Tip End Research Articles

Direct imaging of fluorescence enhancement in the gap between two gold nanodisks

We present an analysis of the optical coupling between two gold nanodisks by near-field fluorescence microscopy. This is achieved by simultaneously scanning and measuring the light emitted by a single Er3+/Yb3+ doped nanocrystal glued at the end of an atomic force microscope tip. The excitation of the nanocrystal was performed at λ = 975 nm via upconversion, and fluorescence was detected in the visible part of the spectrum at λ = 550 nm. For an isolated nanodisk, the near-field presents a two-lobe pattern oriented along the direction of the incident polarization. For two nanodisks with a sizable separation distance (385 nm) illuminated with the polarization along the interparticle axis, we observe a negative effect of the coupling with a slight decrease in fluorescence in the gap. For smaller gap values (195, 95, and 55 nm), a strong increase in fluorescence is observed as well as a reduced spatial localization of the field as the distance decreases. Finally, when the disks touch each other (0 nm), the dipolar–dipolar interaction between them disappears and no fluorescence enhancement occurs. A new plasmon mode is created at another wavelength. Our experimental results are in good agreement with numerical simulations of the near-field intensity distribution at the excitation wavelength on the surface of the structures. Combining fluorescence mapping and far-field scattering spectroscopy should be of strong interest to develop bio-chemical sensors based on field enhancement effects.

Localization of Major Ephedra Alkaloids in Whole Aerial Parts of Ephedrae Herba Using Direct Analysis in Real Time-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry-based molecular imaging has been utilized to map the spatial distribution of target metabolites in various matrixes. Among the diverse mass spectrometry techniques, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is the most popular for molecular imaging due to its powerful spatial resolution. This unparalleled high resolution, however, can paradoxically act as a bottleneck when the bio-imaging of large areas, such as a whole plant, is required. To address this issue and provide a more versatile tool for large scale bio-imaging, direct analysis in real-time-time of flight-mass spectrometry (DART-TOF-MS), an ambient ionization MS, was applied to whole plant bio-imaging of a medicinal plant, Ephedrae Herba. The whole aerial part of the plant was cut into 10–20 cm long pieces, and each part was further cut longitudinally to compare the contents of major ephedra alkaloids between the outer surface and inner part of the stem. Using optimized DART-TOF-MS conditions, molecular imaging of major ephedra alkaloids of the whole aerial part of a single plant was successfully achieved. The concentration of alkaloids analyzed in this study was found to be higher on the inner section than the outer surface of stems. Moreover, side branches, which are used in traditional medicine, represented a far higher concentration of alkaloids than the main stem. In terms of the spatial metabolic distribution, the contents of alkaloids gradually decreased towards the end of branch tips. In this study, a fast and simple macro-scale MS imaging of the whole plant was successfully developed using DART-TOF-MS. This application on the localization of secondary metabolites in whole plants can provide an area of new research using ambient ionization mass spectroscopy and an unprecedented macro-scale view of the biosynthesis and distribution of active components in medicinal plants.

Creation of a Custom-Length, Humeral Antibiotic Cement Spacer for Use in Treatment of Shoulder Periprosthetic Joint Infection

Periprosthetic joint infection of the shoulder is a challenging clinical situation to manage owing to the fastidious organisms often present and delayed clinical presentation. While several treatment options have been described, the mainstay of treatment remains a staged revision with the use of a humeral antibiotic cement spacer. Such spacers are commercially available or can be made by hand. When an extended humeral osteotomy is required to remove a well-fixed long stem humeral component, it may be advantageous to place an antibiotic spacer with a stem length approximately as long as the hardware being removed. This technique demonstrates creation of a custom length, humeral antibiotic cement spacer for use in treatment of shoulder periprosthetic joint infection.

