Complete fusion studies of the 20Ne+235U system

The probability for complete fusion has been measured for the ²⁰Ne+²³⁵U system at bombarding energies of 175 and 252 MeV. The fission fragment angular correlation technique was used to obtain both the absolute cross section for complete fusion and relative cross sections for the ratio of complete fusion to incomplete fusion processes. Total reaction cross sections were also determined from elastic scattering measurements. Values of σ_R = 1900±40 and 2810 ± 140 mb were obtained at 175 and 252 MeV, respectively. These measurements yield if$\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>CF</mtext>}}\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>R</mtext>}}\text{= 0.74±0.05}\text{at}\text{175}\text{MeV and}\text{0.48 ±0.06}\text{at}\text{252}\text{MeV}$. The corresponding values of the critical angular momentum are compared with the predictions of several heavy-ion interaction models. It is observed that the l_c values obtained from these data agree well with the current models, although the energy dependence is not as strong as predicted. In addition, it is observed that these values of l_c exceed the limiting value for a charged rotating drop.     

Photophysical and photobiological behavior of antimalarial drugs in aqueous solutions

This article describes the results of a combined photophysical and photobiological study aimed at understanding the phototoxicity mechanism of the antimalarial drugs quinine (Q), quinacrine (QC) and mefloquine (MQ). Photophysical experiments were carried out in aqueous solutions by stationary and time-resolved fluorimetry and by laser flash photolysis to obtain information on the various decay pathways of the excited states of the drugs and on transient species formed on irradiation. The results obtained showed that fluorescence and intersystem crossing account for all the adsorbed quanta for Q and MQ (quantum yield of about 0.1 and 0.9, respectively) and only for 24% in the case of QC, which has a negligible fluorescence quantum yield (0.001). Laser flash photolysis experiments evidenced, for QC and MQ, the occurrence of photoionization processes leading to the formation of the radical cations of the drugs. The effects of tryptophan and histidine on the excited states and transient species of the three drugs were also investigated. In parallel, the photoactivity of the antimalarial drugs was investigated under UV irradiation on various biological targets through a series of in vitro assays in the presence and in the absence of oxygen. Phototoxicity on 3T3 cultured fibroblasts and lipid photoperoxidation were observed for all the drugs. The photodamage produced by the drugs was also evaluated on proteins by measuring the photosensitized cross-linking of spectrin. The combined approaches were proven to be useful for understanding the mechanism of phototoxicity induced by the antimalarial drugs.     

Characterization of Asx Turn Types and Their Connate Relationship with β-Turns

Models of asparagine-containing dipeptides specifically designed to favor intrinsic folding into an Asx turn were characterized both theoretically, by using quantum chemistry, and experimentally, by using laser spectroscopy in the gas phase. Both approaches provided evidence for the spontaneous folding of both the Asn-Ala and Asn-Gly dipeptide models into the most stable Asx turn, a conformation stabilized by a C10 H-bond that was very similar to a type II’ β-turn. In parallel, analysis of Asx turns implicating asparagine in crystallized protein structures in the Protein Data Bank revealed a sequence-dependent behavior. In Asn-Ala sequences, the Asx turn was found in conjunction with a type I β-turn for which the first of the four defining residues was Asn. The observation that the Asx turn in these structures is mostly of type II’ (i. e., its most stable innate structure) suggests that this motif might foster the formation and/or enhance the stability of the backbone β-turn. In contrast, the Asx turns observed in Asn-Gly sequences extensively adopted a type II Asx-turn structure, thus suggesting that their formation should be ascribed to other factors, such as hydration. The fact that the Asx turn in a Asn-Gly sequence is also often found in combination with a hydrated β-bulge supports the premise that a Asn-Gly sequence might efficiently promote the formation of the β-bulge secondary structure.     

Selective solid phase extraction of propranolol on multiwell membrane filter plates modified with molecularly imprinted polymer

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized in 24-well glass fiber membrane filter plates to obtain a novel type of solid phase extraction device for the cleanup of propranolol. Sample processing parameters like residence time during sample loading, sample volume, pH, sample solvent, type and amount of washing and elution solvents were investigated and optimized. Important differences from the traditional molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE) cartridges have been identified. The MIP modified composite membrane suits well for the sample preparation of low volume biological samples. A protocol has been elaborated for the quantitation of propranolol from urine and plasma samples in the clinically relevant concentration ranges. Preliminary validation results indicate that the composite MIP membrane filter plates offer a viable alternative to existing MISPE cartridges and at the same time have advantages like much easier and faster synthesis method and high-throughput analysis.     

Phosphites and Hexafluoroacetone-Hexafluoroacetylacetones: a Comparison

Abstract

Selected acyclic and cyclic phosphites (RO)₂PX (1-5) were reacted with activated ketones (CF₃)₂CO (6) and Z-CF₃C(O)CH=C(OH)CF₃ (7a) / E-CF₃C(O)CH=C(OSiMe₃)CF₃ (7b) in order to study the influence of R and X on the product formation. A new type of insertion, a 1,4 group shift and cyclo-addition reactions yielding five membered rings and bicyclic fused systems were observed. In most cases phosphonates and their λ⁵[sgrave]⁵ P derivatives were obtained. The ketones in question can be considered versatile reactants in phosphorus chemistry.     

Scattering theory of current-induced forces in mesoscopic systems

We develop a scattering theory of current-induced forces exerted by the conduction electrons of a general mesoscopic conductor on slow "mechanical" degrees of freedom. Our theory describes the current-induced forces both in and out of equilibrium in terms of the scattering matrix of the phase-coherent conductor. Under general nonequilibrium conditions, the resulting mechanical Langevin dynamics is subject to both nonconservative and velocity-dependent Lorentz-like forces, in addition to (possibly negative) friction. We illustrate our results with a two-mode model inspired by hydrogen molecules in a break junction which exhibits limit-cycle dynamics of the mechanical modes.     

Self-induced transparency and the Anderson localization of light

Self-induced transparency pulses propagating in a random medium embedded in a two-level system can transfer energy to localized Anderson states. This allows the onset of two-level laserlike action.     

Carbamate Series of Juvenoids: Variation of the O-alkyl substituent

By changing the O-alkyl substituents of the carbamate moiety of alkyl N-{2-{4-[(2-oxocyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy}ethyl}carbamates and subsequent transformation of the oxo group in the cyclohexyl substituent, the juvenoids 1–20 were synthesized (Scheme). The methyl ( 1–4 ), propyl ( 9–12 ), isopropyl ( 13–16 ), and prop-2-ynylcarbamates ( 17–20 ) were subjected to biological screening on several non-related insect species (Tenebrio molitor, Galleria mellonella, Dysdercus cingulatus, and Pyrrhocoris apterus). Some of the juvenoids showed high biological activity and excellent selectivity with respect to target insect species (Table 2).