Study of the peak effect phenomenon in single crystals of 2H-NbSe2

The weakly pinned single crystals of the hexagonal 2H-NbSe₂ compound have emerged as prototypes for determining and characterizing the phase boundaries of the possible order-disorder transformations in the vortex matter. We present here a status report based on the ac and dc magnetization measurements of the peak effect phenomenon in three crystals of 2H-NbSe₂, in which the critical current densities vary over two orders of magnitude. We sketch the generic vortex phase diagram of a weakly pinned superconductor, which also utilizes theoretical proposals. We also establish the connection between the metastability effects and pinning.     

Ensuring robustness in the quality of antibiotic susceptibility test discs for four novel antibiotics

Antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) discs are used as an in-vitro diagnostic tool to select the appropriate antibiotic to treat an infection. Generally, the concentration of the drug loaded on to the AST discs is measured by studying its activity against quality control organisms. This methodology has several limitations—it is time consuming, requires trained manpower, has a wider acceptance criteria of zone of inhibitions—causing ambiguity in judging smaller variations in drug concentration. To overcome these issues, we have developed and validated high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods for the determination of strength of AST discs for in-house researched antibiotics, namely Levonadifloxacin/WCK 771, Nafithromycin/WCK 4873, Cefepime-Tazobactam/WCK 4282, and Cefepime-Zidebactam/WCK 5222. The drugs were extracted from the AST discs using an appropriate solvent. The developed methods are simple, accurate, precise, reproducible, rugged, and robust. They are efficient in terms of time, and can be easily conducted in a quality control laboratory during release as well as stability evaluation of AST disc. Application of HPLC methods for the determination of strength of AST discs ensures flawless quality and, consequently, a better selection of drugs to treat bacterial infections in clinics.     

Assay of tolnaftate and related impurities by isocratic supercritical fluid chromatography

Tolnaftate, an antifungal drug (TF) and related impurities arising from synthesis, viz., N-methyl-m-toluidine (NMmT) and beta-naphthol-1-chlorothio carbamate (beta-NCTC) can be determined by supercritical fluid chromatography. Even though it was possible to elute TF completely with neat SCF CO2, the peaks of the impurities were found to merge. The chromatographic figures of merit of the three analytes such as retention time (tR), capacity factor (k), selectivity factor (alpha), no. of theoretical plates (N), were optimized. The three compounds can be resolved in 5 min on a Hypersil (250 x 4.0 mm) 5 mu, C18 column with supercritical carbon dioxide, modified with 1.96% methanol as the mobile phase at 9.81 MPa and at 40 degrees C. Detection was carried out at 220 nm. The data as evaluated by the linear regression least squares fit method gave linearity ranges from 0.2 to 10.0 microg/mL for TF and NMmT and 0.3 to 10.0 microg/mL for beta-NCTC with correlation coefficients > 0.99. The method was successfully employed to estimate levels of 0.01% for NMmT and 0.02% for beta-NCTC with respect to TF.     

The influence of a transverse magnetic field on a subnormal glow discharge in air

In subnormal glow discharge under d.c. excitation at different pressure in a varying transverse magnetic field (0 to 30 G) some measurements have been carried out for various initial average tube currents. The voltage across the discharge increases and average tube current and residual current decreases in the magnetic field. With the help of Beckman’s expression [4] for the axial field and the electron density distribution in a transverse magnetic field the observed variation of current and voltage can be satisfactorily explained. The variation of axial electric field with transverse magnetic field can be represented to a fair degree of accuracy by the derived equation. The behaviour of residual current with magnetic field has been observed in these oscillations.     

Integral equation formulation for buoyancy-driven convection problems

An integral equation formulation for buoyancy-driven convection problems is developed and illustrated. Buoyancy-driven convection in a bounded cylindrical geometry with a free surface is studied for a range of aspect ratios and Nusselt numbers. The critical Rayleigh number, the nature of the cellular motion, and the heat transfer enhancement are computed using linear theory. Green's functions are used to convert the linear problem into linear Fredholm integral equations. Theorems are proved which establish the properties of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the linear integral operator which appears in these equations.     

Metabolite identification by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Metabolite identification (Met ID) is important during the early stages of drug discovery and development, as the metabolic products may be pharmacologically active or toxic in nature. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has a towering role in metabolism research.This review discusses current approaches and recent advances in using LC-MS for Met ID. We critically assess and compare various mass spectrometers, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Citing appropriate examples, we cover recent LC and ion sources, isotopic-pattern matching, hydrogen/deuterium-exchange MS, data dependent analyses, MS^E, mass defect filter, 2D and 3D approaches for the elucidation of molecular formula, polarity switching, and background-subtraction and noise-reduction algorithms. A flow chart outlines a comprehensive strategy for Met ID, including a focus on reactive metabolites.     

Downstream implicit schemes for advection

Downstream-weighted implicit difference schemes for pure advection are stable for Courant numbers λ ≥ 1. They are numerically diffusive when λ > 1.     

Qualitative cation analysis without removing interfering anions

Summary A scheme of cation analysis is presented where phosphate and organic acids do not interfere with the course of analysis. The method is standardised on 2–3 mg level, and the procedure is rapid. Group separations are neat and in no case the precipitate is gelatinous. Some confirmatory tests of the elements have been modified.

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Zusammenfassung Ein Analysengang für Kationen wird angegeben, der durch Phosphat und organische Säuren nicht gestört wird und mit 2 bis 3 mg Probe rasch durchführbar ist. Die Gruppentrennungen verlaufen sauber, die Niederschläge sind in keinem Fall gallertig. Einzelne Nachweisreaktionen wurden modifiziert.