Lifetime measurements in166Er

The lifetimes of five states in the ground band, from spin 6⁺ up to spin 14⁺, and of all even states in the gamma band up to spin 12⁺, have been measured in¹⁶⁶Er using the recoil distance method. The reduced electric quadrupole transition probabilities have been determined from the measured lifetimes using previously measured branching ratios, and the mixing between the ground band and theγ-band has been studied. The transitional electric quadrupole moments for the ground band and theγ-band have been deduced and are discussed.     

A simplified method for capillary embedment into microfluidic devices - exemplified by sol-gel-based preconcentration

We here describe an alternative method of embedding functionalized capillaries into microdevices fabricated in PDMS. The capillaries have square-shaped outer dimensions and fit into elastic PDMS channel networks of similar dimensions. By modifying the capillary off-chip, the technique makes it possible to integrate a new chip function without risking contamination of already existing chemically patterned areas because of new reagent solutions. Leak-free insertion of these capillaries has earlier been reported, where a thin layer of uncured PDMS bonded the capillary to the microchannel and the lid structure. In this new approach, oxygen plasma is used to bond the square capillary to the PDMS, eliminating the risk of clogging the microsystem with uncured prepolymer. The new embedding technique was exemplified and evaluated by inserting a square capillary piece containing monolithic sol-gel for sample preconcentration application. The assembled microdevice was run with mass spectrometric detection, showing that peptides were preconcentrated without leakage from either the sol-gel itself or around the inserted capillary. Repeated preconcentration runs showed migration times better than 3% for all peptides. We believe that the presented microchip assembling technique greatly simplifies the insertion of functionalized capillary pieces, e.g., an initial preconcentrator to a PDMS device containing other downstream modules.     

Evidence for a two-phonon octupole vibrational state in208Pb

Collective properties of^206,208Pb have been investigated with gamma-ray spectroscopy using nuclear and electromagnetic excitation by²⁰⁸Pb projectiles. From the measurement of particle-particle- and particle-particle- coincidences a new energy level in²⁰⁸Pb at 5.683 MeV was observed and the data suggest an interpretation as a 2-phonon octupole vibrational state with spin 4⁺ or 6⁺. For this state one finds the same dynamical deformation parameter ₃ as for the first-excited collective 3^– state. The results are compared to predictions of models which consider, in particular, the aspects of the quadrupole interaction and the interaction of the 2-particle pairing vibration with the 2-phonon octupole vibration. For the²⁰⁶Pb+²⁰⁸Pb system at 6.2 MeV/u the nuclear potential could be determined from the measured inelastic cross sections.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. P. Kienle on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Electrokinetic-driven microfluidic system in poly(dimethylsiloxane) for mass spectrometry detection integrating sample injection, capillary electrophoresis, and electrospray emitter on-chip

A novel microsystem device in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) for MS detection is presented. The microchip integrates sample injection, capillary electrophoretic separation, and electrospray emitter in a single substrate, and all modules are fabricated in the PDMS bulk material. The injection and separation flow is driven electrokinetically and the total amount of external equipment needed consists of a three-channel high-voltage power supply. The instant switching between sample injection and separation is performed through a series of low-cost relays, limiting the separation field strength to a maximum of 270 V/cm. We show that this set-up is sufficient to accomplish electrospray MS analysis and, to a moderate extent, microchip separation of standard peptides. A new method of instant in-channel oxidation makes it possible to overcome the problem of irreversibly bonded PDMS channels that have recovered their hydrophobic properties over time. The fast method turns the channel surfaces hydrophilic and less prone to nonspecific analyte adsorption, yielding better separation efficiencies and higher apparent peptide mobilities.     

Temperatures, pressures and stresses during laser shock processing

Mathematical models are developed to calculate the temperatures, pressures and stresses during laser shock processing for time-modulated (ramp-up, ramp-down and rectangular) laser pulses. Three different shock processing configurations are also considered: non-ablative exposure, ablative exposure and confined ablation with coating. The results for iron show that the plasma pressure reaches an average value of 9 GPa in direct ablation configuration and plays a dominant role for all three types of laser pulses. In the case of confined geometry, the plasma pressure reaches an average value of 20 GPa. All calculated pressures and stresses exceed the yield strength of the workpiece, indicating plastic deformation. It is also shown that pulses with short rise times yield higher plasma pressures.     

