Event excess in the MiniBooNE search for ¯νμ→¯νe oscillations

The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports results from a search for ˉν_{μ}→ˉν_{e} oscillations, using a data sample corresponding to 5.66×102? protons on target. An excess of 20.9±14.0 events is observed in the energy range 475相似文献   

Electronic stopping power: Bragg's rule and Firsov's theory

It is shown that a modified version of Firsov's theory of the electronic stopping power, dE/dx, is a convenient formalism for studying departures from Bragg's Rule for composite targets. Within the procedures of this theory molecular hydrogen targets are compared with atomic hydrogen targets, and it is shown that Bragg's rule overestimates dE/dx for protons incident on molecular hydrogen by 11% at low proton velocities. A geometrical interpretation is given to the predicted chemical effects on dE/dx.     

Comparing results of X-ray diffraction, µ-Raman spectroscopy and neutron diffraction when identifying chemical phases in seized nuclear material,during a comparative nuclear forensics exercise

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - This work presents the results for identification of chemical phases obtained by several laboratories as a part of an international nuclear...     

The synthesis of azadirachtin: a potent insect antifeedant

We describe in full the first synthesis of the potent insect antifeedant azadirachtin through a highly convergent approach. An O-alkylation reaction is used to unite decalin ketone and propargylic mesylate fragments, after which a Claisen rearrangement constructs the central C8-C14 bond in a stereoselective fashion. The allene which results from this sequence then enables a second critical carbon-carbon bond forming event whereby the [3.2.1] bicyclic system, present in the natural product, is generated via a 5-exo-radical cyclisation process. Finally, using knowledge gained through our early studies into the reactivity of the natural product, a series of carefully designed steps completes the synthesis of this challenging molecule.     

Effect of headphone position on absolute threshold measurements

Pure-tone audiometry (measurement of absolute thresholds using pure tones) is the main test for the diagnosis of hearing loss. The aim of the present study is to determine whether the headphone placement over a listener’s ears has an influence on pure-tone audiometric tests, for a large frequency range, for Sennheiser HD600 and Telephonics TDH39 headphones. Audiograms (with 1 dB step, and including 10 frequencies up to 14 kHz) were performed several times on normal-hearing subjects, for different – or not different – headphone positions (allowing to dissociate between effects of headphone position and cognitive factors). Globally, the results seem to indicate that the reliability without headphone removing was quite close to the one observed with removing. The influence of removing did not appear more crucial for high frequencies. The rare frequencies for which a removing effect was seen seem to be function of the headphone model. Finally the results were quite different among the subjects.     

Latest Advances Towards Ras Inhibition: A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective

Owing to their high occurrence rate across many human cancers and their lack of druggability so far, mutant forms of the signaling protein Ras are currently among the most attractive (and elusive) oncology targets. This strong appeal explains the sustained effort in the field, and the ensuing progress has rekindled optimism regarding the discovery of Ras inhibitors. In this Minireview, we discuss the most recent advances towards irreversible inhibitors, and highlight approaches to inhibitors of Ras–effector interactions that have been overshadowed by the current focus on direct Ras inhibition. At the same time, we provide a critical assessment from a medicinal chemistry perspective.     

Assessing the mechanical properties of a molecular spring

We report on the dramatic effect of increasing helix diameter on the hybridization of oligopyridine-dicarboxamide strands into double helices. Upon replacing a single pyridine by a 1,8-diazaanthracene unit within an oligomeric strand, a 4.7 A enlargement of the helix diameter occurs parallel to the long anthracene axis. This structure change results in a spectacular stabilization of the double helical hybrids derived from these strands (factors of over 10(7)). Detailed investigations of the hybridization process using X-ray crystallography, NMR, fluorescence measurements and molecular mechanics calculations allowed us to assign the duplex stabilization to two enthalpic effects. First, the increase in diameter results in an augmented surface, involved in intermolecular pi-pi stacking. Second, the enlarged diameter leads to a lower tilt angle of the helical strand, with respect to the helix axis, which in turn results in smaller dihedral angles at the aryl-amide linkages and thus a considerably lowered enthalpic cost of the spring-like extension of the strands during the hybridization process. These results provide novel insights into how subtle tuning of molecular components may result in considerable and rationalizable changes in double helical supramolecular architectures.     

Carboxylic acid functional group analysis using constant neutral loss scanning-mass spectrometry

The present study describes the development of a new analytical technique for the functional group determination of the carboxylic moiety using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS/MS) operated in the constant neutral loss scanning (CNLS) mode. Carboxylic groups were first derivatized into their corresponding methyl esters by reacting with BF₃/methanol mix and the reaction mixture was then directly injected into the APCI chamber. The loss of methanol (m/z = 32 amu) resulting from the fragmentation of the protonated methyl esters was then monitored. Applying this method together with a statistical approach to reference mixtures containing 31 different carboxylic acids at randomly calculated concentrations demonstrated its suitability for quantitative functional group measurements with relative standard deviations below 15% and a detection limit of 0.005 mmol L⁻¹. Its applicability to environmental matrices was also shown through the determination of carboxylic acid concentrations inside atmospheric aerosol samples. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that the tandem mass spectrometry was successfully applied to functional group analysis, offering great perspectives in the characterization of complex mixtures which are prevailing in the field of environmental analysis as well as in the understanding of the chemical processes occurring in these matrices.