A category of kernels for equivariant factorizations and its implications for Hodge theory

Nonlinear spectral gaps with respect to uniformly convex normed spaces are shown to satisfy a spectral calculus inequality that establishes their decay along Cesàro averages. Nonlinear spectral gaps of graphs are also shown to behave sub-multiplicatively under zigzag products. These results yield a combinatorial construction of super-expanders, i.e., a sequence of 3-regular graphs that does not admit a coarse embedding into any uniformly convex normed space.     

Novel Methods for Controlling the Current During Isoelectric Focusing

While studying the effect of electrochemical reactions occurring at the electrodes on achievement of steady state in isoelectric focusing (IEF) we observed an abnormal increase of the current. Because the magnitude of the current determines the progress of IEF, knowledge gained from studies of its nature and generation may enable this effect to be controlled. We observed that addition of gelatin to the electrode solutions suppresses the magnitude of the current flowing through the system; this enables IEF to be performed under conditions closer to steady state, and steady state is achieved more quickly.     

Nafion®-Separated Electrode Solutions in Isoelectric Focusing

In the present paper, we present our results from studies where the electrode solutions were separated from the carrier with the polytetrafluoroethylene-based membranes (Nafion^®). We achieved a 40-fold decrease of the average ionic strength in the gel and a twofold lowering of the current already during the first 30 min from the start of IEF, as compared to the routinely employed method. The change of these parameters made it possible to carry out the electrophoresis under conditions considerably closer to steady state, and to achieve a sharp protein separation and shortening of the duration of the process. The comparative analysis of the electrophoretic parameters in question proved that the basis for this newly developed improvement of the method is the selective restriction of the processes of migration and diffusion in the whole electrophoretic system, due to the specific properties of the semi-permeable membrane Nafion^®.

     

Synthesis and characterisation of scintillating microspheres made of polystyrene/polycarbonate for <Superscript>222</Superscript>Rn measurements

Several studies have demonstrated that polycarbonate-based polymers have good capacities for the absorption of ²²²Rn. Meanwhile, polystyrene polymers are reported to be the most appropriate for developing plastic scintillator materials for the detection of radioactivity. The objective of this work was to develop plastic scintillators in the form of microspheres (PSm) composed of polystyrene and polycarbonate that could be used to measure ²²²Rn and improve this performance thanks to the combination of characteristics of both polymers. Our results show that PSm of polystyrene and polycarbonate can be made via the evaporation/extraction method, despite the two polymers not being miscible. From the point of view of the radioactive measurements, we observed that the addition of polycarbonate causes quenching, although it does not significantly affect the detection efficiency for alpha and high-energy beta emitters. From the point of view of ²²²Rn absorption, we observed that synthesis of the PSm through the evaporation/extraction method changes the ²²²Rn absorption of the raw material. This result demonstrates that the method of production of the polymer and the resulting physical characteristics are a key parameter for its final ²²²Rn absorption properties.     

An overview of separation by magnetically stabilized beds： State-of-the-art and potential applications

This article deals with problems relevant to implementation of magnetically stabilized beds （MSB） as separation devices. The main issues discussed are： bed mechanics, bed structure, possibilities to create controllable filter media, etc. As examples several separation techniques are discussed： dust filtration-magnetic and non-magnetic, ion-exchange, copper cementation, yeast filtration from biological liquids, particle separation by density and magnetic properties, dangerous wastes removal. Only key publications will be quoted that provide a basis for further reading and study and relevant information.     

