Sequence of a cytochrome c gene from Kluyveromyces lactis and its upstream region

The complete sequence of a cytochrome c gene from Kluyveromyces lactis including its upstream region is reported. Sequence of the translated open reading frame is discussed in terms of cytochrome c structural requirements. Putative regulatory signals in the upstream region are described and compared with reported sequences which modulate the expression of respiratory-related yeast genes.     

The influence of sepiolite on the dynamic moduli and thermal transition of compatible and incompatible blends based on poly(vinylidene fluoride)

This paper reports on a study of dynamic moduli and thermal transitions of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in compatible blends with poly(methylmethacrylate) and in non-compatible blends with polystyrene. The effects of sepiolite on the compatibility of these blends have been studied.     

What is coefficient alpha? An examination of theory and applications.

Psychological research involving scale construction has been hindered considerably by a widespread lack of understanding of coefficient alpha and reliability theory in general. A discussion of the assumptions and meaning of coefficient alpha is presented. This discussion is followed by a demonstration of the effects of test length and dimensionality on alpha by calculating the statistic for hypothetical tests with varying numbers of items, numbers of orthogonal dimensions, and average item intercorrelations. Recommendations for the proper use of coefficient alpha are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Delineation of the epitope recognized by an antibody specific for N-glycolylneuraminic acid-containing gangliosides

P3 is a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds to several NeuGc-containing gangliosides. It also reacts with antigens expressed in human breast tumors (Vázquez et al. (1995) Hybridoma , 14, 551-556). In this work, the binding specificity of P3 has been characterized in more detail using a panel of glycolipids that included several disialylated gangliosides and several chemical derivatives of NeuGc-GM3. The carboxyl group and the nitrogen function of sialic acid were found to play important roles in the antibody binding, whereas the glycerol tail appears to be nonrelevant. Molecular modeling was used to analyze the binding data, including the finding that P3 selectively recognizes the internal NeuGc in GD3. For this purpose, conformational studies of GD3 were performed using molecular dynamics. It was concluded that sialic acid binds the P3 antibody through its upper face (the one on which the carboxyl group is exposed) and the C4-C5 side of the sugar ring, whereas none or very little contact between the galactose residue and the protein is evident. Conformational analysis of GD3 revealed that, despite the large flexibility of the NeuGcalpha8NeuGc linkage, the P3 binding epitope on the external sialic acid is not well exposed for any of the possible conformations this linkage can adopt, whereas the internal sialic acid presents the epitope in a proper way for several of these conformations. As a final result, a coherent picture of the epitope that fits the wide binding data was obtained.     

DESORPTION WITH CHEMICAL REACTION IN CONTACTING DEVICES

Chemical processes where a gas is absorbed into a liquid and reacts to give a product that desorbs back into the gas are quite common in the industry. In this study, the reaction between the absorbed gaseous reactant and a nonvolatile reactant is considered to be slow, fast or instantaneous, while the volatile product may react further in a slow reaction. Effects of various operating parameters such as the liquid and gas flow rates, the gas-liquid interfacial area and the coefficients for mass transfer are examined. Situations can arise where the absorbing gas reacts but the product diffuses completely to the bulk of the liquid, and the rate of desorption is null. The expressions presented here define conditions to avoid this situation and allow the calculation of the optimal design and operation of the gas-liquid contacting device     

Electromagnetic interference and electrical conductivity behavior of carbon/polycyanate composite with nickel nanostrands™ under fatigue

A conductive nanocomposite containing nickel nanostrands™ in carbon fiber‐reinforced polymeric composite (M55 carbon fibers in toughened polycyanate resin matrix, RS‐3) was investigated for electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electrostatic discharge (ESD) shielding effectiveness when subjected to the tension–tension fatigue load. These were measured in terms of dB attenuation and sheet resistance, respectively. Four configurations, one without nickel nanostrands and other three with different locations of nickel nanostrands layers, were investigated. The locations were outside surfaces, dispersed throughout the laminate thickness or the midplane. Fatigue strength was not affected by the addition of nickel nanostrands at any location. The addition of nickel nanostrands enhanced, in general, the EMI and ESD shielding effectiveness of the baseline polymeric composite with carbon fibers. However, the exterior location provided the maximum enhancement of EMI and ESD effectiveness. Furthermore, both EMI and ESD shielding effectiveness were practically constant under tension–tension fatigue loading condition up to 2 million cycles. This was because the nickel nanostrands were intact under fatigue loading condition. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. Published 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Heat transfer analysis of cheese cooling incorporating uncertainty in temperature measurement locations: Model development and validation

Successful modelling of the thermal behaviour of food products requires accurate knowledge of both the thermal properties of the product and the cooling media to which it is exposed to and a correct approach to validation of the model output against experimental temperature histories. This procedure is complicated where there is uncertainty in the location at which temperature is measured in the product. The cooling of a soft cylindrical cheese product that is partially immersed in brine and air is examined. As the cheese is very deformable, it is not possible to exactly identify the measurement location of the temperature-recording thermocouples. The Uniform and Exponential probability distributions were found to best represent the variability in thermocouple location at the centre and surface of the product, respectively. Expressions for the mean measured temperature at the centre and surface that result from the distributed nature of thermocouple location were obtained. These expressions were used to derive equivalent locations in the cheese which should be used when comparing model and experimental temperature predictions. The theoretical approach was also checked against Monte Carlo simulations and there was excellent agreement between them. It was shown that when validating model temperature histories against experimental readings that this phenomenon must be taken into account.     

Influence of pre-cure freezing of Iberian ham on proteolytic changes throughout the ripening process

This work aimed to investigate the effect of pre-cure freezing Iberian hams on proteolysis phenomena throughout the ripening process. Non-protein nitrogen (NPN), peptide nitrogen (PN) and amino acid nitrogen (AN) as well as amino acid and dipeptide evolution followed the same trend in both refrigerated (R) and pre-cure frozen (F) Iberian hams during processing. At the different stages of ripening, there were no differences in the content of NPN and AN while F dry-cured hams had higher levels of PN than R hams at the final step. This seemed to be more related to the salt content (lower in F than in R hams) than to the pre-cure freezing treatment. Most amino acids and dipeptides detected showed higher concentrations in F than in R Iberian hams at the green stage, being rather similar at the intermediate phases. At the final stage, the effects of pre-cure freezing of Iberian hams were not well defined, higher levels of some amino acids and dipeptides were found in R than in F Iberian hams whereas other amino acids were lower in R than in F hams.     

Effect of weaning status on animal performance and meat quality of Rubia Gallega calves

The effect of weaning calves at different ages (NW = not weaned, W5 = 5.5 months old and W2 = weaned after being born and then fed with natural Holstein Friesian milk until 2 months old), on animal performance and carcass and Longissimus thoracis muscle quality, was studied in 36 eight month-old Rubia Gallega calves. Feed ingestions, weight gains, slaughter (SW) and carcass weights (CW), carcass conformation and fat scores, and meat characteristics (24 hours postmortem): colour, pH, water holding capacity, chemical composition and texture (Warner Bratzler (WB) test, sensory panel), were studied. NW calves showed the highest SW and CW (P < 0.001). Yellowness (b*), redness (a*) and chroma (C*) were higher in NW than W2 calves (P < 0.05). Shear firmness was higher in W2 than in NW and W5 veal. W2 veal was less elastic (P < 0.05), tender (P < 0.05) and juicy (P < 0.01) than NW and W5 veal.