Transient behavior of a nonequilibrium plasma formed by merged beams

A low density, low temperature plasma formed by two merged beams of electrons and ions at near zero relative velocity is studied by solving a set of time-dependent rate equations. In particular, we investigate the role played by the radiative recombination (RR) and three-body recombination (TBR) on the population of excited states during the initial stage of plasma rearrangement and relaxation. It is found in the case of hydrogenic plasmas that low-lying states are filled predominantly by RR, while high Rydberg states are populated mainly by TBR. As the plasma further relaxes, the collisional excitation and de-excitation, and radiative decays become important, filling the median excited states. The dependence of the TBR and RR rates on ionic chargeZ is discussed to extend the result to plasmas of highZ ions.     

Electron microscopic phase analysis of BN-thin films

A series of BN films was deposited by means of r.f. magnetron sputtering of a h-BN target onto Si(1OO) surfaces. Hereby, the substrate bias voltage was varied. Special interest is focussed to the influence of the deposition parameters on the orientation of the growing hexagonal BN film with respect to the substrate. For structural investigation, cross section samples were prepared. In addition to HRTEM and diffraction investigations, especially electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) was applied successfully for phase identification. For negative bias voltages of U _B =–300 V and U _B =–350V, we found a phase system consisting of a first-grown 25 nm thick layer of hexagonal structure with the c axis parallel to the substrate surface followed by the cubic phase.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Metastasis-suppressor KAI1/CD82 induces homotypic aggregation of human prostate cancer cells through Src-dependent pathway

To investigate the functional role of KAI1/CD82, a metastasis suppressor for human prostate cancer, in the regulation of homotypic cell adhesion, we transfected KAI1 cDNA into DU 145 human prostate cancer cells and established stable transfectant clones with high KAI1/CD82 expression. The KAI1 transfectant cells exhibited significantly increased homotypic cell aggregation in comparison with the control transfectant cells. This aggregation of the KAI1 transfectants was further enhanced upon exposure to anti-CD82 antibody, suggesting that KAI1/CD82 may be involved in the intracellular signaling for the cell adhesion. Among several signal pathway inhibitors tested, PP1, an inhibitor of Src family kinases, significantly suppressed homotypic aggregation of the KAI1 transfectant cells. Ligation of KAI1/CD82 with anti-CD82 antibody increased endogenous Src kinase activity of the KAI1 transfectant cells. When different types of src expression constructs were retransfected into the KAI1-transfected DU 145 cells, kinase-negative mutant src transfectant cells exhibited much lower homotypic aggregation than the mock cells transfected with an empty vector. Moreover, homotypic aggregation of the mutant src transfectant cells was not enhanced by KAI1/CD82 ligation with anti- CD82 antibody. These results suggest that Src mediates the intracellular signaling pathway of KAI1/CD82 for the induction of homotypic adhesion of human prostate cancer cells.     

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchip for precolumn reaction and micellar electrokinetic chromatography of biogenic amines

We have demonstrated that precolumn derivatization and capillary electrophoresis separation on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchip can be realized as efficient as those on glass microchips. In an optimized condition of micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), using 25 mM sodium borate buffer (pH 10.0) with 25 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 5% v/v methanol, the electroosmotic flow in an oxidized PDMS microchip is stabilized within 3% for days. By employing a fluorometric derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) in an optimally designed reaction chamber, four most important biogenic amines occurring in foods, histamine, tyramine, putrescine, and tryptamine, are quantitatively determined in less than 1 min at the levels applicable to real samples. The migration behaviors of anionic OPA-derivatized biogenic amines under the MEKC conditions are analyzed, and it has been found that under our separation conditions, the electrophoretic mobility of the SDS micelles is significantly greater than those of the anions in the aqueous phase. The channel manifold in a PDMS substrate is fabricated using replica molding against a thick photoresist, SU-8, pattern generated by photolithography. The plate with the microchannel pattern is strongly, irreversibly bonded to another PDMS plate by using a new bonding technique, which employs surface oxidation by corona discharge generated from a cheap, handy source, Tesla coil.     

Synthesis,renal vasodilator and dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activities of O-Methyl derivatives of 6-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetr ahydro-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-3-benzazepin-7,8-diol (SK&F 82526)

The three possible mono-O-methyl derivatives of 6-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-3-benzazepin-7,8-diol (SK&F 82526) ( 1 ) have been synthesized to facilitate the isolation and characterization of metabolites of this compound and for biological testing. The syntheses generally involved preparation of appropriately substituted benzaldehydes, conversion of these to phenylacetic acids and use of these to N-acylate arylethanolamines. The phenylacetamides thus formed were reduced to amines and these were deprotected and cyclized to the desired final products. In one case deprotection followed cyclization. These compounds were tested as activators of dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase (a measure of DA-1 agonist activity) and as renal vasodilators. All three O-methyl derivatives were much less potent than 1 in cyclase activation and as renal vasodilators. Weak inhibition of adenyl cyclase was also observed for all three compounds and one showed weak renal vasoconstrictor activity. Preliminary investigation of the metabolism of 1 disclosed that two of the three monomethoxy compounds were formed in trace amounts in the rat and the dog. In a related investigation, the trimethoxy derivative of 1 was subjected to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis conditions. The relative ease of cleavage of methoxy groups was 7 > > 4′ > 8.     

