HILITE—A tool to investigate interactions of matter and light

Detailed investigations of laser–ion interactions require well-defined ion targets and detection techniques for high-sensitivity measurements of reaction educts and products. To this end, we have designed and built the High-Intensity Laser-Ion Trap Experiment Penning trap setup, which features various ion-target preparation techniques including selection, cooling, compression, and positioning as well as destructive and non-destructive measurement techniques to determine the number of stored ions for all charge states individually and simultaneously. We have recently performed first commissioning experiments of ion deceleration and dynamic ion capture with highly charged ion bunches from an electron beam ion source. We have characterized our single-pass non-destructive ion counter in detail and were able to determine the ion velocity as well as the number of ions from the signals acquired.     

Production of Raw Starch-Saccharifying Thermostable and Neutral Glucoamylase by the Thermophilic Mold <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae</Emphasis> in Submerged Fermentation

Among physical and nutritional parameters optimized by “one variable at a time” approach, four cultural variables (sucrose, MgSO₄ ^.7H₂O, inoculum size, and incubation period) significantly affected glucoamylase production. These variables were, therefore, selected for optimization using response surface methodology. The p-values of the coefficients for linear effect of sucrose and inoculum size were less than 0.0001, suggesting them to be the key experimental variables in glucoamylase production. The enzyme production (34 U/ml) attained under optimized conditions (sucrose, 2%; MgSO₄ ^.7H₂O, 0.13%; yeast extract, 0.1%; inoculum size, 5 × 10⁶ spores per 50 ml production medium; incubation time, 48 h; temperature, 40°C; and pH 7.0) was comparable with the value predicted by polynomial model (34.2 U/ml). An over all 3.1-fold higher enzyme titers were attained due to response surface optimization. The experimental model was validated by carrying out glucoamylase production in shake flasks of increasing capacity (0.25–2.0 l) and 22-l laboratory bioreactors (stirred tank and airlift), where the enzyme production was sustainable. Furthermore, the fermentation time was reduced from 48 h in shake flasks to 32 h in bioreactors.     

Enantiomeric Discrimination by Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering–Chiral Anisotropy of Chiral Nanostructured Gold Films

A surface‐enhanced Raman scattering‐chiral anisotropy (SERS‐ChA) effect is reported that combines chiral discrimination and surface Raman scattering enhancement on chiral nanostructured Au films (CNAFs) equipped in the normal Raman scattering Spectrometer. The CNAFs provided remarkably higher enhancement factors of Raman scattering (EFs) for particular enantiomers, and the SERS intensity was proportional to the enantiomeric excesses (ee) values. Except for molecules with mesomeric species, all of the tested enantiomers exhibited high SERS‐ChA asymmetry factors (g), ranging between 1.34 and 1.99 regardless of polarities, sizes, chromophores, concentrations and ee. The effect might be attributed to selective resonance coupling between the induced electric and magnetic dipoles associated with enantiomers and chiral plasmonic modes of CNAFs.     

酞菁铁中N4-Fe2+的氧化还原化学和氧还原性能

准确理解金属大环配合物(如N4-Fe²⁺)体系的氧化还原化学性能,对氧还原反应(ORR)电催化剂的基础研究和合理设计具有重要意义.本文采用微波法将三种不同酞菁铁类金属大环配合物吸附在碳纳米管上,分别记为(NH2)4FePc@CNTs,(t-Bu)4FePc@CNTs和FePc@CNTs,考察了取代基对Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺氧化还原电位的影响,以及碱性介质中的氧还原反应催化活性.结果表明,FePc@CNTs,(t-Bu)4FePc@CNTs和(NH2)4FePc@CNTs的ORR起始电位分别为0.98,0.96和0.96 V,而半波电位(E1/2)由高到低的顺序为FePc@CNTs(E1/2=0.91 V),(t-Bu)4FePc@CNTs(E1/2=0.87 V),(NH2)4FePc@CNTs(E1/2=0.83 V).与20%Pt/C(E1/2=0.85 V)相比,FePc@CNTsFePc@CNTs具有优异的ORR性能.在活性、稳定性和耐甲醇性方面,FePc@CNTs复合材料比其他复合材料表现出更高的ORR性能.研究发现,FePc上的供电子基团可以显著改变N4-Fe²⁺活性位点的电子云密度,增加dz 2轨道(HOMO)的能量,并观察到Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺氧化还原电位显著向阴极方向移动.结果表明,取代基的高电子贡献能力降低了HOMO和LUMO(O2的杂轨道*-轨道)之间的电子耦合,从而降低了氧还原催化活性.因此,FePc框架外围的供电子基团对ORR不利.本文阐明了取代基电子效应-金属大环配合物氧化还原电位与ORR催化性能之间的关系,为ORR催化剂活性中心的构建和调控提供了借鉴.     

