A velocity program using the Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi feature-tracking algorithm with demonstration for pressure and electroosmosis conditions

Investigating microfluidic flow profiles is of interest in the microfluidics field for the determination of various characteristics of a lab-on-a-chip system. Microparticle tracking velocimetry uses computational methods upon recording video footage of microfluidic flow to ultimately visualize motion within a microfluidic system across all frames of a video. Current methods are computationally expensive or require extensive instrumentation. A computational method suited to microparticle tracking applications is the robust Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi (KLT) feature-tracking algorithm. This work explores a microparticle tracking velocimetry program using the KLT feature-tracking algorithm. The developed program is demonstrated using pressure-driven and EOF and compared with the respective mathematical fluid flow models. An electrostatics analysis of EOF conditions is performed in the development of the mathematical using a Poisson's Equation solver. This analysis is used to quantify the zeta potential of the electroosmotic system. Overall, the KLT feature-tracking algorithm presented in this work proved to be highly reliable and computationally efficient for investigations of pressure-driven and EOF in a microfluidic system.     

Benzene and NO on a Ru(0 0 1) surface: Electronic structure and bonding

We have theoretically studied the co-adsorption of benzene and NO on a Ru surface. The calculations were performed using the atom superposition and electron delocalisation-tight-binding (ASED-TB) method. We have modelled the Ru(0 0 1)-p(3 × 3)-4C₆D₆ + 2NO co-adsorbed layer from experimental data.We have confirmed that the more stable sites are hcp on the Ru for both benzene and NO co-adsorbates.The NO states are more stabilized in the co-adsorbed system. There is more bonding between RuN than RuC. We have described an important interaction of on H (from benzene) and the O (from a close NO). That results explain previous experimental reports and confirm suggested direct interaction.     

Protection of plasmid pBR322 DNA by flavonoids against single-strand breaks induced by singlet molecular oxygen

Flavonoids, the dominant colouring pigments of plants, as well as the related polyphenol tannic acid significantly inhibit single-strand breaks in plasmid pBR322 DNA induced by singlet molecular oxygen (¹O₂). This reactive species of oxygen was generated in an aqueous buffer system by the thermal dissociation of the endoperoxide of 3,3′-(1,4-naphthylene)dipropionate. Among the antioxidants examined, myricetin showed the highest protective ability, followed by tannic acid, (+) catechin, rutin, fisetin, luteolin and apigenin, when the inhibitory abilities were compared at 90 min after incubation. The protective abilities of these compounds were both time and concentration dependent. At equimolar concentrations (100 μM) the antioxidant effect of myricetin was better than that of other known antioxidants such as lipoate, -tocopherol and β-carotene. Data, when analysed in relation to the structures of various compounds, showed a rough correlation with protective abilities. Owing to the abundance of these compounds in our normal diet, they may play significant roles in preventing oxidative damage resulting from potentially deleterious ¹O₂.     

SYNTHETIC CAROTENOIDS, NOVEL POLYENE POLYKETONES AND NEW CAPSORUBIN ISOMERS AS EFFICIENT QUENCHERS OF SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN

Novel synthetic polyene polyketones and new synthetic capsorubin isomers were examined for their ability to quench singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) generated by the thermodissociation of the endoperoxide of 3,3'-(1,4-naphthylene) dipropionate (NDPO2). C28-polyene-tetrone (1) exhibits the highest physical quenching rate constant with 1O2 (kq = 16 x 10(9) M-1 s-1). For comparison, the rate constant for the most efficient biological carotenoid, lycopene (3) is kq = 9 x 10(9) M-1 s-1 and that of beta-carotene (5) kq = 5 x 10(9) M-1 s-1. The presence of two oxalyl chromophores at the ends of the polyene chain seems to enhance the 1O2 quenching ability in the C28-polyene-tetrone (1). C28-polyene-tetrone-diacetal (2) (kq = 9 x 10(9) M-1 s-1) and C40-epiisocapsorubin (4) (kq = 8 x 10(9) M-1 s-1) also have high 1O2 quenching abilities. Two carotenoids from plants, phytoene and phytofluene, were much less efficient, kq values being below 10(7) M-1 s-1. Due to the very high singlet oxygen quenching abilities, C28-polyene-tetrone (1), C28-polyene-tetrone-diacetal (2) and C40-epiisocapsorubin (4) may have potential use in preventing 1O2-induced damage in biological and non-biological systems.     

