Robust Parameter Identification to Perform the Modeling of <Emphasis Type="Italic">pta</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">poxB</Emphasis> Genes Deletion Effect on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia Coli</Emphasis>

The aim of this study was to design a robust parameter identification algorithm to characterize the effect of gene deletion on Escherichia coli (E. coli) MG1655. Two genes (pta and poxB) in the competitive pathways were deleted from this microorganism to inhibit pyruvate consumption. This condition deviated the E. coli metabolism toward the Krebs cycle. As a consequence, the biomass, substrate (glucose), lactic, and acetate acids as well as ethanol concentrations were modified. A hybrid model was proposed to consider the effect of gene deletion on the metabolism of E. coli. The model parameters were estimated by the application of a least mean square method based on the instrument variable technique. To evaluate the parametric identifier method, a set of robust exact differentiators, based on the super-twisting algorithm, was implemented. The hybrid model was successfully characterized by the parameters obtained from experimental information of E. coli MG1655. The significant difference between parameters obtained with wild-type strain and the modified (with deleted genes) justifies the application of the parametric identification algorithm. This characterization can be used to optimize the production of different byproducts of commercial interest.     

Splitting of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis></Superscript> atomic states in icosahedral 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> metal endofullerenes M@C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

Group-theoretical and quantum-chemical investigations of the spectrum of low-lying excited states have been performed by the ROHF and FCI-RAS (Full CI in Restricted Active Space) methods for 3d metal endofullerenes (MEFs) M@C₆₀ (M =Mn, Cr, and Fe) in different charged states. The major purpose of this study is quantum-chemical verification of the anomalous (“non-Bethe’s”) character of splitting of the d ^N atomic states in an electrostatic field with icosahedral symmetry, predicted previously within the theory of integral invariants theory. The interrelation between the integral invariants theory and the quantumchemical methods applied in this work is considered in detail. Our calculations suggest that the d ^N atomic states in the icosahedral field generated by fullerene C60 (I _h ) on a metal atom (ion) remain non-split for different charged states of the metal and C₆₀. Reasons for this phenomenon and other possible approaches to verification of the prediction are discussed. It is demonstrated that the d ^N states of the encapsulated metal are split in icosahedral 3d MEFs only under very strong compression of these structures.     

Synthesis,some properties,and crystalline modifications of <Emphasis Type="Italic">fac</Emphasis>-[Ru(NO)(Py)<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>3</Subscript>]

According to the data of ¹H NMR spectroscopy, trans-hydroxochloro complexes containing from two to four pyridine molecules in the internal sphere are formed on the heating of a dilute aqueous solution of K₂[Ru(NO)Cl₅] with pyridine. The evaporation of the reaction solution with concentrated hydrochloric acid gives fac-[Ru(NO)(Py)₂Cl₃] (I) in a yield of ~90%. The structures of two crystalline modifications of this complex are determined by X-ray diffraction analysis (CIF files ССDС nos. 1452208 (Ia) and 1452207 (Ib)). IR spectroscopy shows that the irradiation of complex I (λ ~ 450 nm, T = 80 K) results in photoisomerization with the formation of the metastable state MS1 in which the nitroso group is coordinated by the oxygen atom. The activation parameters of the photoisomerization are determined from the data of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Compound trans-[Ru(NO)Py₄(OH)]Cl₂ ? H₂O is isolated in a yield of ~70% on reflux of complex I with a pyridine excess in an aqueous solution, and the presence of molecules of water of crystallization in this compound is confirmed by thermal gravimetry (TG) and IR spectroscopy.     

