Investigation of microbial community isolated from indoor artworks and air environment: identification, biodegradative abilities, and DNA typing.

PubMed

Pangallo, Domenico; Chovanová, Katarina; Simonovicová, Alexandra; Ferianc, Peter

2009-03-01

This study deals with establishing the characteristics of a microbial community isolated from indoor artworks and the surrounding air environment. It is one of the few studies on microbial degradation of indoor artworks. It shows the potential biodegradative risk that can occur if artworks are not exhibited and conserved in an appropriate environment. The microbial community isolated from the indoor artworks and air environment was examined by cultural and molecular methods. Different plate assays were used to screen the biodegradative activity of the isolated microflora: Remazol Brilliant Blue R, phenol red, and Azure B for the ligninolytic properties; Ostazin brilliant red H-3B for cellulose degradation; CaCO3 glucose agar for solubilization activity; and B4 agar for biomineralization. To type the bacterial and fungal isolates, 2 PCR methods, repetitive extragenic palindromes (REP) and random amplified microsatellite polymorphisms (RAMP) were used. The art objects were principally colonized by fungi. The most commonly isolated strains were represented by hyphomycetes of the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Chaetomium. Members of these genera showed intensive biodegradation activity, both on wood and on stone. Bacteria were predominant in the air, exhibiting complex communities, both in the air and on the artworks. The most frequently isolated genera were Bacillus and Staphylococcus with extensive biodegradation abilities. REP-PCR revealed high variability within strains belonging to the same genus. RAMP is a new PCR-based method, used in this research for the first time to cluster the microfilamentous fungi and to characterize and select especially Penicillium and Aspergillus strains, which were isolated in a large number.

Synthesis and characterization of Acacia gum-Fe0Np-silica nanocomposite: an efficient Fenton-like catalyst for the degradation of Remazol Brilliant Violet dye

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Vandana; Singh, Jadveer; Srivastava, Preeti

2018-04-01

Acacia gum-Fe0Np-silica nanocomposite (GFS1) has been crafted through sol-gel technique using a two-step process that involved the reduction of iron salt to zerovalent iron nanoparticles (Fe0Nps) followed by their impregnation within Acacia gum-silica matrix. GFS1 was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. GFS1 is decorated with Fe0Nps of 5 nm average size. The VSM study revealed that GFS1 has ferromagnetic nature. GFS1 was used as a heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst for the degradation of azo dyes using Remazol Brilliant Violet (RBV) dye as a model dye. In first 5 min of operation, > 86% dye degradation was achieved and 94% dye (from 100 mg L-1 dye solution) was successfully degraded in 50 min. The dye degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The GFS1 performed efficiently well over the wide range of dye concentrations (25-200 mg L-1). The catalyst was reused for eight repeated cycles where 12.5% dye degradation was possible even in the eighth cycle. The catalyst behaved fairly well for the degradation of Metanil Yellow (MY) and Orange G (OG) dyes also. Under the optimum conditions of RBV dye degradation, Metanil Yellow (MY) and Orange G (OG) dyes were degraded to the extent of 97 and 26.3%, respectively.

Screening for ligninolytic enzymes from autochthonous fungi and applications for decolorization of Remazole Marine Blue

PubMed Central

Erden, Emre; Ucar, M. Cigdem; Gezer, Tekin; Pazarlioglu, Nurdan Kasikara

2009-01-01

This study presents new and alternative fungal strains for the production of ligninolytic enzymes which have great potential to use in industrial and biotechnological processes. Thirty autochthonous fungal strains were harvested from Bornova-Izmir in Turkiye. In the fresh fruitbody extracts laccase, manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase activities, which are the principal enzymes responsible for ligninocellulose degradation by Basidiomycetes, were screened. Spores of some of the basidiomycetes species such as Cortinarius sp., Trametes versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus, Abortiporus biennis, Lyophyllum subglobisporium, Ramaria stricta, Ganoderma carnosum, Lactarius delicious ve Lepista nuda were isolated and investigated optimum cultivation conditions in submerged fermentation for high yields of ligninolytic enzyme production. In addition, isolated fungal strains were monitored on agar plates whether having the capability of decolorization of a textile dye Remazol Marine Blue. PMID:24031371

FTIR Spectroscopy Applied in Remazol Blue Dye Oxidation by Laccases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juárez-Hernández, J.; Zavala-Soto, M. E.; Bibbins-Martínez, M.; Delgado-Macuil, R.; Díaz-Godinez, G.; Rojas-López, M.

2008-04-01

We have used FTIR with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) technique to analyze the decolourization process of Remazol Blue dye (RB19) caused by the oxidative activity of laccase enzyme. It is known that laccases catalyze the oxidation of a large range of phenolic compounds and aromatic amines carrying out one-electron oxidations, although also radicals could be formed which undergo subsequent nonenzymatic reactions. The enzyme laccase is a copper-containing polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.2) which has been tested as a potential alternative in detoxification of environmental pollutants such as dyes present in wastewaters generated for the textile industry. In order to ensure degradation or avoid formation of toxic compounds it is important to establish the mechanism by which laccase oxidizes dyes. In this research individual ATR-FTIR spectra have been recorded for several reaction times between 0 to 236 hours, and the temporal dependence of the reaction was analyzed through the relative diminution of the intensity of the infrared band at 1127 cm-1 (associated to C-N vibration), with respect to the intensity of the band at 1104 cm-1 (associated to S = O) from sulphoxide group. Decolourization process of this dye by laccase could be attributed to its accessibility on the secondary amino group, which is a potential point of attack of laccases, abstracting the hydrogen atom. This decolourization process of remazol blue dye by laccase enzyme might in a future replace the traditionally high chemical, energy and water consuming textile operations.

Simultaneous Preconcentration and Determination of Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow in Foodstuffs by Solid-Phase Extraction Combined UV-Vis Spectrophotometry.

PubMed

Bişgin, Abdullah Taner

2018-05-29

Background: Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow, two highly water-soluble synthetic food dyes, are the most popular food dyes used and consumed. Although they are not highly toxic, some health problems can be observed when excessive amounts of food products containing these dyes are consumed. Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop a simultaneous UV-Vis combined solid-phase extraction method, based on the adsorption onto Amberlite XAD-8 resin, for determination of Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow dyes. Methods: Sample solution was poured into the reservoir of the column and permitted to gravitationally pass through the column at 2 mL/min flow rate. Adsorbed dyes were eluted to 5 mL of final volume with 1 mol/L HNO₃ in ethanol solution by applying a 2 mL/min flow rate. Dye concentrations of the solution were determined at 483 and 630 nm for Sunset Yellow and Brilliant Blue, respectively. Results: The detection limits of the method for Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow were determined as 0.13 and 0.66 ng/mL, respectively. Preconcentration factor was 80. Brilliant Blue contents of real food samples were found to be between 11 and 240 μg/g. Sunset Yellow concentrations of foodstuffs were determined to be between 19 and 331 μg/g. Conclusions: Economical, effective, and simple simultaneous determination of Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow was achieved by using a solid-phase extraction combined UV-Vis spectrometry method. Highlights: The method is applicable and suitable for routine analysis in quality control laboratories without the need for expert personnel and high operational costs because the instrumentation is simple and inexpensive.

Isolation of bacterial strains able to metabolize lignin and lignin-related compounds.

PubMed

Tian, J-H; Pourcher, A-M; Peu, P

2016-07-01

In this study, we identified five strains isolated from soil and sediments able to degrade kraft lignin, aromatic dyes and lignin derivatives. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the isolates were identified as Serratia sp. JHT01, Serratia liquefacien PT01, Pseudomonas chlororaphis PT02, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia PT03 and Mesorhizobium sp. PT04. All the isolates showed significant growth on lignin with no water-extractable compounds. Synthetic aromatic dyes were used to assess the presence of oxidative enzymes. All the isolates were able to use the thiazine dye Methylene blue and the anthraquinone dye Remazol Brilliant Blue R as the sole carbon source. Guaiacol, veratryl alcohol and biphenyl were also mineralized by all the strains isolated. These results suggest they could be used for the treatment of aromatic pollutants and for the degradation of the lignocellulosic biomass. The valorization of waste lignin and lignocellulosic biomass by biocatalysis opens up new possibilities for the production of value-added substituted aromatics, biofuel and for the treatment of aromatic pollutants. Bacteria with ligninolytic potential could be a source of novel enzymes for controlled lignin depolymerization. In this work, five soil bacteria were isolated and studied. Every isolate showed significant growth on lignin and was able to degrade several lignin monomers and ligninolytic indicator dyes. They could thus be a source of novel ligninolytic enzymes as well as candidates for a bacterial consortium for the delignification of lignocellulosic biomass. © 2016 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

A High Redox Potential Laccase from Pycnoporus sanguineus RP15: Potential Application for Dye Decolorization

PubMed Central

Zimbardi, Ana L. R. L.; Camargo, Priscila F.; Carli, Sibeli; Aquino Neto, Sidney; Meleiro, Luana P.; Rosa, Jose C.; De Andrade, Adalgisa R.; Jorge, João A.; Furriel, Rosa P. M.

2016-01-01

Laccase production by Pycnoporus sanguineus RP15 grown in wheat bran and corncob under solid-state fermentation was optimized by response surface methodology using a Central Composite Rotational Design. A laccase (Lacps1) was purified and characterized and the potential of the pure Lacps1 and the crude culture extract for synthetic dye decolorization was evaluated. At optimal conditions (eight days, 26 °C, 18% (w/w) milled corncob, 0.8% (w/w) NH4Cl and 50 mmol·L−1 CuSO4, initial moisture 4.1 mL·g−1), the laccase activity reached 138.6 ± 13.2 U·g−1. Lacps1 was a monomeric glycoprotein (67 kDa, 24% carbohydrate). Optimum pH and temperature for the oxidation of 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) were 4.4 and 74.4 °C, respectively. Lacps1 was stable at pH 3.0–8.0, and after two hours at 55–60 °C, presenting high redox potential (0.747 V vs. NHE). ABTS was oxidized with an apparent affinity constant of 147.0 ± 6.4 μmol·L−1, maximum velocity of 413.4 ± 21.2 U·mg−1 and catalytic efficiency of 3140.1 ± 149.6 L·mmol−1·s−1. The maximum decolorization percentages of bromophenol blue (BPB), remazol brilliant blue R and reactive blue 4 (RB4), at 25 or 40 °C without redox mediators, reached 90%, 80% and 60%, respectively, using either pure Lacps1 or the crude extract. This is the first study of the decolorization of BPB and RB4 by a P. sanguineus laccase. The data suggested good potential for treatment of industrial dye-containing effluents. PMID:27164083

Identification and characterization of the biotechnological potential of a wild strain of Paraconiothyrium sp.

PubMed

Arredondo-Santoyo, Marina; Vázquez-Garcidueñas, Ma Soledad; Vázquez-Marrufo, Gerardo

2018-04-30

The isolation and characterization of fungal strains from poorly described taxa allows undercover attributes of their basic biology useful for biotechnology. Here, a wild fungal strain (CMU-196) from recently described Paraconiothyrium genus was analyzed. CMU-196 was identified as Paraconiothyrium brasiliense by phylogenetic analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS). CMU-196 metabolized 57 out of 95 substrates of the Biolog FF microplates. Efficient assimilation of dextrins and glycogen indicates that CMU-196 is a good producer of amylolytic enzymes. It showed a remarkably assimilation of α-D-lactose, substrate described as inducer of cellulolytic activity but poorly assimilated by several fungi. Metabolically active mycelium of the strain decolorized broth supplemented with direct blue 71, Chicago sky blue and remazol brilliant blue R dyes. The former two dyes were also well removed from broth by mycelium inactivated by autoclaving. Both mycelia had low efficiency for removing fuchsin acid from broth and for decolorizing wastewater from the paper industry. CMU-196 strain showed extracellular laccase activity when potato dextrose broth was supplemented with Cu +2 , reaching a maximum activity of 46.8 (±0.33) U/L. Studied strain antagonized phytopathogenic Colletotrichum spp. fungi and Phytophthora spp. oomycetes in vitro, but is less effective towards Fusarium spp. fungi. CMU-196 antagonism includes overgrowing the mycelia of phytopathogens and growth inhibition, probably by hydrosoluble extracellular metabolites. The biotechnological potential of strain CMU-196 here described warrants further studies to have a more detailed knowledge of the mechanisms associated with its metabolic versatility, capacity for environmental detoxification, extracellular laccase production and antagonism against phytopathogens. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Inhibition of (Na(+)/K(+))-ATPase by Cibacron Blue 3G-A and its analogues.

PubMed

Breier, A; Bohácová, V; Docolomanský, P

2006-12-01

A specific feature of anthraquinone dyes (AD) is to mimic the adenine nucleotides ATP, ADP, NAD and NADH, enabling them to act as ligands in interaction with nucleotide-binding sites of several enzymes and receptors. In the present study, the interactions and/or inhibitory effects of eight AD, including Cibacron Blue 3G-A (Reactive Blue 2), Procion Blue MX-R (Reactive Blue 4) and Remazol Brilliant Blue R (Reactive Blue 19) on the activity of (Na(+)/K(+))-ATPase were investigated. The AD used in this paper could be divided into two groups: i) AD1-AD4 that do not contain the triazine moiety; ii) AD5-AD8 that contain the triazine moiety. Interaction affinity between the respective dye and (Na+/K+)-ATPase was characterized by means of enzyme kinetics. All AD, excluding AD1 and AD2 (which were practically ineffective) exerted effective competitive inhibition to the (Na(+)/K(+))-ATPase activity. Present study is devoted to elucidation of relationship between the inhibitory efficacy of AD against (Na(+)/K(+))-ATPase activity, their acid-basic properties and their three dimensional structure. From the results obtained, the following conclusions could be driven: 1. Similarities in the mutual position of positively and negatively charged parts of ATP and AD are responsible for their interaction with ATP-binding site of (Na(+)/K(+))-ATPase. This may be documented by fact that mutual position of 1-aminogroup of anthraquinone and -SO3(-) group of benzenesulphonate part of respective AD plays crucial role for inhibition of this enzyme. Distances of these two groups on all effective AD were found to be similar as the distance of the 6-aminogroup of adenine and the second phosphate group on ATP molecule. This similarity could be responsible for biomimetic recognition of AD in ATP-binding loci of (Na(+)/K(+))-ATPase. 2. The affinity of AD to ATP binding site of (Na(+)/K(+))-ATPase increases with increasing values of molar refractivity, i. e., with increasing molecular volume and polarizability.

Optimization of Physiochemical Parameters during Bioremediation of Synthetic Dye by Marasmius cladophyllus UMAS MS8 Using Statistical Approach.

PubMed

Shuib, Fatin Nur Sufinas; Husaini, Ahmad; Zulkharnain, Azham; Roslan, Hairul Azman; Guan, Tay Meng

2016-01-01

In many industrial areas such as in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, printing, and textile, the use of synthetic dyes has been integral with products such as azo dye, anthrax, and dyestuffs. As such, these industries produce a lot of waste by-products that could contaminate the environment. Bioremediation, therefore, has become an important emerging technology due to its cost-sustainable, effective, natural approach to cleaning up contaminated groundwater and soil via the use of microorganisms. The use of microorganisms in bioremediation requires the optimisation of parameters used in cultivating the organism. Thus the aim of the work was to assess the degradation of Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) dye on soil using Plackett-Burman design by the basidiomycete, M. cladophyllus UMAS MS8. Biodegradation analyses were carried out on a soil spiked with RBBR and supplemented with rice husk as the fungus growth enhancer. A two-level Plackett-Burman design was used to screen the medium components for the effects on the decolourization of RBBR. For the analysis, eleven variables were selected and from these four parameters, dye concentration, yeast extract concentration, inoculum size, and incubation time, were found to be most effective to degrade RBBR with up to 91% RBBR removal in soil after 15 days.

Optimization of Physiochemical Parameters during Bioremediation of Synthetic Dye by Marasmius cladophyllus UMAS MS8 Using Statistical Approach

PubMed Central

Shuib, Fatin Nur Sufinas

2016-01-01

In many industrial areas such as in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, printing, and textile, the use of synthetic dyes has been integral with products such as azo dye, anthrax, and dyestuffs. As such, these industries produce a lot of waste by-products that could contaminate the environment. Bioremediation, therefore, has become an important emerging technology due to its cost-sustainable, effective, natural approach to cleaning up contaminated groundwater and soil via the use of microorganisms. The use of microorganisms in bioremediation requires the optimisation of parameters used in cultivating the organism. Thus the aim of the work was to assess the degradation of Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) dye on soil using Plackett-Burman design by the basidiomycete, M. cladophyllus UMAS MS8. Biodegradation analyses were carried out on a soil spiked with RBBR and supplemented with rice husk as the fungus growth enhancer. A two-level Plackett-Burman design was used to screen the medium components for the effects on the decolourization of RBBR. For the analysis, eleven variables were selected and from these four parameters, dye concentration, yeast extract concentration, inoculum size, and incubation time, were found to be most effective to degrade RBBR with up to 91% RBBR removal in soil after 15 days. PMID:27803944

White-rot fungus Ganoderma sp.En3 had a strong ability to decolorize and tolerate the anthraquinone, indigo and triphenylmethane dye with high concentrations.

PubMed

Lu, Ruoying; Ma, Li; He, Feng; Yu, Dong; Fan, Ruozhi; Zhang, Yangming; Long, Zheping; Zhang, Xiaoyu; Yang, Yang

2016-03-01

The ability of the white-rot fungus Ganoderma sp.En3 to decolorize different kinds of dyes widely applied in the textile and dyeing industry, including the anthraquinone dye Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), indigo dye indigo carmine and triphenylmethane dye methyl green, was evaluated in this study. Ganoderma sp.En3 had a strong capability of decolorizing high concentrations of RBBR, indigo carmine and methyl green. Obvious reduction of Chemical Oxygen Demand was observed after decolorization of different dyes. Ganoderma sp.En3 had a strong ability to tolerate RBBR, indigo carmine and methyl green with high concentrations. High concentrations of RBBR, indigo carmine and methyl green could also be efficiently decolorized by the crude enzyme of Ganoderma sp.En3. Different redox mediators such as syringaldehyde, acetosyringone and acetovanillone could enhance the decolorization capability for higher concentration of indigo carmine and methyl green. Different metal ions had little effect on the ability of the crude enzyme to decolorize indigo carmine and methyl green. Our study suggested that Ganoderma sp.En3 had a strong capability for decolorizing and tolerating high concentrations of different types of dyes such as RBBR, indigo carmine and methyl green.

Optimization of Ligninolytic Enzyme Activity and Production Rate with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora for Application in Bioremediation by Varying Submerged Media Composition and Growth Immobilization Support

PubMed Central

Babič, Janja; Likozar, Blaž; Pavko, Aleksander

2012-01-01

Response surface methodology (central composite design of experiments) was employed to simultaneously optimize enzyme production and productivities of two ligninolytic enzymes produced by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. Concentrations of glucose, ammonium tartrate and Polysorbate 80 were varied to establish the optimal composition of liquid media (OLM), where the highest experimentally obtained activities and productivities were 41 U L−1 and 16 U L−1 day−1 for laccase (Lac), and 193 U L−1 and 80 U L−1 day−1 for manganese peroxidase (MnP). Considering culture growth in OLM on various types of immobilization support, the best results were obtained with 1 cm beech wood cubes (BWCM). Enzyme activities in culture filtrate were 152 U L−1 for Lac and 58 U L−1 for MnP, since the chemical composition of this immobilization material induced higher Lac activity. Lower enzyme activities were obtained with polyurethane foam. Culture filtrates of OLM and BWCM were applied for dye decolorization. Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) was decolorized faster and more efficiently than Copper(II)phthalocyanine (CuP) with BWCM (80% and 60%), since Lac played a crucial role. Decolorization of CuP was initially faster than that of RBBR, due to higher MnP activities in OLM. The extent of decolorization after 14 h was 60% for both dyes. PMID:23109859

Cnidarian-derived filamentous fungi from Brazil: isolation, characterisation and RBBR decolourisation screening.

PubMed

Da Silva, M; Passarini, M R Z; Bonugli, R C; Sette, L D

2008-12-01

Marine-derived fungi represent a valuable source of structurally novel and biologically active metabolites of industrial interest. They also have drawn attention for their capacity to degrade several pollutants, including textile dyes, organochlorides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), among others. The fungal tolerance to higher concentrations of salt might be considered an advantage for bioremediation processes in the marine environment. Therefore, filamentous fungi were isolated from cnidarians (scleractinian coral and zoanthids) collected from the north coast of São Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 144 filamentous fungi were morphologically and molecularly characterised. Among them there were several species of Penicillium and Aspergillus, in addition to Cladosporium spp., Eutypella sp., Fusarium spp., Khuskia sp., Mucor sp., Peacilomyces sp., Phoma sp. and Trichoderma spp. These fungi were tested regarding their decolourisation activity for Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), a textile dye used as an initial screening for PAH-degrading fungi. The most efficient fungi for RBBR decolourisation after 12 days were Penicillium citrinum CBMAI 853 (100%), Aspergillus sulphureus CBMAI 849 (95%), Cladosporium cladosporioides CBMAI 857 (93%) and Trichoderma sp. CBMAI 852 (89%). Besides its efficiency for dye decolourisation within liquid media, C. cladosporioides CBMAI 857 also decolourised dye on solid media, forming a decolourisation halo. Further research on the biotechnological potential, including studies on PAH metabolism, of these selected fungi are in progress.

Reactivities of various mediators and laccases with kraft pulp and lignin model compounds.

PubMed

Bourbonnais, R; Paice, M G; Freiermuth, B; Bodie, E; Borneman, S

1997-12-01

Laccase-catalyzed oxygen delignification of kraft pulp offers some potential as a replacement for conventional chemical bleaching and has the advantage of requiring much lower pressure and temperature. However, chemical mediators are required for effective delignification by laccase, and their price is currently too high at the dosages required. To date, most studies have employed laccase from Trametes versicolor. We have found significant differences in reactivity between laccases from different fungi when they are tested for pulp delignification in the presence of the mediators 2,2(prm1)-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT). A more detailed study of T. versicolor laccase with ABTS and HBT showed that HBT gave the most extensive delignification over 2 h but deactivated the enzyme, and therefore a higher enzyme dosage was required. Other mediators, including 1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-nitroso-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, promazine, chlorpromazine, and Remazol brilliant blue, were also tested for their ability to delignify kraft pulp. Studies with dimeric model compounds indicated that the mechanisms of oxidation by ABTS and HBT are different. In addition, oxygen uptake by laccase is much slower with HBT than with ABTS. It is proposed that the dication of ABTS and the 1-oxide radical of HBT, with redox potentials in the 0.8- to 0.9-V range, are required for pulp delignification.

Reactivities of Various Mediators and Laccases with Kraft Pulp and Lignin Model Compounds

PubMed Central

Bourbonnais, R.; Paice, M. G.; Freiermuth, B.; Bodie, E.; Borneman, S.

1997-01-01

Laccase-catalyzed oxygen delignification of kraft pulp offers some potential as a replacement for conventional chemical bleaching and has the advantage of requiring much lower pressure and temperature. However, chemical mediators are required for effective delignification by laccase, and their price is currently too high at the dosages required. To date, most studies have employed laccase from Trametes versicolor. We have found significant differences in reactivity between laccases from different fungi when they are tested for pulp delignification in the presence of the mediators 2,2(prm1)-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT). A more detailed study of T. versicolor laccase with ABTS and HBT showed that HBT gave the most extensive delignification over 2 h but deactivated the enzyme, and therefore a higher enzyme dosage was required. Other mediators, including 1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-nitroso-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, promazine, chlorpromazine, and Remazol brilliant blue, were also tested for their ability to delignify kraft pulp. Studies with dimeric model compounds indicated that the mechanisms of oxidation by ABTS and HBT are different. In addition, oxygen uptake by laccase is much slower with HBT than with ABTS. It is proposed that the dication of ABTS and the 1-oxide radical of HBT, with redox potentials in the 0.8- to 0.9-V range, are required for pulp delignification. PMID:16535747

Ultrasound assisted synthesis of WO3-ZnO nanocomposites for brilliant blue dye degradation.

PubMed

Hunge, Y M; Yadav, A A; Mathe, V L

2018-07-01

The present work deals with the preparation of WO 3 and WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites in presence of ultrasonic irradiation, and its use in the sonocatalytic degradation of brilliant blue dye. WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposite is prepared using one step in-situ ultrasound assisted method. The successfully prepared WO 3 and WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites were characterized using different characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman, BET, FE-SEM and EDS. The XRD pattern reveals that the formation of monoclinic and hexagonal crystal structures of WO 3 and ZnO respectively. BET study shows that WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposite have maximum surface area than that of the WO 3 . EDS study confirms the formation of WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites. Further the use of the prepared WO 3 and WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites as a sonocatalyst for the degradation of brilliant blue dye. The rate constant (k) was evaluated as a function of the initial concentration of brilliant blue dye. It is found that WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites exhibits maximum sonocatalytic activity as compared to WO 3 photocatalyst. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The price for reduced light toxicity: Do endoilluminator spectral filters decrease color contrast during Brilliant Blue G-assisted chromovitrectomy?

PubMed

Henrich, Paul B; Valmaggia, Christophe; Lang, Corina; Cattin, Philippe C

2014-03-01

Vitreoretinal surgeons have been slow to adopt the use of spectral filters for endoillumination to reduce retinal light toxicity. This study shows that spectral filters can be used without a loss in color contrast during brilliant blue G chromovitrectomy. To evaluate the influence of intra operative spectral light filters on perceivable contrast during Brilliant Blue G chromovitrectomy, a prospective, observational clinical study was carried out on 59 consecutive Brilliant Blue G chromovitrectomy interventions in 59 patients admitted for macular holes, macular pucker or vitreomacular traction syndromes. Subsequent to peeling of the internal limiting membrane, six different illumination modes were enabled consecutively: mercury vapor, mercury vapor/xenon, and xenon followed by xenon combined with an amber, green or yellow spectral filter. Main outcome measure was the chromaticity spread between stained internal limiting membrane and unstained retina as a measure for the color contrast perceived by the human eye. Mean chromaticity scores were similar for all light sources: mercury vapor 7.97, mercury vapor/xenon 7.96 (p = 0.96), and xenon 7.41 (p = 0.55). Compared to xenon, the additional use of endoillumination spectral filters did not change contrast recognizability: Chromaticity scores were 9.38 for the amber filter (p = 0.13), 6.63 for the green and 7.02 for the yellow filter (p = 0.37 and 0.64, respectively). When comparing the different filters head-to-head, the amber filter was superior to the green filter (p = 0.03), while the yellow was intermediate and not significantly different from either the amber (p = 0.08) or the green filter (p = 0.51). Color contrast perceptibility during Brilliant Blue G assisted chromovitrectomy is similar with mercury vapor, mercury vapor/xenon or xenon light sources. Spectral filters do not decrease color contrast recognizability. Head-to-head comparison shows a significant advantage for the amber over the green filter with respect to contrast generation, the yellow filter is intermediate. As spectral filters are known to greatly reduce retinal light toxicity, we suggest donor eye studies to validate whether the amber filter should be generally recommended for Brilliant Blue G chromovitrectomy.

Photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of remazol turquoise blue and toxicological assessment of its oxidation products.

PubMed

Osugi, Marli E; Umbuzeiro, Gisela A; De Castro, Francisco J V; Zanoni, Maria Valnice B

2006-09-21

The ability of photoelectrocatalytic oxidation to degrade the commercially important copper-phtalocyanine dye, remazol turquoise blue 15 (RTB) was investigated. The best experimental condition was optimized, evaluating the performance of Ti/TiO2 thin-film electrodes prepared by sol-gel method in the decolourization of 32 mg L(-1) RTB dye in 0.5 mol L(-1) Na2SO4 pH 8 and applied potential of +1.5 V versus SCE under UV irradiation. Spectrophotometric measurements, high performance liquid chromatography, dissolved organic carbon (TOC) evaluation and stripping analysis of yielding solution obtained after 3 h of photoelectrolysis leads to 100% of absorbance removal from wavelength of 250-800 nm, 79.6% of TOC reduction and the releasing of up to 54.6% dye-bound copper (0.85 mg L(-1)) into the solution. Both, original and oxidized dye solution did not presented mutagenic activity with the strains TA98 and TA100 of Salmonella in the presence and absence of S9 mix at the tested doses. Nevertheless, the yielding photoelectrocatalytic oxidized solution showed an increase in the acute toxicity for Vibrio fischeri bacteria, explained by copper liberation during treatment.

Removal of Remazol turquoise Blue G-133 from aqueous solution using modified waste newspaper fiber.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaoyu; Tan, Jia; Wei, Xinhao; Wang, Lijuan

2013-02-15

Waste newspaper fiber (WNF) was separated and modified via grafting quaternary ammonium salt to obtain an adsorbent, which removes Remazol turquoise Blue G-133 (RTB G-133) from aqueous solutions. SEM and IR were used to analyze the morphology and chemical groups of the modified waste newspaper fiber (MWNF). Batch adsorption studies were conducted with varying adsorbent dosages, solution pH, and contact time. Adsorption isotherms and models were fitted. The SEM photographs show the surface of MWNF is smoother in comparison with that of WNF. The IR analysis indicates that the quaternary ammonium salt was successfully grafted onto the cellulose skeleton in WNF and the chemical interaction played an important role in adsorption. Results show that the equilibrium adsorption capacity can be reached within 360 min, and that the maximum adsorption capacity was 260 mg g(-1). The adsorption of RTB G-133 on MWNF was a spontaneous endothermic process and well fitted pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The results show that MWNF is promising for dye wastewater treatment. Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Porous synthetic hectorite clay-alginate composite beads for effective adsorption of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution.

PubMed

Pawar, Radheshyam R; Lalhmunsiama; Gupta, Prabuddha; Sawant, Sandesh Y; Shahmoradi, B; Lee, Seung-Mok

2018-07-15

The present study deals with the preparation and characterization of mesoporous synthetic hectorite (MSH) clay which further encapsulated with Na-alginate for the preparation of mesoporous synthetic hectorite-alginate beads (MSH-AB) where Ca 2+ act as a cross-linking agent. The detail characterization of MSH and MSH-AB were carried out by various physicochemical techniques. The thermogravimetric analysis study showed better thermal stability results for MSH-AB. The textural properties results of MSH and MSH-AB showed the high surface area 468, 205m 2 /g, and the pore volume of 0.34, 0.29cm 3 /g respectively. The applicability of powder MSH and MSH-AB in wet (W) and dry (D) forms were assessed for the removal of cationic dye, methylene blue (MB) by optimizing various batch adsorption parameters. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity obtained for MSH-AB-W showed significant high adsorption efficacy (i.e., 785.45mgMB/g) compared to the MSH-AB-D (357.14mgMB/g) and powder MSH materials (196.00mgMB/g). The adsorption isotherm studies showed that the Langmuir isotherm model was best suitable for MSH, whereas the Freundlich model was utilised to describe the adsorption behavior of organized hydrogel composite beads. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model was observed best for MB sorption onto MSH, whereas pseudo-first order useful to describe the kinetic behavior of MSH-AB. The regeneration experimental results revealed that MSH-AB-W could be recycled more than six cycles with high MB removal efficiency. Furthermore, the adsorption property of the MSH-AB-W was examined for the binary mixture of MB with other dye solutions such as Methyl Red (MR), Methyl Orange (MO), Alizarine Yellow (AY), and Remazol Brilliant Blue (RBB) to evaluate the selective adsorption efficiency. The MSH composite beads were found potentially suitable as an efficient, selective and recyclable adsorbent for the removal of MB from the aqueous solutions. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of an ion-pair to improve the colon permeability of a low permeability drug: Atenolol.

PubMed

Lozoya-Agullo, Isabel; González-Álvarez, Isabel; González-Álvarez, Marta; Merino-Sanjuán, Matilde; Bermejo, Marival

2016-10-10

To ensure the optimal performance of oral controlled release formulations, drug colon permeability is one of the critical parameters. Consequently developing this kind of formulations for low permeability molecules requires strategies to increase their ability to cross the colonic membrane. The objective of this work is to show if an ion-pair formation can improve the colon permeability of atenolol as a low permeability drug model. Two counter ions have been tested: brilliant blue and bromophenol blue. The Distribution coefficients at pH7.00 (DpH7) of atenolol, atenolol + brilliant blue and atenolol + bromophenol blue were experimentally determined in n-octanol. Moreover, the colonic permeability was determined in rat colon using in situ closed loop perfusion method based in Doluisio's Technique. To check the potential effects of the counter ions on the membrane integrity, a histological assessment of colonic tissue was done. The results of the partitioning studies were inconclusive about ion-pair formation; nevertheless colon permeability was significantly increased by both counter ions (from 0.232±0.021cm/s to 0.508±0.038cm/s in the presence of brilliant blue and to 0.405±0.044cm/s in the presence of bromophenol blue). Neither damage on the membrane was observed on the histological studies, nor any change on paracellular permeability suggesting that the permeability enhancement could be attributed to the ion-pair formation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sequential batch culture studies for the decolorisation of reactive dye by Coriolus versicolor.

PubMed

Sanghi, Rashmi; Dixit, Awantika; Guha, Sauymen

2006-02-01

The white rot fungus Coriolus versicolor could decolorise reactive dye Remazol Brilliant Violet to almost 90%. The fungal mycelia removed color as well as COD up to 95% and 75%, respectively, in a batch reactor. Decolorising activity was observed during the repeated reuse of the fungus. It was possible to substantially increase the dye decolorising activity of the fungus by carefully selecting the operational conditions such as media composition, age of fungus and nitrogen source. The fungal pellets could be used for eight cycles during the long term operation, where medium and dye was replenished at the end of each cycle and the fungus was recycled. Presence of a nitrogen source and nutrient content of media played an important role in sustaining the decolorisation activity of the fungus. The form of nitrogen source (e.g. peptone vs. urea) was also important to maintain the decolorising activity with peptone showing better decolorisation.

Use of carbonised beet pulp carbon for removal of Remazol Turquoise Blue-G 133 from aqueous solution.

PubMed

Dursun, Arzu Y; Tepe, Ozlem; Dursun, Gülbeyi

2013-01-01

Carbonised beet pulp (BPC) produced from agricultural solid waste by-product in sugar industry was used as adsorbent for the removal of Remazol Turquoise Blue-G 133 (RTB-G 133) dye in this study. The kinetics and equilibrium of sorption process were investigated with respect to pH, temperature and initial dye concentration. Adsorption studies with real textile wastewater were also performed. The results showed that adsorption was a strongly pH-dependent process, and optimum pH was determined as 1.0. The maximum dye adsorption capacity was obtained as 47.0 mg g(-1)at the temperature of 25 °C at this pH value. The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were used for describing the adsorption equilibrium data of the dye, and isotherm constants were evaluated depending on sorption temperature. Equilibrium data of RTB-G 133 sorption fitted very well to the Freundlich isotherm. Mass transfer and kinetic models were applied to the experimental data to examine the mechanisms of adsorption and potential rate-controlling steps. It was found that both external mass transfer and intra-particle diffusion played an important role in the adsorption mechanisms of dye and adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo second-order type kinetic model. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that the sorption process was exothermic and spontaneous in nature.

Epiretinal membrane negative staining and double peeling in a single block with Brilliant Blue G.

PubMed

Martins, David; Neves, Pedro

2018-01-01

To describe a surgical technique for combined peeling of epiretinal and internal limiting membranes. The authors present their procedure of choice for epiretinal membrane surgery: negative staining effect using Brilliant Blue G and single block removal of the epiretinal and internal limiting membranes in a single step. A total of 26 eyes were operated with the described technique. In all cases, the peeling was performed successfully and with no complications. Minimum postoperative follow-up was 12 months. There were no recurrences of epiretinal membranes. The ideal surgical approach for epiretinal membranes should attempt to reduce mechanical trauma, light exposure, and dye toxicity.

Determination of green, blue and yellow artificial food colorants and their abuse in herb-coloured green Easter beers on tap.

PubMed

Stachová, Ivana; Lhotská, Ivona; Solich, Petr; Šatínský, Dalibor

2016-07-01

Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages worldwide. For consumer acceptance, significant factors are its taste, flavour and colour. This study determines selected synthetic green, blue and yellow food colorants in popular Easter herb-coloured green beers on tap produced in breweries on Holy Thursday. The abuse of beer colouring with Tartrazine (E 102), Quinoline yellow (E 104), Sunset yellow (E 110), Patent blue (E 131), Indigo carmine (E 132), Brilliant blue FCF (E 133), Green S (E 142) and Fast green FCF (E 143) was assessed in 11 green beer samples purchased in local restaurants. HPLC was used for the separation and detection of artificial colorants with diode-array detection and a Chromolith Performance CN 100 × 4.6 mm column with guard pre-column Chromolith CN 5 × 4.6 mm. Separation was performed in gradient elution with mobile phase containing methanol-aqueous 2% ammonium acetate at pH 7.0. The study showed that eight beers (70%) marketed in the Czech Republic contained artificial colorants (Tartrazine and Brilliant blue FCF). The concentration of colorants found in analysed green herb-coloured beers ranged from 1.58 to 3.49 mg l(-)(1) for Tartrazine, 0.45-2.18 mg l(-)(1) for Brilliant blue, while Indigo carmine was detected only once at concentration 2.36 mg l(-)(1). Only three beers showed no addition of the synthetic colorants. However, the levels of artificial colorants found in beers marketed in the Czech region were very low and did not show a serious risk for consumers' health.

Overexpression of a novel thermostable and chloride-tolerant laccase from Thermus thermophilus SG0.5JP17-16 in Pichia pastoris and its application in synthetic dye decolorization.

PubMed

Liu, Huiping; Cheng, Yu; Du, Bing; Tong, Chaofan; Liang, Shuli; Han, Shuangyan; Zheng, Suiping; Lin, Ying

2015-01-01

Laccases have been used for the decolorization and detoxification of synthetic dyes due to their ability to oxidize a wide variety of dyes with water as the sole byproduct. A putative laccase gene (LacTT) from Thermus thermophilus SG0.5JP17-16 was screened using the genome mining approach, and it was highly expressed in Pichia pastoris, yielding a high laccase activity of 6130 U/L in a 10-L fermentor. The LacTT open reading frame encoded a protein of 466 amino acid residues with four putative Cu-binding regions. The optimal pH of the recombinant LacTT was 4.5, 6.0, 7.5 and 8.0 with 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), syringaldazine (SGZ), guaiacol, and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DMP) as the substrate, respectively. The optimal temperature of LacTT was 90°C with guaiacol as the substrate. LacTT was highly stable at pH 4.0-11.0 and thermostable at 40°C-90°C, confirming that it is a pH-stable and thermostable laccase. Furthermore, LacTT also exhibited high tolerance to halides such as NaCl, NaBr and NaF, and decolorized 100%, 94%, 94% and 73% of Congo Red, Reactive Black B and Reactive Black WNN, and Remazol Brilliant Blue R, respectively. Interestingly, addition of high concentration of NaCl increased the RBBR decolorization efficiency of LacTT. These results suggest that LacTT is a good candidate for industrial applications such as dyestuff processing and degradation of dyes in textile wastewaters.

Overexpression of a Novel Thermostable and Chloride-Tolerant Laccase from Thermus thermophilus SG0.5JP17-16 in Pichia pastoris and Its Application in Synthetic Dye Decolorization

PubMed Central

Liu, Huiping; Cheng, Yu; Du, Bing; Tong, Chaofan; Liang, Shuli; Han, Shuangyan; Zheng, Suiping; Lin, Ying

2015-01-01

Laccases have been used for the decolorization and detoxification of synthetic dyes due to their ability to oxidize a wide variety of dyes with water as the sole byproduct. A putative laccase gene (LacTT) from Thermus thermophilus SG0.5JP17-16 was screened using the genome mining approach, and it was highly expressed in Pichia pastoris, yielding a high laccase activity of 6130 U/L in a 10-L fermentor. The LacTT open reading frame encoded a protein of 466 amino acid residues with four putative Cu-binding regions. The optimal pH of the recombinant LacTT was 4.5, 6.0, 7.5 and 8.0 with 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), syringaldazine (SGZ), guaiacol, and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DMP) as the substrate, respectively. The optimal temperature of LacTT was 90°C with guaiacol as the substrate. LacTT was highly stable at pH 4.0–11.0 and thermostable at 40°C–90°C, confirming that it is a pH-stable and thermostable laccase. Furthermore, LacTT also exhibited high tolerance to halides such as NaCl, NaBr and NaF, and decolorized 100%, 94%, 94% and 73% of Congo Red, Reactive Black B and Reactive Black WNN, and Remazol Brilliant Blue R, respectively. Interestingly, addition of high concentration of NaCl increased the RBBR decolorization efficiency of LacTT. These results suggest that LacTT is a good candidate for industrial applications such as dyestuff processing and degradation of dyes in textile wastewaters. PMID:25790466

Brilliant Blue Dyes in Daily Food: How Could Purinergic System Be Affected?

PubMed Central

Ferreira, Leonardo Gomes Braga; Ferreira, Natiele Carla da Silva; Soares-Bezerra, Rômulo José

2016-01-01

Dyes were first obtained from the extraction of plant sources in the Neolithic period to produce dyed clothes. At the beginning of the 19th century, synthetic dyes were produced to color clothes on a large scale. Other applications for synthetic dyes include the pharmaceutical and food industries, which are important interference factors in our lives and health. Herein, we analyzed the possible implications of some dyes that are already described as antagonists of purinergic receptors, including special Brilliant Blue G and its derivative FD&C Blue No. 1. Purinergic receptor family is widely expressed in the body and is critical to relate to much cellular homeostasis maintenance as well as inflammation and cell death. In this review, we discuss previous studies and show purinergic signaling as an important issue to be aware of in food additives development and their correlations with the physiological functions. PMID:27833914

Brilliant iridescence of Morpho butterfly wing scales is due to both a thin film lower lamina and a multilayered upper lamina.

PubMed

Giraldo, M A; Stavenga, D G

2016-05-01

Butterflies belonging to the nymphalid subfamily, Morphinae, are famous for their brilliant blue wing coloration and iridescence. These striking optical phenomena are commonly explained as to originate from multilayer reflections by the ridges of the wing scales. Because the lower lamina of the scales of related nymphalid butterflies, the Nymphalinae, plays a dominant role in the wing coloration, by acting as a thin film reflector, we investigated single blue scales of three characteristic Morpho species: M. epistrophus, M. helenor and M. cypris. The experimental data obtained by spectrophotometry, scatterometry and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that also in the Morpho genus the lower lamina of both the cover and ground scales acts as an optical thin film reflector, contributing importantly to the blue structural coloration of the wings. Melanin pigment has a contrast-enhancing function in a sub-class of ground scales.

Brilliant Blue G double staining enhances successful internal limiting membrane peeling with minimal adverse effect by low cellular permeability into live cells.

PubMed

Hisatomi, Toshio; Notomi, Shoji; Tachibana, Takashi; Oishi, Seiichiro; Asato, Ryo; Yamashita, Takehiro; Murakami, Yusuke; Ikeda, Yasuhiro; Enaida, Hiroshi; Sakamoto, Taiji; Ishibashi, Tatsuro

2015-02-01

Brilliant Blue G is used as a surgical adjuvant for retinal surgery. Although BBG double or multiple staining was reported, the effectiveness and safety of repeated staining is still elusive. To further examine the effectiveness and safety, we examined BBG in clinical cases in vivo, primary cell culture in vitro, and surgically resected specimen ex vivo. A retrospective interventional case series with in vitro and ex vivo studies were performed. Vitrectomy was performed in 28 cases of epiretinal membrane with BBG single to multiple staining. The surgically resected membranes were stained by BBG with or without cellular fixation. Primary cell cultures were examined with BBG and live/death cell markers, such as Calcein AM and TUNEL. Single staining provided satisfactory staining in seven cases. Double or multiple staining substantially visualized internal limiting membrane (21 cases), especially the edges of remaining internal limiting membrane (11 cases). Adverse retinal staining was not noted and the final visual acuity showed no difference with multiple staining. The live cells barely stained with BBG, while some dead cells were stained. Brilliant Blue G multiple staining substantially enhanced the visualization of internal limiting membrane. The absence of abnormal staining supports the safety of repeated BBG staining.

The Use of Ultra-Violet (UV) Light Emitting Diodes (LEDS) in an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) with Brilliant Blue FCF as an Indicator

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-26

by low, direct current voltage, which are consistent with portable power sources such as batteries or photovoltaic cells (Crystal IS 2013...of Methylene Blue Adsorption on Power Output .................23 vii UV LED Quartz Lens Adsorption Experiment...29 Effect of Methylene Blue Adsorption on Power Output ............................................29 Figure 5 - Percent reduction of

Utilization of biogenic tea waste silver nanoparticles for the reduction of organic dyes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, H.; Jaryal, N.

