Influence of corruption on economic growth rate and foreign investment

We analyze the dependence of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita growth rates on changes in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). For the period 1999–2004 for all countries in the world, we find on average that an increase of CPI by one unit leads to an increase of the annual GDP per capita growth rate by 1.7%. By regressing only the European countries with transition economies, we find that an increase of CPI by one unit generates an increase of the annual GDP per capita growth rate by 2.4%. We also analyze the relation between foreign direct investments received by different countries and CPI, and we find a statistically significant power-law functional dependence between foreign direct investment per capita and the country corruption level measured by the CPI. We introduce a new measure to quantify the relative corruption between countries based on their respective wealth as measured by GDP per capita.     

Surface characterization and direct electrochemistry of redox copper centers of bilirubin oxidase from fungi Myrothecium verrucaria

The key characteristics of multicopper oxidases are redox potentials of Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 copper centers of enzymes. However, there is still a challenge to obtain a value of the redox "signature" of the enzymes. In this study, the electrochemical behavior of T1 and T2/T3 redox copper centers of bilirubin oxidase (BOD) from the fungi Myrothecium verrucaria was studied based on direct bioelectrocatalysis. Two distinct redox peaks corresponding to reduction and oxidation of T1 and T2/T3 redox centers of enzymes have been clearly detected in anaerobic conditions. The bioelectrocatalytic activity of the enzyme was studied in the presence of oxygen and redox mediators. The electron-transfer rate constant for BOD immobilized on carbon electrode (CE) is 1.5 s(-1). The mechanism of enzyme inactivation by ABTS has been proposed. The physical architecture of BOD layers immobilized on the electrode surface, including elemental and chemical composition, relative thickness and assembly of layers was investigated by Angle Resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Unique peaks of BOD at 288.5 eV and of CE at 284.6 eV were used in a substrate over layer model for estimation of the thickness of the of BOD film on the carbon electrode surface.     

1,1,1‐Trichloro‐3‐(1‐phenethylamino‐ethylidene)‐ pentane‐2,4‐dione—synthesis,spectroscopic, theoretical and structural elucidation

1,1,1‐Trichloro‐3‐(1‐phenethylamino‐ethylidene)‐pentane‐2,4‐dione is spectroscopically and structurally elucidated by means of linear‐polarized IR spectroscopy (IR‐LD) of oriented solids as a colloidal suspension in nematic liquid crystal. Structural information and IR‐spectroscopic assignment are supported by quantum chemical calculations at MP2 and B3LYP level of theory and 6‐311++G** basis set. The geometry is characterized with an inramolecular hydrogen bond of NH^…O?C with length of 2.526 Å and a NHO angle of 140.5(1)°. The NH? C(CH₃)C?C? C?O(CH₃) fragment is nearly flat with a maximal deviation of total planarity of 10.4°. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Covariance mapping in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A novel method for acquisition and numerical analysis of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectral data is described. The digitized ion current transient from each consecutive laser shot is first acquired and stored independently. Subsequently, statistical correlation parameters between all stored transients are computed. We illustrate the uses of this event-by-event analysis method for studies of sample surface heterogeneity as well as for elucidating the mechanisms of ion formation in MALDI. Other potential applications of the method are also outlined.     

