Enzymatic extraction of galactan-rich rhamnogalacturonan I from potato cell wall by-product

Potato cell wall was used as low-value source for the enzymatic extraction of galactan-rich rhamnogalacturonan I (RG I). The effects of selected reaction parameters of endo-polygalacturonase from Aspergillus niger-catalyzed isolation of RG I and their interactions were investigated by response surface methodology. Models were developed to relate independent parameters (cell wall concentration, enzyme amount, reaction time) to responses (yield, neutral sugar content, saccharide molar composition, weak acidic fraction proportion). The most significant parameters that affected extracted polysaccharide yield and its galactose (Gal) and arabinose (Ara) contents were the cell wall concentration and enzyme amount. The interaction between the cell wall concentration and the reaction time was the most determinant for the yield. However, the cell wall concentration and the enzyme amount exhibited significant interaction effect on Gal and Ara contents. Comparison of predicted and experimental values validated the established predicted models, which can be used to identify the conditions for the isolation of RG I-type pectic polysaccharides with selected structural and saccharide composition properties. The monosaccharide composition and the linkage patterns confirmed the isolation of galactan-rich RG I type pectic polysaccharides. The present study is expected to increase the capability to generate RG I targeting specific composition and functional properties.     

Two Tartrate-Pillared Coordination Polymers: Hydrothermal Preparation, Crystal Structures, Spectroscopic and Thermal Analyses of {[M2(μ-C4H4O6)2(H2O)] · 3H2O}∞ (M = Mn, Cd)

Two novel three-dimensional coordination polymers, formulated as {[M₂(μ-C₄H₄O₆)₂(H₂O)] · 3H₂O}_∞ (M = Mn for 1 and Cd for 2), have been synthesized under hydrothermal reaction condition. Both complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. Their molecular and crystal structures were determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis and their thermal stability by TGA-DTA methods. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group, P2₁, while compound 2 crystallizes the orthorhombic space group, P2₁2₁2₁. The structures are self-assembled from bifunctional tartrate and water molecules. Tartrate ligands in 1 and 2 contribute to both covalent and hydrogen bonds. Polymeric chains of 1 and 2 are composed of M(II) ions bridged by tartrate ions in O,O′ fashion. The asymmetric units of coordination polymers contain two metal centers having different coordination environments.     

PEG‐Citrate dendrimer second generation: is this a good carrier for imaging agents In Vitro and In Vivo ?

While cancer is the leading cause of human''s deaths worldwide, finding an imaging agent which can detect cancer tumours is needed for cancer diagnosis. In the present study, PEG‐citrate dendrimer‐G₂ was used as a nano‐carrier of FITC dye and Iohexol to help passive targeting and uptake of both imaging agents in cancer cells/tumour in vitro and in vivo. Dendrimer was synthesisedand the product characterised using LC‐MS, FT‐IR, DLS, ELS, AFM, and ¹ HNMR. After FITC loading into dendrimer, MTT was performed to determine the cytotoxicity of formulation on HEK‐293 and MCF‐7 cells. In vitro imaging using dendrimer‐FITC was done via fluorescent microscope thereafter. Moreover, CT imaging using Iohexol was employed to show the targeting nature and ability of the complex to use as imaging agent in vivo. Data yielded in this study corroborate the notion that the promised dendrimer was synthesised properly and had no toxicity along with FITC on normal cell. Furthermore, CT and fluorescent images showed the targeting nature and imaging ability of Iohexol/FITC loaded dendrimer in vitro and in vivo. Overall, results showed promising characteristics of the novel complexes using dendrimer‐G₂ both in vitro and in vivo.Inspec keywords: drug delivery systems, cellular biophysics, molecular biophysics, fluorescence, cancer, tumours, drugs, nanomedicine, biomedical materials, dyes, toxicologyOther keywords: imaging agent, cancer tumours, cancer diagnosis, PEG‐citrate dendrimer‐G, FITC dye, cancer cells, FITC loading, vitro imaging, dendrimer‐FITC, CT imaging, targeting nature, promised dendrimer, fluorescent images, imaging ability, Iohexol/FITC     

Effect of egg consumption on inflammatory markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials

There is little evidence about whether eggs affect inflammation. The aim of this meta-analysis was to explore the effects of egg consumption on inflammation. A systematic search of online databases (Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), Scopus, Ovid, PubMed, Cochrane) was used to gather clinical trials that assessed the effect of egg consumption on circulating inflammatory biomarkers. Using a random-effects model, pooled weighted mean differences (WMD) and corresponding standard deviations (SD) were calculated. Of the 21 eligible studies found, nine trials were eligible for analysis. Eight trials assessed high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), four trials assessed interleukin-6 (IL-6), and five trials assessed tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Egg consumption did not affect hs-CRP (WMD 0.24 mg/L; 95% CI: -0.43, 0.90; I² = 53.8; P = 0.48), IL-6 (WMD 0.20 pg/mL; 95% CI: -0.71, 1.11; I² = 69.3; P = 0.50), and TNF-α (WMD: -0.38 pg/mL; 95% CI: -0.87, 0.10; I² = 0.00; P = 0.12) relative to controls. Overall, this meta-analysis revealed that egg consumption had no significant effect on serum biomarkers of inflammation in adults. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inhibitory Effect of Vibrio neocaledinocus sp. and Pseudoalteromonas piscicida Dual-Species Biofilms on the Corrosion of Carbon Steel

Multi-species biofilms are found in various bacterial habitats and have industrial relevance. These complex bacterial communities have synergetic effects, unlike a single species. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate these complex communities as a whole. Here, the inhibitory effect of single- and dual-species biofilms of Vibrio neocaledinocus sp. and Pseudoalteromonas piscicida for A36 carbon steel corrosion was investigated. The results demonstrated that the synergistic interactions of the monoculture increased the overall biomass production of the dual-species biofilm, but the growth rate was reduced in the presence of the dual-species culture due to a lack of nutrients. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images also confirmed the development of biofilms—they became more homogenized via exposure time in both the mono- and dual-species cultures. The corrosion resistance of A36 carbon steel positively increased because of the dual-species interactions. This reached the highest value after four weeks of exposure. The highest corrosion inhibition efficiency of 99.8% was achieved in the dual-species cultures. Microbial community analysis revealed the high relative abundance of Pseudoalteromonas piscicida during the initial days of exposure, demonstrating the dominant role of this bacterium in the biofilm structure.     

Investigation of nanosized alumina-binder feedstock rheology for ceramics injection molding (CIM) and survey spark plasma sintering of output green body to obtain transparent alumina

The purpose of this work is to optimize the feed containing alumina-binder nanoparticles for ceramics injection molding to create transparent alumina parts. In this research, two Alumina with and without MgO as sintering aid fabricated via the spark plasma sintering method. Feed fluidity, fracture toughness, density, IR, and visible transmission of SPSed bodies of the sintered pieces were measured. Furthermore, a pin on the disc test was used on the disk to examine the alumina friction coefficient. The results of feed rheology showed that the sample prepared at 90°C had the best conditions as a pseudoplastic fluid for the ceramic injection molding (CIM) method. The results showed that a combination of CIM and spark plasma sintering (SPS) methods cause more visible transmission than conventional SPS of alumina nanopowder. Also, the fracture toughness and hardness of as-obtained transparent alumina were in the range of 3.6 MPa m^0.5 and 20.1 MPa, respectively. The wear rate of the as-obtained transparent sample (4.5 × 10⁻⁷ mm³/N m) was proportional to the alumina grain size (1–4 μm).     

Effects of divalent cations,seawater, and formation brine on positively charged polyethylenimine/dextran sulfate/chromium(III) polyelectrolyte complexes and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide/chromium(III) gelation

Polyacrylamide crosslinked with Cr(III) is a common blocking agent that is injected into oil reservoirs to shut off the water flow to features such as fractures and high‐permeability rock to improve the volumetric sweep efficiency during water flooding. This technique is limited to situations where enough gelant can be injected to fill the high‐permeability zones before gelation occurs. Cr(III) may be encapsulated with a high entrapment efficiency in self‐assembling polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles with effective diameters of about 100–200 nm and formed by the mixture of polyethylenimine and dextran sulfate in nonstoichiometric amounts. The electrostatic interaction between the polyelectrolytes and the Cr(III) is reversible, but diffusion out of the nanoparticles is retarded, and this results in a delay in gelation from minutes or hours to several days in deionized water. Produced and injection waters often contain salts at concentrations comparable to seawater. The effects of these salts were investigated, and we found that the delay in gelation was further extended to as much as 35 days at 40°C and 35 h at 80°C in the presence of divalent ions at seawater concentrations, either alone or in a field brine or seawater; this greatly increases their potential utility. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Thermodynamics of Aluminium in Molten Zinc with the use of Electrochemical Sensors

In the present study the thermodynamics of aluminium in molten Zn‐Al was determined at the temperatures 470, 490 and 520°C with the use of electrochemical sensors. Cell and sensor techniques were used. The following concentration cell was used: Al (pure reference) |Al³⁺ (in fused salt) | [Al]_{in zinc}. It was found that the activity of aluminium shows positive deviation from Raoult's law. The partial heat of solution of aluminium at temperatures between 470 and 520°C for X_Al = 0.004 was determined as = 21882 J. The dilute solution of aluminium in zinc in the range of 0≤X_Al≤0.044 obeys Henry's law. The Wagner's first order interaction coefficient e^Al_Al was determined.