Collisional-radiative model for non-Maxwellian inductively coupled argon plasmas using detailed fine-structure relativistic distorted-wave cross sections

Our recently developed collisional-radiative model which included fine-structure cross sections calculated with a fully relativistic distorted-wave method [R.K. Gangwar, L. Sharma, R. Srivastava, A.D. Stauffer, J. Appl. Phys. 111, 053307 (2012)] has been extended to study non-Maxwellian inductively coupled argon plasmas. We have added more processes to our earlier collisional-radiative model by further incorporating relativistic distorted-wave electron impact cross sections from the 3p ⁵4sJ = 0, 2 metastable states, (1s ₃, 1s ₅ in Paschen’s notation) to the 3p ⁵5p (3p _i ) excited states. The population of various excited levels at different pressures in the range of 1–25 mTorr for an inductively coupled argon plasma have been calculated and compared with the recent optical absorption spectroscopy measurements as well as emission model results of Boffard et al. [Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 19, 065001 (2010)]. We have also calculated the intensities of two emission lines, 420.1 nm (3p ₉ → 1s ₅) and 419.8 nm (3p ₅ → 1s ₄) and compared with measured intensities reported by Boffard et al. [J. Phys. D 45, 045201 (2012)]. Our results are in good agreement with the measurements.     

Designing of endlessly single mode polarization maintaining highly birefringent nonlinear micro-structure fiber at telecommunication window by FV-FEM

An endlessly single mode highly polarization maintaining nonlinear microstructure fiber at telecommunication window is reported via full-vector finite element method. By taking three ring hexagonal PCF with suitable fiber parameter such as air hole diameter in cladding region d = 0.8 μm, pitch 2.3 μm and introducing four symmetrical large air holes near core region d′ = 2 μm, single mode (V_eff ≤ π), small effective mode area 2.7 μm², nonlinear co-efficient 44.39 W⁻¹ km⁻¹, high phase birefringence of the order of 10⁻³ and group birefringence of the order of 10⁻⁴ with beat length 0.3 μm at wavelength 1.55 μm are achieved.     

Kinetics of the acid hydrolysis of isoproturon in the absence and presence of sodium lauryl sulfate micelles

Kinetics of the hydrolysis of isoproturon by hydrochloric acid has been studied spectrophotometrically in the absence and the presence of anionic sodium lauryl sulfate (NaLS) micelles. The anionic micelle was found to increase the rate of reaction. The reaction followed first-order kinetics with respect to isoproturon and was linearly dependent upon [HCl]. In both aqueous and micellar pseudophases, the reaction was started with the protonation of the amino group of isoproturon followed by attack of water to yield phenylcarbamic acid and the corresponding amine, thus obeying the addition–elimination mechanism. The surfactant decreased the activation entropy. The binding constant in consistence with the rate constants was evaluated on the basis of pseudophase ion-exchange model. The added salts (NaCl and KCl) decreased the rate of reaction due to the exclusion of H⁺ from micellar surfaces.     

Bispidine as a β-strand nucleator: from a β-arch to self-assembled cages and vesicles

The development of synthetic scaffolds that nucleate well-folded secondary structures is highly challenging. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of core-modified peptides (F1, F2, F3, and F4) that fold into β-strand structures. These bispidine-scaffolded peptides were studied by CD, IR, NMR, single crystal XRD, and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate their conformational preferences. Solid-state and solution studies revealed that bispidine is a versatile scaffold that could be placed either at the terminal or at the middle of the peptide strand for nucleating the β-strand structure. Scaffolds that nucleate an isolated β-strand conformation are rare. Bispidine placed at the C-terminus of the peptide chain could nucleate a β-strand conformation, while bispidine placed at the middle resulted in a β-arch conformation. This nucleation activity stems from the ability to restrict the psi torsion angle (ψ) through intramolecular C5 hydrogen bonding between the equatorial hydrogen(s) of bispidine and the carbonyl oxygen(s) of the amino acid close to the scaffold. Furthermore, the bispidine peptidomimetic with a super secondary structure, namely β-arch, assembled into single-hole submicron cages and spherical vesicles as evident from microscopic studies. The design logic defined here will be a significant strategy for the development of β-strand mimetics and super secondary structures.