Chemical composition-structure-properties relations in a series of Sr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ba<Subscript>1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> compounds

Based on structural studies of Sr _x Ba_1-x Nb₂O₆ crystals with different concentrations of strontium and barium, the structural causality of optical nonlinearity of these crystalline materials is established. YAG:Nd laser radiation of the crystals results in a monotonic decrease in the second harmonic intensity with increasing strontium concentration in a sample. Fine details of the structure responsible for this effect are determined.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of hydrogen release during the heterogeneous catalytic dehydrogenation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-isomers of perhydro-m-terphenyl

Comparative studies on the temperature dependence of the dehydrogenation of cis- and trans-isomers of perhydro-m-terphenyl are performed in a flow catalytic reactor. Rate constants and equilibrium constants of all elementary acts of this reaction are calculated on basis of experimental data using the KINET 0.8 program for the mathematical modeling of the kinetics of complex reactions. The resulting data indicate that perhydro-m-terphenyl cis- and trans-isomers structural differences have no appreciable effect on dehydrogenation.     

EPR of copper ions in Pb<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>5</Subscript> crystals

The article presents the results of EPR studies of Pb₂MoO₅ crystals containing a copper impurity. Based on the analysis of angular dependences of the EPR spectra, it is found that copper ions incorporate into the structure of the Pb₂MoO₅ crystal in the Cu²⁺ state and occupy the molybdenum site with the formation of a linear extended Cu(II)–V(O)–Pb(IV) defect along the а axis of the crystal. An oxygen vacancy appears in the structure of the defect to compensate the charge and the lead ion acquires the Pb⁴⁺ charge state. According to the structure of this center, one magnetically non-equivalent position with the direction of main values of А and g of A(Cu)_zz and g_zz tensors parallel to the а axis is observed in the EPR spectra. Moreover, the EPR spectra exhibit an addition hyperfine structure from one lead atom on which the unpaired electron density is 0.061%. The obtained data on the structure of the defect formed when the copper impurity incorporates into the Pb₂MoO₅ crystal provided the assumption that the observed light scattering when the light beam is directed perpendicular to the а axis may be due to the cooperative effect of the presence of di- and tetravalent ions substituting for molybdenum in the linear configuration of Pb–O–Mo bonds.     

Glassy carbon electrode modified with hemin and new melamine compounds for H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> amperometric detection

In an attempt to increase the stability and efficiency of hemin-modified electrodes, the present work reports the preparation of a new modified glassy carbon electrode obtained by immobilization of hemin (Hm) on the electrode surface together with a new N-substituted melamine (2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine) based G-2 dendrimer comprising p-aminophenol as peripheral unit (Den) or with one of its analogues, a melamine G-0 dimer (Dim). Basic structural features, able to determine intimate relationships between Hm and Dim (or Den) at room temperature in solid state, were evidenced with the use of vibrational analysis carried out by FT-IR. This method revealed contacts between Hm and Dim or Den respectively as H-bond interactions, proton-interchange, and π-π stacking interactions. The new modified electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and tested for amperometric detection of H₂O₂. In this purpose, GC/Hm-Dim electrode exhibited better catalytic properties than GC/Hm-Den electrode, but lower stability.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, and photochromic properties of 6,6′ or 7,7′ or 6,7′-dimethyl-[2,2′-bi-1H-indene]-3,3′-diethyl-3,3′-dihydroxy-1,1′-diones

New photochromic title compounds 1, 2, and 3 have been prepared starting from 4-methylphthalic anhydride. Compounds 3a and 3b are a pair of enantiomers and were obtained as a racemic mixture (numbered as 3). Compounds 1, 2, and 3 were successfully separated from the isomeric mixture product through fractional crystallization, and their structures are confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. UV-vis absorption and photochromic properties of 1, 2, and 3 have also been investigated. Results reveal that the substituents, even like the simple methyl, on the benzene rings of biindenylidenedione could considerably affect the photochromic property, as well as other properties of this kind of compounds.     

