Performance evaluation of high-power GaAs Schottky and siliconp-i-n rectifiers in hard- and soft-switching applications

The dynamic switching characteristics of high-power GaAs Schottky and silicon p-i-n rectifiers are studied at various temperatures. Devices were first characterized to measure forward and reverse I-V, C-V, reverse breakdown voltage, and reverse-recovery performance. The same devices were characterized for turn on and turn off in switching circuits designed to study the dynamic switching performances under hard- and soft-switching conditions at different temperatures. Advanced two-dimensional (2-D) mixed device and circuit simulations were used to study the internal plasma dynamics under boundary conditions imposed by the circuit operation. It is shown that for hard-switching applications, GaAs Schottky power rectifiers exhibit significantly reduced switching power losses compared to silicon p-i-n rectifiers. For soft-switching applications, there is not a significant difference in the switching power losses for these two devices. Diode performance at elevated temperatures is measured and simulated, and temperature dependencies of switching and conduction power losses are analyzed     

Targeting Asexual and Sexual Blood Stages of the Human Malaria Parasite P. falciparum with 7-Chloroquinoline-Based 1,2,3-Triazoles

Novel 4-amino-7-chloroquinoline-based 1,2,3-triazole hybrids were synthesised in good yields by Cu^I-catalysed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 2-azido-N-(7-chloroquinolin-4-ylaminoalkyl)acetamides with various terminal alkynes. These new hybrids were screened in vitro against asexual blood stages of the chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 strain of P. falciparum. The most active compounds were further screened against asexual and sexual stages (gametocytes) of the chloroquine-resistant RKL-9 strain of P. falciparum. Although all compounds were less potent than chloroquine against the 3D7 strain, the three best compounds were appreciably more active than chloroquine against the RKL-9 strain, displaying IC₅₀ values of <100 nm , with one of them having an IC₅₀ of 2.94 nm . Further, the lead compounds were gametocytocidal with IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range, and were observed to induce morphological deformations in mature gametocytes. Most compounds demonstrated little or no cytotoxicity and exhibited good selectivity indices. The most active compounds represent promising candidates for further evaluation of their schizonticidal and gametocytocidal potential.     

Identification of a novel structure in heparin generated by sequential oxidative-reductive treatment

Unfractionated heparin is isolated from animal organs, predominantly porcine intestinal mucosa, and goes through an extensive process of purification before it can be used for pharmaceutical purposes. While the structural microheterogeneity of heparin is predominantly biosynthetically imprinted in the Golgi, subsequent steps involved in the purification and manufacture of commercial heparin can lead to the introduction of additional modifications. Postheparin crisis of 2008, it has become increasingly important to identify what additional structural diversity is introduced as a function of the purification process and thus can be determined as being heparin-related, as opposed to being an adulterant or contaminant, e.g., oversulfated chondroitin sulfate. Our study focuses on the identification of a previously unreported structure in heparin that arises due to specific steps used in the manufacturing process. This structure was initially observed as a disaccharide peak in a complete enzymatic digest of heparin, but its presence was later identified in the NMR spectra of intact heparin as well. Structural elucidation experiments involved isolation of this structure and analysis based on multidimensional NMR and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Heparin was also subjected to specific chemical reactions to determine which steps in the manufacturing process are responsible for this novel structure. Our results allowed for the definitive assignment of the structure of this novel process-related modification and enabled an identification of the putative steps in the process that give rise to the structure.     

The Use of Capillary Suction Time to Characterize the Surface of Aluminum Hydroxide Suspensions

The capillary suction tine of suspensions of 3 dried aluminum hydroxide powders correlated with the surface area of the powders determined by nitrogen adsorption if the solids content and the aggregation state were controlled. This method isuseful for characterizing the surface area of suspended solids as it avoids possible changes in surface area caused by crying the suspension.