Characterization of laser-irradiated YNi 2 B 2 C surfaces by Auger electron spectroscopy

The suitability of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for precise analysis of YNi(2)B(2)C has been investigated. The intensity ratios B/Y and Ni/Y were found to vary during ablation as a function of the ablation conditions. This could be because of fractionation, owing to incongruent ablation or transport and plasma effects. The bottoms and surroundings of the craters were investigated by scanning Auger electron spectrometry. The bottoms of the craters produced by ablation are covered with a thin oxide comparable with that on the polished crystal surface.The craters are surrounded by an oxide layer the dimensions and thickness of which depend on the laser conditions. The formation of this oxide can be assumed to be a result of partial oxidation of sample material during the ablation process; the oxide is then redeposited around the laser crater.     

Kinetics of self-condensation of acetone over heterogeneous Ba(OH)2 and Sr(OH)2 catalysts

Catalytic performance of Ba(OH)₂ and Sr(OH)₂ in self-condensation of acetone was examined in the temperature range from 273 to 303 K. A kinetic model of second order with respect to acetone was used for interpretation of the results obtained for the diacetone alcohol formation.This revised version was published online in December 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Asymptotic behavior of -semigroups in Banach spaces

We present optimal estimates for the asymptotic behavior of
strongly continuous semigroups in terms of growth abscissas of the resolvent function of the generator . In particular we give Ljapunov's classical stability condition a definite form for (infinite dimensional) abstract Cauchy problems: The abscissa of boundedness of equals the growth bound of the classical solutions of .

     

Identification of selenium species in urine by ion-pairing HPLC–ICP–MS using laboratory-synthesized standards

This study focused on the detection/identification of possible selenium metabolites in human urine. Organoselenium compounds not commercially unavailable were synthesized and characterized by electrospray mass spectrometry. Separation of selenomethionine, methylselenomethionine, trimethylselonium, selenoethionine, and selenoadenosylmethionine was achieved by ion-pairing HPLC with a mobile phase of 2 mmol L^–1 hexanesulfonic acid, 0.4% acetic acid, 0.2% triethanolamine (pH 2.5), and 5% methanol. The column effluent was introduced on-line to inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry for selenium-specific detection (⁷⁷Se and ⁷⁸Se). For selenium speciation in urine, solid-phase extraction was carried out using C₁₈ cartridges modified with hexanesulfonic acid. Selective retention of cationic species was observed from acidified urine (perchloric acid, pH 2.0). After elution with methanol, evaporation, and dissolution in the mobile phase, the sample was introduced to the HPLC–ICP–MS system and the chromatographic peaks were assigned by adding standards. The species identified in urine were selenomethionine, trimethylselonium ion, and selenoadenosylmethionine. The last species was detected for the first time and our results suggest that selenomethionine might enter the metabolic pathway of its sulfur analog in the activated methylation cycle.Kazimierz Wrobel and Katarzyna Wrobel are on the leave from the Institute of Scientific Research, University of Guanajuato, L. de Retana No. 5, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico     

Determining consanguinity by oligonucleotide fingerprinting with (GTG)5/(CAC)5

Simple tandemly organized (GTG)n/(CAC)n sequences are spread throughout the human chromosomes. The most informative DNA fingerprints for the testing of pedigrees and/or paternity were obtained with the simple triplet repeat probe (GTG)5 or its complement (CAC)5. These hypervariable simple-repeat fragments are stably inherited in a Mendelian fashion. Using these highly discriminating probes, all human individuals could, theoretically, be differentiated, except for genetically identical monozygotic twins. Examples from actual case work are reported and pertinent advantages of this methodology are discussed.     

A general,highly stereoselective synthesis of amines

The stereochemical course of cycloalkanone imine reductions by a variety of boron hydride reagents is described; very high stereoselectivity with substituted alkali metal borohydrides is reported.     

Peptide synthesis with benzisoxazolium salts—III : Utility of 7-hydroxy-2-ethylbenzisoxazolium fluoroborate in the synthesis of peptides

The scope and limitations of the 7-hydroxy-2-ethylbenzisoxazolium salt method of forming amide bonds are outlined through the synthesis of a variety of simple peptide derivatives containing all of the common amino acids with the exceptions of arginine and histidine. The 3-acyloxy-2-hydroxy-N-ethylbenzamides derived from C-terminal serine or threonine containing peptides are found to react with amines at anomalously slow rates and with the formation of transesterified byproducts; a mechanistic explanation is offered. The utility of the method for the synthesis of medium sized peptides is examined by synthesis of oligomers of Gly-L-Leu-Gly.     

Large-area microwave and radiofrequency plasma etching of polymers

We have investigated O₂/CF₄ plasma etching of five commercial polymers: polyimide, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate and cured epoxy resin. A new large-area microwave plasma apparatus has been used in this work, but the same apparatus can also be used as a capacitively coupled radiofrequency (13.56 MHz) discharge reactor. The effect of operating parameters such as pressure, etchant gas composition, excitation frequency and sample temperature upon etch kinetics has been examined. We have observed distinct maxima in the etch rate as functions of pressure and CF₄ concentration. Activation, energies evaluated from the Arrhenius plots fall in the range 0.04-0.2 eV, in agreement with data in the literature. Dry etch susceptibility of a given polymer correlates strongly with the degree of unsaturation in the polymer's structure     

Tunable electronic Raman laser at 16 μm

6s–9s electronic Raman scattering in caesium vapour is used to generate tunable 16m radiation. Output energies in excess of 8 J were obtained, with peak powers in the kilowatt range.