A dichotomy for the convex spaces of probability measures

We show that every nonempty compact and convex space M of probability Radon measures either contains a measure which has ‘small’ local character in M or else M contains a measure of ‘large’ Maharam type. Such a dichotomy is related to several results on Radon measures on compact spaces and to some properties of Banach spaces of continuous functions.     

One-pot synthesis of (E)-styryl ketones from styrenes

A new, efficient protocol for the highly stereoselective one-pot synthesis of (E)-styryl ketones from styrenes based on sequential ruthenium-catalyzed silylative coupling-rhodium-catalyzed desilylative acylation reactions is reported.     

The structure-based design of Mdm2/Mdmx-p53 inhibitors gets serious

The p53 protein is the cell's principal bastion of defense against tumor-associated DNA damage. Commonly referred as a "guardian of the genome", p53 is responsible for determining the fate of the cell when the integrity of its genome is damaged. The development of tumors requires breaching this defense line. All known tumor cells either mutate the p53 gene, or in a similar number of cases, use internal cell p53 modulators, Mdm2 and Mdmx proteins, to disable its function. The release of functional p53 from the inhibition by Mdm2 and Mdmx should in principle provide an efficient, nongenotoxic means of cancer therapy. In recent years substantial progress has been made in developing novel p53-activating molecules thanks to several reported crystal structures of Mdm2/x in complex with p53-mimicking peptides and nonpeptidic drug candidates. Understanding the structural attributes of ligand binding holds the key to developing novel, highly effective, and selective drug candidates. Two low-molecular-weight compounds have just recently progressed into early clinical studies.     

Correlation of hydrogen capacity in carbon material with the parameters of electrosorption

Electrochemical storage of hydrogen in activated carbon material has been investigated using different parameters of cathodic polarization. It has been proven that application of short galvanostatic pulses could be efficient for hydrogen storage in microporous carbon material. Charging current loads from 50 mA g⁻¹ to 32 A g⁻¹ have been used showing correlation between hydrogen capacity, time of charging and electrical efficiency. The anodic charge equivalent to electrooxidation of 1.0 wt% of hydrogen can be already reached after 90 s of cathodic polarization. Temperature effect has been also evaluated and a gradual increase of hydrogen capacity with a better pronounced oxidation plateau was obtained at higher temperatures. Reversible electrosorption of hydrogen is a useful reaction in supercapacitor performance and it might have a potential application for a negative electrode of supercapacitor as well as reversibly operating electrode in the secondary cell.      

Essential Oils of Seven Lamiaceae Plants and Their Antioxidant Capacity

Oxidative stress has been reported as a cause of many diseases like Parkinson′s, Alzheimer′s, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Oxidative stress can also lead to cancer formation by promoting tumor development and progression. Antioxidants derived from Lamiaceae plants play an important role in natural medicine, pharmacology, cosmetology, and aromatherapy. Herein, we examine the antioxidative capacity of essential oils from seven aromatic Lamiaceae plants against the synthetic radicals DPPH and ABTS. Among the essential oils analyzed, the most robust scavenging capacities were found in mixtures of volatile compounds from thyme and savory. The scavenging activity of tested EOs against the ABTS radical was clearly higher than activity towards DPPH. Analysis of essential oils with weaker antioxidant activity has shown that volatile compounds from marjoram, sage, and hyssop were more active than EOs from lavender and mint. It can be suggested that the potent antioxidant capacity of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and savory (Satyreja hortensis) are related to a high level of phenolic constituents, such as thymol and carvacrol. On the other hand, the elevated antioxidative power of marjoram, sage, and hyssop essential oils may also be due to their terpinene, o-cymene, terpinolene, and terpinen-4-ol constituents. Although non-phenolic components are less active than thymol or carvacrol, they may affect antioxidant capacity synergistically.     

