Nonenzymatic reduction of methemoglobin by free radical forms of NADH and riboflavin]

Nonenzymatic reduction of methemoglobin (met-Hb) is effectively catalyzed by NADH and riboflavin (RF). At low concentrations of met-Hb the EPR spectra of the ternary complex are characterized by an increased, whereas those at high met-Hb concentrations--by a decreased intensity of the RF semiquinone signal, which suggests that the met Hb reduction by a Leu-form of RF proceeds at a higher rate than that by the RF semiquinone radical. Riboflavin also accelerates the met-Hb reduction by a NADH-Fe2+ or NADH-Fe(2+)-EDTA mixture. It was found that the rate of met-Hb reduction by the organic radical increases in the following order: NAD. < RF H. < RF H2.     

Potentialities of fluorescent carbon nanomaterials as sensor for food analysis

Food safety and quality are among the most significant and prevalent research areas worldwide. The fabrication of appropriate technical procedures or devices for the recognition of hazardous features in foods is essential to safeguard food materials. In the recent era, developing high-performance sensors based on carbon nanomaterial for food safety investigation has made noteworthy progress. Hence this review briefly highlights the different detection approaches (colorimetric sensor, fluorescence sensor, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, surface plasmon resonance, chemiluminescence, and electroluminescence), functional carbon nanomaterials with various dimensions (quantum dots, graphene quantum dots) and detection mechanisms. Further, this review emphasizes the assimilation of carbon nanomaterials with optical sensors to identify multiple contaminants in food products. The insights of carbon-based nanomaterials optical sensors for pesticides and insecticides, toxic metals, antibiotics, microorganisms, and mycotoxins detection are described in detail. Finally, the opportunities and future perspectives of nanomaterials-based optical analytical approaches for detecting various food contaminants are discussed.     

Features of thiamine diphosphate-dependent enzyme inhibition by oxodihydrothiochrome and its phosphorylated derivatives

Anticoenzyme action of new derivatives of thiamine: oxodihydrothiochrome and its mono- and diphosphoric esters has been studied in the experiments on mice. It is shown that the given compounds exert an inhibiting action on transketolase and pyruvate dehydrogenase and do not change activity of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase in the animal organism. Antivitamin effect of the studied inhibitors is observed with the lower doses and in the earlier terms as compared with the other known inhibitors of thiamine-diphosphate-dependent enzymes. The preparations inhibit activity of the yeast pyruvate-decarboxylase by the mixed (with respect to thiamine-diphosphate) type (Ki for oxodihydrothiochrome and its mono- and diphosphoric esters: 2.3 x 10(-3), 7.2 x 10(-4), 5.6 x 10(-5) M, respectively). Possible mechanisms of the action of the mentioned compounds as thiamine antimetabolites are discussed.     

Analysis of the Long-Term Dynamics of the Lark Population (Alaudidae,Aves) in the Semi-Desert in the Northwestern Caspian Lowland

Biology Bulletin - Abstract—The dynamics of the numbers of larks inhabiting several areas differing in the physical and geographical (landscape) conditions and the level of anthropogenic...     

Long-Term Dynamics of the Community Structure of Larks (Alaudidae,Aves) in the Northwestern Caspian Lowland

Biology Bulletin - Abstract—We studied the population structure and the number of larks in the steppe and semidesert zones of the Caspian Lowland (within the territories of the Alexandrov-Gai...