An improved model of the fringing fields of a quadrupole mass filter

The fringing field region of a quadrupole mass filter is modelled using an iterative finite difference technique to solve Laplace's equation for the electrostatic potential. The results are used to formulate an expression f(z) such that the electrostatic potential of the fringing field, F(x, y, z, t) may be written in the form F(x, y, z, t) = f(z) φ(x, y, t), where φ(x, y, t) is the hyperbolic field of the quadrupole. The function f(z) is expressed in the form f(z) = 1 - exp {- az - bz²}), where a and b are constants and z is in units of r_O, where 2r_O is the spacing of the quadrupole rods. The effect of the distance from the quandrupole rods to the end plate of the quadrupole mass filter, d on f(z) is investigated and the results presented show that for d < 0.125 r_O the function f(z) does not alter significantly.     

Genetic characterization of Escherichia coli RecN protein as a member of SMC family of proteins

The proteins of SMC family are characterized by having Walker A and B sites. The Escherichia coli RecN protein is a prokaryotic member of SMC family that involved in the induced excision of Tn10 and the repair of the DNA double strand breaks. In this work, the Walker A nucleotide binding site of the E. coli RecN protein was mutated by changing the highly conserved lysine residue 35 to the aspartic acid (D), designated as recN_K35D. Reverse genetics was utilized to delete the entire recN gene (ΔrecN108) or introduce the recN_K35D gene into the E. coli chromosomal DNA. The recN_K35D cells showed decrease in the frequency of excision of Tn10 from gal76::Tn10 after treatment with mitomycin C compared to recN⁺ cells. The ΔrecN108 cells showed an un-induced increase in the frequency of Tn10 excision from gal76::Tn10 in rec⁺ background while, recBC sbcBC ΔrecN108 cells are completely deficient in Tn10 excision. The recombination proficiency is reduced in cells carrying recBC sbcBC cells in addition recN_K35D mutation. We observed that the Walker A nucleotide binding site is important for the RecN protein. Strains that deleted recN gene are recombination deficient and more sensitive to mitomycin C than strains carrying recN_K35D.     

Enthalpy characteristics of solution of L-cysteine and L-asparagine in water-alcohol mixtures at 298.15 K

The integral enthalpies of solution Δ_sol H ^m of L-cysteine and L-asparagine in mixtures of water with ethanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol at a mole fraction of alcohol of up to 0.32 were determined by calorimetry of solution. The standard enthalpies of solution (Δ_sol H ⁰) of L-serine and of its transfer (Δ_tr H ⁰) from water to a mixed solvent were calculated. The dependences of Δ_sol H ⁰ and Δ_tr H ⁰ on the composition of water-alcohol mixtures pass through a maximum. The calculated enthalpy coefficients of pair interaction of amino acids with alcohol molecules are positive and increase in the order ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol. The data obtained were interpreted from the viewpoint of various types of interaction in solution and effect of the amino acid residue on the thermochemical characteristics of solution.     

Stability of Rare-Earth Oxychloride Phases: Bond Valence Study

The crystal structures of the tetragonal rare earth (RE) oxychlorides, REOCl (RE=La-Nd, Sm-Ho, and Y) were studied by X-ray powder diffraction measurements, Rietveld analyses, and bond valence calculations. The tetragonal structure (space group P4/nmm, No. 129, Z=2) is stable for all but Er-Lu oxychlorides, which possess a hexagonal structure. The tetragonal structure consists of alternating layers of (REO)_nⁿ⁺ complex cations and Xⁿ⁻ anions, where the rare earth is coordinated to four oxygens and four plus one chlorines in a monocapped tetragonal antiprism arrangement. The Rietveld analyses yielded a coherent series of structural parameters. Preferred orientation and microabsorption effects were found significant. The evolution of interatomic distances and bond angles indicated that the reason for the preferred structure changing from tetragonal to hexagonal is the strain in the chlorine layer. The bond valence parameter B for the RE-O bonds had to be recalculated due to the covalent nature of the (REO)_nⁿ⁺ unit. The results obtained with the new parameter confirmed the strains in the chlorine layer to be the cause for the phase transition.     

