Use of cathode lens in scanning electron microscope for low voltage applications

At a landing energy of 10 eV it is possible to achieve spatial resolution of the same order as at the nominal energy, which is usually 15 keV in the classical scanning electron microscope, by taking advantages of the optical properties of the cathode lens. Two different types of the detection system were designed and tested to learn as much about the optical properties of this system as possible and to start to understand the contrast mechanisms at very low energies. Great changes in the contrast take place when the landing energy is changed from 10 eV to an energy of about 2 keV.     

Experimental verification of the theory of the successive production of striations in a glow discharge

The properties of the wave of stratification in the plasma of the positive column in a glow discharge in neon are measured. The measurements are compared with the results of the theory of the successive production of striations and good agreement is found.

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In conclusion the author thanks M. Novák for help in measuring and evaluating the experimental results, and F. Kroupa and V. Krejí for carefully reading this paper and for valuable remarks.     

A study of oxidation of benzidine, o,o′-tolidine,and o,o′-dianisidine

The oxidation of benzidine, o,o′-tolidine, and o,o′-dianisidine by the acetate complex of trivalent cobalt was studied chiefly in glacial acetic acid medium, considering the possible formation of semiquinone and quinonediimine compounds. The effect of uv light on the solutions of these compounds in glacial acetic acid and in benzene was followed spectrophotometrically and chromatographically and compared with the effect of Co(III) acetate. Certain possibilities explaining the course of the studied reactions are discussed.     

Effects of low-frequency magnetic fields on the viability of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A 50 Hz magnetic field effect on the growth of yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisae was studied. The cylindrical coil induced magnetic fields with inductions up to 10 mT. Duration of exposure varied up to 24 min. Exposure took place at laboratory temperature (24-26 degrees C) and the air ventilator maintained the temperature at the place of the sample. We measured the growth curves of yeasts in broth and we calculated the number of CFU (colony forming units) on solid soil. We found that magnetic field decreases the number of yeasts, and slowed down their growth. The result is similar to the experiments with bacteria E. coli, S. aureus and L. adecarboxylata. It seems that the magnetic fields kill a part of yeasts and the bigger part of them survives and continues in their growth.     

Hydrophobic and Hofmeister effects on the adhesion of spider silk proteins onto solid substrates: an AFM-based single-molecule study

AFM-based single-molecule force spectroscopy has been used to study the effect of Hofmeister salts and protein hydrophobicity on the adhesion of recombinant spider silk proteins onto solid substrates. Therefore, a molecular probe consisting of a spider silk protein and an AFM tip has been developed, which (i) is a well-defined, small system that can be simulated by molecular dynamics simulations, (ii) allows access to the whole soluble concentration range for ions, and (iii) provides the distribution of desorption forces rather than just ensemble-averaged mean values. The measured desorption forces follow the Hofmeister series for anions (H2PO4-, Cl-, I-) with a stabilizing energy of more than 15 kBT for 5 M NaH2PO4. Moreover, this effect is influenced by the hydrophobicity of the spider silk protein, indicating that hydrophobic and Hofmeister effects are closely related.     

Tailoring of polymers by combination of ionic and radical controlled polymerizations

Poly(methyl methacrylate)s with terminal bromine atom, prepared by bromination of anionically polymerized MMA, were used as ATRP macroinitiators giving di- and triblock copolymers with MMA, styrene and butyl acrylate blocks. Multifunctional ATRP macroinitiators were synthesized by introducing bromomethyl or 2-bromoacyloxy groups onto the main chain of polystyrene or poly(4-methyl styrene) and used for ATRP grafting of tert-butyl acrylate leading to densely grafted copolymers with more or less uniform grafts.     

机械化学法制备的Al/Ce复合氧化物负载NiMo催化剂的加氢脱硫活性(英文)

将Al和/或Ce的硝酸盐与NH_4HCO_3球磨混合,采用机械化学法制备了Al_2O_3-CeO_2载体(其中Ce含量为1-10 wt%),再以杂多钼酸盐(NH_4)_4NiMo_6O_(24)为活性金属Ni和Mo的前驱体,通过浸渍法制备NiMo_6/Al_2O_3-CeO_2催化剂,并将其用于1-苯并噻吩(BT)的加氢脱硫(HDS)反应中.运用化学分析、X射线衍射、N_2吸附-脱附法、H_2程序升温还原、NH_3程序升温脱附和X射线光电子能谱对催化剂的物化性质进行了表征.结果表明,催化剂的酸性随着载体中Ce含量的增加而下降.Ce修饰的Al_2O_3载体表面的NiS/MoS原子比下降了2倍.NiMo_6/Al_2O_3催化剂表现出最高的HDS活性(以单位重量催化剂计),其酸性和表面MoO_xS_y物种的浓度(Mo~(5+)浓度)也最高;当催化剂中Ce含量逐渐增加到10 wt%以上时,其活性逐渐将为0.与浸渍法制得的参比催化剂相比,前驱体和催化剂组成相同的情况下,采用机械化学法制得的所有催化剂活性明显提高.     

In vitro and in vivo metabolisms of K-48

Metabolic pathways of the oxime K-48 have been elucidated by means of in vitro and in vivo experiments. K-48 exposure to rat liver microsomal fraction resulted in the formation of a hydroxylated derivative, in addition to a small molecular fragment. The in vivo metabolism in rats was investigated after intramuscular administration of 50 μmol oxime. K-48 was present in the rat serum in unchanged form. Similarly, the analysis of rat cerebrospinal fluid indicated the sole occurrence of unchanged K-48. In contrast, unchanged K-48 was not found in the rat urine, where only the metabolite generated by epoxidation on the alkyl chain connecting the two pyridinium rings was present. The presence of unchanged K-48 in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid facilitates quantitative determination using HPLC separation and ultraviolet absorbance detection. Figure Suggested metabolic pathways of K-48     

Acid-base behaviour of sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine

Acid-base and optical properties of sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine were studied in the presence of HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄, CAPSO and acetic acid (HAc) of different concentrations and their mixtures. The equilibrium constants pK_R+ of the transition reaction between an iminium cation Q⁺ of sanguinarine and its uncharged QOH (pseudo-base, 6-hydroxy-dihydroderivative) form were calculated. A numerical interpretation of the A-pH curves by a SQUAD-G computer program was used. Remarkable shifts of formation parts of absorbance-pH (A-pH) curves to alkaline medium were observed. The shifts depend on the type and concentration of inert electrolyte (the most remarkable for HNO₃ and HCl). The corresponding pK_R+ values ranged from 7.21 to 8.16 in the same manner (ΔpK_R+ = 0.81 and 0.73 for HNO₃ and HCl, respectively). The priority effect of ionic species and ionic strength was confirmed in the presence of NaCl and KCl. The strength of interaction of SA with bioactive compounds (i.e. receptors, transport proteins, nucleic acids etc.) may be affected because of the observed influence of both cations and anions of the inert electrolytes.