Energy dependence of the fast fragment of the target nucleus in high energy hadron-nucleus interaction

This paper presents an extensive study on the dependence of the mean number of the fast fragment of the target nucleus n _g on the incident beam energy in proton-nucleus interaction in emulsion in the range 6·2E ₀400 GeV/c. It has been observed that n _g decreases in the range 6·2E ₀200 GeV/c, then increases and attains an approximately steady value up to 400 GeV/c. It is very difficult to explain this behaviour with the help of the existing nuclear production models.The author would like to thank Prof A. J. Herz (CERN), Prof. K. D. Tolostov (Dubna, U.S.S.R.), Prof. P. L. Jain (State University of New York, U.S.A.), Prof. G. Giacomelly (Italy) for kindly supplying the exposed emulsion plates.     

Thermal noise in Hg0.795Cd0.205Te detectors for large biasing fields

Thermal noise in Hg_0.795Cd_0.205Te detectors is estimated for large biasing fields at a lattice temperature of 77 K, by computing the correlation functions of the velocity fluctuations with the Monte Carlo technique. The noise temperature for current components transverse to the field is almost independent of the field, but that corresponding to the parallel component increases by a factor of about 1.3 at 50 V/cm and by a factor of 3.0 at 300V/cm. The thermal noise voltage for a detector of 85 resistance increases from 0.6nV/Hz^1/2 at low biasing fields to about 3nV/Hz^1/2 at a field of 300 V/cm. The noise power is also found to remain constant up to about 75 GHz, and it decreases thereafter by a factor of 0.25 for doubling of the frequency.     

Stereoselective reduction of arteannuin B and its chemical transformations

Absolute stereochemistry of dihydroarteannuin B 5 obtained by the reduction of arteannuin B 3 with Ni₂B, NaBH₄ or CdCl₂-Mg-MeOH-H₂O has been established by 2D NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Some experiments aimed at the synthesis of dihydrodeoxyarteannuin B [C-4, 5 double bond isomer of 11] are also discussed.     

Differential thermal analysis studies on the kinetics of crystallization of calcium tungstate from solutions in sodium tungstate melts

The kinetics of calcium tungstate crystallization from solutions in sodium tungstate melts were studied in a platinum crucible by continuous cooling from an initial crystallization temperatureT ₀=800 to 1000 to below the eutectic temperature at cooling ratesR _T=0.67 to 3.3 min^–1. The main crystal growth was diffusion rate-controlled. The diffusion rate-constant (k _D) values for the growth along the major axis were estimated. Such values increased with the cooling rate and initial crystallization temperature. They were lower than those for diffusion-controlled growth of calcium tungstate from sodium tungstate melts in alumina crucibles. The experimentalk _D values were compared with the theoreticalk _D values.

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Zusammenfassung Die Kinetik der Kristallisation von Calciumwolframat aus Lösungen von Natriumwolframatschmelzen wurde im Platintiegel durch kontinuierliches Kühlen von der AnfangskristallisationstemperaturT ₀=800 bis 1000 bis unter die eutektische Temperatur, bei Abkühlgeschwindigkeiten vonR _T =0.67 bis 3.3 min^–1, untersucht. Das Hauptkristallwachstum wurde durch die Diffusionsgeschwindigkeit bedingt. Die Werte der Diffusionsgeschwindigkeitskonstante (k _D) in Richtung der Hauptachse wurden geschÄtzt. Diese Werte nahmen mit der Abkühlgeschwindigkeit und der Anfangskristallisationstemperatur zu. Sie waren niedriger als jene des diffusionsbedingten Wachstums von Calciumwolframat aus Natriumwolframatschmelzen in Aluminiumtiegeln. Die experimentellenk _D-Werte wurden mit den theoretischenk _D-Werten verglichen.

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Résumé La cinétique de la cristallisation du tungstate de calcium à partir de ses solutions dans le tungstate de sodium fondu a été étudiée dans un creuset de platine au cours du refroidissement continu depuis la température initiale de cristallisationT ₀=800 à 1000 C jusqu'à température inférieure à celle de l'eutectique, avec des vitesses de refroidissement allant de 0.67 à 3.3 C · min^–1. La croissance des cristaux est contrÔlée principalement par le processus de diffusion. Les valeurs de la constante de vitesse de diffusion (k _D) ont été estimées pour la croissance le long de l'axe principal. Ces valeurs augmentent avec la vitesse de refroidissement et la température initiale de cristallisation et sont plus faibles que les valeurs correspondantes en creusets d'alumine. Les valeurs expérimentales et théoriques dek _D sont comparées.

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₀=800 1000 R =0.67 3.3 ^–1. . (k _d ) . . , - . k _d .

     

Quadruplex formation by a guanine-rich PNA oligomer

A guanine-rich PNA dodecamer having the sequence H-G4T4G4-Lys-NH2 (G-PNA) hybridizes with a DNA dodecamer of homologous sequence to form a four-stranded quadruplex (Datta, B.; Schmitt, C.; Armitage, B. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 4111-4118). This report describes quadruplex formation by the PNA alone. UV melting curves and fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments reveal formation of a multistranded structure stabilized by guanine tetrads. The ion dependency of these structures is analogous to that reported for DNA quadruplexes. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry indicates that both dimeric and tetrameric quadruplexes are formed by G4-PNA, with the dimeric form being preferred. These results have implications for the use of G-rich PNA for homologous hybridization to G-rich targets in chromosomal DNA and suggest additional applications in assembling quadruplex structures within lipid bilayer environments.     

