Identification of a new band and its signature inversion in Re-174

High spin states in Re-174 are investigated via the Sm-152(Al-27, 5n gamma)Re-174 reaction and gamma-gamma coincidence relationships are analysed carefully. A new band is identified due to its spectroscopic connection with the known pi 1/2(-)[541] circle times nu 1/2(-)[521] band. This band is proposed to be the ground-state band built on the pi 1/2(-)[541] circle times nu 5/2(-)[512] configuration in view of the low-lying intrinsic states in the neighbouring odd-mass nuclei. It is of particular interesting that the new band exhibits a phenomenon of low-spin signature inversion, providing a new situation for theoretical investigations.

Search for signature inversion in the pi i(13/2)circle times nu i(13/2) bands in Au-182,Au-184,Au-186

Search for low-spin signature inversion in the pi i(13/2) circle times nu i(13/2) bands in odd-odd Au-182,Au-184,Au-186 has been conducted through the standard in-beam gamma-spectroscopy techniques via the Sm-152(Cl-35,5n) Au-182, Yb-172(F-19,5n) (186)An, and Tb-159(Si-29,4n) (184)An reactions, respectively. The pi i(13/2) circle times nu i(13/2) bands in these three nuclei have been identified and extended up to high-spin states. In particular, the inter-band connection between the pi i(13/2) circle times nu i(13/2) band and the ground-state band in Au-184 has been established, leading to a firm spin-and-parity assignment for the pi i(13/2) circle times nu i(13/2) band. The low-spin signature inversion is found in the pi i(13/2) circle times nu i(13/2) bands according to our spin-assignment and-the signature crossing observed at high-spin states.

Low-spin signature inversion in the pi h(9/2)circle times nu i(13/2) oblate band

Excited states in Tl-188,Tl-190 have been studied experimentally by means of in-beam gamma spectroscopy techniques, and resulted in the identification of a strongly coupled band based on the pi h(9/2) circle times nu i(13/2) configuration with oblate deformation. The oblate band in doubly odd Tl nuclei shows low-spin signature inversion. It is the first experimental observation of low-spin signature inversion for a band associated with the oblate pi h(9/2) circle times nu i(13/2) configuration.

Signature inversion in pi h(9/2) circle times nu i(13/2) oblate band of Tl-188

High-spin Level structure of Tl-188 has been studied via Gd-157 (Cl-35,4n) fusion-evaporation reaction at beam energy of 170MeV. A rotational band built on the pi h(9/2) circle times nu i(13/2) configuration with oblate deformation has been established. Spin values have been proposed to the pi h(9/2) circle times nu i(13/2) oblate band based on the similarities between the oblate band of Tl-188 and those in odd-odd Tl190-200. With the spin assignments, the low-spin signature inversion has been revealed for the pi h(9/2) circle times nu i(13/2) oblate band of Tl-188. The low-spin signature inversion can be interpreted qualitatively in the framework of the quasi-particles plus rotor model including a J dependent p-n residual interaction.

Preparation and performance of cellulose acetate/polyethyleneimine blend microfiltration membranes and their applications

A modified microfiltration membrane has been prepared by blending a matrix polymer with a functional polymer. Cellulose acetate (CA) was blended with polyethyleneimine (PEI), which was then crosslinked by polyisocyanate, in a mixture of solvents. In the membrane, PEI can supply coupling sites for ligands in affinity separation or be used as ligands for metal chelating, removal of endotoxin or ion exchange. The effects of the time of phase inversion induced by water vapor, blended amount of PEI and amount of crosslinking agent on membrane performance were investigated. The prepared blend membranes have specific surface area of 12.04-24.11 m(2)/g and pure water flux (PWF) of 10-50 ml/cm(2) min with porosity of 63-75%. The membranes, made of 0.15 50 wt.% PEI/CA ratio and 0.5 crosslinking agent/PEI ratio, were applied to adsorbing Cu2+ and bovine serum albumin (BSA) individually. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cu2+ ion on the blend membrane is 7.42 mg/g dry membrane. The maximum adsorption capacities of BSA on the membranes with and without chelating Cu2+ ion are 86.6 and 43.8 mg/g dry membrane, respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination and identification of isoflavonoids in Radix astragali by matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and mass spectrometric detection

