A Study of the Activity of Recombinant Mn-Superoxide Dismutase in the Presence of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is one of the best characterized enzyme maintaining the redox state in the cell. A bacterial expression system was used to...     

Mathematical study of a tissue-implant connection in a ventral hernia repair in a context of the system's parameters

Ventral hernia repair is nowadays a well recognized matter in surgery and advanced techniques of operating are developed. However, mechanical properties of the system after an operation are not known so recurrences of the illness happen. The paper describes a simple mathematical model of a human fascia-synthetic implant system. The synthetic mesh is modeled by a cable structure and its elastic supports simulate the human fascia. The junction force in the fascia-implant system is sought. A relation of the force change to variations of some parameters of the system is also studied by applying a sensitivity analysis. The authors conclude that a crucial role for the junction force and a patient's comfort plays the implant's elasticity modulus and initial tension of the mesh is the least important factor. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Interaction of hydrogen with palladium surface: FIM and FEM studies

In the present paper, we focus on the geometrical and electronic changes in palladium surface structure which appeared during its interaction with hydrogen in the presence of an external electric field. The interaction process was examined by using the field ion microscopy (FIM) as well as the field emission microscopy (FEM) techniques. In order to study the geometrical changes in substrate surface structure, the distance distribution function (DDF) was constructed on the basis of FIM patterns of both a clean and hydrogen-covered palladium surface. The electronic changes were examined by the measurement of the total energy distribution (TED) of electrons emitted from the palladium tip surface. The most pronounce examples of such changes are an expansion of the equilibrium interatomic distance in palladium surface and a shift of the Fermi level of the metal. These changes may be explained among others by palladium hydrides formation. This process is the most efficient if the field strength exceeds 23 V/nm.     

Thermal parameters determination of Co–Al–W as-cast alloy homogenization by DTA analysis

The γ–γ′ Co-based superalloys are newly developed class of refractory alloys which may replace commercial Ni-based superalloys owing to their favorable properties at high temperature. In case of new Co-based superalloys, the heat treatment aims to obtain microstructure composed of appropriate volume fraction of small cuboidal γ′-Co₃(Al,W) precipitates within the γ-Co matrix. However, due to a high tendency to interdendritic segregations of alloying elements, the alloys based on Co–Al–W system should be normally homogenized before further steps of heat treatment (solutionizing and aging). In this study, thermal analysis was applied for determination of temperature range for primary heat treatment of the Co–9Al–9W (at.%). The differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements were carried out on the thermal analyzer NETZSCH STA 449 F3 Jupiter. On the base of obtained results, respectively, solvus of γ′ phase and solidus temperatures were determined, as well as the thermal range of Co₃W (DO₁₉) phase precipitation. As a consequence, the heat treatment without homogenizing (only solution and aging) was proposed as a most suitable way to obtain beneficial microstructure.     

The microscopic investigation of structures of moving flux lines by neutron and muon techniques

We have used a variety of microscopic techniques to reveal the structure and motion of flux line arrangements, when the flux lines in low T _c type II superconductors are caused to move by a transport current. Using small-angle neutron scattering by the flux line lattice (FLL), we are able to demonstrate directly the alignment by motion of the nearest-neighbor FLL direction. This tends to be parallel to the direction of flux line motion, as had been suspected from two-dimensional simulations. We also see the destruction of the ordered FLL by plastic flow and the bending of flux lines. Another technique that our collaboration has employed is the direct measurement of flux line motion, using the ultra-high-resolution spectroscopy of the neutron spin-echo technique to observe the energy change of neutrons diffracted by moving flux lines. The muon spin rotation (μSR) technique gives the distribution of values of magnetic field within the FLL. We have recently succeeded in performing μSR measurements while the FLL is moving. Such measurements give complementary information about the local speed and orientation of the FLL motion. We conclude by discussing the possible application of this technique to thin film superconductors.     

Influence of Cyclodextrins on the Kinetics of Oxidation of Amino Acids and BSA by Hydrazyl Radicals

The kinetics of oxidation of amino acids (Arg, His, Lys, Phe, Thr and Tyr), a dipeptide (Gly-His), and BSA (bovine serum albumin) by two persistent water soluble free radicals of the hydrazyl type has been studied.The rate decreases in the order Arg>Lys>Tyr>Thr>HisBSAPheGly-His with bothfree radicals. Addition to the reaction mixture of - and -cyclodextrin decreases the oxidation rate, probably due to amino acidencapsulation in the cyclodextrin cavity. -Cyclodextrin protects more efficiently against oxidation than -cyclodextrin.     

Ein neues Erdalkalimetall-Oxoplatinat-Cuprat Ca3,5Cu0,5PtO6

A new Alkaline-Earth Platinum Copper Oxide: Ca_3.5Cu_0.5PtO₆ Ca_3.5Cu_0.5PtO₆ was prepared and investigated by single crystal X-ray work. (Space group C? C12/m1; a = 9.0743; b = 9.2527; c = 6.4840 Å; β = 91.448°; Z = 4). The crystal structure of the previously unknown compound is closely related to the structure of Sr₃PtCuO₆ and Sr₃IrCuO₆ as well as the rhombohedral phases M₄PtO₆ (M = Ba, Sr, Ca). Typical features of the crystal chemistry are isolated chains of PtO₆ octahedra, alternately allyed by square CuO₄ polygones and trigonal prisms of O^2? around Ca²⁺.     

Parton distribution functions at LO,NLO and NNLO with correlated uncertainties between orders

Sets of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton are reported for the leading (LO), next-to-leading (NLO) and next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) QCD calculations. The parton distribution functions are determined with the HERAFitter program using the data from the HERA experiments and preserving correlations between uncertainties for the LO, NLO and NNLO PDF sets. The sets are used to study cross-section ratios and their uncertainties when calculated at different orders in QCD. A reduction of the overall theoretical uncertainty is observed if correlations between the PDF sets are taken into account for the ratio of \(WW\) di-boson to \(Z\) boson production cross sections at the LHC.