Bis(4,4′‐bipyridinium) hexa­cyano­platinate(IV) bis­(4,4′‐bipyridine)

In the title compound, (C₁₀H₉N₂)₂[Pt(CN)₆]·2C₁₀H₈N₂ or [(Hbpy)⁺]₂[Pt(CN)₆]²⁻·2bpy, where bpy is 4,4′‐bipyridine, the Hbpy⁺ cations and bpy mol­ecules form a hydrogen‐bonded two‐dimensional cationic approximately square grid parallel to the (110) plane. The [Pt(CN)₆]²⁻ dianions reside in the cavities within this grid, with the nitrile N atoms forming weak hydrogen bonds with the CH groups in the cationic lattice.     

Endogenous fluorescence spectroscopy of cell suspensions for chemopreventive drug monitoring

Cancer chemopreventive agents such as N-4-(hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4HPR) are thought to prevent cancers by suppressing growth or inducing apoptosis in precancerous cells. Mechanisms by which these drugs affect cells are often not known, and the means to monitor their effects is not available. In this study endogenous fluorescence spectroscopy was used to measure metabolic changes in response to treatment with 4HPR in ovarian and bladder cancer cell lines. Fluorescence signals consistent with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and tryptophan were measured to monitor cellular activity through redox status and protein content. Cells were treated with varying concentrations of 4HPR and measured in a stable environment with a sensitive fluorescence spectrometer. Results suggest that redox signal of all cells changed in a similar dose-dependant manner but started at different baseline levels. Redox signal changes depended primarily on changes consistent with NADH fluorescence, whereas the FAD fluorescence remained relatively constant. Similarly, tryptophan fluorescence decreased with increased drug treatment, suggesting a decrease in protein production. Given that each cell line has been shown to have a different apoptotic response to 4HPR, fluorescence redox values along with changes in tryptophan fluorescence may be a response as well as an endpoint marker for chemopreventive drugs.     

Formation of microcapsules from polyelectrolyte and covalent interactions

A new approach combining electrostatic and covalent bonds was established for the formation of resistant capsules with long-term stability under physiological conditions. Three kinds of interactions were generated in the same membrane: (1) electrostatic bonds between alginate and poly-L-lysine (PLL), (2) covalent bonds (amides) between propylene-glycol-alginate (PGA) and PLL, and (3) covalent bonds (amides) between BSA and PGA. Down-scaling of the capsules size (< or =1 mm diameter) with a jet break-up technology was achieved by modifying the rheological properties of the polymer solution. Viscosity of the PGA solution was reduced by 95% with four successive pH stabilizations (pH 7), while filtration (0.2 microm) and sterilization was possible. Covalent bond formation was initiated by addition of NaOH (pH 11) using a transacylation reaction. Kinetics of the chemical reaction (pH 11) were simulated by two mathematical models and adapted in order to preserve immobilization of animal cells. It was demonstrated that diffusion of NaOH in the absence of BSA resulted in gelation of 94% of the bead and death of 94% of the cells after 10 s reaction. By addition of BSA only 46% of the cells were killed within the same reaction time (10 s). Mechanical resistance of this new type of capsule could be increased 5-fold over the standard polyelectrolytic system (PLL-alginate). Encapsulated CHO cells were successfully cultivated for 1 month in a repetitive batch mode, with the mechanical resistance of the capsules decreasing by only 10% during this period. The combination of a synthetic and natural protein resulted in enhanced stability toward culture medium and proteolytic enzymes (250%).     

Interpolating between Ising, XY-, and non-linear σ-models

The β-functions of O(N)-symmetric non-linear σ-models on the lattice were recently discovered to be non-monotonic for N 3. We explain the non-monotonic behaviour as a non-perturbative lattice effect by relating it to the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition of the XY-model. We also relate the latter transition to the phase transition of the Ising model. These relationships are established by interpolating between the O(N)- and the O(N − 1)-symmetric non-linear σ-models by suppression of the Nth component of the N-vector field with a mass term. A critical line in the coupling-mass plane connects the critical point of the Ising model (N = 1) with the critical point of the XY-model (N = 2). This line extends towards the region of non-monotonic behaviour of the β-function of the O(3)-symmetric model. The nature of the transition lines is also investigated.     

7Li(p,n)7Be reaction with polarized protons from the threshold to 3.0 MeV

A polarized beam was used to measure angular distributions of the proton analyzing power of the ⁷Li(p,n)⁷Be reaction at 11 energies from 2.05 to 3.00 MeV. The analyzing power is generally large and positive. The analyzing power can be fitted with associated Legendre polynomials. The coefficient of P₁¹ rises rapidly from threshold to a maximum near the 3⁺ state at 2.25 MeV from which it drops to a minimum at 2.42 MeV, whence it gently rises to 3.00 MeV; the coefficient of P₂¹ has small values that increase with energy. The data were measured typically to an accuracy of 0.02 with a target 20 keV thick at 2 MeV bombarding energy. Polarization contour maps are given. Comparison of these analyzing power measurements with previous data for the neutron polarization induced with unpolarized protons shows equality at some energies and slightly higher values at others.