The stability and structure of (N<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>j</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>i</Subscript> and (Ar)<Subscript>j</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>i</Subscript> clusters

The stability and structure of water clusters absorbing nitrogen molecules or argon atoms was analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation at 233 K. The (?μ/?i)_{V, T} derivative of the chemical potential, a value characterizing the stability of a cluster with respect to its size, depends linearly on the number of molecules i. According to this criterion, the clusters under study become stable near i = 40. The average length of H-bonds increases monotonically in the growing cluster of pure water and exhibits oscillatory behavior if the growing cluster contains N₂ molecules or Ar atoms. The number of H-bonds per molecule oscillates between one and six as the cluster size changes. These oscillations are damped in pure water and sustained for clusters containing impurities, especially argon.     

Density of N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Solutions in Perfluorodecalin As a Function of Concentration

The dependence of density ρ of nitrogen oxide N₂O solutions in perfluorodecalin on the N₂O concentration is measured. At a constant temperature, this dependence has a linear character: ρ = аx + b. Coefficients a and b are tabulated for five temperatures: 293, 298, 303, 313, and 328 K. These data allow us to control the N₂O concentration in perfluorodecalin.     

New functionalization opportunities for <Emphasis Type="Italic">peri</Emphasis>-hydroxynaphthoyl and <Emphasis Type="Italic">peri</Emphasis>-fused heterocyclic compounds

A capability was studied of hydrogenated α-pyrone heterocycle in 7-methoxy-4-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromen-2-one to undergo aminolysis under the treatment with hydrazine hydrate, primary and secondary aliphatic and aromatic amines. A new approach was developed to the preparation of perihydroxyketone of naphthalene series containing a specific functional substituent in the ortho-position with respect to hydroxy group. The effect was revealed of an acetyl group in the position 9 of 7-methoxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromen-2-one on the reaction of this compound with aliphatic amines and hydrazine hydrate. 9-Methoxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-methyl-3H-benzo[de]pyrido[3,2,1-if]cinnolin-3-one [9-methyl-6-methoxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-10,10a-diazapyren-1-one] was obtained, a new bis-peri-fused heteroaromatic system.     

Enhancing the Production of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-Mannitol by an Artificial Mutant of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> sp. T2-M10

d-Mannitol belongs to a linear polyol with six-carbon and has indispensable usage in medicine and industry. In order to obtain more efficient d-mannitol producer, this study has screened out a stable mutant Penicillium sp. T2-M10 that was isolated from the initial d-mannitol-produced strain Penicillium sp.T2-8 via UV irradiation as well as nitrosoguanidine (NTG) induction. The mutant had a considerable enhancement in yield of d-mannitol based on optimizing fermentation. The production condition was optimized as the PDB medium with 24 g/L glucose for 9 days. The results showed that the production of d-mannitol from the mutant strain T2-M10 increased 125% in contrast with the parental strain. Meanwhile, the fact that d-mannitol is the main product in the mutant simplified the process of purification. Our finding revealed the potential value of the mutant strain Penicillium sp. T2-M10 to be a d-mannitol-producing strain.     

Insecticidal effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mentha pulegium</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mentha suaveolens</Emphasis> Ehrh. hydrosols against a pest of citrus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxoptera aurantii</Emphasis> (Aphididae)

Essential oils proved their efficiency as natural insecticides to fight many pests of stored products and crops whereas the hydrosols have not been evaluated yet. The objective of this work is to assess the insecticidal effect of hydrosols extracted from Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. and Mentha pulegium L. toward an insect pest of citrus, Toxoptera aurantii (Homoptera, Aphididae). The extraction of hydrosols was carried out by hydro-distillation using Clevenger apparatus and then the chemical composition was identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The chemical composition of two hydrosols revealed the abundance of hydrophilic and oxygenated compounds as piperitenone oxide and carvacrol. Different concentrations of each hydrosol were separately diluted in distilled water and applied topically to aphids. The results of this investigation have shown a high insecticidal effect, and the M. suaveolens hydrosol is more effective against citrus pests than that of M. pulegium L. Consequently, these natural compounds can be used in the management of aphids on citrus.     

