二价金属离子对磷脂聚集体的影响

通过浊度分析和激光光散射光谱研究了二价金属离子（Ca2＋、Cu2＋和Mn2＋）对蛋黄卵磷脂(EYPC)聚集态的影响.结果表明，自由的二价金属离子对EYPC囊泡有破坏作用,并使EYPC囊泡发生相转变,形成胶束;而与牛磺胆酸钠(TC)结合的二价金属离子使EYPC囊泡半径减小,但不破坏EYPC囊泡.     

阴离子Gemini表面活性剂和阳离子传统表面活性剂混合体系双水相中囊泡形貌的转变

通过电子显微镜观察了阴离子gemini表面活性剂C₁₁- p-PhCNa和阳离子传统表面活性剂DTAB混合体系双水相中囊泡形貌随体系组成和浓度的转变。结果表明,双水相较浓的一相中形成了多层囊泡,囊泡的大小和壁厚随相的组成和浓度而改变,两组分等电荷混合有利于形成较大且壁较厚的囊泡。分析表明, gemini表面活性剂在聚集体中采取的反式构象可能是其容易形成厚壁多层囊泡的重要原因,C₁₁- p-PhCNa联接链上的苯氧基与DTA⁺之间的p-阳离子相互作用以及两组分相反电性头基之间的静电吸引使囊泡壁的多层结构更加稳定。     

掺杂和取代对红色荧光材料SrAl12O19:Mn4+发光性能的影响

SrAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn⁴⁺是一种用于高显色性白光发光二极管的候选红色荧光材料。本论文研究了Mg²⁺、Zn²⁺和Ge⁴⁺离子的掺杂效应以及Ge³⁺、Ca²⁺和Ba²⁺离子的取代效应SrAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn⁴⁺荧光材料性能的影响。样品通过高温固相反应制备,焙烧温度在1 250~ 1 500℃之间。利用X射线衍射技术表征了材料的相纯度,用荧光激发光谱和发射光谱表征了材料的荧光性能。研究结果指出,与未进行Mg²⁺或Zn²⁺掺杂的样品相比,Mg²⁺或Zn²⁺离子对Al³⁺格位的掺杂可以使材料的发光强度提高~60%,其原因被认为是掺杂促进了激活剂Mn⁴⁺离子进入晶格,其过程可以表示为:MO+MnO₂=M_Al''+Mn_Al^·+3O_O^×(M=Mg,Zn),电子顺磁共振谱支持这一结果。Ge⁴⁺离子的掺杂使材料的发光性能明显下降。Ge³⁺离子可以取代Al³⁺离子形成全范围的固溶体,其中少量Ge³⁺离子的掺杂可以使材料的荧光发射强度提高~13%,而掺杂量进一步提高使材料的荧光性能下降。Ca²⁺和Ba²⁺对Sr²⁺的取代仅形成有限范围的固溶体。Ca²⁺的取代使材料的发光性能提高;而 Ba²⁺的取代使材料的发光强度下降。     

Sm3+掺杂(Y，Tb)AG∶Ce3+荧光粉的制备及光谱性能

采用柠檬酸溶胶凝胶燃烧合成法制备了一系列组成的(Y,Tb)₃Al₅O₁₂∶Ce³⁺,Sm³⁺荧光粉。通过X射线衍射、荧光光谱研究了不同Sm³⁺离子共掺杂浓度下(Y,Tb)AG∶Ce³⁺荧光粉的晶体结构及光致发光性能。Rietveld全图拟合(Rietveld method of whole pattern fitting)结果表明：掺杂后样品仍为纯立方石榴石相,随着Sm³⁺离子共掺杂浓度的增加,样品的晶胞参数增大。在467 nm激发下,激发能由Ce³⁺离子向Sm³⁺离子单向传递,从而在617nm处出现红光发射。Tb³⁺离子取代不利于Ce³⁺离子与Sm³⁺离子的能量传递,同时Ce³⁺离子受更强的晶体场作用及与O^2-离子间增强的共价性使发射主峰红移,Sm³⁺掺杂的TAG∶Ce体系中,激发能由敏化剂Ce³⁺离子向激活剂Sm³⁺离子的传递路径包括5d→4f²F_5/2,7/2(Ce³⁺)和⁷F₆→⁵D₄(Tb³⁺)到⁴G_5/2→⁶H_7/2(Sm³⁺)两部分。     

