Structure and energy studies of β-diketonates. XIII. Molecular structure of gadolinium tris-hexafluoroacetylacetonate Gd(C5O2HF6)3

In a mass spectrometric study, it was found that the saturated vapor over gadolinium tris-hexafluoroacetylacetonate Gd(C₅O₂HF₆)₃ contains molecular forms with a mass exceeding the mass of the dimer. The vapor overheated to 250–300°C contains only the monomer form. Simultaneous electron diffraction and mass spectrometric experiment aimed at investigating the structure of the Gd(hfa)₃ monomer molecule was carried out at 284(5)°C. The Gd(hfa)₃ molecule was found to have the symmetry of the equilibrium D ₃ configuration. The basic structural parameters are r _h1(Gd-O) = 2.291(10) Å, r _h1(O-C) = 1.257(10) Å, r _h1(C-C_r) = 1.404(6) Å, r _h1(C_F-F)_av = 1.341(3) Å, ∠OGdO = 72.8(0.4)°. The GdO₆ coordination polyhedron has the structure of a distorted antiprism. The rotation angle of the O-O-O trigonal faces relative to their position in a regular prism is 18.7(0.9)°. Quantum chemical calculations (HF/SBK, 6-31G*) generally reproduce the experimental structure, but the Gd-O internuclear distance is exaggerated by 0.04 Å.     

Dynamic study of photosensitized one-electron oxidation of polyG by menadione

Quinones including menadione are ubiquitous in nature. They play important roles in aerobic respira- tion and photosynthesis[1,2]. In addition, exogenous quinones are used as antibiotics and anticancer drugs. Their function is closely related to their red…     

Gold nanoparticle-enhanced surface plasmon resonance measurement with a highly sensitive quantification for human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2

Two different methods for the quantification of human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) were developed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and gold nanoparticles for signal enhancement. The first method, a competitive assay, used TIMP-2 immobilized to the sensor surface and the inactive form of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (proMMP-2) (EC 3.4.24.24) adsorbed to gold nanoparticles. The sensor signals resulting from the interaction of MMP-2-gold nanoparticles with immobilized TIMP-2 were inversely proportional to the amounts of TIMP-2 of the sample. The measuring range for TIMP-2 was about 15–180 pM. The second method, a one-step sandwich assay, used proMMP-2 immobilized to the sensor surface and an anti-TIMP-2 monoclonal antibody coupled to gold nanoparticles. The lower detection limit of this assay format was 0.5 pM of TIMP-2. The binding signals were highly reproducible up to 100 pM of the inhibitor. The improvements obtained in TIMP-2 quantification over already existing tests could contribute to a better understanding and diagnosis of diseases like cancer.     

Atomic structure of InAs quantum dots on GaAs

In recent years, the self-assembled growth of semiconductor nanostructures, that show quantum size effects, has been of considerable interest. Laser devices operating with self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) embedded in GaAs have been demonstrated. Here, we report on the InAs/GaAs system and raise the question of how the shape of the QDs changes with the orientation of the GaAs substrate. The growth of the InAs QDs is understood in terms of the Stranski–Krastanow growth mode. For modeling the growth process, the shape and atomic structure of the QDs have to be known. This is a difficult task for such embedded entities.

In our approach, InAs is grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs until self-assembled QDs are formed. At this point the growth is interrupted and atomically resolved scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images are acquired. We used preparation parameters known from the numerous publications on InAs/GaAs. In order to learn more about the self-assemblage process we studied QD formation on different GaAs(0 0 1), (1 1 3)A, and ( )B substrates. From the atomically resolved STM images we could determine the shape of the QDs. The quantum “dots” are generally rather flat entities better characterized as “lenses”. In order to achieve this flatness, the QDs are terminated by high-index bounding facets on low-index substrates and vice versa. Our results will be summarized in comparison with the existing literature.     

Optimization of culture parameters for production of podophyllotoxin in suspension culture of Podophyllum hexandrum

The root explants of the germinated seedlings of Podophyllum hexandrum were grown in MS medium supplemented with indole acetic acid (IAA) (2 mg/L) and activated charcoal (0.5%), and healthy callus culture was obtained after incubation for 3 wk at 20°C. The cultivation of plant cells in shake flask was associated with problems such as clumping of cells and browning of media, which were solved by the addition of pectinase and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The effect of major media components and carbon source was studied on the growth and podophyllotoxin production in suspension culture. It was found that glucose was a better carbon source than sucrose and that NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ⁻ ratio (total nitrogen concentration of 60 mM) and PO₄ ³⁻ did not have much effect on the growth and product formation. The relative effect of culture parameters (inoculum level, pH, IAA, glucose, NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ⁻ ratio, and PO₄ ³⁻) on the overall growth and product response of the plant cell suspension culture was further investigated by Plackett-Burman design. This indicated that inoculum level, glucose, IAA, and pH had significant effects on growth and production of podophyllotoxin. To identify the exact optimum concentrations of these parameters on culture growth and podophyllotoxin production, central composite design experiments were formulated. The overall response equations with respect to growth and podophyllotoxin production as a function of these culture parameters were developed and used to determine the optimum concentrations of these parameters, which were pH 6.0, 1.25 mg/L of IAA, 72 g/L of glucose, and inoculum level of 8 g/L.     

