Robust Red Organic Nanoparticles for In Vivo Fluorescence Imaging of Cancer Cell Progression in Xenografted Zebrafish

Bright and red‐emissive organic nanoparticles (NPs) are demonstrated as promising for in vivo fluorescence imaging. However, most red organic dyes show greatly weakened or quenched emission in the aggregated state. In this work, a robust red fluorophore (t‐BPITBT‐TPE) with strong aggregate‐state photoluminescence and good biocompatibility is presented. The NPs comprised of t‐BPITBT‐TPE aggregates encapsulated within 1,2‐distearoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphoethanolamine‐N‐[methoxy(polyethylene glycol) (DSPE‐mPEG) micelles exhibit a photoluminescence peak at 660 nm with a high fluorescence quantum yield of 32% in aqueous media. The NPs can be facilely charged by using the same polymeric matrix with different terminal groups, e.g., methoxy (DSPE‐mPEG), amine (DSPE‐PEG‐NH₂), or carboxymethyl (DSPE‐PEG‐COOH) groups. The biocompatibility, toxicity, circulation, and biodistribution of the NPs are assessed using the zebrafish model through whole embryo soaking and intravenous delivery. Furthermore, HeLa and MCF‐7 cells tagged with t‐BPITBT‐TPE in DSPE‐PEG‐NH₂‐TAT polymer NPs are xenografted into zebrafish larvae to successfully track the cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, demonstrating that these new NPs are efficient cancer cell trackers. In addition, the NPs also show good in vivo imaging ability toward 4T1 tumors in xenografted BALB/c mice.     

Effect of dietary methylmercury and seleno-methionine on Sacramento splittail larvae

The effects of methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) contamination on food webs in the San Francisco Estuary have received considerable attention during the past decade. However, knowledge of their effects on native fishes of California is lacking. This study investigated the interactive effects of dietary MeHg and seleno-methionine (SeMet) on Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) larvae. Twelve diets containing increasing levels of SeMet (0.64, 8.2 and 35.0 microg Se g(-1) diet) and MeHg (0.01, 0.13, 4.7 and 11.7 microg Hg g(-1) diet) were fed to 21-day post-hatch larvae for 4 weeks in 2-L beakers at 25 degrees C. Fish were fed twice a day at a feeding rate of 40, 30, 25 and 20% of body weight during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th week, respectively. At the end of week 4, no significant difference (P>0.05) was observed among treatments for mortality, body length or weight, and condition factor. Bioaccumulation of Hg and Se responded positively and significantly (P<0.05) to their dietary concentrations. The molar ratio of Se/Hg in diets was linearly correlated to the ratio of Se/Hg in fish. Dietary Se inhibited Hg accumulation, which was negatively correlated to the dietary Se/Hg ratio. Histopathological examination revealed severe gill anomaly and liver glycogen depletion in fish fed the 11.7 microg Hg g(-1) diet. Liver glycogen depletion and kidney tubular dilation were found in larvae fed the 11.7 microg Hg and 11.7 microg Hg+35 microg Se g(-1) diets. In conclusion, dietary Hg enhanced Se accumulation but dietary Se inhibited Hg accumulation in splittail. Dietary Se showed a protective effect in fish fed the high MeHg diet. This protection was related to the dietary Se/Hg ratio, which is a more reliable criterion for evaluating the interactive effect between Se and Hg in splittail.     

A bipolar output voltage pulse transformer boost converter with charge pump assisted shunt regulator for thermoelectric energy harvesting

This system presents an energy harvesting system that generates bipolar output voltage (±1 V) based on a miniature 1:1 turn-ratio pulse transformer boost converter using sub-threshold level input voltage source. A shunt regulator is designed using six-transistor Schmitt-Trigger core to limit the boost converter output voltage. Another power stage, i.e. a fully integrated on-chip single-stage cross-coupled charge pump, then generates 3 V output from the unused extra output power of boost converter, which is shunted otherwise. The increased voltage headroom generated is instrumental for sensor, analog and RF circuits. Charge pump clock frequency is designed to adaptively tracking the input voltage, which is sensed using power-saving time-domain digital technique. Based on a standard CMOS 0.13-µm technology, chip measurement verified the operations of the boost converter, shunt regulator and bipolar charge pump prototypes, respectively. Simulations confirmed the full system operations. During start-up, the system only requires minimum start-up input voltage of 36 mV at input power of 5.8 µW.     

Performance analysis of an FFH/BFSK product-combining receiverunder multitone jamming

The performance of a fast frequency-hopped binary frequency-shift keying (FFH/BFSK) spread-spectrum (SS) communication system is studied in this paper. The FFH system employs a product-combining receiver against the worst case multitone jamming (MTJ) and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). The compact characteristic functions of the natural logarithm of the product-combiner outputs are obtained based on the Taylor series expansion. The characteristic functions are then used to derive the bit error rate (BER) expressions that are applicable to higher diversity levels. Our analysis, validated by the simulation results, shows that the band MTJ is generally more harmful than the corresponding independent MTJ. The BER performance of the product-combining receiver is shown to possess good MTJ rejection capability compared to that of the soft-decision linear-combining receiver, especially under both moderate and strong MTJ power conditions     

