Observation of the semileptonic decays B-->D*tau-nutau and evidence for B-->Dtau-nutau

We present measurements of the semileptonic decays B--->D0tau-nutau, B--->D*0tau-nutau, B0-->D+tau-nutau, and B0-->D*+tau-nutau, which are potentially sensitive to non-standard model amplitudes. The data sample comprises 232x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays collected with the BABAR detector. From a combined fit to B- and B0 channels, we obtain the branching fractions B(B-->Dtau-nutau)=(0.86+/-0.24+/-0.11+/-0.06)% and B(B-->D*tau-nutau)=(1.62+/-0.31+/-0.10+/-0.05)% (normalized for the B0), where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and normalization-mode-related.     

Photoabsorption and photofragmentation of isolated cationic silver cluster-tryptophan hybrid systems

We present a theoretical study of the size and structure selective absorption properties of cationic silver cluster-tryptophan Trp-Ag(n)(+) (n = 2-5,9) hybrid systems supported by photofragmentation experiments. Our time-dependent density functional theory calculations provide insight into the nature of excitations in interacting nanoparticle-biomolecule subunits and allow to determine characteristic spectral features as fingerprints of two different classes of structures: charge solvated and zwitterionic. Moreover, different types of charge transfer transitions have been identified. Charge transfer from pi system of tryptophan to silver cluster occurs for charge solvated structures while charge transfer from silver to the NH(3) (+) group takes place for zwitterionic structures. This has been confirmed by experimentally measured photofragmentation channels and molecular dynamics simulations. Our findings provide fundamental insight into the structure- and size-dependent mechanism responsible for the enhanced absorption and emission in nanoparticle-biomolecular hybrid systems.     

Structural and compositional stability of Co oxide grown on (001) bct Co

Room temperature (RT) adsorption of oxygen on the (001) surface of metastable, cubic Co film epitaxially grown on a Fe substrate results in the formation of about 7 monolayers (ML) crystalline CoO film, in the typical rocksalt structure 45° rotated with respect to the square unit mesh of the underlying Co film. We investigated the stability of this oxide layer upon annealing in the RT–620 K temperature range, by means of primary-beam diffraction modulated electron emission (PDMEE), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For temperatures up to 570 K, film thickness and local order are preserved, in spite of an increasing number of Co and O atoms bonded in sites of reduced coordination. For larger temperatures, thickness also reduces, but the oxide film is still characterized by a high degree of CoO-like local order.     

Production of PHAs from agricultural waste material

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable substitutes to fossil fuel plastics that can be produced from renewable raw materials such as saccharides, alcohols and low-molecular-weight fatty acids. They are completely degradable to carbon dioxide and water through natural microbiological mineralization. Consequently, neither their production nor their use or degradation have a negative ecological impact. By keeping closed the cycle of production and re-use, PHAs can enable at least part of the polymer-producing industry to switch from ecologically harmful end-of-the-pipe production methods towards sounder technologies. Up to now such polyesters have been produced biotechnologically from refined raw materials (e.g. glucose and sodium propionate), but they can as well be produced much cheaper from agricultural waste materials (e.g. molasses, maltose, glycerol phase from biodiesel production, whey), as long as these materials have a known composition and are available in appropriate quantities. Yield factors and specific rates for growth and PHA accumulation are shown for 3 strains of Alcaligenes latus for different agricultural waste carbon sources.     

Local effects of atomizing analyte droplets on the plasma parameters of the inductively coupled plasma

Monodisperse droplets from aqueous analyte solutions with selected diameters in the range 35–67 µm are introduced into an inductively coupled plasma with frequencies between 1 to 10 droplets per second. The effect of desolvation and atomization in the ICP is studied end-on by optical emission spectroscopy employing simultaneously up to three calibrated monochromators with fast photomultipliers. The onsets of desolvation and analyte atomization and the extremely fast diffusion of hydrogen in the ICP and its effect on the plasma are studied by simultaneous measurements of hydrogen, analyte and Ar lines. The local cooling by analyte atomization as well as the recovering of the plasma excitation temperature after completed atomization is measured quantitatively in dependence on time applying the Boltzmann plot method to simultaneously recorded line intensities of atomized analyte atoms which act as plasma probes. Furthermore, it is shown that relatively small differences in analyte mass cause significant temperature changes during atomization and, as consequence, strong variations of the emission intensity of analyte lines during atomization if measured by end-on observation.     

