Kinetic limitations of cooperativity based drug delivery systems

We study theoretically a novel drug delivery system that utilizes the overexpression of certain proteins in cancerous cells for cell specific chemotherapy. The system consists of dendrimers conjugated with "keys" (ex: folic acid) which "key-lock" bind to particular cell membrane proteins (ex: folate receptor). The increased concentration of "locks" on the surface leads to a longer residence time for the dendrimer and greater incorporation into the cell. Cooperative binding of the nanocomplexes leads to an enhancement of cell specificity. However, both our theory and detailed analysis of in-vitro experiments indicate that the degree of cooperativity is kinetically limited. We demonstrate that cooperativity and hence the specificity to particular cell type can be increased by making the strength of individual bonds weaker, and suggest a particular implementation of this idea. The implications of the work for optimizing the design of drug delivery vehicles are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, v3: minor revision

Yorke and Wright 3/2-stability theorems from a unified point of view

We consider a family of scalar delay differential equations $x'(t)=f(t,x_t)$, with a nonlinearity $f$ satisfying a negative feedback condition combined with a boundedness condition. We present a global stability criterion for this family, which in particular unifies the celebrated 3/2-conditions given for the Yorke and the Wright type equations. We illustrate our results with some applications.Comment: 10 pages, accepted for publication in the Expanded Volume of DCDS, devoted to the fourth international conference on Dynamical Systems and Differential Equations, held at UNC at Wilmington, May 2002. Minor changes from the previous versio

Influence of equation of state on interpretation of electrical conductivity measurements in strongly coupled tungsten plasma

We study the influence of equation-of-state (EOS) model on the interpretation of electrical conductivity measurements in strongly coupled plasma of tungsten by Korobenko et al. (2002 Plasma Physics Reports 28(12) 1008--1016). Three different semiempirical EOS models for tungsten are used. Discrepancies in obtained thermodynamic parameters and specific resistivity values as compared with calculation results of Korobenko et al. are analysed.Comment: 11 pages, 5 Postscript figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys. A: Math. Ge

Free amino acids of the blood and some organs in hypokinesia

The metabolic fund of amino acids of the blood and tissues of rats under hypokinesia was investigated. The content of free amino acids was determined for the liver, kidney, brain, and the skeletal and cardiac muscles after established periods of hypokinesia. It was found that the total content of free amino acids in the experimental animals was, on the average 19 percent lower than in the controls. The results of the quantity of individual compounds indicate that the level of some were reduced while others were increased. It was also found that there was an unequal content of individual amino acids in the different tissues

Precompact noncompact reflexive abelian groups

We present a series of examples of precompact, noncompact, reflexive topological Abelian groups. Some of them are pseudocompact or even countably compact, but we show that there exist precompact non-pseudocompact reflexive groups as well. It is also proved that every pseudocompact Abelian group is a quotient of a reflexive pseudocompact group with respect to a closed reflexive pseudocompact subgroup

A study of cell membranes in nasal epithelial cells from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps by means of a fluorescent probe

Aim. To assess the state of membranes in nasal epithelial cells obtained from the patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) with the help of the fluorescent probe 2-(2ʹ-ОН-phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole. Methods. The state of membrane phospholipid bilayer in suspensions of nasal epithelial cells isolated from ten patients with CRSwNP was evaluated using the fluorescent probe 2-(2ʹ-ОН-phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole that reacts on the physico-chemical properties of its microenvironment. Changes in fluorescence spectra were determined using a Thermo Scientific Lumina fluorescence spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) 1 hour after the addition of the probe to nasal epithelial cell suspensions. Results. CRSwNP was found to be associated with a higher rate of nasal epithelial cell membrane hydration in the region of phospholipid glycerol moiety, carbonyl groups and aliphatic chains of fatty acids attached to the carbonyl groups. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that CRSwNP is accompanied by the elevated hydration rate of the most polar region, namely polar heads of phospholipids of nasal epithelial cell membranes

Model of pulsating current traction motor taking into consideration magnetic losses in steel

The aim of the work is to develop a mathematical model of the traction motor of the pulsating current of an electric locomotive taking into account the magnetic losses in the motor steel to determine the starting parameters depending on the voltage of the armature winding. Methodology. Mathematical modeling of electromagnetic processes in a traction motor of pulsating current is applied taking into account the nonlinear nature of the armature inductance, the inductance of the excitation winding and the nonlinear nature of the universal magnetic characteristic. The magnetic losses in the steel of the traction motor were taken into account by establishing the dependence of these losses on the frequency of reversal, the magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit of the motor and the geometric dimensions of the motor. Results. The mathematical model of calculation of starting parameters of the traction engine of the pulsating current of the traction drive of the electric locomotive of alternating current taking into account the equation of instantaneous value of losses in engine steel is developed. The dynamic characteristics of the traction motor with pulsating current are obtained. It allows to investigate starting parameters of the traction engine on the basis of the received mathematical model and to design elements of the traction drive of the electric locomotive according to the specification, to choose optimum design parameters. Originality. For the first time a comprehensive study of the pulsating current traction motor was carried out taking into account the nonlinear nature of the armature inductance, excitation winding inductance and nonlinear nature of the universal magnetic characteristic and taking into account the magnetic losses in the motor steel. Practical significance. The model of the traction motor of pulsating current taking into account losses in steel of the engine on the basis of the carried-out calculation is developed. Experimental studies have confirmed the adequacy of the model, which allows to apply the obtained model to develop a mathematical model of an AC electric locomotive to study the electrodynamic processes in it at different modes of operation of the electric locomotive.Запропоновано підхід до імітаційного моделювання тягових електродвигунів пульсуючого струму, заснований на врахуванні нелінійного характеру магнітної характеристики, індуктивностей якоря та обмотки збудження. Розроблено модель магнітних втрат у магнітопроводі якоря електродвигуна та досліджено їх вплив на характер електромагнітних процесів у електродвигуні. Показано, що отримані при цьому рішення узгоджуються з отриманими раніше результатами, але відкриваються додаткові можливості при дослідженні роботи двигуна в складі тягового електроприводу електровозу однофазно-постійного струму

A study of cell membranes in nasal epithelial cells from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps by means of a fluorescent probe

Aim. To assess the state of membranes in nasal epithelial cells obtained from the patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) with the help of the fluorescent probe 2-(2ʹ-ОН-phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole. Methods. The state of membrane phospholipid bilayer in suspensions of nasal epithelial cells isolated from ten patients with CRSwNP was evaluated using the fluorescent probe 2-(2ʹ-ОН-phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole that reacts on the physico-chemical properties of its microenvironment. Changes in fluorescence spectra were determined using a Thermo Scientific Lumina fluorescence spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) 1 hour after the addition of the probe to nasal epithelial cell suspensions. Results. CRSwNP was found to be associated with a higher rate of nasal epithelial cell membrane hydration in the region of phospholipid glycerol moiety, carbonyl groups and aliphatic chains of fatty acids attached to the carbonyl groups. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that CRSwNP is accompanied by the elevated hydration rate of the most polar region, namely polar heads of phospholipids of nasal epithelial cell membranes