Collective structures and smooth band termination in109Sn

Six rotational bands up to energies E _x =24.7 MeV and spinsj ^π=(79/2^?) have been identified in¹⁰⁹Sn using the GAMMASPHEREγ-detector array. Four of the bands show smoothly decreasing dynamic moments of inertia at rotational frequencies?ω>0.6 MeV. The bands arise at medium spins from a coupling of a valence d_5/2, g_7/2 or h_11/2 neutron to the deformed 2p2h proton excitation of the Z=50 core¹⁰⁸Sn. At very high?ω these bands show the typical behaviour of smoothly terminating bands, i.e. a gradual alignment of the angular momenta of the valence particles and holes corresponding to a transition from high collectivity to noncollective states.     

Functionality and stability of heparin immobilized onto poly(dimethylsiloxane)

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) has become an attractive material when working in the field of microfluidics, mainly because of the rapid prototyping process it involves. The increased surface volume ratio in microchannels makes the interaction between sample and material surface highly important, evident when handling complex biological samples such as plasma or blood. This study demonstrates a new grade of non-covalent heparin surface that adds efficient anticoagulant property to the PDMS material. The surface modification is a simple and fast one-step process performed at neutral pH, optimal when working with closed microsystems. The heparin formed a uniform and functional coating on hydrophobic PDMS with comparatively high level of antithrombin-binding capacity. In addition, long-term studies revealed that the immobilized heparin was more or less stable in the microchannels over a time of three weeks. Recalcified plasma in contact with native PDMS showed complete coagulation after 1h, while no fibrin formation was detected in plasma incubated on heparin-coated PDMS within the same time. In conclusion, we see the heparin coating developed and evaluated in this study as a tool that greatly facilitates the use of PDMS in microfluidics dealing with plasma or blood samples.     

Bioactive heparin immobilized onto microfluidic channels in poly(dimethylsiloxane) results in hydrophilic surface properties

A new composition of heparin coating for microfluidic systems made out of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) was developed and evaluated. The coating that consists of a conditioning polyamine layer followed by two heparin/glutaraldehyde layers, resulted in channel surfaces with sufficient wettability to obtain flow of human normal plasma by capillary force alone. Hydrophilic channel walls are a desirable characteristic in microfluidic devices, since alternative pumping mechanisms must otherwise be included into the system. The immobilized heparin showed high antithrombin-binding capacity and a low degree of blood–material interaction. Plasma in contact with heparin-coated PDMS formed no detectable fibrin in a spectrophotometric assay by which plasma in contact with non-treated PDMS showed complete coagulation. The quartz crystal microbalance technique with energy dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was utilized to obtain detailed information regarding adsorption kinetics and structural properties of the different layers composing the heparin coating.     

Sample pretreatment on a microchip with an integrated electrospray emitter

This study presents a microbead-packed PDMS microchip with an integrated electrospray emitter for sample pretreatment prior to sheathless ESI-MS. We prove the concept of analytical functions integrated onto a cm-sized area of a single bulk material. The microchip consists of two PDMS substrates replicated from SU-8 fabricated silicon wafer masters, bonded together after oxidation by corona discharge treatment. The channel within the microchip contains a grid structure that was used to trap 5 microm hypercross-linked polystyrene beads. The beads acted as a medium for sample desalting and enrichment. Electrical contact for the sheathless ESI process was achieved by coating the integrated emitter with conductive graphite powder after applying a thin layer of PDMS as glue. The coating as well as the bond of the PDMS structures showed excellent durability. A continuous spray was obtained from the microchip for over 800 h in a long-term electrospray stability experiment. Desalting and enrichment of neuropeptides from a physiological salt solution was successful by loading the sample onto the packed beads, followed by a washing and an eluting step. The results were obtained and evaluated using a TOF MS. An LOD of approximately 20 fmol (loaded onto the beads) for angiotensin II was obtained from a sample of neuropeptides dissolved in physiological salt solution.     

Collective structures and smooth band termination in 109Sn

Six rotational bands up to energies E _x = 24.7 MeV and spins J^π=(79/2^?) have been identified in ¹⁰⁹Sn using the GAMMASPHERE γ-detector array. Four of the bands show smoothly decreasing dynamic moments of inertia at rotational frequencies ?ω > 0.6 MeV. The bands arise at medium spins from a coupling of a valence d_5/2, g_7/2 or h_11/2 neutron to the deformed 2p2h proton excitation of the Z=50 core ¹⁰⁸Sn. At very high ?ω these bands show the typical behaviour of smoothly terminating bands, i.e. a gradual alignment of the angular momenta of the valence particles and holes corresponding to a transition from high collectivity to noncollective states.