Ab initio calcuation of ideal strength for cubic crystals under three-axial tension

Ab initio calculation of ideal strength of cubic crystals under three-axial tension was performed using the LMTO-ASA method. Computed values are in a good agreement with those obtained previously by means of semi-empirical polynomial approach. The values of equilibrium lattice parameter obtained in the framework of ab initio method are well comparable with the experimental data whereas a less satisfactory agreement was achieved in the case of bulk moduli.     

Certain Liouville series

Abstract The main results of this paper give two criteria for certain infinite series of rational numbers to be Liouville. Some examples are also included. Keywords: Liouville numbers, Infinite series Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 11J82     

Expressible sets of sequences with Hausdorff dimension zero

We give conditions sufficient for sequences consisting of real numbers to ensure that their expressible sets have Hausdorff dimension zero.     

Structure and in vitro antifungal activity of [2,6‐bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]diphenyltin(IV) compounds

A set of seven [2,6‐bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]diphenyltin(IV) ({[(CH₃)₂NCH₂]₂(C₆H₃)}­(C₆H₅)₂Sn⁺X^?) ionic organotin(IV) compounds (X = Br, NO₃, CN, SCN, SeCN, BF₄ and PF₆) has been prepared and characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, ¹H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl₃,¹¹⁹Sn NMR in CDCl₃ and DMSO‐d₆ solution, as well as by ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction techniques in the solid state. The in vitro antifungal activity of these water‐soluble ionic organotin(IV) compounds was compared with starting compounds and the antifungal drugs currently in clinical use. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Whole-cell Gluconobacter oxydans biosensor for 2-phenylethanol biooxidation monitoring

A microbial biosensor for 2-phenylethanol (2-PE) based on the bacteria Gluconobacter oxydans was developed and applied in monitoring of a biotechnological process. The cells of G. oxydans were immobilized within a disposable polyelectrolyte complex gel membrane consisting of sodium alginate, cellulose sulphate and poly(methylene-co-guanidine) attached onto a miniaturized Clark oxygen electrode, forming whole cell amperometric biosensor. Measured changes in oxygen concentration were proportional to changes in 2-PE concentration. The biosensor sensitivity was 864 nA mM⁻¹ (RSD = 6%), a detection limit of 1 μM, and the biosensor response towards 2-PE was linear in the range 0.02–0.70 mM. The biosensor preserved 93% of its initial sensitivity after 7 h of continuous operation and exhibited excellent storage stability with loss of only 6% of initial sensitivity within two months, when stored at 4 °C. The developed system was designed and successfully used for an off-line monitoring of whole course of 2-PE biooxidation process producing phenylacetic acid (PA) as industrially valuable aromatic compound. The biosensor measurement did not require the use of hazardous organic solvent. The biosensor response to 2-PE was not affected by interferences from PA and phenylacetaldehyde at concentrations present in real samples during the biotransformation and the results were in a very good agreement with those obtained via gas chromatography.     

Interfacing of microbial cells with nanoparticles: Simple and cost-effective preparation of a highly sensitive microbial ethanol biosensor

Various types of carbon nanoparticles were directly mixed with microbial cells of Gluconobacter oxydans within a 3-D bionanocomposite in order to prepare a highly sensitive ethanol biosensor with a short response time. From all carbonaceous nanomaterials tested, single- or multi-walled carbon nanotubes provided the highest sensitivity of detection (117–121 µA cm^?2 mM^?1), but from a practical point of view, Ketjen black 300 and 600 provide very low detection limit (2–6 µM) and high sensitivity for the ethanol analysis (84–88 µA cm^?2 mM^?1)with a shortresponse time (14–33 s). Moreover, the price of Ketjen black is a few orders of magnitude lower compared to that of carbon nanotubes. Finally, the study showed that the morphology of nanoparticles rather than their surface modification is the key element in achieving high sensitivity of ethanol detection.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gluconobacter</Emphasis> sp. cells for manufacturing of effective electrochemical biosensors and biofuel cells

Gluconobacter oxydans bacteria exhibit a unique metabolism for quick and incomplete oxidation of a wide range of different compounds (aldoses, ketoses, mono- and poly-alcohols, etc.). Such biotransformation efficiency with simple biomass production led to the industrial applications of these bacteria in the production of several important commodities. Their respiratory activity can also be successfully studied and used in the field of bioelectrochemistry. The main aim of this review is to present various strategies to improve selectivity of assays using intact/treated cells of G. oxydans, to introduce the application of G. oxydans-based biosensors in selective monitoring of analytes during biotransformation processes and to provide information about utilizable sugars in fermentation media or in biological oxygen demand value determination. The final part of the review describes potential application of G. oxydans cells in the generation of electricity from complex fuels within microbial fuel cells by advanced direct electron transfer route between bacterial cells and electrodes.