Application of p-Adic Wavelets to Model Reaction–Diffusion Dynamics in Random Porous Media

Fourier and more generally wavelet analysis over the fields of p-adic numbers are widely used in physics, biology and cognitive science, and recently in geophysics. In this note we present a model of the reaction–diffusion dynamics in random porous media, e.g., flow of fluid (oil, water or emulsion) in a a complex network of pores with known topology. Anomalous diffusion in the model is represented by the system of two equations of reaction–diffusion type, for the part of fluid not bound to solid’s interface (e.g., free oil) and for the part bound to solid’s interface (e.g., solids–bound oil). Our model is based on the p-adic (treelike) representation of pore-networks. We present the system of two p-adic reaction–diffusion equations describing propagation of fluid in networks of pores in random media and find its stationary solutions by using theory of p-adic wavelets. The use of p-adic wavelets (generalizing classical wavelet theory) gives a possibility to find the stationary solution in the analytic form which is typically impossible for anomalous diffusion in the standard representation based on the real numbers.     

The first guaian-12-oic acid glucopyranosyl ester and other constituents from Picris rhagadioloides (L.) Desf. (Asteraceae)

The first guaian-12-oic acid glucopyranosyl ester was isolated from the roots of Picris rhagadioloides (L.) Desf. (Asteraceae), in addition to five costuslactone-type guaianolides, four germacranolides and three phenolic compounds. This is the first time that the known phenolics syringaldehyde and syringaresinol, as well as the known sesquiterpene lactones glucozaluzanin C, cichorioside C and hypochoeroside A have been described from a Picris species. The compounds were characterized on the basis of physicochemical, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic, and mass spectrometric data.     

The Effect of Filtration on Physical and Chemical Properties of Osmo-Dehydrated Material

Osmotic dehydration (OD) performed in concentrated fruit juices used as osmotic solution (OS) comes with some limitations resulting from the material cell structure and is not entirely recognized at the moment. Filtration of the juice could provide some insight into the phenomena occurring throughout the OD. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to recognize the mechanism of selective penetration during OD and evaluate the effect of filtration on physical and chemical properties of osmo-dehydrated material. For this purpose, OD of pumpkin in non-filtrated and filtrated (filters 0.2, 0.45, 0.8, 1.2, 3, 5 and 8 μm) concentrated chokeberry juice was carried out in the study. Moreover, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images were provided. Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity measured by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential (FRAP) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC ABTS) of OS and the material were determined. It was found that even though filtration of osmotic solution had a moderate influence on the mass transfer, it greatly affected the chemical composition of dehydrated material. The best option, considering both chemical and physical properties of the dehydrated material, is the use of non-filtrated solution. However, when shorter time of OD is considered, much better results are obtained for filtrated solutions.     

Sheep Wool Humidity under Electron Irradiation Affects Wool Sorptivity towards Co(II) Ions

The effect of humidity on sheep wool during irradiation by an accelerated electron beam was examined. Each of the samples with 10%, 53%, and 97% relative humidity (RH) absorbed a dose of 0, 109, and 257 kGy, respectively. After being freely kept in common laboratory conditions, the samples were subjected to batch Co(II) sorption experiments monitored with VIS spectrometry for different lapses from electron beam exposure. Along with the sorption, FTIR spectral analysis of the wool samples was conducted for cysteic acid and cystine monoxide, and later, the examination was completed, with pH measuring 0.05 molar KCl extract from the wool samples. Besides a relationship to the absorbed dose and lapse, the sorptivity results showed considerable dependence on wool humidity under exposure. When humidity was deficient (10% RH), the sorptivity was lower due to limited transformation of cystine monoxide to cysteic acid. The wool pre-conditioned at 53% RH, which is the humidity close to common environmental conditions, demonstrated the best Co(II) sorptivity in any case. This finding enables the elimination of pre-exposure wool conditioning in practice. Under excessive humidity of 97% RH and enough high dose of 257 kGy, radiolysis of water occurred, deteriorating the sorptivity. Each wool humidity, dose, and lapse showed a particular scenario. The time and humidity variations in the sorptivity for the non-irradiated sample were a little surprising; despite the absence of electron irradiation, relevant results indicated a strong sensitivity to pre-condition humidity and lapse from the start of the monitoring.     

