Theoretical calculations on the valence electronic structure of naphthalocyanine: comparison with experimental photoemission data

1993

Abstract We present a theoretical investigation of the electronic structure of metal-free 2,3-naphthalocyanine (2,3-H2Nc) using the valence effective Hamiltonian (VEH) technique. The VEH-DOVS curves obtained for 2,3-H2Nc are correlated with those calculated for naphthalene molecule and a one-to-one correspondence is found. From the electronic structure standpoint, naphthalocyanine has to be viewed as formed by joining four naphthalene moieties to the central carbon-nitrogen ring. An excellent quantitative agreement is found between VEH-DOVS curves and experimental photoemission data.

Infrared and optical observations of the newly identified Be/X-ray binary LSI + 61  235

1993

Observational (IR) and optical data are presented of the newly discovered Be/X-ray binary system LSI + 61° 235, taken over the period 1991 August – 1992 May. Though the IR shows little evidence for any changes, the optical Hα spectrum has undergone substantial modification. Combination of optical photometric measurements with the IR photometry allows the overall spectrum to be investigated and the existence of the Be star’s circumstellar disc to be directly confirmed.

A new upper limit of the electron anti neutrino rest mass from tritium β-decay

1993

Abstract A new upper limit of the electron anti neutrino rest mass has been deduced from the tritium β-decay spectrum. A source of molecular tritium has been investigated with a new solenoid retarding spectrometer. The results are m ν ϵ 2 = −38.8 ± 34.1 stat ± 15.1 syst (eV) 2 /c 4 from which we conclude m ν ϵ ≤ 7.2 eV/c 2 with 95% c.l. Our β-endpoint corresponds to a 3H-3He atomic mass difference of Δm( 3 H- 3 He) = 18590.8 ± 3 eV/c 2 (1σ) .

Total Correlation Spectroscopy (TOCSY) of Proteins Using Coaddition of Spectra Recorded with Several Mixing Times

1993

The glass transition in (KI)0.5(ND4I)0.5 mixed crystals as studied by deuteron spin-lattice relaxation

1993

Abstract Nuclear spin resonance has been used to study the deuteron magnetization recovery in (KI)0.5(ND4I)0.5 mixed crystals. At high temperatures the spin-lattice-relaxation is exponential. For T ⪅ 45 K deviations from this simple behaviour occur, signalling the onset of spatial inhomogeneities due to the formation of an orientational glass. The results demonstrate that the transition of (KI)0.5(ND4I)0.5 into the glassy state is driven by the freezing of random bonds.

Glycoside synthesis via electrophile-induced activation of N-allyl carbamates

1993

Abstract O-Benzyl-, O-acyl-, N-acyl- and isopropylidene-protected glycosyl N-allylcarbamates, obtained from anomerically unprotected monosaccharides and allyl isocyanate, are activated by an electrophile-induced cyclisation and react with hydroxyl compounds to form the corresponding glycosides.

Increasing rates of DNA single-strand breaks in lymphocytes of clinical personnel handling cytostatic drugs

1993

A total of 27 persons, working in cancer stations with exposure to cytostatics, and 40 healthy control persons were examined for DNA single-strand breaks in peripheral lymphocytes. Non-smoking personnel from cancer stations were found to have an increased rate of DNA single-strand breaks compared to the non-smoking control subjects. In the case of smokers an increased rate of DNA single-strand breaks could be recorded for those working in cancer stations as well as with the controls. DNA single-strand breaks indicate reversible damage to DNA. As DNA repair is not perfect in every case, an increased number of DNA single-strand breaks leads to irreversible DNA damage.

A Method for the Cryopreservation of Liver Parenchymal Cells for Studies of Xenobiotics

1993

Abstract An optimized computer-controlled freezing protocol for the cryopreservation of rat liver parenchymal cells was developed. The best survival rates were obtained when a slow cooling rate was used and when the supercooling was interrupted with a shock cooling to initiate ice nucleation. Ten percent dimethyl sulfoxide was added and removed gradually for best results. Thawed rat liver parenchymal cells had a viability, as judged by trypan blue exclusion, of 69% (SD = 6) versus 82% (SD = 7) for freshly isolated cells. The content and activities of the xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P450. UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, and microsomal and cytosolic epoxide hydrolase, were not a…

FOUNDER-FLUSH SPECIATION IN DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA: A LARGE-SCALE EXPERIMENT.

