Coagulation of antibody-sensitized latexes in the presence of antigen

The paper describes a study of the kinetics and mechanism of the coagulation of two types of immunoassays using sensitized latexes. The positive response to the first test is based on the aggregation of the gamma globulin (IgG)-coated polystyrene latexes in the presence of IgM rheumatoid antigen. The second test is relative to the heteroaggregation of two types of sensitized latexes induced by the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). In the latter test, two identical polystyrene latexes bearing carboxylic acid surface groups were sensitized by covalent coupling of monoclonal antibodies specific for the αHCG determinant on one type of latex and for the βHCG determinant on the other type. Using the Coulter Counter method, the aggregate size distribution c(n) was determined as a function of the number n of elementary constituents, thus enabling calculation of the number N(t) and weight S(t) average sizes of the aggregates. The temporal variations of the average sizes were compared with typical situtions of reaction-limited aggregation processes in order to characterize the mechanism of aggregation induced by antibody–antigen reactions.     

New results on elements 111 and 112

Experiments on the synthesis and identification of the nuclei ²⁷²111 and ²⁷⁷112 were performed in order to confirm previous results. Three additional decay chains were measured in the reaction ⁶⁴Ni + ²⁰⁹Bi →²⁷³111^*. The study revealed considerably improved data on the decay chain originating from ²⁷²111. One additional chain was measured in the reaction ⁷⁰Zn + ²⁰⁸Pb →²⁷⁸112^*. The decay properties of the chain starting at ²⁷⁷112 are in excellent agreement with the second chain of the first experiment down to ²⁶⁵Sg, where the new chain ends by a previously unknown spontaneous-fission branch. A re-analysis of all the data on elements 110, 111, and 112 measured at GSI since 1994 (a total of 34 decay chains was investigated) revealed that for 2 chains (the second chain of ²⁶⁹110 measured in 1994 and the first chain of ²⁷⁷112 measured in 1996) the results of the new analysis differed from the previous one. In all other cases the earlier data are exactly reproduced. Received: 21 December 2001 / Accepted: 15 January 2002     

Enantioselective carbon–carbon bond forming reactions using fluorous chiral catalysts

Fluorous chiral BINOLs and BINAP were prepared and used as the ligands for an asymmetric addition of Et₂Zn to aromatic aldehydes and an asymmetric Heck reaction, respectively. The enantioselectivities were similar in homogeneous system to those of the original non-fluorous reactions. Consecutive reactions were examined by utilizing fluorous–organic biphase and fluorous solid phase extraction techniques. Enantioselectivities in consecutive reactions were close to that attained in the non-fluorous system. The solid phase extraction method also enabled us to perform a simultaneous screening procedure.     

Polymerization and depolymerization of fullerenes induced by hole injection from scanning tunneling microscope tips

Reversible polymerization and depolymerization reactions of fullerene (C₆₀) molecules are induced by tunnel injection of holes from tips of scanning tunneling microscopes similarly to the reactions induced by tunneling electrons. The bi-directional and bi-polar features of the hole-induced and electron-induced reactions can be interpreted by a unified model considering ionic reactions over symmetry-imposed barriers in the [2+2] cyclo-addition and the reverse reactions.     

Die Beeinflussung des Kristallhabitus beim chemischen Transport

On the Influence of Chemical Transport on the Habit of Crystals The chemical transport of silicon with silicon tetrachloride as transporting agent leads to crystals with octahedral shape. On the other hand in the presence of adsorbable impurities the transported silicon crystallizes in the shape of long needles. Chemical transport reactions of tellurium are successful with iodine or sulphur. The presence of adsorbable transporting agents has considerable influence on the habit of crystals.     

Exclusive charge exchange reaction pD↦n(pp) within the Bethe-Salpeter formalism

The exclusive charge exchange reaction pD↦n(pp) at intermediate and high energies is studied within the Bethe-Salpeter formalism. The final-state interaction in the detected pp pair at nearly zero excitation energy is described by the ¹ S ₀ component of the Bethe-Salpeter amplitude. Results of numerical calculations of polarization observables and differential cross-section persuade that, as in the non-relativistic case, this reaction i) can be utilized as a “relativistic deuteron polarimeter” and ii) delivers further information about the elementary nucleon-nucleon charge exchange amplitude. Received: 26 November 2002 / Accepted: 30 January 2003 / Published online: 29 April 2003