X-ray emission spectroscopy with EPMA applied to high Tc Superconductors using new spectrometer crystals

The High Temperature Superconductors are characterized by a very anisotropical structure and by typical arrangements of Cu- and O-atoms within CuO₂-planes. In studying the electronic structure of these compounds there is a strong demand for high resolution valence band spectroscopy. Using an electron probe microanalyzer we study the X-ray emission of O-K_ga and Cu-L emerging from polycrystalline YBa₂Cu₃O₇ and Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀. The O-K emission band is analyzed using a chlinochlore crystal in (001) orientation (2d = 28.4 Å). For the Cu-L emission band we use a beryl crystal in (10¯10) orientation (2d = 15.9 Å). Furthermore, orientation dependent X-ray emission spectroscopy of single-crystalline YBa₂Cu₃O₇ and Tl₂Ba₂Ca₁Cu₂O₈ specimens was performed. We present the partial O-K spectra which represent the O-2p ( = x, y, z) electronic densities of states of the valence band and compare them with calculated data.     

On the interpretation of fluorescence anisotropy decays from probe molecules in lipid vesicle systems

Measurements of fluorescence depolarization decays are widely used to obtain information about the molecular order and rotational dynamics of fluorescent probe molecules in membrane systems. This information is obtained by least-squares fits of the experimental data to the predictions of physical models for motion. Here we present a critical review of the ways and means of the data analysis and address the question how and why totally different models such as Brownian rotational diffusion and wobble-in-cone provide such convincing fits to the fluorescence anistropy decay curves. We show that while these models are useful for investigating the general trends in the behavior of the probe molecules, they fail to describe the underlying motional processes. We propose to remedy this situation with a model in which the probe molecules undergo fast, though restricted local motions within a slowly rotating cage in the lipid bilayer structure. The cage may be envisaged as a free volume cavity between the lipid molecules, so that its position and orientation change with the internal conformational motions of the lipid chains. This approach may be considered to be a synthesis of the wobble-in-cone and Brownian rotational diffusion models. Importantly, this compound motion model appears to provide a consistent picture of fluorescent probe behavior in both oriented lipid bilayers and lipid vesicle systems.     

Use of NIRS technology with a remote reflectance fibre-optic probe for predicting major components in bee pollen

In the present work, we study the use of near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) technology together with a remote reflectance fibre-optic probe for determination of the major components in bee pollen. The method allows immediate control of the bee pollen without prior sample treatment or destruction through direct application of the fibre-optic probe to the sample.The regression method employed was modified partial least squares (MPLS). The calibration results obtained using 45 samples of bee pollen allowed the measurement of protein, moisture, ash, reducing sugars, and pH with multiple correlation coefficients (RSQ) and prediction corrected standard errors (SEPC) of 0.91, 0.56% for protein, of 0.78 and 0.49% for moisture; 0.92 and 0.049% for ash; 0.81 and 1.32 g of glucose/100 g of bee pollen; 0.84 and 0.15 for pH, respectively.The prediction capacity of the pattern was checked by applying it to samples of unknown pollen in external validation.     

Micro construction of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/poly(L-lactic acid) blend film by solution casting under microwave irradiation

The micro construction of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) blend films fabricated by solution casting under microwave irradiation was investigated by selective enzymatic degradation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results were totally different from the blends obtained by conventional methods. The blend was more homogeneous and the PCL continuous phase more compact as no spherulites and tiny zone separation were observed from the film surface and no PCL network was observed inside the film, and the degradation of a PCL plank by Pseudomonas lipase was significantly retarded. The distributed PLLA micro spheres were enlarged and amorphous. The thermal behavior of the blend by microwave heating revealed that PCL and PLLA underwent a melting process, which induced the variations of the PCL phase and PLLA spheres. The weight loss caused by degradation of the PCL/PLLA blend obtained by conventional methods (B50c) is greater than that of the blend obtained by microwave methods (B50m), which reflects the change in morphology from a loose PCL network (B50c) to a dense PCL plank (B50m).     

