Planar chip device for PCR and hybridization with surface acoustic wave pump

We have developed a microfluidic device operating at a planar surface instead of a closed channel network. The fluid is transported in single droplets using surface acoustic waves (SAW) on a piezoelectric LiNbO(3) substrate. The surface of the piezo is chemically structured to induce high contact angles of the droplets or enclose areas where the liquid can wet the substrate. Combining the SAW technique with thin film resistance heaters, a biological analysis chip with integrated DNA amplification by PCR and hybridization was designed. To prevent evaporation of the PCR reagents at high temperatures the sample is enclosed in droplets of mineral oil. On this chip the SAW resolves dried primers, shifts the oil capped liquid between the two heaters and mixes during hybridization. The chip is able to perform a highly sensitive, fast and specific PCR with a volume as low as 200 nl. During the temperature cycles an online monitoring of the DNA concentration is feasible with an optical unit, providing a sensitivity of 0.1 ng. After PCR the product is moved to the second heater for the hybridization on a spotted DNA array. With our chip we were able to detect a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) responsible for the Leiden Factor V syndrome from human blood.     

Liquid chromatography–electrochemistry–mass spectrometry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

An efficient method for fast elucidation of the electrochemical reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) has been set up by applying post-column electrochemistry in liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). With this set-up strong improvement of sensitivity in the LC–MS analysis of PAH is observed. Due to their low redox potentials, the non-polar PAH are converted into the respective radical cations, which may further react with constituents of the mobile phase and in additional electrochemical oxidation steps. Among other products, mono-, di-, and trioxygenated species are observed in aqueous solutions, alkoxylated compounds in alcohols, and solvent adducts in the presence of acetonitrile. While more different products are observed by using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the positive-ion mode (APCI(+)), the deprotonation of hydroxylated species results in very clear spectra in the negative-ion mode (APCI(–)). Deuterated PAH and deuterated solvents were used to gain additional information on the formation of the reaction products.     

Polysulfonylamine. XLII. Ein Aquasilber(I)-Komplex mit einem Ag(m̈-H2O)2Ag-Strukturmotiv: Röntgenstrukturanalytische und thermoanalytische Charakterisierung von Aqua(1,1,3,3-tetraoxo-1,3,2-benzodithiazolido)silber(I)

Polysulfonyl Amines. XLII. An Aquasilver(I) Complex with an Ag(m?-H₂O)₂Ag Structural Unit: Characterization of Aqua(1,1,3,3-tetraoxo-1,3,2-benzodithiazolido)silver(I) by X-Ray Diffractometry and Thermal Analysis The title compound C₆H₄(SO₂)₂NAg · H₂O, where C₆H₄(SO₂)₂N^º is the anion of 1,2-benzenedisulfonimide, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m with (at ?95°C) a = 1 129,7(3), b = 1 196.1(3), c = 810.7(2) pm, β = 124.25(2)°, V = 0.9055 nm³, Z = 4, D_x = 2.524 Mg m^?3. The crystal packing consists of [Ag(m?-H₂O)₂Ag{m?-C₆H₄(SO₂)₂N}₂]_n bands with crystallographic mirror symmetry, associated into layers by H-bonds with O(W)—O(S) 289.7 pm. The Ag(m?-H₂O)₂Ag moiety forms a planar four-membered ring with Ag? O(W)? Ag 97.3°, O(W)? Ag? O(W) 82.7° and Ag°Ag 372.1 pm. In the Ag{C₆H₄(SO₂)₂N}₂Ag′ unit, the anions act as tridentate (N, 1-O, 3-O)-ligands: One is N-bonded to Ag and O,O-chelated to Ag′, the other N-bonded to Ag′ and O,O-chelated to Ag. The silver atoms are (O₄N)-pentacoordinate, with nitrogen in the apical position of a distorted square pyramid [Ag? N 223.6, Ag? O(W) 247.8, Ag? O(S) 259.4 pm]. The thermochemical behaviour of the hydrate was investigated by thermal analysis and calorimetry. Water is only released at temperatures above 220°C. The dehydration enthalpy at 298 K is + 13.9 kJ mol^?1.     

A vision architecture for unconstrained and incremental learning of multiple categories

We present an integrated vision architecture capable of incrementally learning several visual categories based on natural hand-held objects. Additionally we focus on interactive learning, which requires real-time image processing methods and a fast learning algorithm. The overall system is composed of a figure-ground segregation part, several feature extraction methods and a life-long learning approach combining incremental learning with category-specific feature selection. In contrast to most visual categorization approaches, where typically each view is assigned to a single category, we allow labeling with an arbitrary number of shape and color categories. We also impose no restrictions on the viewing angle of presented objects, relaxing the common constraint on canonical views.     

Facile ring opening of siloxy cyclopropanes by photoinduced electron transfer. A new way to β-keto radicals

Siloxy cyclopropanes undergo ring opening and fragmentation of formal silyl cations under formation of β-keto radicals. These reactive intermediates can be used in inter- and intramolecular addition reactions leading to complex ring systems if more than one unsaturated side chain is present in the starting material. Beside some synthetic examples mainly the mechanism will be discussed focusing on the structure of the primarily formed radical cations, the regioselectivity of cyclopropane cleavage (endo vs exo ring opening), leaving of the silyl group, and termination by H-transfer.