Self-organized ZnAl2O4 nanostructures grown on -sapphire

Self-organized ZnAl₂O₄ nanostructures with the appearance (in SEM) of high aspect ratio horizontal nanowires are grown on uncatalysed c-sapphire by vapour phase transport. The nanostructures grow as three equivalent crystallographic variants on c-sapphire. Raman and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy confirm that the nanostructures are not ZnO and TEM shows that they are the cubic spinel, zinc aluminate, ZnAl₂O₄, formed by the reaction of Zn and O with the sapphire substrate.     

Channel management in microcell/macrocell cellular radio systems

In this paper, we study spectrum management in a two-tier microcell/macrocell cellular system. Two issues are studied: micro-macro cell selection and frequency spectrum partitioning between microcells and macrocells. To keep the handoff rate in a two-tier cellular system at an acceptable level, low mobility users (with speed υ0 ) should undergo handoffs at microcell boundaries, and high mobility users (with speed υ>V₀) should undergo handoffs at macrocell boundaries. The mobile determines user mobility from microcell sojourn times and uses it for channel assignment at call origination and handoff. The probability of erroneous assignment of a mobile to a microcell or macrocell is shown to be significantly lower than previous approaches. We investigate the optimal velocity threshold, V₀, and propose that it may be dynamically adjusted according to traffic load. Finally, we propose a systematic way for finding an optimal partition of frequency spectrum between microcells and macrocells. This partitioning is based on the traffic load and velocity distribution of mobiles in the system     

Studies on ion association. Calorimetric study of the formation of monoazido complexes of Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)

From rehydration experiments the hydrates Ba(OH)₂ · 8 H₂O, Ba(OH)₂ · 3 H₂O β-Ba(OH)₂, · 1 H₂O, and γ-Ba(OH)₂ · 1 H₂O have been found in the system Ba(OH)₂-H₂O. Thermoanalytical measurements (DTA, TG, DTG, high temperature X-ray diffraction, high temperature Raman scattering) on these hydrates are reported. Thermal decomposition of Ba(OH)₂ · 8 H₂O and Ba(OH)₂ · 3 H₂O always results in the formation of β-Ba(OH)₂ · 1 H₂O, the stable form of the monohydrates at ambient temperature. Dehydration of β- and γ-Ba(OH)₂ · 1 H₂O, both of which form anhydrous β-Ba(OH)₂ as the first product of decomposition, starts at 105 and 115°C, respectively. Single crystals of Ba(OH)₂ · 3 H₂O and γ-Ba(OH)₂ · 1 H₂O were prepared from Ba(OH)₂ · 8 H₂O meltings and from ethanolic solutions of Ba(OH)₂ , respectively. The crystal data are: Ba(OH)₂ · 3 H₂O (orthorhombic, Pnma): a = 764.0(2), b = 1140,3(5), c = 596.5(1) pm, Z = 4; γ-Ba(OH)₂ · 1 H₂O (monoclinic, P2₁/m or P2₁): a = 704.9(2), b = 418.4(1), c = 633.3(1) pm, β = 111.45(2)°, Z = 2.     

Products active on mosquitoes,IV: Synthesis and biological activity of 8-propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl/6-octenyl ethers

Summary A series of 8-proparglyoxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl and 8-propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-6-octenyl ethers were prepared from 8-hydroxygeranyl and 8-hydroxycitronellyl ethers, respectively. Almost all compounds showed high toxicity toCulex quinquefaciatus larvae at 1 mgl^–1 dose level.

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Gegen Mücken aktive Produkte, 4. Mitt.: Synthese und biologische Aktivität von 8-Propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl/6-octenyl-ethern

Zusammenfassung Eine Reihe von 8-Propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl- und 8-propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-6-octenyl-ethern wurden aus 8-Hydroxygeranyl- bzw. 8-Hydroxycitronellyl-ethern hergestellt. Fast alle Verbindungen zeigten hoch Toxizität gegenüber Larven vonCulex quinquefaciatus in einer Dosierung von 1 mgl^–1.

     

Vinylsulfonylethyl derivatives of nucleic acid bases and their graft polymers on polyethyleneimine

Vinylsulfonylethyl (VSE) derivatives of the nucleic acid bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and the nucleosides inosine and uridine have been prepared via a simple Michael reaction with divinyl sulfone. The VSE derivatives were grafted on a polyethyleneimine (PEI) backbone. PEI of different molecular weights (1400, 1800 and 50,000–100,000) were used and also two different molar ratios (1:1 and 1:2) of monomer to PEI were employed. From the ¹H-NMR and elemental analysis, it appeared that in almost all instances the grafting was quantitative. In one case, both 1-VSE-thymine and 9-VSE-adenine were grafted on the same PEI backbone. Interactions between some of these polymers were investigated by UV spectroscopy. The expected complementary base pairing was observed only in DMSO–ethylene glycol solvent system but not in DMSO. The adenine polymer showed a one-to-one interaction with the thymine polymer.     