2018-05-01

Eco-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles is the need of the society today. Present study has been undertaken to investigate the greener approach for the preparation of medicinally and chemically important nanoparticles. Tea waste has been taken to synthesis silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are characterized by x-ray Diffraction, and Transmission Emission Microscopy studies. The particle size varied from 2 to 34 nm. These silver nanoparticles were evaluated for their reducing activity against four organic dyes viz crystal violet, methylene blue, Congo red and brilliant green. The particles exhibited good catalytic activity against crystal violet, methylene blue and brilliant green but no activity was visible for Congo red. Furthermore, AgNPs shows very promising and prominent antioxidant activity.

Jakobshavn Glacier

Atmospheric Science Data Center

2013-04-17

...     View Larger Image Vibrant reds, emerald greens, brilliant whites, and pastel blues ... Averill (Raytheon / Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and David J. Diner (Jet Propulsion Laboratory). Other formats available at JPL ...

Visual and anatomical outcome of macular hole surgery at a tertiary healthcare facility.

PubMed

Kumari, Komalta; Tahir, Muhammad Ali; Cheema, Alyscia

2017-01-01

To assess visual and anatomical outcome of full thickness macular hole (FTMH) surgery with ILM peeling using brilliant blue G dye. Thirty patients who had clinically evident macular hole were selected. Pre-operative Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) was done. In all cases vitrectomy was performed via 23guage 3 ports pars plana (3PPV) vitrectomy system and Brilliant blue G dye, 0.5ml dye was injected over macula which resulted in light blue stain of ILM and peeling was performed around hole in circular motion and after gas fluid exchange gas tamponade with SF6 was done. Final visual and anatomical outcome was measured as postoperative BCVA and postoperative OCT at three months respectively. Descriptive statistics were computed. Paired t-test was applied. P value≤0.05 were considered as significant. There were 12 male and 18 female patients. The mean age was 57.40±4.76 years. The mean size of macular hole was 452.20±242.33μm. The mean duration of symptoms was 16.73±13.49 weeks. Mean pre operative BCVA was 1.30±0.73 log MAR and post operative was 0.51±0.23 log MAR. Mean increased BCVA was found to be 0.22±0.13 log MAR. Primary closure of hole was achieved in 29(96.7%). Significant mean difference was found in pre operative and post operative BCVA. Brilliant blue G exhibits sufficient staining qualities and safety profile to peel ILM in the management of full thickness macular hole with significant visual and anatomical improvement.

Performance evaluation of two Aspergillus spp. for the decolourization of reactive dyes by bioaccumulation and biosorption.

PubMed

Mathur, Megha; Gola, Deepak; Panja, Rupobrata; Malik, Anushree; Ahammad, Shaikh Ziauddin

2018-01-01

A biological method was adopted to decolourize textile dyes, which is an economic and eco-friendly technology for textile wastewater remediation. Two fungal strains, i.e. Aspergillus lentulus and Aspergillus fumigatus, were used to study the removal of low to high concentrations (25 to 2000 mg L -1 ) of reactive remazol red, reactive blue and reactive yellow dyes by biosorption and bioaccumulation. The biosorption was successful only at the lower concentrations. A. lentulus was capable of removing 67-85% of reactive dyes during bioaccumulation mode of treatment at 500 mg L -1 dye concentration with an increased biomass uptake capacity. To cope up with the high dye concentration of 2000 mg L -1 , a novel combined approach was successful in case of A. lentulus, where almost 76% removal of reactive remazol red dye was observed during bioaccumulation followed by biosorption. The scanning electron microscopy also showed the accumulation of dye on the surface of fungal mycelium. The results signify the application of such robust fungal strains for the removal of high concentration of dyes in the textile wastewaters.

CGP stain: An inexpensive, odorless, rapid, sensitive, and in principle in vitro methylation-free Coomassie Brilliant Blue stain.

PubMed

Yasumitsu, Hidetaro; Ozeki, Yasuhiro; Kawsar, Sarkar M A; Toda, Tosifusa; Kanaly, Robert

2010-11-01

Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB) protein stains are inexpensive but detect proteins at only at microgram levels. Because of acetic acid and methanol, they cause skin irritation and reduce work motivation by malodor. Recent mass spectrometric (MS) analyses demonstrated that nanogram-sensitive colloidal CBB staining resulted in in vitro methylations of proteins. We propose a rapid, inexpensive, sensitive, odorless, less harsh, and in vitro methylation-free CBB stain. CGP uses three components: citric acid, CBB G-250, and polyvinylpyrrolidone. CGP detects proteins at 12ng within 45min, and because it is nonalcohol, in principle in vitro methylation would be eliminated. Indeed, MS analysis of CGP-stained bands confirmed a lack of methylation. 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Degradation of Remazol Red in batik dye waste water by contact glow discharge electrolysis method using NaOH and NaCl electrolytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saksono, Nelson; Putri, Dita Amelia; Suminar, Dian Ratna

2017-03-01

Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis (CGDE) method is one of Plasma Electrolysis technology which has been approved to degrade organic waste water because it is very productive in producing hydroxyl radical. This study aims to degrade Remazol Red by CGDE method and evaluate important parameters that have influent in degradation process of Remazol Red in Batik dye waste water in batch system. The kind of electrolyte (acid and base) and the addition of metal ion such as Fe2+ have affected Remazol Red degradation percentage. Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra were used to monitor the degradation process. The result of study showed that percentage degradation was 99.97% which obtained by using NaCl 0.02 M with addition Fe2+ 20 ppm, applied voltage 700 volt, anode depth 0.5 cm, initial concentration of Remazol Red 250 ppm and the temperature of solutions was maintained 50-60 ˚C.

Adsorption of Methylene Blue, Bromophenol Blue, and Coomassie Brilliant Blue by α-chitin nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Dhananasekaran, Solairaj; Palanivel, Rameshthangam; Pappu, Srinivasan

2015-01-01

Expelling of dyestuff into water resource system causes major thread to the environment. Adsorption is the cost effective and potential method to remove the dyes from the effluents. Therefore, an attempt was made to study the adsorption of dyestuff (Methylene Blue (MB), Bromophenol Blue (BPB) and Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB)) by α-chitin nanoparticles (CNP) prepared from Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) shell waste. On contrary to the most recognizable adsorption studies using chitin, this is the first study using unique nanoparticles of ⩽50 nm used for the dye adsorption process. The results showed that the adsorption process increased with increase in the concentration of CNP, contact time and temperature with the dyestuff, whereas the adsorption process decreased with increase in the initial dye concentration and strong acidic pH. The results from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that the interaction between dyestuff and CNP involved physical adsorption. The adsorption process obeys Langmuir isotherm (R2 values were 0.992, 0.999 and 0.992 for MB, BPB and CBB, and RL value lies between 0 and 1 for all the three dyes) and pseudo second order kinetics (R2 values were 0.996, 0.999 and 0.996 for MB, BPB and CBB) more effectively. The isotherm and kinetic models confirmed that CNP can be used as a suitable adsorbent material for the removal of dyestuff from effluents. PMID:26843977

Greenland Coast in Holiday Colors

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-12-23

Vibrant reds, emerald greens, brilliant whites, and pastel blues adorn this view of the area surrounding the Jakobshavn Glacier on the western coast of Greenland captured by NASA Terra spacecraft on June 18, 2003.

Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 Dye: An Application for Forensic Fingerprint Analysis.

PubMed

Brunelle, Erica; Le, Anh Minh; Huynh, Crystal; Wingfield, Kelly; Halámková, Lenka; Agudelo, Juliana; Halámek, Jan

2017-04-04

The Bradford reagent, comprised of the Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 dye, methanol, and phosphoric acid, has been traditionally used for quantifying proteins. Use of this reagent in the Bradford assay relies on the binding of the Coomassie Blue G-250 dye to proteins. However, the ability of the dye to react with a small group of amino acids (arginine, histidine, lysine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan) makes it a viable chemical assay for fingerprint analysis in order to identify the biological sex of the fingerprint originator. It is recognized that the identification of biological sex has been readily accomplished using two other methods; however, both of those systems are reliant upon a large group of amino acids, 23 to be precise. The Bradford assay, described here, was developed specifically to aid in the transition from targeting large groups of amino acids, as demonstrated in the previous studies, to targeting only a single amino acid without compromising the intensity of the response and/or the ability to differentiate between two attributes. In this work, we aim to differentiate between female fingerprints and male fingerprints.

Brilliant Blue FCF as an Alternative Dye for Saphenous Vein Graft Marking Effect on Conduit Function

PubMed Central

Voskresensky, Igor V.; Wise, Eric S.; Hocking, Kyle M.; Li, Fan Dong; Osgood, Michael J.; Komalavilas, Padmini; Brophy, Colleen; Cheung-Flynn, Joyce

2014-01-01

IMPORTANCE Surgical skin markers are used off-label to mark human saphenous veins (HSVs) to maintain orientation before implantation as aortocoronary or peripheral arterial bypass grafts. These surgical skin markers impair functional responses of the HSV tissue. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of brilliant blue dye 1 (brilliant blue FCF [for food coloring]; hereinafter, FCF) as a nontoxic alternative marking dye and to determine whether FCF has pharmacological properties. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Segments of HSVs were collected in university hospitals from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting procedures immediately after harvest (unmanipulated) or after typical intraoperative surgical graft preparation (after manipulation). Rat inferior venae cavae were used to determine the pharmacological properties and cellular targets of FCF. Endothelial and smooth muscle functional responses were determined in a muscle bath, and intimal thickening in HSVs was determined after 14 days in organ culture. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Contractile responses were measured in force and converted to stress. Smooth muscle function was expressed as maximal responses to potassium chloride depolarization contractions. Endothelial function was defined as the percentage of relaxation of maximal agonist-induced contraction. Neointimal thickness was measured by histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS Human saphenous veins stored in the presence of FCF had no loss of endothelial or smooth muscle function. Unmanipulated HSVs preserved in the presence of FCF demonstrated a significant increase in endothelial-dependent relaxation (mean [SEM], 25.2% [6.4%] vs 30.2% [6.7%]; P = .02). Application of FCF to functionally nonviable tissue significantly enhanced the smooth muscle responses (mean [SEM], 0.018 [0.004] × 105N/m2 vs 0.057 [0.016] × 105 N/m2; P = .05). Treatment with FCF reduced intimal thickness in organ culture (mean [SEM], −17.5% [2.1%] for unmanipulated HSVs vs −27.9% [3.7%] for HSVs after manipulation; P < .001). In rat inferior venae cavae, FCF inhibited the contraction induced by the P2X7 receptor agonist 2′(3′)-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl-adenosine-5′-triphosphate (mean [SEM], 14.8% [2.2%] vs 6.5% [1.8%]; P = .02) to an extent similar to the P2X7 receptor antagonist oxidized adenosine triphosphate (mean [SEM], 5.0% [0.9%]; P < .02 vs control) or the pannexin hemichannel inhibitor probenecid (mean [SEM], 7.3% [1.6%] and 4.7% [0.9%] for 0.5mM and 2mM, respectively; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Treatment with FCF did not impair endothelial or smooth muscle function in HSVs. Brilliant blue FCF enhanced endothelial-dependent relaxation, restored smooth muscle function, and prevented intimal hyperplasia in HSVs in organ culture. These pharmacological properties of FCF may be due to P2X7 receptor or pannexin channel inhibition. Brilliant blue FCF is an alternative, nontoxic marking dye that may improve HSV conduit function and decrease intimal hyperplasia. PMID:25251505

Brilliant blue FCF as an alternative dye for saphenous vein graft marking: effect on conduit function.

PubMed

Voskresensky, Igor V; Wise, Eric S; Hocking, Kyle M; Li, Fan Dong; Osgood, Michael J; Komalavilas, Padmini; Brophy, Colleen; Cheung-Flynn, Joyce

2014-11-01

Surgical skin markers are used off-label to mark human saphenous veins (HSVs) to maintain orientation before implantation as aortocoronary or peripheral arterial bypass grafts. These surgical skin markers impair functional responses of the HSV tissue. To investigate the effect of brilliant blue dye 1 (brilliant blue FCF [for food coloring]; hereinafter, FCF) as a nontoxic alternative marking dye and to determine whether FCF has pharmacological properties. Segments of HSVs were collected in university hospitals from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting procedures immediately after harvest (unmanipulated) or after typical intraoperative surgical graft preparation (after manipulation). Rat inferior venae cavae were used to determine the pharmacological properties and cellular targets of FCF. Endothelial and smooth muscle functional responses were determined in a muscle bath, and intimal thickening in HSVs was determined after 14 days in organ culture. Contractile responses were measured in force and converted to stress. Smooth muscle function was expressed as maximal responses to potassium chloride depolarization contractions. Endothelial function was defined as the percentage of relaxation of maximal agonist-induced contraction. Neointimal thickness was measured by histomorphometric analysis. Human saphenous veins stored in the presence of FCF had no loss of endothelial or smooth muscle function. Unmanipulated HSVs preserved in the presence of FCF demonstrated a significant increase in endothelial-dependent relaxation (mean [SEM], 25.2% [6.4%] vs 30.2% [6.7%]; P = .02). Application of FCF to functionally nonviable tissue significantly enhanced the smooth muscle responses (mean [SEM], 0.018 [0.004] × 10⁵ N/m² vs 0.057 [0.016] × 10⁵ N/m²; P = .05). Treatment with FCF reduced intimal thickness in organ culture (mean [SEM], -17.5% [2.1%] for unmanipulated HSVs vs -27.9% [3.7%] for HSVs after manipulation; P < .001). In rat inferior venae cavae, FCF inhibited the contraction induced by the P2X7 receptor agonist 2'(3')-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl-adenosine-5'-triphosphate (mean [SEM], 14.8% [2.2%] vs 6.5% [1.8%]; P = .02) to an extent similar to the P2X7 receptor antagonist oxidized adenosine triphosphate (mean [SEM], 5.0% [0.9%]; P < .02 vs control) or the pannexin hemichannel inhibitor probenecid (mean [SEM], 7.3% [1.6%] and 4.7% [0.9%] for 0.5mM and 2mM, respectively; P < .05). Treatment with FCF did not impair endothelial or smooth muscle function in HSVs. Brilliant blue FCF enhanced endothelial-dependent relaxation, restored smooth muscle function, and prevented intimal hyperplasia in HSVs in organ culture. These pharmacological properties of FCF may be due to P2X7 receptor or pannexin channel inhibition. Brilliant blue FCF is an alternative, nontoxic marking dye that may improve HSV conduit function and decrease intimal hyperplasia.

Low frequency sonochemical synthesis of nanoporous amorphous manganese dioxide (MnO2) and adsorption of remazol reactive dye

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasan, Siti Zubaidah; Yusop, Muhammad Rahimi; Othman, Mohamed Rozali

2015-09-01

Nanoporous amorphous-MnO2 was synthesized by sonochemical process (sonication) on the solid manganese (II) acetate tetrahydrate (Mn(CH3COO)2.4H2O) in 0.1 M KMnO4. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), morphology of the material was scanned by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and absorptions of MnO2 bonding was characterized by Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectrometer (FT-IR). Remazol reactive dye or Red 3BS, was used in the adsorption study using nanoporous amorphous-MnO2. In batch experiment, 10 ppm of Remazol reactive dye was used and experiment was carried out at room temperature. Adsorption of Remazol dye on 0.2g synthesized nanoporous amorphous-MnO2 showed 99 - 100% decolorization.

Advanced Oxidation of Tartrazine and Brilliant Blue with Pulsed Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diodes

PubMed Central

Scott, Robert; Mudimbi, Patrick; Miller, Michael E.; Magnuson, Matthew; Willison, Stuart; Phillips, Rebecca; Harper, Willie F.

2018-01-01

This study investigated the effect of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UVLEDs) coupled with hydrogen peroxide as an advanced oxidation process (AOP) for the degradation of two test chemicals. Brilliant Blue FCF consistently exhibited greater degradation than tartrazine, with 83% degradation after 300 minutes at the 100% duty cycle compared with only 17% degradation of tartrazine under the same conditions. These differences are attributable to the structural properties of the compounds. Duty cycle was positively correlated with the first-order rate constants (k) for both chemicals but, interestingly, negatively correlated with the normalized first-order rate constants (k/duty cycle). Synergistic effects of both hydraulic mixing and LED duty cycle were manifested as novel oscillations in the effluent contaminant concentration. Further, LED output and efficiency were dependent upon duty cycle and less efficient over time perhaps due to heating effects on semiconductor performance. PMID:28236826

Health safety issues of synthetic food colorants.

PubMed

Amchova, Petra; Kotolova, Hana; Ruda-Kucerova, Jana

2015-12-01

Increasing attention has been recently paid to the toxicity of additives used in food. The European Parliament and the Council published the REGULATION (EC) No. 1333/2008 on food additives establishing that the toxicity of food additives evaluated before 20th January 2009 must be re-evaluated by European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The aim of this review is to survey current knowledge specifically on the toxicity issues of synthetic food colorants using official reports published by the EFSA and other available studies published since the respective report. Synthetic colorants described are Tartrazine, Quinoline Yellow, Sunset Yellow, Azorubine, Ponceau 4R, Erythrosine, Allura Red, Patent Blue, Indigo Carmine, Brilliant Blue FCF, Green S, Brilliant Black and Brown HT. Moreover, a summary of evidence on possible detrimental effects of colorant mixes on children's behaviour is provided and future research directions are outlined. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The brilliant blue FCF ion-molecular forms in solutions according to the spectrophotometry data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chebotarev, A. N.; Bevziuk, K. V.; Snigur, D. V.; Bazel, Ya. R.

2017-10-01

The brilliant blue FCF acid-base properties in aqueous solutions have been studied and its ionization constants have been defined by tristimulus colorimetry and spectrophotometry methods. The scheme of the acid-base dye equilibrium has been proposed and a diagram of the distribution of its ionic-molecular forms has been built. It has been established that the dominant form of the dye was the electroneutral form, which molar absorptivity (ɛ625 = 0.97 × 105) increases with the increase of the dielectric permittivity of the solvent. It has been shown that the replacement of polar solvents by less polar ones is causing a bathochromic shift of the maximum absorption band of the dye, the value of which is correlated with the value of the Hansen parameter. Tautomerization constants have been defined in a number of solvents and associated with the value of the Dimroth-Reichardt parameter.

The Combination of Trypan Blue and Brilliant Blue G-Assisted Vitrectomy for Macular Pucker: Histopathological Findings.

PubMed

Tognetto, Daniele; De Giacinto, Chiara; D'Aloisio, Rossella; Papagno, Claudia; Pastore, Marco; Zweyer, Marina

2018-01-01

To report on the combined use of trypan blue (TB) and brilliant blue G (BBG) for staining the epiretinal membrane (ERM) and internal limiting membrane (ILM) during vitrectomy and to describe the histopathological findings. 10 surgical specimens were removed from 10 eyes with macular pucker during vitrectomy using a commercially available combination of TB and BBG for ERM and ILM staining and peeling. Specimens were evaluated using light and transmission electron microscopy. In all cases the combination of TB and BBG was useful for identifying and delineating ERM and ILM. No complications related to the use of the dye were observed during or after surgery. Glial cells were present in all specimens. Hyalocytes were observed in 6 cases and myofibroblasts in 3 of them. In 7 cases native vitreous collagen fibrils were found on the ILM, while in 5 specimens newly formed collagen was present. No clinical evidence of toxicity was observed during the 3-month follow-up. The combined use of TB and BBG appeared to be very useful intraoperatively to improve the visualization of ERM and ILM, thus facilitating their complete removal. Anatomical and histopathological findings demonstrated the safety and the efficacy of this vital dye. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Color Tuning in Garnet Oxides: The Role of Tetrahedral Coordination Geometry for 3 d Metal Ions and Ligand-Metal Charge Transfer (Band-Gap Manipulation).

PubMed

Bhim, Anupam; Laha, Sourav; Gopalakrishnan, Jagannatha; Natarajan, Srinivasan

2017-10-18

We explored garnet-structured oxide materials containing 3d transition-metal ions (e.g., Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , and Fe 3+ ) for the development of new inorganic colored materials. For this purpose, we synthesized new garnets, Ca 3 Sb 2 Ga 2 ZnO 12 (I) and Ca 3 Sb 2 Fe 2 ZnO 12 (II), that were isostructural with Ca 3 Te 2 Zn 3 O 12 . Substitution of Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , and Cu 2+ at the tetrahedral Zn 2+ sites in I and II gave rise to brilliantly colored materials (different shades of blue, green, turquoise, and red). The materials were characterized by optical absorption spectroscopy and CIE chromaticity diagrams. The Fe 3+ -containing oxides showed band-gap narrowing (owing to strong sp-d exchange interactions between Zn 2+ and the transition-metal ion), and this tuned the color of these materials uniquely. We also characterized the color and optical absorption properties of Ca 3 Te 2 Zn 3-x Co x O 12 (0

The novel role of fungal intracellular laccase: used to screen hybrids between Hypsizigus marmoreus and Clitocybe maxima by protoplasmic fusion.

PubMed

Xu, Jianzhong; Zhang, Junlan; Zhang, Weiguo; Hu, Kaihui

2012-08-01

Laccase has been proved important in decolorization of Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), oxidation of 2, 2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, lignin degradation and fruiting-body formation. The decolorization of RBBR by laccase was firstly used to screen protoplast fusants. Fusants were obtained by protoplast fusion between the strains of Hypsizigus marmoreus and Clitocybe maxima, and two fusants (IM1 and IIIM5) were screened on PDA medium containing RBBR. These fusants were significant higher in laccase activity than H. marmoreus, nearly 413 and 395 times, respectively. Their hyphal growth rates were also remarkable higher than H. marmoreus, nearly 1.5 and 1.4 times, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed these fusants contained the laccase, and the molecular mass of the laccase was consistent with the laccase of C. maxima, nearly 62 kDa. The pileus color of the IM1 and IIIM5 also showed partial recombined characteristics comparing to the parental strains, while biological efficiency ratios were prominent higher than that of H. marmoreus, up to 14.58 and 10.87 %, respectively. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA bands of fusants not only were similar to parental bands, but presented new non-parental bands. Using the Unweighted pair-group method together with mathematic averages method to gain a dendrogram, in which the fusants showed intra-cluster variations. Significantly, H. marmoreus was the dominant parent, while C. maxima were distant from the fusants. The differences among IM1, IIIM5 and H. marmoreus, and the similarities among IM1, IIIM5 and C. maxima indicated IM1 and IIIM5 were somatic hybrids of H. marmoreus and C. maxima. Accordingly, it is feasible to use laccase to screen fusants of H. marmoreus and C. maxima.

Low frequency sonochemical synthesis of nanoporous amorphous manganese dioxide (MnO{sub 2}) and adsorption of remazol reactive dye

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hasan, Siti Zubaidah; Yusop, Muhammad Rahimi; Othman, Mohamed Rozali, E-mail: rozali@ukm.edu.my

2015-09-25

Nanoporous amorphous-MnO{sub 2} was synthesized by sonochemical process (sonication) on the solid manganese (II) acetate tetrahydrate (Mn(CH{sub 3}COO){sub 2}.4H{sub 2}O) in 0.1 M KMnO{sub 4}. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), morphology of the material was scanned by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and absorptions of MnO{sub 2} bonding was characterized by Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectrometer (FT-IR). Remazol reactive dye or Red 3BS, was used in the adsorption study using nanoporous amorphous-MnO{sub 2}. In batch experiment, 10 ppm of Remazol reactive dye was used and experiment was carried out at room temperature. Adsorption of Remazol dye onmore » 0.2g synthesized nanoporous amorphous-MnO{sub 2} showed 99 – 100% decolorization.« less

Inhibition of Neuronal Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels by Brilliant Blue G

PubMed Central

Jo, Sooyeon

2011-01-01

Brilliant blue G (BBG), best known as an antagonist of P2X7 receptors, was found to inhibit voltage-gated sodium currents in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. Sodium currents elicited from a holding potential of −60 mV were blocked with an IC50 of 2 μM. Block was enhanced in a use-dependent manner at higher stimulation rates. The voltage-dependence of inactivation was shifted in the hyperpolarizing direction, and recovery from inactivation was slowed by BBG. The most dramatic effect of BBG was to slow recovery from inactivation after long depolarizations, with 3 μM BBG increasing half-time for recovery (measured at −120 mV) from 24 to 854 ms after a 10-s step to 0 mV. These results were mimicked by a kinetic model in which BBG binds weakly to resting channels (Kd = 170 μM) but tightly to fast-inactivated channels (Kd = 5 μM) and even more tightly (Kd = 0.2 μM) to slow-inactivated channels. In contrast to BBG, the structurally related food-coloring dye Brilliant Blue FCF had very little effect at concentrations up to 30 μM. These results show that BBG inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels at micromolar concentrations. Although BBG inhibition of sodium channels is less potent than inhibition of P2X7 receptors, there may be significant inhibition of sodium channels at BBG concentrations achieved in spinal cord or brain during experimental treatment of spinal cord injury or Huntington's disease. Considered as a sodium channel blocker, BBG is remarkably potent, acting with more than 10-fold greater potency than lacosamide, another blocker thought to bind to slow-inactivated channels. PMID:21536754

BRILLIANT BLUE FCF IS A NON-TOXIC DYE FOR SAPHENOUS VEIN GRAFT MARKING THAT ABROGATES RESPONSE TO INJURY

PubMed Central

Hocking, Kyle M.; Luo, Weifeng; Li, Fan Dong; Komalavilas, Padmini; Brophy, Colleen; Cheung-Flynn, Joyce

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND Injury to saphenous vein grafts during surgical preparation may contribute to the subsequent development of intimal hyperplasia, the primary cause of graft failure. Surgical skin markers currently used for vascular marking contain gentian violet and isopropanol that damage tissue and impair physiologic functions. Brilliant blue FCF (FCF) is a nontoxic dye alternative that may also ameliorate preparation-induced injury. METHODS Porcine saphenous vein (PSV) was used to evaluate the effect of FCF on physiologic responses in a muscle bath. Cytotoxicity of FCF was measured using human umbilical venous smooth muscle cells (HUVSMC). Effect of FCF on the development of intimal hyperplasia was evaluated in organ culture using PSV. Intracellular calcium fluxes and contractile responses were measured in response to agonist and inhibitors in rat aorta and human saphenous vein (HSV). RESULTS Marking with FCF did not impair smooth muscle contractile responses and restored stretch injury-induced loss in smooth muscle contractility of PSV. Gentian violet has cytotoxic effects on HUVSMC while FCF is nontoxic. FCF inhibited intimal thickening in PSV in organ culture. 2′(3′)-O-(4-Benzoylbenzoyl)adenosine-5′-triphosphate-induced contraction and intracellular calcium flux were inhibited by FCF, oxidized ATP, KN62, and brilliant blue G, suggesting that FCF may inhibit the purinergic receptor P2X7. CONCLUSIONS Our studies indicated that FCF is a non-toxic marking dye for vein grafts that ameliorates vein graft injury and prevents intimal thickening, possibly due to P2X7 receptor inhibition. FCF represents a non-toxic alternative for vein graft marking and a potentially therapeutic approach to enhance outcome in autologous transplantation of HSV into the coronary and peripheral arterial circulation. PMID:25704409

Treatment of wastewater containing Reactive Brilliant Blue KN-R using TiO2/BC composite as heterogeneous photocatalyst and adsorbent.

PubMed

Zhang, Shici; Lu, Xujie

2018-09-01

Heterogeneous photocatalysis namely titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) supported on coconut shell biochar (BC) was synthesized by sol-gel method (calcined at 450 °C) in the paper, which was innovatively applied to the decolorization of Reactive Brilliant Blue KN-R. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) results demonstrated that anatase TiO 2 film was firmly immobilized on the surface and pores of BC. The photocatalysis tests under UV high pressure xenon lamp (300 W) showed highest decolorization efficiency occurred at strong acid and alkali conditions (pH = 1 and 11) reached as 99.71% and 96.99% respectively within 60 min. Therefore, the TiO 2 /BC composites demonstrated both photocatalytic and adsorption capacity on KN-R decolorized, and presented quite durable and reusable in regeneration cycles, indicating a widely application possibility in anthraquinones dyeing wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultra-thin layer chromatography and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy on silver nanorod array substrates prepared by oblique angle deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jing; Abell, Justin; Huang, Yao-wen; Zhao, Yiping

2012-06-01

We demonstrate the potential use of silver nanorod (AgNR) array substrates for on-chip separation and detection of chemical mixtures by ultra-thin layer chromatography (UTLC) and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The capability of the AgNR substrates to separate different compounds in a mixture was explored using a mixture of the food colorant Brilliant Blue FCF and lactic acid, and the mixtures of Methylene Violet and BSA at various concentrations. After the UTLC process, spatially-resolved SERS spectra were collected along the mobile phase development direction and the intensities of specific SERS peaks from each component were used to generate chromatograms. The AgNR substrates demonstrate the capability of separating Brilliant Blue from lactic acid, as well as revealing the SERS signal of Methylene Violet from the massive BSA background after a simple UTLC step. This technique may have significant practical implications in actual detection of small molecules from complex food or clinical backgrounds.

Dimethylformamide interferes with Coomassie dye staining of proteins on blue native gel electrophoresis.

PubMed

Raghupathy, V; Oommen, Anna; Ramachandran, Anup

2014-06-15

Blue native gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) is used extensively for characterization of mitochondrial respiratory complexes and uses the binding of Coomassie brilliant blue G-250 to visualize proteins. Oxidative modification of sulfhydryl groups of such proteins can be evaluated by labeling with iodoacetamide conjugated to biotin (BIAM) and detected with streptavidin peroxidase on Western blots following BN-PAGE. However, dissolving BIAM in dimethylformamide, a recommended solvent, reduces Coomassie blue G staining to proteins during BN-PAGE. This interference is prevented by dissolving BIAM in dimethyl sulfoxide. Precautions in the use of the dye for protein staining subsequent to BIAM labeling are discussed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Toxicity of textile dyes and their degradation by the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

PubMed

Ulson de Souza, Selene Maria Arruda Guelli; Forgiarini, Eliane; Ulson de Souza, Antônio Augusto

2007-08-25

The enzyme peroxidase is known for its capacity to remove phenolic compounds and aromatic amines from aqueous solutions and also to decolorize textile effluents. This study evaluates the potential of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the decolorization of textile dyes and effluents. Some factors such as pH and the amount of H(2)O(2) and the enzyme were evaluated in order to determine the optimum conditions for the enzyme performance. For the dyes tested, the results indicated that the decolorization of the dye Remazol Turquoise Blue G 133% was approximately 59%, and 94% for the Lanaset Blue 2R; for the textile effluent, the decolorization was 52%. The tests for toxicity towards Daphnia magna showed that there was a reduction in toxicity after the enzymatic treatment. However, the toxicity of the textile effluent showed no change towards Artemia salina after the enzyme treatment. This study verifies the viability of the use of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase in the biodegradation of textile dyes.

A Rare Vocation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stanistreet, Paul

2008-01-01

The art works in Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral are meant to inspire. Its unique circular interior creates a remarkable space for art; plain and grey, with its cool, bleached walls dappled with occasionally brilliant light, yellow, pink, orange and blue. Sister Anthony Wilson is the cathedral's artistic director. When she arrived in 1981, with…

Phenothiaziniums as putative photobactericidal agents for red blood cell concentrates.

PubMed

Wainwright, M; Phoenix, D A; Smillie, T E; Wareing, D R

2001-10-01

The antibacterial activities of Methylene Blue and several of its congeners were measured against Yersinia enterocolitica, a gram-negative pathogen known to exhibit significant growth at 4 degrees C and thus constituting a threat to red blood cell concentrates which are stored at this temperature. None of the derivatives was highly active in dark conditions, as expected, but on illumination using a lamp emitting light in the waveband 615-645 nm, considerable bactericidal activity was noted using similar photosensitizer concentrations to those used elsewhere to inactivate blood-borne viruses. Two novel compounds in this area, the phenothiazinium New Methylene Blue N and the phenoxazinium Brilliant Cresyl Blue, exhibited bactericidal activity at lower concentrations than both of the established phenothiaziniums, Methylene Blue and Toluidine Blue O and the recently published blood photovirucidal agent 1,9-Dimethyl Methylene Blue. The photoactivity of these compounds was undiminished in the presence of red blood cells.

Effects of cilostamide and/or forskolin on the meiotic resumption and development competence of growing ovine oocytes selected by brilliant cresyl blue staining.

PubMed

Azari-Dolatabad, Nima; Rahmani, H R; Hajian, M; Ostadhosseini, S; Hosseini, S M; Nasr-Esfahani, M H

2016-05-01

The relevance of low developmental competence of in vitro-matured oocyte to the incomplete/delayed cytoplasmic maturation, and the heterogeneity of retrieved oocytes is well established in several species. A short phase of prematuration culture was used to allow better oocyte cytoplasmic maturation. The preselection of growing and fully grown oocytes has been proposed to improve developmental competency. This study investigated the effects of phosphodiesterase type 3-specific inhibitor, cilostamide, and adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, on the resumption of meiosis and developmental competence of growing ovine oocytes selected by brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining. Results indicate that cilostamide, forskolin, and their combination significantly (P < 0.05) increased the percentage of growing (BCB-) oocytes maintained at the germinal vesicle stage. However, only forskolin significantly (P < 0.05) increased the yield and quality of blastocysts derived from BCB- oocytes compared with non-BCB-treated oocytes. We conclude that a short prematuration culture with forskolin may improve the in vitro developmental competency of growing oocytes in ovine. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Involvement of neutrophils and interleukin-18 in nociception in a mouse model of muscle pain.

PubMed

Yoshida, Shinichirou; Hagiwara, Yoshihiro; Tsuchiya, Masahiro; Shinoda, Masamichi; Koide, Masashi; Hatakeyama, Hiroyasu; Chaweewannakorn, Chayanit; Yano, Toshihisa; Sogi, Yasuhito; Itaya, Nobuyuki; Sekiguchi, Takuya; Yabe, Yutaka; Sasaki, Keiichi; Kanzaki, Makoto; Itoi, Eiji

2018-01-01

Muscle pain is a common condition that relates to various pathologies. Muscle overuse induces muscle pain, and neutrophils are key players in pain production. Neutrophils also play a central role in chronic pain by secreting interleukin (IL)-18. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of neutrophils and IL-18 in a mouse model of muscle pain. The right hind leg muscles of BALB/c mice were stimulated electrically to induce excessive muscle contraction. The left hind leg muscles were not stimulated. The pressure pain threshold, number of neutrophils, and IL-18 levels were investigated. Furthermore, the effects of the IL-18-binding protein and Brilliant Blue G on pain were investigated. In stimulated muscles, pressure pain thresholds decreased, and neutrophil and IL-18 levels increased compared with that in non-stimulated muscles. The administration of IL-18-binding protein and Brilliant Blue G attenuated hyperalgesia caused by excessive muscle contraction. These results suggest that increased IL-18 secretion from larger numbers of neutrophils elicits mechanical hyperalgesia.

Ozonation of the food dye Brilliant Blue in aqueous medium: monitoring and characterization of products by direct infusion electrospray ionization coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry.

PubMed

da Silva, Júlio César Cardoso; Bispo, Glayson Leonardo; Pavanelli, Sérgio Pinton; Afonso, Robson José de Cássia Franco; Augusti, Rodinei

2012-06-15

Dyes have been widely used to accentuate or to provide different colors to foods. However, the high concentrations of dyes in effluents from the food industries can cause serious and unpredictable damages to aquatic life in general. Furthermore, since conventional biological treatments have been shown to be ineffective, the use of advanced oxidation processes to promote the depletion of such dyes in water bodies has turned out to be mandatory. The degradation of the food dye Brilliant Blue by ozone in aqueous solution is reported herein. The overall process was monitored in real time by using direct infusion electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry in the negative ion mode, ESI(-)-HRMS. Preliminary results (visual inspection and UV-vis spectra) showed the high efficiency of ozonation in causing the decoloration of an aqueous solution of the dye whereas TOC (total organic carbon) measurements revealed that such an oxidation process was unable to promote its complete mineralization. ESI(-)-HRMS data showed that the substrate consumption occurred concomitantly with the appearance of four by-products, all of them produced by an initial attack of hydroxyl radicals (generated via the decomposition of ozone) on the two imino moieties of the dye molecule. Structures were proposed for all the by-products based mainly on the high-resolution mass measurements and on the characteristic reactivity of typical functional groups towards hydroxyl radicals. An unprecedented degradation route of Brilliant Blue by ozone in aqueous solution could thus be proposed. A greater ecotoxicity against Artemia salina was observed for the by-products than for the original dye. This indicates that the identification of by-products arising from oxidation treatments is of primary importance since such compounds can be more hazardous than the precursor itself. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Antiplasmodial activities of dyes against Plasmodium falciparum asexual and sexual stages: Contrasted uptakes of triarylmethanes Brilliant green, Green S (E142), and Patent Blue V (E131) by erythrocytes.

PubMed

Leba, Louis-Jérôme; Popovici, Jean; Estevez, Yannick; Pelleau, Stéphane; Legrand, Eric; Musset, Lise; Duplais, Christophe

2017-12-01

The search for safe antimalarial compounds acting against asexual symptom-responsible stages and sexual transmission-responsible forms of Plasmodium species is one of the major challenges in malaria elimination programs. So far, among current drugs approved for human use, only primaquine has transmission-blocking activity. The discovery of small molecules targeting different Plasmodium falciparum life stages remains a priority in antimalarial drug research. In this context, several independent studies have recently reported antiplasmodial and transmission-blocking activities of commonly used stains, dyes and fluorescent probes against P. falciparum including chloroquine-resistant isolates. Herein we have studied the antimalarial activities of dyes with different scaffold and we report that the triarylmethane dye (TRAM) Brilliant green inhibits the growth of asexual stages (IC 50  ≤ 2 μM) and has exflagellation-blocking activity (IC 50  ≤ 800 nM) against P. falciparum reference strains (3D7, 7G8) and chloroquine-resistant clinical isolate (Q206). In a second step we have investigated the antiplasmodial activities of two polysulfonated triarylmethane food dyes. Green S (E142) is weakly active against P. falciparum asexual stage (IC 50 ≃ 17 μM) whereas Patent Blue V (E131) is inactive in both antimalarial assays. By applying liquid chromatography techniques for the culture supernatant analysis after cell washings and lysis, we report the detection of Brilliant green in erythrocytes, the selective uptake of Green S (E142) by infected erythrocytes, whereas Patent Blue V (E131) could not be detected within non-infected and 3D7-infected erythrocytes. Overall, our results suggest that two polysulfonated food dyes might display different affinity with transporters or channels on infected RBC membrane. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Developing a xylanase XYNZG from Plectosphaerella cucumerina for baking by heterologously expressed in Kluyveromyces lactis.

PubMed

Zhan, Fei Xiang; Wang, Qin Hong; Jiang, Si Jing; Zhou, Yu Ling; Zhang, Gui Min; Ma, Yan He

2014-12-16

Xylanase can replace chemical additives to improve the volume and sensory properties of bread in the baking. Suitable baking xylanase with improved yield will promote the application of xylanase in baking industry. The xylanase XYNZG from the Plectosphaerella cucumerina has been previously characterized by heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris. However, P. pastoris is not a suitable host for xylanase to be used in the baking process since P. pastoris does not have GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) status and requires large methanol supplement during the fermentation in most conditions, which is not allowed to be used in the food industry. Kluyveromyces lactis, as another yeast expression host, has a GRAS status, which has been successfully used in food and feed applications. No previous work has been reported concerning the heterologous expression of xylanase gene xynZG in K. lactis with an aim for application in baking. The xylanase gene xynZG from the P. cucumerina was heterologously expressed in K. lactis. The recombinant protein XYNZG in K. lactis presented an approximately 19 kDa band on SDS-PAGE and zymograms analysis. Transformant with the highest halo on the plate containing the RBB-xylan (Remazol Brilliant Blue-xylan) was selected for the flask fermentation in different media. The results indicated that the highest activity of 115 U/ml at 72 h was obtained with the YLPU medium. The mass spectrometry analysis suggested that the hydrolytic products of xylan by XYNZG were mainly xylobiose and xylotriose. The results of baking trials indicated that the addition of XYNZG could reduce the kneading time of dough, increase the volume of bread, improve the texture, and have more positive effects on the sensory properties of bread. Xylanase XYNZG is successfully expressed in K. lactis, which exhibits the highest activity among the published reports of the xylanase expression in K. lactis. The recombinant XYNZG can be used to improve the volume and sensory properties of bread. Therefore, the expression yield of recombinant XYNZG can be further improved through engineered strain containing high copy numbers of the XYNZG, and optimized fermentation condition, making bread-baking application possible.

Azo Dye Biodecolorization Enhanced by Echinodontium taxodii Cultured with Lignin

PubMed Central

Meng, Jing; Yu, Hongbo; Zhang, Xiaoyu

2014-01-01

Lignocellulose facilitates the fungal oxidization of recalcitrant organic pollutants through the extracellular ligninolytic enzymes induced by lignin in wood or other plant tissues. However, available information on this phenomenon is insufficient. Free radical chain reactions during lignin metabolism are important in xenobiotic removal. Thus, the effect of lignin on azo dye decolorization in vivo by Echinodontium taxodii was evaluated. In the presence of lignin, optimum decolorization percentages for Remazol Brilliant Violet 5R, Direct Red 5B, Direct Black 38, and Direct Black 22 were 91.75% (control, 65.96%), 76.89% (control, 43.78%), 43.44% (control, 17.02%), and 44.75% (control, 12.16%), respectively, in the submerged cultures. Laccase was the most important enzyme during biodecolorization. Aside from the stimulating of laccase activity, lignin might be degraded by E. taxodii, and then these degraded low-molecular-weight metabolites could act as redox mediators promoting decolorization of azo dyes. The relationship between laccase and lignin degradation was investigated through decolorization tests in vitro with purified enzyme and dozens of aromatics, which can be derivatives of lignin and can function as laccase mediators or inducers. Dyes were decolorized at triple or even higher rates in certain laccase–aromatic systems at chemical concentrations as low as 10 µM. PMID:25285777

Effect of electrolyte nature on kinetics of remazol yellow G removal by electrocoagulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajabi, M.; Bagheri-Roochi, M.; Asghari, A.

2011-10-01

The present study describes an electrocoagulation process for the removal of remazol yellow G from dye solutions using Iron as the anode and Steel as the cathode. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models were used to analyze the kinetic data obtained at different concentrations in different conditions. The adsorption kinetics was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Native red electrophoresis--a new method suitable for separation of native proteins.

PubMed

Dráb, Tomáš; Kračmerová, Jana; Tichá, Ivana; Hanzlíková, Eva; Tichá, Marie; Ryšlavá, Helena; Doubnerová, Veronika; Maňásková-Postlerová, Pavla; Liberda, Jiří

2011-12-01

A new type of native electrophoresis was developed to separate and characterize proteins. In this modification of the native blue electrophoresis, the dye Ponceau Red S is used instead of Coomassie Brilliant Blue to impose uniform negative charge on proteins to enable their electrophoretic separation according to their relative molecular masses. As Ponceau Red S binds less tightly to proteins, in comparison with Coomassie Blue, it can be easily removed after the electrophoretic separation and a further investigation of protein properties is made possible (e.g. an enzyme detection or electroblotting). The tested proteins also kept their native properties (enzyme activity or aggregation state). Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Ink-native electrophoresis: an alternative to blue-native electrophoresis more suitable for in-gel detection of enzymatic activity.

PubMed

Kaneko, Keisuke; Sueyoshi, Noriyuki; Kameshita, Isamu; Ishida, Atsuhiko

2013-09-15

Blue-native electrophoresis (BNE) is a useful technique for analyzing protein complexes, but the Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) dye used in BNE often hampers in-gel detection of enzymatic activity. Here we report an improved method, termed ink-native electrophoresis (INE), in which Pelikan 4001 fountain pen ink is used as a charge-shifting agent instead of CBB. INE is more suitable than BNE for in-gel detection of protein kinase activity after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and its performance in protein complex separation is comparable to that of conventional BNE. INE may provide a powerful tool to isolate and analyze various protein complexes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The study of synthetic food dyes by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pivtsaev, A. A.; Razov, V. I.

2015-06-01

By method of positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), substances are food dyes were studied: E-102 (Tartrazine), E-124 (Ponso 4R), E 132 (Indigo carmine), E-133 (Brilliant Blue), E-151 (Black Shiny). They are examined for the presence of carcinogenic properties. The difference between dyes having explicit carcinogenic properties and mutagenic properties (non-explicit carcinogens) is established.

Reduction of cytotoxicity of benzalkonium chloride and octenidine by Brilliant Blue G.

