Sensitization of Tb3+ luminescence with Ce3+ in LaOBr: Tb3+, Ce3+

Luminescence emission and uv-excitation properties of LaOBr: Tb³⁺, LaOBr: Ce³⁺, and LaOBr: Tb³⁺, Ce³⁺ phosphors were studied. The visible emission spectra of La_0.995Tb_0.005OBr consists of⁵D_3,4 →⁷F_3–6 transitions in the wavelength range of 410–630 nm. The excitation of the Tb³⁺ ion gives a broad 4f → 5d transition band at 254 nm and weaker4f → 4f transition lines above 300 nm. The uv-excitation and emission of La_0.995Ce_0.005OBr at 290, 315, 355 (excitation), and 440 nm (emission) originate from transitions between the 4f-ground state and the four crystal field components of the5d²D excited state. The sensitization of Tb³⁺ luminescence in LaOBr with Ce³⁺ at varying concentrations is described and discussed. With increasing Ce³⁺ concentration the ⁵D₃ →⁷F transitions of Tb³⁺ quench totally and the⁵D₄ →⁷F transitions begin to quench gradually. The excitation spectrum of the⁵D₄ →⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺ consists of four bands due to Tb³⁺ and Ce³⁺, of which the three Ce³⁺ bands increase in intensity and the Tb³⁺ band decreases as the Ce³⁺ concentration is increased.     

Characterisation of organic compounds in aerosol particles from a Finnish forest by on-line coupled supercritical fluid extraction–liquid chromatography–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

During the European Union project Quantification of Aerosol Nucleation in the European Boundary Layer (QUEST), which began in spring 2003, atmospheric aerosol particles were collected in a Finnish Scots pine forest using a high-volume sampler. The organic compounds in the filter samples were then analysed by on-line coupled supercritical fluid extraction–liquid chromatography–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SFE–LC–GC–MS). The sample was first extracted by SFE. During LC the extracts were fractionated into three fractions according to polarity. The final separation was carried out by GC–MS. A fraction volume as high as 840 L was transferred to the GC, using the partial concurrent eluent evaporation technique. The same instrumentation, with an in-situ SFE derivatisation method, was used to analyse organic acids. Major compounds such as n-alkanes and PAH were analysed quantitatively. Their concentrations were lower than those usually observed in urban areas or in other forest areas in Europe. The wind direction was one of the most important factors affecting changes in the daily concentrations of these compounds. Scots pine needles were analysed with the same system to obtain reference data for identification of biogenic compounds in aerosol particles. Other organic compounds found in this study included hopanes, steranes, n-alkanals, n-alkan-2-ones, oxy-PAH, and alkyl-PAH; some biogenic products, including oxidation products of monoterpenes, were also identified.     

New Sn(IV) and Ti(IV) bis(trimethylsilyl)amides in d,l-lactide polymerization, SEM characterization of polymers

Ring-opening polymerization of d,l-lactide initiated with new chlorotris(bis(trimethylsilyl) amido) tin(IV), tetrakis(bis(trimethylsilyl)amido) tin(IV) and titanium(IV) was investigated. New complexes reveal practically quantitative conversion degrees and produced polymers with higher molecular weight with respect to reference alkoxo-species.The X-ray crystal structure of chlorotris(bis(trimethylsilyl)amido) tin (IV) was investigated. Axial enantiomerism of [SnCl{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃] molecules in solution was studied by high-field dynamic NMR, the value of Gibbs activation energy ΔG^‡ = 59.5 kJ/mol.Field emission SEM investigation of bulk polymer samples and thin films on conductive Al foil revealed a stratified fibrous textures in the bulk polymers, as well as nanoscaled topographical features due to coils and entanglements of individual macromolecules in thin films.     

Surface modification of thermoplastics by atomic layer deposition of Al2O3 and TiO2 thin films

Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ thin films were deposited by atomic layer deposition at 80-250 °C on various polymeric substrates such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and ethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). The films were studied with FESEM, EDX, XRD, contact angle measurements and adhesion tests. The film growth rates on the thermoplastics were close to the corresponding growth rates on Si substrates. The adhesion of the films was good on PEEK and poor on PTFE. All coated surfaces showed lower water contact angles than the uncoated thermoplastics. Furthermore, the water contact angles on all TiO₂-coated surfaces decreased upon UV illumination, most efficiently with crystalline TiO₂ coatings.     

Preparation of β-caryophyllene oxidation products and their determination in ambient aerosol samples

Oxidation of β-caryophyllene with ozone followed by reduction was carried out in dichloromethane. Reaction led to the formation of β-caryophyllene aldehyde (11%, purity 90.8%) and β-nocaryophyllone aldehyde (79%, purity 99%). Compounds were purified and separated by liquid–liquid extraction and flash chromatography. Identifications were achieved by electron-impact and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and precise structures were confirmed by one and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The prepared compounds were used in the analysis of ambient aerosol samples collected during spring 2003 at Hyytiälä, Finland. β-Nocaryophyllone aldehyde was positively identified and quantified in ambient aerosol samples for the first time. The amount of quantified β-nocaryophyllone aldehyde of aerosol origin was 17.4?±?1.0 ng m^?3 of sampled air. Comparison with previous findings led to the conclusion that oxidation products of β-caryophyllene participate in biogenic aerosol formation over boreal forest during late spring.     

