RH

In the present study, blue corn flour films were developed. The cereal grain's total composition (excluding the pericarp) is used to obtain the films. The plasticizing effects of two different polyols such as glycerol and sorbitol on the mechanical, thermal, and microstructural properties of flour films were researched. The results showed that films plasticized with sorbitol had better mechanical properties and less affinity for water than those plasticized with glycerol. The sorbitol-plasticized films were more rigid and did not lose their integrity when immersed in water. The ATR-FTIR spectra of blue corn flour plasticizer with sorbitol showed the presence of the additional band at 1745 cm À1 characteristic of the vibrational carbonyl peak, which confirms the chemical linkages between sorbitol and a polymeric matrix. The effect of the plasticizer on the glass transition temperature (T g) was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). T g decreased as the plasticizer content increased. Plasticized glycerol films showed lower T g values than those with sorbitol. SEM observations showed that it was necessary to add plasticizer to maintain film integrity. The sorbitol-plasticized flour films revealed better adhesion between phases, and these films showed a compact structure.

A total of 10 noble metal (Rh, Pt, Pd, Ru and Ir) catalysts, either supported on CeO 2 or Ce 0.63 Zr 0.37 O 2 , were prepared. Catalysts were fully characterized using XRD, N 2 adsorption at −196 • C, TEM and H 2 chemisorption. Oxygen storage processes were carefully investigated. The influence of temperature was checked and a key role of oxygen diffusion was further demonstrated. A review of the reactions involved in the CO transient oxidation reaction is finally proposed. (C. Descorme).

Hybrid plasma catalyst technology has great potential for indoor air purification. However, humidity is a critical parameter in plasma catalytic processes. In this work, several catalysts were tested downstream of a DC corona discharge and the effect of humidity was investigated on both ozone and toluene removal. Next, sorption measurements onto the catalysts were performed for toluene, trichloroethylene and acetone, using an equilibrium partitioning in closed system procedure to explain the obtained results in a quantitative manner.

We examined pollination biology of Acacia nigrescens Oliver, flowering at the end of the dry season in Kruger National Park, South Africa. A. nigrescens produces small quantities of concentrated nectar, and has abundant pollen resources available to potential pollinators. We recorded large numbers of insect visitors and most fruit set on the tops of trees, beyond the reach of ungulate browsers such as giraffes (which consume a substantial proportion of A. nigrescens flowers). Wasps, flies and solitary bees were the most numerous visitors and are likely to play a significant role in pollination.

In tardigrades, tolerance to low temperature is well known and allows them to cope with subzero temperatures in their environment. Although the ability to tolerate freezing body water has been demonstrated in some tardigrades, freeze tolerance of embryonic stages has been little studied, although this has ecological significance. In this study, we evaluated the subzero temperature survival of five different developmental stages of the eutardigrade species Milnesium tardigradum after freezing to −30°C. Embryos were exposed to five different cooling rates between room temperature and −30°C at 1°C/h, 3°C/h, 5°C/h, 7°C/h, and 9°C/h followed by a warming period at 10°C/h. The results showed that the developmental stage and the cooling rate have a significant effect on the hatching rate. Less developed embryonic stages were more sensitive to freezing at higher freezing rates than more developed stages. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the temperature of crystallization (Tc) in single embryos of the different developmental stages and revealed no differences between the stages. Based on the calorimetric data, we also conclude that the ice nucleation is homogeneous in embryonic stages in tardigrades, as also recently shown for fully developed tardigrades, and not triggered by nucleating agents.

Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are considered to be a promising technology for efficient power generation in the 21st century. Currently, high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC) offer several advantages, such as high proton conductivity, low permeability to fuel, low electro-osmotic drag coefficient, good chemical/thermal stability, good mechanical properties and low cost. Owing to the aforementioned features, high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells have been utilized more widely compared to low temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells, which contain certain limitations, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, heat management, water leaching, etc. This review examines the inspiration for HT-PEMFC development, the technological constraints, and recent advances. Various classes of polymers, such as sulfonated hydrocarbon polymers, acid-base polymers and blend polymers, have been Abbreviations: AB-PBI, poly(2,5-polybenzimidazole); AIBN, azobisisobutyronitrile; AIPA, 5-aminoisophthalic acid; APP 414, APP 414 membrane (APTES/PDMS/POCl3 molar ratio: 4/1/4)analyzed to fulfill the key requirements of high temperature operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The effect of inorganic additives on the performance of HT-PEMFC has been scrutinized. A detailed discussion of the synthesis of polymer, membrane fabrication and physicochemical characterizations is provided. The proton conductivity and cell performance of the polymeric membranes can be improved by high temperature treatment. The mechanical and water retention properties have shown significant improvement., However, there is scope for further research from the perspective of achieving improvements in certain areas, such as optimizing the thermal and chemical stability of the polymer, acid management, and the integral interface between the electrode and membrane.

Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells have emerged as a promising emission free technology to fulfill the existing power requirements of the 21st century. Nafion ® is the most widely accepted and commercialized membrane to date and possesses excellent electrochemical properties below 80 • C, under highly humidified conditions. However, a decrease in the proton conductivity of Nafion ® above 80 • C and lower humidity along with high membrane cost has prompted the development of new membranes and techniques. Addition of inorganic fillers, especially silicate-based nanomaterials, to the polymer membrane was utilized to partially overcome the aforementioned limitations. This is because of the lower cost, easy availability, high hydrophilicity and higher thermal stability of the inorganic silicates. Addition of silicates to the polymer membrane has also improved the mechanical, thermal and barrier properties, along with water uptake of the composite membranes, resulting in superior performance at higher temperature compared to that of the virgin membrane. on the techniques of silicate-based nanocomposite fabrication and the resulting impact on the membrane properties.

There is growing interest in developing bio-based polymers and innovative process technologies that can reduce the dependence on fossil fuel and move to a sustainable materials basis. Bio-nanocomposites open an opportunity for the use of new, high performance, light weight green nanocomposite materials making them to replace conventional non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastic packaging materials. So far, the most studied bio-nanocomposites suitable for packaging applications are starch and cellulose derivatives, polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). The most promising nanoscale fillers are layered silicate nanoclays such as montmorillonite and kaolinite. In food packaging, a major emphasis is on the development of high barrier properties against the diffusion of oxygen, carbon dioxide, flavor compounds, and water vapor. Moreover, several nanostructures can be useful to provide active and/or smart properties to food packaging systems, as exemplified by antimicrobial properties, oxygen scavenging ability, enzyme immobilization, or indication of the degree of exposure to some detrimental factors such as inadequate temperatures or oxygen levels. Challenges remain in increasing the compatibility between clays and polymers and reaching complete dispersion of nanoparticles. This review focuses on the enhancement of packaging performance of the green materials as well as their biodegradability, antimicrobial properties, and mechanical and thermal properties for food packaging application. The preparation, characterization and application of biopolymer-based nanocomposites with organic layered silicate and other fillers, and their application in the food packaging sector are also discussed.

Introducción: La enfermedad hemolítica del feto y del recién nacido es una afección inmunológica aloinmune, en la cual la sobrevida del hematíe fetal y del recién nacido está acortada debido a la acción de anticuerpos maternos. Desarrollo: Los eritrocitos fetales unidos a los anticuerpos son retenidos en el bazo, determinando una hemólisis extravascular. Esto produce anemia fetal, hiperbilirrubinemia y hepatoesplenomegalia, lo que conlleva a una reducción en la síntesis de albumina con disminución de la presión oncotica y el consecuente desarrollo de hydrops. Si el deterioro persiste se desarrolla acidosis metabólica, insuficiencia cardiaca y muerte. Existen diferencias en el plano internacional el enfoque de la profilaxis con suero anti-D, en nuestra región se prefiere la aplicación de una dosis de anti-D (1500 UI), ya que es capaz de cubrir mas del 90% de las hemorragias feto-maternas. Se administra una dosis intramuscular después de la semana 28 de gestación y otra post parto antes de las 72 hs de producido el mismo. Así mismo también debe recibir una dosis después de cualquier evento capaz de facilitar el pasaje de células fetales a la circulación materna. El tratamiento en los casos en que no se ha hecho profilaxis incluye, por un lado plasmaferesis y administración de gammaglobulina intravenosa para la madre y transfusión intrauterina de sangre Rh (D) negativo para el feto. Conclusión: agudizando los esfuerzos en diagnóstico, prevención, y eventualmente tratamiento, se logrará el objetivo: lidiar contra una enfermedad que aún en la actualidad continúa amenazando a la población fetal, particularmente, en de países en vías de desarrollo. Palabras claves: anemia, Rh, embarazo.

This review deals with present and past efforts in utilization of vaccine adjuvants for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines. PRRSV vaccines elicit delayed and weak cell-mediated immune (CMI) and antibody responses after vaccination. Several kinds of vaccine adjuvants have been utilized to accelerate and magnify immune responses to PRRSV vaccines. These adjuvants include cytokines, chemical reagents, and bacterial products. Of 11 vaccine adjuvants tested, five (i.e.