Photochemical and phototoxic activity of berberine on murine fibroblast NIH-3T3 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells

The present study demonstrates photoinduced generation of superoxide anion radical and singlet oxygen upon UVA irradiation of berberine chloride, and its cytotoxic/phototoxic effects on murine fibroblast non-cancer NIH-3T3 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. The EPR spectra monitored upon photoexcitation of aerated solutions of berberine evidenced the efficient activation of molecular oxygen via Type I and II mechanisms, as the generation of superoxide anion radical and singlet oxygen was observed. The EAC cell line was more sensitive to the effect of non-photoactivated and photoactivated berberine than the NIH-3T3 cell line. UVA irradiation increased the sensitivity of EAC cells to berberine, while the sensitivity of NIH-3T3 cells to photoactivated berberine was not changed. Berberine significantly induced direct DNA strand breaks in tested cells, oxidative lesions were not detected, and the effect of irradiation of cells after berberine treatment did not affect the increase of DNA damage in EAC and NIH-3T3 cells. The DNA damage generated by a combination of berberine with UVA irradiation induced a significant blockage of EAC cells in the S and G(2)/M phases and the stopping/decrease of cell proliferation after 24h of influence. On the other hand, after 36h or 48h of berberine treatment, the DNA damage induced necrotic or apoptotic death of EAC cells. Whether these divergences are caused by differences in the properties of two non-isogenic cell lines or by different berberine uptake and cell localization will be analyzed in our further investigations.     

Study of synthesis of 2‐(2‐alkoxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazoles. Comparison of oxidative aromatization reactions of imidazolines

The reaction of methyl salicylate with ethane‐1,2‐diamine has been used to prepare 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazoline. This compound was alkylated with alkyl halides to give five new 2‐(2‐alkoxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazolines (alkyl = propyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, sec‐butyl, benzyl). Seven types of transformation reactions of imidazolines into the respective imidazoles were tested. Out of them successful were the dehydrogenation on palladium in toluene (several‐day refluxing), oxidation with activated manganese dioxide in toluene (several‐hour heating at 60 °C), and the oxidation with potassium nitrosodisulfonate (Fremy's salt) at room temperature. Seven new 2‐(2‐alkoxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazoles were synthesized (alkyl = ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec‐butyl, benzyl) via mentioned methods. Comparison of individual oxidative aromatization reactions is discussed from the point of view of experimental arrangement, reaction time and conditions, purity of the products obtained, and yields.     

Singular Solutions of a Boussinesq System for Water Waves

Studied here is the Boussinesq system $$η_t+u_x+(ηu)_x+au_{xxx}-bη_{xxt}=0,$$ $$u_t+η_x+\frac{1}{2}(u²)_x+cη_{xxx}-du_{xxt}=0,$$of partial differential equations. This system has been used in theory and practice as a model for small-amplitude, long-crested water waves. The issue addressed is whether or not the initial-value problem for this system of equations is globally well posed.The investigation proceeds by way of numerical simulations using a computer code based on a a semi-implicit, pseudo-spectral code. It turns out that larger amplitudes or velocities do seem to lead to singularity formation in finite time, indicating that the problem is not globally well posed.     

Photoinduced decarboxylation of 9‐oxo‐6,9‐dihydro[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐f]quinoline‐8‐carboxylic acid

Photoinduced reactions of 9‐oxo‐6,9‐dihydro[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐f]quinoline‐8‐carboxylic acid (SeQCA) were investigated in alkaline media (aqueous NaOH solutions) by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, following the in situ formation of paramagnetic species. According to UV–Vis and nuclear magnetic resonance investigations, protonation (pH ≈ 11) and deprotonation (pH ≈ 13) of the imino hydrogen of the 4‐pyridone moiety has to be considered, reflected also in the different EPR spectra observed upon irradiation. Photoinduced generation of radicals was found only for carboxylate substituted SeQCA; other studied selenadiazoloquinolone derivatives, together with those substituted at the C(8) position (R = H, COOCH₂CH₃, COOCH₃, COCH₃ or CN), did not generate paramagnetic species during exposure. Consequently, photodecarboxylation was suggested as the decisive step, accompanied by the decomposition of the selenadiazole ring, resulting in the formation of ortho‐hydroxylate anions. EPR parameters elucidated from experimental EPR spectra obtained at pH ≈ 11 and pH ≈ 13 indicate the formation of oxygen‐centered radicals at the decarboxylated 4‐pyridone ring. EPR spin trapping experiments with nitromethane confirmed a very effective photoinduced electron transfer from all the selenadiazoloquinolones investigated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.