Molecular Dynamics of Soy-Protein Isolate Films Plasticized by Water and Glycerol

ABSTRACT: The effects of water and glycerol on the molecular mobility of a soy-protein isolate (SPI)-based film were investigated using ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). SPI-films were prepared with different glycerol contents and equilibrated to various levels of water activity (a_w). The distributed transverse relaxation of film samples showed 2 distinct components: a solid-like fraction (T_2s*) and a liquid-like fraction (T_2m*). The peak T_2s* values of films with lower glycerol concentration were more sensitive to variation in a_w. As a_w increased, the change of solid-like to liquid-like fraction was observed in higher glycerol films. As glycerol content increased, a minimum longitudinal relaxation time (T₁) occurred at lower a_w. Our results suggest that NMR techniques can be used to quantify the plasticizing effects on biopolymer films.     

Optimization of DNA-based vaccination in cows using green fluorescent protein and protein A as a prelude to immunization against staphylococcal mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus is a contagious pathogen that often results in chronic intramammary infections in dairy cows. Current vaccine formulations are ineffective in preventing this infection. The objective of this study was to stimulate an immune response in dairy cows through injection of plasmid DNA designed to express staphylococcal Protein A in transfected cells. Intramuscular and intradermal vaccination sites were evaluated using a plasmid containing the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter/enhancer directing expression of green fluorescent protein (pcDNA3/GFP). DNA was delivered by needle and syringe, or by high-, intermediate-, or low-pressure jet injections (Ped-o-Jet and LectraJet). Five cows per treatment were injected with 0.5 mg of plasmid DNA at 6, 4, and 2 wk prepartum. Serum antibody levels determined by ELISA indicated that intradermal high-pressure jet injection elicited a greater immune response compared to needle and syringe injection. Differences in antibody production among low-pressure and needle and syringe treatment groups were not significant. An expression plasmid containing the CMV promoter/enhancer driving expression of the Fc-binding domain of S. aureus Protein A was coinjected into cows by vulvamucosal vaccination using the high-pressure Ped-o-Jet. Beginning 6 wk prepartum, groups of cows (n = 5) were injected three times at 2-wk intervals with DNA in saline, DNA in aluminum phosphate adjuvant, or served as noninjected controls. A cellular immune response to Protein A was detected in 4 of 10 animals, while cellular responses to GFP were not detected. Humoral responses to Protein A were observed in 6 of 10 animals and to GFP in 2 of 10 animals. Aluminum phosphate adjuvant appeared to enhance antibody production in response to Protein A. In experiment 3, a protein boost injection of Protein A was given to six animals approximately 5 mo postpartum. Three animals were nonvaccinated controls, and three were among those stimulated to produce antibody in response to the DNA-based vaccine. These results showed that Protein A specific antibodies remained elevated as compared to nonvaccinated controls and were stimulated in response to the protein boost. However, the magnitude of the response in animals previously vaccinated with DNA was not different than that observed in the nonvaccinated controls. We have shown that a humoral and cellular immune response to abbreviated Protein A can be raised in dairy cows using intravulvamucosal jet injection of a DNA-based vaccine.     

上罗拉皮圈对环锭纺的影响

上罗拉皮圈是复杂的纺线生产流程中一个很小的细节。然而,由于它们对成纱质量有较大影响,必须对它们进行优先考虑。质量不是一个简单的问题,它包括多个方面（橡胶质量、正确的加工、定期的保养）。因此,皮圈的选择就像保养操作的自动化程度一样影响成本产生。本文将就这个问题进行讨论。     

Lyocell混纺——给纺织工业带来的附加效益

Ｌｙｏｃｅｌｌ具有迄今为止在其他纤维素纤维中从未有过的纤维强力特性,Ｌｙｏｃｅｌｌ的产品性能可以有与高质量的、长绒棉相媲美,甚至在某种情况下优于长绒棉。可以认为,在未来纺织工业中,针得到广泛的应用。介绍了Ｌｙｏｃｅｌｌ纤维与胶纤维、莫代尔纤维或棉混纺品的性能。     

Studies on the adsorption of RuN3 dye on sheet-like nanostructured porous ZnO films

The interface between the ZnO and dye directly impacts the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) performance. Nanostructured porous ZnO film was developed by a simple chemical solution process. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images demonstrated the uniform ZnO films with sheet-like nanostructure. Adsorption studies indicated that the maximum adsorption capacity of RuN₃ dye on the surface of ZnO films was approximately 0.016 mmol RuN₃/g ZnO films. Adsorption studies were conducted at 25 and 40 °C. The results showed that the dye adsorption was significantly influenced by temperatures. Moreover, the problem of the dye aggregation on the ZnO surface was reduced at higher adsorption temperatures. The adsorption chemistry was studied with Raman spectroscopy.     

