Anchoring of organic molecules to a metal surface: HtBDC on Cu(110)

The interaction of largish molecules with metal surfaces has been studied by combining the imaging and manipulation capabilities of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). At the atomic scale, the STM results directly reveal that the adsorption of a largish organic molecule can induce a restructuring of a metal surface underneath. This restructuring anchors the molecules on the substrate and is the driving force for a self-assembly process of the molecules into characteristic molecular double rows.     

SEM/TEM characterization of periodical novel amorphous/nano-crystalline micro-composites obtained by laser interference structuring: The system HAlO-Al·Al2O3

Layers of the metastable, amorphous HAlO are synthesized by chemical vapor deposition from the molecular compound tert-butoxyalane ([^tBu-O-AlH₂]₂). At temperatures above 500 °C, these layers transform to biphasic Al·Al₂O₃ due to the elimination of di-hydrogen. The interaction of HAlO films with short laser pulses causes partial transformation of amorphous HAlO into nano-crystalline Al·Al₂O₃. Using an interference pattern of two coherent high-power Nd:YAG laser beams produces local and periodic heating, inducing crystallization at equally distant lines in the HAlO layer. Depending on the laser fluence, different morphologies and different amounts of crystalline phases are obtained. In this study, the surface morphology and the distribution of crystalline phases of the structured samples are analyzed using SEM, FIB and TEM. The two-dimensional structures consist of periodic variations of morphology, chemical composition, and phase identity with a well-defined long-range order. When bio-functionalized, the structured samples may be used as carriers for structurally controlled cell-cultivation.     

The Introduction of Pyrrolotetrathiafulvalene into Conjugated Architectures: Synthesis and Electronic Properties

A series of new conjugated copolymers incorporating the redox‐active pyrrolo‐TTF unit has been synthesised. The properties of the polymers have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electronic absorption spectroscopy, revealing that the pyrrolo‐TTF behaves very differently to its thieno‐TTF variant. In comparison to thieno analogues, the band gaps of the new polymers are wider than expected due to a decrease in the polarizability of the heteratom (nitrogen vs. sulfur) and steric interactions between repeat units. Whilst the pyrrolo‐TTF units are stronger electron donors than thieno‐TTFs in related structures, the two redox active elements of the new polymers (TTF and conjugated chain) function independently under oxidative conditions.

     

Fluorescence saturation measurements of 3-pentanone

The saturation characteristics of 3-pentanone fluorescence were investigated in an ambient temperature and pressure cell by imaging the fluorescence produced by a focused quadrupled Nd:YAG laser beam. The onset of fluorescence saturation was observed at laser fluences around 0.06 J/cm², which is only about 1.3% of estimates that assume a two-level model and use measured values of the fluorescence lifetime and absorption cross-section. A spatially resolved model indicated that the saturation fluence changed only 10% when a Gaussian profile was used instead of a top-hat profile. Laser sources with significantly different temporal profiles will have different threshold fluence levels, but the present results suggest that saturation effects should be monitored in planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging experiments using 3-pentanone.     

Absolute quantification of cerebral blood flow: correlation between dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI and model-free arterial spin labeling

Purpose

To compare absolute cerebral blood flow (CBF) estimates obtained by model-free arterial spin labeling (ASL) and dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI (DSC-MRI), corrected for partial volume effects (PVEs).

Methods

CBF was measured using DSC-MRI and model-free ASL (quantitative signal targeting with alternating radiofrequency labeling of arterial regions) at 3 T in 15 subjects with brain tumor, and the two modalities were compared with regard to CBF estimates in normal gray matter (GM) and DSC-to-ASL CBF ratios in selected tumor regions. The DSC-MRI CBF maps were calculated using a global arterial input function (AIF) from the sylvian-fissure region, but, in order to minimize PVEs, the AIF time integral was rescaled by a venous output function time integral obtained from the sagittal sinus.

Results

In GM, the average DSC-MRI CBF estimate was 150±45 ml/(min 100 g) (mean±SD) while the corresponding ASL CBF was 44±10 ml/(min 100 g). The linear correlation between GM CBF estimates obtained by DSC-MRI and ASL was r=.89, and observed DSC-to-ASL CBF ratios differed by less than 3% between GM and tumor regions.

