NO/cGMP pathway is involved in exocrine secretion from rat pancreatic acinar cells

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with the initiation of breast-feeding in a predominantly Puerto Rican population living in inner-city Hartford, Conn. DESIGN: Retrospective study of 144 Latino women (mean +/- standard deviation age = 26.3 +/- 5.7 years) with children at least 1 year old but younger than 6 years old (mean +/- standard deviation age = 3.0 +/- 1.2 years) at the time of the survey. Women were recruited from agencies sponsoring health programs for mothers and children. They were interviewed in their homes (69%) or at the Hispanic Health Council, Hartford, Conn (31%). SUBJECTS/SETTING: Low-income Latino women who had at least 1 preschooler at the time of the interview. The women lived in inner-city Hartford, and the overwhelming majority were Puerto Rican and received welfare assistance and food stamps. Seventy-eight percent of the women chose to be interviewed in Spanish; the other 22% were interviewed in English. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Explanatory variables that related to breast-feeding initiation (P < or = .2) in bivariate chi 2 analyses were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model that was reduced using backward stepwise elimination procedures. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses indicated that breast-feeding the previous child, shorter length of maternal residence in the United States, not receiving prenatal bottle-feeding advice, more recent birth, and higher birth weight were positively associated with breast-feeding initiation. A major reason for choosing not to breast-feed was that women felt socially uncomfortable doing it. APPLICATIONS: Breast-feeding initiation was more likely in Latino women who received prenatal breast-feeding counselling and postpartum support. Mothers of low-birth-weight infants and women breast-feeding for the first time may need additional help. These findings can be used by programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children to increase breast-feeding initiation.     

Water‐sorption behavior of P‐phenylene diamine–based polyimide thin films

Four different p‐PDA–based polyimide thin films were prepared from their respective poly(amic acid)s through thermal imidization at 400°C: poly(p‐phenylene pyromellitimide) (PMDA‐PDA); poly(p‐phenylene biphenyltetra carboximide) (BPDA‐PDA); poly(p‐phenylene 3,3′,4,4′‐oxydiphthalimide) (ODPA‐PDA); and poly(p‐phenylene 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalimide) (6FDA‐PDA). Water‐sorption behaviors of polyimide films were gravimetrically investigated at 25°C and 22–100% relative humidity by using the modified electromicrobalance (Thin Film Diffusion Analyzer). The diffusion coefficients of water for the polyimides varies in the range of 1.6 to 10.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm²/s, and are in the increasing order: BPDA‐PDA < PMDA‐PDA ∼ ODPA‐PDA < 6FDA‐PDA. The water uptakes of polyimides vary from 1.46 to 5.80 wt %, and are in the increasing order: BPDA‐PDA < ODPA‐PDA < 6FDA‐PDA < PMDA‐PDA. The water‐sorption behaviors for the p‐PDA–based polyimides are closely related to the morphological structure; specifically, the diffusion coefficients in p‐PDA–based polyimide thin films are closely related to the in‐plane orientation and mean intermolecular distance, whereas the water uptakes are affected by the packing order. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 1315–1323, 2000     

Isolation and characterization of Cronobacter from desiccated foods in Korea

A total of 115 desiccated food samples, including agricultural and marine products, were investigated for the presence of Cronobacter. Cronobacter species were characterized with biochemical tests. Antibiotic resistance was assessed with the disk diffusion method, and the molecular subtypes of Cronobacter isolates were identified using an automated repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) system. A total of 18 (15.7%) Cronobacter strains were isolated from 115 desiccated food products. Fifteen Cronobacter isolates were C. sakazakii (13%), followed by 2 C. dublinensis (1.7%), and 1 C. universalis (0.9%). The most common antibiotic resistance of Cronobacter observed was against cephalothin (77.8%) followed by ampicillin (5.6%). With exception of 2 strains, all Cronobacter strains isolated from different sources were successfully differentiated by using the automated rep-PCR system, indicating that it can be used for the purpose of contamination or outbreak source tracking of the bacteria.     

