Functionalized Silver-Ion-Mediated α-dC/β-dC Hybrid Base Pairs with Exceptional Stability: α-d-5-Iodo-2′-Deoxycytidine and Its Octadiynyl Derivative in Metal DNA

Silver-mediated α-dC–Ag⁺–β-dC hybrid base pairs decorated with 5-iodo- or 5-octadiynyl residues are well accommodated in duplex DNA. A strong T_m increase and favorable thermodynamic data for duplex DNA were observed after addition of silver ions. The phenomenon is particularly obvious when both nucleobases of the base pairs are functionalized. Neither the position of the base pair, nor the type of 5-substituent had a negative influence. On the contrary, functionalization of conventional silver-mediated β-dC–Ag⁺–β-dC homo base pairs showed a negative impact induced by the bulky substituents. To this end, cytosine modified 12-mer oligodeoxynucleotides were prepared by solid-phase synthesis employing new α-anomeric 2′-deoxycytidine phosphoramidites. A multigram scale synthesis was developed for 5-iodo-α-d -2′-deoxycytidine ( 1 ) employing the direct glycosylation of cytosine with Hoffer's α-d -halogenose followed by separation of anomeric DMT nucleosides. Regarding base-pair stability and functionalization silver-mediated α/β-dC hybrid base pairs were found to be superior to β/β-dC homo pairs. According to their extraordinary properties, they might find applications in DNA diagnostics, material science, or nanotechnology.     

Thermally induced solid-state transformation of cimetidine. A multi-spectroscopic/chemometrics determination of the kinetics of the process and structural elucidation of one of the products as a stable N3-enamino tautomer

Exposure of cimetidine (CIM) to dry heat (160–180 °C) afforded, upon cooling, a glassy solid containing new and hitherto unknown products. The kinetics of this process was studied by a second order chemometrics-assisted multi-spectroscopic approach. Proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as well as ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopic data were jointly used, whereas multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) was employed as the chemometrics method to extract process information. It was established that drug degradation follows a first order kinetics.     

Experimental and Theoretical Mechanistic Study on the Thermal Decomposition of 3,3-diphenyl-4-(trichloromethyl)-5-nitropyrazoline

The present paper is a continuation of comprehensive study regarding to synthesis and properties of pyrazoles and their derivatives. In its framework an experimental and theoretical studies of thermal decomposition of the 3,3-diphenyl-4-(trichloromethyl)-5-nitropyrazoline were performed. It was found, that the decompositions of the mentioned pyrazoline system in the solution and at the melted state proceed via completely different molecular mechanisms. These mechanisms have been explained in the framework of the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) with the computational level of B3LYP/6-31G(d). A Bonding Evolution Theory (BET) examination of dehydrochlorination of the 3,3-diphenyl-4-(trichloromethyl)-5-nitropyrazoline permits elucidation of the molecular mechanism. It was found, that on the contrary for most known HCl extrusion processes in solution, this reaction is realised via single-step mechanism.     

Teachers' beliefs on teacher training contents and related characteristics of implementation—the example of introducing the topic study method in mathematics classrooms

So-called “bottom-up” strategies for implementation based on mathematics teachers' own developmental activities are considered to be a powerful approach when encouraging teachers to introduce alternative instructional practices. For evaluational research of in-service teacher training programs using “bottom-up” implementation strategies, the way how teachers implement contents of the teacher training is at the centre of interest. As the teachers' active role in the implementation process is necessary, their individual beliefs on the contents of the teacher training and their expectancies might influence the teachers' implementational activities. These beliefs can be considered as components of professional knowledge and pedagogical contents knowledge (Shulman, 1986) in particular. For this reason, the study focuses on the development of beliefs on contents of a teacher training program throughout the training on the one hand and relationships with characteristics of implementation on the other hand. We consider the example of introducing a student-centred learning environment, the so-called topic study method, in the teachers' classrooms. The results indicate that there are interdependencies between beliefs on the teacher training contents and characteristics of implementation.     

Five Novel Taccalonolides from the Roots of the Vietnamese Plant Tacca paxiana

Chemical investigation of the roots of the Vietnamese plant Tacca paxiana resulted in the isolation of five new steroidal compounds, taccalonolide R ( 6 ), S ( 7 ), T ( 8 ), U ( 9 ), and V ( 10 ). Their structures were established on the basis of NMR and mass‐spectral data. In addition, the five known taccalonolides A ( 1 ), B ( 2 ), E ( 3 ), K ( 4 ), and N ( 5 ) were also isolated and identified.     

Soft X-ray resonant magnetic scattering studies on Fe/CoO exchange bias system

We have used soft X-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS) to search for the presence of an effective ferromagnetic moment belonging to the antiferromagnetic (AF) layer which is in close contact with a ferromagnetic (F) layer. Taking advantage of the element specificity of the XRMS technique, we have measured hysteresis loops of both Fe and CoO layers of a CoO(40 Å)/Fe (150 Å) exchange bias bilayer. From these measurements we have concluded that the proximity of the F layer induces a magnetic moment in the AF layer. The F moment of the AF layer has two components: one is frozen and does not follow the applied magnetic field and the other one follows in phase the ferromagnetic magnetization of the F layer. The temperature dependence of the F components belonging to the AF layer is shown and discussed.     

Tunable microlens arrays using polymer network liquid crystal

A tunable-focus microlens array based on polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) is demonstrated. The PNLC was prepared using an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure through a patterned photomask. The photocurable monomer in each of the UV exposed spot forms an inhomogeneous centro-symmetrical polymer network which acts as a lens when a homogeneous electric field is applied to the cell. The focal length of the microlens arrays is tunable with the applied voltage.