Tests of quantum chromodynamics and a direct measurement of the strong coupling constant αs at √s=30 GeV

We report the measurement of the reaction e⁺ + e^? → hadronic jets at a center-of-mass energy √s=30 GeV using the MARK-J detector at PETRA. By measuring the energy and angular distribution of both neutrals and charged particles we were able to isolate unambiguously the three-jet events in a kinematic region where the backgrounds from q$\text{q}$ and phase space contributions and other processes are small. Various comparisons of the data with quantum chromodynamics were made. The relative yield of three-jet events and the shape distribution of the events enable us to determine α_s = 0.23 ± 0.02 (statistical error) with a systematic error of ± 0.04.     

Aquation of chloropentaamminecobalt(III) Perchlorate in chloride-ion containing water–nonaqueous solvent mixtures

The equilibrium quotients for the formation of Co(NH₃)₅Cl²⁺ from Co(NH₃)₅OH₂³⁺ and Cl^? were 3.74±0.25 M^?1 and 6.07±0.54 M^?1 at 45.0°C in 10:1 mole ratio water: dimethyl sulfoxide and in 25 w/w % aqueous ethanol, respectively, and those forthe formation of the ion pair Co(NH₃)₅OH₂³⁺ . Cl^? were 1.21±0.20 M^?1 and 1.58±0.17 M^?1, respectively, in the same solvents. The aquation and anation rateconstants were determined at 45.0°C for these two solvents over the range of chloride-ion concentrations 0.0 ≤ [Cl^?] ≤ 0.9 M. The aquation rate constant was essentially independent of chloride-ion concentration in each solvent over this range. The inverse of the pseudo-first-order anation rate constant was linearly dependent on the inverse of the chloride-ion concentration in each solvent. The least squares relationships between (1/k_an) and (1/[Cl^?]) gave intercepts and ratios of intercept to slope which were analyzed interms of I_d and D mechanisms. It was concluded that the data were not satisfied by a D mechanism, but that they were consistent with an I_d mechanism.     

Reduced blood brain barrier breakdown in P-selectin deficient mice following transient ischemic stroke: a future therapeutic target for treatment of stroke

Background  

The link between early blood- brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and endothelial cell activation in acute stroke remain poorly defined. We hypothesized that P-selectin, a mediator of the early phase of leukocyte recruitment in acute ischemia is also a major contributor to early BBB dysfunction following stroke. This was investigated by examining the relationship between BBB alterations following transient ischemic stroke and expression of cellular adhesion molecule P-selectin using a combination of magnetic resonance molecular imaging (MRMI), intravital microscopy and immunohistochemistry. MRMI was performed using the contrast, gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) conjugated to Sialyl Lewis X (Sle^x) where the latter is known to bind to activated endothelium via E- or P selectins. Middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced in male C57/BL 6 wild-type (WT) mice and P-selectin-knockout (KO) mice. At 24 hours following middle cerebral artery occlusion, T₁ maps were acquired prior to and following contrast injection. In addition to measuring P- and E-selectin expression in brain homogenates, alterations in BBB function were determined immunohistochemically by assessing the extravasation of immunoglobulin G (IgG) or staining for polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes. In vivo assessment of BBB dysfunction was also investigated optically using intravital microscopy of the pial circulation following the injection of Fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (MW 2000 kDa).     

Determination of the stereochemistry of anhydroerythromycin A, the principal degradation product of the antibiotic erythromycin A

Anhydroerythromycin A arises from the acid-catalysed degradation of erythromycin A both in vitro and in vivo. It has negligible antibacterial activity, but inhibits drug oxidation in the liver, and is responsible for unwanted drug-drug interactions. Its structure has 18 chiral centres common with erythromycin A, but C-9 (the spiro carbon) is also chiral in anhydroerythromycin and its stereochemistry has not previously been reported; both 9R- and 9S-anhydroerythromycin A are plausible structures. An understanding of the chirality at C-9 was expected to throw light on the mechanism of acid-catalysed degradation of erythromycin A, a subject that has been debated in the literature over several decades.We now report a determination of the three-dimensional structure of anhydroerythromycin A, including the stereochemistry at C-9, by NMR and molecular modelling. In parallel, the relative stereochemistry of anhydroerythromycin A 2'-acetate was determined by X-ray crystallography. Both compounds were shown to have 9R stereochemistry, and anhydroerythromycin A exhibited considerable conformational flexibility in solution.     

Highly fluorescent crystalline and liquid crystalline columnar phases of pyrene-based structures

A concept for highly ordered solid-state structures with bright fluorescence is proposed: liquid crystals based on tetraethynylpyrene chromophores, where the rigid core is functionalized with flexible, promesogenic alkoxy chains. The synthesis of this novel material is presented. The thermotropic properties are studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), cross-polarized optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction. The mesogen possesses an enantiotropic Col(h) phase over a large temperature range before clearing. The material is highly fluorescent in solution and, most remarkably, in the condensed state, with a broad, strongly red shifted emission. Fluorescence quantum yields (Phi(F)) have been determined to be 70% in dichloromethane solution and 62% in the solid state. Concentration- and temperature-dependent absorption and emission studies as well as quantum-chemical calculations on isolated molecules and dimers are used to clarify the type of intermolecular interactions present as well as their influence on the fluorescence quantum yield and spectral properties of the material. The high luminescence efficiency in the solid state is ascribed to rotated chromophores, leading to an optically allowed lowest optical transition.