Validation of TPEN as a Zinc Chelator in Fluorescence Probing of Calcium in Cells with the Indicator Fura-2

Fura-2 is widely used as a fluorescent probe to monitor dynamic changes in cytosolic free calcium in cells, where Ca²⁺ can enter through several types of voltage-operated or ligand-gated channels. However, Fura-2 is also sensitive to other metal ions, such as zinc, which may be involved in ionic channels and receptors. There is interest, in particular, in studying the synapses between mossy fibers and CA3 pyramidal cells which contain both calcium and high quantities of free or loosely bound zinc. We have found, through fluorescence probing, that endogenous zinc inhibits mossy fiber calcium transients. However, since these results might be explained by an effect of the zinc chelator N,N,N’,N’-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) on the spectral properties of Fura-2, we have carried out a validation of the method through fluorescence excitation spectra of the complex Fura-2/calcium, and show that TPEN does not affect these spectra. This supports the idea that the observed calcium enhancement is related to a zinc inhibition of presynaptic calcium mechanisms, and confirms the use of the chelator TPEN as a general procedure for the biophysical study of Ca(II) in the presence of Zn(II) using Fura-2.     

Composition,properties, and application of products formed in oxidation of polyethylene by nitric acid

Structure of products formed in polyethylene oxidation by nitric acid was studied by NMR, IR, and electronic absorption spectroscopies and derivatography.     

Large sample prediction intervals for future geometric mean a comparative study

This paper provides simulation comparisons among the performance of 11 possible prediction intervals for the geometric.mean of a Pareto distribution with parameters (αB, ). Six different procedures were used to obtain these intervals , namely; true inter -val , pivotal interval , maximum likelihood estimation interval, centrallimit teorem interval, variance stabilizing interval and a mixture of the above intervals . Some of these intervals are valid if the observed sample size m,are large , others are valid if both, n and the future sample size m, are large. Some of these intervals require a knowledge of α or B, while others do not. The simulation validation and efficiency study shows that intervals depending on the MLE's are the best. The second best intervalsare those obtained through pivotal methods or variance stabilization transformation. The third group of intervals is that which depends on the central limit theorem when λ is known. There are two intervals which proved to be unacceptable under any criterion.     

Flow dynamics analyses of pathophysiological liver lobules using porous media theory

Blood flow inside the liver plays a key role in hepatic functions, and abnormal hemodynamics are highly correlated with liver diseases. To date, the flow field in an elementary building block of the organ, the liver lobule, is difficult to determine experimentally in humans due to its complicated structure, with radially branched microvas-culature and the technical difficulties that derive from its geometric constraints. Here we established a set of 3D com-putational models for a liver lobule using porous media theory and analyzed its flow dynamics in normal, fibrotic, and cirrhotic lobules. Our simulations indicated that those approximations of ordinary flow in portal tracts (PTs) and the central vein, and of porous media flow in the sinusoidal network, were reasonable only for normal or fibrotic lobules. Models modified with high resistance in PTs and collateral vessels inside sinusoids were able to describe the flow fea-tures in cirrhotic lobules. Pressures, average velocities, and volume flow rates were profiled and the predictions compared well with experimental data. This study furthered our under-standing of the flow dynamics features of liver lobules and the differences among normal, fibrotic, and cirrhotic lobules.     

激光烧蚀铝靶生成空气等离子体的机理

由Ｑ－开关Ｎｄ：ＹＡＧ激光器产生的１．０６μｍ、１０ｎｓ的脉冲激光辐射大气中的铝靶所产生的等离子体发射光谱的研究结果。当作用在铝靶表面的功率密度在１．０×１０￣９Ｗ／ｃｍ￣２－１．４×１０￣（１０）Ｗ／ｃｍ￣２范围时，测定了等离子体在２００至８８０ｎｍ波长范围内的空间、时间分辨发射光谱。实验发现，等离子体中Ｎ￣＋离子的辐射谱线与连续辐射同时出现并一起消失，随激光强度的增加Ｎ￣＋离子密度以指数关系增加，在激光源方向Ｎ￣＋离子的运动速度为零。从靶表面逸出的热电子与氮原子碰撞及随后发生的级联电离过程是产生Ｎ￣＋离子和空气等离子体的原因。     

Acoustic radiation from the elastic impact of a sphere with a slab

The transient sound radiation from the impact of a spherical object with a slab is analysed theoretically and compared with experimental results. It is shown that the major source of sound radiation when a sphere impinges on a massive plate is due to the sudden change of velocity of the sphere. By using the method of images, an analytical expression predicting the sound pressure waveform is obtained. Experimental results confirm the theoretical analysis and provide further explanation of this rigid body type of acoustic radiation.     

Two new diterpene polyesters from Euphorbia decipiens

Two new myrsinol-type diterpene polyesters 3,5,13,17-tetra-O-acetyl-7-O-benzoyl-15-hydroxymyrsinol (1) and 3,5,13,17-tetra-O-acetyl-7-O-butanoyl-13-hydroxymyrsinol (2), with a tricyclic carbon skeleton have been isolated from Euphorbia decipiens Boiss. & Buhse. The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was based primarily on HREIMS, EIMS, IR, UV, ID-, and 2D-NMR analyses, including COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY correlations. Compounds 1 and 2 also showed activity against urease enzyme.     

Bis(pyrazolyl)(thioimidazolyl)borate ligands: the missing member in the N3...S3 scorpionate series

The anionic bis(pyrazolyl)(thioimidazolyl)borate ligands BpMt(R) with R = tert-butyl and isopropyl were obtained as their potassium salts by reacting potassium tris(pyrazolyl)borate with the corresponding thioimidazoles in the melt at 150 degrees C. They were applied to form some tetrahedral zinc complexes and identified by the crystal structures of (BpMt(t-Bu))ZnCl and (BpMt(i-Pr))Zn-SC(6)H(4)-p-Cl.