Initial operation of theM=390 kg cryogenic gravitational-wave antenna

Summary The intermediate gravitational-wave antenna ofM=390 kg and ν₀=1795 Hz has been operated at 4.2 K in the Laboratorio Plasma Spazio of CNR from June 10 to July 18, 1978. The data collected during more than 50% of the time show an effective temperature of 1.5 K on the average, with periods of the order of a few hours during which it goes below 1 K. This corresponds to an instrumental sensitivity of 2 GPU=200 J/m²·Hz. The observed difference between observed and computed equivalent temperature is due to disturbances of mechanical and thermal origin which we believe can be further reduced.

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Riassunto L'antenna gravitazionale intermedia di massaM=390 kg e frequenza ν₀=1795 Hz è stata posta e mantenuta in funzione a 4.2 K nel Laboratorio del Plasma nello Spazio del CNR dal 10 Giugno al 18 Luglio 1978. I dati, raccolti per più del 50% del tempo, corrispondono in media ad una temperatura efficace di 1.5 K, con periodi dell'ordine di alcune ore durante i quali essa scende al di sotto di 1 K. Questa corrisponde a una sensibilità strumentale di 2 GPU-200 J/m²·Hz. La differenza fra il valore osservato e quello calcolato della temperatura efficace è dovuto a disturbi di origine meccanica e termica che noi riteniamo di poter ulteriormente ridurre.

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Резюме Промежуточная антенна гравитационных волн сM=390 кг и ν₀=1795 Гц действовала при 4.2 К в лаборатории плазмы Национального Исследовательского Центра с 10 июня по 18 июля 1978 г. Данные, полученные в течение более 50% времени, указывают эффективную температуру 1.5 К в среднем, с периодами порядка нескольких часов, в течение которЫх эффективная температура опускалась ниже 1 К. Это соответствует инструментальной чувствительности 2 GPU=200 Дж/м²·Гц. Обнаруженная разница между наблюденной и вычисленной эквивалентной температурой обусловлена возмущениями механическиой и тепловой природы, которые, как мы считаем, могут быть в дальнейшем уменьшены.

     

Holographic Superconductor of Regular Phantom Black Hole

Holographic superconductors containing a non-minimal derivative coupling for the scalar field in a regular phantom plane symmetric black hole have been considered. We show that the parameter of the regular black hole b as well as the non-minimal derivative coupling parameter η affect the formation of the condensate as well as the conductivity in the superconductor. Moreover, b has a critical value in which the critical temperature T_c increases without a bound.     

Synthesis of C60/[10]CPP-Catenanes by Regioselective,Nanocapsule-Templated Bingel Bis-Addition

The addition of two unsymmetric malonate esters to the Buckminster fullerene C₆₀ can lead to 22 spectroscopically distinguishable isomeric products and therefore represents a formidable synthesis challenge. In this work, we achieve 87 % selectivity for the formation of a single (in,out-trans-3) isomer by combining three approaches: (i) we use a starting material, in which the two malonates are covalently connected (tether approach); (ii) we form the strong supramolecular complex of C₆₀ with the shape-persistent [10]CPP macrocycle (template approach) and (iii) we embed this complex further within a self-assembled nanocapsule (shadow mask approach). Variation of the spacer chain shed light on the limitations of the approach and the ring dynamics in the unusual [2]catenanes were studied in silico with atomistic resolution. This work significantly widens the scope of mechanically interlocked architectures comprising cycloparaphenylenes (CPP).     

Autoacetylation induced specific structural changes in histone acetyltransferase domain of p300: probed by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Reversible acetylation of histone and non-histone proteins plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression and cellular homeostasis. A balance between acetylation and deacetylation of these proteins are maintained by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Among different HATs, p300/CBP is the most widely studied chromatin modifying enzymes. p300 is involved in several physiological processes like cell growth, regulation of gene expression, development, and tumor suppressor, and therefore its dysfunction causes different diseases. The autoacetylation of p300 is one of the key regulators of its catalytic activity. Mechanistically, autoacetylation induced structural changes in the p300 HAT domain acts as a master switch. In this report, we have shown that the natural HAT inhibitor garcinol could potently inhibit the autoacetylation activity. Furthermore, for the first time, we demonstrate that indeed autoacetylation induces structural changes in p300 HAT domain, as probed by surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Presumably, SERS will be a very useful tool to find out the structural changes in the other self-modifying enzymes like kinases and methyltransferases.     

