Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the soluble 14 kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin from bovine heart

The soluble 14 kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin from bovine heart, a member of the S-type lectin family, has been crystallized in a form suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals, in the absence of a saccharide ligand, diffract beyond 2.5 A resolution. They are obtained from polyethylene glycol 6000 at pH 6.0. Crystals grow as monoclinic plates, space group P2(1), with cell dimensions: a = 35.47 A, b = 64.33 A, c = 58.78 A and beta = 91.7 degrees. The asymmetric unit contains two molecules related by a 2-fold non-crystallographic axis. Two lectin monomers in the asymmetric unit give a Vm of 2.4 A3/Da, i.e. a solvent content of approximately 50%. The complex of lectin with the saccharide ligand, N-acetyllactosamine, crystallizes in the space group P2(1)2(1)2 with cell dimensions: a = 63.55 A, b = 82.13 A and c = 62.39 A. Crystals of this complex diffract beyond 2.0 A resolution. Two complexes in the asymmetric unit lead to a Vm value of 2.8 A3/Da (57% solvent).     

Uncertainty analysis based on sensitivity applied to angle-ply composite structures

This article describes a finite element-based formulation for the statistical analysis of the response of stochastic structural composite systems whose material properties are described by random fields. A first-order technique is used to obtain the second-order statistics for the structural response considering means and variances of the displacement and stress fields of plate or shell composite structures. Propagation of uncertainties depends on sensitivities taken as measurement of variation effects. The adjoint variable method is used to obtain the sensitivity matrix. This method is appropriated for composite structures due to the large number of random input parameters. Dominant effects on the stochastic characteristics are studied analyzing the influence of different random parameters. In particular, a study of the anisotropy influence on uncertainties propagation of angle-ply composites is carried out based on the proposed approach.     

The cholinergic system in Alzheimer's disease

The past decade has witnessed an enormous increase in our knowledge of the variety and complexity of neuropathological and neurochemical changes in Alzheimer's disease. Although the disease is characterized by multiple deficits of neurotransmitters in the brain, this overview emphasizes the structural and neurochemical localization of the elements of the acetylcholine system (choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase, and muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) in the non-demented brain and in Alzheimer's disease brain samples. The results demonstrate a great variation in the distribution of acetylcholinesterase, choline acetyltransferase, and the nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the different brain areas, nuclei and subnuclei. When stratification is present in certain brain regions (olfactory bulb, cortex, hippocampus, etc.), differences can be detected as regards the laminar distribution of the elements of the acetylcholine system. Alzheimer's disease involves a substantial loss of the elements of the cholinergic system. There is evidence that the most affected areas include the cortex, the entorhinal area, the hippocampus, the ventral striatum and the basal part of the forebrain. Other brain areas are less affected. The fact that the acetylcholine system, which plays a significant role in the memory function, is seriously impaired in Alzheimer's disease has accelerated work on the development of new drugs for treatment of the disease of the 20th century.     

Effects of different cooking methods on the formation of food mutagens in meat

Hamburgers and chicken fillets were cooked in convection ovens, deep‐fried or contact fried and analysed for mutagenic activity using the Ames test. For the three different convection ovens, the cooking parameters studied included the presence of steam, air velocity, air temperature and holding time. For deep‐frying and contact frying, the cooking parameters included cooking temperature and cooking time. In cooked hamburgers, mutagenic activity was only detected in those that had been deep‐fried. In chicken fillets, mutagenic activity was detected in samples prepared with all cooking methods, being highest in the deep‐fried samples. Factorial analysis indicated that heat transfer was the most important factor affecting mutagenic activity. High temperature and high air velocity in the convection ovens enhanced mutagenic activity. The presence of steam reduced the mutagenic activity, except when high temperature was used in combination with high air velocity. In chicken fillets, high mutagenic activity correlated to high weight loss during cooking. Pan‐fried chicken fillets were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the mutagenic/carcinogenic heterocyclic amines 2‐amino‐3,8‐dimethylimidazo[4,5‐f ]‐quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2‐amino‐1‐methyl‐6‐phenylimidazo‐[4,5‐b]‐pyridine (PhIP) and the co‐mutagenic heterocyclic amine Norharman (9H‐pyrido[3,4‐b]‐indole) were identified. The HPLC fractions were tested for mutagenic activity and, apart from the mutagenic fractions corresponding to MeIQx and PhIP, several mutagenic fractions were detected that did not correspond to known heterocyclic amines.     

Secondary Metabolic Profile as a Tool for Distinction and Characterization of Cultivars of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) Cultivated in Pará State,Brazil

