Study of the levels in 167Tm by the 165Ho(α, 2nγ)167Tm reaction

Gamma-ray spectra following the ¹⁶⁵Ho(α, 2n)¹⁶⁷Tm reaction have been studied using different semiconductor detector systems including a Compton suppression spectrometer. Approxi- mately 400 transitions have been observed in the energy range 60 to 1250 keV and 4 × 10⁷ γγ coincidence events have been recorded. The angular distributions of the more intense γ-rays have been determined. The level scheme of ¹⁶⁷Tm has been extended in several respects: The four previously known rotational bands based on the Nilsson orbitais $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[411]}$, $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[404]}$, $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[523]}$ an $\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[541]}$ have been extended up to spin values $\text{31}\text{2}$, $\text{31}\text{2}$, $\text{31}\text{2}$, $\text{33}\text{2}$ respective based on the $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[411]}$ and $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[402]}$ orbitals have been established for which only few levels were known previously. Finally two hitherto unknown rotational bands have been found for which we propose the assignments $\text{{}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{[404]; K + 2}}$ and $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[532] + {}\text{1}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{[541]; K?2}}$. Coriolis coup calculations are presented. The value of $\text{(1?δ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>K,\; </mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{b}{}_0\text{) (g}{}_{\mathrm{K}}\text{?g}{}_{\mathrm{R}}\text{)/Q}{}_0$ was determined for three bands from branching ratios and from angular distributions.     

Polystyrene–polyisoprene block copolymers in dilute solutions: Characterization of the conformation by small-angle neutron scattering

The variable-contrast method in small-angle neutron scattering has been applied to a study of the conformation of polystyrene–polyisoprene block copolymers in dilute solution. The experimental results reveal no intramolecular segregation effect in dilute solutions in toluene and cyclohexane.     

Characterization of a new norfloxacin metabolite monitored during a bioequivalence study by means of mass spectrometry and quantum computation

A bioequivalence study of two formulations containing norfloxacin was used for identification and assay of the metabolite of norfloxacin in human serum samples. The bioequivalence study was based on an analytical method using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The plasmatic profile of metabolite was similar to norfloxacin for both formulations. Three plasma fractions of norfloxacin metabolite from a volunteer were isolated by liquid chromatography and investigated by atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization mass-spectrometry. The structure of norfloxacin metabolite (7-aminoethylenamino-6-fluoro-4-hydroxy quinoline-3-carboxylic acid) was identified taking into account also the mass spectrometry investigations achieved for norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin (used as internal standard for the analytical method). A theoretical procedure based on quantum chemical calculations has been also used to explain the mass fragmentation in molecules of norfloxacin metabolite that differ from the molecule of norfloxacin.     

Some algebraic invariants related to mixed product ideals

We compute some algebraic invariants (e.g. depth, Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity) for a special class of monomial ideals, namely the ideals of mixed products. As a consequence, we characterize the Cohen-Macaulay ideals of mixed products. Received: 25 October 2007     

Recent advances in bioelectrochemical detection of E. coli bacteria in saline buffers and spiked real samples using traditional and nanostructured active substrates

A rapid and cost-effective method to specifically identify and quantify pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria in aqueous samples and food products is highly recommended to avoid the degradation of human health that can unfortunately lead to fatal cases. To overcome these borderline situations, portable and easy-to-use screening devices are needed for the non-expert public and confirmed by medical personnel/physicians who can quickly guide/prescribe antibiotic treatments. In such a context, nanotechnologies are very promising and useful tools due to the remarkable optical, chemical and physical properties of biocompatible nanomaterials deposited or synthesized on traditional solid electrodes that greatly improve the detection limit and the selectivity of nanostructured-based biosensors. With this in mind, this review summarizes the latest advances in the bioelectrochemical detection of E. coli and its related products using different biosensor configurations in saline buffers and spiked real samples, namely food products (milk, fruits, vegetables), body fluids (blood, urine, swine feces) and river water.     

