One-pot tethering of organic molecules through non-symmetric malonate derivatives

A new method for one-pot chemoselective heterobifunctional cross-linking of organic molecules is described. The method is based on tert-butyldiphenylsilyl malonate and involves two sequential carbodiimide couplings with two different molecules possessing a hydroxy or an amino functionality with one intermediate one-pot fluoride deprotection.     

Electron beam coater for reduction of charging in ice-embedded biological specimens using Ti(88)Si(12) alloy.

Biological macromolecules embedded in vitreous ice are known to suffer from charging while being imaged in an electron transmission cryomicroscope. We developed an electron beam coater that deposits conductive films onto the surface of frozen-hydrated specimens. The conductive films help to dissipate charge during electron irradiation of poorly conductive ice-embedded biological samples. We observed significant reduction in charging of ice-embedded catalase crystals suspended over holes in a holey carbon film after coating them with a 30-A-thick layer of an amorphous alloy, Ti(88)Si(12). Images of the crystals after coating showed diffraction spots of up to 3 A resolution.     

Fermi resonances in the Raman spectra of alkali halide/BH4−

Raman spectra of a series of alkali-halide/BH^?₄ (and BD^?₄ crystals have been obtained. These spectra show some interesting examples of Fermi resonance type interactions between the stretching mode levels and overtone and combination band levels of the bending modes. Two resonances will be considered: (i) that between ν₁ and 2ν₄(A₁), and (ii) that between ν₃, 2ν₄ (F₂) and (ν₂+ν₄) (F₂).The F₂ resonance between ν₃, 2ν₄ and ν₂+ν₄ appears in the infrared spectrum and it has been studied on several occasions. However the equivalent Raman spectrum is of interest because the relative intensities of the bands are significantly different to those shown by the infrared spectrum.In the A₁ (and E) Raman spectrum of the stretching mode region there are two strong bands for each for the ¹⁰B and ¹¹B isotopes. The ν₁ would not be expected to show any ¹⁰B and ¹¹B splitting, but the observed bands are both closely resonating mixtures of ν₁ and 2ν₄(A₁). In fact the analysis shows that the stronger band has the higher proportion of 2ν₄ character, and the larger isotopic shift of the more intense band can then be seen to be reasonable.     

Raman study NH4Cl near the tricritical point

The Raman spectrum of NH₄Cl has been studied as a function of temperature and pressure close to the multicritical point at which the λ-transition changes from first to second order. Variations in the intensities of appropriate bands have been used to calculate the critical exponents for the order parameter. By varying the temperature at fixed pressures of zero, 3.0 k bar and 1.5 k bar, exponent values of β = 0.154 ± 0.012, β = 0.33 ± 0.06 and β = 0.26 ± 0.06 have been obtained for the first-order, second-order and multicritical regions respectively.Our first-order exponent value is close to that observed by previous workers, our second-order value is close to that predicted by the three dimensional Ising model, and our multicritical value is close to that predicted by mean field theory.     

The interaction of sodium caseinate with monoglyceride and diglyceride at the oil-water interface in corn oil-in-water emulsions and its effect on emulsion stability

The slow rate of drop coalescence at 5 C in concentrated corn oil-in-water emulsions stabilised with sodium caseinate, glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl distearate was deduced from changes in the drop size distribution. Both pH and the monoglyceride/diglyceride ratio influenced coalescence. At any pH minimum coalescence was observed at a 5/2 monoglyceride/diglyceride ratio. This was attributed to association of caseinate with a previously formed complex of monoglyceride and diglyceride, so supporting an interpretation previously proposed on the basis of rheological data for the emulsions and for films of caseinate-glycerides at the oil-water interface.     

Survey of experimental results on μCF including hyperfine effects

Complementary to the investigations of the most efficient dt cycle, also the other muon-induced fusion cycles in mixtures of hydrogen isotopes have been studied. The results of these dedicated experiments provide rich information about muon-induced few-body reactions and contribute significantly to a better overall understanding of CF. A summary of the recent progress will be presented. Special emphasis will be put on two characteristic examples, namely a new experimental approach to study the muonic cascade in H-D mixtures and the systematic study of hyperfine effects in muon-induced reactions.     

The kinetics of muon-catalyzed dt fusion

A main source of information about the muon-catalyzed fusion cycle in D-T mixtures are the cycling rates _c, which are characteristic for the kinetic equilibrium of states attained rapidly in dense targets. The measurement, analysis and interpretation of these rates will be discussed, concentrating on the extensive set of rates observed at PSI over the last decade in gaseous, liquid and solid targets.Invited talk presented by Peter Kammel.     

The effect of pressure on the raman spectrum of ice at low temperature

Extensive experimental studies of the Raman spectra of H₂O and D₂O ice in the lattice translational and OH (OD) stretching regions are reported for the first time at 88 K and from 0→6 kbar. An unambiguous transformation from ice I_h to ice IX has been observed, although previous studies suggest that a transition to ice II would have occurred. The ice I_h data are analysed in terms of various coefficients.