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Now showing 1 - 10 of 31
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    Distinction of nucleobases - A tip-enhanced Raman approach
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2011) Treffer, R.; Lin, X.; Bailo, E.; Deckert-Gaudig, T.; Deckert, V.
    The development of novel DNA sequencing methods is one of the ongoing challenges in various fields of research seeking to address the demand for sequence information. However, many of these techniques rely on some kind of labeling or amplification steps. Here we investigate the intrinsic properties of tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) towards the development of a novel, label-free, direct sequencing method. It is known that TERS allows the acquisition of spectral information with high lateral resolution and single-molecule sensitivity. In the presented experiments, single stranded adenine and uracil homopolymers were immobilized on different kinds of substrates (mica and gold nanoplates) and TERS experiments were conducted, which demonstrated the reproducibility of the technique. To elucidate the signal contributions from the specific nucleobases, TERS spectra were collected on single stranded calf thymus DNA with arbitrary sequence. The results show that, while the Raman signals with respect to the four nucleobases differ remarkably, specific markers can be determined for each respective base. The combination of sensitivity and reproducibility shows that the crucial demands for a sequencing procedure are met.
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    Towards multiple readout application of plasmonic arrays
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2011) Cialla, D.; Weber, K.; Böhme, R.; Hübner, U.; Schneidewind, H.; Zeisberger, M.; Mattheis, R.; Möller, R.; Popp, J.
    In order to combine the advantages of fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) on the same chip platform, a nanostructured gold surface with a unique design, allowing both the sensitive detection of fluorescence light together with the specific Raman fingerprint of the fluorescent molecules, was established. This task requires the fabrication of plasmonic arrays that permit the binding of molecules of interest at different distances from the metallic surface. The most efficient SERS enhancement is achieved for molecules directly adsorbed on the metallic surface due to the strong field enhancement, but where, however, the fluorescence is quenched most efficiently. Furthermore, the fluorescence can be enhanced efficiently by careful adjustment of the optical behavior of the plasmonic arrays. In this article, the simultaneous application of SERS and fluorescence, through the use of various gold nanostructured arrays, is demonstrated by the realization of a DNA detection scheme. The results shown open the way to more flexible use of plasmonic arrays in bioanalytics.
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    Ruthenium(II)-bis(4'-(4-ethynylphenyl)-2,2':6', 2''-terpyridine) - A versatile synthon in supramolecular chemistry. Synthesis and characterization
    (Warsaw : Central European Science Journals, 2011) Siebert, R.; Schlütter, F.; Winter, A.; Presselt, M.; Görls, H.; Schubert, U.S.; Dietzek, B.; Popp, J.
    A homoleptic ethynyl-substituted ruthenium(II)-bisterpyridine complex representing a versatile synthon in supramolecular chemistry was synthesized and analyzed by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and X-ray diffractometry. Furthermore, its photophysical properties were detailed by UV/Vis absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectroscopy. In order to place the results obtained in the context of the vast family of ruthenium coordination compounds, two structurally related complexes were investigated accordingly. These reference compounds bear either no or an increased chromophore in the 4Ì€-position. The spectroscopic investigations reveal a systematic bathochromic shift of the absorption and emission maximum upon increasing chromophore size. This bathochromic shift of the steady state spectra occurs hand in hand with increasing resonance Raman intensities upon excitation of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transition. The latter feature is accompanied by an increased excitation delocalization over the chromophore in the 4Ì€-position of the terpyridine. Thus, the results presented allow for a detailed investigation of the electronic effects of the ethynyl substituent on the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states in the synthon for click reactions leading to coordination polymers.
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    Dynamics of droplet formation at T-shaped nozzles with elastic feed lines
    (Heidelberg : Springer, 2010) Malsch, D.; Gleichmann, N.; Kielpinski, M.; Mayer, G.; Henkel, T.; Mueller, D.; Van Steijn, V.; Kleijn, C.R.; Kreutzer, M.T.
    We describe the formation of water in oil droplets, which are commonly used in lab-on-a-chip systems for sample generation and dosing, at microfluidic T-shaped nozzles from elastic feed lines. A narrow nozzle forms a barrier for a liquid-liquid interface, such that pressure can build up behind the nozzle up to a critical pressure. Above this critical pressure, the liquid bursts into the main channel. Build-up of pressure is possible when the fluid before the nozzle is compressible or when the channel that leads to the nozzle is elastic. We explore the value of the critical pressure and the time required to achieve it. We describe the fluid flow of the sudden burst, globally in terms of flow rate into the channel and spatially resolved in terms of flow fields measured using micro-PIV. A total of three different stages-the lag phase, a spill out phase, and a linear growth phase-can be clearly discriminated during droplet formation. The lag time linearly scales with the curvature of the interface inside the nozzle and is inversly proportional to the flow rate of the dispersed phase. A complete overview of the evolution of the growth of droplets and the internal flow structure is provided in the digital supplement. © The Author(s) 2009.
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    Fiber optic sensors
    (New York, NY : Hindawi, 2012) Ecke, W.; Chen, K.; Leng, J.
