Magic Peptide: Unique Properties of the LRR11 Peptide in the Activation of Leukotriene Synthesis in Human Neutrophils

Neutrophil-mediated innate host defense mechanisms include pathogen elimination through bacterial phagocytosis, which activates the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) product synthesis. Here, we studied the effect of synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs), which mimic the receptor-recognized sites of bacterial (CpG-ODNs) and genomic (G-rich ODNs) DNAs released from the inflammatory area, on the neutrophil functions after cell stimulation with Salmonella typhimurium. A possible mechanism for ODN recognition by Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and RAGE receptor has been proposed. We found for the first time that the combination of the magic peptide LRR11 from the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) of TLR9 with the CpG-ODNs modulates the uptake and signaling from ODNs, in particular, dramatically stimulates 5-LOX pathway. Using thickness shear mode acoustic method, we confirmed the specific binding of CpG-ODNs, but not G-rich ODN, to LRR11. The RAGE receptor has been shown to play an important role in promoting ODN uptake. Thus, FPS-ZM1, a high-affinity RAGE inhibitor, suppresses the synthesis of 5-LOX products and reduces the uptake of ODNs by neutrophils; the inhibitor effect being abolished by the addition of LRR11. The results obtained revealed that the studied peptide-ODN complexes possess high biological activity and can be promising for the development of effective vaccine adjuvants and antimicrobial therapeutics.     

Application of the general rate model with the Maxwell-Stefan equations for the prediction of the band profiles of the 1-indanol enantiomers

The adsorption isotherm data of R- and S-1-indanol and of their racemic mixture on cellulose tribenzoate were measured by frontal analysis. These experimental data were fitted to the single-component and the modified competitive Bilangmuir isotherms. The overloaded elution profiles of bands of the pure enantiomers and of the racemic mixture were calculated for different sample sizes, using the best competitive isotherm model and the General Rate Model of chromatography coupled with the generalized Maxwell-Stefan equation that describes the surface diffusion flux. The calculated and the experimental profiles were found to be in excellent agreement in all cases. The parameters of the model of the mass transfer kinetics were derived from the band profiles obtained for the pure enantiomers. The same values of these parameters give an excellent prediction of the profiles of multicomponent bands. The new model described here allows a satisfactory interpretation of the competitive mass transfer kinetics.     

Cooperative adsorption behavior of fatty acid methyl esters from hexadecane <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> coefficient of friction measurements

The frictional behaviors of methyl oleate (MO), methyl palmitate (MP), methyl laurate (ML), and methyl stearate (MSt) as additives in hexadecane have been examined in a boundary lubrication test regime using steel contacts. It was found that the transient attributes of coefficient of friction (COF)-time spectra are a sensitive measure of adsorption equilibria. Critical additive concentrations were defined and used to perform novel and simple Langmuir analyses that provide an order of adsoprtion energies: MSt>MP>MO≥ML. Application of Langmuir, Temkin, and Frumkin-Fowler-Guggenheim adsorption models via nonlinear fitting of a general cooperative model demonstrates the necessary inclusion of cooperative effects in the applied model. In agreement with the qualitative features of steady-state COF-concentration plots, MSt modeling requires minimal cooperative interaction terms. However, MO, MP, and ML data require large attractive interaction terms to be adequately fitted. Primary adsorption energies calculated via the cooperative model are necessarily decreased, whereas total adsorption energies correlate well with values obtained via critical concentration analyses. These results and comparisons with previous adsorption studies of MO and MSt suggest that primary (ester-surface) and secondary (alkyl-surface) adsorbate-adsorbent, adsorbate-adsorbare, and (free-additive) adsorpt-adsorpt interactions collectively determine both the calculated primary and the cooperative interaction energies.     

Solar Photocatalytic Degradation of Textile Dyes in TiO2 Suspended Solutions

The degradation and decolourization of direct dye (Everdirect supra turguoise blue, FBL), acidic dye (Isolan orange S-RL) and vat dye (Indanthren red FBB) have been investigated by solar/TiO2 process. The effects of solution pH, dye concentration, dosage of TiO2 and nano-size of TiO2 have been studied. The increase in initial pH (3, 5 and 11) and dye concentration decrease the removal rate. The treatment for FBB and FBL dye solutions is more efficient than that of S-RL.Under optimum conditions, the color removal is found to be almost complete for FBB and FBL while that of S-RL also reaches 95%. Langmuir adsorption isotherm and modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model (L-H model) have been fitted to the experimental data and found to correlate the adsorption patterns as well as the kinetics of the dyes studied.     

