Investigation of thermal decomposition as the kinetic process that causes the loss of crystalline structure in sucrose using a chemical analysis approach (part II)

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a calcium form cation exchange column with refractive index and photodiode array detection was used to investigate thermal decomposition as the cause of the loss of crystalline structure in sucrose. Crystalline sucrose structure was removed using a standard differential scanning calorimetry (SDSC) method (fast heating method) and a quasi-isothermal modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) method (slow heating method). In the fast heating method, initial decomposition components, glucose (0.365%) and 5-HMF (0.003%), were found in the sucrose sample coincident with the onset temperature of the first endothermic peak. In the slow heating method, glucose (0.411%) and 5-HMF (0.003%) were found in the sucrose sample coincident with the holding time (50 min) at which the reversing heat capacity began to increase. In both methods, even before the crystalline structure in sucrose was completely removed, unidentified thermal decomposition components were formed. These results prove not only that the loss of crystalline structure in sucrose is caused by thermal decomposition, but also that it is achieved via a time-temperature combination process. This knowledge is important for quality assurance purposes and for developing new sugar based food and pharmaceutical products. In addition, this research provides new insights into the caramelization process, showing that caramelization can occur under low temperature (significantly below the literature reported melting temperature), albeit longer time, conditions.     

Distribution and accumulation of Cy5.5-labeled thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in the tissues of ICR mice

Free Cy5.5 dye and Cy5.5-labeled thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (TCL-SPION) have been routinely used for in vivo optical imaging. However, there is little information about the distribution and accumulation of free Cy5.5 dye and Cy5.5-labeled TCL-SPION in the tissues of mice. Free Cy5.5 dye (0.1 mg/kg body weight) and Cy5.5-labeled TCL-SPION (15 mg/kg body weight) were intravenously injected into the tail vein of ICR mice. The biodistribution and accumulation of the TCL-SPION and Cy5.5 were observed by ex vivo optical imaging and fluorescence signal generation at various time points over 28 days. Cy5.5 dye fluorescence in various organs was rapidly eliminated from 0.5 to 24 h post-injection. Fluorescence intensity of Cy5.5 dye in the liver, lung, kidney, and stomach was fairly strong at the early time points within 1 day post-injection. Cy5.5-labeled TCL-SPION had the highest fluorescence density in the lung at 0.5 h post-injection and decreased rapidly over time. Fluorescence density in liver and spleen was maintained over 28 days. These results suggest that TCL-SPION can be useful as a carrier of therapeutic reagents to treat diseases by persisting for long periods of time in the body.     

Changes in the physicochemical and microbiological properties of dried anchovy <Emphasis Type="Italic">Engraulis japonicus</Emphasis> during storage

This study investigated the changes in the pH, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), color L*, a*, b*, shear force, and microbial content (total plate count; TPC) of dried anchovy Engraulis japonicus in a home refrigerator and freezer at 2, ??1, ??5, and ??20 °C. The TBA value and shear force significantly decreased with increasing storage duration at all of the tested temperatures (p?<?0.05), whereas the VBN and TPC values increased (VBN significantly so) with increasing storage duration (p?<?0.05). The anchovy L* values decreased, whereas the a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) values increased as the storage period was lengthened. The pH decreased after 9 months. The results suggest that the optimum storage period of the dried anchovy is within 6 months. It can be stored below 2 °C for 3 months, but for storage exceeding 3 months, it should be frozen at ??5 °C.     

Leukemia-associated antigens in the mixed leukocyte culture test

Patients with acute leukemia (blast cells in the peripheral blood) manifest antigens in the one-way mixed leukocyte culture test. Leukocytes from normal patients and leukocytes of patients in remission do not clearly show these antigens. These antigens could be leukemia-associated antigens in man.     

Air-gap spinning of cellulose/ionic liquid solution and its characterization

In order to study the effects of the spinning conditions on the structure and the properties of the regenerated fiber, cellulose was dissolved in ionic liquid and then spun into fiber using an air-gap spinning process. The solution concentration, the take-up speed and the fixation of the fiber ends during coagulation improved the crystallinity and the tensile strength at the same time. The fiber surface became smooth by addition of DMF (dimethylformamide). However, it decreased the crystallinity and the tensile strength of the fibers. We revealed that the developed structure during coagulation determined the morphology and the properties of the fibers. The co-solvent resulted in smooth surface of the fiber and also changed the mechanical properties.     

