Hydroxyl Radical and Ferryl-Generating Systems Promote Gel Network Formation of Myofibrillar Protein

ABSTRACT: The objective of the study was to examine how oxidatively induced protein cross-linking would influence the gelation properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) under meat processing conditions. MP suspensions in 0.6 M NaCl at pH 6 were treated with an iron-catalyzed oxidizing system (IOS: 10 μM FeCl₃, 0.1 mM ascorbic acid, 0.05 to 5 mM H₂O₂) or a H₂O₂-activated metmyoglobin oxidizing system (MOS: 0.01 to 0.1 mM metmyoglobin/H₂O₂) that produced hydroxyl radical and ferryl species, respectively. Both oxidizing systems promoted MP thermal gelation, which was evidenced by rapid protein–protein interaction and the enhancement in storage modulus (elasticity) of the gel network as revealed by dynamic rheological testing in the 20 to 74 °C temperature range. This gelation-enhancing effect was attributed to the shift of myosin aggregation in the early stage of heating from predominantly head–head association (nonoxidized control samples) to prevalently tail–tail cross-linking through disulfide bonds. However, both hardness and water-holding capacity of chilled gels tended to decline when MP was exposed to ≥1 mM H₂O₂ in IOS and to all concentrations of metmyoglobin in MOS. Microscopic examination confirmed a more porous structure in oxidized gels when compared with nonoxidized protein gels. The results demonstrated that mild oxidation altered the mode of myosin aggregation in favor of an elastic gel network formation, but it did not improve or had a negative effect on water-binding properties of MP gels. Practical Application: Mild oxidation promotes protein network formation and enhances gelation of myofibrillar protein under normal salt and pH conditions used in meat processing. This oxidative effect, which involves disulfide linkages, is somewhat similar to that in bakery product processing where oxidants are used to improve dough performance through gluten protein interaction.     

Pitting corrosion of Type 430 stainless steel under chloride solution droplet

To clarify the critical relative humidity (RH) to initiate pitting corrosion and the rusting mechanism in a marine atmospheric environment, pitting corrosion of Type 430 stainless steels under drops of MgCl₂ solutions were investigated. A pitting corrosion test was performed at different relative humidities under droplets with various diameters and thicknesses. The probability of pitting decreased as the diameter and thickness decreased. Pitting progressed only when the chloride concentration exceeded 4 M, which is the equilibrium concentration at 80% RH. Accordingly, pitting of Type 430 could be initiated when the RH was less than 80%. Additionally, a pitting corrosion mechanism of Type 430 stainless steel under droplets containing chloride ions is proposed.     

An analysis of capillary water behavior in poly‐p‐phenylenebenzobisoxazole fiber

This study concerns with analysis of water inside a poly‐p‐phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO) fiber. It is important to analyze the state of water attached to polymer, because it may affect properties of fibers as the increase of drying speed of water from the fiber. To carry out such observation, differential scanning calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were applied. They reveal the large freezing point depression and the state of water inside wet PBO fiber. It shows extraordinary low crystallization temperature. The reason may be that the water is packed into capillary voids whose diameter is around 2–3 nm. Proton NMR analysis also suggests the above result. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 1030–1036, 2001     

Improvement of forest type classification by SPOT HRV with 20 m mesh DTM

Abstract

For multispectral analysis of forest land in mountainous areas, the estimation of true reflectance without the terrain having an effect on the sensor response is indispensable. To study this subject, the authors carried out the following experiment. First, we made a precise digital terrain model (DTM) at an interval of 10 m for a test forest site covered with Lambertian-type crown surface. Analysing the forest land from the SPOT data with the precise DTM, we obtained a classification result of forest type about 20 per cent higher accuracy than the result without application of this method.     

FEM Modeling of Crack Propagation in a Model Multiphase Alloy

In this paper, several widely applied fracture criteria were first numerically examined and the crack-tip-region Jntegral criterion was confirmed to be more applicable to predict fracture angle in an elastic-plastic multiphase material. Then, the crack propagation in an idealized an elastic-plastic finite element method. The variation dendritic two-phase AI-7%Si alloy was modeled using of crack growth driving force with crack extension was also demonstrated. It is found that the crack path is significantly influenced by the presence of α-phase near the crack tip, and the crack growth driving force varies drastically from place to place. Lastly, the simulated fracture path in the two-phase model alloy was compared with the experimentally observed fracture path.     

Regulation of the Fructose Transporter Gene Slc2a5 Expression by Glucose in Cultured Microglial Cells

Microglia play a role in the regulation of metabolism and pathogenesis of obesity. Microglial activity is altered in response to changes in diet and the body’s metabolic state. Solute carrier family 2 member 5 (Slc2a5) that encodes glucose transporter 5 (GLUT5) is a fructose transporter primarily expressed in microglia within the central nervous system. However, little is known about the nutritional regulation of Slc2a5 expression in microglia and its role in the regulation of metabolism. The present study aimed to address the hypothesis that nutrients affect microglial activity by altering the expression of glucose transporter genes. Murine microglial cell line SIM-A9 cells and primary microglia from mouse brain were exposed to different concentrations of glucose and levels of microglial activation markers and glucose transporter genes were measured. High concentration of glucose increased levels of the immediate-early gene product c-Fos, a marker of cell activation, Slc2a5 mRNA, and pro-inflammatory cytokine genes in microglial cells in a time-dependent manner, while fructose failed to cause these changes. Glucose-induced changes in pro-inflammatory gene expression were partially attenuated in SIM-A9 cells treated with the GLUT5 inhibitor. These findings suggest that an increase in local glucose availability leads to the activation of microglia by controlling their carbohydrate sensing mechanism through both GLUT5-dependent and –independent mechanisms.     

连铸工艺中弯月面控制的发展

在生产效率和板坯质量方面,连铸工艺中的弯月面控制总是十分重要的.为了掌握弯月面控制的发展方面,本文首先概括介绍早期针对生产效率而采用的弯月面控制技术,进而介绍当前为了提高板坯质量而采用的顶部凹槽的弯月面控制技术.80年代,两项关于生产效率的弯月面控制技术发展起来.一项是结晶器状况监测系统,另一项是高速结晶器调宽技术.至于板坯质量方面,最近我们发展了在结晶器周围加上低频交流电磁场的电磁连铸技术(EMC),并且开展了中间实验和连铸生产规模的应用研究.关于EMC技术在弯月面控制的三方面作用得到证实,即结晶器和凝固坯壳之间的软接触,垂直搅拌,焦耳热使初始凝固阶段能适度冷却.     

Scanning electron microscopic structure of the prismatic layer in the Bivalvia

The shell structure of the Bivalvia has been observed with the use of optical and electron microscopes since the early 1900’s. The prismatic structure is one of the more attractive shell structures in bivalved mollusks. This structure is composed of the aggregation of polygonal prisms arranged densely. Each prism is made of small calcite crystallites arranged perpendicular to a growth shell surface. Organic materials, named organic sheaths, accumulate around prisms and stain well with heamatoxylin-eosin.The Bivalvia, which make prismatic structures, are divided into two groups. One group has the inner shell layer made up of a nacreous structure, and the other has the inner shell layer made up of a foliated structure. The aragonite prismatic layer and the prismatic layer are closely related to each other, as is the aragonite prismatic layer to the composite prismatic one.