1993

A founder-flush-crash model of speciation has been proposed that may particularly apply to island and other colonizations. Previous laboratory experiments testing the model have given inconsistent results. We have conducted a large experiment with Drosophila pseudoobscura designed to meet the essential postulates of the model and to separately test some of the postulates. Forty-five experimental and 12 control populations have been studied during seven successive founder-flush-crash cycles, or about 50 generations. Sexual isolation tests yield significantly positive assortative mating in a few tests between pairs of experimental populations. Populations with fewer founders (N = 1 or 3) yiel…

Inhibitory Action of Glufosinate on Photosynthesis

1993

Glufosinate (phosphinothricin) irreversibly blocks the glutamine synthetase which subsequently gives rise to an accumulation of ammonium and to a strong decrease in some amino acids, especially glutamine and glutamate. Under atmospheric conditions (400 ppm CO2, 21% O2) glufosinate causes a rapid inhibition of photosynthesis, too. H ow ever, under non-photo respiratory conditions (1000 ppm CO2, 2% O2) only a slight inhibition of photosynthesis occurs with glufosinate. Since under both conditions an accumulation of ammonium occurs, it is concluded that inhibition of photosynthesis is not induced by the higher concentrations of ammonium. The results rather suggest that the absence of amino don…

Genetic basis of human complement C4A deficiency. Detection of a point mutation leading to nonexpression.

1993

Abstract The fourth component of the human complement system (C4) is coded for by two genes, C4A and C4B, located within the MHC. Null alleles of C4 (C4Q0) are defined by the absence of C4 protein in plasma. These null alleles are due either to large gene deletions or to nonexpression of the respective genes. In a previous study, evidence was obtained for nonexpressed defective genes at the C4A locus, and for gene conversion at the C4B locus. To further characterize the molecular basis of these non-expressed C4A genes, we selected nine pairs of PCR primers from flanking genomic intron sequences to amplify all 41 exons from individuals with a defective C4A gene. The amplified products were s…

Analysis of toxic elements in plastic components for toys. Multi-elemental determination by x-ray fluorescence

1993

Abstract An x-ray fluorescence method is proposed for the multi-elemental determination of toxic elements in plastic articles for children, viz., Sb(III), Ba, Cd, Cr(III), Hg, Pb and As(III). Mineralization is achieved by using molten sodium hydroxide to decompose the organic matrix, with sodium nitrate as auxiliary oxidant. Stable solutions containing the chemical species for analysis are obtained. The species are separated from the solution by (co)precipitation, in a medium of NH+4-NH3 buffer (pH 8.5) with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, sodium rhodizonate and Fe3+, which acts as a carrier. The precipitates deposited on filter-paper are placed in the x-ray spectrometer in fine layer morpho…

Electrochemical and conversion electron mössbauer study of corrosion induced by acid rain

1993

Abstract The passivation of low carbon steel was studied in aqueous solution of 0.5M Na2SO4 +0.001M NaHSO3 (pH 3.5, 6.5 and 8.5) which can be considered as a model of acid rain. The used conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) with the complementary electrochemical investigations proved that the sulfite ions induce pitting corrosion at pH 3.5 and 6 5 while the measurements showed much weaker pitting at pH 8.5. The compositions and thicknesses of the passive films formed during the electrochemical treatments are determined from the CEM spectra. Only γ-FeOOH was found on the surface of the samples at pH 6.5 and 8.5. Nevertheless, at pH 3.5 the sextet belonging to Fe3C appears in the…

Multiple sex-chromosome system and other karyological characterizations of Pterotrachea hippocampus (Mollusca: Mesogastropoda)

