Effect of NiO on the Phase Stability and Microstructure of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia

Nickel oxide (NiO) was screen printed onto the surfaces of 3 and 8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) dense pre-fired substrates and then heat treated at temperatures from 1350° to 1550°C. The effect of NiO was dependent on the yttria content of the substrate. In 3 mol% YSZ, it was found to alter the phase composition from predominantly tetragonal with a small amount of cubic phase to one consisting of approximately equal amounts of cubic and monoclinic phase. The cubic grains were much larger than the monoclinic ones and contained more nickel. Furthermore, nickel was observed to migrate through the thickness of the tile, a distance of approximately 200 μm. In the 8 mol% YSZ substrates, the phase composition was unaltered, although large grains developed under the printed NiO layer and the nickel migration was confined to the extent of these large grains.     

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of Trypanosoma brucei trypanothione synthetase inhibitors

Trypanothione synthetase (TryS) is essential for the survival of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, which causes human African trypanosomiasis. It is one of only a handful of chemically validated targets for T. brucei in vivo. To identify novel inhibitors of TbTryS we screened our in-house diverse compound library that contains 62,000 compounds. This resulted in the identification of six novel hit series of TbTryS inhibitors. Herein we describe the SAR exploration of these hit series, which gave rise to one common series with potency against the enzyme target. Cellular studies on these inhibitors confirmed on-target activity, and the compounds have proven to be very useful tools for further study of the trypanothione pathway in kinetoplastids.     

Molecular recognition of the Lewis Y antigen by monoclonal antibodies

The murine monoclonal antibody BR55-2 is directed against thetumor-associated antigen Lewis Y oligosaccharide. The LewisY core antigen is a difucosylated structure consisting of fourhexose units. Analysis of binding profiles of lactoseries isomericstructures by BR55–2 suggest that the binding epitopeincludes the OH-4 and OH-3 groups of the ß-D-galactoseunit, the 6-CH₃ groups of the two fucose units and the N-acetylgroup of the subterminal ß-D-N-acetylglucosamine (ßDGlcNAc).To elucidate the molecular recognition properties of BR55–2for the Y antigen, BR55–2 was cloned, sequenced and itsthree-dimensional structure was examined by molecular modeling.The crystal structure of BR96, another anti-Lewis Y antibody,solved in complex with a nonoate methyl ester Lewis Y tetrasaccharide,and the lectin IV protein in complex with a Lewis b tetrasaccharidecore were used as a guide to probe the molecular basis for BR55–2antigen recognition and specificity. Our modeling study showsthat BR55–2 shares similar recognition features for thedifucosylated type 2 lactoseries Lewis Y structure observedin the BR96-sugar complex. We observe that a major source ofspecificity for the Lewis Y structure by anti-Y antibodies emanatesfrom interaction with the ß-D-N-acetylglucosamineresidue and the nature of the structures extended at the reducingsite of the fucosylated lactosoamine.     

Prevalence and risk factors for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. carcass contamination in broiler chickens slaughtered in Quebec, Canada

An observational study was conducted to estimate prevalence and risk factors for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. carcass contamination in broiler chickens. Eighty-two lots were sampled in four slaughterhouses located in the province of Québec, Canada, over a 10-month period. Carcass contamination was evaluated by the carcass rinse technique for about 30 birds per lot. Exposure to potential risk factors was evaluated based on data from questionnaires, meteorology, and cecal cultures. Multivariable binomial negative regression models were used for risk factor analysis at the lot level. The prevalence of Salmonella-positive carcasses was 21.2% (95% confidence interval: 15.7 to 26.7%). Significant risk factors (P < 0.05) associated with a higher proportion of positive carcasses within lots were Salmonella-positive cecal culture, low rainfall during transportation to the slaughterhouse, temperature of > or = 0 degree C during transportation to the slaughterhouse, and a > or = 4-h waiting period in shipping crates before slaughtering. The prevalence of Campylobacter-positive carcasses was 35.8% (95% confidence interval: 27.1 to 44.5%). Lots containing birds with Campylobacter-positive cecal culture results, lots of birds that were slaughtered at the end of the week, and lots with at least 20% of birds with digestive contents detected in the jejunum at time of slaughtering had a significantly higher proportion (P < 0.05) of contaminated carcasses. These results support the importance of preharvest control measures implemented during rearing to reduce contamination of the final product. Weather during transportation to slaughter and the day of the week that birds were slaughtered also were associated with carcass contamination; further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanisms by which these factors influence carcass contamination.     

