Anti-proliferative activities,phytochemical levels and fruit quality of pepper (Capsicum spp.) following prolonged storage

Peppers are rich in health-promoting phytochemicals, which are involved in the defence mechanisms against cancer. To select a lead variety of pepper with anti-proliferative activity against colon cancer cells and liver cancer cells, high antioxidant activity, and high concentrations of capsaicin, flavonoids and phenolics, we compared these attributes in nine different pepper accessions belonging to Capsicum annuum and C. chinense. Quality parameters such as weight loss and total soluble solids content were tested as well. The different parameters were determined immediately after harvest and after prolonged storage and marketing simulation. A significant variation of these traits was detected among the accessions. C. chinense line 1745 had the highest antioxidant activity, the highest levels of capsaicin and flavonoids, a high and specific anti-cancer activity, and the lowest weight loss level during postharvest storage. It is proposed that line 1745 has potential for use as a source for health-promoting traits and should be further evaluated for use as a nutraceutical for the prevention and treatment of colon and liver cancers.     

Ditch blocking, water chemistry and organic carbon flux: evidence that blanket bog restoration reduces erosion and fluvial carbon loss

The potential for restoration of peatlands to deliver benefits beyond habitat restoration is poorly understood. There may be impacts on discharge water quality, peat erosion, flow rates and flood risk, and nutrient fluxes. This study aimed to assess the impact of drain blocking, as a form of peatland restoration, on an upland blanket bog, by measuring water chemistry and colour, and loss of both dissolved (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC). The restoration work was designed to permit the collection of a robust experimental dataset over a landscape scale, with data covering up to 3 years pre-restoration and up to 3 years post-restoration. An information theoretic approach to data analyses provided evidence of a recovery of water chemistry towards more ‘natural’ conditions, and showed strong declines in the production of water colour. Drain blocking led to increases in the E4:E6 ratio, and declines in specific absorbance, suggesting that DOC released from blocked drains consisted of lighter, less humic and less decomposed carbon. Whilst concentrations of DOC showed slight increases in drains and streams after blocking, instantaneous yields of both DOC and POC declined markedly in streams over the first year post-restoration. Attempts were made to estimate total annual fluvial organic carbon fluxes for the study site, and although errors around these estimates remain considerable, there is strong evidence of a large reduction in aquatic organic carbon flux from the peatland following drain-blocking. Potential mechanisms for the observed changes in water chemistry and organic carbon release are discussed, and we highlight the need for more detailed information, from more sites, to better understand the full impacts of peatland restoration on carbon storage and release.     

Stabilization of Magnetite Nanoparticles by Encapsulation into the Silica Matrix

Different methods have been investigated for the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles. Control of the particle size, dispersion, purity and stability have been always regarded an issue. In this study magnetite （Fe304） superparamagnetic nanoparticles with a size range about 20 nm have been successfully synthesized using chemical co-precipitation method from the solution of ferrous/ferric mixed salt-solution in alkaline media in oxygen-free environment. The sol-gel method has been chose to encapsulate magnetic nanoparticles into silica matrix. The phase structures, morphologies, surface area, functional classes and magnetic properties have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM and AFM, BET, FT-IR and VSM. The results showed that the resultant films, consisting of encapsulated magnetite have crack free and smooth surface with a roughness value 1.5 rim.     

Consistency of pupils' attributions regarding success and failure.

191 6th graders attending schools in 3 socioeconomic areas were asked to attribute to causes their success or failure on examinations administered in 3 subjects in the course of a trimester. The extent of consistency was measured between attributional patterns obtained from 2 tests in the same subject and between two tests in different subjects. Results show consistency in Ss' attributional patterns. It was found that consistency of attributional patterns was significantly greater when Ss received the same outcomes on the 2 tests (success or failure) than when different outcomes were received (success–failure or failure–success). (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Living Bacteria in Thermoresponsive Gel for Treating Fungal Infections

The leading living bacteria formulations currently available are from a limited list of genera and are generally limited to gastrointestinal tract syndromes. A formulation composed of living Bacillus subtilis incorporated in a thermoresponsive hydrogel that hardens after administration on the skin and continuously produces antifungal agents is described. The ability of the formula to support bacteria growth and its mechanical properties and penetrability through the skin are fine‐tuned by varying the ratio between polymer concentrations and bacterial media. The formula penetrates via the stratum corneum and accumulates in the epidermis without penetrating the inner, dermis layer. In vivo results mirror the results seen in vitro: bacillus formulations completely inhibit candida growth, demonstrating clinical effects comparable to those achieved by ketoconazole. LC‐MS/MS analysis of the bacterial formulation confirms the presence of surfactin, the most powerful biosurfactant that possesses a broad antifungal activity. This platform may enable rational design of novel formulations composed of secreting bacteria inside a responsive, smart, hydrogel—which is the prerequisite for producing a successful drug delivery system.     