Flow Cytometry Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript> Diploid Cell Fraction in Ovarian Cancer Tissue

The proportion of diploid cells in the G₀/G₁ cell cycle phases was estimated by flow cytometry in 60 samples of stage III serous ovarian cancer tissue. The tumor tissue shows considerable heterogeneity with regard to the content of this tissue fraction, which ranged from 27 to 95% with a median of 73%. Statistically significant differences in the size of this fraction were identified by comparing tumor subgroups sensitive and resistant to first-line platinum-taxane chemotherapy. Predictive significance of the G₀/G₁ fraction was concluded and quantitative evaluation of this fraction is recommended for clinical use.     

The first principle computational study for the competitive mechanisms of oxidative aromatization of 2-substituted imidazolines using KMnO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The efficiently oxidized various types of 2-substituted imidazolines to the corresponding imidazoles using potassium permanganate supported on silica gel (KMnO₄/SiO₂) under mild conditions and at room temperature have been reported before. In this study, the competitive concerted, catalytic stepwise (E ₁ cb′ _Cat .) and E ₁ cb′ mechanisms of the oxidative aromatization process of 2-imidazolines to the corresponding imidazoles using KMnO₄/SiO₂ have been theoretically investigated by DFT-B3LYP/6-31G** method. The achieved data from this computational study confirmed that the reaction occurs by stepwise E ₁ cb′ mechanism on the basis of the anomeric effect.     

The mechanism of selective NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> reduction by hydrocarbons in excess oxygen on oxide catalysts: VII. The nature of synergism on a mechanical mixture of catalysts

Based on a mechanistic study of the selective reduction of NO _x by propane on NTK-10-1 and Ni-Cr oxide (NCO) catalysts, the reason for synergism in this process on a mechanical mixture of the catalysts was determined. On the NCO catalyst at temperatures higher than 250°C without NO _x activation, C₃H₈ was oxidized with the formation of a considerable amount of hydrogen. This hydrogen migrated to the surface of NTK-10-1 through a gas phase and reduced this surface. On the reduced surface, H₂ reacted with NO _x by a mechanism characteristic of supported platinum group metals. In accordance with this mechanism, nitrogen atoms, which were formed by the dissociation of NO on metal atoms reduced by hydrogen, recombined to form nitrogen molecules in a gas phase, whereas oxygen atoms reacted with the hydrocarbon to form CO₂ and H₂O molecules in a gas phase. The positive effect of H₂, which was formed on the NCO surface, on the reduction of NO _x on NTK-10-1 is the main reason for synergism. An analysis of the experimental data demonstrated that an effectively working mechanical mixture of catalysts can be obtained if one of the mixture components is responsible for the effective activation of nitrogen oxides and the other is responsible for the activation of hydrocarbons.     

Electronic structure of Ti<Subscript>4</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O as determined from <Emphasis Type="Italic">ab initio</Emphasis> calculations and X-ray spectroscopy studies

The TiL _α, FeL _α and OK _α ultrasoft X-ray emission bands obtained in experiment reflect, respectively, the energy distribution of mainly the Ti3d, Fe3d and O2p electronic states in Ti₄Fe₂O compound, which is an efficient hydrogen absorber for energy cells. Full and partial densities of electronic states for all atoms constituting the indicated oxide were calculated by a modified method of associated plane waves (APW) using the WIEN2k software package. The APW calculation data for Ti₄Fe₂O compound as well as superposition of TiL _α, FeL _α and OK _α ultrasoft X-ray emission bands on a single energy scale indicate that O2p states in the oxide are localized mainly near the bottom of the valence band, the major contribution near the ceiling of the valence band belonging to Fe3d and Ti3d states. According to the APW calculation, the major contribution to the bottom of Ti₄Fe₂O conduction band is made by Fe3d* and Ti3d* states. The APW data for Ti₄Fe₂O are supported by the cluster calculation performed for this compound using a FEFF82 software package.     

