TY - JOUR A1 - Wirth, Jonas A1 - Schacht, Julia A1 - Saalfrank, Peter A1 - Paulus, Beate T1 - Fluorination of the Hydroxylated alpha-Al2O3 (0001) and Its Implications for Water Adsorption: A Theoretical Study JF - The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces N2 - Fluorination of the hydroxylated alpha-Al2O3 (0001) surface is studied using periodic density functional theory calculations. On the basis of a hypothetical reaction substituting surface hydroxyl groups with fluorine atoms, we find surface fluorination to be strongly exergonic but kinetically hindered. Fluorinated surface areas turn out to be rather hydrophobic as compared to hydroxylated areas, suggesting fluorination as a potential route for tuning oxide surface properties such as hydrophilicity. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b10975 SN - 1932-7447 VL - 120 SP - 9713 EP - 9718 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Enzenberg, Anne A1 - Laschewsky, Andre A1 - Boeffel, Christine A1 - Wischerhoff, Erik T1 - Influence of the Near Molecular Vicinity on the Temperature Regulated Fluorescence Response of Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) JF - Polymers N2 - A series of new fluorescent dye bearing monomers, including glycomonomers, based on maleamide and maleic esteramide was synthesized. The dye monomers were incorporated by radical copolymerization into thermo-responsive poly(N‑vinyl-caprolactam) that displays a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in aqueous solution. The effects of the local molecular environment on the polymers’ luminescence, in particular on the fluorescence intensity and the extent of solvatochromism, were investigated below as well as above the phase transition. By attaching substituents of varying size and polarity in the close vicinity of the fluorophore, and by varying the spacer groups connecting the dyes to the polymer backbone, we explored the underlying structure–property relationships, in order to establish rules for successful sensor designs, e.g., for molecular thermometers. Most importantly, spacer groups of sufficient length separating the fluorophore from the polymer backbone proved to be crucial for obtaining pronounced temperature regulated fluorescence responses. View Full-Text KW - thermo-responsive polymers KW - poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) KW - lower critical solution temperature KW - fluorescent dyemonomers KW - naphthalimide KW - solvatochromism KW - polymeric sensors KW - molecular thermometers Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/polym8040109 SN - 2073-4360 VL - 8 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Federico, Stefania A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Löwenberg, Candy A1 - Lendlein, Andreas A1 - Neffe, Axel T. T1 - Supramolecular hydrogel networks formed by molecular recognition of collagen and a peptide grafted to hyaluronic acid JF - Acta biomaterialia N2 - The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a nano-structured, highly complex hydrogel, in which the macromolecules are organized primarily by non-covalent interactions. Here, in a biomimetic approach, the decorin-derived collagen-binding peptide LSELRLHNN was grafted to hyaluronic acid (HA) in order to enable the formation of a supramolecular hydrogel network together with collagen. The storage modulus of a mixture of collagen and HA was increased by more than one order of magnitude (G′ = 157 Pa) in the presence of the HA-grafted peptide compared to a mixture of collagen and HA (G′ = 6 Pa). The collagen fibril diameter was decreased, as quantified using electron microscopy, in the presence of the HA-grafted peptide. Here, the peptide mimicked the function of decorin by spatially organizing collagen. The advantage of this approach is that the non-covalent crosslinks between collagen molecules and the HA chains created by the peptide form a reversible and dynamic hydrogel, which could be employed for a diverse range of applications in regenerative medicine. Statement of Significance Biopolymers of the extracellular matrix (ECM) like collagen or hyaluronan are attractive starting materials for biomaterials. While in biomaterial science covalent crosslinking is often employed, in the native ECM, stabilization and macromolecular organization is primarily based on non-covalent interactions, which allows dynamic changes of the materials. Here, we show that collagen-binding peptides, derived from the small proteoglycan decorin, grafted to hyaluronic acid enable supramolecular stabilization of collagen hydrogels. These hydrogels have storage moduli more than one order of magnitude higher than mixtures of collagen and hyaluronic acid. Furthermore, the peptide supported the structural organization of collagen. Such hydrogels could