Rare-earth surface alloying: a new phase for GdAu2.

Surface alloying is a powerful way of varying physical and chemical properties of metals, for a number of applications from catalysis to nuclear and green technologies. Surfaces offer many degrees of freedom, giving rise to new phases that do not have a bulk counterpart. However, the atomic characterization of distinct surface compounds is a major task, which demands powerful experimental and theoretical tools. Here we illustrate the process for the case of a GdAu2 surface phase of extraordinary crystallinity. The combined use of surface-sensitive techniques and state-of-the-art ab initio calculations disentangles its atomic and electronic properties. In particular, the stacking of the surface layers allows for gadolinium's natural ferromagnetic state, at variance with the bulk phase, where frustration leads to antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling.

Structure determination of the coincidence phase of graphene on Ru(0001).

The structure of the commensurate (23x23) phase of graphene on Ru(0001) has been analyzed by quantitative low-energy electron diffraction (LEED)-I(V) analysis and density-functional theory calculations. The I(V) analysis uses Fourier components as fitting parameters to determine the vertical corrugation and the lateral relaxation of graphene and the top Ru layers. Graphene is shown to be strongly corrugated by 1.5 A with a minimum C-Ru distance of 2.1 A. Additionally, lateral displacements of C atoms and a significant buckling in the underlying Ru layers are observed, indicative for strong local C-Ru interactions.

Electrostatic Interaction across a Single-Layer Carbon Shell.

Ions inside of fullerene molecules are model systems for the study of the electrostatic interaction across a single layer of carbon. For TbSc2N@C80 on h-BN/Ni(111), we observe with high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy a splitting of the C 1s core level. The data may be explained quantitatively with density functional theory. The correlation of the C 1s eigenvalues and the Coulomb potential of the inside ions at the corresponding carbon sites indicates incomplete screening of the electric field due to the endohedral ions. The screening comprises anisotropic charge transfer to the carbon atoms and their polarization. This behavior is essential for the ordering of endohedral single-molecule magnets and is expected to occur in any single-layer material.

Fermi surface map of large-scale single-orientation graphene on SiO2.

Large scale tetraoctylammonium-assisted electrochemical transfer of graphene grown on single-crystalline Ir(1 1 1) films by chemical vapour deposition is reported. The transferred samples are characterized in air with optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and four point transport measurements, providing the sheet resistance and the Hall carrier concentration. In vacuum we apply low energy electron diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy that indicate transferred large-scale single orientation graphene. Angular resolved photoemission reveals a Fermi surface and a Dirac point energy which are consistent with charge neutral graphene.

Purification and composition of a novel gastrointestinal tumor-associated glycoprotein expressing sialylated lacto-N-fucopentaose II (CA 19-9).

Monoclonal antibody 1116NS 19-9 (Mab 19-9) exhibits selective reactivity with human gastrointestinal carcinomas and recognizes a carbohydrate determinant (CA 19-9) defined as a sialylated lacto-N-fucopentaose II. A scheme was devised for the purification of a human gastrointestinal tumor-associated glycoprotein antigen expressing CA 19-9 from colorectal carcinoma cell line SW1116 culture media in high yield. The key steps in the purification were immunoaffinity column chromatography with Mab 19-9 followed by reduction and alkylation of the specifically bound proteins in the presence of 6 M guanidine hydrochloride and a second Mab 19-9 immunoaffinity fractionation. The purified CA 19-9 containing glycoprotein ran as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gradient gels with an apparent molecular mass of 210 kilodaltons. In the absence of detergents, this purified glycoprotein apparently reassociated to form aggregates of 600-2000 kilodaltons molecular mass as determined by size-exclusion chromatography. Amino acid analysis of CA 19-9 containing glycoprotein revealed that serine, threonine, and proline together accounted for greater than 35% of the amino acid residues, consistent with a mucin-like structure for the protein. Carbohydrate compositional analysis, however, was in contrast to a typical mucin with a fucose:mannose:galactose:N-acetylgalactosamine: N-acetylglucosamine:N-acetylneuraminic acid molar ratio of 4:1:12:2.5:5:5. The presence of both N-acetylgalactosamine and mannose suggested that both O- and N-linked oligosaccharides may exist on CA 19-9 containing glycoprotein. Protein and carbohydrate analyses indicated that this novel tumor-associated glycoprotein was 85% carbohydrate by weight. This purification procedure may be applicable to the isolation of other epithelial tumor-associated antigens.

The noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, MK-801 profoundly reduces volatile anesthetic requirements in rabbits.

Rabbits anesthetized with volatile anesthetics were given bolus doses of the n-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801. Following observation and recording of the hemodynamic and electroencephalographic effects of MK-801, the animals were tested for requirements of volatile anesthetic to prevent movement to a noxious stimulus. It was demonstrated that MK-801 significantly reduced anesthetic requirements in a dose-dependent manner, while also affecting hemodynamics and the electroencephalogram in a manner consistent with the production of a deeper plane of anesthesia.

A rapid and specific assay, based on liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry, for the determination of MK-434 (a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor) and its metabolites in plasma.

