Ricci and Matter Collineations of Locally Rotationally Symmetric Space-Times

A new method is presented for the determination of Ricci Collineations (RC) and Matter Collineations (MC) of a given spacetime, in the cases where the Ricci tensor and the energy momentum tensor are non-degenerate and have a similar form with the metric. This method reduces the problem of finding the RCs and the MCs to that of determining the KVs whereas at the same time uses already known results on the motions of the metric. We employ this method to determine all hypersurface homogeneous locally rotationally symmetric spacetimes, which admit proper RCs and MCs. We also give the corresponding collineation vectors. These results conclude a long due open problem, which has been considered many times partially in the literature.     

Comparative Photophysical Study of Disulfonated Aluminum Phthalocyanine in Unilamellar Vesicles and Leukemic K562 Cells

Abstract— The photophysical properties of cis -disulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPcS₂) in unilamellar vesicles (liposomes) of DL-a-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine have been measured. Both the fluorescence and triplet quantum yields decreased with increasing sensitizer concentration. The time-resolved fluorescence decays, analyzed by both the sum of exponentials and decay time distribution analyses, are compared with those reported for AlPcS₂ in leukemic K562 cells. Information on the pho-todynamic transport and localization mechanism has been obtained by drawing correlations between the two systems, indicating active transport of the phthalocyanine into tumor cells involving lysosomal accumulation.     

Neutron diffraction study of [H(4)Co(4)(C(5)Me(4)Et)(4)], a tetrahedral metal cluster complex with four face-bridging hydride ligands

A single-crystal neutron diffraction analysis of the cluster complex [H(4)Co(4)(C(5)Me(4)Et)(4)] was carried out on the new quasi-Laue diffractometer VIVALDI at the Institut Laue-Langevin. The structure consists of four face-bridging hydrides attached to a tetrahedral cobalt metal core. Average distances and angles in the core of the molecule are as follows: Co-Co = 2.571(8), Co-C = 2.158(6), Co-H = 1.749(7), H.H = 2.366(9) A; Co-H-Co = 94.6(3), H-Co-H = 85.1(3) degrees. The hydride ligands are located off the Co-Co-Co planes by an average distance of 0.923(8) A. It is suggested that the dimensions of the HCo(3) fragments found in this molecule provide reasonable estimates for analogous distances and angles associated with chemisorbed H atoms situated on the 3-fold hollows of a cobalt surface. Crystallographic details: space group P2(1)/a (monoclinic); a = 21.979(2), b = 10.924(1), c = 34.406(2) A; beta = 90.81(1) degrees; Z = 8. Final agreement factor: R(F) = 0.099 for 3779 reflections [I > 2sigma(I)] collected at 20 K.     

Periodic hexagonal mesostructured chalcogenides based on platinum and [SnSe4]4- and [SnTe4]4- precursors. Solvent dependence of nanopore and wall organization

Mesostructured chalcogenide-based materials with long-range order and semiconducting properties can be prepared using suitable molecular building blocks, linkage metal ions and surfactant molecules. In this paper we present surfactant templated, open framework platinum tin selenide and telluride materials assembled using K4SnQ4 (Q = Se, Te) salts and K2PtCl4 as precursors and a study of pore and wall organization. We find that materials prepared in water exhibit disordered pore organization, whereas those prepared in formamide are long-range ordered with hexagonal symmetry. In formamide the [SnQ4]4- anions undergo condensation-oligomerization reactions that produce different chalcogenido molecular species, whereas in water the anions remain intact. In addition to solvent, the pore organization and overall quality of the mesostructured materials strongly depend on the surfactant molecules, i.e., chain length and headgroup size. For example, highly ordered mesostructured platinum tin selenides with hexagonal symmetry were obtained using the hydroxyl-functionalized surfactants CnH2n+1N(CH3)(CH2CH2OH)2Br (n = 16, 18, and 20), but when the headgroup was triethylammonium, hexagonal pore order was achieved only for n = 20 and not for n = 16 and 18. The experimental results imply that in order to achieve highly ordered chalcogenide frameworks a single building anionic block might be insufficient. Finally, we also report the first examples of hexagonal mesostructured Pt/Sn/Te materials based on K4SnTe4 as the precursor. The tellurides behave differently for their selenium analogues and have very low energy band gaps, in the range 0.5-0.7 eV.     

Dynamic behavior of potentiometric ammonia-sensing probes in samples of high osmolarity

Results are presented for potentiometric ammonia gas-sensors which show that the response times increase significantly with age of the sensor when ammonium picrate is used as internal electrolyte and the samples have greater osmolarities than the internal electrolyte solution. A build-up of ammonium picrate crystals on the inner side of the gas-permeable membrane is responsible for this increasein response time. The use of ammonium chloride as internal electrolyte provides constant response times indepent of sample osmotic strength, and is recommended as a means of ensuring that optimal dynamic response characteristics are maintained.     

