Observation of an Antimatter Hypernucleus

Nuclear collisions recreate conditions in the universe microseconds after the Big Bang. Only a very small fraction of the emitted fragments are light nuclei, but these states are of fundamental interest. We report the observation of antihypertritons-comprising an antiproton, an antineutron, and an antilambda hyperon-produced by colliding gold nuclei at high energy. Our analysis yields 70 +/- 17 antihypertritons (3/Lambda(H) over bar) and 157 +/- 30 hypertritons (H-3(Lambda)). The measured yields of H-3(Lambda) (3/Lambda(H) over bar) and He-3 ((3)(He) over bar) are similar, suggesting an equilibrium in coordinate and momentum space populations of up, down, and strange quarks and antiquarks, unlike the pattern observed at lower collision energies. The production and properties of antinuclei, and of nuclei containing strange quarks, have implications spanning nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Longitudinal scaling property of the charge balance function in Au plus Au collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV

We present measurements of the charge balance function, from the charged particles, for diverse pseudorapidity and transverse momentum ranges in Au + Au collisions at root S-NN = 200 GeV using the STAR detector at RHIC. We observe that the balance function is boost-invariant within the pseudorapidity coverage vertical bar-1.3, 1.3 vertical bar. The balance function properly scaled by the width of the observed pseudorapidity window does not depend on the position or size of the pseudorapidity window. This scaling property also holds for particles in different transverse momentum ranges. In addition, we find that the width of the balance function decreases monotonically with increasing transverse momentum for all centrality classes. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Center of mass energy and system-size dependence of photon production at forward rapidity at RHIC

We present the multiplicity and pseudorapidity distributions of photons produced in Au + Au and Cu + Cu collisions at root(NN)-N-s = 62.4 and 200 GeV. The photons are measured in the region -3.7 < eta < -2.3 using the photon Multiplicity detector in the STAR experiment at RHIC. The number of photons produced per average number of participating nucleon pairs increases with the beam energy and is independent of (lie collision centrality. For collisions with similar average numbers of participating nucleons the photon multiplicities are observed to be similar for An + Au and Cu + Cu collisions at a given beam energy. The ratios of the number of charged particles to photons in the measured pseudorapidity range are found to be 1.4 +/- 0.1 and 1.2 +/- 0.1 for root(NN)-N-s = 62.4 and 200 GeV, respectively. The energy dependence of this ratio could reflect varying contributions from baryons to charged particles, while mesons are the dominant contributors to photon production in the given kinematic region. The photon pseudorapidity distributions normalized by average number of participating nucleon pairs, when plotted as a function of eta-Y-beam, are found to follow a longitudinal scaling independent of centrality and colliding ion species at both beam energies. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PROJECTILE FRAGMENTATION OF Ar-36,Ar-40 INDUCED REACTIONS

Fragment yields for Z >= 5 from projectile fragmentation using primary beams of Ar-36,Ar-40 at 50 MeV/nucleon on Ni-64 target have been measured in RIBLL fragment separator. We compare the fragment cross sections with the predictions of the empirical EPAX parametrization of fragmentation cross-sections and Statistical Abration-Ablation model (SAA) by considering the RIBLL separator transmission rate. Isotope yield ratios between these two reactions were calculated and isoscaling parameters alpha and beta are extracted, their dependences on fragment atomic number Z and neutron number N were presented.

Quantifying robustness and dissipation cost of yeast cell cycle network: The funneled energy landscape perspectives

We study the origin of robustness of yeast cell cycle cellular network through uncovering its underlying energy landscape. This is realized from the information of the steady-state probabilities by solving a discrete set of kinetic master equations for the network. We discovered that the potential landscape of yeast cell cycle network is funneled toward the global minimum, G1 state. The ratio of the energy gap between G1 and average versus roughness of the landscape termed as robustness ratio ( RR) becomes a quantitative measure of the robustness and stability for the network. The funneled landscape is quite robust against random perturbations from the inherent wiring or connections of the network. There exists a global phase transition between the more sensitive response or less self-degradation phase leading to underlying funneled global landscape with large RR, and insensitive response or more self-degradation phase leading to shallower underlying landscape of the network with small RR. Furthermore, we show that the more robust landscape also leads to less dissipation cost of the network. Least dissipation and robust landscape might be a realization of Darwinian principle of natural selection at cellular network level. It may provide an optimal criterion for network wiring connections and design.

