Extraction and characterization of soluble protein fractions from Phaseolus lunatus L seeds

Legume proteins as a potential source of valuable nutrients, are the object of several studies in order to obtain the best use. A basic knowledge becomes more important for those proteins from species not wholly utilized, before using them as food ingredients. The objective of this work was to determine several structural and nutritional characteristics of the protein fractions from Phaseolus lunatus, separated in different solvents. The relative amount of extraction for the albumins (ALB), globulins (GLB), prolamines (PRL), and glutelins (GLT) was 62.3, 34.8, 1.4 and 1.5%, respectively. The SDS-PAGE electrophoretic profile of both ALB and GLB, showed seven common bands in intervals from 10 to 95 kDa, and 14 to 99 kDa, respectively; the amino acids profile showed that PRL was the rich fraction in sulfurated amino acids (11.5 g/100 g protein); the content of lysine in the fraction of ALB was smaller than expected but the requirement of the FAO in the fractions of GLB and GLT was covered. In general, the fraction of GLB had the best balance of amino acids and digestibility (80%); however, it had a relationship of calculated protein efficiency ratio (C-PER) of 0.11, smaller than the ratio in ALB (0.97). The calorimetric analysis showed denatured temperatures around 90 degrees C for the ALB, GLB, and GLU fractions. The PRL fraction probably did not present a thermal transition because the proteins were denaturalized by the extraction conditions.     

DNA Nanoarchitectures: Steps towards Biological Applications

DNA's remarkable molecular recognition properties, flexibility, and structural features make it one of the most promising scaffolds to design a variety of nanostructures. During recent decades, two major methods have been developed for the construction of DNA nanomaterials in a programmable way; both generate nanostructures in one, two, and three dimensions. The tile‐based assembly process is a useful tool to construct large and simple structures; the DNA origami method is suitable for the production of smaller, more sophisticated and well‐defined structures. Proteins, nanoparticles and other functional elements have been specifically positioned into designed patterns on these structures. They can also act as templates to study chemical reactions, help in the structural determination of proteins, and be used as platform for genomic and drug delivery applications. In this review we examine recent progresses towards the potential use of DNA nanostructures in molecular and cellular biology.     

Low-dose steroids reduce flu-like symptoms at the initiation of IFNbeta-1b in relapsing-remitting MS

To determine whether low-dose prednisone reduces flu-like symptoms at the initiation of interferon beta 1-b (IFNbeta-1b), we studied 71 patients with clinically definite, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were started on IFNbeta-1b. Patients were randomized to receive prednisone plus paracetamol or only paracetamol and were monitored for side effects. Systemic side effects were minimal in the steroid group compared with the nonsteroid group during the first 15 days of treatment (p=0.005). At 3 months, both groups showed a similar frequency of flu-like symptoms. No differences in local reaction between the two groups were observed throughout the study.     

Analysis of blocking probability in optical burst switched networks

In this article, we study the blocking probability in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) based asynchronous bufferless optical burst switched (OBS) network, equipped with a bank of wavelength converters. Our analysis encloses two wavelength reservation schemes JIT (just-in-time) and JET (just-enough-time), and two-class data rate. The contribution of our work includes: (i) derivation of an accurate model for blocking probability of lower priority bursts in case of a non-preempted model; (ii) provision of the analytical model for blocking probability calculation in the OBS network, which includes these variables: two signaling schemes, partial wavelength conversion, two-class data, traffic intensity, cross-connect speed, number of wavelengths in WDM fiber, number of fibers in the node, number of wavelength converters, and number of nodes in the path; (iii) simulation results, which show that partial wavelength conversion provide quite satisfactory quality of service. We compare performance in a single OBS node, under various sets of parameter values. The OBS network shows great flexibility in terms of used multiclass data, and there is no dependence on the used higher layer protocol.     

Distributed Dijkstra sparse placement routing algorithm for translucent optical networks

In this paper we study translucent optical networks as an alternative to fully transparent and fully opaque optical networks. In the former networks, a technique called sparse placement is used to overcome the lightpath blocking caused by the signal quality degradation, using much less regenerators, which must strategically be placed, in contrast to a fully opaque network. In this paper we propose a sparse placement algorithm based on two requirements. The first one is signal regeneration necessary to re-amplify, reshape, and retime the optical signals after some predefined transparent distance in order to successfully receive the signals at the destination node. The other is load balance of the traffic in the network aimed at efficient usage of the network capacity resources. We apply a distributed Dijkstra routing algorithm which dynamically changes weights of links during the process of locating regeneration capable nodes. We compare the performance of the proposed algorithm with commonly used sparse placement algorithms through simulation experiments. The benefits are such that load balancing of the network traffic is fully utilized, and with technological development it will be sufficient to equip up to 30% of nodes in the network with electronic regenerations in order to have the same performance as in an opaque network.

