Relative sensitivity factors in direct current glow discharge mass spectrometry using Kr and Xe gas — Estimation of the role of Penning ionization

Relative sensitivity factors (RSF) (Fe=1) were determined for steel, aluminium and copper standard samples by direct current glow discharge mass spectrometry using Kr and Xe as discharge gas. In general, the RSF values in Kr and Xe were higher than in Ar; however for S and P in Kr gas and P, As and Se in Xe gas they were considerably lower. This decrease is related to the relative importance of the Penning ionization process in overall ionization of the sputtered species. The results showed the percentage of Penning ionization to account for 75.6–82.0% for Se, As and P and 64.2% for S.     

Growth of single-layer carbon tubes assisted with iron-group metal catalysts in carbon arc

Single-layer (SL) carbon tubes were produced by arc evaporation of graphite rods containing iron-group metals (Fe, Co, Ni, Fe/Co, Co/Ni, Fe/Ni) under He and Ar gas. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that these elemental and binary metals, excluding Fe which need a special atmosphere (a mixture of Ar and CH₄), showed catalytic activity producing SL tubes under pure inactive gases. Fe/Ni alloy was the most effectual catalysts for producing SL tubes. The highest abundance of SL tubes in raw soot was estimated to be ～ 10% from TEM observation. Smoke particles directly caught on TEM grids near an evaporation source during arcburning were also investigated, and it was suggested that small metal particles were first formed in the gas phase and then SL tubes grew from them.     

Immobilization of yeast and the function of immobilized yeast.

Hansenula anomala, which catalyzes an asymmetric reduction, was immobilized in bulk or spherical crosslinked polymers. The catalytic activity of the yeast for enantio-selective reduction of 3,8-dioxo-4-methoxycarbonyl-9-methyl-delta 4(10)-octalin (lab) was severely affected by the immobilization conditions, such as the crosslink density, and by hydrophobicity of polymers and other components used for immobilization, oxygen concentration in the medium, etc. In some immobilized systems, the ratio of resulting enantiomers was inverted from that in a free yeast system.     

Quantitative analysis of methylguanidine and guanidine in physiologic fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection method.

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of methylguanidine and guanidine in physiological fluids. These quanidino compounds are separated on a 6 x 0.23 cm cation-exchange column with 0.5 M sodium hydroxide solution. The guanidino compounds are detected with a fluorometer, which monitors the fluorescent guanidine derivatives produced by the reaction of the eluted constituents with 9,10-phenanthrenequinone. Sensitivity to sub-nanomole levels of methylguanidine and guanidine is demonstrated. The method was successfully applied to physiological fluids such as serum and cerebrospinal fluid from uremic patients.     

Application of 28Mg to the kinetic study of Mg uptake by rice plants

The time course of Mg uptake and release using intact rice plants and ²⁸Mg as a tracer is presented. Since there is no conventional Mg tracer available, ²⁸Mg was produced via ²⁷Al(α, 3p)²⁸Mg reaction using a cyclotron. Using the purified ²⁸Mg tracer, it was found that the uptake amount of ²⁸Mg by the rice plants increased linearly during 30 min of application. After ²⁸Mg treatment for 90 min, the roots were sequentially washed with iced solution for 120 min. Within about 10 min, almost all of the ²⁸Mg, that was thought to be weakly bound to the apoplast, was washed away.