Anomalous magnetic moment of theW-bosons and non-standardZ 0 W + W − coupling in polarizede − e + collisions

We study quantitatively the reactions \(e^ + e^ - \to W^ + e\bar \nu _e \) ,e _R ^? e ⁺ and the rare decay \(Z^0 \to W^ \pm l^ \mp \mathop {\nu _e }\limits^{( - )} \) forl=e, μ and τ, as a test for anomalous γW ⁺ W ^? andZ ⁰ W ⁺ W ^? structure. If κ denotes the anomalous magnetic moment of theW-boson and ω its anomalous coupling to theZ ⁰, values of |ω|>2.5 and |κ|>1.5 can be ruled out at LEP and SLC rather easily. This will put constraints on composite model building.     

Single-photon vacuum-ultraviolet laser-pulsed-field ionization-photoelectron studies of trans- and cis-1-bromopropenes

The vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) pulsed-field ionization-photoelectron (VUV-PFI-PE) spectra of trans-1-bromopropene (trans-CH(3)CH[Double Bond]CHBr) and cis-1-bromopropene (cis-CH(3)CH[Double Bond]CHBr) have been measured in the energy region of 74 720-76 840 cm(-1). The simulation of fine structures observed in the origin VUV-PFI-PE vibrational bands of these molecules has provided the ionization energies (IEs) of trans-1-bromopropene and cis-1-bromopropene to be 74 779.3+/-2.0 cm(-1) (9.2715+/-0.0002 eV) and 75 140.2+/-2.0 cm(-1) (9.3162+/-0.0002 eV), respectively. The vibrational bands resolved in these VUV-PFI-PE spectra at energies 0-1700 cm(-1) above the IEs of trans-1-bromopropene and cis-1-bromopropene have been assigned based on theoretical vibrational frequencies and calculated Franck-Condon factors for the ionization transitions.     

Sequence- and site-specific photodissociation at 266 nm of protonated synthetic polypeptides containing a tryptophanyl residue

Photodissociation at 266 nm of protonated synthetic polypeptides containing a tryptophanyl residue was investigated using a homebuilt tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer equipped with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization source. Efficient photodissociation of the protonated peptides was demonstrated. Most of the intense peaks in the laser-induced tandem mass spectra were sequence ions. Furthermore, sequence ions due to cleavages at all the peptide bonds were observed; this is a feature of the technique that is particularly useful for peptide sequencing. Fragmentations at both ends of the tryptophanyl residue were especially prevalent, which can be useful for location of the tryptophanyl chromophore in a peptide.     

Synthesis of gramicidin S and its analogues via an on-resin macrolactamization assisted by a predisposed conformation of the linear precursors

A simple and efficient preparation of gramicidin S and its analogues is described. It involves solid-phase peptide synthesis and on-resin macrolactamization without side chain protection, affording cyclic products in high yield and high purity. The high specificity of the cyclization reaction was shown to originate in the formation of a pre-organized conformation of the linear biosynthetic precursor of gramicidin S. This facile method will provide convenient access to the analogues of the natural product for functional optimization to counter microbial resistance.     

Large-volume stacking in capillary electrophoresis using pH hysteresis of the electroosmotic flow in a bare fused-silica capillary

For large-volume stacking with the electroosmotic flow pump (LVSEP) in capillary electrophoresis of anionic analytes it is required that the electroosmotic mobility (EOM) should be smaller than the magnitudes of the effective mobilities of the analytes. When a fused-silica capillary is treated with an acidic solution, the silanoate group on the silica surface is neutralized to silanol and the EOM is suppressed. Due to the slow deprotonation equilibrium of the silanol group at an intermediate pH, this reduced EOM can be retained during a number of electrophoresis runs. Using a bare fused-silica capillary preconditioned with 0.01 M HCl, successful LVSEP at pH 6.0 was achieved for weakly acidic compounds with two orders of magnitude enhancements in the concentration sensitivity. The repeatability in migration times of ten analytes stacked by LVSEP in a single day was excellent with the relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 1% (n = 6). The day-to-day repeatability was also excellent with RSD less than 3% (n = 3 x 6) when the capillary was preconditioned each day.     

An evaluation of exogenous application of protoporphyrin IX and its dimethyl ester as a photodynamic diagnostic agent in poorly differentiated human nasopharyngeal carcinoma

5-Aminolevulinic acid and its esterified analogues have been under much investigation to enhance the endogenous production of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in tumor cells. However, in this work, we studied the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of exogenously administered PpIX and its esterified analogue, PpIX dimethyl ester (PME), in poorly differentiated human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC/CNE-2) as a photodynamic diagnostic (PDD) agent. NPC/CNE-2 at its earliest time, 1 h after incubation with PME in in vitro studies, has exhibited 64% (P <0.01) higher tumor to normal cell (T/N) fluorescence ratio than with PpIX. In an in vivo mouse xenograft model, comparable photosensitizer concentration in tumor after intravenous administration was observed at 1-3 h time points, but at 9 h, PME had 31% (P=0.05) greater concentration in tumor compared with PpIX. In addition, by constituting PME and PpIX in different topical gel composites, of which, PME gel composition of 8:2 Plasdone and Gantrez resulted in the highest T/N ratio at 6 h after application (34%; P <0.05) in comparison with other gel composites. Evaluation of PME and PpIX constituted in the delivery vehicles investigated showed comparable selectivity for tumor at 1-3 h, thus neither photosensitizer is more efficient than the other for PDD at the early time points; however, beyond 6 h, PME had higher selectivity for tumor compared with PpIX. Thus, further investigation is warranted to improve the drug delivery vehicle for greater tumor selectivity at a shorter incubation time.     

Thermally produced biodegradable scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering

A novel process was developed to fabricate biodegradable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering applications, without using organic solvents. Solvent residues in scaffolds fabricated by processes involving organic solvents may damage cells transplanted onto the scaffolds or tissue near the transplantation site. Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) powder and NaCl particles in a mold were compressed and subsequently heated at 180 degrees C (near the PLLA melting temperature) for 3 min. The heat treatment caused the polymer particles to fuse and form a continuous matrix containing entrapped NaCl particles. After dissolving the NaCl salts, which served as a porogen, porous biodegradable PLLA scaffolds were formed. The scaffold porosity and pore size were controlled by adjusting the NaCl/PLLA weight ratio and the NaCl particle size. The characteristics of the scaffolds were compared to those of scaffolds fabricated using a conventional solvent casting/particulate leaching (SC/PL) process, in terms of pore structure, pore-size distribution, and mechanical properties. A scanning electron microscopic examination showed highly interconnected and open pore structures in the scaffolds fabricated using the thermal process, whereas the SC/PL process yielded scaffolds with less interconnected and closed pore structures. Mercury intrusion porosimetry revealed that the thermally produced scaffolds had a much more uniform distribution of pore sizes than the SC/PL process. The utility of the thermally produced scaffolds was demonstrated by engineering cartilaginous tissues in vivo. In summary, the thermal process developed in this study yields tissue-engineering scaffolds with more favorable characteristics, with respect to, freedom from organic solvents, pore structure, and size distribution than the SC/PL process. Moreover, the thermal process could also be used to fabricate scaffolds from polymers that are insoluble in organic solvents, such as poly(glycolic acid). Cartilage tissue regenerated from thermally produced PLLA scaffold.