Hydration strongly affects the molecular and electronic structure of membrane phospholipids

We investigate the structure and electronic properties of phosphatidylcholine (PC) under different degrees of hydration at the single-molecule and monolayer type level by linear scaling ab initio calculations. Upon hydration, the phospholipid undergoes drastic long-range conformational rearrangements which lead to a sickle-like ground-state shape. The structural unit of the tilted gel-phase PC appears to be a water-bridged PC dimer. We find that hydration dramatically alters the surface potential, dipole and quadrupole moments of the lipids and consequently guides the interactions of the lipids with other molecules and the communication between cells.     

Common tripled fixed point results in cone metric type spaces

In this paper, we prove some common tripled fixed point and tripled coincidence point results for contractive conditions in a cone metric type space. Our results extend, unify and generalize well-known results in the literature, in particular the recent results of Aydi et al. (Fixed Point Theory Appl 2012:134, 2012). Some examples are also presented to validate our obtained results and new concepts.     

Amenability of semigroups and their algebras modulo a group congruence

We investigate the amenability of the semigroup algebras \({\ell^1(S/\rho)}\) , where \({\rho}\) is a group congruence (not necessarily minimal) on a semigroup S. We relate this to a new notion of amenability of Banach algebras modulo an ideal, to prove a version of Johnson’s theorem for a large class of semigroups, including inverse semigroups, E-inversive semigroup and E-inversive E-semigroups.     

Highly Selective and Sensitive Tin(II) Membrane Electrode Based on a New Synthesized Schiff's Base

Studies on complex formation of tris(3‐(2‐hydroxybenzophenone)propyl)amine (THPA) with a number of metal ions in acetonitrile solution revealed the occurrence of a selective 1 : 1 complexation of the proposed ligand with Sn²⁺ ion. Consequently, THPA was used as a suitable neutral ionophore for the preparation of a polymeric membrane‐selective electrode. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian behavior with a slope of 29.4±0.3 mV per decade and a detection limit of 2.0×10^?7 M. It also showed a good selectivity for Sn²⁺ ions in comparison with some of group A and B metal ions over a wide concentration range of 5.0×10^?7–1.0×10^?1 M. Improved selectivity was achieved compared to the best selectivity recently reported by other authors for tin(II). The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of Sn²⁺ ion in waste water and various canned products.     

Methyl jasmonate influence on silymarin production and plant stress responses in Silybum marianum hairy root cultures in a bioreactor

In this article our aim was to evaluate mass cultivation of S. marianum hairy roots in a bioreactor to produce silymarin. The effects of methyl jasmonate (MJ) elicitation on the accumulation of silymarin and the extent of the MJ-induced oxidative damage were investigated in bioreactor hairy root cultures of S. marianum. The growth rate of the bioreactor hairy root cultures was higher than that of those in a shake flask after 3 weeks. Silymarin accumulation was increased from 0.13?mg?g?1 DW in non-treated hairy roots to 0.22?mg?g?1 DW in hairy roots 72?h after 100?μM?MJ treatment. Guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase were activated by MJ?72?h after treatment, being 3.2- and 1.3-fold higher, respectively, than that of the control. An increase in enzymatic activity suggests increased scavenging of reactive oxygen species, indicating the tolerance to MJ stress. These results suggest that MJ elicitation is beneficial for silymarin production using bioreactor hairy root cultures.     

Transmission gaps in one-dimensional Fibonacci quasiperiodic structure containing epsilon-negative materials

We investigate the transmission properties of one-dimensional Fibonacci quasiperiodic structure consisting of dispersive and lossless epsilon-negative (ENG) materials. It is found that for both TE and TM polarizations with normal and oblique incidences, there exist transmission gaps which are invariant with a change of scale and sensitive to incident angles. Analytical methods based on transfer matrices and effective medium theory have been used to explain the properties of transmission gaps.     

Sequential determination of iron(II) and iron(III) in pharmaceutical by flow-injection analysis with spectrophotometric detection.

A flow injection procedure for the sequential spectrophotometric determination of iron(II) and iron(III) in pharmaceutical products is described. The method is based on the catalytic effect of iron(II) on the oxidation of iodide by bromate at pH = 4.0. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance of produced triiodide ion at 352 nm. The activating effect for the catalysis of iron(II) was extremely exhibited in the presence of oxalate ions, while oxalate acted as a masking agent for iron(III). The iron(III) in a sample solution could be determined by passing through a Cd-Hg reductor column introduced in the FIA system to reduce iron(III) to iron(II), which allows total iron determination. Under the optimum conditions, iron(II) and iron(III) could be determined over the range of 0.05 - 5.0 and 0.10 - 5.0 microg ml(-1), respectively with a sampling rate of 17 +/- 5 h(-1). The experimental limits of detection were 0.03 and 0.04 microg ml(-1) for iron(II) and iron(III), respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the speciation of iron in pharmaceutical products.     

Radon concentration in drinking water in villages nearby Rafsanjan fault and evaluation the annual effective dose

Abnormal amount of radon in water results in increasing health risks. Concentrations of ²²²Rn in 56 samples of drinking water resources, in villages surrounding “Rafsanjan fault” were measured in the fall of 2013. Range radon concentration is 0 and 18.480 BqL^?1, respectively. The maximum annual effective dose for adults and children were 181.5 and 248.95 μSvY^?1, respectively, and the lowest was zero for both groups. Radon concentration is higher on the right side of the fault than the left side. In order to reduce the radon concentration, water ventilation is recommended before use.     

Synthesis of Some 3-Substituted 1,2-Dihydroindoles

The reaction of 4-oxo-2-(2-oxo-1,2-dihydroindol-3-ylidene)hydrazone-1,3-thiazin-6-methyl carboxylate 2 with hydrazine hydrate in methanol gave 4-oxo-2-(2-oxo-1,2-dihydroindol-3-ylidene)hydrazone-1,3-thiazin-6-carbonylhydrazine 3. Furthermore, the reaction of 3 with carbon disulfide and then hydrazine hydrate afforded 3-[6-(4-amino-5-thioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-4-oxo-1,3-thiazin-2-yl] hydrazone-1,3-dihydroindol-2-one 5. the latest reacted with DMAD to give {6-hydroxy-3-[4-oxo-2-(2-oxo-1,2-dihydroindol-3-ylidene)hydrazone-1,3-thiazin-6yl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazin-7-ylidene}methoxycarbonylmethylene 6.