Single-step link of the superdeformed band in143Eu

²⁰⁹Fr has been produced by irradiation of¹⁹⁷Au with¹⁶O,and studied using a He-jet recoil tape transport system.A decay scheme is proposed for the first time,based on X-γ and γ-γ coincidence measurements,which takes account of 20 observed γ-rays. The branching ratio for (EC+β ⁺) decay of²⁰⁹Fr has been estimated to be 3.0±1.5%. Five members of low-lying states in²⁰⁹Rn can be explained with the configuration [(²¹⁰Rn 2⁺)(νf5/2)^?1].     

Scars of discrete rotational bands in hot nuclei

Rotational motion loses its coherence as a function of the nuclear internal excitation energy. The damping process does not proceed in a continuous fashion and scars of discrete rotational bands are found, inbedded in a background of damped rotational states, regardless whether the calculations are carried out using effective or “random” forces. The complexity of the damping mechanism is revealed in the lineshape of the ridges in theγ-γ correlation spectrum.     

On lower semicontinuity in BH and 2-quasiconvexification

It is proved that if , with p > 1, if is bounded in , , and if in then provided is 2-quasiconvex and satisfies some appropriate growth and continuity condition. Characterizations of the 2-quasiconvex envelope when admissible test functions belong to BH^p are provided. Received: 10 October 2001 / Accepted: 8 May 2002 / Published online: 17 December 2002     

Gerüstverbindungen mit beweglichen LaIII‐Kationen: Synthesen,Kristallstrukturen und Strukturdynamik der Lanthan(III)‐Eisen(II)‐Sulfid‐Halogenide La53Fe12S90X3 (X = Cl,Br, I)

Framework Compounds with Mobile La^III Cations: Syntheses, Crystal Structures and Structural Dynamics of the Lanthanum(III) Iron(II) Sulfide Halides La₅₃Fe₁₂S₉₀X₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) Black crystals of La₅₃Fe₁₂S₉₀X₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) were synthesized from La₂S₃ and FeS in a reactive LaX₃ flux at 1320 K. The structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compounds are isostructural, crystallizing in the rhombohedral space group with Z = 1 (La₅₃Fe₁₂S₉₀Cl₃: a = 14.0154(7), c = 21.888(1) Å, V = 3723.5(3) ų; La₅₃Fe₁₂S₉₀Br₃: a = 14.0048(9), c = 22.040(2) Å, V = 3743.6(4) ų; La₅₃Fe₁₂S₉₀I₃: a = 13.9805(8), c = 22.108(2) Å, V = 3742.2(4) ų). The structure adopted is a stuffed variant of the La₅₂Fe₁₂S₉₀ structure type. [Fe^II₂S₉] dimers of face‐sharing octahedra are linked by face‐ and vertex‐sharing bi‐ or tri‐capped [La^IIIS_6+n] trigonal prisms, forming a three‐dimensional framework containing cuboctahedral cavities of two sizes. The larger cavities, which remain empty in the structure of La₅₂Fe₁₂S₉₀, are filled by halide ions in La₅₃Fe₁₂S₉₀X₃. The smaller cavities accommodate numerous sites for disordered lanthanum cations, modelling a network of diffusion pathways through the structure. An analogous picture is obtained from the calculation of the periodic nodal surface (PNS): The PNS separates a labyrinth containing the framework atoms from a labyrinth containing the mobile lanthanum cations. Molecular dynamic simulations confirm a strong coupling between the motions of the mobile lanthanum ions and the neighbouring sulfide ions.     

Determination of preferential interaction parameters by multicomponent diffusion. applications to poly(ethylene glycol)-salt-water ternary mixtures

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a hydrophilic nonionic polymer used in many biochemical and pharmaceutical applications. We report the four diffusion coefficients for the PEG-KCl-water ternary system at 25 degrees C using precision Rayleigh interferometry. Here, the molecular weight of PEG is 20 kg mol(-1), which is comparable to that of proteins. The four diffusion coefficients are examined and used to determine thermodynamic preferential interaction coefficients. We find that the PEG preferential hydration in the presence of KCl is 1 order of magnitude larger than that previously obtained under the same conditions for lysozyme, a protein of similar molecular weight. In correspondence, the coupled diffusion in the PEG case was greater than that observed in the lysozyme case. We attribute this difference to the greater exposure of polymer coils to the surrounding fluid compared to that of globular compact proteins. Moreover, we observe that the PEG preferential hydration significantly decreases as salt concentration increases and attribute this behavior to the polymer collapse. Finally, we have also employed the equilibrium isopiestic method to validate the accuracy of the preferential interaction coefficients extracted from the diffusion coefficients. This experimental comparison represents an important contribution to the relation between diffusion and equilibrium thermodynamics.     

A windowless hydrogen gas target for the measurement of 7Be(p, $ \gamma$ )8B with the recoil separator ERNA

Using the Coulomb and proximity potential model (CPPM) we have investigated the cluster decays of the isotopes ^212-240Pa, ^219-245Np, ^228-246Pu, ^230-249Am and ^232-252Cm leading to doubly magic ²⁰⁸Pb and its neighboring nuclei, which are not experimentally detected but which may be detectable in the future. It is found that most of the decays are favourable for experimental measurements (i.e., $T_{1/2}<10^{30}$ s) and this observation will serve as a guide to future experiments. Our study reveals the role of doubly magic ²⁰⁸Pb daughter nuclei and near doubly magic nuclei in the cluster decay process. In order to make a comparison with CPPM we also calculated the logarithmic half-lives using the Universal formula for the cluster decay (UNIV) by Poenaru et al., the Universal Decay Law (UDL) and the Scaling Law of Horoi et al., and they are found to be in good agreement. The Geiger-Nuttall plots of $log_{10}(T_{1/2})$ versus $Q^{-1/2}$ for various clusters from different isotopes of heavy parent nuclei have been studied and are found to be linear.     

Material voids in elastic solids with anisotropic surface energies

This work discusses the role of highly anisotropic interfacial energy for problems involving a material void in a linearly elastic solid. Using the calculus of variations it is shown that important qualitative features of the equilibrium shape of the void may be deduced from smoothness and convexity properties of the interfacial energy.     

Cystatins, serpins and other families of protease inhibitors in plants

Plant protease inhibitors (PIs) are generally small proteins present in high concentrations in storage tissues (tubers and seeds), and to a lower level in leaves. Even if most of them are active against serine and cysteine proteases, PIs active against aspartic proteases and carboxypeptidases have also been identified. Inhibitors of serine proteases are further classifiable in several families on the basis of their structural features. They comprise the families known as Bowman-Birk, Kunitz, Potato I and Potato II, which are the subject of review articles included in this special issue. In the present article we aim to give an overview of other families of plant PIs, active either against serine proteases or other class of proteases, describing their distribution, activity and main structural characteristics.