PubMed

Bartok, Melinda; Tandon, Rashmi; Alfaro-Espinoza, Gabriela; Ullrich, Matthias S; Gabel, Detlef

2015-01-01

The irritative effects of preservatives found in ophthalmologic solution, or of antiseptics used for skin disinfection is a consistent problem for the patients. The reduction of the toxic effects of these compounds is desired. Brilliant Blue G (BBG) has shown to meet the expected effect in presence of benzalkonium chloride (BAK), a well known preservative in ophthalmic solutions, and octenidine dihydrochloride (Oct), used as antiseptic in skin and wound disinfection. BBG shows a significant protective effect on human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells against BAK and Oct toxicity, increasing the cell survival up to 51 % at the highest BAK or Oct concentration tested, which is 0.01 %, both at 30 min incubation. Although BBG is described as a P2x7 receptor antagonist, other selective P2x7 receptor antagonists, OxATP (adenosine 5'-triphosphate-2',3'-dialdehyde) and DPPH (N'-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)-3-phenylpropanehydrazide), did not reduce the cytotoxicity of neither BAK nor Oct. Therefore we assume that the protective effect of BBG is not due to its action on the P2x7 receptor. Brilliant Blue R (BBR), a dye similar to BBG, was also tested for protective effect on BAK and Oct toxicity. In presence of BAK no significant protective effect was observed. Instead, with Oct a comparable protective effect was seen with that of BBG. To assure that the bacteriostatic effect is not affected by the combinations of BAK/BBG, Oct/BBG and Oct/BBR, bacterial growth inhibition was analyzed on different Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. All combinations of BAK or Oct with BBG hinder growth of Gram-positive bacteria. The combinations of 0.001 % Oct and BBR above 0.025 % do not hinder the growth of B. subtilis. For Gram-negative bacteria, BBG and BBR reduce, but do not abolish, the antimicrobial effect of BAK nor of Oct. In conclusion, the addition of BBG at bacterial inhibitory concentrations is suggested in the ready-to-use ophthalmic preparations and antiseptic solutions.

Reduction of cytotoxicity of benzalkonium chloride and octenidine by Brilliant Blue G

PubMed Central

Bartok, Melinda; Tandon, Rashmi; Alfaro-Espinoza, Gabriela; Ullrich, Matthias S.; Gabel, Detlef

2015-01-01

The irritative effects of preservatives found in ophthalmologic solution, or of antiseptics used for skin disinfection is a consistent problem for the patients. The reduction of the toxic effects of these compounds is desired. Brilliant Blue G (BBG) has shown to meet the expected effect in presence of benzalkonium chloride (BAK), a well known preservative in ophthalmic solutions, and octenidine dihydrochloride (Oct), used as antiseptic in skin and wound disinfection. BBG shows a significant protective effect on human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells against BAK and Oct toxicity, increasing the cell survival up to 51 % at the highest BAK or Oct concentration tested, which is 0.01 %, both at 30 min incubation. Although BBG is described as a P2x7 receptor antagonist, other selective P2x7 receptor antagonists, OxATP (adenosine 5’-triphosphate-2’,3’-dialdehyde) and DPPH (N’-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)-3-phenylpropanehydrazide), did not reduce the cytotoxicity of neither BAK nor Oct. Therefore we assume that the protective effect of BBG is not due to its action on the P2x7 receptor. Brilliant Blue R (BBR), a dye similar to BBG, was also tested for protective effect on BAK and Oct toxicity. In presence of BAK no significant protective effect was observed. Instead, with Oct a comparable protective effect was seen with that of BBG. To assure that the bacteriostatic effect is not affected by the combinations of BAK/BBG, Oct/BBG and Oct/BBR, bacterial growth inhibition was analyzed on different Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. All combinations of BAK or Oct with BBG hinder growth of Gram-positive bacteria. The combinations of 0.001 % Oct and BBR above 0.025 % do not hinder the growth of B. subtilis. For Gram-negative bacteria, BBG and BBR reduce, but do not abolish, the antimicrobial effect of BAK nor of Oct. In conclusion, the addition of BBG at bacterial inhibitory concentrations is suggested in the ready-to-use ophthalmic preparations and antiseptic solutions. PMID:26417355

STS-41G earth observations

NASA Image and Video Library

1984-10-10

41G-34-036 (5-13 Oct 1984) --- When in space, Space Shuttle astronauts experience 18-dawns to every one on terra firma. The crew of NASA's STS-41G mission captured these spectacular colors just prior to passing through one of those orbital dawns in October of 1984. The scene is over the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 miles from Tokyo. The bands of color represent the various layers of aerosol which surround the planet. The brilliant red is the atmosphere; the overlap between red and blue is the stratosphere; the blue layer is the ionosphere. With increased altitude, the electrons and ions are reduced in number, leaving the vast blackness of space.

Investigation of the chemical origin and evidential value of differences in the SERS spectra of blue gel inks.

PubMed

Ho, Yen Cheng; Lee, Wendy W Y; Bell, Steven E J

2016-08-15

Highly swellable polymer films doped with Ag nanoparticle aggregates (poly-SERS films) have been used to record very high signal : noise ratio, reproducible surface-enhanced (resonance) Raman (SER(R)S) spectra of in situ dried ink lines and their constituent dyes using both 633 and 785 nm excitation. These allowed the chemical origins of differences in the SERRS spectra of different inks to be determined. Initial investigation of pure samples of the 10 most common blue dyes showed that the dyes which had very similar chemical structures such as Patent Blue V and Patent Blue VF (which differ only by a single OH group) gave SERRS spectra in which the only indications that the dye structure had been changed were small differences in peak positions or relative intensities of the bands. SERRS studies of 13 gel pen inks were consistent with this observation. In some cases inks from different types of pens could be distinguished even though they were dominated by a single dye such as Victoria Blue B (Zebra Surari) or Victoria Blue BO (Pilot Acroball) because their predominant dye did not appear in other inks. Conversely, identical spectra were also recorded from different types of pens (Pilot G7, Zebra Z-grip) because they all had the same dominant Brilliant Blue G dye. Finally, some of the inks contained mixtures of dyes which could be separated by TLC and removed from the plate before being analysed with the same poly-SERS films. For example, the Pentel EnerGel ink pen was found to give TLC spots corresponding to Erioglaucine and Brilliant Blue G. Overall, this study has shown that the spectral differences between different inks which are based on chemically similar, but nonetheless distinct dyes, are extremely small, so very close matches between SERRS spectra are required for confident identification. Poly-SERS substrates can routinely provide the very stringent reproducibility and sensitivity levels required. This, coupled with the awareness of the reasons underlying the observed differences between similarly coloured inks allows a more confident assessment of the evidential value of inks SERS and should underpin adoption of this approach as a routine method for the forensic examination of inks.

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by the blue pigment VINAMON® Blue BX FW - a phthalocyanine blue in a vinyl glove.

PubMed

Weimann, Stefanie; Skudlik, Christoph; John, Swen Malte

2010-10-01

A 44-year-old metalworker suffered from severe hand eczema in spite of treatment with corticosteroid ointments. He had been using protective cotton gloves with blue PVC anti-slip dots on the finger tips. On clinical examination, the backs of both hands were erythematous and thickened while the finger tips showed vesicles. There was a positive patch test reaction to the blue PVC dots of an unworn cotton glove at 72, 96, 120 hours. To identify the causative chemicals, we carried out further patch tests using ingredients of the glove and cupric sulfate. The patient reacted to the blue dye VYNAMON(®) Blue BX FW (PB 15) at two concentrations - 10% at 72 and 96 hours, and 50% at 48 and 72 hours. This dye is a very strong and brilliant blue with red-copper tones and resistant to fire and weathering. The cupric-phthalocyanine complexes are used as pigments in cosmetics (e. g. CI 74160, 74180, 74260). To the best of our knowledge, no allergic reactions to this dye have been described, particularly not in gloves. © The Authors • Journal compilation © Blackwell Verlag GmbH, Berlin.

20 g PPV with indocyanine green-assisted ILM peeling versus 23 g PPV with brilliant blue G-assisted ILM peeling for epiretinal membrane.

PubMed

Manousaridis, Kleanthis; Peter, Silvia; Mennel, Stefan

2016-06-01

To compare the anatomical and visual outcomes of 20 gauge (g) pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with indocyanine green (ICG)-assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and 23 g PPV with brilliant blue G (BBG)-assisted ILM peeling for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM). 38 eyes of 38 patients with idiopathic ERM were included. They were divided in two groups: group 1 (18 eyes) underwent 20 g PPV with ICG-assisted ILM peeling and group 2 (20 eyes) 23 g PPV with BBG-assisted ILM peeling. Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were compared. Average BCVA in group 1 improved significantly from 0.60 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (log MAR) at baseline to 0.3 log MAR postoperatively. Average BCVA in group 2 improved significantly from 0.60 log MAR at baseline to 0.3 log MAR postoperatively. Mean CMT reduced significantly from 473 to 375 μm in group 1 and from 486 to 396 μm in group 2. There were no significant differences in the BCVA and CMT between the groups. Both surgical methods appeared to be safe and provided similar anatomical and visual outcomes.

Critical Involvement of Extracellular ATP Acting on P2RX7 Purinergic Receptors in Photoreceptor Cell Death

PubMed Central

Notomi, Shoji; Hisatomi, Toshio; Kanemaru, Takaaki; Takeda, Atsunobu; Ikeda, Yasuhiro; Enaida, Hiroshi; Kroemer, Guido; Ishibashi, Tatsuro

2011-01-01

Stressed cells release ATP, which participates in neurodegenerative processes through the specific ligation of P2RX7 purinergic receptors. Here, we demonstrate that extracellular ATP and the more specific P2RX7 agonist, 2′- and 3′-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-ATP, both induce photoreceptor cell death when added to primary retinal cell cultures or when injected into the eyes from wild-type mice, but not into the eyes from P2RX7−/− mice. Photoreceptor cell death was accompanied by the activation of caspase-8 and -9, translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor from mitochondria to nuclei, and TUNEL-detectable chromatin fragmentation. All hallmarks of photoreceptor apoptosis were prevented by premedication or co-application of Brilliant Blue G, a selective P2RX7 antagonist that is already approved for the staining of internal limiting membranes during ocular surgery. ATP release is up-regulated by nutrient starvation in primary retinal cell cultures and seems to be an initializing event that triggers primary and/or secondary cell death via the positive feedback loop on P2RX7. Our results encourage the potential application of Brilliant Blue G as a novel neuroprotective agent in retinal diseases or similar neurodegenerative pathologies linked to excessive extracellular ATP. PMID:21983632

Chitosan-edible oil based materials as upgraded adsorbents for textile dyes.

PubMed

Dos Santos, Clayane Carvalho; Mouta, Rodolpho; Junior, Manoel Carvalho Castro; Santana, Sirlane Aparecida Abreu; Silva, Hildo Antonio Dos Santos; Bezerra, Cícero Wellington Brito

2018-01-15

Biopolymer chitosan is a low cost, abundant, environmentally friendly, very selective and efficient anionic dyes adsorbent, being a promising material for large-scale removal of dyes from wastewater. However, raw chitosan (CS) is an ineffective cationic dyes adsorbent and its performance is pH sensitive, thus, CS modifications that address these issues need to be developed. Here, we report the preparation and characterization of two new CS modifications using edible oils (soybean oil or babassu oil), and their adsorption performance for two dyes, one anionic (remazol red, RR) and one cationic (methylene blue, MB). Both modifications extended the pH range of RR adsorption. The babassu oil modification increased adsorption capacity of the cationic dye MB, whereas the soybean oil modification increased that of RR. Such improvements demonstrate the potential of these two new CS modifications as adsorbent candidates for controlling dyes pollution in effluents. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Large laser projection displays utilizing all-solid-state RGB lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zuyan; Bi, Yong

2005-01-01

RGB lasers projection displays have the advantages of producing large color triangle, high color saturation and high image resolution. In this report, with more than 4W white light synthesized by red (671nm), green (532nm) and blue (473nm) lasers, a RGB laser projection display system based on diode pumped solid-state lasers is developed and the performance of brilliant and vivid DVD dynamitic pictures on 60 inch screen is demonstrated.

A xylose-stimulated xylanase-xylose binding protein chimera created by random nonhomologous recombination.

PubMed

Ribeiro, Lucas Ferreira; Tullman, Jennifer; Nicholes, Nathan; Silva, Sérgio Ruschi Bergamachi; Vieira, Davi Serradella; Ostermeier, Marc; Ward, Richard John

2016-01-01

Saccharification of lignocellulosic material by xylanases and other glycoside hydrolases is generally conducted at high concentrations of the final reaction products, which frequently inhibit the enzymes used in the saccharification process. Using a random nonhomologous recombination strategy, we have fused the GH11 xylanase from Bacillus subtilis (XynA) with the xylose binding protein from Escherichia coli (XBP) to produce an enzyme that is allosterically stimulated by xylose. The pT7T3GFP_XBP plasmid containing the XBP coding sequence was randomly linearized with DNase I, and ligated with the XynA coding sequence to create a random XynA-XBP insertion library, which was used to transform E. coli strain JW3538-1 lacking the XBP gene. Screening for active XBP was based on the expression of GFP from the pT7T3GFP_XBP plasmid under the control of a xylose inducible promoter. In the presence of xylose, cells harboring a functional XBP domain in the fusion protein (XBP+) showed increased GFP fluorescence and were selected using FACS. The XBP+ cells were further screened for xylanase activity by halo formation around xylanase producing colonies (XynA+) on LB-agar-xylan media after staining with Congo red. The xylanase activity ratio with xylose/without xylose in supernatants from the XBP+/XynA+ clones was measured against remazol brilliant blue xylan. A clone showing an activity ratio higher than 1.3 was selected where the XynA was inserted after the asparagine 271 in the XBP, and this chimera was denominated as XynA-XBP271. The XynA-XBP271 was more stable than XynA at 55 °C, and in the presence of xylose the catalytic efficiency was ~3-fold greater than the parental xylanase. Molecular dynamics simulations predicted the formation of an extended protein-protein interface with coupled movements between the XynA and XBP domains. In the XynA-XBP271 with xylose bound to the XBP domain, the mobility of a β-loop in the XynA domain results in an increased access to the active site, and may explain the observed allosteric activation. The approach presented here provides an important advance for the engineering enzymes that are stimulated by the final product.

Jagua blue derived from Genipa americana L. fruit: A natural alternative to commonly used blue food colorants?

PubMed

Brauch, J E; Zapata-Porras, S P; Buchweitz, M; Aschoff, J K; Carle, R

2016-11-01

Due to consumers' increasing health awareness, food industry aims at replacing synthetic dyes by natural counterparts. The substitution of blue synthetic dyes is particularly challenging since current natural alternatives such as phycocyanin (Spirulina) suffer from poor stability. Jagua blue (produced from Genipa americana L. fruit) might represent a potential novel blue pigment source. However, only little is known about its color properties, and application in food systems. Therefore, the blue color and the stability of Jagua blue were assessed for the first time and compared to commonly used colorants, namely, Spirulina, brilliant blue FCF (Blue no. 1), and indigo carmine (Blue no. 2). The reaction rate of Jagua blue was independent of its concentration, confirming thermal degradation to follow first-order kinetics. Between pH 3.6 and 5.0, the color hue of Jagua blue solutions was similar to that of Blue no. 2. However, Jagua blue revealed markedly higher storage stabilities (t 1/2 =86-105days) than Blue no. 2 (t 1 /2 ≤9days) and was less susceptible to acidic pH of 3.6 (t 1 /2 =86days) than Spirulina (t 1 /2 =70days). High negative b* values (blueness) of colored gelatin gels were only obtained for Jagua blue and Spirulina, and the former exhibited higher light stabilities (t 1 /2 =15days) than Spirulina gels (t 1 /2 =4days). Our findings indicate Jagua blue to be a most promising alternative to synthetic dyes, providing relevant information regarding potential food applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The food dye FD&C Blue No. 1 is a selective inhibitor of the ATP release channel Panx1.

PubMed

Wang, Junjie; Jackson, David George; Dahl, Gerhard

2013-05-01

The food dye FD&C Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF [BB FCF]) is structurally similar to the purinergic receptor antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG), which is a well-known inhibitor of the ionotropic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). The P2X7R functionally interacts with the membrane channel protein pannexin 1 (Panx1) in inflammasome signaling. Intriguingly, ligands to the P2X7R, regardless of whether they are acting as agonists or antagonists at the receptor, inhibit Panx1 channels. Thus, because both P2X7R and Panx1 are inhibited by BBG, the diagnostic value of the drug is limited. Here, we show that the food dye BB FCF is a selective inhibitor of Panx1 channels, with an IC50 of 0.27 µM. No significant effect was observed with concentrations as high as 100 µM of BB FCF on P2X7R. Differing by just one hydroxyl group from BB FCF, the food dye FD&C Green No. 3 exhibited similar selective inhibition of Panx1 channels. A reverse selectivity was observed for the P2X7R antagonist, oxidized ATP, which in contrast to other P2X7R antagonists had no significant inhibitory effect on Panx1 channels. Based on its selective action, BB FCF can be added to the repertoire of drugs to study the physiology of Panx1 channels. Furthermore, because Panx1 channels appear to be involved directly or indirectly through P2X7Rs in several disorders, BB FCF and derivatives of this "safe" food dye should be given serious consideration for pharmacological intervention of conditions such as acute Crohn's disease, stroke, and injuries to the central nervous system.

Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cells Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis through Activation of the Mitochondrial Intrinsic Pathway: Role Of Indocyanine Green, Brilliant Blue and Implications for Chromovitrectomy

PubMed Central

Penha, Fernando M.; Pons, Marianne; Costa, Elaine Fiod; Barros, Nilana Meza Tenório; Rodrigues, Eduardo B.; Cardoso, Emmerson Badaró; Dib, Eduardo; Maia, Mauricio; Marin-Castaño, Maria E.; Farah, Michel Eid

2013-01-01

Purpose To investigate the in vitro effect of four vital dyes on toxicity and apoptosis in a human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell line. Methods ARPE-19 cells were exposed to brilliant blue (BriB), methyl blue (MetB), acid violet (AcV) and indocyanine green (ICG). Balanced salt solution was used as control. Five different concentrations of each dye (1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.05 and 0.005 mg/mL) and two exposure times (3 and 30 min) were tested. Cell viability was determined by cell count and MTS assay and cell toxicity by LDH assay. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to access the apoptosis process. Results ICG significantly reduced cell viability after 3 minutes of exposure at all concentrations (p<0.01). BriB was safe at concentrations up to 0.25 mg/mL and MetB at concentrations up to 0.5 mg/mL, while AcV was safe up to 0.05 mg/ml, after 3 minutes of exposure. Toxicity was higher, when the cells were treated for 30 minutes. Expression of Bax, cytochrome c and caspase-9 was upregulated at the mRNA and protein level after ICG exposure, while Bcl-2 was downregulated. AcV and MetB were similar to control. However, BriB resulted in upregulation of Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein. Conclusions The safest dye used on RPE cells was MetB followed by BriB and AcV. ICG was toxic at all concentrations and exposure times tested. Moreover, ICG was the only dye that induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. BriB significantly increased Bcl-2 protein levels, which might protect against the apoptosis process. PMID:23675521

Buffalo embryos produced by handmade cloning from oocytes selected using brilliant cresyl blue staining have better developmental competence and quality and are closer to embryos produced by in vitro fertilization in terms of their epigenetic status and gene expression pattern.

PubMed

Mohapatra, Sushil K; Sandhu, Anjit; Neerukattu, Venkata S; Singh, Karn P; Selokar, Naresh L; Singla, Suresh K; Chauhan, Manmohan S; Manik, Radhey S; Palta, Prabhat

2015-04-01

We compared handmade cloned (HMC) buffalo blastocysts produced from oocytes stained with Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) and classified into those with blue (BCB+) or colorless cytoplasm (BCB-). The blastocyst rate was higher (p<0.001) for BCB+ than for BCB- oocytes (43.41 ± 2.54 vs. 22.74 ± 1.76%). BCB+ blastocysts had inner cell mass (ICM) cell number, ICM-to-trophectoderm ratio, global level of H3K18ac, apoptotic index, and expression level of BCL-XL, but not that of CASPASE-3, similar to that of blastocysts produced through in vitro fertilization (IVF), which was higher (p<0.05) than that of BCB- blastocysts. The global level of H3K9me2, which was similar in BCB+ and BCB- blastocysts, was higher (p<0.01) than that in IVF blastocysts. The expression level of OCT4 and SOX2 was higher (p<0.05) and that of GATA2 was lower (p<0.05) in BCB+ than that in BCB- blastocysts, whereas that of DNMT1, DNMT3a, NANOG, and CDX2 was not significantly different between the two groups. The expression level of DNMT1, OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2 was lower (p<0.05) and that of CDX2 was higher (p<0.05) in BCB+ than in IVF blastocysts. In conclusion, because BCB+ blastocysts have better developmental competence and are closer to IVF blastocysts in terms of quality, epigenetic status, and gene expression than BCB- blastocysts, BCB staining can be used effectively for selection of developmentally competent oocytes for HMC.

Buffalo Embryos Produced by Handmade Cloning from Oocytes Selected Using Brilliant Cresyl Blue Staining Have Better Developmental Competence and Quality and Are Closer to Embryos Produced by In Vitro Fertilization in Terms of Their Epigenetic Status and Gene Expression Pattern

PubMed Central

Mohapatra, Sushil K.; Sandhu, Anjit; Neerukattu, Venkata S.; Singh, Karn P.; Selokar, Naresh L.; Singla, Suresh K.; Chauhan, Manmohan S.; Manik, Radhey S.

2015-01-01

Abstract We compared handmade cloned (HMC) buffalo blastocysts produced from oocytes stained with Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) and classified into those with blue (BCB+) or colorless cytoplasm (BCB−). The blastocyst rate was higher (p<0.001) for BCB+ than for BCB− oocytes (43.41±2.54 vs. 22.74±1.76%). BCB+ blastocysts had inner cell mass (ICM) cell number, ICM-to-trophectoderm ratio, global level of H3K18ac, apoptotic index, and expression level of BCL-XL, but not that of CASPASE-3, similar to that of blastocysts produced through in vitro fertilization (IVF), which was higher (p<0.05) than that of BCB− blastocysts. The global level of H3K9me2, which was similar in BCB+ and BCB− blastocysts, was higher (p<0.01) than that in IVF blastocysts. The expression level of OCT4 and SOX2 was higher (p<0.05) and that of GATA2 was lower (p<0.05) in BCB+ than that in BCB− blastocysts, whereas that of DNMT1, DNMT3a, NANOG, and CDX2 was not significantly different between the two groups. The expression level of DNMT1, OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2 was lower (p<0.05) and that of CDX2 was higher (p<0.05) in BCB+ than in IVF blastocysts. In conclusion, because BCB+ blastocysts have better developmental competence and are closer to IVF blastocysts in terms of quality, epigenetic status, and gene expression than BCB− blastocysts, BCB staining can be used effectively for selection of developmentally competent oocytes for HMC. PMID:25826727

Mechanism of Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 binding to cetyltrimethylammonium bromide: an interference with the Bradford assay.

PubMed

Aminian, Mahdi; Nabatchian, Fariba; Vaisi-Raygani, Asad; Torabi, Mojgan

2013-03-15

The Bradford protein assay is a popular method because of its rapidity, sensitivity, and relative specificity. This method is subject to some interference by nonprotein compounds. In this study, we describe the interference of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with the Bradford assay. This interference is based on the interaction of Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 (CBB) with this cationic detergent. This study suggests that both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions are involved in the interaction of CTAB and CBB. The anionic and neutral forms of CBB bind to CTAB by electrostatic attraction, which accelerates hydrophobic interactions of these CBB forms and the hydrophobic tail of CTAB. Consequently, the hydrophobic regions of the dominant free cationic form of CBB dye compete for the tail of CTAB with two other forms of the dye and gradually displace the primary hydrophobic interactions and rearrange the primary CBB-CTAB complex. This interaction of CTAB and CBB dye produces a primary 650-nm-absorbing complex that then gradually rearranges to a complex that shows an absorbance shoulder at 800-950 nm. This study conclusively shows a strong response of CBB to CTAB that causes a time-dependent and nearly additive interference with the Bradford assay. This study also may promote an application of CBB for CTAB quantification. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Critical involvement of extracellular ATP acting on P2RX7 purinergic receptors in photoreceptor cell death.

PubMed

Notomi, Shoji; Hisatomi, Toshio; Kanemaru, Takaaki; Takeda, Atsunobu; Ikeda, Yasuhiro; Enaida, Hiroshi; Kroemer, Guido; Ishibashi, Tatsuro

2011-12-01

Stressed cells release ATP, which participates in neurodegenerative processes through the specific ligation of P2RX7 purinergic receptors. Here, we demonstrate that extracellular ATP and the more specific P2RX7 agonist, 2'- and 3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-ATP, both induce photoreceptor cell death when added to primary retinal cell cultures or when injected into the eyes from wild-type mice, but not into the eyes from P2RX7(-/-) mice. Photoreceptor cell death was accompanied by the activation of caspase-8 and -9, translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor from mitochondria to nuclei, and TUNEL-detectable chromatin fragmentation. All hallmarks of photoreceptor apoptosis were prevented by premedication or co-application of Brilliant Blue G, a selective P2RX7 antagonist that is already approved for the staining of internal limiting membranes during ocular surgery. ATP release is up-regulated by nutrient starvation in primary retinal cell cultures and seems to be an initializing event that triggers primary and/or secondary cell death via the positive feedback loop on P2RX7. Our results encourage the potential application of Brilliant Blue G as a novel neuroprotective agent in retinal diseases or similar neurodegenerative pathologies linked to excessive extracellular ATP. Copyright © 2011 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KSC00pp0230

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-02-11

The brilliant exhaust from the solid rocket boosters (center) and blue mach diamonds from the main engine nozzles mark the perfect launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour from Launch Pad 39A. Launch of Endeavour into a clear blue Florida sky occurred at 12:43:40 p.m. EST. Known as the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), STS-99 will chart a new course to produce unrivaled 3-D images of the Earth's surface. The result of the SRTM could be close to 1 trillion measurements of the Earth's topography. The mission is expected to last 11days, with Endeavour landing at KSC Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 4:36 p.m. EST. This is the 97th Shuttle flight and 14th for Shuttle Endeavour

KSC-00pp0230

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-02-11

The brilliant exhaust from the solid rocket boosters (center) and blue mach diamonds from the main engine nozzles mark the perfect launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour from Launch Pad 39A. Launch of Endeavour into a clear blue Florida sky occurred at 12:43:40 p.m. EST. Known as the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), STS-99 will chart a new course to produce unrivaled 3-D images of the Earth's surface. The result of the SRTM could be close to 1 trillion measurements of the Earth's topography. The mission is expected to last 11days, with Endeavour landing at KSC Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 4:36 p.m. EST. This is the 97th Shuttle flight and 14th for Shuttle Endeavour

Chromovitrectomy: Update

PubMed Central

Al-Halafi, Ali M.

2013-01-01

The basic concept for the application of vital dyes during vitreoretinal surgery is to assist in highlighting preretinal membranes and tissues which are very thin and semitransparent and thus difficult to detect. The vital dyes may be classified according to different criteria, where the most commonly applied includes chemical classification. In ophthalmic surgery, vital dyes are widely used in cataract and vitreoretinal surgery. The vital dyes, indocyanine green, infracyanine green, and brilliant blue stain the internal limiting membrane, and trypan blue and triamcinolone acetonide help to visualize epiretinal membranes and vitreous, respectively. This review exhibits the current literature regarding the properties of vital dyes, techniques of application, indications, and toxicities during vitreoretinal surgery and, also suggests that the field of chromovitrectomy represents an expanding area of research. PMID:24371423

Creech Blue: Gen Bill Creech and the Reformation of the Tactical Air Forces, 1978-1984

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-10-01

formation that, in large measure, built the Air Force that has fought so brilliantly in campaigns from Operation Desert Storm to the present global war...than eight years for LeMay and more than six for Creech. In LeMay’s case , it was the Strategic Air Command (SAC) during its formative years, when...nuclear weapons, bombers, and intercontinental ballistic missiles were the order of the day. In Creech’s case , it was TAC during the post-Vietnam defense

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Romero, V.H.; De la Rosa, E., E-mail: elder@cio.mx; Salas, P.

In this paper, we report the obtained strong broadband blue photoluminescence (PL) emission centered at 427 nm for undoped BaZrO{sub 3} observed after 266 nm excitation of submicron crystals prepared by hydrothermal/calcinations method. This emission is enhanced with the introduction of Tm{sup 3+} ions and is stronger than the characteristic PL blue emission of such lanthanide. The proposed mechanism of relaxation for host lattice emission is based on the presence of oxygen vacancies produced during the synthesis process and the charge compensation due to the difference in the electron valence between dopant and substituted ion in the host. Brilliant whitemore » light emission with a color coordinate of (x=0.29, y=0.32) was observed by combining the blue PL emission from the host with the green and red PL emission from Tb{sup 3+} and Eu{sup 3+} ions, respectively. The color coordinate can be tuned by changing the ratio between blue, green and red band by changing the concentration of lanthanides. - Graphical abstract: Strong blue emission from undoped BaZrO{sub 3} phosphor and white light emission by doping with Tb{sup 3+} (green) and Eu{sup 3+} (red) after 266 nm excitation. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Blue emission from BaZrO{sub 3} phosphor. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Blue emission enhanced with Tm{sup 3+}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer White light from BaZrO{sup 3+} phosphor.« less

Quantification of AAV particle titers by infrared fluorescence scanning of coomassie-stained sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels.

PubMed

Kohlbrenner, Erik; Henckaerts, Els; Rapti, Kleopatra; Gordon, Ronald E; Linden, R Michael; Hajjar, Roger J; Weber, Thomas

2012-06-01

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors have gained increasing attention as gene delivery vehicles in basic and preclinical studies as well as in human gene therapy trials. Especially for the latter two-for both safety and therapeutic efficacy reasons-a detailed characterization of all relevant parameters of the vector preparation is essential. Two important parameters that are routinely used to analyze recombinant AAV vectors are (1) the titer of viral particles containing a (recombinant) viral genome and (2) the purity of the vector preparation, most commonly assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by silver staining. An important, third parameter, the titer of total viral particles, that is, the combined titer of both genome-containing and empty viral capsids, is rarely determined. Here, we describe a simple and inexpensive method that allows the simultaneous assessment of both vector purity and the determination of the total viral particle titer. This method, which was validated by comparison with established methods to determine viral particle titers, is based on the fact that Coomassie Brilliant Blue, when bound to proteins, fluoresces in the infrared spectrum. Viral samples are separated by SDS-PAGE followed by Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining and gel analysis with an infrared laser-scanning device. In combination with a protein standard, our method allows the rapid and accurate determination of viral particle titers simultaneously with the assessment of vector purity.

Utilizing laser interference lithography to fabricate hierarchical optical active nanostructures inspired by the blue Morpho butterfly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siddique, Radwanul H.; Faisal, Abrar; Hünig, Ruben; Bartels, Carolin; Wacker, Irene; Lemmer, Uli; Hoelscher, Hendrik

2014-09-01

The famous non-iridescent blue of the Morpho butter by is caused by a `Christmas tree' like nanostructure which is a challenge for common fabrication techniques. Here, we introduce a method to fabricate this complex morphology utilizing dual beam interference lithography. We add a reflective coating below the photoresist to create a second interference pattern in vertical direction by exploiting the back reflection from the substrate. This vertical pattern exposes the lamella structure into the photosensitive polymer while the horizontal interference pattern determines the distance of the ridges. The photosensitive polymer is chosen accordingly to create the Christmas tree' like tapered shape. The resulting artificial Morpho replica shows brilliant non-iridescent blue up to an incident angle of 40. Its optical properties are close to the original Morpho structure because the refractive index of the polymer is close to chitin. Moreover, the biomimetic surface is water repellent with a contact angle of 110.

Method for long-term preservation of thin-layer polyacrylamide gels by producing a gelatine coating.

PubMed

Hofmann, K

1991-02-01

Thin-layer polyacrylamide gels can be preserved and stored for unlimited periods by covering them with a gelatine coating. The method is inexpensive and simple. After air-drying, the gel is immersed in an aqueous 10% solution of highly viscous gelatine between 55 and 60 degrees C. The coated gel is dried by hanging it in air. The method was checked successfully with gels of different thicknesses (0.15-0.50 mm) and after using different staining methods, e.g., with silver, Coomassie Brilliant Blue and pseudoperoxidase.

Importance of rodents for hydrology: lessons learnt from various field experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Schaik, Loes; Zangerlé, Anne; Schneider, Anne-Kathrin; Schröder, Boris; Eccard, Jana

2017-04-01

organisms are known to create soil macropores of different sizes and with varying extent and orientation: most commonly earthworms, rodents, moles and roots. Preferential flow through macropore networks is dynamic and typically occurs when short individual macropores become connected at the hillslope scale as the nodes between the macropores become wet. Large lateral macropores may contribute to rapid subsurface stormflow of water and solutes at hillslope scale and supply a significant part of the catchment scale discharge during high intensity rainfall events even under relatively dry catchment state. Outflow from soil pipes, especially in the valley bottom or along the banking near to streams, is frequently observed, however, it remains a challenge to measure the spatial distribution, extent and connectivity of macropores at hill slope scales. We hypothesize that local information on organism abundances may be used as an indicator for spatial variability in infiltration, water storage and fluxes at the small scale and that knowledge on the landscape scale spatial distribution of organisms can provide information on connectivity of macropores at hillslope scale. Here we summarize the lessons learnt during three years of measurements aimed at determining the influence of rodent burrows on soil hydrology in a meso-scale catchment. Within the Attert Catchment (297 km2) in Luxembourg we performed sprinkling experiments with a brilliant blue tracer on twelve plots, of which six directly above rodent burrow openings and six on a surface without a rodent burrow opening, in order to examine the influence of the burrow openings on the infiltration pattern. Then we tested the extent of flow through mice burrows in different forest types, with varying geology and slope, by supplying 5 Liters of water with brilliant blue tracer directly to 24 burrow openings at soil surface. We excavated the burrows to measure how far the water was transported laterally in the burrow. Though we have serendipitous evidence of lateral water flow through large macropores in deeper soil layers from other projects, with the experiments we performed with the purpose to characterize this, the water did not seem to infiltrate into the burrow openings at the soil surface at all and the infiltration pattern under burrows was not different from that in soils without these openings. The five liter of brilliant blue dyed water which we poured into burrow openings did not flow far into the burrows, it generally infiltrated straight away into the surrounding soil. These results seem to show that the infiltration of water to rodent macropores during high intensity events does not take place at the soil surface but rather through other macropores, e.g. earthworm channels, which connect to deeper lateral channels. Also the lateral flow of water through the rodent burrows is apparently more effective in the deeper soils, where we occasionally saw a burrow with completely blue walls but little infiltration into the surrounding matrix.

The Application of Microencapsulated Phycocyanin as a Blue Natural Colorant to the Quality of Jelly Candy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewi, E. N.; Kurniasih, R. A.; Purnamayati, L.

2018-02-01

Phycocyanin is a blue color pigment which can be extracted from Spirulina sp. makes it potential to use as an alternative natural dye in the food product. The aim of this research was to determine the application of microencapsulated phycocyanin processed using spray dried method to the jelly candy. As a natural blue colorant, phycocyanin was expected to be safe for the consumer. The jelly candy was evaluated on the characteristics of its moisture, ash, Aw, pH, color appearance, and phycocyanin spectra with FTIR. The phycocyanin was microencapsulated using maltodextrin and Na-alginate as the coating materials (maltodextrin and Na-alginate in ratio 9:1.0 w/w). The spray drying process was operated with an inlet temperature of 80°C. The various concentrations of microencapsulated phycocyanin were added to the jelly candy such as 0%, 1%, 3%, 5% and jelly candy with brilliant blue used as comparison, each called PC, PS, PT, PL, and PB. The results showed that the various concentrations of phycocyanin added on the jelly product had significantly different on moisture content, Aw, and blue color. The FTIR spectra indicated that phycocyanin still persisted on the jelly candy. PL was the best jelly candy with the bluest color under PB.

Combined blood cell counting and classification with fluorochrome stains and flow instrumentation.

PubMed

Shapiro, H M; Schildkraut, E R; Curbelo, R; Laird, C W; Turner, B; Hirschfeld, T

1976-01-01

A multiparameter flow cytophotometer was used to count and classify fixed human blood cells fluorochromed with a mixture of ethidium bromide (EB), brilliant sulfaflavine and a blue fluorescent stilbene disulfonic acid derivative (LN). The system measures light scattered by the cells and absorption at 420 nm for all cells. In addition, nuclear EB fluorescence (540 leads to 610 nm) and cytoplasmic fluorescence from LN (366 leads to 470 nm), brilliant sulfaflavine (420 leads to 520 nm) and EB exicted by energy transfer from LN (366 leads to 610 nm) are measured for all nucleated cells. This information is sufficient to perform red and white blood cell counts and to classify leukocytes as lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils or neutrophils. Light scattering and/or nuclear and cytoplasmic fluorescence values may be further analyzed to obtain the ratio of immature to mature neutrophils. Counts produced by the system are in reasonable agreement with those obtained by electronic cells counting and examination of Wright's-stained blood smears; some discrepancies appear to be due to systematic errors in the manual counting method.

Visual Outcomes of Macular Hole Surgery.

PubMed

Khaqan, Hussain Ahmad; Lubna; Jameel, Farrukh; Muhammad

2016-10-01

To determine the mean visual improvement after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling assisted with brilliant blue staining of ILM in macular hole, and stratify the mean visual improvement in different stages of macular hole. Quasi-experimental study. Eye outpatient department (OPD), Lahore General Hospital, Lahore from October 2013 to December 2014. Patients with macular hole underwent measurement of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and fundus examination with indirect slit lamp biomicroscopy before surgery. The diagnosis of all patients was confirmed on optical coherence tomography. All patients had 23G trans-conjunctival three ports pars plana vitrectomy, ILM peeling, and endotamponade of SF6. The mean visual improvement of different stages of macular hole was noted. Paired t-test was applied. There were 30 patients, 15 males and 15 females (50%). The mean age was 62 ±10.95 years. They presented with low mean preoperative visual acuity (VA) of 0.96 ±0.11 logMar. The mean postoperative VAwas 0.63 ±0.24 logMar. The mean visual increase was 0.33 ±0.22 logMar (p < 0.001). In patients with stage 2 macular hole, mean visual increase was 0.35 ±0.20 logMar (p < 0.001). In patients with stage 3 macular hole, mean visual increase was 0.44 ±0.21 logMar (p < 0.001), and in patients with stage 4 macular hole it was 0.13 ± 0.1 logMar (p = 0.004). ILM peeling assisted with brilliant blue is a promising surgery for those patients who have decreased vision due to macular hole, in 2 - 4 stages of macular hole.

Developmental competence of Dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) oocytes selected using brilliant cresyl blue staining.

PubMed

Fathi, Mohamed; Ashry, Mohamed; Salama, Ali; Badr, Magdy R

2017-08-01

The objectives of the present studies were to investigate the developmental capacity of dromedary camel oocytes selected by brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining and to investigate the expression of select transcripts in germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes. These transcripts included BMP15 and GDF9 as important transcripts for folliculogenesis and oocyte development, Zar1 and Mater as maternal transcripts required for embryonic development, Cyclin B1 and CDK1 as cell cycle regulators and Oct4 and STAT3 as transcription factors. Dromedary camel oocytes were retrieved from ovaries collected at a local slaughterhouse. After exposure to BCB staining, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from BCB+, BCB- and control (selected based on morphological criteria) groups were subjected to in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture. For gene expression studies, after BCB staining cumulus cells were stripped off and the completely denuded GV stage oocytes were used for RT-PCR analysis of selected transcripts. BCB+ oocytes showed higher maturation, and fertilization rates compared with BCB- and control groups. Indices of early embryonic development, namely, cleavage at 48 hours post insemination (hpi), and development to morula at day 5 and day 7 blastocyst rates were also significantly higher in the BCB+ group. RT-PCR revealed a higher expression of BMP15, GDF9, Zar1, Mater, Cyclin B1, CDK1, OCT4 and STAT3 in good quality oocytes that stained positively for BCB (BCB+). Collectively, results provide novel information about the use of BCB screening for selecting good quality oocytes to improve in vitro embryo production in the dromedary camel.

Application of contact glow discharge electrolysis method for degradation of batik dye waste Remazol Red by the addition of Fe2+ ion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saksono, Nelson; Puspita, Indah; Sukreni, Tulus

2017-03-01

Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis (CGDE) has been shown to degrade much weight organic compounds such as dyes because the production of hydroxil radical (•OH) is excess. This research aims to degrade batik dye waste Remazol Red, using CGDE method with the addition of Fe2+ ion. The addition of iron salt compounds has proven to increase process efficiency. Dye degradation is known by measure its absorbances with Spectrophotometer UV-Vis. The result of study showed that percentage degradation was 99.92% in 20 minutes which obtained by using Na2SO4 0.01 M, with addition FeSO4 0,1 gram, applied voltage 860 volt, and 1 wolfram anode 5 mm depth.

Development of a Direct Spectrophotometric and Chemometric Method for Determining Food Dye Concentrations.

PubMed

Arroz, Erin; Jordan, Michael; Dumancas, Gerard G

2017-07-01

An ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometric and partial least squares (PLS) chemometric method was developed for the simultaneous determination of erythrosine B (red), Brilliant Blue, and tartrazine (yellow) dyes. A training set (n = 64) was generated using a full factorial design and its accuracy was tested in a test set (n = 13) using a Box-Behnken design. The test set garnered a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.79 × 10 -7 for blue, 4.59 × 10 -7 for red, and 1.13 × 10 -6 for yellow dyes. The relatively small RMSE suggests only a small difference between predicted versus measured concentrations, demonstrating the accuracy of our model. The relative error of prediction (REP) for the test set were 11.73%, 19.52%, 19.38%, for blue, red, and yellow dyes, respectively. A comparable overlay between the actual candy samples and their replicated synthetic spectra were also obtained indicating the model as a potentially accurate method for determining concentrations of dyes in food samples.

Color removal from acid and reactive dye solutions by electrocoagulation and electrocoagulation/adsorption processes.

PubMed

Bellebia, S; Kacha, S; Bouberka, Z; Bouyakoub, A Z; Derriche, Z

2009-04-01

In this study, electrocoagulation of Marine Blue Erionyl MR (acid dye) and electrocoagulation followed by adsorption of Brilliant Blue Levafix E-BRA (reactive dye) from aqueous solutions were investigated, using aluminum electrodes and granular activated carbon (GAC). In the electrocoagulation and adsorption of dyestuff solutions, the effects of current density, loading charge, pH, conductivity, stirring velocity, contact time, and GAC concentration were examined. The optimum conditions for the electrocoagulation process were identified as loading charges 7.46 and 1.49 F/m3, for a maximum abatement of 200 mg/L reactive and acid dye, respectively. The residual reactive dye concentration was completely removed with 700 mg/L GAC. The results of this investigation provide important data for the development of a combined process to remove significant concentrations of recalcitrant dyes from water, using moderate activated carbon energy and aluminum consumption, and thereby lowering the cost of treatment.

Application of enhanced membrane bioreactor (eMBR) to treat dye wastewater.

PubMed

Rondon, Hector; El-Cheikh, William; Boluarte, Ida Alicia Rodriguez; Chang, Chia-Yuan; Bagshaw, Steve; Farago, Leanne; Jegatheesan, Veeriah; Shu, Li

2015-05-01

An enhanced membrane bioreactor (eMBR) consisting of two anoxic bioreactors (ARs) followed by an aerated membrane bioreactor (AMBR), UV-unit and a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter was employed to treat 50-100 mg/L of remazol blue BR dye. The COD of the feed was 2334 mg/L and COD:TN:TP in the feed was 119:1.87:1. A feed flow rate of 5 L/d was maintained when the dye concentration was 50 mg/L; 10 L/d of return activated sludge was recirculated to each AR from the AMBR. Once the biological system is acclimatised, 95% of dye, 99% of COD, 97% of nitrogen and 73% of phosphorus were removed at a retention time of 74.4 h. When the effluent from the AMBR was drawn at a flux rate of 6.5 L/m(2)h, the trans-membrane pressure reached 40 kPa in every 10 days. AMBR effluent was passed through the UV-unit and GAC filter to remove the dye completely. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measuring the Enzyme Activity of Arabidopsis Deubiquitylating Enzymes.

PubMed

Kalinowska, Kamila; Nagel, Marie-Kristin; Isono, Erika

2016-01-01

Deubiquitylating enzymes, or DUBs, are important regulators of ubiquitin homeostasis and substrate stability, though the molecular mechanisms of most of the DUBs in plants are not yet understood. As different ubiquitin chain types are implicated in different biological pathways, it is important to analyze the enzyme characteristic for studying a DUB. Quantitative analysis of DUB activity is also important to determine enzyme kinetics and the influence of DUB binding proteins on the enzyme activity. Here, we show methods to analyze DUB activity using immunodetection, Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining, and fluorescence measurement that can be useful for understanding the basic characteristic of DUBs.

