Furocaulerpin,a new acetylenic sesquiterpenoid from the green algaCaulerpa prolifera

Summary Furocaulerpin, an acetylenic sesquiterpenoid possessing a furan ring, has been isolated from the marine algaCaulerpa prolifera, and its stereostructure elucidated mainly on the basis of physico-chemical data.This work was carried out in the frame work of the Progetto Finalizzato per l'Oceanografia e i Fondi Marini, CNR, Rome. Thanks are due to the Centro di Metodologie Chimico-Fisiche of the University of Naples (Mr I. Giudicianni) for the determination of PMR-spectra.     

Evidence for a spin-aligned neutron-proton paired phase from the level structure of (92)Pd

Shell structure and magic numbers in atomic nuclei were generally explained by pioneering work that introduced a strong spin-orbit interaction to the nuclear shell model potential. However, knowledge of nuclear forces and the mechanisms governing the structure of nuclei, in particular far from stability, is still incomplete. In nuclei with equal neutron and proton numbers (N = Z), enhanced correlations arise between neutrons and protons (two distinct types of fermions) that occupy orbitals with the same quantum numbers. Such correlations have been predicted to favour an unusual type of nuclear superfluidity, termed isoscalar neutron-proton pairing, in addition to normal isovector pairing. Despite many experimental efforts, these predictions have not been confirmed. Here we report the experimental observation of excited states in the N = Z = 46 nucleus (92)Pd. Gamma rays emitted following the (58)Ni((36)Ar,2n)(92)Pd fusion-evaporation reaction were identified using a combination of state-of-the-art high-resolution γ-ray, charged-particle and neutron detector systems. Our results reveal evidence for a spin-aligned, isoscalar neutron-proton coupling scheme, different from the previous prediction. We suggest that this coupling scheme replaces normal superfluidity (characterized by seniority coupling) in the ground and low-lying excited states of the heaviest N = Z nuclei. Such strong, isoscalar neutron-proton correlations would have a considerable impact on the nuclear level structure and possibly influence the dynamics of rapid proton capture in stellar nucleosynthesis.     

Molliorin-c,a further pyrroloterpene present in the spongeCacospongia mollior

Summary A new pyrroloterpene, molliorin-c (III), has been isolated from the spongeCacospongia mollior. StructureIII was assigned to molliorin-c on spectral grounds and confirmed by synthesis.This investigation was supported by a grant of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome.     

Bromosphaerodiol,a minor bromo compound from the red algaSphaerococcus coronopifolius

Summary A minor bromoditerpene, bromosphaerodiol, has been isolated from the chloroform extract of the red marine algaSphaerococcus coronopifolius and its structure has been established by chemical and spectroscopic methods.This investigation was supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma.     

Molliorin-B,a second scalarin-like pyrroloterpene from the sponge Cacospongia mollior

Summary On the basis of chemical and spectral evidence, structureIV was assigned to molliorin-b, a scalarin-like pyrroloterpene present in the marine sponge Cacospongia mollior. StructureIV was confirmed by synthesis.Acknowledgements. We are grateful to C. Sepe, I. Giudicianni and A. Cantilena (Istituto di Chimica Organica dell'Università di Napoli, Italia) for the technical assistance. This investigation was supported by a grant of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome.     

Resonant quantum transitions in trapped antihydrogen atoms

The hydrogen atom is one of the most important and influential model systems in modern physics. Attempts to understand its spectrum are inextricably linked to the early history and development of quantum mechanics. The hydrogen atom's stature lies in its simplicity and in the accuracy with which its spectrum can be measured and compared to theory. Today its spectrum remains a valuable tool for determining the values of fundamental constants and for challenging the limits of modern physics, including the validity of quantum electrodynamics and--by comparison with measurements on its antimatter counterpart, antihydrogen--the validity of CPT (charge conjugation, parity and time reversal) symmetry. Here we report spectroscopy of a pure antimatter atom, demonstrating resonant quantum transitions in antihydrogen. We have manipulated the internal spin state of antihydrogen atoms so as to induce magnetic resonance transitions between hyperfine levels of the positronic ground state. We used resonant microwave radiation to flip the spin of the positron in antihydrogen atoms that were magnetically trapped in the ALPHA apparatus. The spin flip causes trapped anti-atoms to be ejected from the trap. We look for evidence of resonant interaction by comparing the survival rate of trapped atoms irradiated with microwaves on-resonance to that of atoms subjected to microwaves that are off-resonance. In one variant of the experiment, we detect 23 atoms that survive in 110 trapping attempts with microwaves off-resonance (0.21 per attempt), and only two atoms that survive in 103 attempts with microwaves on-resonance (0.02 per attempt). We also describe the direct detection of the annihilation of antihydrogen atoms ejected by the microwaves.     

Minor pyrroloterpenoids from the marine spongeCacospongia mollior

Summary 2 pyrroloterpenes, molliorin-d and-e, have been isolated from the spongeCacospongia mollior and their structures have been established by chemical and spectroscopic methods.This work has been carried out in the frame of the Progetto Finalizzato per l'Oceanografia e i Fondi Marini, C.N.R., Roma.     

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FACING INDIA

INTRODUCTION India is among one of the ten most industrialized nations in the world. Increase in population has raised the urbar industrial, transport and agriculture demands which are major reasons for the degradation of the environmel condition. For India besides land and soil degradation, deforestation, low accessibility of water, ,industrial pollution and urban congestion are the major environmental issues of priority. The industries that generate huge quantities of waste are thermal power station, Iron and Steel Plants, Sugar, Paper and Fertilizer Industries.