Exposures to transit and other sources of noise among New York City residents

To evaluate the contributions of common noise sources to total annual noise exposures among urban residents and workers, we estimated exposures associated with five common sources (use of mass transit, occupational and nonoccupational activities, MP3 player and stereo use, and time at home and doing other miscellaneous activities) among a sample of over 4500 individuals in New York City (NYC). We then evaluated the contributions of each source to total noise exposure and also compared our estimated exposures to the recommended 70 dBA annual exposure limit. We found that one in ten transit users had noise exposures in excess of the recommended exposure limit from their transit use alone. When we estimated total annual exposures, 90% of NYC transit users and 87% of nonusers exceeded the recommended limit. MP3 player and stereo use, which represented a small fraction of the total annual hours for each subject on average, was the primary source of exposure among the majority of urban dwellers we evaluated. Our results suggest that the vast majority of urban mass transit riders may be at risk of permanent, irreversible noise-induced hearing loss and that, for many individuals, this risk is driven primarily by exposures other than occupational noise.     

分享Hunkeler创新日之旅

2月16～19日,Andy和Julie与数以千计的印刷企业及销售商代表聚集于Hunkeler2009年创新日活动。在此,他们将与读者分享在这次盛况空前的活动中所得出的一些感悟、观点以及见解。     

Silica Colloidal Membranes with Enantioselective Permeability

Robust mesoporous membranes composed of silica spheres were surface-modified with chiral selector moieties, including small molecules, macrocycles, and polymers. Diffusion rates of enantiomers of a chiral dye through the resulting asymmetrically modified colloidal membranes were measured and the corresponding permselectivities were calculated. The membranes showed enantioselectivities in the range of 1.2–1.8, which were not significantly affected by the structure of the surface-immobilized chiral electors. This selectivity is on par with most reported polymer-based solid membranes and bulk liquid membranes. The enantioselectivity results from the surface-facilitated mechanism of transport of enantiomers through the mesopores.     

Aryl Bis‐Sulfonamide Inhibitors of IspF from Arabidopsis thaliana and Plasmodium falciparum

2‐Methylerythritol 2,4‐cyclodiphosphate synthase (IspF) is an essential enzyme for the biosynthesis of isoprenoid precursors in plants and many human pathogens. The protein is an attractive target for the development of anti‐infectives and herbicides. Using a photometric assay, a screen of 40 000 compounds on IspF from Arabidopsis thaliana afforded symmetrical aryl bis‐sulfonamides that inhibit IspF from A. thaliana (AtIspF) and Plasmodium falciparum (PfIspF) with IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range. The ortho‐bis‐sulfonamide structural motif is essential for inhibitory activity. The best derivatives obtained by parallel synthesis showed IC₅₀ values of 1.4 μm against PfIspF and 240 nm against AtIspF. Substantial herbicidal activity was observed at a dose of 2 kg ha^?1. Molecular modeling studies served as the basis for an in silico search targeted at the discovery of novel, non‐symmetrical sulfonamide IspF inhibitors. The designed compounds were found to exhibit inhibitory activities in the double‐digit micromolar IC₅₀ range.     

Restoration of depressed prostanoid-induced ileal contraction in spontaneously hypertensive rats by dietary fish oil

We have reported that dietary fish oil (FO) rich in n-3 PUFA modulates gut contractility. It was further demonstrated that the gut of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) has a depressed contractility response to prostaglandins (PG) compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. We investigated whether feeding diets supplemented with n-3 PUFA increased gut contractility and restored the depressed prostanoid response in SHR gut. Thirteen-week-old SHR were fed diets containing fat at 5 g/100 g as coconut oil (CO), lard, canola oil containing 10% (w/w) n-3 FA as alpha-linolenic acid (1 8:3n-3), or FO (as HiDHA, 22:6n-3) for 12 wk. A control WKY group was fed 5 g/100 g CO in the diet. As confirmed, the SHR CO group had a significantly lower gut response to PGE2 and PGF2alpha compared with the WKY CO group. Feeding FO increased the maximal contraction response to acetylcholine in the ileum compared with all diets and in the colon compared with lard, and restored the depressed response to PGE2 and PGF2alpha in the ileum but not the colon of SHR. FO feeding also led to a significant increase in gut total phospholipid n-3 PUFA as DHA (22:6n-3) with lower n-6 PUFA as arachidonic acid (20:4n-6). Canola feeding led to a small increase in ileal EPA (20:5n-3) and DHA and in colonic DHA without affecting contractility. However, there was no change in ileal membrane muscarinic binding properties due to FO feeding. This report confirms that dietary FO increases muscarinic- and eicosanoid receptor-induced contractility in ileum and that the depressed prostanoid response in SHR ileum, but not colon, is restored by tissue incorporation of DHA as the active nutrient.