This study aimed to compare the physiological adaptations of Jatropha curcas in two regions with different climates, the Agreste (a semi-arid tropical climate) and the Florest zone (a semi-humid tropical climate) subject to water stress. Measurements of gas exchange and photochemical and biochemical efficiency were performed in two seasons, the dry season (September to February) and the rainy season (April and August), between 2006 and 2007. During the dry season in the Florest zone, the J. curcas plants presented better photosynthetic performance, with smaller decreases in the rates of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration because the conditions of water availability in the soil were slightly higher than in the semi-arid region. A greater vapor pressure deficit was observed during the dry season of the semi-arid region, showing a negative correlation with the stomatal opening of the leaves, which contributed to a reduction in the values of the net photosynthetic rate. During the dry season in the semi-arid region, dynamic photoinhibition occurred in the leaves of J. curcas around mid-day, with a rapid recovery during the afternoon. However, chronic photoinhibition may have occurred in some plants with a severe water deficit. A reduction in the effective quantum efficiency was also observed during the driest months. The increase of catalase activity and the accumulation of proline, total soluble sugars and amino acids during periods of low water availability in the soil suggest that J. curcas presents an efficient protection mechanism that allows the plant to survive under drought conditions.

Cooling demand constitutes a large portion of total electrical demand for office buildings during peak hours. Ice storage technology can help shift this peak cooling demand to off-peak periods. This research analyzes the chiller energy consumption of conventional non-storage and ice storage cooling systems for large and medium-sized office buildings in diverse climate zones. Demand Response Quick Assessment Tool (DRQAT) has been used to model and simulate large and medium-sized office buildings. The construction and weather files in DRQAT have been modified to incorporate construction standard and weather data for the cities representing the diverse climate zones. Results indicate that the chiller energy consumption for non-storage and ice storage systems depends highly on climatic conditions. Climate zones with hot summers as well as small day and night temperature variations show higher chiller energy consumptions. The marine climate zone has the lowest chiller energy consumption. The cold/humid climate zone has higher chiller energy consumption than the cold/dry and very cold climate zones. The cold/dry and very cold climate zones have comparable chiller energy consumption. Research findings as presented in this paper will help utilities and building owners to quantify the benefits of installing ice storage systems in office buildings located in different climatic conditions.

Climate change is predicted to bring about a rise in precipitation and air humidity at northern latitudes, which could have considerable impact on forest management. This paper investigates the effect of increased air humidity and understory composition on short root morphology and on the relative abundance of colonizing ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal associates in silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stands.

This study was aimed to determine the frequency of ABO and Rh blood group patterns and hemoglobin threshold among pregnant women screened at Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia, North Area Mekelle model clinic. Checklists were prepared to collect data from laboratory registration books of five years to undergo this retrospective study. Those registration books were reviewed for ABO blood group, Rh profiles and hemoglobin threshold of the pregnant women screened during the specified period. A total of 5987 pregnant women have been found to be screened and the predominant phenotype in this study was O (41.5%) followed by phenotype A (28%), Phenotype B (25%) and phenotype AB (5.5%). Regarding Rh (D) system, 91.2% (5458/5987) women were positive for rhesus D antigen while the remaining 8.8% (529/5987) women were negative for the antigen. Blood grouping studies should be done in every region of the nation so that national transfusion policies can be drafted and supplying blood to the needy patients during emergency will be easier.

Emotional self-regulation plays a pivotal role in socialization and moral development. This capacity critically depends on the development of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The present functional magnetic resonance imaging study was conducted to identify the neural circuitry underlying voluntary self-regulation of sadness in healthy girls (aged 8 -10). A 2؋2 factorial design was implemented with Emotion (No Sadness vs. Sadness) and Regulation (No Reappraisal vs. Reappraisal) as factors. In the No Reappraisal conditions, subjects were instructed to react normally to neutral and sad film excerpts whereas in the Reappraisal conditions, subjects were asked to voluntarily suppress any emotional reaction in response to comparable stimuli. A significant interaction of the Emotion and Regulation factors revealed that reappraisal of sad film excerpts was associated with bilateral activations of the lateral PFC (LPFC; Brodmann areas [BA] 9 and 10), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; BA 11), and medial PFC (BA 9 and 10). Significant loci of activations were also detected in the right anterior cingulate cortex (BA 24/32) and right ventrolateral PFC (BA 47). In an identical study previously conducted by our group in adult women [Biol Psychiatry 53 (2003) 502], reappraisal of sad film excerpts was associated with activation of the right OFC (BA 11) and right LPFC (BA 9). The greater number of prefrontal loci of activation found in children relative to adults during voluntary self-regulation of sadness may be related to the immaturity of the prefronto-limbic connections in childhood.

