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Search results for: MEMBRANE PROCESS
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Galerkin formulations with Greville quadrature rules for isogeometric shell analysis: Higher order elements and locking
PublicationWe propose new Greville quadrature schemes that asymptotically require only four in-plane points for Reissner-Mindlin (RM) shell elements and nine in-plane points for Kirchhoff-Love (KL) shell elements in B-spline and NURBS-based isogeometric shell analysis, independent of the polynomial degree of the elements. For polynomial degrees 5 and 6, the approach delivers high accuracy, low computational cost, and alleviates membrane and...
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Nonlinear FEM analysis of irregular shells composed of fiber metal laminates
PublicationThe paper deals with the analysis of failure initiation in shells made of Fiber Metal Laminates (FML). The elas-tic material law for orthotropic lamina is stated accounting for asymmetric in-plane stress and strain measures. The asymmetry results from the employed general nonlinear 6-field shell theory where the generalized dis-placements involve the translation and the proper rotation field. The novelty of the presented results...
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Charakterystyka areodynamiczna membranowego przekrycia wiszącego.
PublicationArtykuł przedstawia charakterystykę aerodynamiczną membranowego przekrycia wiszącego. Prezentowane są dwie koncepcje przyjmowania wartości współczynnika aerodynamicznego. Pierwsza z koncepcji bazuje bezpośrednio na testach laboratoryjnych druga zaś wykorzystuje uproszczone podejście normowe.This paper presents the aerodynamic characteristics of membrane hanging roof. The two concepts of taking the value of the aerodynamic factor...
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Thermodynamics and kinetics of amphotericin B self-association in aqueous solution characterized in molecular detail
PublicationAmphotericin B (AmB) is a potent but toxic drug commonly used to treat systemic mycoses. Its efficiency as a therapeutic agent depends on its ability to discriminate between mammalian and fungal cell membranes. The association of AmB monomers in an aqueous environment plays an important role in drug selectivity, as oligomers formed prior to membrane insertion – presumably dimers – are believed to act differently on fungal (ergosterol-rich)...
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Ongoing progress on novel nanocomposite membranes for the separation of heavy metals from contaminated water
PublicationMembranes, as the primary separation element of membrane-based processes, have greatly attracted the attention of researchers in several water treatment applications, including wastewater treatment, water purification, water disinfection, toxic and non-toxic chemical molecules, heavy metals, among others. Today, the removal of heavy metals from water has become challenging, in which chemical engineers are approaching new materials...
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A Flexible Nafion Coated Enzyme‐free Glucose Sensor Based on Au‐dimpled Ti Structures
PublicationThe detection of glucose at low concentrations using electrochemical sensors is of great importance due to the possibility of using different human body fluids than blood, such as e.g. urine, saliva, sweat or tears. The interest behind those biofluids is related to their utility in non-invasive sugar determination. In this work, we present flexible, fully biocompatible electrode material based on Au nanoparticles immobilized onto...
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Performance tuning of chitosan-based membranes by protonated 2-Pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid-sulfolane DES for effective water/ethanol separation by pervaporation
PublicationToday, the applicability of deep eutectic solvents (DES) in various fields, including membrane science and technology, is extensively investigated. In pioneering works, we have implemented different DES as a component of chitosan (CS)-based flat membranes for pervaporation (PV) separation. Herein, we present a new protonated (by sulphuric acid) 2-Pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid: sulfolane DES, as a green additive for its chemical...
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Investigation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) deposition method influence on properties of ion-selective electrodes based on bis(benzo-15-crown-5) derivatives
PublicationGlassy carbon electrodes modified by conductive polymers and membrane with derivatives of bis(benzo-15-crown-5) were tested as solid contact ion selective electrodes for K+ ions concentration determination. PEDOT with PSS, Cl- and ClO4- counter ions was electrochemically deposited onto glassy carbon substrates using four different electrochemical approaches (potentiostatic, galvanostatic, potentiodynamic and potentiostatic pulses)....