Selective oxidation of Fe-30Ni alloy in a low-temperature range (433–473 K)

Fe-30Ni alloy specimens were oxidized for 10–240 min at 433–473 K in pure oxygen at a pressure of 1.33×10⁴ Pa. The thickness of oxide films was measured by a multiple-angle-of-incidence ellipsometer. The kinetics of film growth were found to obey a parabolic rate law. The depth-profiling of oxidized surfaces, performed with simultaneous use of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and argon-ion sputter-etching technique, reveals that iron component is selectively oxidized and an iron-depeletion zone is formed in the underlying alloy. The thickness of the iron depletion zone increases with increasing oxidation time or oxidation temperature. During surface oxidation of the alloy, the transport rate of iron component in the film is almost equal to the interdiffusion rate in the underlying alloy, indicating the establishment of a steady state. The values of the interdiffusion coefficient, , of the underlying alloy estimated from the depth-composition profiles are more than 10 orders of magnitude as large as the values extrapolated from the lattice diffusion data of the corresponding alloy obtained at high temperature. The enormously large values of may be explained in terms of the vacancy (monovacancy or divacancy)-enhanced lattice diffusion mechanism.     

Relation between piezoelectric properties of ceramics and output power density of energy harvester

(1?x)Pb(Zr_0.47Ti_0.53)O₃–xPb[(Zn_0.4Ni_0.6)_1/3Nb_2/3]O₃ [(1?x)PZT–xP(ZN)N] ceramics with 0.26 ≤ x ≤ 0.31 were sintered at 1100 °C, and their energy harvesters were fabricated. All specimens exhibit a similar energy convergence efficiency. However, the transduction coefficient (d₃₃ × g₃₃) increased with x, reaching 21.5 × 10^?15 m²/N for the x = 0.31specimen; the figure-of-merit of the specimens shows a similar variation. The output energy density of the energy harvester also increased with x, and a high output energy density of 231 mW/cm³ was obtained for the harvester fabricated using the x = 0.31 specimen, indicating that the d₃₃ × g₃₃ value significantly affects the output energy density of the energy harvester.     

Study on the possibility of waste mushroom medium as a biomass resource for biorefinery

In order to investigate the possibility of waste mushroom medium as a biomass resource for biorefinery, characteristics of hydrolysate and pretreated biomass obtained from oxalic acid pretreatment were examined. The hydrolysate contained high glucose and low concentrations of inhibitors. The glucose concentration in the hydrolysate particularly increased when temperature gradient was used during pretreatment, compared with that of isocratic condition. The highest increase rate of glucose was 63.16% when pretreatment was performed at 140 °C for 25 min with 0.032 oxalic acid (g/g), and increased temperature to 170 °C. At the same time, ethanol production of Scheffersomyces stipitis using hydrolysate was 15.72 g/L after 48 h, which correspond to an ethanol volumetric productivity of 0.33 g L^?1 h^?1. Most of the lignin and some of the cellulose remained in the pretreated biomass. The total lignin content of the pretreated biomass, represent between 31.81 and 45.05%, compared to 28.8% of the raw material. The calorific value of the pretreated biomass ranged from 4940 to 5111 kcal/kg which represent increase of 3–6% compared to the raw material, due to higher contents of lignin in the pretreated biomass.     

Granulation of Bismuth Oxide by Alginate for Efficient Removal of Iodide in Water

The granulation of bismuth oxide (BO) by alginate (Alg) and the iodide adsorption efficacy of Alg–BO for different initial iodide concentrations and contact time values were examined. The optimal conditions for Alg–BO granulation were identified by controlling the weight ratio between Alg and BO. According to the batch iodide adsorption experiment, the Alg:BO weight ratio of 1:20 was appropriate, as it yielded a uniform spherical shape. According to iodide adsorption isotherm experiments and isotherm model fitting, the maximum sorption capacity (q_m) was calculated to be 111.8 mg/g based on the Langmuir isotherm, and this value did not plateau even at an initial iodide concentration of 1000 mg/L. Furthermore, iodide adsorption by Alg–BO occurred as monolayer adsorption by the chemical interaction and precipitation between bismuth and iodide, followed by physical multilayer adsorption at a very high concentration of iodide in solution. The iodide adsorption over time was fitted using the intraparticle diffusion model. The results indicated that iodide adsorption was proceeded by boundary layer diffusion during 480 min and reached the plateau from 1440 min to 5760 min by intraparticle diffusion. According to the images obtained using cross-section scanning electron microscopy assisted by energy-dispersive spectroscopy, the adsorbed iodide interacted with the BO in Alg–BO through Bi–O–I complexation. This research shows that Alg–BO is a promising iodide adsorbent owing to its high adsorption capacity, stability, convenience, and ability to prevent secondary pollution.     

