Analysis of Quantum Steering Measures.

The effect of quantum steering describes a possible action at a distance via local measurements. In the last few years, several criteria have been proposed to detect this type of correlation in quantum systems. However, there are few approaches presented in order to measure the degree of steerability of a given system. In this work, we are interested in investigating possible ways to quantify quantum steering, where we based our analysis on different criteria presented in the literature.

Combined Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis of Perk Toxicity Pathways.

In Drosophila, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activates the protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (dPerk). dPerk can also be activated by defective mitochondria in fly models of Parkinson's disease caused by mutations in pink1 or parkin. The Perk branch of the unfolded protein response (UPR) has emerged as a major toxic process in neurodegenerative disorders causing a chronic reduction in vital proteins and neuronal death. In this study, we combined microarray analysis and quantitative proteomics analysis in adult flies overexpressing dPerk to investigate the relationship between the transcriptional and translational response to dPerk activation. We identified tribbles and Heat shock protein 22 as two novel Drosophila activating transcription factor 4 (dAtf4) regulated transcripts. Using a combined bioinformatics tool kit, we demonstrated that the activation of dPerk leads to translational repression of mitochondrial proteins associated with glutathione and nucleotide metabolism, calcium signalling and iron-sulphur cluster biosynthesis. Further efforts to enhance these translationally repressed dPerk targets might offer protection against Perk toxicity.

Experimental Demonstration of Robust Quantum Steering.

We analyze and experimentally demonstrate quantum steering using criteria based on generalized entropies and criteria with minimal assumptions based on the so-called dimension-bounded steering. Further, we investigate and compare their robustness against experimental imperfections such as misalignment in the shared measurement reference frame. While entropy based criteria are robust against imperfections in state preparation, we demonstrate an advantage in dimension-bounded steering in the presence of measurement imprecision. As steering with such minimal assumptions is easier to reach than fully nonlocal correlations, and as our setting requires very little trust in the measurement devices, the results provide a candidate for the costly Bell tests while remaining highly device independent.

A ten-year retrospective study of post-dural puncture headache in 32,655 obstetric patients.

PURPOSE: Accidental dural puncture and post-dural puncture headache are well-known complications of neuraxial anesthesia in parturients. The primary goal of this study was to identify the rate of post-dural puncture headache and epidural blood patch in all parturients who received a neuraxial anesthetic during a ten-year period at an academic tertiary-care medical centre. A secondary goal was to identify any delay in hospital discharge due to a post-dural puncture headache. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients who received a neuraxial anesthetic on the labour and delivery unit at Stony Brook Medical Center from 1 January, 2006 to 31 December, 2015. Standardized neuraxial anesthesia equipment was used throughout this period. Chart reviews were conducted on all patients who received a neuraxial anesthetic and had an accidental dural puncture and/or developed a post-dural puncture headache. RESULTS: Of the 32,655 neuraxial anesthetics performed, 298 (0.9%) patients experienced a post- dural puncture headache. Analysis of all patients who developed a post-dural puncture headache showed that 150 (50.3%) patients received one or more epidural blood patches. Overall, 19 (0.06%) patients had a delay in hospital discharge due to a post-dural puncture headache. CONCLUSIONS: We showed a relatively low incidence (< 1%) of post-dural puncture headache following neuraxial anesthesia in parturients at an academic tertiary-care medical centre. Patients that rated their post-dural puncture headache as very severe were more likely to undergo at least one epidural blood patch procedure. Post-dural puncture headache is a well-known complication of neuraxial anesthesia, and may lead to a delay in hospital discharge.

Entropic Steering Criteria: Applications to Bipartite and Tripartite Systems.

The effect of quantum steering describes a possible action at a distance via local measurements. Whereas many attempts on characterizing steerability have been pursued, answering the question as to whether a given state is steerable or not remains a difficult task. Here, we investigate the applicability of a recently proposed method for building steering criteria from generalized entropic uncertainty relations. This method works for any entropy which satisfy the properties of (i) (pseudo-) additivity for independent distributions; (ii) state independent entropic uncertainty relation (EUR); and (iii) joint convexity of a corresponding relative entropy. Our study extends the former analysis to Tsallis and Rényi entropies on bipartite and tripartite systems. As examples, we investigate the steerability of the three-qubit GHZ and W states.