1993

Two modal diploid numbers of chromosomes were found for Pterotraches hippocampus Philippi (Mollusca: Mesogastropoda) collected from the Gulf of Palermo in 1990: 2n=31 and 32 for males and females, respectively. This, along with other karyological characteristics such as the occurrence of a trivalent configuration at diakinesis and two types of metaphase-II spreads in spermatocytes, supports the notion that a X1X2Y♂/X1X1X2X2♀ sex mechanism operates in the species investigated here. Silver nitrate procedure revealed an intraindividual variation in the Ag-staining pattern occurring in this species. The majority of the chromosome pair displayed terminal and/or interstitial heterochromatic block…

Thermal and optical switching of bistable iron compounds and possible applications

1993

Abstract Iron(II) coordination compounds with ligand field strengths close to the mean spin pairing energy may undergo thermal spin transition in the solid as well as in the liquid state. The thermodynamically stable state is high spin (HS) 5T2 (under Oh symmetry) with (t2)4 e2 electron configuration above the critical transition temperature Tc, and low spin (LS) 1A1 with (t2)6 electron configuration below Tc. The spin transition curve γHS(T) (molar fraction of HS molecules as function of temperature) can be abrupt or gradual, with or without hysteresis, or even with a plateau near Tc. Tc itself can vary over the whole temperature scale between the liquid helium region up to above room temp…

Acid-mediated reaction of bis(pyridine)iodonium(I) tetrafluoroborate with aromatic compounds. A selective and general iodination method

1993

Reaction of aromatic compounds with bis(pyridine)iodonium(I) tetrafluoroborate (IPy2BF4) in the presence of HBF4 or CF3SO3H in CH2Cl2 at room temperature furnishes monoiodo derivatives with excellent regioselectivity and yields. Use of either acid gives comparable results with activated aromatics, whereas CF3SO3H is much more effective in the iodination of deactivated aromatics. © 1993 American Chemical Society.

Metabolic enzymes in coelomic cells (eleocytes) of the polychaete Nereis virens: sex specific changes during sexual maturation

1993

The activities of some enzymes of the intermediary metabolism and the content of soluble protein and carbohydrate (glycogen plus free glucose) were measured in one type of coelomic cells (eleocytes) of the polychaete Nereis virens. Specimens used in this study were collected between 1989 and 1991 in Oosterscheldt Bay, The Netherlands, and divided into six different stages of sexual maturation as determined by the mean oocyte volume. In both sexes, the soluble protein content in eleocytes of immature individuals (11 mg ml−1 cell vol) increased three-fold. In prespawning N. virens the soluble protein content decreased to less than 2 mg protein ml−1 cell vol in females but not in males. In bot…

Organometallic complexes in ascidian embryonic development: II. Effects on different stages and larvae

1993

The effects of the organometallic compounds Bu2Sn-D-(−;)sorbitol, Bu2Sn-D-(+)glucose, Bu2Sn-D-(−)fructose and Bu2Sn-D-(+)glyceraldehyde were tested in vivo on different stages of Ascidian development, larval movement and metamorphosis. Organotin(IV) complexes are organometallic compounds widely used as industrial biocides, antifouling agents and agricultural fungicides and are toxic to a range of organisms. Two-cell stage embryos, if incubated for one hour in the organotin (IV) solutions, stopped the cleavage, which was restored when they were transferred into normal sea water. The gastrula stage was seriously affected in 10−4mol dm−3 solutions of the above-mentioned complexes: 85% of the e…

Role of endothelium in the responses to noradrenaline in normal and sensitized guinea-pig aorta

1993

1. The pharmacological reactivity of sensitized blood vessels has been less studied than that of the airways. Aorta rings were obtained from normal (non-sensitized) and actively sensitized guinea-pigs, and prepared for isometric recording of tension changes. 2. Noradrenaline (10 nM-0.1 mM), histamine (0.1 microM-0.1 mM) and KCl (10-100 mM) produced concentration-related contractions of normal tissues. Removal of endothelium resulted in a marked leftward and upward shift of the concentration-response curve for noradrenaline but it did not alter histamine- or KCl-induced responses. Pretreatment with L-NG-nitroarginine (L-NOARG, 30 microM), haemoglobin (5 microM) or ibuprofen (10 microM) enhan…

Electronic structure of polysilanes: influence of substitution and conformation

1993

Abstract The valence effective Hamiltonian (VEH) quantum-chemical approach is used to investigate the electronic properties of polysilane. The valence band structure calculated for this fully saturated polymer is analyzed in terms of orbital contributions and compared to that of the closely related carbon polymer, polyethylene. The effects of alkyl substitution and silicon backbone conformation are studied by elucidating the modifications that these structural changes induce on the electronic valence band structure of all-trans unsubstituted polysilane. The VEH results predict a decrease of the band gap upon alkyl substitution and on going from helical to all-trans conformations.

