Charge-changing cross sections of the neutron-rich isotopes8,9,11Li

Total charge-changing cross sections have been measured for⁸Li on C and Pb targets, for⁹Li on C, Al, Cu, Sn and Pb targets, as well as for¹¹Li on C, Sn and Pb targets at about 80 MeV/nucleon. These data are compared to measured total reaction cross sections and Glauber-type calculations using Hartree-Fock density distributions. These comparisons allow to draw conclusions on the proton density distribution of the neutronrich lithium isotopes. The results show that even for the most exotic nucleus¹¹Li the proton distribution is only very weakly influenced by the long tail in the neutron density distribution already established in several experiments.     

Heavy quark correlations ine + e − annihilations

In heavy quark jets the quark mass acts as a regulator of collinear singularities, making the quark momentum an infra-red safe variable in perturbative QCD. This allows a direct comparison of measured heavy hadron momentum spectra with perturbative calculations. We exploit the factorisation of heavy quark fragmentation to derive QCD predictions for momentum correlations between heavy hadrons produced ine ⁺ e ^? annihilations. We study the practical feasibility and model sensitivity of our approach using Monte Carlo simulations. Higher order perturbative corrections and contributions from non-perturbative effects are found to be at the level of 10%.     

The chemistry and the sterechemistry of Poly(N-Alkyliminoalanes: XIII. The crystal and molecular structure of the hexamers (ClAlN-i-Pr)6 and (Me0.83H0.17AlN-i-Pr)6MeAlN-i-Pr)6

The crystall and molecular structures of (ClAlN-i-Pr)₆ (I), and of (Me_0.83H_0.17AlN-i-Pr)₆(MeAlN-i-Pr)₆ have been determined by single crystal three-dimensional X-ray analysis. Block-matrix least-squares refinements led to conventional R factor of 0.039 for I and 0.037 for II. The compounds are isostructural, as the cage molecules consist of a prismatic hexagonal framework, (AlN)₆, similar to that observed for the parent hydrogenated analogue (HAlN-i-Pr)₆.Some differences in bond distances and angles are discussed, in connection with the different Al-bonded substituents. Crystal data: I, trigonal space group R$\text{3}$; a = 17.083(2), c = 9.652(1); Z = 3; D_c 1.46 g cm^?3; II, trigonal space group R$\text{3}$, a = 17.378(3), c = 9.706(3) »; Z = 3; D_c 1.15 g cm^?3.     

Improvements on radiochemical method for the determination of Am and Cm in typical waste streams from nuclear power plants

The determination of Am and Cm in typical waste streams from nuclear power plants using anion exchange chromatography has some drawbacks like the contamination by Pu and Po. This improved procedure solves these problems, and it has been applied with success to the analysis of Am and Cm in nuclear waste samples: ion exchange resins, ion exchange resins solidified with cement and evaporator concentrates.     

Vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell culture on NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films: a preliminary study for vascular graft development

Tissue engineering offers the potential of providing vessels that can be used to replace diseased and damaged native blood vessels. The endothelization of a synthetic vascular graft minimizes the failures associated with blood clotting and platelet activation. The aim of this study was to culture vascular-derived endothelial and smooth muscle cells on both untreated and NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) films, a biocompatible and bio-resorbable polymer, and to evaluate the behavior of both cell types as a preliminary study for vascular graft development. PCL films were prepared by hot pressing; characterized by DSC, IR, SEM, and scanning force microscopy; and treated with NaOH to increase the surface hydrophilicity before cell culture. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells, isolated from pig cava vein, were characterized by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy studies of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and alpha-smooth muscle actin. Good adhesion, growth, viability and morphology of both the endothelial and smooth muscle cells on PCL films were obtained, but a light stimulation of mitochondrial activity was observed during short culture times. NaOH treatment improved the adhesion and enhanced the proliferation in both cell types. This verified the possible use of this modified polymer as a support in the preparation of a synthetic vascular graft. [Diagram: see text] SEM micrograph of smooth muscle cells cultured on NaOH-treated PCL film. (Original magnification: 1000x).     

Energetic and topological analysis of the reaction of Mo and Mo2 with NH3, C2H2, and C2H4 molecules

The Density functional theory has been applied to characterize the structural features of Mo(1,2)-NH(3),-C(2)H(4), and -C(2)H(2) compounds. Coordination modes, geometrical structures, and binding energies have been calculated for several spin multiplets. It has been shown that in contrast to the conserved spin cases (Mo(1,2)-NH(3)), the interaction between Mo (or Mo(2)) and C(2)H(4) (or C(2)H(2)) are the low-spin (Mo-C(2)H(4) and -C(2)H(2)) and high-spin (Mo(2)-C(2)H(4) and -C(2)H(2)) complexes. In the ground state of Mo(1,2)-C(2)H(4) and -C(2)H(2), the metal-center always reacts with the C-C center. The spontaneous formation of the global minima is found to be possible due to the crossing between the potential energy surfaces (ground and excited states with respect to the metallic center). The bonding characterization has been performed using the topological analysis of the Electron Localization Function. It has been shown that the most stable electronic structure for a pi-acceptor ligand correlates with a maximum charge transfer from the metal center to the C-C bond of the unsaturated hydrocarbons, resulting in the formation of two new basins located on the carbon atoms (away from hydrogen atoms) and the reduction of the number of attractors of the C-C basin. The interaction between Mo(1,2) and C(2)H(4) (or C(2)H(2)) should be considered as a chemical reaction, which causes the multiplicity change. Contrarily, there is no charge transfer between Mo(1,2) and NH(3), and the partners are bound by an electrostatic interaction.     

Determination of four nitroimidazole residues in poultry meat by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A multi-residue liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) assay method is described for the determination of four nitroimidazoles in poultry muscle. The extraction procedure is based on liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate followed by an evaporation step. A deuterated internal standard is used. The LC separation was made on a C18 bonded silica column with an aqueous formic acid (0.2%) solution-methanol-acetonitrile (81:13:6) mobile phase. Following electrospray ionization, the protonated molecular ion [M+H]+ is obtained for each compound. Monitoring several ions for each nitroimidazole provides the specificity required for confirmatory assay. Validation of the method was performed to estimate linearity, intra-day and inter-day repeatability, accuracy and detection limit. The present method is capable of identifying nitroimidazole residues in muscle at levels below 5 microg/kg.     

Synthesis of 2-amino-3-hydroxy- and of 2,3-diamino-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines

A new synthesis of 7-chloro-2,3-diamino-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines is described, which allows for the preparation of compounds bearing the same or different substituents at the 2 and 3 positions, starting from 2-amino-7-chloro-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines.     

A molecular orbital study of lithium ion association with bases. I. The carbonyl bases R2CO

Ab initio SCF calculations have been performed to determine the relative lithium ion affinities of the carbonyl bases R₂CO and the structures of the complexes R₂COLi⁺. The predicted order of lithium ion affinity for the bases R₂CO with respect to R is NH₂ > CH₃ > OH> H> F. Except for (OH)₂COLi⁺ which has C_a, symmetry, the complexes R₂COLi⁺ have C_2v symmetry, with the lithium ion located on the symmetry axis near the oxygen. The major structural changes in the intramolecular coordinates of the bases which occur upon lithium ion complexation include an increase in the carbonyl C---O bond length, a decrease in the length of the bond from the carbonyl carbon to the substituent atom X, and an increase in the X---C---X angle at the carbonyl carbon. The energetic, structural, and electronic properties of the complexes indicate that the interaction between the lithium ion and a carbonyl base is predominantly an ion-dipole attraction rather than a covalent interaction.