Effect of Headgroup on DNA−Cationic Surfactant Interactions

The interaction behavior of DNA with different types of hydroxylated cationic surfactants has been studied. Attention was directed to how the introduction of hydroxyl substituents at the headgroup of the cationic surfactants affects the compaction of DNA. The DNA−cationic surfactant interaction was investigated at different charge ratios by several methods like UV melting, ethidium bromide exclusion, and gel electrophoresis. Studies show that there is a discrete transition in the DNA chain from extended coils (free chain) to a compact form and that this transition does not depend substantially on the architecture of the headgroup. However, the accessibility of DNA to ethidium bromide is preserved to a significantly larger extent for the more hydrophilic surfactants. This was discussed in terms of surfactant packing. Observations are interpreted to reflect that the surfactants with more substituents have a larger headgroup and therefore form smaller micellar aggregates; these higher curvature aggregates lead to a less efficient, “patch-like” coverage of DNA. The more hydrophilic surfactants also presented a significantly lower cytotoxicity, which is important for biotechnological applications

Combining Ability and Heterosis for Grain Iron and Zinc Densities in Pearl Millet

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important staple food crop in the semiarid tropical regions of Asia and Africa. As part of a major initiative to improve its grain Fe and Zn densities, two sets of line × tester studies were conducted. Results showed that the underlying physiological processes determining the grain Fe and Zn densities were largely under additive genetic control, and Fe and Zn densities of the inbred lines per se and their general combining ability (GCA) were positively and highly significantly correlated. This would imply that recurrent selection can be effectively used to improve the breeding populations for grain Fe and Zn densities and that breeding lines selected for high Fe and Zn densities per se are more likely to include those with high GCA for these micronutrients. Lack of better-parent heterosis indicated that to breed hybrids with high Fe and Zn densities would require high levels of these micronutrients in both parental lines. Highly significant and positive correlations between the Fe and Zn densities, between the GCA of Fe and Zn densities, and between the specific combining ability (SCA) of the Fe and Zn densities showed that simultaneous selection for both micronutrients is likely to be effective with respect to all these performance parameters. Consistency in the patterns of results across both sets of trials and across the environments for all the parameters implies that these results could be of wider application to the genetic improvement of Fe and Zn densities in pearl millet

Tandem synthesis of amides and secondary amines from esters with primary amines under solvent-free conditions

An iridium(III)-catalyzed tandem synthesis of amides and amines from esters under solvent-free conditions is described. A commercially available iridium(III) complex, [Cp*IrCl2]2, with sodium acetate showed the best activity for the synthesis of amides and secondary amines. The amide was formed by ester-amide exchange which generates an alcohol in situ which is subsequently transformed to a secondary amine via hydrogen autotransfer. This synthetic protocol with high atom economy generates water as the sole by-product and can afford amides and amines from various esters in a one-pot reaction, expanding the synthetic versatility of ester transformations. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.115161sciescopu

Ligand- and Acid-Free Gold(I) Chloride Catalyzed Hydration of Terminal Alkynes

Our work shows that simple alkynes can be hydrated by the AuCl/MeOH catalyst system to afford the corresponding methyl ketones in moderate to high yields without any additive, ligand, or acid promoter. This methodology is simpler, milder, and operationally easier than those reported before. The reaction media significantly affects the reaction, and methanol is found to be the best solvent. Both aliphatic and aromatic terminal alkynes were able to undergo hydration, affording moderate to excellent yields under the reaction conditions used in the present work, and excellent functional-group tolerance was also observed. A plausible mechanism for the hydration reaction was proposed. © 2015 Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart, New York -Synlett4

System design for active vibration control of aerospace structures

Instrumentation, electronics, digital signal processing and related software form the basic building blocks of a system for implementation of Active Vibration Control (AVC) for smart aerospace structures. This paper essentially deals with the design, development and implementation of a 4 channel analog input sub-system essentially consisting of charge amplifiers, filters, gain amplifiers, and Analog to Digital Converters (ADC), the subsequent Digital Signal Processor (DSP) hardware for implementation of the controller and finally a 4 Channel analog output subsystem consisting of Digital to Analog Converters (DAC), reconstruction filters amp; high voltage amplifiers. This system essentially interfaces to a structure with piezo-ceramic sensors and actuators for implementation of real time AVC on a smart beam. The paper also highlights some of the new ideas that have been incorporated into the system design