UV/Vis Spectroscopy / Ezine
Caffeine stacks up against cancer: UV-Vis reveals mechanism
Date: Feb 1, 2011
Author: David Bradley
Methylxanthine alkaloids, such as caffeine, have been implicated as a risk factor in several forms of cancer. Now, UV-vis spectroscopy and other techniques have been used to reveal a possible mechanism that demonstrates they may have the opposite activity - protecting us from aromatic mutagens and carcinogens by stacking up and blocking their detrimental activity.
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Journal Highlight: Optical spectroscopy of bilayer graphene
Date: Jan 10, 2011
Author:
Infrared spectroscopy reveals unusual tunable electronic structure and optical behaviour in electrically gated bilayer graphene in which a unique tunable bandgap can lead to many new physical phenomena.
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Well structured: pyrrole as building block for soft materials
Date: Jan 5, 2011
Author: David Bradley
Japanese scientist Hiromitsu Maeda of Risumeikan University and his colleagues have turned to the well-known molecular motif of the pyrrole to make a new class of structured materials. By combining planar pyrrole-containing negatively charged complexes with similarly planar, positively charged organic ions they can generate fibres and soft materials, such as supramolecular gels and liquid crystals based on these organic salts.
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Journal Highlight: Photoluminescence of single-wall carbon nanotube films
Date: Dec 6, 2010
Author:
Photoluminescence studies of films produced by different methods from pristine single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were studied by optical diagnostic techniques including Raman spectroscopy, UV-VIS-NIR absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence.
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One for the vine: testing tannins with absorption measurements
Date: Dec 1, 2010
Author: David Bradley
At Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid...of testing your tannins at least now that US researchers have developed a sensor capable of discriminating between the different tannins present in red wine. The sensor could be used to fingerprint a wide variety of red wines with a view to confirming provenance and authenticity.
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Journal Highlight: Fluorescent whole-mount method for visualizing three-dimensional relationships in intact and regenerating adult newt spinal cords
Date: Nov 15, 2010
Author:
A method was developed for visualizing the cellular and molecular events during newt spinal cord regeneration in whole-mount preparations using fluorescent probes (streptavidins and antibodies) and confocal microscopy.
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UV stink: finding natural insect repellants to protect crops
Date: Nov 1, 2010
Author: David Bradley
Japanese researchers have used UV-Vis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to help them develop a potential repellent for the invidious stink bug, an invasive pest species that has been spreading rapidly through the USA, invading homes and damaging crops.
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Cellular & molecular Ca2+ microdomains in olfactory cilia support low signaling amplification of odor transduction
Date: Oct 11, 2010
Author:
Recordings of Ca2+ changes in individual cilia with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution, by the use of two-photon microscopy, have provided solid evidence for the existence of Ca2+ microdomains.
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Online Monitoring of Microwave-Enhanced Reactions by UV/Vis Spectroscopy
Date: Oct 5, 2010
Author:
Microwave-enhanced reactions are very fast in comparison to thermal reactions. They are often finished within a few minutes. Thus, the determination of the end point often fails, because conventional analytical methods are too slow. We developed a fast method using a UV/Vis sensor, which allows a direct online monitoring of the reaction process.
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Taking a leaf - soft matter photovoltaics
Date: Oct 1, 2010
Author: David Bradley
US researchers have demonstrated that water-gel-based solar devices can act like "artificial leaves" heralding the possibility of soft matter solar energy conversion devices.
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