Determining a 'safe' high-mass limit in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectra of coal derived materials with reference to instrument noise

Three methods for determining a 'safe' estimate for high-mass limits of MALDI spectra of coal derived liquids were explored, using a sample of coal-tar pitch and its pyridine-insoluble fraction. Co-addition of increasing numbers of single-shot spectra (10, 30, 50 and 100 pulses) showed visually observable reductions in noise levels, consistent with robust and statistically meaningful signals. Three separate types of post-acquisition calculation were used to identify high-mass limits of the spectra. (i) A literature method indicated high-mass limits similar to those observed visually-as a shift from baseline at the highest masses, nearly 350 000 u for the coal tar pitch and about 390 000 u for its pyridine insoluble fraction. (ii) Comparing instrument signal with pre-selected multiples of the standard deviation, upper mass estimates of between 40-60 000 u for the coal-tar pitch and about 95 000 u for its pyridine-insoluble fraction were found. (iii) Calculation of the slope was used to identify 'lift-off' of the spectrum from baseline. The angle between the smoothed spectrum and the baseline was matched to a pre-selected value (e.g. 0.5 degrees and 1 degrees ). However, the arbitrary specification of the key parameter did not establish this last method on a firm basis. The choice of a criterion for estimating high-mass limits of MALDI spectra remains a semi-quantitative procedure; a reasonably conservative high-mass limit may be estimated by comparison of signal with five times the standard deviation. However, evaluation of size exclusion chromatograms of the present samples using polystyrene standards suggests that molecular mass distributions of pitch samples arrived at by MALDI mass spectrometry are, at least partly, determined by the limitations of available instruments. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The inductively coupled plasma spectrum of OD in the infrared

To gain more information about the highly excited rotational states of the Δv = 1 sequence of OD vibration-rotation bands, the spectrum has been produced in an inductively coupled plasma discharge and measured with a Fourier transform spectrometer between 1670 and 5768 cm⁻¹. Along with the extension of 1–0 band, we have been successful in recording the 2–1 band for the first time. A nonlinear least square fit of these bands yielded equilibrium molecular parameters forv = 0, 1 and 2 levels with a standard deviation of 0·0032 cm⁻¹. The centrifugal distortion parameters show a systematic vibrational dependence.     

Graphs indecomposable with respect to the X-join

In his paper [3], Sabidussi defined the X-join of a family of graphs. This concept has also appeared in the work of Foulis and Randall on empirical logic [1,2]. In this paper, we investigate those graphs which do not have a nontrivial representation as the X-join of some family of graphs.     

Local Observation of Field Polarity Dependent Flux Pinning by Magnetic Dipoles

A scanning Hall probe microscope is used to study flux pinning in a thin superconducting Pb film covering a square array of single-domain Co dots with in-plane magnetization. We show that single flux quanta of opposite sign thread the superconducting film below T(c) at the opposite poles of these dipoles. Depending on the polarity of the applied field, flux lines are attracted to a specific pole of the dipoles, due to the direct interaction with the vortexlike structures induced by the local stray field.     

The nucleus of a point determining graph

A graph is point determining if distinct points have distinct neighborhoods. In this paper we investigate the nucleus G⁰={υ?G:G–υ is point determining} of a point determining graph G. In particular, we characterize those graphs that are the nucleus of some connected point determining graph.     

Point determination in graphs

A point determining graph is defined to be a graph in which distinct nonadjacent points have distinct neighborhoods. Those graphs which are critical with respect to this property are studied. We show that a graph is complete if and only if it is connected, point determining, but fails to remain point determining upon the removal of any edge. We also show that every connected, point determining graph contains at least two points, the removal of either of which will result again in a point determining graph. Graphs which are point determining and contain exactly two such points are shown to have the property that every point is adjacent to exactly one of these two points.     

Every connected,locally connected nontrivial graph with no induced claw is hamiltonian

A graph is locally connected if every neighborthood induces a connected subgraph. We show here that every connected, locally connected graph on p ≥ 3 vertices and having no induced K_1,3 is Hamiltonian. Several sufficient conditions for a line graph to be Hamiltonian are obtained as corollaries.     

Addition sets in a finite group

Addition sets with parameters (υ,k,λ,α) are defined in a finite group G of order υ, where α: G → G is a homomorphism or anti-homomorphism. It is shown that addition sets in a finite group have similar properties to that of (υ,k,λ,g) cyclic addition sets. The case α = I, where I: G → G is the identity automorphism, is studied and it is shown that no (υ,k,λ,I) group addition sets exist in an Abelian group of order υ, where ether υ is odd, υ≡2 (mod 4), or in certain cases when υ≡0 (mod 4). Many examples of group addition sets in both Abelian and non-Abelian groups are provided.