Current density maps, magnetizability, and nuclear magnetic shielding tensors of bis-heteropentalenes. II. Furo-furan Isomers

Magnetic susceptibility and nuclear magnetic shielding at the nuclei of bis-heteropentalenes formed by two furan units ([2,3-b], [3,2-b], [3,4-b], and [3,4-c] isomers) have been computed by several approximated techniques and a large Gaussian basis set to achieve near Hartree–Fock estimates. Ab initio models of the ring currents induced by a magnetic field normal to the molecular plane were obtained for the three isomeric systems of higher symmetry, showing that the π electrons give rise to intense diamagnetic circulation. The π currents are responsible for enhanced magnetic anisotropy and strong out-of-plane proton deshielding. The theoretical findings are used to build up a “diatropicity matrix” for two fused five-membered heterocyclic [email protected] ; [email protected]

Role of toxin activation on binding and pore formation activity of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3 toxins in membranes of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)

AbstractBinding and pore formation constitute key steps in the mode of action of Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxins.In this work, we present a comparative analysis of toxin-binding capacities of proteolytically processed Cry3A, Cry3B and Cry3C toxins to brush border membranes (BBMV) of the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata (CPB), a major potato coleopteran-insect pest. Competition experiments showed that the three Cry3 proteolytically activated toxins share a common binding site. Also heterologous competition experiments showed that Cry3Aa and Cry3Ca toxins have an extra binding site that is not shared with Cry3Ba toxin. The pore formation activity of the three different Cry3 toxins is analysed. High pore-formation activities were observed in Cry3 toxins obtained by proteolytical activation with CPB BBMV in contrast to toxins activated with either trypsin or chymotrypsin proteases. The pore-formation activity correlated with the formation of soluble oligomeric structures. Our data support that, similarly to the Cry1A toxins, the Cry3 oligomer is formed after receptor binding and before membrane insertion, forming a pre-pore structure that is insertion-competent

Changes in cannabinoid receptor binding and mRNA levels in several brain regions of aged rats

AbstractWe have recently found that cannabinoid receptor binding and gene expression markedly decreased in extrapyramidal structures of aged rats. The present study was designed to analyze the possible existence of similar aging-induced changes in cannabinoid receptor binding and gene expression in brain regions other than extrapyramidal areas, but that also contain a significant population of cannabinoid receptors, such as the cerebellum, hippocampal structures, limbic and hypothalamic nuclei, the cerebral cortex and others. To this end, we analyzed cannabinoid receptor binding, using autoradiography, and cannabinoid receptor mRNA levels, using in situ hybridization, in slide-mounted brain sections obtained from young (3 month old) and aged (>2 year old) rats. Results were as follows. In the cerebellum, aged rats exhibited a marked decrease in cannabinoid receptor binding in the molecular layer (−33.3%), although accompanied by no changes in mRNA levels in the granular layer. In the cerebral cortex, a small, although statistically significant, decrease in binding was found in the deep layer (VI) (−18.3%) of aged rats, whereas no changes were found in the superficial layer (I). As in the case of the cerebellum, mRNA levels did not change in the cerebral cortex layers (II–III and V–VI). The different regions of the Ammon’s horn of the hippocampus exhibited similar cannabinoid receptor binding levels in aged and young rats. Interestingly, mRNA levels decreased in aged rats to a small, but statistically significant, extent (CA1: −26.1%; CA2: −21.6%; CA3: −14.4%). This was also seen in another hippocampal structure, the dentate gyrus (−14.6%), although in this region binding levels increased in aged rats (+28.4%). Two hypothalamic structures, the arcuate nucleus and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, exhibited decreased cannabinoid receptor binding in aged rats (−31.1% and −30.3%, respectively), but this was not seen in the medial preoptic area. This was accompanied by no changes in mRNA levels in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. In the limbic structures, aged rats exhibited similar binding levels to young rats. This was seen in the nucleus accumbens, septum nuclei and basolateral amygdaloid nucleus. However, mRNA levels slightly decreased in the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (−13.4%), whereas they were not altered in the septum nuclei. Finally, other brain structures, such as the central gray substance and the brainstem, exhibited similar binding levels in aged and young rats. However, it is important to note that mRNA levels increased significantly (+211.2%) in the brainstem of aged rats, an area where the levels of binding and mRNA were very low in young rats. This marked increase may be related to an increase in the presence of glial elements in this region, as revealed by the increase in the immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein observed in the brainstem of aged rats as compared to young animals. In summary, senescence was associated with changes in cannabinoid receptors in the cerebellum, the cerebral cortex, limbic and hypothalamic structures, the hippocampus and other brain regions. However, the changes observed (i) were not as marked and relevant as those early reported in extrapyramidal areas, and (ii) exhibited regional differences that might be attributed to the different roles played by these receptors in each region. Of particular relevance by their magnitude were the aging-induced decrease in binding found in the cerebellum and the hypothalamus, and the increase in mRNA levels observed in the brainstem. The latter might be related to an increase in the presence of glial cells which might contain cannabinoid receptor mRNA