Parker Solar Probe Delta IV Heavy LVOS

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-04-17

A brilliant blue sky serves as a backdrop as the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy first stage is being lifted to the vertical position at the Vertical Integration Facility near Space Launch 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Delta IV Heavy will launch NASA's upcoming Parker Solar Probe mission in July 2018. The mission will perform the closest-ever observations of a star when it travels through the Sun's atmosphere, called the corona. The probe will rely on measurements and imaging to revolutionize our understanding of the corona and the Sun-Earth connection.

Parker Solar Probe Delta IV Heavy LVOS

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-04-17

A brilliant blue sky serves as a backdrop as the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy first stage is being lifted to the vertical position at the Vertical Integration Facility near Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Delta IV Heavy will launch NASA's upcoming Parker Solar Probe mission in July 2018. The mission will perform the closest-ever observations of a star when it travels through the Sun's atmosphere, called the corona. The probe will rely on measurements and imaging to revolutionize our understanding of the corona and the Sun-Earth connection.

Combined positive effect of oocyte extracts and brilliant cresyl blue stained recipient cytoplasts on epigenetic reprogramming and gene expression in buffalo nuclear transfer embryos.

PubMed

Sadeesh, E M; Fozia, Shah; Meena, Kataria

2017-04-01

This study examined the effects of buffalo oocyte extracts (BOE) on donor cells reprogramming and molecular characterisation of oocytes screened via brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining and comparison of gene expression profiles of developmentally important genes in blastocysts from IVF and cloned derived from BOE treated donor cells with BCB selected recipient cytoplasts. Relative abundance (RA) of OCT4 and NANOG was increased (P < 0.05) and HDAC-1, DNMT-1, and DNMT-3A decreased (P < 0.05) in extract treated cells (ETCs). This ETCs dedifferentiated into neuron-like lineage under appropriate induction condition. The RA of NASP, EEF1A1, DNMT1, ODC1 and RPS27A was increased (P < 0.05) in BCB+ oocytes, whereas ATP5A1 and S100A10 increased (P < 0.05) in BCB- oocytes. Total cell number and RA of OCT4, NANOG, SOX2, DNMT1, IGF2, IGF2R, MNSOD, GLUT1, BAX and BCL2 in cloned blastocysts derived from BCB+ oocytes with ETC more closely followed that of IVF counterparts compared to BCB+ oocytes with extract untreated cell and BCB- oocytes with ETC derived blastocysts. In conclusion, BOE influenced epigenetic reprogramming of buffalo fibroblasts making them suitable donors for nuclear transfer (NT). BCB staining can be effectively used for selection of developmentally competent oocytes for NT. The combined effects of epigenetic reprogramming of donor nuclei by BOE and higher nuclear reprogramming capacity of BCB+ oocytes improve developmentally important gene expression in cloned blastocysts. Whether these improvements have long-term effects on buffalo calves born following embryo transfer remains unknown.

Inner retinal thinning after Brilliant Blue G-assisted internal limiting membrane peeling for vitreoretinal interface disorders.

PubMed

Ambiya, Vikas; Goud, Abhilash; Khodani, Mitali; Chhablani, Jay

2017-04-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate ganglion cell layer and nerve fiber layer thickness after Brilliant Blue G (BBG)-assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for vitreomacular disorders. Retrospective analysis of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) of 42 eyes of 42 patients, who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with BBG-assisted ILM peeling, was performed. Inclusion criteria were idiopathic macular hole, idiopathic vitreomacular traction, and idiopathic epiretinal membrane. Key exclusion criteria were vitreoretinal interface abnormalities secondary to any other diseases, follow-up period of less than 3 months, and any other associated retinal pathology. Average, minimum, and sectoral ganglion cell, and inner plexiform layers (GCIPL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) parameters were collected. Changes in these parameters from baseline to 3- and 6-month visits after surgery were analyzed. At 3 months after surgery, we found a statistically significant reduction in the average GCIPL thickness (P = 0.031) and also in the superior sectors (P < 0.05) compared to the baseline values. A similar reduction was observed in the minimum RNFL thickness (P = 0.028) as well as in the superior sectoral RNFL thickness (P < 0.05). In 14 eyes with 6 months of follow-up, a similar statistically significant thinning of the GCIPL and RNFL was observed. However, the difference between the 3-month and 6-month values was not statistically significant (P = 0.679). BBG-assisted ILM peeling for vitreomacular interface disorders leads to thinning of the inner retina including GCIPL and RNFL. These structural changes should be correlated with retinal function tests to explore the pros and cons of this surgical step.

Brilliant Blue G, but not Fenofibrate, Treatment Reverts Hemiparkinsonian Behavior and Restores Dopamine Levels in an Animal Model of Parkinson's Disease

PubMed Central

Ferrazoli, Enéas G.; De Souza, Héllio D.N.; Nascimento, Isis C.; Oliveira-Giacomelli, Ágatha; Schwindt, Telma T.; Britto, Luiz R.; Ulrich, Henning

2017-01-01

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and their projections to the striatum. Several processes have been described as potential inducers of the dopaminergic neuron death, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the death of dopaminergic neurons seems to be multifactorial, and its cause remains unclear. ATP-activating purinergic receptors influence various physiological functions in the CNS, including neurotransmission. Purinergic signaling is also involved in pathological scenarios, where ATP is extensively released and promotes sustained purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) activation and consequent induction of cell death. This effect occurs, among other factors, by oxidative stress and during the inflammatory response. On the other hand, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) is involved in energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. Expression and activity upregulation of this protein has been related with reduction of oxidative stress and neuroprotection. Therefore, P2X7R and PGC-1α are potential targets in the treatment of PD. Here hemiparkinsonism was induced by unilateral stereotactic injection of 6-OHDA in a rat model. After 7 days, the establishment of PD was confirmed and followed by treatment with the P2X7R antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG) or PGC-1α agonist fenofibrate. BBG, but not fenofibrate, reverted hemiparkinsonian behavior accompanied by an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra. Our results suggest that the P2X7R may be a therapeutic target in Parkinson's disease. PMID:28403913

Interpretation of protein quantitation using the Bradford assay: comparison with two calculation models.

PubMed

Ku, Hyung-Keun; Lim, Hyuk-Min; Oh, Kyong-Hwa; Yang, Hyo-Jin; Jeong, Ji-Seon; Kim, Sook-Kyung

2013-03-01

The Bradford assay is a simple method for protein quantitation, but variation in the results between proteins is a matter of concern. In this study, we compared and normalized quantitative values from two models for protein quantitation, where the residues in the protein that bind to anionic Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 comprise either Arg and Lys (Method 1, M1) or Arg, Lys, and His (Method 2, M2). Use of the M2 model yielded much more consistent quantitation values compared with use of the M1 model, which exhibited marked overestimations against protein standards. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Study of nano-architecture of the wings of Paris Peacock butterfly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghate, Ekata; Bhoraskar, S. V.; Kulkarni, G. R.

Butterflies are one of the most colorful creatures in animal Kingdom. Wings of the male butterfly are brilliantly colored to attract females. Color of the wings plays an important role in camouflage. Study of structural colors in case of insects and butterflies are important for their biomimic and biophotonic applications. Structural color is the color which is produced by physical structures and their interaction with light. Paris Peacock or Papilio paris butterfly belongs to the family Papilionidae. The basis of structural color of this butterfly is investigated in the present study. The upper surface of the wings in this butterfly is covered with blue, green and brown colored scales. Nano-architecture of these scales was investigated with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). Photomicrographs were analyzed using image analysis software. Goniometric color or iridescence in blue and green colored scales of this butterfly was observed and studied with the help of gonio spectrophotometer in the visible range. No iridescence was observed in brown colored scales of the butterfly. Hues of the blue and green color were measured with spectrophotometer and were correlated with nano-architecture of the wing. Results of electron microscopy and reflection spectroscopy are used to explain the iridescent nature of blue and green scales. Sinusoidal grating like structures of these scales were prominently seen in the blue scales. It is possible that the structure of these wings can act as a template for the fabrication of sinusoidal gratings using nano-imprint technology.

Dyeing behaviours of amino heterocyclic compounds as blue oxidative hair dye precursors applied to keratin fibres.

PubMed

Li, D; Huang, Y; Su, J

2011-04-01

Several novel heterocyclic compounds based on 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline and 2,3-dihydroindole have been investigated for their application of colour keratin fibres as blue oxidative dye precursors, especially to human hair. The colourants we studied contained anyone of these dyes (concentration range from 0.005% to 6%), and some common oxidative hair dyes, such as p-phenylenediamine, toluene-2,5-diamine sulphate. Experiments were carried out on the method of mixing hair colourants with H(2)O(2) gel at the ratio of 1 : 1, accompanied by pH = 8∼11. It is demonstrated that 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives could be considered as an excellent candidate for blue dyes, and N-methyl-7-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline is the most outstanding one among this kind of compounds. They own significant advantages of colour purity, stability and fastness. On the other hand, 2,3-dihydroindoles show the similar colours but not stable and brilliant enough. © 2010 The Authors. ICS © 2010 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Société Française de Cosmétologie.

Graphene oxide supported copper oxide nanoneedles: An efficient hybrid material for removal of toxic azo dyes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajesh, Rajendiran; Iyer, Sahithya S.; Ezhilan, Jayabal; Kumar, S. Senthil; Venkatesan, Rengarajan

2016-09-01

Herein, we report a simple, one step synthesis of hybrid copper oxide nanoneedles on graphene oxide sheets (GO-CuONNs) through sonochemical method. The present method affords a facile mean for controlling effective concentration of the active CuO nanoneedles on the graphene oxide sheets, and also offers the necessary stability to the resulting GO-CuONNs structure for adsorption transformations.Furthermore, this hybrid GO-CuONNs is successfully employed in the removal of a series of hazardous ionic organic dyes namely coomassie brilliant blue, methylene blue, congo red and amidoblack 10B. Through careful investigation of the material, we found that the synergetic effect between CuONNs and GO play a significant role in the adsorption of all the dyes studied. The prepared hybrid material contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic environment which is expected to enhance the electrostatic interaction between the adsorbent and the dye molecules, consequently favouring the adsorption process.

Moon Patrol

NASA Image and Video Library

2007-12-24

This colorful view, taken from edge-on with the ringplane, contains four of Saturn's attendant moons. Tethys (1,071 kilometers, 665 miles across) is seen against the black sky to the left of the gas giant's limb. Brilliant Enceladus (505 kilometers, 314 miles across) sits against the planet near right. Irregular Hyperion (280 kilometers, 174 miles across) is at the bottom of the image, near left. Much smaller Epimetheus (116 kilometers, 72 miles across) is a speck below the rings directly between Tethys and Enceladus. Epimetheus casts an equally tiny shadow onto the blue northern hemisphere, just above the thin shadow of the F ring. Images taken using red, green and blue spectral filters were combined to create this natural color view. The images were acquired with the Cassini spacecraft wide-angle camera on July 24, 2007 at a distance of approximately 2 million kilometers (1.2 million miles) from Saturn. Image scale is 116 kilometers (72 miles) per pixel on Saturn. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08394

Colourful parrot feathers resist bacterial degradation

PubMed Central

Burtt, Edward H.; Schroeder, Max R.; Smith, Lauren A.; Sroka, Jenna E.; McGraw, Kevin J.

2011-01-01

The brilliant red, orange and yellow colours of parrot feathers are the product of psittacofulvins, which are synthetic pigments known only from parrots. Recent evidence suggests that some pigments in bird feathers function not just as colour generators, but also preserve plumage integrity by increasing the resistance of feather keratin to bacterial degradation. We exposed a variety of colourful parrot feathers to feather-degrading Bacillus licheniformis and found that feathers with red psittacofulvins degraded at about the same rate as those with melanin and more slowly than white feathers, which lack pigments. Blue feathers, in which colour is based on the microstructural arrangement of keratin, air and melanin granules, and green feathers, which combine structural blue with yellow psittacofulvins, degraded at a rate similar to that of red and black feathers. These differences in resistance to bacterial degradation of differently coloured feathers suggest that colour patterns within the Psittaciformes may have evolved to resist bacterial degradation, in addition to their role in communication and camouflage. PMID:20926430

Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) of bladder cancer with intravesical 5-aminolevulinic-acid-induced fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grimbergen, Matthijs C. M.; Jonges, T. G. N.; Lock, M. Tycho W.; van Swol, Christiaan F. P.; Boon, Tom A.; van Moorselaar, R. Jeroen A.

2001-05-01

Flat urothelial lesions as well as small papillary tumors are easily missed during transurethral resection (TUR). PDD is based on the detection of protoporphyrin-IX induced fluorescence after topical administration of 5- aminolevulinic acid (ALA). We report on our initial clinical results of 130 procedures in 98 patients. Two hours prior to TUR 1.5 g ALA dissolved in 50 ml 1.4% NaHCO3 solution was installed intravesically. For fluorescence excitation a blue light source (375-440 nm, Karl Storz) was used. In total 478 biopsies (2-9 per patient) were taken from fluorescent and nonfluorescent areas. Normal nonfluorescent bladder urothelium was blue, whereas cancer epithelium developed a brilliant red fluorescence. During white light cystoscopy, 143 bladder tumors were found. Sixty-three additional tumors were detected because of their positive fluorescence. The overall sensitivity of fluorescence cystoscopy (98%) was greater than that of white light cystoscopy (69%). Their specificities were 51% and 80% respectively.

Kinetic and calorimetric study of the adsorption of dyes on mesoporous activated carbon prepared from coconut coir dust.

PubMed

Macedo, Jeremias de Souza; da Costa Júnior, Nivan Bezerra; Almeida, Luis Eduardo; Vieira, Eunice Fragoso da Silva; Cestari, Antonio Reinaldo; Gimenez, Iara de Fátima; Villarreal Carreño, Neftali Lênin; Barreto, Ledjane Silva

2006-06-15

Mesoporous activated carbon has been prepared from coconut coir dust as support for adsorption of some model dye molecules from aqueous solutions. The methylene blue (MB) and remazol yellow (RY) molecules were chosen for study of the adsorption capacity of cationic and anionic dyes onto prepared activated carbon. The adsorption kinetics was studied with the Lagergren first- and pseudo-second-order kinetic models as well as the intraparticle diffusion model. The results for both dyes suggested a multimechanism sorption process. The adsorption mechanisms in the systems dyes/AC follow pseudo-second-order kinetics with a significant contribution of intraparticle diffusion. The samples simultaneously present acidic and basic sites able to act as anchoring sites for basic and acidic dyes, respectively. Calorimetric studies reveal that dyes/AC interaction forces are correlated with the pH of the solution, which can be related to the charge distribution on the AC surface. These AC samples also exhibited very short equilibrium times for the adsorption of both dyes, which is an economically favorable requisite for the activated carbon described in this work, in addition to the local abundance of the raw material.

KSC-2009-1988

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-03-08

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A roseate spoonbill soars overhead against a deep blue sky covering NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Mature spoonbills feather the brilliant pink feathers with a white neck and beck and orange tails. Immature birds are white. The spoonbill is readily identified by the straight bill with a broad spatulate tip, which they use to obtain food by sweeping from side to side and scooping up whatever they encounter. They spend much of their time feeding on shrimps and fish in the shallow waters of the Florida Bay and Gulf of Mexico. Roseate spoonbills are a common sight throughout Kennedy, which shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Photo credit: NASA/Kenny Allen

Fluorescence Quenching Property of C-Phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis and its Binding Efficacy with Viable Cell Components.

PubMed

Paswan, Meenakshi B; Chudasama, Meghna M; Mitra, Madhusree; Bhayani, Khushbu; George, Basil; Chatterjee, Shruti; Mishra, Sandhya

2016-03-01

Phycocyanin is a natural brilliant blue colored, fluorescent protein, which is commonly present in cyanobacteria. In this study, C-phycocyanin was extracted and purified from Spirulina platensis, which are multicellular and filamentous cyanobacteria of greater importance because of its various biological and pharmacological potential. It was analyzed for its binding affinity towards blood cells, algal cells, genomic DNA of microalgae, and bacteria at different temperature and incubation time. It showed good binding affinity with these components even at low concentration of 2.5 μM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of C-phycocyanin as a green fluorescent dye substituting carcinogenic chemical dyes.

[Determination of calcium, magnesium and potassium in nurtured cell by AAS with quick-pulsed nebulization technique and NaOH base digestion].

PubMed

Shi, C; Gao, S; Gun, S

1997-06-01

The sample is digested with 6% NaOH solution and an amount of 50 microl is used for protein content analysis by the method of Comassie Brilliant Blue G250, the residual is diluted with equal 0.4% Lathanurm-EDTA solution. Its Calcium magensium and potassium content are determined by AAS. With quick-pulsed nebulization technique. When a self-made micro-sampling device is used, 20microl of sample volume is needed and it is only the 1/10 approximately 1/20 of the sample volume required for conventional determination. Sensitivity, precision and rate of recovery agree well with those using regular wet ashing method.

Space Science

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-01-01

Released to commemorate the 14th anniversary of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is the image of a galaxy cataloged as AM 0644-741. Resembling a diamond encrusted bracelet, the ring of brilliant blue star clusters wraps around a yellowish nucleus of what was once a normal spiral galaxy. Located 300 million light years away in the direction of the southern constellation Dorado, the sparkling blue ring is 150,000 light years in diameter, making it larger than our entire home galaxy, the Milky Way. Ring galaxies are a striking example of how collisions between galaxies can dramatically change their structure, while triggering the formation of new stars. Typically one galaxy plunges directly into the disk of another one. The ring that pierced through this galaxy’s ring is out of the image but is visible in larger-field images. The soft galaxy visible to the left of the ring galaxy is a coincidental background galaxy which is not interacting with the ring. Rampant star formation explains why the ring is so blue. It is continuously forming massive, young, hot stars. Another sign of robust star formation is the pink regions along the ring. These are rare clouds of glowing hydrogen gas, fluorescing because of the strong ultraviolet light from the newly formed stars. The Hubble Heritage Team used the Hubble Advanced Camera for Surveys to take this image using a combination of four separate filters that isolate blue, green, red, and near-infrared light to create the color image.

Identification of runoff formation with two dyes in a mid-latitude mountain headwater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vlcek, Lukas; Schneider, Philipp; Falatkova, Kristyna

2017-04-01

There have been numerous studies on subsurface flow in peat bog areas, as both water scarcity and floods have led to increased attention to this specific environment and its role within the hydrological cycle. In contrast, this experimental study identifies runoff formation at two opposite hillslopes in a peaty mountain headwater; a slope with organic soils (Peat / Histosol) and shallow groundwater ( 0.5 m below surface) complemented by a slope with mineral soils (Podzol) and no detectable groundwater within 2 m below surface. Differences in infiltration, percolation, and preferential flowpaths between both hillslopes could be identified by sprinkling experiments with two dyes - Brilliant Blue FCF and Fluorescein. By excavating dye-stained soil profiles parallel ("lateral") and perpendicular ("frontal") to the slopes' gradients - both within and downstream of the sprinkling plots - dye stained flow patterns in the soil could be clearly identified. The results show that biomat flow occurred at both hillslopes. The dye solutions infiltrated into the soil and continued either as lateral subsurface pipeflow (SSF), in the case of the Peat Bog, or percolated vertically towards the bedrock in the case of the Podzol. The study provides evidence that biomat flow (BMF) - shallow, lateral preferential flowpaths along decomposed tree roots or logs - is a major runoff formation process at the Peat Bog hillslope and in the adjacent riparian zone. This lateral flow through the organic soil hillslope (Peat Bog) towards the stream occurred mainly as shallow subsurface flow in organic layers above the groundwater level (BMF and SSF), but water partly percolates to the shallow groundwater via vertical macropores as well . In contrast, the mineral soil hillslope (Podzol) was mostly dominated by vertical percolation. Lateral flow occurred only on short distances in the organic topsoil as biomat flow (BMF). The sorptive tracer Brilliant Blue FCF successfully stained flowpaths in the soil at both hillslopes, whereas the identification of soil staining patterns by the relatively conservative tracer Fluorescein was limited on organic soil profiles.

KSC-03pd0118

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-16

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Competing with the brilliant blue sky, flames behind Space Shuttle Columbia trail a column of smoke as the Shuttle hurtles toward space on mission STS-107. Following a flawless and uneventful countdown, liftoff occurred on-time at 10:39 a.m. EST. The 16-day research mission will include FREESTAR (Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science, Technology, Applications and Research) and the SHI Research Double Module (SHI/RDM), known as SPACEHAB. Experiments on the module range from material sciences to life sciences. Landing is scheduled at about 8:53 a.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 1. This mission is the first Shuttle mission of 2003. Mission STS-107 is the 28th flight of the orbiter Columbia and the 113th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle program.

Analysis of new charge-neutral DNA/RNA analogues phosphoryl guanidine oligonucleotides (PGO) by gel electrophoresis.

PubMed

Fokina, Alesya; Wang, Meiling; Ilyina, Anna; Klabenkova, Kristina; Burakova, Ekaterina; Chelobanov, Boris; Stetsenko, Dmitry

2018-06-02

Analysis and isolation of new charge-neutral phosphoryl guanidine oligonucleotides (PGO) by vertical slab electrophoresis were tested at different pH values (3-11) or in the presence of SDS as a micelle-forming agent. The most convenient way to analyze and purify phosphoryl guanidine oligonucleotides was by denaturing PAGE (8 M urea) at pH 3. The mobility of PGO is dependent on their A + C content. To analyze PGO containing only G, T or U, denaturing PAGE at pH 11 can be used, although the conditions need to be optimized. Bands were visualized by UV shadowing or Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Flotation Immunoassay: Masking the Signal from Free Reporters in Sandwich Immunoassays

PubMed Central

Chen, Hui; Hagström, Anna E. V.; Kim, Jinsu; Garvey, Gavin; Paterson, Andrew; Ruiz-Ruiz, Federico; Raja, Balakrishnan; Strych, Ulrich; Rito-Palomares, Marco; Kourentzi, Katerina; Conrad, Jacinta C.; Atmar, Robert L.; Willson, Richard C.

2016-01-01

In this work, we demonstrate that signal-masking reagents together with appropriate capture antibody carriers can eliminate the washing steps in sandwich immunoassays. A flotation immunoassay (FI) platform was developed with horseradish peroxidase chemiluminescence as the reporter system, the dye Brilliant Blue FCF as the signal-masking reagent, and buoyant silica micro-bubbles as the capture antibody carriers. Only reporters captured on micro-bubbles float above the dye and become visible in an analyte-dependent manner. These FIs are capable of detecting proteins down to attomole levels and as few as 106 virus particles. This signal-masking strategy represents a novel approach to simple, sensitive and quantitative immunoassays in both laboratory and point-of-care settings. PMID:27075635

Biomimicry of optical microstructures of Papilio palinurus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crne, Matija; Sharma, Vivek; Blair, John; Park, Jung Ok; Summers, Christopher J.; Srinivasarao, Mohan

2011-01-01

The brilliant coloration of animals in nature is sometimes based on their structure rather than on pigments. The green colour on the wings of a butterfly Papilio palinurus originates from the hierarchical microstructure of individual wing scales that are tiled on the wing. The hierarchical structure gives rise to two coloured reflections of visible light, blue and yellow which when additively mixed, produce the perception of green colour on the wing scales. We used breath figure templated assembly as the starting point for the structure and, combining it with atomic layer deposition for the multilayers necessary for the production of interference colors, we have faithfully mimicked the structure and the optical effects found on the wing scale of the butterfly Papilio palinurus.

KSC-99pc0113

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-01-25

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Balancing on one leg, a roseate spoonbill is reflected in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles

Preparation of colloidal gold for staining proteins electrotransferred onto nitrocellulose membranes.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, K; Asakawa, H

1988-07-01

This paper describes a simple method of preparing colloidal gold for staining protein blots. Colloidal gold was prepared from 0.005 or 0.01% HAuCl4 by the addition of formalin as a reductant and potassium hydroxide. Staining of small cell carcinoma tissue extract blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes with this colloidal gold solution resulted in the appearance of a large number of clear wine-red bands. The sensitivity of gold staining was 60 times higher than that of Coomassie brilliant blue staining and almost comparable to that of silver staining of proteins in polyacrylamide gel. The sensitivity of this method was also satisfactory in comparison with that of enzyme immunoblotting. The colloidal gold prepared by this method is usable for routine work.

A Brilliant Example for Women--Comments on "My Brilliant Career"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Xiuqing

2014-01-01

Based on the theory of American feminist critic Elaine Showalter, this paper analyzes a peculiar feature of early Australian novel "My Brilliant Career" and discovers that it spans three phases of Women's Literature. Through her indefatigable strive for equality between men and women, independent personality and self-fulfillment, the…

KSC-00pp0151

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a roseate spoonbill searches the water for food. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

KSC00pp0151

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a roseate spoonbill searches the water for food. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

Two roseate spoonbills in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

Two roseate spoonbills wade in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds.

Roseate Spoonbill feeds in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

In the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a roseate spoonbill searches the water for food. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds.

KSC00pp0153

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a roseate spoonbill squawks at nearby intruders. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

KSC-99pp0365

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-03-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two roseate spoonbills wade in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

KSC00pp0154

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female roseate spoonbill displays her colorful wings in a mating ritual in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

KSC-00pp0154

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female roseate spoonbill displays her colorful wings in a mating ritual in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

A roseate spoonbill is reflected in the water at KSC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

Balancing on one leg, a roseate spoonbill is reflected in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000- acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles.

KSC-00pp0153

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a roseate spoonbill squawks at nearby intruders. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

Amorphous diamond-structured photonic crystal in the feather barbs of the scarlet macaw

PubMed Central

Yin, Haiwei; Dong, Biqin; Liu, Xiaohan; Zhan, Tianrong; Shi, Lei; Zi, Jian; Yablonovitch, Eli

2012-01-01

Noniridescent coloration by the spongy keratin in parrot feather barbs has fascinated scientists. Nonetheless, its ultimate origin remains as yet unanswered, and a quantitative structural and optical description is still lacking. Here we report on structural and optical characterizations and numerical simulations of the blue feather barbs of the scarlet macaw. We found that the sponge in the feather barbs is an amorphous diamond-structured photonic crystal with only short-range order. It possesses an isotropic photonic pseudogap that is ultimately responsible for the brilliant noniridescent coloration. We further unravel an ingenious structural optimization for attaining maximum coloration apparently resulting from natural evolution. Upon increasing the material refractive index above the level provided by nature, there is an interesting transition from a photonic pseudogap to a complete bandgap. PMID:22615350

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award: A "Simply Brilliant" Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lico, Abner

2008-01-01

While speaking to Gold Award Achievers in Toronto in 2002, Tony Comper, past President and Chief Executive Officer of the BMO Financial Group, referred to the Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) Award as a program "so brilliantly simple, it's simply brilliant." This ironic statement has echoed in the Ontario division of the DofE Award ever since.…

Using Biotechnology in the Laboratory: Using an Immobilized-Laccase Reactor-System to Learn about Wastewater Treatment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Genc, Rukan; Rodriguez-Couto, Susana

2009-01-01

This article includes a practical guide, which was used to teach the phenomenon of immobilization of enzymes and their subsequent use for discoloration of dyes to under-graduate students of Biotechnology at the Rovira i Virgili University (Tarragona, Spain). Alginate was selected as a support for the immobilization of laccase. Remazol Brilliant…

Effect of milrinone on the developmental competence of growing lamb oocytes identified with brilliant cresyl blue.

PubMed

Wang, Liqin; Jiang, Xiangjiu; Wu, Yangsheng; Lin, Jiapeng; Zhang, Li; Yang, Nan; Huang, Juncheng

2016-11-01

Juvenile in vitro embryo transfer is a novel technique that can be used to increase the rate of genetic gain in a population and presents an alternative to embryo technologies on the basis of adult animals. However, oocytes from prepubertal animals have a lower viability than those obtained from adult ewe oocyte donors. In this research, we aimed to determine the optimum concentration and time of treatment of oocytes from prepubertal lambs with brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) stain and milrinone during IVM. This would improve the developmental rate of lamb oocytes and embryos after IVF. First, lamb cumulus-oocyte complexes were cultured under different concentrations (13 or 26 μM) of BCB staining. Treated lamb oocytes were then divided into BCB- (colorless cytoplasm) and BCB+ (colored cytoplasm) groups on the basis of their glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. The blastocyst efficiency rate of BCB+ oocytes treated with 13 μM BCB (37.03%) was significantly higher than that of BCB+ oocytes treated with 26 μM BCB (23.25%) and that of nontreated BCB control oocytes (15.37%), as well as that of BCB- oocytes (6.28%). Both control oocytes and BCB+ oocytes exhibited significantly higher cleavage rates (60.15% and 73.44%, respectively) than that of BCB- oocytes (36.19%). Moreover, the diameter and glutathione content of BCB+ oocytes were found to be significantly greater than those of BCB- oocytes (163.37 vs. 159.25 μm and 6.39 vs. 0.26 pM, respectively). After culturing BCB- oocytes in different concentrations of milrinone (0, 50, 75, and 100 μM) for 3, 6, or 9 hours, results reported that supplementation of IVM medium with 75 μM milrinone for 6 hours yielded a significantly higher proportion of blastocysts than the other treatments. These results show that the staining of lamb cumulus-oocyte complexes with 13 μM BCB before IVM may be used to select developmentally competent lamb oocytes. Furthermore, they suggest that milrinone can be used to promote lamb developmental competence of lamb embryos produced during IVF. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

LONG-TERM RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF VISUAL ACUITY AND OPTICAL COHERENCE TOPOGRAPHIC CHANGES AFTER SINGLE VERSUS DOUBLE PEELING DURING VITRECTOMY FOR MACULAR EPIRETINAL MEMBRANES.

PubMed

Jung, Jesse J; Hoang, Quan V; Ridley-Lane, Megan L; Sebrow, Dov B; Dhrami-Gavazi, Elona; Chang, Stanley

2016-11-01

To determine the long-term effect of internal limiting membrane with associated epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling versus single peeling alone in terms of best-corrected visual acuity and anatomical outcomes on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. This retrospective comparative cohort study of patients who had follow-up of >1 year and underwent surgery for ERM by a single surgeon (S.C.) from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2012 compared cases in which the internal limiting membrane was stained with brilliant blue G to facilitate double peeling (n = 42) and single peeling (n = 43) of the ERM alone for up to 3 years of follow-up. For continuous variables, an independent two-tailed t-test was performed. For binary variables, the Fisher's exact test was performed. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05. Eighty-five of 142 patients fit the inclusion criteria. At the last follow-up, the single-peeling group were more likely to have ERM remaining in the central fovea postoperatively (P = 0.0020, becoming significant by postoperative Year 1, P = 0.022) and less likely to develop inner retinal dimpling (P = 0.000, becoming significant by postoperative Month 3, P = 0.015). At 3 years, central foveal thickness had decreased in the single-peeling group by -136.9 µm and by -84.1 μm in the double-peeling group, which was not significantly different (P = 0.08). Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved in both the groups at all time points. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups at 3 years (P = 0.44; single-peeling group, 0.32 ± 0.42, Snellen 20/42; double-peeling group, 0.23 ± 0.27, Snellen 20/34). Brilliant blue G-assisted internal limiting membrane peeling for ERM results in a more thorough removal of residual ERM around the paracentral fovea. However, there is no difference in long-term best-corrected visual acuity at 3 years and a greater likelihood of inner retinal dimpling.

Effect of vital dyes on human corneal endothelium and elasticity of Descemet’s membrane

PubMed Central

Thomas, Peter B. M.; Dimov, Ivan B.; Franze, Kristian

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of vital dyes on human Descemet's membranes (DMs) and endothelia. DMs of 25 human cadaveric corneas with research consent were treated with dyes routinely used in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), 0.05% Trypan blue (TB) or a combination of 0.15% Trypan blue, 0.025% Brilliant blue and 4% Polyethylene glycol (commercial name Membrane Blue Dual; MB). The effects of these two dyes on (i) endothelial cell viability, (ii) DM mechanical properties as assessed by atomic force microscopy, and iii) qualitative DM dye retention were tested for two varying exposure times (one or four minutes). No significant differences in cell toxicity were observed between treatments with TB and MB at the two different exposure times (P = 0.21). Further, both dyes led to a significant increase in DM stiffness: exposure to TB and MB for one minute increased the apparent elastic modulus of the DM by 11.2% (P = 8*10−3) and 17.7%, respectively (P = 4*10−6). A four-minute exposure led to an increase of 8.6% for TB (P = 0.004) and 13.6% for MB (P = 0.03). Finally, at 25 minutes, the dye retention of the DM was considerably better for MB compared to TB. Taken together, a one-minute exposure to MB was found to improve DM visibility compared to TB, with a significant increase in DM stiffness and without detrimental effects on endothelial cell viability. The use of MB could therefore improve (i) visibility of the DM scroll, and (ii) intraoperative unfolding, enhancing the probability of successful DMEK surgery. PMID:28902856

Detection of erythrocyte membrane proteins, sialoglycoproteins, and lipids in the same polyacrylamide gel using a double-staining technique.

PubMed Central

Dzandu, J K; Deh, M E; Barratt, D L; Wise, G E

1984-01-01

A silver/Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 staining technique that permits a color-coded differentiation of erythrocyte membrane proteins, sialoglycoproteins, and lipids in a single one-dimensional NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel has been described. Gels stained first with silver stain and then with Coomassie blue (CB) showed the characteristic blue staining of all conventional CB-sensitive membrane polypeptides, whereas periodic acid-Schiff reagent-sensitive sialoglycoproteins and lipids stained yellow. Several yellow Ag-stained bands corresponding to major and minor sialoglycoproteins were detected at Mr X 10(-3) of 88, 72, 65, 41, 35, 31, 28, 24, and 20. Neuraminidase treatment of intact erythrocytes caused shifts in the electrophoretic mobilities of several yellow-stained bands without affecting the CB-stained polypeptide pattern. These observations afforded evidence that the yellow-staining bands were sialoglycoproteins and lipids. The double-staining technique was used in a topological analysis of the membrane surface of the erythrocyte using protease digestion and selective solubilization. Trypsin cleaved the yellow bands at Mr 88,000 and 41,000. Membrane-associated cleavage products were noted at Mr 58,000 and 38,000. Pronase treatment of intact cells gave membrane-associated cleavage products at Mr 38,000 (yellow) and two CB-stained bands at Mr 58,000 and 60,000. These results suggested that the double-staining technique may be applicable in compositional and topological analyses of other biological membranes. Images PMID:6200882

Potential electron mediators to extract electron energies of RBC glycolysis for prolonged in vivo functional lifetime of hemoglobin vesicles.

PubMed

Kettisen, Karin; Bülow, Leif; Sakai, Hiromi

2015-04-15

Developing a functional blood substitute as an alternative to donated blood for clinical use is believed to relieve present and future blood shortages, and to reduce the risks of infection and blood type mismatching. Hemoglobin vesicle (HbV) encapsulates a purified and concentrated human-derived Hb solution in a phospholipid vesicle (liposome). The in vivo safety and efficacy of HbV as a transfusion alternative have been clarified. Auto-oxidation of ferrous Hb in HbV gradually increases the level of ferric methemoglobin (metHb) and impairs the oxygen transport capabilities. The extension of the functional half-life of HbV has recently been proposed using an electron mediator, methylene blue (MB), which acts as a shuttle between red blood cells (RBC) and HbV. MB transfers electron energies of NAD(P)H, produced by RBC glycolysis, to metHb in HbV. Work presented here focuses on screening of 15 potential electron mediators, with appropriate redox potential and water solubility, for electron transfer from RBC to HbV. The results are assessed with regard to the chemical properties of the candidates. The compounds examined in this study were dimethyl methylene blue (DMB), methylene green, azure A, azure B, azure C, toluidine blue (TDB), thionin acetate, phenazine methosulfate, brilliant cresyl blue, cresyl violet, gallocyanine, toluylene blue, indigo carmine, indigotetrasulfonate, and MB. Six candidates were found to be unsuitable because of their insufficient diffusion across membranes, or overly high or nonexistent reactivity with relevant biomolecules. However, 9 displayed favorable metHb reduction. Among the suitable candidates, phenothiazines DMB and TDB exhibited effectiveness like MB did. In comparison to MB, they showed faster reduction by electron-donating NAD(P)H, coupled with showing a lower rate of reoxidation in the presence of molecular oxygen. Ascertaining the best electron mediator can provide a pathway for extending the lifetime and efficiency of potential blood substitutes.

Effect of Heat on the Antimicrobial Activity of Brilliant Green Dye

PubMed Central

Moats, W. A.; Kinner, J. A.; Maddox, S. E.

1974-01-01

Antimicrobial activity of brilliant green dye in Trypticase soy broth (BBL) is reduced and ultimately destroyed by prolonged autoclaving at 121 C. Loss of antimicrobial activity is accompanied by decolorization of the dye. This is consistent with other evidence that antimicrobial activity of brilliant green resides in the colored dye ion. The dye is not decolorized when heated in distilled water or peptone, but is decolorized by heating in glucose, glycine, or sodium dodecyl sulfate, showing that decolorization results from reaction with components of the medium. To ensure optimal results, it is recommended that bacteriological media be sterilized by heat prior to addition of brilliant green dye. PMID:4208510

Roseate Spoonbills preen in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

In the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, two roseate spoonbills mirror each other as they preen their lipstick-colored feathers. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds.

Roseate Spoonbill displays wings in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

A female roseate spoonbill displays her colorful wings in a mating ritual in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds.

Roseate Spoonbill squawks at intruder in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

In the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a roseate spoonbill squawks at nearby intruders. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds.

A roseate spoonbill in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

A roseate spoonbill balancing on one leg is reflected in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000- acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds.

KSC-99pp0364

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-03-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A roseate spoonbill balancing on one leg is reflected in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

KSC-00pp0155

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female roseate spoonbill (left) displays her colorful wings to the male at right in a mating ritual in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

KSC00pp0155

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female roseate spoonbill (left) displays her colorful wings to the male at right in a mating ritual in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

KSC-00pp0152

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, two roseate spoonbills mirror each other as they preen their lipstick-colored feathers. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

KSC00pp0152

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-01-20

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, two roseate spoonbills mirror each other as they preen their lipstick-colored feathers. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds

Asthma, rhinitis, and dermatitis in workers exposed to reactive dyes.

PubMed Central

Nilsson, R; Nordlinder, R; Wass, U; Meding, B; Belin, L

1993-01-01

A survey was conducted at 15 textile plants with dyehouses in western Sweden. Employees with a history of work related rhinitis, asthma, or skin symptoms were offered a clinical and immunological investigation including skin prick tests, skin patch tests, and radioallergosorbent tests (RASTs) to detect specific allergy to reactive dyes. Among the 1142 employees, 162 were exposed to reactive dyes and 10 of these (6%) reported work related respiratory or nasal symptoms. An allergy to reactive dyes could be confirmed in five (3%, 95% confidence interval 1-7%). All but one had been exposed to reactive dyes for one year or less before the onset of symptoms. Positive RASTs could be detected in four of the five patients. All of the RAST positive patients were positive to remazol black B, but six out of eight additional remazol dyes also elicited positive results. RAST and RAST inhibition showed a cross reactivity between some of the dyes. Seven persons with work related dermatitis and three with urticaria or Quincke oedema were found. In one patient contact dermatitis to a monoazo dye was shown, but no positive patch test reactions to reactive dyes. IgE-mediated allergy to reactive dyes seems to be an important cause of respiratory and nasal symptoms among dyehouse employees exposed to dust from reactive dyes. PMID:8431393

Decolourization of remazol black-5 textile dyes using moving bed bio-film reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pratiwi, R.; Notodarmojo, S.; Helmy, Q.

2018-01-01

The desizing and dyeing processes in the textile industries produces wastewaster containing high concentration of organic matter and colour, so it needs treatment before released to environment. In this research, removal of azo dye (Remazol Black 5/RB 5) and organic as COD was performed using Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR). MBBR is biological treatment process with attached growth media system that can increase removal of organic matter in textile wastewater. The effectiveness of ozonation as pre-treatment process to increase the removal efficiency in MBBR was studied. The results showed that in MBBR batch system with detention time of 1 hour, pre-treatment with ozonation prior to MBBR process able to increase the colour removal efficiency of up to 86.74%. While on the reactor without ozone pre-treatment, the colour removal efficiency of up to 68.6% was achieved. From the continuous reactor experiments found that both colour and COD removal efficiency depends on time detention of RB-5 dyes in the system. The higher of detention time, the higher of colour and COD removal efficiency. It was found that optimum removal of colour and COD was achieved in 24 hour detention time with its efficiency of 96.9% and 89.13%, respectively.

Characteristics of gas-liquid diaphragm discharge and its application on decolorization of brilliant red B in aqueous solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qingsong, GAO; Yongjun, LIU; Bing, SUN

2017-11-01

A simple gas-liquid diaphragm discharge reactor was designed and characteristics of the discharge and its application on decolorization of brilliant red B in an aqueous solution were investigated. The results showed that strong oxidizing agents such as ·OH and ·O radicals were generated. Average electron temperature of the discharge was 0.72 eV, 1.15 eV and 0.83 eV with air, oxygen and argon as the discharge gas, respectively. Solution pH and conductivity changed little when oxygen or argon was used as the discharge gas; however, these two parameters changed significantly when the discharge was performed in air. During the discharge treatment, the characteristic absorption peaks of brilliant red B gradually decreased where the decolorization followed the first-order kinetics. With 10 min of discharge, the decolorization of brilliant red B (30 mg L-1) can reach 96%, 81% and 62% in the cases of oxygen, argon and air, respectively. The analysis of by-products showed that the brilliant red B molecule can be effectively destroyed in this discharge mode.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 30 crewmember

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-02-22

ISS030-E-099324 (22 Feb. 2012) --- City lights of Dubai, United Arab Emirates are featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 30 crew member on the International Space Station. The City of Dubai?the largest metropolitan area within the emirate of Dubai?is a favorite subject of astronaut photography largely due to the unique island developments situated directly offshore in the Persian Gulf. These artificial archipelagos have been built such that their full design is only visible from the vantage point of an airplane ? or an orbiting spacecraft such as the International Space Station. The city presents an eye-catching appearance at night that vividly displays the urban development pattern. In this detailed nighttime image?taken with a long focal length lens and digital camera optimized for fast response and high light sensitivity?several interesting patterns can be observed. The highways and major streets are sharply defined by yellow-orange lighting, while the commercial and residential areas are resolved into a speckle pattern of individual white, blue, and yellow-orange lights. Several large and brilliantly lit areas are large hotel and mall complexes, including the Burj Khalifa Tower; at 828 meters (2,717 feet) height it is the world?s tallest building. The brilliant lighting of the city contrasts sharply with both the dark Persian Gulf to the northwest, and largely undeveloped and unlit areas to the southeast. Likewise, the clusters of lighting in the Palm Jumeira complex at bottom right correspond to the relatively small part of the archipelago that has been developed. Isolated areas of blurred city lights are due to patchy clouds.

Artificial selection for structural color on butterfly wings and comparison with natural evolution

PubMed Central

Wasik, Bethany R.; Liew, Seng Fatt; Lilien, David A.; Dinwiddie, April J.; Noh, Heeso; Cao, Hui; Monteiro, Antónia

2014-01-01

Brilliant animal colors often are produced from light interacting with intricate nano-morphologies present in biological materials such as butterfly wing scales. Surveys across widely divergent butterfly species have identified multiple mechanisms of structural color production; however, little is known about how these colors evolved. Here, we examine how closely related species and populations of Bicyclus butterflies have evolved violet structural color from brown-pigmented ancestors with UV structural color. We used artificial selection on a laboratory model butterfly, B. anynana, to evolve violet scales from UV brown scales and compared the mechanism of violet color production with that of two other Bicyclus species, Bicyclus sambulos and Bicyclus medontias, which have evolved violet/blue scales independently via natural selection. The UV reflectance peak of B. anynana brown scales shifted to violet over six generations of artificial selection (i.e., in less than 1 y) as the result of an increase in the thickness of the lower lamina in ground scales. Similar scale structures and the same mechanism for producing violet/blue structural colors were found in the other Bicyclus species. This work shows that populations harbor large amounts of standing genetic variation that can lead to rapid evolution of scales’ structural color via slight modifications to the scales’ physical dimensions. PMID:25092295

Artificial selection for structural color on butterfly wings and comparison with natural evolution.

