Mapping the Stability Diagram of a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer with a Static Transverse Magnetic Field Applied

Previous experimental and theoretical work identified that the application of a static magnetic (B) field can improve the resolution of a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) and this simple method of performance enhancement offers advantages for field deployment. Presented here are further data showing the effect of the transverse magnetic field upon the QMS performance. For the first time, the asymmetry in QMS operation with B _x and B _y is considered and explained in terms of operation in the fourth quadrant of the stability diagram. The results may be explained by considering the additional Lorentz force (v x B) experienced by the ion trajectories in each case. Using our numerical approach, we model not only the individual ion trajectories for a transverse B field applied in x and y but also the mass spectra and the effect of the magnetic field upon the stability diagram. Our theoretical findings, confirmed by experiment, show an improvement in resolution and ion transmission by application of magnetic field for certain operating conditions.

Kaolin-catalysed one-pot synthesis of thiophene containing aminonaphthols under solvent-free condition and their in vitro anticancer and antioxidant activity

Research on Chemical Intermediates - An efficient and eco-friendly synthetic protocol via a one-pot three-component reaction to yield thiophene containing aminonaphthols (Betti bases) is reported....     

In vitro antiproliferative activity of glabridin derivatives and their in silico target identification

Abstract

Novel Mannich base derivatives of glabridin were synthesized and their antiproliferative activity were performed along with our previously reported glabridin-chalcone hybrids molecules (GCHMs) against various human cell lines MDA-MB-231 (breast adenocarcinoma), HEK-293 (embryonic kidney cell line), K562 (leukemia), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), HeLa (cervix adenocarcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) and WRL-68 (hepatic carcinoma). The result showed that the glabridin significantly reduced cell proliferation with IC₅₀ ranges from 3.67 to 58.30?µM against all the tested cell lines. The remarkable reduction in antiproliferative activity 2’,4’-dimethoxyglabridin and GCHMs compounds with phenolic OH groups protected by methoxy (OCH₃) groups suggested that the free OH groups are essential factor for the antiproliferative activity of glabridin and its derivatives. The Mannich base derivatives of glabridin showed moderate activity IC₅₀ (2.20–>95.78?µM). Furthermore, in silico target identification analysis revealed that AKT1, DECR1 and NOS1 are the potential targets for glabridin and their derivatives.     

Ionic conduction and effect of cation doping in Tl<Subscript>4</Subscript>HgI<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The ionic conduction properties of undoped and doped Tl₄HgI₆ were investigated using electrical conductivity, dielectrics, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The heavy Tl⁺-ions diffusion was activated at high temperature, whereas low conductivity at the lower temperature suggested electronic contribution in undoped Tl₄HgI₆. The partial replacement of heavy Tl⁺ ion by suitable cations (Ag⁺ and Cu⁺) enhanced the conductivity by several orders of magnitude, whereas diminution in conductivity results with increasing dopants’ concentration in Tl₄HgI₆. These results can be interpreted in terms of a lattice contraction and vacancy–vacancy interaction (leading to the cluster formation), respectively. The dielectric values of undoped Tl₄HgI₆ system gradually increasing with temperature, followed by a sharp change, were observed around 385 K and can be explained on the basis of increasing number of space charge polarization and ions jump orientation effects. The activation energy of undoped and doped Tl₄HgI₆ systems were calculated, and it was found that ionic conductivity activation energy for 5 mol% of cation dopants is much lower than that of undoped one, and also 10 mol% doped Tl₄HgI₆ systems.     

Stochastic upscaling of random microstructures

In this work we present an upscaling technique for multi-scale computations based on random microstructures modelled as realisations of lognormally distributed random fields, or described by randomly distributed inclusions in a homogeneous matrix. Their corresponding coarse-scale model parameters are considered as uncertain, and are approximated by random variables, the distributions of which are obtained via polynomial chaos based Bayesian procedures in which the fine-scale energy is used as an observation. (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Radar transparent glass fabric reinforced polyetherimide/Cloisite 30B nanocomposites