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Regulated Assembly of LPS, Its Structural Alterations and Cellular Response to LPS Defects
PublicationDistinguishing feature of the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria is its asymmetry due to the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer leaflet of the OM and phospholipids in the inner leaflet. Recent studies have revealed the existence of regulatory controls that ensure a balanced biosynthesis of LPS and phospholipids, both of which are essential for bacterial viability. LPS provides the essential permeability...
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Does the chemical modification of Nystatin A1 affect the drug's ability to overcome the multidrug resistance of fungi?
PublicationAlthough the contemporary medicine keeps moving forward, disseminated infections caused by fungal pathogens are an emerging challenge. The dramatic rise of fungal diseases, especially the most life-threatening systemic mycoses is associated with a permanently growing number of immunodeficient patients. Undoubted difficulties in the treatment of fungal infections are caused by lack of highly effective and selective antifungal drugs,...
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Local atomic order in low Pt-content nanocatalysts investigated in situ by XAS
PublicationThe unique features of X-ray absorption spectroscopy allow investigations of nanosized catalysts for fuel cells under working conditions. We present the results of an experiment carried out on a low Pt content electrocatalyst supported by a mesoporous heteropolyacid salt and used at the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The analysis of the EXAFS signal at the Pt L3-edge indicates that upon operating the fuel...
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Electrochemical sensor for measurement of volatile organic compounds employing square wave perturbation voltage
PublicationThe paper presents the results of investigation on a prototype sensor for measurement of benzaldehyde in air. Sensitivity and limit of quantification of the sensor were determined for different internal electrolyte using the square wave voltammetry (SWV) as a detection technique. The working and counter electrodes were made of platinum. Ionic liquids 1-hexyl, 3-methylimidazolium chloride,1-hexyl, 3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl)...
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Chromogenic derivatives of new bis(phenylhydrazono-1H-tetrazol-5-yl-acetonitriles) - synthesis and properties
PublicationDerivatives of bis(phenylhydrazono-1H-tetrazol-5-yl-acetonitriles) with oxygen and sulphur atoms in the structure of aliphatic chains were successfully synthesised. The correlation between the ligand structure and its complexation properties was investigated by absorption spectroscopy. The formation of complexes of presented compounds with metal cations (Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Fe2+ and Pb2+) was studied. Ligands 5-8 were additionally...
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Green and Sustainable Membranes: A review
PublicationMembranes are ubiquitous tools for modern water treatment technology that critically eliminate hazardous materials such as organic, inorganic, heavy metals, and biomedical pollutants. Nowadays, nano-membranes are of particular interest for myriad applications such as water treatment, desalination, ion exchange, ion concentration control, and several kinds of biomedical applications. However, this state-of-the-art technology suffers...
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PTD4 Peptide Increases Neural Viability in an In Vitro Model of Acute Ischemic Stroke
PublicationIschemic stroke is a disturbance in cerebral blood flow caused by brain tissue ischemia and hypoxia. We optimized a multifactorial in vitro model of acute ischemic stroke using rat primary neural cultures. This model was exploited to investigate the pro-viable activity of cell-penetrating peptides: arginine-rich Tat(49–57)-NH2 (R49KKRRQRRR57-amide) and its less basic analogue, PTD4 (Y47ARAAARQARA57-amide). Our model included glucose...
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Molecular Strategy for Survival at a Critical High Temperature in Eschierichia coli
PublicationThe molecular mechanism supporting survival at a critical high temperature (CHT) in Escherichia coli was investigated. Genome-wide screening with a single-gene knockout library provided a list of genes indispensable for growth at 47°C, called thermotolerant genes. Genes for which expression was affected by exposure to CHT were identified by DNA chip analysis. Unexpectedly, the former contents did not overlap with the latter except...