Radiofrequency treatment induces fibroblast growth factor 2 expression and subsequently promotes neocollagenesis and neoangiogenesis in the skin tissue.

Radiofrequency (RF) treatment appears to be involved in production of new collagen fibrils and the improvement of existing collagen structures; however, the molecular bases of the effect of non-invasive RF on the skin tissue have not been fully elucidated. This study reports the effects of RF associated or not with hydrolyzed collagen (HC) in the skin tissue. Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, according to the treatment received: control group (G1, n = 5), no treatment; subjects in group G2 (n = 5) were treated with HC; and capacitive RF was applied to the back of each subject in G3 (n = 5) and RF associated with HC in G4 (n = 5). Biopsies were taken 30 days after treatment and then were histologically processed and studied for inflammatory cell counting, collagen content, and morphometry. In addition, FGF2, CD105, and COX-2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemical staining. The most relevant changes were the increase in cellularity and accumulation of intercellular substance in RF-treated animals (G3 and G4). The greatest dermis thickness rate was observed in G4, followed by G3 and G2 (p < 0.05). RF-treated skins (G3 and G4) exhibited a significant overexpression of FGF2 (p < 0.0001) and increased microvessel density (p < 0.0001) in comparison with G1 and G2. Moreover, the amount of COX-2 was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in dermis of RF-treated areas compared to G1 and G2, and demonstrated differences in G3 (RF) compared to G4 (RF + HC) (p < 0.0001). Our results suggests that RF treatment associated or not with HC induces FGF2 overexpression, promotes neoangiogenesis and modulates the COX-2 expression, subsequently promotes neocollagenesis, and increased thickness rate of dermis.

Influence of simultaneous comorbidities on COVID-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome mortality in people with diabetes.

Objectives: This study analyzed the influence of 23 comorbidities on COVID-associated acute distress respiratory syndrome (CARDS) mortality in people with a history of diabetes mellitus. Methods: An observational, analytical, cross sectional study was utilized to investigate data from 6723 health services in Brazil, comprising 5433 people with diabetes. Adjusted logistic regression models for demographic factors such as age, sex, and race were used to analyze the association between CARDS mortality and comorbidities. Results: Persons with two (p < 0.001), three (p < 0.001), four (p < 0.001), and five (p < 0.001) simultaneous comorbidities had a higher chance of dying. We identified that diabetes patients who had concomitant metabolic diseases (p = 0.019), neurological disorders (p < 0.001), or were smokers (p < 0.001) had a higher predicted mortality risk based on CADRS. Conclusion: The number of comorbidities plays a determining role in CARDS mortality in people with diabetes, especially those who suffer from smoking and neurological diseases simultaneously.

Determination of acaricides in honeys from different botanical origins by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

An analytical method has been proposed and validated to determine seven acaricides (atrazine, chlorpyrifos, chlorfenvinphos, α-endosulfan, bromopropylate, coumaphos, and τ-fluvalinate) in honeys from different botanical origins (multifloral, heather and rosemary) by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. An efficient and simple sample treatment was proposed that involved a solvent extraction with an ethyl acetate and cyclohexane (50:50, v/v) mixture. Chromatographic analysis (<25 min) was performed in a DB-5MS column under programmed temperature conditions. The method was validated in terms of selectivity, limits of detection (0.2-2.0 µg kg-1) and quantification (0.5-7.6 µg kg-1), linearity (limit of quantification-700 (heather) or 800 (multifloral and rosemary) µg kg-1), matrix effect (<20 % in most cases), trueness (recoveries between 81 % and 108 %), and precision (relative standard deviation < 15 %). Finally, of the seven acaricides investigated in several honey samples only τ-fluvalinate residues (

Contamination of Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Royal Jelly by Pesticides and Sample Preparation Methods for Its Determination: A Critical Appraisal.

