Voltammetric concentration measurements in diffusion-hindered media

In voltammetric analysis the signal—in most cases—depends on transport processes. When getting concentration values of analytes from voltammetric calibrating curves, it is expected that the mass transport characteristics in sample solutions and in calibrating standards are identical. Standard addition methods are used in analytical practice when making calibrating standard with transport properties matching that of the samples would be difficult. Voltammetric measurements can also be carried out in soil—in sediment—or in gel samples. The mass transport conditions in these media, however, can considerably differ from those existing in aqueous solutions. The application of standard addition technique, however, is not an option there. In this work, a glassy carbon electrode was applied with a built-in diffusion layer on its measuring surface and chronoamperometric measurements were carried out. The current–time transients taken in aqueous solution and in tortuous, diffusion-hindered media were compared. Ascorbic acid and iodine as analytes as well as silica sand sediments and green pepper pulps as tortuous matrices were used. It was proved that if the modified electrode is used for analysis, then short time chronoamperometric transients taken in tortuous media can be evaluated by calibration data taken in aqueous standard solutions.     

Experimental studies of solid state surface wetting of tin (Sn) on aluminium (Al)

Under ultra high vacuum (UHV) conditions tin (Sn) forms a monoatomic wetting layer on aluminium (Al) surfaces if Sn-islands formed by a preceding deposition process are present. Previous experimental observations and Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations suggest that wetting layer formation is governed by thermally activated surface diffusion and adsorption processes.This paper presents a systematic study of the wetting of the inner and outer interfaces of Al by Sn in sandwich systems consisting of a 400 nm Al-base layer, a 10 nm Sn interlayer and a 400 nm thick Al capping layer. The morphology and chemical composition of the sandwich systems is investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The wetting process is studied by scanning auger electron spectroscopy (AES) under UHV conditions. Depositing the Al-capping layer at different deposition rates allows for the assessment of the influence of the grain boundary density on the velocity of Sn-transport through the Al-capping layer. Studying the permeation speed of Sn through the capping layer at different temperatures shows that Sn penetrates the capping layer much more rapidly at elevated temperatures thus corroborating the involvement of thermally activated mechanisms in the transport process.     

X-ray excited KLL and KLM Auger spectra of manganese

High resolution (ΔE < 1.5 eV) manganese KLL and KLM Auger spectra, obtained by photoexcitation, are persented, and the transition energies and intensities are compared with the experimental and theoretical data published earlier. Significant disagreement can be observed between the respective experimental intensity values in the cases of the most intense lines, and large differences are found between the experimental and the available theoretical transition energy values of the main peaks. The disagreements between the experimental data can be explained rather by the different chemical states of the manganese samples investigated in the separate experiments than by the different mechanisms of the Auger processes.     

Experimental investigation of ≈130 keV kinetic energy antiprotons annihilation on nuclei

The recent observation of single spins flips with a single proton in a Penning trap opens the way to measure the proton magnetic moment with high precision. Based on this success, which has been achieved with our apparatus at the University of Mainz, we demonstrated recently the first application of the so called double Penning-trap method with a single proton. This is a major step towards a measurement of the proton magnetic moment with ppb precision. To apply this method to a single trapped antiproton our collaboration is currently setting up a companion experiment at the antiproton decelerator of CERN. This effort is recognized as the Baryon Antibaryon Symmetry Experiment (BASE). A comparison of both magnetic moment values will provide a stringent test of CPT invariance with baryons.     

