UVB radiation induces changes in the ultra-structure of Iridaea cordata

Iridaea cordata cultivated in the presence of UVB radiation (UVBR) was studied using transmission electron microscopy. Apical segments were cultivated in 0.97 Wm^?2 of UVBR for 40 days, 3 h a day, and compared to a negative control (UVBR absent). UVBR caused modifications, mainly in the cortical cells, including an increased number of cell wall-producing vesicles, in addition to thicker and denser cellular walls, compared to the control. Additionally, cells were observed with an irregular contour and without defined organelles. The increase of cell-wall thickness could be interpreted as an acclimation to UVBR, which could lead to protection from this radiation.     

Large Cliques in -Free Graphs

Dedicated to the memory of Paul Erdős A graph is called -free if it contains no cycle of length four as an induced subgraph. We prove that if a -free graph has n vertices and at least edges then it has a complete subgraph of vertices, where depends only on . We also give estimates on and show that a similar result does not hold for H-free graphs––unless H is an induced subgraph of . The best value of is determined for chordal graphs. Received October 25, 1999 RID="*" ID="*" Supported by OTKA grant T029074. RID="**" ID="**" Supported by TKI grant stochastics@TUB and by OTKA grant T026203.     

Generalized One-Sided Laws for the Larger Observations of a Triangular Array

Consider independent and identically distributed random variables {X,X _nj , 1jn,n1} with density f(x)=px ^–p–1 I(x1), where p>0. We show that there exist unusual generalized Laws of the Iterated Logarithm involving the larger order statistics from our array.     

Weak-type normal families of holomorphic mappings in Banach spaces and characterization of the Hilbert ball by its automorphism group

We present a characterization of the open unit ball in a separable infinite dimensional Hilbert space by the property of automorphism orbits among the domains that are not necessarily bounded. This generalizes the recent work of Kim and Krantz [6]. Key new features of this article include: a lower bound estimate of the Kobayashi metric and distance near a pluri-subharmonic peak boundary point of the domains in Banach spaces, an effective localization argument, and an improvement of weak-type convergence of sequences of biholomorphic mappings of domains in Banach spaces.     

Exact Gaussian expansions of Slater-type atomic orbitals

Three exact Slater-type function (STO) integral transforms are presented. The STO-NG basis set can then be developed using either only 1s Gaussian functions, the same Gaussian exponents for each shell, or using the first Gaussian of each symmetry. The use of any of these three alternatives depends only on appropriate numerical integration techniques.     

Optical and redox properties of a series of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene oligomers

The optical and redox properties of a series of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene oligomers (EDOTn, n=1-4) and their beta,beta'-unsubstituted analogues (Tn, n=1-4) are described. Both series are end capped with phenyl groups to prevent irreversible alpha-coupling reactions during oxidative doping. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of both series reveal a significantly higher degree of intrachain conformational order in the EDOTn oligomers. Oxidation potentials (E(PA1) and E(PA2)) determined by cyclic voltammetry reveal that those of EDOTn are significantly lower than the corresponding Tn oligomers as a consequence of the electron-donating 3,4-ethylenedioxy substitution. Linear fits of E(PA1) and E(PA2) versus the reciprocal number of double bonds reveal significantly steeper slopes for the EDOTn than for the Tn oligomers. This could indicate a more effective conjugation for the EDOTn series, confirmed by the fact that coalescence of E(PA1) and E(PA2) is reached already at relatively short chain lengths ( approximately 5 EDOT units) in contrast to the Tn series (>10 thiophene units). The stepwise chemical oxidation of the EDOTn and Tn oligomers in solution was carried out to obtain radical cations and dications. The energies of the optical transitions of the radical cations and dications as determined by UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy were similar for the two series. These spectroscopic observations are consistent with quantum-chemical calculations performed on the singly charged molecules. Cooling solutions containing T2.+, T3.+, EDOT2.+, and EDOT3.+ revealed the reversible formation of dimers, albeit with a somewhat different tendency, expressed in the values for the dimerization enthalpy.     

Spectrophotometric determination of phenylephrine hydrochloride in pharmaceuticals by flow injection analysis exploiting the reaction with potassium ferricyanide and 4-aminoantipyrine

This paper presents a method for the determination of phenylephrine hydrochloride in pharmaceuticals by spectrophotometric flow injection analysis exploiting the reaction with potassium ferricyanide and 4-aminoantipyrine, which leads to the formation of a condensation product with strong absorptivity at 500 nm. The linear dynamic range was between 0.95 and 9 mg/L, with a limit of detection of 0.2 mg/L and a sampling throughput of 120 samples per hour. The method was applied to eyewashes and nasal decongestant liquid medicines.     

Influence of pH on the binding of diphenylmethylenepiperidines by 5-HT2B receptors in rat stomach fundus

Cyproheptadine is one of the compounds exhibiting the highest activity at 5-HT2B receptors. In a previous work we analysed the relevance of the amino group in diphenylmethylenepiperidines (DPMP), which are open cyproheptadine analogues. Only compounds containing N-H or N-methyl motifs, showed significant 5-HT2B activity. Surprisingly, the corresponding quaternary ammonium salt demonstrated a total lack of activity. Therefore, the question arises whether protonation favours the interaction of these compounds with 5-HT2B receptors. Consequently, we studied the protonation influence (by varying the pH of the medium) on the antagonism of serotonin by some cyproheptadine analogues in rat stomach fundus. The main results were: 1) N-protonation increases the activity of DPMPs. 2) Alkaline pH facilitates the occurrence of a non-surmountable antagonism. 3) The contrast between the activity of protonated DPMPs and the lack of activity of the corresponding quaternary ammonium cation, suggests either that the latter is prevented from acting by steric hindrance, or that the mechanism by which protonation may increase the activity depends not only on the charge of the proton, but also on its ability to form hydrogen bonds.     

A cis-IrL(CO) group responds to increasing steric bulk of L by M-L stretching,not M-C-O tilting or bending

The crystal structures of [Ir(2-R-bq)(PPh(3))(2)(H)(CO)](+) (bq = benzoquinolinato; R = H, i-Pr, t-Bu) show that steric interference caused by contact between the bulky pendant R groups of the bq and the C of the cis-CO is relieved by Ir-N bond stretching in the Irbq system and bending of the trans-Ph(3)P-Ir-PPh(3) groups, rather than by tilting or bending of the CO. Ir-CO is therefore more rigid than the Ir-N and Ir-P bonds. The Ir-N stretching is aided by the presence of a high trans effect H trans to N.