UV-vis spectrophotometric titrations and vibrational spectroscopic characterization of meso-(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrins

Sequentially spectrophotometric titrations by sodium hydroxide of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives bearing one, two, three, or four p-hydroxyl groups result in new types of spectra. The strong new bands appear in the visible region with splitting or broadening of the Soret band and its significant loss of oscillator strength. To understand the molecular origin of these phenomena, the Resonance Raman (RR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) experiments are carried out. The results demonstrate that the charges of the deprotonated para-hydroxy substituted meso-tetraphenylporphyrins are localized on the substituents, not delocalized into the pi system of the porphyrin macrocycles and that the ground states of the macrocycles remain essentially unperturbed. Both the related behavior of diprotonated tetrakis(p-(dimethylamino)phenyl) porphyrin and protonated Schiff base porphyrins show that the new bands considered as hyperporphyrin spectra are due to pi(phenoxide anion) --> pi*(porphyrin) transitions, where pi is an orbital on the phenoxide anion substitutent and pi* is a LUMO on the porphyrin.

Sequential deprotonation of meso-(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrins in DMF: From hyperporphyrins to sodium porphyrin complexes

Sequential deprotonations of meso-(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrins (p-OHTPPH2) in DMF + H2O (V/V = 1:1) mixture have been verified to result in the appearance of hyperporphyrin spectra. However, when the deprotonations of these p-OHTPPH2 are carried out in DMF, the spectral changes differ considerably from those in the mixture mentioned above. At low [OH-], the optical spectra in the visible region are still considered to have characteristics of hyperporphyrin spectra. Further deprotonation at much higher basicity makes the optical spectra form three-banded spectra similar to those in the acidic solution. To clarify the molecular origins of these changes, UV-vis, resonance Raman (RR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR) experiments are carried out. Our data give evidence that p-OHTPPH2 in DMF can be further deprotonated of pyrrolic-H by higher concentrated NaOH, due to an aprotic medium like DMF effectively weakening the basicity of the porphyrin relative to that of the NaOH, and coordinates with two sodium ions (except the sodium ions that interact with the peripherial phenoxide anions) to form the sodium complexes of p-OHTPPH2 (Na2P, to lay a strong emphasis on the sodium ions that coordinate with the central nitrogen atom), which can be regarded as the porphyrin anions being perturbed by the sodium cations due to their highly ionic character.

The preparation of phenolic resin/montmorillonite nanocomposites by suspension condensation polymerization and their morphology

Phenolic resin/clay nanocomposites were prepared using a suspension condensation polymerization method that was suitable to both novolac and resole. Natural montmorillonite and two kinds of organic modified montmorillonite were adopted to investigate the effect of modification on the final morphology of the nanocomposites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) observations showed that clay platelets were easier to be exfoliated or intercalated in novolac than in resole because novolac usually has a linear structure. The modifier with a phenyl ring was more compatible with novolac (or resole) than the aliphatic type modifier. The influence of curing on the morphology was studied as well. An exfoliation-adsorption and in situ condensation mechanism was proposed on the formation of the nanocomposites.

Preparation and luminescence properties of the mesoporous MCM-41s intercalated with rare earth complex

Rare earth complex Eu(DBM)(3)phen (DBM: dibenzoylmethane, phen: 1.10-phenanthroline) hits been incorporated into unmodified MCM-41 and modified MCM-41s by aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) or N-[(3-triethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine(TEPED). Thus, the assemblies of unmodified or modified MCM-41s with rare earth (RE) complex have been obtained. XRD spectra. NMR spectra. diffuse reflectance spectra. and the luminescence spectra were used to characterize the pure RE complex and the corresponding assemblies. The assemblies have better luminescence properties under UV irradiation. and their fluorescence lifetimes on the excited state are longer than that of the corresponding pure complex. The possible mechanisms are also discussed in the context.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of dopamine by ferrocene in lipid film cast on a glassy carbon electrode

The ferrocene-lipid film electrode was successfully prepared by means of casting the solution of ferrocene and lipid in chloroform onto a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface. Ferrocene saved in the biological membrane gave a couple of quasi-reversible peaks of cyclic voltammogram. The electrode displays a preferential electrocatalytic oxidation of dopamine (DA). The effect of electroccatalytic oxidation of DA depends on the solution pH and the negative charge lipid is in favor of catalytic oxidation of DA. The characteristic was employed for separating the electrochemical responses of DA and ascorbic acid (AA). The electrode was assessed for the voltammetric differentiation of DA and AA. The measurement of DA can be achieved with differential pulse voltammetry in the, presence of high concentration of AA. The catalytic peak current was proportional to the concentration of DA in the range of 1 x 10(-4)-3 x 10(-3) mol/L.

