Evidence for an isomer in 76 Ni

In the experiment performed at the LISE2000 spectrometer at GANIL neutron-rich nickel isotopes were studied by microsecond isomer spectroscopy. Evidence for an isomer in ⁷⁶Ni is found, consistently with the shell model prediction of an 8 ⁺ state of structure.Received: 24 October 2002, Published online: 17 February 2004PACS: 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 27.50. + e      

The current interest in fuzzy optimization

In this paper a certain interpretation of fuzzy programming is proposed. Flexible and robust programming are reviewed and their definitions explicitly identified. It is suggested that both involve new ways of depicting reality, fuzziness being a vehicle for conciseness and economy of expression. This paper is a study that might yield some insights into aspects of decision-making, while furthering development of a conceptual apparatus useful for studies in artificial intelligence.     

Hexachlorantimonate(V) mit Nitroderivaten als Liganden, 2. Mitt.: Komplexverbindungen mit zweiwertigen Metallen

Complex compounds of divalent metal chlorides (CaCl₂, NiCl₂, MnCl₂, CoCl₂, CuCl₂, CdCl₂, PdCl₂) are described, which had been obtained in a double complexation reaction in non aqueous media with nitro compounds and SbCl₅:M ^II(CH₃NO₂) _m (SbCl₆)₂ (m=4, 6),M ^II(C₆H₅NO₂) _m (SbCl₆) (m=2, 3),M ^II(-C₁₀H₇NO₂)₂(SbCl₆)₂. Synthesis, analytical results and i.r. spectra are discussed.     

The antioxidant response induced by Lonicera caerulaea berry extracts in animals bearing experimental solid tumors

Lonicera caerulea is a species of bush native to the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russian Far East) whose berries have been extensively studied due to their potential high antioxidant activity. The aim of our work was to investigate the in vivo effects of the antioxidant action of Lonicera caerulea berry extracts on the dynamics of experimentally-induced tumors. Our data showed that aqueous Lonicera caerulaea extracts reduced the tumor volume when administered continuously during the tumor growth and development stages, but augmented the tumor growth when the administration of extracts started three weeks before tumor grafting. Prolonged administration of Lonicera caerulaea berry extracts induced the antioxidant defense mechanism in the tumor tissues, while surprisingly amplifying the peripheral oxidative stress.     

Chitosan Based Diamond Paste Stochastic Microsensors Modified with Gold Nanoparticles Detect Hepatitis C Virus Core Antigen

Three types of chitosan (chitosan I (n=371–744), chitosan II (n=682–930), and chitosan III (n=868–1365)) as well as gold nanoparticles (10 nm diameter) were used to modify diamond paste for the design of new stochastic microsensors. Hepatitis C virus core antigen was used as model analyte to prove the stochastic behavior of the proposed microsensors. The microsensors cover a linear range of concentration between 40 fg/mL and 4 ng/mL. The highest sensitivity (1.38×10⁵ s^?1/mg/mL) and the lower limit of determination (40 fg/mL) were obtained for chitosan III based microsensor. The hepatitis C virus core antigen was assayed from whole blood samples with recoveries higher than 98.00 %.     

Synthesis and Toxicity Evaluation of New Pyrroles Obtained by the Reaction of Activated Alkynes with 1-Methyl-3-(cyanomethyl)benzimidazolium Bromide

A series of new pyrrole derivatives were designed as chemical analogs of the 1,4-dihydropyridines drugs in order to develop future new calcium channel blockers. The new tri- and tetra-substituted N-arylpyrroles were synthesized by the one-pot reaction of 1-methyl-3-cyanomethyl benzimidazolium bromide with substituted alkynes having at least one electron-withdrawing substituent, in 1,2-epoxybutane, acting both as the solvent and reagent to generate the corresponding benzimidazolium N3-ylide. The structural characterization of the new substituted pyrroles was based on IR, NMR spectroscopy as well as on single crystal X-ray analysis. The toxicity of the new compounds was assessed on the plant cell using Triticum aestivum L. species and on the animal cell using Artemia franciscana Kellogg and Daphnia magna Straus crustaceans. The compounds showed minimal phytotoxicity on Triticum rootlets and virtually no acute toxicity on Artemia nauplii, while on Daphnia magna, it induced moderate to high toxicity, similar to nifedipine. Our research indicates that the newly synthetized pyrrole derivatives are promising molecules with biological activity and low acute toxicity.     

Sintered and 3D-Printed Bulks of MgB2-Based Materials with Antimicrobial Properties

Pristine high-density bulk disks of MgB₂ with added hexagonal BN (10 wt.%) were prepared using spark plasma sintering. The BN-added samples are machinable by chipping them into desired geometries. Complex shapes of different sizes can also be obtained by the 3D printing of polylactic acid filaments embedded with MgB₂ powder particles (10 wt.%). Our present work aims to assess antimicrobial activity quantified as viable cells (CFU/mL) vs. time of sintered and 3D-printed materials. In vitro antimicrobial tests were performed against the bacterial strains Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Enterococcus faecium DSM 13590, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212; and the yeast strain Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019. The antimicrobial effects were found to depend on the tested samples and microbes, with E. faecium being the most resistant and E. coli the most susceptible.     

Impact of the sample matrix composition on the signal enhancement in the capillary electrophoretic separation of poliovirus samples

The development of capillary electrophoretic applications aiming to provide reliable stability assessment of viral suspensions, to detect subviral particles from cell extracts or to study the interactions between virus particles and various biomolecules, cannot be done without a thorough understanding of the sample matrix contribution to the observed electrophoretic behaviour. The present study thoroughly investigates the effect of the sample matrix on the electrophoretic behaviour of poliovirus injected as sample plugs of 1%, 5% and 12% effective capillary length. The effect of the sample matrix for three different poliovirus batches was evaluated. Additionally, simulated samples, obtained from concentrated poliovirus suspensions of high purity and diluted with commonly used lab buffers in order to obtain samples with either high or low conductivities, were also investigated. The goal of the study was to obtain a better understanding of the effect of the sample matrix on the signal enhancement, in order to define a general approach allowing a repeatable capillary electrophoretic (CE) separation of poliovirus from complex samples. This study clearly demonstrates that the sample matrix has an important influence on the sensitivity of the CE poliovirus separations. Translation of these observations into routine practice involves several compromises and a set of rules in order to reduce day-to-day variation and to maximize sensitivity.