Azimuthal correlations in high-energy multiparticle production

Some features of the two-particle correlation phenomena, studied by means of azimuthal angle variables, are discussed. Assuming Gaussian forms for the single transverse momentum distributions, it is proposed to described the two-particle correlation with only one parameter. The influence of the kinematical constraints on the proposed correlation parameter is discussed, using a limited transverse momentum phase-space model.     

Reactive nitrogen species produced in water by non-equilibrium plasma increase plant growth rate and nutritional yield

Water quality, mineralization, and chemical composition, particularly pH and nitrogen compounds each, play a crucial role in plant development and growth. Treatment of water with non-equilibrium discharges results in the change of its properties and chemical composition, which in turn may affect plant growth process and subsequently agriculture produce quality. Both thermal and non-thermal discharges generated in air or in water produce a number of reactive neutral and charged species, electric fields, and ultraviolet radiation. Plasma treatment of water results in significant change of its properties like pH, oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), conductivity, and concentration of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species (ROS and RNS). Here we report the results of an experimental study of the effect of water treated with different atmospheric plasmas on germination, growth rates, and overall nutritional value of various plants. In the study we have used three types of plasmas: thermal spark discharge, gliding arc discharge, and transferred arc discharge. It is shown that the effects of these plasmas on chemical composition of various types of water are qualitatively different. Non-thermal gliding arc discharge plasma results in lower (acidic) pH, and production of significant amount of oxidizing species (e.g. H₂O₂). Gliding arc discharge also causes significant acidification of water, but it is accompanied by production of reactive nitrogen species (NO, NO₂^? and NO₃^?). Spark discharge treatment results in neutral or higher (basic) pH depending on initial water composition, and production of RNS.     

Possibility of the development of explosive instability in a two-stream gravitating medium

An expression for the energy of the density wave in a multicomponent gravitating medium is obtained that is similar to an appropriate expression in electrodynamics of continua. The possibility of birth of a wave triplet including both positive and negative wave energies in a nonequilibrium gravitating medium is demonstrated. It is shown that such a resonant interaction of waves leads to the development of explosive instability. An expression for the characteristic growth time of instability within a one-dimensional model is obtained by a method developed in plasma physics. Original Russian Text ? A.S. Kingsep, Yu.A. Fridman, 2008, published in Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2008, Vol. 134, No. 2, pp. 273–281.     

Tobramycin and Nebramine as Pseudo‐oligosaccharide Scaffolds for the Development of Antimicrobial Cationic Amphiphiles

Antimicrobial cationic amphiphiles derived from aminoglycoside pseudo‐oligosaccharide antibiotics interfere with the structure and function of bacterial membranes and offer a promising direction for the development of novel antibiotics. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of cationic amphiphiles derived from the pseudo‐trisaccharide aminoglycoside tobramycin and its pseudo‐disaccharide segment nebramine. Antimicrobial activity, membrane selectivity, mode of action, and structure–activity relationships were studied. Several cationic amphiphiles showed marked antimicrobial activity, and one amphiphilic nebramine derivative proved effective against all of the tested strains of bacteria; furthermore, against several of the tested strains, this compound was well over an order of magnitude more potent than the parent antibiotic tobramycin, the membrane‐targeting antimicrobial peptide mixture gramicidin D, and the cationic lipopeptide polymyxin B, which are in clinical use.     

Antifungal Imidazole‐Decorated Cationic Amphiphiles with Markedly Low Hemolytic Activity

Herein we report that an imidazole‐decorated cationic amphiphile derived from the pseudo‐disaccharide nebramine has potent antifungal activity against strains of Candida glabrata pathogens. In combination with the natural bis‐benzylisoquinoline alkaloid tetrandrine the reported antifungal cationic amphiphile demonstrated synergistic antifungal activity against Candida albicans pathogens. This unique membrane disruptor caused no detectible mammalian red blood cell hemolysis at concentrations up to more than two orders of magnitude greater than its minimal inhibitory concentrations against the tested C. glabrata strains. We provide evidence that potency against C. glabrata may be associated with differences between the drug efflux pumps of C. albicans and C. glabrata. Imidazole decorated‐cationic amphiphiles show promise for the development of less toxic membrane‐disrupting antifungal drugs and drug combinations.     