Studies on miscibility of uncompatibilized nylon 66–santoprene blends

This article investigates the miscibility of nylon 66 and santoprene blends. The nylon 66–santoprene was blended to give the following compositions: 100/0, 90/10, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100. No compatibilizer was used during blending of the two components. Thermal properties and morphology of the blends were checked by using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of blend composition on the mechanical properties was checked through tensile and izod impact tests. Both components were immiscible, as confirmed by double melting temperature, corresponding to that of polypropylene component in santoprene and nylon 66. Also, the melting temperature of nylon was not significantly affected by blending it with santoprene. However, the crystallization temperature of nylon increased after blending. This was attributted to the ethylene–propylene–diene monomer content in santoprene, which acts as a nucleating agent. The effect of blend composition on mechanical properties occurred at the 50/50 composition and above. Evidence of immiscibility of both components was also confirmed by the presence of a two-phase structure, as revealed by SEM. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polm Sci 68: 1285–1295, 1998     

Effect of the defatting process,acid and alkali extraction on the physicochemical and functional properties of hemp,flax and canola seed cake protein isolates

The effect of the defatting process, acid and alkali extractions on the physicochemical and functional properties of hemp, flax and canola protein isolates was studied. The defatting process enriched the protein content from around 35 to 52–55 % in the defatted oilseed cakes. Further treatment with acid and alkali led to the highest enrichment (P < 0.05) in the protein content (>90 %). The defatting process produced the lightest (P < 0.05) colour compared to the parent oilseed cakes and the protein isolates. Alkali extraction produced protein isolates with the highest (P < 0.05) water holding capacity while the original oilseed cakes had the highest oil holding capacity. Acid and alkali extractions produced protein isolates with the highest emulsifying activity and emulsion stability. The alkaline soluble flax protein isolate and acid hemp protein isolate had the highest (P < 0.05) creaming stability and largest droplet size respectively. Amino acid profiles of protein isolates after acid and alkali extraction were improved, leading to a protein suitable for fortification in food products that meet human nutrition requirements.     

The Glycemic Potential of White and Red Rice Affected by Oil Type and Time of Addition

Limited research exists on how different oil types and time of addition affect starch digestibility of rice. This study aimed to assess the starch digestibility of white and red rice prepared with 2 oil types: vegetable oil (unsaturated fat) and ghee (clarified butter, saturated fat) added at 3 different time points during the cooking process (“before”: frying raw rice in oil before boiling, “during”: adding oil during boiling, and “after”: stir‐frying cooked rice in oil). Red rice produced a slower digestion rate than white rice. White rice digestibility was not affected by oil type, but was affected by addition time of oil. Adding oil “after” (stir‐frying) to white or red rice resulted in higher slowly digestible starch. Red rice cooked using ghee showed the lowest amount of glucose release during in vitro digestion. The addition of ghee “during” (that is boiling with ghee) or “before” (that is frying rice raw with ghee then boiling) cooking showed potential for attenuating the postprandial glycemic response and increasing resistant starch content. This is the first report to show healthier ways of preparing rice. White rice with oil added “after” (stir‐fried) may provide a source of sustained glucose and stabilize blood glucose levels. Boiling red rice with ghee or cooking red rice with ghee pilaf‐style may provide beneficial effects on postprandial blood glucose and insulin concentrations, and improve colonic health. The encouraging results of the present study justify extending it to an in vivo investigation to conclusively determine the effect of time of addition of fat when rice is cooked on blood glucose homeostasis.     

Parametric analysis of shape changes of alginate beads

In this article, the various elements controlling the geometry of alginate beads such as voltage, solution concentrations and extrusive rates were experimentally investigated. The findings indicated that the combination of higher voltages more concentrated CaCl₂ solutions, shorter width of electrical field and slower extrusive rates can permit the alginate beads to become smaller. Also the effect of the electrical forces that acted on the liquid droplets was found to be stronger than that of the gravity forces did. The alginate solution concentration was found to influence the beads' shape significantly. Lower concentration of 0.5% resulted in tear-like beads arrangements and a higher concentration of 5 and 8% produced pear-like and sperm-like beads configurations. In addition to obtain special alginate beads, such as elliptical and bullet like beads, outside force could be applied. The above findings could open a broad gate for future control release system developments.     

Effect of Poly(methyl Methacrylate) Modified Water Hyacinth Fiber on Properties of Low Density Polyethylene/Natural Rubber/Water Hyacinth Fiber Composites

The effect of poly(methyl methacrylate) modified water hyacinth fiber on properties of low density polyethylene (LDPE)/natural rubber (NR)/water hyacinth fiber (WHF) composites were investigated. The composites were prepared with Z-blade mixer at 180°C and rotor speed of 50 rpm. The poly(methyl methacrylate) modified water hyacinth fibers in LDPE/NR composites (LDPE/NR/WHF-_PMMA) gave a greater value of tensile strength, Young's modulus, glass transition temperature (Tg), melting temperature (Tm), and % crystallinity compared to unmodified water hyacinth fibers in LDPE/NR composites (LDPE/NR/WHF). FTIR analysis shows the presence of ester carbonyl group and C-O ester group in poly (methyl methacrylate) modified water hyacinth fiber. The SEM micrograph also shows a better interfacial adhesion between the fibers and LDPE/NR matrixes for LDPE/NR/WHF-_PMMA composites than LDPE/NR/WHF composites. LDPE/NR/WHF-_PMMA composites had a lower value of interparticle spacing compared to LDPE/NR/WHF composites thatenhanced the interparticle interaction between fiber and LDPE/NR matrixes.