FTIR and Solid StateC NMR Spectroscopy of Proteins of Wet Cooked and Popped Sorghum and Maize

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and solid state¹³C NMR spectroscopic methods were used to investigate changes in maize and sorghum proteins on wet cooking and popping. FTIR spectra indicated that wet cooking led to proteins in two normal sorghums, namely NK 283 (a red hybrid) and KAT 369 (a white variety), two sorghum mutants (P850029 and P851171) and a maize hybrid (PAN 6043) assuming more antiparallel intermolecular β-sheet character, possibly at the expense of some α-helical conformation. Solid state¹³C NMR, using the technique of Cross Polarisation Magic Angle Spinning showed shifts of the protein carbonyl carbon and α-carbon resonances upfield on wet cooking in all samples, also indicating a change in protein secondary structure from α-helical to β-sheet conformation. The extent of secondary structural change on wet cooking seemed to be greater in sorghum than in maize and may have a bearing on the inferior protein digestibility of wet cooked sorghum compared to maize. Popping produced the same secondary structural change as observed for wet cooking in both sorghum and maize. However, the extent of change on popping was less than on wet cooking in sorghum and maize.     

Effect of variety and environmental factors on gluten proteins: an analytical, spectroscopic, and rheological study

Four cultivars of winter wheat with contrasting qualities for breadmaking were selected to study the effects of environmental factors on grain protein composition and properties. They were grown in the field and under two controlled regimens designed to mimic typical "hot/dry" and "cold/wet" conditions experienced during grain development in the United Kingdom. The composition of the gluten proteins determined by SDS-PAGE and their size distribution determined by SE-HPLC were consistent with the presence of higher proportions of high M r polymers in the two varieties with good breadmaking performance (Spark and Soissons) with limited environmental effects on these parameters. Gluten protein fractions from three of the cultivars were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and this, combined with creep measurements using a texture analyzer, showed that a conversion from beta-turns to beta-sheets occurred during extension, irrespective of the growth conditions. However, the breadmaking varieties Soissons and Spark showed greater differences related to environmental conditions than the variety Rialto, which has poorer processing quality.     

An Umpolung approach to fluorinated non-ester pyrethroids

The synthesis of novel, fluorinated non-ester pyrethroids by electrophilic fluorination of a stabilised anion with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide is reported. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Formation of kafirin microparticles by phase separation from an organic acid and their characterisation

Protein microparticles (microspheres) have numerous food and pharmaceutical applications. However, generally preparation of prolamin protein microparticles involves aqueous ethanol as a solvent. An ethanol-free method of making microparticles from kafirin with a novel structure was devised. Glacial acetic acid or other organic acids were used as kafirin solvent and the microparticles formed by phase separation on addition of water. The kafirin microparticles were characterised by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and their size distribution was measured. The kafirin microparticles prepared by phase separation from organic acid were spherical or irregular shaped, between 1 and 10 μm in diameter, with rough, porous outer surfaces and many internal holes or vacuoles. The holes seem to be the footprint of air bubbles which were entrapped during microparticle preparation. With an increase in the final concentration of acetic acid, the structure of the microparticles changed from porous spheres to an open matrix, with a concomitant change in kafirin secondary structure from α-helical to β-sheet, indicative of protein aggregation. These highly vacuolated and open matrix type microparticles appear to have potential as encapsulating agents and support structures.     

Extreme ultraviolet observations from voyager 2 encounter with jupiter

Extreme ultraviolet spectral observations of the Jovian planetary system made during the Voyager 2 encounter have extended our knowledge of many of the phenomena and physical processes discovered by the Voyager 1 ultraviolet spectrometer. In the 4 months between encounters, the radiation from Io's plasma torus has increased in intensity by a factor of about 2. This change was accompanied by a decrease in plasma temperature of about 30 percent. The high-latitude auroral zones have been positively associated with the magnetic projection of the plasma torus onto the planet. Emission in molecular hydrogen bands has been detected from the equatorial regions of Jupiter, indicating planetwide electron precipitation. Hydrogen Lyman alpha from the dark side of the planet has been measured at an intensity of about 1 kilorayleigh. An observation of the occultation of alpha Leonis by Jupiter was carried out successfully and the data are being analyzed in detail.     