PREPARATION OF POLY（METHYL METHACRYLATE）/LAYERED DOUBLE HYDROXIDES NANOCOMPOSITES via in situ SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION

An exfoliated layered double hydroxides/poly(methyl methacrylate)(LDHs/PMMA)nanocomposite was prepared by in situ solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate(MMA)in the presence of 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate intercalated LDHs(MgAl-VBS LDHs).MgAl-VBS LDHs was prepared by the ion exchange method,and the structure and composition of the MgA1-VBS LDHs were determined by X-ray diffraction(XRD),infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis.XRD and transmission electron microscopy(TEM)were employed to examine the structure of LDHs/PMMA nanocomposite.It was indicated that the LDHs layers were well exfoliated and dispersed in the PMMA matrix.The grafting of PMMA onto LDHs was confirmed by the extraction result and the weight fraction of grafted PMMA increased as the weight fraction of LDHs in the nanocomposites increased.     

Reaction paths of some open-shell reactive intermediates

The intermolecular interaction energy for reacting systems in singlet, triplet and doublet states was partitioned by the perturbation expansion method into the chemically meaningful five interaction terms: the Coulomb, exchange-repulsion, induction, dispersion, and charge-transfer energies. In the local ZDO approximation, these energy terms were evaluated for the dimerization of methylenes (^1,3CH₂), the additions of carbenes (^1,3CH₂ and^1,3CF₂) as well as amino radicals (²NH₂ and²NF₂) toward ethylene, and the hydrogen abstractions by methylenes (^1,3CH₂), nitrene (³NH), and hydroxyl radical (²OH) from methane. It has been found that the reaction path is much influenced by the spinmultiplicity, and that the charge-transfer and exchange-repulsion terms play a dominant role in determining the course of reactions.     

Sampling and sample preparation

Summary Problems, techniques and means of water sampling are reviewed. Applicability and performance are discussed with regard to individual and composite samples, and also to automatic sampling. Storage and preservation of samples are dealt with.

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Probenahme und Behandlung von ProbenWasser

Zusammenfassung Probleme, Verfahren und Hilfsmittel bei der Probenahme von Wasser werden behandelt. Ausführung und Anwendbarkeit von Einzel und Mischproben sowie der automatischen Probenahme werden diskutiert, ebenso die Aufbewahrung und Konservierung von Proben.

Start of discussion held at the 6th Annual Symposium on Recent Advances in the Analytical Chemistry of Pollutants, April 21–23, 1976; Vienna, Austria.     

Formation of CaF and AlF in the arc plasma and spectrochemical determination of Ca and Al

Summary The influence of chemical reactions in d.c. arc plasma on the atomic emission determination of traces has been investigated. The effect of added NH₄F on the intensity of spectral lines of Ca and Al was examined. A decrease of the spectral line intensities of Ca and Al in the presence of NH₄F occurred, if the sample had not been mixed in the electrode with NH₄F. The AlF band spectrum, transition A ¹ X ¹ , was observed in absorption of the arc radiation. Further, the axial intensity distribution of Ca, Al, Ga and Ag spectral lines and of the head of the green system of CaF band, has been measured. The depressive effect of fluorine on spectral line intensities of Ca, Al, Ga and Ag has to be connected with the processes in plasma. It is suggested that the formation of fluoride radicals could take part in this effect.

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Bildung von CaF und AlF im Bogenplasma und spektrochemische Bestimmung von Ca und Al

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß von chemischen Reaktionen im Lichtbogenplasma auf die spektrochemische Spurenanalyse wurde erörtert. Die Wirkung einer Zugabe von Ammoniumfluorid auf die Intensitäten der Spektrallinien des Calciums und Aluminiums wurde untersucht. Wenn die Probe nicht in der Elektrode mit NH₄F gemischt war, wurde eine Intensitätserniedrigung von Ca- und Al-Spektrallinien in Anwesenheit von NH₄F beobachtet. Das AlF-Bandenspektrum, Übergang A ¹ X ¹ , wurde in Absorption der Bogenstrahlung beobachtet. Die Axialverteilung der Linienintensitäten von Ca, Al, Ga und Ag wie auch der Intensität der Kante des grünen Systems der CaF-Banden wurde untersucht. Die depressive Wirkung des Fluors auf die Linienintensitäten von Ca, Al, Ga und Ag sollte mit den Vorgängen im Plasma in Zusammenhang gebracht werden. Es kann vorausgesetzt werden, daß die Bildung der Fluoridradikale bei diesem Effekt eine Rolle spielt.

     

Microwave and RF surface wave sustained discharges as plasma sources for plasma chemistry and plasma processing

The surface wave produced plasma belongs to a class of RF and microwave induced plasmas. It results from the propagation of an electromagnetic wave which uses the plasma column it sustains and the plasma tube as its sole propagating media. This type of plasma offers several advantages compared to the positive column plasma of dc discharges or to other RF and microwave produced plasmas. Surface wave plasmas require no internal electrodes, and they can be applied over an extremely broad range of wave frequencies (27 MHz to 10 GHz demonstrated) and gas pressures (about 10^–4 Torr to a few times the atmospheric pressures). Using the surface wave plasma technique, a large variety of plasma column diameters have been created (0.5–150 mm demonstrated) and no limitation on plasma column length (column up to 6 m long demonstrated) has been found. The surface wave produced plasma is used in elemental analysis and to sustain emission in lasing media. This article is intended as a guide for potential users of surface wave plasmas in the field of plasma processing and plasma chemistry.