An investigation of two xylan‐degrading enzymes and a novel xylanase inhibitor in malted barley

Two enzymes with activity on xylan and xylan‐based substrates were isolated from malted barley. One appears to be relatively anionic and the other more cationic. Both are endo‐acting enzymes. The first of these was studied in more detail and shown to be of molecular weight ca. 59,000 and capable of acting through the pH range 5–7.5. It is relatively heat tolerant, with 30% of its activity surviving for 30 min at 70 °C. A low‐molecular‐weight (ca. 1300) inhibitor of xylanase that developed during germination was investigated. Its potency was not lowered by treatment with proteolytic enzymes, but treatment with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone did reduce its impact. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as staining with Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, indicated the presence of phenolic species, while mass spectroscopy studies suggested the presence of arabinose and possibly poly‐hexose. The presence of material that stained with aniline phthalate would be consistent with the presence of reducing sugar in the inhibitor. Copyright © 2013 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Cellular therapy for myocardial ischemia using a temperature-responsive biodegradable injectable polymer system with adipose-derived stem cells

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Position Dependent Response of Superconducting MgB2 Neutron Detectors Studied by Pulsed Laser Irradiation

The MgB₂ detector consists of 200?nm thick MgB₂ thin film meander structure of 3?μm line width protected by 300?nm thick SiO layer. The electrical connections were provided by 150?nm thick Nb. The devices were placed in a 4?K refrigerator to investigate the behavior at temperatures below T _c. The position-dependent response of the MgB₂ detector can be investigated by scanning a laser spot with the aid of the XYZ piezo-driven stage and an optical fiber with a focusing lens. We found that the inhomogeneity in a detector is very critical to specify the detection efficiency since the detector has the sensitivity only in a narrow temperature regime near T _c.     

Acetic acid treatment for wrinkle‐free oral mucosal epithelia in paraffin section preparation

For histopathological assessment of oral borderline malignancies, it is important to carefully detect subtle epithelial changes on fully stretched tissue sections. However, it is not generally easy to obtain wrinkle‐free sections when using formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded oral mucosal samples. Since acetic acid treatment is already utilized for large brain tissue sections, we examined whether that treatment was also effective for oral mucosal tissues containing normal to malignant epithelial lesions. Paraffin sections were floated in various concentrations of acetic acid for 10 min after stretching in water for 1 min, then wrinkle formations were examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining, as well as for staining intensity with keratin immunohistochemistry. Wrinkles were formed in both epithelial and connective tissue zones of sections treated with less than a 40‐mM (0.25%) concentration of acetic acid. In contrast, treatments with concentrations at 80 mM (0.5%) and higher resulted in cracking between the epithelial layer and lamina propria, as well as poor immunohistochemical results for keratins 13 and 17, even though the wrinkles completely disappeared. These results indicate that 40 mM is the optimal concentration of acetic acid solution to prevent wrinkles in the epithelial layer while maintaining the immunohistochemical qualities of oral mucosa tissue sections, especially those containing borderline malignant epithelial lesions. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effectiveness and limitations of the fallback I algorithm for transient supraventricular tachyarrhythmias in DDD pacing