由吸附等温线分析膨润土的分形孔隙

膨润土是一种多孔的粘土材料，对气相和液相中的污染物均有很好的净化效果。为了了解其对气体的吸附性能，用氮气吸附等温线分析了2种膨润土和1种活性白土的BET比表面积和孔隙分布，并应用基于FHH模型的方法计算了它们的分形维数。结果表明，普通膨润土的分形维数接近2，而活性白土的达到了2．59。讨论了孔隙度、比表面积以及分形维数等参数与吸附量的关系，表明分形维数更能反映膨润土对气体的吸附性能。     

稻壳吸附剂的制备及其吸附聚丙烯酰胺的应用研究

采用稻壳为原料,使用浓硫酸炭化活化稻壳方法制备稻壳活性炭。将所制备的活性炭吸附处理聚丙烯酰胺污水,确定了活性炭最佳吸附能力的制备工艺条件,并通过一系列实验得出了稻壳吸附剂吸附溶液中HPAM的最佳实验条件,并深入研究了其吸附处理HPAM过程的吸附动力学,确定了其等温吸附线模型。实验结果表明,采用浓硫酸处理稻壳的方法制备活性炭具有方法简单、处理效果好的特点,因此在含聚污水的前期预处理中具有良好的应用前景。     

Predicting external sulphur requirement of alfalfa from sulphate sorption isotherm of Tanzanian soils

For Tanzanian soils dominant in hydrous oxides of iron and amorphous ferri-alumino silicate, a 48-hour (hr) mixing period with the sulphate (SO₄) solution was adequate for a near-equilibrium condition. Although differing in their SO₄ sorption capacity, all the soils sorbed SO₄ at or beyond 1µg ml^–1 sulphur (S) concentration in the supernatant. Hydroxyl (OH) ions were displaced during SO₄ sorption as indicated by a significant positive correlation between the amount of sorbed SO₄ and the difference in pH values determined in 0.1N K₂ SO₄ and 0.1N KCl, i.e. the dpH values.In a greenhouse experiment, alfalfa was grown on eight soils at six adjusted S concentrations. Sulphur deficiency symptoms appeared in the control pots of those soils which were low in native sorbed SO₄, SO₄ sorption capacity and initial soil solution S concentration. Sulphur fertilization increased dry matter (DM) yield as well as response to applied S. The external S concentration, i.e. adjusted S concentration required for 95% of the maximum DM yield, ranged from 0.8 to 8.2µg S ml^–1 with values less than 2.0 on most of the soils. The external S concentration decreased hyperbolically as the SO₄ sorption capacity of the soils increased. The total amount of fertilizer S required to obtain the external S concentration in solution, and at the same time satisfy the SO₄ sorption capacity of the soil at the external S concentration (determined from the sorption isotherm) was defined as the external S requirement for the specified yield level of alfalfa. The external S requirement for 95% of the maximum yield of alfalfa varied from soil to soil due to differences in their capacity and intensity for S nutrition.Part of a thesis by the senior author for the MSc (Agric) degree of the University of Dar es Salaam     

吸附制冷用复合吸附剂导热性能强化

采用混装和添加导热材料强化吸附剂的传热,在高真空重量装置上测定了复合吸附剂的吸附等温线;对吸附剂的吸附和脱附性能进行了差热分析;在吸附制冷循环模拟实验装置上评价了吸附剂传热性能。结果表明:添加导热材料制备的吸附剂导热性能得到了明显改善,吸附床层传热温差降低了23%～30%;复合吸附剂等温线形状没有发生改变,吸附质量分数有所下降;单位质量吸附剂的制冷量提高7.5%～12.5%;混装铁屑的吸附剂制冷量比其单独使用时高24%。     

Friction and adsorption properties of normal and high-oleic soybean oils

The steel/steel boundary friction properties of soybean oil (SBO) and high-oleic soybean oil (HOSBO) are compared. HOSBO is significantly more saturated than SBO and more oxidatively stable. Changes in degree of unsaturation affect lateral interactions of adsorbate molecules, which in turn affects their adsorption and, hence, their boundary lubrication properties. To investigate this possibility, the free energies of adsorption (ΔG _ads) of SBO, HOSBO, and methyl laurate (ML) were determined from the analysis of friction-derived adsorption isotherms using the Langmuir and Temkin adsorption models. The results showed a stronger adsorption for the vegetable oils than for ML, an indication of multiple interactions between the ester groups of the triglycerides and the steel surface. The result also showed no difference in the ΔG _ads values of SBO and HOSBO obtained using either the Langmuir or Temkin models. This was interpreted as an indication of the lack of appreciable net lateral interaction between triglyceride adsorbates.     

Adsorption of block copolymers at latex surface and their utilization in emulsion polymerization

Amphiphilic block copolymers have been investigated for their utilization in emulsion polymerization of butyl methacrylate. Special attention has been paid to the adsorption mechanism of the block copolymers from systematic measurements of equilibrium adsorption isotherms. A series of well-defined water-soluble amphiphilic block copolymers, composed of poly(butyl methacrylate) and poly(sodium methacrylate) blocks, were synthesized by anionic polymerization of butyl methacrylate and tert-butyl methacrylate followed by the thermal deprotection of the tert-butyl ester groups and final hydrolysis. The number density of emulsion polymer particles N_P varied as [copolymer]^α, α lying between 0.44 and 0.73 according to the hydrophilic content of the copolymers. In contrast with SDS taken as a reference emulsifier, the adsorption of the copolymers was very strong and this provided quite an efficient stabilization of the polymer particles during emulsion polymerization, even at low concentrations (<10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹) and low coverages (<10% of the interfacial area).