Cd3Al2Ge3O12: Mn2+磷光体的发光和长余辉性能

采用传统的高温固相法合成了Cd₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂: Mn²⁺长余辉发光材料, 利用X射线粉末衍射仪、荧光光谱仪、热释光谱计量仪等手段对粉末样品进行了表征。研究了以Zr⁴⁺离子作为辅助激活剂离子, 对发光材料Cd₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂: Mn²⁺余辉性能的影响。分析结果表明, 样品位于500~700 nm的黄光宽带发射峰源于Mn²⁺的⁴T₁(⁴G)→⁶A₁(⁶S)跃迁发射结果。并且观察到了由Cd₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂基质向激活剂离子Mn²⁺的能量传递。共掺杂Zr⁴⁺离子后样品发射峰位没有明显变化, 但是余辉亮度衰减曲线表明适量的Zr⁴⁺离子掺杂可延长Cd₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂: Mn²⁺的余辉时间。通过对热释光谱的分析, 解释了双掺杂荧光粉余辉性能增强的原因, Zr⁴⁺的掺杂在材料中引入了深度更为合适的缺陷陷阱, 可有效存储光能, 增强余辉的时间和强度。     

Ca3Al2Ge3O12:Cr3+的光谱性质及晶场参数计算

为了解Cr3+离子在钙铝锗酸盐Ca₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂:石榴石中的光谱性质, 合成了Ca₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂:Cr³⁺多晶材料；测量了其X射线衍射图, 漫反射光谱, 激发、发射光谱等；分析了Cr3+离子在钙铝锗酸盐中的发光特性；计算了其晶场强度(Dq/B), Stokes位移(ΔEs)及黄昆-里斯因子(S)等. 在450 nm激发下, Ca₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂:Cr³⁺室温发射光谱主要由三个宽带及附加其上的弱R线构成, 分别对应于Cr3+离子的4T1、 4T2、2T2到 4A2 能级跃迁. 低温时R线变得强而锐. 通过计算, Dq/B=2.43, ΔEs=1884 cm-1, S=5.21. 表明在Ca₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂中Cr³⁺离子处于较弱的晶场强度, 电子-声子耦合较强, 为发展可调谐激光材料提供重要线索.     

Cd3Al2Ge3O12:Mn2+磷光体的发光和长余辉性能

采用传统的高温固相法合成了Cd₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂:Mn²⁺长余辉发光材料,利用X射线粉末衍射仪、荧光光谱仪、热释光谱计量仪等手段对粉末样品进行了表征。研究了以Zr⁴⁺离子作为辅助激活剂离子,对发光材料Cd₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂:Mn²⁺余辉性能的影响。分析结果表明,样品位于500~700 nm的黄光宽带发射峰源于Mn²⁺的⁴T₁(⁴G)→⁶A₁(⁶S)跃迁发射结果。并且观察到了由Cd₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂基质向激活剂离子Mn²⁺的能量传递。共掺杂Zr⁴⁺离子后样品发射峰位没有明显变化,但是余辉亮度衰减曲线表明适量的Zr⁴⁺离子掺杂可延长Cd₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂:Mn²⁺的余辉时间。通过对热释光谱的分析,解释了双掺杂荧光粉余辉性能增强的原因,Zr⁴⁺的掺杂在材料中引入了深度更为合适的缺陷陷阱,可有效存储光能,增强余辉的时间和强度。     

