Comparison of bioactive compounds,antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Mon Thong durian during ripening

The aim of this investigation was to compare the bioactive and nutrient compounds, fatty acids, and antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Mon Thong durian at different stages of ripening. It was found that the total polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols, ascorbic acid, tannins and the antioxidant activity determined by four assays (CUPRAC, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP) differed in immature, mature, ripe and overripe samples. The content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity were the highest in overripe durian, flavonoids were the highest in ripe durian, and flavanols and antiproliferative activity were the highest in mature durian (p < 0.05). FTIR spectra of polyphenols, HPLC profiles of fatty acids, the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities can be used as indicators to characterise different stages of durian ripening.     

Cytoprotective effect of fucoxanthin isolated from brown algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sargassum siliquastrum</Emphasis> against H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>-induced cell damage

In this study, the cytoprotective effect of fucoxanthin, which was isolated from Sargassum siliquastrum, against oxidative stress induced DNA damage was investigated. Fucoxanthin, a kind of carotenoid, was pretreated to the medium and the protective effect was evaluated via 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, and comet assays. Intracellular reactive oxygen species were over produced by addition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), but the production was significantly reduced by the treatment with fucoxanthin. The fucoxanthin strongly enhanced cell viability against H₂O₂ induced oxidative damage and the inhibitory effect of cell damage was a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a protective effect against oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis was also demonstrated via nuclear staining with Hoechst dye. These results clearly indicate that fucoxanthin isolated from S. siliquastrum possesses prominent antioxidant activity against H₂O₂-mediated cell damage and which might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating or preventing several diseases implicated with oxidative stress.     

Ultrasonic Approach of Rayleigh Pitch-catch Contact Ultrasound Waves on CFRP Laminated Composites

CFRP （carbon fiber reinforced plastics） composite materials have wide applicability because of their inherent design flexibility and improved material properties. However, impacted composite structures have 50%-75% less strength than undamaged structures. In this work, a CFRP composite material was nondestructively characterized in order to ensure product quality and structural integrity of CFRP and one-sided pitch-catch technique was developed to measure impacted-damaged area by using an automated-data acquisition system in an immersion tank. A pitch-catch signal was found to be more sensitive than normal incidence backwall echo of longitudinal wave under defect conditions in the composite.     

Dispersion of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Water with Polyphosphazene Polyelectrolyte

A polyphosphazene polyelectrolyte was prepared as a dispersing agent of SWNTs in water. Poly(organophosphazene) was prepared by sequential treatment of poly(dichlorophosphazene) with sodium 4-phenylphenoxide, sodium phenoxide, and sodium trifluoroethoxide in THF. Their substitution percentages were 60, 24, and 16%, respectively. A water-soluble polyphosphazene polyelectrolyte was obtained by sulfonation of aromatic rings by using fuming sulfuric acid. SWNTs were dispersed in an aqueous polymer solution by sonication to give a black homogeneous dispersion. The supramolecular association between the nanotube and the sulfonated polyphosphazene was investigated by TEM, SEM, and AFM. The SEM image of the cleaved edge of the bucky paper, obtained by filtration of the dispersion of SWNTs, showed the nanotubes uniformly wrapped with the polymer. Their diameters were about 30 nm, suggesting small bundles of SWNTs rather than individual SWNTs. Individual SWNTs coated with the polymer were also observed by TEM. The total diameter of the coated tube was about 10 nm and a polymer layer thickness was lager than 4 nm. This paper is dedicated to Professor Harry R. Allcock in recognition of his outstanding contributions to polymer chemistry and his inspirational teaching.     

Intense pulsed UV light treatment to design functional optical films from perhydropolysilazane: an alternative to conventional heat treatment processes

Journal of Materials Science - Perhydropolysilazane (PHPS) forms a thin layer by solution processing and converts to dense glass-like silica (SiOx) with excellent chemical resistance, adhesion, and...     

A study on the warm deep drawability of sheets in Cr-coated die

Some deep drawing characteristics at elevated temperatures were investigated for the SCP1 steel sheets by using a Cr-coated die. For this investigation, six different temperatures between room temperature and 250°C, and six different drawing ratios ranging from 2.4 to 2.9 were considered. As a result, the limiting drawing ratio, the maximum drawing force and the maximum drawing depth were found to be affected sensitively by temperature, and more stable through-thickness strain distribution was observed at elevated temperatures. Some experimental results compared favorably with theoretical, results obtaine by using the finite element method.     

Lead Chalcogenide Quantum Dot-Doped Glasses for Photonic Devices

Tunable absorption and photoluminescence (PL) of lead chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs) doped in glasses due to the quantum confinements effect have been actively investigated for application as saturable absorbers, laser sources, and fiber-optic amplifiers. Optical properties of QDs have been carefully monitored by controlling their sizes through heat treatment and rare-earth ion doping. Two- and three-dimensional precipitation of lead chalcogenide QDs were also realized using silver ion exchange and femtosecond laser irradiation in combination with thermal treatment. Prototypes of microstructured single-mode fibers and tapered fiber amplifiers containing QDs proved potentials of these materials for fiber-optic amplifiers application. Further research works on QD-doped solid core fibers, surface passivation of quantum dots and their application for the mid-infrared optical devices are necessary.     

Phase transformation of Cu precipitates from bcc to fcc in Fe–3Si–2Cu alloy

Phase transition of Cu precipitates during aging of an Fe–3Si–2Cu alloy was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The precipitation of 3–5-nm-sized body-centered cubic (bcc) Cu in ferrite matrix was confirmed by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging. The bcc Cu precipitates transformed to 9R Cu as they grew. Many 9R Cu precipitates were twinned, but untwinned 9R Cu particles were also observed. The 9R Cu transformed to twinned face-centered cubic (fcc) Cu by the glide of ±a/3 [1 0 0]_9R Shockley-type partial dislocations. Formation of the 3R structure previously reported could not be confirmed in this study. Finally, twins in fcc Cu precipitates disappeared to form stable fcc Cu particles. The importance of electron beam-orientation-dependent moiré fringes in the correct identification of Cu structure is discussed in detail.