The dynamical motion of atoms at the Ni(111) surface

One atom phonon spectral densities are presented for the vibrations of atoms at the Ni(111) surface both parallel and perpendicular to the surface. They are also presented for perpendicular motion of an adsorbed oxygen atom and the nickel atom immediately below it. The results are obtained using a continued fraction technique. They are compared with recent EELS data obtained by Ibach and Bruchmann.     

Synthesis and characterisation of phosphane-substituted Co3C clusters having a pendant allyl side-chain

Substituted μ₃-carbido-capped tricobalt carbonyl clusters have been synthesised by reaction of [Co₃(μ₃-C(O)OCH₂CHCH₂)(CO)₉] with a range of monodentate and chelating phosphane ligands. The products have been characterised by microanalysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and, in the case of [Co₃(μ₃-CR)(CO)₇(dppe)], [Co₃(μ₃-CR)(CO)₇(dppm)], [Co₃(μ₃-CR)(CO)₇(PPh₃)₂], [Co₃(μ₃-CR)(CO)₇(PMe₃)₂] and [Co₃(μ₃-CR)(CO)₆(PEt₃)₃] (R=C(O)OCH₂CHCH₂), single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Chemical and Structural Changes in Blood Undergoing Laser Photocoagulation¶

The treatment of cutaneous vascular lesions (port wine stains etc.) using lasers has been guided by theories based on the “cold” or room‐temperature optical properties of the hemoglobin target chromophore. We have recently presented evidence showing that under the influence of laser irradiation, the optical properties of blood in vitro are time and temperature dependent. Such complications are not currently subsumed into the in vivo theory. Here, we study the time‐domain optical properties of blood undergoing photocoagulation in vitro using two newly developed time‐resolved techniques. We also study the asymptotic effect of laser photocoagulation on the chemical and structural properties of the components of the blood matrix. We present evidence showing that the photocoagulation process involves significant changes in the optical absorption and scattering properties of blood, coupled with photothermally induced chemical and structural changes. We demonstrate the first use of a laser to deliberately generate magnetic resonance imaging contrast in vitro. We show that this technique offers significant potential advantages to in vivo intravenous chemical contrast agent injection.     

Fluorescence Lifetime Spectroscopy of Glioblastoma Multiforme¶

Fluorescence spectroscopy of the endogenous emission of brain tumors has been researched as a potentially important method for the intraoperative localization of brain tumor margins. We investigated the use of time‐resolved, laser‐induced fluorescence spectroscopy for demarcation of primary brain tumors by studying the time‐resolved spectra of gliomas. The fluorescence of human brain samples (glioblastoma multiforme, cortex and white matter: six patients, 23 sites) was induced ex vivo with a pulsed nitrogen laser (337 nm, 3 ns). The time‐resolved spectra were detected in a 360–550 nm wavelength range using a fast digitizer and gated detection. Parameters derived from both the spectral‐ (intensities from narrow spectral bands) and the time domain (average lifetime) measured at 390 and 460 nm were used for tissue characterization. We determined that high‐grade gliomas are characterized by fluorescence lifetimes that varied with the emission wavelength (>3 ns at 390 nm, <1 ns at 460 nm) and their emission is overall longer than that of normal brain tissue. Our study demonstrates that the use of fluorescence lifetime not only improves the specificity of fluorescence measurements but also allows a more robust evaluation of data collected from brain tissue. Combined information from both the spectraland the time domain can enhance the ability of fluorescencebased techniques to diagnose and detect brain tumor margins intraoperatively.     

Thiol-ene UV-curable coatings using vegetable oil macromonomers

Allyl, acrylate, and vinyl ether derivatives of castor oil were synthesized and blended with multifunctional thiols for evaluation as thiol-ene ultraviolet (UV) curable systems. The UV cured films were characterized and evaluated via ASTM tests, gel content, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) as a function of time. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and DMA studies established that property advancement resulted from auto-oxidation, continued thiol-ene polymerization, or a combination of both mechanisms.     