MgFe-Cl-LDHs的合成、结构及其插层组装性能研究

合成出了层间含Cl-的MgFe型层状双羟基氢氧化物（MgFe-Cl-LDHs），通过X射线衍射(XRD)、红外光谱(FT-IR)、热重及差热分析(TG-DTA)和元素分析等手段对其组成和结构特征进行了分析。研究表明：在共沉淀条件下，可制得晶体结构规整的MgFe-Cl-LDHs，且其结构规整性随组成中Mg²⁺/Fe³⁺物质的量比的增大而增强；LDHs层板六配位的金属离子与层板羟基层、层板羟基层与层间结构水的相互作用不随Mg²⁺/Fe³⁺物质的量比的改变而改变，而层板主体与层间客体阴离子之间的静电引力随Mg²⁺/Fe³⁺物质的量比的增大而降低。另外，其超分子结构特征使层间Cl^-能与有机阴离子CH₂CHC₆H₄SO₃^-和CH₃(CH₂)₁₁SO₃^-发生离子交换，形成以双分子层垂直于层板的交错有序的排布结构模式。     

SrAl2O4：Eu2+，Dy3+的助熔剂法制备及其发光特性

以B₂O₃为助熔剂，在1 350 ℃、还原性气氛下成功制备了SrAl₂O₄单相粉末样品。用同样的方法制备了系列单相Sr_1-x-yAl₂O₄：Eu²⁺_x，Dy³⁺_y·nB₂O₃(0.005≤x≤0.07， 0.01≤y≤0.05，0.05≤n≤0.25)样品并表征了其长余辉发光特性。结果表明，最佳的Eu²⁺含量为0.02。辅助激活离子Dy³⁺在Sr_0.98Al₂O₄：Eu²⁺_0.02中的掺杂在一定范围内可以显著提高亮度和余辉时间，最佳Dy³⁺含量为0.03。研究不同B₂O₃含量对Sr_0.95Al₂O₄：Eu²⁺_0.02，Dy³⁺_0.03发光性能的影响，结果说明最佳的B₂O₃含量为n=0.1，余辉肉眼可见(≥0.32 mcd·m^-2)时间达4 000 min。利用正电子湮灭技术和热释光技术，研究和讨论了B₂O₃对Sr_0.95Al₂O₄：Eu²⁺_0.02，Dy³⁺_0.03的发光和余辉性能的影响，结果表明B₂O₃的添加有助于Dy³⁺在晶格中形成深度合适、有益于余辉的空位缺陷。     

Co2+含量对CoAl-LDHs焙烧产物结构、组成及其生长碳纳米管的影响

采用成核晶化隔离法将Co²⁺引入层状双金属氢氧化物(LDHs),得到了含不同Co²⁺/Al³⁺物质的量的比为1∶1,2∶1,3∶1的二元钴铝碳酸根型LDHs(CoAl-LDHs)。通过X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电镜(TEM)、扫描电镜-能量散射谱(SEM-EDS)、拉曼光谱(Raman)、程序升温还原(TPR)及X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等方法对CoAl-LDHs焙烧产物的结构、组成及其化学气相沉积(CCVD)催化生长多壁碳纳米管(CNTs)进行了研究。结果表明：CoAl-LDHs前体中钴的含量可以明显改变焙烧产物的组成分布和还原性能,并最终影响CNTs的生长,其中以n_Co²⁺/n_Al³⁺比为2/1的LDHs作为催化剂前体可以得到管径均匀和石墨化程度高的CNTs,这与还原得到的纳米活性Co颗粒均匀分散有关。     

