Observation and properties of the orbitally excited B_(s2)(*) meson

We report the direct observation of the excited L=1 state B_(s2)(*) in fully reconstructed decays to B+K-. The mass of the B_(s2)(*) meson is measured to be 5839.6+/-1.1(stat)+/-0.7(syst) MeV/c(2), and its production rate relative to the B+ meson is measured to be [1.15+/-0.23(stat)+/-0.13(syst)]%.     

Observation of ZZ production in p-p collisions at sqrt s=1.96 TeV

We present an observation for ZZ-->l+l-l'+l'- (l, l'=e or mu) production in p[over]p collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. Using 1.7 fb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, we observe three candidate events with an expected background of 0.14(+0.03)_(-0.02) events. The significance of this observation is 5.3 standard deviations. The combination of D0 results in this channel, as well as in ZZ-->l+l- nu[over]nu, yields a significance of 5.7 standard deviations and a combined cross section of sigma(ZZ)=1.60+/-0.63(stat)+0.16_-0.17(syst) pb.     

Observation of the Bc meson in the exclusive decay Bc-->J/psipi

A fully reconstructed Bc-->J/psipi signal is observed with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp[over] collider using 1.3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity. The signal consists of 54+/-12 candidates with a significance that exceeds 5 standard deviations, and confirms earlier observations of this decay. The measured mass of the Bc meson is 6300+/-14(stat)+/-5(syst) MeV/c2.     

Ultrastructural analysis of midgut cells from Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae resistant to Bacillus sphaericus

The larvicidal action of the entomopathogen Bacillus sphaericus towards Culex quinquefasciatus is due to the binary (Bin) toxin present in crystals, which are produced during bacterial sporulation. The Bin toxin needs to recognize and bind specifically to a single class of receptors, named Cqm1, which are 60-kDa α-glucosidases attached to the apical membrane of midgut cells by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. C. quinquefasciatus resistance to B. sphaericus has been often associated with the absence of the α-glucosidase Cqm1 in larvae midgut microvilli. In this work, we aimed to investigate, at the ultrastructural level, the midgut cells from C. quinquefasciatus larvae whose resistance relies on the lack of the Cqm1 receptor. The morphological analysis showed that midgut columnar cells from the resistant larvae are characterized by a pronounced production of lipid inclusions, throughout the 4th instar. At the end of this stage, resistant larvae had an increased size and number of these inclusions in the midgut cells, while only a small number were observed in the cells from susceptible larvae. The morphological differences in the midgut cells of resistant larvae found in this work suggested that the lack of the Cqm1 receptor, which also has a physiological role as being an α-glucosidase, can be related to changes in the cell metabolism. The ultrastructural effects of Bin toxin on midgut epithelial cells from susceptible and resistant larvae were also investigated. The cytopathological alterations observed in susceptible larvae treated with a lethal concentration of toxin included breakdown of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial swelling, microvillar disruption and vacuolization. Some effects were observed in cells from resistant larvae, although those alterations did not lead to larval death, indicating that the receptor Cqm1 is essential to mediate the larvicidal action of the toxin.This is the first ultrastructural study to show differences in the cell morphology of resistant larvae and further investigation is needed to understand the impact of the lack of expression of midgut enzymes on the physiology of resistant insects.     

Cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione as a derivatizing agent for the analysis of aldehydes by micelar electrokinetic chromatography with diode array detection

Aldehydes are important compounds in a large number of samples, especially food and beverages. In this work, for the first time, cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione (CHD) was used as a derivatizing reagent aiming aldehyde (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and valeraldehyde) analysis by MEKC‐DAD. The optimized separation of the derivates was performed using a voltage program (+20 kV, 0–15 min.; +23 kV, 15–17 min.) at a temperature of 26°C, and using as the running buffer a mixture containing 100 mmol/L of sodium dodecyl sulfate and 29 mmol/L of sodium tetraborate at pH 9.2, with maximum absorbance at 260 nm. CHD was compared with two other derivatizing agents: 3‐methyl‐2‐benzothiazolinone hydrazone and phenylhydrazine‐4‐sulfonic acid. The CHD‐aldehyde derivatives were also characterized by LC‐MS. The calibration curves for all aldehydes had r² above 0.999 and LODs ranged from 0.01 to 0.7 mg/L. The optimized methodology was applied in sugar cane brandy (cachaça) samples successfully. CHD showed to be an alternative derivatization reagent due to its stability, aqueous solubility, high selectivity and sensitivity, reduced impurities, and simple preparation steps.     

Synthesis of New Iminosugar Derivatives Based on (S)-(1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridazin-3-yl)methanol

(S)-(1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridazin-3-yl)methanol was synthesized in two steps by the Diels-Alder reaction of penta-2,4-dien-1-ol with diethyl azodicarboxylate in the presence of (S)-BINOL as chiral catalyst. The subsequent Boc-protection of the 2-position of the pyridazine ring, ring-closing carbonylation of the hydroxy group, and deprotection afforded a bicyclic iminosugar analog. The structure of the isolated compounds was proved by NMR, IR, and mass spectra and elemental analyses.