Base-Mediated Three-Component Tandem Reactions for the Synthesis of Multisubstituted Pyrimidines

A base-mediated three-component tandem reaction for the synthesis of multisubstituted pyrimidines from amidines, aryl alkynes, and aldehydes in a one-pot manner has been developed. Advantages of this transformation include being transition-metal-free, high efficiency, available starting materials, and being environmentally friendly

Analog Memristors Based on Thickening/Thinning of Ag Nanofilaments in Amorphous Manganite Thin Films

We developed an analog memristor based on the thickening/thinning of Ag nanofilaments in amorphous La_1–<i>x</i>Sr_<i>x</i>MnO₃ (a-LSMO) thin films. The Ag/a-LSMO/Pt memristor exhibited excellent pinched hysteresis loops under high-excitation frequency, and the areas enclosed by the pinched hysteresis loops shrank with increasing excitation frequency, which is a characteristic typical of a memristor. The memristor also showed continuously tunable synapselike resistance and stable endurance. The a-LSMO thin films in the memristor acted as a solid electrolyte for Ag⁺ cations, and only the Ag/a-LSMO/Pt memristor electroformed with a larger current compliance easily exhibited high-frequency pinched hysteresis loops. On the basis of the electrochemical metallization (ECM) theory and electrical transport models of quantum wires and nanowires, we concluded that the memristance is ultimately determined by the amount of charge supplied by the external current. The state equations of the memristor were established, and charge was the state variable. This study provides a new analog memristor based on metal nanofilaments thickening/thinning in ECM cells, which can be extended to other resistive switching materials. The new memristor may enable the development of beyond von Neumann computers

Transition Metal Free Intermolecular Direct Oxidative C–N Bond Formation to Polysubstituted Pyrimidines Using Molecular Oxygen as the Sole Oxidant

Various polysubstituted pyrimidines are smoothly formed via a base-promoted intermolecular oxidation C–N bond formation of allylic C­(sp³)–H and vinylic C­(sp²)–H of allyllic compounds with amidines using O₂ as the sole oxidant. This protocol features protecting group free nitrogen sources, good functional group tolerance, high atom economy, and environmental advantages

Table_1_A triton X-100 assisted PMAxx-qPCR assay for rapid assessment of infectious African swine fever virus.docx

IntroductionAfrican Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly infectious disease of pigs, caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). The lack of vaccines and drugs makes strict disinfection practices to be one of the main measurements to curb the transmission of ASF. Therefore, it is important to assess if all viruses are inactivated after disinfection or after long time exposure in their natural conditions. Currently, the infectivity of ASFV is determined by virus isolation and culture in a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory. However, BSL-3 laboratories are not readily available, need skilled expertise and may be time consuming.MethodsIn this study, a Triton X-100 assisted PMAxx-qPCR method was developed for rapid assessment of infectious ASFV in samples. PMAxx, an improved version of propidium monoazide (PMA), can covalently cross-link with naked ASFV-DNA or DNA inside inactivated ASFV virions under assistance of 0.1% (v/v) TritonX-100, but not with ASFV-DNA inside live virions. Formation of PMAxx-DNA conjugates prevents PCR amplification, leaving only infectious virions to be detected. Under optimum conditions, the limit of detection of the PMAxx-qPCR assay was 2.32log10HAD50/mL of infectious ASFV. Testing different samples showed that the PMAxx-qPCR assay was effective to evaluate intact ASFV virions after treatment by heat or chemical disinfectants and in simulated samples such as swine tissue homogenate, swine saliva swabs, and environmental swabs. However, whole-blood and saliva need to be diluted before testing because they may inhibit the PCR reaction or the cross-linking of PMAxx with DNA.ConclusionThe Triton X-100 assisted PMAxx-qPCR assay took less than 3 h from sample to result, offering an easier and faster way for assessing infectious ASFV in samples from places like pig farms and pork markets.</p