Exploring the neutron drip line at the Ne-Mg region

The neutron drip line in the neon-magnesium region has been explored by the projectile fragmentation of a ⁴⁸Ca(59.8 A MeV) beam using the new fragment separator LISE-2000 at GANIL. New neutron-rich isotopes, ³⁴Ne and ³⁷Na, have been observed together with some evidence for the particle instability of ³³Ne and ³⁶Na.     

Subhertz spectral fluctuations from high-density excitons in coupled quantum wells

In 1994 Butov et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 304 (1994)] reported large, extremely low-frequency fluctuations in the luminescence intensity from indirect excitons in a coupled quantum well. We have reproduced these fluctuations in a similar structure. Our observations indicate, however, that the fluctuations are spectral fluctuations rather than intensity fluctuations. We have eliminated several possible causes for the fluctuations and propose a possible cause.     

Evidence for an isomer in 76 Ni

In the experiment performed at the LISE2000 spectrometer at GANIL neutron-rich nickel isotopes were studied by microsecond isomer spectroscopy. Evidence for an isomer in ⁷⁶Ni is found, consistently with the shell model prediction of an 8 ⁺ state of structure.Received: 24 October 2002, Published online: 17 February 2004PACS: 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 27.50. + e      

The current interest in fuzzy optimization

In this paper a certain interpretation of fuzzy programming is proposed. Flexible and robust programming are reviewed and their definitions explicitly identified. It is suggested that both involve new ways of depicting reality, fuzziness being a vehicle for conciseness and economy of expression. This paper is a study that might yield some insights into aspects of decision-making, while furthering development of a conceptual apparatus useful for studies in artificial intelligence.     

The antioxidant response induced by Lonicera caerulaea berry extracts in animals bearing experimental solid tumors

Lonicera caerulea is a species of bush native to the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russian Far East) whose berries have been extensively studied due to their potential high antioxidant activity. The aim of our work was to investigate the in vivo effects of the antioxidant action of Lonicera caerulea berry extracts on the dynamics of experimentally-induced tumors. Our data showed that aqueous Lonicera caerulaea extracts reduced the tumor volume when administered continuously during the tumor growth and development stages, but augmented the tumor growth when the administration of extracts started three weeks before tumor grafting. Prolonged administration of Lonicera caerulaea berry extracts induced the antioxidant defense mechanism in the tumor tissues, while surprisingly amplifying the peripheral oxidative stress.     

Metal-sensitive and thermostable trypsin from the crevalle jack (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Caranx hippos</Emphasis>) pyloric caeca: purification and characterization

Background

Over the past decades, the economic development and world population growth has led to increased for food demand. Increasing the fish production is considered one of the alternatives to meet the increased food demand, but the processing of fish leads to by-products such as skin, bones and viscera, a source of environmental contamination. Fish viscera have been reported as an important source of digestive proteases with interesting characteristics for biotechnological processes. Thus, the aim of this study was to purify and to characterize a trypsin from the processing by-products of crevalle jack (Caranx hippos) fish.

Results

A 27.5 kDa trypsin with N-terminal amino acid sequence IVGGFECTPHVFAYQ was easily purified from the pyloric caeca of the crevalle jack. Its physicochemical and kinetic properties were evaluated using N-α-benzoyl-_DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BApNA) as substrate. In addition, the effects of various metal ions and specific protease inhibitors on trypsin activity were determined. Optimum pH and temperature were 8.0 and 50°C, respectively. After incubation at 50°C for 30 min the enzyme lost only 20% of its activity. K _m , k_cat, and k _cat /K _m values using BApNA as substrate were 0.689 mM, 6.9 s^-1, and 10 s^-1 mM^-1, respectively. High inhibition of trypsin activity was observed after incubation with Cd²⁺, Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Hg²⁺ at 1 mM, revealing high sensitivity of the enzyme to metal ions.

Conclusions

Extraction of a thermostable trypsin from by-products of the fishery industry confirms the potential of these materials as an alternative source of these biomolecules. Furthermore, the results suggest that this trypsin-like enzyme presents interesting biotechnological properties for industrial applications.