The isoflavonoids in Radix astragali were determined and identified by HPLC-photodiode array detection-MS after extraction employing matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD). As a new sample preparation method for R. astragali, the MSPD procedure was optimized, validated and compared with conventional methods including ultrasonic and Soxhlet extraction. The amounts of two major components in this herb, formononetin (6) and ononin (2), were determined based on their authentic standards. Four major isoflavonoids, formononetin (6), ononin (2), calycosin (5) and its glycoside (1), and three minor isoflavonoids, (6aR,11aR)-3-hydroxy-9, 10-dimethoxypterocarpan (7), its glycoside (3), and (3R)-7,2'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-beta-D-glycoside (4), were identified based on their characteristic two-band UV spectra and [M + H](+), [aglycone + H](+) and [A1 + H](+) ions, etc. The combined MSPD and HPLC-DAD-MS method was suitable for quantitative and qualitative determination of the isoflavonoids in R. astragali. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enzymatic reaction of the immobilized enzyme on porous silicon studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry

Desorption/ionization on silicon mass spectrometry (DIOS-MS) is a matrix-free technique that allows for the direct desorption/ionization of low-molecular-weight compounds with little or no fragmentation of analytes. This technique has a relatively high tolerance for contaminants commonly found in biological samples. DIOS-MS has been applied to determine the activity of immobilized enzymes on the porous silicon surface. Enzyme activities were also monitored with the addition of a competitive inhibitor in the substrate solution. It is demonstrated that this method can be applied to the screening of enzyme inhibitors. Furthermore, a method for peptide mapping analysis by in situ digestion of proteins on the porous silicon surface modified by trypsin, combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-MS has been developed.

Highly efficient separation of dsDNA fragments on glass chips by using an ultralow viscosity sieving matrix

A novel protocol has been established to separate dsDNA fragments with high efficiency on glass chips by using an ultralow viscosity sieving matrix with added glucose. Low-molecular-weight hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), with a viscosity nearly equivalent to that of water, was used to electrophoretically separate fluorescent inter-calator-labeled double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) fragments on microfluidic glass chips. In comparison with conventional sieving protocols, low-molecular-weight HPMC as sieving matrix could result in reduced running cost and analysis time, in addition to a comparable separation efficiency of dsDNA fragments. In this paper, the addition of glucose was investigated to enhance the separation of DNA in the lowest viscosity polymer evaluated. The effect of staining dye and field strength were also evaluated. At an applied electric field strength of 200 V/cm, satisfactory resolution of the PBR322/HaeIII DNA marker could be achieved within 4 min by using 2% HPMC-5 with 6% glucose added. Coelectrophoresing PCR product along with phiX174/HaeIII DNA sizing marker was also demonstrated by using the ultralow viscosity HPMC-5 solution on a glass chip.

Immobilized metal-ion chelating capillary microreactor for peptide mapping analysis of proteins by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry

Peptide mass mapping analysis, utilizing a regenerable enzyme microreactor with metal-ion chelated adsorption of enzyme, combined with matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was developed. Different procedures from the conventional approaches were adopted to immobilize the chelator onto the silica supports, that is, the metal chelating agent of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) was reacted with glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GLYMO) before its immobilization onto the inner wall of the fused-silica capillary pretreated with NH4HF2. The metal ion of copper and subsequently enzyme was specifically adsorbed onto the surface to form the immobilized enzyme capillary microreactor, which was combined with MALDI-TOF-MS to apply for the mass mapping analysis of nL amounts of protein samples. The results revealed that the peptide mapping could routinely be generated from 0.5 pmol protein sample in 15 min at 50degreesC, even 20 fmol cytochrome c could be well digested and detected.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using porous silicon and silica gel as matrix

Porous silicon powder and silica gel particles have been applied as inorganic matrices for the analysis of small molecules in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). In contrast to conventional MALDI-TOFMS, the signal interference of low-molecular analytes by the matrix has been eliminated. Almost no fragmentations of the analytes were observed. Effects of various factors, such as the particle and pore size, the suspending solution, and sample preparation procedures, on the intensity of mass spectra have been investigated. The pore structure of the inorganic matrix and penetration of the analytes into the pores must be optimized for effective desorption and ionization of the analytes. Matrices (DHB and HCCA) were covalently bound to silica gel for improvement of spectrum intensity. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.