Scattering of the Halo Nucleus

Angular distributions of the elastic, inelastic, and breakup cross sections of the halo nucleus ^{11}Be on ^{197}Au were measured at energies below (E_{lab}=31.9 MeV) and around (39.6 MeV) the Coulomb barrier. These three channels were unambiguously separated for the first time for reactions of ^{11}Be on a high-Z target at low energies. The experiment was performed at TRIUMF (Vancouver, Canada). The differential cross sections were compared with three different calculations: semiclassical, inert-core continuum-coupled-channels and continuum-coupled-channels ones with including core deformation. These results show conclusively that the elastic and inelastic differential cross sections can only be accounted for if core-excited admixtures are taken into account. The cross sections for these channels strongly depend on the B(E1) distribution in ^{11}Be, and the reaction mechanism is sensitive to the entanglement of core and halo degrees of freedom in ^{11}Be.

Protein profiles of hatchery egg shell membrane.

BACKGROUND: Eggshells which consist largely of calcareous outer shell and shell membranes, constitute a significant part of poultry hatchery waste. The shell membranes (ESM) not only contain proteins that originate from egg whites but also from the developing embryos and different contaminants of microbial and environmental origins. As feed supplements, during post hatch growth, the hatchery egg shell membranes (HESM) have shown potential for imparting resistance of chickens to endotoxin stress and exert positive health effects. Considering that these effects are mediated by the bioactive proteins and peptides present in the membrane, the objective of the study was to identify the protein profiles of hatchery eggshell membranes (HESM). METHODS: Hatchery egg shell membranes were extracted with acidified methanol and a guanidine hydrochloride buffer then subjected to reduction/alkylation, and trypsin digestion. The methanol extract was additionally analyzed by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The tryptic digests were analyzed by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) to identify the proteins. RESULTS: Our results showed the presence of several proteins that are inherent and abundant in egg white such as, ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, ovocleidin-116, and lysozyme, and several proteins associated with cytoskeletal, cell signaling, antimicrobial, and catalytic functions involving carbohydrate, nucleic acid, and protein metabolisms. There were some blood derived proteins most likely originating from the embryos and several other proteins identified with different aerobic, anaerobic, gram positive, gram negative, soil, and marine bacterial species some commensals and others zoonotic. CONCLUSION: The variety of bioactive proteins, particularly the cell signaling and enzymatic proteins along with the diverse microbial proteins, make the HESM suitable for nutritional and biological application to improve post hatch immunity of poultry.

Vitamin E, γ-tocopherol, diminishes ex vivo basophil response to dust mite allergen.

Epidemiologic studies suggest that dietary vitamin E is a candidate intervention for atopic disease. We used in vitro and ex vivo exposures to test the hypothesis that the most common dietary isoform of vitamin E, γ-tocopherol (γT), could suppress FcεRI-mediated basophil activation. Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-SX38 cells that express human FcεRI were treated with or without γT, followed by stimulation with α-IgE. In the ex vivo study, 20 Der f 1-allergic volunteers consumed a γT-enriched supplement for 7 days. Their basophils were challenged ex vivo with α-IgE and graded doses of Der f 1 before and after the supplementation period. γt treatment of RBL-SX38 cells significantly reduced basophil degranulation and de novo TH2 cytokine production. Daily consumption of a γT-rich supplement by dust mite-allergic volunteers reduced basophil activation after ex vivo dust mite challenge. Vitamin E supplements rich in γT may be useful adjuncts in decreasing atopic disease.

11Li Breakup on 208 at energies around the Coulomb barrier.

The inclusive breakup for the (11)Li + (208)Pb reaction at energies around the Coulomb barrier has been measured for the first time. A sizable yield of (9)Li following the (11)Li dissociation has been observed, even at energies well below the Coulomb barrier. Using the first-order semiclassical perturbation theory of Coulomb excitation it is shown that the breakup probability data measured at small angles can be used to extract effective breakup energy as well as the slope of B(E1) distribution close to the threshold. Four-body continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations, including both nuclear and Coulomb couplings between the target and projectile to all orders, reproduce the measured inclusive breakup cross sections and support the presence of a dipole resonance in the (11)Li continuum at low excitation energy.

