Influenza virus hemagglutinin stimulates the protein kinase C activity of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) incubated with influenza virus, A/USSR/90/77 (H1N1) or its hemagglutinin produced a significant increase in their PKC activity when compared with untreated PMNL. The activated kinase translocated from cytosol to cellular membrane. The calcium-dependent enzyme activity was inhibited by a specific inhibitor suggesting that alpha and/or beta isoforms of PKC were involved.     

Mash1 and neurogenin1 expression patterns define complementary domains of neuroepithelium in the developing CNS and are correlated with regions expressing notch ligands

Genetic studies in Drosophila and in vertebrates have implicated basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes in neuronal fate determination and cell type specification. We have compared directly the expression of Mash1 and neurogenin1 (ngn1), two bHLH genes that are expressed specifically at early stages of neurogenesis. In the PNS these genes are expressed in complementary autonomic and sensory lineages. In the CNS in situ hybridization to serial sections and double-labeling experiments indicate that Mash1 and ngn1 are expressed in adjacent and nonoverlapping regions of the neuroepithelium that correspond to future functionally distinct areas of the brain. We also showed that in the PNS several other bHLH genes exhibit similar lineal restriction, as do ngn1 and Mash1, suggesting that complementary cascades of bHLH factors are involved in PNS development. Finally, we found that there is a close association between expression of ngn1 and Mash1 and that of two Notch ligands. These observations suggest a basic plan for vertebrate neurogenesis whereby regionalization of the neuroepithelium is followed by activation of a relatively small number of bHLH genes, which are used repeatedly in complementary domains to promote neural determination and differentiation.     

Crystallization behavior of milk fat,palm oil,palm kernel oil,and cocoa butter with and without the addition of cannabidiol

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on the crystallization behavior and physical properties of various fats. Anhydrous milk fat (AMF), palm oil (PO), palm kernel oil (PKO), and cocoa butter (CB) were chosen for this study, for their unique crystallization behaviors. CBD was added at 1 and 2.5% wt/wt to these fats, and the crystallization behavior was evaluated at 26°C for AMF and PO and at 22°C for PKO and CB. Control samples with no CBD were prepared and evaluated as well. Results show that CBD delayed the crystallization of all fats with the least effect observed for the PO. Slight increases in crystal size were observed with the addition of CBD for all samples. CBD did not affect the melting profile of AMF or CB, but it increased the peak temperature of PO and decreased the enthalpy of PKO. Similarly, hardness was only affected by CBD in PO samples, with harder materials obtained for samples containing 2.5% CBD. The same trend was observed for elasticity. In addition, the elasticity of AMF increased with the addition of CBD but not its hardness. Overall, this study indicates that the effect of CBD on fat crystallization is highly dependent on the type of fat used. Producers of fat-based products that are willing to include CBD in their formulations must carefully control processing conditions to ensure product quality.     

Determination of Uncertainty in Transition Velocity Estimates for Ceramic Materials

The uncertainty of transition velocity estimates made for five armor ceramic materials was quantified by applying Bayesian hypothesis testing to the McCauley Wilantewicz method. Likelihood functions of the ceramic plasticity parameter and estimated transition velocity for each material were determined through analysis of load–hardness probability spaces. Parameters of these functions were analyzed to quantify variability in expected material performance. The applied statistical methodology enabled formation of probability of penetration curves that indicated how the certainty of interface defeat varied as a function of impact velocity. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of results increases the utility of the McCauley Wilantewicz method as a screening tool for ceramic materials by providing additional information regarding the variability of expected material performance. Information revealed by this statistical approach could potentially be harnessed to drive future material development by indicating microstructural states more likely to result in desirable material behavior.     

XFEM modelling of single-lap Kenaf fibre composite hybrid joints under quasi-static loading

ABSTRACT

The present paper aims to predict the bearing stress at failures of woven fabric kenaf fibre reinforced polymer with single-lap hybrid joints under quasi-static testing. Testing series investigated includes a variation of joint types, normalised W/d, lay-up types, plate thickness and bolt loads. Initially, cohesive failures appeared within adhesive layer, followed by net-tension failure mode in all testing series investigated associated with stress concentration. Strength prediction was carried out subsequently by implementing XFEM framework with an embedded traction-separation relationship within ABAQUS CAE. The experimental datasets and XFEM results were evaluated where good agreements were found in the combination of cross ply and thicker coupon with a discrepancy of less than 5%.     

Measurement of intrinsic rates for homogeneous gas‐phase reactions at high temperatures

A coiled quartz tubular reactor has been designed to measure the intrinsic reaction kinetics for homogeneous reactions at high temperatures up to 1100°C. Actual gas residence times were less than 100 ms. A simple and well‐studied test reaction (i.e., the decomposition of nitrous oxide, N₂O), with published intrinsic kinetics, was used to verify the operation of the experimental reactor. For this system, Peclet numbers (Pe = uL/DL) computed from experimental conversion data were greater than 1000, indicating that the plug flow assumption could be used with this reactor system to determine intrinsic rate expressions with errors of less than 5% for the conditions studied.     

Optimization of transesterification of castor oil with ethanol using a central composite rotatable design (CCRD)

In the present study, the synthesis of fatty acid esters from castor oil using an alkaline catalyst was optimized. The variables reaction time, catalyst amount and oil:ethanol molar ratio were studied using a central composite rotatable design. The effects and significance of the models on the response variable and on ethyl biodiesel yield derived from pure castor oil were evaluated using a response surface curve and analysis of variance. All the variables significantly affected the reaction yield, the amount of catalyst being the most effective. The highest yield was obtained using an oil:ethanol molar ratio of 1:11, 1.75% KOH and a reaction time of 90 min.     

The deficiency of the ‘economic optimum’ application for evaluating models which predict crop yield response to nitrogen fertiliser

Much effort is devoted to testing N-fertiliser models against measurements of yield in N-fertiliser experiments. We show that the economic optimum application of N-fertiliser can often only be determined very imprecisely from such measurements, even when they are accurate. Hence any attempt to evaluate a simulation model by comparing simulated with experimentally determined optima, or to relate these experimental optima to other factors thought to influence yield, will be uninformative. Big differences between simulated and measured optima will occur even with good models, which may explain the apparent poor performance of some simulation models in the literature.We suggest, instead, the systematic inspection of the differences between simulated and observed yields at the levels of N-fertiliser applied in an experiment. A study of the relationship of these differences to the applied level of N-fertiliser and to other factors of interest will be a more informative method of evaluating a model, and of suggesting other factors for inclusion in it. An example of the use of the method is given.