]isoquinolin-5-one 13. Most 3-arylisoquinolines have displayed strong activities against human tumor cell lines. Especially, indenoisoquinolinone 13 exhibited excellent cytotoxicity (IC50 = 0.002 microgram/ml; HCT 15).     

Hydrogen-bonding effects in calix

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of self-assembling calix[4]arene based capsules 1a.1a and 1b.1b are described. These compounds feature four urea substituents at the upper rims and four secondary amide fragments at the lower rims that can participate in inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in apolar solution. Communication between the calixarene rims in 1a, b influences the self-assembled cavity's size and shape. Specifically. dimerization results in a perfect cone conformation of the calixarene skeleton in 1a, b and stabilizes a seam of intramolecular amide C=O...H-N hydrogen bonds at the lower rim. This seam is cycloenantiomeric, with either clockwise or counterclockwise arrangements of the head-to-tail amides. Complexation of Na+-cation breaks hydrogen bonds at the lower rim but maintains the capsular assembly. Encapsulation properties of 1a.1a and 1b.1b were studied in nonpolar solvents and their binary mixtures as well as through heterodimerization experiments. The presence of amide groups at the lower rim causes notable differences in the capsule's binding affinities when compared to the corresponding tetraester capsules 1c.1c and 1d.1d. In the monomeric state calixarenes 1a, b are in a pinched cone conformation. The solid state X-ray crystallographic studies with monomeric 1a reveal only two intramolecular C=O...H-N hydrogen bonds between the adjacent amides at the lower rim, and an extensive network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between urea groups at the upper rim.     

Heritability and linkage study on heart rates in a Mongolian population

Elevated heart rate has been proposed as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but their interrelationships are not well understood. In this study, we performed a genome-wide linkage scan in 1,026 individuals (mean age 30.6 years, 54.5% women) from 73 extended families of Mongolia and determined quantitative trait loci that influence heart rate. The DNA samples were genotyped using deCODE 1,039 microsatellite markers for 3 cM density genome-wide linkage scan. Correlation analysis was carried out to evaluate the correlation of the covariates and the heart rate. T-tests of the heart rate were also performed on sex, smoking and alcohol intake. Consequently, this model was used in a nonparametric genome-wide linkage analysis using variance component model to create a multipoint logarithm of odds (LOD) score and a corresponding P value. In the adjusted model, the heritability of heart rate was estimated as 0.32 (P<.0001) and a maximum multipoint LOD score of 2.03 was observed in 77 cM region at chromosome 18. The second largest LOD score of 1.52 was seen on chromosome 5 at 216 cM. Genes located on the specified locations in chromosomes 5 and 18 may be involved in the regulation of heart rate.     

Identification of rat urinary glycoproteome captured by three lectins using gel and LC-based proteomics

Many different types of urine proteome studies have been done, but urine glycoprotein studies are insufficient. Therefore, we studied the glycoproteins from rat urine, which could be used to identify biomarkers in an animal model. First, urinary proteins were prepared by using the dialysis and lyophilizing methods from rat urine. Glycoproteins enriched with lectin affinity purification, concanavalin A, jacalin and wheat germ agglutinin from the urinary proteins were separated by means of reverse-phase fast protein LC (FPLC) or 1-D PAGE. Each FPLC fraction and 1-D PAGE gel band were trypsin-digested and analyzed by means of nanoLC-MS/MS. LC-MS/MS analyses were carried out by using linear ion trap MS. A total of 318 rat urinary glycoproteins were identified from the FPLC fractions and gel bands; approximately 90% of identified proteins were confirmed as glycoproteins in Swiss-Prot. Many glycoproteins, known as biomarkers, including C-reactive protein, uromodulin, amyloid beta A4 protein, alpha-1-inhibitor 3, vitamin D-binding protein, kallikrein 3 and fetuin-A were identified in this study. By studying urinary glycoproteins collected from rat, these results may help to assist in identifying urinary biomarkers regarding various types of disease models.