Compact, efficient 344-MHz repetition-rate femtosecond optical parametric oscillator

We describe configurations of a novel synchronously pumped femtosecond optical parametric oscillator based on the crystal RbTiOAsO(4) and operating with a signal-pulse-repetition frequency as high as 344 MHz. Average signal powers as high as 600 mW and pulse durations of 78 fs are demonstrated at a wavelength of 1.25 microm, and a characterization of the signal output using frequency-resolved optical gating implies asymmetric near-sech(2)(t) intensity-profile pulses with significant amounts of spectral cubic phase.     

Broadly tunable infrared femtosecond optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO(4)

We present results from what we believe is the first reported example of an optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO(4). The oscillator is pumped by a femtosecond self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser and, with a single-grating 2-mm-long crystal and one mirror set, a combination of pump and cavity-length tuning provided wavelength coverage from 1060 to 1225nm (signal) and 2.67 to 4.5 microm (idler). Average output powers were as much as 120mW in the signal and 105mW in the idler and interferometric autocorrelations recorded at signal and idler wavelengths of 1.1 and 3.26 microm, respectively, imply pulse durations of 125 and 115fs, respectively.     

Naked Eye Chemosensor and In Vivo Chelating Activity of Iron (III) By Bromopyridine Quinoxaline (BPQ)

Journal of Fluorescence - A wide variety of medical, biomedical, and industrial applications has been reported for quinoxalines derivatives. In this work, a novel quinoxaline derivative was...     

A three phase dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction technique for the extraction of antibiotics in milk

We have developed a 3-phase method for dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of ß-lactam antibiotics in milk. Chloroform and acetonitrile serve as the solvents for extraction and disperssion, respectively, where Aliquat 336 is the carrier. An experimental design based on Plackett-Burman and Central composite designs were applied for the screening and optimization of significant parameters in the extraction method. The experimental conditions for extraction were optimized, and the subsequent HPLC assay gave relative standard deviations and detection limits in the range of 4.3–8.5 % and 50–500 μg L^-1, respectively. Preconcentration factors are in the range of 80–125.

Composition of essential oils in subterranean organs of three species of Valeriana L

Essential oils from the subterranean organs of three species of Valeriana L. from Iran (Valeriana sisymbriifolia Vahl, Valeriana alliariifolia Adams and Valeriana officinalis L.) belonging to Valerianaceae family have been obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to discern the differences and similarities between the volatile chemical compositions of these species. More than 100 components were identified in essential oils of the studied plants (Supplementary Table S1--online only). The principal common constituents of the three species of Valeriana were spathulenol, limonene, γ-terpinene, vulgarone B and p-cymene. The main essential oil ingredients were α-selinene (7.83%) in V. sisymbriifolia, limonene (3.53%) in V. alliariifolia and spathulenol (13.33%), α-campholenal (11.48%), vulgarone B (8.38%) and valerenal (8.32%) in V. officinalis plants. Ageratochromene (precocene II), a chromene substance with antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal and antijuvenile hormonal activities, was found at high levels (35.59% and 36.58%) in the essential oils of V. sisymbriifolia plants.     

Novel modified carbon nanotubes as a selective sorbent for preconcentration and determination of trace copper ions in fruit samples

In this work, multiwalled carbon nanotubes were reacted with N‐[3‐(triet‐hoxysilyl)propyl]isonicotinamide to prepare pyridine‐functionalized carbon nanotubes. This novel sorbent was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermal and elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Functionalized carbon nanotubes were applied for the preconcentration and determination of copper ions using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Various parameters such as sample pH, flow rate, eluent type and concentration, and its volume were optimized. Under optimal experimental conditions, the limit of detection, the relative standard deviation, and the recovery of the method were 0.65 ng/mL, 3.2% and 99.4%, respectively. After validating the method using standard reference materials, the new sorbent was applied for the extraction and determination of trace copper(II) ions in fruit samples.     

Homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction of trace amounts of mononitrotoluenes from waste water samples

Homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction method was studied based on a phase separation phenomenon in a ternary solvent system. According to this procedure, mononitrotoloenes were extracted by single-phase extraction in a water/methanol/chloroform, homogeneous ternary solvent system. Methanol and chloroform were used as consolute and extraction solvents, respectively. The homogeneous solution was broken by the addition of salt and a cloudy solution was formed. After centrifugation, the fine droplets of the extraction solvent were sedimented in the bottom of the conical test tube. Analysis of the extracts was carried out by gas chromatography. The optimization procedure was performed using Box-Behnken design. The variables involved were: sample and extraction solvent volumes, consolute solvent volume and phase separator reagent concentration. Optimum results were obtained under the following conditions: sample volume of 5 mL, extraction solvent volume of 55 μL, consolute solvent volume of 1 mL and phase separator reagent concentration; 5% (w/v). Under these conditions, the enrichment factors of 354, 311 and 300, dynamic linear ranges of 0.5-500, 1-500 and 1-500 μg L⁻¹, and limit of detections (LODs) of 0.09, 0.09 and 0.1 μg L⁻¹ were obtained for o-nitrotoluene, m-nitrotoluene and p-nitrotoluene, respectively. Finally, the method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of MNTs in the waste water samples in the range of micrograms per liter with R.S.Ds. < 13.2%.     

Magnetic Solid Phase Extraction Based on Modified Magnetite Nanoparticles Coupled with Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction as an Efficient Method for Simultaneous Extraction of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Drugs

In this work, surfactant-coated Fe₃O₄@decanoic acid nanoparticles was synthesized as a viable nanosorbent for coextraction of drugs with different polarities (hydrophobic, hydrophilic). To reach desirable enrichment factors, efficient clean-up and low limits of detection (LODs), the method was combined with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME). The coupling of these extraction methods with GC-FID detection was applied to simultaneous extraction and quantification of venlafaxine (VLF) as a hydrophilic model drug and desipramine (DESI) and clomipramine (CLO) as hydrophobic model drugs in urine samples. The effect of sample pH, nanosorbent amount, sorption time, surfactant concentration, eluent type, eluent volume, salt content, elution time in magnetic solid phase extraction step and extraction solvent and its volume along with sample pH in DLLME step were optimized. Under the selected conditions, linearity was achieved within the range of 5–5000 µg L^?1. The LOD values were obtained in the range of 1.5–3.0 µg L^?1 for DESI, 1.2–2.5 µg L^?1 for VLF and 2.0–4.0 µg L^?1 for CLO, respectively. The percent of extraction recoveries and relative standard deviations (n?=?5) were in the range of 82.4–95.9 and 6.1 for DESI, 60.5–92.8 and 6.9 for VLF and 57.2–58.0 and 5.5 for CLO, respectively. Ultimately, the applicability of the new method was successfully confirmed by the extraction and quantification of DESI, VLF and CLO from human urine samples.     

Continuous-wave, singly resonant, intracavity parametric oscillator

Performance characteristics of a continuous-wave intracavity optical parametric oscillator are described by use of an experimental arrangement comprising a KTP singly resonant oscillator located within a Ti:sapphire laser cavity and analyzed by use of a steady-state model. Internal and external powers, circulating fields, tuning ranges, spectral bandwidths, and amplitude-stability levels are measured and discussed. The nonresonant idler tunes from 2.53 to 2.87 microm, delivers a maximum output power of approximately 0.4W and displays long-term amplitude-stable operation. The total downconverted power approaches the optimum power coupled out of the Ti:sapphire laser in the absence of frequency conversion.