be employed for a diverse range of applications in regenerative medicine. Furthermore, the rational design helps in the understanding ECM structuring. KW - Biopolymers KW - Collagen-binding peptide KW - Hyaluronic acid KW - Hydrogels KW - Mechanical properties Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2016.04.018 SN - 1742-7061 SN - 1878-7568 VL - 38 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hiltl, Stephanie A1 - Böker, Alexander T1 - Wetting Phenomena on (Gradient) Wrinkle Substrates JF - Langmuir N2 - We characterize the wetting behavior of nano structured wrinkle and gradient wrinkle substrates. Different contact angles on both sides of a water droplet after deposition on a gradient sample induce the self-propelled motion of the liquid toward smaller wrinkle dimensions. The droplet motion is self-limited by the contact angles balancing out. Because of the correlation between droplet motion and contact angles, we investigate the wetting behavior of wrinkle substrates with constant dimensions (wavelengths of 400-1200 nm). Contact angles of water droplets on those substrates increase with increasing dimensions of the underlying substrate. The results are independent of the two measurement directions, parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nanostructure. The presented findings may be considered for designing microfluidic or related devices and initiate ideas for the development of further wrinkle applications. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b02364 SN - 0743-7463 VL - 32 SP - 8882 EP - 8888 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wu, Lei A1 - Glebe, Ulrich A1 - Böker, Alexander T1 - Synthesis of Hybrid Silica Nanoparticles Densely Grafted with Thermo and pH Dual-Responsive Brushes via Surface-Initiated ATRP JF - Macromolecules : a publication of the American Chemical Society Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.6b01792 SN - 0024-9297 SN - 1520-5835 VL - 49 SP - 9586 EP - 9596 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wuennemann, Patrick A1 - Noyong, Michael A1 - Kreuels, Klaus A1 - Bruex, Roland A1 - Gordiichuk, Pavlo A1 - van Rijn, Patrick A1 - Plamper, Felix A. A1 - Simon, Ulrich A1 - Böker, Alexander T1 - Microstructured Hydrogel Templates for the Formation of Conductive Gold Nanowire Arrays JF - Macromolecular rapid communications N2 - Microstructured hydrogel allows for a new template-guided method to obtain conductive nanowire arrays on a large scale. To generate the template, an imprinting process is used in order to synthesize the hydrogel directly into the grooves of wrinkled polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The resulting poly(N-vinylimidazole)-based hydrogel is defined by the PDMS stamp in pattern and size. Subsequently, tetrachloroaurate(III) ions from aqueous solution are coordinated within the humps of the N-vinylimidazole-containing polymer template and reduced by air plasma. After reduction and development of the gold, to achieve conductive wires, the extension perpendicular to the long axis (width) of the gold strings is considerably reduced compared to the dimension of the parental hydrogel wrinkles (from approximate to 1 mu m down to 200-300 nm). At the same time, the wire-to-wire distance and the overall length of the wires is preserved. The PDMS templates and hydrogel structures are analyzed with scanning force microscopy (SFM) and the gold structures via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The conductivity measurements of the gold nanowires are performed in situ in the SEM, showing highly conductive gold leads. Hence, this method can be regarded as a facile nonlithographic top-down approach from micrometer-sized structures to nanometer-sized features. KW - 1D structures KW - Au nanoarrays KW - microgel KW - nanoimprint KW - lithography KW - thin films Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201600287 SN - 1022-1336 SN - 1521-3927 VL - 37 SP - 1446 EP - 1452 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Park, Sungjune A1 - Cheng, Xiao A1 - Böker, Alexander A1 - Tsarkova, Larisa T1 - Hierarchical Manipulation of Block Copolymer Patterns on 3D Topographic Substrates: Beyond Graphoepitaxy JF - Advanced materials N2 - Templates of complex nanopatterns in a form of hierarchically sequenced dots and stripes can be generated in block copolymer films on lithography-free 3D topographic substrates. The approach exploits thickness- and swelling-responsive morphological behavior of block copolymers, and demonstrates novel possibilities of topography-guided registration of nanopatterns due to periodic confinement and spontaneous orthogonal flow-fields. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201601098 SN - 0935-9648 SN - 1521-4095 VL - 28 SP - 6900 EP - + PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vishnevetskaya, Natalya S. A1 - Hildebrand, Viet A1 - Niebuur, Bart-Jan A1 - Grillo, Isabelle A1 - Filippov, Sergey K. A1 - Laschewsky, Andre A1 - Müller-Buschbaum, Peter A1 - Papadakis, Christine M. T1 - Aggregation Behavior of Doubly Thermoresponsive Polysulfobetaine-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Diblock Copolymers JF - Macromolecules : a publication of the American Chemical Society N2 - A 2-fold thermoresponsive diblock copolymer PSPP430-b-PNIPAM(200) consisting of a zwitterionic polysulfobetaine (PSPP) block and a nonionic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) block is prepared by successive RAFT polymerizations. In aqueous solution, the corresponding homopolymers PSPP and PNIPAM feature both upper and lower critical solution temperature (UCST and LCST) behavior, respectively. The diblock copolymer exhibits thermally induced "schizophrenic" aggregation behavior in aqueous solutions. Moreover, the ion sensitivity of the, cloud point of the zwitterionic PSPP block to both the ionic strength and the nature of the salt offers the possibility to create switchable systems which respond sensitively to changes of the temperature and of the electrolyte type and concentration. The diblock copolymer solutions in D2O are investigated by means of turbidimetry and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) with respect to the phase behavior and the self-assembled structures in dependence on temperature and electrolyte content. Marked, differences of the aggregation below the UCST-type and above the LCST-type transition are observed. The addition of a small amount of NaBr (0.004 M) does not affect the overall behavior, and only the UCST-type transition and aggregate structures are slightly altered, reflecting the well-known ion sensitivity of the zwitterionic PSPP block. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.6b01186 SN - 0024-9297 SN - 1520-5835 VL - 49 SP - 6655 EP - 6668 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schürings, Marco-Philipp A1 - Nevskyi, Oleksii A1 - Eliasch, Kamill A1 - Michel, Ann-Katrin A1 - Liu, Bing A1 - Pich, Andrij A1 - Böker, Alexander A1 - von Plessen, Gero A1 - Wöll, Dominik T1 - Diffusive Motion of Linear Microgel Assemblies in Solution JF - Polymers N2 - Due to the ability of microgels to rapidly contract and expand in response to external stimuli, assemblies of interconnected microgels are promising for actuation applications, e.g., as contracting fibers for artificial muscles. Among the properties determining the suitability of microgel assemblies for actuation are mechanical parameters such as bending stiffness and mobility. Here, we study the properties of linear, one-dimensional chains of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) microgels dispersed in water. They were fabricated by utilizing wrinkled surfaces as templates and UV-cross-linking the microgels. We image the shapes of the chains on surfaces and in solution using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. In solution, the chains are observed to execute translational and rotational diffusive motions. Evaluation of the motions yields translational and rotational diffusion coefficients and, from the translational diffusion coefficient, the chain mobility. The microgel chains show no perceptible bending, which yields a lower limit on their bending stiffness. KW - microgels KW - linear assemblies KW - in situ fluorescence microscopy KW - shape analysis KW - rotational diffusion KW - translational diffusion KW - bending stiffness KW - actuation Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/polym8120413 SN - 2073-4360 VL - 8 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sechi, Antonio A1 - Freitas, Joana M. G. A1 - Wünnemann, Patrick A1 - Töpel, Alexander A1 - Paschoalin, Rafaella Takehara A1 - Ullmann, Sabrina A1 - Schröder, Ricarda A1 - Aydin, Gülcan A1 - Rütten, Stephan A1 - Böker, Alexander A1 - Zenke, Martin A1 - Pich, Andrij T1 - Surface-Grafted Nanogel Arrays Direct Cell Adhesion and Motility JF - Advanced materials interfaces N2 - It has long been appreciated that material chemistry and topology profoundly affect cell adhesion and migration. Here, aqueous poly(N- isopropyl acrylamide) nanogels are designed, synthesized and printed in form of colloidal arrays on glass substrates using wrinkled polydimethylsiloxane templates. Using low-temperature plasma treatment, nanogels are chemically grafted onto glass supports thus leading to highly stable nanogel layers in cell culture media. Liquid cell atomic force microscopy investigations show that surface-grafted nanogels retain their swelling behavior in aqueous media and that extracellular matrix protein coating do not alter their stability and topography. It is demonstrated that surface-grafted nanogels could serve as novel substrates for the analysis of cell adhesion and migration. Nanogels influence size, speed, and dynamics of focal adhesions and cell motility forcing cells to move along highly directional trajectories. Moreover, modulation of nanogel state or spacing serves as an effective tool for regulation of cell motility. It is suggested that nanogel arrays deposited on solid surfaces could be used to provide a precise and tunable system to understand and control cell migration. Additionally, such nanogel arrays will contribute to the development of implantable systems aimed at supporting and enhancing cell migration during, for instance, wound healing and tissue regeneration. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.201600455 SN - 2196-7350 VL - 3 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Park, H. A1 - Walta, S. A1 - Rosencrantz, Ruben R. A1 - Koerner, A. A1 - Schulte, Christoph A1 - Elling, L. A1 - Richtering, Walter A1 - Böker, Alexander T1 - Micelles from self-assembled double-hydrophilic PHEMA-glycopolymer-diblock copolymers as multivalent scaffolds for lectin binding JF - Polymer Chemistry N2 - We introduce a novel double-hydrophilic hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) based diblock glycopolymer which self-assembles into homogeneous spherical micellar structures in water. The micellar structure renders surface-oriented N-acetylglucocosamine (GlcNAc) sugar moieties for strong multivalent glycan-mediated lectin binding. Structural analysis and lectin binding is performed by microscopy methods, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and two-focus fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (2fFCS), revealing a novel micellar type of multivalent sugar binding scaffold with high potential for biomedical applications. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c5py00797f SN - 1759-9954 SN - 1759-9962 VL - 7 SP - 878 EP - 886 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wirth, Jonas A1 - Kirsch, Harald A1 - Wlosczyk, Sebastian A1 - Tong, Yujin A1 - Saalfrank, Peter A1 - Campen, Richard Kramer T1 - Characterization of water dissociation on alpha-Al2O3(1(1)over-bar02): theory and experiment JF - Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies N2 - The interaction of water with a-alumina (i.e. alpha-Al2O3) surfaces is important in a variety of applications and a useful model for the interaction of water with environmentally abundant aluminosilicate phases. Despite its significance, studies of water interaction with alpha-Al2O3 surfaces other than the (0001) are extremely limited. Here we characterize the interaction of water (D2O) with a well defined alpha-Al2O3(1 (1) over bar 02) surface in UHV both experimentally, using temperature programmed desorption and surface-specific vibrational spectroscopy, and theoretically, using periodic-slab density functional theory calculations. This combined approach makes it possible to demonstrate that water adsorption occurs only at a single well defined surface site (the so-called 1-4 configuration) and that at this site the barrier between the molecularly and dissociatively adsorbed forms is very low: 0.06 eV. A subset of OD stretch vibrations are parallel to this dissociation coordinate, and thus would be expected to be shifted to low frequencies relative to an uncoupled harmonic oscillator. To quantify this effect we solve the vibrational Schrodinger equation along the dissociation coordinate and find fundamental frequencies red-shifted by more than 1500 cm(-1). Within the context of this model, at moderate temperatures, we further find that some fraction of surface deuterons are likely delocalized: dissociatively and molecularly absorbed states are no longer distinguishable. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c6cp01397j SN - 1463-9076 SN - 1463-9084 VL - 18 SP - 14822 EP - 14832 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Oertel, Jana A1 - Keller, Adrian A1 - Prinz, Julia A1 - Schreiber, Benjamin A1 - Huebner, Rene A1 - Kerbusch, Jochen A1 - Bald, Ilko A1 - Fahmy, Karim T1 - Anisotropic metal growth on phospholipid nanodiscs via lipid bilayer expansion JF - Scientific reports N2 - Self-assembling biomolecules provide attractive templates for the preparation of metallic nanostructures. However, the intuitive transfer of the "outer shape" of the assembled macromolecules to the final metallic particle depends on the intermolecular forces among the biomolecules which compete with interactions between template molecules and the metal during metallization. The shape of the bio-template may thus be more dynamic than generally assumed. Here, we have studied the metallization of phospholipid nanodiscs which are discoidal particles of similar to 10 nm diameter containing