This volume is dedicated to the memory of Leo Falicov, whose science, creativity and magnanimous friendship touched many of us. We will miss Leo's pioneering theoretical work which is used today to interpret experimental findings not only in magnetism, but also in superconductivity, phase transitions and the electronic behavior of solids. Leo was a key participant in what has by now become a focal meeting to those of us working on thin-film magnetism. Those of us who interacted with Leo at these meetings greatly benefitted from his creative mind and his breadth of understanding of both the theory and experimental aspects of thin-film magnetism. We will certainly miss him in future gatherings. Leo Falicov passed away in his beloved Berkeley on January 24, 1995. The papers compiled in this volume reflect the state of the art in the field of thin-film magnetism and range from insightful reviews to new results in all aspects of the field. It is the seventh meeting in the series and gave the attendees the unique opportunity to hear from participants from Europe, Japan, North America and the former Soviet Union. Original contributions were made in the following areas: novel magnetic nanostructures, growth and structure of magnetic films and interfaces, interlayer coupling, anisotropy, magnetic domains, giant magnetoresistance, spectroscopies, magneto-optical properties, and granular nanostructures. The meeting began with a dedication to Leo which was attended by his wife, Martha, and Roger Falcone, chairman of the physics department at UC Berkeley. The technical meeting opened with key review papers on the perspectives of thin-film magnetic material devices in the storage industry. All papers published in this Festschrift were peer reviewed. The organization of the volume reflects the topical areas of the meeting that spanned over four days and included two well-attended poster sessions.

Well-dispersed rhodium trihydroxide nanoparticles (below 1 nm) were deposited into the interlayer galleries of scrolled K 4 Nb 6 O 17 nanosheets. The unmodified nanoscrolls are good catalysts for UV lightdriven hydrogen evolution from aqueous methanol solutions, and their activity can be significantly improved by anchoring a small amount (0.1 wt% Rh) of Rh(OH) 3 or Rh 2 O 3 to the surface. The high hydrogen generation rate achieved in this system, 1480 mmol/h per 1g of catalyst, shows promise towards overall water splitting using these catalytic composites.

A comprehensive analysis of soluble carbohydrates in developing embryos of field-grown maize seed was used to establish the relationship of sucrose and raffinose levels and their mass ratio to the occurrence of desiccation tolerance in immature whole kernels and in isolated embryos. Kernel, endosperm, and embryo dry mass were maximum at 56 d after pollination (DAP). Freshly harvested seeds germinated between 64 and 86 DAP, but after fast drying at 12 % relative humidity, seeds germinated between 30 and 36 DAP and between 14 and 22 DAP after slow drying on the ear. Freshly harvested isolated embryos germinated between 14 and 16DAP, between 26 and 45 DAP after fast drying, and between 18 and 22DAP after slow drying. Sucrose accumulated independently of desiccation tolerance. Raffinose accumulation was not required for germination but was associated with survival after drying. Desiccation tolerance was not observed in the absence of raffinose accumulation, but the presence of small quantities of raffinose was not always associated with the onset of desiccation tolerance during early embryo development. Desiccation tolerance in maize embryos was associated with sucrose-to-raffinose mass ratios less than 20: 1 and stage 2-3 in embryo development.

Soups based on cauliflower soup powders, prepared by dry mixing of ingredients and rapeseed oil, showed a decrease in quality, as evaluated by a sensory panel, during the storage of the soup powder in the dark for up to 12 weeks under mildly accelerated conditions of 40°C and 75% relative humidity. Antioxidant, shown to be effective in protecting the rapeseed bulk oil, used for the powder preparation, had no effect on storage stability of the soup powder. The freshly prepared soup powder had a relatively high concentration of free radicals, as measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, which decreased during storage, and most remarkably during the first two weeks of storage, with only marginal increase in lipid hydroperoxides as primary lipid oxidation products, and without any increase in secondary lipid oxidation products. Analyses of volatiles by SPME-GC-MS revealed a significant increase in concentrations of 2-methyl-and 3-methyl butanals, related to Maillard reactions, together with an increase in 2-acetylpyrrole concentration. The soup powders became more brown during storage, as indicated by a decreasing Hunter L-value, in accord with non-enzymatic browning reactions. A significant increase in the concentrations of dimethyl disulfide in soup powder headspace indicated free radical-initiated protein oxidation. Protein degradation, including Maillard reactions and protein oxidation, is concluded to be more important than lipid oxidation in determining the shelf-life of dry cauliflower soup powder.

