A DC excited waveguide multibeam CO2 laser using high frequency pre-ionization technique

High power industrial multibeam CO₂ lasers consist of a large number of closely packed parallel glass discharge tubes sharing a common plane parallel resonator. Every discharge tube forms an independent resonator. When discharge tubes of smaller diameter are used and the Fresnel numberN ≪ 1 for all resonators, they operate in waveguide mode. Waveguide modes have excellent discrimination of higher order modes. A DC excited waveguide multibeam CO₂ laser is reported having six glass discharge tubes. Simultaneous excitation of DC discharge in all sections is achieved by producing pre-ionization using an auxiliary high frequency pulsed discharge along with its other advantages. Maximum 170 W output power is obtained with all beams operating in EH₁₁ waveguide mode. The specific power of 28 W/m is much higher as compared to similar AC excited waveguide multibeam CO₂ lasers. Theoretical analysis shows that all resonators of this laser will support only EH₁₁ mode. This laser is successfully used for woodcutting     

An azo dye for photodynamic therapy that is activated selectively by two-photon excitation

Two-photon photodynamic therapy (TP-PDT) is a promising approach for the treatment of cancer because of its better penetration depth and superior spatial selectivity. Here, we describe an azo group containing cyclized-cyanine derivatives (ACC1 and ACC2) as a two-photon activated, type I based photosensitizer (PS). These small-molecule and heavy atom-free organic dyes showed marked reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating ability under physiological conditions, as well as fast loading ability into the cells and negligible dark toxicity. Live cell analyses with one- and two-photon microscopy revealed that these dyes showed higher ROS generation ability upon two-photon excitation than upon one-photon excitation via the type I process. The PSs have superior PDT properties compared to conventional Visudyne and 5-ALA under mild conditions. These characteristics allowed for precise PDT at the target region in mimic tumor spheroids, demonstrating that the developed TP PS could be useful in efficient PDT applications and in designing various PSs.

Azo containing dyes as a two-photon selective and type I based photosensitizers (PSs) were developed that exhibit excellent photodynamic therapy properties under mild condition.     

Locally enhanced relative humidity for scanning probe nanolithography

The formation of a water meniscus between a sharp tip and a solid surface is one of the prevailing requirements for scanning probe microscope (SPM)-based lithographies, such as dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) and conductive tip induced oxidation. The water meniscus functions as a medium for the oxidation of or mass transfer to the solid surface. Here we report a simple, efficient, and effective approach to enhance the local relative humidity and thus increase the size of the water meniscus by bringing a water-containing capillary tube to the proximity of the tip-surface contact area. The enhancement in local relative humidity is confirmed via an increase in the measured tip-surface adhesion forces and the widths of DPN generated parallel lines. Compared to the global control of relative humidity for the whole lithography system, the short distance between the "water reservoir" and the tip-surface contact area enables rapid increase in the local vapor pressure of water, less perturbation, and minimal erosion to the state-of-the-art electronics. As a result, most scanning probe lithography experiments at high relative humidity can now be performed in a reasonable time frame.     

Diphenylcarbazone as an internal indicator in mercurimetric analysis: The determination of cerium by potassium thiocyanate

Summary The quantitative oxidation of thiocyanate by ceric sulphate has been studied and the method utilised for the determination of small quantities of cerium by back titrating the excess (unreacted) KSCN against standard mercuric nitrate with diphenylcarbazone as the internal indicator. Accurate results are obtained under the specified experimental conditions and the procedure is more simple and direct than that adopted during earlier studies of the above redox reaction.Grateful thanks of the author are due to Professor S. S. Joshi for facilities during the work and to the National Institute of Sciences of India for award of a Research Fellowship.     

Transparent conducting oxides: texture and microstructure effects on charge carrier mobility in MOCVD-derived CdO thin films grown with a thermally stable, low-melting precursor

A series of low-melting, thermally stable cadmium metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) precursors have been synthesized, structurally and spectroscopically characterized, and implemented in growth of highly conductive and transparent CdO thin films. One member of the series, bis(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionato)(N,N-diethyl-N',N'-dimethyl-ethylenediamine)cadmium(II), Cd(hfa)(2)()(N,N-DE-N',N'-DMEDA), represents a particularly significant improvement over previously available Cd precursors, owing to the low melting point and robust thermal stability. High-quality CdO films were grown by MOCVD on glass and single-crystal MgO(100) between 300 and 412 degrees C. Film growth parameters and substrate surface have large effects on microstructure and electron carrier transport properties. Enhanced mobilities observed for highly biaxially textured films grown on MgO(100) vs glass are attributed, on the basis of DC charge transport and microstructure analysis, to a reduction in neutral impurity scattering and/or to a more densely packed grain microstructure. Although single-grained films grown on MgO(100) exhibit greater mobilities than analogues with discrete approximately 100 nm grains and similar texture, this effect is attributed, on the basis of charge transport and Hall effect measurements as well as optical reflectivity analysis, to differences in carrier concentration rather than to reduced grain boundary scattering. Unprecedented conductivities and mobilities as high as 11,000 S/cm and 307 cm(2)/V.s, respectively, are obtained for epitaxial single-grained films (X-ray diffraction parameters: fwhm(omega) = 0.30 degrees, fwhm(phi) = 0.27 degrees ) grown in situ on MgO(100) at a relatively low temperature (400 degrees C).     