A Cross-sectional Radiological Study of Ossification at Lower End of Ulna and Tip of Olecranon among Children and Adolescents coming to Forensic Medicine Department, Medical College, Kolkata, for Age Estimation

Objectives: To study radiologically the ossification status of lower end of ulna and tip of olecranon andcompare with Galstaun chart and other standard charts.Material and Methods: A record based cross sectional study was performed in the department of Forensicand State Medicine, Medical College Kolkata for one month, on children and adolescent coming to thedepartment for age estimation over a span of past one year. Their chronological age was noted from birthcertificates. The X-Ray plates was looked for appearance and fusion of lower end of ulna and tip of olecranonand compared with Galstaun chart and other standard charts.Results: The records of 199 subjects (Male-142. Female-57) were examined, who belong to the age groupof 7yrs to 19yrs. After observing the appearance and fusion from X-Ray plates and comparing them withGalstaun chart it was seen that maximum deviation from mean age occurred in appearance of lower end ofulna. Appearance of tip of olecranon also had a wide deviation. Males were found to have more variationsthan females.

Application of fertilizers to reduce negative herbicidal effect when growing tobacco seedlings

The effectiveness of combined application of soil herbicide Command, EC at a dose of 0.02 ml/m 2 and organomineral fertilizers Rostok and Stimulife was studied for cultivation of tobacco seedlings in the conditions of central zone of Krasnodar Territory. Earlier studies established the inhibitory effect of herbicide Command, EC at the initial stage of plant growth. To remove the toxic impact and improve the growth processes of tobacco, research was carried out in the greenhouse and field periods. Fertilizers Rostock and Stimulife were applied before seeds were sown at the doses of 1.0 and 5.0 ml/m 2 , respectively, and twice more with irrigation water 2 and 4 weeks after seeds were sown at the rate of 1 l/m 2 alongside herbicides with the optimal supply of nutrients: NH 4 – 10 mg/100 g and NO 3 – 25, P – 30 and K – 35 mg/100 g. This protection against weeds made it possible not only to reduce the toxic effect of a chemical herbicide, but also to increase the quality characteristics of tobacco. Agrochemicals increased the length of plants from the root collar to the growth point by 22–32%, to the end of leaf tips by 20–36%, the weight of the aboveground parts of plants by 39–52%, and the mass of the root system by 41–69%. The yield of standard seedlings increased by 23%. Seedlings planted in the field developed better due to the effect of prolonged action of high-quality seedlings under the influence of Rostock and Stimulife preparations, which subsequently led to a significant increase in yield by 19–22% (НСР 05 = 1.88). The fertilizers used improved the quality of raw tobacco by increasing the content of carbohydrates and reducing proteins.

Evaluation of regular insulin adsorption to polypropylene bag and polyvinyl chloride infusion set.

Clinical application of insulin infusion therapy is usually accomplished with regular human insulin. It is known that the regular insulin adsorbed to the hydrophobic surfaces and different approaches were implemented into the clinical practices. It was aimed to evaluate the rate of adsorption of insulin to polypropylene (PP) bags and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) infusion sets and stability of insulin during the infusion. A 100IU insulin was added to PP bags containing 100mL of 0.9% NaCl solution (n=6). The infusion was started at a rate of 2mL/h using infusion sets in the PVC structure. Insulin quantification was performed in the samples taken both from the bag and from the end tip of the infusion set during infusion. The stability of insulin solutions stored at room (+25°C) and refrigerator (+4°C) temperatures were compared. Samples were analysed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. No statistically significant difference was found between the concentrations of the samples taken from the bags stored at room and refrigerator temperatures at the 4th, 12th, and 24th hours (P>.05). It was seen that the adsorption rate of insulin to PVC set was 57% and PP bags is at most 5% at the 24th hour. When PP bags are used for insulin infusion, it is predicted that 24-hour change can be made instead of frequent change. In addition, losses caused by the high rate of insulin adsorption to PVC infusion sets should be considered and PP infusion sets would be the better option to use if available.

Effect of transverse fuel injection system on combustion efficiency in scramjet combustor

