One-step sampling, extraction, and storage protocol for peptidomics using dihydroxybenzoic Acid

The isolation and extraction of natively occurring signaling peptides (SPs) from tissue is a critical first step in characterizing these peptides. Recent studies have outlined several approaches designed to preserve and extract SPs from tissue. Here, we demonstrate a surprisingly simple method to extract SPs from tissue samples, ranging from cell clusters to brain punches to intact brain regions, using a matrix often employed in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry-2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB). DHB allows for the effective extraction of endogenous peptides from tissue as well as long-term preservation of tissue samples and extracts. Using the mouse pituitary gland as a model, the extraction protocol effectively recovers 24 known and many additional putative peptides from individual samples. Peptide extracts stored in the DHB extraction media are stable for years without freezing. The approach is also effective for other neuronal tissues; the complement of neuropeptides in bag cell neuron clusters from the Aplysia central nervous system, the rat cerebellum, and rat dorsal striatum also have been examined. Advantages of this new extraction procedure are its technical simplicity, reproducibility, ease of remote preparation of samples, and long-term sample preservation without freezing.     

Effect of location in the canopy on the colour development of three apple cultivars during growth

BACKGROUND: Homogeneity in appearance is one of the quality aspects asked for in the supply chain. Decreasing the biological variation in batches of harvested apples (cultivars Braeburn, Fuji and Gala) becomes increasingly important. Skin colour is one of the aspects that determine both optimal harvest and stage of development. Skin colour is affected by location in the canopy. The rules of development of biological variation are now established and will be used on skin colour data. RESULTS: The Minolta colour aspects a*, b* and L* measured before commercial harvest change in a sigmoidal fashion and can be analysed including the biological variation, with a logistic model in indexed nonlinear regression, obtaining explained parts of above 90%. The mechanism of colour change is not affected by state of development or location in the canopy. The location in the canopy affects the intensity of both red and green colouring compounds. The variation in colouration is not affected by the location in the canopy. CONCLUSION: The red‐coloured apple cultivar (Gala) depends more on the location in the canopy than the less‐coloured cultivars (Fuji and Braeburn). The colour development in Fuji apples is considerably slower, with a much larger variation in stage of development. The location in the canopy affects all aspects of biological variation (biological shift factor and asymptotic starting level of colouration) for all three colour aspects L*, a* and b*, but only the mean value, not the standard deviation. The biological shift factors per colour aspects are linearly related. Once induced, variation remains constant during development. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of different SiC surface treatments performed prior to Ni ohmic contacts formation

This work is dealing with the influence of surface treatment on ohmic contacts to hexagonal N-type SiC with medium doping level. The contact materials were Ni and Ni₂Si. The structures had to be annealed at high temperatures in order to reach ohmic behavior. A number of surface treatment methods were tested: wet cleaning, plasma etching, intentional oxidation with etching, H₂ annealing and their combinations. After some types of cleaning, the SiC surface was immediately analysed using the XPS method. The results of the analyses showed that the composition of the surface was not much influenced by these treatments. At lower annealing temperatures (approx. up to 850 °C) the prepared contacts showed Schottky behavior with large scatter of parameters. After annealing at approx. 960 °C, where the onset of ohmic behavior is expected, the structures were truly ohmic and of good parameters. Cleaning methods had just a negligible influence on the electrical parameters of the ohmic contacts. An explanation for these observed facts is suggested: Although - already on the basis of the XPS results - we could speak about a negligible influence of the cleaning onto the contact parameters, there might come across also other mechanisms coming from interaction of contact materials with SiC, which caused similar behavior of ohmic contacts on differently treated surfaces.     

A novel copolymer of N-[(tert-butylperoxy)methyl]acrylamide and maleic anhydride for use as a reactive surfactant in emulsion polymerization

A new copolymer of N-[(tert-butylperoxy)methyl]acrylamide (tBPMAAm), containing a primary–tertiary peroxide group and maleic anhydride (MA), was synthesized and employed as a reactive surfactant (inisurf) for the emulsion polymerization of styrene to yield surface-functionalized (peroxidized) reactive latex particles. The copolymerization characteristics were analyzed to determine the monomer reactivity ratios and to provide a way to control the copolymer composition. The ability of tBPMAAm–MA to act as a reactive surfactant during emulsion polymerization was confirmed by the synthesis of monodisperse polystyrene latexes of varying particle size. In addition, peroxide groups were localized on the surface of the particles in a controllable amount (depending on the copolymer concentration), thus, providing the opportunity for further modification of the surface of the particles. This novel copolymer is expected to be a promising and efficient material in the synthesis of functional polymer nanoparticles with well-defined core–shell morphologies.     

