Influence of Poultry Species, Muscle Groups, and NaCl Level on Strength, Deformability, and Water Retention in Heat-Set Muscle Gels

The effects of poultry species (chicken and turkey), muscle groups (breast, thigh, and drum) and NaCl concentration (1% and 2%) on a low fat gel system were compared using measurements of shear stress (strength), shear strain (deformability), and two water retention measurements. Results showed doubling NaCl tended to double stress for all species and muscle groups and increased strain by 30–50%. Cross species differences showed higher stress in turkey gels than in chicken gels with 2% NaCl. For both species, stress, strain and water retention were lowest in breast gels with both NaCl concentrations, and strain was greater in thigh gels than in drum gels with 2% NaCl.     

Rational design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of the (2R)- and (2S)-stereoisomers of 3-(2-carboxypyrrolidinyl)-2-methyl acetic acid as ligands for the ionotropic glutamate receptors

In this paper we describe the rational design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of two new stereoisomeric (S)‐glutamate (Glu) analogues. The rational design was based on hybrid structures of the natural product kainic acid, a synthetic analogue CPAA and the high‐affinity Glu analogue SYM2081. Pharmacological evaluation of the two stereoisomers revealed that one stereoisomer showed a subtype selectivity profile with low micromolar affinity for GluK1 and GluK3 and a 10‐ to 15‐fold lower affinity for GluK2. The other stereoisomer displayed full selectivity for the KA over AMPA and NMDA receptors (GluK1–3: 0.39, 0.51 and 0.099 µM , respectively).     

Heterocycles as Nonclassical Bioisosteres of α‐Amino Acids

Bioisosterism of α‐amino acids is often accomplished by replacing the α‐carboxylate with one of the many known carboxylic acid bioisosteres. However, bioisosterism of the whole α‐amino acid moiety is accomplished with heterocyclic bioisosteres that often display an acidic function. In this Minireview, we summarized the reported heterocycles as nonclassical bioisosteres of α‐amino acids, which include quinoxaline‐2,4(1H)‐dione, quinoxaline‐2,3(1H)‐dione and quinolin‐2(1H)‐one, azagrevellin and azepine‐derived structures. The binding mode of the crystalized bioisosteres were compared with those of the crystalized α‐amino acids that bind in the same domain, and where no data on the crystal structure were available, the displacement studies of known orthosteric ligands were used. The reported bioisosteres share the following essential structural features for mimicking α‐amino acids: an aromatic ring system joined to a lactam ring system with an acidic feature next to the lactam carbonyl, where this acidic feature together with the lactam carbonyl can mimic the α‐carboxylate, and the lactam nitrogen together with the aromatic ring system can mimic the α‐ammonium. The majority of these heterocycles can be prepared from three common corresponding starting materials: the corresponding anilines, isatins or anthranilic esters. The data collected here show the potential of this class of bioisosteres in the design of glutamate receptor ligands and beyond.     

IN SITU X-RAY PROBES FOR PIEZOELECTRICITY IN EPITAXIAL FERROELECTRIC CAPACITORS

ABSTRACT

Probing the piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity of thin film devices and nanostructures quantitatively has proven to be challenging because the appropriate experimental tools have had a limited range of usefulness. We show here that the piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of epitaxial thin films can be measured quantitatively using time-resolved synchrotron x-ray microdiffraction. Microdiffraction combines structural specificity with the appropriate spatial resolution and ability to probe structures with electrical contacts. Our measurements of piezoelectric coefficients and coercive electric fields for Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ capacitors using this approach are in excellent quantitative agreement with results obtained electrically and mechanically. The time and spatial resolution of microdiffraction probes are well-defined and decoupled from electrical and mechanical resonances of the ferroelectric capacitor.     

完井方式对适度出砂井产能的影响研究

为了完善近几年提出的海上稠油油藏开采新模式中的部分技术——以钻井压裂、适度出砂、电潜螺杆泵为主的钻采工艺配套技术体系,根据不同完井方式（包括裸眼完井、射孔完井、筛管完井等）下钻井压裂井的表皮系数模型和产能模型,研究了不同完井方式下不同技术参数对钻井压裂适度出砂井的产能影响,结果表明,这些参数都不同程度地影响着井筒周围的出砂带物性,进而影响油井产能;在用适度出砂方式开采时,要严格评价完井方式及其技术参数对出砂带物性和产能的影响。     

铝源溶解度和铁含量对FeAIPO-5分子筛结构和形貌的影响

以异丙醇铝为铝源,通过完全溶解或部分溶解制备凝胶,利用水热合成法制备系列不同铁含量的FeAlPO-5分子筛,通过XRD、IR和SEM等手段对合成的样品进行表征,结果表明,FeAl-PO-5分子筛的结构和形貌受铝源溶解度和铁含量的影响.铝源完全溶解后,添加其他试剂合成的FeAlPO-5分子筛易出现密鳞石英相.铁的过量加入也使FeAlPO-5从AFI结构部分转变为密鳞石英相.     