Internal dynamics of the LaI3 molecule. II. Thermal average structure of the molecule and mean square vibration amplitudes

The structural parameters of the effective r _g configuration of the LaI₃ molecule were calculated using the DFT/B3LYP method. The difference between the calculated values of r _e (La-I) and r _g (La-I) is mostly due to the anharmonicity of the ν₁ and ν₂ vibrations and does not exceed the error in determining the distance r _g (La-I) in the electron diffraction experiment. Inclusion of the anharmonicity of the ν₂ and ν₄ deformation vibrations in calculations leads to decreased amplitudes l(I…I) and shrinking effect δ(I…I) compared to the respective values obtained in the harmonic approximation. The LaI₃ molecule proved to be more rigid than predicted by B3LYP calculations.     

Hyperfine structure in the configurations4f 4 6s 2 and4f 4 5d 6s of Nd I

The high resolution laser-atomic-beam technique was used to investigate the hyperfine structure in Nd I 4f ⁴6s ^{2 5} I,⁵ F,⁵ S and 4f ⁴5d6s ⁷ L,⁷ K,⁷ I,⁷ H. The metastable states were populated by an arc discharge burning in the atomic beam. The measured hyperfine constantsA andB of the levels of 4f ⁴6s ² and 4f ⁴5d6s allow a parametric analysis to be performed using the effective tensor operator formalism. The experimental radial integrals of the 4f and 5d electrons fit with those of the other lanthanides. The 4f radial integrals are in agreement with values of optimized Hartree-Fock-Slater calculations. The spectroscopic quadrupole moments of¹⁴³Nd and¹⁴⁵Nd are deduced from the 4f parameters:Q _I =?0.610(21) b and ?0.314(12) b, respectively. TheQ _I resulting from the 5d parameter are in satisfactory agreement with these values. The hyperfine anomaly due to thes electron in 4f ⁴5d 6s amounts to about 1%.     

Electrical transport properties of Zn doped ZnO

Electrical resistivity and Hall effect measurements at 77–373°K are presented for Zn doped ZnO crystals. The crystals have been doped systematically at 600–1100°C in controlled pressures of Zn. The concentration of electrons at room temperature is in the range n_RT = 2.5 × 10¹⁶, to 3.6 × 10¹⁸, cm^?3. The donor level E_D and the concentrations of donors N^D and acceptors N_A have been calculated from a best fit to the experimental relationships log n versus $\text{1}\text{T}$ and log μ_H versus log T. At dilute concentrations of donors, two donor levels have been observed, E_D^I = 0.043–0.045 eV and a deeper level E^II_D greater than 0.165 eV. The ZnO was found to behave as a metal at N_D ～ 6 × 10¹⁸, cm^?3.At least two different donors have to be assumed in order to explain the experimental results. It is suggested that interstitial Zn is the electrical active donor at higher doping levels. The nature of the other donor is not clear. Neither 1s¹ H-type nor 1s² He-type donors seem to explain all the observations consistently.     

Analysis of the 5p6p configuration of Xe V

The spectrum of four times ionized Xenon (XeV), has been observed in the 500–6800 Å range and 84 new lines have been identified as transitions between levels of 5s5p ³, 5s ²5p5d, 5s ²5p6s, 5s ²5p ², and 5s ²5p6p configurations. Nine new levels belonging to the configuration 5p6p have been determined. The results of this analysis are supported by Hartree-Fock calculations. The configurations are interpreted by fitting the theoretical energy parameters to the observed levels using least-squares techniques.     