Supersonic mixing layer behind the hydrogen fueled wedge shaped strut has been demonstrated by means of combined fuel injection strategy. Numerical investigation on the Effect of wall transverse fuel injection system in addition with parallel fuel injection approach have been found suitable for stable flame and combustion performance. The experimental supersonic combustor observation was performed by Waidmann et al. in German Aerospace Centre (DLR), which has been utilised in validation section to examine the accuracy and applicability of present computational work. Non-reacting and reacting both types of flow field characteristics are analysed to complete the validation. Good agreement was found in the contour plots towards oblique shock incident location moreover expansion fan behaviour at the end tip of the strut was observed. Pressure graph near the combustor walls and mid plane of the combustor were well matched with numerical observation however velocity graph was best suitable for near wake region instead of far-field region. Thus Ansys 14.0 fluent software has been chosen to compare the experimental data from the literature with numerical analysis. Two-dimensional computational combustor geometry has been taken with involving steady state, SST k-ω two equation based turbulence model analysis. Finite rate-eddy dissipation chemistry based combustion model is used to analyse the combustion process. Parallel fuel injection location is engaged at the same point and the change of wall transverse fuel injection port position have been analysed. Variations can be visualised in the numerical analysis outcome of combustion and mixing performance. The combustion efficiency plot is divided in to two section i.e. rapid change in chemical reaction in all four cases and second is gradual consumption of fuel. The outcome shows that the abrupt change in 68 mm transverse fuel injector model with 96% combustion efficiency.

Visual salience of 3D and 2D spoons determines S-R mapping and flanker effects.

This study tested the hypothesis that affordances for grasping with the corresponding hand are activated more strongly by three-dimensional (3D) real objects than by two-dimensional (2D) pictures of the objects. In Experiment 1, participants made left and right keypress responses to the handle or functional end (tip) of an eating utensil using compatible and incompatible mappings. In one session, stimuli were spoons mounted horizontally on a blackboard with the sides to which the handle and tip pointed varying randomly. In the other, stimuli were pictures of spoons displayed on a black computer screen. Three-dimensional and 2D sessions showed a similar benefit for compatible mapping when the tip was relevant and a small cost of compatible mapping when the handle was relevant. Experiment 2 used a flanker task in which participants responded compatibly to the location of the handle or the tip, and spoons located above and below the target spoon could have congruent or incongruent orientations. The difference between 3D and 2D displays was not obtained in the flanker effect for reaction time. There was little evidence that 3D objects activate grasping affordances that 2D images do not. Instead, we argue that visual salience of the tip is the critical factor determining these correspondence effects.

Safety and efficacy of vasopressor administration through midline catheters

Vasopressors are commonly administered through Central Venous Catheters (CVCs) as it is considered unsafe to administer them via peripheral IVs, mainly due to the concern of local tissue injury. Unlike peripheral IVs, midline catheters provide a wider lumen with the catheter tip ending in a large peripheral vein. The use of vasopressors through midline catheters has not yet been evaluated. The primary objective of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of long term administration of vasopressors through a midline catheter. This is a retrospective study between 2016 and 2019 looking at the outcomes of midline catheters. 45 bed Tertiary level ICU in a 600-bed teaching hospital. A total of 248 patients received vasopressors via midline catheters. The average midline dwell time was 14.7±12.8days and the average duration of continuous vasopressor infusion was 7.8±9.3days. Vasopressors used with their average dose (AD) were norepinephrine (n=165, 16.8 CE±10.7 μg/min), epinephrine (n=56, 9.1 CE±6.0 μg/min), vasopressin (n=123, 0.05 CE±0.02units/min), phenylephrine (n=158, 91.4 CE±64.7 μg/min) and Angiotensin II (50 CE±27.6ng/kg/min). Early Complication rate was 3.6% due to Bloodstream infection (n=6), drug extravasation (n=1), thrombophlebitis (n=1) and arterial puncture (n=1). Late Complication rate was 0.8% (n=2) due to midline-associated DVTs. There were no complications related to ineffective drug delivery or limb endangerment. Many medical centers are attempting to limit the use of central venous catheters (CVCs) to avoid central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). This study demonstrates that midline catheters are a safe alternative to CVCs, for the safe and efficacious administration of vasopressors for prolonged periods of time.

Comparison of semicircular and bent tips regarding regional differences in oscillation amplitude under various torsional power settings.

