Process-Dependent Solute Transport in Porous Media

Transport in Porous Media - Solute transport under single-phase flow conditions in porous micromodels was studied using high-resolution optical imaging. Experiments examined loading (injection of...     

Redox active metal-induced oxidative stress in biological systems

A number of studies performed on biological systems have shown that redox-active metals such as iron and copper as well as other transition metals can undergo redox cycling reactions and produce reactive free radicals termed also reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS). The most representative examples of ROS and RNS are the superoxide anion radical and nitric oxide, respectively, both playing a dual role in biological systems. At low/moderate concentrations of ROS and RNS, they can be involved in many physiological roles such as defense against infectious agents, involvement in a number of cellular signaling pathways and other important biological processes. On the other hand, at high concentrations, ROS and RNS can be important mediators of damage to biomolecules involving DNA, membrane lipids, and proteins. One of the most damaging ROS occurring in biological systems is the hydroxyl radical formed via the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by traces of iron, copper and other metals (the Fenton reaction). The hydroxyl radical is known to react with the DNA molecule, forming 8-OH-Guanine adduct, which is a good biomarker of oxidative stress of an organism and a potential biomarker of carcinogenesis. This review discusses the role of iron and copper in uncontrolled formation of ROS leading to various human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease). A discussion is devoted to the various protective antioxidant networks against the deleterious action of free radicals. Metal-chelation therapy, which is a modern pharmacotherapy used to chelate redox-active metals and remove toxic metals from living systems to avoid metal poisoning, is also discussed.     

Computational Analysis of Ca2+ Oscillatory Bio-Signals: Two-Parameter Bifurcation Diagrams

Two types of bifurcation diagrams of cytosolic calcium nonlinear oscillatory systems are presented in rectangular areas determined by two slowly varying parameters. Verification of the periodic dynamics in the two-parameter areas requires solving the underlying model a few hundred thousand or a few million times, depending on the assumed resolution of the desired diagrams (color bifurcation figures). One type of diagram shows period-n oscillations, that is, periodic oscillations having n maximum values in one period. The second type of diagram shows frequency distributions in the rectangular areas. Each of those types of diagrams gives different information regarding the analyzed autonomous systems and they complement each other. In some parts of the considered rectangular areas, the analyzed systems may exhibit non-periodic steady-state solutions, i.e., constant (equilibrium points), oscillatory chaotic or unstable solutions. The identification process distinguishes the later types from the former one (periodic). Our bifurcation diagrams complement other possible two-parameter diagrams one may create for the same autonomous systems, for example, the diagrams of Lyapunov exponents, Ls diagrams for mixed-mode oscillations or the 0–1 test for chaos and sample entropy diagrams. Computing our two-parameter bifurcation diagrams in practice and determining the areas of periodicity is based on using an appropriate numerical solver of the underlying mathematical model (system of differential equations) with an adaptive (or constant) step-size of integration, using parallel computations. The case presented in this paper is illustrated by the diagrams for an autonomous dynamical model for cytosolic calcium oscillations, an interesting nonlinear model with three dynamical variables, sixteen parameters and various nonlinear terms of polynomial and rational types. The identified frequency of oscillations may increase or decrease a few hundred times within the assumed range of parameters, which is a rather unusual property. Such a dynamical model of cytosolic calcium oscillations, with mitochondria included, is an important model in which control of the basic functions of cells is achieved through the Ca2+ signal regulation.     

Diagram of phase equilibria in the Fe2V4O13-WO3 system

A diagram for the phase equilibria established in the two-component Fe₂V₄O₁₃-WO₃ system (one of the intersections of the Fe₂O₃-V₂O₅-WO₃ three-component system) has been constructed based on the measurements made by DTA and X-ray phase analysis. The diagram shows that the system investigated does not appear to be a true two-component system, even below the solidus line.     

Investigation of the association of higher fatty alcohols by means of paper chromatography

Paper chromatography investigations were performed with the aim of tracing the adsorption mechanism of the selected higher fatty alcohols on a paper layer and determining the role of polar solvents in establishing thermodynamic equilibria.     

An overview of considerations and approaches for developing in vivo EPR for clinical applications

This paper describes the rationale for carrying out EPR studies in human subjects in the clinical setting and the potential approaches and specific steps needed to make such studies feasible and useful. The suggested operational approach is to have the initial applications occur in as clinically useful and simple a manner as possible, with the expectation that once the technique is introduced and accepted in the clinical setting, that more complex and/or more technically difficult applications will be able to be developed. The initial approach should be based on EPR spectroscopy at 1.2 GHz focusing on clinical applications for which in vivo EPR provides a clearly useful approach to important clinical problems for which currently there is no good alternative approach, that can be carried out by measurements within 10 mm of the surface. The suggested initial clinical applications are: guiding tumor therapy for tumors and vascular disease by direct measurements of tissue pO₂, characterizing and monitoring implanted drug delivery systems, and monitoring critical care.     

Inclusive proton and antiproton production in π± hydrogen and π± nucleus interactions at 30 GeV/c

Data on fast protons and antiprotons produced byπ ^± incident on hydrogen and nuclear targets at 30 GeV/c are presented. The results covering the kinematic range 0.32 F <0.54 andp _T >0.2 GeV/c, complete our previous paper. We give results on inclusive cross-sections as a function ofx _F , ofp _T ² and on cross-section ratios. A search for effects of nuclear matter on the production of protons and antiprotons has yielded no major effects beyond final state absorption.     

Use and abuse of chemometrics in chromatography

This article presents a selection of the relevant issues that emerge at the interface between chromatography and chemometrics. In the first part, we present advantages and drawbacks of applying signal-enhancement, warping and mixture-analysis methods. In the second part, we discuss typical examples of misuse and abuse of chemometrics that can occur with those less familiar with the data-processing approaches. Finally, we conclude that close collaboration between the communities of chromatographers and chemometricians will allow a deeper insight into the chromatographic systems being analyzed and permit new chromatographic problems to be solved in an efficient, elegant manner.     

Study of theA-dependence of inclusivep,\bar p,Λ and\bar \Lambda production in π±-Nucleus interactions at 30 GeV/c

We present the first results on the production of fast (p>10 GeV/c)p, \(\bar p\) , Λ and \(\bar \Lambda \) from π^± hydrogen and nucleus interactions at 30 GeV/c using the CERN Ω′ spectrometer. We have used five nuclear targets (C, Al, Cu, Sn, Pb) to study theA-dependence of the inclusive particle distributions in the region 0.3<x _F <0.6. The high statistical level of our experiment allows us to demonstrate the differentA-behaviour of baryon and antibaryon inclusive reactions. We relate this difference to the final state interaction inside a nucleus using the formation-zone model.