Solubilization kinetics of phospholipid vesicles by sodium taurocholate

The solubilization kinetics of phospholipid vesicles, about 100 nm in diameter and composed of egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) and EPC/cholesterol in molar ratio 7/3, by sodium taurocholate (TC) used as a model bile salt were investigated by monitoring the turbidity at 500 nm and by quasielastic light scattering (QELS). The solubilization process was found to be dependent on the rate of TC addition. Although the solubilization profiles were identical whatever the rate of TC addition, an increase in the amount of TC needed to solubilize phosphatidylcholine liposomes was observed at higher rates. These results suggest that at low TC concentrations the permeability of the membrane to taurocholate is the rate-limiting step of the solubilization. In the case of cholesterol-containing vesicles, the effect of the rate of addition of TC was observed only at the solubilization characteristic points, called B and C, corresponding to a sharp decrease in the turbidity. This suggests that cholesterol greatly reduces the permeability of the membrane. In addition, the kinetic process was found to be independent of the micellar concentration of the detergent added to the aqueous medium, indicating that the solubilization of liposomes by TC was independent of the initial state of aggregation of the detergent. The calculated values of lipid/TC aggregates and of the partition coefficient show that the kinetic effect observed at high TC concentrations prior to complete solubilization might also be due to the diffusion of the detergent into the membranes. This gives rise to the differences in composition of the aggregates as a consequence of the variation in the rate of TC addition. In addition, QELS scattered intensity variations confirm the presence of a kinetic process for the solubilization of liposomes by TC. In conclusion, our results suggest that solubilization of lipid vesicles by TC is governed by kinetic parameters that might be controlled by liposome membrane permeability at low TC concentrations and by the lateral diffusion of the detergent into aggregates at higher TC concentrations.     

The use of ligand exchange for the separation of aromatic acids on synthetic cation exchangers

Summary A very good separation of the mixture of eight aromatic acids has been obtained by ion-exchange chromatography using the ligand-exchange technique, on a column containing a synthetic cation exchanger and trivalent metal ion (Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, or Ce³⁺).     

Effect of plasticizers (EC or PC) on the ionic conductivity and thermal properties of the (PEO)9LiTf: Al2O3 nanocomposite polymer electrolyte system

A new plasticized nanocomposite polymer electrolyte based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)-LiTf dispersed with ceramic filler (Al₂O₃) and plasticized with propylene carbonate (PC), ethylene carbonate (EC), and a mixture of EC and PC (EC+PC) have been studied for their ionic conductivity and thermal properties. The incorporation of plasticizers alone will yield polymer electrolytes with enhanced conductivity but with poor mechanical properties. However, mechanical properties can be improved by incorporating ceramic fillers to the plasticized system. Nanocomposite solid polymer electrolyte films (200–600 μm) were prepared by common solvent-casting method. In present work, we have shown the ionic conductivity can be substantially enhanced by using the combined effect of the plasticizers as well as the inert filler. It was revealed that the incorporating 15 wt.% Al₂O₃ filler in to PEO: LiTf polymer electrolyte significantly enhanced the ionic conductivity [σ _RT (max)?=?7.8?×?10^?6 S cm^?1]. It was interesting to observe that the addition of PC, EC, and mixture of EC and PC to the PEO: LiTf: 15 wt.% Al₂O₃ CPE showed further conductivity enhancement. The conductivity enhancement with EC is higher than PC. However, mixture of plasticizer (EC+PC) showed maximum conductivity enhancement in the temperature range interest, giving the value [σ _RT (max)?=?1.2?×?10^?4 S cm^?1]. It is suggested that the addition of PC, EC, or a mixture of EC and PC leads to a lowering of glass transition temperature and increasing the amorphous phase of PEO and the fraction of PEO-Li⁺ complex, corresponding to conductivity enhancement. Al₂O₃ filler would contribute to conductivity enhancement by transient hydrogen bonding of migrating ionic species with O–OH groups at the filler grain surface. The differential scanning calorimetry thermograms points towards the decrease of T _g , crystallite melting temperature, and melting enthalpy of PEO: LiTf: Al₂O₃ CPE after introducing plasticizers. The reduction of crystallinity and the increase in the amorphous phase content of the electrolyte, caused by the filler, also contributes to the observed conductivity enhancement.     

Ion-exchange selectivity and chromatographic separation of trivalent metals on titanium antimonate

Summary The ion exchange selectivity of trivalent metal ions has been determined on titanium antimonate cation exchanger prepared by coprecipitation of antimony to titanium at different mole ratios. The selectivity sequence Al³⁺<Cr³⁺<Ga³⁺<In³⁺<Fe³⁺ was found for trivalent metal ions at an initial concentration of 10^–4 mol dm^–3 in nitric acid media. A high separation factor ^Ga/Al = Kd^Ga/Kd^Al, 4.8×10³, was observed for the Ga³⁺–Al³⁺ pair on titanium antimonate with an antimony to titanium ratio of 0.34. The effective separation of Ga³⁺ and In³⁺ from Al³⁺ was achieved using a 3 cm×0.5 cm i.d. column containing titanium antimonate with an antimony to titanium ratio of 0.34.     