a lipid bilayer similar to 5 nm thick. Using negatively charged lipids, electrostatic adsorption of amine-coated Au nanoparticles was achieved and followed by electroless gold deposition. Whereas Au nanoparticle adsorption preserves the shape of the bio-template, metallization proceeds via invasion of Au into the hydrophobic core of the nanodisc. Thereby, the lipidic phase induces a lateral growth that increases the diameter but not the original thickness of the template. Infrared spectroscopy reveals lipid expansion and suggests the existence of internal gaps in the metallized nanodiscs, which is confirmed by surface-enhanced Raman scattering from the encapsulated lipids. Interference of metallic growth with non-covalent interactions can thus become itself a shape-determining factor in the metallization of particularly soft and structurally anisotropic biomaterials. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/srep26718 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 6 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kyriakos, Konstantinos A1 - Philipp, Martine A1 - Lin, Che-Hung A1 - Dyakonova, Margarita A1 - Vishnevetskaya, Natalya A1 - Grillo, Isabelle A1 - Zaccone, Alessio A1 - Miasnikova, Anna A1 - Laschewsky, Andre A1 - Müller-Buschbaum, Peter A1 - Papadakis, Christine M. T1 - Quantifying the Interactions in the Aggregation of Thermoresponsive Polymers: The Effect of Cononsolvency JF - Macromolecular rapid communications N2 - The aggregation kinetics of thermoresponsive core-shell micelles with a poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) shell in pure water or in mixtures of water with the cosolvents methanol or ethanol at mole fractions of 5% is investigated during a temperature jump across the respective cloud point. Characteristically, these mixtures give rise to cononsolvency behavior. At the cloud point, aggregates are formed, and their growth is followed with time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering. Using the reversible association model, the interaction potential between the aggregates is determined from their growth rate in dependence on the cosolvents. The effect of the cosolvent is attributed to the interaction potential on the structured layer of hydration water around the aggregates. It is surmised that the latter is perturbed by the cosolvent and thus the residual repulsive hydration force between the aggregates is reduced. The larger the molar volume of the cosolvent, the more pronounced is the effect. This framework provides a molecular-level understanding of solvent-mediated effective interactions in polymer solutions and new opportunities for the rational control of self-assembly in complex soft matter systems. KW - colloidal aggregation KW - cononsolvency KW - interaction potential KW - polymer solutions KW - self-assembled micelles KW - thermoresponsive polymers Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201500583 SN - 1022-1336 SN - 1521-3927 VL - 37 SP - 420 EP - 425 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zhong, Qi A1 - Metwalli, Ezzeldin A1 - Rawolle, Monika A1 - Kaune, Gunar A1 - Bivigou Koumba, Achille Mayelle A1 - Laschewsky, Andre A1 - Papadakis, Christine M. A1 - Cubitt, Robert A1 - Wang, Jiping A1 - Müller-Buschbaum, Peter T1 - Influence of Hydrophobic Polystyrene Blocks on the Rehydration of Polystyrene-block-poly(methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate)-block-polystyrene Films Investigated by in Situ Neutron Reflectivity JF - Macromolecules : a publication of the American Chemical Society N2 - The rehydration of thermoresponsive polystyrene-block-poly(methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate)-block-polystyrene (PS-b-PMDEGA-b-PS) films forming a lamellar microphase-separated structure is investigated by in situ neutron reflectivity in a D2O vapor atmosphere. The rehydration of collapsed PS-b-PMDEGA-b-PS films is realized by a temperature change from 45 to 23 degrees C and comprises (1) condensation and absorption of D2O, (2) evaporation of D2O, and (3) reswelling of the film due to internal rearrangement. The hydrophobic PS layers hinder the absorption of condensed D2O, and a redistribution of embedded D2O between the hydrophobic PS layers and the hydrophilic PMDEGA layers is observed. In contrast, the rehydration of semiswollen PS-b-PMDEGA-b-PS films (temperature change from 35 to 23 degrees C) shows two prominent differences: A thicker D2O layer condenses on the surface, causing a more enhanced evaporation of D2O. The rehydrated films differ in film thickness and volume fraction of D2O, which is due to the different thermal protocols, although the final temperature is identical. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.5b02279 SN - 0024-9297 SN - 1520-5835 VL - 49 SP - 317 EP - 326 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kleinpeter, Erich A1 - Koch, Andreas T1 - Y-aromaticity - existing: yes or no? An answer given on the magnetic criterion (TSNMRS) JF - Tetrahedron N2 - The spatial magnetic properties (Through Space NMR Shieldings - TSNMRS) of a number of Y-shaped structures possessing 4n+2 pi-electrons (i.a. the trimethylenemethane ions TMM2+, TMM2-, the guanidinium cation, substituted and hetero analogues) have been computed, visualized as Isochemical Shielding Surfaces (ICSS) of various size and direction, were examined subject to present Y-aromaticity and the results compared with energetic and geometric criteria obtained already. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KW - Y-aromaticity KW - pi-Electron delocalization KW - Theoretical calculations KW - ICSS KW - TSNMRS Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2016.02.020 SN - 0040-4020 VL - 72 SP - 1675 EP - 1685 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Andrews, Nicholas L. P. A1 - Ross, Rachel A1 - Munzke, Dorit A1 - van Hoorn, Camiel A1 - Brzezinski, Andrew A1 - Barnes, Jack A. A1 - Reich, Oliver A1 - Loock, Hans-Peter T1 - In-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer for gas refractive index measurements based on a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber JF - Optics express : the international electronic journal of optics N2 - We describe an in-fiber interferometer based on a gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. Expressions for the sensitivity, figure of merit and refractive index resolution are derived, and values are experimentally measured and theoretically validated using mode field calculations. The refractive indices of nine monoatomic and molecular gases are measured with a resolution of delta(ns) < 10(-6). (C)2016 Optical Society of America Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.24.014086 SN - 1094-4087 VL - 24 SP - 14086 EP - 14099 PB - Optical Society of America CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Omorogie, Martins O. A1 - Babalola, Jonathan Oyebamiji A1 - Unuabonah, Emmanuel Iyayi A1 - Gong, Jian R. T1 - Clean technology approach for the competitive binding of toxic metal ions onto MnO2 nano-bioextractant JF - Clean technologies and environmental policy N2 - The competitive extraction of Cr(III) onto Nauclea diderrichii seed epicarp doped with MnO2 nanoparticles (MnO2 nano-bioextractant (MNB)) in a single and binary batch system was studied. For validity of experimental data, chi square test, root mean square error, sum of the square errors, hybrid fractional error function, Marquart’s percent standard deviation and standard absolute error were used. Among the kinetic models used, pseudo-second-order and Langmuir equations gave the best fits for the experimental data, with qe (mg g) for the uptake of Cr(III) in single metal system onto MNB, then Cr(III) with Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), KCl and CaCl2 in binary metal systems onto MNB were 2.611, then 1.989, 1.016, 2.208, 1.249 and 1.868 from kinetic standpoint, respectively. The initial sorption rates, h (mg/g/min), and half lives, t1/2 (min), for the uptake of Cr(III) in single metal system onto MNB, then Cr(III) with Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), KCl and CaCl2 in binary metal system onto MNB were 3.497, then 2.311, 2.274, 0.242, 2.956, 45.568 and 0.747, then 5.769, 1.766, 12.144, 1.762, and 2.415, respectively. Physicochemical surface analyses such as pH of point of zero charge, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller single point and multi-point techniques for surface area analyses, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were done on MNB and MnO2 nanoparticles in order to understand their surface microstructures. Desorption study showed that MNB can be recycled and used for future study. Hence, MNB showed good potential to remediate Cr(III) from wastewaters and polluted water. KW - Nauclea diderrichii KW - Nano-bioextractant KW - Doping KW - Kinetics KW - Mass transfer Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-015-1004-z SN - 1618-954X SN - 1618-9558 VL - 18 SP - 171 EP - 184 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Omorogie, Martins O. A1 - Babalola, Jonathan Oyebamiji A1 - Unuabonah, Emmanuel Iyayi A1 - Song, Weiguo A1 - Gong, Jian Ru T1 - Efficient chromium abstraction from aqueous solution using a low-cost biosorbent: Nauclea diderrichii seed biomass waste JF - Journal of Saudi Chemical Society N2 - Toxic Cr(III) which poses environmental hazard to flora and fauna was efficiently abstracted by low-cost Nauclea diderrichii seed biomass (NDS) with good sequestral capacity for this metal was investigated in this study. The NDS surface analyses showed that it has a specific