Sol-gel derived nitric oxide-releasing oxygen sensors

An amperometric sol-gel derived sensor that both releases nitric oxide (NO) and measures physiologically relevant concentrations of oxygen (PO2) is described. The sensor consists of a platinum electrode coated with an aminosilane/ethyltrimethoxysilane hybrid xerogel film. Hydrophilic polyurethane (HPU) is doped into the hybrid film to reduce sensor hydration time and increase oxygen permeability. Diazeniumdiolate NO donors are formed within the polymer matrix by exposing the cured film to high pressures of NO. These coatings release up to 7.2 pmol s(-1) cm(-2) of NO over the first 12 h and maintain detectable levels of NO release through 48 h. Sensors modified with HPU-doped, NO-releasing xerogels exhibit a linear response to O2 within 30 min of polarization at -0.65 V vs. Ag/AgCl, and have a sensitivity of approximately 6 nA/mmHg O2. The xerogel coating is stable in buffer solution with minimal fragmentation over 48 h. In vitro biocompatibility studies indicate that these materials effectively reduce platelet adhesion.     

An Indirect Method for Effecting the Addition of Methylmalonate to 2-Methylcyclohex-2-enone

The adduct (1a) of methylmalonate and 2-methylcyclohex-2-enone (2a) is best made by adding malonate to 2a to give 1b, protecting the ketone 0 in 1b as a ketal (3b), methylation to 3a and finally removal of the ketal.     

Molecular simulations of electroosmotic flows in rough nanochannels

A highly efficient molecular dynamics algorithm for micro and nanoscale electrokinetic flows is developed. The long-range Coulomb interactions are calculated using the Particle–Particle Particle–Mesh (P³M) approach. The Poisson equation for the electrostatic potential is solved in physical space using an iterative multi-grid technique. After validation, the method is used to study electroosmotic flow in nanochannels with regular or random roughness on the walls. The results show that roughness reduces the electroosmotic flow rate dramatically even though the roughness is very small compared to the channel width. The effect is much larger than for pressure driven flows because the driving force is localized near the walls where the charge distribution is high. Non-Newtonian behavior is also observed at much lower flow rates. Systematic investigation of the effect of surface charge density and random roughness will help to better understand the mechanism of electrokinetic transport in rough nanochannels and to design and optimize nanofluidic devices.     

Electroluminescence from Si/SiGe quantum cascade emitters

Intersubband electroluminescence results are presented from Si/SiGe quantum cascade emitters at 3.2 THz and at temperatures up to 150 K. The effect of adding doping into the active quantum wells was studied in addition to reduced barrier widths from previous measurements. While the current through the sample is increased by the addition of doping, the emitted power is reduced through additional free carrier absorption and Coulombic scattering. Free electron laser measurements confirm the intersubband transitions in the quantum wells of the cascade devices and produce non-radiative lifetimes of 20 ps between 4 and 150 K.     

Adsorption kinetics of deamidated antibody variants on macroporous and dextran-grafted cation exchangers. III. Microscopic studies

The kinetics of single and multicomponent adsorption of deamidated monoclonal antibody (mAb) charge variants is investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy for two commercial cation exchangers, one with an open macroporous structure--UNOsphere S--and the other with charged dextran grafts--Capto S. Markedly different intraparticle concentration profiles are obtained, being very sharp for UNOsphere S, indicating pore diffusion control, but much more diffuse for Capto S, consistent with a solid or surface diffusion mechanism. For single-component adsorption, the mAb effective pore diffusivities for UNOsphere S are approximately D(e)=4.5×10(-8) and 8.3×10(-8) cm(2)/s at pH 5 and 7.5, respectively, while effective solid diffusivities for Capto S are D(s)=0.98×10(-9) and 5.0×10(-9) cm(2)/s at pH 5 and 7.5, respectively. Two-component adsorption at pH 7.5, where the deamidated variants are bound selectively also showed markedly different profiles for the two matrices. UNOsphere S showed distinct adsorption zones within the particles indicating that multicomponent transport occurs with continuous displacement of the more deamidated variant by the less deamidated one. Capto S, however, showed no spatial resolution of the variants within the particle during co-adsorption and very slow mass transfer during sequential adsorption suggesting that protein counter-diffusion is severely hindered in this material.     

Response of a tissue equivalent proportional counter to neutrons

The absorbed dose as a function of lineal energy was measured at the CERN-EC Reference-field Facility (CERF) using a 512-channel tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC), and neutron dose equivalent response evaluated. Although there are some differences, the measured dose equivalent is in agreement with that measured by the 16-channel HANDI tissue equivalent counter. Comparison of TEPC measurements with those made by a silicon solid-state detector for low linear energy transfer particles produced by the same beam, is presented. The measurements show that about 4% of dose equivalent is delivered by particles heavier than protons generated in the conducting tissue equivalent plastic.