The Effect of Aluminum Ions on the DC Etching of Aluminum Foil

A study has been made of the electrochemical etching of 99.99% aluminum foils at a current density of 50 mA cm^–2in AlCl₃–HCl solutions (1 m Cl^–) at 80 °C. The solutions were made by dissolving metallic aluminum into 1m HCl solution, to give a Cl^– concentration of 1 m. The number density of etch tunnels and the homogeneity of tunnel length decreased, and the mean pit size and its standard deviation increased with increasing Al³⁺ concentration. The results were discussed based on potential transients at a current density of 50 mA cm^–2, current–potential curves at a scan rate of 10 m Vs^–1 and electrochemical impedance spectra.     

The absorption rate of CO2/SO2/NO2 into a blended aqueous AMP/ammonia solution

The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that human activities result in the production of greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O and CFCs), which significantly contribute to global warming, one of the most serious environmental problems. Under these circumstances, most nations have shown a willingness to suffer economic burdens by signing the Kyoto Protocol, which took effect from February 2005. Therefore, an innovative technology for the simultaneously removal carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), which are discharged in great quantities from fossil fuel-fired power plants and incineration facilities, must be developed to reduce these economical burdens. In this study, a blend of AMP and NH₃ was used to achieve high absorption rates for CO₂, as suggested in several publications. The absorption rates of CO₂, SO₂ and NO₂ into aqueous AMP and blended AMP+NH₃ solutions were measured using a stirred-cell reactor at 293, 303 and 313 K. The reaction rate constants were determined from the measured absorption rates. The effect of adding NH₃ to enhance the absorption characteristics of AMP was also studied. The performance of the reactions was evaluated under various operating conditions. From the results, the reactions with SO₂ and NO₂ into aqueous AMP and AMP+NH₃ solutions were classified as instantaneous reactions. The absorption rates increased with increasing reaction temperature and NH₃ concentration. The reaction rates of 1, 3 and 5 wt% NH₃ blended with 30 wt% AMP solution with respect to CO₂/SO₂/NO₂ at 313 K were 6.05～8.49×10^?6, 7.16–10.41×10^?6 and 8.02～12.0×10^?6 kmol m^?2s^?1, respectively. These values were approximately 32.3–38.7% higher than with aqueous AMP solution alone. The rate of the simultaneous absorption of CO₂/SO₂/NO₂ into aqueous AMP+NH₃ solution was 3.83–4.87×10^?6 kmol m^?2s^?1 at 15 kPa, which was an increase of 15.0–16.9% compared to 30 wt% AMP solution alone. This may have been caused by the NH₃ solution acting as an alternative for CO₂/SO₂/NO₂ controls from flue gas due to its high absorption capacity and fast absorption rate.     

Enhanced immunomodulatory activity of gelatin-encapsulated Rubus coreanus Miquel nanoparticles

The aim of this work was to investigate the immunomodulatory activities of Rubus coreanus Miquel extract-loaded gelatin nanoparticles. The mean size of the produced nanoparticles was 143 ± 18 nm with a bandwidth of 76 nm in the size distribution and a maximum size of ~200 nm, which allows effective nanoparticle uptake by cells. Confocal imaging confirmed this, since the nanoparticles were internalized within 30 min and heterogeneously distributed throughout the cell. Zeta-potential measurements showed that from pH = 5 onwards, the nanoparticles were highly negatively charged, which prevents agglomeration to clusters by electrostatic repulsion. This was confirmed by TEM imaging, which showed a well dispersed colloidal solution. The encapsulation efficiency was nearly 60%, which is higher than for other components encapsulated in gelatin nanoparticles. Measurements of immune modulation in immune cells showed a significant effect by the crude extract, which was only topped by the nanoparticles containing the extract. Proliferation of B-, T- and NK cells was notably enhanced by Rubus coreanus-gelatin nanoparticles and in general ~2-3 times higher than control and on average ~2 times higher than ferulic acid. R. coreanus-gelatin nanoparticles induced cytokine secretion (IL-6 and TNF-α) from B- and T-cells on average at a ~2-3 times higher rate compared with the extract and ferulic acid. In vivo immunomodulatory activity in mice fed with R. coreanus-gelatin nanoparticles at 1 mL/g body weight showed a ~5 times higher antibody production compared to control, a ~1.3 times higher production compared to the extract only, and a ~1.6 times higher production compared to ferulic acid. Overall, our results suggest that gelatin nanoparticles represent an excellent transport vehicle for Rubus coreanus extract and extracts from other plants generally used in traditional Asian medicine. Such nanoparticles ensure a high local concentration that results in enhancement of immune cell activities, including proliferation, cytokine secretion, and antibody production.