Spectral measurements of inductively coupled and helicon discharge modes of a laboratory argon plasma source

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of several operational parameters in the emission spectra, in the 400-850 nm wavelength region, of a laboratory Argon plasma source. In particular, the emission spectra of the inductively coupled plasma and the Helicon plasma modes of operation were compared. Comparisons of spectra point to a significant increase in the ionization fraction of the plasma for the Helicon mode of operation. The spectral measurements allow one to determine the major trends in the plasma electron density for various parameters such as power delivered to the helical antenna, propellant mass flow rate, and applied external magnetic field intensity.Analysis of a prominent Argon single ion line, at 434.8 nm, points out that the plasma electron density increases linearly with the power delivered to the helical antenna, and that there is an optimum propellant mass flow rate for maximum ionization fraction. Additional analysis of the same line shows that above a minimum applied axial magnetic field intensity, the variation in the magnetic field strength has little effect on the plasma electron density.     

Monosize microbeads for pseudo-affinity adsorption of human insulin

Affinity adsorption technique is increasingly used for protein purification, separation and other biochemical applications. Therapeutic molecules such as antibodies, cytokines, therapeutic DNA and plasma proteins must be purified before characterization and utilization. The aim of this study was to prepare micronsized spherical polymeric beads and to investigate the extent of their human insulin adsorption capability. Monosize poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-N-methacryloyl-(L)-histidine) [poly(EDMA-MAH)] beads were prepared by modified suspension copolymerization. Functional monomer (MAH) was synthesized using methacryloyl chloride and L-histidine. The beads were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, swelling test and elemental analysis. MAH incorporation into monosize polymeric beads, having an average size around 2-3 μm, was estimated as 55.3 μmol MAH/g bead. Equilibrium swelling ratios of poly(EDMA-MAH) and poly(EDMA) beads were 65% and 55%, respectively. Adsorption experiments were performed under different conditions (i.e., pH, temperature, protein concentration and ionic strength). It was found that adsorption characteristics are strongly depend on these conditions. Maximum insulin adsorption capacity was achieved as 24.7 mg insulin/g poly(EDMA-MAH) beads. Results were well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model. Compared with poly(EDMA-MAH), nonspecific insulin adsorption onto poly(EDMA) beads was very low (0.61 mg insulin/g bead) and can be negligible. It was observed that insulin could be repeatedly adsorbed and desorbed (at least 10 times) without significant loss in adsorption capacity.     

Versatile introduction of azido moiety into oligonucleotides through diazo transfer reaction

The use of a diazo transfer (DZT) reagent enables clean and efficient conversion of aminated oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) into their azido counterparts under mild conditions. ODNs bearing an amino tether at the 3', 5', or any internal position could be modified in this manner thus demonstrating the versatility of this reaction. Easy access to such azido-modified ODNs is of great interest for conjugation in particular through copper catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CuAAC reaction).     

An Interactive Algorithm for Multi-objective Route Planning

We address the route selection problem for Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) under multiple objectives. We consider a general case for this problem, where the UAV has to visit several targets and return to the base. We model this problem as a combination of two combinatorial problems. First, the path to be followed between each pair of targets should be determined. We model this as a multi-objective shortest path problem. Additionally, we need to determine the order of the targets to be visited. We model this as a multi-objective traveling salesperson problem (MOTSP). The overall problem is a combination of these two problems, which we define as a generalized MOTSP. We develop an exact interactive approach to identify the best paths and the best tour of a decision maker under a linear utility function.     