The paper deals with an innovative natural gas combined heat, cooling and power (CHCP) system with electrical, heating and cooling capacities of 126/220/210 kW, respectively. The trigeneration plant is composed of a cogenerator which uses an automotive derived gas fired internal combustion engine (ICE), coupled to a liquid LiCl-water desiccant cooling system which recovers heat from the flue gases and from the ICE cooling water. The paper describes the energetic and economic analyses of the plant and it makes some evaluations of the effects of fuel and electric prices and of the subsides and plant costs on the economic indices of the system. ß

The purpose of this study was to understand the kinetics of emptying of micronised salbutamol sulphate (SS) and lactohale 300 (LH300) under varying air flow rates (30-180 L min À 1) from three dry powder inhaler devices, Rotahaler s (RH), Monodose Inhaler s (MI) and Handihaler s (HH). Aerosol concentration vs. time profiles, determined through real-time laser diffraction particle sizing, demonstrated that the majority of the powder from RH was emitted within one second while a more prolonged aerosolisation was observed from MI and HH. Peak aerosol concentrations were achieved more rapidly from RH compared to MI for both SS and LH300. Calculated cumulative emitted mass (CCEM) vs. time profiles were obtained from the aerosol concentration vs. time profiles and the emitted mass and the rate of CCEM (k CCEM), estimated from a modelling approach, increased with increasing air flow rates. The k CCEM vs. air flow rate profiles of SS and LH300 were significantly different at high air flow rates. The k CCEM was highest from RH and lowest from MI. Differences in k CCEM between the devices were related to capsule aperture size while the differences between the materials were due to the powder bed structure. This approach provided an understanding of the rate at which powder mass emptied from dry powder inhaler devices and was proposed to be a powerful development tool for the future powder inhalers.

CO 2 exchange and water relations of selected lichen species were investigated in the field and also in the laboratory, at a height of 3106 m above sea level in the Austrian Alps, during the short snowless summer period from middle of July to the end of August. In the course of the field investigations, clear summer days were quite rare. Altogether 14 diurnal courses of CO 2 exchange were measured spanning a time of 255 h of measurements.

Free radicals induce oxidative modification in distinct components of the living matter (lipid, proteins, and DNA). For qualitative and quantitative determination of free radical-induced modifications, different, more or less sensitive biochemical methods are available. Because of the high reactivity and short life of free radicals, ongoing oxidative damage is generally analyzed by measurement of secondary products-such as H 2 O 2 , oxidized proteins, peroxidized lipids, and their breakdown products, oxidized DNA-or by fluorographic analysis in combination with fluorescent dyes such as dichlorofluorescin (DCFH). In addition, the determination of free radical-related oxidation products is usually carried out in plasma, urine, or, less frequently, in bioptic material. Consequently, biochemical data seldom reflect the effects of free radical insults in situ. The histochemical visualization of selected molecular markers of oxidative damage can often provide more valuable information concerning the in vivo distribution of oxidative processes. This review summarizes the methods currently available for histochemical detection and indirect visualization of free radical-induced alterations in tissues and isolated cells.

The flow properties of sodium caseinate (NaCAS) film-forming dispersions were studied as a function of protein and glycerol concentration. Apparent viscosity vs. concentration profiles showed a disruption at about 10% (wt/wt) NaCAS. This was interpreted in terms of protein-water and protein-protein interactions. The presence of glycerol in the NaCAS film-forming suspensions reduced the viscosity of aqueous NaCAS as a consequence of decreasing protein-protein and protein-solvent interactions through the hydrogen bonding formation between the glycerol, the polypeptide chain of NaCAS, and water molecules. For higher concentration of glycerol, viscosity of NaCAS dispersions increased as a result of increasing total solid content. The glass transition temperature for solid films of 10% (wt/wt) NaCAS decreased with the glycerol content. The glycerol-protein interactions reduced the protein-protein interaction and, thus, increased the intermolecular spacing, leading to higher protein chain...

The influence of microencapsulation in casein-based microcapsules produced by enzymatic gelation with transglutaminase on the viability of two probiotic strains, which differ in their sensitivity against dehydration, Lactobacillus F19 and Bifidobacterium Bb12 during freeze-drying and subsequent storage was investigated. Water activities after drying did not differ between free and encapsulated samples in all cases. However, Lactobacillus F19 survived in significantly higher numbers in the encapsulated state, compared to free cells (protein-cell-mixture). Storage conditions were varied in terms of relative humidity (11%/33%) and temperature (4°C/25°C). Encapsulation improved the survival of Bifidobacterium Bb12 during storage for up to 90 days under all tested conditions. Further co-encapsulation of prebiotic resistant starch corns negatively influenced the physical barrier of the protein matrix, hence leading to a reduction of the protective effect. In the case of Lactobacillus F19 no encapsulation-related protective effect was found during storage.