Preparation, characterization and photophysical properties of layered zirconium bis(monohydrogenphosphate) intercalated with rare earth complexes

Two kinds of rare earth (RE) complexes were intercalated into zirconium bis(monohydrogenphosphate) (alpha -ZrP) by exchanging the RE complexes into the p-methyoxyaniline (PMA) preintercalated compound Zr(O3POH)(2). 2PMA (alpha -ZrP . 2PMA). Powder X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that Eu(DBM)(3)phen (DBM: dibenzoylmethane, phen: 1,10-phenanthroline) and Tb(AA)(3)phen (AA: acetylacetone) intercalated into alpha -ZrP . 2PMA. This was confirmed by the UV-visible spectra of both the RE complexes and the assemblies. At the same time, the assemblies have better luminescent properties, and the fluorescent lifetimes of RE3+ in the excited state in the assemblies are much longer than those in the complexes. The stabilities of the assemblies under UV radiation are much better than those of the RE complexes.

An encapsulation of the rare earth complex in modified mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41

The encapsulation of a rare earth (RE) complex Eu(DBM)(3)phen in modified S1-MCM-41 with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane is reported for the first time. The luminescence intensity of the RE complex in the modified Si-MCM-41 is about 9 times as strong as in unmodified Si-MCM-41 and the luminescence of the RE complex in the modified SI-MCM-41 has good color purity.

Circular dichroism and resonance Raman comparative studies of wild type cytochrome c and F82H mutant

The UV-visible, circular dichroism (CD), and resonance Raman (RR) spectra of the wild type yeast iso-1-cytochrome c (WT) and its mutant F82H in which phenylalanine-82 (Phe-82) is substituted with His are measured and compared for oxidized and reduced forms. The CD spectra in the intrinsic and Soret spectral region, as well as RR spectra in high, middle, and low frequency regions, are discussed. From the analysis of the spectra, it is determined that in the oxidized F82H the two axial ligands to the heme iron are His-18 and His-82 whereas in the reduced form the sixth ligand switches from His-82 to Met-80 providing the coordination geometry similar to that of WT. Based on the spectroscopic data, the conclusion is that the porphyrin macrocycle is less distorted in the oxidized F82H compared to the oxidized WT. Similar distortions are present in the reduced form of the proteins. Frequency shifts of Raman bands, as well as the decrease of the or-helix content in the CD spectra, indicate more open conformation of the protein around the heme. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Preparation and characterization of layered compound zirconium bis(monohydrogenphosphate)intercalated with rare earth complex

Layered compound zirconium bis(monohydrogenphosphate)(alpha-ZrP) intercalated with rare earth complex Eu(DBM)(3)phen was prepared. The pre-intercalation of p-methoxyaniline into alpha-ZrP makes the interlayer separation large enough to exchange PMA with europium complex, thus, the luminescent assembly was prepared. This was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectra and elemental analysis. The fluorescence spectra and lifetime of the assembly were also presented.

Influence of a kind of polyanion to hybrid bilayer membranes

Hybrid bilayer membrane consisting of self-assembled alkanethiol and lipid monolayer on gold electrode was fabricated by the paint - freeze method. The interaction of a kind of polyanion, K7Fe3+P2W17O62H2 with such bilayer membrane was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and ac impedance. The hybrid bilayer membrane on the gold electrode showed remarkable insulating property, however, the property was lessened to some extent after interaction with the polyanion. It was found the process was in-eversible. It is presumed that the interaction between the polyanion and lipid is an interaction of K7Fe3+P2W17O62H2 with the polar head group of PC, which lessens the interaction among PC polar head groups. The resulting molecular arrangement becomes looser, even some pores are produced.