As the number falls,alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number method: A review

This review examines the application, limitations, and potential alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number (FN) method used in the global wheat industry for detecting the risk of poor end-product quality mainly due to starch degradation by the enzyme α-amylase. By viscometry, the FN test indirectly detects the presence of α-amylase, the primary enzyme that digests starch. Elevated α-amylase results in low FN and damages wheat product quality resulting in cakes that fall, and sticky bread and noodles. Low FN can occur from preharvest sprouting (PHS) and late maturity α-amylase (LMA). Moist or rainy conditions before harvest cause PHS on the mother plant. Continuously cool or fluctuating temperatures during the grain filling stage cause LMA. Due to the expression of additional hydrolytic enzymes, PHS has a stronger negative impact than LMA. Wheat grain with low FN/high α-amylase results in serious losses for farmers, traders, millers, and bakers worldwide. Although blending of low FN grain with sound wheat may be used as a means of moving affected grain through the marketplace, care must be taken to avoid grain lots from falling below contract-specified FN. A large amount of sound wheat can be ruined if mixed with a small amount of sprouted wheat. The FN method is widely employed to detect α-amylase after harvest. However, it has several limitations, including sampling variability, high cost, labor intensiveness, the destructive nature of the test, and an inability to differentiate between LMA and PHS. Faster, cheaper, and more accurate alternatives could improve breeding for resistance to PHS and LMA and could preserve the value of wheat grain by avoiding inadvertent mixing of high- and low-FN grain by enabling testing at more stages of the value stream including at harvest, delivery, transport, storage, and milling. Alternatives to the FN method explored here include the Rapid Visco Analyzer, enzyme assays, immunoassays, near-infrared spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging.     

Salivary Proteome Changes in Response to Acute Psychological Stress Due to an Oral Exam Simulation in University Students: Effect of an Olfactory Stimulus

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role both in acute and chronic psychological stress eliciting changes in many local and systemic physiological and biochemical processes. Salivary secretion is also regulated by ANS. In this study, we explored salivary proteome changes produced in thirty-eight University students by a test stress, which simulated an oral exam. Students underwent a relaxation phase followed by the stress test during which an electrocardiogram was recorded. To evaluate the effect of an olfactory stimulus, half of the students were exposed to a pleasant odor diffused in the room throughout the whole session. Saliva samples were collected after the relaxation phase (T0) and the stress test (T1). State anxiety was also evaluated at T0 and T1. Salivary proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, and patterns at different times were compared. Spots differentially expressed were trypsin digested and identified by mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis was used to validate proteomic results. Anxiety scores and heart rate changes indicated that the fake exam induced anxiety. Significant changes of α-amylase, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), and immunoglobulin α chain (IGHA) secretion were observed after the stress test was performed in the two conditions. Moreover, the presence of pleasant odor reduced the acute social stress affecting salivary proteome changes. Therefore, saliva proteomic analysis was a useful approach to evaluate the rapid responses associated to an acute stress test also highlighting known biomarkers.     

α-戊(己)基肉桂醛的合成

采用聚乙二醇 ( PEG 2 0 0 )作相转移催化剂 ,用氢氧化钾醇水溶液代替氢氧化钾醇溶液合成了 α 戊 (己 )基肉桂醛 ,收率提高到 85%以上。用此工艺合成的产品纯度高 ,香气好 ,具有较高的工业实用价值。     

油溶性减阻功能聚合物的研制

介绍了以混合α-烯烃为原料,制备了具有减阻功能的共聚物。讨论了催化剂浓度、聚合温度、预聚合时间、原料单体中杂质含量对共聚物特性粘度和转化率的影响。试验表明,在较低的催化剂浓度和预聚合温度下,能得到较高分子量的聚合物。气相色谱法和DSC法测定其组成和单体混合物的组成基本一致,表明共聚物是一种无规的梳状结构聚合物。该聚合物达到较高特性粘度时,能获得较好的减阻率。     

Deposition and characterization of alumina films produced by combustion flame pyrolysis

Alumina coatings have been deposited by combustion flame pyrolysis on amorphous silica and stainless steel substrates with the objective to study the effect of solvent composition, Fe³⁺ addition and determine the thermal fatigue lifetime. The effect of solvent composition on crystallinity, transformation temperature and hardness are studied, three different solvent compositions are chosen for preparing the aluminium nitrate solution. Using 100% water, as-deposited films are amorphous and transform to α-alumina only upon annealing, while this equilibrium phase is directly obtained but with a porous microstructure by using 100% methanol. The hardness of the coatings varies with the flammability of the solvents. The effect of Fe³⁺ addition on the crystallization of alumina is studied by combustion pyrolysis of aqueous solutions of Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ nitrates. Small amount of ferric nitrate reduced the transformation temperature by 100 °C. Thermal cycling of as-deposited amorphous alumina on stainless steel substrate is carried out at different temperatures to determine the thermal fatigue lifetime.     

