Production of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S and properties of sulfite reductase from selected strains of wine-producing yeasts

Correlation between H₂S productivity (p) and sulfite reductase activity (A) was estimated for seven wine-producing yeasts. It was described by a linear function p=f(A), the slope of which depended on the yeast strain. The most intensive H₂S synthesis by all the examined yeasts was observed within the early logarithmic growth phase, either in nitrogen abundance and SO₂ presence, or in nitrogen deficient and SO₂-free medium. Sulfite reductase from all the strains was optimally active at pH close to 7.4. The enzyme from cryophilic yeasts displayed maximum activity at approximately 16 °C, and from mesophiles at 22–26 °C. The preparations showed different affinities toward sulfite (K_m of 16.7–67.5 M). Values of activation energy in sulfite reduction depended on the yeast, and ranged from 14.07 to 67.04 kJ mol^–1.     

Coralyne Radiosensitizes A549 Cells by Upregulation of CDKN1A Expression to Attenuate Radiation Induced G2/M Block of the Cell Cycle

Coralyne is a synthetic analog of berberine related to protoberberine-isoquinoline alkaloids. Isoquinoline derivatives and analogs are renowned as potent radiosensitizers with potential medical application. In the present study, we investigated the effect of coralyne on the cell death, cytoskeletal changes and cell cycle progression of irradiated A549 cells. A clonogenic assay revealed that coralyne pretreatment decreased the viability of A549 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, exposure to coralyne and ionizing radiation (IR) markedly altered the filamentous actin cytoskeletal architecture and integrin-β binding sites of A549 cells. Treatment with 1–25 µM coralyne in combination with 2 Gy of IR significantly reduced the percentage of cells in G2/M phase compared with 2 Gy IR alone. These results indicate that coralyne is a potent radiosensitizing agent that may find an application in medicine.     

The effect of cooking on the glucosinolates content in white cabbage

The effect of different cooking times on the GLS content in white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. alba) was determined. Cooking of cabbage for 5-30 min caused a gradual decrease in the GLS content. The most efficient reduction of the GLS content (by about 35%) occurred during the first minutes of cooking. As the cooking time was extended by another 5 min, each time the GLS content decreased by 10-15%. Higher losses in indole GLS, as compared to those of aliphatic ones, resulted from more efficient diffusion of those compounds to cooking water. The GLS content in cooking water, irrespective of the cooking time of white cabbage, remained rather stable, whereas the content of indole GLS was between 3.5- and 4-fold higher in comparison to that of aliphatic GLS. Taking into consideration the rate of changes in the content of particular GLS in cabbage and the GLS content in cooking water, it can be stated that glucoiberin was more thermolabile than other GLS.     

Accelerated weathering of pectin/poly(vinyl alcohol) blends studied by spectroscopic methods

The blends of pectin (PEC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) at different components ratios were prepared by mixing in water. Thin polymeric films of PEC/PVA blends and pure polymers were obtained by casting method. All samples were then artificially aged using Suntest apparatus (Atlas) up to 780 h. The changes in chemical structure during sample ageing have been monitored by infrared and ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectroscopies. The first stage of weathering (up to ～ 300 h) was very slow and alteration of chemical structure was negligible in all samples. Prolonged ageing (>300 h) caused more significant degradation processes. FTIR spectra exhibited the highest changes in hydroxyl and carbonyl band ranges indicating the efficient photooxidation of macromolecules. The mechanisms of the observed processes have been discussed. It was found that PVA undergoes faster photoxidative degradation than pectin aged at the same conditions. The PEC/PVA blends exhibited the improved resistance to weathering comparing with both polymers aged individually. Mutual stabilization effect can be explained by intermolecular interactions between PEC and PVA confirmed by spectroscopic methods. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Sorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions in the presence of EDTA on monodisperse anion exchangers