Antimicrobial Property of Nanosilver Colloid Prepared by Electrical Spark Discharge Method on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis>

This study employed an electrical spark discharge method (ESDM) to prepare a nano-Ag colloid as an antifungal solution. The solution was diluted to two concentrations, and the fungal medium prepared in this study was coated with Aspergillus niger. The nano-Ag colloid solution was mixed with A. niger in various concentrations and dripped onto 3M Petrifilm plates. Inhibited growth observed after several days confirmed the antifungal effect of the nano-Ag colloid on A. niger. Because direct washing produced inaccurate quantitation and yielded A. niger in an excessively high concentration, this study employed an inoculation loop method for A. niger quantitation. The concentrations of A. niger ranged from 10^?2 to 10^?7%. The optimal colony count was observed on day 2. During an experiment regarding the antifungal effect of the ESDM-prepared nano-Ag colloid on A. niger, 3M Petrifilm plates were employed to observe the growth of A. niger. The colony count of 10^?2% A. niger without nano-Ag colloid was approximately 60. After the nano-Ag colloid was added, the colony count substantially decreased to approximately 10. The colony count of 10^?7% A. niger was reduced to 11 or lower after the nano-Ag colloid was added. The results confirmed the antifungal effect of the nano-Ag colloid on the growth of A. niger.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Stachys lavandulifolia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lathyrus</Emphasis> sp. Mediated for Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Evaluation Its Antifungal Activity Against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dothiorella sarmentorum</Emphasis>

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized using Stachys lavandulifolia and Lathyrus sp. The first sign of the reduction of silver ions to AgNPs was the change in color of S. lavandulifolia and Lathyrus sp. extracts changed into dark brown and auburn after treating with silver nitrate, respectively. The UV–Vis spectroscopy of reaction mixture (extract+silver nitrate) produced by S. lavandulifolia and Lathyrus sp. showed the strong adsorption peaks at ?440 and 420 nm, respectively. The transmission electron microscope images showed the synthesis of AgNPs using S. lavandulifolia and Lathyrus sp. with an average size of 7 and 11 nm, respectively. The result of X-ray diffraction pattern showed four diffraction peaks at 38°, 44°, 64°, and 77° for both types of biosynthesized AgNPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the possible role of involved proteins and polyhydroxyl functional groups in the synthesis process of AgNPs. Inductively coupled plasma analysis determined the conversion rate (percentage) of silver ions to silver nanoparticles in reaction mixtures of S. lavandulifolia and Lathyrus sp. 99.73 and 99.67 %, respectively. In addition, antifungal effect of AgNPs, synthesized by both extracts, was studied separately on mycelial growth of Dothiorella sarmentorum, in a completely randomized design on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. The inhibition rate of mycelial growth was strongly depended on the density of AgNPs and it strongly increased with increasing the density of AgNPs in the PDA medium. AgNPs more than 90 % of them inhibited from the mycelia growth of the fungus at the concentration of 40 µg/mL and higher.     

New Features in the Lipid A Structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella suis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella abortus</Emphasis> Lipopolysaccharide

Brucellaceae are Gram-negative bacteria that cause brucellosis, one of the most distributed worldwide zoonosis, transmitted to humans by contact with either infected animals or their products. The lipopolysaccharide exposed on the cell surface has been intensively studied and is considered a major virulence factor of Brucella. In the last years, structural studies allowed the determination of new structures in the core oligosaccharide and the O-antigen of this lipopolysaccharide. In this work, we have reinvestigated the lipid A structure isolated from B. suis and B. abortus lipopolysaccharides. A detailed study by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in the positive and negative ion modes of the lipid A moieties purified from both species was performed. Interestingly, a new feature was detected: the presence of a pyrophosphorylethanolamine residue substituting the backbone. LID-MS/MS analysis of some of the detected ions allowed assurance that the Lipid A structure composed by the diGlcN3N disaccharide, mainly hexa-acylated and penta-acylated, bearing one phosphate and one pyrophosphorylethanolamine residue.

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