Modes and Fields of Two Stacked Dielectric Resonators in a Cavity of an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Probe

An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) probe consisting of two dielectric resonators (DRs) and a cavity (CV) is ideal for EPR experiments where both signal enhancement and tuning capabilities are required. The coupling of two DRs, resonating in their \({\text{TE}}_{01\delta }\) mode and a CV resonating in its \({\text{TE}}_{011}\) mode, is studied using energy-coupled mode theory (ECMT). The frequencies and eigenvectors of the three coupled modes are analytically derived. As predicted numerically, ECMT confirms that the \({\text{TE}}^{ + + - }\) and \({\text{TE}}^{ + - - }\) modes are indeed found to be degenerate at a specific distance between the two DRs \(d_{12}\). Additionally, the condition at which degeneracy occurs is specified. For a considerable range, the calculated frequency of the \({\text{TE}}^{ + + + }\) mode changes linearly with respect to \(d_{12}\). The \({\text{TE}}^{ + + + }\) mode showed a 500 MHz frequency change over a distance of 2 cm, when the resonance frequency is around 9.7 GHz. This enables the experimentalist to linearly tune the probe over this large frequency range. Finally the asymmetric configuration, where one of the resonators (DR2) is kept at the cavity center and the other one is allowed to move along the cavity axis, is studied. It is estimated that the frequency changes by 600 MHz over a distance of 1.5 cm. A formula for the magnitude of the magnetic field along the cavity axis, where the EPR samples are usually placed, is developed. This is crucial in determining the magnetic field in the vicinity of the sample and the probe’s filling factor.     

Revisiting Gouy phase

The aim of this paper is to highlight the added value of the generalized Gouy phase shift introduced by Siegman. Although suited for optical systems study, including those more complex than free space, we note that it did not meet the use that it deserves so far. The analysis of the whole of the ideas and analytical approaches associated to the important concept of the Gouy phase proves its effectiveness.

Usually, the resonance condition is systematically built on the basis of the equivalent empty cavity. Unfortunately, this approach does not cover some of the useful parameters of the real resonator. By means of the generalized Gouy phase and the self-consistent complex parameter q, we derive here a new approach for the calculation of the resonance condition for the real cavity. Moreover, the use of the generalized Gouy phase clearly simplifies the study of resonators, while making it possible to avoid the use of the Huygens’ Fresnel integral.     

Hexametaphosphate‐Capped Silica Mesoporous Nanoparticles Containing CuII Complexes for the Selective and Sensitive Optical Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide in Water

Cu^II‐macrocycle functionalized hexametaphosphate‐capped silica mesoporous nanoparticles have been prepared and used for the selective and sensitive detection of hydrogen sulfide in aqueous environments. The possibility of using different metal complexes combined with different capping anions and choice of different dyes or other sensing molecules as indicators makes this new protocol highly appealing for the preparation of new sensing systems for sulfide detection in different environments.     

Construction of the benzylic quaternary carbon center of zoanthenol by intramolecular Mizoroki-Heck reaction of enone

[reaction: see text]. Stereocontrolled synthesis of the ABC ring framework of zoanthenol has been achieved. Our studies show that a beta,beta-disubstituted enone can act as a good acceptor of arylpalladium intermediates in the formation of a congested benzylic quaternary carbon center through an intramoleculer Mizoroki-Heck reaction. The cis B/C ring system was stereoselectively converted to the trans-fused framework through a SmI2-promoted deoxygenation of the alpha-hydroxy ketone.     

A fully automated system with on-line micro solid-phase extraction combined with capillary liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for high throughput analysis of microcystins and nodularin-R in tap water and lake water

Microcystins and nodularins are cyclic peptide hepatotoxins and tumour promoters from cyanobacteria. The present study describes the development, validation and practical application of a fully automated analytical method based on on-line micro solid-phase extraction-capillary liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of seven microcystins and nodularin-R in tap water and lake water. Aliquots of just 100 μL of water samples are sufficient for the detection and quantification of all eight toxins. Selected reaction monitoring was used to obtain the highest sensitivity. Good linear calibrations were obtained for microcystins (50-2000ng/L) and nodularin-R (25-1000 ng/L) in spiked tap water and lake water samples. Excellent interday and intraday repeatability were achieved for eight toxins with relative standard deviation less than 15.7% in three different concentrations. Acceptable recoveries were achieved in the three concentrations with both tap water matrix and lake water matrix and no significant matrix effect was found in tap water and lake water except for microcystin-RR. The limits of detection (signal to noise ratio=3) of toxins were lower than 56.6 ng/L which is far below the 1 μg/L defined by the World Health Organization provisional guideline for microcystin-LR. Finally, this method was successfully applied to lake water samples from Tai lake and proved to be useful for water quality monitoring.     

