2,679 research outputs found

    Surface Grafting of Poly(L-glutamates). 3. Block Copolymerization

    Get PDF
    This paper describes for the first time the synthesis of surface-grafted AB-block copolypeptides, consisting of poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG) as the A-block and poly(γ-methyl L-glutamate) (PMLG) as the B-block. Immobilized primary amine groups of (γ-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APS) on silicon wafers initiated the ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides of glutamic acid esters (NCAs). After removal of the BLG-NCA monomer solution after a certain reaction time, the amine end groups of the formed PBLG blocks acted as initiators for the second monomers. This method provides the possibility of making layered structures of surface-grafted block copolymers with tuned properties. Ellipsometry and small-angle X-ray reflection (SAXR) measurements revealed the thickness of the polypeptide layers ranging from 45-100 Å of the first block to 140-270 Å for the total block copolypeptides. The chemical composition of the blocks was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In addition, Fourier transform infrared transmission spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed that the polypeptide main chains of both blocks consisted of pure R-helices. The average orientation of the helices ranging from 22-42° with respect to the substrate within the first block to 31-35° in the second block could be derived with FT-IR as well.

    Surface Grafting of Poly(L-glutamates). 2. Helix Orientation

    Get PDF
    In this paper the average helix orientation of surface-grafted poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG), poly(γ-methyl L-glutamate) (PMLG), and poly(γ-methyl L-glutamate)-co-(γ-n-stearyl L-glutamate) (PMLGSLG 70/30) was investigated by means of FT-IR transmission spectroscopy. The theoretical relation between the average tilt angle (θ) and the absorption peak areas of three different backbone amide bands could be calculated because their transition dipole moment directions with respect to the helix axis were known. From the normalized absorptions, the average tilt angles of grafted helices of PBLG, PMLG, and PMLGSLG 70/30 were determined. The somewhat larger average angle of PMLG helices of 35 ± 5° with respect to the substrate compared to the value of 32 ± 5° of PBLG was due to the higher grafting density of PMLG. Because of the smaller helix diameter as a result of the smaller size of the methyl side group, more PMLG helices grew on the same surface area. Sterical hindrance and unfavorable polar interactions between unidirectional aligned helices forced the PMLG helices in a more upright arrangement. The even more perpendicular orientation of PMLGSLG 70/30 (48 ± 6°) could be the result of incorporation of mainly γ-methyl L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (MLG-NCA) monomers during the initiation step. Incorporation of the much larger γ-n-stearyl L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (SLG-NCA) monomers afterward lead to enlarged angles with respect to the substrate. Due to swelling, a pronounced change in helix orientation of grafted PMLGSLG 70/30 in n-hexadecane was observed, resulting in an almost perpendicular helix orientation.

    Performance and carcass traits of crossbred cattle raised in pastures supplemented or not with virginiamycin.

    Get PDF
    he aim of this study was to assess performance and carcass traits of crossbred cattle raised grazing tropical grasses, receiving supplement with or without virginiamycin (VM). Steers (n = 49) and heifers (n = 56) produced from matting Nellore, ½ Nellore x ½ Angus and ½ Nellore x ½ Caracu dams with Braford, Charbray and Caracu sires were raised grazing tropical grasses ( Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) from 9 to 20 mo of age. The animals were divided into eight paddocks of eight hectares each, with care to form groups containing individuals of all genetic groups and balanced in age and average body weight (BW). During the dry season (July to October) cattle received protein supplements containing (n = 52) or not VM (n = 53), formulated for intake of 1 g kg -1 of BW and during the rainy season (November to June) cattle received mineral mixtures containing (n = 52) or not VM (n = 53). The VM was included in the supplements to provide an intake of 45 mg 100 kg -1 of BW. Supplements were provided in open troughs ad libitum and intake was evaluated by weighing monthly leftovers

    Equidistribution of Heegner Points and Ternary Quadratic Forms

    Get PDF
    We prove new equidistribution results for Galois orbits of Heegner points with respect to reduction maps at inert primes. The arguments are based on two different techniques: primitive representations of integers by quadratic forms and distribution relations for Heegner points. Our results generalize one of the equidistribution theorems established by Cornut and Vatsal in the sense that we allow both the fundamental discriminant and the conductor to grow. Moreover, for fixed fundamental discriminant and variable conductor, we deduce an effective surjectivity theorem for the reduction map from Heegner points to supersingular points at a fixed inert prime. Our results are applicable to the setting considered by Kolyvagin in the construction of the Heegner points Euler system

    Relationships among internal fat depots and subcutaneous fat in sheep.

