Terahertz spectroscopy and solid-state density functional theory simulations of the improvised explosive oxidizers potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate

Terahertz spectroscopy provides a noninvasive and nondestructive method for detecting and identifying concealed explosives. In this work, the room-temperature and cryogenic terahertz spectra of two common improvised explosive oxidizers, namely, potassium nitrate (KN) and ammonium nitrate (AN), are presented, along with detailed solid-state density functional theory (DFT) analyses of the crystalline structures and spectral features. At both 294 and 78 K, KN exhibits two terahertz absorption features below 100 cm(-1) that have been assigned through DFT simulations to arise from hindered nitrate rotations in the KN-II crystalline polymorph. The terahertz spectrum of AN exhibits a pronounced temperature dependence. The 294 K spectrum is free of any absorptions, whereas the 78 K spectrum consists of several narrow and intense peaks. The origin of this large difference is the polymorphic transition that occurs during cooling of AN, where room-temperature AN-IV is converted to AN-V at 255 K. The 78 K terahertz spectrum of AN is assigned here to various ion rotations and translations in the AN-V polymorph lattice. The analysis of the room-temperature AN-IV terahertz spectrum proved to be more complicated. The solid-state DFT simulations predicted that the room-temperature crystal structure of AN is not very well described using the standard Pmmn space-group symmetry as previously believed. The AN-IV polymorph actually belongs to the Pmn2(1) space group, and the perceived Pmmn symmetry results from vibrational averaging through nitrate rotations. This newly observed Pmn2(1) crystal symmetry for room-temperature AN is the reason for the absence of absorption features in the 294 K terahertz spectrum of AN and provides new insight into the polymorphic transitions of this ionic solid.     

A definitive RNAA method for determination of selenium in biological samples: uncertainty evaluation and assessment of degree of accuracy

This article describes work on the development of a highly accurate RNAA method for determination of selenium in biological samples. The analytical post-irradiation procedure is based on a combination of cation-exchange and extraction chromatography with final selective and quantitative fixation of selenium on a column packed with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) supported on Amberlite XAD4, followed by gamma-ray spectrometric measurement. The suitability and accuracy of the method was demonstrated by analysing CRMs with certified selenium content. The uncertainty budget for Se determination in standard reference material Peach Leaves NBS 1547 was estimated; the combined standard uncertainty was calculated as 1.7%. The described method fulfils all the criteria for definitive methods. It was subsequently used for determination of selenium in biological materials intended as new CRMs and proficiency test samples.     

Peptides derivatized with bicyclic quaternary ammonium ionization tags. Sequencing via tandem mass spectrometry

Improving the sensitivity of detection and fragmentation of peptides to provide reliable sequencing of peptides is an important goal of mass spectrometric analysis. Peptides derivatized by bicyclic quaternary ammonium ionization tags: 1‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (ABCO) or 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), are characterized by an increased detection sensitivity in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and longer retention times on the reverse‐phase (RP) chromatography columns. The improvement of the detection limit was observed even for peptides dissolved in 10 mM NaCl. Collision‐induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry of quaternary ammonium salts derivatives of peptides showed dominant a‐ and b‐type ions, allowing facile sequencing of peptides. The bicyclic ionization tags are stable in collision‐induced dissociation experiments, and the resulted fragmentation pattern is not significantly influenced by either acidic or basic amino acid residues in the peptide sequence. Obtained results indicate the general usefulness of the bicyclic quaternary ammonium ionization tags for ESI‐MS/MS sequencing of peptides. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular Characterization of DNA Double Strand Breaks with Tip‐Enhanced Raman Scattering

DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are deadly lesions that can lead to genetic defects and cell apoptosis. Techniques that directly detect DNA DSBs include scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and fluorescence based approaches. While these techniques can be used to identify DSBs they provide no information on the molecular events occurring at the break. Tip‐enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) can provide molecular information from DNA at the nanoscale and in combination with AFM provides a new way to visualize and characterize the molecular structure of DSBs. DSBs result from cleavage at the 3’‐ and 5’‐bonds of deoxyribose upon exposure to UVC radiation based on the observation of P? O? H and methyl/methylene deformation modes enhanced in the TERS spectra. It is hypothesized that strand fragments are hydrogen‐terminated at the lesion, indicating the action of free radicals during photon exposure.     