Magnetic, electronic, and structural characterization of nonstoichiometric iron oxides at the nanoscale

We have investigated the structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of nonstoichiometric iron oxide nanocrystals prepared by decomposition of iron(II) and iron(0) precursors in the presence of organic solvents and capping groups. The highly uniform, crystalline, and monodisperse nanocrystals that were produced enabled a full structural and compositional survey by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The complex and metastable behavior of nonstoichiometric iron oxide (wüstite) at the nanoscale was studied by a combination of Mossbauer spectroscopy and magnetic characterization. Deposition from hydrocarbon solvents with subsequent self-assembly of iron oxide nanocrystals into superlattices allowed the preparation of continuous thin films suitable for electronic transport measurements.     

Synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diindolylmethanes via acid-catalysed electrophilic substitution reactions

A range of activated indole-2-carboxylate derivatives was prepared via the Hemetsberger indole synthesis. Vilsmeier formylation was explored to establish regioselectivity and to prepare a range of new indole carbaldehydes. The indole aldehydes were reduced to the corresponding hydroxymethylindoles in good yields by the use of sodium borohydride in THF. Symmetrical 4,4′-, 6,6′- and 7,7′-diindolylmethanes were prepared via the acid-catalysed reaction of the corresponding hydroxymethylindoles. Furthermore, the treatment of methyl 4-hydroxymethyl-5,6-dimethoxyindole-2-carboxylate and a range of methyl indole esters with acetic acid led to the formation of unsymmetrical 4,6′- and 4,7′-dindolylmethanes.     

Extending the Family of V4+ S=${{ 1/2 }}$ Kagome Antiferromagnets

The ionothermal synthesis, structure, and magnetic susceptibility of a novel inorganic–organic hybrid material, imidazolium vanadium(III,IV) oxyfluoride [C₃H₅N₂][V₉O₆F₂₄(H₂O)₂] (ImVOF) are presented. The structure consists of inorganic vanadium oxyfluoride slabs with kagome layers of V⁴⁺ S=${{ 1/2 }}$ ions separated by a mixed valence layer. These inorganic slabs are intercalated with imidazolium cations. Quinuclidinium (Q) and pyrazinium (Pyz) cations can also be incorporated into the hybrid structure type to give QVOF and PyzVOF analogues, respectively. The highly frustrated topology of the inorganic slabs, along with the quantum nature of the magnetism associated with V⁴⁺, means that these materials are excellent candidates to host exotic magnetic ground states, such as the highly sought quantum spin liquid. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of all samples suggest an absence of conventional long‐range magnetic order down to 2 K despite considerable antiferromagnetic exchange.     

Strong anion exchange for studying protein—dna interactions by H/D exchange mass spectrometry

The use of mass spectrometry to study protein-ligand interactions is expanding into more complex systems including protein-DNA interactions. The excess amount of a model DNA or, more typically, an oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), needed to study such interactions in an amide hydrogen-deuterium (H/D) exchange experiment, for example, causes serious signal suppression in the protein analysis. We describe here a modification of the traditional H/D exchange protocol whereby we utilize a strong anion exchange column to rapidly remove the ODN from solution before MS analysis. We showed the successful incorporation of such a column in a study of two protein-ODN systems: (1) the DNA-binding domain of human telomeric repeat binding factor 2 with a telomeric oligodeoxynucleotide and (2) thrombin with the thrombin-binding aptamer. The approach gave no appreciable difference in back-exchange compared to a method in which no strong anion exchange (SAX) is used.     

Facile syntheses of 7,9-dimethoxypyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-6-ones

The activated dimethoxypyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-6-one ring system was synthesized via two approaches, starting from an indole and quinolin-4-one, respectively. Subsequent demethylation led to both monohydroxy- and dihydroxypyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-6-ones.