Chip-based nLC-TOF-MS is a highly stable technology for large-scale high-throughput analyses

Many studies focused on the discovery of novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of disease states are facilitated by mass spectrometry-based technology. HPLC coupled to mass spectrometry is widely used; miniaturization of this technique using nano-liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) usually results in better sensitivity, but is associated with limited repeatability. The recent introduction of chip-based technology has significantly improved the stability of nano-LC-MS, but no substantial studies to verify this have been performed. To evaluate the temporal repeatability of chip-based nano-LC-MS analyses, N-glycans released from a serum sample were repeatedly analyzed using nLC-PGC-chip-TOF-MS on three non-consecutive days. With an average inter-day coefficient of variation of 4 %, determined on log₁₀-transformed integrals, the repeatability of the system is very high. Overall, chip-based nano-LC-MS appears to be a highly stable technology, which is suitable for the profiling of large numbers of clinical samples for biomarker discovery.     

Analysis of additives in polymers by thin-layer chromatography coupled with Fourier transform-infrared microscopy

A new, fast and convenient method based on coupled thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) microscopy is developed to separate, detect and identify the additives in polymers. After the TLC development, the analytes were transferred on to a barium fluoride (BaF₂) salt plate via a special capillary technique and analysed by FT-IR microscopy. The additives used for stabilization of polypropylene and the plasticisers used for poly(vinyl chloride) were analysed as examples to illustrate this technique. The overall time taken for the experiment including transferring three marked spots and then identifying them was about 20 min. An amount as small as 0.5 μg can be easily detected and identified. It was a very convenient and reliable method to separate and evaluate complex additives for polymers without the interference from TLC adsorbent, because of a special transferring and identifying method, which is suitable to FT-IR microscopy.     

Comonomer Distribution in Polyethylenes Analysed by DSC After Thermal Fractionation

Ethylene copolymers exhibit a broad range of comonomer distributions. Thermal fractionation was performed on different grades of copolymers in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Subsequent melting scans of fractionated polyethylenes provided a series of endothermic peaks each corresponding to a particular branch density. The DSC melting peak temperature and the area under each fraction were used to determine the branch density for each melting peak in the thermal fractionated polyethylenes. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) showed no branches whereas linear low-density polyethylenes (LLDPE) exhibited a broad range of comonomer distributions. The distributions depended on the catalyst and comonomer type and whether the polymerisation was performed in the liquid or gas phase. The DSC curves contrast the very broad range of branching in Ziegler—Natta polymers, particularly those formed in the liquid phase, with those formed by single-site catalysts. The metallocene or single-site catalysed polymers showed, as expected, a narrower distribution of branching, but broader than sometimes described. The ultra low-density polyethylenes (ULDPE) can be regarded as partially melted at room temperature thus fractionation of ULDPE should continue to sub-ambient temperatures. The thermal fractionation is shown to be useful for determining the crystallisation behaviour of polyethylene blends.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

One-pot synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles from carboxylic acid esters and amidoximes using potassium carbonate

A convenient one-pot synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles is described. The condensation of carboxylic acid esters and amidoximes in the presence of potassium carbonate was employed to synthesize a variety of mono-, bis- and tris-oxadiazoles in moderate to excellent yields.     

Nickel-catalyzed cyclizations and couplings with vinylzirconium reagents

[reaction: see text] 1,3-Dienes were prepared by a variety of nickel-catalyzed couplings and cyclization processes. Intermolecular or partially intramolecular couplings of alkynes, vinylzirconium reagents, and either aldehydes or enones efficiently proceeded to generate a broad range of functionalized dienes.     

The optical spectrum of the doubly charged molecular nitrogen ion: Rotational analysis of the (0-0) and (1-1) bands of the D1Σu+-X1Σg+ transition of N22+: Comparison of observations with Ab-initio calculation results

Emission spectra obtained in the 1550–1650 Å region with a 10-m vuv spectrograph are conclusively assigned to the N₂²⁺ ion. The 1589-Å band, previously observed by Carroll, and a new band of the same system, have been rotationally analyzed. Ab-initio calculations have been performed which support the assignment of these two bands to the D¹Σ_u⁺-X¹Σ_g⁺ system. The calculations also explain the observed breaking-off points in the branch structure as well as weakening and broadening of the other expected bands. These phenomena arise from electron configuration changes and perturbation effects in the ground state.     

ANALYSIS OF BRANCHING DISTRIBUTION IN POLYETHYLENES BY DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY

Short chain branching has been characterized using thermal fractionation, a stepwise isothermal crystallizationtechnique, followed by a melting analysis scan using differential scanning calorimetry. Short chain branching distributionwas also characterized by a continuous slow cooling crystallization, followed by a melting analysis scan. Four differentpolyethylenes were studied: Ziegler-Natta gas phase, Ziegler-Natta solution, metallocene, constrained-geometry single sitecatalyzed polyethylenes. The branching distribution was calculated from a calibration of branch content with meltingtemperature. The lamellar thickness was calculated based on the thermodynamic melting temperature of each polyethyleneand the surface free energy of the crystal face. The branching distribution and lamellar thickness distribution were used tocalculate weight average branch content, mean lamellar thickness, and a branch dispersity index. The results for the branchcontent were in good agreement with the known comonomer content of the polyethylenes. A limitation was that high branchcontent polyethylenes did not reach their potential crystallization at ambient temperatures. Cooling to sub-ambient wasnecessary to equilibrate the crystallization, but melting temperature versus branch content was not applicable after cooling tobelow ambient because the calibration data were not performed in this way.     

Diverging pathways to topologically complex polycyclic bis-acetals and their ring system interchange

Carbinol-tethered octalin-diols (1), which differ only by the C11 configuration at the angular position, were transformed selectively to three types of structurally unrelated original scaffolds such as unsymmetrical octahydroanthracenes (5/7), furofuranes (6), or spirans (8/9) via a two-step protocol. The 11S* configuration ensures a C13-C4 Friedel-Crafts type C-C bonding (through an unprecedented oxidative cleavage-triggered domino process) while the 11R* configuration allows for a C13-C2 Marson-type Friedel-Crafts C-C bonding (through a nucleophilic acetal opening).     

Digital microfluidics using soft lithography

Although microfluidic chips have demonstrated basic functionality for single applications, performing varied and complex experiments on a single device is still technically challenging. While many groups have implemented control software to drive the pumps, valves, and electrodes used to manipulate fluids in microfluidic devices, a new level of programmability is needed for end users to orchestrate their own unique experiments on a given device. This paper presents an approach for programmable and scalable control of discrete fluid samples in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic system using multiphase flows. An immiscible fluid phase is utilized to separate aqueous samples from one another, and a novel "microfluidic latch" is used to precisely align a sample after it has been transported a long distance through the flow channels. To demonstrate the scalability of the approach, this paper introduces a "general-purpose" microfluidic chip containing a rotary mixer and addressable storage cells. The system is general purpose in that all operations on the chip operate in terms of unit-sized aqueous samples; using the underlying mechanisms for sample transport and storage, additional sensors and actuators can be integrated in a scalable manner. A novel high-level software library allows users to specify experiments in terms of variables (i.e., fluids) and operations (i.e., mixes) without the need for detailed knowledge about the underlying device architecture. This research represents a first step to provide a programmable interface to the microfluidic realm, with the aim of enabling a new level of scalability and flexibility for lab-on-a-chip experiments.