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Checkpoints that regulate balanced biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide and its essentiality in Escherichia coli
PublicationThe outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, is essential for their viability. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) constitutes the major component of OM, providing the permeability barrier, and a tight balance exists between LPS and phospholipids amounts as both of these essential components use a common metabolic precursor. Hence, checkpoints are in place, right from the regulation of the first committed step...
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Torsional elasticity and energetics of F1-ATPase
PublicationFoF1-ATPase is a rotary motor protein synthesizing ATP from ADP driven by a cross-membrane proton gradient. The proton flow through the membrane-embedded Fo generates the rotary torque that drives the rotation of the asymmetric shaft of F1. Mechanical energy of the rotating shaft is used by the F1 catalytic subunit to synthesize ATP. It was suggested that elastic power transmission with transient storage of energy in some compliant...
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Direct injection liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (DI-LC-MS) analysis for rapid lipidomic profiling of extracellular vesicles
PublicationExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, spherical particles produced by eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, surrounded by a bilayer membrane and carrying various bioactive molecules, such as proteins, surface receptors, membrane and soluble proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. EVs are of substantial interest because of their important roles in cell communication, epigenetic regulation and possible application in disease diagnosis...
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Modeling of subarachnoid space width change caused by blood circulation in brain vessels
PublicationThe subarachnoid space is an anatomic space, lying in the central nervous system, between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater. It is filled with cerebrospinal fluid, which protects and nourishes the brain. The pathological disorder of the subarachnoid space (i.e. increase or decrease of its width) a ects the nervous system. Therefore, it is important to diagnose the width changes of the subarachnoid space. One way to support...
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Iron(III)-selective materials based on a catechol-bearing amide for optical sensing
PublicationThe synthesis and ion-binding properties of a new amide L derived from 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid are described. Due to the presence of a catechol unit, the compound interacts selectively with iron(III) in organic solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO) to produce a color change from pale yellow to green. The incorporation of the ligand L into polymeric matrices or its encapsulation into surfactant-based spheres enables analyte detection...
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Functionalized azobenzocrown ethers as sensor materials—The synthesis and ion binding properties
PublicationNew 13- and 16-membered azobenzocrown ethers with aromatic amino, amide, ether–ester or ether–amide residue in para position to an azo moiety were obtained. Acid–base properties and ion binding ability of the colored compounds were studied by spectroscopic methods: UV–vis, fluorimetry and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Selected azobenzocrowns were tested as ionophores in ion-selective membrane electrodes (ISEs) – classic and miniature all...
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Mechanical characterization of a gravel column in a calibration chamber operating as a triaxial cell
PublicationA series of tests considering the behavior of gravel columns was performed. A segment of column with a height of 1 m and a diameter of 0.53 m was modelled in a calibration chamber used as a triaxial cell at three different lateral stress applied. The vertical load transferred on the column head was simulated with steady increase of water pressures in the upper and lower membranes. During the loading the volumetric changes in the...
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Minimal surfaces and conservation laws for bidimensional structures
PublicationWe discuss conservation laws for thin structures which could be modeled as a material minimal surface, i.e., a surface with zero mean curvatures. The models of an elastic membrane and micropolar (six-parameter) shell undergoing finite deformations are considered. We show that for a minimal surface, it is possible to formulate a conservation law similar to three-dimensional non-linear elasticity. It brings us a path-independent...
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A BODIPY‐Based Molecular Rotor in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles: A Case Study by Polarization‐Resolved Time‐Resolved Emission and Transient Absorption Spectroscopy
PublicationBODIPY and BODIPY-derived systems are widely applied as fluorophores and as probes for viscosity detection in solvents and biological media. Their orientational and rotational dynamics in biological media are thus of vital mechanistic importance and extensively investigated. In this contribution, polarization-resolved confocal microscopy is used to determine the orientation of an amphiphilic BODIPY-cholesterol derivative in homogeneous...