Cation-mediated interaction of dextran sulfate with phospholipid vesicles: binding, vesicle surface polarity, leakage and fusion

 The interaction of dextran sulfate (DS) with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) large unilamellar vesicles was investigated. DS of different molecular weights (1, 8, 40 and 500 kDa) and divalent cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺) and the trivalent cation La³⁺ were used in the experiments. Binding of DS was studied by use of the microelectrophoresis and monolayer technique. Binding depends strongly on cation and NaCl concentrations in the medium and does not occur in the absence of multivalent cations. Binding is modulated by the molecular weight of the polymers; DS with lower molecular weights lead to less negative zeta potentials at identical concentrations. A comparable monomer of DS, glucose-6-sulfate, does not change the zeta potential of DMPC vesicles. Monolayer experiments revealed a decrease in surface pressure after addition of multivalent cations and DS, indicating a stronger interaction of the cation–polymer complex with the phosphatidylcholine headgroups than its penetration into the phospholipid (PL) bilayer. The cation-mediated binding of DS to the vesicles leads to aggregation of the vesicles. The tendency to promote aggregation of DMPC vesicles is La³⁺>Ca²⁺>Mn²⁺≥ Mg²⁺. The aggregated vesicles show a stacklike arrangement of the bilayers as shown by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. The strong aggregation is accompanied by lipid mixing measured by the 1,4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole–phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)/lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl-PE assay. At low ionic strength substantial lipid mixing can be observed in the previously mentioned order of the cations. This lipid mixing is accompanied by an increase in the permeability of the vesicles as revealed by the 1-aminonaphthalene-3,6,8-trisulfonic acid/p-xylenebis (pyridiium bromide) assay. The extent of leakage is determined by the cation used and the DS molecular weight. These interaction processes between the opposing bilayers are connected with a decrease in the water content in the gap between the opposing PL bilayers. As a measure for the change of the polar properties of the vesicle surface the shift of the emission wavelength of the fluorescent probe dansylphosphatidylethanolamine was measured. The effectiveness of divalent/trivalent cations to decrease the surface dielectric constant of DMPC vesicles also followed the sequence of ions as found for binding, PL mixing and leakage. The results are discussed in terms of the changed hydration at the bilayer surface induced by DS in the presence of multivalent ions. Received: 16 December 1998/Accepted: 17 December 1999     

A highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for trivalent aluminum ion based on rhodamine derivative in living cells

A rhodamine spirolactam derivative (1) is developed as a colormetric and fluorescent probe for trivalent aluminum ions (Al³⁺). It exhibits a highly sensitive “turn-on” fluorescent response toward Al³⁺ with a 70-fold fluorescence intensity enhancement under 2 equiv. of Al³⁺ added. The probe can be applied to the quantification of Al³⁺ with a linear range covering from 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ M and a detection limit of 4.0 × 10⁻⁸ M. Most importantly, the fluorescence changes of the probe are remarkably specific for Al³⁺ in the presence of other metal ions, which meet the selective requirements for practical application. Moreover, the experiment results show that the response behavior of 1 towards Al³⁺ is pH independent in neutral condition (pH 6.0–8.0) and the response of the probe is fast (response time less than 3 min). In addition, the proposed probe has been used to detect Al³⁺ in water samples and image Al³⁺ in living cells with satisfying results.     

