Synthesis and Single Crystal Structure Characterization of Dinuclear and Polymeric Mixed-ligand Coordination Compounds of Zinc(II) and Cadmium(II) with the Bridging Ligand 1,2-Bis(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)hydrazine

Three d¹⁰-transition-metal coordination compounds [Cd(tfpb)₂(4-bpmh)]_n ( 1 ), [Cd(9-aca)(NO₃)(OHCH₃)(4-bpmh)]_n ( 2 ) and [Zn₂(dpp)₄(4-bpmh)] ( 3 ) with the bridging ligand 4-bpmh were synthesized [4-bpmh = 1,2-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)hydrazine, tfpb = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenylbutane-1,3-dionate, 9-aca = anthracene-9-carboxylate, dpp = 1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dionate]. Compounds 1 – 3 were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and structurally authenticated by X-ray crystallography. Compounds 1 – 3 are constructed by an O,O'-donor ligand including chelating β-diketonates (tfpb, dpp) in 1 and 3 and a carboxylate ligand (9-aca) in 2 in combination with a linear neutral bidentate and bridging N-ligand (4-bpmh). The assembly and action of the bridging 4-bpmh ligand leads to one-dimensional coordination polymers in 1 , 2 and to a dinuclear coordination complex in 3 . The structures and the solid-state supramolecular interactions for studying the crystal packing fashions of 1 – 3 were analyzed. The supramolecular interactions including hydrogen bonding, C–H ··· π, π ··· π, and C–F ··· π in 1 , 2 , and 3 were founded.     

Evaluation of <Superscript>40</Superscript>K in vegetables collected Malaysia by determination total potassium using neutron activation analysis

Some vegetables of important nutritive requirements have been collected from Kuala Lumpur region capital of Malaysia. The vegetables were analyzed in order to determine activity concentration level of potassium using neutron activation analysis (NAA). The NAA results obtained showed the activity concentration of ⁴⁰K varied from 379 Bq/kg (Egg-plant) to 1585 Bq/kg (Spinach Red). These results are compared to other researches and are clear that the concentrations of K are relatively high in the Malaysia in compared to rather than vegetables of Pakistan and Jamaican. However, they are seen not to pose any serious internal health burden due to ingestion given the realities of vegetables choice by individuals in the study area.     

Practical and efficient synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyran using caffeine supported on silica as an ionic liquid solid acid catalyst

The new catalyst silica-caffeine hydrogen sulfate [SiO₂-caff.]HSO₄ was conveniently prepared from commercially available 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane via immobilization on silica followed by reaction with caffeine. The catalyst prepared was then characterized by the FT-IR spectroscopy, TGA, EDX, and SEM techniques. It was found that this heterogeneous catalyst was a highly efficient one for the synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans in good-to-high yields, and could be recovered by a simple filtration of the reaction solution and reused for five consecutive runs. The attractive features of this method are simple procedure, clean reaction, easy work-up, use of a reusable catalyst, and performing a multi-component reaction.     

Thermal analysis of high-index-contrast grating (HCG)-based VCSEL

A 3-D thermal analysis of 870 nm high-index-contrast grating (HCG)-based vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) by using finite volume method (FVM) is presented in this paper. The HCG-based VCSEL is modeled by applying a steady-state 3-D heat dissipation model. Temperature distribution profile and thermal resistance (R_th) of the device are investigated by inserting the heat source value into the thermal simulation. Also, this analysis is performed for a conventional VCSEL operating at the same wavelength and under the same injected current as well as the same geometric sizes. The analysis shows that the maximum temperature inside the HCG-based VCSEL is lower than that inside the conventional VCSEL.     

Intracellular injection of phospholipids directly alters exocytosis and the fraction of chemical release in chromaffin cells as measured by nano-electrochemistry

