Die zerstörungsfreie Bestimmung der Seltenen Erdelemente nach der Neutronenaktivierung

The technique of INAA for the determination of the rare earth elements with respect to prospecting and production testing of polishing powders on the basis of rare earth element oxides as well as quality testing of ultragrade rare earth compounds is discussed.In order to count -radiation of the radioactive nuclei a Ge-Li-detector as well as a planar Ge-Li-detector have been used. The latter enables the evaluation of the low energetic side of the -spectrum without complicated corrections due to -line interferences. Therefore an efficient working procedure with respect to the determination of the distribution pattern of the rare earth elements is possible.A simple correction program however is necessary with respect to the use of the planar detector type, allowing for effects of self-absorption geometry of the sample as well as distance sample-detector. This program is also given in the paper.

     

Study of the neutron quantum states in the gravity field

We have studied neutron quantum states in the potential well formed by the earths gravitational field and a horizontal mirror. The estimated characteristic sizes of the neutron wave functions in the two lowest quantum states correspond to expectations with an experimental accuracy. A position-sensitive neutron detector with an extra-high spatial resolution of m was developed and tested for this particular experiment, to be used to measure the spatial density distribution in a standing neutron wave above a mirror for a set of some of the lowest quantum states. The present experiment can be used to set an upper limit for an additional short-range fundamental force. We studied methodological uncertainties as well as the feasibility of improving further the accuracy of this experiment.Received: 31 July 2004, Published online: 7 March 2005PACS: 03.65, 28.20 Correspondence to: V. Nesvizhevsky     

Generation and propagation of a picosecond acoustic pulse at a buried interface: time-resolved x-ray diffraction measurements

We report on the propagation of coherent acoustic wave packets in (001) surface oriented Al0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs heterostructure, generated through localized femtosecond photoexcitation of the GaAs. Transient structural changes in both the substrate and film are measured with picosecond time-resolved x-ray diffraction. The data indicate an elastic response consisting of unipolar compression pulses of a few hundred picosecond duration traveling along [001] and [001] directions that are produced by predominately impulsive stress. The transmission and reflection of the strain pulses are in agreement with an acoustic mismatch model of the heterostructure and free-space interfaces.     

Potential allergenicity of novel proteins in murine models

Bioengineered crops represent an important advancement for farmers who want to avoid losses caused by insect infestations or adverse environmental conditions. However, the use of modern biotechnology has raised questions regarding the safety of bioengineered foods because of the potential allergenicity of proteins expressed by the newly introduced genes. Standard approaches for safety assessment of these foods are still evolving. Animal models have been suggested as a tool that could help evaluate the potential allergenicity of such compounds. Several investigators are developing animal models to evaluate novel proteins, but none of these have yet been validated. This article reviews the published murine models, rat and mouse in particular, and the different methods used to evaluate parameters related to allergy. It also addresses the factors involved in the development of a model. Finally, it raises some questions that should be considered by the international community so that financial and intellectual efforts can be addressed in a unified manner.     

Adaptive dispersion compensation for remote fiber delivery of near-infrared femtosecond pulses

We report on remote delivery of 25-pJ broadband near-infrared femtosecond light pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser through 150 m of single-mode optical fiber. Pulse distortion caused by dispersion is overcome with precompensation by adaptive pulse shaping techniques, while nonlinearities are mitigated by use of an SF10 glass rod for the final stage of pulse compression. A near-transform-limited pulse duration of 130 fs was measured after the final compression.     

Buried interfaces studied by photoelectron diffraction

Angle- and energy-scanned photoelectron diffraction data can be used to investigate structures below surfaces. The modulations in photoelectron intensity result from diffraction of the emitted electron wave at neighbor atoms. In the past, scanned-energy photoelectron diffraction had been mainly used to determine the adsorption site of molecules at surfaces. Recent data show, however, that the technique can also be employed to obtain information about the upper substrate layer(s). At low kinetic energies, backward scattering is strong and in scanned-angle photoelectron diffraction the recorded patterns result from backward- and multiple-scattering effects. For a structural analysis, the intensity modulations have to be compared with the results for simulations performed for model clusters. As an example, recent angle-scanned photoelectron diffraction patterns recorded for the technologically important silicon oxide/silicon interface were compared with simulations. At the Si(001) surface orientation, the interface is extended over a few layers, whereas at the Si(111) surface orientation the transition is rather abrupt and occurs within one or two layers. Received: 9 September 2002 / Accepted: 2 October 2002 / Published online: 5 February 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-231/755-3657, E-mail: carsten.westphal@physik.uni-dortmund.de     

Preferential inactivation of paediatric solid tumour cells by sequential exposure to Merocyanine 540-mediated photodynamic therapy and Edelfosine: implications for the ex vivo purging of autologous haematopoietic stem cell grafts

Paediatric solid tumours exhibit steep dose-response curves to alkylating agents and are therefore considered candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell support. There is growing evidence that autologous stem cell grafts from patients with solid tumours are frequently contaminated with live tumour cells. The objective of this study was to perform, in a preclinical purging model, an initial assessment of the safety and efficacy of a two-step purging procedure that combined Merocyanine 540-mediated photodynamic therapy (MC540-PDT) with a brief exposure to the alkyl-lysophospholipid, Edelfosine. Human and murine bone marrow cells and Neuro-2a murine neuroblastoma, SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma, SK-ES-1 and U-2 OS human osteosarcoma, G-401 and SK-NEP-1 human Wilms' tumour, and A-204 human rhabdomyosarcoma cells were exposed to a fixed dose of MC540-PDT followed by a brief incubation with graded concentrations of Edelfosine. Survival was subsequently assessed by in vitro clonal assay or, in the case of CD34-positive haematopoietic stem cells, by an immunohistochemical method. Combination purging with MC540-PDT and Edelfosine depleted all tumour cells by >4 log while preserving at least 15% of murine granulocyte/macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM), 34% of human CFU-GM, and 31% of human CD34-positive cells. The data suggest that combination purging with MC540-PDT and Edelfosine may be useful for the ex vivo purging of autologous stem cell grafts from patients with paediatric solid tumours.     

Local atomic environment of Si suboxides at the SiO2/Si(111) interface determined by angle-scanned photoelectron diffraction

Local environments of Si suboxides at the interface between a thermally grown SiO2 film and Si(111) were studied by angle-scanned photoelectron diffraction. Si 2p core-level spectra containing chemically shifted components were recorded. The components were deconvoluted by least squares fitting and assigned to different Si oxidation states. The obtained diffraction patterns of the various suboxides exhibit different features. Comparison of these patterns with multiple scattering calculations including a multipole R-factor analysis shows that a simple chemical abrupt interface model describes well the environment of the suboxides and indicates ordered SiO2 close to the interface.