Control of calcium oxalate crystal growth by face-specific adsorption of an osteopontin phosphopeptide

Mineral-associated proteins have been proposed to regulate many aspects of biomineralization, including the location, type, orientation, shape, and texture of crystals. To understand how proteins achieve this exquisite level of control, we are studying the interaction between the phosphoprotein osteopontin (OPN) and the biomineral calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM). In the present study, we have synthesized peptides corresponding to amino acids 220-235 of rat bone OPN (pSHEpSTEQSDAIDpSAEK), one of several highly phosphorylated, aspartic-, and glutamic acid-rich sequences found in the protein. To investigate the role of phosphorylation in interaction with crystals, peptides containing no (P0), one (P1), or all three (P3) phosphates were prepared. Using a novel combination of confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we show that these peptides adsorb preferentially to {100} faces of COM and inhibit growth of these faces in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. To characterize the mechanism of adsorption of OPN peptides to COM, we have performed the first atomic-scale molecular-dynamics simulation of a protein-crystal interaction. P3 adsorbs to the {100} face much more rapidly than P1, which in turn adsorbs more rapidly than P0. In all cases, aspartic and glutamic acid, not phosphoserine, are the amino acids in closest contact with the crystal surface. These studies have identified a COM face-specific adsorption motif in OPN and delineated separate roles for carboxylate and phosphate groups in inhibition of crystal growth by mineral-associated phosphoproteins. We propose that the formation of close-range, stable, and face-specific interactions is a key factor in the ability of phosphoproteins to regulate biomineralization processes.     

Spectroscopic analysis of the riboflavin—serum albumins interaction on silver nanoparticles

Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) supported on oxides thin films are commonly used as model catalysts for studies of heterogeneous catalysis. Several 4d and 5d metal NPs (for example, Pd, Pt and Au) grown on alumina, ceria and titania have shown strong metal support interaction (SMSI), for instance the encapsulation of the NPs by the oxide. The SMSI plays an important role in catalysis and is very dependent on the support oxide used. The present work investigates the growth mechanism and atomic structure of Rh NPs supported on epitaxial magnetite Fe₃O₄(111) ultrathin films prepared on Pd(111) using the Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) technique. The iron oxide and the Rh NPs were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low-energy electron diffraction and photoelectron diffraction (PED). The combined XPS and PED results indicate that Rh NPs are metallic, cover approximately 20 % of the iron oxide surface and show height distribution ranging 3–5 ML (monolayers) with essentially a bulk fcc structure.     

An agent-based model for the bibliometric h-index

We model a virtual scientific community in which authors publish and cite articles. Citations are attributed according to a preferential attachment mechanism. From the numerical simulations, the h-index can be computed. This bottom-up approach reproduces well real bibliometric data. We consider two versions of our model. (1) The single-scientist is controlled by two parameters which can be tuned to reproduce the value of the h-index of many real scientists. Moreover, this model shows how the h-index grows with the number of citations, for a fixed number of articles. We also define an average h-index that can be used to compare the scientific productivity of institutions of different sizes. (2) The multi-scientist model considers a population of scientists and allows us to study the impact of removing citations from the low h-index researchers on the community. Simulations on real bibilometric data, as well as the predictions of the model, show that the h-index eco-system can be strongly affected by such a filtering.     

On the Fluorescence of Luminol in a Silver Nanoparticles Complex

The photophysical properties of luminol in a silver nanoparticles complex have been studied by steady-state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The effect of the serum albumin on the luminol fluorescence in the silver nanoparticles has been also investigated. It was found that the fluorescence quantum yield value of luminol in a silver nanoparticles complex is ??=?0.00407. The decrease of the average fluorescence lifetime value of the luminol in the silver nanoparticles complex was found to be low, <τ>?=?1.712 ns. The luminol does not bind to the serum albumins in the presence of silver nanoparticles. The formation of a new species of luminol on silver nanoparticles is discussed. The results have influence regarding the use of luminol as an assay for bio-analytical applications.