Production of Metabolites with Antioxidant and Emulsifying Properties by Antarctic Strain Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AL1

The Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AL₁ Antarctic strain was cultivated and two bioproducts were obtained: exopolysaccharide and biomass. The biologically active substances ergosterol, torularhodin, torulene, β-carotene and CoQ₁₀ were extracted from the biomass and were quantified as follows: ergosterol 5.2?±?0.2 mg/g, torularhodin 458.3?±?24.5 μg/g, torulene 273.7?±?14.5 μg/g, β-carotene 129.2?±?7.3 μg/g and coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) 236.1?±?12.1 μg/g. Their antioxidant activity was estimated according to the cathode voltammetry method. The most pronounced antioxidant activity (according to trolox) was exhibited by β-carotene 3.78, followed by CoQ₁₀ 3.60, both of them being the main contributors to the total extract activity of 3.19. The biologically active metabolites in combination with exoglucomannan as emulsifier were used for the creation of model emulsion systems characterised by great stability. The absorption of UVA rays by the model emulsions was studied.     

Methoxy-derivatization of alkyl chains increases the in vivo efficacy of cationic Mn porphyrins. Synthesis, characterization, SOD-like activity, and SOD-deficient E. coli study of meta Mn(III) N-methoxyalkylpyridylporphyrins

Cationic Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins (MnPs) are potent SOD mimics and peroxynitrite scavengers and diminish oxidative stress in a variety of animal models of central nervous system (CNS) injuries, cancer, radiation, diabetes, etc. Recently, properties other than antioxidant potency, such as lipophilicity, size, shape, and bulkiness, which influence the bioavailability and the toxicity of MnPs, have been addressed as they affect their in vivo efficacy and therapeutic utility. Porphyrin bearing longer alkyl substituents at pyridyl ring, MnTnHex-2-PyP(5+), is more lipophilic, thus more efficacious in vivo, particularly in CNS injuries, than the shorter alkyl-chained analog, MnTE-2-PyP(5+). Its enhanced lipophilicity allows it to accumulate in mitochondria (relative to cytosol) and to cross the blood-brain barrier to a much higher extent than MnTE-2-PyP(5+). Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins of longer alkyl chains, however, bear micellar character, and when used at higher levels, become toxic. Recently we showed that meta isomers are ～10-fold more lipophilic than ortho species, which enhances their cellular accumulation, and thus reportedly compensates for their somewhat inferior SOD-like activity. Herein, we modified the alkyl chains of the lipophilic meta compound, MnTnHex-3-PyP(5+) via introduction of a methoxy group, to diminish its toxicity (and/or enhance its efficacy), while maintaining high SOD-like activity and lipophilicity. We compared the lipophilic Mn(III) meso-tetrakis(N-(6'-methoxyhexyl)pyridinium-3-yl)porphyrin, MnTMOHex-3-PyP(5+), to a hydrophilic Mn(III) meso-tetrakis(N-(2'-methoxyethyl)pyridinium-3-yl)porphyrin, MnTMOE-3-PyP(5+). The compounds were characterized by uv-vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, electrochemistry, and ability to dismute O(2)˙(-). Also, the lipophilicity was characterized by thin-layer chromatographic retention factor, R(f). The SOD-like activities and metal-centered reduction potentials for the Mn(III)P/Mn(II)P redox couple were similar-to-identical to those of N-alkylpyridyl analogs: log k(cat) = 6.78, and E(1/2) = +68 mV vs. NHE (MnTMOHex-3-PyP(5+)), and log k(cat) = 6.72, and E(1/2) = +64 mV vs. NHE (MnTMOE-3-PyP(5+)). The compounds were tested in a superoxide-specific in vivo model: aerobic growth of SOD-deficient E. coli, JI132. Both MnTMOHex-3-PyP(5+) and MnTMOE-3-PyP(5+) were more efficacious than their alkyl analogs. MnTMOE-3-PyP(5+) is further significantly more efficacious than the most explored compound in vivo, MnTE-2-PyP(5+). Such a beneficial effect of MnTMOE-3-PyP(5+) on diminished toxicity, improved efficacy and transport across the cell wall may originate from the favorable interplay of the size, length of pyridyl substituents, rotational flexibility (the ortho isomer, MnTE-2-PyP(5+), is more rigid, while MnTMOE-3-PyP(5+) is a more flexible meta isomer), bulkiness and presence of oxygen.