Optimization of capillary isotachophoretic method for determination of major macroelements in blue honeysuckle berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) and related products

A reliable and repeatable isotachophoretic method for the simultaneous determination of K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and ammonium in berries of different blue honeysuckle cultivars was developed. The usefulness of the complex-forming equilibria in determining the cations mentioned above was studied. The addition of 7.5 mM 18-crown-6 and 2 mM α-hydroxyisobutyric acid to sulfuric acid enhanced the separation capacity of the leading electrolyte. The terminating electrolyte of 10 mM TRIS buffered to pH 4.30 was chosen as most appropriate for these studies. An ultrasound-assisted procedure for the extraction of macroelements from dried fruit of Lonicera caerulea L. was investigated using response surface methodology. The Box-Behnken experimental design showed the optimal extraction conditions as follows: temperature of 36 °C, extraction time of 42.3 min and solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:800 v/w. Detection limits for the method ranged from 0.030 to 0.097 mg/l with precision expressed by RSD ranging from 1.4 % for Mg to 4.4 % for Na. The results showed that blue honeysuckle berries are a good source of potassium, from 199 to 402 mg/100 g FW, especially ‘Zielona’ and ‘Zojka’ cultivars. The average content of other analytes in these berries was 5.2 mg Na, 24.8 mg Ca, 7.5 mg Mg and 52.0 mg ammonium per 100 g FW. The berry products contained lower amounts of minerals especially Mg and K. However, a glass of freshly squeezed juice can provide almost 20 % of the RDI of potassium. The results obtained using both the developed isotachophoretic method and ion chromatographic procedure did not differ significantly.

Mechanism of Host–Guest Complex Formation and Identification of Intermediates through NMR Titration and Diffusion NMR Spectroscopy

The formation of host–guest (H‐G) complexes between 1,8‐bis[(diethylgallanyl)ethynyl]anthracene (H) and the N‐heterocycles pyridine and pyrimidine (G) was studied in solution using a combination of NMR titration and diffusion NMR experiments. For the latter, diffusion coefficients of potential host–guest structures in solution were compared with those of tailor‐made reference compounds of similar shape (synthesized and characterized by NMR, HRMS, and in part XRD). Highly dynamic behavior was observed in both cases, but with different host–guest species and equilibria. With increasing concentrations of the pyridine guest, the equilibrium H₂?H₂κ¹‐G₁?HG₂ is observed (in the second step a host dimer coordinates one guest molecule); for pyrimidine the equilibrium H₂→H₁κ²‐G₁?HG₂ is observed (the formation of a 1:1 aggregate is the second step).     

Laser induced effects in PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3-BaO: Eu glasses

We have observed a several times enhancement of the optical second harmonic generation in newly synthesized Europium doped PbO-Bi₂O₃-Ga₂O₃-BaO glasses for the fundamental wavelength 1320 nm during optical treatment by coherent fundamental and doubled frequency beams with a pulse duration about 15 ns. We have found that the maximal optical second harmonic generation was achieved for the Eu content of about 1.4% at fundamental beam average power equal to about 3 GW/cm² , temperature of about 300 K and intensity ratio between the fundamental and doubled frequency beams of about 9. Frequency repetition of the optical pulses was equal to about 10 Hz. It was shown that doping by other rare earth ions, particularly by Dysprosium does not give a sufficient contribution to the effect.     

Interstrain Variability of Human Vaginal Lactobacillus crispatus for Metabolism of Biogenic Amines and Antimicrobial Activity against Urogenital Pathogens

Lactobacillus crispatus is the dominant species in the vagina of many women. With the potential for strains of this species to be used as a probiotic to help prevent and treat dysbiosis, we investigated isolates from vaginal swabs with Lactobacillus-dominated and a dysbiotic microbiota. A comparative genome analysis led to the identification of metabolic pathways for synthesis and degradation of three major biogenic amines in most strains. However, targeted metabolomic analysis of the production and degradation of biogenic amines showed that certain strains have either the ability to produce or to degrade these compounds. Notably, six strains produced cadaverine, one produced putrescine, and two produced tyramine. These biogenic amines are known to raise vaginal pH, cause malodour, and make the environment more favourable to vaginal pathogens. In vitro experiments confirmed that strains isolated from women with a dysbiotic vaginal microbiota have higher antimicrobial effects against the common urogenital pathogens Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium. The results indicate that not all L. crispatus vaginal strains appear suitable for probiotic application and the basis for selection should not be only the overall composition of the vaginal microbiota of the host from which they came, but specific biochemical and genetic traits.     

