Purification and some properties of squalene-2,3-epoxide: lanosterol cyclase from rat liver

Squalene-2,3-epoxide: lanosterol cyclase was purified from rat liver in five steps as a soluble and homogeneous protein. The purified enzyme showed a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 75 kD. In its native state it behaved as a homo-dimer. The isoelectric point of 5.5 and the apparent Km value for (3S)-squalene-epoxide of 55 microM were estimated for the cyclase.     

Observation of the neutron radiative decay

The aim of this work is the experimental observation of and research into a rare neutron mode, the radiative beta decay, where a new particle, the radiative gamma quantum, is formed along with the expected decay products: a beta electron, a recoil proton, and an antineutrino. The discovery of this rare neutron decay mode was conducted through identification of triple-coincidence events: simultaneous registration of a beta electron, a proton, and a radiative gamma quantum. The ordinary neutron decay was registered by double coincidences of a beta electron and a recoil proton. The statistics collected allow one to deduce the branching ratio (BR) BR = (3.2 ± 1.6) × 10⁻³ (90% C.L.) in the gamma energy region greater than 35 keV. This value of BR is consistent with standard electroweak theory. The text was submitted by the authors in English. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Negative molecular ions of azafullerenes and their hydrogenated derivatives

The formation and decay of negative molecular ions of azafullerenes and their hydrogenated derivatives are investigated by mass spectrometry. The mechanisms of resonant electron capture and the lifetimes of negative molecular ions with respect to the electron autodetachment in azafullerene molecules are discussed. A comparative analysis of the data obtained for azafullerenes and hydrogenated fullerene derivatives is carried out.     

Skyrmion in nuclear matter

The properties of Skyrmions in finite nuclei are considered. The deformation effect is taken into account through the external-field-induced distortion of the profile function of a chiral field. The masses of classical Skyrmions and the distribution of their baryon number versus the Skyrmion position within a nucleus are discussed.     

Sub-Doppler and Doppler spectroscopy of DCN isotopomers in the terahertz region: ground and first excited bending states (v1v2v3)=(0 1 0)

The rotational spectra of the deuterium cyanide isotopic species DCN, D¹³CN, DC¹⁵N, and D¹³C¹⁵N were recorded in the vibrational ground and first excited bending state (v₂=1) up to 2 THz. The R-branch transitions from J=3←2 to J=13←12 were measured with sub-Doppler resolution. These very high resolution (∼70 kHz) and precise (±3-10 kHz) saturation dip measurements allowed for resolving the underlying hyperfine structure due to the ¹⁴N nucleus in DCN and D¹³CN for transitions as high as J=10←9. Additional high JR-branch (J=25←24 to J=28←27) transitions around 2 THz and direct l-type (ΔJ=0, J=19 to J=25) transitions from 66 to 118 GHz were recorded in Doppler-limited resolution. For the ground state of D¹³C¹⁵N, the J=1←0 transition was measured for the first time. The transition frequency accuracies for the other deuterated species were significantly improved. These new experimental data, together with the available infrared rovibrational data and previously measured direct l-type transitions, were subjected to a global least squares analysis for each isotopomer. This yielded precise sets of molecular constants for the ground and first excited vibrational states, including the nuclear quadrupole and magnetic spin-rotation coupling constants of the ¹⁴N nucleus for DCN and D¹³CN. The hyperfine structure due to the D, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N nuclei have not been resolved, but led to a broadening of the observed saturation dips.     

On the onset of separation in turbulent boundary layer flow over two-dimensional humps of various size

Summary The available laboratory data of turbulent boundary layer flow over two-dimensional obstacles have been examined in order to identify the parameters (such as the aspect ratio or the surface roughness) driving the onset of separation. A comparison with some linearized models suitable for atmospheric applications is also made. It results that i) the model response can be highly sensitive to the detailed shape of the obstacle; ii) the ratio between obstacle length and boundary layer thickness is relevant in determining the pressure perturbation near the surface; iii) the surface shear stress is poorly described in most cases and in particular in the obstacle wake.