PubMed

Wasik, Bethany R; Liew, Seng Fatt; Lilien, David A; Dinwiddie, April J; Noh, Heeso; Cao, Hui; Monteiro, Antónia

2014-08-19

Brilliant animal colors often are produced from light interacting with intricate nano-morphologies present in biological materials such as butterfly wing scales. Surveys across widely divergent butterfly species have identified multiple mechanisms of structural color production; however, little is known about how these colors evolved. Here, we examine how closely related species and populations of Bicyclus butterflies have evolved violet structural color from brown-pigmented ancestors with UV structural color. We used artificial selection on a laboratory model butterfly, B. anynana, to evolve violet scales from UV brown scales and compared the mechanism of violet color production with that of two other Bicyclus species, Bicyclus sambulos and Bicyclus medontias, which have evolved violet/blue scales independently via natural selection. The UV reflectance peak of B. anynana brown scales shifted to violet over six generations of artificial selection (i.e., in less than 1 y) as the result of an increase in the thickness of the lower lamina in ground scales. Similar scale structures and the same mechanism for producing violet/blue structural colors were found in the other Bicyclus species. This work shows that populations harbor large amounts of standing genetic variation that can lead to rapid evolution of scales' structural color via slight modifications to the scales' physical dimensions.

KSC-00pp0656

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-05-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The brilliant exhaust from the solid rocket boosters (left) and blue mach diamonds from the main engine nozzles (right) mark the perfect launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-101. Liftoff occurred on time at 6:11:10 a.m. EDT. The mission is taking the crew of seven to the International Space Station to deliver logistics and supplies as well as to prepare the Station for the arrival of the Zvezda Service Module, expected to be launched by Russia in July 2000. Also, the crew will conduct one space walk and will reboost the space station from 230 statute miles to 250 statute miles. This will be the third assembly flight to the Space Station. After a 10-day mission, landing is targeted for May 29 at 2:19 a.m. EDT. This is the 98th Shuttle flight and the 21st flight for Shuttle Atlantis

KSC00pp0656

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-05-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The brilliant exhaust from the solid rocket boosters (left) and blue mach diamonds from the main engine nozzles (right) mark the perfect launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-101. Liftoff occurred on time at 6:11:10 a.m. EDT. The mission is taking the crew of seven to the International Space Station to deliver logistics and supplies as well as to prepare the Station for the arrival of the Zvezda Service Module, expected to be launched by Russia in July 2000. Also, the crew will conduct one space walk and will reboost the space station from 230 statute miles to 250 statute miles. This will be the third assembly flight to the Space Station. After a 10-day mission, landing is targeted for May 29 at 2:19 a.m. EDT. This is the 98th Shuttle flight and the 21st flight for Shuttle Atlantis

Linearization of the bradford protein assay.

PubMed

Ernst, Orna; Zor, Tsaffrir

2010-04-12

Determination of microgram quantities of protein in the Bradford Coomassie brilliant blue assay is accomplished by measurement of absorbance at 590 nm. This most common assay enables rapid and simple protein quantification in cell lysates, cellular fractions, or recombinant protein samples, for the purpose of normalization of biochemical measurements. However, an intrinsic nonlinearity compromises the sensitivity and accuracy of this method. It is shown that under standard assay conditions, the ratio of the absorbance measurements at 590 nm and 450 nm is strictly linear with protein concentration. This simple procedure increases the accuracy and improves the sensitivity of the assay about 10-fold, permitting quantification down to 50 ng of bovine serum albumin. Furthermore, the interference commonly introduced by detergents that are used to create the cell lysates is greatly reduced by the new protocol. A linear equation developed on the basis of mass action and Beer's law perfectly fits the experimental data.

Fabrication of magnetic field induced structural colored films with tunable colors and its application on security materials.

PubMed

Shang, Shenglong; Zhang, Qinghong; Wang, Hongzhi; Li, Yaogang

2017-01-01

A flexible, magnetic field induced structurally colored films with brilliant colors and high physical rigidity were reported in this article. Using an external magnetic field, the photocurable colloidal suspensions that containing superparamagnetic Fe 3 O 4 @C colloidal nanocrystal clusters (CNCs) could polymerize under UV light. After polymerization, the films with different colors (red, green, blue) were obtained. Through combination of suspensions which contains Fe 3 O 4 @C CNCs with different sizes, a series of multi-colored films were obtained. Moreover, these structural colors can be patterned easily by photolithography and various structural colored patterns were shown in the article. The structural colored patterns could conceal or display its color according to the changing of background which makes them hold significant potential applications for security materials. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

History of Hubble Space Telescope (HST)

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-01-01

This new image taken with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is of the nearby dwarf galaxy NGC 1569. This galaxy is a hotbed of vigorous star birth activity which blows huge bubbles that riddle its main body. The bubble structure is sculpted by the galactic super-winds and outflows caused by a colossal input of energy from collective supernova explosions that are linked with a massive episode of star birth. The bubbles seen in this image are made of hydrogen gas that glows when hit by the fierce wind and radiation from hot young stars and is racked by supernova shocks. Its "star factories" are also manufacturing brilliant blue star clusters. NGC 1569 had a sudden onset of star birth about 25 million years ago, which subsided about the time the very earliest human ancestors appeared on Earth. The Marshall Space Flight Center had responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST.

A Roseate Spoonbill hunts for food in the water.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

A Roseate Spoonbill sweeps the water for food in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The brilliant pink bird is named for its straight bill with the broad spatulate tip. Preferring a habitat of mangroves, it is usually found on the coasts of southern Florida and Texas, occasionally in Louisiana., in the West Indies, Mexico and Central and South America. Spoonbills feed on shrimps and fish in shallow waters, sweeping their bills from side to side and scooping up whatever they encounter. The 92,000- acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds.

Roseate Spoonbill displays wings in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

A female roseate spoonbill (left) displays her colorful wings to the male at right in a mating ritual in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds.

KSC-01pp1013

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-05-18

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Roseate Spoonbills stride across the lawn in front of the KSC Headquarters building. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, usually feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Kennedy Space Center shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge encompasses 92,000 acres that are a habitat for more than 331 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, as well as a variety of insects

Amino Acid-Assisted Incorporation of Dye Molecules within Calcite Crystals.

PubMed

Marzec, Bartosz; Green, David C; Holden, Mark A; Coté, Alexander S; Ihli, Johannes; Khalid, Saba; Kulak, Alexander; Walker, Daniel; Tang, Chiu; Duffy, Dorothy M; Kim, Yi-Yeoun; Meldrum, Fiona C

2018-05-23

Biomineralisation processes invariably occur in the presence of multiple organic additives, which act in combination to give exceptional control over structures and properties. However, few synthetic studies have investigated the cooperative effects of soluble additives. This work addresses this challenge and focuses on the combined effects of amino acids and coloured dye molecules. The experiments demonstrate that strongly coloured calcite crystals only form in the presence of Brilliant Blue R (BBR) and four of the seventeen soluble amino acids, as compared with almost colourless crystals using the dye alone. The active amino acids are identified as those which themselves effectively occlude in calcite, suggesting a mechanism where they can act as chaperones for individual molecules or even aggregates of dyes molecules. These results provide new insight into crystal-additive interactions and suggest a novel strategy for generating materials with target properties. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Carotene-degrading activities from Bjerkandera adusta possess an application in detergent industries.

PubMed

Linke, Diana; Leonhardt, Robin; Eisele, Nadine; Petersen, Laura M; Riemer, Stephanie; Nimtz, Manfred; Berger, Ralf G

2015-06-01

Four extracellular enzymes, a versatile peroxidase, a manganese peroxidase, a dye-decolorizing peroxidase and a lignin peroxidase were discovered in liquid cultures of the basidiomycete Bjerkandera adusta. All of them cleaved β-carotene effectively. Expression was enhanced in the presence of β-carotene or Coomassie Brilliant Blue and peaked after 7-9 days. The monomeric proteins were purified by ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography and exhibited molecular masses of 41, 43, 51 and 43 kDa, respectively. The coding sequences showed homologies from 61 to 89 % to peroxidases from other basidiomycetes. The novel enzymes retained strong activity even in the absence of hydrogen peroxide and at alkaline pH. De-staining of fabrics using detergent-tolerant enzymes may help to save the most important bio-resources, energy and water, in washing processes and led to green processes in textile cleaning.

Green synthesis of colloidal copper oxide nanoparticles using Carica papaya and its application in photocatalytic dye degradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sankar, Renu; Manikandan, Perumal; Malarvizhi, Viswanathan; Fathima, Tajudeennasrin; Shivashangari, Kanchi Subramanian; Ravikumar, Vilwanathan

2014-03-01

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were synthesized by treating 5 mM cupric sulphate with Carica papaya leaves extract. The kinetics of the reaction was studied using UV-visible spectrophotometry. An intense surface Plasmon resonance between 250-300 nm in the UV-vis spectrum clearly reveals the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) exhibited that the green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles are rod in shape and having a mean particle size of 140 nm, further negative zeta potential disclose its stability at -28.9 mV. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results examined the occurrence of bioactive functional groups required for the reduction of copper ions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed the copper oxide nanoparticles crystalline nature. Furthermore, colloidal copper oxide nanoparticles effectively degrade the Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 dye beneath the sunlight.

Nearby Galaxy is a Hotbed of Star Birth Activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

This new image taken with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is of the nearby dwarf galaxy NGC 1569. This galaxy is a hotbed of vigorous star birth activity which blows huge bubbles that riddle its main body. The bubble structure is sculpted by the galactic super-winds and outflows caused by a colossal input of energy from collective supernova explosions that are linked with a massive episode of star birth. The bubbles seen in this image are made of hydrogen gas that glows when hit by the fierce wind and radiation from hot young stars and is racked by supernova shocks. Its 'star factories' are also manufacturing brilliant blue star clusters. NGC 1569 had a sudden onset of star birth about 25 million years ago, which subsided about the time the very earliest human ancestors appeared on Earth. The Marshall Space Flight Center had responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST.

Determination of synthetic food dyes in commercial soft drinks by TLC and ion-pair HPLC.

PubMed

de Andrade, Francisca Ivani; Florindo Guedes, Maria Izabel; Pinto Vieira, Ícaro Gusmão; Pereira Mendes, Francisca Noélia; Salmito Rodrigues, Paula Alves; Costa Maia, Carla Soraya; Marques Ávila, Maria Marlene; de Matos Ribeiro, Luzara

2014-08-15

Synthetic food colourings were analyzed on commercial carbonated orange and grape soft drinks produced in Ceará State, Brazil. Tartrazine (E102), Amaranth (E123), Sunset Yellow (E110) and Brilliant Blue (E133) were extracted from soft drinks using C18 SPE and identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC), this method was used to confirm the composition of food colouring in soft drinks stated on label. The concentration of food colouring in soft drink was determined by ion-pair high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The results obtained with the samples confirm that the identification and quantification methods are recommended for quality control of the synthetic colours in soft drinks, as well as to determine whether the levels and lables complies with the recommendations of food dyes legislation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adsorption of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (fluoranthene and anthracenemethanol) by functional graphene oxide and removal by pH and temperature-sensitive coagulation.

PubMed

Zhang, Caili; Wu, Lin; Cai, Dongqing; Zhang, Caiyun; Wang, Ning; Zhang, Jing; Wu, Zhengyan

2013-06-12

A new kind of functional graphene oxide with fine stability in water was fabricated by mixing graphene oxide (GO) and brilliant blue (BB) with a certain weight ratio. The adsorption performance of this mixture of BB and GO (BBGO) to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (anthracenemethanol (AC) and fluoranthene (FL)) was investigated, and the results indicated BBGO possessed adsorption capacity of 1.676 mmol/g and removal efficiency of 72.7% as to AC and adsorption capacity of 2.212 mmol/g and removal efficiency of 93.2% as to FL. After adsorption, pH and temperature-sensitive coagulation (PTC) method was used to remove the AC/BBGO or FL/BBGO complex and proved to be an effective approach to flocculate the AC/BBGO or FL/BBGO complex into large flocs, which tended to be removed from the aqueous solution.

Reproduction and optical analysis of Morpho-inspired polymeric nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tippets, Cary A.; Fu, Yulan; Jackson, Anne-Martine; Donev, Eugenii U.; Lopez, Rene

2016-06-01

The brilliant blue coloration of the Morpho rhetenor butterfly originates from complex nanostructures found on the surface of its wings. The Morpho butterfly exhibits strong short-wavelength reflection and a unique two-lobe optical signature in the incident (θ) and reflected (ϕ) angular space. Here, we report the large-area fabrication of a Morpho-like structure and its reproduction in perfluoropolyether. Reflection comparisons of periodic and quasi-random ‘polymer butterfly’ nanostructures show similar normal-incidence spectra but differ in the angular θ-ϕ dependence. The periodic sample shows strong specular reflection and simple diffraction. However, the quasi-random sample produces a two-lobe angular reflection pattern with minimal specular refection, approximating the real butterfly’s optical behavior. Finite-difference time-domain simulations confirm that this pattern results from the quasi-random periodicity and highlights the significance of the inherent randomness in the Morpho’s photonic structure.

Ultrastructure of the membrana limitans interna after dye-assisted membrane peeling.

PubMed

Brockmann, Tobias; Steger, Claudia; Westermann, Martin; Nietzsche, Sandor; Koenigsdoerffer, Ekkehart; Strobel, Juergen; Dawczynski, Jens

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultrastructure of the membrana limitans interna (internal limiting membrane, ILM) and to evaluate alterations to the retinal cell layers after membrane peeling with vital dyes. Twenty-five patients (25 eyes) who underwent macular hole surgery were included, whereby 12 indocyanine green (ICG)- and 13 brilliant blue G (BBG)-stained ILM were analyzed using light, transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy. Retinal cell fragments on the ILM were identified in both groups using immunohistochemistry. Comparing ICG- and BBG-stained membranes, larger cellular fragments were observed at a higher frequency in the BBG group. Thereby, the findings indicate that ICG permits an enhanced separation of the ILM from the underlying retina with less mechanical destruction. A possible explanation might be seen in the known photosensitivity of ICG, which induces a stiffening and shrinkage of the ILM but also generates retinal toxic metabolites. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

[Visual diagnosis: Waardenburg syndrome].

PubMed

Hager, T; Walter, H-S; Seitz, B; Käsmann-Kellner, B

2010-07-01

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a rare disease characterized by a sensorineural hearing loss and pigment anomalies of the iris, skin and hair due to mutations in PAX3. WS can be subdivided into four groups according to major and minor clinical signs. We report the case of a 2 1/2-year-old coloured patient who presented in our department of paediatric ophthalmology for a syndrome search. The patient presented with hearing loss, brilliant blue iris colour and dystopia canthorum. The patient was slightly hypermetropic. Visual acuity was within normal limits according to the Cardiff acuity test. The ocular fundus examination revealed no abnormalities. According to the major and minor criteria defined by the Waardenburg consortium our patient showed the major criteria of WS1, i.e. hearing loss, hypopigmentation of the pigment epithelium of the iris and dystopic canthi. Diagnosis of WS is usually based on the clinical presentation. An additional molecular genetic analysis is possible.

Waardenburg-Shah Syndrome: a rare case in an Indian child.

PubMed

Pattebahadur, Rajesh; Singhi, Shipra; Maharana, Prafulla Kumar

2016-09-30

A 7-year-old male child presented with a history of discolouration of right eye since birth. On examination visual acuity was 6/6 on Snellen's chart in both eyes; anterior segment was within normal limits except for the brilliant blue discolouration of the inferior quadrant and superior quadrant of right iris and left eye iris, respectively. Both eyes had a clear lens and fundus findings were within normal limits. A detailed history from parents revealed that the child had difficulty in hearing and slurring of speech. In addition, the child had repeated episodes of constipation with bilious vomiting during infancy for which a diagnosis of fungal sepsis with Hirschsprung's disease was made and the child had to undergo a mid-sigmoid loop colostomy for that. A diagnosis of Waardenburg--Shah Syndrome was made and the child was referred for hearing and speech rehabilitation. 2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Background-free, high sensitivity staining of proteins in one- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels using a luminescent ruthenium complex.

PubMed

Berggren, K; Chernokalskaya, E; Steinberg, T H; Kemper, C; Lopez, M F; Diwu, Z; Haugland, R P; Patton, W F

2000-07-01

SYPRO Ruby dye is a permanent stain comprised of ruthenium as part of an organic complex that interacts noncovalently with proteins. SYPRO Ruby Protein Gel Stain provides a sensitive, gentle, fluorescence-based method for detecting proteins in one-dimensional and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Proteins are fixed, stained from 3h to overnight and then rinsed in deionized water or dilute methanol/acetic acid solution for 30 min. The stain can be visualized using a wide range of excitation sources commonly used in image analysis systems including a 302 nm UV-B transilluminator, 473 nm second harmonic generation (SHG) laser, 488 nm argon-ion laser, 532 nm yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser, xenon arc lamp, blue fluorescent light bulb or blue light-emitting diode (LED). The sensitivity of SYPRO Ruby Protein Gel Stain is superior to colloidal Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB) stain or monobromobimane labeling and comparable with the highest sensitivity silver or zinc-imidazole staining procedures available. The linear dynamic range of SYPRO Ruby Protein Gel stain extends over three orders of magnitude, which is vastly superior to silver, zinc-imidazole, monobromobimane and CBB stain. The fluorescent stain does not contain superfluous chemicals (formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, Tween-20) that frequently interfere with peptide identification in mass spectrometry. While peptide mass profiles are severely altered in protein samples prelabeled with monobromobimane, successful identification of proteins by peptide mass profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry was easily performed after protein detection with SYPRO Ruby Protein Gel stain.

Artificial neural network-genetic algorithm based optimization for the adsorption of methylene blue and brilliant green from aqueous solution by graphite oxide nanoparticle.

PubMed

Ghaedi, M; Zeinali, N; Ghaedi, A M; Teimuori, M; Tashkhourian, J

2014-05-05

In this study, graphite oxide (GO) nano according to Hummers method was synthesized and subsequently was used for the removal of methylene blue (MB) and brilliant green (BG). The detail information about the structure and physicochemical properties of GO are investigated by different techniques such as XRD and FTIR analysis. The influence of solution pH, initial dye concentration, contact time and adsorbent dosage was examined in batch mode and optimum conditions was set as pH=7.0, 2 mg of GO and 10 min contact time. Employment of equilibrium isotherm models for description of adsorption capacities of GO explore the good efficiency of Langmuir model for the best presentation of experimental data with maximum adsorption capacity of 476.19 and 416.67 for MB and BG dyes in single solution. The analysis of adsorption rate at various stirring times shows that both dyes adsorption followed a pseudo second-order kinetic model with cooperation with interparticle diffusion model. Subsequently, the adsorption data as new combination of artificial neural network was modeled to evaluate and obtain the real conditions for fast and efficient removal of dyes. A three-layer artificial neural network (ANN) model is applicable for accurate prediction of dyes removal percentage from aqueous solution by GO following conduction of 336 experimental data. The network was trained using the obtained experimental data at optimum pH with different GO amount (0.002-0.008 g) and 5-40 mg/L of both dyes over contact time of 0.5-30 min. The ANN model was able to predict the removal efficiency with Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm (LMA), a linear transfer function (purelin) at output layer and a tangent sigmoid transfer function (tansig) at hidden layer with 10 and 11 neurons for MB and BG dyes, respectively. The minimum mean squared error (MSE) of 0.0012 and coefficient of determination (R(2)) of 0.982 were found for prediction and modeling of MB removal, while the respective value for BG was the MSE and R(2) of 0.001 and 0.981, respectively. The ANN model results show good agreement with experimental data. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

pH-sensitive wax emulsion copolymerization with acrylamide hydrogel using gamma irradiation for dye removal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghobashy, Mohamed Mohamady; Elhady, Mohamed., A.

2017-05-01

Emulsion polymerization is an efficient method for the production of new wax-hydrogel matrices of cetyl alcohol: stearic acid wax and acrylamide hydrogel using triethylamine (TEA) as an emulsifier. A cross-linking reaction occurred when a mixture of wax-hydrogel solution was irradiated with gamma rays at a dose of 20 kGy. The gelation percentage of the matrices (CtOH-StA/PAAm) was 86%, which indicates that a sufficiently high conversion occurred in these new wax-hydrogel matrices. The ability of PAAm and CtOH-StA/PAAm as an adsorbent for dye removal was investigated. The removal of three reactive dyes, namely Remazol Red (RR), Amido Black (AB), and Toluidine Blue (TB), from aqueous solutions depends on the pH of the dye solution. Removal efficiency was investigated by UV spectrophotometry, and the results showed the affinity of the wax hydrogel to adsorb TB was 98% after 320 min. Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance spectra confirmed the cross-linking process involved between the chains of wax and hydrogel; furthermore, scanning electron microscopy images showed that the wax and hydrogel were completely miscible to form a single matrix. Swelling measurements showed the high affinity of adsorbed dyes from aqueous solutions at different pH values to the wax-hydrogel network; the highest swelling values of 13.05 and 8.24 (g/g) were observed at pH 10 and 6, respectively

Rapid multi-wavelength optical assessment of circulating blood volume without a priori data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loginova, Ekaterina V.; Zhidkova, Tatyana V.; Proskurnin, Mikhail A.; Zharov, Vladimir P.

2016-03-01

The measurement of circulating blood volume (CBV) is crucial in various medical conditions including surgery, iatrogenic problems, rapid fluid administration, transfusion of red blood cells, or trauma with extensive blood loss including battlefield injuries and other emergencies. Currently, available commercial techniques are invasive and time-consuming for trauma situations. Recently, we have proposed high-speed multi-wavelength photoacoustic/photothermal (PA/PT) flow cytometry for in vivo CBV assessment with multiple dyes as PA contrast agents (labels). As the first step, we have characterized the capability of this technique to monitor the clearance of three dyes (indocyanine green, methylene blue, and trypan blue) in an animal model. However, there are strong demands on improvements in PA/PT flow cytometry. As additional verification of our proof-of-concept of this technique, we performed optical photometric CBV measurements in vitro. Three label dyes—methylene blue, crystal violet and, partially, brilliant green—were selected for simultaneous photometric determination of the components of their two-dye mixtures in the circulating blood in vitro without any extra data (like hemoglobin absorption) known a priori. The tests of single dyes and their mixtures in a flow system simulating a blood transfusion system showed a negligible difference between the sensitivities of the determination of these dyes under batch and flow conditions. For individual dyes, the limits of detection of 3×10-6 M‒3×10-6 M in blood were achieved, which provided their continuous determination at a level of 10-5 M for the CBV assessment without a priori data on the matrix. The CBV assessment with errors no higher than 4% were obtained, and the possibility to apply the developed procedure for optical photometric (flow cytometry) with laser sources was shown.

Greenland's Coast in Holiday Colors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

Vibrant reds, emerald greens, brilliant whites, and pastel blues adorn this view of the area surrounding the Jakobshavn Glacier on the western coast of Greenland. The image is a false-color (near-infrared, green, blue) view acquired by the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer's nadir camera. The brightness of vegetation in the near-infrared contributes to the reddish hues; glacial silt gives rise to the green color of the water; and blue-colored melt ponds are visible in the bright white ice. A scattering of small icebergs in Disco Bay adds a touch of glittery sparkle to the scene.

The large island in the upper left is called Qeqertarsuaq. To the east of this island, and just above image center, is the outlet of the fast-flowing Jakobshavn (or Ilulissat) glacier. Jakobshavn is considered to have the highest iceberg production of all Greenland glaciers and is a major drainage outlet for a large portion of the western side of the ice sheet. Icebergs released from the glacier drift slowly with the ocean currents and pose hazards for shipping along the coast.

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer views the daylit Earth continuously and the entire globe between 82 degrees north and 82 degrees south latitude is observed every 9 days. These data products were generated from a portion of the imagery acquired on June 18, 2003 during Terra orbit 18615. The image cover an area of about 254 kilometers x 210 kilometers, and use data from blocks 34 to 35 within World Reference System-2 path 10.

MISR was built and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, for NASA's Office of Earth Science, Washington, DC. The Terra satellite is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology.

Why aye-ayes see blue.

PubMed

Melin, Amanda D; Moritz, Gillian L; Fosbury, Robert A E; Kawamura, Shoji; Dominy, Nathaniel J

2012-03-01

The capacity for cone-mediated color vision varies among nocturnal primates. Some species are colorblind, having lost the functionality of their short-wavelength-sensitive-1 (SWS1) opsin pigment gene. In other species, such as the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), the SWS1 gene remains intact. Recent studies focused on aye-ayes indicate that this gene has been maintained by natural selection and that the pigment has a peak sensitivity (lambda(max)) of 406 nm, which is -20 nm closer to the ultraviolet region of the spectrum than in most primates. The functional significance behind the retention and unusual lambda(max) of this opsin pigment is unknown, and it is perplexing given that all mammals are presumed to be colorblind in the dark. Here we comment on this puzzle and discuss recent findings on the color vision intensity thresholds of terrestrial vertebrates with comparable optics to aye-ayes. We draw attention to the twilight activities of aye-ayes and report that twilight is enriched in short-wavelength (bluish) light. We also show that the intensity of twilight and full moonlight is probably sufficient to support cone-mediated color vision. We speculate that the intact SWS1 opsin pigment gene of aye-ayes is a crepuscular adaptation and we report on the blueness of potential visual targets, such as scent marks and the brilliant blue arils of Ravenala madagascariensis.

Factors Affecting Selectivity of Brilliant Green-Phenol Red Agar for Salmonellae

PubMed Central

Moats, W. A.; Kinner, J. A.

1974-01-01

Commercial brilliant green (BG)-sulfa agar was found to be nonselective toward a test series of Enterobacteriaceae. Various formulations of BG were prepared by using Trypticase soy agar (BBL) as a base. Results were more reproducible when BG dye was added after sterilization than before. Sulfonamides improved selectivity as compared with brilliant green alone. Sulfanilamide (SN) was slightly more selective for salmonellae than other sulfonamides tested. Bile salts and sodium dodecyl sulfate markedly reduced the toxicity of BG to all the test bacteria. Enterobacter strains were most difficult to inhibit. A combination of 5 mg of BG and 1 g of SN/liter prevented growth of Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli and retarded growth of Enterobacter strains. The BG-SN agars were superior in selectivity to a series of commercial agars tested, and numbers of salmonellae recovered on BG-SN agar and Trypticase soy agar (BBL) were the same. Brilliant green agars with various degrees of selectivity are described. PMID:4589120

Phytoplankton bloom in the Bay of Biscay

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

Phytoplankton growth in the Bay of Biscay intensified in early May, 2013, painting the deep blue waters with huge swirls of jewel-tone colors that were brilliantly visible from space. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured this true-color image on May 4, 2013. Each year, typically from March through April, such blooms occur in the Bay of Biscay. By May, however, conditions are not as favorable and the blooms tend to fade, then disappear. This bloom is expanding in early May this year, but will likely begin to diminish soon. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Counterion dye staining of proteins in one- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and tryptic gel digestion of stained protein for mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Cong, Wei-Tao; Wang, Xu; Hwang, Sun-Young; Jin, Li-Tai; Choi, Jung-Kap

2012-01-01

A fast and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry compatible protein staining method in one- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is described. It is based on the counterion dye staining method that employs oppositely charged two dyes, zincon and ethyl violet, to form an ion-pair complex. The protocol, including fixing, staining, and quick washing steps, can be completed in 1-1.5 h, depending upon gel thickness. It has the sensitivity comparable to the colloidal Coomassie Brilliant Blue G stain using phosphoric acid as a component of staining solution (4-8 ng). The counterion dye stain does not induce protein modifications that complicate interpretation of peptide mapping data from mass spectrometry. Considering the speed, sensitivity, and compatibility with mass spectrometry, the counterion dye stain may be more practical than any other dye-based protein stains for routine proteomic researches.

A proteomic analysis of leaf sheaths from rice.

PubMed

Shen, Shihua; Matsubae, Masami; Takao, Toshifumi; Tanaka, Naoki; Komatsu, Setsuko

2002-10-01

The proteins extracted from the leaf sheaths of rice seedlings were separated by 2-D PAGE, and analyzed by Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry, followed by database searching. Image analysis revealed 352 protein spots on 2-D PAGE after staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The amino acid sequences of 44 of 84 proteins were determined; for 31 of these proteins, a clear function could be assigned, whereas for 12 proteins, no function could be assigned. Forty proteins did not yield amino acid sequence information, because they were N-terminally blocked, or the obtained sequences were too short and/or did not give unambiguous results. Fifty-nine proteins were analyzed by mass spectrometry; all of these proteins were identified by matching to the protein database. The amino acid sequences of 19 of 27 proteins analyzed by mass spectrometry were similar to the results of Edman sequencing. These results suggest that 2-D PAGE combined with Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry analysis can be effectively used to identify plant proteins.

The Application of a Three-Step Proteome Analysis for Identification of New Biomarkers of Pancreatic Cancer

PubMed Central

Abulaizi, Mayinuer; Tomonaga, Takeshi; Satoh, Mamoru; Sogawa, Kazuyuki; Matsushita, Kazuyuki; Kodera, Yoshio; Obul, Jurat; Takano, Shigetsugu; Yoshitomi, Hideyuki; Miyazaki, Masaru; Nomura, Fumio

2011-01-01

We searched for novel tumor markers of pancreatic cancer by three-step serum proteome analysis. Twelve serum abundant proteins were depleted using immunoaffinity columns followed by fractionation by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Proteins in each fraction were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Then the gel was stained by Coomassie Brilliant Blue. Protein spots in which the expression levels were significantly different between cancer and normal control were identified by LC-MS/MS. One hundred and two spots were upregulated, and 84 spots were downregulated in serum samples obtained from patients with pancreatic cancers, and 58 proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. These candidate proteins were validated using western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). As a result of these validation process, we could confirm that the serum levels of apolipoprotein A-IV, vitamin D-binding protein, plasma retinol-binding protein 4, and tetranectin were significantly decreased in patients with pancreatic cancer. PMID:22091389

A consortium of three brings real geothermal power for California's Imperial valley -- at last

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wehlage, E.F.

1983-04-01

Imperial Valley's geothermal history gets a whole new chapter with dedication ceremony for southern California's unusual 10,000 kilowatt power station-SCE in joint corporate venture with Southern Pacific and Union Oil. America's newest and unique electric power generation facility, The Salton Sea Geothermal-Electric Project, was the the site of a formal dedication ceremony while the sleek and stainless jacketed piping and machinery were displayed against a flawlessly brilliant January sky - blue and flecked with a few whisps of high white clouds, while plumes of geothermal steam rose across the desert. The occasion was the January 19, 1983, ceremonial dedication ofmore » the unique U.S.A. power generation facility constructed by an energy consortium under private enterprise, to make and deliver electricity, using geothermal steam released (with special cleaning and treatment) from magma-heated fluids produced at depths of 3,000 to 6,000 feet beneath the floor of the Imperial Valley near Niland and Brawley, California.« less

Synthesis, characterization, swelling and dye adsorption properties of starch incorporated acrylic gels.

PubMed

Mandal, Bidyadhar; Ray, Samit Kumar

2015-11-01

Several hydrogels were prepared by a free radical polymerization of acrylic acid (AA), sodium acrylate (SA) and AA/hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in the presence of starch in water. These starch incorporated acrylic gels were prepared by varying the concentration of the initiator, monomer, crosslinker and the starch. The resulting gels were characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, DTA-TGA, pH at point zero charge (PZC), swelling and the diffusion in water. The gels showed high adsorption and removal% of Safranine T (ST) and Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) dyes from water. The swelling and the adsorption data were fitted to different kinetic models and isotherms. Amongst the three kinds of gels, the starch incorporated sodium polyacrylate gel showed the highest adsorption of 9.7-85.3mg/L (97-61% removal) of BCB dye and 9.1-83mg/L (91-60% removal) of ST dye for a feed dye concentration of 10-140mg/L. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Analysis of total proteins in the seed of almond (Prunus dulcis) by two-dimensional electrophoresis].

PubMed

Li, Dong-dong; He, Shao-heng

2004-07-01

To analyse the total proteins in the seeds of almond (Prunus dulcis), one of the popular ingestent allergens in China, by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The total proteins of the seeds were extracted by trichloracetic acid (TCA) method, and then separated by isoelectric focusing as first dimension and SDS-PAGE as the second dimension. The spots of proteins were visualized by staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250. After analysis with software (ImageMaster 2D), 188 different proteins were detected. The isoelectric points (pI) for approximately 28% of total proteins were between 4.5-5.5, and the relative molecular mass (M(r)) of approximately 62% total proteins were between (20-25)x10(3). This was the first high-resolution, two-dimensional protein map of the seed of almond (Prunus dulcis) in China. Our finding has laid a solid foundation for further identification, characterization, gene cloning and standardization of allergenic proteins in the seed of almond (Prunus dulcis).

Green synthesis of colloidal copper oxide nanoparticles using Carica papaya and its application in photocatalytic dye degradation.

PubMed

Sankar, Renu; Manikandan, Perumal; Malarvizhi, Viswanathan; Fathima, Tajudeennasrin; Shivashangari, Kanchi Subramanian; Ravikumar, Vilwanathan

2014-01-01

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were synthesized by treating 5 mM cupric sulphate with Carica papaya leaves extract. The kinetics of the reaction was studied using UV-visible spectrophotometry. An intense surface Plasmon resonance between 250-300 nm in the UV-vis spectrum clearly reveals the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) exhibited that the green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles are rod in shape and having a mean particle size of 140 nm, further negative zeta potential disclose its stability at -28.9 mV. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results examined the occurrence of bioactive functional groups required for the reduction of copper ions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed the copper oxide nanoparticles crystalline nature. Furthermore, colloidal copper oxide nanoparticles effectively degrade the Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 dye beneath the sunlight. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

ASTRONAUT WHITE, EDWARD H. II - GEMINI-IV - EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITY (EVA) - CREW TRAINING - MSC

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-06-03

S65-30431 (3 June 1965) --- Astronaut Edward H. White II, pilot of the Gemini IV four-day Earth-orbital mission, floats in the zero gravity of space outside the Gemini IV spacecraft. Behind him is the brilliant blue Earth and its white cloud cover. White wears a specially designed spacesuit; and the visor of the helmet is gold plated to protect him against the unfiltered rays of the sun. He wears an emergency oxygen pack, also. He is secured to the spacecraft by a 25-feet umbilical line and a 23-feet tether line, both wrapped in gold tape to form one cord. In his left hand is a Hand-Held Self-Maneuvering Unit (HHSMU) with which he controls his movements in space. Astronaut James A. McDivitt, command pilot of the mission, remained inside the spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA EDITOR'S NOTE: Astronaut White died in the Apollo/Saturn 204 fire at Cape Kennedy on Jan. 27, 1967.

Vacuolar Localization of Endoproteinases EP(1) and EP(2) in Barley Mesophyll Cells.

PubMed

Thayer, S S; Huffaker, R C

1984-05-01

The localization of two previously characterized endoproteinases (EP(1) and EP(2)) that comprise more than 95% of the protease activity in primary Hordeum vulgare L. var Numar leaves was determined. Intact vacuoles released from washed mesophyll protoplasts by gentle osmotic shock and increase in pH, were purified by flotation through a four-step Ficoll gradient. These vacuoles contained endoproteinases that rapidly degraded purified barley ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) substrate. Breakdown products and extent of digestion of RuBPCase were determined using 12% polyacrylamide-sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. Coomassie brilliant blue- or silver-stained gels were scanned, and the peaks were integrated to provide quantitative information. The characteristics of the vacuolar endoproteinases (e.g. sensitivity to various inhibitors and activators, and the molecular weights of the breakdown products, i.e. peptide maps) closely resembled those of purified EP(1) and partially purified EP(2). It is therefore concluded that EP(1) and EP(2) are localized in the vacuoles of mesophyll cells.

Greece and Turkey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

Summer is in full swing in this stunning true-color image of the southeastern European countries and Turkey captured by MODIS on June 29, 2002. Clockwise from left, the mountains of Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Turkey are swathed in brilliant greens and shades of golden brown; meanwhile (counterclockwise from left) the Ionian, Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Seas are beautifully blue and green.Running diagonally across the image from the bottom middle to the top right is a gray streak that is caused by the angle of reflection of the sun on the water (called sun glint). The darker areas within this gray swath denote calmer water, and make visible currents that would not otherwise be noticeable.Surprisingly few fires were burning hot enough to be detectable by MODIS when this image was acquired during the height of the summer dry season. A single fire is visible burning in mainland Greece, six are visible in northwestern Turkey, and one burns on the western coast (marked with red outlines). Credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

77 FR 19744 - Advanced BioPhotonics, Inc., Advanced Viral Research Corp., Brantley Capital Corp., Brilliant...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-02

... SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [File No. 500-1] Advanced BioPhotonics, Inc., Advanced Viral Research Corp., Brantley Capital Corp., Brilliant Technologies Corporation, 4C Controls, Inc., and 2-Track... Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Advanced Bio...

"All Students Are Brilliant": A Confession of Injustice and a Call to Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robertson, Amy D.; Elliott, Leslie J. Atkins

2017-01-01

The two of us (AR and LAE), in our teaching, research, and work with teachers, advocate for responsive teaching--an approach that seeks out and builds on the productive "seeds of science" in what our students say and do and assumes that "all students…are brilliant." This pedagogical approach requires a commitment to listening…

Enzyme-activated intracellular drug delivery with tubule clay nanoformulation

PubMed Central

Dzamukova, Maria R.; Naumenko, Ekaterina A.; Lvov, Yuri M.; Fakhrullin, Rawil F.

2015-01-01

Fabrication of stimuli-triggered drug delivery vehicle s is an important milestone in treating cancer. Here we demonstrate the selective anticancer drug delivery into human cells with biocompatible 50-nm diameter halloysite nanotube carriers. Physically-adsorbed dextrin end stoppers secure the intercellular release of brilliant green. Drug-loaded nanotubes penetrate through the cellular membranes and their uptake efficiency depends on the cells growth rate. Intercellular glycosyl hydrolases-mediated decomposition of the dextrin tube-end stoppers triggers the release of the lumen-loaded brilliant green, which allowed for preferable elimination of human lung carcinoma cells (А549) as compared with hepatoma cells (Hep3b). The enzyme-activated intracellular delivery of brilliant green using dextrin-coated halloysite nanotubes is a promising platform for anticancer treatment. PMID:25976444

Synthesis and application of photolithographically patternable deep blue emitting poly(3,6-dimethoxy-9,9-dialkylsilafluorene)s.

PubMed

McDowell, Jeffrey J; Maier-Flaig, Florian; Wolf, Thomas J A; Unterreiner, Andreas-Neil; Lemmer, Uli; Ozin, Geoffrey

2014-01-08

Poly(silafluorene)s (PSFs) are promising light-emitting materials with brilliant solid-state blue luminescence, high quantum efficiency, excellent solubility, and improved thermal and chemical stability. PSFs are reported to have high electron affinity and conductivity originating from σ*-π* conjugation between the σ*-antibonding orbital of the exocyclic Si-C bond and the π* antibonding orbital of the butadiene fragment, a promising characteristic for improved charge carrier balance in OLEDs. In this paper, we present a protocol for photopatterning derivatives of poly(3,6-dimethoxy-9,9-dialkylsilafluorenes) with resolutions exceeding 10 μm. The procedure begins by converting polymers (Mn = 50-55 kg/mol, PDI = 1.8) with cyclohexenyl and norbornenyl containing side chains to their respective epoxides using the Prilezhaev reaction and m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA). Using the I-line (365 nm) of a Karl Suss MA6 mask aligner, a 1 s UV light exposure of the photoacid generator (PAG) bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium hexafluoro-phosphate (DtBPI-PF6) generates sufficient protons to catalyze epoxide ring-opening and form a bridging network of covalent C-O bonds which renders the material insoluble in developing solvents such as toluene or THF. The resultant cross-linked material possess characteristic blue photoluminescence with solid state quantum yields >80%. Polymer films have excellent transparency (with a measured Eg ≈ 3.0 eV). Energy levels determined using cyclic voltammetry were -5.7 and -2.7 eV for HOMO and LUMO, respectively. Additionally, several device applications are demonstrated which incorporate cross-linked films. These include examples of solid state lasing in the region of 420-450 nm from cross-linked films on second order corrugated silica substrates (Λ = 200 nm). OLEDs were also prepared with a cross-linked emitting layer as part of a trilayer device which we report to have a maximum external quantum efficiency of 3.2% at 33 mA/cm(2) and a stable blue-violet emission with an electroluminescence maximum at 410 nm. Photopatternable PSF epoxides are also shown to be efficient hosts for Förster energy transfer and we provide examples of pattern layers incorporating small molecule emitters which emit in both the red and green while blue emission of the host is effectively suppressed.

Cathodoluminescence, laser ablasion inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, electron probe microanalysis and electron paramagnetic resonance analyses of natural sphalerite

USGS Publications Warehouse

Karakus, M.; Hagni, R.D.; Koenig, A.; Ciftc, E.

2008-01-01

Natural sphalerite associated with copper, silver, lead-zinc, tin and tungsten deposits from various world-famous mineral deposits have been studied by cathodoluminescence (CL), laser ablasion inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to determine the relationship between trace element type and content and the CL properties of sphalerite. In general, sphalerite produces a spectrum of CL colour under electron bombardment that includes deep blue, turquoise, lime green, yellow-orange, orange-red and dull dark red depending on the type and concentration of trace quantities of activator ions. Sphalerite from most deposits shows a bright yellow-orange CL colour with ??max centred at 585 nm due to Mn2+ ion, and the intensity of CL is strongly dependent primarily on Fe2+ concentration. The blue emission band with ??max centred at 470-490 nm correlates with Ga and Ag at the Tsumeb, Horn Silver, Balmat and Kankoy mines. Colloform sphalerite from older well-known European lead-zinc deposits and late Cretaceous Kuroko-type VMS deposits of Turkey shows intense yellowish CL colour and their CL spectra are characterised by extremely broad emission bands ranging from 450 to 750 nm. These samples are characterised by low Mn (<10 ppm) and Ag (<1 ppm), and they are enriched in Tl (1-30 ppm) and Pb (80-1500 ppm). Strong green CL is produced by sphalerite from the Balmat-Edwards district. Amber, lime-green and red-orange sphalerite produced weak orange-red CL at room temperatures, with several emission bands centred at 490, 580, 630, 680, 745, with ??max at 630 nm being the strongest. These emission bands are well correlated with trace quantities of Sn, In, Cu and Mn activators. Sphalerite from the famous Ogdensburg and Franklin mines exhibited brilliant deep blue and orange CL colours and the blue CL may be related to Se. Cathodoluminescence behaviour of sphalerite serves to characterise ore types and help detect technologically important trace elements.

Ultrafast and nonlinear spectroscopy of brilliant green-based nanoGUMBOS with enhanced near-infrared emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karam, Tony E.; Siraj, Noureen; Zhang, Zhenyu; Ezzir, Abdulrahman F.; Warner, Isiah M.; Haber, Louis H.

2017-10-01

The synthesis, characterization, ultrafast dynamics, and nonlinear spectroscopy of 30 nm nanospheres of brilliant green-bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide ([BG][BETI]) in water are reported. These thermally stable nanoparticles are derived from a group of uniform materials based on organic salts (nanoGUMBOS) that exhibit enhanced near-infrared emission compared with the molecular dye in water. The examination of ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy results reveals that the overall excited-state relaxation lifetimes of [BG][BETI] nanoGUMBOS are longer than the brilliant green molecular dye in water due to steric hindrance of the torsional degrees of freedom of the phenyl rings around the central carbon. Furthermore, the second harmonic generation signal of [BG][BETI] nanoGUMBOS is enhanced by approximately 7 times and 23 times as compared with colloidal gold nanoparticles of the same size and the brilliant green molecular dye in water, respectively. A very clear third harmonic generation signal is observed from the [BG][BETI] nanoGUMBOS but not from either the molecular dye or the gold nanoparticles. Overall, these results show that [BG][BETI] nanoGUMBOS exhibit altered ultrafast and nonlinear spectroscopy that is beneficial for various applications including nonlinear imaging probes, biomedical imaging, and molecular sensing.

Enzyme-activated intracellular drug delivery with tubule clay nanoformulation

DOE PAGES

Dzamukova, Maria R.; Naumenko, Ekaterina A.; Lvov, Yuri M.; ...

2015-05-15

Fabrication of stimuli-triggered drug delivery vehicle is is an important milestone in treating cancer. Here we demonstrate the selective anticancer drug delivery into human cells with biocompatible 50-nm diameter halloysite nanotube carriers. Physically-adsorbed dextrin end stoppers secure the intercellular release of brilliant green. Drug-loaded nanotubes penetrate through the cellular membranes and their uptake efficiency depends on the cells growth rate. Intercellular glycosyl hydrolases-mediated decomposition of the dextrin tube-end stoppers triggers the release of the lumen-loaded brilliant green, which allowed for preferable elimination of human lung carcinoma cells (А549) as compared with hepatoma cells (Hep3b). In conclusion, the enzyme-activated intracellular deliverymore » of brilliant green using dextrin-coated halloysite nanotubes is a promising platform for anticancer treatment.« less

16 CFR 23.16 - Misuse of the words “brilliant” and “full cut.”

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... cut.â 23.16 Section 23.16 Commercial Practices FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION GUIDES AND TRADE PRACTICE... “brilliant” and “full cut.” It is unfair or deceptive to use the unqualified expressions “brilliant,” “brilliant cut,” or “full cut” to describe, identify, or refer to any diamond except a round diamond that has...

