X‐ray reflectivity from curved liquid interfaces

X‐ray reflectivity studies of the structure of liquid–vapour and liquid–liquid interfaces at modern sources, such as free‐electron lasers, are currently impeded by the lack of dedicated liquid surface diffractometers. It is shown that this obstacle can be overcome by an alternative experimental approach that uses the natural curvature of a liquid drop for variation of the angle of incidence. Two modes of operation are shown: (i) sequential reflectivity measurements by a nanometre beam and (ii) parallel acquisition of large ranges of a reflectivity curve by micrometre beams. The feasibility of the two methods is demonstrated by studies of the Hg/vapour, H₂O/vapour and Hg/0.1 M NaF interface. The obtained reflectivity curves match the data obtained by conventional techniques up to 5α_c in micro‐beam mode and up to 35α_c in nano‐beam mode, allowing observation of the Hg layering peak.     

Über die Stereoselektivität der 9,9′-Spirobifluoren-kronenäther gegenüber α-Aminoalkoholen

Stereoselectivity of 9,9′-Spirobifluorene Crown Ethers towards α-Amino Alcohols Crown ethers I-VI were tested by partition experiments for their stereoselectivity towards α-amino alcohols 1–10. The stereoselectivity depends in a regular way on both the absolute and relative configuration of the crown ether and α-aminoalcohol. Comments are made on some high stereoselectivities.     

Aspects of Generalized Calogero Model

A multispecies model of Calogero type in D 1 dimensions is constructed. The model includes harmonic, two-body and three-body interactions. Using the underlying conformal SU(1,1) algebra, we find the exact eigenenergies corresponding to a class of the exact global collective states. Analyzing corresponding Fock space, we detect the universal critical point at which the model exhibits singular behavior.     

Interaction of humic acids with human DNA: proposed mechanisms and kinetics

Human DNA quantification by quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) has gained great importance in forensic DNA and ancient DNA studies. However, in such samples, DNA quantification is impaired by the frequently present humic acid (HA). We have previously shown that the addition of synthetic HA inhibits QRT-PCR. In this study we investigated the possible mechanisms of HA interaction with human DNA, and kinetics of QRT-PCR inhibition. In QRT-PCR with pure human DNA and no HA added, VMAX was 40. With DNA sample containing 4 microg/mL of HA, VMAX was 30.30 while the addition of extra Taq polymerase to the same sample changed VMAX into 38.91, amplifying between 80 and 90% of input DNA. The KM/VMAX ratio in all the samples remained constant, indicating that the mechanism of HA inhibition of QRT-PCR is uncompetitive by nature. Moreover, HA shifts the human DNA melting temperature point (Tm) from 75 to 87 degrees C and inhibits DNase I-mediated DNA cleavage, most probably affecting the enzyme's activity.     

Furo[3,2‐b]pyridine: A Privileged Scaffold for Highly Selective Kinase Inhibitors and Effective Modulators of the Hedgehog Pathway

Reported is the identification of the furo[3,2‐b]pyridine core as a novel scaffold for potent and highly selective inhibitors of cdc‐like kinases (CLKs) and efficient modulators of the Hedgehog signaling pathway. Initially, a diverse target compound set was prepared by synthetic sequences based on chemoselective metal‐mediated couplings, including assembly of the furo[3,2‐b]pyridine scaffold by copper‐mediated oxidative cyclization. Optimization of the subseries containing 3,5‐disubstituted furo[3,2‐b]pyridines afforded potent, cell‐active, and highly selective inhibitors of CLKs. Profiling of the kinase‐inactive subset of 3,5,7‐trisubstituted furo[3,2‐b]pyridines revealed sub‐micromolar modulators of the Hedgehog pathway.     

Fun and frustration with Calogero model

We review some algebraical (oscillator) aspects of N-body single-species and multispecies Calogero models in one dimension. We treat them as a particular cases of deformed harmonic oscillators and discuss the corresponding Fock spaces. Presented at the International Colloquium “Integrable Systems and Quantum Symmetries”, Prague, 16–18 June 2005.