    [No abstract available]
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    Remote system for detection of low-levels of methane based on photonic crystal fibres and wavelength modulation spectroscopy
    (New York, NY : Hindawi, 2009) Carvalho, J.P.; Lehmann, H.; Bartelt, H.; Magalhes, F.; Amezcua-Correa, R.; Santos, J.L.; Roosbroeck, J.V.; Arajo, F.M.; Ferreira, L.A.; Knight, J.C.
    In this work we described an optical fibre sensing system for detecting low levels of methane. The properties of hollow-core photonic crystal fibres are explored to have a sensing head with favourable characteristics for gas sensing, particularly in what concerns intrinsic readout sensitivity and gas diffusion time in the sensing structure. The sensor interrogation was performed applying the Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy technique, and a portable measurement unit was developed with performance suitable for remote detection of low levels of methane. This portable system has the capacity to simultaneously interrogate four remote photonic crystal fibre sensing heads. Copyright © 2009 J. P. Carvalho et al.
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    Figures of merit of thermoelectric and bolometric thermal radiation sensors
    (Göttingen : Copernicus, 2013) Dillner, U.; Kessler, E.; Meyer, H.-G.
    Figures of merit condensing the performance parameters of radiation sensors such as responsivity, noise equivalent power, and time constant in a single number can be useful for rating the performance of a particular sensor in comparison to other ones or to fundamental performance limits. The classification system and the figures of merit of radiation sensors introduced by R. C. Jones are revisited for thermal radiation sensors with the focus on thermopiles and bolometers. As a result it is stated that radiation thermopiles and bolometers should be classified differently: type III detectors for thermopiles vs. type II detectors for bolometers. Modified figures of merit are suggested and relations between them given. The figures of merit are applied in an overview on state-of-the-art thermopiles and bolometers operated at room temperature.
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    Real-time image processing for label-free enrichment of Actinobacteria cultivated in picolitre droplets
    (London [u.a.] : Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013) Zang, E.; Brandes, S.; Tovar, M.; Martin, K.; Mech, F.; Horbert, P.; Henkel, T.; Figge, M.T.; Roth, M.
    The majority of today's antimicrobial therapeutics is derived from secondary metabolites produced by Actinobacteria. While it is generally assumed that less than 1% of Actinobacteria species from soil habitats have been cultivated so far, classic screening approaches fail to supply new substances, often due to limited throughput and frequent rediscovery of already known strains. To overcome these restrictions, we implement high-throughput cultivation of soil-derived Actinobacteria in microfluidic pL-droplets by generating more than 600000 pure cultures per hour from a spore suspension that can subsequently be incubated for days to weeks. Moreover, we introduce triggered imaging with real-time image-based droplet classification as a novel universal method for pL-droplet sorting. Growth-dependent droplet sorting at frequencies above 100 Hz is performed for label-free enrichment and extraction of microcultures. The combination of both cultivation of Actinobacteria in pL-droplets and real-time detection of growing Actinobacteria has great potential in screening for yet unknown species as well as their undiscovered natural products.
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    Charge isomers of myelin basic protein: Structure and interactions with membranes, nucleotide analogues, and calmodulin
    (San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science, 2011) Wang, C.; Neugebauer, U.; Bürck, J.; Myllykoski, M.; Baumgärtel, P.; Popp, J.; Kursula, P.
    As an essential structural protein required for tight compaction of the central nervous system myelin sheath, myelin basic protein (MBP) is one of the candidate autoantigens of the human inflammatory demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis, which is characterized by the active degradation of the myelin sheath. In this work, recombinant murine analogues of the natural C1 and C8 charge components (rmC1 and rmC8), two isoforms of the classic 18.5-kDa MBP, were used as model proteins to get insights into the structure and function of the charge isomers. Various biochemical and biophysical methods such as size exclusion chromatography, calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, small angle X-ray and neutron scattering, Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy, and conventional as well as synchrotron radiation circular dichroism were used to investigate differences between these two isoforms, both from the structural point of view, and regarding interactions with ligands, including calmodulin (CaM), various detergents, nucleotide analogues, and lipids. Overall, our results provide further proof that rmC8 is deficient both in structure and especially in function, when compared to rmC1. While the CaM binding properties of the two forms are very similar, their interactions with membrane mimics are different. CaM can be used to remove MBP from immobilized lipid monolayers made of synthetic lipids - a phenomenon, which may be of relevance for MBP function and its regulation. Furthermore, using fluorescently labelled nucleotides, we observed binding of ATP and GTP, but not AMP, by MBP; the binding of nucleoside triphosphates was inhibited by the presence of CaM. Together, our results provide important further data on the interactions between MBP and its ligands, and on the differences in the structure and function between MBP charge isomers.
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    Micro-structured fiber interferometer as sensitive temperature sensor
    (Heidelberg : Springer, 2013) Favero, F.C.; Becker, M.; Spittel, R.; Rothhardt, M.; Kobelke, J.; Bartelt, H.
    We report on a fast and sensitive temperature sensor using a micro-structured or photonic crystal fiber interferometer with a high germanium doped fiber core. The wavelength sensitivity for temperature variation was as high as δλ/δT= 78 pm/ C up to 500 C, which was 6 times more sensitive than the fiber Bragg grating temperature sensitivity of δλ/δT= 13 pm/ C at 1550 nm. The sensor device was investigated concerning the sensitivity characteristics and response time.