Self‐Assembled Binary Mixtures of Partially Etched Nanowires

Arrays of anisotropic particles are sought after for applications in optics, electronics, and energy. Structures assembled from multiple micro‐ or nanoparticles could incorporate the distinct properties of each component to achieve functions not possible from single‐population assemblies. In mixed‐particle populations, the assembly forces may differ between the particle types, which will in turn influence the final assembled structures. Here, binary particle mixtures are studied and compared to assemblies formed from each of the component particles alone. The particles are partially etched nanowires (PENs, ≈300 nm diameter, and 3–8 μm overall length), which are formed by the silica coating and subsequent etching of striped metal nanowires, such that what remains are silica nanotubes containing segments of metal core (Au, Pt, Rh, or Pt/Au) with controllable location and number, spaced by “empty” regions that fill with water. Binary mixtures of PENs with different core metals and segment patterns are examined here to explore how the different core segment material, length, position, and number affects overall self‐assembly behavior.     

Measurement of in vivo multi-component T2 relaxation times for brain tissue using multi-slice T2 prep at 1.5 and 3 T

The objective of this study was to implement a clinically relevant multi-slice multi-echo imaging sequence in order to quantify multi-component T2 relaxation times for normal volunteers at both 1.5 and 3 T. Multi-echo data were fitted using a nonnegative least square algorithm. Twelve echo data with nonlinear echo sampling were acquired using a receive-only eight-channel phased array coil and volume head coil for phantoms and normal volunteers, and compared to 32-echo data with linear echo sampling. It was observed that the performance of the 180 degrees refocusing trains was more spatially uniform for the receive-only eight-channel phased array coil than for the head coil, particularly at 3 T. The phantom study showed that the estimated T2 relaxation times were accurate and reproducible for both single- and multi-slice acquisition from a commercial phantom with known T2 relaxation times. Short T2 components (T2 <50 ms) were mainly observed within the white matter for normal volunteers, and the fraction of short T2 water components (i.e., myelin water) was 7-12% of total water. It was observed that the calculated myelin water fraction map from the nonlinearly sampled 12-echo data was comparable with that from the linearly sampled 32-echo data. Quantification of T2 relaxation times from multi-slice images was accomplished with a clinically acceptable scan times (16 min) for normal volunteers by using a nonselective T2 prep imaging sequence. The use of the eight-channel head coil involved more accurate quantification of T2 relaxation times particularly when the number of echoes was limited.     

The Two-Body Interaction with a Circle in Time

We complete our previous^{(1, 2)} demonstration that there is a family of new solutions to the photon and Dirac equations using spatial and temporal circles and four-vector behaviour of the Dirac bispinor. We analyse one solution for a bound state, which is equivalent to the attractive two-body interaction between a charged point particle and a second, which remains at rest. We show this yields energy and angular momentum eigenvalues that are identical to those found by the usual method of solving of the Dirac equation,⁽⁴⁾ including fine structure. We complete our previous derivation⁽²⁾ of QED from a set of rules for the two-body interaction and generalise these. We show that QED may be decomposed into a two-body interaction at every point in spacetime.     

Continuous-wave Yb-doped Sc2SiO5 thin-disk laser

We present in this Letter experimental results of a Yb:Sc(2)SiO(5) (Yb:SSO) thin-disk laser. To our knowledge, this is the first lasing demonstration of this crystal in thin-disk configuration reported on to date. Preliminary tests regarding the characterization and the laser operation are presented. Two different resonator configurations, a simple linear multimode cavity, and a fundamental-mode folded resonator providing a double pass in the laser crystal were set up. The gain and the small signal gain of the available Yb:SSO sample were calculated using the experimental results of the multimode resonator. The operation in a fundamental-mode resonator with the double pass in the laser crystal led to 9.4 W of output power with an optical efficiency of 25.4%.     

Experimental investigation into the convective heat transfer and system-level effects of Al2O3-propanol nanofluid

It has been speculated that the application of nanofluids in real systems could lead to smaller, more compact heat exchangers and reductions in material cost. However, few studies have been conducted which have carefully measured the thermo-physical properties and thermal performance of these fluids as well as examine the system-level effects of using these fluids in traditional cooling systems. In this study, dilute suspensions of 10 nm aluminum oxide nanoparticles in propanol (0.5, 1, and 3 wt%) were investigated. Changes in density, specific heat, and thermal conductivity with particle concentration were measured and found to be linear, whereas changes in viscosity were nonlinear and increased sharply with particle loading. Nanofluid heat transfer performance data were generally commensurate with that measured for the baseline. For the 1 wt% concentration, a small but significant enhancement in the heat transfer coefficient was recorded for 1800 < Re < 2800, which is attributed to an earlier transition to turbulent flow. In the case of high particle loading (i.e. 3 wt%), the thermal performance was observed to deteriorate with respect to the baseline case. Discoloration of the fluid was also observed after being cycled at high flow rates and increased temperature.     

MALDI-MS of drugs: Profiling,imaging, and steps towards quantitative analysis

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is a soft ionization technique which can be used in mass spectrometry to produce ions from biomolecules without inducing the fragmentation associated with traditional methods of ionization. When used with small molecules, the lack of fragmentation allows identification of specific molecules against a background of alternative signals; thus, for example, the presence of drug molecules and metabolites can be distinguished from a range of alternative biomolecules present within a tissue sample. Using highly collimated lasers in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) allows imaging of a tissue sample whereby the laser is rastered across the sample and individual mass spectra are collected in a serial manner. Thus, the distribution of the molecules within the tissue sample can be presented in the form of a 2D image. While the detection of specific drug molecules and metabolites within biological samples has its uses, quantification of those same molecules would be of greater benefit in a clinical setting. However, accurate quantification presents additional challenges. We present an overview of the MALDI-MS technique followed by recent progress in profiling drugs and their metabolites through imaging drug distributions within tissues and finish with recent developments in the quantification of drugs in tissues by MALDI-MSI.     

