Effective moment of inertia in132Ce,134Nd and136Nd

The effective moment of inertiaI _eff ⁽²⁾ of¹³²Ce,¹³⁴Nd and¹³⁶Nd produced in⁴⁰Ar induced reactions has been deduced from continuumγ-ray spectra measured by sum spectrometer methods. Results concerning the deformation of these nuclei are obtained by comparison of the experimental data and calculations in the frame of a cranking Nilsson — Strutinsky model.     

Titrimetric microdetermination of salicylic, acetylsalicylic, and p-hydroxybenzoic acids by amplification reactions

A novel titrimetric method with amplification has been developed for the determination of 0.05–2.0 mg of salicylic, acetylsalicylic, or p-hydroxybenzoic acid. It depends on bromination of these compounds by bromine to tribromophenylhypobromite, which liberates iodine when treated with iodide. The liberated iodine is extracted with chloroform, reduced to iodide, oxidation of the resulting iodide with bromine, and iodometric titration of the iodate produced gives the sixfold amplification method. The coefficient of variation does not exceed 1% for above 0.5 mg of the studied compounds, but increases to 2.8% at the 0.05-mg level.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">parkin</Emphasis> counteracts symptoms in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> model of Parkinson's disease

Background

Parkinson's disease, a prevalent neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the reduction of dopaminergic neurons resulting in the loss of motor control, resting tremor, the formation of neuronal inclusions and ultimately premature death. Two inherited forms of PD have been linked to mutations in the α-synuclein and parkin genes. The parkin protein functions as an ubiquitin ligase targeting specific proteins for degradation. Expression of human α-synuclein in Drosophila neurons recapitulates the loss of motor control, the development of neuronal inclusions, degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the ommatidial array to provide an excellent genetic model of PD.

Results

To investigate the role of parkin, we have generated transgenic Drosophila that conditionally express parkin under the control of the yeast UAS enhancer. While expression of parkin has little consequence, co-expression of parkin with α-synuclein in the dopaminergic neurons suppresses the α-synuclein-induced premature loss of climbing ability. In addition directed expression of parkin in the eye counteracts the α-synuclein-induced degeneration of the ommatidial array. These results show that parkin suppresses the PD-like symptoms observed in the α-synuclein-dependent Drosophila model of PD.

Conclusion

The highly conserved parkin E3 ubiquitin ligase can suppress the damaging effects of human α-synuclein. These results are consistent with a role for parkin in targeting α-synuclein to the proteasome. If this relationship is conserved in humans, this suggests that up-regulation of parkin should suppress α-synucleinopathic PD. The development of therapies that regulate parkin activity may be crucial in the treatment of PD.

     

Liquid-crystalline phase behavior of a colloidal rod-plate mixture

The phase behavior of rod-plate mixtures was investigated using model systems containing unambiguously rod- and plate-shaped colloids. We find that the theoretically disputed biaxial nematic phase is unstable with respect to demixing into an isotropic and two uniaxial nematic phases. The phase behavior at very high densities is exceptionally rich and includes the coexistence of up to four different liquid crystalline phases, which stem from the coupling between the employed particle shapes and polydispersity.     

Pore growth in heavy ion-irradiated PET foils using a constructed ECE unit

A well performance Electrolytic Controlled Etching (ECE) unit has been designed and constructed in our laboratory. Low electric field strength of few volts and a 2 kHz wave signals has been applied across the electrodes that confined the 9 and 12 μm thick PET foils in the ECE unit. PET foils were exposed to fission fragments (FF_S) using ²⁵²Cf source. The dependence of different measurable parameters such as FF_S fluence (Φ), applied voltage (V), etching temperature (T) and etching concentration (C) on both track etch rate (V _T) and breakthrough time (T _B) have extensively been studied using the FF_S-irradiated PET foils. Various empirical relationships connecting the results of the present work have been extracted. Moreover, the constructed ECE technique has proven to be an encouraged time saving method in the development of trusting measurements comparing with others that might involve expensive sophisticated tools.     

Cross-sections for deuteron photo-disintegration from 139 to 832 MeV

The cross-sections for deuteron photo-disintegration have been measured at nine c.m. angles from 37 to 143 degrees. The minimum and maximum photon energies have been 139 and 832 MeV respectively. The results are in agreement with earlier data above 300 MeV, but are significantly larger below 200 MeV, the discrepancies being up to 50% at the lowest energies measured.     

Polarographic microdetermination of iron, manganese, lead, copper, bismuth, and tin in organic compounds : Application to analysis of pharmaceuticals

A micromethod for the polarographic estimation of Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Bi, and Sn in organometallic compounds is presented. The organic sample is decomposed using closed-flask combustion except for organotin compounds which require open-flask digestion. Pyrexglass spiral is used for mineralizing organically bound Fe, Pb, and Bi. Mixing with a flux prior to combustion is necessary for compounds containing Fe, Mn, or Bi. After combustion, a suitable supporting electrolyte is added and the cathodic reduction wave of the corresponding metal recorded. The same procedure is applied for the analysis of pharmaceuticals. The method is simple and rapid; one determination consumes less than 45 min for any of the metals reported. Results obtained are satisfactory and the average percent errors for 49 determinations are ± 0.38, ± 0.85, ± 0.42, ± 0.62, ± 0.46, and ± 0.30 for Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Bi, and Sn, respectively.