Excited states of 96Nb from the 96Zr(p,nγ)96Nb reaction

The γ-ray spectra of the ⁹⁶Zi(p, nγ)⁹⁶Nb reaction have been measured with Ge(Li) detectors at different bombarding proton energies between 1.3 and 5.1 MeV. γγ coincidences were observed at E_p = 4.7 and 5.0 MeV. On the basis of experimental results a level scheme of ⁹⁶Nb was deduced, and γ-threshold energies and γ-branching ratios were determined. Computed Hauser-Feshbach (p, n′) cross sections have been compared with experimental data obtained from the γ-ray measurements, and level spins and parities have been determined. The energies of ⁹⁶Nb levels were calculated on the basis of the parabolic rule, derived from the cluster-vibration model. The Racah multipole decomposition method was used also for the theoretical interpretation of several ⁹⁶Nb multiplet states.     

Structure of low-lying levels in91Rb and93Rb

Life-times of low-lying levels in ₃₇ ⁹¹ Rb₅₄ and ₃₇ ⁹³ Rb₅₆ have been determined fromβ ^??γ coincidence measurements at the fission-product separator JOSEF. Values oft _1/2=17.0(8) ns and 2.0(2) ns have been obtained for the levels at 1,134 keV in⁹¹Rb and 267 keV in⁹³Rb, respectively, and upper limits could be deduced for several other states. Calculations in the frame of IBFM/PTQM have been performed for⁹¹Rb, the results of which allow an interpretation of the low-lying levels of this nucleus. For the 1,134 keV level the configuration [πg _9/2?2⁺] 7/2⁺ is suggested which lies close to or even below the 9/2 ₁ ⁺ level. The calculated half-life of 14 ns for the 1,134 keV level reproduces well the experimental value. The half-life of the 267 keV level in⁹³Rb favours the assignment ofI ^π=1/2^? to this state over the alternative 3/2^?.     

Silver staining of DNA in polyacrylamide gels

Nucleic acids can be detected at the picogram level using a quick and simple silver staining method (2). Using very thin polyesterbacked polyacrylamide gels, a further simplified protocol was compared to other widely used silver staining procedures. The improved protocol described here was the most sensitive, the fastest to perform, and had relatively few steps and reagents. This method also produced the least number of staining artifacts and offered images of high contrast.     

Chitosan-based solid electrolyte composite membranes: I. Preparation and characterization

Some chitosan-based solid electrolyte composite membranes were prepared by incorporating potassium hydroxide as the functional ionic source, using glutaraldehyde as cross-linking agent. A three-layer structure with a porous intermediate layer for each composite membrane was observed using SEM. It was found that the concentration of potassium hydroxide solution used to prepare the composite membranes largely influenced the pore volume, porosity, pore size of the intermediate layer, as well as determined the content of potassium hydroxide inside the composite membranes, whereas the degree of cross-linking of composite membrane did not show notable effects. All composite membranes showed significant decreases in both their T_g and onset thermal degradation temperatures with respect to the solid cross-linked chitosan membranes without containing potassium hydroxide. Potassium hydroxide was found to be located inside the intermediate layer of composite membranes with shapes of bulky or fabric crystals. The crystalline properties of matrices of the composite membranes themselves were remarkably modified after being incorporated with potassium hydroxide and main crystalline peaks of matrices almost disappeared for all composite membranes.     

Gaussian polynomial method for spin-dependent level density and new formula for spin distribution

Large-scale combinatorial calculations of level densities were performed for selected nuclei using Gaussian polynomial generating function method (GPM). Contrary to the results of previous combinatorial calculations, we find a good agreement of the combinatorial total level densities and Bethe formula. Combinatorial GPM calculations were performed also for spin-dependent level densities and comparison is made with various algebraic formulas. On the basis of our GPM calculations we propose a new phenomenological spin-dependent level density formula, which in the low-spin limit reduces to the spin-dependent formula of Bethe. The new formula (24) is for all spins factorized into the product of total level density and spin distribution function, where the spin distribution function (25) contains an additional spin correction parameter.     

DNA amplification fingerprinting using arbitrary oligonucleotide primers

DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF) is a strategy for genetic typing and mapping that uses one or more very short (≥5 nt) arbitrary oligonucleotides to direct the enzymatic amplification of discrete portions of a DNA template resulting in a spectrum of products characteristic of the DNA starting material. Polymorphisms from simple banding patterns are useful as genetic markers while more complex and informative patterns are suitable for DNA fingerprinting. The use of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining can adequately resolve the spectrum of DAF products into detailed and reproducible patterns.     

Use of Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration at Low Surfactant Concentrations and with Anionic-Nonionic Surfactant Mixtures

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration is a separation technique which can be used to remove metal ions or dissolved organics from water. Metal ions bind to the surface of negatively charged micelles of an anionic surfactant while organic solutes tend to dissolve or solubilized within the micelles. The mixture is then forced through an ultrafiltration membrane with pore sizes small enough to block passage of the micelles and associated metal ions and/or dissolved organics. Monomeric or unassociated surfactant passes through the membrane and does not contribute to the separation. This paper considers advantages of addition of small concentrations of nonionic surfactant to an anionic surfactant; the resulting anionic-nonionic mixed micelles exhibit negative deviation from ideality of mixing which leads to a smaller fraction of the surfactant being present as monomer and a subsequently larger fraction present in the micellar form. The addition of nonionic surfactant improved the separation of divalent zinc substantially at total concentrations above the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the anionic surfactant. Both zinc and tert-butylphenol (a nonionic organic solute) show unexpected rejection at surfactant concentrations moderately below the cmc, where micelles are absent. This is considered as due to a higher surfactant concentration in the gel layer adjacent to the membrane where micelles are present. Reduction of this rejection at lower transmembrane pressure drops supports this mechanism. Some rejection of zinc was observed in the absence of surfactant but not of tert-butylphenol, indicating an additional effect of membrane charge for ionic solutes. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

The reactions of polyacetylene with trimethyloxonium hexachloroantimonate. Covalent doping of (CH)x

Polyacetylene, (CH)_x, has been doped with trimethyloxonium hexachloroantimonate, (CH₃)₃O⁺SbCl(1), in dichloromethane and acetonitrile. The maximally doped (CH)_x films have moderate conductivities [σ_RT(CH₂Cl₂) = 10, σ_RT(CH₃CN) = 0.7 Ω^?1 cm^?1]. Reactions between 1 and (CH)_x CH₂Cl₂ or CH₃CN were followed in situ by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and x-band electron spin resonance spectroscopy. It was found that the reactions in the two solvents are different. In dichloromethane the dopant is SbCl₅, which forms from the decomposition of 1, and doping proceeds by electron removal from (CH)_x chains. Based on the ESR signal loss, an estimate can be made of the diffusion rate of SbCl₅, into the (CH)_x fibrils in CH₂Cl₂; it is found to be ca. 10^?17 cm²/s. In acetonitrile the dopant appears to be either CH₃CNCH, H⁺, CH, or a combination of one or more of these dopants. It is postulated that the CH₃CNCH, CH, and/or H⁺ dopant covalently binds to the (CH)_x chain. X-ray photoelectron spectra show that films doped with excess 1 in both solvents have approximately one SbCl per 33 CH units.