Factor analysis of physicochemical properties of 63 rice varieties

A set of 63 Chinese‐adapted non‐waxy rice varieties of the indica and japonica subspecies was measured to extract simple indicators for rice quality evaluation. Approximate methods including amylose content (AC), gel consistency (GC), gelatinisation temperature (as measured by alkali spreading value, ASV), protein content, etc and instrumental methods including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), viscoamylography (with a Rapid Visco‐Analyser, RVA) and texture profile analysis were adopted. Four sets of data, ie ordinary testing, flour pasting property, texture of the cooled flour gel, and visual appearance of whole milled grain and flour, were obtained and analysed for mutual relationships. Wide variations were observed in most of the measurements, eg AC (ranging from 6.3 to 28.2%), gelatinisation temperature (T_p, 65.8–83.0 °C), protein content (7.2–13.5%), pasting (peak viscosity, 92–319 RVU) and texture (hardness, 2.5–24.4 g) properties and grain appearance (grain length, 4.8–8.4 mm), to mention a few. Significant correlations were also detected among the four sets of data of the rice varieties, such as AC versus SB (setback viscosity) with a correlation coefficient of ?0.73, AC versus HRD (gel hardness) of 0.73, HRD versus FRC (gel fracturability) of 0.99, etc. Generally, the instrumental measurements including DSC, pasting and texture properties were highly correlated with the three ordinarily used indicators of rice quality, ie AC, GC and ASV. However, there was a lack of correlation between pasting properties and textural parameters, implying effects on gel texture of retrogradation of starch after cooling of the paste. Six factors were computed by principal component factor analysis that explained 80% of the variation in the traits, among which amylose content‐related (30.8%), gelatinisation temperature‐related (14.9%) and grain appearance‐related (11.1%) factors were most important. Gel pasting properties evaluated by RVA, and flour colour played less important roles in explaining total variation (accounting for a combined 23% of the eigenvalue loading). This report can be used to identify predictive parameters for rapid screening of rice genotypes for eating quality. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mass spectrometric analysis of sulphonated dyes based on diaminobiphenyls

The title dyes, a group of new homo-bireactive disazo reactive dyes having molecular masses of 1000–1400 Da, were developed because of their potential use as low salt, easy wash-off colorants for cotton. Following dye synthesis from diaminobiphenyls with and without substituents in the 2,2'-positions, negative-ion electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to characterise the dyes. The MS obtained were characterised by signals arising from [M −  x H] ^{x −} ions plus fragment ions produced by cleavage at C–N bonds adjacent to the azo linkage. In addition, better results were produced when J-acid was the coupler employed rather than H-acid. The characteristic fragmentation behaviour of the studied dyes is discussed and illustrated on selected example.     

Nitrogen Production Efficiency for Acetaldehyde and Propionaldehyde in Lean NO x Reduction over Anatase Titania

The nitrogen formation efficiencies, defined as the number of nitrogen molecules formed for every reductant molecule consumed were determined for acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde in the reduction of NO₂ under lean conditions over anatase TiO₂. The efficiency increased with increasing NO₂/reductant in the feed, reaching 0.61 ± 0.05 for NO₂/acetaldehyde between 1.5 and 3.0 and 0.85 ± 0.08 for NO₂/propionaldehyde between 3.8 and 5.7. Simultaneously, the CO/CO₂ ratio as well as the small concentration of N₂O in the product stream increased. The results suggested that at higher NO₂/reductant ratios, the reaction between the reductant and adsorbed NO₂ accounted for a large majority of the reaction. The results were consistent with the IR results, which showed that surface nitro groups reacted readily with acetaldehyde. The implications of these results on the NO₂ reduction mechanism were discussed.     