The photoelastic behaviour of swollen networks of polymethacrylic acid

The visoelastic photoelastic behaviour of cross-linked polymethacrylic acid, swollen to equilibrium in variously concentrated aqueous NaCl solutions (c_x = 0.05-1.5 M), was studied. In the rubber-like region, stress and birefringence relaxation at various elongations (λ) can be separated into the deformation- and time-dependent parts. Both the extrapolated equilibrium modulus (G_r) and the interaction parameter (χ) strongly depend on the degree of swelling of the gel. One of the most interesting findings is that the exponent of the volume fraction of the polymer (ν₂) in the dependence of the modulus G_e on ν₂ is much higher than 1/3 as predicted by the theory of Gaussian networks, if the concentration of the crosslinking agent c is low. The same is true for the Mooney-Rivlin constant (C₁) even if the ratio $\text{C}{}_2\text{C}{}_1$ approaches zero at lower ν₂. The values of the stress-optical coefficient (C_e) increase with both increasing swelling and decreasing content of the cross-linking agent in the gel; the most pronounced increase in C_e is connected with the largest decrease in G_e. The same dependence of C_e on the modulus in the dry state (G_d), irrespective of the concentration of the cross-linking agent and c_s, suggests the conclusive role played by the macroform contribution to birefringence. The effects found are probably due to the disappearance of the secondary structure of PMA chains with increasing swelling and concentration of the cross-linking agent.     

Magnetic structure of rare-earth dodecaborides

We have investigated the magnetic structure of HoB₁₂, ErB₁₂ and TmB₁₂ by neutron diffraction on isotopically enriched single-crystalline samples. Results in zero field as well as in magnetic field up to 5 T reveal modulated incommensurate magnetic structures in these compounds. The basic reflections can be indexed with q=(1/2±δ, 1/2±δ, 1/2±δ), where δ=0.035 both for HoB₁₂ and TmB₁₂ and with q=(3/2±δ, 1/2±δ, 1/2±δ), where δ=0.035, for ErB₁₂. In an applied magnetic field, new phases are observed. The complex magnetic structure of these materials seems to result from the interplay between the RKKY and dipole-dipole interaction. The role of frustration due to the fcc symmetry of dodecaborides and the crystalline electric field effect is also considered.     

Fluorescence of copolymers of 2-naphthyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate

The fluorescence of a series of copolymers of 2-naphthyl methacrylate (2-NM) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) with various contents of 2-NM (obtained in chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and acetonitrile) was investigated. A linear dependence between the ratio of the excimer to monomer emission intensities (I_D/I_M) and the diad fraction (f_nn) of 2-NM monomer units was established. The relationship between I_D/I_M and f_nn · I_n (I_n = the mean sequence length of 2-NM units) fits a logarithmic curve. The results indicate that the excimer emission is determined mainly by the nearest neighbour naphthalene-containing monomer units in the copolymer chain. The copolymers obtained in acetonitrile have higher values of I_D/I_M than those obtained in chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. This difference is due to the higher content of mm-triads in copolymers from acetonitrile, confirmed by ¹H-NMR analysis of the samples of poly(methyl methacrylate) formed from copolymers of 2-NM and MMA.     

Semiclassical variational study of size effects in neutral and charged jellium droplets

An analytic expression for the total energy of metallic clusters composed ofN identical atoms of valencev and with net chargeQ is obtained by means of a variational solution of the Thomas-Fermi-Weizsäcker energy density functional within the spherical jellium model. The minimum energy is given as an expansion in decreasing powers of the cluster radiusR=r _s Z ^1/3, withZ=vN andr _s the radius per electron of the bulk metal. The coefficients are obtained as functions ofr _s . Terms of volume (R ³), surface (R ²), curvature (R), constant (R ⁰), (1/R) and (1/R ²) are clearly separated in the formula, as well as the different contributions (kinetic, coulombic and exchange-correlation) to each of them. The asymptotic values (R→∞) for the work functions,W(r _s ), and surface energies σ(r _s ), are compared to analogous semiclassical and Kohn-Sham calculations of jellium-like surfaces and to the experimental values. The size dependent behaviour of chemical potentials, μ(R), electron affinities,AF(R), and ionization potentials,IP(R), are easily obtained for any kind of metallic clusters. In particular we discuss the Coulomb and quantum corrections to the coefficients β, δ in the asymptotic formulae:IP?W+β/R andAF?W+δ/R.     

