Novel Engineered Ion Channel Provides Controllable Ion Permeability for Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules Coated with a Lipid Membrane

The development of nanostructured microcapsules based on a biomimetic lipid bilayer membrane (BLM) coating of poly(sodium styrenesulfonate) (PSS)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) polyelectrolyte hollow microcapsules is reported. A novel engineered ion channel, gramicidin (bis‐gA), incorporated into the lipid membrane coating provides a functional capability to control transport across the microcapsule wall. The microcapsules provide transport and permeation for drug‐analog neutral species, as well as positively and negatively charged ionic species. This controlled transport can be tuned for selective release biomimetically by controlling the gating of incorporated bis‐gA ion channels. This system provides a platform for the creation of “smart” biomimetic delivery vessels for the effective and selective therapeutic delivery and targeting of drugs.     

Annual limit-state frequencies for partially-inspected earthquake-damaged buildings

A procedure is presented for estimating an “annual limit-state frequency”, that is, the mean annual frequency of exceeding a (e.g. seismic-drift) limit state, for a partially-inspected earthquake-damaged SMRF building with fractured beam-column connections. Typically, inspection of all the moment-resisting connections in a building for fractures is prohibitively expensive. Motivated by this reality, the proposed procedure (developed as part of the SAC Steel Project) accounts for the uncertainty, due to incomplete inspection, in the total number and locations of fractured connections. Since the procedure can also take into account the aftershock ground motion hazard, an annual limit-state frequency estimated for a damaged building can serve as a basis for deciding, for example, whether to permit occupancy soon after the main-shock. Conversely, the estimated annual limit-state frequency can be used to guide inspection decisions, such as whether to inspect more connections and thereby reduce the uncertainty in the state of damage.     

The Huynen-Fork Polarization Parameters in the Classification of Dielectric Mine-like Objects

We present a polarimetric approach that can be used to characterize subsurface targets by means of ground-penetrating radar. Several quantities related to the Huynen-fork parameters are basic to the study. These quantities are all expressible in terms of the elements of Sinclair matrix S which in turn, can be determined as functions of frequency by an application of the method-of-moment (MoM)—which is briefly reviewed here—to a mine-like object buried at various depths in a soil of specified dielectric and moisture properties. The quantities in question are the Stokes parameters, the elevation, azimuth, and polarizability angles, as well as the polarization ratios and the scattering eigenvalues which optimize the backscattered power. Some of these quantities are studied here and displayed in various graphs. These frequency dependent graphs exhibit useful symmetry properties. The plots of the polarizability angle (β) vs. frequency seem to remain invariant with target depth, and exhibit resonance features that are later shown to agree well with other standard methods to estimate resonances such as Prony method. A simple analysis of the early-time resonances thus estimated is used to obtain acceptable mine dimensions. The agreement found implies that polarimetric techniques, such as present one, can also be used in the arsenal of techniques yielding target-ID clues.     

Surface-tension properties of some polydispersed alkyl-substituted polyoxyethylated phenylsulfonamides

Twenty-nine laboratory-prepared polydisperse nonionic surfactants, derived from polyoxyethylatedN-alkylphenylsulfonamides [RϕSO₂ N(R′) (EO)_nH], have been characterized. EO is ethyoxylation;R is hydrogen,n-butyl ort-butyl;R′ is hexyl, octyl, or decyl; and (EO)_n is varied from (EO)₄ to (EO)₂₀. Surface tension in aqueous solution was studied. The critical micelle concentration, surface excess, minimum area per molecule, effectiveness of surface-tension reduction, and free energy of micelle formation were calculated from the surface-tension measurements. The critical micelle concentrations for the derivatives in whichR′-hexyl were considerably higher than the corresponding derivatives whereR′ is octyl or decyl. The greatest surface-tension reduction was found in theR′=n-octyl derivatives whereR ist-butyl with (EO)₉ orn-butyl with (EO)₁₁. Deceased.     

The effects of electrical stimulation and ageing on beef tenderness

Seventeen beef carcasses from cattle with a range of breeds, ages and body conditions were used in this trial. The four treatments applied to each carcass were control (C), electrical stimulation (ES), ageing for 28 days (A) and electrical stimulation plus ageing for 28 days (ES + A). Post-mortem muscle pH was measured at 0, 0·5, 4 and 24h post-stimulation. Significantly lower muscle pH values (P < 0·01) were achieved by the stimulated carcass side sompared to the unstimulated side at 0·5 (pH 6·47 vs. 6·91) and 4 h (pH 5·96 vs. 6·44) post-stimulation.

