Measurement of storage time, estimation of ion number and study of absorption line profile in a Paul trap

Europium (Eu⁺) ions were confined in a Paul trap and detected by non-destructive method. Storage time of Eu⁺ ions achieved in vacuum was improved by orders of magnitude employing buffer gas cooling. The experimentally detected signal was fitted to the ion response signal and the total number of ions trapped was estimated. It is found that the peak signal amplitude as well as the product of FWHM and the peak signal amplitude is proportional to the total number of trapped ions. The trapped ion secular frequency was swept at different rates and its effect on the absorption line profile was studied both experimentally and theoretically.     

Correction: Dermatan sulfate in tunicate phylogeny: Order-specific sulfation pattern and the effect of [→4IdoA(2-Sulfate)β-1→3GalNAc(4-Sulfate)β-1→] motifs in dermatan sulfate on heparin cofactor II activity

After the publication of the work entitled "Dermatan sulfate in tunicate phylogeny: Order-specific sulfation pattern and the effect of [→4IdoA(2-Sulfate)β-1→3GalNAc(4-Sulfate)β-1→] motifs in dermatan sulfate on heparin cofactor II activity", by Kozlowski et al., BMC Biochemistry 2011, 12:29, we found that the legends to Figures 2 to 5 contain serious mistakes that compromise the comprehension of the work. This correction article contains the correct text of the legends to Figures 2 to 5.     

Exploring structural feature of aldose-reductase inhibition by 5-[[2-(omega-carboxyalkoxy)aryl]methylene]-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidine derivatives employing Fujita-Ban and Hansch approach

Designing of a highly selective, potent and safe inhibitor of aldose reductase (ALR) capable of potentially blocking the excess glucose flux through the polyol pathway that prevails under diabetic condition has been a long standing challenge. In our study, we did quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis, based on Fujita-Ban and classical Hansch approach, on 5-[[2-(omega-carboxyalkoxy)aryl]methylene]-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidine derivatives. Study gave structural insight into the binding mode of the molecules to the aldose reductase enzyme. The Fujita-Ban approach revealed that benzylidene thiazolidine nucleus is more potent as compare to naphthyl-methylene thiazolidine analogs. The bulkierness of naphthyl-methylene might be inquisitive with receptor. Hansch approach suggested that electron-withdrawing groups are conducive to aldose reductase inhibitory activity.     

Superfine Expanded Graphite with Large Capacity for Lithium Storage

A superfine expanded graphite (s‐EG) fiber material was investigated as an anode material for lithium‐based batteries. The fibers were prepared by decomposition of dicarbon monofluoride‐intercalated graphite. The high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images showed the fiber thickness in range of 2–3 nm with several microns in length. Lithium storage capacity in this material was measured in lithium half cells. High lithium storage capacity of about 1000 mAh · g^–1 at a rate of C/10, corresponding to Li₃C₆ composition was obtained. The material showed fairly good rate capability exhibiting lithium storage capabilities even at 60C. As a effect of ball milling, the s‐EG showed crystallographic ordering in the sample with reduced the lithium storage capacity corresponding to composition of LiC₆. A simple mathematical relation to account for the excess lithium storage capacity in this material is put forward.     

New high-energy luminescence bands from Co2+ in ZnSe

Three sharp absorption features in the energy range 2.36–2.55 eV have been detected in the transmission spectrum of Co-diffused ZnSe, and a number of luminescence transitions originating from the lowest of these states at 2.361 eV have been observed. Photoluminescence excitation spectra prove that these are high energy excited states of the Co²⁺_Zn impurity, a conclusion confirmed by comparison of measured and predicted luminescence energies. This represents the first identification of luminescence branching from a higher excited state of a transition metal ion in any semiconductor. The sharp, weakly phonon-coupled transitions involve either intra-impurity excitation or transitions from the impurity to localised states split off from a minimum in the conduction band. The implications of these observations for the mechanism of host-impurity energy transfer and for the nature of the excited state wavefunctions are discussed.