Passive mode locking of Yb:KLuW using a single-walled carbon nanotube saturable absorber

Mode locking of an Yb-doped bulk laser in the 1 microm spectral range using a single-walled carbon nanotube saturable absorber (SWCNT-SA) is demonstrated for the first time, to our knowledge. Passive mode locking of an Yb:KLuW laser resulted in nearly transform-limited pulses as short as 115 fs at 1048 nm. In addition, the nonlinear response of the SWCNT-SA was measured, yielding a modulation depth of 0.25% and a relaxation time of 750 fs.     

Liposomes-entrapped chondroitin sulphate: ultrastructural characterization and in vitro biocompatibility

The purpose of this study was ultrastructural characterization of liposomes-entrapped chondroitin sulphate and to prove their in vitro biocompatibility in a human dermal fibroblast culture system, in order to use liposome-entrapped chondroitin sulphate in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Chondroitin sulphate entrapped in liposomes appears as electron-dense particles in ultra-thin section. Comparative studies using chondroitin sulphate, empty liposomes and liposome-chondroitin sulphate systems were performed in order to evaluate their effect on growth and morphology of fibroblasts after 48 h of culture. Light microscopy indicated that chondroitin sulphate, empty liposomes and liposome-chondroitin sulphate systems do not induce appreciable cytotoxic effects, and cells maintain normal morphology when compared to control fibroblasts.     

Towards Advances in Molecular Understanding of Boric Acid Biocatalyzed Ring-Opening (Co)Polymerization of δ-Valerolactone in the Presence of Ethylene Glycol as an Initiator

Following our previous studies on the molecular level structure of (co)oligoesters obtained via anionic homo- and co-polymerization of novel β-substituted β-lactones, prepared by the atmospheric pressure carbonylation reaction of respective epoxides, the boric acid biocatalyzed ring-opening (co)polymerization of δ-valerolactone has been studied. As a co-monomer the 6-methy-ε-caprolactone, prepared by the one-pot oxidation of respective alcohol, and ethylene glycol as polymerization initiator were used. The obtained copolymers were characterized by ¹H-NMR, GPC and ESI-MS, respectively in order to confirm their chemical structures and identity. Subsequently, tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS studies) via collision-induced dissociation were utilized to characterize the fragmentation pattern. ESI-MS and NMR analyses confirmed the formation of random linear copolymer chains composed of different polyester repeat units. MS-MS experiments showed that fragmentation proceeds via ester bound cleavage along the (co)polyester chains. The innovative aspect of this contribution is related to the elaboration of the telechelic (co)polymers end-capped with hydroxyl end groups and well-defined molecular architectures, which could facilitate the development of new flexible macromolecular systems for potential biomedical applications.     

Thermodynamic and structural properties of binary mixtures of some glycols with 2-butoxyethanol at T = (293.15, 298.15 and 303.15) K

Densities and relative permittivities at T = (293.15, 298.15, and 303.15) K in the binary mixtures of 2-butoxyethanol with ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and tetraethylene glycol have been measured as a function of composition. From the experimental data excess molar volumes and deviations in relative permittivity have been calculated over the entire composition range. Both excess molar volumes and relative permittivity deviations have been correlated using Redlich–Kister type polynomial equation by the method of least-squares for the estimation of the binary coefficients and the standard errors. The experimental and calculated quantities were used to analyze the mixing behaviour of the components.     

Extremal Extensions of the Tensor Product of Nonnegative Operators

For densely defined nonnegative operators A and B acting in separable Hilbert spaces we describe the Friedrichs and the Krein-von Neumann extension of the tensor product . Moreover, we discuss the class of extremal extensions of . An application is presented as well. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Scrutiny of 13C-phenylalanine breath test reproducibility

