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.     

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.     

Solution and structural characterization of iron(II) complexes with ortho-halogenated phenolates: insights into potential substrate binding modes in hydroquinone dioxygenases

The new ligand cis,cis-1,3,5-tris-(E)-(tolylideneimino)cyclohexane (TACH-o-tolyl) forms a 1:1 complex with iron(II). Addition of substituted phenolates forms 1:1:1 ligand:iron:phenolate complexes, which have been characterized both in the solid state and in solution. There is complete binding of the phenolate to the complex only when there are ortho-halogens on the phenolate. The tertiary complexes with ortho-halo-substituted phenolates exhibit short Fe-halogen distances, and the complex containing a non-coordinating but similarly sized ortho-methyl phenolate has a significantly different conformation and coordination geometry. Therefore, it is likely that the metal-halogen interaction stabilizes the complexes. The iron(II)-halogen interaction in these complexes may explain the substrate specificity of PcpA and LinE, enzymes that preferentially bind phenols and hydroquinones containing halogen substituents in ortho positions.     

Controlled-dispersion flow analysis : Flow-injection analysis applied to clinical chemistry

Mechanisation came early to clinical chemistry and has passed through a number of phases. Selective multichannel machines, usually discrete analysers with their associated mechanical complexities, have become popular; the simplicity and reliability of flow analysers has been lost. Flow injection offers new opportunities to develop simple selective machines. Sample waste is avoided in the controlled-dispersion flow analyser; the slug of sample is picked up by a probe, the volume being metered by the peristaltic pump driven by a stepping motor under computer control. Reagent waste is avoided by a similar system and use of merging zones. Very economical operation is thus possible and acceptable precision is attained. Various features of the technique, including prolonged incubation, use of kinetic methods to minimise the need for blanks, and application of different detectors are discussed in the context of clinical assays. Anomalous behaviour of particulate matter in flow streams and the changing shape of sample slugs in stationary streams are described. The application of flow-injection systems in clinical chemistry is extremely promising.     

Rapid spectrofluorimetric determination of plasma salicylate with edta and terbium

A rapid single-reagent spectrofluorimetric assay for salicylate in human blood plasma is reported. The method is based on ternary complex formation with terbium and EDTA in alkaline solution; it requires only 10 μl of plasma, and protein precipitation is not necessary. Within-assay relative standard deviations were better than 2.5%, and correlation with the Trinder method was excellent. The procedure is particularly suited for emergency use in cases of suspected aspirin poisoning.     

The use of holding coils to facilitate long incubation times in unsegmented flow analysis : Determination of serum prostatic acid phosphatase

Conventional unsegmented flow analysis is best suited to determinations involving rapid chemical reactions. Analyses requiring relatively long reaction times necessitate stopping the flow to allow sufficient reaction product to accumulate, which significantly decreases sampling frequency. An automated distribution valve is described which directs samples into one of four holding coils where they remain for a predetermined time. Because one parallel coil may be filled with a sample while the others hold other samples for reaction, thoroughput is increased fourfold compared with a comparable single tube system. This technique is applied to the determination of prostatic acid phosphatase in human blood sera. The method is compared with a manual procedure.     

Multiple labelling of immunoglobulin G, albumin and testosterone with a fluorescent terbium chelate for fluorescence immunoassays

Human immunoglobulin G, human serum albumin and testosterone were labelled with the 4-aminosalicylic acid derivative of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid complexed with terbium ions. An exceptionally large amount of label, of the order of a few hundred moles of complex per mole of analyte, could be conjugated to the compounds tested by the use of poly-L-lysine. Self-quenching appears to be minimal, even with this high local concentration of fluorophores. The tracers were stable at 4 degrees C, and gave competitive calibration graphs at physiological concentrations.