MK-434 is a new 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor. A sensitive and specific assay based on combined liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has been developed for the determination of this compound in plasma. The analyte was isolated from plasma by solid-phase extraction on a C18 cartridge. A related substance, L-654,066, was used as the internal standard. Extracts were separated on a 5-cm C18-reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography column interfaced via the heated nebulizer probe to a corona discharge chemical ionization source. The mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ion MS-MS mode. The method had sufficient sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and selectivity for the analysis of clinical samples containing MK-434 and its two principal metabolites at concentrations in the range 0.5-50 ng ml-1. The chromatographic run time was < 5 min.

Determination of L-691,121, a new class III antiarrhythmic, and its principal metabolite in plasma by differential radioimmunoassay.

A sensitive and specific method based on radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for the analysis of L-691,121, a new antiarrhythmic agent, and its major metabolite, L-692,199, in plasma. Two RIAs using immunogens and radioligands prepared from different derivatives of L-691,121 were used in conjunction to determine both parent compound and metabolite concentrations by solving simultaneous equations, since neither assay alone was adequately specific. Variable cross-reactivity factors were incorporated into the calculations to correct for non-parallel drug and metabolite displacement curves. The direct assay using 30 microliters of plasma is sensitive to 0.1 ng ml-1 and has sufficient precision, accuracy and specificity for the analysis of clinical samples.

The development and cross-validation of methods based on radioimmunoassay and LC/MS-MS for the quantification of the class III antiarrhythmic agent, MK-0499, in human plasma and urine.

An analytical method based on radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for the determination of the antiarrhythmic agent, MK-0499, in plasma and urine. Owing to the potency of the drug, the specificity of this assay in human plasma could not be adequately determined using conventional RIA procedures. A highly specific procedure, based on LC/MS-MS, was developed to cross-validate the RIA. The lower quantifiable limits of the RIA and LC/MS-MS-based methods were 0.05 and 0.013 ng ml-1, respectively. Cross-validation data, compared using paired student's t-test regression analysis, showed excellent correlation between methods. The mass spectrometric assay was also used to simultaneously measure plasma concentrations of unlabeled and 14C-labeled MK-0499 following administration of the drug at high specific activity to volunteers.

High quality single atomic layer deposition of hexagonal boron nitride on single crystalline Rh(111) four-inch wafers.

The setup of an apparatus for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and its characterization on four-inch wafers in ultra high vacuum (UHV) environment is reported. It provides well-controlled preparation conditions, such as oxygen and argon plasma assisted cleaning and high temperature annealing. In situ characterization of a wafer is accomplished with target current spectroscopy. A piezo motor driven x-y stage allows measurements with a step size of 1 nm on the complete wafer. To benchmark the system performance, we investigated the growth of single layer h-BN on epitaxial Rh(111) thin films. A thorough analysis of the wafer was performed after cutting in atmosphere by low energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, and ultraviolet and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. The apparatus is located in a clean room environment and delivers high quality single layers of h-BN and thus grants access to large area UHV processed surfaces, which had been hitherto restricted to expensive, small area single crystal substrates. The facility is versatile enough for customization to other UHV-CVD processes, e.g., graphene on four-inch wafers.

Cluster-size dependent internal dynamics and magnetic anisotropy of Ho ions in HoM2N@C80 and Ho2MN@C80 families (M = Sc, Lu, Y).

The paramagnetic NMR study of HoM2N@C80-Ih and Ho2MN@C80-Ih nitride cluster fullerenes (M = Sc, Lu, Y) reveals strong dependence of Ho-induced paramagnetic shifts (δ(para)) in (13)C NMR spectra on the size of the diamagnetic metal in the cluster. In particular, the δ(para) value in HoY2N@C80 is almost doubled in comparison to that in HoSc2N@C80. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism studies show that all Ho-nitride cluster fullerenes have the same magnetic ground state of Ho(3+). Point-charge ligand-field splitting calculations show that the increase of the M(3+) radius in going from Sc to Y results in a considerable increase of the energy splitting between different Jz states. This leads to a 19% higher magnetic anisotropy of Ho(3+) in HoY2N@C80 than in HoSc2N@C80 at 300 K. Variations of the molecular geometry and cluster dynamics with the size of the cluster are found to have even greater influence on δ(para) values. This work shows that the magnetic properties of the species confined inside the fullerene cages can be tuned using the geometrical factors such as the cluster and the cage size.

Note: An ion source for alkali metal implantation beneath graphene and hexagonal boron nitride monolayers on transition metals.

The construction of an alkali-metal ion source is presented. It allows the acceleration of rubidium ions to an energy that enables the penetration through monolayers of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride. Rb atoms are sublimated from an alkali-metal dispenser. The ionization is obtained by surface ionization and desorption from a hot high work function surface. The ion current is easily controlled by the temperature of ionizer. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy measurements confirm ion implantation.

Graphene based quantum dots.

Laterally localized electronic states are identified on a single layer of graphene on ruthenium by low temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). The individual states are separated by 3 nm and comprise regions of about 90 carbon atoms. This constitutes a highly regular quantum dot-array with molecular precision. It is evidenced by quantum well resonances (QWRs) with energies that relate to the corrugation of the graphene layer. The dI/dV conductance spectra are modeled by a layer height dependent potential-well with a delta-function potential that describes the barrier for electron penetration into graphene. The resulting QWRs are strongest and lowest in energy on the isolated 'hill' regions with a diameter of 2 nm, where the graphene is decoupled from the surface.