Syntheses of new film-forming aromatic poly(amide-imide)s containing isoindoloquinazolinedione unit in the backbone: Poly(biphenylphthalicdianhydride-oxydianiline-4,4′-diamino-3′-carbamoyl-benzanilide) (poly(BPDA-ODA-DACB))

New film forming aromatic poly(amide-imide)s containing isoindoloquinazolinedione (IQ) unit in the backbone chain (polymerXIV) have been successfully synthesized by preparing prepolymers of poly(amic acid-carbonamide), followed by subsequent thermal cyclization of the prepolymers. 4,4′-Diamino-3′-carbamoylbenzanilide (DACB)V has been synthesized by reduction of 3′-carbamoyl-4′-amino-4-nitrobenzanilideIV. The prepolymers of poly(amic-acid-carbonamide) (polymersVII andVIII) which exhibit viscosities ranging from 1.4 to 1.7 dl/g have been prepared by a condensation polymerization of monomers such as BPDA, ODA, and DACB. PolymerXIV has been obtained by thermal cyclization of the polymersVII andVIII. During the thermal cyclization reaction, imide ring structure was first introduced and then transformed to the structure of IQ unit. The thermal degradation rate of the resultant polymers were influenced by the cleavage of amide bond but the final char yield was comparable to that of poly(BPDA-ODA).     

Fly ash/polyurethane thin film for the adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air

Polyurethane (PU) films containing different amounts of fly ash particles (FAPs) were prepared by simple solution casting method. The morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties of the composite films were investigated by several characterization methods. Results show that sufficient amounts (up to 40 wt%) of FAPs can be incorporated throughout the film. The presence of FAPs within PU film not only acts as filler to increase the mechanical strength of the film but also increases its volatile organic compounds (VOCs) adsorption capacity. The VOCs adsorption capacity of FAPs/PU composite films were investigated on three different compounds (chloroform, toluene, and benzene). It showed consistent trend in the order of toluene > benzene > chloroform for all the samples. The VOCs adsorption capacity of PU film was found to be increased by two fold when 20 wt% of FA was incorporated through it. The present results suggest the potential use of FAPs as filler materials for PU films with improved VOCs adsorption from outdoor and indoor air.     

Performance of ELISA antigens prepared from 8 isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus with homologous and heterologous antisera.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) ELISA antigens of high quality were produced using 8 different isolates of PRRSV: the European Lelystad virus (LV), the U.S. MN-1b, 89-46448, 93-44927, and 93-24025B, and the Canadian LHVA-93-3, PA-8 and GH-6 virus isolates. The performance of each of these 8 antigens and a commercial PRRSV antibody test kit (Idexx's HerdChek) were measured against antisera raised in 5 groups of 6 piglets inoculated with either LV, MN-1b, 89-46448, 93-44927, or 93-24025B. Among the 8 isolates, the 89-46448 isolate produced the broadest spectrum of antigen and resulted in earlier detection of antibodies to various North American PRRSV isolates, followed by MN-1b as the 2nd best ELISA antigen for the detection of North American PRRSV antibodies. The GH-6 and PA-8 viral antigens exhibited restricted detection of PRRSV antibodies. The LV and 89-46448 combined antigens produced the best performance for the detection of antibodies against both European and North American antigenic types of PRRSV. Using 173 panel samples collected at 11 to 60 d after intranasal inoculation with 1 of the 5 PRRSV isolates, the sensitivities of the indirect ELISA used were 73.4%, 98.3%, 90.8%, 98.3%, 83.2%, 93.1%, 77.1%, 64.2%, 98.8% and 95.9% for LV, MN-1b, LHVA-93-3, 89-46448, 93-44927, 93-24025B, PA-8, GH-6 antigens, 89-46448-LV combined antigens and Idexx's PRRSV antibody test kit, respectively. All 8 antigens gave negative results with preinfection porcine sera (n = 30); high background or nonspecific reactions were not observed with the antigens.     

Calbindin-D9k mRNA expression in the rat uterus following exposure to methoxychlor: a comparison of oral and subcutaneous exposure

Calbindin-D(9k) (CaBP-9k) is a cytosolic calcium-binding protein that is induced by estrogenic compounds possibly through estrogen receptors. We compared CaBP-9k mRNA expression in the uterus with uterotrophic response in immature rats exposed to methoxychlor (MC), an environmental chemical with estrogenic activity. MC was orally or subcutaneously administered to 3-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats for 3 days. The weights of the uterus and vagina significantly increased in the oral treatment group at a dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, but those of the subcutaneous (SC) treatment group only increased at 200 mg/kg. Northern blot analysis showed that CaBP-9k mRNA expression was significantly induced in a dose-dependent manner at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day in the oral treatment group. SC administration of MC induced significant expression at only a dose of 200 mg/kg/day; this was similar to the uterotrophic response. MC has an estrogenic effect on the uterus as shown by the increase in weight and induction of CaBP-9k mRNA expression, which were much greater following exposure via oral gavage than via the SC route. The strong correlation between the results of in vivo uterotrophic assay and CaBP-9k mRNA expression suggests that CaBP-9k mRNA expression in the rat uterus may be used as an early gene marker for detection of the estrogenic effects of putative environmental chemicals.