Porphyrin‐Ryleneimide Hybrids: Low‐Bandgap Acceptors in Energy‐Transfer Cassettes

Energy‐transfer cassettes consisting of naphthaleneimide‐fused metalloporphyrin acceptors (M=Zn and Pd) and BODIPY donors have been designed and synthesized. These systems have rigid pseudo‐tetrahedral structures with a donor‐acceptor separation of ca. 17.5 Å. Spectroscopic investigations, including femtosecond transient absorption measurements, showed efficient excitation energy transfer (EET) occurring according to the Förster mechanism. Strong fluorescence of the donor units and significant spectral overlap of the donor and acceptor subunits are prerequisites for the efficient EET in these systems.     

On the flow of chemically reacting gaseous mixture

We consider the Cauchy problem for the system of equations governing flow of isothermal reactive mixture of compressible gases. Our main contribution is to prove sequential stability of weak solutions when the state equation essentially depends on the species concentration and the viscosity coefficients vanish on vacuum. Moreover, under additional assumption on the “cold” component of the pressure in the regions of small density, we prove the existence of weak solutions for arbitrary large initial data.     

Numerical Investigation of Particulate Flow over a Backward‐Facing Step

Flow separation and recirculation caused by a sudden expansion in the channel geometry in the form of a backwardfacing step (BFS) appear in numerous practical applications. Additionally, BFS flow has been used as a generic test case to study fundamental flow properties, such as separation or re‐attachment. In the present work, BFS flow laden with dispersed particles is investigated by numerical simulations using a spectral element method [1]. The motion of the dispersed particles is computed by Lagrangian particle tracking. In a first step, only the influence of the flow on the particles is accounted for, while possible effects of the particle motion on the flow are neglected. Spatial distribution of the particles is investigated, and effects of different wall‐particle interaction models on the computational results are examined.     

Investigation of the low-frequency vibrations of crystalline tartaric acid using terahertz spectroscopy and solid-state density functional theory

The room temperature and cryogenic terahertz (THz) spectra (10-95 cm(-1)) of l-tartaric acid and dl-tartaric acid were investigated. At 293 K, the l-tartaric acid spectrum showed four absorption features at 36.4, 61.6, 78.7, and 87.3 cm(-1) in the experimental spectrum. Once cooled to 78 K, these features narrowed and shifted to 35.9, 63.4, 81.1, and 90.1 cm(-1). The THz spectrum of dl-tartaric acid is significantly different, containing only a single absorption at 79.9 cm(-1) at room temperature, which shifts to 82.9 cm(-1) at 78 K. Solid-state density functional theory calculations [B3LYP/6-311G(2d,2p)] were performed to simulate the crystalline structure of both molecular solids and to assign the observed spectral features to specific atomic motions. The THz spectrum of l-tartaric acid is particularly interesting in that it contains a theoretically unaccounted for spectral feature that may arise from second-order phonon processes and also exhibits an anomalous red-shifting absorption feature with cooling that is shown to originate from negative thermal expansion of the crystal.     

Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Cancer Properties of Extracts of Centaurea castriferrei Borbás & Waisb Genus of Centaurea L

The Centaurea L. (Asteraceae) genus includes many plant species with therapeutic properties. Centaurea castriferrei Borbás & Waisb is one of the least known and least described plants of this genus. The aim of the study was the phytochemical analysis of water and methanol–water extracts (7:3 v/v) obtained from the aerial parts of the plant as well as evaluation of their anticancer activity. Quantitative determinations of phenolic compounds and flavonoids were performed, and the antioxidant potential was measured using the CUPRAC method. The RP-HPLC/DAD analysis and HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS mass spectroscopy were performed, to determine the extracts’ composition. The antiproliferative activity of the obtained extracts was tested in thirteen cancer cell lines and normal skin fibroblasts using MTT test. Regardless of the extraction method and the extractant used, similar cytotoxicity of the extracts on most cancer cell lines was observed. However, the methanol–water extracts (7:3 v/v) contained significantly more phenolic compounds and flavonoids as well as showing stronger antioxidant properties in comparison to water extracts. Centaurea castriferrei Borbás & Waisb is a rich source of apigenin and its derivatives. In all tested extracts, chlorogenic acid and centaurein were also identified. In vitro research revealed that this plant may be a potential source of compounds with anticancer activity.