Principal functions of non-selfadjoint matrix Sturm-Liouville equations

In this paper we investigate the principal functions corresponding to the eigenvalues and the spectral singularities of the boundary value problem

     

High‐order finite difference schemes for numerical solutions of the generalized Burgers–Huxley equation

In this article, up to tenth‐order finite difference schemes are proposed to solve the generalized Burgers–Huxley equation. The schemes based on high‐order differences are presented using Taylor series expansion. To establish the numerical solutions of the corresponding equation, the high‐order schemes in space and a fourth‐order Runge‐Kutta scheme in time have been combined. Numerical experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the high‐order accuracy of the current algorithms with relatively minimal computational effort. The results showed that use of the present approaches in the simulation is very applicable for the solution of the generalized Burgers–Huxley equation. The current results are also seen to be more accurate than some results given in the literature. The proposed algorithms are seen to be very good alternatives to existing approaches for such physical applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 27: 1313‐1326, 2011     

Guided ion beam and theoretical study of the reactions of Os+ with H2, D2, and HD

Reactions of the third-row transition metal cation Os(+) with H(2), D(2), and HD to form OsH(+) (OsD(+)) were studied using a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer. A flow tube ion source produces Os(+) in its (6)D (6s(1)5d(6)) electronic ground state level. Corresponding state-specific reaction cross sections are obtained. The kinetic energy dependences of the cross sections for the endothermic formation of OsH(+) and OsD(+) are analyzed to give a 0 K bond dissociation energy of D(0)(Os(+)-H) = 2.45 ± 0.10 eV. Quantum chemical calculations are performed here at several levels of theory, with B3LYP approaches generally overestimating the experimental bond energy whereas results obtained using BHLYP and CCSD(T), coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations, levels show good agreement. Theory also provides the electronic structures of these species and the potential energy surfaces for reaction. Results from the reactions with HD provide insight into the reaction mechanism and indicate that Os(+) reacts via a direct reaction. We also compare this third-row transition metal system with the first-row and second-row congeners, Fe(+) and Ru(+), and find that Os(+) reacts more efficiently with dihydrogen, forming a stronger M(+)-H bond. These differences can be attributed to the lanthanide contraction and relativistic effects.     

Guided ion beam and theoretical study of the reactions of Au+ with H2, D2, and HD

Reactions of the late third-row transition metal cation Au(+) with H(2), D(2), and HD are examined using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry. A flow tube ion source produces Au(+) in its (1)S (5d(10)) electronic ground state level. Corresponding state-specific reaction cross sections for forming AuH(+) and AuD(+) as a function of kinetic energy are obtained and analyzed to give a 0 K bond dissociation energy of D(0)(Au(+)-H) = 2.13 ± 0.11 eV. Quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP∕HW+∕6-311+G(3p) and B3LYP∕Def2TZVPP levels performed here show good agreement with the experimental bond energy. Theory also provides the electronic structures of these species and the reactive potential energy surfaces. We also compare this third-row transition metal system with previous results for analogous reactions of the first-row and second-row congeners, Cu(+) and Ag(+). We find that Au(+) has a stronger M(+)-H bond, which can be explained by the lanthanide contraction and relativistic effects that alter the relative size of the valence s and d orbitals. Results from reactions with HD provide insight into the reaction mechanism and indicate that ground state Au(+) reacts largely via a direct mechanism, in concordance with the behavior of the lighter group 11 metal ions, but includes more statistical behavior than these metals as well.     

The synthesis and characterization of copper(II)–<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-aminosalicylate complexes with diamine ligands

The complexes were synthesized by the reaction between sodium salt of p-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) and Cu(II) for 1 and corresponding ethylenediamine (en) or its derivatives for 2–6. The complexes were characterized by using elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV–Vis, magnetic moment measurements, and thermal analyses techniques. In complex 1[Cu₂(PA)₄(H₂O)₂], two Cu(II) ions were found as bridged by four μ-O:O′ p-aminosalicylato (PA) ligands, forming a cage structure, and two aqua ligands to form dinuclear square-pyramidal geometry around Cu(II) ions. In the complexes 2–6, the PA (anionic form of p-aminosalicylic acid) coordinated to Cu(II) ions as monodentate manner by using its oxygen atom of deprotonated carboxylic acid and ethylenediamine derivatives coordinated to the Cu(II) ions in bidentate manner to form mononuclear octahedral complexes [Cu(PA)₂(L)₂] (L = ethylendiamine, N,N-dimethylethylendiamine, N,N′-dimethylethylendiamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylendiamine, and 1,3-propanediamine, for complexes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively). In all the complexes OH and NH₂ groups of PA ligands were not coordinated to metals.