Effects of suni-bug (Eurygaster spp.) damage on semolina properties and spaghetti quality characteristics of durum wheats (Triticum durum L.) were investigated. The semolinas obtained from sound (control), medium damage (around 20%) and high damage (around 40%) samples of five durum wheat cultivars (cvs. Diyarbakir, Firat, Ege, Svevo and Zenith) were processed into spaghetti. As the bug damage level increased, Glutograph stretch values of all cultivars decreased significantly probably due to deteriorative effects of bug damage on gluten quality. Glutograph relaxation values and gluten spread values of the damaged samples were considerably higher compared to those of sound samples in all cultivars, due to proteolytic degradation. The breaking force of the uncooked spaghetti samples decreased significantly with increasing bug damage level indicating that they were susceptible to breakage and not suitable for handling, packaging and shipment. Panel tests indicated significant deterioration in sensory properties (stickiness, firmness and bulkiness) generally at the medium damage level.

Spatial coherence in discourse relies on the use of devices that provide information about where referents are and where events take place. In signed language, two primary devices for achieving and maintaining spatial coherence are the use of classifier forms and signing perspective. This paper gives a unified account of the relationship between perspective and classifiers, and divides the range of possible correspondences between these two devices into prototypical and non-prototypical alignments. An analysis of German Sign Language narratives of complex events investigates the role of different classifier-perspective constructions in encoding spatial information about location, orientation, action and motion, as well as size and shape of referents. In particular, I show how non-prototypical alignments, including simultaneity of perspectives, contribute to the maintenance of spatial coherence, and provide functional explanations in terms of efficiency and informativeness constraints on discourse. #

Determination of temporal and spatial distribution of water use (WU) within agricultural land is critical for irrigation management and could be achieved by remotely sensed data. The aim of this study was to estimate WU of dwarf green beans under excessive and limited irrigation water application conditions through indicators based on remotely sensed data. For this purpose, field experiments were conducted comprising of six different irrigation water levels. Soil water content, climatic parameters, canopy temperature and spectral reflectance were all monitored. Reference evapotranspiration (ET 0 ), crop coefficient K c and potential crop evapotraspiration (ET c ) were calculated by means of methods described in FAO-56. In addition, WU values were determined by using soil water balance residual and various indexes were calculated. Water use fraction (WUF), which represents both excessive and limited irrigation applications, was defined through WU, ET 0 and K c . Based on the relationships between WUF and remotely sensed indexes, WU of each irrigation treatments were then estimated. According to comparisons between estimated and measured WU, in general crop water stress index (CWSI) can be offered for monitoring of irrigated land. At the same time, under water stress, correlation between measured WU and estimated WU based on CWSI was the highest too. However, canopy-air temperature difference (T c − T a ) is more reliable than others for excessive water use conditions. Where there is no data related to canopy temperature, some of spectral vegetation indexes could be preferable in the estimation of WU.

The delivery efficiency of dry-powder products for inhalation is dependent upon the drug formulation, the inhaler device, and the inhalation technique. Dry powder formulations are generally produced by mixing the micronised drug particles with larger carrier particles. These carrier particles are commonly lactose. The aerosol performance of a powder is highly dependent on the lactose characteristics, such as particle size distribution and shape and surface properties. Because lactose is the main component in these formulations, its selection is a crucial determinant of drug deposition into the lung, as interparticle forces may be affected by the carrier-particle properties. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review the various grades of lactose, their production, and the methods of their characterisation. The origin of their adhesive and cohesive forces and their influence on aerosol generation are described, and the impact of the physicochemical properties of lactose on carrier-drug dispersion is discussed in detail.

