On the Nature of Mass Spectrometer Analyzer Contamination

Sample throughput in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is limited by the need for frequent ion path cleaning to remove accumulated debris that can lead to charging and general performance degradation. Contamination of ion optics within the vacuum system is particularly problematic as routine cleaning requires additional time for cycling the vacuum pumps. Differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) can select targeted ion species for transmission, thereby reducing the total number of charged particles entering the vacuum system. In this work, we characterize the nature of instrument contamination, describe efforts to improve mass spectrometer robustness by applying DMS prefiltering to reduce contamination of the vacuum ion optics, and demonstrate the capability of DMS to extend the interval between mass spectrometer cleaning. In addition, we introduce a new approach to effectively detect large charged particles formed during the electrospray ionization (ESI) process.

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POSS-modified PEG adhesives for wound closure

PEG-related adhesives are limited in clinical use because they are easy to swell and cannot support the cell growth.In this study,we produced a series of POSS-modified PEG adhesives with high adhesive strength.Introduction of inorganic hydrophobic POSS units decreased the swelling of the adhesives and enhanced cell adhesion and growth.The in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo inflammatory response experiments clearly demonstrated that the adhesives were nontoxic and possessed excellent biocompatibility.Compared with the sutured wounds,the adhesive-treated wounds showed an accelerated healing process in wounded skin model of the Bama miniature pig,demonstrating that the POSS-modified PEG adhesive is a promising candidate for wound closure.     

Fiber-reinforced three-dimensional graphene aerogels for electrically conductive epoxy composites with enhanced mechanical properties

To enhance the mechanical properties of three-dimensional graphene aerogels with aramid fibers,graphene/organic fiber aerogels are prepared by chemical reduction of graphene oxide in the presence of organic fibers of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)(PPTA) and followed by freeze-drying. Thermal annealing of the composite aerogels at 1300 ° C is adopted not only to restore the conductivity of the reduced graphene oxide component but also to convert the insulating PPTA organic fibers to conductive carbon fibers by the carbonization. The resultant graphene/carbon fiber aerogels(GCFAs) exhibit high electrical conductivities and enhanced compressive properties, which are highly efficient in improving both mechanical and electrical performances of epoxy composites. Compared to those of neat epoxy, the compressive modulus, compressive strength and energy absorption of the electrically conductive GCFA/epoxy composite are significantly increased by 60%, 59% and 131%, respectively.     

A Practical System for High-Throughput Screening of Mutants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus fastidiosus</Emphasis> Uricase

For high-throughput screening (HTS) of Bacillus fastidiosus uricase mutants, a practical system was proposed. By error-prone PCR with final 1.5 mM MnCl₂, two focused libraries of mutants for A1-V158 and V150-D212 were generated separately. After induced expression of individual clones in 48-well microplates, Escherichia coli cells (BL21) were lyzed by 1.0 M Tris-HCl at pH 9.0 in 96-well microplates at 25 °C for 7.5 ~ 10.5 h; uricase reaction was continuously monitored with 0.15 mM uric acid in 96-well plates by absorbance at 298 nm to estimate V _m/K _m by kinetic analysis of reaction curve for comparison. V _m/K _m was resistant to initial uric acid levels with an upper limit 3-fold over that of initial rates. By receiver-operator-characteristic analysis of the recognition of the one of higher activity in uricase pair whose specific activity ratio was 1.8 or 3.3, the area-under-the-curve was comparable to that with cell lysates prepared by sonication treatment. A cutoff for the maximum Youden index was thus developed to recognize positive mutants of 1-fold higher activity. Indeed, mutant L171I/Y182F/Y187F/A193S of higher activity but lower thermostability at pH 7.4 and mutant V144A of higher activity and consistent thermostability were discovered. Therefore, the proposed system was practical for HTS of uricase mutants.     