Synthesis of 2D Germanane (GeH): a New,Fast, and Facile Approach

Germanane (GeH), a germanium analogue of graphane, has recently attracted considerable interest because its remarkable combination of properties makes it an extremely suitable candidate to be used as 2D material for field effect devices, photovoltaics, and photocatalysis. Up to now, the synthesis of GeH has been conducted by substituting Ca by H in a β‐CaGe₂ layered Zintl phase through topochemical deintercalation in aqueous HCl. This reaction is generally slow and takes place over 6 to 14 days. The new and facile protocol presented here allows to synthesize GeH at room temperature in a significantly shorter time (a few minutes), which renders this method highly attractive for technological applications. The GeH produced with this method is highly pure and has a band gap (E_g) close to 1.4 eV, a lower value than that reported for germanane synthesized using HCl, which is promising for incorporation of GeH in solar cells.     

An electrochemical pathway to prepare circular planar 90Sr/90Y sources for the calibration of surface contamination monitors

In this communication, we describe a novel method to prepare circular planar ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y sources (? = 16 mm) exploiting the intrinsic properties of the anodized titanium to electro-deposit predicted quantity of ⁹⁰Sr activity from an aqueous solution. The influences of various experimental parameters such as pH of the electrolyte, applied current density, electrodeposition time and carrier strontium concentration were thoroughly investigated to arrive at a condition resulting optimal deposition of the ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y activity on the substrate. An optimized electrochemical procedure to prepare ~3.7 MBq (~0.1 mCi) of circular planar ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y sources commensurate with regulatory safety requirement has been the positive outcome.     

Efficacious Anticancer Drug Delivery Mediated by a pH‐Sensitive Self‐Assembly of a Conserved Tripeptide Derived from Tyrosine Kinase NGF Receptor

We present herein a short tripeptide sequence (Lys–Phe–Gly or KFG) that is situated in the juxtamembrane region of the tyrosine kinase nerve growth factor (Trk NGF) receptors. KFG self‐assembles in water and shows a reversible and concentration‐dependent switching of nanostructures from nanospheres (vesicles) to nanotubes, as evidenced by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The morphology change was associated with a transition in the secondary structure. The tripeptide vesicles have inner aqueous compartments and are stable at pH 7.4 but rupture rapidly at pH≈6. The pH‐sensitive response of the vesicles was exploited for the delivery of a chemotherapeutic anticancer drug, doxorubicin, which resulted in enhanced cytotoxicity for both drug‐sensitive and drug‐resistant cells. Efficient intracellular release of the drug was confirmed by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting analysis, fluorescence microscopy, and confocal microscopy.     

Comparative Study of Catalytic Potential of TBAB,BTEAC, and CTAB in One-Pot Synthesis of 1,4-Dihydropyridines Under Aqueous Medium

Convenient and straightforward tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB), benzyltrienthylammonium chloride (BTEAC), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) catalyzed synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHPs) in water was established for the first time. The catalytic potential of phase-transfer catalysts (PTCs) in three different concentrations was envisioned. Aryl aldehydes and hetero aryl aldehydes afforded good yields of 1,4-DHPs in TBAB and BTEAC reactions. In particular, furfuraldehyde and thienyl-2-carbaldehyde produced excellent yields. Isolation of the products through nonchromatographic methods, good to excellent yields, and benign reaction conditions are the major advantages of this protocol.     

In Vivo Endoscopic Tissue Identification by Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry (REIMS)

Gastrointestinal cancers are a leading cause of mortality, accounting for 23 % of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. In order to improve outcomes from these cancers, novel tissue characterization methods are needed to facilitate accurate diagnosis. Rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) is a technique developed for the in vivo classification of human tissue through mass spectrometric analysis of aerosols released during electrosurgical dissection. This ionization technique was further developed by utilizing surface induced dissociation and was integrated with an endoscopic polypectomy snare to allow in vivo analysis of the gastrointestinal tract. We tested the classification performance of this novel endoscopic REIMS method in vivo. It was shown to be capable of differentiating between healthy layers of the intestinal wall, cancer, and adenomatous polyps based on the REIMS fingerprint of each tissue type in vivo.