Elastic behavior of non-Gaussian polymethylene chains

In this paper, elastic behaviors of non-Gaussian polymethylene (PM) chains with chain length N=100 are investigated by rotational isomeric state model. Here the tetrahedral lattice of PM chain and the non-local interaction of Sutherland potential are adopted. In the metropolis movement of PM chain, a four-bond movement model is used. The average energy and average Helmholtz free energy with various elongation ratios λ are calculated by Monte Carlo simulation method. The average energy increases with elongation ratio λ and the average Helmholtz free energy decreases with elongation ratio λ. The elastic force f and the energy contribution to elastic force f_u can be obtained from f=∂〈A〉/∂r and f=∂〈U〉/∂r. We find that the elastic force f increases with elongation ratio λ and the energy contribution f_u decreases with elongation ratio λ, and f_u is less than zero. The ratio f_u/f is close to −0.21 for λ?1.25, and −0.04 to −0.35 for λ>1.25 at T=364 K. In our calculation, the rubber elasticity may be discussed in terms of the chemical structure of polymer chains.     

Effect of Soil Type: Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Phytochemicals in Some Browse Species Leaves Found in Savannah Biome of South Africa

In semi-arid regions, browse plant species are used as feed and for medicinal purposes for both animals and humans. The limitation of the utilization of these species to medicinal purposes or as feed for livestock is a lack of knowledge on the concentration level of phytochemicals and other bioactive compounds found in these plants. The study sought to assay the qualitative and quantitative bioactive constituents of some browse species found in the savannah biome of South Africa, viz. Adansonia digitate, Androstachys johnsonii, Balanites maughamii, Berchemia discolor, Berchemia zeyheri, Bridelia mollis hutch, Carissa edulis, Catha edulis, Colophospermum mopane, Combretum Imberbe, Combretum molle, Combretum collinum, Dalbergia melanoxylon, Dichrostachys cinerea, Diospros lycioides, Diospyros mespiliformis, Euclea divinorum, Flueggea virosa, Grewia flava, Grewia flavescens, Grewia monticola, Grewia occidentalis, Melia azedarach, Peltophorum africanum, Prosopis velutina, Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia, Pterocarpus rotundifolius, Schinus molle, Schotia brachypetala, Sclerocarya birrea, Searsia lancea, Searsia leptodictya, Searsia pyroides, Senegalia caffra, Senegalia galpinii, Senegalia mellifera, Senegalia nigrescens, Senegalia polyacantha, Strychnos madagascariensis, Terminalia sericea, Trichilia emetic, Vachellia erioloba, Vachellia hebeclada, Vachellia karroo, Vachellia nilotica, Vachellia nilotica subsp. Kraussiana, Vachellia rechmanniana, Vachellia robusta, Vachellia tortilis, Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana, Vangueria infausta, and Ziziphus mucronata. These browse species’ leaf samples were harvested from two provinces (Limpopo and North-West) of South Africa. The Limpopo province soil type was Glenrosa, Mispah, and Lithosols (GM-L), and the soil types in the North-West Province were Aeolian Kalahari Sand, Clovelly, and Hutton (AKS-CH). The harvested browse samples were air dried at room temperature for about seven days and ground for analysis. The methanol and distilled water extracts of the browse species leaves showed the presence of common phytoconstituents, including saponins, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, cardio glycosides, terpenoids, and phlobatannins, as major active compounds in browse species leaves. In the quantitative analysis, phytochemical compounds, such as soluble phenols, insoluble tannins, and condensed tannins, were quantified for common species found in both sites. Two-way ANOVA and multivariate analysis were used to test soil type and species effect on soluble phenols, insoluble tannins, and condensed tannins of woody species. Dichrostachys cinerea (0.1011% DM) in GM-L soil type and Z. mucronata (0.1009% DM) in AKS-CH soil type showed the highest (p < 0.05) concentration of soluble phenols. In AKS-CH soil type, D. cinerea (0.0453% DM) had the highest insoluble tannins concentration, while V. hebeclada had the lowest (0.0064% DM) insoluble tannins content. Vacchelia hebeclada had lower (p < 0.05) condensed tannins concentration levels than all other browse plants in both soil types. Under multivariate analysis tests, there was a significant effect (p < 0.001) of soil type, species, and soil type x species interaction on soluble phenols, insoluble tannins, and condensed tannins of woody species. In this study, most of the woody species found in GM-L soil type showed a lower amount of tannins than those harvested in AKS-CH soil type. There is a need to identify the amount of unquantified phytochemicals contained in these browse species and valorize the high-bioactive-compound browse species to enhance and maximize browsing of these browse species for animal production.     