Perturbations Involving nu1 of NCCN

From high-resolution infrared spectra of 14N12C12C14N, 14N13C13C14N, and 15N12C12C15N, we find that the levels 1000(0)0(0), 1000(0)1(1), 1000(0)2(0,2), and 1000(0)3(1,3) have very pronounced perturbations. Our analysis shows that these perturbations are due to a vibrational resonance among the levels 1000(0)0(0), 0102(0)2(0), and 0102(0)2(2) in the one case, and equivalent levels with one or more additional quanta of nu5 in the other three cases. The resonance constant for the perturbation involving nu1 is 0.25 cm-1. It has the dependence on v5 and l5 that is expected for the sextic potential constant, K124455, although it seems too large for such a high-order constant. The Deltal (or Deltak) = 2 interaction between, for instance, 1000(0)0(0) and 0102(0)2(2e) is shown to be primarily due to the l-type resonance mixing of the 0102(0)2(0) and 0102(0)2(2e) states. The resonance is nearly "turned off" for the 1000(0)2(0,2) and 1000(0)3(1,3) states of 14N13C13C14N because there are no level crossings between the interacting states and the band centers are too far away to have an obvious effect, although careful analysis shows that the perturbation can be seen in their effective centrifugal distortion constants. The spectrum of 15N12C12C15N shows level crossings only in the case of the 1000(0)1(1), 1000(0)2(0,2), and 1000(0)3(1,3) states. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Monte Carlo approach for solving the radiative transfer equation over mountainous and heterogeneous areas

An algorithm based on the Monte Carlo method is developed to solve the radiative transfer equation in the reflective domain (0.4-4 mum) of the solar spectrum over rugged terrain. This algorithm takes into account relief, spatial heterogeneity, and ground bidirectional reflectance. The method permits the computation of irradiance components at ground level and radiance terms reaching an airborne or satelliteborne sensor. The Monte Carlo method consists of statistically simulating the paths of photons inside the Earth-atmosphere system to reproduce physical phenomena while introducing neither analytical modeling nor assumption. The potentialities of the code are then depicted over different types of landscape, including a seashore, a desert region, and a steep mountainous valley.     

Anterior rhinomanometry in nasal allergen challenges

Even simple and relatively safe provocation procedures like nasal allergen challenges, should aim to allow detection of positivity with the less possible discomfort to the patient. The objective of this work was to evaluate if the use of rhinomanometric measurements during nasal provocation procedures could allow a decrease in the total administered allergen dose, causing less symptoms to the patients but without increasing the number of false-negatives, comparatively to clinical scores or nasal peak-flow measurements. Our results showed that performing rhinomanometric measurements during nasal HDM challenge procedures can lead in many patients to a reduction in the total dose of allergen administered during the challenge, without loss of sensitivity or specificity. This allergen dose reduction translates in less time consumed during the provocation and less patients' discomfort.     

Design of constructions for the expression of proteolytic antibody light chain

A new system for the expression of a catalytic light chain antibody to the vasoactive intestinal peptide is described. The system made possible the isolation the large amounts of a homogeneous protein without any additional peptide domains. The preparation obtained can be used in further experiments on light chain crystallization and in X-ray-structural analysis of its catalytic center.     

Comparison of the pharmacological profile of S-nitrosothiols, nitric oxide and the nitrergic neurotransmitter in the canine ileocolonic junction

1. In organ bath experiments, hydroquinone (30-100 microM) and hydroxocobalamin (30-100 microM) concentration-dependently inhibited the relaxations induced by NO (0.3-30 microM) but not those by nitroglycerin (GTN, 1 microM) in the canine ileocolonic junction (ICJ). Hydroxocobalamin reduced the relaxation to low frequency (2 Hz) stimulation of the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves, whereas hydroquinone only reduced the NANC nerve-mediated relaxations to electrical stimulation at 16 Hz, 0.5 ms. 2. Relaxations to S-nitroso-L-cysteine (CysNO, 1-30 microM), or S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP, 1-30 microM) were not inhibited by hydroquinone (30-100 microM), hydroxocobalamin (30-100 microM), pyrogallol (30-100 microM) or L-cysteine (1-3 microM). Hydroquinone (100 microM) only reduced the relaxation to 10 microM CysNO. Hydroxocobalamin, but not hydroquinone, pyrogallol or L-cysteine, potentiated the relaxations to the lowest concentration (1 microM) of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO, 1-30 microM). 3. In the superfusion bioassay, hydroquinone (100 microM) and hydroxocobalamin (1 microM) concentration-dependently inhibited the biological activity of authentic NO (1-4 pmol) to the same extent as that of the transferable nitrergic factor, released from the canine ICJ in response to NANC nerve stimulation (8-16 Hz, 2 ms). Responses to GTN (10 pmol) or adenosine 5'-triphosphate (10 nmol) were not affected. 4. In conclusion, the nitrosothiols CysNO, SNAP and GSNO relax the canine ileocolonic junction, but these relaxations, pharmacologically, behave differently from the NANC nerve-mediated relaxations. From the bioassay experiments, we conclude that the nitrergic factor, released in response to NANCnerve stimulation of the canine ICJ, behaves pharmacologically like NO but not like a nitrosothiol.Therefore, we suggest NO, and not CysNO, SNAP or GSNO as the inhibitory NANC neurotransmitter in the canine ICJ.