Fluorescence spectra of matrix-isolated praseodymium triodide molecules

Fluorescence spectra of PrI₃ molecules isolated in Ar and Xe matrices have been measured for the first time. More than 40 transitions have been measured using Hg excitation and have been assigned to transitions within the 4f² configuration.     

Electron spin resonance of Gd in the intermetallic compounds YCu,YAg, and LaAg: Wave vector dependence of the exchange interaction

The discrepancy between the Gd EPR g shift and linewidth in YCu, YAg, and LaAg is resolved using a wave vector dependent exchange parameter J(k,k'). Various experimentally observable quantities are related to J(k,k') using a partial wave expansion.     

The German bakery waste incident; use of a combined approach of screening and confirmation for dioxins in feed and food

During the last six years several incidents have occurred with dioxins in feed, stressing the need for rapid screening methods for these compounds. The most recent incident was the contamination of bakery waste used for animal feed due to the use of waste wood for drying of the material. In addition to Germany, the material was also shipped to the Netherlands. Levels up to 12 ng TEQ/kg have been detected, being about 15 times over the current limit of 0.75 ng TEQ/kg. In the Netherlands a combined strategy of screening with the CALUX-bioassay and the HRGC/HRMS confirmatory method was used to rapidly control the incident. Pigs were contaminated by the incident but only to a very limited extent. Despite the rather low limits for pig meat, the CALUX bioassay showed excellent performance, once again confirming the value of this assay.     

Bosons as the origin for giant magnetic properties of organic monolayers

Recently, unusual giant magnetic properties were found experimentally in some organized organic monolayers adsorbed on solid substrates. A model is presented which explains the observed phenomenon. The model is based on the special properties of electrons transferred from the substrate to the layer as a result of the adsorption process. Triplet pairing of those electrons is forced by the special 2D properties of the organic layer. Such pairs are confined within domains in the organic layer and their quantum statistics provide a model that explains the unique magnetization as well as all other features of the experimental observations. The model suggests the possible existence of Bose-Einstein condensation at room temperature on the scale of the domains.     

Denominators for the Poincaré series of invariants of matrices with involution

The goal of this paper is to study some Poincaré series associated to the invariants of the symplectic and odd orthogonal groups. These series turn out to be rational functions and our main results will describe the denominators. This work will generalize some known results on the invariants of the general linear groups. In addition to whatever intrinsic interest we hope our results may have, the subject involves an interesting interplay of invariant theory and complex variables. The first author gratefully acknowledges Support from DePaul University Research Council. The second author was supported in part by the Israel Science Foundation, founded by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and by an Internal Research Grant from Bar-Ilan University.     

A phase I, randomized study of combined IL-2 and therapeutic immunisation with antiretroviral therapy

Background  

Fully functional HIV-1-specific CD8 and CD4 effector T-cell responses are vital to the containment of viral activity and disease progression. These responses are lacking in HIV-1-infected patients with progressive disease. We attempted to augment fully functional HIV-1-specific CD8 and CD4 effector T-cell responses in patients with advanced chronic HIV-1 infection.