An affinity-based probe for the proteomic profiling of aspartic proteases

We have developed an affinity-based probe for the proteomic profiling of aspartic proteases. Our probe was shown to be selective towards aspartic proteases over other proteins. It was also shown that the strategy may be used to label selectively aspartic proteases in the presence of a large excess of other proteins, thus making it useful for future proteome profiling experiments.     

New In-situ Sampling and Analysis of the Production of CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Powders from Liquid Precursors using a Novel Wet Collection System in a rf Inductively Coupled Thermal Plasma Reactor. Part 1: Reactor System and Sampling Probe

A new reactor and a novel in-situ sampling technique were developed for the study of the synthesis of CeO₂ powders produced from dissolved cerium nitrate salts. The conical reactor minimized particle recirculation and provided a highly symmetrical and undisturbed plasma flow suitable for the analysis of the phenomena affecting the formation of CeO₂ powders. Both a calorimetric study of the reactor and a thermodynamic analysis of CeO₂ formation were conducted. The sampling probe is described and near-isokinetic sampling was achieved. The sampled particles were collected using a miniature wet collection system, i.e. a mist atomizer and a custom-made spray chamber. A numerical simulation of the velocity and temperature fields of the plasma gas in the reactor was done using Fluent. A comprehensive droplet-to-particle formation mechanism presented elsewhere is revisited and expanded based on calorimetry, thermodynamics of CeO₂ formation, numerical simulations and collected particles. No traces of other oxidation states other than CeO₂ were found.     

Mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probes for micropolarity and microviscosity and their applications

Two fluorescent "off-on" probes YYH1 and YYH2 were used for bioimaging mitochondrial polarity and viscosity.     

Characterization of individual atmospheric particles by element mapping in electron probe microanalysis

In this paper procedures for the characterization of individual aerosol particles by element mapping in the electron microprobe are presented. The number, size and qualitative chemical composition of particles is derived from a combination of secondary or backscattered electron images and element distribution maps. Accuracy of the size distribution and reliability of the qualitative analysis procedure were checked with silicate samples. In order to obtain a semi-quantitative estimate of the chemical composition of individual particles the count rates taken from element distribution maps are corrected for matrix and geometric effects using particle ZAF procedures.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

规整链球型含C_(60)聚(丙烯酸β-羟乙酯)的合成及其在水中的自组装

Ｃ60 由于其独特的物理化学性质 ,在生命科学中引起了人们的广泛兴趣 .例如 :水溶性Ｃ60 的羧酸衍生物 ,羟基取代Ｃ60 ,Ｃ60 的氨基酸水溶性衍生的合成已有报道[1～ 3] ,并被用来研究Ｃ60 的生物化学及医学活性 .Ｔｏｋｕｙａｍａ[4 ] 等合成了酶功能化Ｃ60及与核酸连接的Ｃ60 ,研究并证明了它的细胞毒性及Ｇ 选择ＤＮＡ切割能力等生化活性 .Ｆｒｉｅｄｍａｎ[5]等合成了水溶性Ｃ60 的羧酸衍生物 ,研究了它对ＨＩＶ 1艾滋病毒的抑制作用 ,此外 ,关于不同Ｃ60含量的Ｃ60 蛋白质衍生物的合成及性质的研究也有报道[6] .Ｃ60 是一个直径为 0 71…     

Identification by Electron Probe Microbeam Analysis of Submicron Borides in Joints of Nickel Base Superalloys

The phases formed at the interface between an intermetallic (NiAl) and a nickel base superalloy joined by combustion synthesis were investigated, particularly the eutectic phases. Owing to their small size, the characterisation of these phases using a Castaings electron microprobe encounters difficulties. The analysis volume size is generally too large to differentiate the phases from their surrounding matrix, even by using low accelerating voltage. Moreover, the eutectic phases contain boron, which is difficult to characterise by EPMA. Independently of the phases shape, the characterisation can be solved by viewing this complex system as a surrounding matrix and a multi layer system. The results of these simulations revealed the presence of two categories of borides: the eutectic boride MM₂B₂ (M=Mo and M=Co, Cr) and the solid solution boride [Cr_1–x (Mo, W)_x]B.