Untersuchungen über ternäre Chalkogenide. XXIV. Zur Struktur des TlGaSe2

On Ternary Chalcogenides. XXIV. The Structure of TlGaSe₂ TlGaSe₂ is monoclinic with a = 10.772(3), b = 10.771(5), c = 15.636(8) Å, ß = 100.6(3)°, Z = 16, space group Cc. The refinement yielded an R value of 0.082 for 1366 unique observed reflections (MoKα). The compound crystallizes with a layer structure with two anion layers perpendicular to c* in the unit cell. The structural motive of the layers are large corner-linked Ga₄Se₁₀- tetraeder consisting of four corner-linked GaSe₄ tetrahedra. Two adjacent layers are turned relative to each other by 90°. They are kept together by Tl¹⁺ ions, which are situated on straight lines parallel to the edges of the Ga₄Se₁₀ groups. They are surrounded by six selenium atoms forming trigonal-prismatic TlSe₆ polyhedra. 4₂ screw-axes within the layers are the reason for a strongly pronounced pseudo tetragonal symmetry. Different possibilities of stacking cause a onedimensional disorder along the c* direction. The relations between the TlGaSe₂ type and the TlSe type and also the high-pressure modifications of some compounds with the TlGaSe₂ structure are discussed.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 111. 1,2-Dichlor-1,2-di-tert-butyldiphosphan

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 111. 1,2-Dichloro-1,2-di-tert-butyl-diphosphane The reaction of tri-tert-butyl-cyclotriphosphane, (t-BuP)₃, with phosphorus(V) chloride (molar ratio 1:2) leads to the title compound Cl(t-Bu)P? P(t-Bu)Cl ( 1 ), which is remarkably stable against disproportionation reactions. As the first 1,2-dichloro-1,2-diorganyldiphosphane, 1 has been isolated in a pure state and was thoroughly characterized. At room temperature, 1 exists in a mixture of the d,l and meso form (about 20:80). The mutual repulsion of the negative polarized Cl atoms and their preferred gauche arrangement to the free electron pairs of neighboured P atoms leads to a gauche-conformation of the lone electron pairs in the d,l- and to a trans-conformation in the meso-configuration.     

In situ determination of adsorption kinetics of proteins in a finite bath

A method for fast in situ measurement of adsorption kinetics based on a finite bath was developed. We modified the conventional finite bath by replacing the external loop by a dip probe which enables in situ measurement of the concentration change in the contactor. Deposition of adsorbent particles on the reflection surface of the dip probe compromised measurements. Different membranes, a polyamide, a polypropylene and a nylon membrane were tested to protect the internal reflection surface of the dip probe from fouling with adsorbent particles. The nylon membrane provided efficient protection and high mass transfer evaluated by response time experiments. Unspecific adsorption of the model protein on the membrane could also be excluded. To corroborate the measurements of the dip probe the results were compared to a conventional finite bath and to a shallow-bed. The uptake curves for human polyclonal IgG at different concentrationes (0.1-3 g/l) on rProtein A Sepharose FF and MabSelect were used as model system. The effective diffusion coefficients were determined using a pore diffusion model. These values were in good agreement for all methods.     

Pulsed titration sensors: Part 1: A breath-by-breath CO2 sensor

A novel electrochemical sensor for the determination of CO₂ in expired breath is described. The sensor works by generating from the reduction of O₂ in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) in a generating pulse. There is a rapid titration reaction between the and any CO₂ present. In the recovery pulse the amount of unreacted is determined. The larger the concentration of CO₂ the less is found in the recovery pulse. The solubilities and diffusion coefficients of O₂ and CO₂ in DMSO have been determined using rotating disc voltammetry and rotation speed step experiments. The stoichiometry, the product, and the rate constant of the titration reaction have been determined using ring—disc voltammetry and laser Raman spectroscopy. The operation and the effect of adventitious water on the sensor are described. Results are presented which show that the sensor can indeed measure the breath-by-breath rhythm of expired CO₂ from a human subject.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 105. 1,2,3,4-Tetraphenyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-tetraphosphan und 1,2,3,4-Tetraphenyltetraphosphan

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 105. 1,2,34-Tetraphenyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-tetraphosphane and 1,2,3,4-Tetraphenyltetraphosphane 1,2,3,4-Tetraphenyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-tetraphosphane, Me₃Si? (PPh)₄? SiMe₃ ( 1 ), is obtained by reacting K₂(PPh)₄ with trimethylchlorosilane under suitable conditions. Compound 1 disproportionates almost easier than the corresponding triphosphane (Me₃Si)₂(PPH)₃. Of the six possible diastereomers only 1a (erythro, meso, erythro), 1b (erythro, d,l, erythro), 1 d (threo, d,l, threo), and 1 f (erythro, threo, threo) can be detected in solution by ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. In consequence of rapid inversion at the P atoms a dynamic equilibrium exists between the different isomers. The assignment of the ³¹P-NMR-spectroscopically observed spin systems to the corresponding diastereomers results from the dependence of the ¹J_PP-coupling constants on the dihedral angle between vicinal free electron pairs as well as on the observed frequency distribution. In the alcoholysis of 1 the corresponding hydride H? (PPh)₄? H ( 2 ) is formed as the main product. It could be isolated in spite of its instability. At room temperature 2 disproportionates rapidly forming mainly (PPh)₄ and H₂(PPh)₂ (ratio 1:2) at first; later on also H₂(PPh)₃, H₂PPh, and (PPh)₅ are found. The corresponding rearrangements follow a four-center mechanism involving predominantly P? P bonds.