To analyze the difference between the behavior of semicircular (balanced) and bent (mini) tips at 20 incremental torsional power settings. Tsukazaki Hospital, Himeji, Japan. Experimental study. Using an ultra-high-speed video camera HPV-X2, the 2 tips during torsional oscillation were recorded, comparing tip behavior at power settings from 5% to 100% by tracking points 1 to 5 (tip end and at 1325, 2650, 3975, and 5035 μm from the tip end). Both tips increased their amplitude widths, drawing an S-curve at all points as the torsional power setting was increased, reaching their upper limits from 70% to 90% torsional power. At all 20 power settings, both tips showed significantly different amplitudes (all P < .01), and the difference of the amplitude increased as the power setting increased. Although, at points 1 and 3, the balanced tip amplitude was nearly 1.5 times larger than the mini tip amplitude, the amplitude difference was 10 μm or less at points 2 and 4. At point 5, the mini tip amplitude was at least 3 times more than the balanced tip amplitude. The amplitude does not increase proportionally and varies markedly with the tip shape on reaching the upper limit, suggesting that a higher power setting might not contribute greatly to nuclear fragmentation. The balanced tip might cause greater damage to surrounding tissues if it is inserted at approximately 3 mm from the wound site. To obtain maximum shaft stability using the balanced tip, it is important to insert at least 5 mm.

O23 Pulmonary emboli in a teenager with GPA: management dilemmas

Case report - Introduction15 year old girl with the diagnosis of granulomatosis polyangiitis (GPA) managed with induction regimen of intravenous cyclophosphamide and whilst on maintenance mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) developed multiple cavitating lung lesions with the large cavity abutting pulmonary vein and bilateral segmental pulmonary embolism (PE) posing complex management dilemmas.Case report - Case description15-year-old girl presented with being unwell for 3 months with malaise, lethargy, joint pains, significant weight loss (10 kg), mouth ulcer and significant hearing loss. Investigations showed anaemia, raised inflammatory markers, and impaired kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate eGFR 40). Her ANCA was positive, hearing test showed significant mixed hearing loss and CXR was normal. The renal biopsy confirmed pauci-immune ANCA associated glomerulonephritis with 70% crescents. She was initially managed with intravenous pulse of steroids followed by oral weaning regime, double filtration plasmapheresis and commenced on induction regimen of intravenous cyclophosphamide. She received 6 doses of cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 and following good recovery with normalising kidney function; was commenced on maintenance MMF.At this point she developed new onset earache, sore throat, and hoarseness of voice with raised inflammatory markers and worsening symptoms despite antibiotics. This was presumed to a flare of vasculitis and hence was given further pulse of steroids and increased the dose of MMF. The ENT assessment did not reveal any subglottic stenosis. After few weeks, symptoms recurred with cough/hoarseness of voice and associated tiredness. Bloods showed raised inflammatory markers; CXR revealed cavitating lung lesions and a CT chest was arranged.CT chest showed apical sub pleural lung nodule and a large thick-walled cavity measuring 6.6x 4.4 cm abutting the pulmonary vein on the right side and bilateral segmental pulmonary emboli. The child was systemically stable with no respiratory distress and oxygen saturations were 100% in air.Case report - DiscussionThe management of GPA was further complicated by the pulmonary embolism and cavitating lung lesions abutting pulmonary vein.The management included escalation of immunosuppression with pulse of steroids, further dose of cyclophosphamide and commence Rituximab .The key challenges with the immediate management were risk of bleeding associated with the anticoagulation, treating the pulmonary embolism, risk of diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and managing the patient in a safe setting equipped with all the expertise required.The child was screened for cardiolipin antibodies on multiple occasions and these were negative. An ECHO was done to look for evidence of clot at the end of central line tip, but this was normal. Deep venous thrombosis of legs was ruled out by Doppler scanning. There was no clear source of emboli identified.Although there is emerging evidence for increased incidence of vascular events in GPA adult patients, the data on vascular events in children with GPA is scarce. Merkel and co-workers reported a high occurrence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) among GPA patients included in a randomized therapeutic trial (WeCLOT study) 1 .FAURSCHOU et al. reported that GPA was associated with a much lower relative risk of stroke than of pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis; the risk of venous thromboembolic events among GPA patients was increased during early as well as late follow up periods. Currently there are no significant data on the use of antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant therapy in AAV. Following extensive multidisciplinary discussion with respiratory, haematology, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgical and paediatric intensive care teams, and the child was anticoagulated with close monitoring in paediatric high dependency unit and immunosuppression escalated alongside. Case report - Key learning points This case highlights the risk of thromboembolic events in children with GPAProposed mechanisms in the literature for thrombosis in vasculitis at molecular level would probably explain the episode in the absence of source identifiedMultidisciplinary team approach is crucial for management of complex patientsThere were few challenges due to geographical location of the patient and the regional variation of subspecialty cover provided for their local District General HospitalFor discussion- Role of Rituximab early in GPA?