16 CFR 23.16 - Misuse of the words “brilliant” and “full cut.”

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... cut.â 23.16 Section 23.16 Commercial Practices FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION GUIDES AND TRADE PRACTICE... “brilliant” and “full cut.” It is unfair or deceptive to use the unqualified expressions “brilliant,” “brilliant cut,” or “full cut” to describe, identify, or refer to any diamond except a round diamond that has...

Blooming Seas West of Ireland

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2007-01-01

For several weeks in May and early June, daily satellite images of the North Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland have captured partial glimpses of luxuriant blooms of microscopic marine plants between patches of clouds. On June 4, 2007, the skies over the ocean cleared, displaying the sea's spring bloom in brilliant color. A bright blue bloom stretches north from the Mouth of the River Shannon and tapers off like a plume of blue smoke north of Clare Island. (In the large image, a second bloom is visible to the north, wrapping around County Donegal, on the island's northwestern tip.) The image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite. Cold, nutrient-stocked water often wells up to the surface from the deeper ocean along coastal shelves and at the edges of ocean currents. When it does, it delivers a boost of nutrients that fuel large blooms of single-celled plants collectively known as phytoplankton. The plants are the foundation of the marine food web, and their proliferation in this area of the North Atlantic explains why the waters of western Ireland support myriad fisheries and populations of large mammals like seals, whales, and dolphins. Like plants on land, phytoplankton make their food through photosynthesis, harnessing sunlight for energy using chlorophyll and other light-capturing pigments. The pigments change the way light reflects off the surface water, appearing as colorful swirls of turquoise and green against the darker blue of the ocean. Though individually tiny, collectively these plants play a big role in Earth's carbon and climate cycles; worldwide, they remove about as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis as land plants do. Satellites are the only way to map the occurrence of phytoplankton blooms across the global oceans on a regular basis. That kind of information is important not only to scientists who model carbon and climate, but also to biologists and fisheries managers who monitor the health of marine natural resources like coral reefs and fish populations.

Removal of industrial dyes and heavy metals by Beauveria bassiana: FTIR, SEM, TEM and AFM investigations with Pb(II).

PubMed

Gola, Deepak; Malik, Anushree; Namburath, Maneesh; Ahammad, Shaikh Ziauddin

2017-10-01

Presence of industrial dyes and heavy metal as a contaminant in environment poses a great risk to human health. In order to develop a potential technology for remediation of dyes (Reactive remazol red, Yellow 3RS, Indanthrene blue and Vat novatic grey) and heavy metal [Cu(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI) and Pb(II)] contamination, present study was performed with entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana (MTCC no. 4580). High dye removal (88-97%) was observed during the growth of B. bassiana while removal percentage for heavy metals ranged from 58 to 75%. Further, detailed investigations were performed with Pb(II) in terms of growth kinetics, effect of process parameters and mechanism of removal. Growth rate decreased from 0.118 h -1 (control) to 0.031 h -1 , showing 28% reduction in biomass at 30 mg L -1 Pb(II) with 58.4% metal removal. Maximum Pb(II) removal was observed at 30 °C, neutral pH and 30 mg L -1 initial metal concentration. FTIR analysis indicated the changes induced by Pb(II) in functional groups on biomass surface. Further, microscopic analysis (SEM and atomic force microscopy (AFM)) was performed to understand the changes in cell surface morphology of the fungal cell. SEM micrograph showed a clear deformation of fungal hyphae, whereas AFM studies proved the increase in surface roughness (RSM) in comparison to control cell. Homogenous bioaccumulation of Pb(II) inside the fungal cell was clearly depicted by TEM-high-angle annular dark field coupled with EDX. Present study provides an insight into the mechanism of Pb(II) bioremediation and strengthens the significance of using entomopathogenic fungus such as B. bassiana for metal and dye removal.

Determination of food colorants in a wide variety of food matrices by microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography. Considerations on the found concentrations and regulated consumption limits.

PubMed

Bordagaray, Ane; Garcia-Arrona, Rosa; Vidal, Maider; Ostra, Miren

2018-10-01

Color additives are used widely by the food industry to confer a desirable appearance. Some of the most used colorants (Tartrazine (E102), Sunset Yellow (E110), Red Allure (E129) and Blue Brilliant (E133)) were determined in this study using microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEEKC). Regression coefficients were greater than 0.9981; intra- and inter-day precisions, in terms of percentage RSD, were less than 7.01% and 8.55%, respectively; recoveries were between 90 and 100% in most cases. LODs and LOQs ranged from 0.24 to 1.21 mg L -1 and from 0.80 to 4.03 mg L -1 , respectively. Moreover, MEEKC consumed less solvent than HPLC, making the analysis more environmentally friendly. The proposed method is suitable for the determination of colorants in a wide variety of foods. Results showed that consumers should be aware of colorants to avoid consumption exceeding recommended amounts. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Detection of Salmonella spp. in veterinary samples by combining selective enrichment and real-time PCR.

PubMed

Goodman, Laura B; McDonough, Patrick L; Anderson, Renee R; Franklin-Guild, Rebecca J; Ryan, James R; Perkins, Gillian A; Thachil, Anil J; Glaser, Amy L; Thompson, Belinda S

2017-11-01

Rapid screening for enteric bacterial pathogens in clinical environments is essential for biosecurity. Salmonella found in veterinary hospitals, particularly Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin, can pose unique challenges for culture and testing because of its poor growth. Multiple Salmonella serovars including Dublin are emerging threats to public health given increasing prevalence and antimicrobial resistance. We adapted an automated food testing method to veterinary samples and evaluated the performance of the method in a variety of matrices including environmental samples ( n = 81), tissues ( n = 52), feces ( n = 148), and feed ( n = 29). A commercial kit was chosen as the basis for this approach in view of extensive performance characterizations published by multiple independent organizations. A workflow was established for efficiently and accurately testing veterinary matrices and environmental samples by use of real-time PCR after selective enrichment in Rappaport-Vassiliadis soya (RVS) medium. Using this method, the detection limit for S. Dublin improved by 100-fold over subculture on selective agars (eosin-methylene blue, brilliant green, and xylose-lysine-deoxycholate). Overall, the procedure was effective in detecting Salmonella spp. and provided next-day results.

A rapid and accurate method for determining protein content in dairy products based on asynchronous-injection alternating merging zone flow-injection spectrophotometry.

PubMed

Liang, Qin-Qin; Li, Yong-Sheng

2013-12-01

An accurate and rapid method and a system to determine protein content using asynchronous-injection alternating merging zone flow-injection spectrophotometry based on reaction between coomassie brilliant blue G250 (CBBG) and protein was established. Main merit of our approach is that it can avoid interferences of other nitric-compounds in samples, such as melamine and urea. Optimized conditions are as follows: Concentrations of CBBG, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), NaCl and HCl are 150 mg/l, 30 mg/l, 0.1 mol/l and 1.0% (v/v), respectively; volumes of the sample and reagent are 150 μl and 30 μl, respectively; length of a reaction coil is 200 cm; total flow rate is 2.65 ml/min. The linear range of the method is 0.5-15 mg/l (BSA), its detection limit is 0.05 mg/l, relative standard deviation is less than 1.87% (n=11), and analytical speed is 60 samples per hour. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A dipeptide-based superhydrogel: Removal of toxic dyes and heavy metal ions from waste water.

PubMed

Nandi, Nibedita; Baral, Abhishek; Basu, Kingshuk; Roy, Subhasish; Banerjee, Arindam

2017-01-01

A short peptide-based molecule has been found to form a strong hydrogel at phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.46. The hydrogel has been characterized thoroughly using various techniques including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), wide angle powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and rheological analysis. It has been observed from FE-SEM images that entangled nanofiber network is responsible for gelation. Rheological investigation demonstrates that the self-assembly of this synthetic dipeptide results in the formation of mechanically strong hydrogel with storage modulus (G') around 10 4 Pa. This gel has been used for removing both cationic and anionic toxic organic dyes (Brilliant Blue, Congo red, Malachite Green, Rhodamine B) and metal ions (Co 2+ and Ni 2+ ) from waste water. Moreover, only a small amount of the gelator is required (less than 1 mg/mL) for preparation of this superhydrogel and even this hydrogel can be reused three times for dye/metal ion absorption. This signifies the importance of the hydrogel towards waste water management. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparison of five methods for determination of total plasma protein concentration.

PubMed

Okutucu, Burcu; Dinçer, Ayşşe; Habib, Omer; Zihnioglu, Figen

2007-08-01

Quantitation of exact total protein content is often a key step and is common to many applications in general biochemistry research and routine clinical laboratory practice. Before embarking on any type of protein analysis, particularly comparative techniques, it is important to accurately quantitate the amount of protein in the sample. In order to assess the quality of total protein estimation results, five methods were tested and were applied to the same pooled plasma sample. For this aim, Bradford (Coomassie Brilliant Blue), Lowry (Folin-Ciocalteau), Biüret, Pesce and Strande (Ponceau-S/TCA), and modified method of Schaffner-Weismann (Amido Black 10B) were used. The last two methods employ simultaneous precipitation of proteins with the acid containing dye solutions followed by dissolution of precipitate in a NaOH solution. It is shown that each assay has advantages and disadvantages relative to sensitivity, ease of performance, acceptance in literature, accuracy and reproducibility/coefficient of variation. All of the methods tested show a CV %<6. Besides pooled plasma, a known concentration of human serum albumin was also analyzed and discussed by means of standardization of plasma total protein content.

Transpassive Dissolution of Copper and Rapid Formation of Brilliant Colored Copper Oxide Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fredj, Narjes; Burleigh, T. David; New Mexico Tech Team

2014-03-01

This investigation describes an electrochemical technique for growing adhesive copper oxide films on copper with attractive colors ranging from gold-brown to pearl with intermediate colors from red violet to gold green. The technique consists of anodically dissolving copper at transpassive potentials in hot sodium hydroxide, and then depositing brilliant color films of Cu2O onto the surface of copper after the anodic potential has been turned off. The color of the copper oxide film depends on the temperature, the anodic potential, the time t1 of polarization, and the time t2, which is the time of immersion after potential has been turned off. The brilliant colored films were characterized using glancing angle x-ray diffraction, and the film was found to be primarily Cu2O. Cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were also used to characterize these films.

A DISTANT QUASAR'S BRILLIANT LIGHT

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

The arrow in this image, taken by a ground-based telescope, points to a distant quasar, the brilliant core of an active galaxy residing billions of light-years from Earth. As light from this faraway object travels across space, it picks up information on galaxies and the vast clouds of material between galaxies as it moves through them. The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope decoded the quasar's light to find the spectral 'fingerprints' of highly ionized (energized) oxygen, which had mixed with invisible clouds of hydrogen in intergalactic space. The quasar's brilliant beam pierced at least four separate filaments of the invisible hydrogen laced with the telltale oxygen. The presence of oxygen between the galaxies implies there are huge quantities of hydrogen in the universe. Credits: WIYN Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. The telescope is owned and operated by the University of Wisconsin, Indiana University, Yale University, and the National Optical Astronomy Observatories.

Friedrich Berthold Reinke (1862-1919): brilliant yet troubled anatomist of the vocal fold.

PubMed

Senior, A

2015-11-01

Reinke's space is a critical laryngeal structure, and the eponym remains in current use in both clinical and research settings. However, little is known about the life of the German anatomist Friedrich Berthold Reinke. His name is missing from the otolaryngological histories, despite his work on the structure he described being responsible for a fundamental advance in our understanding of the larynx. Although brilliant, Reinke was described as impetuous and coarse by his colleagues, resulting in his academic career being cut short. Reinke's relative anonymity is thought to derive from the fact that he never defined himself as a laryngologist. Without question, Reinke's observations of the human vocal fold are substantive contributions, without which modern laryngology could not have evolved. This article aimed to summarise this brilliant yet troubled man's life and achievements, allowing appreciation for his singular genius and fundamental contribution to laryngology.

Optimization and enhancement of textile reactive Remazol black B decolorization and detoxification by environmentally isolated pH tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa KY284155.

PubMed

Hashem, Rasha A; Samir, Reham; Essam, Tamer M; Ali, Amal E; Amin, Magdy A

2018-05-21

Azo dyes are complex derivatives of diazene used in food and textile manufacture. They are highly recalcitrant compounds, and account for severe environmental and health problems. Different strains of Pseudomonas species were isolated from textile wastewater effluents. The bioconversion of Remazol black B (a commonly used water soluble dye) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed in static conditions. The bio-decolorization process was optimized by a multi factorial Plackett-Burman experimental design. Decolorization of 200 mg L -1 reached 100% in 32 h. Interestingly, the presence of yeast extract, magnesium and iron in the culture media, highly accelerated the rate of decolorization. Moreover, one of our isolates, P. aeruginosa KY284155, was kept high degradation rates at high pH (pH = 9), which represents the pH of most textile wastewater effluents, and was able to tolerate high concentration of dye up to 500 mg L -1 . In bacteria, azo-dye degradation is often initiated by reductive azo compound cleavage catalyzed by azo-reductases. Three genes encoding azo-reductases, paazoR1, paazoR2 and paazoR3, could be identified in the genome of the isolated P. aeruginosa stain (B1). Bioinformatics analyses of the paazoR1, paazoR2 and paazoR3 genes reveal their prevalence and conservation in other P. aeruginosa strains. Chemical oxygen demand dramatically decreased and phyto-detoxification of the azo dye was accomplished by photocatalytic post treatment of the biodegradation products. We suggest applying combined biological photocatalytic post treatment for azo dyes on large scale, for effective, cheap decolorization and detoxification of azo-dyes, rendering them safe enough to be discharged in the environment.

Temperature Compensation in Determining of Remazol Black B Concentrations Using Plastic Optical Fiber Based Sensor

PubMed Central

Chong, Su Sin; Aziz, A.R. Abdul; Harun, Sulaiman W.; Arof, Hamzah

2014-01-01

In this study, the construction and test of tapered plastic optical fiber (POF) sensors, based on an intensity modulation approach are described. Tapered fiber sensors with different diameters of 0.65 mm, 0.45 mm, and 0.35 mm, were used to measure various concentrations of Remazol black B (RBB) dye aqueous solutions at room temperature. The concentrations of the RBB solutions were varied from 0 ppm to 70 ppm. In addition, the effect of varying the temperature of the RBB solution was also investigated. In this case, the output of the sensor was measured at four different temperatures of 27 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C, while its concentration was fixed at 50 ppm and 100 ppm. The experimental results show that the tapered POF with d = 0.45 mm achieves the best performance with a reasonably good sensitivity of 61 × 10−4 and a linearity of more than 99%. It also maintains a sufficient and stable signal when heat was applied to the solution with a linearity of more than 97%. Since the transmitted intensity is dependent on both the concentration and temperature of the analyte, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to combine the two independent variables into a single equation. The resulting equation was then validated experimentally and the best agreement between the calculated and experimental results was achieved by the sensor with d = 0.45 mm, where the minimum discrepancy is less than 5%. The authors conclude that POF-based sensors are suitable for RBB dye concentration sensing and, with refinement in fabrication, better results could be achieved. Their low fabrication cost, simple configuration, accuracy, and high sensitivity would attract many potential applications in chemical and biological sensing. PMID:25166498

Comparison of adsorption of Remazol Black B and Acidol Red on microporous activated carbon felt.

PubMed

Donnaperna, L; Duclaux, L; Gadiou, R; Hirn, M-P; Merli, C; Pietrelli, L

2009-11-15

The adsorption of two anionic dyes, Remazol Black B (RB5) and Acidol Red 2BE-NW (AR42), onto a microporous activated carbon felt was investigated. The characterization of carbon surface chemistry by X-ray microanalysis, Boehm titrations, and pH-PZC measurements indicates that the surface oxygenated groups are mainly acidic. The rate of adsorption depends on the pH and the experimental data fit the intraparticle diffusion model. The pore size distribution obtained by DFT analysis shows that the mean pore size is close to 1nm, which indicates that a slow intraparticle diffusion process control the adsorption. The adsorption isotherms were measured for different pH values. The Khan and the Langmuir-Freundlich models lead to the best agreement with experimental data for RB5 and AR42, respectively. These isotherm simulations and the pH dependence of adsorption show that the adsorption capacity is mainly controlled by nondispersive electrostatic interactions for pH values below 4. The adsorption kinetics, the irreversibility of the process, and the influence of the pH indicate that the rate of adsorption in this microporous felt proceeds through two steps. The first one is fast and results from direct interaction of dye molecules with the external surface of the carbon material (which account for 10% of the whole surface area); in the second, slow step, the adsorption rate is controlled by the slow diffusion of dye molecules into the narrow micropores. The influence of temperature on the adsorption isotherms was studied and the thermodynamic parameters were obtained. They show that the process is spontaneous and exothermic.

Temperature compensation in determining of Remazol black B concentrations using plastic optical fiber based sensor.

PubMed

Chong, Su Sin; Aziz, A R Abdul; Harun, Sulaiman W; Arof, Hamzah

2014-08-27

In this study, the construction and test of tapered plastic optical fiber (POF) sensors, based on an intensity modulation approach are described. Tapered fiber sensors with different diameters of 0.65 mm, 0.45 mm, and 0.35 mm, were used to measure various concentrations of Remazol black B (RBB) dye aqueous solutions at room temperature. The concentrations of the RBB solutions were varied from 0 ppm to 70 ppm. In addition, the effect of varying the temperature of the RBB solution was also investigated. In this case, the output of the sensor was measured at four different temperatures of 27 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C, while its concentration was fixed at 50 ppm and 100 ppm. The experimental results show that the tapered POF with d = 0.45 mm achieves the best performance with a reasonably good sensitivity of 61 × 10(-4) and a linearity of more than 99%. It also maintains a sufficient and stable signal when heat was applied to the solution with a linearity of more than 97%. Since the transmitted intensity is dependent on both the concentration and temperature of the analyte, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to combine the two independent variables into a single equation. The resulting equation was then validated experimentally and the best agreement between the calculated and experimental results was achieved by the sensor with d = 0.45 mm, where the minimum discrepancy is less than 5%. The authors conclude that POF-based sensors are suitable for RBB dye concentration sensing and, with refinement in fabrication, better results could be achieved. Their low fabrication cost, simple configuration, accuracy, and high sensitivity would attract many potential applications in chemical and biological sensing.

Brilliant petawatt gamma-ray pulse generation in quantum electrodynamic laser-plasma interaction

PubMed Central

Chang, H. X.; Qiao, B.; Huang, T. W.; Xu, Z.; Zhou, C. T.; Gu, Y. Q.; Yan, X. Q.; Zepf, M.; He, X. T.

2017-01-01

We show a new resonance acceleration scheme for generating ultradense relativistic electron bunches in helical motions and hence emitting brilliant vortical γ-ray pulses in the quantum electrodynamic (QED) regime of circularly-polarized (CP) laser-plasma interactions. Here the combined effects of the radiation reaction recoil force and the self-generated magnetic fields result in not only trapping of a great amount of electrons in laser-produced plasma channel, but also significant broadening of the resonance bandwidth between laser frequency and that of electron betatron oscillation in the channel, which eventually leads to formation of the ultradense electron bunch under resonant helical motion in CP laser fields. Three-dimensional PIC simulations show that a brilliant γ-ray pulse with unprecedented power of 6.7 PW and peak brightness of 1025 photons/s/mm2/mrad2/0.1% BW (at 15 MeV) is emitted at laser intensity of 1.9 × 1023 W/cm2. PMID:28338010

Decolorization of brilliant green dye using immersed lamp sonophotocatalytic reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gole, Vitthal L.; Priya, Astha; Danao, Sanjay P.

2017-12-01

The textile and dye industries require an enormous amount of water for processing and produce a large volume of wastewater. Generated wastewater had potential hazards and a threat to the aquatic biota. The present work investigates the decolorization of brilliant green dye using a combination of two advanced oxidation techniques viz sonocatalysis and photocatalysis (immersed lamp) known as sonophotocatalysis (3 L capacity). The efficiency of decolorization is further improved in the presence of various additives viz. copper oxide, zinc oxide, and sodium chloride. The maximum decolorization of brilliant green (BG) (94.8% in 120 min) obtained in the presence of zinc oxide. The total organic carbon of the treated samples was measured to monitor complete mineralization of BG. The sonophotocatalytic process (in the presence of zinc oxide) shows maximum mineralization. Synergic combination of two oxidation processes increased the production of oxidizing radicals. Continuous cleaning of catalyst surface (due to sonolysis effect) improves the activity of the catalyst for photolysis operation. The present work is highly useful for the development of a sonophotocatalytic process.

Nanocomposite Phosphor Consisting of CaI2:Eu2+ Single Nanocrystals Embedded in Crystalline SiO2.

PubMed

Daicho, Hisayoshi; Iwasaki, Takeshi; Shinomiya, Yu; Nakano, Akitoshi; Sawa, Hiroshi; Yamada, Wataru; Matsuishi, Satoru; Hosono, Hideo

2017-11-29

High luminescence efficiency is obtained in halide- and chalcogenide-based phosphors, but they are impractical because of their poor chemical durability. Here we report a halide-based nanocomposite phosphor with excellent luminescence efficiency and sufficient durability for practical use. Our approach was to disperse luminescent single nanocrystals of CaI 2 :Eu 2+ in a chemically stable, translucent crystalline SiO 2 matrix. Using this approach, we successfully prepared a nanocomposite phosphor by means of self-organization through a simple solid-state reaction. Single nanocrystals of 6H polytype (thr notation) CaI 2 :Eu 2+ with diameters of about 50 nm could be generated not only in a SiO 2 amorphous powder but also in a SiO 2 glass plate. The nanocomposite phosphor formed upon solidification of molten CaI 2 left behind in the crystalline SiO 2 that formed from the amorphous SiO 2 under the influence of a CaI 2 flux effect. The resulting nanocomposite phosphor emitted brilliant blue luminescence with an internal quantum efficiency up to 98% upon 407 nm violet excitation. We used cathodoluminescence microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction patterns to confirm that the blue luminescence was generated only by the CaI 2 :Eu 2+ single nanocrystals. The phosphor was chemically durable because the luminescence sites were embedded in the crystalline SiO 2 matrix. The phosphor is suitable for use in near-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes. The concept for this nanocomposite phosphor can be expected to be effective for improvements in the practicality of poorly durable materials such as halides and chalcogenides.

In vivo multispectral photoacoustic and photothermal flow cytometry with multicolor dyes: a potential for real-time assessment of circulation, dye-cell interaction, and blood volume.

PubMed

Proskurnin, Mikhail A; Zhidkova, Tatyana V; Volkov, Dmitry S; Sarimollaoglu, Mustafa; Galanzha, Ekaterina I; Mock, Donald; Nedosekin, Dmitry A; Zharov, Vladimir P

2011-10-01

Recently, photoacoustic (PA) flow cytometry (PAFC) has been developed for in vivo detection of circulating tumor cells and bacteria targeted by nanoparticles. Here, we propose multispectral PAFC with multiple dyes having distinctive absorption spectra as multicolor PA contrast agents. As a first step of our proof-of-concept, we characterized high-speed PAFC capability to monitor the clearance of three dyes (Indocyanine Green [ICG], Methylene Blue [MB], and Trypan Blue [TB]) in an animal model in vivo and in real time. We observed strong dynamic PA signal fluctuations, which can be associated with interactions of dyes with circulating blood cells and plasma proteins. PAFC demonstrated enumeration of circulating red and white blood cells labeled with ICG and MB, respectively, and detection of rare dead cells uptaking TB directly in bloodstream. The possibility for accurate measurements of various dye concentrations including Crystal Violet and Brilliant Green were verified in vitro using complementary to PAFC photothermal (PT) technique and spectrophotometry under batch and flow conditions. We further analyze the potential of integrated PAFC/PT spectroscopy with multiple dyes for rapid and accurate measurements of circulating blood volume without a priori information on hemoglobin content, which is impossible with existing optical techniques. This is important in many medical conditions including surgery and trauma with extensive blood loss, rapid fluid administration, and transfusion of red blood cells. The potential for developing a robust clinical PAFC prototype that is safe for human, and its applications for studying the liver function are further highlighted. Copyright © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

Improved panels for clinical immune phenotyping: Utilization of the violet laser.

PubMed

Ryherd, Mark; Plassmeyer, Matthew; Alexander, Connor; Eugenio, Ines; Kleschenko, Yuliya; Badger, Ariel; Gupta, Raavi; Alpan, Oral; Sønder, Søren Ulrik

2017-05-10

Clinical diagnostic laboratories are subject to numerous regulations imposed by government agencies. Laboratory developed tests for flow cytometry panels are essentially restricted to the use of analyte-specific reagents (ASR) antibodies. With the advances in clinical flow cytometry systems, there is a trend toward the utilization of blue/red/violet laser flow systems and 8 to 10-color panels. Currently, the selection of commercially available ASR antibodies for the violet laser is very limited. The market is dominated by Brilliant Violet 421 (BV421) manufactured by BD Biosciences and Pacific Blue (PB) manufactured by Beckman Coulter. In this study, we compare BV421 and PB conjugated ASR antibodies. Whole blood was stained and acquired on a Gallios flow cytometer system. For single color staining, the stain index (SI) was calculated. For the two panels, the compensation matrix was calculated and the performance of the antibody cocktails analyzed in FCS Express. The results show that five out of six tested BV421 conjugated antibodies have significantly higher SI than their PB counterparts. Furthermore, BV421 antibodies require less compensation for spillover than PB. Finally, BV421 conjugated antibodies give better separation between negative and positive populations in the context of an 8 and 10 color panel without affecting the intensity of the other dyes. Overall, using BV421 conjugated antibodies results in better separation between populations compared to PB conjugated antibodies without negatively affecting other fluorochromes in our panels. We conclude that the BV421 conjugated ASR antibodies are currently the better available option for clinical flow panels. © 2017 International Clinical Cytometry Society. © 2017 International Clinical Cytometry Society.

Molecular and clinical characterization of Waardenburg syndrome type I in an Iranian cohort with two novel PAX3 mutations.

PubMed

Jalilian, Nazanin; Tabatabaiefar, Mohammad Amin; Farhadi, Mohammad; Bahrami, Tayeb; Emamdjomeh, Hesam; Noori-Daloii, Mohammad Reza

2015-12-15

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a disease of abnormal neural-crest derived melanocyte development characterized by hearing loss and pigmentary disturbances in hair, eyes and skin. WS is subdivided into four major types, WS1-WS4, where WS1 is recognized by the presence of dystopia canthorum, with PAX3 being the only known gene involved. This study aimed at investigating PAX3 mutations and clinical characteristics of WS1 in a group of Iranian patients. A total of 12 WS1 patients from four unrelated Iranian families were enrolled. Waardenburg consortium guidelines were used for WS1 diagnosis. A detailed family history was traced and a thorough clinical examination was performed for all participants. Furthermore, WS1 patients underwent screening for PAX3 mutations using PCR-sequencing. Dystopia canthorum, broad high nasal root and synophrys were observed in all patients. Early graying, hair discoloration, hypoplastic blue eyes (characteristic brilliant blue iris) and hearing loss were the most common features observed, while heterochromia iridis was the least frequently observed sign among the studied Iranian WS1 patients. Genetic analysis of PAX3 revealed four mutations including c.667C>T, c.784C>T, c.951delT and c.451+3A>C. Two of the four mutations reported here (c.951delT and c.451+3A>C) are being reported for the first time in this study. Our data provide insight into genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of WS1 in an Iranian series of patients. Our results expand the spectrum of PAX3 mutations and may have implications for the genetic counseling of WS in Iran. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-invasive techniques for revealing the palette of the Romantic painter Francesco Hayez

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rampazzi, Laura; Brunello, Valentina; Corti, Cristina; Lissoni, Elena

2017-04-01

This paper describes the first systematic analysis of the palette of Francesco Hayez, one of the most outstanding artists of European Romanticism, whose painting technique has never been extensively investigated despite the plethora of artistic studies. He lived in a particular moment in the history of painting, as in the first half of the 19th century many synthetic pigments were available, also in tin tubes, but traditional materials were still used. Sixteen paintings on canvas and on panels, created between 1823 and 1868, were analyzed in situ through non-invasive techniques (infrared reflectography and infrared reflection spectroscopy). Imaging investigation provided clues on painting technique, revealing some cases of pentimenti and underdrawings. A preliminary survey was carried out on a hundred pure pigments used up to the 19th century and on new synthetic colours, in order to attain reference spectra for the interpretation of painting spectra. The portable infrared instrument provided insight into Hayez's painting materials, identifying barite, ivory black, lead-tin yellow, Naples yellow, ochres, Prussian blue, and white lead. The pigments were often blended, to obtain a unique fabric appearance or to attain cold shades. The results pointed to a siccative oil as a binder, mixed with white lead so that it could act as a catalyzer in polymerization reactions, and in some cases with a proteinaceous binder and resins. The preparation was made with gypsum and white lead mixed with a siccative oil. The results showed that the artist used a typical traditional palette, throughout his career, in order to lead to brilliant colours and with long-term stability. Anyway, the possible presence of cobalt blue in a few paintings suggests that Hayez had probably started testing the new colours, since the second decade of 19th century.

Aqueous two-phase based on ionic liquid liquid-liquid microextraction for simultaneous determination of five synthetic food colourants in different food samples by high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Sha, Ou; Zhu, Xiashi; Feng, Yanli; Ma, Weixing

2015-05-01

A rapid and effective method of aqueous two-phase systems based on ionic liquid microextraction for the simultaneous determination of five synthetic food colourants (tartrazine, sunset yellow, amaranth, ponceau 4R and brilliant blue) in food samples was established. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an ultraviolet detector of variable wavelength was used for the determinations. 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide was selected as the extraction reagent. The extraction efficiency of the five colourants in the proposed system is influenced by the types of salts, concentrations of salt and [CnMIM]Br, as well as the extracting time. Under the optimal conditions, the extraction efficiencies for these five colourants were above 95%. The phase behaviours of aqueous two-phase system and extraction mechanism were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy. This method was applied to the analysis of the five colourants in real food samples with the detection limit of 0.051-0.074 ng/mL. Good spiked recoveries from 93.2% to 98.9% were obtained. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry peptide mass fingerprinting for proteome analysis: identification efficiency after on-blot or in-gel digestion with and without desalting procedures.

PubMed

Lamer, S; Jungblut, P R

2001-03-10

In theory, peptide mass fingerprinting by matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has the potential to identify all of the proteins detected by silver staining on gels. In practice, if the genome of the organism investigated is completely sequenced, using current techniques, all proteins stained by Coomassie Brilliant Blue can be identified. This loss of identification sensitivity of ten to hundred-fold is caused by loss of peptides by surface contacts. Therefore, we performed digestion and transfer of peptides in the lower microl range and reduced the number of steps. The peptide mix obtained from in-gel or on-blot digestion was analyzed directly after digestion or after concentration on POROS R2 beads. Eight protein spots of a 2-DE gel from Mycobacterium bovis BCG were identified using these four preparation procedures for MALDI-MS. Overall, on-blot digestion was as effective as in-gel digestion. Whereas higher signal intensities resulted after concentration, hydrophilic peptides are better detected by direct measurement of the peptide mix without POROS R2 concentration.

Tracer-monitored flow titrations.

PubMed

Sasaki, Milton K; Rocha, Diogo L; Rocha, Fábio R P; Zagatto, Elias A G

2016-01-01

The feasibility of implementing tracer-monitored titrations in a flow system is demonstrated. A dye tracer is used to estimate the instant sample and titrant volumetric fractions without the need for volume, mass or peak width measurements. The approach was applied to spectrophotometric flow titrations involving variations of sample and titrant flow-rates (i.e. triangle programmed technique) or concentration gradients established along the sample zone (i.e. flow injection system). Both strategies required simultaneous monitoring of two absorbing species, namely the titration indicator and the dye tracer. Mixing conditions were improved by placing a chamber with mechanical stirring in the analytical path aiming at to minimize diffusional effects. Unlike most of flow-based titrations, the innovation is considered as a true titration, as it does not require a calibration curve thus complying with IUPAC definition. As an application, acidity evaluation in vinegars involving titration with sodium hydroxide was selected. Phenolphthalein and brilliant blue FCF were used as indicator and dye tracer, respectively. Effects of sample volume, titrand/titrant concentrations and flow rates were investigated aiming at improved accuracy and precision. Results were reliable and in agreement with those obtained by a reference titration procedure. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Diffusion blotting: a rapid and simple method for production of multiple blots from a single gel.

PubMed

Olsen, Ingrid; Wiker, Harald G

2015-01-01

A very simple and fast method for diffusion blotting of proteins from precast SDS-PAGE gels on a solid plastic support was developed. Diffusion blotting for 3 min gives a quantitative transfer of 10 % compared to 1-h electroblotting. For each subsequent blot from the same gel a doubling of transfer time is necessary to obtain the same amount of protein onto each blot. High- and low-molecular-weight components are transferred equally efficiently when compared to electroblotting. However, both methods do give a higher total transfer of the low-molecular-weight proteins compared to the large proteins. The greatest advantage of diffusion blotting is that several blots can be made from each lane, thus enabling testing of multiple antisera on virtually identical blots. The gel remains on the plastic support, which prevents it from stretching or shrinking. This ensures identical blots and facilitates more reliable molecular weight determination. Furthermore the proteins remaining in the gel can be stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue or other methods for exact and easy comparison with the developed blots. These advantages make diffusion blotting the method of choice when quantitative protein transfer is not required.

Controlled release from a composite silicone/hydrogel membrane.

PubMed

Hu, Z; Wang, C; Nelson, K D; Eberhart, R C

2000-01-01

To enhance the drug uptake and release capacity of silicone rubber (SR), N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) hydrogel particles have been incorporated into a SR membrane. The NIPA particles were thoroughly blended with uncured SR with a certain ratio at room temperature. The mixture was then cast in a Petri dish to 1 mm thickness and cured 10 hours at 90 degrees C. The SR/NIPA composite gel can absorb water approximately equal to its dry weight. Brilliant blue, used as a mock drug, was loaded into the composite gel. Drug release increased exponentially to a final value that is temperature dependent: low at T> =34 degrees C, and high at T< 34 degrees C. This finding is because the hydrophobicity of NIPA changes with temperature. Pulsed release in response to temperature switching between 20 and 39 degrees C has been achieved. Drug uptake and release capability strongly depends upon the structure of the composite gel. The optimal range of NIPA composition is between 75 and 87% by volume. In the cited range, the NIPA particles form an interconnected network that provides a channel for diffusion of drug solution. The SR/NIPA composite gel has promising attributes as a wound dressing and other uses.

Self-assembled multilayers and photoluminescence properties of a new water-soluble poly(para-phenylene)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shi, X.; Li, D.; Luett, M.

1998-07-01

This paper reports the synthesis and characterizations of a new water-soluble poly(paraphenylene) (PPP) and its applications in preparing self-assembled multi-layer films. This new water-soluble conducting polymer was prepared through the sulfonation reaction of poly(p-quarterphenylene-2,2{prime}-dicarboxylic acid). The incorporation of sulfonate groups has dramatically improved PPP's solubility in water at a wide pH range, whereas previous PPP is only slightly soluble in basic solutions. Dilute aqueous solutions of this polymer with acidic, neutral or basic pH emit brilliant blue light while irradiated with UV light. The sulfonated PPP emits from 350 nm to 455 nm with a maximum intensity at 380 nm.more » Self-assembled multilayers of this sulfonated PPP were constructed with a positively charged polymer poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) and characterized with various surface analyses. Conductive (RuO{sub 2} and ITO), semiconductive (Si wafer), and non-conductive (SiO{sub 2}) substrates were used in the preparation of self-assembled multilayers. Electrical, optical and structural properties of these novel self-assembled thin films will be discussed.« less

Self-assembled multilayers and photoluminescence properties of a new water-soluble poly(para-phenylene)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shi, X.; Li, D.Q.; Luett, M.

1998-03-01

This paper reports the synthesis and characterizations of a new water-soluble poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) and its applications in preparing self-assembled multilayer films. This new water-soluble conducting polymer was prepared through the sulfonation reaction of poly(p-quarterphenylene-2,2{prime}-dicarboxylic acid). The incorporation of sulfonate groups has dramatically improved PPP`s solubility in water at a wide pH range, whereas previous PPP is only slightly soluble in basic solutions. Dilute aqueous solutions of this polymer with acidic, neutral or basic pH emit brilliant blue light while irradiated with UV light. The sulfonated PPP emits from 350 nm to 455 nm with a maximum intensity at 380 nm.more » Self-assembled multilayers of this sulfonated PPP were constructed with a positively charged polymer poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) and characterized with various surface analyses. Conductive (RuO{sub 2} and ITO), semiconductive (Si wafer), and non-conductive (SiO{sub 2}) substrates were used in the preparation of self-assembled multilayers. Electrical, optical and structural properties of these novel self-assembled thin films will be discussed.« less

Changes in mouse whole saliva soluble proteome induced by tannin-enriched diet

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Previous studies suggested that dietary tannin ingestion may induce changes in mouse salivary proteins in addition to the primarily studied proline-rich proteins (PRPs). The aim of the present study was to determine the protein expression changes induced by condensed tannin intake on the fraction of mouse whole salivary proteins that are unable to form insoluble tannin-protein complexes. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis protein separation was used, followed by protein identification by mass spectrometry. Results Fifty-seven protein spots were excised from control group gels, and 21 different proteins were identified. With tannin consumption, the expression levels of one α-amylase isoform and one unidentified protein increased, whereas acidic mammalian chitinase and Muc10 decreased. Additionally, two basic spots that stained pink with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 were newly observed, suggesting that some induced PRPs may remain uncomplexed or form soluble complexes with tannins. Conclusion This proteomic analysis provides evidence that other salivary proteins, in addition to tannin-precipitating proteins, are affected by tannin ingestion. Changes in the expression levels of the acidic mammalian chitinase precursor and in one of the 14 salivary α-amylase isoforms underscores the need to further investigate their role in tannin ingestion. PMID:21159160

Decavanadate, a P2X receptor antagonist, and its use to study ligand interactions with P2X7 receptors.

PubMed

Michel, Anton D; Xing, Mengle; Thompson, Kyla M; Jones, Clare A; Humphrey, Patrick P A

2006-03-18

In this study we have studied decavanadate effects at P2X receptors. Decavanadate competitively blocked 2'- and 3'-O-(4benzoylbenzoyl) ATP (BzATP) stimulated ethidium accumulation in HEK293 cells expressing human recombinant P2X7 receptors (pK(B) 7.5). The effects of decavanadate were rapid (minutes) in both onset and offset and contrasted with the much slower kinetics of pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P), Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) and 1-[N,O-bis(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-N-methyl-L-tyrosyl]-4-phenylpiperazine (KN62). Decavanadate competitively blocked the slowly reversible, or irreversible, blockade of the P2X7 receptor produced by P5P and oxidised ATP suggesting competition for a common binding site. However, the interaction between decavanadate and KN62 was non-competitive. Decavanadate also blocked P2X2 and P2X4 receptors but with slightly lower potency. These data demonstrate that decavanadate is the first reversible and competitive antagonist of the P2X7 receptor and is a useful tool for studying the mechanism of interaction of ligands with the P2X7 receptor.

Multiple extrafoveal macular holes following internal limiting membrane peeling

PubMed Central

Hussain, Nazimul; Mitra, Sandip

2018-01-01

Objective Internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling has been the standard of treatment for macular holes. Besides, causing retinal nerve fiber layer surface abnormality, postoperative extrafoveal multiple retinal holes is a rare phenomenon following ILM peeling. We report an unusual complication of eight extrafoveal macular holes occurring following ILM peeling. Case presentation A 60-year-old male presented with complaints of decreased and distorted vision in the right eye. He was diagnosed as having epiretinal membrane with lamellar macular hole. He underwent 23G pars plana vitrectomy, brilliant blue assisted ILM peeling and fluid gas exchange. Intraoperatively, ILM was found to be adherent to the underlying neurosensory retina. One month after cataract surgery, he underwent YAG capsulotomy in the right eye. He complained of visual distortion. His fundus evaluation in the right eye showed multiple (eight) extrafoveal retinal holes temporal to the macula clustered together. Conclusion This case demonstrated that peeling of ILM, especially when it is adherent to the underlying neurosensory retina, may cause unwanted mechanical trauma to the inner retina. Glial apoptosis and neuronal degeneration may presumably play a role in delayed appearance of multiple (eight) extrafoveal macular holes, which has not been reported earlier. PMID:29760571

Sterilization mechanism of nitrogen gas plasma: induction of secondary structural change in protein.

PubMed

Sakudo, Akikazu; Higa, Masato; Maeda, Kojiro; Shimizu, Naohiro; Imanishi, Yuichiro; Shintani, Hideharu

2013-07-01

The mechanism of action on biomolecules of N₂ gas plasma, a novel sterilization technique, remains unclear. Here, the effect of N₂ gas plasma on protein structure was investigated. BSA, which was used as the model protein, was exposed to N₂ gas plasma generated by short-time high voltage pulses from a static induction thyristor power supply. N₂ gas plasma-treated BSA at 1.5 kilo pulses per second showed evidence of degradation and modification when assessed by Coomassie brilliant blue staining and ultraviolet spectroscopy at 280 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to determine the protein's secondary structure. When the amide I region was analyzed in the infrared spectra according to curve fitting and Fourier self-deconvolution, N₂ gas plasma-treated BSA showed increased α-helix and decreased β-turn content. Because heating decreased α-helix and increased β-sheet content, the structural changes induced by N₂ gas plasma-treatment of BSA were not caused by high temperatures. Thus, the present results suggest that conformational changes induced by N₂ gas plasma are mediated by mechanisms distinct from heat denaturation. © 2013 The Societies and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Multiple extrafoveal macular holes following internal limiting membrane peeling.

PubMed

Hussain, Nazimul; Mitra, Sandip

2018-01-01

Internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling has been the standard of treatment for macular holes. Besides, causing retinal nerve fiber layer surface abnormality, postoperative extrafoveal multiple retinal holes is a rare phenomenon following ILM peeling. We report an unusual complication of eight extrafoveal macular holes occurring following ILM peeling. A 60-year-old male presented with complaints of decreased and distorted vision in the right eye. He was diagnosed as having epiretinal membrane with lamellar macular hole. He underwent 23G pars plana vitrectomy, brilliant blue assisted ILM peeling and fluid gas exchange. Intraoperatively, ILM was found to be adherent to the underlying neurosensory retina. One month after cataract surgery, he underwent YAG capsulotomy in the right eye. He complained of visual distortion. His fundus evaluation in the right eye showed multiple (eight) extrafoveal retinal holes temporal to the macula clustered together. This case demonstrated that peeling of ILM, especially when it is adherent to the underlying neurosensory retina, may cause unwanted mechanical trauma to the inner retina. Glial apoptosis and neuronal degeneration may presumably play a role in delayed appearance of multiple (eight) extrafoveal macular holes, which has not been reported earlier.

Some Physical Properties of Protein Moiety of Alkali-Extracted Tea Polysaccharide Conjugates Were Shielded by Its Polysaccharide.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaoqiang; Song, Wei; Zhao, Jin; Zhang, Zhifa; Zhang, Yuntian

2017-05-31

Polysaccharide conjugates were alkali-extracted from green tea (TPC-A). Although it contained 11.80% covalently binding proteins, TPC-A could not bind to the Coomassie Brilliant Blue dyes G250 and R250. TPC-A had no expected characteristic absorption peak of protein in the UV-vis spectrum scanning in the range of 200-700 nm. The UV-vis wavelength of 280 nm was not suitable to detect the presence of the protein portion of TPC-A. The zeta potential of TPC-A merely presented the negative charge properties of polysaccharides instead of the acid-base property of its protein section across the entire pH range. Furthermore, TPC-A was more stable when the pH of solution exceeded 4.0. In addition, no precipitation or haze was generated in the TPC-A/(-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) mixtures during 12 h storage. TPC-A has emulsifying activity, which indicated that its protein moiety formed hydrophobic groups. Thus, it was proposed that some physical properties of TPC-A protein were shielded by its olysaccharide, since the protein moiety was wrapped by its polysaccharide chains.

Partial purification and characterization of polyphenol oxidase from banana (Musa sapientum L.) peel.

PubMed

Yang, C P; Fujita, S; Kohno, K; Kusubayashi, A; Ashrafuzzaman, M; Hayashi, N

2001-03-01

Polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.1, o-diphenol: oxygen oxidoreductase, PPO) of banana (Musa sapientum L.) peel was partially purified about 460-fold with a recovery of 2.2% using dopamine as substrate. The enzyme showed a single peak on Toyopearl HW55-S chromatography. However, two bands were detected by staining with Coomassie brilliant blue on PAGE: one was very clear, and the other was faint. Molecular weight for purified PPO was estimated to be about 41 000 by gel filtration. The enzyme quickly oxidized dopamine, and its Km value (Michaelis constant) for dopamine was 3.9 mM. Optimum pH was 6.5 and the PPO activity was quite stable in the range of pH 5-11 for 48 h. The enzyme had an optimum temperature at 30 degrees C and was stable up to 60 degrees C after heat treatment for 30 min. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, potassium cyanide, L-ascorbic acid, and cysteine at 1 mM. Under a low buffer capacity, the enzyme was also strongly inhibited by citric acid and acetic acid at 10 mM.

