Antimicrobial finishing of polypropylene fabric using bioactive nanogels

Antimicrobial polypropylene (PP) was developed by plasma functionalization and subsequent immobilization of chitosan (CS)-chlorhexidine (CHX) nanogels as the bioactive component. Oxygen plasma was used to create a hydrophilic surface monitored by water drop interaction with the fabric surface. CS nanogels were prepared by the ionic gelation method. The characterization of the nanogels was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The functionalized fabric exhibited excellent antimicrobial nature against S. aureus and E. coli microbes. The animal studies involving mice showed that the material exhibited excellent biocompatibility in contact with the skin. There was no evidence of inflammatory cells in the histopathology. This investigation suggests that the fabric has enormous potential as infection-resistant material in applications such as wet wipes.     

Fusion of positron emission tomography (PET) and gene array data: a new approach for the correlative analysis of molecular biological and clinical data

The combined assessment of data obtained by positron emission tomography (PET) and gene array techniques provide new capabilities for the interpretation of kinetic tracer studies. The correlative analysis of the data helps to detect dependencies of the kinetics of radiotracer on gene expression. Furthermore, gene expression may be predicted using regression functions if a significant correlation exists, which raises new aspects regarding the interpretation of dynamic PET examinations. The development of new radiopharmaceuticals requires the knowledge of the enhanced expression of genes, especially genes controlling receptors and cell surface proteins. The GenePET program facilitates an interactive approach together with the use of key words to identify possible targets for new radiopharmaceuticals.     

Ball-milling modification of single-walled carbon nanotubes: purification, cutting, and functionalization

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can be successfully cut with relatively homogeneous sizes using a planetary mill. The optimized conditions produce highly dispersible SWNTs that can be efficiently functionalized in a variety of synthetic ways. As clearly shown by Raman spectroscopy, the milling/cutting procedure compares very favorably with the most common way of purifying SWNTs, namely, treatment with strong oxidizing acids. Moreover a similar milling process can be used to functionalize and cut pristine SWNTs by one-step nitrene chemistry.     

Points of symmetry in turbulent shear flows

Both turbulent wall shear flows and free shear flows exhibit at least one location where the probability density function of temperature is symmetrical but non-Gaussian. The available experimental evidence indicates that this location corresponds approximately to a local maximum in the temperature variance and reflects the presence of the organised motion.     

Olive fruit glycosidases: factors affecting their extraction

Summary The enzymes - and -galactosidase, -mannosidase, and -arabinosidase have been detected in olives during the process of development and ripening. The extraction of enzymes can be achieved at low ionic strength of the medium, which shows that these are not associated with the cell wall. High concentrations of salt strongly inhibited all the enzymes. Consistent determination of activity can be done using thep-nitrophenyl method without appreciable interference below a control absorbance of 0.8 units. However, significant interference was found above this value. The apparent optimum pH for the four enzymes was between 4.3 and 5.3 units. The optimum temperature for a incubation time of 15 min was 50 and 60° for - and -galactosidase, and 40 and 50°C for -mannosidase and -arabinosidase. The respective activation energies were estimated. All the enzymes possess a relativelyl high thermal stability, mannosidase and -galactosidase being slightly more stable than -galactosidase and -arabinosidase.

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Glykosidasen der Oliven: Die Extraktion beeinflussende Faktoren

Zusammenfassung Die Enzyme- und-Galaktosidase, -Mannosidase und -Arabinosidase wurden während der Entwicklung und Reifung der Oliven entdeckt. Die Extraktion der Enzyme wird bei niederer lonenstärke erreicht, was belegt, daß diese nicht mit der Zellwand verbunden sind. Hohe Salzkonzentrationen hemmen diese Enzyme stark. Aktivitätsbestimmungen können mit derp-Nitrophenyl-Methode ohne wesentliche Interferenzen bis unter die Kontrollabsorption von 0,8 Einheiten durchgeführt werden; jedoch wurden signifikante Unterschiede über diesen Wert gefunden. Der optimale pHWert für diese vier Enzyme war zwischen 4,3 und 5,3 Einheiten. Die optimale Temperatur bei einer Bebrütungszeit von 15 min war 50–60°C für die - und -Galaktosidase und 40–50°C für die -Mannosidase und Arabinosidase. Die jeweiligen Aktivierungsenergien wurden ebenfalls bestimmt. Alle Enzyme besitzen eine relativ hohe thermische Stabilität, wobei die -Mannosidase und die -Galaktosidase etwas stabiler als die -Galaktosidase und die -Arabinosidase sind.

     

Electrochemically Initiated Tandem and Sequential Conjugate Addition Processes: One‐Pot Synthesis of Diverse Functionalized Isoindolinones

A tandem aldol–heterocyclization–rearrangement reaction and one‐pot sequential Michael addition allowed a direct access to highly functionalized 3‐isoindolinones containing quaternary carbon centers. The desired products are obtained under mild conditions and in short reaction times by galvanostatic electrolysis in a divided cell. A further tandem intramolecular heterocyclization reaction leading to synthetically relevant hemiaminal derivatives has been established with suitable Michael acceptors.     

Assessing the quantitative relationships between preschool children's exposures to bisphenol A by route and urinary biomonitoring

Limited published information exists on young children's exposures to bisphenol A (BPA) in the United States using urinary biomonitoring. In a previous project, we quantified the aggregate exposures of 257 preschool children to BPA in environmental and personal media over 48-h periods in 2000-2001 at homes and daycares in North Carolina and Ohio. In the present study for 81 Ohio preschool children ages 23-64 months, we quantified the children's urinary total BPA (free and conjugated) concentrations over these same 48-h periods in 2001. Then, we examined the quantitative relationships between the children's intakes doses of BPA through the dietary ingestion, nondietary ingestion, and inhalation routes and their excreted amounts of urinary BPA. BPA was detected in 100% of the urine samples. The estimated median intake doses of BPA for these 81 children were 109 ng/kg/day (dietary ingestion), 0.06 ng/kg/day (nondietary ingestion), and 0.27 ng/kg/day (inhalation); their estimated median excreted amount of urinary BPA was 114 ng/kg/day. Our multivariable regression model showed that dietary intake of BPA (p = 0.04) and creatinine concentration (p = 0.004) were significant predictors of urinary BPA excretion, collectively explaining 17% of the variability in excretion. Dietary ingestion of BPA accounted for >95% of the children's excreted amounts of urinary BPA.