Equipment for measurements of radial profiles of excited species in DC glow discharge

The original experimental device for studying the radial dependences of emitted radiation, generated by the cylindrically symmetric positive column of the DC glow discharge, is proposed. Principle of detection of the radial intensity profiles of the spectral lines by means of the special scanner with two movable conic mirrors is described. The function of the scanner was verified experimentally and by the method of raytracing. As an example, the radial profiles of lines emitted by the positive column of the neon glow discharge are presented. No significant changes were found. This work is a part of the research plan MSM 0021620834, that is financed by the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic.     

Multicomponent analysis by off-line combination of synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and capillary electrophoresis of collagen glycation adducts

Capillary electrophoresis separation and synchronous fluorescence spectral detection was used off-line to reveal the nature of fluorescent adducts formed in vivo in the collagen molecule and their distribution in the molecule. It was shown that by using the delta lamda in the area of the Stokes shift for the analyzed entities (approximately 10 nm for pentosidine, 4,5(E)-epoxy-2(E)-heptenal and 4,5(E)-epoxy-2(E)-decenal lysine adducts) a distinct profile of spectral bands can be obtained allowing for differentiation of the several entities involved. In combination with capillary electrophoretic separation of the CNBr peptides the location of individual adducts was possible: while pentosidine (and, perhaps, pentosidine related compounds K1-K4) is found in the large alpha 1(I)CB6 and alpha 2(I)CB3.5 peptides along with a complete set of the other fluorescent adducts, low-molecular-mass peptides originating from the terminal region of the molecule are devoid of any fluorescence. All other parts of the molecule possess synchronous fluorescence profiles corresponding to the intact molecule except that they are devoid of pentosidine. The results indicate random distribution of fluorescent adducts in the collagen molecule and, in a broader context, indicate the usefulness of multicomponent analysis by means of combining synchronous luminescence spectra and capillary electrophoresis.     

Search for weakly interacting sub-eV particles with the OSQAR laser-based experiment: results and perspectives

Recent Planck measurements show some CMB anomalies on large angular scales, which confirms the early observations by WMAP. We show that an inflationary model, in which before the slow-roll inflation the Universe is in a superinflationary phase, can generate a large-scale cutoff in the primordial power spectrum, which may account for not only the power suppression on large angular scales, but also a large dipole power asymmetry in the CMB. We discuss an implementation of our model in string theory.     

Evaluation of peptide electropherograms by multivariate mathematical-statistical methods. I. Principal component analysis.

Depository effects in slowly metabolised proteins, typically glycation or the estimation of products arising from the reaction of unsaturated long-chain-fatty acid metabolites (possessing aldehydic groups) are very difficult to assess owing to their extremely low concentration in the protein matrix. In order to reveal such alterations we applied deep enzymatic fragmentation resulting in a set of small peptides, which, if modified, are likely to change their electrophoretic properties and can be visualised on the resulting profile. Peptide maps of collagen (a mixture of collagen types I and III digested by bacterial collagenase) were applied as the model protein structure for detecting the nonenzymatic posttranslational changes originating during various physiological conditions like high fructose diet and hypertriglyceridemic state. Capillary electrophoresis in acidic media (sodium phosphate buffer, pH 2.5) was used as the separation method capable of (partial) separation of over 60 peptide peaks. Two to 13 changes were revealed in the profiles obtained reflecting the physiological conditions of the animals tested. Combination of peptide profiling with subsequent t-test evaluation of individual peak areas and principal component analysis based on cumulative peak areas of individual sections of the electropherograms allowed to determine in which section (part) of the electropherogram the physiological state indicating changes occurred. Simultaneously it was possible to reveal the qualitative differences between the four physiological regimes investigated (i.e., which regime affects the collagen molecules most and which affects them least). The approach can be used as guidance for targeted preseparation of the very complex peptide mixture.     

KLYPVE/TUS space experiments for study of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays

The KLYPVE space experiment has been proposed to study the energy spectrum, composition, and arrival direction of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR) by detecting from satellites the atmosphere fluorescence and scattered Cherenkov light produced by EAS, initiated by UHECR particles. The TUS setup is a prototype KLYPVE instrument. The aim of the TUS experiment is to detect dozens of UHECR events in the energy region of the GZK cutoff, to measure the light background, to test the atmosphere control methods, and to study stability of the optical materials, PMTs, and other instrumental parts in space environment.