Structure and properties of N-octadecylated poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)

N-octadecylated PPTA's with various molecular weights were synthesized from PPTA and n-octadecyl bromide via the metalation reaction. The polymer exhibited side-chain crystallization at 314 K due to the long alkyl side chains and both crystallinity and the perfection of the crystal increase with increasing in the molecular weight. The results of IR spectra and the wide angle X-ray indicate that the polymer crystallizes in hexagonal form. The mechanical and the dynamic mechanical properties of N-octadecylated PPTA's were measured. Two tan δ peaks were observed in a temperature range of 310–350 K and at 260 K, respectively, which can be designated α_c and α_a relaxation, respectively. The concentrated solutions of N-octadecylated PPTA's in tetrahydrofuran, dichloroethane, tetrachloroethane, and bromoform showed liquid crystalline behavior of lyotropic type.     

Preparation and fractionation of conjugated trienes from α-linolenic acid and their growth-inhibitory effects on human tumor cells and fibroblasts

Conjugated α-linolenic acid (ClnA) was prepared from α-linolenic acid (9,12,15–18∶3n−3, LnA) by alkaline treatment; we fractionated CLnA into three peaks by reversed-phase column-HPLC as evidenced by monitoring absorbance at 205, 235, and 268 nm. Peak I was a conjugated dienoic FA derived from LnA, whereas Peaks II and III were conjugated trienoic LnA. Proton NMR analysis showed that Peak III consisted of the all-trans isomer. The methylated Peak III was further divided into five peaks (Peaks IV–VIII) by silver ion column-HPLC. Peak V, a major constituent in the Peak III fraction, was identified as conjugated 10t,12t,14t-LnA by GC-EIMS and ¹H NMR analysis. Peaks III and V, which consisted of conjugated all-trans trienoic LnA, had stronger growth-inhibitory effects on human tumor cell lines than the other collected peaks and strongly induced lipid peroxidation as compared with Peaks I, II, and LnA. We propose that conjugated all-trans trienoic FA have the strongest growth-inhibitory effect among the conjugated trienoic acids and conjugated dienoic acids produced by alkaline treatment of α-LnA, and that this effect is mediated by lipid peroxidation.     

Yoghurt fermented by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus H+ -ATPase-defective mutants exhibits enhanced viability of Bifidobacterium breve during storage

Persistent acid production by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus during refrigerated storage is a major cause of reduced viability of probiotic strains such as Bifidobacterium breve in yoghurt. It was established that H+ -ATPase-defective mutants of lactic acid bacteria have reduced growth and metabolism in low pH environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate inhibition of post-acidification and maintenance of B. breve viability in yoghurt fermented by L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus mutants with reduced membrane-bound H+ -ATPase activity during refrigerated storage. Spontaneous neomycin mutants of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus that had a significantly (P < or = 0.05) reduced H+ -ATPase activity were successfully isolated. Yoghurt fermented using L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus SBT0164 No. 55-1 (mutant) starter culture had markedly reduced post-acidification and maintained viability (> or = 10(8) CFU/ml) of both Bifidobacteruim breve JCM 1192(T) and Bifidobacteruim breve JCM 7017 during storage at 10 degrees C for 21 days. These results clearly showed that yoghurt fermented by mutants of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus with reduced membrane-bound H+ -ATPase activity has reduced post-acidification that prolongs viability of B. breve in yoghurt during refrigerated storage.     

Purification and some properties of beta-fructofuranosidase I formed by Aureobasidium pullulans DSM 2404

beta-Fructofuranosidase I (FFase I) formed by Aureobasidium pullulans DSM 2404 was purified. The enzyme had a molecular weight of about 430 kDa, was not affected by various metal ions and showed high transfructosylating activity. The yield of fructooligosaccharides production using purified FFase I was 62%.     

超临界流体技术在苎麻织物中的应用研究

对影响超临界CO2流体处理苎麻纤维的因素，如温度、压力、时间以及助溶剂进行正交试验，对处理后的苎麻纤维的含杂情况、微结构、机械物理性能和热稳定性等性质作了测试分析。结果表明，超临界CO2流体处理苎麻织物的最佳工艺条件为：工作温度120℃、压力25MPa、时间40min、助溶剂0．1％。该处理可改善苎麻纤维的性能，提高其膨胀性，有利于后续加工，并为其进一步改性打下基础。     

Effects of difructose anhydride III (DFA III) administration on rat intestinal microbiota

The effects of difructose anhydride III (di-D-fructofuranose-1,2':2,3'-dianhydride; DFA III) administration (3% DFA III for 4 weeks) on rat intestinal microbiota were examined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). According to DGGE profiles, the number of bacteria related to Bacteroides acidofaciens and uncultured bacteria within the Clostridium lituseburense group decreased, while that of bacteria related to Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides uniformis and Ruminococcus productus increased in DFA III-fed rat cecum. In the cecal contents of DFA III-fed rats, a lowering of pH and an increase in short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially acetic acid, were observed. The DFA III-assimilating bacterium, Ruminococcus sp. M-1, was isolated from the cecal contents of DFA III-fed rats. The strain had 98% similarity with R. productus ATCC 27340T (L76595), and mainly produced acetic acid. These results confirmed that the bacteria harmful to host health were not increased by DFA III administration. Moreover, DFA III stimulated the growth of Ruminococcus sp. M-1 producing acetic acid, which may alter the intestinal microbiota towards a healthier composition. It is expected that DFA III would be a new candidate as a prebiotic.     

Performance analysis of shaft generator systems

A shaft generator system supplies electrical power required in a ship by using a part of the power produced by the main engine. Since the speed of the main engine can vary over a wide range, an externally commutated thyristor inverter, which has high reliability, is generally used to produce ac power with constant voltage and frequency. In this paper, a set of system equations, by which the total harmonic distortion of the output voltage, for example, can be estimated, is derived first. The effects of leading angle of the inverter and the reactance of ac reactor located in the output side of the inverter on the system performances and the operation limit of the system are then clarified. Moreover, a way of taking the system losses into account is proposed to obtain precise calculation results. Finally, the apparent power for the synchronous condenser to provide reactive power in the system is discussed. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 131(3): 70–79, 2000     

CRISPR Screen Contributes to Novel Target Discovery in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the common malignancies in male adults. Recent advances in omics technology, especially in next-generation sequencing, have increased the opportunity to identify genes that correlate with cancer diseases, including PCa. In addition, a genetic screen based on CRISPR/Cas9 technology has elucidated the mechanisms of cancer progression and drug resistance, which in turn has enabled the discovery of new targets as potential genes for new therapeutic targets. In the era of precision medicine, such knowledge is crucial for clinicians in their decision-making regarding patient treatment. In this review, we focus on how CRISPR screen for PCa performed to date has contributed to the identification of biologically critical and clinically relevant target genes.