Cerebral blood flow alterations in a rat model of cerebral sinus thrombosis.

1993

Outcome from sinus vein thrombosis is very variable, with symptoms from headache to coma. Experimental findings suggest that an involvement of cortical veins is necessary to affect the cerebral microcirculation. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to investigate the regional and temporal changes in local cortical blood flow after experimental occlusion and thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus and tributary cortical veins in rats. Thrombosis was induced by slow injection of kaolin-cephalin suspension after frontal and caudal ligation of the sagittal sinus in rats. Local cerebral blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry and correlated with parenchymal damage found 24 hours after i…

Effect of Glutathione on Canine Myocardial Ischaemia Without Reperfusion

1993

Abstract The present study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous glutathione on myocardial damage resulting from permanent (no reperfusion) coronary ligation (3 or 6 h) in anaesthetized dogs. Haemodynamics, infarct size and myocardial glutathione content were determined. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was also determined in coronary venous blood samples. Glutathione was administered by the intraperitoneal route, 100 mg kg−1 as initial dose given 5 min before coronary ligation, and successive doses of 25 mg kg−1 every 40 min throughout the study period. Saline-treated dogs showed myocardial infarction, a decrease in myocardial glutathione content, and a transient increase …

Theoretical study on the effect of backbone conformation on the electronic structure of poly(di-n-butylsilane)

1993

Abstract We present the results of valence effective Hamiltonian (VEH) calculations on the electronic structure of poly(di-n-butylsilane) in its all-trans and 7/3 conformations. The band structure of all-trans conformation is analyzed in detail and the effects of the backbone conformation on the electronic and optical properties are studied. The VEH results for the 2/1 and 7/3 conformations are in excellent quantitative agreement with photoemission and UV-absorption data and show the reliability of the VEH method to deal with organopolysilanes.

Evidence from zircon dating for existence of approximately 2.1 Ga old crystalline basement in southern Bohemia, Czech Republic

1993

Zircon ages are reported for three Moldanubian amphibolite grade orthogneisses from the southern Bohemian Massif obtained by conventional U/Pb analyses. For two of these orthogneisses, conventional U/Pb data are supported by ion microprobe single zircon ages or single grain evaporation data. The amphibolite grade orthogneisses, occurring in three small tectonic lenses within the Varied Group close to the South Bohemian Main Thrust, are of tonalitic, granodioritic or quartz dioritic composition.

Un huerto rodeado de secano : Informe sobre el cultivo del naranjo en el País Valenciano a fines del siglo XIX

1993

El presente artículo pretende analizar, tomando como base una contabilidad privada protocolarizada en 1898, algunas de las vías seguidas en la transformación de la agricultura valenciana en el contexto de la expansión de la citricultura. Entre las principales cuestiones que se tratan, cabe destacar las referentes a los esfuerzos de adaptación de la agricultura a las nuevas condiciones del mercado, los cambios en la explotación de la tierra y del mercado de trabajo, así como las estrategias seguidas por los propietarios. This article aims to analyse, in base of a private inform from 1898, sorne means of the transformation of valencian agriculture under the new conditions imposed by the expan…

Inhibition of Formation of Rev-RRE Complex by Pyronin Y

1993

The interaction of pyronin Y, an RNA intercalating drug, with the binding of Rev protein from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to Rev-responsive element (RRE)-containing env RNA was studied. In gel retardation assays, recombinant Rev protein tightly bound to in vitro transcribed RRE RNA. Nitrocellulose-filter-binding studies revealed a dissociation constant of ≈(1–2) = 10−10M (Pfeifer et al., 1991). Pyronin Y efficiently suppressed formation of the Rev-RRE complex. At a concentration of 1 μg ml−1, complex formation was almost completely inhibited. Electron microscopy showed that Rev oligomerizes in the presence of RRE-containing RNA with the formation of short rod-like structures…

Experimental models of kidney tumors.

