The optimum conditions to collect X‐ray data from very small samples

A previous paper [Nave & Hill (2005). J. Synchrotron Rad. 12 , 299–303] examined the possibility of reduced radiation damage for small crystals (10 µm and below in size) under conditions where the photoelectrons could escape from the sample. The conclusion of this paper was that higher‐energy radiation (e.g. 40 keV) could offer an advantage as the photoelectron path length was greater and less energy would be deposited in the crystal. This paper refines these calculations further by including the effects of energy deposited owing to Compton scattering and the energy difference between the incident photon and the emitted photoelectron. An estimate is given for the optimum wavelength for collecting data from a protein crystal of a given size and composition. Another way of reducing radiation damage from a protein crystal is to collect data with a very short pulsed X‐ray source where a single image can be obtained before subsequent radiation damage occurs. A comparison of this approach compared with the use of shorter wavelengths is made.     

Monte Carlo modelling for the in vivo lung monitoring of enriched uranium: Results of an international comparison

In order to assess the reliability of Monte Carlo (MC)-based numerical calibration of in vivo counting systems the EURADOS network supported a comparison of MC simulation of well-defined experiments. This action also provided training for the use of voxel phantoms. In vivo measurements of enriched uranium in a thoracic phantom have been carried out and the needed information to simulate these measurements was distributed to 17 participants. About half of the participants managed to simulate the measured counting efficiency without support from the organisers. Following additional support all participants managed to simulate the counting efficiencies within a typical agreement of ±5% with experiment.     

Improved direct measurement of A(b) and A(c) at the Z(0) pole using a lepton tag

The parity violation parameters A(b) and A(c) of the Zb(b) and Zc(c) couplings have been measured directly, using the polar angle dependence of the polarized cross sections at the Z(0) pole. Bottom and charmed hadrons were tagged via their semileptonic decays. Both the electron and muon analyses take advantage of new multivariate techniques to increase the analyzing power. Based on the 1993-1998 SLD sample of 550,000 Z(0) decays produced with highly polarized electron beams, we measure A(b) = 0.919+/-0.030(stat)+/-0.024(syst), and A(c) = 0.583+/-0.055(stat)+/-0.055(syst).     

Poly(ester-acetals) from azelaaldehydic acid-glycerol compounds

Poly(ester-acetals) have been prepared from isopropylideneglyceryl azelaaldehydate dimethyl acetal and from methyl azelaaldehydate glycerol acetal. Acid hydrolysis of isopropylideneglyceryl azelaaldehydate led to oligomeric poly(ester-acetals) with six to seven repeating units and carboxylic acid endgroups from which the sodium salt and the methyl ester could be prepared. The polymer sodium salt showed some surfactant properties. Methyl azelaaldehydate glycerol acetal, a mixture of geometric and structural isomers, was polymerized under typical polyesterification conditions. Lime was the best catalyst found. Molecular weights of 5000 to 12000 were obtained. Some of these polymers contained significant quantities of calcium as the carboxylate salt. A tough elastomer was prepared by heating a poly(ester-acetal) with p-toluenesulfonic acid and zine oxide.     

Evaluation of Solvent Accessibility to the [Fe(4)S(4)] Binding Pocket in Native and Tyr19 Mutant High Potential Iron Proteins by (1)H-(15)N HMQC and (19)F NMR Experiments

The solvent accessibility of Chromatium vinosumhigh potential iron protein (HiPIP) has been investigated by use of (1)H-(15)N HMQC, and (19)F NMR spectroscopy. These NMR experiments indicate that solvent accessibility to the cluster core is similar, and minimal, for the reduced and oxidized states of native HiPIP, but increases significantly for mutant proteins (Tyr19Leu and Tyr19His). These results support a proposed role [Agarwal, A.; Li, D.; Cowan, J. A. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1995, 92, 9440-9444] for Tyr19 in maintaining hydrolytic stability of the [Fe(4)S(4)] cluster, and demonstrate a general strategy for mapping out the solvent accessibility of protein-bound metalloredox prosthetic centers.