Temperature effect on the optical properties of two different triphenylamine-based organic dyes

In this paper, we present the absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of conjugated, metal-free organic dyes, triphenylamine derivatives 3-(4-(bis(4-(5-(4-(hexyloxy)phenyl)thiophenyl)phenyl)amino)phenyl)-2-cyanoacrylic acid (OD3) and (E)-3-(5′-(4-(bis(4-(5-(4-hexyloxy)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)phenyl)amino)phenyl)-2,2′-bithiophen-5-yl)-2-cyanoacrylic acid (OD3DT), with and without a π-conjugated bridge, respectively, in film at a temperature range from 13 to 400 K. We find that the intensities of absorption and PL of OD3 decrease gradually beyond 200 K, as well as the ratios of integral areas of absorption to PL spectra. However, the other compound, OD3DT, shows a very different behavior. An increase is discovered in the ratio of the absorption to PL integral area when the temperature is higher than 200 K. A π-conjugated bridge gives this compound a higher degree of symmetry, and therefore, a better alignment of the molecules in the film, which causes a stacking aggregation such that the temperature effect on this compound is different than OD3.     

Facile synthesis of novel [1,3]oxazino[2,3-c][1,2,4] thiadiazin-12-one derivatives

Several novel fused heterocyclic systems which have rings containing N/O or N/S have been synthesized through a facile one-pot method by the treatment of substituted 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenol and cyanogen bromide in THF and NEt₃. This one-pot method contains tough ring-opening of thiazole, special intermolecular rearrangement and ring-closing reactions. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by HR-MS, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR spectral data and DFT calculation analysis. 2a was also determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous metal oxide–silica composite for removal of mercaptan

A series of 3DOM and non-3DOM metal oxide–silica composites were prepared and tested dynamically in a packed-bed reactor at room temperature to remove ethanethiol from a gas stream containing ethyl mercaptan in moist N_2.The obtained sorbents were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques. The experimental results showed that the adsorption ability of different kinds of metal oxide–silica composites with 3DOM structure decreased in the sequence: 3D-CuO/SiO₂ > 3D-NiO/SiO₂ > 3D-Co₃O₄/SiO₂ > 3D-ZnO/SiO₂. The best ratio of CuO to SiO₂ of 3DOM copper–silicon oxide sorbents for ethanethiol removal was found to be 1:2. The 3DOM structure could improve the removal activity of sorbents remarkably because of the high porosity with ordered interconnected macropores as well as the large surface area and high dispersion of CuO. It was also found that a moist atmosphere greatly benefited the adsorption of ethanethiol at ambient condition.     

Stability enhancement of nanofibrillated cellulose in electrolytes through grafting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid

This study aimed to improve the stability of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) in an electrolyte containing system, which was achieved by the grafting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) via the ceric ammonium nitrate-induced polymerization process. The results indicated that upon grafting the salt resistance and thermal stability of NFC were significantly improved. Moreover, the stability of the modified NFC increased with the AMPS loading. Compared to the control (the original NFC), the poly-AMPS/NFC (357.5 mg/g AMPS) exhibited much improved stability in a 400 mmol/L NaCl solution, and its viscosity was 350 mPa s. The thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the initial decomposition temperature of the modified NFC increased from 265 to 330 °C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations showed that the main morphologic features of NFC were not altered, suggesting that the grafting reaction occurred on the fiber surface. The modified NFC can have promising industrial applications, such as oil recovery.     

具有高灵敏性且稳定可重复的正温度系数效应的PVDF/CF导电复合材料

以碳纤维(CF)为填料,聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)为基体,通过熔融共混法制备PVDF/CF导电复合材料.所得复合材料具有显著的正温度系数(PTC)效应,温度上升到聚合物熔点附近时,电阻率对温度变化敏感.在转折温度区间(155.5~171.0oC,(35)(28)15.5oC)内,其体积电阻率的增加速率约为1.3×105?cm K-1.在不同CF含量下,复合材料表现出不同的PTC行为.随着CF含量的增加,其峰值电阻略有下降.高导电粒子含量下,无负温度系数(NTC)效应.在冷却循环过程,导电网络的重构性良好.复合材料即使经过多次热循环,依然表现出良好的PTC特性重现性.     

Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mosses by Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction and Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A facile method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mosses is reported using ultrasonic-assisted extraction and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The efficiency of ultrasonic-assisted extraction and the reagents was optimized. Tandem mass spectrometry with selective reaction monitoring was used to enhance the selectivity to reduce matrix interferences and simplify the purification protocol. The detection limits were from 0.1 to 2.0?ng/mL. The linear calibration range was two orders of magnitude and the coefficients of linear correlation exceeded 0.9992 for all analytes. The relative standard deviations within 1 day and 3 days were less than 9.0%. Recoveries from 56.8 to 109.0% were obtained in fortified mosses. The rapid, low solvent gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was used to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mosses.