1993

We here present in outline some outstanding results on the animal models of renal tumors submitted to the highest attention, which include two kinds of epithelial neoplams: those developed from the epithelium lining each the renal tubules (renal cell tumors) and pelvis; the mesenchymal tumor of rat; and tumors with embryonal appearance: the nephroplastoma as well as the variant of it known as the estrogen-induced tumor in the hamster. The review deals with methods for tumor induction and the pathobiology of tumors, the latter mainly focussed on the indendification of the precise types of renal cells committed in tumor origin. The existence of closely related counterparts of these animal tum…

A temperature-sensitive brain tumor suppressor mutation of Drosophila melanogaster: Developmental studies and molecular localization of the gene

1993

The recessive-lethal, temperature-sensitive (ts) mutation of the tumor suppressor gene lethal(3)malignant brain tumor (l(3)mbt) causes in a single step the malignant transformation of the adult optic neuroblasts and ganglion mother cells in the larval brain at the restrictive temperature of 29 degrees C. The transformed cells are differentiation-incompetent and grow autonomously in a lethal and invasive fashion in situ in the brain as well as after transplantation in vivo into wild-type adult hosts. The imaginal discs show epithelial overgrowth. At the permissive temperature of 22 degrees C development is completely normal. The ts-period of gene activity responsible for 100% brain tumor sup…

Genitourinary cancer in childhood

1993

Valence electronic structure of C60: Theoretical analysis of photoemission data

1993

Abstract We present a theoretical investigation of the valence band photoemission spectra of C 60 using the nonempirical valence effective Hamiltonian (VEH) method. The VEH-DOVS curves calculated for the C 60 molecule are found to be in excellent agreement with synchrotron-radiation photoemission spectra reported for C 60 films. A detailed interpretation of all the photoemission bands is performed in the light of the VEH results.

Bioconcentration and excretion of diazinon by eel.

1993

[MnM(egta)]. 8H2 = (M = Mn, Cd): Verbindungen mit einem neuartigen zweidimensionalen magnetischen Gitter

1993

Defensive secretions of nymphs and adults of five species of Pyrrhocoridae (Insecta: Heteroptera)

1993

Abstract The chemical composition of the defensive secretions of the nymphs and the adults of Dysdercus fasciatus was investigated. Thirty compounds were identified from the nymphal posterior dorsoabdominal glands, and 34 from the adult metathoracic glands of both sexes. The data were compared with those reported for other species of Pyrrhocoridae. For the species Dysdercus cingulatus, D. fasciatus , and Pyrrhocoris apertus , 63 identified compounds can be divided into 11 chemical groups: aldehydes, saturated hydrocarbons, acetates, alcohols, terpenes, lactones, ketones, esters, alkenes, acids and miscellaneous compounds. These data and those from the literature on Dysdercus intermedius and…

The fixed point property in banach spaces whose characteristic of uniform convexity is less than 2

1993

AbstractWe prove that every Banach space X with characteristic of uniform convexity less than 2 has the fixed point property whenever X satisfies a certain orthogonality condition.

Concerning “An Opinion on the Heterogeneous Photoreduction of N2 with H2O”

1993

Screening for inhibitors of HIV gp120-CD4 binding using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay.

1993

Binding of the HIV-1 major viral surface glycoprotein, gp120, to the major cell receptor, CD4, is essential for HIV infection of the target cell and syncytium formation. An enzyme-linked immunoassay using solid phase CD4 was used to quantitate the binding of HIV-1 gp120 to CD4, and to assess the activity and mechanism of action of putative inhibitors of that reaction. Monoclonal antibodies to the gp120 binding site on CD4 (e.g., Leu3a) blocked gp120 binding, while monoclonal antibodies to other portions of CD4 (e.g. OKT4) did not. Both aurintricarboxylic acid and sulfonated polysaccharides (e.g., dextran sulfate) blocked CD4-gp120 interactions by binding to the CD4 component. Human polyclon…