Deep Membrane Proteome Profiling Reveals Overexpression of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) in High-Risk Human Paraganglioma and Pheochromocytoma,Suggesting New Theranostic Opportunity

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors arising from chromaffin cells of adrenal medulla or sympathetic or parasympathetic paraganglia, respectively. To identify new therapeutic targets, we performed a detailed membrane-focused proteomic analysis of five human paraganglioma (PGL) samples. Using the Pitchfork strategy, which combines specific enrichments of glycopeptides, hydrophobic transmembrane segments, and non-glycosylated extra-membrane peptides, we identified over 1800 integral membrane proteins (IMPs). We found 45 “tumor enriched” proteins, i.e., proteins identified in all five PGLs but not found in control chromaffin tissue. Among them, 18 IMPs were predicted to be localized on the cell surface, a preferred drug targeting site, including prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a well-established target for nuclear imaging and therapy of advanced prostate cancer. Using specific antibodies, we verified PSMA expression in 22 well-characterized human PPGL samples. Compared to control chromaffin tissue, PSMA was markedly overexpressed in high-risk PPGLs belonging to the established Cluster 1, which is characterized by worse clinical outcomes, pseudohypoxia, multiplicity, recurrence, and metastasis, specifically including SDHB, VHL, and EPAS1 mutations. Using immunohistochemistry, we localized PSMA expression to tumor vasculature. Our study provides the first direct evidence of PSMA overexpression in PPGLs which could translate to therapeutic and diagnostic applications of anti-PSMA radio-conjugates in high-risk PPGLs.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [1‐(η5‐9‐Fluorenyl)‐2‐(η5‐1‐indenyl)ethane]hafnium Dimethyl

The synthesis and characterization of the unsymmetric hafnium dialkyl [1‐(η⁵‐9‐fluorenyl)‐2‐(η⁵‐1‐indenyl)ethane]HfCl₂ ( 2 ) and corresponding dimethyl complex [1‐(η⁵‐9‐fluorenyl)‐2‐(η⁵‐1‐indenyl)ethane]Hf(CH₃)₂ ( 3 ) is described. The dialkyl hafnocene ( 3 ) crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/c (No. 14) with a = 9.458(8), b = 8.541(8), c = 23.733(11) Å, β = 93.16(5) deg., V = 1914(3) ų, Z = 4. Further on, complex 3 was activated with methylaluminiumoxane (MAO) and utilized as a catalyst in ethene polymerization.     

Fragmentation of protonated O,O-dimethyl O-aryl phosphorothionates in tandem mass spectral analysis

A study was carried out on the fragmentation of 12 protonated O,O-dimethyl O-aryl phosphorothionates by tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry. Some of the studied compounds are used in agriculture as pesticides. Energy-resolved and pressure-resolved experiments were performed on the [M + H]⁺ ions to investigate the dissociation behavior of the ions with various amounts of internal energy. On collisionally activated dissociation, the [M + H]⁺ ions decompose to yield the [M + H ? CH₃OH]⁺, (CH₃O)₂PS⁺ (m/z 125), and (CH₃O)₂PO⁺ (m/z 109) ions as major fragments. The ions [M + H ? CH₃OH]⁺ and (CH₃O)₂PS⁺ probably arise from the [M + H]⁺ ions of the O,O-dimethyl O-aryl phosphorothionates with the proton on the sulfur or on the oxygen of the phenoxy group. The origin of the hydroxy proton of the methanol fragment was in many cases, surprisingly, the phenyl group and not the reagent gas. This was confirmed by using deuterated isobutane, C₄D₁₀, as reagent gas in Cl. The fragment ions (CH₃O)₂PO⁺ and [ZPhS]⁺ are the results of thiono-thiolo rearrangement reaction. The precursor ion for the ion (CH₃O)₂PO⁺ arises from most compounds upon chemical ionization, whereas the precursor ion for the ion [ZPhS]⁺ arises only from a few compounds upon chemical ionization. The observed fragments imply that several sites carry the extra proton and that these sites get the proton usually upon ionization. The stability order and some characteristics of three protomers of O,O-dimethyl O-phenyl phosphorothionate were investigated by ab initio calculations at the RHF/3-21G* level of theory.     

Enabling Remote Testing: Embedded Test Controller and Mixed-signal Test Architecture

Remote testing requires embedded test infrastructure, consisting of communication, test control and test access. This article presents an embedded test solution for a low-frequency audio board. Supporting analog testing, the solution consists of a measurement and calculation method for passive component characterization, analog test bus solution and an embedded test controller for controlling embedded tests and providing test stimuli. Moreover, the solution, which supports the presented test plan, was compared to a test plan supporting traditional testing. It was found that the embedded test solution provided a 29% test coverage of the audio board components and substituted flying probe testing included in the traditional test plan. Besides such benefits as improved fault diagnostics and lower manufacturing costs, the paper also discusses the drawbacks of the presented solution, including reduced measurement accuracy. This paper also presents a correction to a previously presented passive component measurement and calculation method.     

Multicomb Polymeric Supramolecules and Their Self‐Organization: Combination of Coordination and Ionic Interactions

Several alkyl side chains are bonded to each polymeric repeat unit using both coordinated ligands and electrostatically bound counterions to directly control the interface curvature of the self‐organized structures. 2,6‐Bis(octylaminomethyl)pyridine is Zn‐coordinated to poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) with dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) counterions, leading to multicomb polymeric supramolecules, poly[(4VP)Zn(2,6‐bis(octylaminomethyl)pyridine)(DBS)₂]. Coordination is evidenced by infrared spectroscopy and visualized by quantum chemical calculations. The amorphous hexagonal self‐organized structures are characterized using X‐ray measurements.