First measurement of the ϱ spectral function in nuclear collisions

The NA60 experiment at the CERN SPS has studied low-mass muon pairs in 158 A GeV In–In collisions. A strong excess of pairs is observed above the yield expected from neutral meson decays. The unprecedented sample size close to 400000 events and the good mass resolution of about 2% made it possible to isolate the excess by subtraction of the decay sources. The shape of the resulting mass spectrum shows some non-trivial centrality dependence, but is largely consistent with a dominant contribution from π⁺π^-→ϱ→μ⁺μ^- annihilation. The associated ϱ spectral function exhibits considerable broadening, but essentially no shift in mass. The p_T-differential mass spectra show the excess to be much stronger at low p_T than at high p_T. The results are compared to theoretical model predictions; they tend to rule out models linking hadron masses directly to the chiral condensate. PACS 25.75.-q; 12.38.Mh; 13.85.Qk     

Influence of boric acid on the determination of iron in reactor coolant water by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary The matric effect of boric acid was investigated in the determination of iron in the primary circuit coolant water of nuclear power plants by furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The effect of boric acid was of particular interest. The method was applied during refuelling and maintenance periods and the results were used to interpret the chemical changes in the water.

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Einfluß von Borsäure auf die Bestimmung von Eisen in Reaktorkühlwasser durch GF-AAS

     

Simultaneous determination of alkylphenol ethoxylates and their biotransformation products by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry

Reversed-phase LC-MS/MS is used to determine major estrogenic alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and their biotransformation products. It allows the simultaneous analysis of eight APEOs, alkylphenoxy carboxylates (APECs) and alkylphenols (APs) in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents in the same extract after solid-phase enrichment on polymeric Oasis HLB. As precursor ions, [APEO + NH4]+, [APEC - H]- and [AP - H]- were monitored. Instrumental limits of detection (LOD) were 2-600 pg, corresponding to sample concentrations of 0.04-12 ng l(-1), without correction for overall method recoveries. Matrix-induced signal suppression during electrospray ionisation (ESI) and extraction as well as overall method recoveries were assessed and the suitability of deuterated surrogates as internal standards was evaluated.     

Synthesis of 2•,3•-Dideoxy-3•-<Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>-hydroxymethylcytidine Phosphonomethyl Derivatives

Phosphonomethyl substituted 2?,3?-Dideoxy-3?-C-hydroxymethylcytidines have been synthesized and evaluated for their anti HIV-1 activities. The sugar moiety was synthesized starting from (S)-5-hydroxymethylfuran-2-(5H)-one using photocatalyzed addition of methanol. Reduction of the lactone, condensation with silylated 4-methoxy-2(1H)pyrimidinone, followed by phosphonomethylation and deprotection gave the title compounds. The compounds were tested for inhibition of HIV-1 activity but did not show any significant antiviral activity.     

Trace determination of volatile sulfur compounds by solid-phase microextraction and GC-MS

A method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the following nine volatile sulfur compounds in gas samples: carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, ethyl sulfide, ethyl methyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, isopropanethiol, methanethiol, methyl disulfide and methyl sulfide. The target compounds were preconcentrated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and determined by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. Experimental design was employed to optimize the extraction time and temperature and concurrent detection of the nine compounds was achieved by using an SPME fiber coated with Carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane (75 microns). Detection limits ranged from 1 ppt (v/v) for carbon disulfide to 350 ppt (v/v) for hydrogen sulfide and calibration functions were linear up to 20 ppb (v/v) for all the compounds investigated.     

Improvement of the detection limit of carbon in metal alloys by Ion Microprobe Analysis

Summary An important aim of materials research is the detection of dependencies between local carbon distributions and mechanical characteristics. Because of the small concentration of carbon the methods of analysis for the detection of local element distributions-e.g. Auger Spectroscopy, Electron Microprobe, and Ion Microprobe Analysis-are not directly suitable.This paper presents results of examinations with Ion Microprobe Analysis which improve the detection limit of carbon by a factor of 100. Thus the aim to detect local distributions of carbon in high temperature alloys seems to be possible for concentrations above 200 ppm.

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Verbesserung der Nachweisgrenze für Kohlenstoff in Metallegierungen mit Hilfe der lonenmikrosonden-Analyse

Zusammenfassung Ein wichtiges Ziel der Werkstofforschung ist der Nachweis von Abhängigkeiten zwischen lokalen Kohlenstoffverteilungen und mechanischen Werkstoffeigenschaften. Wegen der kleinen Kohlenstoffgehalte sind die Verfahren zur Bestimmung lokaler Elementverteilungen — Auger-Spektroskopie, Elektronenmikrosonde und Ionenmikrosonde — nicht direkt geeignet. Es werden Untersuchungsergebnisse angegeben, die eine Verbesserung der Nachweisgrenze für Kohlenstoff mit der Ionenmikrosonde um den Faktor 100 ermöglichen. Damit erscheint der Nachweis lokaler Kohlenstoffverteilungen in Hochtemperaturwerkstoffen für Konzentrationen 200 ppm möglich.

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Presented at the 8th International Microchemical Symposium, Graz, August 25–30, 1980.     

N‐Heterocyclic Silylenes in Boron Chemistry: Facile Formation of Silylboranes and Silaborinines

Reaction of a N‐heterocyclic silylene (NHSi) with PhBX₂ (X=Cl, Br) readily afforded six‐membered silaborinines through an insertion/ring expansion sequence. Increasing the sterics of the borane from phenyl to duryl enabled the selective generation and isolation of the highly colored silylborane intermediates. Theoretical studies on the mechanism and energetics of the silaborinine formation were fully consistent with the experimental observations.     

Toluene as a novel carrier of xanthates—preparation,use and surrogate of S-tri- and di-chloromethyl xanthates

Toluene has been identified as a novel carrier of xanthates. Their corresponding fragmentative precursors proved to behave efficiently in radical group transfer reactions. As examples, unprecedented S-tri/di-chloromethyl xanthates could be prepared, isolated and further used in radical additions to olefins. Their precursors (de-aromatized toluene upon which is grafted, at one end, a tri/di-chloromethyl-group and, at the other end, a dithiocarbonyl group) can also be used directly in the transfer of both groups to olefins. The re-aromatizing loss of toluene by radical initiated fragmentation of the precursors brings thus new opportunities to the chemistry of xanthates, exemplified here in the intermolecular additions to olefins of new S-tri/di-chloromethyl xanthates.