Interplay between valence and core excitation mechanisms in the breakup of halo nuclei.

The phenomenon of core excitation in the breakup of a two-body halo nucleus is investigated. We show that this effect plays a significant role in the reaction dynamics and, furthermore, its interference with the valence excitation mechanism has sizable and measurable effects on the breakup angular distributions. These effects have been studied in the resonant breakup of (11)Be on a carbon target, populating the resonances at 1.78 MeV (5/2(+)) and 3.41 MeV (3/2(+)). The calculations have been performed using a recent extension of the distorted-wave Born approximation method, which takes into account the effect of core excitation in both the structure of the halo nucleus and in the reaction mechanism. The calculated angular distributions have been compared with the available data [Fukuda et al., Phys. Rev. C 70, 054606 (2004).]. Although each of these resonances is dominated by one of the two considered mechanisms, the angular patterns of these resonances depend in a very delicate way on the interference between them. This is the first clear evidence of this effect but the phenomenon is likely to occur in other similar reactions.

Do halo nuclei follow Rutherford elastic scattering at energies below the barrier? The case of 11Li.

The first measurement of the elastic scattering of the halo nucleus 11Li and its core 9Li on 208Pb at energies near the Coulomb barrier is presented. The 11Li+208Pb elastic scattering shows a strong reduction with respect to the Rutherford cross section, even at energies well below the barrier and down to very small scattering angles. This drastic change of the elastic differential cross section observed in 11Li+208Pb is the consequence of the halo structure of 11Li, as it is not observed in the elastic scattering of its core 9Li at the same energies. Four-body continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations, based on a three-body model of the 11Li projectile, are found to explain the measured angular distributions and confirm that the observed reduction is mainly due to the strong Coulomb coupling to the dipole states in the low-lying continuum of 11Li. These calculations suggest the presence of a low-lying dipole resonance in 11Li close to the breakup threshold.

Tibial dyschondroplasia-associated proteomic changes in chicken growth plate cartilage.

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a poultry leg problem that affects the proximal growth plate of the tibia, preventing its transition to bone. To understand the disease-induced proteomic changes, we compared the protein extracts of cartilage from normal and TD-affected growth plates. TD was induced by feeding thiram to chickens 2 wk before tissue harvest. Proteins were extracted from whole tissues and from conditioned media (CM) prepared by incubating appropriate growth plate tissues in serum-free culture medium for 48 hr. The extracts were prefractionated to contain proteins ranging between 10 and 100 kD. Equal amounts of proteins were subjected to 2D gel electrophoresis with three individual samples per group. The gels were silver stained, and digital images were compared and analyzed with Melanie software to determine differentially expressed protein spots. On comparison of two sets of gels, 47 matching spots were detected in tissue extracts and 27 in CM extracts. Among the matching spots, 12 were determined to be down-regulated in tissue extracts (P < or = 0.05) and two in CM extracts (P < or = 0.05) of TD-affected growth plates. Altogether, 32 protein spots could be identified in both tissue and CM extracts by in-gel trypsin digestion, followed by peptide mass fingerprinting and mass spectrometry (MS)/MS fragmentation. The down-regulated proteins included alpha-enolase, G protein, origin recognition complex, peptidyl prolyl isomerase, calumenin, type II collagen precursor, and the expressed sequence tag pgm2n.pk014.f20, a protein with homology to human reticulocalbin-3 (RCN3). Most of the downregulated proteins are associated with signal transduction, energy metabolism, and secretory functions that are integral to cell viability. Consistent with our earlier findings that the TD chondrocytes are nonviable, the current results suggest that thiram very likely interferes with basic metabolic functions of chondrocytes, leading to their death and, consequently, to the pathogenesis of TD.

