Starch-entrapped microspheres extend in vitro fecal fermentation, increase butyrate production, and influence microbiota pattern

Previous research has revealed that waxy corn starch which has been entrapped in a matrix of electrostatically cross-linked alginate, shows a slow digestion rate such that much of the starch may reach the colon; thus making this a new type of resistant starch. The purpose of this research was to test the fermentative properties of starch-entrapped microspheres using a batch fecal fermentation method. Fermentation of starch-entrapped microspheres showed significantly lower rates of gas production compared to waxy corn starch, and showed significant increases in total SCFAs during the latter stages of fermentation (24-48 h), whereas waxy corn starch did not. Cooking the starch-entrapped microspheres increased the amount of SCFAs and the molar fraction of butyrate produced during fermentation. Bacterial fingerprinting revealed that uncooked starch-entrapped microspheres have a unique effect on the microbiota that is different from waxy corn starch alone, but cooking causes a shift toward a pattern more closely resembling that of the starch. Starch-entrapped microspheres may deliver slowly fermentable carbohydrate to the colon, with the ability to influence the microbiota. Further human studies are required to determine whether these characteristics occur in vivo.     

Fabrication of nanostructured titania on flexible substrate by electrochemical anodization

Titanium films were deposited on ITO (indium tin oxide)-coated PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) and flexible clay substrates by ion beam sputter deposition method. The surface morphology of the deposited films was smooth on PEN and rough on clay substrates. The titanium film deposited on Clay-mo (98% montmorillonite) substrate was anodized in ethylene glycol + 2 vol% H₂O + 0.3 wt% NH₄F solution, and the titanium films deposited on Clay-st (99% stevensite) substrate was anodized in 2-propanol + 16 vol% H₂O + 0.14 M NH₄F solution. Then nanohole-structured titania (TiO₂) films were firstly and successfully fabricated on the flexible transparent clay substrates. The nanohole structures of TiO₂ on both clay substrates were similar to those on PEN and glass substrates. The TiO₂ nanohole structure was almost maintained after annealing at 450 °C for 4 h in air. The optical transmittance of the nanohole-structured TiO₂ films on Clay-st increased from 26% to 54% at 800 nm in wavelength after annealing at 450 °C for 1 h in air.     

Sintering of Tungsten and Tungsten Heavy Alloys of W–Ni–Fe and W–Ni–Cu: A Review

Tungsten is a refractory metal possessing good mechanical properties of high strength, high yield point, and high resistance to creep. Therefore, tungsten and its alloys are used in many high temperature applications. Due to the high melting point, they are generally processed through powder metallurgy method. The powders are compacted using die pressing or isostatic pressing. The compacts are sintered in a sintering furnace to achieve high density, thereby, making the metal suitable for further processing. This article reviews the recent research findings of consolidating tungsten and its alloys (W–Ni–Fe and W–Ni–Cu), from preparation of powder alloys to sintering of the compact. The advances in sintering are based on the objective of achieving good densification of the metal at lower temperature and at faster rate. The use of microwave sintering and spark plasma sintering techniques resulted in significant reduction in sintering time and producing products of good mechanical properties.     

Vibrational modes in electrodeposited amorphous silicon: FT-IR analysis

Infrared spectra of 13 samples of amorphous silicon bonded with hydrogen, fluorine and carbon, prepared by electrodeposition using a mixture of ethylene glycol and fluosilicic acid were analysed in the wave number region 4000-400 cm^–1 with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Strong absorption peaks were observed at 1000 cm^–1 due to the SiF_x stretching mode. Small peaks were seen around 2300 and 640 cm^–1 due to SiH stretching and wagging modes of absorption. The number of bonded hydrogen atoms in the film deposited at 0.05 M, 50 mA cm^–2 was calculated to be 6.2579×10²¹ and 1.2302×10²⁰ atm cm^–3 using integrated absorption of the CH and SiH stretching modes, respectively. The absorption coefficient around the SiF_x stretch region was found to vary from 1300–2500 cm^–1 as the molarity of the electrolyte was increased. Binding energy shifts in X-ray photoelectron spectrum were used as a cross check to confirm the silicon bonding with carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and fluorine atoms. The absence of columnar growth in SEM photographs indicates no polysilane formation in the films.     

Automating manufacturability evaluation in CAD systems through expert systems approaches

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) represents a new awareness of the importance of product design as an integral part of manufacturing activities. Good design guidelines exist in industry for frequently used manufacturing processes. These guidelines are systematic statements of good design practices, empirically derived over years of design and manufacturing experience. Ensuring that the given product design conforms to each of the guidelines specific to the selected process results in better manufacturability. To meet the objectives of the DFM approach, design and manufacturing planning activities have to be combined into a single engineering effort and applied througout the life cycle of a product. Computer-aided design (CAD) systems offer powerful features such as the ability to develop complex solid models and perform engineering analyses, including stress analysis, interobject interference, collision detection, and inertial analysis. However, a prominent limitation faced by designers in CAD systems is the lack of “intelligence.” Though designs could be developed, analyzed, and perfected from a functional viewpoint in CAD systems, manufacturability consideration may get little or no attention at all. As a result, product designs that are functionally sound may be developed at a high manufacturing cost. Thus, intelligence should be incorporated in CAD systems, whereby product designs could not only be developed and analyzed but also evaluated for cost and manufacturability. This study attempts to perform this task automatically in a CAD system using a knowledge-based approach: the manufacturability criteria are considered for milling and drilling operations performed on a computerized numerically controlled (CNC) milling machine. The results obtained from the application of the expert system suggest that the expert systems methodology is a feasible method for implementing manufacturability evaluation capability in CAD systems.     