BODIPY Immobilized MCM-41 Based Multianalyte Sensor: Application in Detection and Removal of Trivalent (Al3+, Cr3+) and Divalent (Cu2+, Hg2+) Metal Ions in Aqueous Media

In the present study, a novel p-phenylcarboxylic acid BODIPY ( L ) immobilized MCM-41 based solid chemosensor material L-propylsilyl@MCM-41 ( MS4 ) was developed to detect multiple metal ions in a pure aqueous medium. The synthesized solid chemosensor material MS4 shows high sensitivity and removal ability towards trivalent (Al³⁺, Cr³⁺) and divalent (Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺) metal ions. The emission intensity of MS4 enhanced multifold selectively in the presence of trivalent (Al³⁺, Cr³⁺) metal ions and shows quenching in the presence of divalent (Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺) metal ions. The limit of detection was calculated to be in the nanomolar range with Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺_, and Hg²⁺ metal ions in the aqueous medium. The spectroscopic and analytical results suggest that MS4 selectively binds with Al³⁺ and Cr³⁺ through −NH functionality and with Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ through −COOH functionality of p-phenylcarboxylic acid BODIPY ( L ). Further, MS4 selectively removes Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺ metal ions from the aqueous media with removal efficiency of 97.28 %, 96.34 %, 87.19 %, and 95.63 %, respectively. No noticeable change in the concentration was observed for other metal ions. The recycling potential of MS4 was evaluated using EDTA for up to seven cycles with no significant reduction in sensing capability.     

Interaction of curcumin with lipid monolayers and liposomal bilayers

Curcumin shows huge potential as an anticancer and anti-inflammatory agent. However, to achieve a satisfactory bioavailability and stability of this compound, its liposomal form is preferable. Our detailed studies on the curcumin interaction with lipid membranes are aimed to obtain better understanding of the mechanism and eventually to improve the efficiency of curcumin delivery to cells. Egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EYPC) one-component monolayers and bilayers, as well as mixed systems containing additionally dihexadecyl phosphate (DHP) and cholesterol, were studied. Curcumin binding constant to EYPC liposomes was determined based on two different methods: UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence measurements to be 4.26 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and 3.79 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, respectively. The fluorescence quenching experiment revealed that curcumin locates in the hydrophobic region of EYPC liposomal bilayer. It was shown that curcumin impacts the size and stability of the liposomal carriers significantly. Loaded into the EYPC/DPH/cholesterol liposomal bilayer curcumin stabilizes the system proportionally to its content, while the EYPC/DPH system is destabilized upon drug loading. The three-component lipid composition of the liposome seems to be the most promising system for curcumin delivery. An interaction of free and liposomal curcumin with EYPC and mixed monolayers was also studied using Langmuir balance measurements. Monolayer systems were treated as a simple model of cell membrane. Condensing effect of curcumin on EYPC and EYPC/DHP monolayers and loosening influence on EYPC/DHP/chol ones were observed. It was also demonstrated that curcumin-loaded EYPC liposomes are more stable upon interaction with the model lipid membrane than the unloaded ones.     

Product-retardation and -activation of catalytic hydrolysis by phospholipase D in small unilamellar vesicles of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine

 We evaluated the hydrolysis of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) by phospholipase D from Streptomyces chromofuscus (PLD) in small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) in presence of 50 μM Ca²⁺. After initial choline production (hydrolysis of 1.5% of the PC at the outer leaflets of the vesicle bilayers), the hydrolysis was reduced to 5% of the initial velocity. The kinetic behavior in SUV of premixed PC and a low percentage of the hydrolysis product, phosphatidic acid (PA), was similar to that of PC SUV. The reduced velocity disappeared when the membrane structure was disintegrated by means of a nonionic surfactant. In the retardation phase, the partially hydrolyzed vesicles (postsubstrates) had much higher affinity for PLD than fresh PC SUV. These results indicated that small clusters of the product, PA, at the vesicle surface were responsible for the reduced velocity of hydrolysis. The initial velocity increased in a biphasic manner with the substrate concentration. At a PC concentration range up to 4 mM, the experimental data fit Michaelis–Menten kinetics. At concentrations above 6 mM, the velocity again markedly increased. Negatively charged mixed vesicles of PC and PA did not have such kinetics. Furthermore, adding PC SUV to the postsubstrates, where the fraction of free PLD was less than 0.05, induced steep choline production. These results showed that PLD bound to vesicles had higher activity than free PLD. We speculated that PLD bound to vesicles collided with and was directly transferred to PC SUV when the fraction of free PLD in aqueous medium was very small. Received: 5 November 1996 Accepted: 26 February 1997