THE LECTINS AND LECTIN-LIKE PROTEINS OF TEPARY BEANS (PHASEOLUS ACUTIFOLIUS) AND TEPARYCOMMON BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS) HYBRIDS

High levels of lectin activity were found in sixty cultivated and ten wild tepary (Phaseolus acutifolius) accessions. No lectin deficient varieties were observed and all examples studied contained both the phytohemagglutinin-E and L-like lectins previously described (Pusztai et al. 1987). There appeared to be no obvious differences between the wild and cultivated forms of the tepary lectins and all teparies studied contained lectin-like proteins in addition to the tepary lectins. One of the lectin related proteins (40 Kdalton subunit) was present in all teparies and may be comparable to arcelin, a lectin found in certain wild accessions of Phaselus vulgaris. All wild teparies contained a lectin related polypeptide of about 34 Kdaltons which appears to distinguish the wild teparies from the cultivated forms. Three tepary-common bean hybrids were examined and one hybrid was found to be expressing both tepary and common bean lectin genes.     

Highly Conductive Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly (styrenesulfonate) Films Using 1‐Ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium Tetracyanoborate Ionic Liquid

Highly conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films are obtained using ionic liquids as additives. Upon adding 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate (EMIM TCB) to the conducting polymer, the conductivity increases to 2084 S cm^?1; this is attributed to the phase separation of PSS leading to a structural change in the film. A comparative study with 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIM BF₄) shows that EMIM TCB gives higher conductivity and transmittance and can be regarded as one of the most promising additives for the preparation of indium tin oxide (ITO)‐free organic devices using PEDOT:PSS/EMIM TCB as electrodes.     

DC chopper with coupled-inductor commutation

A novel coupled-inductor commutation circuit is described. The circuit may also be used for inverters. It uses only two auxiliary thyristors, each operating in alternate cycles and eliminating the need for reversal of the commutating capacitor voltage. Trapped energy is fed back to the source. The output voltage is controllable from zero to the full input voltage. The commutation circuit can be connected to a voltage source other than that feeding the load. A DC chopper using this commutation scheme has been analysed and experimentally verified.     

Airborne high‐resolution images for grape classification: changes in correlation between technological and late maturity in a Sangiovese vineyard in Central Italy

Background and Aims: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationships between NDVI values at different phenological stages and measurements of grape parameters at two different harvest dates. Methods and Results: The research was done on a Sangiovese vineyard in Central Italy. Over four seasons, airborne NDVI measurements acquired between June and August were related to grape parameters (yield per vine, pH, °Brix, anthocyanins and polyphenols) at technological harvest (H1) and two weeks later (H2). Correlations were higher at H1 and decreased at H2 with a different rate depending on the parameter. °Brix and pH correlations showed a moderate rate of variation between H1 and H2; bigger differences and a different inter‐annual dynamic were observed in anthocyanins and polyphenols between H1 and H2. Conclusions: The ability of NDVI to discriminate different grape classes was confirmed, but its efficacy substantially varies depending on the harvest date. These results suggest the existence, within the same vineyard, of different grape populations having specific timing and shape of ripening curve; as a consequence, distinct vigour zones of the vineyard show a different evolution of the content of grape parameters between the two harvests thus influencing the degree of correlation between grape quality and NDVI measurements. Significance of the Study: This is the first study in which harvest date has been considered for its influence on the predictive skill of RS. It therefore highlights not only the importance of spatial variation within the single vineyard, but also the importance of ripening dynamics.     

MEASUREMENT OF FLUID FOOD VISCOSITY USING MICROFABRICATED RADIO FREQUENCY COILS

We report on the use and applicability of microfabricated radio frequency (r.f.) coils for viscosity measurements of fluid foods. The viscosity of fluid milk and milklike products was measured using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging based on microfabricated r.f. coils coupled to in‐line tubing with an inner diameter of 1.4 × 10^‐3 m. The fluid's apparent viscosity ranged from 0.002 to 0.08 Pa·s. The magnetic resonance‐based measurements were limited in shear rate range because of the small size of the coil. Magnetic resonance‐based measurements from 2 to 15 s^‐1 were obtained and were equivalent to off‐line rotational rheometry.     