Retention of wild-type p53 in tumors from p53 heterozygous mice: reduction of p53 dosage can promote cancer formation

Tumor suppressor genes are generally viewed as being recessive at the cellular level, so that mutation or loss of both tumor suppressor alleles is a prerequisite for tumor formation. The tumor suppressor gene, p53, is mutated in approximately 50% of human sporadic cancers and in an inherited cancer predisposition (Li-Fraumeni syndrome). We have analyzed the status of the wild-type p53 allele in tumors taken from p53-deficient heterozygous (p53+/-) mice. These mice inherit a single null p53 allele and develop tumors much earlier than those mice with two functional copies of wild-type p53. We present evidence that a high proportion of the tumors from the p53+/- mice retain an intact, functional, wild-type p53 allele. Unlike p53+/- tumors which lose their wild-type allele, the tumors which retain an intact p53 allele express p53 protein that induces apoptosis following gamma-irradiation, activates p21(WAF1/CIP1) and Mdm2 expression, represses PCNA expression (a negatively regulated target of wild-type p53), shows high levels of binding to oligonucleotides containing a wild-type p53 response element and prevents chromosomal instability as measured by comparative genomic hybridization. These results indicate that loss of both p53 alleles is not a prerequisite for tumor formation and that mere reduction in p53 levels may be sufficient to promote tumorigenesis.     

Influence of frequency of alternating current on the electrochemical dissolution of mild steel and nickel

The electrochemical dissolution of mild steel and nickel in hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid has been studied with alternating current of varying frequencies. For both mild steel and nickel the current efficiency decreases exponentially with increasing frequency. With increasing current density (32 to 100 mA cm^–2) and increasing acid concentration (0.5 to 2.0 N), the current efficiency increases. Mild steel is dissolved more efficiently in sulphuric acid than hydrochloric acid but the reverse is true for nickel.     

Alterations in the charge and size selectivity barrier of the glomerular filter in aminonucleoside nephrosis in rats

The aminonucleoside of puromycin induces proteinuria and renal damage when given to rats. Aminonucleoside of puromycin was administered to male Wistar-Furth rats as a single intravenous injection in a dose of 15 mg. per 100 gm. of body weight. The animals were studied 9 days later when the mean urinary protein was 175 mg. per 24 hours. Evidence of glomerular epithelial cell injury included massive obliteration of foot processes, appearance of microvilli, protein reabsorption droplets, extreme attenuation of cytoplasm with formation of blebs, and focal detachment of epithelial cells from glomerular basement membrane. An increase in both the amount of mesangial matrix and the number of mesangial cells was also observed. The fractional clearance (C/GFR) of anionic horseradish peroxidase had increased 18.5 times as compared to control values and was nearly equal to the C/GFR of neutral horseradish peroxidase in the experimental rats. The C/GFR of cationic horseradish peroxidase was decreased by one-third so that it approximated the C/GFRs of both anionic and neutral horseradish peroxidase. These findings indicate a nearly complete loss of the charge-selective barrier to filtration. In addition, C/GFRs of tritiated uncharged dextrans with a range of molecular radii from 18 to 58 Angstrom (A) were determined. The C/GFRs of dextrans (alpha e less than 30 A) were decreased in the experimental rats as compared to C/GFRs of dextrans of corresponding molecular size in control rats. However, the C/GFRs of dextrans (alpha e greater than 38A) were increased in experimental as compared to control rats. Further, both anionic and cationic ferritin (alpha e = 61 A) were observed in the urinary space near denuded areas of glomerular basement membrane. These results indicate that the size-selective properties of the glomerular barrier to filtration have been modified with decreased C/GFR of small molecules and increased C/GFR of large molecules. Thus, the proteinuria of aminonucleoside nephrosis in rats occurs secondary to alterations in both the charge- and size-selective barriers to glomerular filtration.     

Optoelectronic properties of Zn0.52Se0.48/Si Schottky diodes

Zn_0.52Se_0.48/Si Schottky diodes are fabricated by depositing zinc selenide (Zn_0.52Se_0.48) thin films onto Si(1 0 0) substrates by vacuum evaporation technique. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) analysis shows that the deposited films are nearly stoichiometric in nature. X-ray diffractogram of the films reveals the preferential orientation of the films along (1 1 1) direction. Structural parameters such as crystallite size (D), dislocation density (δ), strain (ε), and the lattice parameter are calculated as 29.13 nm, 1.187 × 10⁻¹⁵ lin/m², 1.354 × 10⁻³ lin⁻² m⁻⁴ and 5.676 × 10⁻¹⁰ m respectively. From the I–V measurements on the Zn_0.52Se_0.48/p-Si Schottky diodes, ideality and diode rectification factors are evaluated, as 1.749 (305 K) and 1.04 × 10⁴ (305 K) respectively. The built-in potential, effective carrier concentration (N_A) and barrier height were also evaluated from C–V measurement, which are found to be 1.02 V, 5.907 × 10¹⁵ cm⁻³ and 1.359 eV respectively.