Z = 50 shell gap near 100Sn from intermediate-energy Coulomb excitations in even-mass 106-112Sn isotopes

Rare isotope beams of neutron-deficient 106,108,110Sn from the fragmentation of 124Xe were employed in an intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation experiment. The measured B(E2,0(1)(+)-->2(1)(+)) values for 108Sn and 110Sn and the results obtained for the 106Sn show that the transition strengths for these nuclei are larger than predicted by current state-of-the-art shell-model calculations. This discrepancy might be explained by contributions of the protons from within the Z = 50 shell to the structure of low-energy excited states in this region.     

Direct Oxidative Coupling of N‐Acetyl Indoles and Phenols for the Synthesis of Benzofuroindolines Related to Phalarine

Inspired by the biogenetic synthesis of benzofuroindoline‐containing natural products, we designed an oxidative coupling between phenol and N‐acetyl indoles. This straightforward and direct radical process, mediated by 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone and FeCl₃ allowed the regioselective synthesis of benzofuro[3,2‐b]indolines, whose structure is found in the natural product phalarine.     

Novel Methods to Manipulate Autolysis in Sparkling Wine: Effects on Yeast

Sparkling wine made by the traditional method (Méthode Traditionelle) develops a distinct and desirable flavour and aroma profile attributed to proteolytic processes during prolonged ageing on lees. Microwave, ultrasound and addition of β-glucanase enzymes were applied to accelerate the disruption of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and added to the tirage solution for secondary fermentation in traditional sparkling winemaking. Scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry analyses were used to observe and describe yeast whole-cell anatomy, and cell integrity and structure via propidium iodide (PI) permeability after 6-, 12- and 18-months post-tirage. Treatments applied produced features on lees that were distinct from that of the untreated control yeast. Whilst control yeast displayed budding cells (growth features) with smooth, cavitated and flat external cell appearances; microwave treated yeast cells exhibited modifications like ‘doughnut’ shapes immediately after treatment (time 0). Similar ‘doughnut’-shaped and ‘pitted/porous’ cell features were observed on progressively older lees from the control. Flow cytometry was used to discriminate yeast populations; features consistent with cell disruption were observed in the microwave, ultrasound and enzyme treatments, as evidenced by up to 4-fold increase in PI signal in the microwave treatment. Forward and side scatter signals reflected changes in size and structure of yeast cells, in all treatments applied. When flow cytometry was interpreted alongside the scanning electron microscopy images, bimodal populations of yeast cells with low and high PI intensities were revealed and distinctive ‘doughnut’-shaped cell features observed in association with the microwave treatment only at tirage, that were not observed until 12 months wine ageing in older lees from the control. This work offers both a rapid approach to visualise alterations to yeast cell surfaces and a better understanding of the mechanisms of yeast lysis. Microwave, ultrasound or β-glucanase enzymes are tools that could potentially initiate the release of yeast cell compounds into wine. Further investigation into the impact of such treatments on the flavour and aroma profiles of the wines through sensory evaluation is warranted.     

Structure-function analysis of the cloned opiate receptors: peptide and small molecule interactions

Opiate receptors mediate the physiological actions of opioid peptides and the clinical effects of the synthetic opioid agonists and antagonists. Site-directed mutagenesis studies have revealed regions of opiate receptors that are essential for ligand recognition, and this could aid the design of more selective opioid ligands.     

Ion-Molecule reactions in methylamine and dimethylamine and trimethylamine systems

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry has been used to measure the reaction rates for ions derived from methylamine with dimethylamine or trimethylamine. The use of the selective ion ejection technique greatly simplifies the elucidation of the ion-molecule reaction channels. The rate constants for proton transfer from protonated metwlamine, CH₃NH ₃ ⁺ (m/z 32), to dimethylamine and trimethylamine are 16.1 ± 1.6 × 10^?10 and 9.3 ± 0.9 × 10^?10 cm³ molec^?1s^?1, respectively. The rate constants for charge transfer from methylamine molecular ion, CH₃NH ₂ ⁺ (m/z 31), to dimethylamine and trimethylamine are 9.3 ± 1.8 x 10^?10 and 15.0 ± 5 × 10^?10 cm³molec^?1s^?1, respectively.     

The impact of stochastic lead time reduction on inventory cost under order crossover

We use exponential lead times to demonstrate that reducing mean lead time has a secondary reduction of the variance due to order crossover. The net effect is that of reducing the inventory cost, and if the reduction in inventory cost overrides the investment in lead time reduction, then the lead time reduction strategy would be tenable.We define lead time reduction as the process of decreasing lead time at an increased cost. To date, decreasing lead times has been confined to deterministic instances. We examine the case where lead times are exponential, for when lead times are stochastic, deliveries are subject to order crossover, so that we must consider effective lead times rather than the actual lead times. The result is that the variance of these lead times is less than the variance of the original replenishment lead times.Here we present a two-stage procedure for reducing the mean and variance for exponentially distributed lead times. We assume that the lead time is made of one or several components and is the time between when the need of a replenishment order is determined to the time of receipt.     

Cyclosporin Measurement – who cares about inaccuracy?

Most medical laboratories measure the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin using one of a number of commercial immunoassays, or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The calibration of these assays is based on material supplied by the kit manufacturers or prepared in-house. We have examined inaccuracy for the measurement of cyclosporin in samples spiked to known concentrations and the impact of any inaccuracy on the results for cyclosporin measurement in pooled samples from patients prescribed the drug. The data were from the International Cyclosporin Proficiency Testing Scheme, based on aliquots of cyclosporin-free blood to which known amounts of the drug had been added or aliquots of pooled samples collected from patients receiving cyclosporin. Compared with the results using HPLC, the immunoassays had a median bias which ranged from –4.5% to 8.2% for the spiked samples. When pooled samples from patients were analysed the percentage difference from the measured HPLC value, allowing for assay inaccuracy, was as high as 29.9%. It is concluded that inaccuracy is a factor in between-assay performance for this measurement and that proficiency testing schemes should attempt to put more emphasis on this aspect of assay performance.     

Quantum protocol for cheat-sensitive weak coin flipping

We present a quantum protocol for the task of weak coin flipping. We find that, for one choice of parameters in the protocol, the maximum probability of a dishonest party winning the coin flip if the other party is honest is 1/sqrt[2]. We also show that if parties restrict themselves to strategies wherein they cannot be caught cheating, their maximum probability of winning can be even smaller. As such, the protocol offers additional security in the form of cheat sensitivity.     

On the degree of regularity of some equations

In this paper we investigate the behaviour of the solutions of equations Σ_I=1ⁿ a_ix_i = b, where Σ_i=1ⁿ, a_i = 0 and b ≠ 0, with respect to colorings of the set N of positive integers. It turns out that for any b ≠ 0 there exists an 8-coloring of N, admitting no monochromatic solution of x₃ − x₂ = x₂ − x₁ + b. For this equation, for b odd and 2-colorings, only an odd-even coloring prevents a monochromatic solution. For b even and 2-colorings, always monochromatic solutions can be found, and bounds for the corresponding Rado numbers are given. If one imposes the ordering x₁ < x₂ < x₃, then there exists already a 4-coloring of N, which prevents a monochromatic solution of x₃ − x₂ = x₂ − x₁ + b, where b ε N.