Model Compounds for Iron Proteins. Structures and Magnetic, Spectroscopic, and Redox Properties of Fe(III)M(II) and [Co(III)Fe(III)](2)O Complexes with (&mgr;-Carboxylato)bis(&mgr;-phenoxo)dimetalate and (&mgr;-Oxo)diiron(III) Cores

A series of heterobimetallic complexes of the type [Fe(III)M(II)L(&mgr;-OAc)(OAc)(H(2)O)](ClO(4)).nH(2)O (2-5) and [{Fe(III)Co(III)L(&mgr;-OAc)(OAc)}(2)(&mgr;-O)](ClO(4))(2).3H(2)O (6) where H(2)L is a tetraaminodiphenol macrocyclic ligand and M(II) = Zn(2), Ni(3), Co(4), and Mn(5) have been synthesized and characterized. The (1)H NMR spectrum of 6 exhibits all the resonances between 1 and 12 ppm. The IR and UV-vis spectra of 2-5 indicate that in all the cases the metal ions have similar coordination environments. A disordered crystal structure determined for 3 reveals the presence of a (&mgr;-acetate)bis(&mgr;-phenoxide)-Ni(II)Fe(III) core, in which the two metal ions have 6-fold coordination geometry and each have two amino nitrogens and two phenolate oxygens as the in-plane donors; aside from the axial bridging acetate, the sixth coordination site of nickel(II) is occupied by the unidentate acetate and that of iron(III) by a water molecule. The crystal structure determination of 6 shows that the two heterobinuclear Co(III)Fe(III) units are bound by an Fe-O-Fe linkage. 6 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Ibca with a = 17.577(4) ?, b = 27.282(7) ?, c = 28.647(6) ?, and Z = 8. The two iron(III) centers in 6 are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled, J = -100 cm(-1) (H = -2JS(1).S(2)), whereas the other two S(1) = S(2) = (5)/(2) systems, viz. [Fe(2)(III)(HL)(2)(&mgr;-OH)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (1) and the Fe(III)Mn(II) complex (5), exhibit weak antiferromagnetic exchange coupling with J = -4.5 cm(-1) (1) and -1.8 cm(-1) (5). The Fe(III)Ni(II) (3) and Fe(III)Co(II) (4) systems, however, exhibit weak ferromagnetic behavior with J = 1.7 cm(-1) (3) and 4.2 cm(-1) (4). The iron(III) center in 2-5 exhibits quasi-reversible redox behavior between -0.44 and -0.48 V vs Ag/AgCl associated with reduction to iron(II). The oxidation of cobalt(II) in 4 occurs quasi-reversibly at 0.74 V, while both nickel(II) and manganese(II) in 3 and 5 undergo irreversible oxidation at 0.85 V. The electrochemical reduction of 6 leads to the generation of 4.     

Frequency-domain fluorescence spectroscopy, a new method for the resolution of complex fluorescence emission

The fluorescence emission from complex chemical and biological samples can be resolved by measuring the frequency-response of the emission, which is now possible from 1 to 2000 MHz. The frequency-response allows determination of the components in a mixture, construction of time-resolved emission spectra, and measurement of the dynamic and hydrodynamic properties of biological macromolecules. The instrumentation is relatively simple, and data acquisition times can be short. At present, this method may be superior to direct measurements of time-resolved fluorescence emission.     

De novo design of a redox-active minimal rubredoxin mimic

Metal-binding sites in metalloproteins frequently occur at the interfaces of elements of secondary structure, which has enabled the retrostructural analysis of natural proteins and the de novo design of helical bundles that bind metal ion cofactors. However, the design of metalloproteins containing beta-structure is less well developed, despite the frequent occurrence of beta-conformations in natural metalloproteins. Here, we describe the design and construction of a beta-protein, RM1, that forms a stable, redox-active 4-Cys thiolate Fe(II/III) site analogous to the active site of rubredoxin. The protein folds into a beta-structure in the presence and absence of metal ions and binds Fe(II/III) to form a redox-active site that is stable to repeated cycles of oxidation and reduction, even in an aerobic environment.     

A new method for determining the local environment and orientation of individual side chains of membrane-binding peptides

We studied here the binding of the mastoparan X peptide to a zwitterionic lipid bilayer (POPC) and demonstrated that nitrile-derivatized amino acids can be used to determine the hydration state (or change in hydration state) of specific sites of membrane-interactive peptides (upon binding). We have also shown that polarized ATR-FTIR measurements can further be used to uncover information regarding the spatial orientation of individual side chains as well as their conformational preference within the lipid bilayer.