Bispidine is a versatile scaffold that could be placed either at the terminal or at the middle of the peptide strand for nucleating β-strand structures. These β-strand mimetics self-assemble to single hole submicron cages and vesicles.     

Production of Cellobiose Dehydrogenase from a Newly Isolated White Rot Fungus Termitomyces sp. OE147

Class I cellobiose dehydrogenases (CDHs) are extracellular hemoflavo enzymes produced at low levels by the Basidiomycetes (white rot fungi). In presence of suitable electron acceptors, e.g., cytochrome c, 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol, or metal ions, it oxidizes cellobiose to cellobionolactone. A stringent requirement for disaccharides makes CDH also useful for conversion of lactose to lactobionic acid, an important ingredient in pharma and detergent industry. In this work, class I CDH was produced using a newly identified white rot fungus Termitomyces sp. OE147. Four media were evaluated for CDH production, and maximum enzyme activity of 0.92 international unit (IU)/ml was obtained on Ludwig medium under submerged conditions. Statistical optimization of N source, which had significant effect on CDH production, using Box–Behnken design followed by optimization of inoculum size and age resulted in an increase in activity to 2.9 IU/ml and a productivity of ~25 IU/l/h. The nearly purified CDH exhibited high activity of 26.4 IU/mg protein on lactose indicating this enzyme to be useful for lactobionic acid synthesis. Some of the internal peptide sequences bore 100 % homology to the CDH produced in Myceliophthora thermophila. The fungal isolate was amenable to scale up, and an overall productivity of ~18 IU/l/h was obtained at 14-l level.     

Kinetics of the alkaline hydrolysis of fenuron in aqueous and micellar media

The kinetics of the hydrolysis of fenuron in sodium hydroxide has been investigated spectrometrically in an aqueous medium and in cationic micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) medium. The reaction follows first‐order kinetics with respect to [fenuron] in both the aqueous and micellar media. The rate of hydrolysis increases with the increase in [NaOH] in the lower concentration range but shows a leveling behavior at higher concentrations. The reaction followed the rate equation, 1/k_obs = 1/k + 1/(kK[OH^?]), where k_obs is the observed rate constant, k is rate constant in aqueous medium, and k is the equilibrium constant for the formation of hydroxide addition product. The cationic CTAB micelles enhanced the rate of hydrolytic reaction. In both aqueous and micellar pseudophases, the hydrolysis of fenuron presumably occurs via an addition–elimination mechanism in which an intermediate hydroxide addition complex is formed. The added salts decrease the rate of reaction. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 638–644, 2007     

Kinetics of the acidic hydrolysis of fenuron in the aqueous and micellar media

The kinetics of the hydrolysis of fenuron by hydrochloric acid in aqueous methanol solution was studied spectrophotometrically. The influence of cationic micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and anionic micelles of sodium lauryl sulfate on the rate of hydrolysis of fenuron have also been studied. The anionic micelles increased the rate of reaction, while the cationic micelles decreased the rate of hydrolysis. The reaction followed first-order kinetics in [fenuron]. The rate of reaction was increased with increase in [HCl] in lower range, but become constant at higher concentration in aqueous and micellar pseudophases. The reaction starts with the protonation of amino group of fenuron followed by rate-determining attack of water. The results in micellar media are accounted for on the basis of distribution of substrate into micellar and aqueous pseudophases.     

Tartaric Acid–Catalyzed Synthesis of α-Aminophosphonates Under Solvent-Free Conditions

A facile procedure is developed for the synthesis of α-aminophosphonates, using tartaric acid as a stable, environmentally benign, low cost, and easily available organocatalyst. In the presence of tartaric acid (10 mol%), triethyl phosphite reacts with imines (generated in situ from an aldehyde and an amine) to yield the corresponding α-aminophosphonates. The organocatalyst tartaric acid is more stable during reaction. The catalyst provides easier workup, affords better yields, and takes less reaction time in comparison to generally used Lewis acid catalysts.