    Get PDF
    The understanding of the relationships among the different adipose tissue depots as well as accurately predicting their masses is critical for animal growth modeling. Thus, the aims of this study were 1) to evaluate the phenotypic correlations among internal fat masses and subcutaneous fat thickness in sheep and 2) to predict the internal total fat mass using KPH fat weight and subcutaneous fat thickness information.Edição dos trabalhos do: ADSA-PSA-AMPA-ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS JOINT ANNUAL MEETING, 2012, Phoenix-AR. Small Ruminant: Production.T370

    Crossbreeding applied to systems of beef cattle production to improve performance traits and carcass quality.

    Get PDF
    Crossbreeding represents an important technique to improve growth, beef quality and adaptability in beef production systems in tropical countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate sire and dam breed effects on performance and carcass traits of crossbred cattle produced in a tropical environment. Heifers and steers were evaluated during the pre-weaning, the post-weaning (n = 173) and the finishing phase (n = 123). Animals were produced by mating Nellore (N_N), Angus × Nellore (A_N) and Caracu × Nellore (C_N) dams with Braford, Charbray and Caracu sires. After weaning, animals were raised grazing on Marandu grass for 12 months; thereafter they were housed in individual pens and finished in a feedlot, receiving a total mixed ration. Ultrasound carcass evaluations were performed to determine ribeye area (R_A), backfat thickness (B_T) and rump fat thickness (R_T). A_N progeny were heavier at birth than N_N (P 0.05). Progeny of N_N cows had greater B_T (P 0.05). A_N progeny were superior in final B_T compared to C_N (P < 0.01), and Braford progeny had greater R_T at the end of finishing than Charbray (P = 0.05). The use of crossbred dams allows an increase in productivity until weaning, but this is not maintained in the post-weaning and finishing periods. The use of Braford sires produces similar growth performance in the different stages of the production system to those seen with Charbray and Caracu sires but generates animals with higher fat thickness at the end of finishing, which may improve carcass quality and commercial value

    Subthreshold rho^0 photoproduction on 3He

    Full text link
    A large reduction of the rho^0 mass in the nuclear medium is reported, inferred from dipion photoproduction spectra in the 1 GeV region, for the reaction 3He(gamma,pi+ pi-)X with a 10% duty factor tagged-photon beam and the TAGX multi-particle spectrometer. The energy range covered (800 < E(gamma) < 1120 MeV) lies mostly below the free rho^0 production threshold, a region which is believed sensitive to modifications of light vector-meson properties at nuclear-matter densities. The rho^0 masses extracted from the MC fitting of the data, m*(rho^0) = 642 +/- 40, 669 +/- 32, and 682 +/- 56 MeV/c^2 for E(gamma) in the 800-880, 880-960, and 960-1040 MeV regions respectively, are independently corroborated by a measured, assumption-free, kinematical observable. This mass shift, far exceeding current mean-field driven theoretical predictions, may be suggestive of rho^0 decay within the range of the nucleonic field.Comment: 40 pages, 13 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

    Determination of the muon charge sign with the dipolar spectrometers of the OPERA experiment

    Full text link
    The OPERA long-baseline neutrino-oscillation experiment has observed the direct appearance of ντ\nu_\tau in the CNGS νμ\nu_\mu beam. Two large muon magnetic spectrometers are used to identify muons produced in the τ\tau leptonic decay and in νμCC\nu_\mu^{CC} interactions by measuring their charge and momentum. Besides the kinematic analysis of the τ\tau decays, background resulting from the decay of charmed particles produced in νμCC\nu_\mu^{CC} interactions is reduced by efficiently identifying the muon track. A new method for the charge sign determination has been applied, via a weighted angular matching of the straight track-segments reconstructed in the different parts of the dipole magnets. Results obtained for Monte Carlo and real data are presented. Comparison with a method where no matching is used shows a significant reduction of up to 40\% of the fraction of wrongly determined charges.Comment: 10 pages. Improvements in the tex

    Procedure for short-lived particle detection in the OPERA experiment and its application to charm decays

    Get PDF
    The OPERA experiment, designed to perform the first observation of νμντ\nu_\mu \rightarrow \nu_\tau oscillations in appearance mode through the detection of the τ\tau leptons produced in ντ\nu_\tau charged current interactions, has collected data from 2008 to 2012. In the present paper, the procedure developed to detect τ\tau particle decays, occurring over distances of the order of 1 mm from the neutrino interaction point, is described in detail. The results of its application to the search for charmed hadrons are then presented as a validation of the methods for ντ\nu_\tau appearance detection
    corecore