Hermitean (semi) lattices and Rolf��s lattice

We investigate the indexed Hermitean lattice of type 0 generated by a single element a subject to the relation ${a = a^\amalg \leq b = b^\amalg}$ . Although the lattice is infinite, we are able to recursively describe its subdirectly irreducible factors. We also give necessary and sufficient conditions about indices for this lattice to be finite.     

Shooting methods for a PT-symmetric periodic eigenvalue problem

We present a rigorous analysis of the performance of some one-step discretization schemes for a class of PT-symmetric singular boundary eigenvalue problem which encompasses a number of different problems whose investigation has been inspired by the 2003 article of Benilov et al. (J Fluid Mech 497:201–224, 2003). These discretization schemes are analyzed as initial value problems rather than as discrete boundary problems, since this is the setting which ties in most naturally with the formulation of the problem which one is forced to adopt due to the presence of an interior singularity. We also devise and analyze a variable step scheme for dealing with the singular points. Numerical results show better agreement between our results and those obtained from small-ϵ asymptotics than has been shown in results presented hitherto.     

Rosin Derivatives as a Platform for the Antiviral Drug Design

The increased complexity due to the emergence and rapid spread of new viral infections prompts researchers to search for potential antiviral and protective agents for mucous membranes among various natural objects, for example, plant raw materials, their individual components, as well as the products of their chemical modification. Due to their structure, resin acids are valuable raw materials of natural origin to synthesize various bioactive substances. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to confirm the possibility of using resin acid derivatives for the drug design. As a result, we studied the cytotoxicity and biological activity of resin acid derivatives. It was shown that a slight decrease in the viral load in the supernatants was observed upon stimulation of cells (II) compared with the control. When using PASS-online modeling (Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances), the prediction of the biological activity spectrum showed that compound (I) is capable of exhibiting antiviral activity against the influenza virus. The use of the SWISS-ADME webserver to reveal the drug-like properties of compounds did not directly indicate the presence of antiviral activity. These results indicate the potential of resin acid derivatives as a starting point for extensive research in the study of biological activity.     

Assessment of the In Vivo Release and Biocompatibility of Novel Vesicles Containing Zinc in Rats

This paper is focused on the in vivo release and biocompatibility evaluation in rats of some novel systems entrapping zinc chloride in lipid vesicles. The particles were prepared by zinc chloride immobilization inside lipid vesicles made using phosphatidylcholine, stabilized with 0.5% chitosan solution, and dialyzed for 10 h to achieve a neutral pH. The submicrometric systems were physico-chemically characterized. White Wistar rats, assigned into four groups of six animals each, were treated orally with a single dose, as follows: Group I (control): deionized water 0.3 mL/100 g body weight; Group II (Zn): 2 mg/kg body weight (kbw) zinc chloride; Group III (LV-Zn): 2 mg/kbw zinc chloride in vesicles; Group IV (LVC-Zn): 2 mg/kbw zinc chloride in vesicles stabilized with chitosan. Haematological, biochemical, and immune parameters were assessed after 24 h and 7 days, and then liver fragments were collected for histopathological examination. The use of zinc submicrometric particles—especially those stabilized with chitosan—showed a delayed zinc release in rats. No substantial changes to blood parameters, plasma biochemical tests, serum complement activity, or peripheral neutrophils phagocytic capacity were noted; moreover, the tested substances did not induce liver architectural disturbances. The obtained systems provided a delayed release of zinc, and showed good biocompatibility in rats.     

Have women's voices lowered across time? A cross sectional study of Australian women's voices

Various aspects of our communication are well known to havechanged over time (1-3). This article describes a cross-sectional study that examined the acoustic characteristics of two groups of Australian women aged 18–25 years from recordings made in 1945 and 1993 and investigated the possible changes in the voice across generations. Archival recordings from 1945 which had been used in a longitudinal study (4) were compared to recordings made in 1993. The results of this study show that women in 1993 have significantly deeper voices than women of the same age recorded in 1945. The possible factors influencing this change are discussed.     

Blended implicit methods for solving ODE and DAE problems,and their extension for second-order problems

The use of implicit numerical methods is mandatory when solving general stiff ODE/DAE problems. Their use, in turn, requires the solution of a corresponding discrete problem, which is one of the main concerns in the actual implementation of the methods. In this respect, blended implicit methods provide a general framework for the efficient solution of the discrete problems generated by block implicit methods. In this paper, we review the main facts concerning blended implicit methods for the numerical solution of ODE and DAE problems.     

H,C, Pt NMR study on platinum(II) interaction with sulphur containing Amadori compounds

The NMR study on the interaction of Pt(II) with Amadori compounds is performed. The Amadori compounds are derived from the reaction of β-d-glucose with l-cystine leading to N,N′-di-(1-deoxy-β-fructos-1-yl)-l-cystine [FruCyscys], and with l-methionine leading to N-(1-deoxy-β-fructos-1-yl)-l-methionine [FruMet].