In vivo uptake of inhaled particles by airway phagocytes is enhanced in patients with mild asthma compared with normal volunteers.

BACKGROUND: The uptake of inhaled particulate matter by airway phagocytes is an important defence mechanism contributing to the clearance of potentially toxic substances, including aeroallergens, from the lung. Since airway monocytes and macrophages can also function as antigen presenting cells, their ability to engulf materials deposited on the airway surface is of particular interest in patients with allergic asthma. To determine whether airway mononuclear phagocytes of patients with allergic asthma might have enhanced phagocytic activity, the in vivo uptake of inhaled radiolabelled particles was compared in 10 patients with mild allergic asthma and 8 healthy (non-allergic) individuals. METHODS: Phagocyte function was assessed by quantifying the proportion of radioactivity associated with cellular and supernatant fractions of induced sputum 2 h after inhalation of radiolabelled sulfur colloid particles. All subjects were pretreated with albuterol before sputum induction. A standardised breathing pattern was used to target aerosol deposition in the bronchial airways. RESULTS: In vivo particle uptake by airway cells was significantly greater in patients with asthma than in healthy volunteers (57.2% (95% CI 46.5% to 67.9%) vs 22.3% (95% CI 4.9% to 39.6%), p<0.01), as was in vitro phagocytosis of opsonised zymosan-A bioparticles. There was also a significant correlation (r = 0.85, p<0.01) between the percentage of sputum mononuclear phagocytes and the percentage uptake of particles in the patients with asthma but not in the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo particle uptake by airway macrophages is enhanced in persons with mild asthma. Enhanced uptake and processing of particulate antigens could contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of allergic airways disease and may contribute to the increased risk of disease exacerbation associated with particulate exposure.

Attractants for the green June beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate lures for adult green June beetles, Cotinis nitida (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), for future use in a mass trapping program. Volatile organic compounds collected from headspace of green June beetles feeding on fermenting ripe apple (Malus spp.), the natural lure that elicits feeding aggregations, were identified and confirmed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Yellow funnel traps baited with 91% isopropanol or the five component blend were equally effective in eliciting aggregation behavior and often more attractive to green June beetles than the natural lure. In 2008, three trap lines adjacent and parallel to the perimeter of two vineyards, each with 12 Xpando yellow funnel traps baited with either 91% isopropanol or the five component blend, differed in catch of green June beetles across sample dates, and sample date by bait interaction but there were no differences among these two baits. A season total of 324,007 green June beetle were captured by these 36 baited traps. A brief review is included of fermentation volatiles attractive to insects. We conclude with the potential cost to use mass trapping against adult green June beetles.

Direct screening identifies mature beta-defensin 2 in avian heterophils.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was used to screen avian heterophils in the m/z range of 1 to 20 kDa with an objective to identify specific cell-associated peptides that may be reflective of their functional physiology. The MALDI-TOF-MS profiles of crude heterophil extract showed a high intensity peak with average mass of m/z 3916.1 for chicken and m/z 4129.6 for turkey. To identify these peaks, we first purified m/z 3916.1 from chicken bone marrow extract using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Edman sequencing and peptide mass fingerprinting exclusively confirmed this peptide as beta-defensin 2 (BD2) or gallinacin-2, a broad-range antimicrobial peptide. A Uniprot database search followed by the MASCOT sequence query revealed m/z 4129.6 to be the corresponding turkey ortholog of avian beta-defensin 2 (AvBD2), also called turkey heterophil peptide 2. Both AvBD2 peptides are 36 amino acids long including a highly conserved region with 6 invariant cysteines forming the 3 disulfide bonds characteristic of defensins. The method confirmed the existence of the complete mature peptide sequence of the turkey heterophilic BD2 previously proposed based on cDNA analysis. These results demonstrate that screening of the crude extract by MALDI-TOF-MS can identify cell- or tissue-associated peptides in their functional or mature forms, raising the possibility that such peptides can be used as biomarkers in their altered physiological states.

Upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene by Epstein-Barr virus and activation of macrophages in Epstein-Barr virus-infected T cells in the pathogenesis of hemophagocytic syndrome.

A potentially fatal hemophagocytic syndrome has been noted in patients with malignant lymphomas, particularly in EBV-infected T cell lymphoma. Cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), TNF-alpha, and IL-1alpha, are elevated in patients' sera. To verify whether infection of T cells by EBV will upregulate specific cytokine genes and subsequently activate macrophages leading to hemophagocytic syndrome, we studied the transcripts of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-1alpha in EBV-infected and EBV-negative lymphoma tissues. By reverse transcription PCR analysis, transcripts of TNF-alpha were detected in 8 (57%) of 14 EBV-infected T cell lymphomas, higher than that detected in EBV-negative T cell lymphoma (one of six, 17%), EBV-positive B cell lymphoma (two of five, 40%) and EBV-negative B cell lymphomas (one of seven, 14%). Transcripts of IFN-gamma were consistently detected in T cell lymphoma and occasionally in B cell lymphoma, but were independent of EBV status. IL-1alpha expression was not detectable in any category. Consistent with these in vivo observations, in vitro EBV infection of T cell lymphoma lines caused upregulation of TNF-alpha gene, and increased secretion of TNF-alpha, but not IFN-gamma or IL-1alpha. Expression of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-1alpha was not changed by EBV infection of B cell lymphoma lines. To identify the specific cytokine(s) responsible for macrophage activation, culture supernatants from EBV-infected T cells were cocultured with a monocytic cell line U937 for 24 h. Enhanced phagocytosis and secretion of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-1alpha by U937 cells were observed, and could be inhibited to a large extent by anti-TNF-alpha (70%), less effectively by anti-IFN-gamma (31%), but almost completely by the combination of anti-TNF-alpha and anti-IFN-gamma (85%). Taken together, the in vivo and in vitro observations suggest that infection of T cells by EBV selectively upregulates the TNF-alpha expression which, in combination with IFN-gamma and probably other cytokines, can activate macrophages. This study not only highlights a probable pathogenesis for virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome, but also suggests that anti-TNF-alpha will have therapeutic potential in the context of their fatal syndrome.

Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in different fish from the river Elbe and its tributaries, Germany.

In a long-term program polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) as well as dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were analyzed in the muscle tissue of eels (Anguilla anguilla), bream (Abramis brama), European chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and ide (Leuciscus idus) from the river Elbe and its tributaries Mulde and Saale. The variation of the PCDD/F and DL-PCB concentrations in all fish samples is very large, whereby the DL-PCBs predominate in comparison to the PCDD/Fs. In the eels, the concentrations (pg WHO-TEQ/g ww) for the PCDD/Fs lie in the range of 0.48-22 and for the DL-PCBs between 8.5 and 59. In the whitefish, the concentration range is 0.48-12 for the PCDD/Fs and 1.2-14 for the DL-PCBs. Statistical analysis using relative congener patterns for PCDD/Fs allow spatial correlations to be examined for sub-populations of eels and whitefish. The results are compared to the maximum levels laid down in the European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 466/2001 and the action levels of the European Commission Recommendation 2006/88/EC. Eels caught directly after the major flood in August 2002 as well as eels near Hamburg (years 1996 and 1998) show high concentration peaks. Compared to the eels whitefish is less contaminated with PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs.

Contamination of the alluvial plain, feeding-stuffs and foodstuffs with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and mercury from the River Elbe in the light of the flood event in August 2002.

