The Effect of Actinoquinol with Hyaluronic Acid in Eye Drops on the Optical Properties and Oxidative Damage of the Rabbit Cornea Irradiated with UVB Rays

Irradiation of the cornea with UVB rays leads to its oxidative damage, swelling and increased light absorption. We investigated changes in the corneal optics (evaluated by changes of corneal hydration and light absorption) and microscopical disturbances of corneas irradiated with UVB rays as influenced by eye drops containing actinoquinol with hyaluronic acid. Rabbit corneas were irradiated with a daily dose of 0.5 or 1.01 J cm⁻² of UVB rays (312 nm) for 4 days. During irradiation, the eye drops were applied on the right eye and buffered saline (or hyaluronic acid) on the left eye. On day 5 the rabbits were sacrificed and the corneas examined spectrophotometrically for light absorption. The corneal thickness (hydration) was measured using a pachymeter. Corneas of some other rabbits were examined immunohistochemically. After buffered saline treatment UVB rays evoked changes in the corneal optics and induced oxidative damage of the corneas. After actinoquinol-hyaluronic acid application, these changes were diminished. Hyaluronic acid alone was less effective. In conclusion, actinoquinol-hyaluronic acid eye drops decreased changes in corneal optics and suppressed oxidative damage in the UVB-irradiated cornea. However, the effective corneal protection by these eye drops was limited to the lower UVB dose.     

Optical Bloch equations and enhanced decay of Rabi oscillations in strong driving fields

Optical Bloch equations are widely used for describing dynamics in a system consisting molecules, electromagnetic waves, and a thermal bath. We analyze applicability of these equations to a single molecule imbedded in a solid matrix. Classical Bloch equations and the limits of their applicability are derived from more general master equations. Simple and intuitively appealing picture based on stochastic Bloch equations shows that at low temperatures, contrary to common believes, a strong driving field can not only suppress but can also increase decay rates of Rabi oscillations. A physical system where predicted effects can be observed experimentally is suggested.     

Division and k-th root theorems for Q-manifolds

We prove that a locally compact ANR-space X is a Q-manifold if and only if it has the Disjoint Disk Property (DDP), all points of X are homological Z∞-points and X has the countable-dimensional approximation property (cd-AP), which means that each map f:K→X of a compact polyhedron can be approximated by a map with the countable-dimensional image. As an application we prove that a space X with DDP and cd-AP is a Q-manifold if some finite power of X is a Q-manifold. If some finite power of a space X with cd-AP is a Q-manifold, then X2 and X×[0,1] are Q-manifolds as well. We construct a countable familyχof spaces with DDP and cd-AP such that no space X∈χis homeomorphic to the Hilbert cube Q whereas the product X×Y of any different spaces X, Y∈χis homeomorphic to Q. We also show that no uncountable familyχwith such properties exists.     

Sensing single electrons with single molecules

We propose a new methodology for probing transport of just one electron, a process of great importance both in nature and in artificial devices. Our idea for locating a single electron is analogues to the conventional GPS where signals from several satellites are used to locate a macro object. Using fluorescent molecules as tiny sensors, it is possible to determine 3D displacement vector of an electron.     

On the length of chains of proper subgroups covering a topological group

We prove that if an ultrafilter ${\mathcal{L}}$ is not coherent to a Q-point, then each analytic non-??-bounded topological group G admits an increasing chain ${\langle G_\alpha:\alpha < \mathfrak b(\mathcal L)\rangle}$ of its proper subgroups such that: (i) ${\bigcup_{\alpha}G_\alpha=G}$ ; and (ii) For every ??-bounded subgroup H of G there exists ?? such that ${H\subset G_\alpha}$ . In case of the group Sym(??) of all permutations of ?? with the topology inherited from ?? ^?? this improves upon earlier results of S. Thomas.     

Seeking mathematics success for college students: a randomized field trial of an adapted approach

Many students enter the Canadian college system with insufficient mathematical ability and leave the system with little improvement. Those students who enter with poor mathematics ability typically take a developmental mathematics course as their first and possibly only mathematics course. The educational experiences that comprise a developmental mathematics course vary widely and are, too often, ineffective at improving students’ ability. This trend is concerning, since low mathematics ability is known to be related to lower rates of success in subsequent courses. To date, little attention has been paid to the selection of an instructional approach to consistently apply across developmental mathematics courses. Prior research suggests that an appropriate instructional method would involve explicit instruction and practising mathematical procedures linked to a mathematical concept. This study reports on a randomized field trial of a developmental mathematics approach at a college in Ontario, Canada. The new approach is an adaptation of the JUMP Math program, an explicit instruction method designed for primary and secondary school curriculae, to the college learning environment. In this study, a subset of courses was assigned to JUMP Math and the remainder was taught in the same style as in the previous years. We found consistent, modest improvement in the JUMP Math sections compared to the non-JUMP sections, after accounting for potential covariates. The findings from this randomized field trial, along with prior research on effective education for developmental mathematics students, suggest that JUMP Math is a promising way to improve college student outcomes.     

High-frequency cell vibrations and spatial skin effect in thick cascade junction with heavy concentrated masses

We study the asymptotic behavior of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the Laplacian in a 2D thick cascade junction with heavy concentrated masses. We present two-term asymptotic approximations, as ε→0$\epsilon \to 0$, for the eigenelements in the case of “slightly heavy”, “moderate heavy”, and “super heavy” concentrated masses. Asymptotics of high-frequency cell-vibrations are found as well.     

Ring-closure reactions of functionalized vinyl sulfonamides (microreview)

Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds - Diversity-oriented synthesis embodied in a strategy of pairing vinyl sulfonamide moiety with other functional groups resulted in an array of skeletally diverse...     

Oxa-spirocycles: synthesis,properties and applications

A general approach to a new generation of spirocyclic molecules – oxa-spirocycles – was developed. The key synthetic step was iodocyclization. More than 150 oxa-spirocyclic compounds were prepared. Incorporation of an oxygen atom into the spirocyclic unit dramatically improved water solubility (by up to 40 times) and lowered lipophilicity. More potent oxa-spirocyclic analogues of antihypertensive drug terazosin were synthesized and studied in vivo.

A general practical approach to a new generation of spirocyclic molecules – oxa-spirocycles – is developed.