Dialkylaluminium‐, ‐Gallium‐, and ‐Indium‐Based Poly‐Lewis Acids with a 1,8‐Diethynylanthracene Backbone

Potential host systems based on a rigid 1,8‐diethynylanthracendiyl backbone were synthesised by treatment of 1,8‐diethynylanthracene with the Group 13 trialkyls AlMe₃, GaMe₃, InMe₃, AlEt₃ and GaEt₃. The resulting products were characterised by IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and determination of their crystal structures by X‐ray diffraction. The compounds are dimeric in the solid state and comprise two M₂C₂ heterocycles. Depending on the steric demand of the alkyl substituents at the metal atom, different types of binding modes were observed, which can be classified to lie between the ideals of side‐on coordination with almost linear primary M? C?C units and the 3c–2e coordination with symmetrically bridging alkynyl units in M‐C‐M bonds. As a solution in THF the dimers are broken into monomers and some are found to undergo ligand scrambling reactions.     

Role of Time Scales in the Coupled Epidemic-Opinion Dynamics on Multiplex Networks

Modelling the epidemic’s spread on multiplex networks, considering complex human behaviours, has recently gained the attention of many scientists. In this work, we study the interplay between epidemic spreading and opinion dynamics on multiplex networks. An agent in the epidemic layer could remain in one of five distinct states, resulting in the SIRQD model. The agent’s attitude towards respecting the restrictions of the pandemic plays a crucial role in its prevalence. In our model, the agent’s point of view could be altered by either conformism mechanism, social pressure, or independent actions. As the underlying opinion model, we leverage the q-voter model. The entire system constitutes a coupled opinion–dynamic model where two distinct processes occur. The question arises of how to properly align these dynamics, i.e., whether they should possess equal or disparate timescales. This paper highlights the impact of different timescales of opinion dynamics on epidemic spreading, focusing on the time and the infection’s peak.     

Experimental and numerical analysis of oscillatory tube flow of viscoelastic fluids represented at the example of human blood

Summary The 4 constant parameters of an Oldroyd type constitutive equation for normal human blood of 45% haematocrit were determined by means of the steady flow curve and the material functions () and (), measured at 2 Hz in an oscillatory capillary viscometer. It was found, as other authors did before, that the phenomenological behaviour of blood flow can be reproduced qualitatively thereby. The quantitative behaviour, however, cannot be described by thus developed parameters. The parameters of the constitutive equationµ ₀, ₁ and ₂ were therefore generalized to become dependent of shear rate and frequency respectively.In itself this is nothing but a transformation of the material functions ( ),() and (), but these can be used as parameters in a constitutive equation though having lost the property of constancy.In this way the linear region of viscoelasticity and the steady flow curve can be reproduced quantitatively. A computer simulation of oscillatory flow for large amplitudes shows another tendency for the phase shift between pressure and flow than the experiment in the oscillatory capillary rheometer does.The applicability of a constitutive equation modified in this manner for other than oscillatory flow should be further examined especially for pulsatile flow.

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Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der Fließkurve für die stationäre Strömung und Messungen der Materialfunktion () im Oszillations-Kapillarrheometer bei 2 Hz wurden die Konstanten der 4-Konstanten-Oldroyd-Stoffgleichung für gesundes Humanblut von 45% Hämatokrit bestimmt. Es zeigte sich, daß sich — wie auch schon von anderen Autoren mitgeteilt wurde — mit den so ermittelten Modellkonstanten die Phänomenologie des Fließverhaltens des Blutes qualitativ gut beschreiben läßt. Zur quantitativen Beschreibung reicht dieses Modell jedoch nicht aus, wie man an der Wiedergabe der stationären Fließkurve und der Materialfunktionen der linearen Viskoelastizität erkennt. Aus diesem Grund wurden die Parameterµ ₀, ₁ und ₂ in Abhängigkeit der Schergeschwindigkeit bzw. der Frequenz angesetzt.Dies bedeutet zunächst nichts anderes als eine Transformation der Materialfunktionen, jedoch in einer Art, daß letztere als Parameter in einer Stoffgleichung verwendet werden können, was allerdings mit dem Verlust der Konstanz der Parameter verbunden ist. Mit einer derart modifizierten Stoffgleichung lassen sich der Bereich der linearen Viskoelastizität und die stationäre Fließkurve quantitativ beschreiben. Eine Computersimulation der oszillierenden Rohrströmung zeigt für große Amplituden eine andere Tendenz für die Phasenverschiebung zwischen Druck und Volumenstrom, als sie sich bei Messungen am Oszillations-Kapillarrheometer ergibt.Die Anwendbarkeit der modifizierten Stoffgleichung für andere Strömungsformen, wie z.B. pulsierende Rohrströmungen, muß noch geprüft werden.

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Paper, presented at the Annual Conference of the Deutsche Rheologische Gesellschaft in Berlin, May 8–10, 1978.

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With 8 figures