LIDAR mapping of ozone-episode dynamics in Paris and intercomparison with spot analyzers Supplementary material available at http://link.springer.de/journals/apb

Continuous mapping of an ozone episode in Paris in June 1999 has been performed using a differential absorption lidar system. The 2D ozone concentration vertical maps recorded over 33 h at the Champ de Mars are compiled in a video clip that gives access to local photochemical dynamics with unprecedented precision. The lidar data are compared over the whole period with point monitors located at 0-, 50-, and 300-m altitudes on the Eiffel Tower. Very good agreement is found when spatial resolution, acquisition time, and required concentration accuracy are optimized. Sensitivity to these parameters for successful intercomparison in urban areas is discussed. Received: 11 February 2002 / Published online: 14 March 2002     

2-Trimethylsilylethyl sulfides in the von Braun cyanogen bromide reaction: selective preparation of thiocyanates and application to nucleoside chemistry

Mixed 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl sulfides were synthesized and used in the von Braun cyanogen bromide reaction for preparing selectively thiocyanates in high yield. We show here that this cleavage reaction is highly selective in methanol in comparison with the reaction of the corresponding non-silyl sulfide analogues. This reaction was applied to the synthesis of nucleosidic thiocyanates such as the new nucleosides 14 and 18 in the search for mechanism-based inhibitors of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase and bioactive molecules. The selective cleavage is possible for sulfides bearing hydroxyl functions and aromatic rings. The reactions of cyanogen bromide as cyanating and brominating agent were observed for the first time under the same conditions with the naphthoxyhexyl 2-trimethylsilylethyl sulfide 7, which, treated with cyanogen bromide in dichloromethane, led selectively to the p-bromonaphthoxyhexyl thiocyanate 10 in 89% yield. Another reaction induced by cyanogen bromide was observed in dichloromethane with the 2-(trimethylsilylethyl)thio nucleoside 13, which gives the corresponding symmetrical disulfide 21 in good yield.     

Acrodontiolamide,a Chlorinated Fungal Metabolite from Acrodontium salmoneum

Acrodontiolamide, a new fungal metabolite has been isolated from the cell-free culture medium of Acrodontium salmoneum. Its purification was achieved by centrifugal TLC on silica gel and the structural analysis was based on spectroscopic data relative to both the natural product and its diacetyl derivative. This secondary metabolite, identified with 3-(p-nitrophenyl)-3-hydroxy-4-dichloromethoxy-isobutanamide exhibited antifungal properties.     

5-Arylmethylene-2,4-imidazolidinediones and 5-arylmethylene-2-thioxo-4-imidazolidinones derivatives: stereochemistry elucidation by H and C NMR

Derivatives of 5-arylmethylene-2,4-imidazolidinediones and 5-arylmethylene-2-thioxo-4-imidazolidinones were synthesized as potential aldose reductase inhibitors (ARI). The Z/E configuration was elucidated by homonuclear NOE difference spectra and by proton-carbon coupling constant measurement from ¹³C coupled spectra using GATEDEC and SFDEC programs.     

Consistency of Inhalatory Breathing Patterns in Professional Operatic Singers

Respiratory behavior is generally considered important to voice function, the assumption being that it affects the voice source. Accurate and consistent control of the voice source is particularly important in professional operatic singing. An erratic behavior of a factor influencing voice production is incompatible with a well-controlled vocal behavior. We analyzed the consistency of inhalatory breathing patterns during singing in five professional operatic singers, using the same material as in a previous investigation of phonatory breathing patterns. Rib cage (RC) and abdominal wall (AW) movements were recorded by respiratory inductive plethysmography. Consistency was analyzed in terms of the mean correlation between three takes of ten musical phrases. Results revealed a high consistency in lung volume (LV) change and RC movements in all singers and in AW movements in three singers. Consistency across different phrases was slightly lower. The results are compatible with the idea that inhalatory behavior is important to voice source in singing. A high correlation between LV change and RC movement was found in all singers and between LV change and AW movement in three. The contribution to LV change from RC was greater than that from AW in all singers.