Valence transition and magnetic ordering in Sn doped EuPd2Si2

The sharp, temperature induced, continuous valence transition in EuPd₂Si₂ is drastically changed by doping with Sn at the Si site upto 5 at. %. Only a first order valence transition occurs for a 3% Sn doped sample and the 2⁺ component which survives the valence transition orders magnetically at 4.2 K. No valence transition at all occurs for a 5% Sn doped sample right up to 1.9 K and magnetic ordering sets in around 30 K.     

The interplay of hydrophobic and electrostatic effects in the surfactant-induced aggregation/deaggregation of chlorin p6

The aggregation/deaggregation of chlorin p6 with the surfactants CTAB, SDS, and TX 100 have been studied by using absorption, fluorescence, and light scattering techniques. The ionic surfactants are found to cause aggregation of fluorophore at submicellar concentrations. The aggregates dissolve at higher surfactant concentrations to yield micellized monomers. This is rationalized by the interplay of electrostatic and hydrophobic effects. A prominent pH effect is observed in the ionic surfactant induced aggregation process as the charge on the fluorophore is controlled by the pH of the medium. Interestingly, the neutral TX-100 also induces aggregation of chlorin p6 at low concentrations, indicating that hydrophobic effects by themselves can cause aggregation unless there is a hindrance by repulsive electrostatic effects.     

Measurement of two-photon absorption cross-section in organic molecular salt with linear and circular polarized radiation

We report on the investigation of two-photon absorption (TPA) in 4-Diethylamino-N-Methyl-4-Stilbazolium Tosylate (DEST) with 40 picosecond, 1064 nm linear and circular polarization laser radiation. The TPA cross-section ₂ measured is larger for linear polarized radiation (948 GM) than that for the circular polarized radiation (840 GM). The large TPA cross-section of DEST facilitates highly directional and efficient TPA induced upconverted emission in the range of 590–640 nm even though the fluorescence efficiency of DEST is very low (0.5%). The net single pass efficiency of upconversion is 7%. PACS 42.65.-k; 42.70.Jk     

Enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides, alkyl and terpenyl glucosides, by recombinant Escherichia coli-expressed Pichia etchellsii β-glucosidase II

The biosynthetic activity of yeast Pichia etchellsii β-glucosidase II (BglII) expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli was utilized for synthesis of cellooligosaccharides, alkyl and terpene glucosides. Cellooligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization of 3 and greater were resolved by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using an ethyl acetate: 1-propanol:2-propanol:water (8:5:1:1) solvent system followed by visualization with 0.2% naphthoresorcinol reagent. Using 2M cellobiose and 15 IU of partially purified BglII, 57 mmol/L of oligosaccharides (comprising mostly cellotriose and cellopentaose) was synthesized in 16 h. Similarly, alkyl glucosides with chain lengths from 6 to 10 carbons were synthesized and products extracted to near purity by ethylacetate extraction. The same extraction method was employed to separate, to near purity, various monoterpenyl (nerol, geraniol, citronellol) glucosides. A reliable and simple method for separation of cellooligosaccharides using a combination of Bio-Gel P-2 gel filtration and charcoal celite adsorption chromatography was developed. The cellooligosaccharides were separated to purity as confirmed by TLC. The enzyme was among the very few that could synthesize a wide variety of glycoconjugates.     

Measurements of F2 and xF(nu)(3) - xF(nu;)(3) from CCFR nu(mu)-Fe and nu;(mu)-Fe Data in a Physics Model-Independent Way

We report on the extraction of the structure functions F2 and DeltaxF(3) = xF(nu)(3)-xF(nu;)(3) from CCFR nu(mu)-Fe and nu;(mu)-Fe differential cross sections. The extraction is performed in a physics model-independent (PMI) way. This first measurement of DeltaxF(3), which is useful in testing models of heavy charm production, is higher than current theoretical predictions. The ratio of the F2 (PMI) values measured in nu(mu) and mu scattering is in agreement (within 5%) with the predictions of next-to-leading-order parton distribution functions using massive charm production schemes, thus resolving the long-standing discrepancy between the two sets of data.     

Experimental studies on the microstructure and hardness of laser-treated steel specimens

An experimental investigation with 5 kW CW CO₂ laser system was carried out to study the effects of different laser and process parameters on the microstructure and hardness of carbon steel specimen with varying carbon percentage. The laser beam is allowed to scan on the surface of the work piece varying the power (1.1–2.5 kW) and traverse speed (6–15 mm/s) at two different spot sizes using TEM_01* mode laser beam. The most hardenable microstructure achieved in case of three grades of carbon steel and the most influencing parameter on the value of hardness are reported. Besides the above study, some multipass operations are also carried out to recommend an appropriate gap between consecutive passes.     

Spontaneous emission in longitudinal wiggler and solenoidal magnetic field

Summary In this paper we study the spectral brightness of the radiation emitted by electrons moving in longitudinal wiggler and solenoidal magnetic field. The analysis is based on the evaluation of the Lienard-Wiechert potential retaining the condition of far-field limit. Some features of a longitudinal wiggler are presented and compared with the results relevant to the brightness of the helical wiggler and the solenoidal magnetic field employed in gyrotron-type devices.     

Surface Interaction of Ionic Liquids: Stabilization of Polyethylene Terephthalate-Degrading Enzymes in Solution

The effect of aqueous solutions of selected ionic liquids solutions on Ideonella sakaiensis PETase with bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) substrate were studied by means of molecular dynamics simulations in order to identify the possible effect of ionic liquids on the structure and dynamics of enzymatic Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolysis. The use of specific ionic liquids can potentially enhance the enzymatic hydrolyses of PET where these ionic liquids are known to partially dissolve PET. The aqueous solution of cholinium phosphate were found to have the smallest effect of the structure of PETase, and its interaction with (BHET) as substrate was comparable to that with the pure water. Thus, the cholinium phosphate was identified as possible candidate as ionic liquid co-solvent to study the enzymatic hydrolyses of PET.     

Iterative construction of fixed points

Abstract, It is proved that an Ishikawa—type iteration scheme converges to the fixed point of a generalized contraction map in a convex metric space. The class of generalized contraction maps includes all quasi—contraction maps. Our theorem generalizes some recent important known results     

Radiotracer technique in adsorption studies Part XVIII: Uptake of Ce(III) from aqueous solutions by hydrous manganese and stannic oxides

The removal of Ce(III) from aqueous solutions by hydrous manganese oxide (HMO) and hydrous stannic oxide (HSO) was studied as a function of concentrations (10⁻²−10⁻⁷ mol·dm⁻³) and pH (1.2–10.0) by using the radiotracer technique. The effects of co-ions and irradiation of HMO and HSO were also studied. The uptake of Ce(III) fitted well with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. No significant desorption of pre-adsorbed Ce(III) in the studied temperature range (303–333 K) indicates that both the solids may be good adsorbents for the removal of Ce(III).