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Gender-Related Differences in Trimethylamine and Oxidative Blood Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease Patients
PublicationGender differences in the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been observed worldwide. In this study, plasmatic levels of trimethylamine (TMA) and blood oxidative biomarkers have been evaluated in 358 men (89 controls and 269 CVD patients) and 189 women (64 control and 125 CVD patients). The fluorescence technique was applied to determine erythrocyte membrane fluidity using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and Laurdan,...
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Qualitative analysis of phospholipids and their oxidised derivatives – used techniques and examples of their applications related to lipidomic research and food analysis
PublicationPhospholipids (PLs) are important biomolecules that not only constitute structural building blocks and scaffolds of cell and organelle membranes, but also play a vital role in cell biochemistry and physiology. Moreover, dietary exogenous PLs are characterized by high nutritional value and other beneficial health effects, which are confirmed by numerous epidemiological studies. For this reason, PLs are of high interest in lipidomics...
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Chromogenic macrocyclic derivatives of azoles - synthesis and properties,
PublicationNew azocrown ethers comprising imidazoles in the macrocycle have been synthesized. Imidazole, 2-methyl-, 4-methyl-, and 4-phenylimidazole were incorporated to form macrocyclic units by coupling with the appropriate bis-diazonium salts. The syntheseswere performed under high dilution conditions. The X-ray structure of a water adduct of the 21-membered crown ether derivative of 4-methylimidazole 8 has been solved. Metal...
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Azomacrocyclic derivatives of imidazole: synthesis, structure, and metal ion complexation properties
PublicationNew azocrown ethers comprising imidazoles in the macrocycle have been synthesized. Imidazole, 2-methyl-, 4-methyl-, and 4-phenylimidazole were incorporated to form macrocyclic units by coupling with the appropriate bis-diazonium salts. The syntheseswere performed under high dilution conditions. The X-ray structure of a water adduct of the 21-membered crown ether derivative of 4-methylimidazole 8 has been solved. Metal...
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Utilization of ionic liquids for the enrichment of biogas
PublicationThis article discusses the dependence of biogas composition on organic feed material. High amounts of CO2 decrease the calorific value of biogas. Several technologies are reviewed which can be used to increase the calorific value. Special emphasis is laid on ionic liquids as a new absorbing material. ILs have a number of advantages due to their unique properties such as: low melting point, high thermal conductivity, no flammability,...
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Mechanical compatibility of implants used in hernia repair with abdominal wall
PublicationThe paper deals with a membrane model of a synthetic surgical mesh for treatment of abdominal hernia. The authors analyse the compatibility of two implant types with the human wall: Dualmesh Gore and Proceed. The finite element method is applied to simulate tjhe behavior of the proposed model. Due fact that recurrences are usually caused by connection failure, this study is focused on reaction forces in supports representing the...
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Potentiometric Solid-Contact Multisensor System for Simultaneous Measurement of Several Ions
PublicationThe design and performance of potentiometric multisensor system made in solid-contact technology is described. Both, the measuring electrodes as well as the reference electrode are in a compact cell. The system allows for simultaneous measurement of various ions. The characteristics of the electrodes for Na+, K+ and Ca2+ ions were determined using the designed system and compared with ISEs of the same membrane composition in classical...
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Recognition and sensing of anions
PublicationMolecular ion recognition is one of the most intensively studied areas of supramolecular technology. The reason for this is the essential role that ions play in many biological as well as industrial processes. On the other hand, however, it has been proved that ions can have a negative impact on human health and the environment. For these reasons, it is extremly important to develop rapid and simple methods allowing the determination...
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On the Possibility of the Amphotericin B-Sterol Complex Formation in Cholesterol- and Ergosterol-Containing Lipid Bilayers: A Molecular Dynamics Study
PublicationAmphotericin B (AmB) is a well-known membrane-active antibiotic that has been used to treat systemicfungal infections for more than 45 years. Therapeutic application of AmB is based on the fact that it is moreactive against ergosterol-containing membranes of fungal cells than against mammalian membranes withcholesterol. In this paper, we examine the hypothesis according to which the selectivity of the AmB's membraneaction originates...
