Lattice model for colloidal gels and glasses

We study a lattice model of attractive colloids. It is exactly solvable on sparse random graphs. As the pressure and temperature are varied, it reproduces many characteristic phenomena of liquids, glasses, and colloidal systems such as ideal gel formation, liquid-glass phase coexistence, jamming, or the re-entrance of the glass transition.     

Extending the application potential of capillary electrophoresis/frontal analysis for drug-plasma protein studies by combining it with mass spectrometry detection

CE/frontal analysis (CE/FA) is probably one of the most frequently used modes of CE for studying affinity interactions. It is typically performed with classic UV-Vis detection that suffers from low concentration sensitivity. To overcome this limitation, the applicability of CE/FA in combination with ESI-MS detection for the investigation of drug–HSA interactions was demonstrated. The developed new method combines the advantages of CE/FA, such as low sample consumption and no labeling or immobilization of interacting partners, with the benefits of MS detection, such as higher selectivity and sensitivity; moreover, it can be used for molecules lacking a fluorophore or chromophore. The binding parameters of tolbutamide (TL) and glimepiride (GLP), first- and second-generation antidiabetics that differ strongly in their solubility in aqueous solutions, were investigated by this CE/FA-MS method. This method, in contrast to the CE/FA method with the most commonly used UV-Vis detection, is more sensitive; an almost three times lower LOD was reached. The binding parameters of TL and GLP were investigated by this CE/FA-MS method and compared with the literature data. The binding constant value of TL obtained by UV-Vis detection was lower than the value obtained by the method hyphenated with MS detection, which is probably given by the influence of the ESI parameters on the stability of drug–HSA complex. In addition, the ratio of TL and HSA concentrations was divergent in both of the experimental approaches. Finally, it can be concluded that both detection methods have their strengths and weaknesses.     

Bent-core liquid crystals with a 2-substituted 3-hydroxybenzoic acid central core

We report the synthesis and study of the mesomorphic behaviour for a series of bent-core materials based on 2-substituted 3-hydroxybenzoic acid as a central unit. Properties of the studied compounds are tuned by lateral substitution (F, Cl, CH₃, NO₂ and CN) in the position 2 of 3-hydroxybenzoic acid and by the length of the terminal alkyl chain. All studied homologues exhibit at least one mesophase. Mesomorphic properties are established and compared with other 3-hyhroxybenzoic derivatives studied previously, with analogous orientation of ester linkages, laterally substituted at different position on the central core. The role of the substitution and the length of the terminal alkyl chain are discussed.     

Miniaturised medium pressure capillary liquid chromatography system with flexible open platform design using off-the-shelf microfluidic components

Trends towards portable analytical instrumentation of the last decades have not been equally reflected in developments of portable liquid chromatography (LC) instrumentation for rapid on-site measurements. A miniaturised medium pressure capillary LC (MPLC) system with gradient elution capability has been designed based on a flexible modular microfluidic system using primarily off-the-shelf low cost components to ensure wide accessibility to other analysts. The microfluidic platform was assembled on a breadboard and contained microsyringe pumps and switch valves, complemented with an injection valve and on-capillary detectors, all controlled by a PC. Four miniaturised microsyringe pumps, with 5, 20 and 100 μL syringe volume options, formed the basis of the pumping system. Two pairs of pumps were used for each mobile phase to create gradient elution capability. The two microsyringe pumps in each pairs were linked by two electrically operated microfluidic switching valves and both pairs of pumps were connected through a zero void volume cross-connector, thus providing a low hold-up volume for gradient formation. Sample was injected by a 20 nL nano-LC sampling valve, directly connected to a 18 cm long 100 μm i.d. Chromolith CapRod RP-18 monolithic capillary column. On-capillary LED-based UV–vis photometric detection was conducted through a piece of equal diameter fused silica capillary connected after the column. The performance of the portable LC system was evaluated theoretically and experimentally, including the maximum operating pressure, gradient mixing performance, and the performance of the detectors. The 5 μL microsyringe pump offered the best performance, with typical maximum operating pressures up to 11.4 ± 0.4 MPa (water) and gradient pumping repeatability of between 4 and 9% for gradients between 0.10% s⁻¹ and 0.33% s⁻¹. Test analytes of charged and uncharged dyes and pharmaceuticals of varying hydrophobicity showed typical RSD values of 0.7–1.4% and 3.3–4.8% in isocratic mode and 1.2–4.6% and 3.2–6.4% in gradient mode, respectively for retention time and peak area repeatability.     

