The transfer of retinol from serum retinol-binding protein to cellular retinol-binding protein is mediated by a membrane receptor

The hypothesis that the cellular uptake of retinol involves the specific interaction of a plasma membrane receptor with serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) at the extracellular surface followed by ligand transfer to cytoplasmic cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) has been investigated. The experimental system consisted of the [3H]retinol-RBP complex, Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant apo-CRBP containing the 10 amino acid long streptavidin-binding peptide sequence at its C terminus (designated as CRBP-Strep) and permeabilized human placental membranes. [3H]Retinol transfer from RBP to CRBP-Strep was monitored by measuring the radioactivity associated with CRBP-Strep retained by an immobilized streptavidin resin. Using this assay system, we have demonstrated that optimal retinol uptake is achieved with holo-RBP, the membrane receptor and apo-CRBP. The effects are specific: other binding proteins, including beta-lactoglobulin and serum albumin, despite their ability to bind retinol, failed to substitute for either RBP or apo-CRBP. The process is facilitated by membranes containing the native receptor suggesting that this protein is an important component in the transfer mechanism. Taken together, the data suggest that the RBP receptor, through specific interactions with the binding proteins, participates (either directly or via associated proteins) in the mechanism which mediates the transfer of retinol from extracellular RBP to intracellular CRBP.     

Prostate-sparing effects in primates of the potent androgen 7alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone: a potential alternative to testosterone for androgen replacement and male contraception

7alpha-Methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENT) is a potent synthetic androgen that cannot be converted to dihydrotestosterone. In this study we determined the relative androgenic, antigonadotropic, and anabolic potencies of testosterone vs. MENT in the nonhuman primate M. fascicularis. In castrated monkeys, dose-response relationships were generated for the effects of testosterone and MENT on gonadotropin levels, prostate growth, body weight, and lipid metabolism. In a pilot study, four monkeys were castrated, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to document a 50% loss of prostate volume within 8 weeks, verifying that MRI is a reliable means to measure prostate size in this species. Two additional groups of six monkeys each were then castrated and serially administered four graded dosages of testosterone or MENT via osmotic minipumps over 20 weeks. Complete suppression of LH was achieved with a minimum of 0.3 mg/day MENT, compared to 3.0 mg/day testosterone. MENT supported body weight 10 times more potently than did testosterone. Baseline prostate volumes were maintained with 0.1-0.2 mg/day MENT vs. 0.3 mg/day testosterone. Thus, in monkeys, MENT is 10 times more potent than testosterone with regard to the clinically desirable end points of gonadotropin suppression and anabolism, but only twice as potent at stimulating prostate growth. These results suggest that MENT may have a wider therapeutic index than testosterone for human androgen replacement and male contraception.     

Delayed Observers for Linear Systems With Unknown Inputs

We present a method for constructing reduced-order state observers for linear systems with unknown inputs. Our approach provides a characterization of observers with delay, which eases the established necessary conditions for existence of unknown input observers with zero-delay. We develop a parameterization of the observer gain that decouples the unknown inputs from the estimation error, and we use the remaining freedom to ensure stability of the error dynamics. Our procedure is quite general in that it encompasses the design of full-order observers via appropriate choices of design matrices     

Biopolymer coating of soybean lecithin liposomes via layer-by-layer self-assembly as novel delivery system for ellagic acid

The formulation of a novel delivery system for ellagic acid formulated via layer-by-layer (L-b-L) electrostatic deposition of biopolymers onto soybean lecithin liposomes was achieved. Optimization of parameters affecting the formulation of biopolymer-coated liposomes was carried out by monitoring changes on its size, surface charge and morphology. Ellagic acid was loaded into the liposome core and loading properties were analyzed. Release profiles for ellagic acid from optimized biopolymer-coated liposomes were evaluated as a function of time, temperature and pH of the media. The L-b-L electrostatic deposition of biopolymers succeeded in building nanosized, spherical and stable liposomes with a cumulative size of 386.5 ± 25.9 nm and a surface charge of ?30.66 ± 1.55 mV for a liposomal system coated with four bilayers of biopolymers. Biopolymer-coated liposomes offer good properties for encapsulation inside its liposomal aqueous core and sustained release of ellagic acid.     