Meadow soils, feeding-stuffs and foodstuffs from the alluvial plain of the river Elbe were analyzed in respect of PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs and mercury with a view to assessing the consequences of the extreme flood of August 2002. The PCDD/F concentrations in the soils range from 3 to 2100 ng WHO-TEQ/kg dm, and for the DL-PCBs the range was 0.32 to 28 ng WHO-TEQ/kg dm. On the basis of established threshold values >40% of the areas are only fit for restricted usage. Mercury concentrations range from 0.11 to 17 mg/kg dm, whereby the action value of 2 mg/kg dm is exceeded in about 50% of the soil samples. A cumulative memory effect from past floods rather than a recent contamination from August 2002 is documented. Soils taken from behind broken dykes showed significantly lower concentrations. Grass, hay and grass silage originating from pasture land in Lower Saxony were taken before and immediately after the flooding. PCDD/Fs range from 0.29 to 16 ng WHO-TEQ/kg, the maximum permitted value of 0.75 ng WHO-TEQ/kg was exceeded in about 50% of the samples. Muscle-tissue from cattle, sheep, lamb and a roe deer as well as untreated milk from individual cows returned values ranging from 0.76 to 5.9 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g fat, and 10% of the samples returned values higher than the permitted maximum of 3 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g fat. The action value of 2 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g fat was exceeded in 33% of the samples. No direct connection between these results and the effects of the flood could be established. A major input path for PCDD/Fs is the tributary Mulde, which discharges contaminated sediments from its catchment area into the Elbe.

Differential expression of mitochondrial and extramitochondrial proteins in lymphocytes of male broilers with low and high feed efficiency.

Studies were conducted to investigate relationships between mitochondrial and extramitochondrial protein expression, and protein oxidation in lymphocytes obtained from broilers in which individual feed efficiencies were obtained. Lymphocytes were isolated from male broilers from a single line that were shown to exhibit either low (0.48 +/- 0.02, n = 8) or high (0.68 +/- 0.01, n = 7) feed efficiency (FE). Western blot analysis showed that, compared with lymphocytes from high FE broilers, lymphocytes from low FE broilers exhibited a) higher amounts of oxidized proteins (protein carbonyls), b) lower amounts of 3 mitochondrial proteins [core I, cyt c 1 (complex III), and ATP synthase (complex V)], and c) higher amounts of 2 proteins [30 S (complex II) and COX II (complex IV)]. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that the intensities of 25 protein spots from pooled samples of lymphocytes from high and low FE broilers differed by 5-fold or more. Three of these protein spots were picked from the gel and subjected to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis. One protein spot of ~33 kDa was tentatively identified by MALDI-TOF as a fragment of collapsin-2, a component of semaphorin 3D. The results of this study provide further evidence of increased oxidation associated with low FE and further evidence of differential protein expression associated with the phenotypic expression of feed efficiency.

Use of retinoic acids in the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: We have systemically analyzed, both in vitro and in vivo, the effect of 13-cis-retinoic acids (RA) on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). METHODS: The in vitro growth-inhibitory effect of 13-cis-RA was examined in 11 (T cell, five; B cell, six) lymphoma cell lines by a tetrazolium colorimetric assay. A pilot clinical trial with oral 13-cis-RA 1 mg/kg/d was conducted in a selected group of 18 lymphoma patients, of whom 16 had failed to respond to at least one regimen of intensive chemotherapy. The in vitro and in vivo effects of 13-cis-RA were correlated with immunophenotypes, RA-induced changes of morphology, and patterns of DNA fragmentation of the lymphoma cells. RESULTS: Four of five T-lymphoma cell lines and none of six B-lymphoma cell lines were sensitive (concentration of 50% growth inhibition [IC50] < 1.5 microns) to 13-cis-RA (P = .015). In the clinical trial, five (two Ki-1, one angioinvasive type, one diffuse mixed cell, and one diffuse large cell) complete remissions and one (Ki1) partial remission were observed in 12 patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), while none of six patients with B-cell lymphoma responded to 13-cis-RA. 13-cis-RA-induced cellular differentiation and apoptosis, as evidenced by the more mature morphology, characteristic nuclear condensation, and DNA ladder pattern signifying internucleosomal fragmentation, were demonstrated in the sensitive cell lines, as well as in the remitting lymphoma tissues. CONCLUSION: The 13-cis-RA appears to be active on lymphomas of T-lineage and their therapeutic indication may be extended to include some subtypes of PTCL. The mechanisms of action are related to differentiation and apoptosis of lymphoma cells. There appears to be no cross-resistance between 13-cis-RA and conventional chemotherapy.