An Efficient and Chemoselective Knoevenagel/Hemiketalization Process for the Synthesis of New 2H‐Chromenes in a One‐Pot Three‐Component Reaction

A novel L ‐proline‐catalyzed mild and ecological approach towards the synthesis of 2H‐chromene derivatives was achieved by Knoevenagel reaction followed by an intramolecular hemiketalization process. In the present protocol, chemoselectivity has been successfully achieved by using L ‐proline as catalyst. This eco‐friendly and chemoselective reaction provided an alternative synthetic method to prepare previously unknown 2H‐chromene derivatives in a one‐pot reaction.     

Extreme values of the uniform order 1 autoregressive processes and missing observations

We investigate partial maxima of the uniform A R(1) processes with parameter r ? 2. Positively and negatively correlated processes are considered. New limit theorems for maxima in complete and incomplete samples are obtained.     

Deacetylation-induced changes in thermal properties of Sterculia urens gum

The thermal and mechanical properties of polystyrene (PS) modified with esters derivatives of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol were investigated. The influence of the content of esters on the glass transition temperature, dynamic mechanical properties, flexural properties, hardness and thermal stability of PS has been examined. It was found that the PS/ester compositions were characterized by lower stiffness, lower values of T _g, lower hardness, lower stress at break, lower thermal stability and higher values of tg delta height and strain at break as compared to pure PS. The obtained results proved that esters derivatives of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol can find their place as an environmentally friendly, external plasticizers of PS.     

Intensification of heat transfer in a liquid film evaporator

Influence of the heat exchanger shape on the heat transfer efficiency investigated. Heat transfer efficiency of two vertical pipe-in-pipe heat exchangers, one with a straight wall and the other with a twisted wall were compared. Both heat exchangers worked on the principle of liquid falling film. Electric transformer oil was used as the heated liquid and water vapor at atmospheric pressure was used as the heating agent. Oil was just heated, not evaporated during the experiments. Oil inlet and outlet temperature were measured at six different oil mass flows. Heat flux and heat flux density in the straight- and twisted-wall heat exchangers were compared. Mathematical model was built to verify the possibility of the oil outlet temperature prediction.     

Measurement of critical heat flux conditions under vacuum

Determination of optimum conditions for waste oil (used motor oils, transformer oils) regeneration using vacuum distillation was attempted including the search for the optimum temperature difference between the heating surface and the boiling point of the liquid. Optimum temperature allowed the distillation equipment to operate at maximum performance. Equipment suitable for the measurement of boiling curves under atmospheric pressure and vacuum conditions was assembled. These curves were used to determine the optimum temperature difference of various substances including waste oils. Properties of pure substances, for example water, ethanol, hexane, heptane, isooctane, decane, or dodecane, were measured with this equipment under atmospheric pressure. Results of various liquids measurements under vacuum and atmospheric pressure are presented.     

Investigation of protein FTT1103 electroactivity using carbon and mercury electrodes. Surface-inhibition approach for disulfide oxidoreductases using silver amalgam powder

Recently, it was shown that electrochemical methods can be used for analysis of poorly water-soluble proteins and for study of their structural changes and intermolecular (protein–ligand) interactions. In this study, we focused on complex electrochemical investigation of recombinant protein FTT1103, a disulfide oxidoreductase with structural similarity to well described DsbA proteins. This thioredoxin-like periplasmic lipoprotein plays an important role in virulence of bacteria Francisella tularensis. For electrochemical analyses, adsorptive transfer (ex situ) square-wave voltammetry with pyrolytic graphite electrode, and alternating-current voltammetry and constant-current chronopotentiometric stripping analysis with mercury electrodes, including silver solid amalgam electrode (AgSAE) were used. AgSAE was used in poorly water-soluble protein analysis for the first time. In addition to basic redox, electrocatalytic and adsorption/desorption characterization of FTT1103, electrochemical methods were also used for sensitive determination of the protein at nanomolar level and study of its interaction with surface of AgSA microparticles. Proposed electrochemical protocol and AgSA surface-inhibition approach presented here could be used in future for biochemical studies focused on proteins associated with membranes as well as on those with disulfide oxidoreductase activity.