Community planning and urban design in contested places. Some insights from Belfast

Although social conflict due to the presence of different groups divided by cultural, religious or ethnic issues plagues many contemporary cities, community and participatory planning methods still pay little attention to segregation in contested spaces as a specific matter of concern. This paper aims to contribute to filling this gap through the development of a novel tool to be implemented during community planning processes in contested cities, particularly in (visual) mapping processes. The pilot area for developing the lexicon has been selected within the city of Belfast, which has been struggling for years with problems related to inter-religious sectarian conflicts. The material effects on the urban structure of the long process of defensive planning during the so-called Troubles and within the post-conflicts peace programmes have been investigated by analysing urban artefacts including edges, borders, barriers, doors, visual control points. The paper suggests that a simple, recognizable lexicon may contribute to honing community planning methods in contested places by integrating the traditional methodology of visual mapping with a tailored taxonomy of elements of urban conflict, which may be used at many stages of the planning process, including developing a visual map, design and planning, and developing and implementing an action plan.     

Supramolecular Nanofibers Self-Assembled from Foldamers: Structure Control through Preassembly

We used a helical polymer backbone (polyacrylamide) as a scaffold to organize perylene diimide chromophores into well-defined foldamers, which further undergo self-assembly into supramolecular tube-like arrays in aqueous media, as revealed by cryo-TEM imaging. The arrays are supramolecular polymers, whose structure is templated by folded primary building blocks, representing a useful tool for directing self-assembly . Exciton migration in the supramolecular arrays was studied by transient absorption and revealed a moderate exciton diffusion propensity.     

Integration of cell membranes and nanotube transistors

We report the integration of a complex biological system and a nanoelectronic device, demonstrating that both components retain their functionality while interacting with each other. As the biological system, we use the cell membrane of Halobacterium salinarum. As the nanoelectronic device, we use a nanotube network transistor, which incorporates many individual nanotubes in such a way that entire patches of cell membrane are contacted by nanotubes. We demonstrate that the biophysical properties of the membrane are preserved, that the nanoelectronic devices still function as transistors, and that the two systems interact. Further, we use the interaction to study the charge distribution in the biological system, finding that the electric dipole of the membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin is located 2/3 of the way from the extracellular to the cytoplasmic side.     

Thirdhand smoke: heterogeneous oxidation of nicotine and secondary aerosol formation in the indoor environment

Tobacco smoking is well-known as a significant source of primary indoor air pollutants. However, only recently has thirdhand smoke (THS) been recognized as a contributor to indoor pollution due to the role of indoor surfaces. Here, the effects of relative humidity (<10% RH and ～ 45% RH) and substrate (cellulose, cotton, and paper) on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from nicotine-ozone-NO(x) reactions are discussed. SOA formation from the sorbed nicotine-ozone reaction ([O(3)] = 55 ppb) varied in size distribution and number, depending on RH and substrate type, indicating the role of substrate and water interactions in SOA formation. This led to SOA yields from cellulose sorbed nicotine-ozone reaction of ～ 1 and 2% for wet and dry conditions, respectively. SOA formation from nicotine-NO(x) reactions was not distinguishable from background levels. Simultaneously, cellulose sorbed nicotine-ozone reaction kinetics ([O(3)] = 55 ppb) were obtained and revealed pseudofirst-order surface rate constants of k(1) = (1 ± 0. 5) × 10(-3) and k(1) < 10(-4) min(-1) under <10% and ～ 45% RH, respectively. Given the toxicity of some of the identified products and that small particles may contribute to adverse health effects, the present study indicates that exposure to THS ozonation products may pose additional health risks.     

Formation of pyroglutamic acid from N-terminal glutamic acid in immunoglobulin gamma antibodies

The status of the N-terminus of proteins is important for amino acid sequencing by Edman degradation, protein identification by shotgun and top-down techniques, and to uncover biological functions, which may be associated with modifications. In this study, we investigated the pyroglutamic acid formation from N-terminal glutamic acid residues in recombinant monoclonal antibodies. Almost half the antibodies reported in the literature contain a glutamic acid residue at the N-terminus of the light or the heavy chain. Our reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method could separate the pyroglutamic acid-containing light chains from the native light chains of reduced and alkylated recombinant monoclonal antibodies. Tryptic peptide mapping and tandem mass spectrometry of the reduced and alkylated proteins was used for the identification of the pyroglutamic acid. We identified the formation of pyroglutamic acid from N-terminal glutamic acid in the heavy chains and light chains of several antibodies, indicating that this nonenzymatic reaction does occur very commonly and can be detected after a few weeks of incubation at 37 and 45 degrees C. The rate of this reaction was measured in several aqueous buffers with different pH values, showing minimal formation of pyroglutamic acid at pH 6.2 and increased formation of pyroglutamic acid at pH 4 and pH 8. The half-life of the N-terminal glutamic acid was approximately 9 months in a pH 4.1 buffer at 45 degrees C. To our knowledge, we showed for the first time that glutamic acid residues located at the N-terminus of proteins undergo pyroglutamic acid formation in vitro.