Superlattice geometry for gamma-ray lasers

The central problem to developing a graser—that pumping can inhibit or destroy the Mössbauer and Borrmann effects—can conceivably be mitigated by a superlattice geometry, into which collimated coherent transfer radiation is introduced to form a multiwave Borrmann (or anti-Borrmann) mode. Such a geometry is introduced, and its effects on pump intensity and lattice heating are discussed.     

Counting models in universal Horn classes

Definen _K (λ) to be either ω, or the number of non-isomorphic models inK having cardinality α, whichever cardinal is larger. This paper contains a proof that for a congruence modular variety ⋎ of algebras of countable similarity type, there are only six possible functionsn _⋎. It is also proved that ifn _K (λ)≠2^λ for some λ, andK is a universal Horn class of models for a countable language, thenK must satisfy two conditions, one of which is quite restrictive and requires that the members ofK are all in a certain sense Abelian. Presented by B. Jonsson.     

Biomimetic synthesis of (±)-aculeatin D

A practical, efficient and diastereoselective synthesis of the cytotoxic and antiprotozoal compound aculeatin D (1) is described, employing a biomimetic oxidative cyclisation cascade reaction to generate the tricyclic system of the natural product. The synthesis proceeds in ten steps from commercially available 1-tetradecanol.     

Rapid freeze-quench 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy: monitoring changes of an iron-containing active site during a biochemical reaction

Nuclear gamma resonance spectroscopy, also known as M?ssbauer spectroscopy, is a technique that probes transitions between the nuclear ground state and a low-lying nuclear excited state. The nucleus most amenable to M?ssbauer spectroscopy is 57Fe, and 57Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy provides detailed information about the chemical environment and electronic structure of iron. Iron is by far the most structurally and functionally diverse metal ion in biology, and 57Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy has played an important role in the elucidation of its biochemistry. In this article, we give a brief introduction to the technique and then focus on two recent exciting developments pertaining to the application of 57Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy in biochemistry. The first is the use of the rapid freeze-quench method in conjunction with M?ssbauer spectroscopy to monitor changes at the Fe site during a biochemical reaction. This method has allowed for trapping and subsequent detailed spectroscopic characterization of reactive intermediates and thus has provided unique insight into the reaction mechanisms of Fe-containing enzymes. We outline the methodology using two examples: (1) oxygen activation by the non-heme diiron enzymes and (2) oxygen activation by taurine:alpha-ketoglutarate dioxygenase (TauD). The second development concerns the calculation of M?ssbauer parameters using density functional theory (DFT) methods. By using the example of TauD, we show that comparison of experimental M?ssbauer parameters with those obtained from calculations on model systems can be used to provide insight into the structure of a reaction intermediate.     

Preparation of123I-α-(p-iodoanilino)phenylacetonitrile using HPLC

Synthesis of α-(p-iodoanilino)phenylacetonitrile (IAPAN), an amygdalin analog, labeled with I-123 (t1/2 13.3 hr) in a carrier-free state (i.e. no-carrier-added) was made possible by virtue of the high speed, sensitivity, and resolving power of HPLC. Aniline was iodinated by the action of no-carrier-added Na¹²³I in the presence of Cu(II), and the resulting iodaniline was reacted with benzaldehyde followed by the addition of HCN to yield the title compound. The radioactive IAPAN was separated from α-anilinophenylacetonitrile and other byproducts by reversed phase partition chromatography on an octadecylsilane column using 50% ethanol/H₂O as eluent. The product was correlated with authentic, classically characterized IAPAN, and with¹²³I IAPAN prepared by electrophilic exchange of IAPAN and ICl iodination of α-anilinophenylacetonitrile.