A relative humidity (RH) sensor device based on n-type porous silicon has been designed, fabricated and characterized. The simple device is a diode reverse dc biased, exhibiting an extremely high sensitivity in ambient air and a large operating range (30-70% RH). Aging and NO 2 interference on the sensor performance have been also investigated.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) modulates the immune system to escape clearance. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) initiate antiviral immunity and might determine outcomes of HBV infections. Functional defects in pDCs and natural killer (NK) cells have been reported in patients with chronic HBV infection. However, the mechanisms of these immune dysfunctions and the interactions between pDCs and NK cells have not been determined. We investigated features of pDCs from patients with chronic HBV infection and their interactions with NK cells. METHODS: We used flow cytometry and cytokine assays to analyze pDCs from patients with chronic HBV infection (118 aviremic and 67 viremic) and compared them with pDCs from uninfected individuals (controls). We performed coculture assays to analyze the ability of pDCs to activate heterologous NK cells. RESULTS: Circulating and hepatic pDCs from patients with chronic HBV infection had higher levels of activation than pDCs from controls and defective responses to stimulation with Toll-like receptor 9 ligand (TLR9-L), regardless of the patient's viral load. TLR9-L-activated pDCs from viremic patients with HBV did not induce cytolytic activity of NK cells. This altered function of pDCs was associated with reduced expression of OX40L and could be reproduced by incubating control pDCs with plasma from viremic patients with HBV. A high level of interferon-induced protein 10 (IP-10 or CXCL10) and hepatitis B surface and e antigens might induce these defective pDC functions. CONCLUSIONS: HBV escapes antiviral immunity by altering pDC functions, to disrupt interactions between pDC and NK cells. This could reduce immune control of HBV and lead to chronic infection.

An in vitro cell-based bioassay capable of detecting neutralizing antibodies (NAb) to recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in clinical samples was developed and validated. The bioassay uses the IL-3-dependent murine 32D cell line transfected with human EPO receptors (EPOR). This cell line responds to rHuEPO with proliferation measurable by [methyl-3 H] thymidine incorporation into the cellular DNA. The reduction of rHuEPO-induced cell proliferation response indicates the possible presence of anti-rHuEPO NAb. In addition, a specificity assay using murine IL-3 (mIL-3) induced proliferation of the same cell line was developed and validated. The specificity assay allowed testing of samples that inhibited the biologic activity of rHuEPO to evaluate whether the inhibition was specific and not attributable to cytotoxicity of the serum sample. Both assays are conducted in a 5% human serum matrix in 96-well microtiter plates. The Guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) were followed for the validation of different assay parameters including analytical recovery, precision, sensitivity, specificity, selectivity, and robustness. The anti-rHuEPO NAb assay is capable of detecting concentrations of NAb equivalent to 500 ng/ml of the positive control antibody in undiluted human serum. The anti-rHuEPO NAb assay yielded consistent results with cells cultured for up to 30 days. The positive control antibody maintained its ability to inhibit the biologic activity of rHuEPO upon freezing and thawing. The presence of free rHuEPO in serum samples interfered with the detection of the antibody. The validated assay was sensitive, specific and robust and was successfully used to monitor NAb development in patients. D

Using a spatially resolved sampling technique, the catalytic partial oxidation of CH4 to synthesis gas was investigated over 80 ppi α-Al2O3 foams coated with three catalytic formulations: 5 wt% Rh, 5 wt% Rh/2 wt% γ-Al2O3 washcoat and 5 wt% Rh–2 wt% Ce/2 wt% γ-Al2O3 washcoat. Experiments were performed at atmospheric pressure and ∼8 millisecond contact time, with 20% v/v CH4 and C/O ratio equal to 1. Data show that the length of the oxidative zone (∼2 mm) is unaffected by the composition of the catalyst. The addition of γ-Al2O3 washcoat to Rh coated monoliths allows the reaction to reach adiabatic equilibrium by increasing the rates of steam reforming and water gas shift. Additionally, both the maximum and the gradients in the temperature profiles decrease significantly with the addition of washcoat. Data collected on Rh–Ce/washcoat show that the adiabatic equilibrium composition is reached through a different kinetic route: the consumption of CH4 becomes slower, the production of CO2 exhibits a maximum, and the production of H2O is drastically moderated, suggesting that Ce has an active role in the CPO reaction kinetics. The features presented could be detected exclusively with spatially resolved measurements.

Integral membrane proteins are involved in virtually every cellular process. Precisely regulating these machineries would allow controlling many human and vertebrate diseases. Embedded into cellular membranes, membrane proteins establish molecular interactions that sensitively react to environmental changes and to molecular compounds, such as ligands or inhibitors. We applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to image the Na+/H+ antiporter MjNhaP1 from Methanococcus jannaschii, and single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) to probe molecular interactions that drive the protein structure-function relationship. High-resolution AFM topographs showed the dimeric assembly of MjNhaP1 being reconstituted into a lipid bilayer. SMFS of MjNhaP1 unraveled molecular interactions stabilizing individual structural domains. Transmembrane domains exhibited certain probabilities to unfold individually or cooperatively with other domains resulting in different unfolding pathways. Helices VIII and X established pH sensitive interactions altering significantly upon MjNhaP1 activation, while removal of the ligand (Na+) destabilized the entire antiporter except helix VIII. It is assumed that Asp234/235 of helix VIII are involved in the ligand-binding site and that helix X plays a functional role in the activation of the transporter.