Pesticides can easily enter the food chain, harming bee populations and ecosystems. Exposure of beehive products to various contaminants has been identified as one of the factors contributing to the decline in bee populations, and multiple food alerts have been reported. Despite this fact, royal jelly, a valuable bee product with nutritional and functional properties, has received less attention in this context. Pesticide residues of different chemical class can contaminate royal jelly when foraging bees collect pollen or nectar from pesticide-treated flowers, or in some cases, due to its frequent and inappropriate use in the treatment of mites in beehives. To monitor this issue and also make it more reliable, it is crucial to develop effective sample preparation methods for extracting pesticides from royal jelly for subsequent analysis. In this context, this review provides information about sample preparation methods (solid-phase extraction, solvent extraction, and QuEChERS-quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) and analytical methods that have been validated or improved to extract and analyze pesticides, respectively, in royal jelly samples of different origins. Finally, future perspectives are discussed. With this background, we aim to provide data that can guide future research related to this topic.

Giving a Hand: Synthetic Peptides Boost the Antifungal Activity of Itraconazole against Cryptococcus neoformans.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a multidrug-resistant pathogen responsible for infections in immunocompromised patients. Here, itraconazole (ITR), a commercial antifungal drug with low effectiveness against C. neoformans, was combined with different synthetic antimicrobial peptides (SAMPs), Mo-CBP3-PepII, RcAlb-PepII, RcAlb-PepIII, PepGAT, and PepKAA. The Mo-CBP3-PepII was designed based on the sequence of MoCBP3, purified from Moringa oleifera seeds. RcAlb-PepII and RcAlb-PepIII were designed using Rc-2S-Alb, purified from Ricinus communis seed cakes. The putative sequence of a chitinase from Arabidopsis thaliana was used to design PepGAT and PepKAA. All SAMPs have a positive liquid charge and a hydrophobic potential ranging from 41-65%. The mechanisms of action responsible for the combined effect were evaluated for the best combinations using fluorescence microscopy (FM). The synthetic peptides enhanced the activity of ITR by 10-fold against C. neoformans. Our results demonstrated that the combinations could induce pore formation in the membrane and the overaccumulation of ROS on C. neoformans cells. Our findings indicate that our peptides successfully potentialize the activity of ITR against C. neoformans. Therefore, synthetic peptides are potential molecules to assist antifungal agents in treating Cryptococcal infections.

The chameleon-like nature of zwitterionic micelles: effect of cation binding.

Addition of salts, especially perchlorates, to zwitterionic micelles of SB3-14, C(14)H(29)NMe(2)(+)(CH(2))(3)SO(3)(-), induces anionic character and uptake of H(3)O(+) by SB3-14 micelles. Thus, the addition of alkali metal perchlorates accelerates the acid hydrolysis of 2-(p-heptoxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxolane, HPD, in the presence of SB3-14 micelles, which depends on the local proton concentration at the micelle surface. The addition of metal chlorides to solutions of such perchlorate-modified SB3-14 micelles decreases both the negative zeta potential of the micelles and the observed rate constant for acid hydrolysis of HPD. The effect of the monovalent cations Li(+), Na(+), and K(+) is smaller than that of the divalent cations Be(2+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+), and much smaller than that of the trivalent cations Al(3+), La(3+), and Er(3+). The major factor responsible for this cation valence dependence of these effects is shown to be electrostatic in nature, reflecting the strong dependence of the micellar surface potential on the cation valence. The fact that the salt effects are not identical after correction for the electrostatic effects indicates that additional secondary nonelectrostatic effects may contribute as well.

Suppression of intestinal dysfunction in a Drosophila model of Parkinson's disease is neuroprotective.

The innate immune response mounts a defense against foreign invaders and declines with age. An inappropriate induction of this response can cause diseases. Previous studies showed that mitochondria can be repurposed to promote inflammatory signaling. Damaged mitochondria can also trigger inflammation and promote diseases. Mutations in pink1, a gene required for mitochondrial health, cause Parkinson's disease, and Drosophila melanogaster pink1 mutants accumulate damaged mitochondria. Here, we show that defective mitochondria in pink1 mutants activate Relish targets and demonstrate that inflammatory signaling causes age-dependent intestinal dysfunction in pink1-mutant flies. These effects result in the death of intestinal cells, metabolic reprogramming and neurotoxicity. We found that Relish signaling is activated downstream of a pathway stimulated by cytosolic DNA. Suppression of Relish in the intestinal midgut of pink1-mutant flies restores mitochondrial function and is neuroprotective. We thus conclude that gut-brain communication modulates neurotoxicity in a fly model of Parkinson's disease through a mechanism involving mitochondrial dysfunction.

