Influence of the electron-phonon iinteraction on phonon heat conduction in a molecular nanowire

A model for phonon heat conduction in a molecular nanowire is developed. The calculation takes into account modification of the acoustic phonon dispersion relation due to the electron-phonon interaction. The results obtained are compared with models based upon a simpler, Callaway formula

Supercritical carbon dioxide hop extraction

The hop of Magnum cultivar was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (SFE-as extractant). Extraction was carried out in the two steps: the first one being carried out at 150 bar and 40°C for 2.5 h (Extract A), and the second was the extraction of the same hop sample at 300 bar and 40°C for 2.5 h (Extract B). Extraction kinetics of the system hop-SFE-CO2 was investigated. Two of four most common compounds of hop aroma (α-humulene and β-caryophyllene) were detected in Extract A. Isomerised α-acids and β-acids were detected too. a-Acid content in Extract B was high (that means it is a bitter variety of hop). Mathematical modeling using empirical model characteristic time model and simple single sphere model has been performed on Magnum cultivar extraction experimental results. Characteristic time model equations, best fitted experimental results. Empirical model equation, fitted results well, while simple single sphere model equation poorly approximated the results

Karakterizacija Morus vrsta u odnosu na mikro, makro i toksične elemente

This study examines the mineral composition of the extracts of the fruits, leaves and roots of white mulberry (Morus alba L.) and black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) grown in Serbia. All extract samples of white and black mulberry were analyzed for the content of micro (B, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Se, Sr, Zn), macro (Ca, Mg, Na), and toxic metals (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The study revealed that parts of the plant had statistically significant impact on the levels of the examined elements among the two Morus species. All extracts contained high amounts of Ca, Mg, Na, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. The studies showed that in the most of extracts dominant macro element was Mg (591- 1942 μg/g of dry extract), while dominant microelements were Zn, B, Cu in all extracts, except for the black mulberry leaves, whose extract was most abundant in Fe (143 μg/g of dry extract). The highest content of micro and macro elements was detected in the extract of black mulberry leaves. This work contributes to the knowledge of the nutritional properties of Morus species. The obtained results may be useful in the evaluation of new dietary and food products.Ispitivanje je bazirano na određivanju mineralnog sastava ekstrakata Morus alba L. (beli dud) i Morus nigra L . (crni dud) uključujući plod, list i koren sa teritorije Srbije. U svim analiziranim ekstraktima određen je sadržaj mikro (B, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Se, Sr, Zn), makro (Ca, Mg, Na) i toksičnih elemenata (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) primenom optičke emisione spektroskopije sa induktivno kuplovanom plazmom (ICP-OES). Ispitivanje je pokazalo da postoji statistički značajna korelacija između delova biljke Morus vrste i sadržaja ispitivanih elemenata. U svim ekstraktima je dokazan visok sadržaj elemenata: Ca, Mg, Na, B, Cu, Fe, Mn i Zn, respektivno. Dominantan makro element u većem broju ekstrakata je Mg (591 - 1942 μg/g suvog ekstrakta). Što se tiče mikroelemenata, u svim ispitivanim ekstraktima u većem sadržaju su zastupljeni Zn, B i Cu. U uzorku M. nigra posebno se izdvaja Fe po svom sadržaju (143 μg/g suvog ekstrakta) u odnosu na ostale prisutne elemente. Od svih ispitivanih uzoraka najviši sadržaj mikro i makro elemenata je detektovan u ekstraktima lista M. Nigra. Ovaj rad doprinosi poznavanju nutritivnih svojstava Morus vrsta. Dobijeni rezultati mogu biti korisni u kreiranju novih dijetetskih i prehrambenih proizvoda

Optical Biopsy Method for Breast Cancer Diagnosis Based on Artificial Neural Network Classification of Fluorescence Landscape Data

Supervised self-organizing map, a type of artificial neural network, is applied for classification of human breast tissue samples utilizing data obtained from fluorescence landscape measurements. Female breast tissue samples were taken soon after the surgical resection, identified and stored at -80 degrees C until fluorescence measurements. From fluorescence landscapes obtained in UV-VIS region spectral features showing statistically significant differences between malignant and normal samples are identified and further quantified to serve as a training input to neural network. Additional set of samples was used as a test group input to trained network in order to evaluate performance of proposed optical biopsy method. Classification sensitivity of 83.9% and specificity of 88.9% are found.International School and Conference on Photonics (PHOTONICA09), Aug 24-28, 2009, Belgrade, Serbi