Patterns of spiral wave attenuation by low-frequency periodic planar fronts

There is evidence that spiral waves and their breakup underlie mechanisms related to a wide spectrum of phenomena ranging from spatially extended chemical reactions to fatal cardiac arrhythmias [A. T. Winfree, The Geometry of Biological Time (Springer-Verlag, New York, 2001); J. Schutze, O. Steinbock, and S. C. Muller, Nature 356, 45 (1992); S. Sawai, P. A. Thomason, and E. C. Cox, Nature 433, 323 (2005); L. Glass and M. C. Mackey, From Clocks to Chaos: The Rhythms of Life (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1988); R. A. Gray et al., Science 270, 1222 (1995); F. X. Witkowski et al., Nature 392, 78 (1998)]. Once initiated, spiral waves cannot be suppressed by periodic planar fronts, since the domains of the spiral waves grow at the expense of the fronts [A. N. Zaikin and A. M. Zhabotinsky, Nature 225, 535 (1970); A. T. Stamp, G. V. Osipov, and J. J. Collins, Chaos 12, 931 (2002); I. Aranson, H. Levine, and L. Tsimring, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 1170 (1996); K. J. Lee, Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 2907 (1997); F. Xie, Z. Qu, J. N. Weiss, and A. Garfinkel, Phys. Rev. E 59, 2203 (1999)]. Here, we show that introducing periodic planar waves with long excitation duration and a period longer than the rotational period of the spiral can lead to spiral attenuation. The attenuation is not due to spiral drift and occurs periodically over cycles of several fronts, forming a variety of complex spatiotemporal patterns, which fall into two distinct general classes. Further, we find that these attenuation patterns only occur at specific phases of the descending fronts relative to the rotational phase of the spiral. We demonstrate these dynamics of phase-dependent spiral attenuation by performing numerical simulations of wave propagation in the excitable medium of myocardial cells. The effect of phase-dependent spiral attenuation we observe can lead to a general approach to spiral control in physical and biological systems with relevance for medical applications.     

Non-random fluctuations and multi-scale dynamics regulation of human activity

We investigate if known extrinsic and intrinsic factors fully account for the complex features observed in recordings of human activity as measured from forearm motion in subjects undergoing their regular daily routine. We demonstrate that the apparently random forearm motion possesses dynamic patterns characterized by robust scale-invariant and nonlinear features. These patterns remain stable from one subject to another and are unaffected by changes in the average activity level that occur within individual subjects throughout the day and on different days of the week, since they persist during daily routine and when the same subjects undergo time-isolation laboratory experiments designed to account for the circadian phase and to control the known extrinsic factors. Further, by modeling the scheduled events imposed throughout the laboratory protocols, we demonstrate that they cannot account for the observed scaling patterns in activity fluctuations. We attribute these patterns to a previously unrecognized intrinsic nonlinear multi-scale control mechanism of human activity that is independent of known extrinsic factors such as random and scheduled events, as well as the known intrinsic factors which possess a single characteristic time scale such as circadian and ultradian rhythms.     

Needle-type glucose biosensor with an electrochemically codeposited enzyme in a platinum black matrix

In this study we report the development of a needle-type glucose biosensor for the management of hemorrhagic shock. The immobilization technique depends on the electrophoretic deposition of the glucose oxidase enzyme in an electrochemically grown platinum black matrix. The sensor was coated with Nafion to decrease the effect of interferents. Preliminary tests were carried out to evaluate the sensor performance in vitro. These tests included the measurement of glucose levels in buffer solutions containing various potential physiological interferents, as well as in bovine serum. The preliminary results show the sensor to have inearity up to 33 mM and a diminished response to interferents. The advantages of this technique are its simplicity and high controllability.     

Electrochemical Studies of Intramolecular Electron Transfer in Laccase from Trametes versicolor

This paper describes electrochemical behavior of laccase from the fungus Trametes versicolor. The issues related to discrimination of the redox potentials corresponding to copper centers T1 and T2/T3 in the active site and possible mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer have been discussed. The electron‐transfer rate constant for laccase immobilized on carbon electrode is 3.4 s^?1. The bioelectrocatalytic activity of the enzyme was studied in the presence of 1,4‐hydroquinone (HQ). The kinetics of HQ oxidation is very fast (K_M=3.8 μM). However, the catalytic activity of laccase in the presence of high concentration of HQ decreases drastically. It is suggested that the T2/T3 copper center is able to accept electrons from HQ molecules directly via intramolecular channel.     

Anode Catalysts for Direct Hydrazine Fuel Cells: From Laboratory Test to an Electric Vehicle

Novel highly active electrocatalysts for hydrazine hydrate fuel cell application were developed, synthesized and integrated into an operation vehicle prototype. The materials show in both rotating disc electrode (RDE) and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) tests the world highest activity with peak current density of 16 000 A g^?1 (RDE) and 450 mW cm^?2 operated in air (MEA).