Iterative operations on microdroplets and continuous monitoring of processes within them; determination of solubility diagrams of proteins

We demonstrate a technique for controlling the content of multiple microdroplets in time. We use this system to rapidly and quantiatively determine the solubility diagrams of two model proteins (lysozyme and ribonuclease A).     

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering investigations on silver nanoparticles deposited on alumina and titania nanotubes: influence of the substrate material on surface‐enhanced Raman scattering activity of Ag nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles deposited on various ‘inert’ porous materials (mainly Al₂O₃ and TiO₂) are often used as substrates for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements. In this study, we used the sputter deposition technique to cover tubular arrays of Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ with Ag nanoparticles. Raman spectra of pyridine (as a probe molecule) and of two selected dyes (5‐(4‐dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanine and 5‐(4‐(dimethylamino)benzylidene)‐3‐(3‐methoxypropyl)rhodanine) adsorbed on fabricated Ag/TiO₂‐n/Ti and Ag/Al₂O₃‐n/Al substrates were measured. We found that the SERS spectra of pyridine adsorbed on Ag nanoparticles deposited on an Al₂O₃‐n/Al substrate are distinctly different from those measured for an Ag/TiO₂‐n/Ti composite. Similar effects were observed for dyes adsorbed on the surface of both composites. The spectral differences between two kinds of composites (Ag/TiO₂‐n/Ti and Ag/Al₂O₃‐n/Al) are discussed in terms of (1) the modified electronic structure of the Ag nanoparticles due to their interaction with different substrate materials and (2) the different atomic topology of the metal particles thus deposited on the surfaces of the substrates. Composite samples were also studied with the aid of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) to reveal their characteristic morphological and chemical features. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mung bean</Emphasis> response during immobilization of exchangeable aluminum in acidic soil

A soil incubation and shot-term plant growth experiment was conducted to study the effect of ferruginous mineral application on exchangeable Al immobilization. The mineral containing mainly siderite was mixed at various rates with A-horizon soil and incubated at 80% humidity for 45 days. Following the incubation, a short-term plant growth test was carried out using mung beans. The ferruginous mineral application into tested soil resulted in a reduction of the exchangeable aluminum concentration and soil acidity. An increase in root growth and stalk length, as well as a general improvement of plant condition was observed in the case of ferruginous mineral application. This observation was confirmed by chemical analysis of roots and stalks. The greatest amount of essential elements: calcium and magnesium and the lowest amount of aluminum were determined in green part of mung beans sown in the soil with addition of 2% ferruginous mineral.      

Reference frames in harmonic coordinates: geometric and physical aspects

This work is focused on the geometrical and physical characteristics of the class of reference frames associated to harmonic coordinates. Precisely, we express in relative form the harmonicity conditions and consider the so called ??spatially harmonicity?? of a reference frame in spherical symmetry. The initial data problem is then analyzed in polar coordinates and the obtained results are applied to special cases of exact solutions.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of new 1‐{[4‐(4‐Halogenophenyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐ triazol‐3‐yl]sulfanyl}acetyl‐4‐substituted thiosemicarbazides and products of their cyclization

By the reaction of hydrazides of 4‐(4‐halogenophenyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl‐sulfanyl acetic acid with isothiocyanate, 1‐acyl‐4‐substituted thiosemicarbazide derivatives ( 7–19 ) were obtained. The cyclization of compounds ( 7–19 ) in the presence of 2% NaOH led to the formation of compounds ( 20–26 ) containing two 1,2,4‐triazole rings connected by a methylenesulfanyl group. The new compounds were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Some of the tested compounds ( 9, 12, 18, 21, 22 ) showed activity against the reference strains of Gram‐positive bacteria with the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) = 125 to >1000 μg/mL. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:117–121, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20758     

On some congruences of power algebras

In a natural way we can “lift” any operation defined on a set A to an operation on the set of all non-empty subsets of A and obtain from any algebra (A, Ω) its power algebra of subsets. In this paper we investigate extended power algebras (power algebras of non-empty subsets with one additional semilattice operation) of modes (entropic and idempotent algebras). We describe some congruence relations on these algebras such that their quotients are idempotent. Such congruences determine some class of non-trivial subvarieties of the variety of all semilattice ordered modes (modals).     