High performance radar transparent materials (RTMs) are important materials for the fabrication of radomes, nosecones, etc. of high velocity aerospace vehicles. RTMs with good mechanical performance and temperature capability are required for such applications. Toward this, fabric reinforced nano‐reinforced matrix composites (FRNCs), using reinforcing E‐glass fabric in Cloisite 30B reinforced polyetherimide (PEI) nanocomposite matrix (GNRPEI), was prepared. The properties of GNRPEI were evaluated and compared with E‐glass fabric reinforced PEI composites (GRPEI) with special reference to their radar transparent character for aerospace applications. Tensile and flexural properties along with interlaminar shear strength of GRPEI were observed to be lower than those of GNRPEI. Thermal behavior of both the composites was similar in differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis. But, in dynamic mechanical analysis, an increase in storage modulus and decrease in loss tangent were observed in GNRPEI compared to GRPEI. The values of dielectric constant and loss tangent of GNRPEI were lesser than those of GRPEI, but no significant difference was observed in the values of transmission and reflection losses for both the composites at 8–12 GHz frequency. FRNCs, based on organoclay reinforced PEI matrix, hold good promise as high performance RTMs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

QMS in the Third Stability Zone with a Transverse Magnetic Field Applied

We report here a study using a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) in which a static magnetic field is applied transversely to the body of the mass filter operating in stability zone 3. Significant improvement in QMS performance was obtained under certain magnetic field conditions, and these have been explained in terms of our theoretical model. The theoretical approach assumed in the model is that the QMS contains hyperbolic rods as electrodes and that the magnetic field acts over the full length of the mass filter assembly. Our latest analysis also predicts for what values of operating parameters an enhancement of the quadrupole resolution is achieved when a transverse magnetic field is applied. The model predicts instrument resolution R > 5000 for Ar with a 100 mm long mass filter and R > 3500 for a HT and D₂ mixture with a 200 mm long mass filter via application of a transverse magnetic field.     

Synthesis and thermal studies of bisphenol-A based bismaleimide

The compound 2,2-bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxy phenyl)]propane was prepared by the imidization of bisamic acid of 2,2-bis(4-aminophenoxy phenyl)propane. Various nanoclays were blended with this bismaleimide and thermally cured. The structural characterization of the synthesized materials and the thermal properties of the bismaleimide and their blends were investigated through FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, differential scanning calorimetry and thermo gravimetric analysis. Among the various clays investigated, Cloisite 15A shows strong influence on the cure exotherm of bismaleimide. Introduction of clay mineral into bismaleimide shifts the onset of curing exotherm to higher temperature and is nearly 40 °C. The thermal stability of the clay loaded cured bismaleimide increases and the presence of clay particles in the cured bismaleimide matrix enhances the char formation.     

Analysis of Heat and Mass Transfer in a Vertical Annular Porous Cylinder Using FEM

The present study is intended to study heat and mass transfer in a vertical annular cylinder embedded with saturated porous medium. The inner surface of cylinder is maintained at uniform wall temperature and uniform wall concentration. The governing partial differential equations are non-dimensionalised and solved by using finite element method (FEM). The porous medium is discritised using triangular elements with uneven element size. Large number of smaller-sized elements are placed near the walls of the annulus to capture the smallest variation in solution parameters. The results are reported for both aiding and opposing flows. The effects of various non-dimensional numbers such as buoyancy ratio, Lewis number, Rayleigh number, aspect ratio, etc on heat and mass transfer are discussed. The temperature and concentration profiles are presented.     

Factors influencing the QMF resolution for operation in stability zones 1 and 3

This study uses a computer model to simulate a quadrupole mass filter (QMF) instrument under different operating conditions for Mathieu stability zones 1 and 3. The investigation considers the factors that limit the maximum resolution (R_max), which can be obtained for a given QMF for a particular value of scan line. Previously, QMF resolution (R) has been found to be dependent on number (N) of radio frequency (rf) cycles experienced by the ions in the mass filter, according to R = N ⁿ /K, where n and K are the constants. However, this expression does not predict the limit to QMF resolution observed in practice and is true only for the linear regions of the performance curve for QMF operation in zone 1 and zone 3 of the stability diagram. Here we model the saturated regions of the performance curve for QMF operation in zone 1 according to R = q(1 – 2c ^N )/∆q, where c is a constant and ∆q is the width of the intersection of the operating scan line with the stability zone 1, measured at q-axis of the Mathieu stability diagram. Also by careful calculations of the detail of the stability tip of zone 1, the following relationship was established between R_max and percentage U/V ratio: R _max   = q/(0.9330-0.00933U/V). For QMF operation in zone 3 the expression R = a – bc ^N simulates well the linear and saturated regions of the performance curve for a range of operational conditions, where a, b, and c are constants.