Two-dimensional nanosheets produced by liquid exfoliation of layered materials

If they could be easily exfoliated, layered materials would become a diverse source of two-dimensional crystals whose properties would be useful in applications ranging from electronics to energy storage. We show that layered compounds such as MoS(2), WS(2), MoSe(2), MoTe(2), TaSe(2), NbSe(2), NiTe(2), BN, and Bi(2)Te(3) can be efficiently dispersed in common solvents and can be deposited as individual flakes or formed into films. Electron microscopy strongly suggests that the material is exfoliated into individual layers. By blending this material with suspensions of other nanomaterials or polymer solutions, we can prepare hybrid dispersions or composites, which can be cast into films. We show that WS(2) and MoS(2) effectively reinforce polymers, whereas WS(2)/carbon nanotube hybrid films have high conductivity, leading to promising thermoelectric properties.     

Invertebrate facultative anaerobiosis

The unique pattern of anaerobic carbohydrate metabolism in invertebrate facultative anaerobes serves to couple other substrate-level phosphorylations to the glycolytic reactions, thus increasing the potential yield of high-energy phosphate compounds. Currently, two important coupling sites can be identified:     

Functional properties and characterization of dietary fiber from Mangifera pajang Kort. fruit pulp

A dried high fiber product from bambangan (Mangifera pajang Kort.) fruit pulp was prepared and evaluated for proximate composition, functional properties, and soluble and insoluble dietary fiber composition. Mangifera pajang fibrous (MPF) consisted of 4.7% moisture, 0.8% fat, 4% protein, and 30 mg total polyphenol per g of dry sample, and 9, 79 and 88% soluble, insoluble and total dietary fiber, respectively. Water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, swelling, and solubility were found to be 9 g/g dry sample, 4 g/g dry sample, 16 mL/g dry sample, and 11%, respectively. The glucose dialysis retardation index of MPF was approximately double that of cellulose fiber. Soluble dietary fiber contained mannose, arabinose, glucose, rhamnose, erythrose, galactose, xylose, and fucose at 1.51, 0.72, 0.39, 0.16, 0.14, 0.05, 0.04, and 0.01%, respectively, with 5.8% uronic acid, while insoluble dietary fiber was composed of arabinose (18.47%), glucose (4.46%), mannose (3.15%), rhamnose (1.65%), galactose (1.20%), xylose (0.99%), and fucose (0.26%) with 15.5% uronic acid and 33.1% klason lignin. These characteristics indicate that MPF is a rich source of dietary fiber and has physicochemical properties which make it suitable as an added ingredient in various food products and/or dietetic, low-calorie high-fiber foods to enhance their nutraceutical properties.     

New alkamides from maca (Lepidium meyenii)

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) has been used as a food in Peru for thousands of years. More recently a wide array of commercial maca products have gained popularity as dietary supplements, with claims of anabolic and aphrodisiac effects, although the biologically active principles are not fully known. In an earlier chemical investigation, two new alkamides and a novel fatty acid, as well as the N-hydroxypyridine derivative, macaridine, were isolated from L. meyenii. Further examination has led to the isolation of five additional new alkamides, namely, N-benzyl-9-oxo-12Z-octadecenamide (1), N-benzyl-9-oxo-12Z,15Z-octadecadienamide (2), N-benzyl-13-oxo-9E,11E-octadecadienamide (3), N-benzyl-15Z-tetracosenamide (4), and N-(m-methoxybenzyl)hexadecanamide (5). Their structures were established by spectrometric and spectroscopic methods including ESI-HRMS, EI-MS, (1)H, (13)C, and 2D NMR, as well as (1)H-(15)N 2D HMBC experiments. In addition, the identity of N-benzyl-15Z-tetracosenamide (4) was confirmed by synthesis. These compounds have been found from only L. meyenii and could be used as markers for authentication and standardization.     

Effects of extrusion of flaxseed on ruminal and postruminal nutrient digestibilities.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of extrusion on ruminal, post-ruminal and whole tract digestibility of flaxseed. Extrusion was performed at 155 degrees C with a residence time of 43 s. Two non-lactating Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a randomized complete block design. Results showed that extruded flaxseed had higher (P < 0.05) in situ soluble and lower (P < 0.05) slowly degradable DM and CP fractions than unheated flaxseed. Extrusion increased (P < 0.05) ruminal DM and CP degradability of flaxseed by 7 and 13%, respectively. Ruminal undegraded DM, CP and NDF were all lower (P < 0.05) for extruded flaxseed than for unheated flaxseed. Extrusion increased (P < 0.05) ruminal degradability and reduced (P < 0.05) post-ruminal availability of most amino acids of flaxseed. Whole tract digestibility of DM, CP, NDF and amino acids were higher (P < 0.05) for extruded than for unheated flaxseed. It was concluded that extrusion under the conditions used in the present experiment increases ruminal and whole tract nutrient degradabilities of flaxseed and therefore was ineffective in increasing the post-ruminal supply of amino acids from flaxseed.     

