On the nature of pulsars

The paper contains a relatively non-technical summary of some recent work by the author and Jeremy Butterfield. The goal is to find a way of assigning meaningful truth values to propositions in quantum theory: something that is not possible in the normal, instrumentalist interpretation. The key mathematical tool is presheaf theory where multi-valued, contextual truth values arise naturally. We show how this can be applied to quantum theory, with the ‘contexts’ chosen to be Boolean subalgebras of the set of all projection operators.     

Fluorescence from the 2B1 state of NO2 excited at 4545 Å

The 4545 Å line of the Ar⁺ laser has been used to excite a ^pR₁ line of a vibrational band of the ²B₁-²A₁ system of nitrogen dioxide. Fluorescence from the upper level to the ground electronic state forms a long progression in the bending vibration. This progression can be followed from v″₂ = 0 up to v″₂ = 12, and the fluorescence intensity passes through several local minima as a function of v″₂. The main features of the intensity distribution can be reproduced using a model Hamiltonian which separates the bending and rotation from the stretching vibrations. This Hamiltonian can also be used to reproduce the fluorescence frequencies by adjusting the potential function of the lower state.     

The Addition of Nitriles to a Molecular Digermene: Reversible Addition and Comparison to Surface Reactivity

The addition of acetonitrile, propionitrile, and acrylonitrile to tetramesityldigermene was investigated and compared to the addition of acetonitrile and acrylonitrile to germanium dimers on the Ge(100)‐2×1 surface. In each case, a 1,2,3‐azadigermetine was formed as the major product. As on the surface, the addition of nitriles to digermenes was found to be reversible, providing the first example of a reversible cycloaddition of a ditetrelene. No evidence for a six‐membered cyclic ketenimine was observed as noted in the surface chemistry, suggesting that the surface ketenimine might only form between two adjacent dimers rather than on a single dimer. The comparative chemistry provides important insights that are not possible by the independent study of each system.     

Polarisation parameters in positive pion photoproduction

Measurements have been made of the polarisation parameters Σ, T and P for the process γp → π⁺n in the photon energy range 520–2250 MeV at c.m. angles between 30° and 120°. These data were obtained in a double polarisation experiment, using the polarised photon beam from the Daresbury electron synchrotron incident on a polarised proton target. The data are compared with predictions from current theoretical analyses.     

Quantum ergodicity in small molecules: The continuum fluorescence of nitrogen dioxide

The failure of selection rules on K_a, v, and vibronic symmetry in the visible band systems of NO₂ are interpreted as resulting from the coupling of the excited electronic state with vibrational levels of the ground electronic state which are above the threshold for ergodic motion and therefore retain no quantization of those observables. This failure is shown to lead directly to the anomalous continuum fluorescence of NO₂, and is intimately related to the anomalous lengthening of the radiative lifetime of the excited state (the Douglas effect). It is predicted that most molecules which exhibit anomalous lifetime lengthening will also exhibit anomalous selection rules and, consequently, anomalous continuum emission.     

Semileptonic decays of charmedD ± meson

Using the ACCMOR spectrometer equipped with a vertex telescope of high resolution silicon microstrip detectors 74 decays \(D^ + \to \bar K^{*0} (892)e^ + v_e \) (andcc.) withx _F <0.4 have been observed in 200 GeV π^? Be interactions. The cross-section forD ^± production, itsx _F -dependence in the central region and theD ^± lifetime have been measured.     

Hadronic ϕ production and the lund model for lowp T interactions

Experimental results on inclusive ? production are compared with the Lund model for lowp _T hadronic interactions. The data is based on a sample of 600,000 ? mesons in the kinematic rangep _T <1.0 (GeV/c)² and 0.0<x _F<0.4, produced in π^±,K ^±,p and \(\bar p\) Be interactions at 100 GeV/c and 120 GeV/c incident momentum. The Lund model reproduces the shapes of the longitudinal differential cross sections reasonably well, but the relative cross sections for incident, π,K andp show a discrepancy with the data.     

Separation, identification and quantification of riboflavin and its photoproducts in blood products using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection: a method to support pathogen reduction technology

A medical device using riboflavin (RB) and light is being developed for the reduction of pathogens in platelet concentrates (MIRASOL pathogen reduction technology [PRT]). A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quantification of RB and its main photoproduct, lumichrome (LC) in blood components has been developed and validated. In addition, the same method has been used to identify and quantify the presence of additional photoproducts-catabolites of RB. Levels of these agents before and after treatment as well as endogenous levels present in normal donor blood are reported using this analytical technique. The method allows for quantitative and qualitative analysis of RB and LC in blood components using HPLC-fluorescence detection, a Zorbax SB-CN (stable bond cyano) column and a methanol-water mobile phase. Quantitation and qualitative analysis of additional photoproducts of RB was also performed, but the method has not been validated for these other components. The method described has passed an 8 day validation and has been found to be adequate for its intended use. The range of the method for RB is 0.016-1.500 microM and for LC is 0.060-1.500 microM. The method detection limit for RB is 0.0006 microM and for LC is 0.012 microM. The acceptance criteria for repeatability were met; the relative standard deviation for RB was 0.64% and for LC was 0.76%. The acceptance criteria for bias were met with a 97% average recovery for RB and a 102% recovery for LC. Samples were centrifuged and diluted 1:50 with 0.9% saline before analysis. No protein precipitation or extraction was required. A mass balance of approximately 93.4-94.4% was achieved after exposure of products to UV light in the intended pathogen reduction treatment method. The method permitted the identification of photoproducts in blood that were both naturally occurring and produced after photolysis of blood samples treated with the PRT process. The identity of these photoproducts has been established using HPLC Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS) and UV spectroscopic methods and has been correlated with known metabolites and catabolites of RB. HPLC with fluorescence detection using a reverse phase cyano-column allows for accurate separation, identification and quantification of both RB and LC in blood products without the need for solvent extraction or protein precipitation. Additional photoproducts could also be identified and quantified using this method. The presence of these agents in normal, untreated blood suggests that their presence in blood is ubiquitous.