ChemInform Abstract: X-Ray Structural Studies of the Polymorphic Elpasolites K2LiAlF6 and Rb2LiGaF6.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.     

A search for quarks at the CERN intersecting storage rings

No quark candidates have been seen among 0.6 × 10⁹ charged particles at the ISR. The corresponding cross-section limit for charge for quark masses up to 22(13) GeV, assuming P_T = 0.4 GeV/c.     

Analytical methodology to determine stable isotopically labelled and unlabelled theophylline in human plasma using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method is described for the simultaneous determination of [1,3-15N] theophylline and unlabelled theophylline in human plasma using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Plasma samples were subjected to extractive alkylation and the stable isotopically labelled and unlabelled forms of the drug were analysed as their N-pentafluorobenzyl derivatives on an SE-52 fused-silica capillary column. Quantitation was made by selected-ion monitoring employing as the internal standard 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. The method has been used to study the absorption kinetics and bioavailability of a sustained release formulation of the drug when co-administered to human volunteers with a conventional formulation of the drug labelled with the stable isotope.     

Durable antibacterial Ag/polyacrylonitrile (Ag/PAN) hybrid nanofibers prepared by atmospheric plasma treatment and electrospinning

Durable antibacterial Ag/polyacrylonitrile (Ag/PAN) hybrid nanofibers were prepared by atmospheric plasma treatment and electrospinning. Atmospheric helium plasma treatment was first used to reduce the AgNO₃ precursor in pre-electrospinning solutions into metallic silver nanoparticles, followed by electrospinning into continuous and smooth nanofibers with Ag nanoparticles embedded in the matrix. SEM, TEM, and EDX spectra were used to study the structure and surface elemental composition of the nanofibers. Silver nanoparticles, with diameters ranging between 3 and 6 nm, were found to be uniformly dispersed in the nanofiber matrix. The Ag/PAN nanofibers exhibited slow and long-lasting silver ion release, which provided robust antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Bacillus cereus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli microorganisms.     

Fast-Fourier-Transform Spectral-Analysis Techniques as a Plasma Fluctuation Diagnostic Tool

A review is given of the key ideas involved in computing power spectral density functions from fast-Fourier-transformed plasma fluctuation data. Next a model is described which enables one to determine, from the computer-generated power spectra, the amplitude, frequency, and wavenumber of each of several waves present in the plasma. The potential of digitally implemented spectral analysis techniques as a plasma diagnostic tool is demonstrated in an experimental study of the evolution, and ultimate turbulent destruction, of a multi-mode drift wave spectrum.