Effect of pH on the interfacial tension of lipid bilayer membrane

The dependence of the interfacial tension of a lipid bilayer on the pH of the aqueous solution has been studied. A theoretical equation is derived to describe this dependence. Interfacial tension measurements of an egg phosphatidylcholine bilayer were carried out. The experimental results agreed with those derived from the theoretical equation obtained close to the isoelectric point within a range of three pH units. A maximum corresponding to the isoelectric point appears both in the theoretical equation and in the experimental data.     

A Universal Rank-Size Law

A mere hyperbolic law, like the Zipf’s law power function, is often inadequate to describe rank-size relationships. An alternative theoretical distribution is proposed based on theoretical physics arguments starting from the Yule-Simon distribution. A modeling is proposed leading to a universal form. A theoretical suggestion for the “best (or optimal) distribution”, is provided through an entropy argument. The ranking of areas through the number of cities in various countries and some sport competition ranking serves for the present illustrations.     

Interfacial tension of bilayer lipid membrane formed from phosphatidylethanolamine

The dependence of the interfacial tension of a lipid membrane on the pH of the aqueous solution has been studied. Interfacial tension measurements of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were carried out. A theoretical equation is derived to describe this dependence in the whole pH range. A maximum corresponding to the isoelectric point appears both in the theoretical equation and in the experimental data.     

A synopsis of calculations of the energy band structures for protein molecules

A review is given of the theoretical approaches that have been made to understand and describe the electronic energy band structures for protein molecules. In recent years significant progress has been made, and it is now clear that a theoretical basis does exist for the possibility that the electronic conduction properties of proteins are of biological relevance.     

Conditions for a theoretical biology: is biology truly an autonomous science?

In a line of a previous paper, the conditions for a theoretical biology were discussed and it was pointed out that the primary condition is that biology is an autonomous science. This statement is connected to the problem of reductionism. A discussion of the autonomy of biology shows that reductionism cannot be maintained, although particularly in physiology often physics and mathematics are used. Development, organization and evolution of biological systems are typical areas of autonomous biological researches and of autonomous theoretical developments. A sort of reduction to history seems today a nonsensical attempt to reduce the area of free theoretical biological activity.     

Number of aberrations per cell as a parameter of chromosome instability. 2. Comparative analysis of the factors of different nature

The average number of aberrations per aberrant cell was concluded to carry out information on chromosome instability peculiarities induced by different mutagens as it was shown in our previous work. The purpose of the current study was to present comparative analysis of intercellular distribution of number of aberrations and their theoretical approximations. Distribution of numbers of aberrations per cell in Allium cepa L. and Allium fistulosum L. root tip cells induced by different mutagenic factors (gamma-irradiation, thiotepa, formaldehyde and seed aging) have been studied. The results were approximated to theoretical Poisson, geometric and negative binomial distributions. The intercellular distribution of aberrations did not correspond to any of the used theoretical distributions when A. cepa seeds were gamma-irradiated. There was some, but not regular, accordance with theoretical distributions when chemical mutagens thiotepa in A. cepa and formaldehyde in A. fistulosum and seed aging in both species were evaluated. During seed aging frequency of aberrant cells increased more quickly in A. fistulosum in comparison with A. cepa.     

在杀虫剂作用下的一类具有Allee效应的天敌-害虫模型

对一类具有Allee效应的天敌-害虫模型作了理论分析,同时对在杀虫剂作用下的此系统又作了理论分析,比较了二者之间的区别,从而从理论上获知利用杀虫剂控制虫害的利弊．     

Theoretical calculation of pKa reveals an important role of Arg205 in the activity and stability of Streptomyces sp. N174 chitosanase

Based on the crystal structure of chitosanase from Streptomyces sp. N174, we have calculated theoretical pK(a) values of the ionizable groups of this protein using a combination of the boundary element method and continuum electrostatics. The pK(a) value obtained for Arg(205), which is located in the catalytic cleft, was abnormally high (>20.0), indicating that the guanidyl group may interact strongly with nearby charges. Chitosanases possessing mutations in this position (R205A, R205H, and R205Y), produced by Streptomyces lividans expression system, were found to have less than 0.3% of the activity of the wild type enzyme and to possess thermal stabilities 4-5 kcal/mol lower than that of the wild type protein. In the crystal structure, the Arg(205) side chain is in close proximity to the Asp(145) side chain (theoretical pK(a), -1.6), which is in turn close to the Arg(190) side chain (theoretical pK(a), 17.7). These theoretical pK(a) values are abnormal, suggesting that both of these residues may participate in the Arg(205) interaction network. Activity and stability experiments using Asp(145)- and Arg(190)-mutated chitosanases (D145A and R190A) provide experimental data supporting the hypothesis derived from the theoretical pK(a) data and prompt the conclusion that Arg(205) forms a strong interaction network with Asp(145) and Arg(190) that stabilizes the catalytic cleft.     

Diagnostics of a current-sheet plasma with the use of helium spectral lines with forbidden components

Results are presented from the first measurements of the profiles of the HeI 447.1-nm and HeI 492.2-nm neutral helium spectral lines emitted by the plasma of a current sheet formed in the CS-3D experimental device. A theoretical analysis of these profiles is performed with the model microfield method. A comparison of the theoretical and experimental profiles shows that the electron density in the peripheral regions of the current sheets amounts to (1.0–2.0)×10¹⁵ cm^?3.     