Voltage control for microchip capillary electrophoresis analyses

This paper presents an inexpensive and easy-to-implement voltage sequencer instrument for use in microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE) actuation. The voltage sequencer instrument takes a 0–5 V input signal from a microcontroller and produces a reciprocally proportional voltage signal with the capability to achieve the voltages required for MCE actuation. The unit developed in this work features four independent voltage channels, measures 105 × 143 × 45 mm (width × length × height), and the cost to assemble is under 60 USD. The system is controlled by a peripheral interface controller and commands are given via universal serial bus connection to a personal computer running a command line graphical user interface. The performance of the voltage sequencer is demonstrated by its integration with a fluorescence spectroscopy MCE sensor using pinched sample injection and electrophoretic separation to detect ciprofloxacin in samples of milk. This application is chosen as it is particularly important for the dairy industry, where fines and health concerns are associated with the shipping of antibiotic-contaminated milk. The voltage sequencer instrument presented represents an effective low-cost instrumentation method for conducting MCE, thereby making these experiments accessible and affordable for use in industries such as the dairy industry.     

Density functional theory study of selenium adsorption on Fe(1 1 0)

The adsorption of atomic Se on a Fe(1 1 0) surface is examined using the density functional theory (DFT). Selenium is adsorbed in high-symmetry adsorption sites: the -short and long-bridge, and atop sites at 1/2, 1/4, and 1 monolayer (ML) coverages. The long bridge (LB) site is found to be the most stable, followed by the short bridge (SB) and top sites (T). The following overlayer structures were examined, p(2 × 2), c(2 × 2), and p(1 × 1), which correspond to 1/4 ML, 1/2 ML, and 1 ML respectively. Adsorption energy is −5.23 eV at 1/4 ML. Se adsorption results in surface reconstruction, being more extensive for adsorption in the long bridge site at 1/2 ML, with vertical displacements between +8.63 and −6.69% -with regard to the original Fe position-, affecting the 1st and 2nd neighbours. The largest displacement in x or y-directions was determined to be 0.011, 0.030, and 0.021 Å for atop and bridge sites. Comparisons between Se-adsorbed and pure Fe surfaces revealed reductions in the magnetic moments of surface-layer Fe atoms in the vicinity of the Se. At the long bridge site, the presence of Se causes a decrease in the surface Fe d-orbital density of states between 4 and 5 eV below Fermi level. The density of states present a contribution of Se states at −3.1 eV and −12.9 eV. stabilized after adsorption. The Fe-Fe overlap population decrease and a Fe-Se bond are formed at the expense of the metallic bond.     

Properties of phenoxyl radical of dehydrozingerone, a probable antioxidant

Free radical reactions of dehydrozingerone (DZ), a methoxy phenol, were studied at dfferent pHs with a variety of oxidants using nanosecond pulse radiolysis technique. Hydroxyl radical (OH) reaction with the phenolic form at pH 6 led mainly to the formation of an OH-adduct absorbing at 460 nm in addition to a minor oxidation product. On the other hand, at pH 10 with the deprotonated phenoxide ion, the only reaction observable was oxidation generating a phenoxyl radical absorbing at 360 nm. HPLC analysis indicated formation of two different products at pH 6 from addition and oxidation reactions, whereas at pH 10, only the oxidation product was detectable. Reactions of more specific secondary oxidizing radicals, N3√, Br√, Br⁻₂√ and Tl(II) with DZ gave rise to the phenoxyl radical over the entire pH range. DZ in the phenoxide ion form reacted with nitrogen dioxide and trichloromethyl peroxyl radicals with rate constants 6×10⁸ and 8.8×10⁸ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ respectively leading to the phenoxyl radicals. The DZ phenoxyl radical reacted with trolox C (an analogue of -tocopherol) with a rate constant of 8.3×10⁷ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. One electron reduction potential of the DZ phenoxyl radical at pH 6 was determined to be +1.1 V vs NHE using N3√/N⁻₃ as the standard couple.     

Transport Properties of the Classical Toda Chain: Effect of a Pinning Potential

Journal of Statistical Physics - We consider energy transport in the classical Toda chain in the presence of an additional pinning potential. The pinning potential is expected to destroy the...     

Classification of quasigroups by random walk on torus

Quasigroups are algebraic structures closely related to Latin squares which have many different applications. There are several classifications of quasigroups based on their algebraic properties. In this paper we propose another classification based on the properties of strings obtained by specific quasigroup transformations. More precisely, in our research we identified some quasigroup transformations which can be applied to arbitrary strings to produce pseudo random sequences. We performed tests for randomness of the obtained pseudo-random sequences by random walks on torus. The randomness tests provided an empirical classification of quasi-groups.