Alveolar macrophage phagocytic kinetics following pulmonary parainfluenza-3 virus infection.

Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the cellular components of bronchoalveolar washings of calves with experimental parainfluenza-3 virus pneumonitis and control calves were made. Calves were exposed to 10(9) TCID50 of PI-3 by intranasal aerosol exposure and bronchoalveolar cells obtained 7 days after infection by volume-controlled bronchopulmonary lavage. Transient tachypnea and pyrexia occurred in all infected calves, and virus was recoverable at 7 days from nasal swabs and lung tissue. Pulmonary lesions were typical of viral pneumonitis, characterized by patchy alveolitis and bronchiolitis with accumulations of cells and inflammatory debris. The mean total lavage cell yield was elevated in the virus-infected calves, and the percentage of neutrophils was elevated (P less than 0.05). Increased numbers of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) were also recovered but the difference was not significant. Linear regression equations showed that a decreased proportion of PAM from virus-infected animals were phagocytic. The mean initial phagocytic rates of macrophages from calves with viral pneumonitis were significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) over controls. This difference was concentration dependent and required a phagocytic stimulus in excess of 12.5 X 10(6) beads/ml. Studies of phagocytic kinetics showed that PAM from calves with viral pneumonitis had a lower Vmax than PAM from control calves, but that Km values were comparable. No differences in PAM beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase activity were observed. These results indicate depressed phagocytic function in PI-3 virus-inflamed lungs relative to controls. In concert with virus-induced airway lesions, such in vivo depression of PAM phagocytic functions would be expected to depress pulmonary particulate clearance and lung defense mechanisms.

Influences of pH and hydraulic retention time on anaerobes converting beer processing wastes into hydrogen.

To convert high-solids organic wastes (3% w./w.) to high-value hydrogen, a full factorial experimental design was employed in planning the experiments for learning the effects of pH and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the hydrogen production in a chemostat reactor using waste yeast obtained from beer processing wastes. For determining which experimental variable settings affect hydrogen production, predictive polynomial quadratic equation and response surface methodology were employed to determine and explain the conditions required for high-value hydrogen production. Experimental results indicate that a maximum hydrogen production rate of 460 mL/gVSS/d was obtained at pH = 5.8 and HRT = 32 hours. Moreover, hydrogenase targeted RT-PCR results indicate that Clostridium thermocellum and Klebsiella pneumoniae predominated.

Covalent binding of 4,4'-methylenebis-(2-chloroaniline) to rat liver DNA in vivo and of its N-hydroxylated derivative to DNA in vitro.

The binding of [ring-3H]4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA) to rat liver DNA following i.p. injection is demonstrated. Three discrete adducts were eluted on HPLC following enzymic hydrolysis to the nucleoside level. Three adducts, with the same retention times on HPLC, were present after i.p. injection of the N-acetyl derivative of MOCA tritiated in the benzene rings. Only two of these adducts were found when the N-acetyl derivative, tritiated on the acetyl group, was used. Thus, at least one of the adducts formed by MOCA is not acetylated. The N-hydroxy derivative of MOCA was synthesised and reacted with DNA in vitro. Following enzymic hydrolysis of this DNA, the major product was shown to co-elute with the radiolabelled non-acetylated adduct produced in the liver DNA of animals injected with [ring-3H]MOCA. This same compound was also isolated following the reaction of N-hydroxy-4-amino-3-chlorobenzyl alcohol with DNA, and subsequent enzymic hydrolysis. The NMR and mass spectra of the synthetic adduct were consistent with N-(deoxyadenosin-8-yl)-4-amino-3-chlorobenzyl alcohol. Thus, the major adduct formed in vivo has involved cleavage of the bond between the methylene bridge and one of the aromatic nuclei of MOCA.