Theoretical analysis of cell separation based on cell surface marker density

A theoretical analysis was performed to determine the number of fractions a multidisperse, immunomagnetically labeled cell population can be separated into based on the surface marker (antigen) density. A number of assumptions were made in this analysis: that there is a proportionality between the number of surface markers on the cell surface and the number of immunomagnetic labels bound; that this surface marker density is independent of the cell diameter; and that there is only the presence of magnetic and drag forces acting on the cell. Due to the normal distribution of cell diameters, a "randomizing" effect enters into the analysis, and an analogy between the "theoretical plate" analysis of distillation, adsorption, and chromatography can be made. Using the experimentally determined, normal distribution of cell diameters for human lymphocytes and a breast cancer cell line, and fluorescent activated cell screening data of specific surface marker distributions, examples of theoretical plate calculations were made and discussed.     

Coagulation of dust grains in the plasma of an RF discharge in argon

Results are presented from experimental studies of coagulation of dust grains of different sizes injected into a low-temperature plasma of an RF discharge in argon. A theoretical model describing the formation of dust clusters in a low-temperature plasma is developed and applied to interpret the results of experiments on the coagulation of dust grains having large negative charges. The grain size at which coagulation under the given plasma conditions is possible is estimated using the developed theory. The theoretical results are compared with the experimental data.     

On the Width of Conformational Transitions of Biologically Important Macromolecules under the Influence of Pressure

Biophysics - Abstract—A theoretical assessment of the half-width of the conformational transition of macromolecules caused by an increase in pressure is presented. It is shown that the...     

Use of two lectins for characterisation of glycoconjugates from human,porcine and bovine sera

A theoretical and laboratory practical exercise is proposed that illustrates the importance of lectins as analytical tools in biochemistry and demonstrates some of their properties.     

Application of Statistical Classification Technique to the Forecasting of Outcomes of Diseases

A probabilistic statistical model based on statistical classification is proposed for disease outcome forecasting. In particular, cardiac infarction outcome is forecasted and a table of the forecasting results is given. A conclusion of theoretical character is made about the preferable use of a non-uniform band width in the construction of a general histogram for unknown distribution density estimation.     

Study of the dark phase in the initial stage of the positive column formation in an argon glow discharge

The initial stage of the positive column formation in an argon glow discharge is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. A decrease in the plasma radiation intensity (the so-called “dark phase”) was observed experimentally over a time period of about 1 ms. A similar dip was also observed in the time dependence of the electric field strength. The time evolution of the population of the lowest metastable state of Ar was measured. A relevant theoretical model has been developed and used to perform calculations for the actual experimental conditions. A comparison between the numerical and experimental results shows that the model adequately describes the processes that occur during the formation of the positive column in an argon glow discharge. Experimental and theoretical study shows that the dark-phase effect is related to an excessive amount of metastable Ar atoms at the beginning of a discharge and, consequently, to high rates of stepwise ionization and chemionization.     

Ksenia Guseva: Formation and Cooperative Behavior of Protein Complexes on the Cell Membrane

The thesis as a book on formation and cooperative behavior of protein complexes on the cell membrane highlights three major sections on protein oligomerization on cell surface, review approaches on membrane protein oligomerization and validation of oligomer formation process mainly using pure physical/theoretical models. These chapters cover an existing knowledge on membrane protein oligomer formation, experimental approaches with focus on mechanosensitive channels, interactions in oligomer assembly/stability, protein fragmentation, and pore formation in Tat complex system. In almost every chapter, physical/theoretical models have been integrated. A merger of protein oligomerization phenomena and theoretical physics is not quite intriguing for biologists/biochemists lacking adequate knowledge in physical modeling and its theoretical applications, and vice versa.     

Mathematical modelling of charge properties of protein molecules]

A procedure of theoretical determination of the dependence of protein molecule charge on the medium pH has been developed. The suggested procedure allows calculating the protein pI value, the molecule charge at the definite pH value, as well as the corresponding values for the protein molecule. Calculations for insulin, apo A-I and apo A-II molecules have been carried out. Calculated pI values are equal to 5.25, 5.64 and 4.86, respectively. A comparison of the theoretical curves and experimental data allows obtaining information of the molecule structure. Carboxyl groups with abnormally high pK values are discovered, that, probably, indicates to the direct interaction of two COOH-groups. A supposition is made on the most probable arrangement of the functional fragments in apo A-I and apo A-II molecules.     

The failure of exoskeletons and endoskeletons

A theoretical analysis is made of the mechanical advantages of exoskeletons and endoskeletons. More complicated and realistic loading systems are considered than have been by previous authors. For all cases involving static loading, an exoskeleton would seem to be advantageous, but sometimes the advantage is quite small. If impact is considered, the advantage of exoskeletons becomes very much reduced, even on theoretical calculations; and it is likely that in life the advantage may be converted to a disadvantage, particularly in large active animals such as vertebrates.     

A Markov Model for Modulation Periods in Brain Output

A theoretical model is proposed to explain the modulation of bioelectric brain output and its temporal characteristics. The model assumes a time series based on a Markov process with transition probabilities generated by a negative exponential function. One parameter is estimated. Computer runs of the theoretical model compare well with empirical findings.     

Theory of a rapid method for determining molecular weights of giant molecules

A new method is proposed for finding molecular weights from the boundary condition of the ultracentrifuge. The method is more rapid than the conventional Archibald method by at least one order of magnitude and should be especially useful for giant molecules with small diffusion coefficients. It employs a preset concentration gradient. A theoretical study of the method has been made by obtaining solutions to the Lamm equation analogous to the “mirror image” solution (for early times) and the Fourier expansion solution (for late times) of Mason and Weaver. Numerical examples of theoretical results are given, and the errors are discussed. Centrifugation in a preset linear gradient can also be used to reduce the time needed to reach equilibrium.