Bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal photoswitch triggered by a dithienylethene dopant

The spontaneous polarization (PS) of a ferroelectric liquid crystal is modulated reversibly by photocyclization of the dopant 1,2-bis[5'-(4' '-heptyloxyphenyl)-2'-methylthien-3'-yl]perfluorocyclopentene. The magnitude of PS photomodulation increases with dopant concentration up to 3 mol %, and the resulting photoswitch is fatigue resistant and bistable. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal photoswitch to be reported in the literature.     

Quantitative analysis of relative protein contents by Western blotting: comparison of three members of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex in slow and fast rat skeletal muscle

We have developed a method for accurate quantitative analysis and statistical comparison of the relative contents of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) in skeletal muscle. This method was applied to compare DGC contents in slow (soleus) and in fast (extensor digitorum longus, EDL) rat skeletal muscles. The quantitative analysis combines a modified bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay with Western blotting and enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL). This combination allows the use of high levels of detergents and reducing reagents essential for extracting DGC. In addition, the evaluation of the total amount of proteins in each sample makes it possible to have a reference and to accurately compare relative protein levels without using a specific standard. With a large gradient gel, we could concomitantly compare two groups (n = 9) and quantify all protein contents differing highly in their molecular masses (from 35 kDa to 427 kDa). Each experiment was triplicated and normalized; the two muscles were compared using the Mann-Whitney test (P<0.001) to establish their protein content. The DGC relative levels for the slow muscle soleus and the fast muscle EDL differed significantly: dystrophin, beta-dystroglycan, and gamma-sarcoglycan levels were 130%, 110% and 120% higher in the soleus, respectively. The differences observed in the expression level of cytoskeletal associated protein (dystrophin) and transmembranous anchorage components may correspond to a physiological response of the muscle fibers to duration, magnitude, and frequency of the imposed mechanical loading.     

Influence of Jahn-Teller coupling on the magnetic properties of transition metal complexes with orbital triplet ground terms: magnetization and electronic Raman studies of the titanium(III) hexa-aqua cation

Magnetization and electronic Raman data are presented for salts of the type Cs[Ga:Ti](SO(4))(2) x 12H(2)O, which enable a very precise definition of the electronic structure of the [Ti(OH(2))(6)](3+) cation. The magnetization data exhibit a spectacular deviation from Brillouin behavior, with the magnetic moment highly dependent on the strength of the applied field at a given ratio of B/T. This arises from unprecedented higher-order contributions to the magnetization, and these measurements afford the determination of the ground-state Zeeman coefficients to third-order. The anomalous magnetic behavior is a manifestation of Jahn-Teller coupling, giving rise to low-lying vibronic states, which mix into the ground state through the magnetic field. Electronic Raman measurements of the 1%-titanium(III)-doped sample identify the first vibronic excitation at approximately 18 cm(-1), which betokens a substantial quenching of spin-orbit coupling by the vibronic interaction. The ground-state Zeeman coefficients are strongly dependent on the concentration of titanium(III) in the crystals, and this can be modeled as a function of one parameter, representing the degree of strain induced by the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect. This study clearly demonstrates the importance that the Jahn-Teller effect can have in governing the magnetic properties of transition metal complexes with orbital triplet ground terms.     

Certified reference material for the quality control of EDTA- and DTPA-extractable trace metal contents in calcareous soil (CRM 600)

Single extraction tests are commonly used to study the eco-toxicity and mobility of metals in soils, e.g. to assess the bioavailable metal fraction (and thus to estimate the related phyto-toxic and nutritional deficiency effects) and the environmentally accessible trace metals upon disposal of e.g. sediment on to a soil (e.g. contamination of ground waters). However, the lack of uniformity in the different procedures does not allow the results to be compared worldwide nor the procedures to be validated. This paper describes the interlaboratory testing of EDTA- and DTPA-extraction procedures for soil analysis, followed by the preparation of a calcareous soil reference material (CRM 600), the homogeneity and stability studies and the analytical work performed for the certification of the EDTA- and DTPA- extractable contents of some trace metals (following the standardized extraction procedures). Received: 21 May 1997 / Revised: 4 July 1997 / Accepted: 9 July 1997     

Crystal structure of 1-[N-2-aminoethyl)-aminopropyl]silatrane

The crystal structure of 1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyl]silatrane has been determined by x-ray diffraction at room temperature. The Si←N bond distance (2.165(2) Å) is in the range observed for other 1-X-propylsilatranes (X = CN, OH, SH, Cl and SCN). The structure is partially disordered: the silatrane moiety displays a disorder that is typical for silatranes and the aminoethyl group terminating the planar chain linked to silicon is rotationally disordered.     

Trace aluminum determination and sampling problems of archeological bone employing destructive neutron activation analysis

A destructive neutron activation analysis procedure was developed for determining trace aluminum content in bone. It was found that soil contamination can influence the aluninum bone levels in prehistoric bone specimens. These maximum aluninum content values for prehistoric bone are larger than those of modern bone and comparable to aluminum levels present in bone from renal patients.     

Recherches en série triazepine-1,2,4: 1 - détermination de la structure de la triazolotriazépinone obtenue par action de l'acétylacétate d'éthyle sur le diamino-3,4 triazole-1,2,4

The condensation of 3,4-diamino 1,2,4-triazole with ethyl aceloacelate gave 6-methyl-8,9-dihydro(7H)-s-triazolo[4,3-b]-1,2,4-triazepin-8-one ( 2 ); 2 has been caracterized by nmr spectroscopy and by comparison with its methylated derivative prepared in an unambigous manner.     

Self-association of daunomycin antibiotic in various buffer solutions

The self-association of an antitumor antibiotic, daunomycin (DAU), in various buffer solutions, including water-salt solutions, phosphate buffer, HEPES, and TRIS, was studied by 1D and 2D ¹H NMR spectroscopy at 500 MHz. The two-dimensional NOESY spectra and the concentration and temperature dependences of the chemical shifts of antibiotic protons in the solvents studied showed that the self-association parameters of DAU were independent of the type of buffer solutions. The most probable two spatial structures of the dimer of DAU in solution were constructed by the method of molecular mechanics. The mutual orientation of the chromophores was parallel in one structure and antiparallel in the other.