Critical Parameters of the Pumping Scheme of Ar+8 Lasers Excited by Z Pinches in Long Capilaries

The present study is focused on the demonstration of the most critical parameters of the pumping scheme of a table‐top Ar⁺⁸‐laser excited by discharges with relatively low current and voltage (I ≤ 20 kA, U ≤ 200 kV) in long (L ～ 0.5 m) capillaries. The most critical parameters of the pumping scheme were analyzed and then adjusted experimentally. The table‐top size is attributed to the use of a low‐inductance co‐axial discharge configuration that decreases the voltage and current necessary for laser excitation. Low inductance is achieved by using a capillary, water‐capacitor and water spark‐gap placed into a chamber filled with deionized water. The capillary z‐pinch is produced by the water capacitor, which is pulse‐charged by a six‐stage Marx generator, optimized for the low‐inductance discharge configuration. Optimization is performed by adjusting the value of the charging inductance and the peak charging voltage with a water spark‐gap. At the optimal conditions laser pulses with a Gaussian‐like intensity distribution and divergence angle ～ 1 mrad and energy ～ 10 μJ are generated. The physical method for generation of a laser beam with such parameters is based on the use of a long (L = 0.45 m) capillary plasma (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Production of biosurfactant from a new and promising strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1 strain, isolated from the water of oil production in Sergipe, Northeast Brazil, wasevaluated as a potential rhamnolipid type of biosurfactant producer. The production of biosurfactants was investigated using different carbon sources (n-hexadecane, paraffin oil, glycerol, and babassu oil) and inoculum concentrations (0.0016–0.008 g/L) The best results were obtained with glycerol as the substrate and an initial cell concentration of 0.004 g/L. AC:N ratio of 22.8 led to the greatest production of rhamnolipids (1700 mg/L) and efficiency (1.18 g of rhamnolipid/g of dry wt).     

Microhardness and surface free energy in linear polyethylene: The role of entanglements

The microhardness of a series of melt crystallized samples of linear polyehtylene was investigated in a wide range of molecular weights. The x-ray long period was analyzed to study the variation of the hardness-derived constantb as a function of molecular weight (M ). It is pointed out thatb offers a measure of the hardness depression due to the finite thickness of the lamellar crystals. The data obtained show that the increase and final leveling-off (forM 200 000) ofb withM parallels the concurrent increase of the surface free energy, as derived from DSC experiments. Results are discussed using the concept og chain folded lamellae as thermodynamically stable non-homogeneous microphases. Comparison of experimental and calculated data supports the view that the number of molecular entanglements, segregated onto the defective surface boundary of the heterogeneous crystals influence the shearing mechanism within the mesocrystals and thereby control the yield behavior of the material.     

Computational Investigation of the Substituent Effect on the Intramolecular Proton Transfer Reaction of 3-Hydroxytropolone

The effects of substituent type and position on the proton transfer reaction of 3-hydroxytropolone(3-OHTRN) have been investigated theoretically by using density functional theory at the level of B3LYP/ 6-31+G** method. The influence of solvent on the proton transfer reactions of substituted 3-OHTRN has been examined using the self-consistent isodensity polarized continuum model(SCI-PCM) in water. As a result, while the proton transfer reaction is kinetically the easiest by substitution on position 3 of-NH2 group in the gas phase, it is kinetically the easiest by substitution on position 5 of the same group in water. In addition, these reactions are either kinetically or thermodynamically easier in the gas phase than that in water, except the reaction of structure with-NH2 group at position 6.     

Efficient Separation of Light Lanthanides(III) by Using Bis-Lactam Phenanthroline Ligands

Due to the ever-increasing demand for high-purity individual rare-earth elements, novel and highly selective separation processes are increasingly sought after. Herein, we report a separation protocol that employs shape-persistent 2,9-bis-lactam-1,10-phenanthroline (BLPhen) ligands exhibiting unparalleled selectivity for light trivalent lanthanides. The highly preorganised binding pockets of the ligands allowed for the separation of lanthanides with high fidelity, even in the presence of competing transition metals, in a biphasic separation system. Notably, the selectivity trends of the BLPhen ligands towards metal ions across the lanthanide series can be chemically modulated by altering the molecular rigidity of the extractant.     

Synthesis of benzofurazan derivatization reagents for short chain carboxylic acids in liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS/MS)

Benzofurazan derivatization reagents, 4‐[2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethylaminosulfonyl]‐7‐(2‐aminopentylamino)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole (DAABD‐AP) and 4‐[2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino) ethylaminosulfonyl]‐7‐(2‐aminobutylamino)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole (DAABD‐AB), for short‐chain carboxylic acids in liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS/MS) were synthesized. These reagents reacted with short chain carboxylic acids in the presence of the condensation reagents at 60°C for 60 min. The generated derivatives were separated on the reversed‐phase column and detected by ESI‐MS/MS with the detection limits of 0.1–0.12 pmol on column. Upon collision‐induced dissociation, a single and intense product ion at m/z 151 was observed. These results indicated that DAABD‐AP and DAABD‐AB are suitable as the derivatization reagents in LC/ESI‐MS/MS analysis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isothiocyanates as derivatization reagents for amines in liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry

The applicability of 3‐pyridyl isothiocyanate, p‐(dimethylamino)phenyl isothiocyanate and m‐nitrophenyl isothiocyanate as the derivatization reagents for amines in high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS/MS) was examined. The generated derivatives of amines with these reagents were favorably separated on the reversed‐phase column and detected by ESI‐MS/MS. The C–N bond of the generated thiourea structure was efficiently cleaved by collision‐induced dissociation and gave the single and intense product ion. Among the three reagents, 3‐pyridyl isothiocyanate was the most suitable as the derivatization reagent with regard to the reactivity to amines and the detection sensitivity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enantioselective conjugate addition of alkenylboronic acids to indole-appended enones

An enantioselective addition of alkenylboronic acids and alkynylboronic esters to unprotected indole-appended enones is reported. This transformation proceeds with high enantioselectivity and high product yields via the use of catalytic amounts of 3,3'-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-BINOL and Mg(Ot-Bu)(2). A range of α-branched indole derivatives are available from the transformation.