Warner-Bratzler shear and taste panel methods were used to assess the tenderness of Longissimus dorsi muscle samples from each of the four treatments. The ES, A and ES + A treatments were significantly more tender (P < 0·01) than the control treatment. The ES and the A treatments resulted in a similar improvement in tenderness compared to the control. The ES + A treatment was significantly more tender (P < 0·01) than the ES treatment alone, but there was no significant difference in tenderness between the A and the ES + A treatments.     

Development of Biogenic Amines in Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares): Effect of Storage and Correlation with Decarboxylase-Positive Bacterial Flora

ABSTRACT: The effects of storage at 0,4,10, and 22°C for 0,1,3,5, and 9 d on the quality of yellowfin tuna fillets as determined by microbiological assessment, development of some biogenic amines, and sensory analysis were studied. Tuna fillets stored at 22 °C for 3 d, 10 °C for 5 d, and 4 °C for 9 d were rated unacceptable for consumption. Those stored at 22 °C for 3 d had total aerobic bacterial count of > 8 log₁₀ CFU/g, a histamine-producing bacterial population of 7 log₁₀ CFU/g, and 832 ppm of histamine, 35.8 ppm of putrescine, and 147 ppm of cadaverine. A comparison of the capillary electrophoresis, AOAC fluorometric method, and gas chromatography showed a very good correlation (r² > 0.99) among these 3 methods for histamine quantitation in tuna samples. Morganella morganii, Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter intermedium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Proteins vulgaris , and Serratia liquefaciens were the decarboxylase-positive bacterial species isolated by using the Niven's medium and identified during storage, which were responsible for histamine production in test tuna fillets.     

A Step toward Molecular Evolution of RNA: Ribose Binds to Prebiotic Fatty Acid Membranes,and Nucleosides Bind Better than Individual Bases Do

A major challenge in understanding how biological cells arose on the early Earth is explaining how RNA and membranes originally colocalized. We propose that the building blocks of RNA (nucleobases and ribose) bound to self-assembled prebiotic membranes. We have previously demonstrated that the bases bind to membranes composed of a prebiotic fatty acid, but evidence for the binding of sugars has remained a technical challenge. Here, we used pulsed-field gradient NMR spectroscopy to demonstrate that ribose and other sugars bind to membranes of decanoic acid. Moreover, the binding of some bases is strongly enhanced when they are linked to ribose to form a nucleoside or – with the addition of phosphate – a nucleotide. This enhanced binding could have played a role in the molecular evolution leading to the production of RNA.     

There's more to self-esteem than whether it is high or low: The importance of stability of self-esteem.

Study 1 examined the extent to which stability and level of self-esteem predicted cognitive and emotional reactions to interpersonal feedback. Among high self-esteem individuals, instability was associated with acceptance and positive emotions following positive feedback but to rejection and defensiveness following negative feedback. Among low self-esteem individuals, instability was unrelated to reactions to positive feedback but was related to less defensiveness and greater acceptance of negative feedback. Study 2 examined the extent to which variability and importance of specific self-evaluations were associated with instability of global self-esteem. Discussion focuses on the roles of level and stability of self-esteem in reactions to evaluations on the nature of self-esteem instability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of the hydrolysis of iron(III) and the crystallization of amorphous iron(III) hydroxide hydrate

Hydrolysis of ferric solutions leads initially to mono- and dinuclear species which interact to produce further species of higher nuclearity. These polynuclear species age eventually to either crystalline compounds or to an amorphous precipitate (amorphous iron(III) hydroxide hydrate). Amorphous iron(III) hydroxide hydrate is thermodynamically unstable and gradually transforms to α-FeO(OH) and α-Fe₂O₃. These crystalline products form by competing mechanisms and the proportion of each in the final product depends on the relative rates of formation. The master variable governing the rates at which these compounds form is pH. Other important factors are temperature and the presence of additives. Most additives retard the transformation and by suppressing formation of α-FeO(OH) lead to an increase in the amount of α-Fe₂O₃ in the product; some additives also directly promote formation of the latter compound. Metal ions can oftxen replace a proportion of Fe in the α-FeO(OH) and α-Fe₂O₃ lattices. At high enough concentrations they can induce formation of additional phases. Additives may also modify the morphology of the crystalline products.