Experiments on periodic and chaotic motions of a parametrically forced pendulum

An experimental study of periodic and chaotic type aperiodic motions of a parametrically harmonically excited pendulum is presented. It is shown that a characteristic route to chaos is the period-doubling cascade, which for the parametrically excited pendulum occurs with increasing driving amplitude and decreasing damping force, respectively. The coexistence of different periodic solutions as well as periodic and chaotic solutions is demonstrated and various transitions between them are studied. The pendulum is found to exhibit a transient chaotic behaviour in a wide range of driving force amplitudes. The transition from metastable chaos to sustained chaotic behaviour is investigated.     

Investigation of laser-induced plasma deposition of boron nitride

Laser ionization mass spectrometry (LIMS) was applied to the investigation of the composition of laser plasmas of three different boron nitride modifications (hexagonal -boron nitride with graphite structure, cubic -boron nitride with diamond structure and hexagonal -boron nitride resembling the wurtzite type). Thin films in the 10 nm range were produced in the ion source of the laser mass spectrograph by laser-induced plasma deposition. So we could carry out the plasma diagnostic and the preparation of thin films under the same condition. The cluster distribution in laser plasma is independent of the structure of the BN target. An explanation of laser-induced plasma deposition of boron nitride from the results of mass spectrometric analysis of laser plasmas and of the analysis of deposited thin films (TEM, EELS) was derived.     

Die massenspektrometrische Retro-Diels-Alder-Reaktion: 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydrocarbazol. 30. Mitteilung über massenspektrometrische Untersuchungen

The mass spectral retro Diels-Alder-reaction: 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydrocarbazole undergoes a retro Diels-Alder-reaction under electron impact. C(2) and C(3) are eliminated as ethylene. This is shown by measuring the deuterated derivatives 1a , 1b and 1c . Furthermore the oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives 3 and 4 are investigated in respect to the mass spectral retro Diels-Alder reaction too.     

Initial nucleation of platinum clusters after reduction of K(2)PtCl(4) in aqueous solution: a first principles study

The initial nucleation of platinum clusters after the reduction of K(2)PtCl(4) in aqueous solution is studied by means of first principles molecular dynamics simulations. A reaction mechanism leading to a Pt dimer is revealed both by gas-phase simulations and by simulations which model the solution environment. The key step of the observed reaction process is the formation of a Pt-Pt bond between a Pt(I) complex and an unreduced Pt(II) complex. In light of this result, we discuss the reduction process leading to the formation of platinum nanoparticles. In the generally accepted model, the nucleation of Pt particles starts only when a critical concentration of Pt(0) atoms is reached. Here, we discuss a complementary mechanism where metal-metal bonds form between Pt complexes in higher oxidation states. This is consistent with a number of experimental results which show that a high concentration of zerovalent atoms is not necessary to start the nucleation.     

Functional films of maleic anhydride copolymers under physiological conditions

Reactivity and swelling of nanometer films of alternating maleic anhydride copolymers were investigated in dependence on the kind of comonomer and molar mass of copolymer in aqueous solution at pH 7.4 and pH 3.0 in order to reveal their characteristics under physiological conditions. Fully hydrolyzed (maleic acid) chains of the copolymers with styrene, propene, and ethylene comonomers covalently bound to SiO2 substrates showed a "mushroom" swelling behavior at pH 7.4 with a layer thickness scaling of N3/5. Decreasing the environmental pH was found to induce a comonomer-dependent shrinking or collapse of the immobilized polymers due to the change in ionization. From the swelling kinetics of non-hydrolyzed chains, the time constants and characteristics of swelling and anhydride hydrolysis were determined and found to depend on the type of comonomer. The short- and long-term swelling kinetics [l approximately t and approximately ln(t)1/2] were found to be in agreement with theoretical models of polymer swelling, while at intermediate time scales enhanced swelling was observed due to hydrolysis reaction of maleic anhydride groups. The findings elucidate the variety of properties of maleic anhydride copolymer films under physiological conditions, which can advantageously be applied for biofunctionalization of different templates.     

Sorption of galactose by zeolite Y

The sorption of galactose by Na-Y, K-Y and Ba-Y zeolites has been investigated by isopiestic equilibration at 25°C. The equilibrium galactose and water contents of the zeolites were determined for water activitiesa _w in the range 0.111 <a _w < 0.98. It was found that the maximum uptake of galactose U ₀ ^G (observed fora _W 0) was highest for Na-Y and least for Ba-Y. In contrast at high water activities the galactose uptake was highest for Ba-Y and least for Na-Y.     

Effect of cellulase on the pore structure of bead cellulose

An enzymatic treatment with cellulases fromTrichoderma viride was investigated in its effect on the pore structure of different types of bead cellulose. One objective of this study was to establish a suitable procedure for combined enzymatic treatment and solvent exchange that would restore the original pore structure which the beads had before drying without causing major losses in mechanical stability. Another aim was to further increase the accessible pore space and internal surface area for separation of large molecular weight compounds with regard to Chromatographic applications. Finally, an attempt was made to extend the findings for unsubstituted beads to the derivatives carboxymethyl (CM) and diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose beads. The enzymatically treated samples were characterized by microscopic methods and porosity measurements such as mercury porosimetry, nitrogen sorption and size exclusion chromatography. It was found that under controlled conditions the low-porosity surface layer of dried beads could be removed making the internal pore space accessible without reducing the resistance to deformation of the beads. Additionally, a shift in pore size distribution towards larger pores was observed. Supplementary swelling treatments in solvents of high swelling power could substantially restore the former porosity of the dried beads but did not enhance the accessibility to the cellulases to a considerable extent. Internal pore volume and surface area of the derivatives were dramatically increased in the case of DEAE upon enzymatic hydrolysis, however, at the expense of mechanical stability, whereas CM was found to be less affected.     

Immobilization of protein on aldehyde-containing gels—II. Activation of pyridine rings with cyanogen bromide

Cyanogen bromide was used to convert pyridine rings in polymers to polyaldehyde. By reaction with NH₂-containing substances, the rings are rebuilt, resulting in a pyridinium compound. Thus proteins and other NH₂-containing substances can be covalently bound. This method provides a new means for a immobilization technique. Pyridine-gels based on polysaccharide and polyacrylamide matrices, as well as pyridine glass beads, were synthesized and used to study the conditions necessary for coupling. Trypsin and — chymotrypsin were used as test substances for immobilization of proteins. Some properties of the bound protein were studied and compared to native enzyme. Some general results on the applicability of these gels for affinity chromatography are also presented.