Acid Corrosion Behavior of Sol–Gel‐Prepared Mullite Ceramics With and Without Addition of Lanthanum

The corrosion behavior of pure and lanthanum doped, sol – gel‐derived, mullite ceramics in nitric acid aqueous solutions with various concentrations was investigated and compared. Samples sintered at a temperature of 1600°C for 4 h were characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction, SEM, and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The corrosion behavior was explored by measuring the amount of eluted ions using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). The doped sample was found to be more susceptible to dissolution in the corrodent, having higher leaching rates. The amounts of eluted lanthanum ions were in order of magnitude higher than amounts of silicon and aluminum. Those phenomena were attributed to the incorporation of lanthanum in the glassy phase, forming SiO₂ – La₂O₃‐rich glassy phase, which can dissolve in corrodent more easily than SiO₂‐rich glassy phase in the pure sample.     

Long-term stability of sodium borohydrides for hydrogen generation

As a source of the high purity hydrogen, sodium and potassium borohydrides are investigated in terms of long-term stability in the form of the concentrated solutions, heterogeneous mixtures and in the solid state corresponding to NaBH₄ or KBH₄ crystal hydrates. In order to improve their stability during the long-term storage sodium and potassium hydroxides were added to the initial borohydride compositions. The effect of temperature, concentration of the borohydride and the alkaline solution, and the nature of the cation in the alkaline solution on the rate of borohydride hydrolysis was investigated. The differential technique developed for evaluation of the rate of borohydride hydrolysis was successfully applied for the determination of the long-term stability of the water-alkaline solutions containing NaBH₄(KBH₄)·5H₂O with 1–10 wt.% of NaOH or KOH at 30 °C and 50 °C.     

Behaviour of Coal associated Minerals during Coking and Blast Furnace Processes – a Review

Metallurgical coke is made from a mix of several types of coal that contain various minerals, including quartz, carbonates, feldspars, sulphides and a number of phyllosilicates, represented by clay minerals and micas. During coking and coke consumption processes the minerals undergo various physical and chemical changes, which in the case of coke oven batteries include desulphurization, decarbonation, dehydration, dehydroxylation, polymorph transformations, melting with the formation of an alkali and silica‐rich liquid, and transformation to another crystalline phase. The typical modifications of mineral phases in a blast furnace (BF) coke are polymorph transformations, melting, and the formation of another crystalline phase. These events are also preceded by notable changes in the shape of crystalline aggregates. All these changes affect the coke properties and the processes occurring in a BF. Mineralogical data can help us to better understand the processes taking place in coke batteries and in a BF, and to improve the quality of a coke by more careful selection of coal blends and setting optimal temperatures for its pre‐heating. The degradation of a BF coke by alkalis can be reduced by the addition of certain minerals to the feed coke before charging into the BF.     

Untersuchung der thermisch‐hygrischen Eigenschaften von Ziegeln mit Hohlraumfüllung aus Recyclingmaterial

Investigation on the thermal‐hygral behaniour of bricks with canity filling by recycling meterials. In the investigation project was examined whether bricks with simple cavity structure have a higher heat resistance by use of a heat insulation material filling in the cavities. The insulation material is a recycled product made of polystyrene and wood covered and bonded with cement. The influence of the configuration and thickness of the perforated bricks with vertical perforations and the geometry of the cavities of the brick on the thermal moisture states was evaluated. For investigation of the thermal resistance and the heat transmission coefficients were used the simulation program THERM, that considered the heat transportation through conduction in the brick fragments and the transport mechanisms conduction, convection and radiation in the airfilled cavities. The software package WUFI 2D was employed for the investigation of moisture transfer in the bricks. The investigations showed that the composite brick insulation stone has a thermal resistance twice as high as the initial brick. The moisture states can be partially in the brick more than 80 % humidity. This load is estimated as uncritical because the wooden particles are covered with cement slime.