Polarographic determination of α-amylase activity

The enzyme α-amylase splits blue starch in fragments bearing electroactive groups which exhibit two waves in the pulse polarograms. This behaviour is the basis of the polagraphic determination of bacterial and human serum α-amylase activity. The differential pulse mode is more sensitive by a factor of 25 as compared with normal pulse polarography. With serum α-amylase, protein adsorption disturbs the determination of low activities.     

Molecular structures,vibrational assignments and barriers to pseudorotation of gaseous niobium pentachloride and tantalum pentachloride from electron diffraction data

The pentachlorides of niobium and tantalum have trigonal bipyramidal structures (D_3hsymmetry) with thermal average axial bonds, r_α, longer than the equatorial ones by 0.097(9) and 0.142(5) Å, respectively. The equatorial bonds are r(Nb—Cl) = 2.241(4) and r(Ta—Cl) = 2.227(3) Å. Standard deviations are given. Calculated amplitudes of vibration for the e' type of bending frequencies assigned as v₆ (equatorial in-plane bend) < v₇ (axial—equatorial bend) agree significantly better with the experimental vibrational amplitudes than do amplitudes computed for the opposite assignment. Assuming an analytical quartic-harmonic potential for the pseudorotational motion of the molecules, barriers to pseudorotation of 1.5(0.7) and 1.2(0.6) kcal mol^?1 are estimated from the electron diffraction data for NbCl₅ and TaCl₅, respectively. Effects from interatomic multiple scattering are included in the theoretical intensities, and are found to be of some importance to the results.     

Microwave spectrum,structure, and chemical bonding of trimethylbromosilane

The microwave spectrum of trimethylbromosilane (trimethylsilylbromide) has been investigated in the 26.5–40.0-GHz region. Spectra of several isotopic species have been observed, including the previously unreported spectrum of the ¹H¹²C³⁰Si⁸¹Br species, which yielded a B rotational constant of 1440.92 ± 0.02 MHz. From the experimental data it has been possible to derive the following structural parameters: SiBr = 2.235 ± 0.002 Å, SiC = 1.856 ± 0.010 Å, and ∠CSiBr = 107.5 ± 0.1°. The results have been compared to other relevant data and discussed in terms of prevailing chemical bonding principles.     

Sizing up the competition: quantifying the influence of the mental lexicon on auditory and visual spoken word recognition

Much research has explored how spoken word recognition is influenced by the architecture and dynamics of the mental lexicon (e.g., Luce and Pisoni, 1998; McClelland and Elman, 1986). A more recent question is whether the processes underlying word recognition are unique to the auditory domain, or whether visually perceived (lipread) speech may also be sensitive to the structure of the mental lexicon (Auer, 2002; Mattys, Bernstein, and Auer, 2002). The current research was designed to test the hypothesis that both aurally and visually perceived spoken words are isolated in the mental lexicon as a function of their modality-specific perceptual similarity to other words. Lexical competition (the extent to which perceptually similar words influence recognition of a stimulus word) was quantified using metrics that are well-established in the literature, as well as a statistical method for calculating perceptual confusability based on the phi-square statistic. Both auditory and visual spoken word recognition were influenced by modality-specific lexical competition as well as stimulus word frequency. These findings extend the scope of activation-competition models of spoken word recognition and reinforce the hypothesis (Auer, 2002; Mattys et al., 2002) that perceptual and cognitive properties underlying spoken word recognition are not specific to the auditory domain. In addition, the results support the use of the phi-square statistic as a better predictor of lexical competition than metrics currently used in models of spoken word recognition.     

Search for short-lived particles below charm threshold

We have searched for the production by virtual photons of short-lived particles that exhibit muonic decay. We used Brookhaven's 10.5 GeV/c muon beam and examined the two and three-muon final states. The sample of 158 trimuon events is due almost entirely to QED tridents. The sample of 673 dimuons can be accounted for in part by asymmetric tridents and in part by the decay of π and K mesons. We obtain an upper limit for the production of other short-lived particles of the order of Bδ < 150 pb/nucleon, where B is the branching ratio for muonic decay. From the trident sample we establish that muons obey Fermi-Dirac statistics at the level of 8 standard deviations.     

Shape‐directed platinum nanoparticle synthesis: nanoscale design of novel catalysts

Platinum‐based catalytic materials have received significant attention, particularly in the shape and size control of faceted materials for catalysis. More recently, there has been a rapid increase in the number of reports of successful preparations in this field; however, a fundamental understanding of controlled growth towards catalytic material design is essential for future implementation and broad application. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent findings reported since 2009, focusing on methods for shape control as well as the effects of exposed surface facets on select catalytic reactions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Towards a Useful Philosophy of Biochemistry: Sketches and Examples

Scientific development influences philosophical thought, and vice versa. If philosophy is to be of any use to the production, evaluation or application of biochemical knowledge, biochemistry will have to explicate its needs. This paper concentrates on the need for a philosophical analysis of methodological challenges in biochemistry, above all the problematic relation between in vitro experiments and the desire for in vivo knowledge. This problem receives much attention within biochemistry, but the focus is on practical detail. It is discussed how a theoretical analysis can go beyond a naïve understanding of scientific success and failure in such cases. Several examples are presented to elucidate this issue, including the methodological implications of the precautionary principle, the possible interplay between theoretical methodology of biochemistry and the science studies, and the methodological complexities related to experimental protocol standardisation and use of instruments and kits.