We describe the first human monoclonal anti-D (LOR-15C9) which reacts with a D-specific motif exposed either on a native form on intact D-positive red cells or on a denatured form of the RhD protein (33 kD), and detected by immunoblotting. LOR-15C9 was able to precipitate RhD but not RhcE proteins produced by in vitro transcriptiontranslation assays. The reactivity of the antibody, using panels of red cells with various partial D phenotypes known to lack some D epitopes and corresponding in RHD gene variants, suggested that LOR-15C9 reactivity depends on the portion of the RhD polypeptide encoded by the exon 7 (amino acids 314-358). These findings correlate well with the reactivity of LOR-15C9 with erythrocytes of some nonhuman primates (D gor -positive gorillas), but not of chimpanzee and Old or New World monkeys.

The aims of this work were 1) to determine the bioactivities resulting from the hydrolysis of soy (Glycine max) proteins isolate (SPI) by a double enzymatic treatment of pepsin and pancreatin and 2) to investigate whether fractionation of the protein hydrolysates by two ultrafiltration techniques using either hollow fiber (HF) or spiral-wounded (SW) membrane (10 kDa cut-off), increases biological activity of the recovered peptides. The focus was on the screening of bioactivity of the peptide fractions using multiple in vitro bioassays such as the proliferation of cancer cells, destruction of murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1), anti-oxidative and immunomodulating properties, and finally glucose metabolism in a muscle cell line. Significant biological effects of the peptides for both antioxidant capacity (ORAC assay) and metabolism (muscle glucose uptake assay) were found. These results show that ultrafiltration of SPI hydrolysates is a convenient process for the recovery of large amount of bioactive peptides.

Anhydrobiosis Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy Lipid phase behavior Liposomes Lyotropism Trehalose Water replacement hypothesis a b s t r a c t According to the water replacement hypothesis, trehalose stabilizes dry membranes by preventing the decrease in spacing between adjacent phopspholipid headgroups during dehydration. Alternatively, the water-entrapment hypothesis postulates that in the dried state sugars trap residual water at the biomolecule sugar interface. In this study, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with an attenuated total reflection accessory was used to investigate the influence of trehalose on the dehydration kinetics and residual water content of egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes in real time under controlled relative humidity conditions. In the absence of trehalose, the lipids displayed a transition to a more ordered gel phase upon drying. The membrane conformational disorder in the dried state was found to decrease with decreasing relative humidity. Even at a relative humidity as high as 94% the conformational disorder of the lipid acyl chains decreased after evaporation of the bulk water. The presence of trehalose affects the rate of water removal from the system and the lipid phase behavior. The rate of water removal is decreased and the residual water content is higher, as compared to drying in the absence of trehalose. During drying, the level of hydrogen bonding to the head groups remains constant. In addition, the conformational disorder of the lipid acyl chains in the dried state more closely resembles that of the lipids in the fully hydrated state. We conclude that water entrapment rather than water replacement explains the effect of trehalose on lipid phase behavior of phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers during the initial phase of drying.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most frequent human cancer and a fatal disease. Therapies with pharmacological agents do not improve the prognosis of patients with unresectable HCC. This emphasizes the need to identify new targets for early diagnosis, chemoprevention, and treatment of the disease. Available evidence indicates that clinical outcome of HCC could reflect the genetic predisposition to cancer development and progression. Numerous loci controlling HCC progression have been identified in rodents. In this review, we describe results of recent studies on effector mechanisms of susceptibility/resistance genes, responsible for HCC progression, aimed at identifying new putative prognostic markers and therapeutic targets of this tumor. Highest c-myc amplification and overexpression, alterations of iNOS crosstalk with IKK/NF-kB and RAS/ERK signaling, ubiquitination of ERK and cell cycle inhibitors, and deregulation of FOXM1 and cell cycle key genes occur in rapidly progressing dysplastic nodules and HCC, induced in genetic susceptible rat strains, compared to the lesions of resistant rats. Notably, alterations of these mechanisms in human HCC subtypes with poorer or better prognosis, are similar to those present in genetically susceptible and resistant rats, respectively, and function as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. Attempts to cure advanced HCC by molecular therapy directed against specific targets led to modest survival benefit. Thus, efforts are necessary to identify and test, in pre-clinical and clinical studies, new therapeutic targets for combined molecular treatments of HCC. They may take advantage from the comparative analysis of signal transduction in HCCs differently prone to progress, in rats and humans.