The study of genetic factors that determine the awned glume trait in bread wheat

Ости – тонкие заостренные отростки, сформированные в дистальной части чешуй колоска соцветия некоторых видов злаков, включая такие экономически значимые культуры, как пшеница мягкая (Triticum aestivum L.) и твердая (T. durum Desf.), ячмень (Hordeum vulgare L.), рис (Oryza sativa L.), рожь (Secale cereal L.). Наличие длинных остей на колосковых чешуях характерно для одного вида пшеницы – T. carthlicum Nevski, киль коло- сковой чешуи которого переходит в длинный остевидный отросток или ость, равную по длине ости цветковой чешуи. Колос T. carthlicum имеет удвоенное число остей, а сам признак получил название «тетраостость» или персикоидность. Ости на месте килевого зубца колосковых чешуй могут формироваться у пшениц T. aestivum и T. aethiopicum, однако такие формы встречаются редко. Особенности развития признака тетраостости и его гене- тические детерминанты изучены мало. В настоящем исследовании рассмотрены особенности развития и насле- дования признака «тетраостость» линии CD 1167-8 мягкой пшеницы T. aestivum c применением классического генетического анализа, молекулярно-генетического картирования и сканирующей электронной микроскопии. Показано, что признак наследуется как рецессивный моногенный. Ген, контролирующий тетраостость линии CD 1167-8, картирован в длинном плече хромосомы 5A c использованием 15K-SNP-микрочипа, содержащего 15 000 ассоциированных с генами SNP пшеницы (Illumina Infinium 15K Wheat Array, TraitGenetics GmbH). Резуль- таты теста на аллелизм продемонстрировали, что изучаемый ген аллелен b1, рецессивному аллелю гена-инги- битора остистости B1 (5AL). Таким образом, ген, контролирующий формирование остей на колосковых чешуях мягкой пшеницы, является рецессивным аллелем гена ингибитора остистости B1. Новый аллель обозначен b1.ag (b1. awned glume). Анализ развивающегося соцветия линии CD 1167-8 с помощью сканирующей электронной микроскопии выявил, что зачатки остей колосковых чешуй формируются по мере развития и роста колосковых чешуй одновременно с развитием остей на цветковых чешуях, различий в развитии остей на цветковых и колосковых чешуях не обнаружено.

Microstructures of crab chela: A biological composite for pinching

We have investigated the microstructures and mechanical properties of four crab species Paralithodes brevipes, Eriocheir japonicas, Geothelphusa dehaani, and Telmessus acutidens and analyzed the molecular and elemental data of their chela. In the visible brown region (BR) at the distal end of the dactylus tip in Paralithodes brevipes and Eriocheir japonicas, the elastic modulus and calcium (Ca) content were lower than in the white region (WR). Near the interface between BR and WR, Ca, and carbon (C) composition changed continuously. Molecular analysis shows that the dactylus tips of the chela in P. brevipes and E. japonicas were composed of chitin and calcium carbonate. In G. dehaani and T. acutidens, the Ca concentration was homogeneous in the top portion (TP) of the dactylus dentitions. The lowest value of Ca concentration was found near the surface of the bottom portion (BP) on the dactylus dentitions. In G. dehaani, the elastic modulus distribution in the TP was maximum near the outermost surface, and gradually decreased in the inner layers; the lowest elastic modulus in the BP was near the outermost surface, and the distribution increased in the inner layer. These results show that the biological composite was as a continuous structure near the interface of the dactylus tip. Understanding the microstructures of the dactyla of crabs might help the study and development of bio-inspired composites for pinching.

Quantifying the evolution of atomic interaction of a complex surface with a functionalized atomic force microscopy tip

Terminating the tip of an atomic force microscope with a CO molecule allows data to be acquired with a well-known and inert apex. Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the electrostatic interaction, indicating in some cases that the negative charge at the apex of the CO dominates, whereas in other cases the positive charge at the end of the metal tip dominates. To clarify this, we investigated hbox {CaF}_{2}(111). hbox {CaF}_{2} is an ionic crystal and the (111) surface does not possess charge inversion symmetry. Far from the surface, the interaction is dominated by electrostatics via the negative charge at the apex. Closer to the surface, Pauli repulsion and CO bending dominate, which leads to an unexpected appearance of the complex 3-atom unit cell. We compare simulated data in which the electrostatics are modeled by point particles versus a charge density calculated by DFT. We also compare modeling Pauli repulsion via individual Lennard–Jones potentials versus a total charge density overlap. In doing so, we determine forcefield parameters useful for future investigations of biochemical processes.

