Preparation and acid dye adsorption behavior of polyurethane/chitosan composite foams

We prepared a series of polyurethane(PU)/chitosan composite foams with different chitosan content of 5∼20 wt% and investigated their adsorption performance of acid dye (Acid Violet 48) in aqueous solutions with various dye concentrations and pH values. It was observed that PU/chitosan composite foams exhibited well-developed open cell structures. Dye adsorption capacities of the composite foams increased with the increment of chitosan content in composite foams, because amine groups of chitosan serve as the binding sites for sulfonic ions of acid dyes in aqueous solutions. In addition, dye adsorption capacities of composite foams were found to increase with decreasing the pH value, which stems from the fact that the enhanced chemisorption between protonated amine groups of chitosan and sulfonic ions of acid dye is available in acidic solutions. The dye adsoption kinetics and equilibrium isotherm of the composite foams were well described with the pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity (q _max) for the PU/chitosan composite foams with 20 wt% chitosan content is evaluated to be ca. 30 mg/g.     

Salinity changes in the anadromous river pufferfish,Takifugu obscurus,mediate gene regulation

This study aimed to better understand the hydromineral regulatory response of the anadromous river pufferfish, Takifugu obscurus, to salinity changes through real-time RT-PCR. After abrupt transfer from 30 or 5 psu to 5 or 30 psu, respectively, we analyzed the mRNA expression of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, prolactin receptor, and aquaporin from osmoregulatory organs of the river pufferfish such as gills, kidney, and intestine. Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase showed notable changes in the gills and kidney when salinity was increased. In the gills, the expression level of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase suddenly increased within a day after abrupt transfer from 5 to 30 psu and then slightly declined within 2 days after exposure. In the kidney, Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase has shown consistently high mRNA expression after the increase in salinity. Expression levels of the prolactin receptor gene increased when environmental salinity decreased. In the intestine, gene expression of the prolactin receptor remained high, even when salinity decreased. To the contrary, there was a steady increase or decrease in mRNA expression in the kidney in response to salinity decrease or increase, respectively. As for aquaporins, aquaporin 1 was mainly expressed in the intestine and kidney, and aquaporin 3 was mainly expressed in the gills and intestine. In the gills, increased expression of aquaporin 3 was found after transfer to lower salinity and in the intestine and kidney, a decrease in salinity followed by an abrupt decrease in aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 3. Contrastingly, the expression of these genes increased in the intestine after transfer to 30 psu. Osmoregulatory genes were expressed in diverse organs, apparently to overcome an influx or exhaust of water or ions. A superior adaptation ability of the river pufferfish to a wide range of salinities is most reasonably due to active osmoregulatory processes mediated by the genes monitored here.     

Lipid content and fatty acid composition of freshwater eels Anguilla japonica caught in different seasons and locations in South Korea

Fisheries Science - The objective of this study is to determine the lipid content and fatty acid composition of Anguilla japonica caught in South Korea. Seventy-nine eels caught at four different...     

Total Polyphenols,Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Different Extracts in Mungbean Seeds and Sprouts

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the biological, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and antiproliferative activities of different extracts of mungbean seeds and sprouts. All extracts from the sprouts showed higher contents of total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than from seeds. The highest DPPH and tyrosinase inhibition activities were registered in ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract. ADH activity of methanol (MeOH), n-hexane (n-hexane) and n-butanol (n-BuOH) extracts from sprouts was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than from seeds. However, the highest ADH activity was found in water extract of seeds. According to 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol -2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay, extracts from sprouts were more effective against Calu-6 (human pulmonary carcinoma) and SNU-601 (human gastric carcinoma) cells than from seeds. EtOAc extract showed the highest antiproliferative activity in both sprouts and seeds, followed by n-hexane extraction. During sprouting of mungbean, all the studied components significantly increased. In conclusion, the extracts of sprouts are more effective than from seeds and could be a potential source of antioxidants linked with health benefits.     