Activation of p300 histone acetyltransferase by small molecules altering enzyme structure: probed by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Reversible acetylation of nucleosomal histones and nonhistone proteins play pivotal roles in the regulation of all the DNA templated phenomenon. Dysfunction of the enzymes involved in the acetylation/deacetylation leads to several diseases. Therefore, these enzymes are the targets for new generation therapeutics. Here, we report the synthesis of trifluoromethyl phenyl benzamides and their effect on histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity of p300. One of these benzamides, CTPB (N-(4-chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-2-ethoxy-6-pentadecyl-benzamide), was discovered as a potent activator of the p300 HAT activity. We have found that pentadecyl hydrocarbon chain of CTPB is required to activate the HAT only under certain context. Furthermore, our results show that the relative position of -CF3 and -Cl in CTB (N-(4-chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-2-ethoxy-benzamide) is also very critical for the activation. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) of p300 and the HAT activator complexes evidently suggest that the activation of HAT activity is achieved by the alteration of p300 structure. Therefore, apart from elucidating the chemical basis for small molecule mediated activation of p300, this report also describes, for the first time, Raman spectroscopic analysis of the complexes of histone-modifying enzymes and their modulators, which may be highly useful for therapeutic applications.     

T3P catalyzed one pot three-component synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted 3H-quinazolin-4-ones

An efficient methodology for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted 3H-quinazolin-4-ones is described via one-pot three component reaction from anthranilic acid using T3P as catalyst. Mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, broad functional group tolerance, easy isolation of products and good yields are main advantages of this protocol.     

Anticancer effects of brucine and gemcitabine combination in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

This study was designed to investigate the combination effects of brucine and gemcitabine, each with anticancer properties, in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture. With regard to cell viability, effects of both the drugs and their combinations were inversely proportional to dose and time. For various proportional drug combinations studied, combination effects were analysed using CompuSyn software. The analyses revealed synergistic and/or additive effects regarding cell viability, anchorage-independent growth and cell migration. Combination analyses exhibited diversified impacts of the type of combination treatment, namely pretreatment with either drug followed by exposure to the other, or treatment with both drugs at the same time. Compared with untreated cells, combination treatment of asynchronised MCF-7 cells resulted in 17.2 × decrease in G2 phase, increasing G1 (2.1 × ) and S (1.5 × ) phase cells in cell cycle analysis. Brucine, either individually or in combination, but not gemcitabine, inhibited NF-kB subunit (p65) expression in MCF-7 cells.     

Structure-based design and analysis of MAO-B inhibitors for Parkinson’s disease: using in silico approaches

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the CNS, characterized by cerebral depletion of dopamine (DA), hence one of the approaches to delay the depletion of DA is to inhibit its oxidative deamination. Monoamine oxidases (MAO) carry out the oxidative deamination of monoamines like DA. These are intracellular enzymes, located on the outer mitochondrial membrane. MAO-A and MAO-B are the two subtypes of which MAO-B is the most predominant enzyme and is commonly found in the brain. Inhibition of the MAO-B enzyme boosts the effect of both endogenous and exogenous DA. In this study, we have carried out crystal structure analysis and structure-based design of MAO-B inhibitors. We also performed molecular dynamics, flexible docking, induced-fit docking and ADME prediction of the newly designed compounds.     

Bis-Benzimidazolyl Diamide Based Fluorescent Probe for Copper(II): Synthesis, Structural and Fluorescence Studies

A new fluorescent probe based on a bis-benzimidazole diamide N ²,N ^2′-bis[(1-ethyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl]biphenyl-2,2′-dicarboxamide ligand L ₁ with a biphenyl spacer group and a Copper(II) trinuclear metallacycle has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single crystallography, elemental and spectral (FT-IR, ¹H & ¹³C NMR, UV-Visible) analysis. The fluorescence spectra of L ₁ in MeOH show an emission band centered at 300 nm. This band arises due to benzimidazolyl moiety in the ligating system. The diamide L ₁ in the presence of Cu²⁺ show the simultaneous ‘quenching’ of (300 nm) and ‘enhancement’ of (375 nm) emission band. Similar fluorescence behavior was found in water–methanol mixture (9:1). The new emission band at 375 nm is attributed to intra ligand π–π* transition of the biphenyl moiety. L ₁ exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity towards Cu²⁺ in both the medium over other common metal ions like Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺. The binding constant with Cu²⁺ was calculated by the Benesi-Hildebrand equation. Selective “off-on-off” behavior of L ₁ in methanol has also been studied. The fluorescent intensity of 375 nm bands in L ₁ enhances (turns-on) upon addition of Cu²⁺ and quenches (turn-off) upon addition of Na₂-EDTA.