An investigation of the membranotropic properties of the plant toxin thionin isolated fromPyrularia pubera

It has been shown by the ESR of spin probes that thionin initially interacts with with negatively charged membranes electrostatically and then passes into the membranes to a depth comparable with the length of the hydrophobic sections of the protein loops.Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 594–597, July–August, 1993.     

Limits of resolution and speed of analysis in linear chromatography with and without focusing

Chromatographia - Previously [11], the theoretical limit ofresolution in one class of chromatographic conditions was found and its proof was briefly outlined. Here, the theoretical limits...     

Linearization of column responses by correlation chromatography. Separation improvement and reduction of undesired adsorption effects

Summary Experiments and simulations prove that correlation chromatography can greatly reduce the disadvantage of a non-linear response of the chromatographic column. A factor that has been accepted as being an important source of error in correlation or multiplex chromatography, has been shown not to be. Separations affected, improve dramatically when correlation chromatography is used, and a substantial amount of correlation noise only arises when there is a large difference in separation between a conventional chromatogram and a correlogram.A model has been developed for simulating these nonlinearities. It is shown that, especially for correlation chromatography, the simulation results match the practical measurements very well.     

Recent developments in the chemistry of stable doubly bonded germanium compounds

During the last 10 years, several compounds of the type Ge=X (X = C, Ge, N, P, S) have been isolated as monomers. The stabilization of such derivatives, which are generally highly polymerizable, was achieved by using very bulky groups both on the germanium atom and on the heteroelement X. Conjugation (particularly in a few germenes and germaimines) and intramolecular or intermolecular coordination with oxygen or nitrogen, also contributes, in some cases, to the stabilization. The X-ray analyses of such compounds show a significant bond shortening of the double bond (8–10%) relative to the corresponding single bond and a planar or nearly planar germanium. These doubly bonded germanium derivatives are usually thermally stable but must be handled in an inert atmosphere because of their high sensitivity to oxygen and moisture; they are extremely reactive, much more than the corresponding carbon analogues. Nearly quantitative additions on the double bond have been observed with electrophiles and nucleophiles, and various types of cycloadditions also occur. Except in one case, a germylene behavior has not been observed, proving that such compounds retain their structural integrity in solution.     

Energy levels of small titanium oxide clusters obtained from SCF calculations

The energy levels of small titanium oxide clusters [(TiO₂)₂, and (TiO₂H)₃, and (TiO₂H)₂] have been calculated using ab initio SCF methods. Both crystal and relaxed geometries have been considered. Systematic changes in the valencelevel structure resulting from geometry relaxation are found, which may be related to band-gap changes experimentally observed for small titanium oxide particles. In addition, a Ti? OH local surface state is found to be well described within a limited cluster model. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mechanical properties of polyester polymer-concrete

The properties of a polymer-concrete composed of polyester matrix and locally available rock aggregate are investigated. The formula of the concrete is found by an experimental-calculation approach in such a way as to attain a closer packing of the aggregate particles on the one hand, and to ensure the needed processing characteristics (placeability) of the mix on the other. It is shown experimentally that the material obtained has a rather high compression strength. Under prolonged compression loads, the polymer-concrete exhibits a noticeable creep behavior with a linear relation between the creep strains and stresses. After the action of half the ultimate load over 3000 h, the total strains exceed the instantaneous ones by 2.0 to 2.2 times. The accumulation of irreversible strains is also observed; however, their contribution to the total strain is small. It is found that the stress-strain relation can be represented by the equation of linear hereditary creep theory.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, University of Latvia, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 147–162, March–April, 1999.