Fluorescent polymeric transducer for the rapid, simple, and specific detection of nucleic acids at the zeptomole level

We report the specific detection of a few hundred molecules of genetic material using a fluorescent polythiophene biosensor. Such recognition is based on simple electrostatic interactions between a cationic polymeric optical transducer and the negatively charged nucleic acid target and can be done in less than 1 h, simply and affordably, and without any chemical reaction. This simple system is versatile enough to detect nucleic acids of various lengths, including a segment from the RNA genome of the Influenza virus.     

Unexpected isolation,and structural characterization,of a beta-hydrogen-containing sigma-alkylpalladium halide complex in the course of an intramolecular heck reaction. synthesis of polycyclic isoquinoline derivatives

The isolation of a stable beta-hydrogen-containing R-PdLn-X complex (R = alkyl; X = halide) issued from a Heck reaction is reported together with some aspects of its reactivity.     

Convergence in gradient-like systems with applications to PDE

In gradient-like systems, the limit set of an orbit belongs to the set of equilibrium points. We give easily applied conditions to determine when this limit set is a single point. Applications are given to parabolic equations, linearly damped hyperbolic equations as well as their discretizations.Dedicated to Klaus Kirchgässner on his 60th birthday     

Persistent currents in one dimension: the counterpart of Leggett's theorem

We discuss the sign of the persistent current of N electrons in one dimensional rings. Using a topology argument, we establish lower bounds for the free energy in the presence of arbitrary electron-electron interactions and external potentials. Those bounds are the counterparts of upper bounds derived by Leggett. Rings with odd (even) numbers of polarized electrons are always diamagnetic (paramagnetic). We show that unpolarized electrons with N being a multiple of four exhibit either paramagnetic behavior or a superconductorlike current-phase relation.