Investigation of modification of hydrogenation and structural properties of LaNi5 intermetallic compound induced by substitution of Ni by Pd

The hydrogenation properties of the LaNi₅ (CaCu₅ type, hP6, P6/mmm) and Pd substituted derivatives LaNi_5−xPd_x compounds have been studied in the whole homogeneity range of the solid solution (0.25≤x≤1.5). The pressure versus hydrogen content isotherms show several plateaus and an increase of the plateau pressure as a function of palladium concentration. The volume increase of the Pd substituted alloys should have resulted in a lowering, and not an increase, of the plateau pressure, according to the conventional models based on the size effect. In order to elucidate the origin of this anomalous behavior, both an experimental and a theoretical ab initio electronic structure investigation have been carried out. Experimentally, the nature and the structural properties of the hydrides have been studied by both in situ and ex situ neutron diffraction. The crystal structures of the three hydride phases are reported (LaNi_3.5Pd_1.5D_1.96, filled-up CaCu₅ type, P6/mmm; LaNi₄PdD_2.72, LaNi₂(Ni_0.75Pt_0.25)₃H_2.61 type, oI128, Ibam; LaNi_4.75Pd_0.25D_5.67, partly ordered CaCu₅ type, P6mm). In addition, the phase diagram of LaNi_5−xPd_x-H system has been investigated. The electronic and thermodynamic properties of both intermetallic compounds and the hydrides have been studied by ab initio electronic structure calculations. The theoretical results are in good agreement with our experimental data, and show that electronic interactions play a major role in the hydrogenation behavior of these Pd substituted intermetallic compounds, and that these effects cannot be accounted for by a simplistic model based on the size effect alone.     

Establishment and Application of a Predictive Growth Kinetic Model of Salmonella with the Appearance of Two Other Dominant Background Bacteria in Fresh Pork

To better guide microbial risk management and control, growth kinetic models of Salmonella with the coexistence of two other dominant background bacteria in pork were constructed. Sterilized pork cutlets were inoculated with a cocktail of Salmonella Derby (S. Derby), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and Escherichia coli (E. coli), and incubated at various temperatures (4–37 °C). The predictive growth models were developed based on the observed growth data. By comparing R² of primary models, Baranyi models were preferred to fit the growth curves of S. Derby and P. aeruginosa, while the Huang model was preferred for E. coli (all R² ≥ 0.997). The secondary Ratkowsky square root model can well describe the relationship between temperature and μ_max (all R² ≥ 0.97) or Lag (all R² ≥ 0.98). Growth models were validated by the actual test values, with B_f and A_f close to 1, and MSE around 0.001. The time for S. Derby to reach a pathogenic dose (10⁵ CFU/g) at each temperature in pork was predicted accordingly and found to be earlier than the time when the pork began to be judged nearly fresh according to the sensory indicators. Therefore, the predictive microbiology model can be applied to more accurately predict the shelf life of pork to secure its quality and safety.     

