A Simple Proof of Dieudonn-Manin Classification Theorem

The Dieudonn-Manin classification theorem on φ-modules (φ-isocrystals) over a perfect field plays a very important role in p-adic Hodge theory. In this note, in a more general setting we give a new proof of this result, and in the course of the proof, we also give an explicit construction of the Harder-Narasimhan filtration of a φ-module.     

Formation and dissociation of protonated cytosine–cytosine base pairs in i-motifs by ab initio quantum chemical calculations

Formation and dissociation mechanisms of C-C＋ base pairs in acidic and alkaline environments are investigated, employing ab initio quantum chemical calculations. Our calculations suggest that, in an acidic environment, a cytosine monomer is first protonated and then dimerized with an unprotonated cytosine monomer to form a C-C＋ base pair; in an alkaline environment, a protonated cytosine dimer is first unprotonated and then dissociated into two cytosine monomers. In addition, the force for detaching a C-C＋ base pair was found to be inversely proportional to the distance between the two cytosine monomers. These results provide a microscopic mechanism to qualitatively explain the experimentally observed reversible formation and dissociation of i-motifs.     

Calibration of the complex matrix effects on the sampling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in milk samples using solid phase microextraction

Solid phase microextraction (SPME), a simple, fast and promising sampling technique, has been widely used for complex sample analysis. However, complex matrices could modify the absorption property of coatings as well as the uptake kinetics of analytes, eventually biasing the quantification results. In the current study, we demonstrated the feasibility of a developed calibration method for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in complex milk samples. Effects of the complex matrices on the SPME sampling process and the sampling conditions were investigated. Results showed that short exposure time (pre-equilibrium SPME, PE-SPME) could increase the lifetime of coatings, and the complex matrices in milk samples could significantly influence the sampling kinetics of SPME. In addition, the optimized sampling time, temperature and dilution factor for PAHs were 10 min, 85 °C and 20, respectively. The obtained LODs and LOQs of all the PAHs were 0.1–0.8 ng/mL and 1.4–4.7 ng/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the accuracy of the proposed PE-SPME method for milk sampling was validated by the recoveries of the studied compounds in two concentration levels, which ranged from 75% to 110% for all the compounds. Finally, the proposed method was applied to the screening of PAHs in milk samples.     

New achievements from CE-3 mission

正The Chang'E-3(CE-3)mission began with a smooth countdown and flawless launch on the Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang satellite launch center at 01:30 CST on December 2,2013.It landed on the northeastern Imbrium basin(340.49°E,44.12°N)at 21:11 CST on December 14,2013,and the Yutu rover was deployed from the lander the next morning at 04:35.The lander was equipped with a number of remote-sensing     

Simulation of Rarefied Gas Flows in Atmospheric Pressure Interfaces for Mass Spectrometry Systems

The understanding of the gas dynamics of the atmospheric pressure interface is very important for the development of mass spectrometry systems with high sensitivity. While the gas flows at high pressure (>1 Torr) and low pressure (<10^–3 Torr) stages are relatively well understood and could be modeled using continuum and molecular flows, respectively, the theoretical modeling or numeric simulation of gas flow through the transition pressure stage (1 to 10^–3 Torr) remains challenging. In this study, we used the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DMSC) method to develop the gas dynamic simulations for the continuous and discontinuous atmospheric pressure interfaces (API), with different focuses on the ion transfer by gas flows through a skimmer or directly from the atmospheric pressure to a vacuum stage, respectively. The impacts by the skimmer location in the continuous API and the temporal evolvement of the gas flow with a discontinuous API were characterized, which provide a solid base for the instrument design and performance improvement.

