Lipoglycoprotein of Gelatin

Abstract

Solvent extracts were compared with the parent gelatins by means of TLC and HPLC. The photographic effects of the various protein fractions are discussed.     

Water vapor barrier property of organic-silica nanocomposite derived from perhydropolysilazane on polyvinyl alcohol substrate

Poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane was coated with organic-silica nanocomposite derived from perhydropolysilazane. For organic composite part, polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinyl phenol) [SP], poly(tert-butyl acrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [BA] and poly(butyl methacrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [BMA] were used. Water vapor barrier property of coat membrane was measured at relative humidity = 96% by a cup method. The coat films of nanocomposites with SP-silica and BA-silica showed better water vapor barrier property than those of the silica coat film without organic polymer and BMA-silica composites. The surface morphologies of the coat films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The addition of organic polymer to silica prevented the crack formation of coat layer on the substrate.     

Emissions of toxic pollutants from compressed natural gas and low sulfur diesel-fueled heavy-duty transit buses tested over multiple driving cycles

The number of heavy-duty vehicles using alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and new low-sulfur diesel fuel formulations and equipped with after-treatment devices are projected to increase. However, few peer-reviewed studies have characterized the emissions of particulate matter (PM) and other toxic compounds from these vehicles. In this study, chemical and biological analyses were used to characterize the identifiable toxic air pollutants emitted from both CNG and low-sulfur-diesel-fueled heavy-duty transit buses tested on a chassis dynamometer over three transient driving cycles and a steady-state cruise condition. The CNG bus had no after-treatment, and the diesel bus was tested first equipped with an oxidation catalyst (OC) and then with a catalyzed diesel particulate filter (DPF). Emissions were analyzed for PM, volatile organic compounds (VOCs; determined on-site), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and mutagenic activity. The 2000 model year CNG-fueled vehicle had the highest emissions of 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and carbonyls (e.g., formaldehyde) of the three vehicle configurations tested in this study. The 1998 model year diesel bus equipped with an OC and fueled with low-sulfur diesel had the highest emission rates of PM and PAHs. The highest specific mutagenic activities (revertants/microg PM, or potency) and the highest mutagen emission rates (revertants/mi) were from the CNG bus in strain TA98 tested over the New York Bus (NYB) driving cycle. The 1998 model year diesel bus with DPF had the lowest VOCs, PAH, and mutagenic activity emission. In general, the NYB driving cycle had the highest emission rates (g/mi), and the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) had the lowest emission rates for all toxics tested over the three transient test cycles investigated. Also, transient emissions were, in general, higher than steady-state emissions. The emissions of toxic compounds from an in-use CNG transit bus (without an oxidation catalyst) and from a vehicle fueled with low-sulfur diesel fuel (equipped with DPF) were lower than from the low-sulfur diesel fueled vehicle equipped with OC. All vehicle configurations had generally lower emissions of toxics than an uncontrolled diesel engine. Tunnel backgrounds (measurements without the vehicle running) were measured throughout this study and were helpful in determining the incremental increase in pollutant emissions. Also, the on-site determination of VOCs, especially 1,3-butadiene, helped minimize measurement losses due to sample degradation after collection.     

Immunological Effects of Oenothein B,an Ellagitannin Dimer,on Dendritic Cells

Oenothein B is a unique macrocyclic ellagitannin dimer that has been found in various medicinal plants belonging to Onagraceae, Lythraceae, and Myrtaceae, with diverse biological activities. The immunological effects of tannins in terms of cytokine-release from macrophages and monocytes have been discussed, while the effects on other immunocompetent cells have been the subject of minimal investigation. We evaluated the immunomodulatory effects induced by tannin treatment in human dendritic cells (DCs), which play a critical role in the initial immune response, by measuring the changes in cytokine production, cell differentiation, and cell viability. Oenothein B showed significant down-regulation of the expression of cell surface molecules, CD1a and CD83, suggesting the inhibition of DC differentiation and/or maturation. The suppressive effect on DCs was associated with the induction of apoptosis without the activation of caspase-3/7, 8, and 9, and this was supported by the morphological features indicating significant nuclear condensation. Oenothein B also markedly suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and IL-6, in a dose-dependent manner. These data may, in part, be able to explain the traditional use of tannin-containing medicinal plants for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.     

