On Szebehely's problem extended to holonomic systems With a given integral of motion

Summary We consider a family of curves in the n-dimensional configuration space S_n of a holonomic system with n degrees of freedom. We obtain first-order partial differential equations for the potential function U of forces under which any trajectory belonging to the given family of curves can be described by the representative point of the system. We write the potential function U supposing that, in addition to the energy integral, a first integral of motion linear in the lagrangian velocities is assigned. Next we obtain the compatibility conditions between the energy constant E, the parameter which appears in the first integral, and the n–1 geometric constants c₁, c₂,, c_n–1 which characterize the family of trajectories. Finally we discuss two simple examples.

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Sommario Assegnata una famiglia di curve nello spazio S_n delle configurazioni di un sistema olonomo conservativo ad n gradi di libertà, si determinano le equazioni differenziali alle quali deve soddisfare il potenziale delle forze applicate affinchè il punto rappresentativo del sistema possa descrivere una qualunque delle traiettorie appartenenti alla data famiglia. Si scrive poil' espressione del potenziale supponendo che sia assegnato, oltre l'integrale dell'energia, un integrale primo del moto, lineare nelle velocità lagrangiane. Infine si ricavano le condizioni di compatibilità fra la costante dell'energia E, il parametro che interviene nell'integrale primo e le n-1 costanti geometriche c₁, c₂, c₂,, c_n–1 che caratterizzano la famiglia di curve. Si conclude con due semplici esempi che illustrano quanto esposto.

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Work performed under the auspices of G.N.F.M.-C.N.R., Italy.     

Low viscosity DNA sieving matrices for capillary electrophoresis

The rapid development of DNA capillary electrophoresis (CE) technology has increased the demand of new low viscosity sieving matrices with high separation capacity. The high throughput, resolution and automatic operation of CE systems have stimulated the application of the technique to different kinds of DNA analysis, including DNA sequencing, separation of restriction fragments, PCR products and synthetic oligonucleotides. In addition specific methods for PCR-based mutation assays for the study of known and unknown point mutations have been developed for use in CE. The key component for a large scale application of CE to DNA analysis is the availability of appropriate sieving matrices. This article gives an overview of the linear polymers used as DNA separation matrices with particular emphasis on the polymers that combine high sieving capacity, low viscosity and chemical resistance.     

Heterocyclic compound studies. II. Synthesis of 1,4-benzodioxin, 1,4-benzoxathiin, 1,4-benzoxazine and 1,4-benzothiazine derivatives

Benzocondensed six-membered heterocyclic rings containing two heteroatoms have been synthesized by a generally applicable method starting from disubstituted benzene compounds and methyl 4-chlorobutynoate ( 1 ) or methyl 4-bromobutenoate ( 2 ). The reactions with 1 yield a mixture of endo and exo (E or Z) isomers. The ¹³C nmr spectroscopy was used to assign the structure of the synthesized compounds.     

Design and use of electrochemical sensors in enantioselective high throughput screening of drugs. A minireview

The importance of reliable detection systems for enantiomeric assays increases with the necessity of high throughput screening analysis of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. The utilization of electrochemical sensors in enantioselective analysis is an accurate and precise alternative to chromatographic techniques. The reliability of the response characteristics as well as of the analytical information obtained by using electrochemical sensors is strictly correlated with the design of the sensors. The designs evaluated for sensors have been based on PVC, imprinting polymers and carbon paste matrices. Among these, carbon paste sensors have been the most reliable and have been utilized for the construction of potentiometric, enantioselective membrane electrodes as well as for amperometric biosensors, and immunosensors. There are two ways to use the electrochemical sensors in enantioselective screening analysis: selective binding and catalyst selectivity. A molecule with a special chemical architecture is required for selective binding: a lock for a key. The high reliability of analytical information obtained using these sensors has made possible the automation of potentiometric and amperometric techniques by integration of enantioselective sensors as detectors in flow injection analysis and sequential injection analysis techniques.     

BIPHASIC ENERGY CONVERSION KINETICS AND ABSORBANCE DIFFERENCE SPECTRA OF PHOTOSYSTEM II OF CHLOROPLASTS. EVIDENCE FOR TWO DIFFERENT PHOTOSYSTEM II REACTION CENTERS

Abstract— The continuous illumination induced kinetics of photochemical energy conversion at system II have been measured with isolated and 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-l, l-dimethylurea (DCMU) poisoned chloroplasts by means of absorbance difference spectroscopy in the UV and by the area growth over the fluorescence induction curve at room temperature. An optimal set of conditions was found in order to isolate absorbance changes caused by the reduction of the primary electron acceptor Q of PS II by suppressing other electron transfer processes. The light induced kinetics of Q- accumulation in the absorbance change measurements were found to be biphasic and strictly correlated with the kinetics of the area growth measured under the same conditions. From the resolution of the biphasic kinetics at different wavelengths in the UV region of the spectrum, it was found that both kinetic components in the system II photochemistry involve the reduction of a plastoquinone molecule to its plastosemiquinone anion. From the two kinetic components one was fast and non-exponential and the other relatively slow with an exponential time course. The initial rate difference in the kinetics of the two components was by a factor of approximately 3. A difference by a factor of about three was also found in the flash saturation curves of the two kinetic components.
The results are explained by the hypothesis that in higher plant chloroplasts there are system II reaction centers embedded in a large pigment matrix with statistical energy transfer, and system II reaction centers embedded in separate, in terms of excitation energy transfer, units. The effective absorption cross section per reaction center for the centers in the statistical pigment bed is approximately 3 times larger than that of the reaction centers in the separate system II units. The two types of system II reaction centers have different yields of excitation trapping and charge stabilization properties.     

A novel synthesis of diaminomethanes

Diaminomethanes have been synthesized by reaction of 1,3-benzodioxole and 1,3-benzoxathiole with a double amount of sodium dialkyl and alkyl aryl amides.     

Metalation reactions. : IV. Metalation of o-alkyl- and o,o′-dialkyl-substituted alkylthiobenzenes

Metalation of o-alkyl- and o,o′-dialkylsubstituted alkylthiobenzenes with n-butyllithium, in the presence and absence of TMEDA, has been investigated. The results showed that metalation at the thioalkyl carbon probably occurs by direct attack of the organolithium reagent, although a transmetalation reaction cannot be excluded in some cases. It has also been found that benzylic, thio-methylic, and ring metalation occurs in ether alone, whereas mainly thio-methylic or ring metalation occurs in the presence of TMEDA.