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A XAS study of a highly diluted Pt electrocatalyst operating in PEM fuel cells
PublicationWe present an X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study of a low Pt content catalyst layer(Pt loading 0.1 mg c2) operating at the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC). This catalyst is based on the use of a mesoporous inorganic matrix as a support forthe catalyst Pt nanoparticles. Due to the high Pt dilution, in situ measurements of itsstructural properties by XAS are challenging and suitable experimental strategies...
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Dynamics of mechanical model of implant-tissue system in ventral hernia repair
PublicationThe paper deals with a finite element modelling of implants in the problem of ventral hernia repair. The synthetic mesh implanted in the abdomen during surgery is here modelled as a membrane structure. Thesystem undergoes the internal abdominal pressure that occurs during the postoperative cough, the load identified in the literature as the main cause of the connection failure and hernia recurrence. The model can be used to estimate...
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Diverse roles, advantages and importance of deep eutectic solvents application in solid and liquid-phase microextraction techniques – A review
PublicationDeep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an emerging class of promising green solvents used as an alternative to traditional organic solvents in various scientific fields. The high biodegradability, biocompatibility, eco-friendliness, tunable properties, and presence of active groups in DESs make them the preferred solvent in a variety of solid- and liquid-phase microextraction techniques. Aside from these benefits, the use of DESs in...
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Roofing Materials as Pollution Emiters - Concentration Changes During Runoff
PublicationThe influence of roofing material on concentration of pollutants in roof runoff waters and changes of pollution concentration in time were investigated. In field studies four roofing material types were taken into consideration - ceramic tile, bituminous membrane, asbestos tile and zinc sheeting. Samples were collected since November 2007 to March 2008, anions, cations, metals, PAHs, pesticides and PCB were determined. The existence...
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MXene-based materials for removal of antibiotics and heavy metals from wastewater– a review
PublicationAs a novel family of 2D materials, MXenes provide an extensive variety of applications in water and effluent treatment due to their distinctive properties and attractive applicability, including superior electrical conductivity, higher thermal stability, hydrophilicity, and high sorption-reduction capacity. Their excellent sorption selectivity makes them perfect for removing hazardous contaminants. Currently, MXene-based materials...
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Synthetic strategies in construction of organic low molecular-weight carrier-drug conjugates
PublicationInefficient transportation of polar metabolic inhibitors through cell membranes of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells precludes their direct use as drug candidates in chemotherapy. One of the possible solutions to this problem is application of the ‘Trojan horse’ strategy, i.e. conjugation of an active substance with a molecular carrier of organic or inorganic nature, facilitating membrane penetration. In this work, the synthetic...
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Comparative molecular modelling of biologically active sterols
PublicationMembrane sterols are targets for a clinically important antifungal agent – amphotericin B. The relatively specific antifungal action of the drug is based on a stronger interaction of amphotericin B with fungal ergosterol than with mammalian cholesterol. Conformational space occupied by six sterols has been defined using the molecular dynamics method to establish if the conformational features correspond to the preferential interaction...
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The possibility of the application of a potentiometric sensor with all-solid-state electrodes for the quality control of different natural waters
PublicationThe quality of various natural waters was examined by a new potentiometric sensor with six all solid state electrodes containing an appropriate lipophilic compound in a polymer membrane. Physicochemical parameters such as conductivity and acidity of tested waters were also tested. All waters were neutral or slightly alkaline and contained different ions (e.g., Cl–) due to the place of their sampling (a coastal zone and a moraine...
