Milk Derived Antimicrobial Bioactive Peptides: A Review

In recent decades, bioactive peptides have attracted increasing interest as health promoting functional foods. A variety of naturally formed bioactive peptides have been found in fermented dairy products such as yogurt, sour milk, and cheese. Initially these peptides are inactive within the sequence of the parent protein molecule and can be generated by gastrointestinal digestion of milk, fermentation of milk with proteolytic starter cultures, and/or hydrolysis by proteolytic enzymes. Milk derived peptides exert a number of health beneficial activities, even upon oral administration. Bioactive peptides have a great impact on major body systems including the digestive, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, diabetes type II, obesity, and immune systems. Antimicrobial peptides are also an important ingredient of innate immunity, especially at mucosal surfaces such as lungs and small intestine that are constantly exposed to a range of potential pathogens. Therefore, it plays an important role in boosting natural immune protection by reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Bioactive peptides are considered as potent drugs with well-defined pharmacological residues and also used to formulate health-enhancing nutraceuticals.     

Metabolite identification using a nanoelectrospray LC-EC-array-MS integrated system

A novel approach to the parallel coupling of normal-bore high-performance liquid chromatography (LC) with electrochemical-array detection (EC-array) and nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry (MS), based on the use of a nanosplitting interface, is described where both detectors are utilized at their optimal detection mode for parallel configuration. The dual detection platform was shown to maintain full chromatographic integrity with retention times and peak widths at half-height between the EC-array and MS displaying high reproducibility with relative standard deviations of <2%. Detection compatibility between the two detectors at the part per billion level injected on-column was demonstrated using selected metabolites representative of the diversity typically encountered in physiological systems. Metabolites were detected with equal efficiency whether neat or in serum, demonstrating the system's ability to handle biological samples with limited sample cleanup and reduced concern for biological matrix effects. Direct quantification of known analytes from the EC-array signal using Faraday's law can eliminate the need for isotopically labeled internal standards. The system was successfully applied to the detection and characterization of metabolites of phenylbutyrate from serum samples of Huntington's disease patients in an example that illustrates the complementarity of the dual detection nanoelectrospray LC-EC-array-MS system.     

Degradation in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells: changes in electrode interface and reduction in the occupation probability of the interface states

We have investigated the degradation of P3HT:PCBM (poly(3-hexylthiophene):6,6-phenylC61 butyric acid methyl ester) solar cell beyond 150?h of fabrication in continuation to our earlier reported work up to 150?h of fabrication. The current- voltage characteristics of degraded Indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/poly(3-hexylthiophene):6,6-phenylC61 butyric acid methyl ester/Aluminum (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/Al) solar cell can be explained by considering the tunneling current through electrode interfaces, increase in both the interface states density and the thickness of interface with time for150-200?h. Beyond 200?h of fabrication, a significant reduction in the occupation probability at the electrode interfaces explains the experimental results up to 300?h fairly well. Calculations based on realistic parameters and activity at both the electrode interfaces (ITO/PEDOT:PSS and P3HT:PCBM/Al) confirm that degradation at P3HT:PCBM/Al interface is more prominent than that at ITO/PEDOT:PSS interface.     

Effect of nanoclay on positive temperature coefficient to resistivity characteristics of high density polyethylene/silver‐coated glass bead composites

Positive temperature coefficient to resistivity characteristics of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/silver (Ag)‐coated glass bead (45 wt%) composites, without and with nanoclay, has been investigated with reference to HDPE/carbon black (CB) (10 wt%) composites. Plot of resistivity versus temperature of HDPE/CB (10 wt%) composites showed a sudden rise in resistivity (PTC trip) at ≈128°C, close to the melting temperature (T_m) of HDPE. However, for HDPE/Ag coated glass bead (45 wt%) composites, the PTC trip temperature (≈88°C) appeared well below the T_m of HDPE. Addition of 1 phr clay in the composites resulted in an increase in PTC trip temperature of HDPE/Ag‐coated glass bead (45 wt%) composites, whereas no significant effect of clay on PTC trip temperature was evident in HDPE/CB/clay composites. We proposed that the PTC trip temperature in HDPE/Ag‐coated glass bead composites was governed by the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion of HDPE and Ag‐coated glass beads. The room temperature resistivity and PTC trip temperature of HDPE/Ag‐coated glass bead (45 wt%) composites were found to be very stable on thermal cycling. Dynamic mechanical analyzer results showed higher storage modulus of HDPE/Ag‐coated glass bead (45 wt%) composites compared with the HDPE/CB (10 wt%) composites. Thermal stability of HDPE/Ag‐coated glass bead (45 wt%) composites was also improved compared with that of HDPE/CB (10 wt%) composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Pilot-Scale Simulation of Landfill Bioreactor and Controlled Dumping of Fresh and Partially Stabilized Municipal Solid Waste in a Tropical Developing Country

Four pilot-scale lysimeters were used to study the benefits of landfill operation with and without leachate recirculation in tropical weather conditions. Young and old landfills were simulated by filling lysimeters with a segregated fraction of fresh municipal solid waste (MSW) and MSW mined from an open dump site, respectively, and periodically monitoring leachate quantity and quality and biogas quality. For each substrate, one lysimeter was operated as a bioreactor with leachate recirculation and another lysimeter was operated as a controlled dump, for a period of 10 months. Densities between 652 and 825??kg/m3 could be achieved with fresh and mined MSW. Despite such compaction during waste placement, bioreactor technology helps in leachate management, especially in the case of the young landfill lysimeter operated in tropical weather. The benefits of leachate recirculation in the young landfill lysimeter were evident from the significant decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD) (86%), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (82%), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (85%), and volatile solids (75%) in leachates. However, ammonia nitrogen (amm-N) and chlorides in the leachates accumulated in bioreactor landfills. Operating an old landfill lysimeter as a bioreactor seemed to have no exceptional advantage in the context of leachate management, although leachate recirculation enhanced the methane potential of both fresh and mined MSW.     