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Riassunto I dati di laboratorio disponibili, relativi a strati limite turbolenti su ostacoli bidimensionali, sono stati esaminati al fine di identificare i parametri guida della separazione (quali la pendenza o la rugosità della superficie). Inoltre è stato fatto un confronto con i risultati di alcuni modelli linearizzati adatti per applicazioni atmosferiche. Ne risulta che i) la risposta del modello è molto sensibile alla forma dettagliata dell’ostacolo; ii) il rapporto fra la lunghezza dell’ostacolo e lo spessore dello strato limite turbolento incidente è importante nel determinare la perturbazione della pressione vicino alla superficie; iii) lo ?shear stress? superficiale non è riprodotto con accuratezza nella maggioranza dei casi, in particolare nella scia dell’ostacolo.

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Резюме Анализируются имеющиеся лабораторные данные по турбулентному течению в пограничном слое над двумерными препятствиями, чтобы идентифицировать параметры (такие как аспектное отношение или шероховатость поверхности), определяющие возникновение отрыва. Проводится сравнение с некоторыми линеаризованными моделями, удобными для атмосферных приложений. Получены следующие результаты: 1) модельный отклик может быть очень чувствительным к детальной форме препятствия; 2) отношение между длиной препятствия и толщиной поверхностного слоя является существенным при определении возмущения давления вблизи поверхности; 3) напряжение поверхностного сдвига плохо описывается в большинстве случаев и, в частности, в спутной струе.

     

Surface-field induced interband tunneling in InAs

Metal/insulator/semiconductor junctions are prepared on degeneratep-type InAs substrates with hole concentrations ranging from 2.3×10¹⁷ cm^–3 to 2.7×10¹⁸ cm^–3. The low work function of the top metal Yb, Al, or Au and charged interface states influence a two-dimensional (2D) electron inversion layer at the InAs surface. The insulator barrier that is formed by thermal oxidation is designed sufficiently thin, so that the bias voltage applied at the metal electrode mainly drops across the depletion layer separating the electron channel from the bulk. The current-voltage (I–V) characteristics exhibit strong negative differential conductance due to interband, tunneling from the 2D subband into the 3D valence band with peak-to-valley current ratios up to 3.1, 18, and 32 at 300 K, 77 K, and 4.2 K, respectively. In agreement with a theoretical model based on coherentelastic tunneling, the form of the I–V curves resembles those of double-barrier resonant tunnel devices rather than those of 3D Esaki diodes. The series resistance is obtained from the saturation of the differential conductance dI/dV at high forward bias and from the shift of structures in d² I/dV ² arising from phonon assisted tunneling.Dedicated to G. Lautz on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Approaches to improving critical current density of YBCO superconducting thick films deposited by electrophoresis

The irreversibility field (Hirr) of Y-based superconductor is much higher than that of Bi-based superconductor. Y-based superconductor is capable of maintaining stable electrical currents in high magnetic field and electric field, so it is a better suited mate-rial for electric-current applications. Commonly, the Y-based tapes comprise a YBCO thick film deposited on a flexible substrate, typically with an intermediate buffer layer, and an overcoat of noble metal. In this process, the interm…     

Towards molecular-scale electronics and biomolecular self-assembly

This paper provides an overview of recent research developments in the field of nanoelectronics with organic materials such as carbon nanotubes and DNA-templated nanowires. Carbon nanotubes and gold electrodes are chemically functionalized in order to contact carbon nanotubes by self-assembly. The transport properties of these nanotubes are dominated by charging effects and display clear Coulomb blockade behaviour. A different approach towards nanoscale electronics is based on the molecular recognition properties of biomolecules such as DNA. As an example, DNA is stretched between electrodes using a molecular combing technique. A two-step metallization procedure leads to the formation of highly conductive gold nanowires.