Plant Lectins: A Review on their Biotechnological Potential Toward Human Pathogens.

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics is associated with the appearance of bacterial resistance. In light of this, plant-based products treating infections are considered potential alternatives. Lectins are a group of proteins widely distributed in nature, capable of reversibly binding carbohydrates. Lectins can bind to the surface of pathogens and cause damage to their structure, thus preventing host infection. The antimicrobial activity of plant lectins results from their interaction with carbohydrates present in the bacterial cell wall and fungal membrane. The data about lectins as modulating agents of antibiotic activity, potentiates the effect of antibiotics without triggering microbial resistance. In addition, lectins play an essential role in the defense against fungi, reducing their infectivity and pathogenicity. Little is known about the antiviral activity of plant lectins. However, their effectiveness against retroviruses and parainfluenza is reported in the literature. Some authors still consider mannose/ glucose/N-Acetylglucosamine binding lectins as potent antiviral agents against coronavirus, suggesting that these lectins may have inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, it was found that plant lectins are an alternative for producing new antimicrobial drugs, but further studies still need to decipher some mechanisms of action.

The Role of SLC22A1 and Genomic Ancestry on Toxicity during Treatment in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia of the Amazon Region.

In Brazil, Acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) is the leading cause of cancer deaths in children and adolescents. Treatment toxicity is one of the reasons for stopping chemotherapy. Amerindian genomic ancestry is an important factor for this event due to fluctuations in frequencies of genetic variants, as in the NUDT15 and SLC22A1 genes, which make up the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic pathways of chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate possible associations between NUDT15 (rs1272632214) and SLC22A1 (rs202220802) gene polymorphism and genomic ancestry as a risk of treatment toxicities in patients with childhood ALL in the Amazon region of Brazil. The studied population consisted of 51 patients with a recent diagnosis of ALL when experiencing induction therapy relative to the BFM 2009 protocol. Our results evidenced a significant association of risk of severe infectious toxicity for the variant of the SLC22A1 gene (OR: 3.18, p = 0.031). Genetic ancestry analyses demonstrated that patients who had a high contribution of African ancestry had a significant protective effect for the development of toxicity (OR: 0.174; p = 0.010), possibly due to risk effects of the Amerindian contribution. Our results indicate that mixed populations with a high degree of African ancestry have a lower risk of developing general toxicity during induction therapy for ALL. In addition, individuals with the SLC22A1 variant have a higher risk of developing severe infectious toxicity while undergoing the same therapy.

Diguanoside tetraphosphate (Gp4G) is an epithelial cell and hair growth regulator.

Our goal was to study the effect of Gp4G on skin tissues and unravel its intracellular action mechanisms. The effects of Gp4G formulation, a liposomic solution of Artemia salina extract, on several epidermal, depmal, and hair follicle structures were quantified. A 50% increase in hair length and a 30% increase in the number of papilla cells were explained by the changes in the telogen/anagen hair follicle phases. Increasing skin blood vessels and fibroblast activation modified collagen arrangement in dermal tissues. Imunohistochemical staining revealed expressive increases of versican (VER) deposition in the treated animals (68%). Hela and fibroblast cells were used as in vitro models. Gp4G enters both cell lines, with a hyperbolic saturation profile inducing an increase in the viabilities of Hela and fibroblast cells. Intracellular ATP and other nucleotides were quantified in Hela cells showing a 38% increase in intracellular ATP concentration and increases in the intracellular concentration of tri- , di- , and monophosphate nucleosides, changing the usual quasi-equilibrium state of nucleotide concentrations. We propose that this change in nucleotide equilibrium affects several biochemical pathways and explains the cell and tissue activations observed experimentally.

Helicobacter pylori PqqE is a new virulence factor that cleaves junctional adhesion molecule A and disrupts gastric epithelial integrity.

