Self-commutator approximants

This paper deals with minimizing , where is fixed, self-adjoint and , and where varies such that and , . (Here, , , denotes the von Neumann-Schatten class and its norm.) The upshot of this paper is that , , is minimized if, and for only if, , and that the map , , has a critical point at if and only if (with related results for normal if or ).

     

Comparative studies for selective deprotection of the N-arylideneamino moiety from heterocyclic amides: kinetic and theoretical studies. Part 2

4-Benzylideneamino-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-diones (2-5), 6-styryl-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (6), and 6-styryl-2,3-dihydro-3-thioxo-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one (7) were synthesized and pyrolyzed in the gas phase. The kinetic effect of changing the substituent on the triazine ring from hydrogen to methyl, phenyl, and styryl was measured. Analyses of the pyrolyzates of 2-5 showed the elimination products to be benzonitrile and the triazine fragment, while the pyrolyzates of 6 and 7 reveal the formation of cis- and trans-cinnamonitriles. Theoretical study of the pyrolysis reactions of 2-5 using an ab initio SCF method was investigated.     

A conclusive demonstration of vibrational pumping under surface enhanced Raman scattering conditions

We provide a conclusive demonstration of vibrational pumping under Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) conditions by performing anti-Stokes/Stokes ratio measurements over a large spatial area and low power density, down to 10 K with dried silver colloids, the dye rhodamine 6G, and 676 nm laser excitation. The method we propose allows for the measurement of the cross sections for different modes and also provides the determination of the asymmetry between the anti-Stokes and Stokes SERS cross sections for each mode.     

Inhibition of Pro-inflammatory Secreted Phospholipase A2 by Extracts from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cynara cardunculus L</Emphasis>.

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of Cynara cardunculus L. (Asteraceae) during its growth using various solvents such as n-hexane, dichloromethane, acetone, and methanol for air-dried leaves and stems. The anti-inflammatory activities of crude extracts were evaluated by measuring the inhibition potency of mammalian non-pancreatic phospholipases A2 (hG-IIA). The methanol and acetone extracts of leaves harvested in February exhibit potent inhibition of hG-IIA (IC₅₀ = 50 and 70 μg/ml, respectively). However, the acetone extract of stems harvested in December inhibits the hG-IIA with a lower IC₅₀ around 130 μg/ml. Fractionation on silica gel and hydrophobic gel of the methanol extract of leaves harvested in February increases the inhibitory effect, and the IC₅₀ reached 10 μg/ml.     

Coincidence and common fixed point results on metric spaces endowed with an arbitrary binary relation and applications

In this paper, we establish coincidence and common fixed point theorems for contractive mappings on a metric space endowed with an amorphous binary relation. The presented theorems extend the results of Samet and Turinici in [Commun. Math. Anal. 12 (2012), 82– 97] and generalize many existing results on metric and ordered metric spaces. We apply also our main results to derive coincidence and common fixed point theorems for cyclic contractive mappings.     

Selenium Occurrence,Distribution and Speciation in the Cockle Anadara trapezia and the Mullet Mugil cephalus

Data on the factors affecting the accumulation of selenium in the cockle Anadara trapezia and mullet Mugil cephalus are presented, together with the distribution and speciation of selenium in tissues. Selenium concentration in whole cockles showed a small but significant decrease with weight. No further decrease in selenium concentration was apparent once an organism reached 0.25 g dry weight. Selenium concentration in cockles was not dependent on sex. The tissue distribution of selenium concentration in cockles was in the order gill>intestine>adductor>mantle >foot. Selenium concentrations in liver tissues of mullet increased with the whole weight of the fish. In contrast, selenium concentrations in muscle, stomach, heart and kidney tissues were fairly low and constant in fish weighing less than 200 g (20 cm in length). Fish of greater weight and size (>250 g and >30 cm) had higher and more variable selenium concentrations. No differences in selenium concentration between male and female fish occurred; however, the sex of many of the fish could not be distinguished. The tissue distribution of selenium concentration in mullet was in the order liver>stomach>heart>muscle>kidney. Most of the selenium recovered from both the cockle tissues and the mullet muscle tissues was found to be associated with proteins and to be present as selenocysteine. A conceptual model is presented for selenium transformations in marine organisms based on the formation of selenoamino-acids and subsequent incorporation into proteins. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.