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Peptide dendrimers as antifungal agents and carriers for potential antifungal agent—N3‐(4‐methoxyfumaroyl)‐(S)‐2,3‐ diaminopropanoic acid—synthesis and antimicrobial activity
PublicationA series of peptide dendrimers and their conjugates with antimicrobial agent FMDP (N3‐(4‐methoxyfumaroyl)‐(S)‐2,3‐diamino‐propanoic acid) were synthesized. The obtained compounds were tested for the antibacterial and antifungal activity. All novel dendrimers displayed much better activity against the tested strains than FMDP itself. Moreover, their conjugates with FMDP also exhibited antimicrobial activity. The most promising molecules...
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Strongly anisotropic surface elasticity and antiplane surface waves
PublicationWithin the new model of surface elasticity, the propagation of anti-plane surface waves is discussed. For the proposed model, the surface strain energy depends on surface stretching and on changing of curvature along a preferred direction. From the continuum mechanics point of view, the model describes finite deformations of an elastic solid with an elastic membrane attached on its boundary reinforced by a family of aligned elastic...
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Quest for the Molecular Basis of Improved Selective Toxicity of All-Trans Isomers of Aromatic Heptaene Macrolide Antifungal Antibiotics
PublicationThree aromatic heptaene macrolide antifungal antibiotics, Candicidin D, Partricin A (Gedamycin) and Partricin B (Vacidin) were subjected to controlled cis-trans to all trans photochemical isomerization. The obtained all-trans isomers demonstrated substantially improved in vitro selective toxicity in the Candida albicans cells: human erythrocytes model. This effect was mainly due to the diminished hemotoxicity. The molecular modeling...
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2-D constitutive equations for orthotropic Cosserat type laminated shells in finite element analysis
PublicationWe propose 2-D Cosserat type orthotropic constitutive equations for laminated shells for the purpose of initial failure estimation in a laminate layer. We use nonlinear 6-parameter shell theory with asymmetric membrane strain measures and Cosserat kinematics as the framework. This theory is specially dedicated to the analysis of irregular shells, inter alia, with orthogonal intersections, since it takes into account the drilling...
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Merging Proline:Xylitol Eutectic Solvent in Crosslinked Chitosan Pervaporation Membranes for Enhanced Water Permeation in Dehydrating Ethanol
PublicationThe scope of this research aims at merging a new deep eutectic mixture (DES) into a biopolymer-based membrane for a pervaporation application in dehydrating ethanol. Herein, an L-proline:xylitol (at 5:1) eutectic mixture was successfully synthesized and blended with chitosan (CS). A complete characterization of the hybrid membranes, in terms of morphology, solvent uptake, and hydrophilicity, has been conducted. As part of their...
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Synthetic strategies in construction of organic macromolecular carrier–drug conjugates
PublicationMany metabolic inhibitors, considered potential antimicrobial or anticancer drug candidates, exhibit verylimited ability to cross the biological membranes of target cells. The restricted cellular penetration ofthose molecules is often due to their highhydrophilicity. One of the possible solutions to this problem is aconjugation of an inhibitor with a molecular organic nanocarrier. The conjugate thus formed should beable to penetrate...
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Constitutive Modelling of Knitted Abdominal Implants in Numerical Simulations of Repaired Hernia Mechanics
PublicationThe paper presents a numerical approach to describe mechanical behavior of anisotropic textile material, which is a selected abdominal prosthesis. Two constitutive nonlinear concepts are compared. In the first one the material is considered composed from two families of threads (dense net model) and in the second one the material is homogeneous but anisotropic (as proposed by Gassel, Ogden, Holzapfel). Parameters of both models...
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A miniaturized solid-contact potentiometric multisensor platform for determination of ionic profiles in human saliva
PublicationThis paper describes a miniaturized multisensor platform (MP-ISES) consisting of electrodes: a reference one (RE) and ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for monitoring Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, and SCN− ions and pH in human saliva. Gold electrode surface was modified by deposition of two layers: electrosynthesized PEDOT:PSS forming an intermediate layer, and ion-selective membrane. The developed ISEs were characterized by a wide linear...