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Digestibility of Whole-Crop Pea and Pea–Cereal Mixture Silages Grown in South-western Quebec

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and in vitro dry matter (IVDMD) and neutral detergent fibre (IVNDFD) digestibilities of silages made from whole‐crop pea [Pisum sativum L. (PS)], pea–wheat [Triticum aestivum L. (PW)], pea–barley [Hordeum vulgare L. (PB)] and pea–oat [Avena sativa L. (PO)] mixtures harvested 8 weeks (H8) and 10 weeks (H10) after seeding. Forty‐five days after ensiling, all forages were well ensiled as indicated by low pH and low water‐soluble carbohydrate content and high lactic acid concentration. Regardless of forage type, crude protein (CP) and IVNDFD were higher while starch and acid detergent lignin were lower in H8 than H10. However, harvest date had no effect on neutral (NDF) and acid (ADF) detergent fibre of the silages. Within each harvest date, CP was higher while NDF was lower for PS than pea–cereal silages. Differences in CP and fibre fractions between the pea–cereal mixture silages were not consistent for the two harvest dates. The IVDMD of PS was higher than that of the three pea–cereal mixture silages in H8 but was only higher than that of PB in H10. For the pea–cereal mixtures, IVDMD was higher for PO than PB and PW in H8 and was higher for PB than PW in H10. It was concluded that silage from pea monoculture had similar forage yields and a generally higher nutritive value than silages from pea–cereal mixtures.     

Serological evidence of the occurrence of bluetongue in Iraq

Summary Precipitating antibodies against bluetongue were detected in sheep and goat serum samples collected from animals slaughtered in Baghdad abattoir. Out of294 sheep serum samples and110 goat serum samples examined,28 and18 samples respectively showed precipitating activity. In addition, examination of sheep serum samples collected from localities where clinical cases similar to bluetongue were previously reported revealed the presence of bluetongue precipitating antibodies in101 sera out of198 samples examined. This is the first report confirming the occurrence of blue-tongue in Iraq.

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Evidencia Serológica De La Ocurrencia De Lengua Azul En Irak

Resumen Se detectaron anticuerpos precipitantes de la enfermedad de la Lengua Azul en el suero de ovejas y cabras beneficiadas en el matadero de-Bagdad. La prueba fue positiva en 28 de 294 sueros ovinos y en 18 de los 110 sueros caprinos examinados. Posteriormente, se examinaron 198 sueros ovinos colectados en áreas en donde se sospechaba la existencia clinica de la enfermedad, encontrandose 101 positivos. Este es el primer informe de la existencia de Lengua Azul en Irak.

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Preuve Sérologique De L'existence De La Bluetongue En Irak

Résumé Des anticorps précipants contre la bluetongue ont été mis en évidence dans des échantillons de sérum de moutons et de chèvres recueillis sur des animaux abattus à l'abattoir de Bagdad. Sur 294 échantillons de sérum de moutons et 110 de chèvres examinés, 28 et 18 de ces échantillons se sont respectivement montrés précipitants. En outre l'examen d'échantillons de sérum de moutons recueillis dans des localités où existaient des cas cliniques pouvant faire soupçonner la bluetongue a montré la présence de sérums précipitants de la maladie dans 101 des 198 échantillons examinés. C'est là le premier report confirmant l'existence de la bluetongue en Irak.

     

Phytopathogenic fungi new for southern Anatolia,Turkey

Twenty-nine new records are reported from Turkey. The fungi species, including their macro-and microscopic features and distributions, are described. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2004.     

Alpha basic crystallin expression in canine mammary tumors

The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic and/or diagnostic factors of canine mammary tumors by immunohistochemically analyzing the expression of alpha basic crystallin (αB-c). For this, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of 51 naturally-occurring canine mammary tumors (11 benign and 40 malignant) were used. Tissue from eight normal canine mammary glands were served as a control. Immunohistochemically, in the control mammary tissues, a few luminal epithelial cells were αB-c positive but myoepithelial cells were negative. In benign or simple type malignant tumors, αB-c expression was observed in luminal epithelial cells while the myoepithelial basal cells were negative. In benign or complex type malign tumors, positive staining was predominantly found in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Immunoreactivity of αB-c was also observed in neoplastic myoepithelial cells. Statistically, the number of cells immunolabeled with αB-c was found to be significantly different among tissues from normal canine mammary glands, benign lesions, and malignant tumors (p < 0.05). αB-c immunoreactivity was higher in malignant tumors than the control mammary tissues (p < 0.001). Data obtained in the current study revealed a strong association between high expression levels of αB-c and primary mammary gland tumors in canines.