Synthesis and characterization of large single crystals of NpPd3 by flux method

Synthesis of the active [Ni–Fe]-hydrogenase in prokaryotes requires a series of ancillary maturation factors. Among them, the HypF maturation factor is a multidomain 82 kDa protein, whose N-terminal domain displays sequence and structural similarities to acylphosphatases. Acylphosphatases are small enzymes that are able to catalyze carboxyl-phosphate bond hydrolysis in acylphosphates, as well as in nucleoside di- and tri-phosphates and in arylphosphates. Here, we present a crystallographic comparison between microgravity and earth-grown crystals of the HypF N-terminal domain. Both crystals were of excellent quality, thereby allowing us to collect very high resolution datasets. A detailed analysis of data collection and refinement statistics, together with an analysis of the diffraction pattern showed that microgravity would appear to further improve the internal order of crystals.     

Investigating the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinases in the proliferation of Werner syndrome fibroblasts using diaminopyridine inhibitors

To develop more potent small molecules with enhanced free radical scavenger properties, a series of N-substituted isatin derivatives was synthesized, and the cytoprotective effect on the apoptosis of PC12 cells induced by H₂O₂ was screened. All these compounds were found to be active, and N-ethyl isatin was found with the most potent activity of 69.7% protective effect on PC12 cells. Structure-activity relationship analyses showed the bioactivity of N-alkyl isatins decline as the increasing of the chain of the alkyl group, furthermore odd-even effect was found in the activity, which is interesting for further investigation.     

Tris-{hydridotris(1-pyrazolyl)borato}actinide Complexes: Synthesis,Spectroscopy, Crystal Structure,Bonding Properties and Magnetic Behaviour

The isostructural compounds of the trivalent actinides uranium, neptunium, plutonium, americium, and curium with the hydridotris(1-pyrazolyl)borato (Tp) ligand An[η³-HB(N₂C₃H₃)₃]₃ (AnTp₃) have been obtained through several synthetic routes. Structural, spectroscopic (absorption, infrared, laser fluorescence) and magnetic characterisation of the compounds were performed in combination with crystal field, density functional theory (DFT) and relativistic multiconfigurational calculations. The covalent bonding interactions were analysed in terms of the natural bond orbital (NBO) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) models.     

Hybrid Materials from Carbon Nanotubes,Nickel Tetrasulfonated Phthalocyanine and Thin Polymer Layers for the Selective Electrochemical Activation of Nitric Oxide in Solution

The elaboration of hybrid materials from single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and tetrasulfonated nickel phthalocyanine (NiTSPc) was electrochemically performed to obtain chemically modified electrodes with improved electrocatalytic activity towards the electrooxidation of nitric oxide (NO). The characterization of these hybrid electrodes was achieved by cyclic voltammetry and AFM. The electrochemical performances of the electrodes towards the oxidation of NO were then analyzed by chronoamperometry and the obtained results show that the presence of SWCNT greatly enhances the electrocatalytic performances in terms of current intensity. Additional coatings were then electrodeposited over the hybrid electrodes to act as selective membranes against four major interfering analytes: nitrite, ascorbate, hydrogen peroxide and L ‐arginine. Several polymer coatings were tested to achieve the best balance between sensitivity to NO and selectivity against interferents.     

H-transfer rates in ion-neutral complexes versus those in intact aliphatic ions

The relative rates of H-transfer between partners in ion-neutral complexes were compared with those in intramolecular rearrangements using results of first differential photoionization mass spectrometry measurements. Complex-mediated H-transfers are inferred to have rates of the same order as those for intramolecular hydrogen rearrangements, suggesting a similar range of motion of the reactive sites in both types of reactions. It is also concluded that at their fastest H-transfers take place between the partners in ion-neutral complexes within at most the time of several rotations of the partners in the complexes. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of three different configurations of dual ultramicroelectrodes for the decomposition of S-Nitroso-L-glutathione and the direct detection of nitric oxide

Podoplanin (PDP) is a small transmembrane protein and widely present in various specialized cells throughout the human body. It is a specific marker for identification of lymphatic vessel and a candidate marker for cancer stem cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. We report on method for the highly selective determination of PDP by using a surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI) that exploits the highly selective interaction between PDP and anti-human PDP monoclonal antibody (IgG). The sensor has a dynamic range between 0.25 and 1.0?ng?mL^?1, and a detection limit of 15?pg?mL^?1. It was applied to the determination of PDP in blood plasma and tissue homogenates from paired normal and lung tumor tissue.

Structural tuning of unconventional superconductivity in PuMGa5 (M=Co,Rh)

The superconducting properties of the recently discovered PuMGa5 (M=Co,Rh) superconductors, including the power law behavior of the specific heat, the evolution of the superconducting transition T(c) temperature with pressure, and the linear relation between T(c) and ratio of tetragonal lattice parameters c/a, are compared to those of the heavy fermion CeMIn5 (M=Co,Rh,Ir) unconventional superconductors. The striking similarity of the properties between the two families of superconductors suggests a common physics and a common (magnetically mediated) mechanism of superconductivity.     

Disentangling the effects of phonation and articulation: Hemispheric asymmetries in the auditory N1m response of the human brain

Background  

The cortical activity underlying the perception of vowel identity has typically been addressed by manipulating the first and second formant frequency (F1 & F2) of the speech stimuli. These two values, originating from articulation, are already sufficient for the phonetic characterization of vowel category. In the present study, we investigated how the spectral cues caused by articulation are reflected in cortical speech processing when combined with phonation, the other major part of speech production manifested as the fundamental frequency (F0) and its harmonic integer multiples. To study the combined effects of articulation and phonation we presented vowels with either high (/a/) or low (/u/) formant frequencies which were driven by three different types of excitation: a natural periodic pulseform reflecting the vibration of the vocal folds, an aperiodic noise excitation, or a tonal waveform. The auditory N1m response was recorded with whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) from ten human subjects in order to resolve whether brain events reflecting articulation and phonation are specific to the left or right hemisphere of the human brain.