Population and coherence dynamics in large conjugated porphyrin nanorings

In photosynthesis, nature exploits the distinctive electronic properties of chromophores arranged in supramolecular rings for efficient light harvesting. Among synthetic supramolecular cyclic structures, porphyrin nanorings have attracted considerable attention as they have a resemblance to naturally occurring light-harvesting structures but offer the ability to control ring size and the level of disorder. Here, broadband femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, with pump pulses in resonance with either the high or the low energy sides of the inhomogeneously broadened absorption spectrum, is used to study the population dynamics and ground and excited state vibrational coherence in large porphyrin nanorings. A series of fully conjugated, alkyne bridged, nanorings constituted of between ten and forty porphyrin units is studied. Pump-wavelength dependent fast spectral evolution is found. A fast rise or decay of the stimulated emission is found when large porphyrin nanorings are excited on, respectively, the high or low energy side of the absorption spectrum. Such dynamics are consistent with the hypothesis of a variation in transition dipole moment across the inhomogeneously broadened ground state ensemble. The observed dynamics indicate the interplay of nanoring conformation and oscillator strength. Oscillatory dynamics on the sub-ps time domain are observed in both pumping conditions. A combined analysis of the excitation wavelength-dependent transient spectra along with the amplitude and phase evolution of the oscillations allows assignment to vibrational wavepackets evolving on either ground or excited states electronic potential energy surfaces. Even though porphyrin nanorings support highly delocalized electronic wavefunctions, with coherence length spanning tens of chromophores, the measured vibrational coherences remain localised on the monomers. The main contributions to the beatings are assigned to two vibrational modes localised on the porphyrin cores: a Zn–N stretching mode and a skeletal methinic/pyrrolic C–C stretching and in-plane bending mode.

Pump wavelength-dependent, ultrafast excited state dynamics arising from inhomogeneous broadening and ground and excited state nuclear wavepackets were observed for a series of Zn porphyrin nanorings made of 10 to 40 repeating units.     

Spin state dependent peroxidase activity of heme bound amyloid β peptides relevant to Alzheimer's disease

The colocalization of heme rich deposits in the senile plaque of Aβ in the cerebral cortex of the Alzheimer''s disease (AD) brain along with altered heme homeostasis and heme deficiency symptoms in AD patients has invoked the association of heme in AD pathology. Heme bound Aβ complexes, depending on the concentration of the complex or peptide to heme ratio, exhibit an equilibrium between a high-spin mono-His bound peroxidase-type active site and a low-spin bis-His bound cytochrome b type active site. The high-spin heme–Aβ complex shows higher peroxidase activity than free heme, where compound I is the reactive oxidant. It is also capable of oxidizing neurotransmitters like serotonin in the presence of peroxide, owing to the formation of compound I. The low-spin bis-His heme–Aβ complex on the other hand shows enhanced peroxidase activity relative to high-spin heme–Aβ. It reacts with H₂O₂ to produce two stable intermediates, compound 0 and compound I, which are characterized by absorption, EPR and resonance Raman spectroscopy. The stability of compound I of low-spin heme–Aβ is accountable for its enhanced peroxidase activity and oxidation of the neurotransmitter serotonin. The effect of the second sphere Tyr10 residue of Aβ on the formation and stability of the intermediates of low-spin heme–Aβ has also been investigated. The higher stability of compound I for low-spin heme–Aβ is likely due to H-bonding interactions involving Tyr10 in the distal pocket.

Low-spin heme-Aβ forms stable compound 0 and compound I in the presence of H₂O₂ where compound I is responsible for its substantial peroxidase activity. This compound I also oxidizes neurotransmitters which is a typical hallmark of Alzheimer''s disease.     

Evaluation of degree of crystallization by optical microscopy and chemical analysis in crystallization of alkaline-earth metal tungstates from solutions in lithium chloride melts

A comparative study of the accuracy of optical microscopy and chemical analysis of residual solutions for evaluation of degree of crystallisation was carried out to ascertain their suitability for kinetics study of CaWO₄ and BaWO₄ crystallisation from LiCl melts (i) by continuous cooling at a constant cooling rate, and (ii) at constant temperature from a supersaturated solution. Chemical analysis of residual solution does not give desirable accuracy for the case (i) for α_t values <0.30, and for the case (ii) for α_t values <0.60. Optical microscopy was more accurate and suitable for both cases.     

The Extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum Root and Rhizome Block the Entry of SARS-CoV-2 Wild-Type and Omicron Pseudotyped Viruses via Inhibition of the S-Protein and 3CL Protease

COVID-19, resulting from infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, caused a contagious pandemic. Even with the current vaccines, there is still an urgent need to develop effective pharmacological treatments against this deadly disease. Here, we show that the water and ethanol extracts of the root and rhizome of Polygonum cuspidatum (Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix), a common Chinese herbal medicine, blocked the entry of wild-type and the omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped virus into fibroblasts or zebrafish larvae, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.015 to 0.04 mg/mL. The extracts were shown to inhibit various aspects of the pseudovirus entry, including the interaction between the spike protein (S-protein) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) receptor, and the 3CL protease activity. Out of the chemical compounds tested in this report, gallic acid, a phytochemical in P. cuspidatum, was shown to have a significant anti-viral effect. Therefore, this might be responsible, at least in part, for the anti-viral efficacy of the herbal extract. Together, our data suggest that the extracts of P. cuspidatum inhibit the entry of wild-type and the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, and so they could be considered as potent treatments against COVID-19.     

Therapeutics for COVID-19: from computation to practices—where we are,where we are heading to

Molecular Diversity - After the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic caused by the H1N1 virus, the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) brought us to the time of serious global health catastrophe....