Electrical and photovoltaic properties of tin oxide-silicon heterojunctions

SnO₂-Si heterojunctions, using n-type and p-type single crystals of silicon, were fabricated by depositing tin oxide using a chemical vapour deposition technique. The electrical and photovoltaic characteristics of these heterojunctions were investigated. The polarity observed in V_oc and I_sc is consistent with the band bending of a simple SnO₂Si heterojunction energy band diagram, neglecting interface states. The results also show that the (n?n) SnO₂Si heterojunction has better electrical and photovoltaic characteristics than the (n?p) SnO₂Si heterojunction. Typical values of V_oc and J_sc (under Air Mass 1 conditions) for an (n?n) SnO₂Si heterojunction are 0.485 V and 16.0 mA cm^-2 respectively, resulting in an efficiency of nearly 5%.     

Comparison of concentration dependence of mechanical modulus in two biopolymer gel systems using scaling analysis

Concentration dependence of mechanical modulus of two biopolymer systems, i.e., xanthan-locust bean (X/L) mixture and fish muscle protein (surimi) was evaluated and compared at a wide range of polymer concentrations. A small amplitude oscillatory shear test was performed to measure changes in storage (G′) modulus during gelation and after gelation. Critical concentration (Cc) of the X/L mixture and surimi gel was determined to be 0.15 g/100 mL of solvent and 2.04 g/100 g of solvent, respectively. Reduced concentration (C_R=C_L/Cc) was used to compare the power-law dependence of modulus of the two systems. The elasticity exponent of the X/L mixture and surimi gel was determined to be 2.4 and 1.97, respectively. The concentration dependence of two biopolymer gel systems such as physical gels (X/L) and chemicals gels (fish muscle protein) theoretically demonstrated that the difference of flexibility of junctions in the networks might distinguish the elasticity of each gel.     

Thermodynamic study of liquid Cu-Mg alloys by vapor pressure measurements

Thermodynamic properties of liquid Cu-Mg alloys have been determined by magnesium vapor pressure measurements over pure liquid magnesium and liquid Cu-Mg alloys, in the composition range of 11 to 90 mole pct Mg between 845 and 1345 K, employing the transpiration technique. Based on the quadratic formalism suggested by Turkdogen and Darken for binary systems, analytical expressions have been derived representing integral and partial molar thermodynamic properties as functions of composition for the two terminal regions of suN Mg = 0 to 0.33 and 0.6 to 1.0. From the measured activity values of magnesium and copper, in the liquid alloys in equilibrium with solid intermetallic compounds, standard free energies of formation of Cu₂Mg(s) and CuMg₂(s) relative to pure solid components have been calculated and expressed as functions of temperature. Extractive Metallurgy Section, Metallurgy Division     

Electromagnets with spherical pole tips

A general equation for the axial magnetic field at any point due to a cylindrical pole-piece with a spherical pole tip magnetized uniformly to saturation is derived in terms of the various distances and linear dimensions. In conclusion, brief remarks are made on the general usefulness of the equations.     

Preparation and characterization of pyrolytic oil through pyrolysis of neem seed and study of performance,combustion and emission characteristics in CI engine

This paper deals with production of pyrolytic oil from neem seed and using this pyrolytic oil in the form of blend with fossil diesel to study the performance and emission characteristics in CI engine. Thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of non edible neem seed was performed in a slow fixed bed pyrolyser to produce pyrolytic oil. Maximum pyrolytic oil obtained in thermal pyrolysis was 55% wt and in catalytic pyrolysis was 60% wt using both Al₂O₃ and K₂CO₃ catalysts followed by 41% wt and 38% wt for zeolite and kaolin catalysts respectively. The catalytic pyrolysis improved pH and calorific values of 12.4% and 14.4% respectively as compared to thermal pyrolysis. Blends of neem seed catalytic pyrolytic oil (NB) with fossil diesel in the ratio of 5% (NB5) and 10% (NB10) by volume were tested on an unmodified CI engine. Brake thermal efficiency (BTE) was lower at part load conditions and higher at full load condition up to 3.7% in the case of blends as compared to fossil diesel operation. Higher Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) was observed in the case of NB5 blend on all load conditions, up to 23.9%. Reduction in emission levels were observed for HC (46.9%), CO (42.2%), CO₂ (29.8%) and NOx (20.7%) at full load condition. This study observed that neem seed catalytic pyrolytic oil is a potential renewable and sustainable green fuel.