Monte Carlo determinations of the beta dose rate to tooth enamel

The results of Monte Carlo simulations of the beta dose rate to enamel are presented. The dose rates are the most comprehensive to date, incorporating the beta spectrum from 21 different radionuclides, all internal conversion and Auger electrons, the majority of the bremsstrahlung radiation, effects due to radon loss in the uranium series, and variations in the moisture content of the sediment. Applications to a new dating technique in archaeology using electron spin resonance and beta-gradient isochrons are discussed.     

Electrochemical reduction of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 superconductor single crystals

Single crystals and polycrystalline pellets of the high-temperature cuprate superconductor Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O₈ were doped at room temperature by electrochemical reduction at > 95% Coulombic efficiency using lithium dopant ions in propylene carbonate electrolyte. Cyclic voltammetry and potential step measurements on single crystals suggest an unusual reduction mechanism, with a diffusion coefficient for Li⁺ in the c-axis direction of bulk superconductor of ca. 3 × 10⁻¹¹ cm²s⁻¹. Sintered pellets of polycrystalline powder could be doped more rapidly, with an apparent diffusion coefficient of 7 × 10⁻⁸ cm²s⁻¹. X-ray susceptibility analysis show extensive disordering occurs on heavy Li doping, with a first-order transition from a crystalline/superconducting to an amorphous/non-superconducting phase. Single, crystals of Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O₈ exhibited a color change on reduction from metallic gray to golden bronze. The reduced material was highly air-sensitive, forming a hydroxide surface film on exposure to ambient atmosphere.     

Mass-selected resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionisation spectra of laser-desorbed molecules for environmental analysis: 16 representative polycyclic aromatic compounds

Mass-selected gas-phase UV spectra of laser-desorbed molecules at room temperature have been measured via resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionisation (REMPI) and time-of-flight mass selection. The wavelength range of 260 to 320 nm is optimal for detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using REMPI-mass spectrometry. A new laser desorption/laser ionisation source has been used which features a compact size and thermal equilibrium of the desorbed molecules. 16 PAHs have been investigated which have been selected by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These 16 EPA-PAHs are commonly used world-wide to characterise the PAH-load of environmental samples.     

Zur Problematik der Peptidsynthese an Trägern: Beitrag eines neuen Verfahrens mit löslichen Trägern

A new procedure for the synthesis of peptides on a soluble carrier is described. It relies on gel filtration for the removal of low molecular weight reactants from the peptide-polymer complex after each cycle. The advantages of the method are assessed and the insight into the problematics of the carrier synthesis which it provides are discussed. Finally, the use of a monovalent, soluble carrieer molecule of defined chemistry is proposed. Such a carrier should reduce the problems of carrier synthesis to the purely chemical ones commonly associated with peptide synthesis.     

Nuclear radii of thorium isotopes from laser spectroscopy of stored ions

Isotope shifts and hyperfine splittings in optical transitions for atomic ions of the thorium isotopes²²⁷Th to²³⁰Th and²³²Th have been measured by laser spectroscopy on stored ions. From the isotope shift data, changes of the mean square charge radii are determined. A continuous increase of the charge radius with mass numberA is observed, in agreement with droplet model calculations. The results indicate that the odd-even staggering for Th is different from that one of the neighbouring isotones of Fr and Ra. There is some empirical evidence from systematics for an inversion of the staggering and the appearance of an octupole deformation atN ≦137. The hyperfine splitting for²²⁹Th for 3 electronic levels is given.     

Synthesis of 3-Adenyl- and 3-Thyminylcyclobutane-1,1-dimethanols and Their Homo-octameric Phosphodiesters

Starting from 3-(benzyloxy)cyclobutane-1,1-dimethanol, 3-thyminyl- and 3-adenylcyclobutane-1,1-dimethanol were synthesized by direct introduction of the heterocycles (Scheme 1). The mono-O-substituted methoxytrityl derivatives were separately converted to octameric phosphodiesters on an aminomethyl-polystyrene carrier by the phosphotriester method. These oligomers of carba-nucleosides were prepared in order to study their annealing behaviour towards ribo- and deoxyribo-nucleic acids as well as their potential for homologous hybridization.     

Proof of Nishida's Conjecture on Anharmonic Lattices

We prove Nishida's 1971 conjecture stating that almost all low-energetic motions of the anharmonic Fermi-Pasta-Ulam lattice with fixed endpoints are quasi-periodic. The proof is based on the formal computations of Nishida, the KAM theorem, discrete symmetry considerations and an algebraic trick that considerably simplifies earlier results. Supported by an EPSRC postdoctoral fellowship.     

Dilatometric behavior and glass transition in a styrene‐acrylonitrile copolymer

Equilibrium and glass transition behavior of a styrene‐acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) under different thermobaric histories were studied by means of a PVT dilatometer. Equilibrium behavior, as determined by isothermal and isobaric measurements, could be satisfactorily described using the Simha‐Somcynsky and Tait equations of state. Glass transition behavior depended upon the applied transformation path from the liquid‐equilibrium state to the glassy state. From isobaric cooling ramps performed at constant rate and at several pressures, it was possible to determine the glass transition temperature and its dependence upon pressure; whereas from isothermal compressions at various temperatures, it was possible to determine a glass transition pressure and its temperature dependence. Both the dependences were linear, and a correlation was observed between the slopes of the fitting lines. A possible interpretation of this correlation is provided in terms of free volume determined at the glass transition point by applying the Simha‐Somcynsky theory. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1904–1913, 2005