Inclusive γ-production in\bar pp interactions at 0.76 and 2.0 GeV/c

The inclusive production of photons in \(\bar pp\) interactions has been studied at incident momenta of 0.76 and 2.0 GeV/c. The inclusive cross sections for γ-production and the average multiplicities of γ, «n _γ», are presented as a function of the charged prong topology. Results on the two particle correlation parametersf ⁰⁰ andf ^?0 are presented. The inclusive distributions of the Feynman variablex and of the transverse momentump _T of the photons are compared with the expectations from charged pion distributions on the basis of charge independence. A search has been made for direct γ-production in \(\bar pp\) interactions at 0.76 GeV/c by looking for events which fit uniquely the hypothesis \(\bar pp \to m\pi ^ + + m\pi ^ - + \gamma \) . An estimate of the ratio $$R = \frac{{\sigma (\bar pp \to m\pi ^ + + m\pi ^ - + \gamma )}}{{\sigma (\bar pp \to m\pi ^ + + m\pi ^ - + \pi ^0 )}}$$ is given.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the copper(II) promoted hydrolysis of the methyl ester of ethylenediaminemonoacetate

Summary Base hydrolysis of methyl ethylenediaminemonoacetate has been studied at I=0.1 mol dm^–3 (NaClO₄) over the pH range 7.4–8.8 at 25 °C. The proton equilibria of the ligand can be represented by the equations, where E is the free unprotonated ester species. Values of pK₁ and pK₂ are 4.69 andca. 7.5 at 25° (I=0.1 mol dm^–3). For base hydrolysis of EH⁺, k_OH=1.1×10³ dm³ mol^–1 s^–1 at 25 °C. The species E is shown to undergo lactamisation to give 2-oxopiperazine (k_lact ca. 1×10^–3 s^–1) at 25 °C. Formation of the lactam is indicated both by u.v. measurements and by isolation and characterisation of the compound.Base hydrolysis of the ester ligand in the complex [CuE]²⁺ has been studied over a range of pH and temperature, k _OH ²⁵ =9.3×10⁴ dm³ mol^–1 s^–1 with H=107 kJ mol^–1 and S ₂₉₈ =209 JK^–1 mol^–1. Base hydrolysis of [CuE]²⁺ is estimated to be some 10⁵5 fold faster than that of the free ester ligand. The results suggest that base hydrolysis occursvia a chelate ester species in which the methoxycarbonyl group of the ligand is bonded to copper(II).     

Direct growth of shape-controlled nanocrystals on nanotubes via biological recognition

The new biological approach was examined to fabricate shape-controlled Ag nanocrystals grown directly on surfaces, inspired by nature that various shapes of nanocrystals are produced accurately and reproducibly in biological systems. Here we demonstrate the direct growth of hexagon-shaped Ag nanocrystals on sequenced peptide-coated nanotubes via biological recognition. When the peptide, Asn-Pro-Ser-Ser-Leu-Phe-Arg-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Ser-Asp, recognizing and effecting the Ag nanocrystal growth on the (111) face, was sequenced and incorporated onto template nanotube surfaces, the biomineralization of Ag ions on the nanotubes led the isotropic hexagon-shaped Ag nanocrystal coating under pH control of the growth solution. Multiple Ag nanocrystal shapes were observed when the peptide mineralized Ag ions without the template nanotubes, and therefore the template nanotube has a significant influence on regulating the majority of Ag nanocrystals into the hexagonal shape. This biological approach, using specific peptide sequences on surfaces to control nanocrystal shapes, may be developed as a simple and economical method to produce building blocks with desired physical properties for new generation of electronics, sensors, and optical devices.     

Formation of a DNA layer on Langmuir-Blodgett films and its enzymatic digestion

Here, we report a system we have developed where long double-stranded DNAs (dsDNAs) are immobilized on a monolayer of Zn-arachidate. We have applied the Langmuir-Blodgett technique to form the monolayer of Zn-arachidate where Zn(II) is bound to arachidic acid through charge neutralization. Because tetrahedral Zn(II) participates in DNA recognition through coordination, we have been able to layer DNA over the Zn-arachidate monolayer. The DNA layer shows a typical compression and expansion cycle in a concentration-dependent fashion. Interestingly, the DNA monolayer is available for enzymatic degradation by DNaseI. The detection of DNA and its accessibility towards biological reaction is demonstrated by imaging through fluorescence microscopy. The conformation of the DNA, immobilized on the monolayer, was studied with the help of atomic force microscopy (AFM). We observed that the dsDNAs were aligned in a stretched manner on the surface. To investigate further, we also demonstrate here that the small single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) immobilized on the air-water interface can act as a target molecule for the complementary ssDNA present in the subphase. The study of DNA hybridization done with the help of fluorescence spectroscopy clearly supports the AFM characterization.     

Photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate with the use of iodine monobromide as photoinitiator

Iodine monobromide easily induces photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at 40°C under visible light. Initiator exponent and monomer exponent values were found to be 0.5 and 2, respectively, at low initiator concentrations, while the corresponding values at high initiator concentration conditions were zero and 3. The chain transfer constant of IBr at 40°C was found to be 13.0. Kinetic and other data indicate a radical polymerization mechanism involving complexation of monomer molecules with iodine monobromide prior to radical generation, and termination is believed to take place biomolecularly at low IBr concentrations and unimolecularly, involving reaction with the initiator, at high IBr concentrations (initiator termination).     

General characteristics of\bar pp interactions at low energies in terms of principal axis and impact parameter variables

The reaction configuration in momentum and position space has been investigated in detail from exclusive final states in \(\bar pp\) interactions at centre of mass energies 2.01 and 2.96 GeV. In momentum space one finds a tendency towards a planar configuration at low multiplicities. In position space, one sees the average impact parameter decreasing with increasing multiplicity. At large multiplicities, events become more phase-space like i.e., more central whereas at lower multiplicities the effect ofp _t damping can be seen.     

Lung surfactant dysfunction in tuberculosis: effect of mycobacterial tubercular lipids on dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine surface activity

In pulmonary tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria reside in the alveoli and are in close proximity with the alveolar surfactant. Mycolic acid in its free form and as cord factor, constitute the major lipids of the mycobacterial cell wall. They can detach from the bacteria easily and are known to be moderately surface active. We hypothesize that these surface-active mycobacterial cell wall lipids could interact with the pulmonary surfactant and result in lung surfactant dysfunction. In this study, the major phospholipid of the lung surfactant, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and binary mixtures of DPPC:phosphatidylglycerol (PG) in 9:1 and 7:3 ratios were modelled as lung surfactant monolayers and the inhibitory potential of mycolic acid and cord factor on the surface activity of DPPC and DPPC:PG mixtures was evaluated using Langmuir monolayers. The mycobacterial lipids caused common profile changes in all the isotherms: increase in minimum surface tension, compressibility and percentage area change required for change in surface tension from 30 to 10 mN/m. Higher minimum surface tension values were achieved in the presence of mycolic acid (18.2 ± 0.7 mN/m) and cord factor (13.28 ± 1.2 mN/m) as compared to 0 mN/m, achieved by pure DPPC film. Similarly higher values of compressibility (0.375 ± 0.005 m/mN for mycolic acid:DPPC and 0.197 ± 0.003 m/mN for cord factor:DPPC monolayers) were obtained in presence of mycolic acid and cord factor. Thus, mycolic acid and cord factor were said to be inhibitory towards lung surfactant phospholipids. Higher surface tension and compressibility values in presence of tubercular lipids are suggestive of an unstable and fluid surfactant film, which will fail to achieve low surface tensions and can contribute to alveolar collapse in patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. In conclusion a biophysical inhibition of lung surfactant may play a role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis and may serve as a target for the development of new drug loaded surfactants for this condition.     

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-trisubstituted alkenes from unactivated Baylis-Hillman adducts using NaBH4/CuCl2·2H2O

A convenient and facile stereoselective synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-trisubstituted alkenes has been achieved by treatment of unactivated Baylis-Hillman adducts with NaBH₄ in the presence of CuCl₂·2H₂O at room temperature for 15 min.     

From dimerization, to cycloaddition, to atom transfer cyclization: the further chemistry of TMM diradicals

We describe [a] the first examples of intramolecular cycloaddition of a TMM diyl to a remotely tethered aldehyde, [b] the effect of a Lewis acid upon the course of TMM chemistry, [c] examples of exclusive intramolecular cycloaddition, competitive cycloaddition and ATC, and exclusive ATC, and [d] a set of predictive guidelines with which to assess whether cycloaddition or ATC will be the preferred path, and when the two processes will be competitive. Remarkably, a wide variety of structures can be obtained simply by varying the length of the tether within the diazenes investigated. DFT calculations were used to probe the energy surfaces for both atom transfer and cycloaddition. The transition structure for atom transfer involving the captodative system indicates that it occurs earlier along the reaction coordinate than for a system having only one radical stabilizing group. This is consistent with the existence of an exothermic process leading from the initial diyl to the captodatively stabilized distonic diyl. Gratifyingly, theory agrees with observation and provides substantial insight into the chemistry.