Meldrum's acid and its analogs

2-Substituted or 2,2-disubstituted 4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxanes, which are analogs of Meldrum's acid and were obtained by reaction of malonic acid with acetic anhydride and the appropriate carbonyl compound in the presence of sulfuric acid, exist in solution preferably in a single form according to the PMR and ¹³C NMR spectral data. Fluctuation of the CH₂ group is not observed. The mass spectra are characteristic and are distinguished by splitting out of the carbonyl compound from the molecular ion or successive splitting out of CO₂ and ketene molecules. The Meldrum acid analogs do not affect plant growth but have a depressive effect on the central nervous system of animals and low toxicity.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 11, pp. 1482–1486, November, 1975.     

Evaluation of parameters critical to observing proteins inside living Escherichia coli by in-cell NMR spectroscopy

Our recently developed in-cell NMR procedure now enables one to observe protein conformations inside living cells. Optimization of the technique demonstrates that distinguishing the signals produced by a single protein species depends critically on protein overexpression levels and the correlation time in the cytoplasm. Less relevant is the selective incorporation of (15)N. Poorly expressed proteins, insoluble proteins, and proteins that cannot tumble freely due to associations within the cell cannot yet be observed. We show in-cell NMR spectra of bacterial NmerA and human calmodulin and discuss limitations of the technique as well as prospects for future applications.     

Dehydrogenation of propane on aluminoplatinum catalysts modified with Re,Zr, Sc,and Sn

The effect of addition of Re, Zr, Sc, and Sn on an aluminoplatinum catalyst in the reaction of dehydrogenation of propane was investigated. It was shown that addition of 0.2–0.5% Zr, Sc, or Re virtually does not alter the catalytic properties of the aluminoplatinum catalyst (APC); addition of 0.2% Sn increases the activity, selectivity, and stability of Pt/Al₂O₃. The amount of coke deposited on the APC after the first 5 min of work decreases by three times in the presence of Sn. The coke is more enriched with hydrogen than the other systems formed on the surface of Pt-Sn/Al₂O₃.Deceased.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 765–771, April, 1991.     

Rotation of the universe

We study the problem of a possible rotation of the observable Universe (Metagalaxy) from the point of view of the general-relativistic theory of gravitation. We employ the concept of a hierarchical structure of reality, based on the existence of Eddington-Dirac large numbers. From the Einstein equations in their Landau-Raichaudhuri form we derive expressions for the angular momentum and angular velocity of the rotation of the Metagalaxy. These expressions give an coinciding in order of magnitude with the observed one. Using the formulas obtained, and using the hierarchy relation (large number relation), we obtain the Stanyukovich formula S N^3/2 which relates the number of nucleons in the Metagalaxy N and its angular momentum S. We show that the angular velocity may decrease in inverse proportionality to the scale factor, which may explain its small value at this time. We show that the source of rotation in cosmology can be space-time torsion, induced by the spin of fermionic matter.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 3, pp. 12–16, March, 1987.The authors are grateful to V. F. Panov for the discussion of this paper and valuable comments.     

Comodulation detection differences using noise-band signals

In a variant of the standard paradigm employed to study comodulation masking release (CMR), a narrow noise band was used as a signal in the presence of "cue" bands which had either the same or different temporal envelopes. The number of cue bands present ranged from zero to four; when there were two or four cue bands, they were either all presented at the same overall level or the spectral profile was "scrambled" in a haphazard manner. Different noise samples were presented within and across trials. The result was in the opposite direction from the standard CMR outcome; that is, better performance was obtained when the envelopes of the cue band(s) were uncorrelated with those of the signal band than when they were correlated. These comodulation detection differences (CDDs) ranged from a decibel or two up to 10-12 dB in different conditions, and were generally larger the more cue bands present. Standard CMR conditions, which were run as controls, revealed that the detectability of a tonal signal does not increase as the number of cue bands is increased from one to four-an outcome which differs from those obtained in profile analysis experiments. The data taken with the equal-level and the scrambled-level cues differed little in both the CDD and the CMR conditions. All noise bands were 100 Hz wide, and approximately 250 ms in duration. The signal band in CDD and the masker band in CMR were centered at 2500 Hz. The psychophysical procedure was two-interval forced choice.