X-ray fluorescence in some rare earth and high Z elements excited by 661.6 keV γ-rays

The K-shell X-ray fluorescence cross sections are determined experimentally for 10 elements such as Pb, Hg, Ir, W, Lu, Tm, Dy, Tb, Gd and Nd at excitation energy of 661.6 keV associated with γ-rays of ¹³⁷Cs radioisotope. The technique employed involves the measurement of total intensity of fluorescent K X-rays that follow the photoeffect absorption of a known flux of γ-rays using a well type Nal(Tl) detector. The obtained results are compared with the available theoretical values and other measured values.     

Soft Phonon Modes Leading to Ultralow Thermal Conductivity and High Thermoelectric Performance in AgCuTe

Crystalline solids with intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity (κ_L) are crucial to realizing high‐performance thermoelectric (TE) materials. Herein, we show an ultralow κ_L of 0.35 Wm^?1 K^?1 in AgCuTe, which has a remarkable TE figure‐of‐merit, zT of 1.6 at 670 K when alloyed with 10 mol % Se. First‐principles DFT calculation reveals several soft phonon modes in its room‐temperature hexagonal phase, which are also evident from low‐temperature heat‐capacity measurement. These phonon modes, dominated by Ag vibrations, soften further with temperature giving a dynamic cation disorder and driving the superionic transition. Intrinsic factors cause an ultralow κ_L in the room‐temperature hexagonal phase, while the dynamic disorder of Ag/Cu cations leads to reduced phonon frequencies and mean free paths in the high‐temperature rocksalt phase. Despite the cation disorder at elevated temperatures, the crystalline conduits of the rigid anion sublattice give a high power factor.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzed one-pot three component synthesis of 2,3-diaryl-4-thiazolidinones

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) catalyzed one-pot three component cyclocondensation of aryl aldehydes, amines, and thioglycolic acid in organic medium leading to 2,3-diaryl 4-thiazolidinones has been carried out for the first time.     

Syntheses of 1,5-Benzothiazepines-Part XXXI: Syntheses and Antimicrobial Studies of 10-Substituted-7- (monochlorophenyl/dichlorophenyl)-6H-6a,7-dihydro-6-phenyl[1]benzopyrano[3,4-c]-[1,5]benzothiazepines

Abstract

Two flavindogenides, 3-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-flavanone and 3-(2,4-dichloro- benzylidene)-flavanone reacted with six 5-substituted-2-aminobenzenethiols, the substituents being fluoro, chloro, bromo, methyl, methoxyl, and ethoxyl, to give respective 12 new compounds, 10-substituted-7-(2-chlorophenyl/2,4-dichlorophenyl)- 6H-6a,7-dihydro-6-phenyl[1]benzopyrano[3,4?c][1,5]benzothiazepines (5a–l) in 60–70% yields. The products were characterized on the basis of microanalytical data for elements and IR, ¹ H, and ¹³ C NMR and mass spectral studies. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against the bacteria,Escherichia coli and GFC,and the fungi,Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus,and Curvularia lunata.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Dichlorotin(IV)trithiophosphates and Their Adducts with Nitrogen Donor Bases

Abstract

Dichlorotin(IV)trithiophosphates [(RO)P(S)S ₂ ]SnCl ₂ were prepared by the reaction of methanolic solution of SnCl ₄ and dipotassium salt of trithiophosphates in a 1:1 molar ratio and their adducts [(RO)P(S)S ₂ ]SnCl _2.N ₂ C ₁₂ H ₈ and [(RO)P(S)S ₂ ]SnCl _2.N ₂ C ₁₀ H ₈ were prepared by the reaction of methanolic solution of [(RO)P(S)S ₂ ]SnCl ₂ and N-donor bases in a 1:1 molar ratio. These newly synthesised derivatives have been characterized by elemental analysis; molecular weight measurements; and IR, ¹³ C, ³¹ p and ¹¹⁹ Sn NMR spectral studies. Coordination number of four and six was suggested for dichlorotin (IV)trithiophosphates and their adducts with N-donor bases respectively.     

Feasibility of Polyvinyl Alcohol as a Transdermal Drug Delivery System for Terbutaline Sulphate

A series of terbutaline sulphate drug incorporated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix films were produced by the solvent evaporation method. The effect of xanthan gum and plasticizers (propylene glycol and dibutyl phthalate) on the rate and amount of drug diffusion from PVA membrane across the hydrated cellophane membrane has been evaluated, using an open glass diffusion‐tube. The obtained films were clear, smooth and flexible having sufficient mechanical strength. The mechanical performance of the dry PVA films with xanthan gum and plasticizers were also ascertained. Polyvinyl alcohol‐xanthan gum blends showed a high rate of drug release compared to that of polyvinyl alcohol film alone. Among the two plasticizers employed, propylene glycol showed better permeability. Among different formulations studied, the formulation PVA/xanthan gum/propylene glycol (F7) was found to be an optimized composition for efficient transdermal delivery of the model drug, terbutaline sulphate. The mechanism of drug diffusion has been evaluated using the Peppas model. Stability studies carried out on polymer‐drug formulations revealed that the drug is stable at 40°C and 75% RH for a period of 6 weeks.     

Aerobic Iron‐Based Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling Enables Efficient Diversity‐Oriented Synthesis of Coumestrol‐Based Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators

An iron‐based cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) approach was applied for the diversity‐oriented synthesis of coumestrol‐based selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), representing the first application of CDC chemistry in natural product synthesis. The first stage of the two‐step synthesis of coumestrol involved a modified aerobic oxidative cross‐coupling between ethyl 2‐(2,4‐dimethoxybenzoyl)acetate and 3‐methoxyphenol, with FeCl₃ (10 mol %) as the catalyst. The benzofuran coupling product was then subjected to sequential deprotection and lactonization steps, affording the natural product in 59 % overall yield. Based on this new methodology other coumestrol analogues were prepared, and their effects on the proliferation of the estrogen receptor (ER)‐dependent MCF‐7 and of the ER‐independent MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells were tested. As a result, new types of estrogen receptor ligands having an acetamide group instead of the 9‐hydroxyl group of coumestrol were discovered. Both 9‐acetamido‐coumestrol and 8‐acetamidocoumestrol were found more active than the natural product against estrogen‐dependent MCF‐7 breast cancer cells, with IC₅₀ values of 30 and 9 nM , respectively.     

Some efficient methods to correct confocal images for easy interpretation

In this paper we have explained some efficient methods to correct artefacts in confocal laser beam scanning microscope (CLSM) images. The main aim is to enhance object features such that they become clearly visible for interactive evaluation and to reduce the overall noise so that the automatic segmentation and feature measurement can be done easily. A simple automatic-thresholding technique, and a straightforward method to restore the light intensity along the depth of the image stack are proposed. Another problem associated with the CLSM is the non-isotropic resolution. We have presented an interpolation technique based on XOR contouring and morphing to virtually insert the image slices in the image stack for improving the axial resolution. This interpolation technique has the merits of both contour- and intensity-based interpolations. Results of application of these methods on CLSM data are shown.