Polarographic separation of cobalt from nickel

Summary The polarographic behaviour of nickel and cobalt in the mixed base electrolytes, urea-pyridine and urea-hydrazine has been studied. The effect of p_H, concentration of supporting electrolyte and the presence of various other ions was investigated. Well defined polarograms for both the elements were obtained at p_H 6.0 and 5.0 respectively. Attempts were made to utilize these observations in the separation of the two cations. While the difference in E _1/2 of the ions in urea-pyridine was greater than –0.3 volts that in urea-hydrazine was about –0.2 volts or slightly less even under the optimum conditions. In a mixed solution the waves for Co and Ni were therefore well developed and separated in the former base electrolyte. The polarograms in urea-hydrazine were, however, of little analytical use because of the washing away of the Ni wave due to the presence of even small amounts of cobalt.

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Zusammenfassung Das polarographische Verhalten von Nickel und Kobalt in Harnstoff-Pyridin- und Harnstoff-Hydrazinlösung wurde untersucht und der Einfluß des p_H-Wertes, der Leitsalzkonzentration sowie der Gegenwart verschiedener anderer Ionen festgestellt. Bei p_H 6,0 bzw. 5,0 wurden für beide Elemente gut ausgebildete Polarogramme erhalten. Es wurde versucht, die erhaltenen Ergebnisse zur Trennung der beiden Ionen zu benutzen. In Harnstoff-Pyridinlösung beträgt der Unterschied der beiden Halbstufenpotentiale mehr als –0,3 V und man erhält gut ausgebildete und voneinander getrennte Stufen. In Harnstoff-Hydrazinlösung dagegen beträgt der Unterschied nur –0,2 V oder etwas weniger, selbst unter optimaler Bedingungen, und die Ni-Stufe wird schon durch kleine Kobaltmengen beeinträchtigt.

     

Oxidation of formate by alkaline ferricyanide

Summary A catalytic oxidation of formate by alkaline ferricyanide has been studied. To the formate solution an excess of ferricyanide and osmium tetroxide as catalyst were added and the excess ferricyanide was back titrated with arsenious oxide using the amperometric dead stop end point method. The method is superior to the oxidative determination of formate by alkaline permanganate.

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Zusammenfassung Formiat kann durch katalytische Oxydation mit alkalischer Hexacyanoferrat(III)-lösung bestimmt werden, indem man die Probelösung mit einem Überschuß des Reagenses sowie Osmiumtetroxid als Katalysator versetzt und den Überschuß mit Arsen(III)-lösung zurücktitriert.Der Endpunkt wird nach der Dead stop-Methode bestimmt. Das Verfahren ist der Oxydation mit alkalischer Permanganatlösung überlegen.

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Sincere thanks of the authors are due to Prof. G. B. Singh for providing the necessary facilities. The award of a U.G.C. Scholarship to one of them (A.L.J.R.) is also acknowledged.     

New families of graceful banana trees

Consider a family of stars. Take a new vertex. Join one end-vertex of each star to this new vertex. The tree so obtained is known as abanana tree. It is proved that the banana trees corresponding to the family of stars

1. (K_1,1, K_1,2,…, K_{1,t ?1}, (α + l) K_1,t, K_{1,t + 1}, …, K_1,n), α ? 0
2. (2K_1,1, 2K_1,2,…, 2K_{1,t? 1}, (α + 2)K_1,t, 2K_{1,t + 1, …}, 2K_1,n), 0 ? α <t and
3. (3K_1,t, 3K_1,2, …, 3K_1,n) are graceful.

     

Determination of thiourea and its methyl derivatives by hypoiodite oxidation, and iodine monochloride end point; iodine bromide end point in the titration of thiourea with iodate

Summary Procedures have been described for the quantitative determination of thiourea and its methyl derivatives, wherein iodate, permanganate, and ceric sulphate have been used as direct titration solution, either following preoxidation by alkali hypoiodite via (ICI + KOH) or in case of thiourea, by iodine bromide method. Apart from using standard oxidants the methods have an added advantage of a high conversion factor due to oxidation of sulphur to sulphate. Alternative physical methods of detecting the end point is an added feature of these procedures.The authors wish to express their grateful thanks to Dr. S. S. Joshi, D. Sc. (London), for his kind interest in the work.