Cross-sections for deuteron photo-disintegration from 139 to 832 MeV

The cross-sections for deuteron photo-disintegration have been measured at nine c.m. angles from 37 to 143 degrees. The minimum and maximum photon energies have been 139 and 832 MeV respectively. The results are in agreement with earlier data above 300 MeV, but are significantly larger below 200 MeV, the discrepancies being up to 50% at the lowest energies measured.     

Formation,characterization and stabilization of water-soluble colloidal MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in the oxidation of methionine,thiourea and thioacetamide by permanganate

Stabilization and characterisation of water soluble colloidal MnO₂ during the oxidation of sulphur-containing organic reductants “thiourea, thioactamide and methionine” by permanganate in aqueous neutral media are reported for the first time. Upon addition of permanganate to a solution of methionine, a transient species appears within the time of mixing, which is stable for several weeks. On the other hand, the transient species is unstable in the presence of thiourea and thioacetamide, respectively. The nature of manganese (IV) species present in the solution was characterized by spectrophotometric and coagulation measurements. On addition of HClO₄, there is a decrease in the absorbance of the reaction mixture. Under pseudo first-order conditions ([reductants] > []), the reduction rate was very fast up to the formation of water soluble colloidal MnO₂. The effect of various parameters, such as hydrogen ion concentration, amount of and concentration of reductants were investigated. Mechanisms consistent with the observed results have been proposed and discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">parkin</Emphasis> counteracts symptoms in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> model of Parkinson's disease

Background

Parkinson's disease, a prevalent neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the reduction of dopaminergic neurons resulting in the loss of motor control, resting tremor, the formation of neuronal inclusions and ultimately premature death. Two inherited forms of PD have been linked to mutations in the α-synuclein and parkin genes. The parkin protein functions as an ubiquitin ligase targeting specific proteins for degradation. Expression of human α-synuclein in Drosophila neurons recapitulates the loss of motor control, the development of neuronal inclusions, degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the ommatidial array to provide an excellent genetic model of PD.

Results

To investigate the role of parkin, we have generated transgenic Drosophila that conditionally express parkin under the control of the yeast UAS enhancer. While expression of parkin has little consequence, co-expression of parkin with α-synuclein in the dopaminergic neurons suppresses the α-synuclein-induced premature loss of climbing ability. In addition directed expression of parkin in the eye counteracts the α-synuclein-induced degeneration of the ommatidial array. These results show that parkin suppresses the PD-like symptoms observed in the α-synuclein-dependent Drosophila model of PD.

Conclusion

The highly conserved parkin E3 ubiquitin ligase can suppress the damaging effects of human α-synuclein. These results are consistent with a role for parkin in targeting α-synuclein to the proteasome. If this relationship is conserved in humans, this suggests that up-regulation of parkin should suppress α-synucleinopathic PD. The development of therapies that regulate parkin activity may be crucial in the treatment of PD.

     

Liquid-crystalline phase behavior of a colloidal rod-plate mixture

The phase behavior of rod-plate mixtures was investigated using model systems containing unambiguously rod- and plate-shaped colloids. We find that the theoretically disputed biaxial nematic phase is unstable with respect to demixing into an isotropic and two uniaxial nematic phases. The phase behavior at very high densities is exceptionally rich and includes the coexistence of up to four different liquid crystalline phases, which stem from the coupling between the employed particle shapes and polydispersity.     

Kinetics of silver nanoparticle growth in aqueous polymer solutions: 1st Nano Update

In this paper we report the effect of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) on the silver nanoparticles formation of different morphologies by using silver nitrate and citric acid as the oxidant and reductant, respectively, for the first time. Our transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results suggest that the presence of PVA has significant impact on the size, shape, and the size distribution of the silver nanoparticles. The reaction follows a zero-order kinetics in [citric acid] as well as in [silver(I)] in the absence and presence of PVA. It was found that PVA and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) concentrations show no significant effects on the rate of CTAB-stabilized silver nanoparticles formation, whereas in presence of PVA, the reaction rate increases with (CTAB). Both spectrophotometric and TEM measurement demonstrated that the orange silver sol consists of aggregates, whereas the purple sol does not contain the aggregated arrangement. On the basis of various observations, the most plausible mechanism has been envisaged.     

Radiation Polymerization of 4-(Acryloylamido)benzonitrile: Zinc and Copper Complexes

Summary. The new polymer containing cyano groups was synthesized by γ-irradiation. The oximated polymer was prepared using hydroxylamine hydrochloride in basic medium. The characterization of monomer, polymer, and oximated ones was confirmed by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The complex formation of the amidoxime salt towards Zn^II, Cu^II, and Zn^II/Cu^II mixture in aqueous solution was studied by atomic absorption spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance spectrometry. The significant binding capacity of these metal ions revealed its selectivity to Zinc(II) ion. The thermal stability of polymers and complexed ones was investigated using thermogravimetry analysis. The change in their morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Protection of stainless steel by the electrodeposition of polyaniline/poly(o-phenylenediamine) composite layers

Three polyaniline (PANI)/poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) mixtures have been electrochemically deposited on a stainless steel surface from an acidic solution. Electrocopolymerization was favorable at high molar ratios of aniline to o-phenylenediamine, and the resulting copolymer is a random type. Two bilayers, PoPD/PANI and PANI/PoPD, were prepared by successive electrodeposition, during which different multiphase structures were obtained. The presence of PoPD with PANI in the copolymer or multilayer structures enhances the passivation of the SS. The bi-layer coating in which a PANI layer lies under the PoPD produced the best passive oxide on the SS. The resistance to pitting increases with the coating order as follows: PANI < copolymer ? PANI/PoPD < PoPD < PoPD/PANI.     

Substituent Effects on Hydrogen Bonding in Watson–Crick Base Pairs. A Theoretical Study

We have theoretically analyzed Watson–Crick AT and GC base pairs in which purine C8 and/or pyrimidine C6 positions carry a substituent X = H, F, Cl or Br, using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of density functional theory at BP86/TZ2P. The purpose is to study the effects on structure and hydrogen bond strength if X = H is substituted by a halogen atom. Furthermore, we wish to explore the relative importance of electrostatic attraction versus orbital interaction in the above multiply hydrogen-bonded systems, using a quantitative bond energy decomposition scheme. We find that replacing X = H by a halogen atom has relatively small yet characteristic effects on hydrogen bond lengths, strengths and bonding mechanism. In general, it reduces the hydrogen-bond-accepting- and increases the hydrogen-bond-donating capabilities of a DNA base. The orbital interaction component in these hydrogen bonds is found for all substituents (X = H, F, Cl, and Br) to contribute about 41% of the attractive interactions and is thus of the same order of magnitude as the electrostatic component, which provides the remaining 59% of the attraction.