Neutral strange particle production inK + p interactions at 32 GeV/c

The production properties ofK _s ⁰ , \(\bar \Lambda\) andK ⁺ p interactions at 32 GeV/c are investigated using the final statistics of the experiment. We present total and semi-inclusive cross sections and aver-age multiplicities. Estimates are given of the diffractive dissociation contributions to total and differential cross sections. Thex-,p _T ^?, and transverse mass dependence of inclusive and semi-inclusive distributions is discussed as well as properties of “prompt”K _s ⁰ 's. The ratio of “prompt”K ₈₉₀ ⁺ (K ₈₉₀ ⁰ ) to “prompt”K ⁰ cross sections is measured to be 1.03±0.12 (0.98±0.17). From a comparison of \(\bar \Lambda\) production inK ^± p interactions at 32 GeV/c, we estimate a strange sea-quark suppression of 0.26 ±0.02. The double differential cross sections ofK _s ⁰ 's is studied as a function of Feynman-x andp _T ² , and a Triple-Regge fit performed. The data are compared in detail to versions of the Lund-model for low-p _T hadronic collisions.     

Analysis of beers from Brazil with synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence

Summary In this study the concentrations of P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn and Br in twenty-nine brands of national and international beers were determined by synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis (SR-TXRF). The results were compared with the limits established by the Brazilian legislation and the nutritional values established by National Agricultural Library (NAL, USA). The measurements were performed at the X-Ray Fluorescence Beamline at Brazilian National Synchrotron Light Laboratory, in Campinas, S?o Paulo, Brazil, using a polychromatic beam for excitation. A small volume of 5 ml of beers containing an internal standard used to correct geometry effects was analyzed without pretreatment. The measuring time was 100 seconds and the detection limits obtained varied from 1 mg ^. l^-1 for Mn and Fe to 15 mg ^. l^-1 for P.     

Detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: validation of a one-well assay and quantitative pooling studies

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are currently being mapped and databased at a remarkable pace, providing a viable means for understanding disease susceptibility, differential drug response and human evolution. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for SNP genotyping technologies that are simple, rapid, cost effective and readily amenable to automation for high-throughput analyses. In this study, we improved the Survivor Assay, a SNP detection method based on electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), with several developments. One improvement is the development of a one-well assay, requiring no off-line purification of the polymerase chain reaction product, achieved by simple addition of reagent solution into a single well. Another is the on-line separation of magnesium and dideoxynucleotides using an in-house made monolithic metal chelating column, eliminating any off-line sample preparation prior to mass spectrometric analysis. Here the Survivor Assay is extended from a proof-of-principle concept to a validated method by genotyping six SNPs from five different regions of human genomic DNA in 55 individual samples with 100% accuracy. This improved Survivor Assay eliminates the tedious and time-consuming steps of sample preparation, minimizes sample handing and offers a high-throughput analysis of SNPs by ESI-MS. The current combined preparation and analysis time is 2 min per sample. The simplicity of this method has potential for full automation and parallel chromatography and, thus, reduced analysis time. In addition, we have adapted the Survivor Assay for quantitative SNP analysis in pooled DNA samples. The capabilities and sensitivity of this approach were evaluated. We demonstrate that an allele occurring at a frequency of 2% can consistently be quantitated.     

AES and ELS study of titanium oxidation in high vacuum

In the present work, results of the interaction of O₂ with polycrystalline titanium using AES, and ELS techniques, are presented. Changes in the shapes of Ti(LMV) and Ti(LMM) transitions and in the Ti(LM)O(V)/Ti(LMV) and Ti(LMV) Ti(LMM) amplitude ratios as well as a shift of the 34 eV loss peak [Ti(3p level], are studied as function of the oxygen exposure.At O₂ pressures equal or less than 10^–6 Pa and exposure up to 2000 L(O₂) (weak oxidation), the Ti(LM)O(V)/Ti(LMV) and Ti(LMV)/Ti(LMM) ratios show three clearly distinct regions: (i) up to 20L there is a chemisorbed phase with the Ti(LMV)/Ti(LMM) ratio remaining constant and a fast linear increase in the Ti(LM)O(V)/Ti(LMM) ratio. (ii) At exposures higher than 20L the oxidation begins being characterized by a linear variation of the Ti(LM)O(V)/Ti(LMV) and Ti(LMV)/Ti(LMV) ratios, with positive and negative slopes, respectively. (iii) At 125L there is a change in both slopes but no stable value is achieved, despite the O(KLL)/Ti(LMM) ratio remains constant. Hence, it can be concluded that TiO is the final oxide obtained after that treatment, from features like the shape of the transitions and a maximum shift of 3eV of the Ti(3p) level, complemented with ESD experiments.On the other hand, experiments at pressures higher than 10^–4Pa with or without the surfaces at 900K (strong oxidation) indicate that the most likely final oxide is TiO₂.Work presented to the IXIVC-VICSS. Madrid (1983)     