Cooperative hydrogen-bonding effects in a water square: a single-crystal neutron and partial atomic charges and hardness analysis study

Four isomorphous complexes of formula [M(L)(4)(H(2)O)(2)]SO(4).2H(2)O (M = Co, 1a; Ni, 1b; Cu, 1c; Zn, 1d) have been isolated and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction using the quasi-Laue diffractometer VIVALDI at the Institut Laue-Langevin as well as by thermogravimetric analysis. The structures contain a discrete, strongly hydrogen-bonded water tetramer which causes a significant distortion of the metal coordination sphere in each case. Partial atomic charges and hardness analysis (PACHA) calculations reveal that the shortest hydrogen bonds are not the strongest in this constrained, cyclic solid-state structure and show that the distortion at the metal center is caused by the drive to maintain the integrity of the water tetramer. The system undergoes a disorder-order transition on slow cooling that provides insight into the nature of communication between water squares.     

Grape tissue-based electrochemical sensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide

The use of grape tissue as a source of catalase for the determination of hydrogen peroxide is reported. A slice of grape tissue attached to the membrane of a Clark-type oxgen sensor was used to monitor the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide by catalase. At the steady state, the sensor responds linearly to hydrogen peroxide in the concentration range 1 × 10^?5–5 × 10^?4 M. The response time (T₉₀) was of the order of 1 min for this sensor. No interference was observed from ethanol, amino acids, glucose and lactic acid. The long-term stability of the grape tissue sensor was much better than previously reported immobilized enzyme and liver tissue-based hydrogen peroxide sensors.     

7-azasteroid analogues—I

Although 7-methoxy- and 6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-4-vinyl-isocarbostyrils could not be isolated and characterised, they have been generated in situ and shown to undergo cyclo-addition reactions with typical dienophiles. The enol acetate of 2-methyl-4-acetylisocarbostyril has also been trapped as its adduct with maleic anhydride and with p-benzoquinone.     

ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT-INDUCED FREE RADICAL FORMATION IN SKIN: AN ELECTRON PARAMAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDY

It has been suggested that ultraviolet light induces free radical formation in skin, leading to photoaging and cancer. We have demonstrated by electron paramagnetic resonance that the ascorbate free radical is naturally present in unexposed skin at a very low steady state level. When a section of SKH-1 hairless mouse skin in an EPR cavity is exposed to UV light (4,500 J m⁻²−1, Xe lamp, 305 nm cutoff and IR filters), the ascorbate free radical signal intensity increases. These results indicate that UV light increases free radical oxidative stress, consistent with ascorbate's role as the terminal, small-molecule antioxidant. The initial radicals produced by UV light would have very short lifetimes at room temperature; thus, we have applied EPR spin trapping techniques to detect these radicals. Using α-[4-pyridyl 1-oxide]-N- tert -butyl nitrone (POBN), we have for the first time spin trapped a UV light-produced carbon-centered free radical from intact skin. The EPR spectra exhibited hyperfine splittings that are characteristic of POBN/alkyl radicals, a^N= 15.56 G and a^H= 2.70 G, possibly generated from membrane lipids as a result of β-scission of lipid alkoxyl radicals. Iron can act as a catalyst for free radical oxidative reactions; chronic exposure of skin to UV radiation causes increased iron deposition. Using our spin trapping system, we have shown that topical application of the iron-chelator, Desferal, to a section of skin reduces the UV light-induced POBN adduct radical signal. These results provide direct evidence for free radical generation and a role for iron in UV light-induced dermatopathology. We suggest that iron chelators can serve as photoprotective agents by preventing these oxidations.     

On the elastic fibre pull-out problem: asymptotic and numerical results

Summary In this paper we present some asymptotic results for the pull out of a nearly-rigid fibre from an elastic matrix. The asymptotic results are accurate toO( ²), where=(ln 2l/R)^–1, if the fibre is pull-out from a semi-infinite matrix, and toO(h ²/l ²) if the fibre is pull-out from a matrix contained in a cylindrical container of radiush. Here R andl are the fibre radius and length, respectively. An interpolation formula is suggested which yields correct asymptotic behaviour at bothh/l=0 andh/l . These asymptotic results are confirmed by numerical methods to at least an aspect ratio ofl/R9. We also report some numerical confirmation of a previous approximate result for the pull out of a rigid fibre with an enlarged spherical end.

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Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit geben wir einige asymptotische Ergebnisse für das Ausziehen einer beinahe starren Faser aus einer elastischen Matrix. Die asymptotischen Resultate sind aufO( ²) genau, wo=(ln 2l/R)^–1 bedeutet, falls die Faser aus einer halbunendlichen Matrix ausgezogen wird. Sie sind aufO(h ²/l ²) genau, falls die Faser aus einer Matrix ausgezogen wird, welche einen Zylinder vom Radiush füllt. Eine Interpolationsformel, die das richtige asymptotische Verhalten fürh/l=0 undh/l aufweist, wird vorgeschlagen. Diese asymptotischen Ergebnisse werden durch numerische Methoden mindestens bis geometrische Verhältnisse vonl/R9 bestätigt. Wir berichten ebenfalls über eine gewisse numerische Bestätigung eines früheren approximativen Resultats für das Ausziehen einer starren Faser mit einem vergrößerten sphärischen Kopf.