Venus: atmospheric motion and structure from mariner 10 pictures

The Mariner 10 television camieras imaged the planet Venus in the visible and near ultraviolet for a period of 8 days at resolutions ranging from 100 meters to 130 kilometers. Tle general pattern of the atmospheric circulation in the upper tropospheric/lower stratospheric region is displayed in the pictures. Atmospheric flow is symmetrical between north and south hemispheres. The equatorial motions are zonal (east-west) at approxiimnately 100 meters per second, consistent with the previously inferred 4-day retrograde rotation. Angular velocity increases with latitude. The subsolar region, and the region downwind from it, show evidence of large-scale convection that persists in spite of the main zonal motion. Dynamical interaction between the zonal motion and the relatively stationary region of convection is evidenced by bowlike waves.     

Deep Impact: observations from a worldwide Earth-based campaign

On 4 July 2005, many observatories around the world and in space observed the collision of Deep Impact with comet 9P/Tempel 1 or its aftermath. This was an unprecedented coordinated observational campaign. These data show that (i) there was new material after impact that was compositionally different from that seen before impact; (ii) the ratio of dust mass to gas mass in the ejecta was much larger than before impact; (iii) the new activity did not last more than a few days, and by 9 July the comet's behavior was indistinguishable from its pre-impact behavior; and (iv) there were interesting transient phenomena that may be correlated with cratering physics.     

Correlation of Blood Flow of the Preovulatory Follicle to its Diameter and Endocrine Profile in Dairy Buffalo

Blood flow of the preovulatory follicle (POF) wall can be used as a predictor of the quality of POF. Our aim was to determine the correlation of blood flow of POF with the POF diameter, and intra‐follicular and plasma concentrations of Insulin‐like Growth Factor‐I (IGF‐1) and oestradiol in dairy buffalo. Nine Murrah buffalo subjected to an ovulation synchronization protocol (Ovsynch) were assessed on day 10 of the protocol for diameter and blood flow of POF, followed by the aspiration of follicle fluid. Prior to follicular aspiration, blood samples were obtained from jugular vein for estimation of IGF‐1 and oestradiol. The vascularity of POF was determined (Range: 250–967 pixel²) along with intra‐follicular and plasma concentration of IGF‐1 (Range: 9.3–31.8 ng/ml and 14.7–29.7 ng/ml respectively) and oestradiol (Range: 124.2–447.9 ng/ml and 0.25–1.05 ng/ml respectively). Diameter of the POF was weakly correlated (r = 0.21, p < 0.01) with blood flow to it. As compared to POF diameter, the blood flow of POF had greater positive correlation with intra‐follicular and plasma concentrations of hormones (IGF‐1 and oestradiol). A strong positive correlation was recorded between intra‐follicular IGF‐1 and oestradiol. Also, plasma concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone were negatively correlated In brief, assessment of the blood flow of the POF is a non‐invasive and reliable indicator of its functional competence as compared to the POF diameter.     

Nighttime impaired driving in rural Alberta

A nighttime roadside survey of rural Alberta drivers was conducted to quantify the nature and extent of impaired driving on Alberta's rural roads during nighttime. The survey also sought to describe driver demographics and information about the trip, such as origin and destination, among rural Alberta's nighttime drivers. Surveys were administered to drivers of vehicles that were randomly sampled at rural locations in Alberta between the hours of 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM between 22 August and 1 September 2001. Drivers who agreed to participate were asked a series of short questions. The interview concluded with the driver providing a breath sample to measure the driver's BAC level. Of the drivers surveyed, 3% had a BAC that was over the legal limit of 80 mg%. A total of 13% of drivers tested had detectable amounts of alcohol in their system.