surface area of 5.36 m(2)/g and pHpzc of 4.90. Thermogravimetric analysis of NDS showed three consecutive weight losses from 50-200 degrees C (ca. 5%), 200-400 C (ca. 35%), >400 degrees C (ca. 10%), corresponding to external water molecules, structural water molecules and heat induced condensation reactions respectively. Differential thermogram of NDS presented a large endothermic peak between 20-510 degrees C suggesting bond breakage and dissociation with the ultimate release of small molecules. The experimental data showed kinetically fast biosorption with increased initial Cr(III) concentrations, indicating the role of external mass transfer mechanism as the rate controlling mechanism in this adsorption process. The Langmuir biosorption capacity of NDS was 483.81 mg/g. The use of the corrected Akaike Information Criterion tool for ranking equilibrium models suggested that the Freundlich model best described the experimental data, which is an indication of the heterogeneous nature of the active sites on the surface of NDS. N. diderrichii seed biomass is an easily sourced, cheap and environmental friendly biosorbent which will serve as a good and cost effective alternative to activated carbon for the treatment of polluted water and industrial effluents. (C) 2012 King Saud University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. KW - Biomass KW - Equilibrium KW - External mass transfer KW - Kinetics KW - Adsorption KW - Water Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscs.2012.09.017 SN - 1319-6103 SN - 2212-4640 VL - 20 SP - 49 EP - 57 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Soliveres, Santiago A1 - Manning, Peter A1 - Prati, Daniel A1 - Gossner, Martin M. A1 - Alt, Fabian A1 - Arndt, Hartmut A1 - Baumgartner, Vanessa A1 - Binkenstein, Julia A1 - Birkhofer, Klaus A1 - Blaser, Stefan A1 - Bluethgen, Nico A1 - Boch, Steffen A1 - Boehm, Stefan A1 - Boerschig, Carmen A1 - Buscot, Francois A1 - Diekoetter, Tim A1 - Heinze, Johannes A1 - Hoelzel, Norbert A1 - Jung, Kirsten A1 - Klaus, Valentin H. A1 - Klein, Alexandra-Maria A1 - Kleinebecker, Till A1 - Klemmer, Sandra A1 - Krauss, Jochen A1 - Lange, Markus A1 - Morris, E. Kathryn A1 - Mueller, Joerg A1 - Oelmann, Yvonne A1 - Overmann, Jörg A1 - Pasalic, Esther A1 - Renner, Swen C. A1 - Rillig, Matthias C. A1 - Schaefer, H. Martin A1 - Schloter, Michael A1 - Schmitt, Barbara A1 - Schoening, Ingo A1 - Schrumpf, Marion A1 - Sikorski, Johannes A1 - Socher, Stephanie A. A1 - Solly, Emily F. A1 - Sonnemann, Ilja A1 - Sorkau, Elisabeth A1 - Steckel, Juliane A1 - Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf A1 - Stempfhuber, Barbara A1 - Tschapka, Marco A1 - Tuerke, Manfred A1 - Venter, Paul A1 - Weiner, Christiane N. A1 - Weisser, Wolfgang W. A1 - Werner, Michael A1 - Westphal, Catrin A1 - Wilcke, Wolfgang A1 - Wolters, Volkmar A1 - Wubet, Tesfaye A1 - Wurst, Susanne A1 - Fischer, Markus A1 - Allan, Eric T1 - Locally rare species influence grassland ecosystem multifunctionality JF - Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London : B, Biological sciences N2 - Species diversity promotes the delivery of multiple ecosystem functions (multifunctionality). However, the relative functional importance of rare and common species in driving the biodiversity multifunctionality relationship remains unknown. We studied the relationship between the diversity of rare and common species (according to their local abundances and across nine different trophic groups), and multifunctionality indices derived from 14 ecosystem functions on 150 grasslands across a land use intensity (LUI) gradient. The diversity of above- and below-ground rare species had opposite effects, with rare above-ground species being associated with high levels of multifunctionality, probably because their effects on different functions did not trade off against each other. Conversely, common species were only related to average, not high, levels of multifunctionality, and their functional effects declined with LUI. Apart from the community level effects of diversity, we found significant positive associations between the abundance of individual species and multifunctionality in 6% of the species tested. Species specific functional effects were best predicted by their response to LUI: species that declined in abundance with land use intensification were those associated with higher levels of multifunctionality. Our results highlight the importance of rare species for ecosystem multifunctionality and help guiding future conservation priorities. KW - biodiversity KW - common species KW - ecosystem function KW - identity hypothesis KW - land use KW - multitrophic Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0269 SN - 0962-8436 SN - 1471-2970 VL - 371 SP - 3175 EP - 3185 PB - Royal Society CY - London ER -