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of metal(II) complexes prepared withN-2-(5-picolyl)-N′-phenylthiourea

Summary The chlorides and bromides of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) along with the acetates of the latter two metal ions and copper(II) tetrafluoroborate were used to prepare complexes ofN-2-(5-picolyl)-N-phenylthiourea (5MTUH). 5MTUH coordinates as a bidentate ligand via the pyridyl nitrogen and the sulphur atoms in the cobalt(II) complexes and the compounds isolated with Cu(BF₄)₂ and CuCl₂. Complexes of stoichiometry [Cu(5MTU)X] (X=Br or C₂H₃O₂) appear to have the deprotonated ligand coordinated via the pyridyl andN thioamide nitrogens and the sulphur atom. The nickel(II) complexes involve monodentate 5MTUH with sulphur being the donor atom. A violet, octahedral [Co(5MTUH)₂Cl₂] complex and a blue, tetrahedral [Co(5MTUH)Cl₂] complex have been isolated, but with CoBr₂ only an octahedral complex could be prepared.     

Phenomena Affecting the Equilibrium of Al(III) and Zn(II) Extraction with Winsor II Microemulsions

The extraction of Al(III) and Zn(II) from an aqueous solution with two water-in-oil microemulsions, one containing di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA), was investigated to aid the understanding of the role of the extractant and the metal specific characteristics in the mechanism of microemulsion extraction. The extraction of Al with the DEHPA microemulsion increased by a factor of about 10 with respect to that in the conventional DEHPA system, whereas the extraction of Zn was lower than that in the single DEHPA system. Extraction with the DEHPA-free microemulsion was very low, showing that metal ion solubilization was not important in the mechanism of microemulsion extraction. It is proposed that the effect of the mixed microemulsion on the metal distribution coefficient is the result of the balance between a decrease in the complexation reaction yield due to the interaction between butanol and DEHPA, and the adsorption of the metal complex at the macro- and microinterfaces. The former leads to a decrease in Zn(II) extraction and the latter to Al(III) extraction synergism. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Development of a non-invasive method for the determination of the macroscopic neutron cross sections of a sample matrix in large-sample prompt-gamma neutron activation analysis

In order to correct for neutron self-shielding in large-sample prompt gamma NAA, a method has been developed to determine the macroscopic scattering and absorption cross sections, i.e., Σ _a and Σ _s, using four Cu flux monitors placed around the sample. With Monte Carlo computations, the neutron densities throughout the sample and the resulting and the corresponding self-shielding factor as calculated from the Σ _a and Σ _s as obtained through the Cu monitors were compared to the true values. The derived Σ _a and Σ _s were found to be sufficiently accurate as long as Σ _t = Σ _a + Σ _s was less than 0.6 cm⁻¹ and Σ _s/Σ _t was greater than 0.1.     

Hydrolytic protein cleavage mediated by unusual mononuclear copper(II) complexes: X-ray structures and solution studies

The crystal structures and redox and UV-vis/EPR spectroscopic properties of two new mononuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu(HL1)Cl2] (1) and [Cu(L1)Cl] (2), prepared through the reaction between copper(II) chloride and the ligand 2-[(bis(pyridylmethyl)amino)methyl]-4-methyl-6-formylphenol (HL1) under distinct base conditions, are reported along with solution studies. Also, we demonstrate that these CuII complexes are able to cleave unactivated peptide bonds from bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the thermostable enzyme Taq DNA polymerase at micromolar concentration, under mild pH and temperature conditions. The cleavage activity seems to be specific with defined proteolytic fragments appearing after protein treatment. The location of the specific cleavage sites was tentatively assigned to solvent-accessible portions of the protein. These are two of the most active Cu(II) complexes described to date, since their cleavage activity is detected in minutes and evidence is here presented for a hydrolytic mechanism mediating protein cleavage by these complexes.