Pseudoscalar-photon mixing and the large scale alignment of QSO optical polarizations

We review the observation of large scale alignment of QSO optical polarizations. Alignment is seen in patches of distance scale of order 1 Gpc. We argue that the existence of a hypothetical light pseudoscalar can explain these observations.     

An alternative approach for optimal carrier concentration towards ideal thermoelectric performance

Optimization of the carrier concentration of any thermoelectric material is a prime factor for the enhancement of the thermoelectric figure of merit. An alternative approach for achieving optimal carrier concentration is presented here. We introduce impurity levels of ytterbium (Yb) near the valence band edge of Pb_1–xSn_x Te. The temperature‐dependent redistribution of electrons between the Yb‐impurity levels and the valence band is found to optimize the excess hole concentration at low temperature and negating the effect of intrinsic conduction at higher temperature leading to significantly improved thermoelectric performance in Pb_1–xSn_x Te. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A New,Rapid Online-HPTLC Method for Evaluation of DPPH Reduction with Ascorbic Acid

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - DPPH scavenging assay is the widely used method for evaluation of in vitro anti-oxidant activity. Anovel, rapid, and precise online...     

Needle enzyme electrode based glucose diffusive transport measurement in a collagen gel and validation of a simulation model

Rapid response needle enzyme electrodes were fabricated to measure the glucose concentration at the centre of a cylindrical spiralled collagen gel, which is a relevant constituent for tissue engineering scaffolds. The experimental data were based on a low consumption glucose sensor which minimised the distorting effect of enzymatic degradation. As the measurement was carried out within a collagen gel the stirring independence was compulsory for the biosensor. Glucose concentration changes were derived from a model based on the solution to Fick's Second Law. This had two different expressions for different dimensionless time (T) domains. The expression for large T and a first order approximation for small T were known. The expression for high order approximation for small T was then derived. An analytical expression consisting of fast convergent parts of these two expressions is proposed, which operates for the entire time region. A computational model for glucose concentration evolution where an electrode is located is proposed to operate for extended time periods. The model was confirmed by agreement between the simulated and observed data. An experimental technique is developed here to determine glucose diffusion coefficient by fitting the simulated concentration profile to the observed one. The glucose diffusion coefficient within the collagen gel was estimated to be 1.3 x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1); higher accuracy is achieved here because errors due to noise, baseline and zero time determination are minimised with best fit.     

Simple expressions for diffusion coefficient determination of adsorption within spherical and cylindrical absorbents using direct simulation method

Various analytical expressions for solute adsorption kinetics within porous absorbents of defined geometry (planar sheet, cylinder, and sphere) are available in the literature. However, these expressions are limited for practical numerical evaluation because they are based on infinite series. An investigation of these expressions has been carried out and then accurate but simple expressions derived that enable rapid determination of effective diffusion coefficients for adsorption within geometrically categorical absorbents. These involve directly fitting calculated kinetic adsorption curves to experimental ones. A simple one point method is also proposed to estimate the effective diffusion coefficient for an adsorption process within these simple geometrical absorbents as an initial value for a best fit.     

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectral analysis of oxidation products of precursors of sulfur mustards

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectral (ESI-MSn) analysis of thiodiglycol, bis(2-hydroxyethylthio)alkanes (BHETAs) and their mono-, di-, tri-, and tetraoxygenated compounds was carried out to obtain their characteristic spectra for ESI-MS analysis. These compounds are important markers of chemical warfare agents, namely sulfur mustards. ESI-MSn (n > or = 3) analysis of a compound by collisionally induced dissociation in an ion trap gives rise to mass spectra that are somewhat similar to electron ionization mass spectra. These ESI-MSn spectra can be used for compound identification. Under ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS the compounds mostly produced [M+NH4]+, [M+H]+ and [M+H--H2O]+ ions. Fragmentations of these even-electron precursors in the ion trap gave rise to characteristic product ions via neutral loss of O2, H2O, C2H4, HCHO, C2H4O, C2H4S, HSC2H4OH and C2H4SO. Fragmentation routes of these compounds are proposed that rationalize the formation of product ions in ESI-MSn analysis.     

Extreme Elevation on a 2-Manifold

Given a smoothly embedded 2-manifold in we define the elevation of a point as the height difference to a canonically defined second point on the same manifold. Our definition is invariant under rigid motions and can be used to define features such as lines of discontinuous or continuous but non-smooth elevation. We give an algorithm for finding points of locally maximum elevation, which we suggest mark cavities and protrusions and are useful in matching shapes as for example in protein docking.     

HPTLC Densitometric Quantification of Glycyrrhizin, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Apigenin, Kaempferol and Quercetin from Glycyrrhiza glabra

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn., commonly known as liquorice, is a reputed drug of Ayurveda. In the present work we developed and validated densitometric methods for quantification of glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, apigenin, kaempferol and quercetin using HPTLC. The developed methods were found to be precise and accurate. The amount of glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, and quercetin was found to be 1.070, 0.84 and 0.271% w/w, respectively. Apigenin and kaempferol were quantified in free (0.007 and 0.033% w/w) as well as bound (0.021 and 0.074% w/w) forms. This is the first report of simultaneous quantification of glycyrrhetinic acid and apigenin as well as kaempferol and quercetin from G. glabra. Furthermore, no TLC densitometric methods have been reported for the quantification of apigenin, kaempferol and quercetin from G. glabra.