A simple apparatus for electrokinetic removal of sodium dodecyl sulfate from protein digests.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in proteomics samples needs to be removed and estimated prior to mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis and to avoid MS ion-source contamination. Here, we describe an organic solvent free method to remove SDS using a simple apparatus that mainly consists of an agarose gel inside a 1mL plastic micropipette tip and a voltage power supply with electrodes. A small volume of sample (e.g., 50 μL) is loaded on top of the gel and then voltage (cathode at the sample side) is applied with an acidic solution at the other end of the micropipette tip. Within 25min, SDS was removed (e.g., ≥99% SDS in 3.5mM SDS) and the peptides were retained in the sample solution. The strategy was compared to the commercially available and expensive Pierce spin column for the removal of SDS and recovery of peptides from a digested bovine serum albumin sample.

Mechanism behind the paper spray chemical ionization phenomenon and the choice of solvent.

Paper spray chemical ionization (PSCI) combined with mass spectrometry has been proposed as a sensitive method for the analysis of nonpolar aromatic compounds; however, the mechanism behind PSCI is not well understood. In the present study, the evidence for the occurrence of corona discharge is provided and its mechanism is proposed. Photographs taken with a highly sensitive camera evidently demonstrate the occurrence of corona discharge at the end of the triangular shape tip when a nonpolar solvent such as hexane was used at an applied potential of 6-7 kV. Nevertheless, corona discharge was not observed in the presence of a polar solvent. The occurrence of the corona discharge was attributed to charge accumulation in the dielectric layer generated by the nonpolar solvent on the fibers of the paper tip. Specifically, corona discharge was generated at the tip end when the charge approached a critical threshold. In the presence of a polar solvent, however, the dielectric layer was not generated and, hence, corona discharge was not observed. Based on this information, three nonpolar solvents were selected and their sensitivity for analyzing the phenanthrene and maltene fractions of crude oil was evaluated. Chlorobenzene provided the highest signal abundance; therefore, it was suggested as the optimum solvent for PSCI. Notably, the fundamental understanding of corona discharge in PSCI acquired in this study provides a basis for further improvement of this technique by way of surface modification.

Experimental Study of Tool Wear in Electrochemical Discharge Machining

Electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) is an emerging special processing technology for non-conductive hard and brittle materials, but it may encounter the problem of tool wear due to its process characteristics, which affects the processing accuracy. In this study, in the non-machining state, the tungsten carbide spiral cathode with a diameter of 400 μm was selected to analyze the influencing mechanism of the process parameters on tool wear, and a suitable voltage range for the processing was obtained. The influence of the cathode’s loss behavior on the film formation time and the average current of spark discharge was discussed based on the current signal. The results show that the tool wear mainly appears from the bottom to the end and edge tip of the protrusion. Loss is mainly in the form of local material melting or gasification at high temperature. In addition, the loss may shorten the film formation time, but the effect on the average current of spark discharge is small.

