Interplay between nitronates and nitriles accomplished in a PtIV-mediated reaction

Reaction between the coordinated propanenitriles in trans-[PtCl₄(EtCN)₂] and the cyclic nitronate

(1) gives the N-acylated iminocomplex

(2) which is unstable in wet solvents and undergoes hydrolysis to furnish

(3). The formulation of 2 and 3 was supported by satisfactory C, H, and N elemental analyses, agreeable HRESI⁺-MS, IR, ¹H NMR spectroscopies, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (for trans-3).     

Novel Antitumor L‐Arabinose Derivative of Indolocarbazole with High Affinity to DNA

Novel indolocarbazole derivative 12‐(α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl)indolo[2,3‐α]pyrrolo[3,4‐c]carbazole‐5,7‐dione (AIC) demonstrated high potency (at submicromolar concentrations) against the NCI panel of human tumor cell lines and transplanted tumors in vivo. In search of tentative targets for AIC, we found that the drug formed high affinity intercalative complexes with d(AT)₂₀, d(GC)₂₀ and calf thymus DNA (binding constants (1.6×10⁶) M ^?1≤K_a≤(3.3×10⁶) M ^?1). The drug intercalated preferentially into GC pairs of the duplex. Importantly, the concentrations at which AIC formed the intercalative complexes with DNA (C≤1 μM ) were identical to the concentrations that triggered p53‐dependent gene reporter transactivation, the replication block, the inhibition of topoisomerase I‐mediated DNA relaxation and death of HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells. We conclude that the formation of high affinity intercalative complexes with DNA is an important factor for anticancer efficacy of AIC.     

On the application of laser shock peening for retardation of surface fatigue cracks in laser beam‐welded AA6056

The present study aims to investigate the extent to which the fatigue behaviour of laser beam‐welded AA6056‐T6 butt joints with an already existing crack can be improved through the application of laser shock peening. Ultrasonic testing was utilized for in situ (nondestructive) measurement of fatigue crack growth during the fatigue test. This procedure allowed the preparation of welded specimens with surface fatigue cracks with a depth of approximately 1.2 mm. The precracked specimens showed a 20% reduction in the fatigue limit compared with specimens without cracks in the as‐welded condition. Through the application of laser shock peening on the surfaces of the precracked specimens, it was possible to recover the fatigue life to the level of the specimens tested in the as‐welded condition. The results of this study show that laser shock peening is a very promising technique to recover the fatigue life of welded joints with surface cracks, which can be detected by nondestructive testing.     

Complex Transposon Insertion as a Novel Cause of Pompe Disease

Pompe disease (OMIM#232300) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the GAA gene. According to public mutation databases, more than 679 pathogenic variants have been described in GAA, none of which are associated with mobile genetic elements. In this article, we report a novel molecular genetic cause of Pompe disease, which could be hardly detected using routine molecular genetic analysis. Whole genome sequencing followed by comprehensive functional analysis allowed us to discover and characterize a complex mobile genetic element insertion deep in the intron 15 of the GAA gene in a patient with infantile onset Pompe disease.     

An Improved ZnMoO4 Scintillating Bolometer for the Search for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay of 100Mo

We present a prototype scintillating bolometer for the search for neutrinoless double β decay of ¹⁰⁰Mo, consisting of a single ≈5?g ZnMoO₄ crystal operated aboveground in the 20–30?mK temperature range. The scintillation light is read out by two thin Ge bolometers. The phonon signals are collected by NTD Ge thermistors. The ZnMoO₄ crystal was grown with an advanced method (low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique) and after purification of molybdenum. The results are very encouraging: the intrinsic energy resolution of the heat channel is ≈800?eV FWHM, the α/β rejection factor (crucial for background suppression) is better than 99.9% in the region of interest for double β decay (≈3?MeV), and the radiopurity of ZnMoO₄ looks substantially improved with respect to previous devices.     

Novel magnetic tips developed for the switching magnetization magnetic force microscopy

Using micromagnetic calculations we search for optimal magnetic properties of novel magnetic tips to be used for a Switching Magnetization Magnetic Force Microscopy (SM-MFM), a novel technique based on two-pass scanning with reversed tip magnetization. Within the technique the sum of two scans images local atomic forces and their difference maps the local magnetic forces. The tip magnetization is switched during the scanning by a small magnetic field. The technology of novel low-coercitive magnetic tips is proposed. For best performance the tips must exhibit low magnetic moment, low switching field, and single-domain state at remanence. Such tips are equipped with Permalloy objects of a precise shape that are defined on their tilted sides. We calculate switching fields of such tips by solving the micromagnetic problem to find the optimum shape and dimensions of the Permalloy objects located on the tips. Among them, hexagon was found as the best shape for the tips.     

21世纪机床纵横谈

在CIMT’99展览会上,我们有幸与国内外一些著名的机床厂商探讨21世纪机床发展的趋势,并获得共识。现刊登部分厂家对21世纪机床发展的战略规划与思路。展望21世纪的全球化制造世界正以我们前所未料的速度发生着变化。发展中国家正日益开放市场,并从全球范围内广泛吸引投资,为制造业带来了更多的就业机会。这种新发展有利于提高许多国家的人民生活水平,而生活水平的提高又为新产品开拓了更广阔的前景。另外,电子商务也正对新客户、新竞争者的产生带来极其重要影响。然而,这些新兴市场具有高风险的待征,因此进入新兴市场的企业必须尽…