Inelastic incoherent neutron scattering measurements of intact cells and tissues and detection of interfacial water

We have previously used inelastic incoherent neutron scattering spectroscopy to investigate the properties of aqueous suspensions of biomolecules as a function of hydration. These experiments led to the identification of signals corresponding to interfacial (hydration) water at low water content. A prediction from these studies was that in the crowded environment inside living cells, a significant proportion of the water would be interfacial, with profound implications for biological function. Here we describe the first inelastic incoherent neutron scattering spectroscopy studies of living cells and tissues. We find that the interfacial water signal is similar to that observed for water interacting with purified biomolecules and other solutes, i.e., it is strongly perturbed in the librational and translational intermolecular optical regions of the spectrum at 20-150 meV. The ratio of interfacial water compared to total water in cells (approximately 30%) is in line with previous experimental data for hydration water and calculations based on simple assumptions.     

Inelastic incoherent neutron scattering studies of water interacting with biological macromolecules.

The interaction between water and biological macromolecules in living organisms is of fundamental importance in a range of processes. We have studied water-DNA and water-proteolipid membrane systems over a range of hydration states using inelastic incoherent neutron scattering. We find a relatively sharp transition for both systems at a water concentration above which bulk solvent can be detected. Below this concentration, bulk water is essentially absent, i.e., all the water in the system is interacting with the biological macromolecules. This water is strongly perturbed as judged by its energy transfer spectrum, with a broader and lower energy transition than bulk water in the 50-75 meV (approximately 400-600 cm(-1)) range. Taking into account the differing geometry of (cylindrical) DNA and (planar) membranes, the number of water shells perturbed by each system was estimated. A conclusion is that in living organisms a large proportion of the cellular water will be in a state quite distinct from bulk water. The data add to the growing evidence that water structure in the vicinity of biological macromolecules is unusual and that the proximal water behaves differently compared to the bulk solvent.     

Influence of disorder on superconductivity in non-magnetic rare-earth nickel borocarbides

The effect of substitutional disorder on the superconducting properties of YNi₂B₂C was studied by partially replacing yttrium and nickel by Lu and Pt, respectively. For the two series of (Y, Lu)Ni₂B₂C and Y(Ni, Pt)₂B₂C compounds, the upper critical field H _c2(T) and the specific heat c _p(T, H) in the superconducting mixed state have been investigated. Disorder is found to reduce several relevant quantities such as T _c, the upper critical field H _c2(0) at T=0 and a characteristic positive curvature of H _c2(T) observed for these compounds near T _c. The H _c2(T) data point to the clean limit for (Y, Lu) substitutions and to a transition to the quasi-dirty limit for (Ni, Pt) substitutions. The electronic specific heat contribution γ(H) exhibits significant deviations from the usual linear γ(H) law. These deviations reduce with growing substitutional disorder but remain even in the quasidirty limit which is reached in the Y(Ni_1−x , Pt _x )₂B₂C samples for x=0.1.     

Non-resonant microwave absorption studies of superconducting MgB2 and MgB2 + MgO

Non-resonant microwave absorption (NRMA) studies of superconducting MgB₂ and a sample containing ∼10% by weight of MgO in MgB₂ are reported. The NRMA results indicate near absence of intergranular weak links in the pure MgB₂ sample. A linear temperature dependence of the lower critical field H _c1 is observed indicating a non-s wave superconductivity. However, the phase reversal of the NRMA signal which could suggest d wave symmetry is also not observed. In the MgB₂ + MgO sample, much larger low field dependent absorption is observed indicating the presence of intergranular weak links. The hysteretic behavior of NRMA is compared and contrasted in the two samples. In the pure MgB₂ sample, a large hysteresis is observed between the forward and the reverse scans of the magnetic field indicating strong pinning of flux lines. This hysteresis saturates a few degrees below T _c while in the MgB₂ + MgO sample, a much slower increase of hysteresis with decreasing temperature is observed, a signature of weaker pinning.     

Eine Modification der Varrentrapp-Will'schen Methode der Stickstoffbestimmung

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Der Orsat'sche Apparat

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