The locations of cosmic explosions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fruchter, A. S.; Levan, A. J.; Strolger, L.; Vreeswijk, P. M.; Bersier, D.; Burud, I.; Castro-Ceron, J. M.; Consclice, C.; Dahlen, T.; Strolger, L.

2005-01-01

When massive stars exhaust their fuel they collapse and often produce the extraordinarily bright explosions known as core-collapse supernovae. Recently, it has become apparent that stellar collapse can power the even more brilliant relativistic explosions known as long-duration gamma-ray bursts. In some cases, a gamma-ray burst and a supernova have been observed from the same event. One would thus expect that gamma-ray bursts and supernovae should be found in similar environments. Here we show that this expectation is wrong. Using Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the host galaxies of long-duration gamma-ray bursts and core-collapse supernovae, we demonstrate that while the distribution of the supernovae in their hosts traces the blue light of young stars, the gamma-ray bursts are much more concentrated on the very brightest regions of their hosts. Furthermore, the host galaxies of the gamma-ray bursts are significantly fainter and more irregular than the hosts of the supernovae. Together these results suggest that long-duration gamma-ray bursts are associated with the very most massive stars and may be restricted to galaxies of limited chemical evolution. Our results directly imply that long-duration gamma-ray bursts are relatively rare in galaxies such as our own Milky Way.

An unusually brilliant transient in the galaxy M85.

PubMed

Kulkarni, S R; Ofek, E O; Rau, A; Cenko, S B; Soderberg, A M; Fox, D B; Gal-Yam, A; Capak, P L; Moon, D S; Li, W; Filippenko, A V; Egami, E; Kartaltepe, J; Sanders, D B

2007-05-24

Historically, variable and transient sources have both surprised astronomers and provided new views of the heavens. Here we report the discovery of an optical transient in the outskirts of the lenticular galaxy Messier 85 in the Virgo cluster. With a peak absolute R magnitude of -12, this event is distinctly brighter than novae, but fainter than type Ia supernovae (which are expected in a population of old stars in lenticular galaxies). Archival images of the field do not show a luminous star at that position with an upper limit in the g filter of about -4.1 mag, so it is unlikely to be a giant eruption from a luminous blue variable star. Over a two-month period, the transient source emitted radiation energy of almost 10(47) erg and subsequently faded in the optical sky. It is similar to, but six times more luminous at peak than, an enigmatic transient in the galaxy M31 (ref. 1). A possible origin of M85 OT2006-1 is a stellar merger. If so, searches for similar events in nearby galaxies will not only allow study of the physics of hyper-Eddington sources, but also probe an important phase in the evolution of stellar binary systems.

Barents Sea

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

Phytoplankton bloom in the Barents Sea captured August 14, 2011. At times nature exceeds the ability of the artist’s brush to blend brilliant colors, interweave textures and combine patterns to create stunning panoramas, while using only the palette of land, water, cloud and vegetation. This stunning and artistic image of a phytoplankton bloom in the Barents Sea was by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite was captured on August 14, 2011. The peacock-hued swirls of blues and green that paint the navy-blue sea water are created by light reflecting off of millions of phytoplankton, microscopic plants that grow in the sunlit surface water of the world’s oceans. Different types of phytoplankton reflect different colored light, so a multi-color bloom such as this typically contains multiple species. The depth of the bloom also affects coloration – the deeper the organism, the less light is reflected and the duller the color. Coccolithophores, a type of phytoplankton which flourish in nutrient-poor, sub-polar waters, have unique limestone (calcite) scales. This white coating makes the plant highly reflective, and thus a bloom can appear to be a bright, almost iridescent blue. The chalky coating can also cause whitish swirls in the water, making the blues washed out with a milky hue. August is a highly active month for phytoplankton blooms in the Barents Sea, but the timing, development, abundance and species composition is variable in this area. The distribution of phytoplankton is largely controlled by the polar front, ice cover, freshwater runoff and ice melting. Each water source – the Artic, the Atlantic and the coastal water – all bring their own characteristic species into the Barents Sea, creating a multi-specie and multi-color spectacle. Because phytoplankton are the base of the marine food chain, places were blooms are large and frequent often support a thriving marine population. This is certainly the case in the Barents Sea where the fisheries, particularly the cod fisheries, are of great importance for both Norway and Russia. The coastlines of both of these countries can be seen in the bottom of the image. Russia forms the south-eastern most coast, while the remaining three-quarters of the coastline belongs to Norway. Two fjords in the west, Porsangerfjorden and Laksefjord are tinted bright blue with phytoplankton. Just to the east of these fjords, freshwater from the Tana River flows through Tanafjord, turning the waters here are a duller blue. As fresh water flows into the Barents Sea, phytoplankton bloom is affected by the flowing water, creating paisley-like patterns in the coastal eddies. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Study of nonlinear refraction of organic dye by Z-scan technique using He-Ne laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Medhekar, S.; Kumar, R.; Mukherjee, S.

2013-02-05

Laser induced third-order nonlinear optical responses of Brilliant Green solution has been investigated by utilizing single beam Z-scan technique with a continuous-wave He-Ne laser radiation at 632.8 nm. It was observed that the material exhibits self-defocusing type optical nonlinearity. The measurements of nonlinear refraction were carried out at different dye concentrations and found that the increase in solution concentration leads to the linear increase of the nonlinear refractive index. The experimental results confirm great potential of the Brilliant Green for the application in nonlinear optical devices.

Experiments with brilliant gamma beams at ELI-NP: A glimpse in the future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balabanski, Dimiter L.

2018-02-01

The emerging experimental program with brilliant gamma beams at the Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics facility (ELI-NP), which is under construction in Magurele, Romania is presented with emphasis on the prepared day-one experiments. Experiments at ELI-NP will cover nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) measurements, studies of large-amplitude motions in nuclei, photofission and photonuclear reactions of astrophysics interest, and measurements of photonuclear reaction cross sections. The physics cases of the flagship experiments at ELI-NP are discussed, as well as the related instruments which are under construction for their realization.

A dye binding method for measurement of total protein in microalgae.

PubMed

Servaites, Jerome C; Faeth, Julia L; Sidhu, Sukh S

2012-02-01

Protein is a large component of the standing biomass of algae. The total protein content of algae is difficult to measure because of the problems encountered in extracting all of the protein from the cells. Here we modified an existing protein assay to measure total protein in microalgae cells that involves little or no extraction of protein from the cells. Aliquots of fresh or pretreated cells were spotted onto filter paper strips. After drying, the strips were stained in a 0.1% (w/v) solution of the protein stain Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 for 16 to 24 h and then destained. The stained protein spots were cut out from the paper, and dye was eluted in 1% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Absorbance at 600 nm was directly proportional to protein concentration. Cells that were recalcitrant to taking up the dye could be either heated at 80°C for 10 min in 1% SDS or briefly sonicated for 3 min to facilitate penetration of the dye into the cells. Total protein measured in Chlorella vulgaris using this method compared closely with that measured using the total N method. Total protein concentrations were measured successfully in 12 algal species using this dye binding method. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Multifunctional Octamethyltetrasila[2.2]cyclophanes: Conformational Variations, Circularly Polarized Luminescence, and Organic Electroluminescence.

PubMed

Shimada, Masaki; Yamanoi, Yoshinori; Ohto, Tatsuhiko; Pham, Song-Toan; Yamada, Ryo; Tada, Hirokazu; Omoto, Kenichiro; Tashiro, Shohei; Shionoya, Mitsuhiko; Hattori, Mineyuki; Jimura, Keiko; Hayashi, Shigenobu; Koike, Hikaru; Iwamura, Munetaka; Nozaki, Koichi; Nishihara, Hiroshi

2017-08-16

Both symmetrical and unsymmetrical cyclophanes containing disilane units, tetrasila[2.2]cyclophanes 1-9, were synthesized. The syn and anti conformations and the kinetics of inversion between two anti-isomers were investigated by X-ray diffraction and variable-temperature NMR analysis, respectively. The flipping motion of two aromatic rings was affected by the bulkiness of the aromatic moiety (1 vs 6), the phase (solid vs solution), and the inclusion by host molecules (1 vs 1⊂[Ag 2 L] 2+ ). The photophysical, electrochemical, and structural properties of the compounds were thoroughly investigated. Unsymmetrical tetrasila[2.2]cyclophanes 5-8 displayed blue-green emission arising from intramolecular charge transfer. Compound 6 emitted a brilliant green light in the solid state under 365 nm irradiation and showed a higher fluorescence quantum yield in the solid state (Φ = 0.49) than in solution (Φ = 0.05). We also obtained planar chiral tetrasila[2.2]cyclophane 9, which showed interesting chiroptical properties, such as a circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with a dissymmetry factor of |g lum | = ca. 2 × 10 -3 at 500 nm. Moreover, an organic green light-emitting diode that showed a maximum external quantum efficiency (η ext ) of ca. 0.4% was fabricated by doping 4,4'-bis(2,2'-diphenylvinyl)-1,1'-biphenyl with 6.

Further considerations on the thermal stabilization of the nuclear matrix in mouse erythroleukemia cells.

PubMed

Martelli, A M; Falcieri, E; Gobbi, P; Manzoli, L; Cataldi, A; Rana, R A; Cocco, L

1992-04-01

The morphology and the polypeptide composition of the nuclear matrix obtained from 37 degrees C incubated nuclei has been studied in mouse erythroleukemia cells. From a structural point of view, in the absence of heat treatment, the matrix lacked identifiable nucleolar remnants and the internal fibrogranular meshwork whereas a peripheral lamina was seen. On the contrary, the matrix obtained from heat exposed nuclei displayed very electrondense nucleolar remnants and an abundant inner network. These results were obtained irrespective of the type of extracting agent (2M NaCl or 0.2 M (NH4)2SO4) used to remove histones and other soluble proteins. The heat stabilization of the matrix could not be prevented by sulfhydryl blocking chemicals such as iodoacetamide and n-ethylmaleimide, thus suggesting that heat does not stabilize the matrix by inducing the formation of disulfide bonds. Only limited differences in the polypeptide pattern of matrix isolated under different conditions were seen using one-dimensional pore gradient polyacrylamide gels stained with both Coomassie Brilliant Blue and silver despite the fact that the matrix fraction from heat treated nuclei retained about three fold more protein in comparison with controls. The same results were obtained also by means of two-dimensional non-equilibrium gel electrophoresis.

Black Hole Spills Kaleidoscope of Color

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2006-01-01

This new false-colored image from NASA's Hubble, Chandra and Spitzer space telescopes shows a giant jet of particles that has been shot out from the vicinity of a type of supermassive black hole called a quasar. The jet is enormous, stretching across more than 100,000 light-years of space -- a size comparable to our own Milky Way galaxy!

Quasars are among the brightest objects in the universe. They consist of supermassive black holes surrounded by turbulent material, which is being heated up as it is dragged toward the black hole. This hot material glows brilliantly, and some of it gets blown off into space in the form of powerful jets.

The jet pictured here is streaming out from the first known quasar, called 3C273, discovered in 1963. A kaleidoscope of colors represents the jet's assorted light waves. X-rays, the highest-energy light in the image, are shown at the far left in blue (the black hole itself is well to the left of the image). The X-rays were captured by Chandra. As you move from left to right, the light diminishes in energy, and wavelengths increase in size. Visible light recorded by Hubble is displayed in green, while infrared light caught by Spitzer is red. Areas where visible and infrared light overlap appear yellow.

N-terminal SKIK peptide tag markedly improves expression of difficult-to-express proteins in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Ojima-Kato, Teruyo; Nagai, Satomi; Nakano, Hideo

2017-05-01

Despite advances in microbial protein expression systems, low production of proteins remains a great concern for some genes. Here we report that the insertion of a short peptide tag, consisting of Ser-Lys-Ile-Lys (SKIK), adjacent to the start codon of genes encoding difficult-to-express proteins can increase protein expression in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Protein expression levels of a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb), rabbit mAbs obtained from clonal B cells, and an artificially designed peptide were significantly increased simply by the addition of the SKIK tag in E. coli systems. In particular, a ∼30-fold increase in protein production was observed for the mouse mAb, and the artificially designed peptide band became detectable in sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis after coomassie brilliant blue staining or western blotting on adding the SKIK tag. The tag also increased the expression of tagged proteins in S. cerevisiae and an E. coli cell-free protein synthesis system. Although the mechanism of high protein expression on addition of the tag is unclear, our findings offer great benefits to biotechnology research and industry. Copyright © 2016 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Physicochemical properties and cell-based bioactivity of Pu'erh tea polysaccharide conjugates.

PubMed

Chen, Xiao-Qiang; Zhang, Zhi-Fa; Gao, Zhi-Ming; Huang, Yi; Wu, Zheng-Qi

2017-11-01

Polysaccharide conjugates were prepared from Pu'erh tea and fractionated by DEAE-cellulose DE-52 column chromatography to yield one unexplored polysaccharide-conjugate fraction termed TPC-P with a molecular weight of 251,200Da. DVS (dynamic vapour sorption) result discovered that the humidity condition of long-term preservation for TPC-P is below 70% RH. Although it contained proteins, TPC-P could not bind to the Coomassie Brilliant Blue dyes G250 and R250. The "shoulder-shaped" ultroviolet absorption peak in TPC-P UV-vis scanning spectum ascribe theabrownins that inevitably adsorbed the polysaccharide conjugate. Zeta potential results demonstrated TPC-P aqueous solution merely presented the negative charge properties of polysaccharides instead of acid-base property of its protein section, and had more stability in greater than pH 5.5. No precipitation or haze occurred in the three TPC-P/EGCG aqueous mixtures during their being stored for 12h. The phase separation was observed in aqueous mixtures of TPC-P and type B gelatin. TPC-P possessed the fine stability as a function of temperature heating and cooling between 0 and 55°C. It is proposed that some properties of the covalent binding protein of TPC-P were "shielded" by its polysaccharide chains. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Proteomic analysis of urine in rats chronically exposed to fluoride.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Claudia Ayumi Nakai; Leite, Aline de Lima; da Silva, Thelma Lopes; dos Santos, Lucilene Delazari; Nogueira, Fábio César Sousa; Santos, Keity Souza; de Oliveira, Rodrigo Cardoso; Palma, Mario Sérgio; Domont, Gilberto Barbosa; Buzalaf, Marília Afonso Rabelo

2011-01-01

Urine is an ideal source of materials to search for potential disease-related biomarkers as it is produced by the affected tissues and can be easily obtained by noninvasive methods. 2-DE-based proteomic approach was used to better understand the molecular mechanisms of injury induced by fluoride (F(-)) and define potential biomarkers of dental fluorosis. Three groups of weanling male Wistar rats were treated with drinking water containing 0 (control), 5, or 50 ppm F(-) for 60 days (n = 15/group). During the experimental period, the animals were kept individually in metabolic cages, to analyze the water and food consumption, as well as fecal and urinary F(-) excretion. Urinary proteome profiles were examined using 2-DE and Colloidal Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining. A dose-response regarding F(-) intake and excretion was detected. Quantitative intensity analysis revealed 8, 11, and 8 significantly altered proteins between control vs. 5 ppm F(-), control vs. 50 ppm F(-) and 5 ppm F(-) vs. 50 ppm F(-) groups, respectively. Two proteins regulated by androgens (androgen-regulated 20-KDa protein and α-2μ-globulin) and one related to detoxification (aflatoxin-B1-aldehyde-reductase) were identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF MS/MS. Thus, proteomic analysis can help to better understand the mechanisms underlying F(-) toxicity, even in low doses. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Infiltration pattern in a regolith-fractured bedrock profile: field observation of a dye stain pattern

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jae Gon; Lee, Gyoo Ho; Lee, Jin-Soo; Chon, Chul-Min; Kim, Tack Hyun; Ha, Kyoochul

2006-02-01

We examined the infiltration pattern of water in a regolith-bedrock profile consisting of two overburdens (OB1 and OB2), a buried rice paddy soil (PS), two texturally distinctive weathered materials (WM1 and WM2) and a fractured sedimentary rock (BR), using a Brilliant Blue FCF dye tracer. A black-coloured coating in conducting fractures in WM1, WM2 and BR was analysed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The dye tracer penetrated to greater than 2 m depth in the profile. The macropore flow and saturated interflow were the major infiltration patterns in the profile. Macropore flow and saturated interflow were observed along fractures in WM1, WM2 and BR and at the dipping interfaces of PS-WM1, PS-WM2 and PS-BR respectively. Heterogeneous matrix flow occurred in upper overburden (OB1) and PS. Compared with OB1, the coarser textured OB2 acted as a physical barrier for vertical flow of water. The PS with low bulk density and many fine roots was another major conducting route of water in the profile. Manganese oxide and iron oxide were positively identified in the black coating material and had low crystallinity and high surface area, indicating their high reactivity with conducting contaminants.

Activity of xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases suggests a role during host invasion by the parasitic plant Cuscuta reflexa

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The parasitic vines of the genus Cuscuta form haustoria that grow into other plants and connect with their vascular system, thus allowing the parasite to feed on its host. A major obstacle that meets the infection organ as it penetrates the host tissue is the rigid plant cell wall. In the present study, we examined the activity of xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases (XTHs) during the host-invasive growth of the haustorium. The level of xyloglucan endotransglucosylation (XET) activity was found to peak at the penetrating stage of Cuscuta reflexa on its host Pelargonium zonale. In vivo colocalization of XET activity and donor substrate demonstrated XET activity at the border between host and parasite. A test for secretion of XET-active enzymes from haustoria of C. reflexa corroborated this and further indicated that the xyloglucan-modifying enzymes originated from the parasite. A known inhibitor of XET, Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250, was shown to reduce the level of XET in penetrating haustoria of C. reflexa. Moreover, the coating of P. zonale petioles with the inhibitor compound lowered the number of successful haustorial invasions of this otherwise compatible host plant. The presented data indicate that the activity of Cuscuta XTHs at the host-parasite interface is essential to penetration of host plant tissue. PMID:28448560

Activity of xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases suggests a role during host invasion by the parasitic plant Cuscuta reflexa.

PubMed

Olsen, Stian; Krause, Kirsten

2017-01-01

The parasitic vines of the genus Cuscuta form haustoria that grow into other plants and connect with their vascular system, thus allowing the parasite to feed on its host. A major obstacle that meets the infection organ as it penetrates the host tissue is the rigid plant cell wall. In the present study, we examined the activity of xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases (XTHs) during the host-invasive growth of the haustorium. The level of xyloglucan endotransglucosylation (XET) activity was found to peak at the penetrating stage of Cuscuta reflexa on its host Pelargonium zonale. In vivo colocalization of XET activity and donor substrate demonstrated XET activity at the border between host and parasite. A test for secretion of XET-active enzymes from haustoria of C. reflexa corroborated this and further indicated that the xyloglucan-modifying enzymes originated from the parasite. A known inhibitor of XET, Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250, was shown to reduce the level of XET in penetrating haustoria of C. reflexa. Moreover, the coating of P. zonale petioles with the inhibitor compound lowered the number of successful haustorial invasions of this otherwise compatible host plant. The presented data indicate that the activity of Cuscuta XTHs at the host-parasite interface is essential to penetration of host plant tissue.

Decolorization of salt-alkaline effluent with industrial reactive dyes by laccase-producing Basidiomycetes strains.

PubMed

Moreira-Neto, S L; Mussatto, S I; Machado, K M G; Milagres, A M F

2013-04-01

The discharge of highly coloured synthetic dye effluents into rivers and lakes is harmful to the water bodies, and therefore, intensive researches have been focussed on the decolorization of wastewater by biological, physical or chemical treatments. In the present study, 12 basidiomycetes strains from the genus Pleurotus, Trametes, Lentinus, Peniophora, Pycnoporus, Rigidoporus, Hygrocybe and Psilocybe were evaluated for decolorization of the reactive dyes Cibacron Brilliant Blue H-GR and Cibacron Red FN-2BL, both in solid and liquid media. Among the evaluated fungi, seven showed great ability to decolorize the synthetic textile effluent, both in vivo (74-77%) or in vitro (60-74%), and laccase was the main ligninolytic enzyme involved on dyes decolorization. Pleurotus ostreatus, Trametes villosa and Peniophora cinerea reduced near to 60% of the effluent colour after only 1 h of treatment. The decolorization results were still improved by establishing the nitrogen source and amount to be used during the fungal strains cultivation in synthetic medium previous their action on the textile effluent, with yeast extract being a better nitrogen source than ammonium tartarate. These results contribute for the development of an effective microbiological process for decolorization of dye effluents with reduced time of treatment. © 2013 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

HUBBLE REVEALS STELLAR FIREWORKS ACCOMPANYING GALAXY COLLISION

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

This Hubble Space Telescope image provides a detailed look at a brilliant 'fireworks show' at the center of a collision between two galaxies. Hubble has uncovered over 1,000 bright, young star clusters bursting to life as a result of the head-on wreck. [Left] A ground-based telescopic view of the Antennae galaxies (known formally as NGC 4038/4039) - so named because a pair of long tails of luminous matter, formed by the gravitational tidal forces of their encounter, resembles an insect's antennae. The galaxies are located 63 million light-years away in the southern constellation Corvus. [Right] The respective cores of the twin galaxies are the orange blobs, left and right of image center, crisscrossed by filaments of dark dust. A wide band of chaotic dust, called the overlap region, stretches between the cores of the two galaxies. The sweeping spiral- like patterns, traced by bright blue star clusters, shows the result of a firestorm of star birth activity which was triggered by the collision. This natural-color image is a composite of four separately filtered images taken with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2), on January 20, 1996. Resolution is 15 light-years per pixel (picture element). Credit: Brad Whitmore (STScI), and NASA

High-resolution microscope for tip-enhanced optical processes in ultrahigh vacuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steidtner, Jens; Pettinger, Bruno

2007-10-01

An optical microscope based on tip-enhanced optical processes that can be used for studies on adsorbates as well as thin layers and nanostructures is presented. The microscope provides chemical and topographic informations with a resolution of a few nanometers and can be employed in ultrahigh vacuum as well as gas phase. The construction involves a number of improvements compared to conventional instruments. The central idea is to mount, within an UHV system, an optical platform with all necessary optical elements to a rigid frame that also carries the scanning tunneling microscope unit and to integrate a high numerical aperture parabolic mirror between the scanning probe microscope head and the sample. The parabolic mirror serves to focus the incident light and to collect a large fraction of the scattered light. The first experimental results of Raman measurements on silicon samples as well as brilliant cresyl blue layers on single crystalline gold and platinum surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum are presented. For dye adsorbates a Raman enhancement of ˜106 and a net signal gain of up to 4000 was observed. The focus diameter (˜λ/2) was measured by Raman imaging the focal region on a Si surface. The requirements of the parabolic mirror in terms of alignment accuracy were experimentally determined as well.

Natural course and surgical management of high myopic foveoschisis.

PubMed

Rey, Amanda; Jürgens, Ignasi; Maseras, Xavier; Carbajal, Miriam

2014-01-01

To describe the spectral-domain optical coherence tomographic characteristics, natural course and surgical management for eyes with myopic foveoschisis. The medical records of 39 consecutive patients (56 eyes) with myopic foveoschisis were retrospectively reviewed. Pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and Brilliant Blue G staining was performed on 16 symptomatic eyes (14 patients). Optical coherence tomography at baseline showed an isolated foveoschisis in 62.5%, foveal detachment in 21.4%, and a lamellar hole in 16.1% of the eyes. After a mean follow-up period of 15.7 months, 1.8% of the eyes developed a full-thickness macular hole and 28.5% of the eyes required surgery. The mean preoperative visual acuity (VA) was 20/63 and the mean central retinal thickness (CRT) was 507.6 µm. The mean postoperative VA was 20/40 and the mean CRT 282.9 µm. Anatomical success was achieved in 75% of the eyes at a mean of 3.3 months after surgery, and 81.2% of the eyes had an improvement of 2 lines of VA. Myopic foveoschisis remained stable in most eyes; however, 28.5% of the eyes had decreases in VA secondary to progression of the foveoschisis and required surgery. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Measurements of 427 Double Stars With Speckle Interferometry: The Winter/Spring 2017 Observing Program at Brilliant Sky Observatory, Part 1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harshaw, Richard

2018-04-01

In the winter and spring of 2017, an aggressive observing program of measuring close double stars with speckle interferometry and CCD imaging was undertaken at Brilliant Sky Observatory, my observing site in Cave Creek, Arizona. A total of 596 stars were observed, 8 of which were rejected for various reasons, leaving 588 pairs. Of these, 427 were observed and measured with speckle interferometry, while the remaining 161 were measured with a CCD. This paper reports the results of the observations of the 427 speckle cases. A separate paper in this issue will report the CCD measurements of the 161 other pairs.

Measurements of 161 Double Stars With a High-Speed CCD: The Winter/Spring 2017 Observing Program at Brilliant Sky Observatory, Part 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harshaw, Richard

2018-04-01

In the winter and spring of 2017, an aggressive observing program of measuring close double stars with speckle interferometry and CCD imaging was undertaken at Brilliant Sky Observatory, my observing site in Cave Creek, Arizona. A total of 596 stars were observed, 8 of which were rejected for various reasons, leaving 588 pairs. Of these, 427 were observed and measured with speckle interferometry, while the remaining 161 were measured with a CCD. This paper reports the results of the observations of the 161 CCD cases. A separate paper in this issue will report the speckle measurements of the 427 other pairs.

In vivo and in vitro study of the function of the left and right bovine ovaries.

PubMed

Karamishabankareh, Hamed; Hajarian, Hadi; Shahsavari, Mohammadhamed; Moradinejad, Ruhollah

2015-09-15

Inequality in function of the left and right bovine ovaries and uterine horns was evaluated in two separate experiments. In the first experiment (in vivo), the relationship between the left and right ovarian activities and reproductive indices was evaluated. Therefore, the total number of 1284 randomly chosen lactating dairy cows were examined from Day 50 to 60 postpartum, and according to the presence of an active CL on the ovaries, they were divided into 502 LCL3-cows and 782 RCL3-cows (cows with an active CL on the left [L] or right [R] ovary, respectively). To induce estrus synchronization and investigate the effects of PGF2α administration on the incidence of estrus in both LCL3-cows and RCL3-cows, the cows were treated with one luteolytic dose of PGF2α and were inseminated after observed estrus (via visual observation lasting at least 30 minutes three times a day). To investigate the effects of side of ovulation at the time of PGF2α administration on reproductive parameters, pregnancy diagnosis was performed 28 days after insemination (using ultrasound) and 42 days after insemination (using transrectal palpation). The results showed that the percentage of the RCL3-cows was greater than the LCL3-cows (60.9% vs. 39.1%, respectively). Furthermore, ovulations switching from the left to right ovary in two successive ovulations were greater than those that switched from the right to left ovary. On the other hand, the sex ratio (male percentage) in the right uterine horn was greater than that of the left one. In the second experiment (in vitro), the developmental potential of bovine oocytes derived from the left (L-oocytes) and right (R-oocytes) ovaries after in vitro embryo production and heterogeneity in the developmental competence of L-oocytes and R-oocytes using the brilliant cresyl blue staining test as a selection criterion were evaluated. Results of the in vitro experiment showed that the percentage of cleavage and blastocyst rate of R-oocytes were greater (P < 0.001) than those of L-oocytes. Moreover, it appears that the side of ovaries had greater effects on the developmental competence of oocytes than other factors associated with heterogeneity in the developmental competence of oocytes, which can be detected by the brilliant cresyl blue test. In conclusion, the results of the in vivo study confirmed the observations in previous studies in which the right ovarian response (distribution of ovulation) was superior to that of the left ones. Interestingly, the in vitro experiments for the first time clearly showed that more ovulation on the right side is not the only reason for this unequal activity. In fact, in cattle, the greater developmental potential of oocytes originating from right ovaries may cause superior activity of the right side, and the effect is even higher than the differences in ovulation response between the left and right ovaries. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic X-ray sources-present and future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behling, Rolf; Grüner, Florian

2018-01-01

This paper compares very different physical principles of X-ray production to spur ideation. Since more than 120 years, bremsstrahlung from X-ray tubes has been the workhorse of medical diagnostics. Generated by X-ray segments comprised of X-ray tubes and high-voltage generators in the various medical systems, X-ray photons in the spectral range between about 16 keV and 150 keV deliver information about anatomy and function of human patients and in pre-clinical animal studies. Despite of strides to employ the wave nature of X-rays as phase sensitive means, commercial diagnostic X-ray systems available until the time of writing still rely exclusively on measuring the attenuation and scattering of X-rays by matter. Significant activities in research aim at building highly brilliant short pulse X-ray sources, based on e.g. synchrotron radiation, free electron lasers and/or laser wake-field acceleration of electrons followed by wiggling with magnetic structures or Thomson scattering in bunches of light. While both approaches, non-brilliant and brilliant sources, have different scope of application, we speculate that a combination may expand the efficacy in medical application. At this point, however, severe technical and commercial difficulties hinder closing this gap. This article may inspire further development and spark innovation in this important field.

Non-invasive techniques for revealing the palette of the Romantic painter Francesco Hayez.

PubMed

Rampazzi, Laura; Brunello, Valentina; Corti, Cristina; Lissoni, Elena

2017-04-05

This paper describes the first systematic analysis of the palette of Francesco Hayez, one of the most outstanding artists of European Romanticism, whose painting technique has never been extensively investigated despite the plethora of artistic studies. He lived in a particular moment in the history of painting, as in the first half of the 19th century many synthetic pigments were available, also in tin tubes, but traditional materials were still used. Sixteen paintings on canvas and on panels, created between 1823 and 1868, were analyzed in situ through non-invasive techniques (infrared reflectography and infrared reflection spectroscopy). Imaging investigation provided clues on painting technique, revealing some cases of pentimenti and underdrawings. A preliminary survey was carried out on a hundred pure pigments used up to the 19th century and on new synthetic colours, in order to attain reference spectra for the interpretation of painting spectra. The portable infrared instrument provided insight into Hayez's painting materials, identifying barite, ivory black, lead-tin yellow, Naples yellow, ochres, Prussian blue, and white lead. The pigments were often blended, to obtain a unique fabric appearance or to attain cold shades. The results pointed to a siccative oil as a binder, mixed with white lead so that it could act as a catalyzer in polymerization reactions, and in some cases with a proteinaceous binder and resins. The preparation was made with gypsum and white lead mixed with a siccative oil. The results showed that the artist used a typical traditional palette, throughout his career, in order to lead to brilliant colours and with long-term stability. Anyway, the possible presence of cobalt blue in a few paintings suggests that Hayez had probably started testing the new colours, since the second decade of 19th century. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The brilliant beauty of the eye: light reflex from the cornea and tear film.

PubMed

Goto, Eiki

2006-12-01

Light reflex from the cornea and tear film as contributors to beautiful eyes ("eye sparkling") are reviewed. A systematic literature review was conducted using "Purkinje-Sanson image," "corneal light reflex," "corneal topography," "corneal wavefront aberration," and "tear interference image" as search terms. Articles on corneal surface regularity and stability and tear interferometry of the precorneal tear lipid layer were reviewed. PS-1 image, that is light reflex from the cornea and tear film, is widely used in practical ophthalmic examination. To achieve a brilliant beauty of the eye ("eye sparkling"), it is important that the tear film (aqueous layer) surface is smooth and stable with adequate tear volume and that the tear lipid layer is present in adequate thickness.

Comparison of Brilliant Green Agar and Hektoen Enteric Agar Media in the Isolation of Salmonellae from Food Products

PubMed Central

Goo, Velma Y. L.; Ching, George Q. L.; Gooch, John M.

1973-01-01

Brilliant Green (BG) agar and Hektoen enteric (HE) agar media were compared for their efficiency in isolating salmonellae from various food products. Of the 11,226 food specimens examined, 1,662 (or 14.9%) yielded salmonellae. Of this number, 1,475 (88.7%) were recovered from BG agar and 1,315 (79.1%) were recovered from HE agar media. The results indicate that BG agar is more effective in isolating salmonellae from food products. A smaller subsidiary study showed HE agar to be more selective than BG agar. Four hundred ten specimens yielded 92 nonlactose-fermenting isolants other than salmonellae on BG agar and only 11 such isolants on HE agar. PMID:4584576

Near death experiences: a multidisciplinary hypothesis

PubMed Central

Bókkon, István; Mallick, Birendra N.; Tuszynski, Jack A.

2013-01-01

Recently, we proposed a novel biophysical concept regarding on the appearance of brilliant lights during near death experiences (NDEs) (Bókkon and Salari, 2012). Specifically, perceiving brilliant light in NDEs has been proposed to arise due to the reperfusion that produces unregulated overproduction of free radicals and energetically excited molecules that can generate a transient enhancement of bioluminescent biophotons in different areas of the brain, including retinotopic visual areas. If this excess of bioluminescent photon emission exceeds a threshold in retinotopic visual areas, this can appear as (phosphene) lights because the brain interprets these intrinsic retinotopic bioluminescent photons as if they originated from the external physical world. Here, we review relevant literature that reported experimental studies (Imaizumi et al., 1984; Suzuki et al., 1985) that essentially support our previously published conception, i.e., that seeing lights in NDEs may be due to the transient enhancement of bioluminescent biophotons. Next, we briefly describe our biophysical visual representation model that may explain brilliant lights experienced during NDEs (by phosphenes as biophotons) and REM sleep associated dream-like intrinsic visual imageries through biophotons in NDEs. Finally, we link our biophysical visual representation notion to self-consciousness that may involve extremely low-energy quantum entanglements. This article is intended to introduce novel concepts for discussion and does not pretend to give the ultimate explanation for the currently unanswerable questions about matter, life and soul; their creation and their interrelationship. PMID:24062655

Near death experiences: a multidisciplinary hypothesis.

PubMed

Bókkon, István; Mallick, Birendra N; Tuszynski, Jack A

2013-01-01

Recently, we proposed a novel biophysical concept regarding on the appearance of brilliant lights during near death experiences (NDEs) (Bókkon and Salari, 2012). Specifically, perceiving brilliant light in NDEs has been proposed to arise due to the reperfusion that produces unregulated overproduction of free radicals and energetically excited molecules that can generate a transient enhancement of bioluminescent biophotons in different areas of the brain, including retinotopic visual areas. If this excess of bioluminescent photon emission exceeds a threshold in retinotopic visual areas, this can appear as (phosphene) lights because the brain interprets these intrinsic retinotopic bioluminescent photons as if they originated from the external physical world. Here, we review relevant literature that reported experimental studies (Imaizumi et al., 1984; Suzuki et al., 1985) that essentially support our previously published conception, i.e., that seeing lights in NDEs may be due to the transient enhancement of bioluminescent biophotons. Next, we briefly describe our biophysical visual representation model that may explain brilliant lights experienced during NDEs (by phosphenes as biophotons) and REM sleep associated dream-like intrinsic visual imageries through biophotons in NDEs. Finally, we link our biophysical visual representation notion to self-consciousness that may involve extremely low-energy quantum entanglements. This article is intended to introduce novel concepts for discussion and does not pretend to give the ultimate explanation for the currently unanswerable questions about matter, life and soul; their creation and their interrelationship.

Differential actions of proteinases and neuraminidase on mammalian erythrocyte surface and its impact on erythrocyte agglutination by concanavalin A.

PubMed

Sharma, Savita; Gokhale, Sadashiv M

2012-12-01

Action of proteinases viz. trypsin and chymotrypsin, and neuraminidase on intact erythrocyte membrane proteins and glycophorins (sialoglycoproteins) exposed to cell surface and its impact on lectin (concanavalin A)-mediated agglutination were studied in Homo sapiens (human), Capra aegagrus hircus (goat) and Bubalus bubalis (buffalo). Membrane proteins and glycophorins analysis by SDS-PAGE as visualized by coomassie brilliant blue and periodic acid-schiff stains, respectively, and agglutination behaviour revealed marked differences: 1) there were prominent dissimilarities in the number and molecular weights of glycophorins in human, goat and buffalo erythrocyte membranes; 2) proteinase action(s) on human and buffalo erythrocyte surface membrane proteins and glycophorins showed similarity but was found different in goat; 3) significant differences in erythrocyte agglutinability with concanavalin A can be attributed to differences in membrane composition and alterations in the surface proteins after enzyme treatment; 4) a direct correlation was found between degradation of glycophorins and concanavalin A agglutinability; 5) action of neuraminidase specifically indicated the negative role of cell surface sialic acids in determining concanavalin A agglutinability of goat and buffalo erythrocytes, similar to human. Present studies clearly indicate that there are some basic differences in human, goat and buffalo erythrocyte membrane proteins, especially with respect to glycophorins, which determine the concanavalin A-mediated agglutination in enzyme treated erythrocytes.

Paper microzone plates.

PubMed

Carrilho, Emanuel; Phillips, Scott T; Vella, Sarah J; Martinez, Andres W; Whitesides, George M

2009-08-01

This paper describes 96- and 384-microzone plates fabricated in paper as alternatives to conventional multiwell plates fabricated in molded polymers. Paper-based plates are functionally related to plastic well plates, but they offer new capabilities. For example, paper-microzone plates are thin (approximately 180 microm), require small volumes of sample (5 microL per zone), and can be manufactured from inexpensive materials ($0.05 per plate). The paper-based plates are fabricated by patterning sheets of paper, using photolithography, into hydrophilic zones surrounded by hydrophobic polymeric barriers. This photolithography used an inexpensive formulation photoresist that allows rapid (approximately 15 min) prototyping of paper-based plates. These plates are compatible with conventional microplate readers for quantitative absorbance and fluorescence measurements. The limit of detection per zone loaded for fluorescence was 125 fmol for fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled bovine serum albumin, and this level corresponds to 0.02 the quantity of analyte per well used to achieve comparable signal-to-noise in a 96-well plastic plate (using a solution of 25 nM labeled protein). The limits of detection for absorbance on paper was approximately 50 pmol per zone for both Coomassie Brilliant Blue and Amaranth dyes; these values were 0.4 that required for the plastic plate. Demonstration of quantitative colorimetric correlations using a scanner or camera to image the zones and to measure the intensity of color, makes it possible to conduct assays without a microplate reader.

EDTA-insoluble, calcium-binding proteoglycan in bovine bone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hashimoto, Y.; Lester, G. E.; Caterson, B.; Yamauchi, M.

1995-01-01

A calcium ion precipitable, trypsin-generated proteoglycan fragment has been isolated from the demineralized, EDTA-insoluble matrices of bone. The demineralized matrix was completely digested with trypsin, increasing concentrations of CaCl2 were added to the supernatant, and the resulting precipitates were analyzed. The amount of precipitate gradually increased with higher concentrations of calcium and was reversibly solubilized by EDTA. After molecular sieve and anion exchange chromatography, a proteoglycan-containing peak was obtained. Immunochemical analysis showed that this peak contained chondroitin 4-sulfate and possibly keratan sulfate. Amino acid analysis showed that this proteoglycan contained high amounts of aspartic acid/asparagine (Asx), serine (Ser), glutamic acid/glutamine (Glx), proline (Pro), and glycine (Gly); however, it contained little leucine (Leu) which suggests that it is not a member of the leucine-rich small proteoglycan family. In addition, significant amounts of phosphoserine (P-Ser) and hydroxyproline (Hyp) were identified in hydrolysates of this fraction. A single band (M(r) 59 kDa) was obtained on SDS-PAGE that stained with Stains-all but not with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250. If bone powder was trypsinized prior to demineralization, this proteoglycan-containing fraction was not liberated. Collectively, these results indicate that a proteoglycan occurs in the demineralized matrix that is precipitated with CaCl2 and is closely associated with both mineral and collagen matrices. Such a molecule might facilitate the structural network for the induction of mineralization in bone.

Purinergic signaling is required for fluid shear stress-induced NF-{kappa}B translocation in osteoblasts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Genetos, Damian C., E-mail: dgenetos@ucdavis.edu; Karin, Norman J.; Geist, Derik J.

2011-04-01

Fluid shear stress regulates gene expression in osteoblasts, in part by activation of the transcription factor NF-{kappa}B. We examined whether this process was under the control of purinoceptor activation. MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts under static conditions expressed the NF-{kappa}B inhibitory protein I{kappa}B{alpha} and exhibited cytosolic localization of NF-{kappa}B. Under fluid shear stress, I{kappa}B{alpha} levels decreased, and concomitant nuclear localization of NF-{kappa}B was observed. Cells exposed to fluid shear stress in ATP-depleted medium exhibited no significant reduction in I{kappa}B{alpha}, and NF-{kappa}B remained within the cytosol. Similar results were found using oxidized ATP or Brilliant Blue G, P2X{sub 7} receptor antagonists, indicating that themore » P2X{sub 7} receptor is responsible for fluid shear-stress-induced I{kappa}B{alpha} degradation and nuclear accumulation of NF-{kappa}B. Pharmacologic blockage of the P2Y6 receptor also prevented shear-induced I{kappa}B{alpha} degradation. These phenomena involved neither ERK1/2 signaling nor autocrine activation by P2X{sub 7}-generated lysophosphatidic acid. Our results suggest that fluid shear stress regulates NF-{kappa}B activity through the P2Y{sub 6} and P2X{sub 7} receptor.« less

Experimental Study on Treatment of Dyeing Wastewater by Activated Carbon Adsorption, Coagulation and Fenton Oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiaoxu, SUN; Jin, XU; Xingyu, LI

2017-12-01

In this paper dyeing waste water was simulated by reactive brilliant blue XBR, activated carbon adsorption process, coagulation process and chemical oxidation process were used to treat dyeing waste water. In activated carbon adsorption process and coagulation process, the water absorbance values were measured. The CODcr value of water was determined in Fenton chemical oxidation process. Then, the decolorization rate and COD removal rate were calculated respectively. The results showed that the optimum conditions of activated carbon adsorption process were as follows: pH=2, the dosage of activated carbon was 1.2g/L, the adsorption reaction time was 60 min, and the average decolorization rate of the three parallel experiments was 85.30%. The optimum conditions of coagulation experiment were as follows: pH=8~9, PAC dosage was 70mg/L, stirring time was 20min, standing time was 45min, the average decolorization rate of the three parallel experiments was 74.48%. The optimum conditions for Fenton oxidation were Fe2+ 0.05g/L, H2O2 (30%) 14mL/L, pH=3, reaction time 40min. The average CODcr removal rate was 69.35% in three parallel experiments. It can be seen that in the three methods the activated carbon adsorption treatment of dyeing wastewater was the best one.

Proteomic analysis of kidney in rats chronically exposed to monosodium glutamate.

PubMed

Sharma, Amod; Wongkham, Chaisiri; Prasongwattana, Vitoon; Boonnate, Piyanard; Thanan, Raynoo; Reungjui, Sirirat; Cha'on, Ubon

2014-01-01

Chronic monosodium glutamate (MSG) intake causes kidney dysfunction and renal oxidative stress in the animal model. To gain insight into the renal changes induced by MSG, proteomic analysis of the kidneys was performed. Six week old male Wistar rats were given drinking water with or without MSG (2 mg/g body weight, n = 10 per group) for 9 months. Kidneys were removed, frozen, and stored at -75°C. After protein extraction, 2-D gel electrophoresis was performed and renal proteome profiles were examined with Colloidal Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining. Statistically significant protein spots (ANOVA, p<0.05) with 1.2-fold difference were excised and analyzed by LC-MS. Proteomic data were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses. The differential image analysis showed 157 changed spots, of which 71 spots were higher and 86 spots were lower in the MSG-treated group compared with those in the control group. Eight statistically significant and differentially expressed proteins were identified: glutathione S-transferase class-pi, heat shock cognate 71 kDa, phosphoserine phosphatase, phosphoglycerate kinase, cytosolic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, 2-amino-3-carboxymuconate-6-semialdehyde decarboxylase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and succinyl-CoA ligase. The identified proteins are mainly related to oxidative stress and metabolism. They provide a valuable clue to explore the mechanism of renal handling and toxicity on chronic MSG intake.