RNA polymerase II transcription complex assembly in nuclear extracts

Variation in superovulatory responses in cattle may be related to the stage of follicular growth at the time of gonadotropin treatment. Waves of follicle growth are regulated by both follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol. The objective of experiment 1 was to determine the dynamics of follicle wave emergence and the relationship with FSH and oestradiol concentrations, after treatment of heifers with oestradiol benzoate (ODB) in the presence of an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (CIDR-B). Experiment 2 examined the superovulatory response, embryo yield and quality following treatment with porcine follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH) at different times relative to ODB injection. In experiment 1, 28 beef heifers were treated with a CIDR for 9 days and allocated at random to one of four groups to receive either: (I) CIDR only, or 5 mg ODB given as a single intramuscular injection at (II) day 0 (d0); (III) day 1.5 (d1.5); or (IV) day 3 (d3) post CIDR insertion. Ovaries were examined using daily ultrasound and blood samples were collected twice daily for 11 days. In experiment 2, 96 heifers were treated with a CIDR and 5 mg ODB as in experiment 1, and were allocated using a 4 x 3 factorial design plan to a superovulation programme using three doses (400 IU; 600 IU; 800 IU) of pFSH. FSH was given for 4 days at 12-h intervals beginning 6.5 days after CIDR insertion. Heifers received prostaglandin analogue 12 h before CIDR removal and were inseminated (AI) at 48 and 60 h post CIDR withdrawal and embryos were recovered 7 days after AI. In experiment 1, the interval from CIDR insertion to follicle wave emergence (FWE) was longer (P < 0.05) in heifers treated with ODB at d1.5 (5.4 +/- 0.4 days) and d3 (5.1 +/- 0.6 days) compared to heifers treated with CIDR only (2.4 +/- 0.4 days). On the basis of time to proposed injection of pFSH heifers would have had follicle emergence 4.4, 2.3, 1.5 and 1.4 days prior to pFSH for groups I, II, III and IV, respectively. In experiment 2, heifers treated with ODB at d1.5 had a higher (P < 0.05) superovulatory response (18.2 +/- 1.7) than heifers treated at d3 (12.8 +/- 1.7), but superovulatory response in both groups did not differ (P > 0.05) from heifers treated at d0 (14.4 +/- 2.0) or with CIDR only (15.0 +/- 1.8). There were fewer (P < 0.05) freezable-grade embryos recovered from heifers treated with ODB at d0 (1.5 +/- 0.7) and d3 (2.1 +/- 0.5) compared to heifers treated at d1.5 (3.0 +/- 0.6) or in heifers treated with CIDR only (3.4 +/- 0.7). Increasing the dose of pFSH caused a linear increase in the superovulatory response (11.7 +/- 1.0, 15.8 +/- 1.4 and 18.0 +/- 1.9) and in the number of embryos recovered (5.8 +/- 0.9, 7.0 +/- 0.8 and 9.1 +/- 1.0) for 400 IU, 600 IU and 800 IU, respectively. In conclusion, heifers treated with ODB had wide variation in time to follicle wave emergence and there was not a consistent beneficial effect of pretreatment with ODB on embryo yield and quality following superovulation.     

Randomized phase II trial of BCDT [carmustine (BCNU), cisplatin, dacarbazine (DTIC) and tamoxifen] with or without interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and interleukin (IL-2) in patients with metastatic melanoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate in a randomized phase II trial the efficacy and toxicity of combination biochemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone in patients with metastatic melanoma. Sixty-five patients with metastatic melanoma (ECOG performance status 0 or 1) were randomized to receive intravenous BCNU 100 mg m(-2) (day 1, alternate courses), cisplatin 25 mg m(-2) (days 1-3), DTIC 220 mg m(-2) (days 1-3) and oral tamoxifen 40 mg (BCDT regimen) with (n = 35) or without (n = 30) subcutaneous interleukin 2 (IL-2) 18 x 10(6) iu t.d.s. (day - 2), 9 x 10(6) iu b.d. (day - 1 and 0) and interferon 2 alpha (IFN-alpha) 9 MU (days 1-3). Evidence for immune activation was determined by flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Treatment was repeated every 4 weeks up to six courses depending on response. The overall response rate of BCDT with IL-2/IFN-alpha was 23% [95% confidence interval (CI) 10-40%] with one complete response (CR) and seven partial responses (PR), and for BCDT alone 27% (95% CI 12-46%) with eight PRs; the median durations of response were 2.8 months and 2.5 months respectively. Sites of response were similar in both groups. There was no difference between the two groups in progression-free survival or overall survival (median survival 5 months for BCDT with IL-2/IFNalpha and 5.5 months for BCDT alone). Although 3 days of subcutaneous IL-2 resulted in significant lymphopenia, evidence of immune activation was indicated by a significant rise in the percentage of CD56- (NK cells) and CD3/HLA-DR-positive (activated T cells) subsets, without any change in the percentage of CD4 or CD4 T-cell subsets. Toxicity assessment revealed a significantly higher incidence of severe thrombocytopenia in patients treated with combination chemotherapy than with chemotherapy alone (37% vs 13%, P = 0.03) and a higher incidence of grade 3/4 flu-like symptoms (20% vs 10%) and fatigue (26% vs 13%). The addition of subcutaneous IL-2 and IFNalpha to BCDT chemotherapy in a randomized phase II trial resulted in immune activation but did not improve response rates in patients with metastatic melanoma, and indeed may increase some treatment-related toxicity.