Removal of static electricity on polyimide film surface by O2 or Ar cold plasma etching

Cold plasma of O₂ or Ar was irradiated on hydrophobic Kapton surface to attenuate or remove the electrostatic potential. A measurement on charge dissipation speed clarifies the obscure effect of plasma. These consequences reveal that O₂ plasma etching is more effective than Ar plasma. After 30 days, the dissipation speed of accumulated charge on initially etched sample has not changed under summar season.     

Segmental aplasia of the uterine horn with ipsilateral renal agenesis in a cat

A nine-month-old domestic short haired cat was admitted with the history of acute vomiting, depression and shivering. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed minimum enlargement of the right uterine horn filled with anechoic fluid. On excretory urography, functionally and anatomically normal, enlarged left kidney was found, but right kidney was absent. It was preliminary diagnosed as hydrometra with right renal agenesis. Aiming at the correction of hydrometra, we performed ovariohysterectomy. During spaying, we found a missing segment of distal part of the right uterine horn and absence of ipsilateral kidney and ureter. Compressed uterine structure and segmental aplasia of right uterine horn were found in histopathological investigation. Taken together, it was diagnosed as a segmental aplasia of uterine horn with ipsilateral renal agenesis.     

Study on the strength retention of technical cord yarn

This research studies the factors which influence the tensile strength of tire cords. Five yarn samples are made by changing the spinning conditions and viscosity to get various physical properties. Different twisting methods are introduced and the yarns are twisted under different processing conditions for each twisting process. With the experimental results, various analyses are performed to find the important factors in retaining strength after the twisting process. SEM and optical microscopic photographs are taken along with some measurements to assist the analysis.     

Aroma finishing of PET fabrics with PVAc nanoparticles containing lavender oil

A durable aroma finishing for PET fabric was carried out by adopting poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) nanoparticles containing lavender oil (LO) in core. Relatively small size of PVAc nanoparticles (ca. 244 nm of mean particle diameter) was expected to resist the frictional destruction of the particles, which is frequently observed in cases of microcapsules. PVAc nanoparticles containing LO in core were prepared by emulsification-diffusion method and their application as an aroma releasing agent for PET fabrics was assessed through the observation of releasing profiles of LO in ethanol for experimental acceleration. Melamine-formaldehyde (MF) microcapsules containing LO were also prepared and treated on fabrics for comparison. PVAc nanoparticles treated on PET fabric showed higher initial releasing amount, which was ascribed to the enhanced surface area. After 2 days of releasing, PET fabric treated with PVAc nanoparticles showed slower and more stable releasing profile and reached about 12 ppm of cumulative release after 16 days, which was under two thirds of that with MF microcapsules. PVAc nanoparticles can be used as an agent for durable aroma finishing of PET fabrics.     

Intra-arterial delivery of triolein emulsion increases vascular permeability in skeletal muscles of rabbits

Background

To test the hypothesis that triolein emulsion will increase vascular permeability of skeletal muscle.

Methods

Triolein emulsion was infused into the superficial femoral artery in rabbits (triolein group, n = 12). As a control, saline was infused (saline group, n = 18). Pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted MR images were obtained two hours after infusion. The MR images were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated by assessing the contrast enhancement of the ipsilateral muscles. Histologic examination was performed in all rabbits.

Results

The ipsilateral muscles of the rabbits in the triolein group showed contrast enhancement, as opposed to in the ipsilateral muscles of the rabbits in the saline group. The contrast enhancement of the lesions was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Histologic findings showed that most examination areas of the triolein and saline groups had a normal appearance.

Conclusion

Rabbit thigh muscle revealed significantly increased vascular permeability with triolein emulsion; this was clearly demonstrated on the postcontrast MR images.     

Review of rice in Korea: current status,future prospects,and comparisons with rice in other countries

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Rice has been grown as a staple food in South Korea for several millennia. However, its status has not stayed constant as a result of changes in South...