A thermometric study of the dissolution of copper in acid solutions

The dissolution of Cu in solutions of HNO₃ of different concentrations has been studied by the thermometric method. Starting from the initial temperature, T_i, the temperature—time curves exhibit an induction period followed by a rapid rise in temperature to a maximum value, T_m, attained t min after the start of the reaction. T_m increases and t decreases with increase of the acid concentration, M. ΔT (i.e.T_m ? T_i) and the reaction number (R.N. = (T_m ? T_i)/t) vary with M according to: ΔT = k(M ? M₀) and R.N. = A₁Mⁿ, where k, M₀, A₁ and n are constants.The effect of varying concentrations of HCl, H₂SO₄ and H₃PO₄ on the R.N. of Cu in 3.5 M HNO₃ was examined. Small amounts of these acids lower the R.N. (inhibition) due to the displacement of an active species on the surface of the metal by the anion of the acid. Larger additions of the acids accelerate dissolution. The concentration at which the added acid changes from corrosion-inhibitor to accelerator varies as HCl < H₂SO₄ < H₃PO₄. This sequence is considered to parallel the strength of adsorption of the respective anions. The results of experiments with salt additions confirm this view; all salts act only as dissolution-retardants. Calculations pertaining to the effect of the various ions on the R.N. support the conclusion that the dissolution of Cu in HNO₃ is autocatalytic in nature, and depends on the [H⁺]/[NO₃^?] ratio.Cu does not dissolve in air-free, cold HCl. Attack takes place, however, in the presence of KNO₃. Under these conditions attack is of the pitting- rather than the general type. The temperature rises suddenly after an incubation period, which decreases in length with increase of the amount of the added salt.Proof of the involvement of HNO₂ in the autocatalytic cycle of Cu dissolution in HNO₃ is obtained from the results of urea additions to the solution.     

NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants of various nuclei of N,N-diethylbenzenesulfenamide,N,N-diethylbenzeneseleneamide and some related sulfur amides

The ⁷⁷Se, ¹⁵N, ¹³C and ¹H NMR parameters have been determined for N,N-diethylbenzenesulfen- and N,N-diethylbenzeneseleneamide and the ¹H¹³C coupling constants additionally for N,N-dimethylmethanesulfinamide, N,N-dimethylbenzenesulfinamide, N,N-dimethylmethanesulfonamide, N,N-dimethylbenzenesulfonamide and diphenylsulfone. The nitrogen-15 nucleus is slightly more shielded in the sulfenamide than in the seleneamide. Compared to sulfin- and sulfonamides the nitrogen nuclei of these amides are more shielded. The solvent effects on the chemical shift of both selenium-77 and nitrogen-15 nuclei are observable. The nitrogen-15 chemical shifts of sulfur and seleneamides are less sensitive to the solvents than those of carboxamides. This change in the nitrogen-15 chemical shift in sulfen- and seleneamide is the same order of magnitude, but opposite in direction compared with that in sulfon- and sulfinamides. The ¹H¹³C direct aromatic coupling constants increase along with the increasing oxidation state of sulfur in sulfur amides, being greatest in sulfonamides.     

Fatigue behavior of polystyrene (PS) analyzed from the Fourier transform (FT) of stress response: First evidence of I2/1(N) and I3/1(N) as new fingerprints

The fatigue behavior of polystyrene (PS) in strain controlled torsion rectangular oscillatory tests was analyzed via Fourier transform (FT) to better understand the time evolution of linear and nonlinear mechanical parameters, and to establish fingerprints related to failure onset. The tests were performed under large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS), so the stress response was no longer perfectly sinusoidal and higher harmonics could be detected and quantified in the FT spectra as a function of time or number of cycles N. A linear parameter, the storage modulus (G′(N)), was analyzed, as well as nonlinear parameters of the ratios of the second (I₂(N)) and the third (I₃(N)) harmonics over the fundamental one (I₁(N)). The nonlinear parameter I_2/1(N) is very low for undamaged samples, but its intensity was found to increase when defects were created in the structure to a point where cracks became visible in the sample. On the other hand, the I_3/1(N) parameter increased steadily during a test up to a local maximum where a macroscopic crack occurs in the sample. Both parameters I_2/1(N) and I_3/1(N) are proposed as new criteria to detect the onset of part failure under the conditions tested and can be used as safety limits for partial damage.