In vivo studies with [methyl-3H]-thymidine regarding the effect of methyl donors cocktail in cancer therapy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methyl donor biovectors as cocktail formulation in cancer therapy. Based on our previous results regarding the pharmacokinetic of [Methyl-¹⁴C] Choline and [Methyl-³H] S-Adenosyl-Methionine (SAM) in presence of Folic Acid and their properties in the regulation of transmethylation metabolism, a cocktail solution of SAM, Choline and Folic Acid was prepared taking into account the previosly established molar ratios. The studies regarding the therapeutic effect of cocktail solution were effectuated on RS1 tumor bearing animal models. For evaluation of tumour cell proliferation we used the [Methyl-³H]-Thymidine with 25 Ci/mmol specific activity. The biodistribution studies were perfomed on untreated and treated tumuor bearing animals. The animal lots dedicated for treatment with methyl donors cocktail were treated with 200 μL cocktail for 4 days. After finishing the treatment, both untreated and treated animal lots were injected with 150 μCi [Methyl-³H]-Thymidine. Biodistribution studies were performed at 2, 4 and 8 hours post injection. The biodistribution results showed that at tumor level the uptake of [Methyl-³H]Thymidine is higher in the untreated animals (0.78%ID/g at 2 h, 1.07%ID/g at 4 h and 1.35%ID/g at 8 h) than in treated animals (0.06%ID/g at 2 h, 0.11%ID/g at 4 h and 0.13%ID/g at 8 h). The results regarding the Homocysteine levels in investigated animals show a decreasing of Homocysteine concentration up to normal values for treated animals.     

Current-induced switching of a single magnetic molecule with an arbitrary orientation of the magnetic easy axis

Magnetic switching of a single-molecule magnet (SMM) due to spin-polarized current is considered theoretically. The system under investigation consists of a single magnetic molecule attached to two ferromagnetic leads. Magnetic moments of the leads are assumed to be collinear, whereas the magnetic anisotropy axis of the molecule forms an arbitrary angle with the moments. The current flowing through the system as well as the average z-component of the molecule's spin is calculated within the perturbative approach (Fermi golden rule). The mechanism of molecule's spin reversal due to current flowing directly through the molecule is discussed.     

Current-induced magnetic switching of an arbitrary oriented single-molecule magnet in the cotunneling regime

Dynamics of current-induced magnetic switching of a single-molecule magnet in the case of Coulomb blockade is investigated theoretically. The molecule is weakly coupled to two ferromagnetic metallic electrodes with collinear magnetic moments, and the molecule's easy axis is assumed to form an arbitrary angle with these moments. The central focus of the paper is placed on discussing the influence of magnetic configuration of the system on the switching mechanism. It is shown that the crucial role in the switching process is played by the angle between the SMM's easy axis and electrodes’ magnetic moments.     

Current-driven destabilization of both collinear configurations in asymmetric spin valves

Spin-transfer torque in spin valves usually destabilizes one of the collinear configurations (either parallel or antiparallel) and stabilizes the second one. Apart from this, balance of the spin-transfer and damping torques can lead to steady precessional modes. In this Letter we show that in some asymmetric nanopillars, spin current can destabilize both parallel and antiparallel configurations. As a result, stationary precessional modes can occur at zero magnetic field. The corresponding phase diagram as well as frequencies of the precessional modes have been calculated in the framework of macrospin model. The relevant spin-transfer torque has been calculated in terms of the macroscopic model based on spin diffusion equations.     

Evidence for an exotic S= -2, Q= -2 baryon resonance in proton-proton collisions at the CERN SPS

Results of resonance searches in the Xi(-)pi(-), Xi(-)pi(+), Xi;(+)pi(-), and Xi;(+)pi(+) invariant mass spectra in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=17.2 GeV are presented. Evidence is shown for the existence of a narrow Xi(-)pi(-) baryon resonance with mass of 1.862+/-0.002 GeV/c(2) and width below the detector resolution of about 0.018 GeV/c(2). The significance is estimated to be above 4.2sigma. This state is a candidate for the hypothetical exotic Xi(--)(3/2) baryon with S=-2, I=3 / 2, and a quark content of (dsdsū). At the same mass, a peak is observed in the Xi(-)pi(+) spectrum which is a candidate for the Xi(0)(3/2) member of this isospin quartet with a quark content of (dsus[-]d). The corresponding antibaryon spectra also show enhancements at the same invariant mass.