A Cytochrome c-Chlorotoxin Hybrid Protein as a Possible Antiglioma Drug

Malignant gliomas are the most lethal form of primary brain tumors. Despite advances in cancer therapy, the prognosis of glioma patients has remained poor. Cytochrome c (Cytc), an endogenous heme-based protein, holds tremendous potential to treat gliomas because of its innate capacity to trigger apoptosis. To this end, a hybrid cytochrome c-chlorotoxin (Cytc-CTX) protein was biosynthesized to enable cellular uptake of the cell impenetrable Cytc using CTX transporters. A nucleotide sequence containing 1 : 1 Cytc and CTX was constructed and separated by a hexahistidine-tag and an enterokinase cleavage site. The sequence was cloned into a pBTR1 plasmid, expressed in Escherichia coli, purified via 2-dimensional chromatography. The identity and size of the protein were determined by Western blot and mass spectrometry. Cytc in this soluble hybrid protein has similar structure and stability as human Cytc and the hybrid protein is endocytosed into a glioma cell line, while displaying potent cytotoxicity and a favorable therapeutic index. Its facile, low-cost, and high yield synthesis, biocompatibility, and robustness suggest that the hybrid protein is a promising candidate for antiglioma drug evaluation.     

Analysis of the Taber Test in Characterization of Automotive Side Windows

The Taber test, as described in ASTM D-1044, combined with haze-level measurement, as described in ASTM 1003, is a commonly used method in many industries to evaluate resistance of material surfaces to abrasion. Attempts were made to use the Taber test to characterize a coated polycarbonate automotive window. However, the results did not represent the performance of the product in actual service very well. Atomic force microscopy was used to examine the abraded surfaces after the Taber test and carry out a statistical analysis to explain the observed haze development (the haze after abrasion less the haze before abrasion). It was found that the Taber test data in evaluation of the layered material had a larger standard of deviation than glass due to the occasional occurrence of delamination and chipping at the surface. In addition, its crossed-scratch abrasion pattern might not be a good simulation of the real abrasion experience of the automotive windows.     

Psychotherapy and Psychopharmacology: Different Universes or an Integrated Future?

Psychotherapy and psychopharmacology should be considered as 2 alternative or complementary treatment approaches, not as antithetical to each other. Studies of potential negative interactions of these 2 techniques have demonstrated none. A number of positive benefits have, however, been found. Studies that look at combined treatments have generally been restricted to depression. Some, but not all, studies suggest an advantage for the combination, particularly in severe, recurrent, chronic, and geriatric depressions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Design, synthesis and application of easy wash-off reactive dyes

New dyes that not only give good fixation levels but also relatively low substantivity in the hydrolysed form were the targets of this research. Our approach involved lowering the substantivity of the hydrolysed dye by reducing the planarity that is required for dyes to have high substantivity on cotton. In this regard, bifunctional bis-dichlorotriazine (bis-DCT) and tetrafunctional bis-monochlorotriazine/bis-sulphatoethyl sulphone [bis-(MCT/SES)] reactive dyes were made, using selected diaminobiphenyls. Bis-DCT bifunctional reactive dyes were applied to cotton by a pad–batch method, while bis-(MCT/SES) tetrafunctional reactive dyes were applied to cotton by a pad–dry–cure. Following dye application, it was found that the resultant hydrolysed dyes easily washed off the fibre surface and that the dyed cotton fabrics had colour fastness to rubbing and laundering properties that were comparable with the commercial prototypes used in this study. However, it is also apparent that the combination of relatively low water solubility and large molecular size has an adverse effect on fibre penetration.     

A multi-user desktop virtual environment for teaching shop-keeping to children

Virtual role-playing environments can be a powerful mechanism of instruction, provided they are constructed such that learning how to play and win the game contributes to a player’s understanding of real-world concepts and procedures. North Dakota State University (NDSU) provides students with environments to enhance their understanding of geology (Planet Oit), cellular biology (Virtual Cell), programming languages (ProgrammingLand), retailing (Dollar Bay), and history (Blackwood). These systems present a number of opportunities and an equal number of challenges. Players are afforded a role-based, multi-user, ‘learn-by-doing’ experience, with software agents acting as both environmental effects and tutors and the possibilities of multi-user cooperation and collaboration. However, technical issues and one important cultural issue present a range of difficulties. The Dollar Bay environment, its particular challenges, and the solutions to these are presented.