A MARANTHUS CRUENTUS LECTIN: PURIFICATION, STABILITY, AND SOME BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Amaranth lectin from Amaranthus cruentus seeds was isolated, purified and partially characterized. The purification method used was based on its ability to interact with fetuin. Effects of temperature, pH and buffers and concentration were determined by measurement of lectin hemagglutination activity. Amaranth lectin biological activity was best maintained at temperatures between 4 and 30°C and pH's above or below 5. It was possible to store amaranth lectin at 4°C in acetate buffers, pH 4.8, for prolonged periods and to concentrate it 10-fold by ultrafiltration with only 18% loss of activity. A subunit molecular weight of 32,500 daltons was determined by SDS-PAGE for amaranth lectin.     

海拔和相对湿度对卷烟感官质量的影响

为研究不同海拔和相对湿度对卷烟评吸指标的影响,采用卷烟评吸和MBA(多层次双三次样条插值)的分析方法,在16个不同的城市分别对某品牌卷烟的感官质量(11个评吸指标)进行评价.结果表明:在不同海拔和相对湿度的影响下,卷烟感官质量表现也不尽相同.海拔在0～1000 m之间,湿度在30%～50%或60%～80%时,香气特性(香气韵调、香气量、香气质)表现较好;在海拔200～700 m时,相对湿度为60%～80%时,烟气特性(浓度)较高;而海拔在0～1000 m之间,湿度60%～80%时,口感特性(刺激、烟气湿润度、干净度、回味)表现较好;海拔在1000 m以下,感官质量总体较好,且湿度为30%～50%或60%～80%时,感官质量表现最好.     

Human thyroid adenyl cyclase-stimulating activity in immunoglobulin G of patients with Graves' disease

We have studied the characteristics of the stimulation of adenyl cyclase (AC) activity in human thyroid plasma membranes by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and by immunoglobulin G (IgG) from the sera of patients with Graves' disease. AC activity was measured as adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) generated by membranes in a 10 minute incubation. IgG from two patients with Graves' disease possessed particularly potent human thyroid AC-stimulating activity; the dose-response curves with these IgGs were essentially parallel to those obtained with TSH. As little as 30 mug of the IgG of one patient with Graves' disease or 8 muU of TSH caused significant AC stimulation. A Lineweaver-Burk plot of the data suggested similarity in the site of action of both TSH and human thyroid adenyl cyclase stimulator (HTACS) in Graves' IgG. Submaximal doses of HTACS and TSH had additive effects on AC stimulation, but a large dose of a Graves' IgG with potent AC stimulating activity did not enhance AC stimulation by a maximal dose of TSH. The effect of HTACS on AC was slower in onset and longer in duration than an equipotent dose of TSH. HTACS was detectable in IgGs of 9 of 15 untreated hyperthyroid Graves' disease patients; its concentration, however, did not correlate significantly with tests of thyroid function, nor with long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS) activity. In another 11 treated patients with Graves' disease, selected for the presence of LATS, HTACS and LATS were significantly correlated. We observed no inhibition of LATS activity in a Graves' IgG chosen for such testing because of its high titer of HTACS and no detectable LATS. However, an inhibitor of HTACS was detected in 2 of 4 IgGs; one of these two IgGs also inhibited AC stimulation by TSH. Conclusions: 1) Some Graves' disease IgGs contain a human thyroid AC stimulator (HTACS), probably different from LATS. 2) HTACS may act via a common pathway with TSH; it differs from TSH, however, in having a slower onset and a greater effect during more prolonged incubation with plasma membranes. 3) There is also an inhibitor of HTACS activity in some Graves' disease IgGs.