N-Glycosylation Profiling of Human Blood in Type 2 Diabetes by Capillary Electrophoresis: A Preliminary Study

Currently, diagnosing type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a great challenge. Thus, there is a need to find rapid, simple, and reliable analytical methods that can detect the disease at an early stage. The aim of this work was to shed light on the importance of sample collection options, sample preparation conditions, and the applied capillary electrophoresis bioanalytical technique, for a high-resolution determination of the N-glycan profile in human blood samples of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). To achieve the profile information of these complex oligosaccharides, linked by asparagine to hIgG in the blood, the glycoproteins of the samples needed to be cleaved, labelled, and purified with sufficient yield and selectivity. The resulting samples were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis, with laser-induced fluorescence detection. After separation parameter optimization, the capillary electrophoresis technique was implemented for efficient N-glycan profiling of whole blood samples from the diabetic patients. Our results revealed that there were subtle differences between the N-glycan profiles of the diabetic and control samples; in particular, two N-glycan structures were identified as potential glycobiomarkers that could reveal significant changes between the untreated/treated type 2 diabetic and control samples. By analyzing the resulting oligosaccharide profiles, clinically relevant information was obtained, revealing the differences between the untreated and HMG-CoA reductase-inhibitor-treated diabetic patients on changes in the N-glycan profile in the blood. In addition, the information from specific IgG N-glycosylation profiles in T2D could shed light on underlying inflammatory pathophysiological processes and lead to drug targets.     

Permeability of the Perindopril Arginine under In Vitro Conditions across Caco-2 Monolayer and Biomimetic Phospholipid Membrane

Perindopril arginine (PA) as an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor is widely used in cardiovascular diseases, especially in systemic hypertension and heart failure. Although the pharmacokinetics of PA are well documented, there is no available detailed data on its permeation in in vitro conditions. The present study aimed to assess the transport of PA across both biological membranes and artificial biomimetic ones. For the determination of PA transport, the Caco-2 cell line was selected as a reliable in vitro model of gastrointestinal biological barriers. Additionally, a novel 96-well plate with phospholipid membrane PermeaPad was used to evaluate the transport of PA by passive diffusion. We confirmed that PA is relatively poorly permeable across the Caco-2 monolayer. The permeability results obtained from the non-cell-based model demonstrated higher transport of PA as compared to that of Caco-2. Thus, PA transport across the biological membranes might be suggested to be regulated by the membrane transporters.     

Validation of temperature-controlled rheo-MRI measurements in a submillimeter-gap Couette geometry

A temperature-controlled submillimeter-gap (500 μm) rheo-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Couette cell has been developed to measure confined flow of soft structured materials under controlled temperature. The proposed setup enables performing rheo-MRI measurements using (i) a spatially uniform temperature control over the range 15°C to 40°C and (ii) a high spatial resolution up to 10 μm, as a consequence of the improved mechanical stability of the in-house developed rotating elements. Here, we demonstrate the performance of the cell for the rheo-MRI velocimetry study of a thixotropic fat crystal dispersion, a complex fluid commonly used in food manufacturing. The submillimeter-gap geometry and variable temperature capability of the cell enable observing the effects of shear- and temperature-induced fat recrystallization on both wall slip and shear banding under strongly confined flow. Our improved rheo-MRI setup opens new perspectives for the fundamental study of strongly confined flow, cooperative effects, and the underlying interparticle interactions and for ultimately aiding optimization of products involved in spreading/extrusion, such as cosmetics and foods.     

High-Energy Proton-Beam-Induced Polymerization/Oxygenation of Hydroxynaphthalenes on Meteorites and Nitrogen Transfer from Urea: Modeling Insoluble Organic Matter?

Formation and structural modification of oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (oxyPAHs) by UV irradiation on minerals have recently been proposed as a possible channel of PAH transformation in astrochemical and prebiotic scenarios of possible relevance for the origin of life. Herein, it is demonstrated that high-energy proton-beam irradiation in the presence of various meteorites, including stony iron, achondrite, and chondrite types, promotes the conversion of two representative oxyPAH compounds, 1-naphthol and 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene, to complex mixtures of oxygenated and oligomeric derivatives. The main identified products include polyhydroxy derivatives, isomeric dimers encompassing benzofuran and benzopyran scaffolds, and, notably, a range of quinones and perylene derivatives. Addition of urea, a prebiotically relevant chemical precursor, expanded the range of identified species to include, among others, quinone diimines. Proton-beam irradiation of oxyPAH modulated by nitrogen-containing compounds such as urea is proposed as a possible contributory mechanism for the formation and processing of insoluble organic matter in meteorites and in prebiotic processes.     

Constructing the Cubus simus and the Dodecaedron simum via paper folding

The archimedean solids Cubus simus (snub cube) and Dodecaedron simum (snub dodecahedron) cannot be constructed by ruler and compass. We explain that for general reasons their vertices can be constructed via paper folding on the faces of a cube, respectively dodecahedron, and we present explicit folding constructions. The construction of the Cubus simus is particularly elegant. We also review and prove the construction rules of the other Archimedean solids.     

Implication and Inhibition Boolean Logic Gates Mimicked with Enzyme Reactions

The enzyme system mimicking Implication (IMPLY) and Inhibition (INHIB) Boolean logic gates has been designed. The same enzyme system was used to operate as the IMPLY or INHIB gate simply by reformulating the input signals. The optical analysis of the logic operation confirmed the output generation as expected for the studied logic gates. The conceptual approach to the IMPLY and INHIB logic gates allows their construction with many other enzymes operating in a similar way.