Single amino acid substitutions can further increase the stability of a thermophilic L-lactate dehydrogenase

Lactate dehydrogenases are of considerable interest as stereospecificcatalysts in the chemical preparation of enantiomerically pure-hydroxyacid synthons. For such applications in synthetic organicchemistry it would be desirable to have enzymes which tolerateelevated temperatures for prolonged reaction times, to increaseproductivity and to extend then applicability to poor substrates.Here, two examples are reported of significant thermostabilizations,induced by sitedirected mutagenesis, of an already thermostableprotein, the L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27 [EC] , 35 kDa permonomer subunit) from Bacillus stearothermophilus. Thermal inactivationof this enzyme is accompanied by irreversible unfolding of thenative protein structure. The replacement of Argl71 by Tyr stabilizesthe enzyme against thermal inactivation and unfolding. Thisstabilizing effect appears to be based on improved interactionsbetween the subunits in the core of the active dimeric or tetramericforms of the enzyme. The thermal stability of L-lactate dehydrogenasevariants with an active site Arg residue, either in the 171(wild-type) or in the 102 position, is further increased bysulfate ions. The two stabilizing effects are additive, as foundfor the Argl71Tyr/ Gln1O2Arg double mutant, for which the stabilityof the protein in 100 mM sulfate solution reaches that of L-lactatedehydrogenases from extreme thermophiles. All mutant proteinsretain significant catalytic activity, both in the presenceand absence of stnhilfoing salts, and are viable catalysts inpreparative scale reactions.     

带有局部控制因子的图割光流估计

提出一种带有局部空间项控制因子的图割光流估计算法,能判断和处理光流场的平移遮挡现象。文中分析了平移遮挡的形成机理,构造了遮挡判别公式,基于本次的正向和反向光流场,依靠遮挡判别结果调节局部空间项控制因子,建立下次的能量泛函,加强背景区域对遮挡区域的平滑作用,隔绝运动区域对遮挡区域的平滑作用,从而构造出新结构的网络流图。另外,该算法被证明可以阻断遮挡误判在各次图割优化过程间的传递,从而使逐次α-扩散移动图割光流算法具有自适应处理遮挡的能力。通过与Ground-truth光流场的实验对比,表明该算法能较好地判断与处理遮挡导致的光流场无效区域。     

Effect of ammonia concentrations on SCC of α-brass under mode III loading

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of α-brass in ammonia solution was studied under mode III loading. The results showed that SCC occurred on the principal stress planes where shear stresses are zero. No SCC occurred on the maximum shear stress plane. Ammonia concentration affected fracture behaviour. When the concentration was low, many cracks with spacing of 10–150 μm were found on 45 ° planes, i.e., the principal stress planes. When the concentration was high, the cracks on 45 ° planes were not clearly visible because of serious general corrosion.     

稀土稳定剂的应用性能及其作用机理

介绍了稀土稳定剂的应用性能及其热稳定作用机理。     

重组人干扰素α2b阴道泡腾片抗豚鼠单纯疱疹病毒性阴道炎的疗效

目的观察重组人干扰素α2b阴道泡腾片对单纯疱疹病毒性阴道炎动物模型的疗效。方法采用单纯疱疹病毒感染建立豚鼠实验性阴道炎模型,并分别用重组人干扰素α2b阴道泡腾片600、3 000和15 000 IU/只进行治疗。以阿昔洛韦(无环鸟苷)和干扰素α2b栓剂15 000 IU/只作为对照。对治疗前后豚鼠阴道外观及组织切片进行评分。结果应用重组人干扰素α2b阴道泡腾片对豚鼠实验性单纯疱疹病毒性阴道炎进行治疗后,豚鼠阴道外观病变与组织切片病变评分均显著降低,其中15 000 IU/只效果最好。同样剂量的α2b泡腾片药效优于栓剂。结论重组人干扰素α2b阴道泡腾片对实验性单纯疱疹病毒性阴道炎有明显的疗效。