The Polymorphisms of Genes Encoding Catalytic Antioxidant Proteins Modulate the Susceptibility and Progression of Testicular Germ Cell Tumor

The simultaneous analysis of redox biomarkers and polymorphisms encoding for regulatory and catalytic antioxidant proteins was performed in order to evaluate their potential role in the development of testicular germ cell tumor (GCT), as well as the progression of the disease. NRF2 (rs6721961), GSTM3 (rs1332018), SOD2 (rs4880) and GPX3 (rs8177412) polymorphisms were assessed in 88 patients with testicular GCT (52 with seminoma) and 88 age-matched controls. The plasma levels of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), thiol groups and the plasma activity of glutathione peroxidase were measured. A significant association between variant GPX3*TC+CC genotype and risk of overall testicular GCT, as well as seminoma development, was found. Moreover, carriers of variant SOD2*TT genotype were at almost 3-fold increased risk of seminoma development. Interestingly, combined SOD2*TT/GPX3*TC+CC genotype conferred a 7-fold higher risk for testicular GCT development. Finally, variant GSTM3*AC+CC genotype was associated with a higher risk for the development of advanced diseased. The presence of assessed genetic variants was not associated with significantly higher levels of redox biomarkers in both testicular GCT patients, as well as in those diagnosed with seminoma. In conclusion, the polymorphic expression of certain antioxidant enzymes might affect susceptibility toward testicular GCT development, as well as the progression of the disease

Megaprojects as an instrument of urban planning and development: example of Belgrade Waterfront

The research analyzed the theoretical and methodological background of urban megaprojects (UMPs) as instrument of urban planning and development, with specific reference to the Belgrade Waterfront Project (BWP). In analysis we combined a contextually appropriate ap-proach, some elements of the phronetic planning approach and the benchmarking analysis of megaproject planning and development. BWP induced a change of the institutional framework (introduction of specific legal and policy instruments), as a key source of future changes in the metropolitan tissue. Preliminary impact assessment of the BWP indicates: slow development & economic effects, low transparency, social inequalities, marginal social mobilization and weak networks between the key actors, public funds overuse, impact on law-making, displacement impacts, high public financial risk, deep urban transformations, environmental impacts, medium-technological modernization, etc. This research highlights the differences in the political, institutional, social and economic environment that shape the BWP. It provides recommendations for future research and application, improvement of planning approach and continuing in-depth analysis for managing the undesirable consequences of the UMPs, including the determination of the interplay between different pools of power.Slična verzija rada bila je prezentovana na konferenciji UNESCO (2016) pod istim naslovom Megaprojects as an Instrument of Urban Planning and Development: Example of Belgrade Waterfront Project, in UNESCO Chair in Technologies for Development: From Innovation to Social Impact, UNESCO Chair Conference on Technologies for Development: From Innovation to Social Impact, 2-4 May 2016, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne - EPFL, Cooperation & Development Center - CODEV, Lausanne, Switzerland, pp.104, http://cooperation.epfl.ch/files/content/sites/cooperation/files/Tech4Dev%202016/Tech4Dev2016_Brochure_14Apr_WebVersion.pdfEditors: Silvia Hostettler, Samira Najih Besson, Jean-Claude Bola

The role of flavor and fragrance chemicals in TRPA1 (transient receptor potential cation channel, member A1) activity associated with allergies

TRPA1 has been proposed to be associated with diverse sensory allergic reactions, including thermal (cold) nociception, hearing and allergic inflammatory conditions. Some naturally occurring compounds are known to activate TRPA1 by forming a Michael addition product with a cysteine residue of TRPA1 through covalent protein modification and, in consequence, to cause allergic reactions. The anti-allergic property of TRPA1 agonists may be due to the activation and subsequent desensitization of TRPA1 expressed in sensory neurons. In this review, naturally occurring TRPA1 antagonists, such as camphor, 1,8-cineole, menthol, borneol, fenchyl alcohol and 2-methylisoborneol, and TRPA1 agonists, including thymol, carvacrol, 1’S-1’- acetoxychavicol acetate, cinnamaldehyde, α-n-hexyl cinnamic aldehyde and thymoquinone as well as isothiocyanates and sulfides are discussed