Conclusions

A satisfactory positive linear correlation between the CBF estimates obtained by model-free ASL and DSC-MRI was observed, and DSC-to-ASL CBF ratios showed no obvious tissue dependence.     

Dark field microscopy for diffraction analysis of amorphous carbon solids

Diffraction methods for determining structure in non-crystalline materials often rely solely on the determination of pair correlation functions, extracted from measurements of the diffracted intensity. A dark field image of a non-crystalline solid taken with a conventional transmission electron microscope contains phase information lost in the measurement of the diffracted intensity which can be accessed by evaluating a variance function. This variance function is defined in terms of spherical averages of the diffracted intensity and the mean square of the diffracted intensity. The latter contains higher order correlation information derived from correlations between two pairs of atoms. We examine the sensitivity of the variance function, to subtle atomic structural differences between carbon network structures. The structures have similar pair correlations, but different levels of diamond like bonding. The variance function is shown to give improved discrimination between the networks.     

Study of Cadmium Extraction with Aliquat 336 from Highly Saline Solutions

A large number of model solutions with high ionic strength were synthesised to mimic industrial conditions and were used as a first approach to study Cd extraction in the presence of chloride at high salinity, as experienced in real industrial solutions. The extractant used throughout in this work was Aliquat 336, a quaternary ammonium salt well known to the hydrometallurgical industry. The effects of some selected anions in addition to chloride (i.e., perchlorate, nitrate, and sulfate) were studied. The distribution of cadmium was measured using ¹⁰⁹Cd as a tracer. Liquid-scintillation spectroscopy quantified the concentration of ¹⁰⁹Cd in both phases. Raman and NMR spectroscopy were employed to gain further insight into the extraction chemistry. A careful analysis of all Cd extraction data showed that within specific windows of the reactant concentrations the chemical reactions could be represented by simplified equations, as discussed thoroughly in the text. Equilibrium constants for the extraction of \({\text{CdCl}}_{3}^{ - }\) from chloride and chloride/sulfate media were determined to be log₁₀K_ext?=?4.9?±?0.8 and log₁₀K_ext?=?5.7?±?0.5, respectively. For the nitrate environment, an exchange reaction involving a LiNO₃ ion pair is proposed and agrees with the experimental data, but was not proven. ¹⁴N-NMR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the relative affinity of Aliquat 336 for the relevant anions followed the order: perchlorate?>?nitrate?>?chloride?>?sulfate. Finally, ¹⁴N-NMR enabled the equilibrium constant of the exchange reaction between nitrate and chloride for Aliquat 336 to be determined.     

Studies directed to understanding the structure of chitosan-metal complexes: investigations of mono- and disaccharide models with platinum(II) group metals

X-ray and NMR experiments were performed with simple chitosan models based on glucosamine monosaccharides and disaccharides to understand the binding properties and structures of the complexes formed between this polysaccharide and platinum(II) metals. Subjection of the glucosamine derivatives with [PdCl2(PhCN)2] provided trans-diamine complexes which upon further treatment with excess (NH4)PF6 generated complexes possessing two 5-membered chelate rings involving the C2-amine and the C3-hydroxyl group of the two individual glucosamine units.     

Counting Dyck Paths by Area and Rank

The set of Dyck paths of length 2n inherits a lattice structure from a bijection with the set of noncrossing partitions with the usual partial order. In this paper, we study the joint distribution of two statistics for Dyck paths: area (the area under the path) and rank (the rank in the lattice). While area for Dyck paths has been studied, pairing it with this rank function seems new, and we get an interesting (q, t)-refinement of the Catalan numbers. We present two decompositions of the corresponding generating function: One refines an identity of Carlitz and Riordan; the other refines the notion of γ-nonnegativity, and is based on a decomposition of the lattice of noncrossing partitions due to Simion and Ullman. Further, Biane’s correspondence and a result of Stump allow us to conclude that the joint distribution of area and rank for Dyck paths equals the joint distribution of length and reflection length for the permutations lying below the n-cycle (12· · ·n) in the absolute order on the symmetric group.