M?ssbauer studies of hemoglobin in erythrocytes exposed to neutron radiation

We studied radiation effects on the stability of various states of hemoglobin (Hb) in red blood cells (RBC) irradiated with a very low dose of neutron rays, 50?μGy. We investigated RBCs isolated from blood of healthy donors. M?ssbauer spectroscopy was applied to monitor different forms of Hb. Our results show, for the first time, that oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb) and deoxyhemoglobin (DeoxyHb) are two Hb forms sensitive to such a low neutron radiation. Both Hbs change into a new Hb form (Hb_irr). Additionally, OxyHb transfers into HbOH/H₂O, which under our experimental conditions is resistant to the action of neutron rays.     

Resource level minimization in the discrete–continuous scheduling

A discrete–continuous problem of non-preemptive task scheduling on identical parallel processors is considered. Tasks are described by means of a dynamic model, in which the speed of the task performance depends on the amount of a single continuously divisible renewable resource allotted to this task over time. An upper bound on the completion time of all the tasks is given. The criterion is to minimize the maximum resource consumption at each time instant, i.e., the resource level. This problem has been observed in many industrial applications, where a continuously divisible resource such as gas, fuel, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic power, etc., has to be distributed among the processing units over time, and it affects their productivity. The problem consists of two interrelated subproblems: task sequencing on processors (discrete subproblem) and resource allocation among the tasks (continuous subproblem). An optimal resource allocation algorithm for a given sequence of tasks is presented and computationally tested. Furthermore, approximation algorithms are proposed, and their theoretical and experimental worst-case performances are analyzed. Computer experiments confirmed the efficiency of all the algorithms.     

Potential kernels,probabilities of hitting a ball,harmonic functions and the boundary Harnack inequality for unimodal Lévy processes

In the first part of this article, we prove two-sided estimates of hitting probabilities of balls, the potential kernel and the Green function for a ball for general isotropic unimodal Lévy processes. We also prove a supremum estimate and a regularity result for functions harmonic with respect to a general isotropic unimodal Lévy process.In the second part we apply the recent results on the boundary Harnack inequality and Martin representation of harmonic functions for the class of isotropic unimodal Lévy processes. As a sample application, we provide sharp two-sided estimates of the Green function of a half-space.     

Kinetics of Hydrolysis of Bisoprolol Hemifumarate in Aqueous Acidic Solutions

The kinetics of hydrolysis of bisoprolol hemifumarate in acidic conditions was studied using high‐performance liquid chromatography. For this purpose, different hydrohalic acids and one weak carboxylic acid were used. The rate constants, the order of the reaction, and the activation parameters: enthalpy, entropy, and energy of activation were calculated. A proposition for the mechanism of degradation was provided.     

Inward contractions on metric spaces

We study the existence of constrained fixed points of contractions in arbitrary complete metric spaces from a global and local point of view. In particular, we provide generalizations of results due to Lim, Downing and Kirk and others. Some aspects of the topological transversality in the spirit of Frigon and Granas of contractions under constraints are also considered.     

Eigenvalues of the Cauchy process on an interval have at most double multiplicity

We prove that the eigenvalues of the semigroup of the Cauchy process killed upon exiting the interval have at most double multiplicity. In passing we obtain an interesting identity involving Fourier transform. The research was supported by KBN grant 1 P03A 020 28.     

Estimates and structure of α-harmonic functions

We prove a uniform boundary Harnack inequality for nonnegative harmonic functions of the fractional Laplacian on arbitrary open set D. This yields a unique representation of such functions as integrals against measures on D ^c ∪ {∞} satisfying an integrability condition. The corresponding Martin boundary of D is a subset of the Euclidean boundary determined by an integral test. K. Bogdan was supported by KBN grant 1 P03A 026 29 and RTN contract HPRN-CT-2001-00273-HARP. T. Kulczycki was supported by KBN grant 1 P03A 020 28 and RTN contract HPRN-CT-2001-00273-HARP. M. Kwaśnicki was supported by KBN grant 1 P03A 020 28 and RTN contractHPRN-CT-2001-00273-HARP.     

Poly(vinyl chloride) powder as a low-cost flame retardant modifier for epoxy composites

For the purpose of the study, epoxy (EP) composites modified with 5–40?wt% of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) powder were manufactured. The influence of PVC powder on the fire behavior of EP-based composites was determined with a UL-94 HB test and cone calorimetry, supplemented by a thermogravimetric analysis. The fire behavior study showed that PVC powder may effectively decrease the flammability of EP in case of at least 20?wt% filler content while composites containing lower amounts of PVC powder (5 and 10?wt%) were characterized with significant improvement in tensile strength without reduction in flammability in reference to the unmodified EP.     

Sensitive Simultaneous Determination of Rutin and Folic Acid with the Use of a Solid Lead Electrode by Means of Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry

In this article a solid lead electrode (PbE) was utilized for the first time for determination of organic substances by means of adsorptive stripping voltammetry. A new procedure of simultaneous determination of rutin and folic acid was developed. Two well shaped and well separated reduction signals of rutin and folic acid were obtained with the use of PbE. The optimization of analytical procedure was presented. The calibration graphs for rutin and folic acid for an accumulation time of 120 s were linear in the ranges from 2×10^?9 to 1×10^?7 mol L^?1 and from 2×10^?9 to 5×10^?8 mol L^?1, respectively. The obtained detection limits for rutin and folic acid determination following accumulation time of 120 s were 7.9×10^?10 and 8.4×10^?10 mol L^?1. Potential interference effects were investigated. The proposed procedure was used for analysis of pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory results showing practical applications. The analytical parameters of the proposed procedure were compared with other voltammetric procedures of mentioned substances determination.     

Thermal properties of multilayer graphene and hBN reinforced copper matrix composites

The unique properties of graphene make it a very attractive application, although there are still no commercial products in which graphene would play a key role. Good thermal conductivity is undoubtedly one of the attributes which can be easily used both in materials involving large monoatomic layers, that are very difficult to obtain, as well as multilayer graphene flakes, which have been commercially available on the market for several years. The article presents the results of tests on the characteristic thermal properties of composites with the addition of 2–15% of multilayer graphene (MLG) crystals. The motivation of the study was literature reports showing the possibility of increasing the thermal conductivity of composites with MLG participation in the copper matrix. Since the production of composites with increased properties is associated with obtaining a strong orientation of the flakes in the structure, composites with hBN flakes exhibiting significantly worse but also directional thermal properties were produced for comparison. The paper showed a strong influence of flake morphology on the possibility of creating a directional structure. The obtained Cu/MLG composites with the addition of only 2% MLG were characterized by an increase in the thermal conductivity coefficient of about 30% in relation to sinters without the participation of MLG.