This study evaluated the chemical compositions of the leaves and fruits of eight black pepper cultivars cultivated in Pará State (Amazon, Brazil). Hydrodistillation and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry were employed to extract and analyze the volatile compounds, respectively. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were predominant (58.5–90.9%) in the cultivars “Cingapura”, “Equador”, “Guajarina”, “Iaçará”, and “Kottanadan”, and “Bragantina”, “Clonada”, and “Uthirankota” displayed oxygenated sesquiterpenoids (50.6–75.0%). The multivariate statistical analysis applied using volatile composition grouped the samples into four groups: γ-Elemene, curzerene, and δ-elemene (“Equador”/“Guajarina”, I); δ-elemene (“Iaçará”/“Kottanadan”/“Cingapura”, II); elemol (“Clonada”/“Uthirankota”, III) and α-muurolol, bicyclogermacrene, and cubebol (“Bragantina”, IV). The major compounds in all fruit samples were monoterpene hydrocarbons such as α-pinene, β-pinene, and limonene. Among the cultivar leaves, phenolics content (44.75–140.53 mg GAE·g⁻¹ FW), the enzymatic activity of phenylalanine-ammonia lyase (20.19–57.22 µU·mL⁻¹), and carotenoids (0.21–2.31 µg·mL⁻¹) displayed significant variations. Due to black pepper’s susceptibility to Fusarium infection, a molecular docking analysis was carried out on Fusarium protein targets using each cultivar’s volatile components. F. oxysporum endoglucanase was identified as the preferential protein target of the compounds. These results can be used to identify chemical markers related to the susceptibility degree of black pepper cultivars to plant diseases prevalent in Pará State.     

Photocurrents and degradation rates on particulate TiO2 layers: Effect of layer thickness, concentration of oxidizable substance and illumination direction

Different routes for immobilization of TiO₂ on conducting substrates were compared to find active and stable photocatalysts, which could either be operated in open circuit (photocatalysis) or with applied electric potential (photoelectrocatalysis). The advantage of applying an electric potential was investigated. Polarization curves and photoelectrochemical degradation reactions served to characterize catalysts and to find a way of predicting the optimum synthesis conditions. The difference between front side (EE) and back side (SE) illumination is discussed as a function of layer thickness, as well as the influence of oxidizable substance concentration on photocurrents. Stability of catalysts was investigated in repetitive degradation experiments.     

Paradoxical effect of n−3-containing vegetable oils on long-chain n−3 fatty acids in rat heart

Flaxseed, echium, and canola oils contain α-linolenic acid (18∶3n−3, ALA) in a range of concentrations. To examine their effect on elevating cardiac levels of long-chain n−3 FA, diets based on these n−3-containing vegetable oils were fed to rats for 4 wk. Sunflower oil, which contains little ALA, was a comparator. Despite canola oil having the lowest ALA content of the three n−3-containing vegetable oils, it was the most potent for elevating DHA (22∶6n−3) levels in rat hearts and plasma. However, the relative potencies of the dietary oils for elevation of EPA (20∶5n−3) in heart and plasma followed the same rank order as their ALA content, i.e., flaxseed>echium>canola>sunflower oil. This paradox may be explained by lower ALA intake leading to decreased competition for Δ6 desaturase activity between ALA and the 24∶5n−3 FA precursor to DHA formation.     

Photocatalytic degradation rate of oxalic acid on the semiconductive layer of n-TiO2 particles in the batch mode plate reactor Part I: Mass transfer limits

Organic compounds dissolved in water can be decomposed on a layer of n-TiO2 particles irradiated by u.v. light, which generates holes and electrons in the TiO2 material. Dissolved oxygen was used as electron scavenger and holes reacted with water to give OH radicals. The rate of degradation of the dissolved organic compounds by OH radicals is limited by the transfer of either oxygen or of theorganic compounds to the surface of n-TiO2 particles. The consequence of these limits is that, in the batch mode reactor with recirculation of the liquid, the dependence of the concentration of an organic compound on time has either a linear or an exponential form. Experiments with decomposition of oxalic acid in aqueous solutions using a plate reactor (60 cm × 120 cm) confirmed the analysis. Equations for evaluation of the mass transfer coefficient of the dissolved species to the surface of the plate reactor with a moving liquid fil m were developed for the case of the thickness of the Nernst diffusion layer being thinner than the thickness of the liquid. The experimentally obtained decomposition rate of oxalic acid was about 60 to 80% of the theoretical decomposition rate limited by oxygen flux through the film of a moving liquid. The present theory neglects the diffusion of oxygen into the porous layer of n-TiO2.     

A biomarker of n−3 compliance in patients taking fish oil for rheumatoid arthritis

Dietary fish oil supplements have been shown to have benefits in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), other inflammatory diseases, and in cardiovascular disease. As with any medical advice, variability will exist with regard to adherence and consequent biochemical or pharmacophysiologic effects. The aim was to explore the utility of plasma phospholipid EPA as a measure of n−3 PUFA intake and response to standardized therapeutic advice given in an outpatient or office practice setting, to increase dietary n−3 PUFA, including a fish oil supplement. Patients with early RA were given verbal and written advice to alter their dietary n−3 PUFA intake, including ingestion of 20 mL of bottled fish oil on juice daily. The advice included instructions to increase n−3 PUFA and to avoid foods rich in n−6 PUFA. Every 3 mon, blood samples were obtained for analysis of plasma phospholipid FA. Plasma phospholipid EPA was used as the primary index of n−3 PUFA intake. A diverse response was seen, with about one-third of patients achieving a substantial elevation of plasma phospholipid EPA over the 12-mon study period. A third had little change, with the remainder achieving intermediate levels. Data obtained longitudinally from individual patients indicated that substantial elevations of EPA (>5% total plasma phospholipid FA) could be maintained for more than 3 yr. Plasma phospholipid EPA is a convenient measure of adherence to advice to take a dietary n−3 PUFA-rich fish oil supplement. This measure may prove a useful adjunct to intention to treat analyses in determining the effect of dietary fish oil supplements on long-term outcomes in arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases. It may also provide a guide to the effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive messages designed to increase n−3 PUFA intake.