Helicobacter pylori infects approximately half of the world's population and is the strongest risk factor for peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer, representing a major global health concern. H. pylori persistently colonizes the gastric epithelium, where it subverts the highly organized structures that maintain epithelial integrity. Here, a unique strategy used by H. pylori to disrupt the gastric epithelial junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) is disclosed, using various experimental models that include gastric cell lines, primary human gastric cells, and biopsy specimens of infected and non-infected individuals. H. pylori preferentially cleaves the cytoplasmic domain of JAM-A at Alanine 285. Cells stably transfected with full-length JAM-A or JAM-A lacking the cleaved sequence are used in a range of functional assays, which demonstrate that the H. pylori cleaved region is critical to the maintenance of the epithelial barrier and of cell-cell adhesion. Notably, by combining chromatography techniques and mass spectrometry, PqqE (HP1012) is purified and identified as the H. pylori virulence factor that cleaves JAM-A, uncovering a previously unreported function for this bacterial protease. These findings propose a novel mechanism for H. pylori to disrupt epithelial integrity and functions, breaking new ground in the understanding of the pathogenesis of this highly prevalent and clinically relevant infection.

Marine algal flora of Flores and Corvo Islands, Azores.

BACKGROUND: The algal flora of the western group of the Azores archipelago (Islands of Flores and Corvo) has attracted the interest of many researchers on numerous past occasions (such as Drouet 1866, Trelease 1897, Gain 1914, Schmidt 1929, Schmidt 1931, Azevedo et al. 1990, Fralick and Hehre 1990, Neto and Azevedo 1990, Neto and Baldwin 1990, Neto 1996, Neto 1997, Neto 1999, Tittley and Neto 1996, Tittley and Neto 2000, Tittley and Neto 2005, Tittley and Neto 2006, Azevedo 1998, Azevedo 1999, Tittley et al. 1998, Dionísio et al. 2008, Neto et al. 2008). Despite this interest, the macroalgal flora of the Islands cannot be described as well-known with the published information reflecting limited collections preformed in short-term visits by scientists. To overcome this, a thorough investigation, encompassing collections and presence data recording, has been undertaken for both the littoral and sublittoral regions, down to a depth of approximately 40 m, covering a relatively large area on both Islands (approximately 143 km2 for Flores and 17 km2 for Corvo).This paper lists the resultant taxonomic records and provides information on species ecology and occurrence around both these Islands, thereby improving the knowledge of the Azorean macroalgal flora at both local and regional scales. NEW INFORMATION: For the Island of Flores, a total of 1687 specimens (including some taxa identified only to genus level) belonging to 196 taxa of macroalgae are registered, comprising 120 Rhodophyta, 35 Chlorophyta and 41 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). Of these taxa, 128 were identified to species level (80 Rhodophyta, 22 Chlorophyta and 26 Ochrophyta), encompassing 37 new records for the Island (20 Rhodophyta, 6 Chlorophyta and 11 Ochrophyta); two Macaronesian endemics (Laurencia viridis Gil-Rodríguez & Haroun and Millerella tinerfensis (Seoane-Camba) S.M.Boo & J.M.Rico); six introduced (the Rhodophyta Asparagopsis armata Harvey, Neoizziella divaricata (C.K.Tseng) S.-M.Lin, S.-Y.Yang & Huisman and Symphyocladia marchantioides (Harvey) Falkenberg; the Chlorophyta Codium fragile subsp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot; and the Ochrophyta Hydroclathrus tilesii (Endlicher) Santiañez & M.J.Wynne and Papenfussiella kuromo (Yendo) Inagaki); and 14 species of uncertain status (10 Rhodophyta, two Chlorophyta and two Ochrophyta).For the Island of Corvo, a total of 390 specimens distributed in 56 taxa of macroalgae are registered, comprising 30 Rhodophyta, nine Chlorophyta and 17 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). Whilst a number of taxa were identified only to the genus level, 43 were identified to species level (22 Rhodophyta, eight Chlorophyta and 13 Ochrophyta), comprising 22 new records for the Island (nine Rhodophyta, four Chlorophyta and nine Ochrophyta), two introduced species (the Rhodophyta Asparagopsis armata and the Chlorophyta Codium fragile subsp. fragile and seven species of uncertain status (five Rhodophyta and two Ochrophyta).

Marine algal flora of São Miguel Island, Azores.

