Backward particle production in neutrino neon interactions

Backward proton and pion production is studied in ν and \(\bar v\) charged current interactions in neon. The results are compared with other experiments and theory. The complete backward proton data is compatible with protons produced by reinteractions in the nucleus. However in events with only one proton, muon variables appear correlated to those for the backward proton, as expected by the two-nucleon correlation model.     

Rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the quantitation of epirubicin and identification of metabolites in biological samples

A highly sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method has been developed for the determination of epirubicin in serum and cell specimens using daunorubicin as an internal standard. Using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI), the epirubicin metabolites were readily distinguishable by their fragmentation pattern in the mass spectrometer. Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode was employed for quantitation of epirubicin and the metabolites. Following extraction, chromatography was performed on a C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of water-acetonitrile-formic acid, pH 3.2, with a flow rate of 200 μl/min. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of this method in serum were determined to be 1.0 and 2.5 ng/ml, respectively. Linearity of the method was verified over the concentration range of 2.5-2000 ng/ml, with a high correlation coefficient (R² ≥ 0.998). For the extraction procedure, an aliquot of 500 μl serum, spiked with internal standard, was extracted using a chloroform-2-isopropanol (2:1, v/v) mixture. The method has been applied to the analysis of epirubicin in cancer cell samples and the identification of known and unknown metabolites in clinical trial patient serum samples.     

Coherent single pion production by antineutrino charged current interactions and test of PCAC

The cross section for coherent production of a single π^? meson in charged current antineutrino interactions on neon nuclei has been measured in BEBC to be (175±25) 10^?40 cm²/neon nucleus, averaged over the energy spectrum of the antineutrino wide band beam at the CERN SPS; this corresponds to (0.9±0.1) % of the total charged current \(\bar v_\mu \) cross section. The distributions of kinematical variables are in agreement with theoretical predictions based on the PCAC hypothesis and the meson dominance model; in particular, theQ ² dependence is well described by a propagator containing a massm=(1.35±0.18) GeV. The absolute value of the cross section is also in agreement with the model. This analysis thus provides a test of the PCAC hypothesis in the antineutrino energy range 5–150 GeV.     

Transport and kinetics at microheterogeneous electrodes: Part V. The methylviologen/platinum system

Results are reported for the reaction of methylviologen radical cation, MV⁺ with platinum colloidal particles, studied by stopped flow spectrophotometry. The rate of the reaction depends on the gaseous pretreatment of the particles. For particles reduced by hydrogen, the kinetics are usually first order with respect to MV⁺. The reaction is also first order in the concentration of platinum, and is inhibited in a first order manner by the product MV²⁺. This inhibition suggests that MV²⁺ is adsorbed on the particle surfaces, and this has been confirmed by ac, ring—disc electrode studies on macroscopic platinum electrodes. At high concentrations of MV⁺ some deviation from first order kinetics is observed. These results are all explained by a kinetic model in which either the desorption of MV²⁺ or the adsorption of MV⁺ is the rate limiting process. The rate of consumption of MV⁺ on an oxidised surface is an order of magnitude faster than that on the reduced surface. Ring—disc studies show that this is because the MV⁺ is not producing H₂ but is reducing the surface oxide. The results are shown to fit a simple model which takes into account this titration of the oxide layer. The model also explains why the rate on partially oxidised surfaces will appear to have an order greater than one in [Pt].     

Ion pair generation rates near planar3H and63Ni electron capture detector foils

The ion-pair generation rate (ionization topography) in plasmas from⁶³Ni and particularly Ti³H₄ foils, as used in electron capture detectors, was measured at room temperature using large, parallel plates of low backscattering ability in nitrogen gas of varying density. For one atmosphere pressure, the fall-off of ion pair formation as calculated from the exponential region equalsN ₀·e ^–0.19d for⁶³Ni andN ₀·e ^–1.4d for³H (whereN ₀ is the initial ionization rate immediately adjacent to the foil andd is the distance from the foil in mm). The experimentally measured half ranges (distances from the foil within which 50% of all possible ion pairs are created) are 2.7 mm for⁶³Ni and 0.27 mm for³H. The half ranges calculated from the exponential region where there is less interference from electron backscattering, are 3.7 and 0.5 mm, respectively. The latter values are considered closer to the true, unimpeded ionization topography near planar⁶³Ni and³H foils.Material taken from doctoral thesis     

3M Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in selected types of meat, seafood, and poultry: collaborative study

The 3M Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method was compared with AOAC Official Method 975.55 for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in selected foods. Four foods--cooked, diced chicken; cured ham; smoked salmon; and pepperoni--were analyzed for S. aureus by 12 collaborating laboratories. For each food tested, the collaborators received 8 blind test samples consisting of a control sample, a low inoculation level, a medium inoculation level, and a medium inoculation level with background flora, each in duplicate. The mean log10 counts for the methods were comparable for all 4 foods. The repeatability and reproducibility variances of the 24 h Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method were similar to those of the 72 h standard method.