Molality as a unit of measure for expressing 1H MRS brain metabolite concentrations in vivo

Absolute concentrations of cerebral metabolite in in vivo 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies (1H-MRS) are widely reported in molar units as moles per liter of tissue, or in molal units as moles per kilogram of tissue. Such measurements require external referencing or assumptions as to local water content. To reduce the scan time, avoid assumptions that may be invalid under specific pathologies, and provide a universally accessible referencing procedure, we suggest that metabolite concentrations from 1H-MRS measurements in vivo be reported in molal units as moles per kilogram of tissue water. Using internal water referencing, a two-compartment water model, a simulated brain spectrum for peak identification, and a spectroscopic bi-exponential spin-spin relaxation segmentation technique, we measured the absolute concentrations for the four common 1H brain metabolites: choline (Cho), myo-inositol (mIno), phosphocreatine + creatine (Cr), and N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), in the hippocampal region (n = 26) and along the Sylvian fissure (n = 61) of 35 healthy adults. A stimulated echo localization method (20 ms echo time, 10 ms mixing time, 4 s repetition time) yielded metabolite concentrations, uncorrected for metabolite relaxation or contributions from macromolecule resonances, that were expectantly higher than with molar literature values. Along the Sylvian fissure the average concentrations (coefficient of variation (CV)) in mmoles/kg of tissue water were 17.6 (12%) for NAA, 14.2 (9%) for Cr, 3.6 (13%) for Cho, and 13.2 (15%) for mIno. Respective values for the hippocampal region were 15.7 (20%), 14.7 (16%), 4.6 (19%), and 17.7 (26%). The concentrations of the two regions were significantly different (p 相似文献   

A novel approach to quantitative LC-MS/MS: therapeutic drug monitoring of clozapine and norclozapine using isotopic internal calibration

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) requires timely results in order to be clinically helpful. Such assays, when carried out using mass spectrometry-based methods, typically involve a batched sample approach with multipoint calibration. Isotopic internal calibration offers the possibility of open-access mass spectrometric analysis with consequent shortening of turnaround times. We measured plasma clozapine and N-desmethylclozapine (norclozapine) concentrations in (1) external quality assessment (EQA) samples (N?=?22) and (2) patient samples (N?=?100) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with isotopic internal calibration (ICAL-LC-MS/MS). Analyte concentrations were calculated from graphs of the response of three internal calibrators (clozapine-D₄, norclozapine-D₈, and clozapine-D₈) against concentration. Precision (% RSD) and accuracy (% nominal concentrations) for the ICAL-LC-MS/MS method were <5 % and 104–112 %, respectively for both analytes. There was excellent agreement with consensus mean and with ‘spiked’ values on analysis of the EQA samples (R ²?=?0.98 and 0.97, respectively, inclusive of clozapine and norclozapine results). In the patient samples, comparison against traditionally calibrated HPLC-UV and LC-MS/MS methods showed excellent agreement (R ²?=?0.97 or better) with small albeit significant mean differences (<0.041 and <0.042 mg/L for clozapine and norclozapine, respectively). These differences probably reflect discrepancies in the in-house preparation of calibrators and/or interference in the UV method. Internal calibration offers a novel and attractive alternative to traditionally calibrated batch analysis in analytical toxicology. The method described has been validated for use in the high-throughput TDM of clozapine and norclozapine, and allows for (1) same-day reporting of results and (2) significant cost savings.

Biomimetic Synthesis of Materials for Technology

In a world with ever decreasing natural reserves, researchers are striving to find sustainable methods of producing components for technology. Bioinspired, biokleptic and biomimetic materials can be used to form a wide range of technologically relevant materials under environmentally friendly conditions. Here we investigate a range of biotemplated and bioinspired materials that can be used to develop components for devices, such as optics, photonics, photovoltaics, circuits and data storage.     

Characterisation of colloidal drug delivery systems from the naked eye to Cryo-FESEM

Poly(ethylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles prepared by interfacial polymerisation on the basis of microemulsions were prepared in this study and both colloidal systems, nanoparticles and microemulsions, were analysed by visual observation and several microscopic techniques. Phase boundaries for the microemulsions of the two pseudoternary systems ethyloleate, polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan mono-oleate/sorbitan monolaurate and water with and without butanol as a cosurfactant were determined by visual observation of the samples. Microemulsions containing liquid crystals were determined by polarisation light microscopy. Using freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy and Cryo-field emission scanning electron microscopy the type of microemulsion (w/o droplet, bicontinuous, solution) was characterised. Nanoparticles prepared from the different types of microemulsion were additionally observed by conventional scanning electron microscopy. The size of the nanoparticles obtained from electron microscopy was in good agreement with particle sizing techniques (photon correlation spectroscopy) from earlier studies and no morphological differences could be observed in particles prepared from the different types of microemulsions. Cryo-field emission scanning electron microscopy proved to be a most valuable technique in the visualisation of the colloidal systems as samples could be observed close to their natural state.