Facile Synthesis of an Octagermacubane with Two Three-Coordinate Germanium(0) Atoms and its Unique Radical Anion

Thermolysis of a 1 : 1 mixture of tris(di-tert-butylmethylsilyl)germane 9 and bis(di-tert-butylmethylsilyl)germane 17 at 100 °C produces unexpectedly octagermacubane 18 , having two 3-coordinate Ge⁰ atoms (40 % yield). 18 was characterized by X-ray crystallography and it is a singlet biradical (according to DFT quantum mechanical calculations and the absence of an EPR signal). Reactions of 18 with CH₂Cl₂ and H₂O yield the novel dichloro-octagermacubane 24 and hydroxy-octagermacubane 25 , respectively. Reduction of 18 with tBuMe₂SiNa in THF produces an isolable octagermacubane radical anion 26-Na . Based on X-ray crystallography, EPR spectroscopy and DFT quantum mechanical calculations, 26-Na is classified as a Ge-centered radical anion.     

The formation of nickel(II) chloride ammine complexes in the pores of modified fibers of cellulose cloth

A sorbent was synthesized as a cellulose cloth, the fibers of which have nanopores with walls made of cellulose chains and ethanol cyclams. The formation of (NH₄)₂[NiL(NH₃)₂Cl₂] complexes where L^2– is the CH–(O^–)–CH–(O^–) glucopyranose group was established by chemical analysis and IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Using small-angle X-ray scattering and measurement of the partial free space and adsorption capacity, the complex formation in the [Ni(NH₃)₆]Cl₂ concentration range of up to 0.43 mol/L was found to occur in nanopores with the sorption constant K _sorb = 15.8. The limiting content of the complexes is 2.63 mmol/g and their effective radius is 0.45 nm. In the concentration range of 0.43–0.91 mol/L, the complexation occurs on the fiber surface, K _sorb = 1.85. The effective radius of the complexes is 0.5 nm.     

Molecular structures and dynamics of the stepwise activation mechanism of a matrix metalloproteinase zymogen: challenging the cysteine switch dogma

Activation of matrix metalloproteinase zymogen (pro-MMP) is a vital homeostatic process, yet its molecular basis remains unresolved. Using stopped-flow X-ray spectroscopy of the active site zinc ion, we determined the temporal sequence of pro-MMP-9 activation catalyzed by tissue kallikrein protease in milliseconds to several minutes. The identity of three intermediates seen by X-ray spectroscopy was corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations. The cysteine-zinc interaction that maintains enzyme latency is disrupted via active-site proton transfers that mediate transient metal-protein coordination events and eventual binding of water. Unexpectedly, these events ensue as a direct result of complexation of pro-MMP-9 and kallikrein and occur before proteolysis and eventual dissociation of the pro-peptide from the catalytic site. Here we demonstrate the synergism among long-range protein conformational transitions, local structural rearrangements, and fine atomic events in the process of zymogen activation.     

Quantum effects in an anisotropic ferrimagnet

A model of a two-sublattice collinear ferrimagnet with direct exchange interaction and unequal values of the partial magnetization has been investigated. The condition of existence of the compensation point is determined from material parameters of the system at low temperatures. The excitation spectra are obtained. An analysis is made of the spectra as a function of the total magnetization of the two sublattices.     

Plasma medicine

Different aspects of plasma medicine, the new branch interdisciplinary between plasma chemistry and medicine, are considered. It was shown that complex biological processes in living tissues and bodies can be controlled, stimulated, catalyzed, and diagnosed with the use of low-temperature, atmospheric-pressure air plasma. It was found that discharge plasma can produce the desired therapeutic effect in wound sterilization and healing, as well as in treatment of some skin diseases. The action of plasma is harmless for the human body under definite conditions and exerts a targeted, nondestructive therapeutic effect.