Enhanced bactericidal action and masking of allergen structure of soy protein by attachment of chitosan through maillard-type protein-polysaccharide conjugation

The soy protein-chitosan conjugate was formed by the Maillard reaction in dry state (relative humidity 65%) at 60 degrees C for 2 weeks to improve the functional properties. The antimicrobial activity of the Maillard-type soy protein-chitosan conjugates enhanced 2-3 times that of soy protein-chitosan mixture. The soy protein-chitosan conjugate showed excellent emulsifying property with the progress of Maillard-type conjugation. The allergenicity of soy protein was greatly decreased by the attachment of chitosan through Maillard reaction. The immonoblotting analysis with patient's sera revealed that soy protein-chitosan conjugate was more effective to mask the allergen structure of soy protein causing from 34 kDa-protein (Gly m Bd 30K) than soy protein-galactomannan conjugate. The Western blotting showed that allergen (34 kDa-protein) was completely masked by soy protein-chitosan conjugation, while it was not completely masked by soy protein-galactomannan conjugation.     

Evaluation of Spaceborne SiC Mirror Materials Using Samples Cut from the Periphery of a Mirror Body

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has studied large-scale, lightweight mirrors constructed of SiC-based materials as a key technology for future earth observations and astronomical missions. One of the most important technical issues for large-scale ceramic components is their quality stability (viz., differences in material properties depending on the part and the processing), which might influence the structural and/or thermal reliability through unforeseen deformation and breakage. In this study, the authors used a simple, low-cost method for evaluating the properties of SiC mirror materials. Using mechanical testing, thermodilatometry, and microstructural analysis on samples cut from the periphery of a prototype 800-mm-diameter mirror body, the overall quality of the mirror body material was determined.     

EBSD and DTA Characterization of A356 Alloy Deformed by ECAP During Reheating and Partial Re-melting

Recrystallization and partial re-melting processes have been developed for producing semi-solid feedstock in a solid state in which a globular microstructure is obtained by plastic deformation followed by reheating. In this research, to induce strain, a cast- and solution-treated Aluminum A356 (7 wt pct Si) alloy was subjected to a repetitive equal channel angular pressing process using a 90 deg die, up to a total accumulated strain of approximately 8 in route A (increasing strain through a sequence of passes with no rotation of the sample after each pass) at ambient temperature. The microstructural evolutions of deformed and reheated materials were studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron back-scattered diffraction analysis. In addition, the influences of pre-deformation on the recrystallization mechanism and liquid formation of A356 alloy were presented and discussed. The results are also supported by differential thermal analysis experiments. Evaluation of the observations indicated that the average cell boundary misorientation increased with increasing strain, so this increased misorientation accelerated the mobility of boundaries and recrystallization kinetics. Therefore, the recrystallization mechanism and kinetics affected by deformation, reheating condition, and intrinsic material properties determined the particle size in the semi-solid state.     

Impurity-Related Local Density-of-States Modulation in?Bi2Sr2Ca(Cu1?x Zn x )2O8+�� Probed by Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy

We have performed scanning tunneling spectroscopy on a single crystal of Bi₂Sr₂Ca(Cu_1?x Zn _x )₂O_8+?? (x=0.005) and found several regions where at least two Zinc (Zn) impurities aggregate within a few nm. In these regions, there are two-dimensional local density-of-states (LDOS) modulations with the period of about 1.41a ₀ (a ₀ is Cu?CO?CCu distance) along the direction tilted 45° from Cu?CO?CCu direction within the energy of below 10 mV. Since these modulations are suppressed in a map of the ratio between LDOS at a positive energy and at its negative, it is presumable that these modulations do not stem from the simple quasiparticle interference whose pattern should be enhanced in the ratio map. We suggest the possible explanations with respect to the origin of the observed modulations.     

Reaction of europium-doped α-SiAlON phosphors with sodium borosilicate glass matrices

The quantum efficiency of composites containing Europium(II)-doped Ca-α-SiAlON phosphors and sodium borosilicate glasses has been reported to decrease with an increase in the Na₂O concentration in the glass matrix. To understand the reason for the dependence of this degradation on the glass composition, the reaction between the SiAlON powder and the glass matrix was investigated using a variety of techniques. SEM images of the areas around SiAlON powders showed the formation of a new layer between the SiAlON particles and the glass matrix. EDX images showed that the number of silicon and aluminium atoms decreased while that of boron atoms increased in the new layer. Raman spectra of the composites showed the formation of BN bonds. New layers between the SiAlON phosphor and the glasses were formed owing to exchange between silicon or aluminium and boron; this resulted in the degradation of the composites.     

Design and wet-laboratory implementation of reliable end-to-end molecular communication

Wireless Networks - This paper describes a novel design and wet laboratory implementation of reliable end-to-end molecular communication. In the reliable end-to-end molecular communication...     

Cytochemistry of sialoglycoconjugates,lysozyme, and β‐defensin in eccrine glands of porcine snout skin as studied by electron microscopy

In most mammals except for humanoid primates, eccrine glands are confined to the skin of a series of specific body regions. Sialic acids and antimicrobial substances exhibit various functional properties and serve as a component of nonspecific defense against micro‐organisms, respectively. In this study, the distribution of these moieties was studied by electron microscopic histochemical methods. The eccrine glandular acini consisted of two types of dark cells as well as clear cells. The secretory granules and Golgi apparatus of both types of dark cells contained sialic acid residues linked to α2‐6Gal/GalNAc. On the other hand, sialoglycoconjugates with Siα2‐3Galβ1‐4GlcNAc sequence were confined to those of the Type II dark cells. In addition, lysozyme and β‐defensin were mainly detected in the secretory granules of the Type II dark cells. These secretory products may create a defensive barrier against microbial invasion and play an essential role in preservation of the integrity of porcine snout skin as a sensory organ. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.