We evaluated the reproducibility of the ¹³C-phenylalanine breath test (¹³C-PheBT). On three separate days, 21 healthy volunteers (11 F and 10 M) underwent ¹³C-PheBT with 100 mg l-[1-¹³C]phenylalanine taken orally. Short-term reproducibility was evaluated with paired examinations taken 3 days apart; paired examinations separated by 23 days (median) served for the medium-term reproducibility assessment. Expiratory air was sampled at 19 points throughout 3?h. Determined limited reproducibility of the ¹³C-PheBT must be taken into consideration while interpreting the results of this diagnostic tool. The results of this study imply the following conclusions: (i) From among the three parameters examined, the cumulative ¹³C recovery area under the curve (AUC) offers much better reproducibility than the maximum momentary ¹³C recovery in the expiratory air (D_max) or the time to reach the maximum momentary ¹³C recovery (T_max) (ii) Collection of the breath air samples for 2?h results in a much better reproducibility of AUC, than for 1?h only; (iii) Reproducibility of ¹³C-PheBT is affected neither by the duration of the time gap between repeated tests nor by gender; (iv) Comparison with data obtained formerly reveals that reproducibility of the ¹³C-PheBT is worse than either that of of the ¹³C-methacetin (¹³C-MBT) or the ¹³C-alpha-ketoisocaproic acic (¹³C-KICA-BT) breath tests. This finding will have to be taken into consideration while interpreting the results of this diagnostic tool.     

Ethyl (2‐pyridyl­methyl)­phospho­nate

Molecules of the title compound, C₈H₁₂NO₃P, exist as zwitterions. The positive charge formally located on the N atom is spread over the pyridyl ring. A partial delocalization of negative charge within the O—P—O system is observed. The conformational features and hydrogen‐bonding network of the title compound are compared with the structure of (2‐pyridyl­methyl)­phosphonic acid.     

Acid‐based approach for separation of peptide epimers using IM‐MS

Chiral molecules frequently remain undistinguishable using ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM‐MS), due to insufficient differences of their collision cross sections at the available mobility resolution of the ion mobility drift tubes. The influence of the complexation with organic acids on the ion mobility separation of peptide epimers is evaluated using traveling‐wave ion mobility (TWIMS). The examined epimeric tripeptides containing Arg residue with the sequence: Ac‐Phe‐Arg‐Trp‐NH₂ formed stable complexes in the gas phase, and under the increased pressure in ion mobility drift tube, noncovalent associates formed with carboxylic or sulfonic monoacids and diacids with chiral variation of certain acids. Overall, the complexation with an acid leads to the improvement in stereodifferentiation among epimeric peptides, in comparison to the analysis of pure epimers. Detailed characterization of peptide epimer‐acid associates obtained for dibenzoyl‐D‐tartaric acid by theoretical calculations and collisional dissociation studies revealed that the presence of multiple hydrogen bonding interactions between carboxylate anions and hydrogens from N―H of both the guanidinium group of arginine and the indole of tryptophan, as well as the amide backbone hydrogens in the peptide, is responsible for stability of acid‐peptide complexes and for their differentiation in the ion mobility drift tube. The specificity of complex formation toward Arg was determined in terms of complex stability. Based on the reported results, we present general conclusions regarding the utility of the acid‐based complexation in the separation of peptide isomers.     

Characterization of thermal properties of goat milk fat and goat milk chocolate by using DSC,PDSC and TGA methods

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - A relatively unexplored goat’s milk fat and goat’s milk chocolate were investigated to enhance thermal properties of both. Differential...     

Thermal analysis applied to studying the influence of ionic liquids on the vulcanization,thermal stability and damping properties of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber

The main aspect of the research was developing new systems for activating sulfur vulcanization of ethylene-propylene-diene elastomer (EPDM) with greater activity than the micrometer zinc oxide that is traditionally used. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was applied to study the temperature and enthalpy of EPDM vulcanization. The range of vulcanization temperatures and the enthalpy of this process were determined. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed to characterize the effect of ILs on the thermal stability of vulcanizates. Dynamic mechanical analysis with tension deformation was used to study the influence of ILs on the loss factor (tan δ) of EPDM determined as a function of temperature, which is a measure of the ability of the material to dampen vibration. DSC results indicated that ILs significantly reduced the onset temperature and enthalpy of EPDM vulcanization. The most active were alkylimidazolium chlorides, which eliminated the post-curing process. Owing to lower decomposition temperature compared to EPDM, ILs decreased the thermal stability of vulcanizates. On the other hand, ILs had no significant influence on damping properties of EPDM in the rubbery elastic region. Vulcanizates containing ILs exhibited stable dynamic properties at the temperatures of use.