Response of growing Japanese quails to dietary concentration of L‐threonine

The influence of dietary levels of L ‐threonine (Thr) on growth and immune response was investigated in growing (0–5 weeks of age) Japanese quails (n = 288). Three dietary treatments were formulated using three levels of Thr [9.6, 10.2 and 11.2 kg^?1 diet dry matter (DM)] at a fixed protein level of 233 g kg^?1 and an energy level of 12.15 MJ (2900 kcal) metabolizable energy (ME) kg^?1 feed dry matter. A metabolism trial with a 3‐day collection period was conducted at the third week of age employing all the birds. The cell‐mediated (using PHA‐P) and humoral (SRBC response) immune responses were measured at the fourth week of age. Carcass traits were assessed at the end of fifth week of age. Body weight gain was lower (P < 0.01) in birds received 9.6 g Thr kg^?1 DM than in groups fed 10.2 g or 11.2 g kg^?1 DM in the diet, but there was no significant difference in gain between the groups fed 10.2 or 11.2 g Thr kg^?1 DM in the diet. Feed intake differed significantly owing to Thr levels being lowest (P < 0.05) at 9.6 g Thr kg^?1 DM in the diet. Feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency and energy efficiency improved at the 11.2 g kg^?1 level from 0 to 3 weeks of age; however, from 3 to 5 weeks of age, better FCR emanated from a diet with 9.6 g Thr kg^?1 DM. The nitrogen balance did not differ (P > 0.05) with Thr level. Carcass traits, relative weight of immune organs and cell‐mediated (PHA‐P) and humoral (SRBC response) immune responses did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) as a result of the dietary treatments. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sorptive removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions by polymer/activated charcoal composites

In this study, a new sorbent, a poly(acrylamide‐co‐itaconic acid) [P(AAm‐co‐IA)]/activated charcoal (AC) composite, was prepared by the aqueous polymerization of acrylamide and itaconic acid in the presence of AC with N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinker and potassium persulfate as an initiator. The P(AAm‐co‐IA)/AC composite sorbent showed a fair capacity to adsorb the cationic dye methylene blue. The maximum sorption capacity, as studied at 23, 37, and 50°C and determined with the Langmuir isotherm model, was found to be 909.0, 312.5, and 192.3 mg/g, respectively. For an initial concentration of 5 mg/L, the kinetic uptake data were studied with various kinetic models. The pseudo‐second‐order equation was found to fairly fit the uptake data with a regression value of 0.999. The dye uptake increased with the pH of the sorbate solution, and the optimum pH was found to be in the range of 7–10. Intraparticle diffusion was also observed to take place, and the coefficient of intraparticle diffusion was evaluated to be 26.51 × 10^?2 mg g^?1 min^?1/2. The various thermodynamic parameters were also determined to predict the nature of the uptake process. The sorption process was found to be spontaneous, as indicated by a negative standard free energy change. The negative standard enthalpy change suggested an exothermic nature for the uptake. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanocomposites of fullerene‐containing polyurethane films for microwave applications

Novel nanocomposites of barium hexaferrite‐ and fullerene‐containing polyurethane were synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray diffraction. The nanoparticles showed good dispersion in the polyurethane matrix. Their thermal, mechanical, and electromagnetic absorbance properties were studied. The complex permeability and permittivity were measured in the frequency range of 8.2–12.4 GHz. The maximum reflection loss of the nanocomposites was found to increase with increasing the ferrite content from 1% to 5%, with maximum value of −7.5 dB at only 5% composition. The incorporation of nanofiller not only imparts mechanical strength to the nanocomposite but also shows good radar‐absorbing properties at only 5% filler concentration. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Mushroom Hunting by Using Bioinformatics: Application of a Predictive Framework Facilitates the Selective Identification of Sesquiterpene Synthases in Basidiomycota

The Basidiomycota fungi represent a diverse source of natural products, particularly the sesquiterpenoids. Recently, genome sequencing, genome mining, and the subsequent discovery of a suite of sesquiterpene synthases in Omphalotus olearius was described. A predictive framework was developed to facilitate the discovery of sesquiterpene synthases in Basidiomycota. Phylogenetic analyses indicated a conservation of both sequence and initial cyclization mechanisms used. Here, the first robust application of this predictive framework is reported. It was used to selectively identify sesquiterpene synthases that follow 1,6‐, 1,10‐, and 1,11‐cyclization mechanisms in the crust fungus Stereum hirsutum. The successful identification and characterization of a 1,6‐ and a 1,10‐cyclizing sesquiterpene synthase, as well as three 1,11‐cyclizing Δ⁶‐protoilludene synthases, is described. This study verifies the accuracy and utility of the predictive framework as a roadmap for the discovery of specific sesquiterpene synthases from Basidiomycota, and thus represents an important step forward in natural product discovery.