Triality,exotics and the dynamical basis of the quark model

A non-relativistic three-triplet model with a simple two-body interaction is shown to bind only q$\text{q}$ and qqq states. Three triplets and unobserved charmed states are crucial in preventing binding of 4q$\text{q}$ and 2 q$\text{q}$ systems. They provide repulsive channels to make the q$\text{q}$ and 3q systems behave like “neutral atoms” with canceling attractive and repulsive forces between them and additional quarks. The ratio of q$\text{q}$ and qq interactions is just right to bind the q$\text{q}$ and 3q systems properly while leaving the qq system with the mass of a quark.     

A QCD relation between electromagnetic mass differences of charmed mesons and strange baryons

Relations between hadron mass splittings are obtained from the assumption that the ratio of the electromagnetic and strong contributions to hardon spin splittings depends only upon the ratio of the electromagnetic to the strong couplings of the quark-quark or quark-antiquark pairs involved. This ratio is the same in charmed mesons and strange baryons when the values of color and electric charges of the standard colored quark model are used. Predictions for D¹⁺?D¹⁰ and ∑^1?-∑¹⁺ mass splittings obtained are in good agreement with present experimental data and can be tested much better when better data on D and D¹ masses become available.     

Some implications of the quark model for high energy scattering

The expressions for total scattering cross sections obtained from the quark model are expressed in a simple form which shows the dependence of the results on the assumptions. The results are shown to depend only on the value of six constants or “charges” defined for each hadron and to be otherwise independent of the structure. Any model which gives the same values of these charges gives the same result as the quark model. In particular, the results for processes which have odd signature t-channel quantum numbers hold in a quark model even with arbitrary mixtures of additional quarkantiquark pairs in the hadron wave function, provided that B, Y, and I are conserved.     

Constraints on composite models of quarks and leptons

The previously noted difficulty of obtaining Dirac magnetic moments in composite models is combined with the observation that a “light” bound fermion state with a small size must have the Dirac moment in a renormalizable theory since its anomalous moment is determined by its excitation spectrum. New constraints on composite models are given, including the decoupling of low-lying excitations and the “superconfinement” condition that creation of virtual electron-positron pairs by the superstrong gluons responsible for binding the constituents of the electron must be strictly forbidden in photon-electron scattering.     

A Dynamic Nuclear Polarization spectrometer at 95 GHz/144 MHz with EPR and NMR excitation and detection capabilities

A spectrometer specifically designed for systematic studies of the spin dynamics underlying Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) in solids at low temperatures is described. The spectrometer functions as a fully operational NMR spectrometer (144 MHz) and pulse EPR spectrometer (95 GHz) with a microwave (MW) power of up to 300 mW at the sample position, generating a MW B(1) field as high as 800 KHz. The combined NMR/EPR probe comprises of an open-structure horn-reflector configuration that functions as a low Q EPR cavity and an RF coil that can accommodate a 30-50 μl sample tube. The performance of the spectrometer is demonstrated through some basic pulsed EPR experiments, such as echo-detected EPR, saturation recovery and nutation measurements, that enable quantification of the actual intensity of MW irradiation at the position of the sample. In addition, DNP enhanced NMR signals of samples containing TEMPO and trityl are followed as a function of the MW frequency. Buildup curves of the nuclear polarization are recorded as a function of the microwave irradiation time period at different temperatures and for different MW powers.     

Synthesis of isotopomers of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-cyano-l-phenylalanine methyl ester: choice of cyanation solvent

N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-cyano-l-phenylalanine methyl ester and three isotopomers (C¹⁵N, ¹³CN, and ¹³C¹⁵N) were successfully synthesized in two steps to expand the utility of the nitrile symmetric stretch vibration of this modified amino acid as a vibrational reporter of local environments. The choice of cyanation solvent directly impacted the level of isotopic enrichment of the isotopomers. The commonly used solvent acetonitrile resulted in an isotopic enrichment of only ∼80% with a cyanation reaction time of 4.5 h, however, the cyanation solvent N,N-dimethylformamide afforded the isotopomers with >98% isotopic enrichment.     

A comparative study of fragment screening methods on the p38�� kinase: new methods, new insights

The stress-activated kinase p38α was used to evaluate a fragment-based drug discovery approach using the BioFocus fragment library. Compounds were screened by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) on a Biacore(?) T100 against p38α and two selectivity targets. A sub-set of our library was the focus of detailed follow-up analyses that included hit confirmation, affinity determination on 24 confirmed, selective hits and competition assays of these hits with respect to a known ATP binding site inhibitor. In addition, functional activity against p38α was assessed in a biochemical assay using a mobility shift platform (LC3000, Caliper LifeSciences). A selection of fragments was also evaluated using fluorescence lifetime (FLEXYTE(?)) and microscale thermophoresis (Nanotemper) technologies. A good correlation between the data for the different assays was found. Crystal structures were solved for four of the small molecules complexed to p38α. Interestingly, as determined both by X-ray analysis and SPR competition experiments, three of the complexes involved the fragment at the ATP binding site, while the fourth compound bound in a distal site that may offer potential as a novel drug target site. A first round of optimization around the remotely bound fragment has led to the identification of a series of triazole-containing compounds. This approach could form the basis for developing novel and active p38α inhibitors. More broadly, it illustrates the power of combining a range of biophysical and biochemical techniques to the discovery of fragments that facilitate the development of novel modulators of kinase and other drug targets.