Rock bands

Morgan, N., Rock bands. Geoscientist 30 (6), 27, 2020 https://doi.org/doi: 10.1144/geosci2020-095, Download the pdf here Geologist, science writer and music lover Nina Morgan relishes the sounds of stones From early times, stone workers have tested blocks of stone with a sharp tap, listening for ringing sounds to check for cracks or flaws. Geologists, too, often take advantage of this trick to map subtle changes in lithology, porosity and permeability in the field. But these days even the most avant garde Hard Rock bands don't seem to look to geology to create their sounds. Perhaps they're missing a trick. The musical properties of rocks have been exploited from ancient times in many parts of the world. But arguably it was a stonemason Joseph Richardson [1790 – 1855], born in Keswick, Cumbria, who brought the musical possibilities of stones to international attention in the form of a lithophone – a xylophone made up of tuned stone keys. He named his creation the 'Richardson and Sons Rock, Bell and Steel Band'. Left: Joseph Richardson & sons (Keswick Museum) Early inspiration Richardson must have been inspired to build his lithophone by tales of the musical stones around Skiddaw collected by Peter Crosthwaite [1735-1808], founder of the Keswick Museum. In 1785, Crosthwaite recorded the discovery of his '6 first music stones at the Tip end or North end of long tongue'. The stones, composed of a coarse-grained hornfels created when the Ordovician mudstones and siltstones of the Skiddaw group were affected by low-grade regional metamorphisim and deformation associated with the Acadian Orogeny in the Devonian, were, he claimed, in perfect tune. The discovery inspired him to shape more stones to produce other notes to create a set of Musical Stones. Later the musically inclined Richardson further explored the sound properties of Lake District rocks. In 1827, while building houses at Thornthwaite, he struck musical gold with the hornfels around Skiddaw, and started work to create a lithophone capable of playing every musical note. Finding, testing and shaping suitable stones to assemble into an instrument took nearly 13 years, and nearly drove his family into poverty. In 1840 Richardson enlisted the help of his three sons to play his new lithophone. They built up an impressive repertoire, including selections from Handel, Beethoven, Mozart and arrangements of waltzes, quadrilles, gallops and polkas. Their concerts were very popular and received rave reviews.

UTILIZING COMBINATION OF HERBICIDE COMMAND AND GROWTH STIMULATORS MELAFEN AND EMISTIM C FOR TOBACCO SEEDLING GROWING

Efficiency of combination of soil herbicide Command (CE 0.02 ml/m2) and growth stimulators Melafen and Emistim S for tobacco seedling growing in sheltered ground has been studied. Before studies inhibition properties of herbicide on first stage of tobacco growing were found. For decreasing effect of herbicide ’s depression and increasing growing processes researches during greenhouse and field stages have been carried. It has been found that soaking seeds in solution of growth stimulator Melafen (concentration 0.05 %) and Emistim S (concentration 0.00001 %) during 3 hours in combination with further treatments on basic stages of seedling development (cotyledon and ready for transplanting before pulling out) led not only to decreasing toxic effect of herbicide but also increasing qualitative properties of tobacco plants. Growth stimulators led to increasing length of plants from collar to growing point by 46-62 %, to end of tips - by 20-35 %, above ground plant mass - by 42 - 86 %, root mass - by 32 %. It was also noticed 28 - 36 % increasing outcome of standard seedlings from m2 in time of transplanting. Due to prolonged effect of Melafen and Emistim S seedlings transplanted into field were with increased surviving properties. Later, due to increased growing rate it was noticed increasing leaf area by 9-18 % and productivity - by 16-24 %. Economic effect due to utilizing growth stimulators Melafen and Emistim S during seedling stage reaches 360 and 470 rubles/m2 and during field stage - 66 and 98 th.rubles/ha respectively. Offered elaboration can be utilized for protecting systems of different agricultural plants where utilizing soil herbicides is recommended. Also quality of cured tobacco grown with stimulators had been improved.

Fiber-Tip Polymer Microcantilever for Fast and Highly Sensitive Hydrogen Measurement.

Hydrogen as an antioxidant gas has been widely used in the medical and biological fields for preventing cancer or treating inflammation. However, controlling the hydrogen concentration is crucial for practical use due to its explosive property when its volume concentration in air reaches the explosive limit (4%). In this work, a polymer-based microcantilever (μ-cantilever) hydrogen sensor located at the end of a fiber tip is proposed to detect the hydrogen concentration in medical and biological applications. The proposed sensor was developed using femtosecond laser-induced two-photon polymerization (TPP) to print the polymer μ-cantilever and magnetron sputtering to coat a palladium (Pd) film on the upper surface of the μ-cantilever. Such a device exhibits a high sensitivity, roughly -2 nm %-1 when the hydrogen concentration rises from 0% to 4.5% (v/v) and a short response time, around 13.5 s at 4% (v/v), making it suitable for medical and environmental applications. In addition to providing an ultracompact optical solution for fast and highly sensitive hydrogen measurement, the polymer μ-cantilever fiber sensor can be used for diverse medical and biological sensing applications by replacing Pd with other functional materials.