Baire generalized topological spaces, generalized metric spaces and infinite games

Different generalizations of topological Baire spaces to the case of generalized topological spaces are considered and the properties of such spaces are examined. In particular, these considerations are focused on the relationship between Baire generalized topological spaces and semi-continuous real functions and infinite games. The notion of generalized metric spaces corresponding to generalized topological spaces is introduced as an important tool in this discussion.     

A number of stable matchings in models of the Gale–Shapley type

We give some upper bounds on the maximum number of stable matchings in the Gale–Shapley marriage model with n$n$ men and n$n$ women. We also characterize, with the use of some graph-theoretical notions, the exact number of such matchings, assuming that the preferences of men and women are given.     

Effect of anions on the electrodeposition of tin from acidic gluconate baths

Electrodeposition of tin from acidic gluconate baths (chloride, chloride–sulfate) was investigated. Equilibrium distribution of tin(II) species in both solutions was calculated. Cyclic voltammetric, potentiostatic, and galvanostatic measurements showed that cathodic process can run under limiting current due to the presence of tin complex electroactive species. Average effective diffusion coefficients of metal species were determined. Nucleation of tin occurred through a progressive three-dimensional diffusion growth model. A characteristic of tin deposits was also presented.     

Seasonal variability of soil CO2 flux and its carbon isotope composition in Krakow urban area,Southern Poland

As urban atmosphere is depleted of ¹³CO₂, its imprint should be detectable in the local vegetation and therefore in its CO₂ respiratory emissions. This work was aimed at characterising strength and isotope signature of CO₂ fluxes from soil in urban areas with varying distances from anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. The soil CO₂ flux and its δ¹³C isotope signature were measured using a chamber method on a monthly basis from July 2009 to May 2012 within the metropolitan area of Krakow, Southern Poland, at two locations representing different levels of anthropogenic influence: a lawn adjacent to a busy street (A) and an urban meadow (B). The small-scale spatial variability of the soil CO₂ flux was also investigated at site B. Site B revealed significantly higher summer CO₂ fluxes (by approximately 46 %) than site A, but no significant differences were found between their δ¹³CO₂ signatures.     

Bridging the gap between metabolic profile determination and visualization in neurometabolic disorders: a multivariate analysis of proton magnetic resonance in vivo spectra

The purpose of this work was to check the degree of overlap between rare inborn errors of metabolism and other neurological disorders using principal component analysis of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS) in vivo data. We examined 60 patients (median age of 22 months). Fourteen of them were diagnosed with neurometabolic disorders (three cases of metachromatic leukodystrophy, two cases of Canavan disease, two cases of megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts, three cases of mitochondrial cytopathy, one case of nonketotic hyperglycinemia, one case of globoid leukodystrophy, one case of congenital disorders of glycosylation, and one case of ethylmalonic encephalopathy). The remaining 46 patients were diagnosed with epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and developmental delay. Results obtained from principal component analysis of complete unresolved ¹H MRS in vivo spectra were interpreted parallelly with LCModel‐derived metabolite levels. The main attention was paid to the following metabolites: N‐acetylaspartate, glutamate + glutamine, creatine, choline, myo‐inositol signal with an uncertain contribution of glycine, and glucose. ¹H MRS in vivo coupled with multivariate analysis is an efficient tool in visualization of metabolic abnormalities in several inborn errors of metabolism (metachromatic leukodystrophy, globoid leukodystrophy, megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts, and Canavan disease). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fundamental Concepts of Electron Spin Resonance Technique in the Determination of the Crystal Field Structure of O− 2 Ions in TiO2

Abstract

The basic principles of Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) as applicable in crystal field characterization of paramagnetic species has been outlined. Fundamental concepts of the precessional motion of electrons and their magnetic moments at resonance were developed. The theory of ESR based on the response of unpaired electron(s) as they undergo spin-spin or spin-lattice relaxation when subjected to strong external magnetic fields was examined. Ions of the O^? ₂ group adsorbed on TiO₂ were studied using a Varian Spectrometer. The resulting spectral diagrams obtained were used in calculating the g-factors which gave results for orthorhombic crystal symmetry for O^? ₂ ions in TiO₂.     

Mechanism of Formation of Aromatic Vinylphosphonium Salts via the Peterson Olefination

The mechanism of the reaction of tributyl[(trimethylsilyl)methylene]phosphorane with benzaldehyde and its p‐substituted analogues has been examined. It has been found that the electronic nature of the p‐substituents in aromatic aldehydes strongly influences the stereochemical and kinetic outcome of the Peterson olefination whereas temperature substantially affects their Hammett correlation. This indicates that the Peterson olefination is a multistep reaction involving the formation of at least an oxyanion/betaine and a carbanion as intermediates. In turn, moderate Z‐selectivity might be the result of “steric approach intermediate control”; however, E‐selectivity seems to result from the silicon–oxygen interaction and interactions of steric substituents in competing erythro‐ and threo‐betaines.     

Engineering of Streptoalloteichus tenebrarius 2444 for Sustainable Production of Tobramycin

Tobramycin is a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic agent. The compound is obtained from the base-catalyzed hydrolysis of carbamoyltobramycin (CTB), which is naturally produced by the actinomycete Streptoalloteichus tenebrarius. However, the strain uses the same precursors to synthesize several structurally related aminoglycosides. Consequently, the production yields of tobramycin are low, and the compound’s purification is very challenging, costly, and time-consuming. In this study, the production of the main undesired product, apramycin, in the industrial isolate Streptoalloteichus tenebrarius 2444 was decreased by applying the fermentation media M10 and M11, which contained high concentrations of starch and dextrin. Furthermore, the strain was genetically engineered by the inactivation of the aprK gene (∆aprK), resulting in the abolishment of apramycin biosynthesis. In the next step of strain development, an additional copy of the tobramycin biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) was introduced into the ∆aprK mutant. Fermentation by the engineered strain (∆aprK_1-17L) in M11 medium resulted in a 3- to 4-fold higher production than fermentation by the precursor strain (∆aprK). The phenotypic stability of the mutant without selection pressure was validated. The use of the engineered S. tenebrarius 2444 facilitates a step-saving, efficient, and, thus, more sustainable production of the valuable compound tobramycin on an industrial scale.     

Influence of temperature on mass transfer in an incomplete trapping supported liquid membrane extraction of triazole fungicides

The influence of temperature in a supported liquid membrane (SLM) extraction of triazole fungicides was investigated. The mass transfer parameters such as diffusion coefficient, flux and apparent viscosity were determined at temperatures ranging from 5 to 40°C. Increase in temperature led to an increase in diffusion coefficient and flux with a flowing acceptor solution. The apparent viscosity also decreased with an increase in temperature. However, the increase in mass transfer parameters did not result in an overall increase in extraction efficiency with a stagnant or circulation acceptor phase. Stripping of the analytes from the membrane into the acceptor phase as well as the configuration of the extraction unit could have limited the influence of temperature on mass transfer. The partition coefficient of analytes from the acceptor solution to the membrane, K_A, was found to be much higher than that from the donor solution to the membrane K_D, thus triazole compounds preferred to remain in the membrane even with an increased extraction temperature.