Profile of efficacy and safety in the treatment of remittent-recurrent multiple sclerosis with interferon beta-1b

BACKGROUND: Interferon beta 1b (IFN beta-1b) has showed a reduction of exacerbation rate and a decrease in multiple sclerosis activity as evidenced by MRI. After the approval of IFN beta-1b in our country more than 1,000 patients are under treatment, however the experience is limited. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical results and the tolerance of IFN beta-1b during the postmarketing period in our country. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 95 patients treated with IFN beta-1b. An exhaustive follow-up has been performed in order to assess the tolerance and the efficacy of the drug. We registered the haematological and biochemical abnormalities, secondary effects, relapses, clinical evolution and drop-outs. RESULTS: Mean age was 32.5 +/- 9 years, and the mean follow-up was 13.2 months. Seventy patients (74%) have been followed for more than one year. Haematological abnormalities are frequent, lymphopenia being the most common finding (37%). Flulike symptoms appear in 90% of the patients and skin reaction in the 70%. We have observed a drop-out rate of 7%. One patient developed depressive symptoms and the treatment was temporally discontinued. We have observed a significant decrease in relapses of the disease, however disability has not changed in the first year after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: IFN beta-1b has been well tolerated in the postmarketing period. The profile of secondary effects is similar, although not identical to that reported. The patient awareness of secondary effects and the realistic expectations of the drug are important in order to decrease the drop-out rate.     

Interobserver variability in the evaluation of functional systems and Kurzke expanded disability status scale in a multiple sclerosis patient

Changes in the progression of disability is still the main variable measured in clinical trials involving patients with multiple sclerosis (EM). The amplified scale of the state of disability (EEDA) of Kurtzke continues to be the most widely used scale. One of the most important limitations of the EEDA is interobserver variability. The object of our study was to find the interobserver variability between members of our EM unit in patients with EEDA between 0 and 3.5 when applying functional systems (SF) and EEDA. Seven patients with recurrent remittent EM (EEDA 0-3.5), participating in a multicentric trial with natural beta-interferon, were assessed monthly for 12 months by two of four neurologists. The SF were assessed and the EEDA applied separately and without knowing the former. 80 paired examinations were made. Complete concordance of SF was only seen when a variation of 2 points was allowed, while it was very high for a variation of 0 and 1 points. Complete concordance for EEDA was seen in 36.6% of the cases and only in 11% was there discordance of 1 or 1.5 points. The average variability of EDSS was 0.39. There was greater variability when the two scores were at different levels of incapacity.     

Decreased cholecystokinin levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with adult chronic hydrocephalus syndrome

Cholecystokinin (CCK) levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with adult chronic hydrocephalus syndrome (ACHS) (n = 16) and compared with levels from a control group (n = 11). The CSF concentration of CCK in the ACHS group (0.79 +/- 0.53 fmol/mL) was significantly reduced (p = .002) with respect to the controls (1.55 +/- 0.54 fmol/mL). As CCK-8, the most prevalent from of CCK in the central nervous system, has been demonstrated to play a significant role in several physiological and behavioral actions, the reduced octapeptide values found in ACHS could be involved in the disturbances associated with this disorder. Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) demonstrated different ICP profiles in ACHS. We found that all patients with abnormal ICP records except one showed CCK values under the detection limit. Three of the 4 patients with normal ICP had CCK levels within the normal range. These preliminary studies could evidence that ICP alterations are responsible for part of the loss of brain neuropeptide levels in ACHS.     

Optimal spares availability strategy for power transformer components

The paper suggests a method to optimize the spare amount of power transformer components. The proposed strategy is conceived to provide minimum annual cost consisting of expected failures renewal cost, capital cost for spares and load curtailment cost. The method identifies minor and major failures. Minor failures are repairable, while major failures can be repairable or unrepairable. Power transformer is a complex system, consisting of six components (functional parts). It is assumed that each component has two independent, competing failure modes: wear-out failure mode, modelled by two-parameter Weibull distribution, and a chance failure mode, characterized by an exponential distribution. The application of the method suggested and the benefits it provides are demonstrated for one transformer station (TS) 110/x kV/kV with 2 × 31.5 MVA transformers. In addition, the influence of performing power transformer refurbishment on expected total cost has also been analyzed.