Electron injection into DNA: synthesis and spectroscopic properties of pyrenyl-modified oligonucleotides

The nucleoside 5-(1-pyrenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (1) was prepared by a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction and subsequently used as a DNA building block in order to prepare a range of modified oligonucleotides using phosphoramidite chemistry. The DNA duplexes contain a pyrenyl group covalently attached to the nucleobase uracil. Upon excitation at 340 nm an intramolecular electron transfer from the pyrenyl group to the uracil moiety takes place which represents an injection of an excess electron into the DNA base stack. Based on the results obtained by steady-state fluorescence and time-resolved pump-probe laser spectroscopy it was possible to show that base-to-base electron transfer can occur from the Py-dU group only to adjacent thymines.     

VCSEL-based calibration-free carbon monoxide sensor at 2.3 μm with in-line reference cell

A random porous fiber for transporting terahertz (THz) waves is proposed in this paper. The fiber, which to the best of our knowledge has not been investigated previously, has its core composed by randomly distributed air holes. A numerical study was carried out near 1 THz, showing that the new fiber possesses some improved fiber properties compared to the regular periodic porous fiber: the power fraction confined in the core is higher, the dispersion becomes lower, and more importantly a flatter dispersion curve appears within the frequency range of 0.8 THz to 1.4 THz.     

Ultramikroskopie der Jodlösungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Spectral and modulation properties of a largely tunable MEMS-VCSEL in view of gas phase spectroscopy applications

An extensive characterization of the spectral properties of a largely tunable laser in the 1.56-μm spectral range is reported. This device combines a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with a micro-machined (MEMS) Bragg mirror in a very compact arrangement. The large tunability obtained by an electro-thermal actuation of the MEMS mirror makes this device very attractive for high-resolution spectroscopy. Relevant laser parameters for the implementation of wavelength modulation spectroscopy techniques in gas sensing, such as tuning and modulation properties, are presented. A preliminary gas spectroscopy experiment performed with this laser is also shown.     

Tunable diode laser spectroscopy with optimum wavelength scanning

In this paper, an improved signal processing method is given, aiming at a sensitivity improvement of the tunable diode laser spectroscopy based gas concentration measurement. The gas absorption spectrum is probed with an optimum wavelength scanning function which enables a more efficient curve fit than for traditional linear wavelength scanning. The wavelength scanning function is determined to be optimum, in the sense that the variance of the estimated concentration noise is minimized. This optimum scanning function depends on the signal model used in curve fitting. Several models including interfering gas spectra and etalon fringes are examined. Compared to the gas absorption spectrum recorded by ramping the wavelength linearly, the optimum spectrum waveforms have a cascade structure, which means that the optimum scanning preferably samples important points of the spectrum. The new method theoretically enables a factor of ～2 improvement on detection sensitivity of the estimated concentration. Furthermore, direct spectroscopy is superior to second harmonic detection, because the concentration noise can be an additional factor of ～2 lower.     

Preparation and characterization of microporous fibers for sample preparation and LC‐MS determination of drugs

The aim of this study was the preparation of polypyrrole (PPy) fibers for solid phase microextraction (SPME). PPy coatings were obtained during the electrochemical polymerization process. The utility of various metal wires (Fe, Cu, Ag, Cu/Ag, kanthal and medical stainless steel) as a support for polymers was compared. Various experimental conditions of the synthesis process such as scan rate, voltage limits and number of scans and deposition time were applied. The average polymer thickness was in the range of 7–125 μm and its weight was in the scope of 0.65–5.6 mg. Different techniques, mainly elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, microscopy, and chromatography were performed for the characterization of obtained fibers with microporous structure. The extraction efficiency of cardiovascular drugs (metoprolol, propranolol, oxprenolol, propafenone and mexiletine) by means of fibers was tested. The concentration of mentioned compounds in standard solution was in the span of 10–150 ng/mL. LC‐MS was employed for determination of drugs in desorption solution. LODs varied from 0.013 to 1.51 ng/mL for metoprolol and mexiletine respectively. The repeatability of extraction was obtained with the RSD values lower than 10%.