Fe-N-C catalysts for oxygen electroreduction under external magnetic fields:Reduction of magnetic O2 to nonmagnetic H2O

An extensive analysis of iron-nitrogen-carbon(Fe-N-C)electrocatalysts synthesis and activity is presented concerning synthesis conditions such as initial Fe content,pyrolysis temperature and atmosphere(inert N₂,reducing NH₃,oxidizing Cl₂ and their sequential combinations)and the influence of an external magnetic field on their performance in oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Thermosetting porous polymers doped with FeCl₃ were utilized as the Fe-N-C catalysts precursors.The pyrolysis temperature was varied within a 700-900℃range.The temperature and atmosphere of pyrolysis strongly affect the porosity and compositi on of the resultant Fe-N-C catalysts,while the in itial amount of Fe precursor shows much weaker impact.Pyrolysis under NH₃ yields materials similar to those pyrolyzed under an inert atmosphere(N₂).In contrast,pyrolysis under Cl₂ yields carbon of peculiar character with highly disordered structure and extensive microporosity.The application of a static external magnetic field strongly enhances the ORR process(herein studied in an alkaline environment)and the enhancement correlates with the Fe content in the Fe-N-C catalysts.The Fe-N-C materials containing ferromagnetic iron phase embedded in N-doped microporous carbon constitute attractive catalysts for magnetic field-aided anion exchange membrane fuel cell technology.     

Concentration Dependence of Anti- and Pro-Oxidant Activity of Polyphenols as Evaluated with a Light-Emitting Fe2+-Egta-H2O2 System

Hydroxyl radical (^•OH) scavenging and the regeneration of Fe²⁺ may inhibit or enhance peroxidative damage induced by a Fenton system, respectively. Plant polyphenols reveal the afore-mentioned activities, and their cumulative net effect may determine anti- or pro-oxidant actions. We investigated the influence of 17 phenolics on ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) from a modified Fenton system (92.6 µmol/L Fe²⁺, 185.2 µmol/L EGTA (ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl-ether)-N,N,N′,N,-tetraacetic acid) and 2.6 mmol/L H₂O₂ pH = 7.4). A total of 8 compounds inhibited (antioxidant effect), and 5 enhanced (pro-oxidant effect) UPE at all studied concentrations (5 to 50 µmol/L). A total of 4 compounds altered their activity from pro- to antioxidant (or vice versa) along with increasing concentrations. A total of 3 the most active of those (ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside; mean UPE enhancement by 63%, 5% and 445% at 5 µmol/L; mean UPE inhibition by 28%, 94% and 24% at 50 µmol/L, respectively) contained catechol or methoxyphenol structures that are associated with effective ^•OH scavenging and Fe²⁺ regeneration. Most likely, these structures can determine the bidirectional, concentration-dependent activity of some phenolics under stable in vitro conditions. This is because the concentrations of the studied compounds are close to those occurring in human fluids, and this phenomenon should be considered in the case of dietary supplementation with isolated phenolics.     

The Selection of the Optimal Impregnation Conditions of Vegetable Matrices with Iodine

This study aimed to determine the use of selected vegetables (pumpkin, cauliflower, broccoli, carrot) as carriers of potassium iodide (KI) and potassium iodate (KIO₃) by determining changes in iodine content under various conditions of impregnation as the degree of hydration, impregnated sample temperature, and impregnation time. The influence of these conditions on iodine contents in vegetables after their fortification and storage (21 °C/230 days) was analyzed. The results showed that all selected vegetables could be efficient iodine carriers. However, the conditions of the impregnation process are crucial for fortification efficiency, particularly the degree of hydration and the temperature of the impregnated samples before drying. The results showed that the lowest iodine content was in samples fortified at 4 °C and 1:4 hydration. On the other hand, the highest reproducibility of iodine was for the following fortification conditions: temperature of −76 °C and hydration of 1:1. The studies confirmed the higher stability of iodine in KIO₃ form compared to KI. To increase recovery of the introduced iodine in the product after drying, using the conditioning step at 4 °C is not recommended. We recommend freezing vegetables immediately after the impregnation process