Selective determination of doxorubicin and doxorubicinol in rat plasma by HPLC with photosensitization reaction followed by chemiluminescence detection

A highly sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of doxorubicin (DXR) and its metabolite doxorubicinol (DXR-ol) in rat plasma. The method was based on photosensitization reaction followed by peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence detection (PO-CL). DXR and DXR-ol that were fluorescent quinones, served as a photosensitizer in the presence of a hydrogen atom donor such as ethanol under aerobic conditions to produce hydrogen peroxide. Then the generated hydrogen peroxide and DXR or DXR-ol were monitored through PO-CL reaction by mixing with aryloxalate as a single post-column reagent that enabled highly selective and sensitive determination of DXR and DXR-ol. The separation of DXR and DXR-ol by HPLC was accomplished isocratically on an ODS column within 15 min. The method involves a simple one step protein precipitation by methanol and a sample size of 50-μL was sufficient. Besides, it can detect accurately the low plasma concentrations. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) were 4.5 and 3.8 fmol for DXR and DXR-ol, respectively. The percentage recovery was found to be 90.7-102.4% and the inter- and intra-assay RSD values in rat plasma were 2.5-8.9%. The method has been successfully used to study pharmacokinetic profiles of DXR and DXR-ol in rats after a single-dose of DXR.     

Selective uranium adsorption using modified acrylamide resins

Polymeric matrices composed of N,N′-Methylenebis(acrylamide)/glycidyl methacrylate was prepared and modified producing two resins (GMA/MBA/OH and GMA/MBA/SO₃H). The adsorption of U(VI) ions onto the modified acrylamide resins was studied from synthetic and granite samples. For better understanding around the uranium mineralization and the rock-forming minerals of the hosted granitic rocks, to facilitate the choice of the appropriate ore-processing techniques, it was necessary to identify the mineral composition and the radiometric specifications of the used granitic rock. The synthesized adsorbents revealed a promising selective adsorption toward the U(VI) ions from its bearing solutions even with the competence of other cations.

     

Simultaneous HPLC determination of thiocolchicoside and glafenine as well as thiocolchicoside and floctafenine in their combined dosage forms

Sensitive and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic methods have been developed for the simultaneous determination of thiocolchicoside (TC)-glafenine (GF) (Mix I) and thiocolchicoside-floctafenine (FN) (Mix II) in their pharmaceutical formulations. The analysis for both mixtures was performed using 250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size C18 Waters Symmetry column. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-0.035 M phosphate buffer (50:50, v/v) of pH 4.5 for Mix I and methanol-0.03 M phosphate buffer (70:30, v/v) of pH 4 for Mix II with flow rate of 1 mL/min and UV detection at 400 nm in both cases. The calibration plots were rectilinear over the concentration range of 0.2-2 μg/mL for TC in both mixtures and 20-200 μg/mL for each of GF and FN . The limits of detection for TC and GF were 0.05 μg/mL and 0.62 μg/mL, respectively, and for TC and FN were 0.02 μg/mL and 0.70 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the proposed methods were successfully applied to their combined tablets with average percentage recoveries of 100.35 ± 0.61 and 100.57 ± 0.72% for TC and GF respectively and for TC and FN the percentage recoveries were 101.2 ± 0.72 and 100.36 ± 0.67%, respectively. The results obtained were favorably compared with those given using the comparison methods.     

Short and efficient access to imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives

Access to N-protected or N-free imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives as potential antiviral compounds was achieved in good yields from N-protected 7-amino-8-halo-2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines by catalytic coupling of terminal acetylenes under mild conditions using [PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂] or [Cu(Phen)(PPh₃)₂]NO₃.     

Influence of the pressing direction on thermal expansion coefficient of graphite foam

The aim of this article is to examine the influence of the pressing direction on the behavior of the thermal expansion coefficient α(T) of graphite foam in the 300–780 K temperature range. The thermal expansion coefficients of two samples, one pressed along the direction of strong interactions and the other pressed along the direction of weak interactions, were measured along three directions X, Y, and Z. The results show that the dilatometric behavior of the material changes from one direction to another. The values of α(T) vary widely depending on the measurement direction. Anisotropy becomes even more intense when the sample is pressed along the direction of weak interactions.