Variational symmetries and Lagrangian multiforms

Letters in Mathematical Physics - By considering the closure property of a Lagrangian multiform as a conservation law, we use Noether’s theorem to show that every variational symmetry of a...     

The synthesis and evaluation of unsymmetrical dimeric X-ray contrast agents

Novel dimeric iodinated contrast agents with low osmolality have been prepared and evaluated with the aim of improving the already good safety profile of such agents. The aim of low osmolality was achieved, and the viscosity of these dimeric agents was also found to be beneficially lower than current dimeric agents in clinical use.     

Proteomic analysis of the Arabidopsis thaliana cell wall

With the completion of the Arabidopsis genome, many hypothetical proteins have been predicted without any information on their expression, subcellular localisation and function. We have performed proteomic analysis of proteins sequentially extracted from enriched Arabidopsis cell wall fractions and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and genomic database searches. This is part of a targeted exercise to establish the entire Arabidopsis secretome database. We report evidence for new proteins of unknown function whose existence had been predicted from genomic sequences and, furthermore, localise them to the cell wall. In addition, we observed an unexpected presence in the cell wall preparations of proteins whose known biochemical activity has never been associated with this compartment hitherto. We discuss the implications of these findings and present results suggesting a possible involvement of cell wall kinases in plant responses to pathogen attack.     

A data-driven,high-throughput methodology to determine tissue-specific differentially methylated regions able to discriminate body fluids

Tissue-specific differentially methylated regions (tDMRs) are regions of the genome with methylation patterns that modulate gene expression in those tissue types. The detection of tDMRs in forensic evidence can permit the identification of body fluids at trace levels. In this report, we have performed a bioinformatic analysis of an existing array dataset to determine if new tDMRs could be identified for use in body fluid identification from forensic evidence. Once these sites were identified, primers were designed and bisulfite modification was performed. The relative methylation level for each body fluid at a given locus was then determined using qPCR with high-resolution melt analysis (HRM). After screening 127 tDMR's in multiple body fluids, we were able to identify four new markers able to discriminate blood (2 markers), vaginal epithelia (1 marker) and buccal cells (1 marker). One marker for each target body fluid was also tested with pyrosequencing showing results consistent with those obtained by HRM. This work successfully demonstrates the ability of in silico analysis to develop a novel set of tDMRs capable of being differentiated by real time PCR/HRM. The method can rapidly determine the body fluids left at crime scenes, assisting the triers of fact in forensic casework.     

Surface state study of ion implanted GaAs (Se) from photoreflectance

The surfaces of single crystal (100) GaAs specimens ion implanted with Se (fluence to 5 × 10¹⁴ cm^?2) were studied by photoreflectance (PR). It is found that the PR concentration correlation for the ion-implanted crystals follow the Franz-Keldysh relationship. This establishes the electronic structural mechanistic basis of the PR surface phenomenon. The technique also offers a convenient, non-destructive means of studying dopant concentration levels at surfaces of crystalline ion implanted semiconductors.     

The selective aerobic oxidation of methylaromatics to benzaldehydes using a unique combination of two heterogeneous catalysts

A unique combination of a supported cobalt complex and the first example of supported NHPI in acetic acid gives a surprisingly stable heterogeneous catalytic system for the selective aerobic oxidation of methylaromatics to benzaldehydes at atmospheric pressure.     

Measurement of the total active 8B solar neutrino flux at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory with enhanced neutral current sensitivity

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory has precisely determined the total active (nu(x)) 8B solar neutrino flux without assumptions about the energy dependence of the nu(e) survival probability. The measurements were made with dissolved NaCl in heavy water to enhance the sensitivity and signature for neutral-current interactions. The flux is found to be 5.21 +/- 0.27(stat)+/-0.38(syst) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1), in agreement with previous measurements and standard solar models. A global analysis of these and other solar and reactor neutrino results yields Deltam(2)=7.1(+1.2)(-0.6) x 10(-5) eV(2) and theta=32.5(+2.4)(-2.3) degrees. Maximal mixing is rejected at the equivalent of 5.4 standard deviations.