Conventional precipitation methods of industrial sewage and wastewater purification are not very effective and are insufficient in many cases. This implies the necessity of searching new, effective methods exploiting cheap, accessible and ecologically safe ion exchangers and sorbents. The paper presents the studies on removal of heavy metal ions — Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Fe(III) — from aqueous solutions in the presence of EDTA carried out on commercially available, strongly basic monodisperse anion exchangers with the polystyrene skeleton gel, Lewatit MonoPlus M 500; and the macroporous, Lewatit MonoPlus MP 500, which are more widely applied in water purification processes. The research results indicate a high affinity of the Lewatit MonoPlus M 500 and Lewatit MonoPlus MP 500 anion exchangers in the chloride form for copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II) and zinc(II) complexes with EDTA. The affinity series for the heavy metal complexes in the 0.001 M M(II)/(III)–0.001 M EDTA and 0.001 M M(II)/(III)–0.001M EDTA–0.001 M–0.002 M NaOH systems were found for the Lewatit MonoPlus M 500 anion exchanger in the chloride form to be as follows: Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Co(II) > Zn(II) Fe(III). In the case of the Lewatit MonoPlus MP 500 anion exchanger in the chloride form there was found the following affinity series: Cu(II) > Co(II) > Ni(II) > Zn(II) Fe(III). These anion exchangers can be applied in the removal of copper(II) complexes from waters and wastewaters.     

The cytochrome c content of various poultry meats

The cytochrome c content and total haem pigments in the breast and thigh meat of broiler chickens, hens out of lay, turkeys, geese, duckling (Peking), and muscovy ducks were determined. The levels of cytochrome c in the breast and thigh meat were: for chicken 11.4 and 35.5; for hens 14.0 and 84.2; for turkeys 13.1 and 47.4; for geese 141.0 and 107.8; for duckling 111.2 and 149.9 and for muscovy ducks 81.5 and 97.3 μg per g of tissue, respectively. The correlation coefficient between cytochrome c and total haem pigments concentration was r=0.98 for breast, and r=0.85 for thigh meat. The authors postulate that the cytochrome c may play a noticeable role in the colour of fresh and processed poultry meat, but further investigations are needed to confirm this.     

Evolution of the microstructure in the hot rolling process

A thermomechanical finite-element model of flat rolling is coupled with closed form equations describing the process of recrystallization and is applied to study hot rolling of low carbon steel strips. Formulae for the recrystallized grain diameters, developed by various authors, are considered. Calculated diameters of the grains are compared with the results of the measurements carried out after experimental hot rolling of the carbon steel samples. Evaluating the accuracy of the calculations, using each of the expressions for the diameter of the recrystallized austenite grains, indicates that the relation of Roberts is closest to the measurements.     

Talin-null cells of Dictyostelium are strongly defective in adhesion to particle and substrate surfaces and slightly impaired in cytokinesis

Dictyostelium discoideum contains a full-length homologue of talin, a protein implicated in linkage of the actin system to sites of cell-to-substrate adhesion in fibroblasts and neuronal growth cones. Gene replacement eliminated the talin homologue in Dictyostelium and led to defects in phagocytosis and cell-to-substrate interaction of moving cells, two processes dependent on a continuous cross talk between the cell surface and underlying cytoskeleton. The uptake rate of yeast particles was reduced, and only bacteria devoid of the carbohydrate moiety of cell surface lipopolysaccharides were adhesive enough to be recruited by talin-null cells in suspension and phagocytosed. Cell-to-cell adhesion of undeveloped cells was strongly impaired in the absence of talin, in contrast with the cohesion of aggregating cells mediated by the phospholipid-anchored contact site A glycoprotein, which proved to be less talin dependent. The mutant cells were still capable of moving and responding to a chemoattractant, although they attached only loosely to a substrate via small areas of their surface. With their high proportion of binucleated cells, the talin-null mutants revealed interactions of the mitotic apparatus with the cell cortex that were not obvious in mononucleated cells.     

Fields of strains around the inclusion of second phase in a uniform matrix undergoing plastic deformation

This paper focuses on the problem of the evaluation of strains around the inclusions of various shapes and properties located in the uniform matrix undergoing large plastic deformations. The analysis is performed using the rigid-plastic finite-element approach. The uniform plane-strain deformation field is simulated by an introduction of zero friction forces into the program for the compression process. An assumption that the die is wider than the sample allows to simulate ideally uniform flow of metal. Several shapes of the inclusions are investigated, but the results for three most common shapes of the particle's cross-section are presented in the paper. They are: square with the sides parallel to the main directions, square with the sides inclined under an angle of 45° to the main directions and round.     

Modelling water cooling of steel strip during hot rolling

Several tests of water cooling of steel samples are presented in the paper. The water spray and quenching conditions are considered. The temperature variations during the tests are monitored using the thermocouples embedded in the side of the samples. The experimental time – temperature profiles are compared with the results of calculations based on the finite element model. Comparison of the theoretical and experimental results allowed to suggest heat transfer coefficients of 10000 W/m²K for water in quenching, 6000 W/m²K for the top surface during water spray cooling and 4000 W/m²K for the bottom surface during water spray cooling.