Investigation of self-assembled monolayer treatment on SiO2 gate insulator of poly(3-hexylthiophene) thin-film transistors

We have investigated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) treatment on SiO₂ gate insulator of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin-film transistor (TFT), and demonstrated a correlation between mobility and surface free energy of the insulator. The device with lower surface free energy shows higher mobility. The docosyltrichlorosilane (DCTS)-treated device exhibits the best performance among the various SAM-treated devices examined. Field-effect mobility, on/off ratio and threshold voltage of the DCTS-treated P3HT TFT were 0.015 cm²/Vs, >10⁵ and −14 V, respectively.     

A Gedunin-Type Limonoid, 7-Deacetoxy-7-Oxogedunin,from Andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aublet) Reduced Intracellular Triglyceride Content and Enhanced Autophagy in HepG2 Cells

The seed oil of Carapa guianensis Aublet (Andiroba) has been used in folk medicine for its insect-repelling, anti-inflammatory, and anti-malarial activities. This study aimed to examine the triglyceride (TG) reducing effects of C. guianensis-derived limonoids or other commercially available limonoids in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells and evaluate the expression of lipid metabolism or autophagy-related proteins by treatment with 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin (DAOG; 1), a principal limonoid of C. guianensis. The gedunin-type limonoids, such as DAOG (% of control at 20 μM: 70.9 ± 0.9%), gedunin (2, 74.0 ± 1.1%), epoxyazadiradione (4, 73.4 ± 2.0%), 17β-hydroxyazadiradione (5, 79.9 ± 0.6%), 7-deacetoxy-7α-hydroxygedunin (6, 61.0 ± 1.2%), andirolide H (7, 87.4 ± 2.2%), and 6α-hydroxygedunin (8, 84.5 ± 1.1%), were observed to reduce the TG content at lower concentrations than berberine chloride (BBR, a positive control, 84.1 ± 0.3% at 30 μM) in HepG2 cells pretreated with high glucose and oleic acid. Andirobin-, obacunol-, nimbin-, and salannin-type limonoids showed no effect on the intracellular TG content in HepG2 cells. The TG-reducing effect of DAOG was attenuated by the concomitant use of compound C (dorsomorphin), an AMPK inhibitor. Further investigation on the detailed mechanism of action of DAOG at non-cytotoxic concentrations revealed that the expressions of autophagy-related proteins, LC3 and p62, were upregulated by treatment with DAOG. These findings suggested that gedunin-type limonoids from Andiroba could ameliorate fatty liver, and that the action of DAOG in particular is mediated by autophagy.     

Surface hardness and transparency of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐silica coat film derived from perhydropolysilazane

To prepare hard and transparent poly (methyl methacrylate)‐silica coat film on glass or polycarbonate substrates, poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) random copolymers and perhydropolysilazane (PHPS) were blended in solution. Then the solution was cast on the substrates. The grafting of PHPS onto 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate unit was analyzed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Surface hardness and transparency of the coat film were measured by nano‐indentation method and UV‐Vis spectroscopy, respectively. Surface hardness of coat film depended on the volume fraction of silica in the coat film, and reached 2.7 GPa when the volume fraction of silica was 76.4%. Transparency of the coat films prepared with PHPS was almost 100%, indicating that the coat film prepared with PHPS was highly transparent not only on glass substrate but also on the polycarbonate substrate. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Quantitative analysis of polyenoic phospholipid molecular species by high performance liquid chromatography

The quantitative analysis of phospholipid molecular species containing polyenoic fatty acids is described. Dinitrobenzoyl derivatives of diacylglycerols prepared from phospholipids were separated into individual molecular species by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a combination of two solvent systems and were quantified at 254 nm. Thirty-six molecular species were resolved from the phosphatidylcholines of rat hearts, human platelets and Chinese hamster V79-R cells. The derivatives of alkenylacyl molecular species from platelet phosphatidylethanolamine were resolved concomitantly with diacyl molecular species.