BACKGROUND: The macroalgal flora of the Island of São Miguel (eastern group of the Azores Archipelago) has attracted the interest of many researchers in the past, the first publications going back to the nineteenth century. Initial studies were mainly taxonomic, resulting in the publication of a checklist of the Azorean benthic marine algae. Later, the establishment of the University of the Azores on the Island permitted the logistic conditions to develop both temporal studies and long-term research and this resulted in a significant increase on research directed at the benthic marine algae and littoral communities of the Island and consequent publications.Prior to the present paper, the known macroalgal flora of São Miguel Island comprised around 260 species. Despite this richness, a significant amount of the research was never made public, notably Masters and PhD theses encompassing information regarding presence data recorded at littoral and sublittoral levels down to a depth of approximately 40 m around the Island and the many collections made, which resulted in vouchers deposited in the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha and the LSM- Molecular Systematics Laboratory at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of the Azores.The present publication lists the macroalgal taxonomic records, together with information on their ecology and occurrence around São Miguel Island, improving the knowledge of the Azorean macroalgal flora at local and regional scales. NEW INFORMATION: A total of 12,781 specimens (including some identified only to genus) belonging to 431 taxa of macroalgae are registered, comprising 284 Rhodophyta, 59 Chlorophyta and 88 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). Of these, 323 were identified to species level (212 Rhodophyta, 48 Chlorophyta and 63 Ochrophyta), of which 61 are new records for the Island (42 Rhodophyta, 9 Chlorophyta and 10 Ochrophyta), one an Azorean endemic (Predaea feldmannii subsp. azorica Gabriel), five are Macaronesian endemisms (the red algae Botryocladia macaronesica Afonso-Carrillo, Sobrino, Tittley & Neto, Laurencia viridis Gil-Rodríguez & Haroun, Millerella tinerfensis (Seoane-Camba) S.M.Boo & J.M.Rico, Phyllophora gelidioides P.Crouan & H.Crouan ex Karsakoff and the green alga Codium elisabethiae O.C.Schmidt), 19 are introduced species (15 Rhodophyta, two Chlorophyta and two Ochrophyta) and 32 are of uncertain status (21 Rhodophyta, five Chlorophyta and six Ochrophyta).

Anion-specific binding to n-hexadecyl phosphorylcholine micelles.

Hexadecyl phosphorylcholine (HPC) micelles incorporate anions rather than cations in the interfacial region, giving an anionoid micelle with a negative zeta potential. Hydronium ion incorporation in the micellar pseudophase parallels the increase in the negative zeta potential, and salts increase the rate of A1 hydrolysis of 2-(p-heptyloxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxolane in micellized HPC and inhibit the reaction of OH(-) with naphthoic anhydride. The kinetic effects are larger with NaClO(4) than with NaCl. The increased micellar negative charge with added salts increases the repulsion between headgroups and decreases the aggregation number. These observations are relevant to understanding the behaviors of biological phosphorylcholine amphiphiles.

Synthesis of a new zwitterionic surfactant containing an imidazolium ring. Evaluating the chameleon-like behavior of zwitterionic micelles.

Synthesis of a new zwitterionic surfactant containing the imidazolium ring 3-(1-tetradecyl-3-imidazolio)propanesulfonate (ImS3-14) is described. The solubility of ImS3-14 is very low but increases on addition of a salt which helps to stabilize the micellized surfactant. Fluorescence quenching and electrophoretic evidence for ImS3-14 shows that the micellar aggregation number is only slightly sensitive to added salts, as is the critical micelle concentration, but NaClO(4) markedly increases zeta potentials of ImS3-14 in a similar way as in N-tetradecyl-N,N-dimethylammonio-1-propanesulfonate (SB3-14) micelles. The rate of specific hydrogen ion catalyzed hydrolysis of 2-(p-heptoxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxolane and equilibrium protonation of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate ion in zwitterionic micelles of ImS3-14 and SB3-14 are increased markedly by NaClO(4) which induces anionoid character and uptake of H(3)O(+), but NaCl is much less effective in this respect. Comparison of ImS3-14 with SB3-14 is based on experimental evidence, and computational calculations indicate similarities and differences in structures of both compounds.