Growth and optical characterization of indirect-gap AlxGa1−xAs alloys

Nonintentionally doped AlxGa1−xAs layers with 0.38 x 0.84 were grown on (100) GaAs substrates by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) under near-equilibrium conditions. The crystalline quality of the samples was studied by photoluminescence at 2 K and room temperature Raman spectroscopy. The peculiar behavior in the photoluminescence intensities of the indirect bound exciton line and the donor–acceptor pair transition is explained from the evolution of the silicon donor binding energy according to the aluminum composition. It was also possible to observe the excitonic transition corresponding to the AlxGa1−xAs/GaAs interface, despite the disorder and other factors which are normally involved when growing high-aluminum-content layers by this technique. Furthermore, Raman measurements show the quadratic variations of longitudinal optical phonon frequencies with aluminum concentration in good agreement with previous experimental results. In this work we show that high quality indirect-gap AlxGa1−xAs samples can be grown by LPE under near-equilibrium [email protected]

Nasca Lines: A Mystery wrapped in an Enigma

We analyze the geometrical structure of the astonishing Nasca geoglyphs in terms of their fractal dimension with the idea of dating these manifestations of human cultural engagements in relation to one another. Our findings suggest that the first delineated images consist of straight, parallel lines and that having sophisticated their abilities, Nasca artist moved on to the design of more complex structures.Comment: 6 pages, 1 color figure and 2 graphs. To appear in Chao

A thermophysical study of the melting process in alkyl chain metal n-alkanoates: The thallium (I) series

The peculiar thermal behavior of the thallium(I) n-alkanoates series (consisting in several transitions between polymorphic and mesomorphic phases) in comparison with other metallic n-alkanoates series is stated. The allowance of highly accurate adiabatic heat capacity data permits a study of the CH2CH2 contributions to the lattice heat capacity curve at low temperature. Moreover, in this series an anomalous gradual enhancement of the lattice heat capacity has been interpreted from vibrational spectroscopy results as a noncooperative effect due to the internal hindered rotation of the alkyl chain (formation of gauche defects, even in the solid state). The thermodynamics of the “stepwise melting process” from the totally ordered solid at low temperature to the isotropic liquid is based on a revised lattice heat-capacity curve. This was used to evaluate the energy and entropy not only of the clear first order transitions present in the series but also of the described noncooperative effect. The CH2CH2 enthalpy and entropy contribution for this series is estimated and a comparison with the published values for other series is carried out. Moreover, the texture of the mesophases is revealed by polarized light microscopy. © 1999 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69602/2/JCPSA6-111-8-3590-1.pd

The ZEUS Forward Plug Calorimeter with Lead-Scintillator Plates and WLS Fiber Readout

A Forward Plug Calorimeter (FPC) for the ZEUS detector at HERA has been built as a shashlik lead-scintillator calorimeter with wave length shifter fiber readout. Before installation it was tested and calibrated using the X5 test beam facility of the SPS accelerator at CERN. Electron, muon and pion beams in the momentum range of 10 to 100 GeV/c were used. Results of these measurements are presented as well as a calibration monitoring system based on a $^{60}$Co source.Comment: 38 pages (Latex); 26 figures (ps

Self energies of the pion and the delta isobar from the ^3He(e,e'pi^+)^3H reaction

In a kinematically complete experiment at the Mainz microtron MAMI, pion angular distributions of the $^3$He(e,e'$\pi^+)^3$H reaction have been measured in the excitation region of the $\Delta$ resonance to determine the longitudinal ($L$), transverse ($T$), and the $LT$ interference part of the differential cross section. The data are described only after introducing self-energy modifications of the pion and $\Delta$-isobar propagators. Using Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT) to extrapolate the pion self energy as inferred from the measurement on the mass shell, we deduce a reduction of the $\pi^+$ mass of $\Delta m_{\pi^+} = (-1.7^{+ 1.7}_{- 2.1})$ MeV/c$^2$ in the neutron-rich nuclear medium at a density of $\rho = (0.057^{+ 0.085}_{- 0.057})$ fm$^{-3}$. Our data are consistent with the $\Delta$ self energy determined from measurements of $\pi^0$ photoproduction from $^4$He and heavier nuclei.Comment: Elsart, 12 pages and 4 figures, Correspondent: Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Achim Richter, [email protected], submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Search for Anomalous Couplings in the Higgs Sector at LEP

Anomalous couplings of the Higgs boson are searched for through the processes e^+ e^- -> H gamma, e^+ e^- -> e^+ e^- H and e^+ e^- -> HZ. The mass range 70 GeV < m_H < 190 GeV is explored using 602 pb^-1 of integrated luminosity collected with the L3 detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies sqrt(s)=189-209 GeV. The Higgs decay channels H -> ffbar, H -> gamma gamma, H -> Z\gamma and H -> WW^(*) are considered and no evidence is found for anomalous Higgs production or decay. Limits on the anomalous couplings d, db, Delta(g1z), Delta(kappa_gamma) and xi^2 are derived as well as limits on the H -> gamma gamma and H -> Z gamma decay rates