To examine the function of the fallback I algorithm (Chorus I, Ela Medical Inc., Montrouge, France), which automatically changes the DDD mode to VDI during transient supraventricular tachyarrhythmias to prevent high-rate tracking of the venticule, a total of 45 patients who were preoperatively diagnosed with sick-sinus syndrome (SSS) (Group 1; n = 19) or with advanced or complete atrioventricular block (AVB) (Group 2; n = 26) were followed up and analyzed. Mean follow-up times (mean +/- SD) were 22.4 +/- 9.7 and 12.4 +/- 10.9 months, respectively. Each of the groups was further divided into subgroups according to the preoperative existence of of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) or paroxysmal supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (PSVT). During follow-up, the fallback started through a given cycle of ventricular pacing at a upper-rate limit (URL) to avoid a continuous high-rate tracking during the arrhythmias specifically in the patients with PSVT (0/4) (p = 0.0004). The fallback, however, sometimes started in the patients who had AVB not associated with either PAF or PSVT (4/21) during normal exercise because the fallback algorithm did not distinguish a normal P wave from the abnormal atrial waves. To further clarify the behavior of the fallback, a treadmill test was conducted in 25 of the 45 patients. The fallback start was observed in 12 of the 17 patients with AVB (Group 2). In such patients, the use of a long fallback delay and/or a high URL setting prevented the fallback starts during normal exercise. These results suggest that, in DDD pacing, the algorithm in Chorus I is useful in patients with SSS or AVB to avoid highrate tracking of the ventricle during transient supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, but special care must be taken to avoid the fallback starts during the normal exercise in AVB patients.     

Effect of Microbiome on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Role of Probiotics,Prebiotics, and Biogenics

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, steatohepatitis, and liver fibrosis. Liver-resident (Kupffer cells) and recruited macrophages contribute to low-grade chronic inflammation in various tissues by modulating macrophage polarization, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. Abnormalities in the intestinal environment, such as the gut microbiota, metabolites, and immune system, are also involved in the pathogenesis and development of NAFLD. Hepatic macrophage activation is induced by the permeation of antigens, endotoxins, and other proinflammatory substances into the bloodstream as a result of increased intestinal permeability. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of the gut–liver axis in influencing macrophage activity, which is central to the pathogenesis of NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Not only probiotics but also biogenics (heat-killed lactic acid bacteria) are effective in ameliorating the progression of NASH. Here we review the effect of hepatic macrophages/Kupffer cells, other immune cells, intestinal permeability, and immunity on NAFLD and NASH and the impact of probiotics, prebiotics, and biogenesis on those diseases.     

Dust absorption averaged over the Sahara inferred from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer

We estimated the average dust single scattering albedo (omega(0)) over the Sahara using four years of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer data. The method employed is based on the theory that the critical surface reflectance (rho(c)) for which the reflectance at the top-of-the-atmosphere is not influenced by the variability of dust optical thickness depends on omega(0). The average dust absorption over the Sahara was estimated to be smaller than that previously reported in the literature, and this may be causing the cooling of the climate system. Our method enables one to estimate omega(0) from data with a variety of aerosol optical thickness values using samples in the vicinity of rho(c). Use of satellite data over large areas and for long periods enables quantification of the average dust absorption over the entire Sahara.     

LixCo0.4Ni0.3Mn0.3O2 electrode materials: Electrochemical and structural studies

LiCo_0.4Ni_0.3Mn_0.3O₂ layered oxide in a member of the LiCo_1?2xNi_xMn_xO₂ solid solution between LiCoO₂ and LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂. Compositions from this solid solution have attracted much attention and have been extensively studied as promising cathode candidates to replace the most popular LiCoO₂ cathode material used in the commercial lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). LiCo_0.4Ni_0.3Mn_0.3O₂ positive electrode material was prepared via the combustion method followed by a thermal treatment at 900 °C for 12 h. This material was characterized by a high homogeneity and a granular shape. The Rietveld refinement evidenced that the structure of this compound exhibits no Ni/Li disorder revealing that the LiCo_1?2xNi_xMn_xO₂ system presents the ideal structure for LiBs application when x < 0.4. The electrochemical performances of the LiCo_0.4Ni_0.3Mn_0.3O₂ sample were measured at different current rates in the 2.7–4.5 V potential range. Its discharge capacity reached 178, 161 and 145 mAhg^?1 at C/20, 1C and 2C, respectively. Structural changes in LiCo_0.4Ni_0.3Mn_0.3O₂ upon delithiation were studied using ex situ X-ray diffraction. A continuous solid solution with a rhombohedral symmetry was detected in the whole composition range. This structural stability during the cycling combined with the obtained electrochemical features make this material convenient for the LiBs applications.