KAPACITET EKSTRAKTA PITOMOG KESTENA ZA SUZBIJANJE LIPIDNE PEROKSIDACIJE

Permanent attention of researchers has been focused on the use of natural antioxidants to inhibit lipid peroxidation, or to protect the damage provoked by free radicals. Extracts of sweet chestnut, Lovran’s Marrone cultivar and grafted Italian ″Marrone″ cultivar obtained in two years (2006. and 2007.), were investigated for their capacity to remove lipid peroxidation in liposomes exposed to hydroxyl radical, and for their total phenolics and flavonoids content. Selected tissues of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) fruit, leaf, catkin, spiny burs, young and old bark of chestnut tree have been extracted under the same conditions using 50% ethanol and afterwards dry extracts of examined samples have been gained. All extracts, excluding those with low content of both, total phenolics and flavonoids, showed the ability to protect liposomes from lipid peroxidation. We find practical importance of results in the fact that extract of spiny burs could potentially have beneficial effects in diet of hypertensive patients.Pozornost istraživača plijeni mogućnost korištenja prirodnih antioksidansa u inhibiciji lipidne peroksidacije, ili za zaštitu od oštećenja prouzročenih slobodnim radikalima. U dvogodišnjem razdoblju (2006. i 2007.) istraživan je kapacitet ekstrakta pitomog kestena, kultivara Lovranski marun i cijepljeni Talijanski marun za suzbijanje lipidne peroksidacije na liposomima izloženim hidroksi radikalima, kao i sadržaj fenolnih tvari i flavonoida. Dijelovi ploda kestena (Castanea sativa Mill.), list, resa, ježevica, mlada i stara kora drveta ekstrahirani su pod istim uvjetima korištenjem 50% etanola, a nakon toga je iz istraživanih uzoraka dobiven suhi ekstrakt. Svi ekstrakti, osim onih s malim sadržajem ukupnih fenola i flavonoida, pokazuju sposobnost zaštite liposoma od lipidne peroksidacije. Praktični značaj rezultata istraživanja vidimo u mogućnosti korištenja ekstrakta ježevica u dijeti pacijenata oboljelih od hipertenzije

UKLANJANJE RADIKALA, ANTIMIKROBNA AKTIVNOST I SADRŽAJ FENOLNIH MATERIJA CASTANEA SATIVA EKSTRAKATA

Radical Scavenging and antimicrobial activity of extracts of three cultivar of Castanea Sativa Mill. have been examined. Leaf and catkins have been extracted under the same conditions by 50% ethanol as extragens, afterwards dry extracts of examined samples have been gained. Total phenolic content was determined by HPLC, subsequent to preliminary acid hydrolysis of samples. For determination of extract infl uence to creating and transformation of hydroxide (OH) radicals and (DPPH) radicals, extracts have been dissolved in distillated water and added to Fenton’s model system in concentration of 0.2 mg/ml. High value antioxidant activity (AA) in relation to hydroxyl radicals has turned out catkins from Lovran chestnut (59.09%). The greatest antiradical activity in relation to DPPH radicals occurred with extracts of catkins from domestic sweet chestnut (37.50). The antimicrobial tests have showed that ethanol extracts of leaf and catkins inhibited growth of Gram positive bacteria.Ispitivano je uklanjanje radikala i antimikrobna aktivnost ekstrakata, tri kultivara Castanea Sativa Mill. Lišće i rese su ekstrahirane pod istim uvjetima 50%-tnim etanolom kao ekstragensom, a zatim su dobiveni suhi ekstrakti ispitivanih uzoraka. Nakon izvršene kisele hidrolize uzoraka ukupne fenolne tvari su ordređene HPLC-om. Radi određivanja efekta ekstrakata na stvaranje i transformiranje hidroksil (OH) radikala i (DPPH) radikala, ekstrakti su rastvoreni u destiliranoj vodi i dodani u Fenton-ov model sistem, do fi nalne koncentracije od 0,2 mg/ml. Visoka vrijednost antioksidativne aktivnosti (AA) u odnosu na hidroksil radikale određena je za resu Lovranskog kestena (59,09%). Najveća antiradikalna aktivnost u odnosu na DPPH radikale je utvrđena kod ekstrakta rese domaćeg pitomog kestena (37,50). Antimikrobni test je pokazao da etanolni ekstrakti rese i lista inhibiraju rast Gram pozitivnih bakterija