An extended technicolour model for grand unification

An extended technicolour grand unification model based on the gauge groupE ₆×SU(7) extended technicolour is presented. The symmetry-breaking based on extended technicolour theory is discussed. It is shown that the existing phenomenology is well explained by the model. The strangeness changing neutral currents may not be a problem with this model.     

Study of the peak effect phenomenon in single crystals of 2H-NbSe2

The weakly pinned single crystals of the hexagonal 2H-NbSe₂ compound have emerged as prototypes for determining and characterizing the phase boundaries of the possible order-disorder transformations in the vortex matter. We present here a status report based on the ac and dc magnetization measurements of the peak effect phenomenon in three crystals of 2H-NbSe₂, in which the critical current densities vary over two orders of magnitude. We sketch the generic vortex phase diagram of a weakly pinned superconductor, which also utilizes theoretical proposals. We also establish the connection between the metastability effects and pinning.     

Electrochemically generated super-hydrophilic surfaces

The control of surface wettability of indium tin oxide (In2O3-SnO2) coated glass surfaces is studied. We report here the first observation of purely electrochemical generation of super-hydrophilic surfaces at In2O3-SnO2 electrodes in the absence of an ultraviolet illumination source. This is achieved by the application of high anodic potentials for a prolonged period. Such surfaces are reversibly converted back to their original hydrophobic state on storage in air (one or two days) or water (a week)(and vice versa). The unique character of these surfaces can be attributed to the surface structure of the hydrophilic phase.     

Divalent transition metal complexes of 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylate

New divalent transition metal 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylate hydrates of empirical formula Mpz(COO)₂(H₂O)₂, where M=Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd (pz(COO)₂=3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylate), metal hydrazine complexes of the type Mpz(COO)₂N₂H₄ where M=Co, Zn or Cd and Mpz(COO)₂nN₂H₄·H₂O, where n=1 for M=Ni and n=0.5 for M=Cu have been prepared and characterized by physico-chemical methods. Electronic spectroscopic data suggest that Co and Ni complexes adopt an octahedral geometry. The IR spectra confirm the presence of unidentate carboxylate anion (Δν=ν_asy(COO^–)–ν_sym(COO^–)>215 cm^–1) in all the complexes and bidentate bridging hydrazine (ν_N–N=985–950 cm^–1) in the metal hydrazine complexes. Both metal carboxylate and metal hydrazine carboxylate complexes undergo endothermic dehydration and/or dehydrazination followed by exothermic decomposition of organic moiety to give the respective metal oxides as the end products except manganese pyrazoledicarboxylate hydrate, which leaves manganese carbonate. X-ray powder diffraction patterns reveal that the metal carboxylate hydrates are isomorphous as are those of metal hydrazine complexes of cobalt, zinc and cadmium.     

The influence of a transverse magnetic field on a subnormal glow discharge in air

In subnormal glow discharge under d.c. excitation at different pressure in a varying transverse magnetic field (0 to 30 G) some measurements have been carried out for various initial average tube currents. The voltage across the discharge increases and average tube current and residual current decreases in the magnetic field. With the help of Beckman’s expression [4] for the axial field and the electron density distribution in a transverse magnetic field the observed variation of current and voltage can be satisfactorily explained. The variation of axial electric field with transverse magnetic field can be represented to a fair degree of accuracy by the derived equation. The behaviour of residual current with magnetic field has been observed in these oscillations.     

Integral equation formulation for buoyancy-driven convection problems

An integral equation formulation for buoyancy-driven convection problems is developed and illustrated. Buoyancy-driven convection in a bounded cylindrical geometry with a free surface is studied for a range of aspect ratios and Nusselt numbers. The critical Rayleigh number, the nature of the cellular motion, and the heat transfer enhancement are computed using linear theory. Green's functions are used to convert the linear problem into linear Fredholm integral equations. Theorems are proved which establish the properties of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the linear integral operator which appears in these equations.     

Thermoanalytical and spectroscopic studies on hydrazinium lighter lanthanide complexes of 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid

The new hydrazinium lanthanide metal complexes of 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid (HpyzCOO) of the formulae (N₂H₅)₂[Ln(pyzCOO)₅] · 2H₂O (1), where Ln = La or Ce and (N₂H₅)₃[Ln(pyzCOO)₄(H₂O)] · 2NO₃ (2), where Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm or Dy have been synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical methods. The IR absorption bands of N–N stretching at 960 cm⁻¹ unambiguously prove the existence of N₂H₅ ⁺ ions. The bonding parameters β, b^1/2, % δ and η, have been calculated from the electronic spectroscopic (hypersensitive) bands of Pr(III) and Nd(III) complexes. All the complexes undergo endothermic followed by exothermic decomposition to leave the respective metal oxides as the end products. However, the DTA of the complexes 2 demonstrate rather sharp peak than the complexes 1, owing to overwhelming exothermicity, which may be due to the loss of both hydrazine and nitrate moieties in the same step. The X-ray powder diffraction studies reveal the existence of isomorphism among the member complexes.     

MyD88-dependent and independent pathways of Toll-Like Receptors are engaged in biological activity of Triptolide in ligand-stimulated macrophages

Background  

Triptolide is a diterpene triepoxide from the Chinese medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F., with known anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and anti-cancer properties.     

Helium cosmic ray flux measurements at Mars

The helium energy spectrum in Martian orbit has been observed by the MARIE charged particle spectrometer aboard the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft. The orbital data were taken from March 13, 2002 to October 28, 2003, at which time a very intense Solar Particle Event caused a loss of communication between the instrument and the spacecraft. The silicon detector stack in MARIE is optimized for the detection of protons and helium in the energy range below , which typically includes almost all of the flux during SPEs. This also makes MARIE an efficient detector for GCR helium in the energy range of 50–. We will present the first fully normalized flux results from MARIE, using helium ions in this energy range.