Detection of layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly multilayer films by low‐temperature plasma mass spectrometry

The detection of layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly multilayer films was carried out using low‐temperature plasma (LTP) mass spectrometry (MS) under ambient conditions. These multilayer films have been prepared on quartz plates through the alternate assembling of oppositely charged 4‐aminothiophenol (4‐ATP) capped Au particles and thioglycolic acid (TGA) capped Ag particles. An LTP probe was used for direct desorption and ionization of chemical components on the films. Without the complicated sample preparation, the structure information of 4‐ATP and TGA on films was studied by LTP‐MS. Characteristic ions of 4‐ATP (M) and TGA (F), including [M]^+?, [M‐NH₂]⁺, [M‐HCN‐H]⁺, and [F + H]⁺, [F‐H]⁺, [F‐OH]⁺, [F‐COOH]⁺ were recorded by LTP‐MS on the films. However, [M‐CS‐H]⁺ and [F‐SH]⁺ could not be observed on the film, which were detected in the neat sample. In addition, the semi‐quantitative analysis of chemical components on monolayer film was carried out, and the amounts of 4‐ATP and TGA on monolayer surface were 45 ng/mm² and 54 ng/mm², respectively. This resulted the ionization efficiencies of 72% for 4‐ATP and 54% for TGA. In order to evaluate the reliability of present LTP‐MS, the correlations between this approach and some traditional methods, such as UV–vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscope and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy were studied, which resulted the correlation coefficients of higher than 0.9776. The results indicated that this technique can be used for analyzing the films without any pretreatment, which possesses great potential in the studies of self‐assembly multilayer films. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

微波消解–原子荧光法同时测定PM2.5中砷、汞含量

采用微波消解–原子荧光法测定PM2.5中砷、汞含量。实验结果表明,当还原剂硼氢化钾的质量分数为2%、溶液介质酸度为4%(体积分数)盐酸时,同时测定砷、汞可获得最佳的荧光值。砷、汞测定的检出限分别为0.027,0.006μg/L,空白滤膜的加标回收率分别为95.3%~101.7%,96.0%~106.0%,样品的加标回收率分别为95.0%~103.5%,93.3%~110.0%。该法检出限低,准确度高,适用于环境空气PM2.5中砷、汞含量的测定。     

The Collision Cross Sections of Iodide Salt Cluster Ions in Air via Differential Mobility Analysis-Mass Spectrometry

To date, most collision cross section (CCS) predictions have invoked gas molecule impingement-reemission rules in which specular and elastic scattering of spherical gas molecules from rigid polyatomic surfaces are assumed. Although such predictions have been shown to agree well with CCSs measured in helium bath gas, a number of studies reveal that these predictions do not agree with CCSs for ions in diatomic gases, namely, air and molecular nitrogen. To further examine the validity of specular-elastic versus diffuse-inelastic scattering models, we measured the CCSs of positively charged metal iodide cluster ions of the form [MI]_n[M⁺]_z, where M?=?Na, K, Rb, or Cs, n?=?1 – 25, and z?=?1 – 2. Measurements were made in air via differential mobility analysis mass spectrometry (DMA-MS). The CCSs measured are compared with specular-elastic as well as diffuse-inelastic scattering model predictions with candidate ion structures determined from density functional theory. It is found that predictions from diffuse-inelastic collision models agree well (within 5 %) with measurements from sodium iodide cluster ions, while specular-elastic collision model predictions are in better agreement with cesium iodide cluster ion measurements. The agreement with diffuse-inelastic and specular-elastic predictions decreases and increases, respectively, with increasing cation mass. However, even when diffuse-inelastic cluster ion predictions disagree with measurements, the disagreement is of a near-constant factor for all ions, indicating that a simple linear rescaling collapses predictions to measurements. Conversely, rescaling cannot be used to collapse specular-elastic predictions to measurements; hence, although the precise impingement reemission rules remain ambiguous, they are not specular-elastic.

Mass spectrometry imaging for biomedical applications

The development of technologies for mass spectrometry imaging is of substantial research interest. Mass spectrometry is potentially capable of providing highly specific information about the distribution of compounds in tissues, with high sensitivity. The in-situ analysis needed for tissue imaging requires MS to be performed under conditions different from the traditional ones, typically with intensive sample preparation and optimized for pharmaceutical applications. In this paper we critically review the current status of MS imaging with different methods of sample ionization and discuss the 3D and quantitative imaging capabilities which need further development, the importance of the multi-modal imaging, and the balance between the pursuit of high-resolution imaging and the practical application of MS imaging in biomedicine.