Using a nano-injection method, we introduced phospholipids having different intrinsic geometries into single secretory cells and used single cell amperometry (SCA) and intracellular vesicle impact electrochemical cytometry (IVIEC) with nanotip electrodes to monitor the effects of intracellular incubation on the exocytosis process and vesicular storage. Combining tools, this work provides new information to understand the impact of intracellular membrane lipid engineering on exocytotic release, vesicular content and fraction of chemical release. We also assessed the effect of membrane lipid alteration on catecholamine storage of isolated vesicles by implementing another amperometric technique, vesicle impact electrochemical cytometry (VIEC), outside the cell. Exocytosis analysis reveals that the intracellular nano-injection of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine decreases the number of released catecholamines, whereas phosphatidylethanolamine shows the opposite effect. These observations support the emerging hypothesis that lipid curvature results in membrane remodeling through secretory pathways, and also provide new evidence for a critical role of the lipid localization in modulating the release process. Interestingly, the IVIEC data imply that total vesicular content is also affected by in situ supplementation of the cells with some lipids, while, the corresponding VIEC results show that the neurotransmitter content in isolated vesicles is not affected by altering the vesicle membrane lipids. This suggests that the intervention of phospholipids inside the cell has its effect on the cellular machinery for vesicle release rather than vesicle structure, and leads to the somewhat surprising conclusion that modulating release has a direct effect on vesicle structure, which is likely due to the vesicles opening and closing again during exocytosis. These findings could lead to a novel regulatory mechanism for the exocytotic or synaptic strength based on lipid heterogeneity across the cell membrane.

Amperometry and intracellular vesicle impact electrochemical cytometry with nanotip electrodes were used to monitor the effects on exocytosis and vesicular storage after nano-injection of phospholipids with different geometries into secretory cells.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Octahedral Metal Complexes containing the New Dianion [PhP(Se,O)Se‐Se(O,Se)PPh]2−

The synthesis and structures of three new compounds are reported. [Mg₂{PhP(Se,O)Se‐Se(O,Se)PPh}₂(thf)₇(H₂O)₃] ( 1 ), [Mg{PhP(Se,O)Se‐Se(O,Se)PPh}(thf)₃(H₂O)] ( 2 ), and [Mn{PhP(Se,O)Se‐Se(O,Se)PPh}(thf)₃(H₂O)] ( 3 ) were prepared by treatment of Woollins' reagent [PhP(Se)(μ‐Se)]₂ with the corresponding hydrated metal acetates.     

Synthesen und Strukturen von Übergangsmetall‐Komplexen mit Dithiophosphinato‐ und Trithiophosphonato‐Liganden

Syntheses and Structures of Transition Metal Complexes with Dithiophosphinato and Trithiophosphinato Ligands The reactions of MnCl₂ with Ph₂P(S)(SSiMe₃) produced [Mn(S₂PPh₂)₂(thf)₂] ( 1 ) and [Mn(S₂PPh₂)₂(dme)] ( 2 ) (DME = 1,2‐Dimethoxyethane). The compounds [Co₆(S₃PPh)₂(μ⁴‐S)₂(μ³‐S)₂(PPh₃)₄] ( 3 ), [Co₂(S₃PPh)₂(PPh₃)₂] ( 4 ), [Ni(S₂PPh)(PPhEt₂)₂] ( 5 ), [Ni(S₃PPh)(PPhEt₂)₂] ( 6 ) and [Cu₄(S₃PPh)₂(dppp)₂] ( 8 ) [dppp = 1,3‐Bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane] were obtained from reactions of first‐row transition metal halides with PhP(S)(SSiMe₃)₂ in the presence of tertiary phosphines. In a reaction of PhP(S)(SSiMe₃)₂ with PhPEt₂ PhPEt₂PS₂Ph ( 7 ) was isolated. All compounds were characterized by X‐ray crystallography.     

Shear-induced transitions between a planar lamellar phase and multilamellar vesicles: continuous versus discontinuous transformation

The shear-induced transitions between an oriented lamellar phase and shear-induced multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) in a nonionic surfactant system were studied by deuterium rheo-NMR spectroscopy as a function of time in start-up experiments at several temperatures and shear rates. By starting from an initial state of oriented lamellae and observing the transformation to the final steady state of MLVs and vice-versa, two different mechanisms were found, depending on the direction of the transition and the initial state. The transition is continuous when MLVs are formed, starting from the oriented lamellar phase. On the other hand, a discontinuous nucleation-and-growth process with a coexistence region is observed when transforming MLVs into an oriented lamellar phase.     

Distribution of trace elements in the marine sediments along the South China Sea,Malaysia

In order to complete having data base of elemental assessment of the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia marine sediments along the South China Sea coasts, trace elements are analyzed and their distribution in marine sediments is undertaken. The present study is done parallel with pervious study on elemental assessment of heavy metals, rare earth elements and actinides in the marine sediments of the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Thirty surface sediment samples were collected in this area, including regions of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Rompin and Johor Baharu. Multielemental analysis was carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. In both cases methodology validation was performed by certified reference material analyses. For the surface elemental distributions the enrichment factor values, average I _geo and mC _d values indicate that the trace elements of the surface sediments are uncontaminated in all sampling stations that are consistent with previous studies results of heavy metals, rare earth elements and actinides.