Plasmonic enhancement of blue emission from ZnO nanorods grown on the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template

Luminescent properties of ZnO nanorods covered with Ag nanoparticles are examined. Nanorods were synthesized on AAO templates using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technique. Two types of the samples were prepared with different arrangement of ZnO nanorods and doping conditions. Nanorods of the second type were codoped with Al, to stimulate defect-related emissions. The ZnO material fills heterogeneously the interior of the AAO nanopores and has hexagonal, wurtzite structure. Both types of structures exhibit a broad defect-related emission at about 440 nm, most probably related to recombination at zinc interstitial (Zn_i) defects. This emission in samples with a random distribution of ZnO:Al nanorods and finer Ag nanoparticles is enhanced by factor of ～2.5 upon Ag deposition. The so-obtained material is interesting from the point of view of its application in blue range emitting diodes.     

BOOK REVIEW: Loops,Knots, Gauge Theories and Quantum Gravity,by Rodolfo Gambini and Jorge Pullin

General Relativity and Gravitation -     

Indirect Measurement of Biologically Important Compounds by Means of X-Ray Microanalysis

 The main objective of our work was to investigate the possibility and usefulness of indirect methods in X-ray microanalysis for the quantification of biologically important compounds. Metallothionein-like proteins (MT-like proteins) from kidney and liver, rich in sulfur were chosen as an indicator of heavy metal presence in cells and their environment. Tissues from goldfish (Carassius auratus gibelio) were sampled after short and prolonged periods of exposure to Co⁺², CrO₄ ⁻², Pb⁺², Cu⁺² and control treatment and prepared for histochemical staining for peroxidated thiolate groups. Commonly used –S–S– bonds dye (Nitro Red) was replaced with iodine atoms and they were quantified at L line by means of X-ray microanalysis combined with SEM. After fish treatments with heavy metal solutions changes in MT-like proteins and in I atom contents were expected. There was statistically significant decrease in MT-like proteins level in kidney after lead treatment (Pb/C = 0.62). In liver a statistically significant increase in MT-like proteins concentration was observed after chromium, cobalt and lead ions treatment in comparison to control animals. The following ratios were noted: 3.04 for Cr/C, 2.18 for Co/C and 2.10 for Pb/C. Our finding indicates that the method of indirect measurement of MT-like proteins in fish and other animal tissues is possible. The concentration of iodine atoms is above their detection level by EDS and their changes are possible to identify. During histochemical procedures it is worth taking into account sample preparation methods which might disturb the quality and quantity of the analysed material.     

Spectroscopic and PM5 semiempirical studies of new hydrazone of gossypol with 3,6-dioxaheptylhydrazine

A new hydrazone of gossypol with 3,6-dioxaheptylhydrazine (GHDO) has been synthesised and its structure has been studied by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR as well as PM5 semiempirical methods. All the studies have provided clear evidence of the existence of GHDO in the solution in the N-imine–N-imine tautomeric form. The structure and the spectroscopic behaviour of this tautomer are discussed in details. It is shown the structure of GHDO is strongly stabilised by different types of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. In two of them the oxygen atoms of the oxaalkyl chains are also engaged. The strongest intramolecular hydrogen bond is formed between the O₇H proton and N₁₆ atom from the hydrazone group.     

Flexoelectric deformations of homeotropic nematic layers in the presence of ionic conductivity

Elastic deformations of homeotropic nematic liquid crystal layers subjected to a d.c. electric field were studied numerically in order to find the dependence of threshold voltage on the properties of such a system. A nematic material characterized by a negative sum of flexoelectric coefficients and by a small negative dielectric anisotropy was considered. The flow of ionic current was taken into account. The electric properties are described in terms of a weak electrolyte model. Finite surface anchoring strength was assumed. The director orientation, the electric potential and the ion concentrations were calculated as functions of the coordinate normal to the layer. It was found that the threshold for the deformation depends on the distributions of the ions, governed by the generation constant and by the properties of the electrodes. The effects observed may be interpreted as a consequence of the separation of the ions. When the electrodes have pronounced blocking character, a high and non-uniform electric field, created by the subelectrode ion space charges, causes drastic decrease of the threshold voltage, much below the value U _f valid for the insulating nematic. On the other hand, the electric field gradient arising in the bulk at moderate concentrations has a stabilizing effect and remarkably enhances the threshold above U _f. When the electrodes are conducting there are no significant space charges and the threshold voltage remains close to U _f. These results indicate that phenomena related to the charge transport should be taken into account in the analysis of the elastic deformations of ion-containing flexoelectric nematics.