Proteomic Analysis of Kidney in Rats Chronically Exposed to Monosodium Glutamate

PubMed Central

Sharma, Amod; Wongkham, Chaisiri; Prasongwattana, Vitoon; Boonnate, Piyanard; Thanan, Raynoo; Reungjui, Sirirat; Cha’on, Ubon

2014-01-01

Background Chronic monosodium glutamate (MSG) intake causes kidney dysfunction and renal oxidative stress in the animal model. To gain insight into the renal changes induced by MSG, proteomic analysis of the kidneys was performed. Methods Six week old male Wistar rats were given drinking water with or without MSG (2 mg/g body weight, n = 10 per group) for 9 months. Kidneys were removed, frozen, and stored at –75°C. After protein extraction, 2-D gel electrophoresis was performed and renal proteome profiles were examined with Colloidal Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining. Statistically significant protein spots (ANOVA, p<0.05) with 1.2-fold difference were excised and analyzed by LC-MS. Proteomic data were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses. Results The differential image analysis showed 157 changed spots, of which 71 spots were higher and 86 spots were lower in the MSG-treated group compared with those in the control group. Eight statistically significant and differentially expressed proteins were identified: glutathione S-transferase class-pi, heat shock cognate 71 kDa, phosphoserine phosphatase, phosphoglycerate kinase, cytosolic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, 2-amino-3-carboxymuconate-6-semialdehyde decarboxylase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and succinyl-CoA ligase. Conclusion The identified proteins are mainly related to oxidative stress and metabolism. They provide a valuable clue to explore the mechanism of renal handling and toxicity on chronic MSG intake. PMID:25551610

Ultrasonic enhancement of the simultaneous removal of quaternary toxic organic dyes by CuO nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon: Central composite design, kinetic and isotherm study.

PubMed

Dashamiri, Somayeh; Ghaedi, Mehrorang; Dashtian, Kheibar; Rahimi, Mahmood Reza; Goudarzi, Alireza; Jannesar, Ramin

2016-07-01

Copper oxide nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon (CuO-NPs-AC) were prepared and fully analyzed and characterized with FE-SEM, XRD and FT-IR. Subsequently, this novel material was used for simultaneous ultrasound-assisted adsorption of brilliant green (BG), auramine O (AO), methylene blue (MB) and eosin yellow (EY) dyes. Problems regard to dyes spectra overlap in quaternary solution of this dyes were omitted by derivative spectrophotometric method. The best pH in quaternary system was studied by using one at a time method to achieved maximum dyes removal percentage. Subsequently, sonication time, adsorbent dosage and initial dyes concentrations influence on dyes removal was optimized by central composite design (CCD) combined with desirability function approach (DFA). Desirability score of 0.978 show optimum conditions set at sonication time (4.2 min), adsorbent mass (0.029 g), initial dyes concentration (4.5 mg L(-1)). Under this optimum condition the removal percentage for MB, AO, EY and BG dyes 97.58, 94.66, 96.22 and 94.93, respectively. The adsorption rate well fitted by pseudo second-order while adsorption capacity according to the Langmuir model as best equilibrium isotherm model for BG, MB, AO and EY was 20.48, 21.26, 22.34 and 21.29 mg g(-1), respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Purification and characterization of a novel high molecular weight exotoxin produced by red tide phytoplankton, Alexandrium tamarense.

PubMed

Yamasaki, Yasuhiro; Katsuo, Daisuke; Nakayasu, Seiichiro; Salati, Cristina; Duan, JingJing; Zou, Yanan; Matsuyama, Yukihiko; Yamaguchi, Kenichi; Oda, Tatsuya

2008-01-01

Our recent studies have demonstrated that the aqueous extract prepared from Alexandrium tamarense, a harmful red tide phytoplankton, showed cytotoxicity on Vero cells. In this study, the toxic substance was purified from the culture supernatant of A. tamarense. Based on the gel-filtration profile, the molecular mass of a purified toxin was estimated to be about 1,000 kDa. On sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis, a main band with molecular mass of 1,000 kDa was detected with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, but no protein bands were detected by Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) protein staining. Sugar composition analysis of the toxin suggested that the toxin contains galactose, fucose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, xylose, and other minor saccharides, whereas no significant levels of amino acids were detected by amino acid analysis. These results suggest that the toxin is a polysaccharide-based compound. The toxin showed cytotoxic effects on various cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the cell lines tested, U937 cells were the most susceptible to the toxin. In U937 cells treated with the toxin, a typical apoptotic nuclear morphological change and DNA fragmentation were observed. This is the first report demonstrating that a polysaccharide-based toxin isolated from red tide phytoplankton can induce apoptotic cell death. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING-DEPENDENT RETINAL STRUCTURAL CHANGES AFTER VITRECTOMY IN RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT.

PubMed

Hisatomi, Toshio; Tachibana, Takashi; Notomi, Shoji; Koyanagi, Yoshito; Murakami, Yusuke; Takeda, Atsunobu; Ikeda, Yasuhiro; Yoshida, Shigeo; Enaida, Hiroshi; Murata, Toshinori; Sakamoto, Taiji; Sonoda, Koh-Hei; Ishibashi, Tatsuro

2018-03-01

To examine retinal changes after vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, we used 3-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment cases. The 68 eyes from 67 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were studied, including 35 detached macula cases (51%) and 33 attached macula cases. Internal limiting membrane peeling was performed with fine forceps after brilliant blue G staining. The 3D-OCT images were obtained with volume-rendering technologies from cross-sectional OCT images. The 3D-OCT detected 45 eyes (66%) with ILM peeling-dependent retinal changes, including dissociated optic nerve fiber layer appearance, dimple sign, temporal macular thinning, ILM peeling area thinning, or forceps-related retinal thinning. The ILM peeled area was detectable in only 9 eyes with 3D-OCT, whereas it was undetectable in other 59 eyes. The dissociated optic nerve fiber layer appearance was detected in 8 of the total cases (12%), and dimple signs were observed in 14 cases (21%). Forceps-related thinning was also noted in eight cases (24%) of attached macula cases and in four cases (11%) of detached macula cases. No postoperative macular pucker was noted in the observational period. The 3D-OCT clearly revealed spatial and time-dependent retinal changes after ILM peeling. The changes occurred in 2 months and remained thereafter.

SN1987A IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

Glittering stars and wisps of gas create a breathtaking backdrop for the self-destruction of a massive star, called supernova 1987A, in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a nearby galaxy. Astronomers in the Southern hemisphere witnessed the brilliant explosion of this star on Feb. 23, 1987. Shown in this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image, the supernova remnant, surrounded by inner and outer rings of material, is set in a forest of ethereal, diffuse clouds of gas. This three-color image is composed of several pictures of the supernova and its neighboring region taken with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 in Sept. 1994, Feb. 1996 and July 1997. The many bright blue stars nearby the supernova are massive stars, each more than six times heftier than our Sun. With ages of about 12 million years old, they are members of the same generation of stars as the star that went supernova. The presence of bright gas clouds is another sign of the youth of this region, which still appears to be a fertile breeding ground for new stars. In a few years the supernova's fast moving material will sweep the inner ring with full force, heating and exciting its gas, and will produce a new series of cosmic fireworks that will offer a striking view for more than a decade. Credit: Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI/NASA)

The statolith compartment in Chara rhizoids contains carbohydrate and protein.

PubMed

Wang-Cahill, F; Kiss, J Z

1995-02-01

In contrast to higher plants, the alga Chara has rhizoids with single membrane-bound compartments that function as statoliths in gravity perception. Previous work has demonstrated that these statoliths contain barium sulfate crystals. In this study, we show that statoliths in Chara rhizoids react with a Coomassie Brilliant Blue cytochemical stain for proteins. While statoliths did not react with silver methenamine carbohydrate cytochemistry, the monoclonal antibody CCRC-M2, which is against a carbohydrate (sycamore-maple rhamnogalacturonan I), labeled the statolith compartment. These results demonstrate that in addition to barium sulfate, statoliths in Chara rhizoids have an organic matrix that consists of protein and carbohydrate moieties. Since the statoliths were silver methenamine negative, the carbohydrate in this compartment could be a 3-linked polysaccharide. CCRC-M2 also labeled Golgi cisternae, Golgi-associated vesicles, apical vesicles, and cell walls in the rhizoids. The specificity of CCRC-M2 immunolabeling was verified by several control experiments, including the demonstration that labeling was abolished when the antibody was preabsorbed with its antigen. Since in this and a previous study (John Z. Kiss and L. Andrew Staehelin, American Journal of Botany 80: 273-282, 1993) antibodies against higher plant carbohydrates crossreacted with cell walls of Chara in a specific manner, Characean algae may be a useful model system in biochemical and molecular studies of cell walls.

The statolith compartment in Chara rhizoids contains carbohydrate and protein

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang-Cahill, F.; Kiss, J. Z.

1995-01-01

In contrast to higher plants, the alga Chara has rhizoids with single membrane-bound compartments that function as statoliths in gravity perception. Previous work has demonstrated that these statoliths contain barium sulfate crystals. In this study, we show that statoliths in Chara rhizoids react with a Coomassie Brilliant Blue cytochemical stain for proteins. While statoliths did not react with silver methenamine carbohydrate cytochemistry, the monoclonal antibody CCRC-M2, which is against a carbohydrate (sycamore-maple rhamnogalacturonan I), labeled the statolith compartment. These results demonstrate that in addition to barium sulfate, statoliths in Chara rhizoids have an organic matrix that consists of protein and carbohydrate moieties. Since the statoliths were silver methenamine negative, the carbohydrate in this compartment could be a 3-linked polysaccharide. CCRC-M2 also labeled Golgi cisternae, Golgi-associated vesicles, apical vesicles, and cell walls in the rhizoids. The specificity of CCRC-M2 immunolabeling was verified by several control experiments, including the demonstration that labeling was abolished when the antibody was preabsorbed with its antigen. Since in this and a previous study (John Z. Kiss and L. Andrew Staehelin, American Journal of Botany 80: 273-282, 1993) antibodies against higher plant carbohydrates crossreacted with cell walls of Chara in a specific manner, Characean algae may be a useful model system in biochemical and molecular studies of cell walls.

A novel missense mutation of the paired box 3 gene in a Turkish family with Waardenburg syndrome type 1

PubMed Central

Ozturk, A.Taylan; Adibelli, Hamit; Unal, Nurettin; Tukun, Ajlan

2013-01-01

Purpose Screening of mutations in the paired box 3 (PAX3) gene in three generations of a Turkish family with Waardenburg syndrome type 1 (WS1). Methods WS1 was diagnosed in a 13-month-old girl according to the WS Consortium criteria. Detailed family history of the proband revealed eight affected members in three generations. Routine clinical and audiological examination and ophthalmologic evaluation were performed on eight affected and five healthy members of the study family. Dystopia canthorum was detected in all affected patients; however, a brilliant blue iris was present in five patients who also had mild retinal hypopigmentation. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of affected and unaffected individuals in the family as well as 50 unrelated healthy volunteers. All coding exons and adjacent intronic regions of PAX3 were sequenced directly. Results A novel missense heterozygous c.788T>G mutation was identified in eight patients. This nucleotide alteration was not found in unaffected members of the study family or in the 50 unrelated control subjects. The mutation causes V263G amino-acid substitution in the homeodomain of the PAX3 protein, which represents the 45th residue of helix 3. Conclusions We identified a novel missense c.788T>G mutation in PAX3 in a family with Waardenburg syndrome with intrafamilial phenotypic heterogeneity. PMID:23378733

A novel missense mutation of the paired box 3 gene in a Turkish family with Waardenburg syndrome type 1.

PubMed

Hazan, Filiz; Ozturk, A Taylan; Adibelli, Hamit; Unal, Nurettin; Tukun, Ajlan

2013-01-01

Screening of mutations in the paired box 3 (PAX3) gene in three generations of a Turkish family with Waardenburg syndrome type 1 (WS1). WS1 was diagnosed in a 13-month-old girl according to the WS Consortium criteria. Detailed family history of the proband revealed eight affected members in three generations. Routine clinical and audiological examination and ophthalmologic evaluation were performed on eight affected and five healthy members of the study family. Dystopia canthorum was detected in all affected patients; however, a brilliant blue iris was present in five patients who also had mild retinal hypopigmentation. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of affected and unaffected individuals in the family as well as 50 unrelated healthy volunteers. All coding exons and adjacent intronic regions of PAX3 were sequenced directly. A novel missense heterozygous c.788T>G mutation was identified in eight patients. This nucleotide alteration was not found in unaffected members of the study family or in the 50 unrelated control subjects. The mutation causes V263G amino-acid substitution in the homeodomain of the PAX3 protein, which represents the 45(th) residue of helix 3. We identified a novel missense c.788T>G mutation in PAX3 in a family with Waardenburg syndrome with intrafamilial phenotypic heterogeneity.

Brilliant Star in a Colourful Neighbourhood

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2010-07-01

A spectacular new image from ESO's Wide Field Imager at the La Silla Observatory in Chile shows the brilliant and unusual star WR 22 and its colourful surroundings. WR 22 is a very hot and bright star that is shedding its atmosphere into space at a rate many millions of times faster than the Sun. It lies in the outer part of the dramatic Carina Nebula from which it formed. Very massive stars live fast and die young. Some of these stellar beacons have such intense radiation passing through their thick atmospheres late in their lives that they shed material into space many millions of times more quickly than relatively sedate stars such as the Sun. These rare, very hot and massive objects are known as Wolf-Rayet stars [1], after the two French astronomers who first identified them in the mid-nineteenth century, and one of the most massive ones yet measured is known as WR 22. It appears at the centre of this picture, which was created from images taken through red, green and blue filters with the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile. WR 22 is a member of a double star system and has been measured to have a mass at least 70 times that of the Sun. WR 22 lies in the southern constellation of Carina, the keel of Jason's ship Argo in Greek mythology. Although the star lies over 5000 light-years from the Earth it is so bright that it can just be faintly seen with the unaided eye under good conditions. WR 22 is one of many exceptionally brilliant stars associated with the beautiful Carina Nebula (also known as NGC 3372) and the outer part of this huge region of star formation in the southern Milky Way forms the colourful backdrop to this image. The subtle colours of the rich background tapestry are a result of the interactions between the intense ultraviolet radiation coming from hot massive stars, including WR 22, and the vast gas clouds, mostly hydrogen, from which they formed. The central part of this enormous complex of gas and dust lies off the left side of this picture as can be seen in image eso1031b. This area includes the remarkable star Eta Carinae and was featured in an earlier press release (eso0905). Notes [1] More information about Wolf-Rayet stars More information ESO, the European Southern Observatory, is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive astronomical observatory. It is supported by 14 countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and VISTA, the world's largest survey telescope. ESO is the European partner of a revolutionary astronomical telescope ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. ESO is currently planning a 42-metre European Extremely Large optical/near-infrared Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky".

A Dramatic Flame Test Demonstration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Kristin A.; Schreiner, Rodney

2001-01-01

Flame tests are used for demonstration of atomic structure. Describes a demonstration that uses spray bottles filled with methanol and a variety of salts to produce a brilliantly colored flame. (Contains 11 references.) (ASK)

Gerhard Ertl, Nobel Laureate for Chemistry 2007

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawai, Maki

In year 2007, Nobel prize for Chemistry was awarded to Prof. Gerhard Ertl, former director of Fritz Haber Institute, Berlin. The article is to introduce the brilliant achievement of Prof. Ertl in part.

Evolution of filmless PACS in Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Hyung-Sik

2002-05-01

The growth of PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) market in Korea over the past 10 years is a brilliant development. In order to reach these brilliant achievements, the efforts of the Korean Society of PACS, the supports of the government on the information technology industry and the efforts of PACS companies in market expansion were all served as vital manures of the sowing time. By the end of 2001, 21% of the total Korean hospitals were under the clinical operation using filmless full PACS and it is believed to be the first incident in the world. The purpose of this paper is to look back upon the growing process of filmless PACS in Korea and analyze the cause of this tremendous growth. I believe that the Korean PACS experience would be helpful to many PACS experts who pray for a proliferation of PACS distribution.

HUBBLE PROVIDES 'ONE-TWO PUNCH' TO SEE BIRTH OF STARS IN GALACTIC WRECKAGE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

Two powerful cameras aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope teamed up to capture the final stages in the grand assembly of galaxies. The photograph, taken by the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and the revived Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS), shows a tumultuous collision between four galaxies located 1 billion light-years from Earth. The galactic car wreck is creating a torrent of new stars. The tangled up galaxies, called IRAS 19297-0406, are crammed together in the center of the picture. IRAS 19297-0406 is part of a class of galaxies known as ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs). ULIRGs are considered the progenitors of massive elliptical galaxies. ULIRGs glow fiercely in infrared light, appearing 100 times brighter than our Milky Way Galaxy. The large amount of dust in these galaxies produces the brilliant infrared glow. The dust is generated by a firestorm of star birth triggered by the collisions. IRAS 19297-0406 is producing about 200 new Sun-like stars every year -- about 100 times more stars than our Milky Way creates. The hotbed of this star formation is the central region [the yellow objects]. This area is swamped in the dust created by the flurry of star formation. The bright blue material surrounding the central region corresponds to the ultraviolet glow of new stars. The ultraviolet light is not obscured by dust. Astronomers believe that this area is creating fewer new stars and therefore not as much dust. The colliding system [yellow and blue regions] has a diameter of about 30,000 light-years, or about half the size of the Milky Way. The tail [faint blue material at left] extends out for another 20,000 light-years. Astronomers used both cameras to witness the flocks of new stars that are forming from the galactic wreckage. NICMOS penetrated the dusty veil that masks the intense star birth in the central region. ACS captured the visible starlight of the colliding system's blue outer region. IRAS 19297-0406 may be similar to the so-called Hickson compact groups -- clusters of at least four galaxies in a tight configuration that are isolated from other galaxies. The galaxies are so close together that they lose energy from the relentless pull of gravity. Eventually, they fall into each other and form one massive galaxy. This color-composite image was made by combining photographs taken in near-infrared light with NICMOS and ultraviolet and visible light with ACS. The pictures were taken with these filters: the H-band and J-band on NICMOS; the V-band on the ACS wide-field camera; and the U-band on the ACS high-resolution camera. The images were taken on May 13 and 14. Credits: NASA, the NICMOS Group (STScI, ESA), and the NICMOS Science Team (University of Arizona)

[Boerhaave: a brilliant mind and a virtuous character].

PubMed

Lama, Alexis; van Wijngaarden, Dagmar

2002-09-01

Hermann Boerhaave (1668-1738), a physician and humanist, is considered one of the most influential clinicians and professors of the eighteenth century. He was a medical teacher in Leiden, Holland, reaching great fame and celebrity in his city and around, extending outside of Europe into China. His contemporaries would name him "Europe's professor". He obtained his academic degrees in philosophy, chemistry and botany, but continued in medicine which more befit his nature. This brilliant man declared himself in favour of experimental knowledge instead of theory and, following Thomas Sydenham, he greatly contributed in making clinical medicine more systematic. In some extent he was the founder of academic hospitals. Boerhaave was an affectionate, cheerful and correct man, an admirable example of moderation, vigour, humbleness and devotion. In the last months of his life, suffering a painful disease, he showed his strength by letting his soul master himself, and resigned to the will of God.

Magnetic light cloaking control in the marine planktonic copepod Sapphirina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashiwagi, H.; Mizukawa, Y.; Iwasaka, M.; Ohtsuka, S.

2017-05-01

We investigated the light cloaking behavior of the marine planktonic copepod Sapphirina under a magnetic field. Optical interferences in the multi-laminated guanine crystal layer beneath the dorsal body surface create a brilliant structural color, which can be almost entirely removed by changing the light reflection. In the investigation, we immersed segments of Sapphirina in seawater contained in an optical chamber. When the derived Sapphirina segments were attached to the container surface, they were inert to magnetic fields up to 300 mT. However, when the back plate segments were attached to the substrate at a point, with most of the plate floating in the seawater, the plate rotated oppositely to the applied magnetic field. In addition, the brilliant parts of the Sapphirina back plate rotated backward and forward by changing the magnetic field directions. Our experiment suggests a new model of an optical micro-electro-mechanical system that is controllable by magnetic fields.

Enrico Fermi - And the Revolutions of Modern Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, Dan

1999-02-01

In 1938, at the age of 37, Enrico Fermi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. That same year he emigrated from Italy to the United States and, in the course of his experiments, discovered nuclear fission--a process which forms the basis of nuclear power and atomic bombs. Soon the brilliant physicist was involved in the top secret race to produce the deadliest weapon on Earth. He created the first self-sustaining chain reaction, devised new methods for purifying plutonium, and eventually participated in the first atomic test. This compelling biography traces Fermis education in Italy, his meteoric career in the scientific world, his escape from fascism to America, and the ingenious experiments he devised and conducted at the University of Rome, Columbia University, and the Los Alamos laboratory. The book also presents a mini-course in quantum and nuclear physics in an accessible, fast-paced narrative that invokes all the dizzying passion of Fermis brilliant discoveries.

The failure analysis, redesign, and final preparation of the Brilliant Eyes Thermal Storage Unit for flight testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lamkin, T.; Whitney, Brian

1995-09-01

This paper describes the engineering thought process behind the failure analysis, redesign, and rework of the flight hardware for the Brilliant Eyes Thermal Storage Unit (BETSU) experiment. This experiment was designed to study the zero-g performance of 2-methylpentane as a suitable phase change material. This hydrocarbon served as the cryogenic storage medium for the BETSU experiment which was flown 04 Mar 94 on board Shuttle STS-62. Ground testing had indicated satisfactory performance of the BETSU at the 120 Kelvin design temperature. However, questions remained as to the micro-gravity performance of this unit; potential deviations in ground (1 g) versus space flight (0 g) performance, and how the unit would operate in a realistic space environment undergoing cyclical operation. The preparations and rework performed on the BETSU unit, which failed initial flight qualification, give insight and lessons learned to successfully develop and qualify a space flight experiment.

Organofunctionalized Amazon smectite for dye removal from aqueous medium--kinetic and thermodynamic adsorption investigations.

PubMed

Guerra, Denis L; Silva, Weber L L; Oliveira, Helen C P; Viana, Rúbia R; Airoldi, Claudio

2011-02-15

The objective of this study is to examine the adsorption behavior of Sumifix Brilliant Orange 3R textile dye from aqueous solution on smectite sample, an abundant Amazon clay. The original smectite clay mineral has been collected from Amazon region, Brazil. The compound 2-aminomethylpyridine was anchored onto smectite surface by heterogeneous route. The ability of these materials to remove the Sumifix Brilliant Orange 3R textile dye from aqueous solution was followed by a series of adsorption isotherms, using a batchwise process. The maximum number of moles adsorbed was determined to be 1.26 and 2.07 mmol g(-1) for natural and modified clay samples, respectively. The energetic effects caused by dye cations adsorption were determined through calorimetric titrations. Thermodynamics indicated the existence of favorable conditions for such dye-nitrogen interactions. Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The Astrocentric Hypothesis: proposed role of astrocytes in consciousness and memory formation.

PubMed

Robertson, James M

2002-01-01

Consciousness is self-awareness. This process is closely associated with attention and working memory, a special form of short-term memory, which is vital when solving explicit task. Edelman has equated consciousness as the "remembered present" to highlight the importance of this form of memory (G.M. Edelman, Bright Air, Brilliant Fire, Basic Books, New York, 1992). The majority of other memories are recollections of past events that are encoded, stored, and brought back into consciousness if appropriate for solving new problems. Encoding prior experiences into memories is based on the salience of each event (A.R. Damasio, Descartes' Error, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1994; G.M. Edelman, Bright Air, Brilliant Fire, Basic Books, New York, 1992). It is proposed that protoplasmic astrocytes bind attended sensory information into consciousness and store encoded memories. This conclusion is supported by research conducted by gliobiologist over the past 15 years. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Blinded by the Light (Artist Concept)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2005-01-01

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] [figure removed for brevity, see original site] Figure 1: Visible PanelFigure 2: Infrared Panel

This artist's concept shows what a fiery hot star and its close-knit planetary companion might look close up if viewed in visible (figure 1) and infrared light (figure 2). In visible light, a star shines brilliantly, overwhelming the little light that is reflected by its planet. In infrared, a star is less blinding, and its planet perks up with a fiery glow.

Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope took advantage of this fact to directly capture the infrared light of two previously detected planets orbiting outside our solar system. Their findings revealed the temperatures and orbits of the planets. Upcoming Spitzer observations using a variety of infrared wavelengths may provide more information about the planets' winds and atmospheric compositions.

These colors represent real differences between the visible and infrared views of the system. The visible panel shows what our eyes would see if we could witness the system close up. The hot star is yellow because, like our Sun, it is brightest in yellow wavelengths. The warm planet, on the other hand, is brightest in infrared light, which we can't see. Instead, we would see the glimmer of star light that the planet reflects.

In the infrared panel, the colors reflect what our eyes might see if we could retune them to the invisible, infrared portion of the light spectrum. The hot star is less bright in infrared light than in visible and appears fainter. The warm planet peaks in infrared light, so is shown brighter. Their hues represent relative differences in temperature. Because the star is hotter than the planet, and because hotter objects give off more blue light than red, the star is depicted in blue, and the planet, red.

The overall look of the planet is inspired by theoretical models of hot, gas giant planets. These 'hot Jupiters' are similar to Jupiter in composition and mass, but are expected to look quite different at such high temperatures. The models are courtesy of Drs. Curtis Cooper and Adam Showman of the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Hubble Unveils Colorful and Turbulent Star-Birth Region on 100,000th Orbit Milestone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] Click on the image for orientation annotation

In commemoration of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope completing its 100,000th orbit in its 18th year of exploration and discovery, scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Md., have aimed Hubble totake a snapshot of a dazzling region of celestial birth and renewal.

Hubble peered into a small portion of the nebula near the star cluster NGC 2074 (upper, left). The region is a firestorm of raw stellar creation, perhaps triggered by a nearby supernova explosion. It lies about 170,000 light-years away near the Tarantula nebula, one of the most active star-forming regions in our Local Group of galaxies.

The three-dimensional-looking image reveals dramatic ridges and valleys of dust, serpent-head 'pillars of creation,' and gaseous filaments glowing fiercely under torrential ultraviolet radiation. The region is on the edge of a dark molecular cloud that is an incubator for the birth of new stars.

The high-energy radiation blazing out from clusters of hot young stars already born in NGC 2074 is sculpting the wall of the nebula by slowly eroding it away. Another young cluster may be hidden beneath a circle of brilliant blue gas at center, bottom.

In this approximately 100-light-year-wide fantasy-like landscape, dark towers of dust rise above a glowing wall of gases on the surface of the molecular cloud. The seahorse-shaped pillar at lower, right is approximately 20 light-years long, roughly four times the distance between our Sun and the nearest star, Alpha Centauri.

The region is in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a satellite of our Milky Way galaxy. It is a fascinating laboratory for observing star-formation regions and their evolution. Dwarf galaxies like the LMC are considered to be the primitive building blocks of larger galaxies.

This representative color image was taken on August 10, 2008, with Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2. Red shows emission from sulfur atoms, green from glowing hydrogen, and blue from glowing oxygen.

Animal coloration: sexy spider scales.

PubMed

Taylor, Lisa A; McGraw, Kevin J

2007-08-07

Many male jumping spiders display vibrant colors that are used in visual communication. A recent microscopic study on a jumping spider from Singapore shows that three-layered 'scale sandwiches' of chitin and air are responsible for producing their brilliant iridescent body coloration.

Finding Comet Halley.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glenn, William H.

1985-01-01

Provides background information and references on Comet Halley (which will be observable by telescope in October 1985 and reach its most brilliant appearance in March and April of 1986). Suggestions for equipment and maps of its path through the sky are included. (DH)

First Impressions: Introducing Monet to Megadeth.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Leay

1989-01-01

Describes using the art and music of Impressionism to approach Stephen Crane's "The Red Badge of Courage," enabling students to understand how Crane's series of vivid episodes and brilliant but detached images melt into one another, forming a whole picture. (SR)

Hubble Captures View of Mystic Mountain

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-04-22

NASA Hubble Space Telescope captures the chaotic activity atop a three-light-year-tall pillar of gas and dust that is being eaten away by the brilliant light from nearby bright stars in a tempestuous stellar nursery called the Carina Nebula.

A turn-on near-infrared fluorescent chemosensor for selective detection of lead ions based on a fluorophore-gold nanoparticle assembly.

PubMed

Wang, Shaozhen; Sun, Junyong; Gao, Feng

2015-06-21

A turn-on fluorescent chemosensor of Pb(2+) in the near-infrared (NIR) region, which is based on the Pb(2+)-tuned restored fluorescence of a weakly fluorescent fluorophore-gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) assembly, has been reported. In this fluorophore-AuNP assembly, NIR fluorescent dye brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) molecules act as fluorophores and are used for signal transduction of fluorescence, while AuNPs act as quenchers to quench the nearby fluorescent BCB molecules via electron transfer. In the presence of Pb(2+), fluorescent BCB molecules detached from AuNPs and restored their fluorescence due to the formation of a chelating complex between Pb(2+) and glutathione confined on AuNPs. Under the optimal conditions, the present BCB-AuNP assembly is capable of detecting Pb(2+) with a concentration ranging from 7.5 × 10(-10) to 1 × 10(-8) mol L(-1) (0.16-2.1 ng mL(-1)) and a detection limit of 0.51 nM (0.11 ng mL(-1)). The present BCB-AuNP assembly can be used in aqueous media for the determination of Pb(2+) unlike common organic fluorescent reagents, and also shows advantages of NIR fluorescence spectrophotometry such as less interference, lower detection limit, and higher sensitivity. Moreover, the present method was successfully applied for the detection of Pb(2+) in water samples with satisfactory results.

Cellular and molecular changes associated with somatic embryogenesis induction in Agave tequilana.

PubMed

Portillo, L; Olmedilla, A; Santacruz-Ruvalcaba, F

2012-10-01

In spite of the importance of somatic embryogenesis for basic research in plant embryology as well as for crop improvement and plant propagation, it is still unclear which mechanisms and cell signals are involved in acquiring embryogenic competence by a somatic cell. The aim of this work was to study cellular and molecular changes involved in the induction stage in calli of Agave tequilana Weber cultivar azul in order to gain more information on the initial stages of somatic embryogenesis in this species. Cytochemical and immunocytochemical techniques were used to identify differences between embryogenic and non-embryogenic cells from several genotypes. Presence of granular structures was detected after somatic embryogenesis induction in embryogenic cells; composition of these structures as well as changes in protein and polysaccharide distribution was studied using Coomassie brilliant blue and Periodic Acid-Schiff stains. Distribution of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins was investigated in embryogenic and non-embryogenic cells by immunolabelling using anti-AGP monoclonal antibodies (JIM4, JIM8 and JIM13) as well as an anti-methyl-esterified pectin-antibody (JIM7), in order to evaluate major modifications in cell wall composition in the initial stages of somatic embryogenesis. Our observations pointed out that induction of somatic embryogenesis produced accumulation of proteins and polysaccharides in embryogenic cells. Presence of JIM8, JIM13 and JIM7 epitopes were detected exclusively in embryogenic cells, which supports the idea that specific changes in cell wall are involved in the acquisition of embryogenic competence of A. tequilana.

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis for nonlethal detection of Aeromonas salmonicida in salmonid mucus and its potential for other bacterial fish pathogens.

PubMed

Quinn, Robert A; Stevenson, Roselynn M W

2012-05-01

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rDNA was used to nonlethally detect Aeromonas salmonicida and other bacteria in salmonid skin mucus. Mucus samples from wild spawning coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with endemic A. salmonicida and from cultured lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) were tested by PCR-DGGE and were compared with mucus culture on Coomassie brilliant blue agar and internal organ culture. PCR-DGGE gave a highly reproducible 4-band pattern for 9 strains of typical A. salmonicida, which was different from other Aeromonas spp. Aeromonas salmonicida presence in mucus was evident as a band that comigrated with the bottom band of the A. salmonicida 4-band pattern and was verified by sequencing. PCR-DGGE found 36 of 52 coho salmon positive for A. salmonicida, compared with 31 positive by mucus culture and 16 by organ culture. Numerous other bacteria were detected in salmonid mucus, including Pseudomonas spp., Shewanella putrefaciens, Aeromonas hydrophila and other aeromonads. However, Yersinia ruckeri was not detected in mucus from 27 lake trout, but 1 fish had a sorbitol-positive Y. ruckeri isolated from organ culture. Yersinia ruckeri seeded into a mucus sample suggested that PCR-DGGE detection of this bacterium from mucus was possible. PCR-DGGE allows nonlethal detection of A. salmonicida in mucus and differentiation of some Aeromonas spp. and has the potential to allow simultaneous detection of other pathogens present in fish mucus.

Effects of maternally exposed coloring food additives on receptor expressions related to learning and memory in rats.

PubMed

Ceyhan, Betul Mermi; Gultekin, Fatih; Doguc, Duygu Kumbul; Kulac, Esin

2013-06-01

Exposure to artificial food colors and additives (AFCAs) has been implicated in the induction and severity of some childhood behavioral and learning disabilities. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nACHRs) are thought to be effective in the learning and memory-generating process. In this study, we investigated the effects of intrauterine exposure to AFCAs on subunit concentrations of NMDARs and nAChRs isoforms in rats. We administered a mixture of AFCAs (Eritrosin, Ponceau 4R, Allura Red AC, Sunset Yellow FCF, Tartrazin, Amaranth, Brilliant Blue, Azorubin and Indigotin) to female rats before and during gestation. The concentration of NR2A and NR2B subunits and nAChR α7, α4β2 isoforms in their offspring's hippocampi were measured by Western Blotting. Expressions of NR2B and nAChR β2 were significantly increased (17% and 6.70%, respectively), whereas expression of nAChR α4 was significantly decreased (5.67%) in male experimental group compared to the male control group (p<0.05). In the female experimental group, AFCAs caused a 14% decrease in NR2B expression when compared to the female control group (p<0.05). Our results indicate that exposure to AFCAs during the fetal period may lead to alterations in expressions of NMDARs and nAChRs in adulthood. These alterations were different between male and female genders. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Earth Observation

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-08-30

ISS040E112662 (08/30/2014) ---- Cancún, Mexico. A long lens was used by astronauts aboard the International Space Station to take this image, and it highlights many natural and built features. The street pattern of Mexico’s tourist mecca, Cancún, contrasts with the waterways of the marinas that open into the bay and the lagoons. Brilliant blue water over coral reefs contrast with the dark waters of inland lagoons. The reefs are the second largest reef system on Earth, and draw tourists from all over the world. The wide, well developed beach on the gulf coast (image upper right) is the result of vigorous wave energy; the white sand makes the beach easily visible from space. But wave energy is reduced along Cancún’s protected shoreline (image center) and the beaches are thin or non-existant. Fair-weather cumulus clouds are scattered across the image top left. To shoot crisp mages with long lenses, astronaut photographers must learn to brace themselves against the ISS bulkhead to prevent any slight shaking that would blur or “smear” the picture. Counterintuitively, they then need to move the camera carefully retaining the target at the same point in the viewfinder (the landscape moves across the viewfinder quickly with long lenses). This is called tracking the target and requires good coordination by the photographer—again, to prevent blurring. Shorter lenses do not require this skill because the image appears to pass more slowly across the viewfinder.

CELLULAR AND SECRETORY PROTEINS OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS OF SCIARA COPROPHILA DURING THE LARVAL-PUPAL TRANSFORMATION

PubMed Central

Been, Anita C.; Rasch, Ellen M.

1972-01-01

The cellular and secretory proteins of the salivary gland of Sciara coprophila during the stages of the larval-pupal transformation were examined by electrophoresis in 0.6 mm sheets of polyacrylamide gel with both SDS-continuous and discontinuous buffer systems. After SDS-electrophoresis, all electrophoretograms of both reduced and nonreduced proteins from single glands stained with Coomassie brilliant blue revealed a pattern containing the same 25 bands during the stages of the larval-pupal transformation. With the staining procedures used in this study, qualitative increases and decreases were detected in existing proteins and enzymes. There was no evidence, however, for the appearance of new protein species that could be correlated with the onset of either pupation or gland histolysis. Electrophoretograms of reduced samples of anterior versus posterior gland parts indicated that no protein in the basic pattern of 25 bands was unique to either the anterior or posterior gland part. Electrophoretograms of reduced samples of secretion collected from either actively feeding or "cocoon"-building animals showed an electrophoretic pattern containing up to six of the 25 protein fractions detected in salivary gland samples, with varied amounts of these same six proteins in electrophoretograms of secretion samples from a given stage. Zymograms of non-specific esterases in salivary gland samples revealed a progressive increase in the amount of esterase reaction produce in one major band and some decrease in the second major band during later stages of the larval-pupal transformation. PMID:4116523

Fluorescein angiography of the bladder: technique and relevance to bladder cancer and interstitial cystitis patients.

PubMed

Zimmern, P E; Laub, D; Leach, G E

1995-07-01

Fluorescein angiography has been used in the study of bleeding vessels, neovascularity, tumors and ischemic tissues in a variety of disorders. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and relevance of this interesting technology for the evaluation of bladder wall vessels in patients with interstitial cystitis and bladder cancer. Five patients with National Institutes of Health defined interstitial cystitis symptoms and 10 with bladder cancer were studied during cytoscopy while they were under general anesthesia. A yellow-green barrier filter (520 nm.) was placed over the cystoscope eyepiece and a blue exciter filter (465 nm.) was attached to the light source. Patients received a 5 ml. bolus of 10% fluorescein intravenously. After hydrodistension, glomerulations in interstitial cystitis patients were more prominent with fluorescein angiography and occurred in the venule phase. Areas of papillary transitional cell tumor and carcinoma in situ developed a brilliant yellow-green fluorescence. Adjacent normal urothelium was nonfluorescent and provided a contrasting dark background facilitating the detection of all lesions. No allergic reaction or other adverse effect related to the fluorescein injection was observed. These unique observations in a limited number of patients suggest that fluorescein angiography of the bladder is a safe and simple procedure. This preliminary report underscores the relevance of fluorescein angiography in the detection of bladder tumor and offers a new approach to the evaluation of bladder wall vessels in interstitial cystitis patients.

Multitracing Experiment With Solved and Particulate Tracers In An Unsaturated Field Soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burkhardt, M.; Kasteel, R.; Vereecken, H.

Solute movement and colloid migration follow preferential flow paths in structured soils at the field scale. The use of microsphreres is a possible option to mimic colloid transport through the vadose zone into the groundwater. We present results of multi- tracing experiments conducted in an Orthic Luvisol using bromide (Br-), the reactive dye tracer Brilliant Blue (BB) and microspheres. The fluorescent microspheres (1 and 10 µm in diameter) were functionalized with a negative surface charge. Eight field plots (about 2 m2) were irrigated with 10 mm and 40 mm during 6 h. Four field plots were sampled directly after the irrgation, the others were exposed for 90 days to natural wheather conditions. Photographs of horizontal cross-sections and disturbed soil sam- ples were taken every 5 to 10 cm down to a depth of 160 cm. Image analysis was used to derive concentration distributions of BB using a calibration relationship between concentration and color spectra. The microspheres were quantified after desorption of the soil samples by fluorescent microscopy and image analysis. We used moment analysis to characterize transport phenomena. We found that transport through the soil matrix was affected by sorption, but all of the applied compounds were transported through preferential flow paths (earthworm burrows) down to a depth of 160 cm irre- spective of their chemical properties. Furthermore, this study shows that microspheres can be used to mimic colloid facilitated transport under unsaturated conditions in a field soil.

Thin layer chitosan-coated cellulose filter paper as substrate for immobilization of catalytic cobalt nanoparticles.

PubMed

Kamal, Tahseen; Khan, Sher Bahadar; Haider, Sajjad; Alghamdi, Yousef Gamaan; Asiri, Abdullah M

2017-11-01

A facile approach utilizing synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles in green polymers of chitosan (CS) coating layer on high surface area cellulose microfibers of filter paper (CFP) is described for the catalytic reduction of nitrophenol and an organic dye using NaBH 4 . Simple steps of CFP coating with 1wt% CS aqueous solution followed by Co 2+ ions adsorption from 0.2M CoCl 2 aqueous solution were carried out to prepare pre-catalytic strips. The Co 2+ loaded pre-catalytic strips of CS-CFP were treated with 0.19M NaBH 4 aqueous solution to convert the ions into nanoparticles. Successful Co nanoparticles formation was assessed by various characterization techniques of FESEM, EDX and XRD analyzes. TGA analyses were carried out on CFP, CS-CFP, and Co-CS-CFP for the determination of the amount of Co particles formed on the CS-FP, and to track their thermal properties. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the Co-CS-CFP showed an excellent catalytic activity and reusability in the reduction reactions a nitroaromatic compound of 2,6-dintirophenol (2,6-DNP) and brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) dye by NaBH 4 . The Co-CS-CFP catalyzed the reduction reactions of 2,6-DNP and BCB by NaBH 4 with psuedo-first order rate constants of 0.0451 and 0.1987min -1 , respectively. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Strategic intensity: a conversation with world chess champion Garry Kasparov.

PubMed

Kasparov, Garry

2005-04-01

It's hard to find a better exemplar for competition than chess. The image of two brilliant minds locked in a battle of skill and will-in which chance plays little or no apparent role-is compelling. Even people who have scant knowledge of the game instinctively recognize that chess is unusual in terms of its intellectual complexity and the strategic demands it places on players. Can strategists learn anything from chess players about what it takes to win? To find out, H BR senior editor Diane L. Coutu talked with Garry Kasparov, the world's number one player since 1984. Kasparov believes that success in both chess and business is very much a question of psychological advantage; the complexity of the game demands that players rely heavily on their instincts and on gamesmanship. In this wide-ranging interview, Kasparov explores the power of chess as a model for business competition; the balance that chess players strike between intuition and analysis; the significance of his loss to IBM's chess-playing computer, Deep Blue; and how his legendary rivalry with Anatoly Karpov, Kasparov's predecessor as World Chess Champion, affected his own success. Kasparov also shares his solution to what he calls the champion's dilemma, a question for all world masters, whether they are in business, sports, or chess: Where does a virtuoso go after he has accomplished everything he's ever wanted to, even beyond his wildest imagination? If you are lucky, says Kasparov, your enemies will push you to be passionate about staying at the top.

The Frequency of "Brilliant" and "Genius" in Teaching Evaluations Predicts the Representation of Women and African Americans across Fields.

PubMed

Storage, Daniel; Horne, Zachary; Cimpian, Andrei; Leslie, Sarah-Jane

2016-01-01

Women and African Americans-groups targeted by negative stereotypes about their intellectual abilities-may be underrepresented in careers that prize brilliance and genius. A recent nationwide survey of academics provided initial support for this possibility. Fields whose practitioners believed that natural talent is crucial for success had fewer female and African American PhDs. The present study seeks to replicate this initial finding with a different, and arguably more naturalistic, measure of the extent to which brilliance and genius are prized within a field. Specifically, we measured field-by-field variability in the emphasis on these intellectual qualities by tallying-with the use of a recently released online tool-the frequency of the words "brilliant" and "genius" in over 14 million reviews on RateMyProfessors.com, a popular website where students can write anonymous evaluations of their instructors. This simple word count predicted both women's and African Americans' representation across the academic spectrum. That is, we found that fields in which the words "brilliant" and "genius" were used more frequently on RateMyProfessors.com also had fewer female and African American PhDs. Looking at an earlier stage in students' educational careers, we found that brilliance-focused fields also had fewer women and African Americans obtaining bachelor's degrees. These relationships held even when accounting for field-specific averages on standardized mathematics assessments, as well as several competing hypotheses concerning group differences in representation. The fact that this naturalistic measure of a field's focus on brilliance predicted the magnitude of its gender and race gaps speaks to the tight link between ability beliefs and diversity.

A hybrid artificial neural network and particle swarm optimization for prediction of removal of hazardous dye brilliant green from aqueous solution using zinc sulfide nanoparticle loaded on activated carbon.

PubMed

Ghaedi, M; Ansari, A; Bahari, F; Ghaedi, A M; Vafaei, A

2015-02-25

In the present study, zinc sulfide nanoparticle loaded on activated carbon (ZnS-NP-AC) simply was synthesized in the presence of ultrasound and characterized using different techniques such as SEM and BET analysis. Then, this material was used for brilliant green (BG) removal. To dependency of BG removal percentage toward various parameters including pH, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration and contact time were examined and optimized. The mechanism and rate of adsorption was ascertained by analyzing experimental data at various time to conventional kinetic models such as pseudo-first-order and second order, Elovich and intra-particle diffusion models. Comparison according to general criterion such as relative error in adsorption capacity and correlation coefficient confirm the usability of pseudo-second-order kinetic model for explanation of data. The Langmuir models is efficiently can explained the behavior of adsorption system to give full information about interaction of BG with ZnS-NP-AC. A multiple linear regression (MLR) and a hybrid of artificial neural network and partial swarm optimization (ANN-PSO) model were used for prediction of brilliant green adsorption onto ZnS-NP-AC. Comparison of the results obtained using offered models confirm higher ability of ANN model compare to the MLR model for prediction of BG adsorption onto ZnS-NP-AC. Using the optimal ANN-PSO model the coefficient of determination (R(2)) were 0.9610 and 0.9506; mean squared error (MSE) values were 0.0020 and 0.0022 for the training and testing data set, respectively. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A hybrid artificial neural network and particle swarm optimization for prediction of removal of hazardous dye brilliant green from aqueous solution using zinc sulfide nanoparticle loaded on activated carbon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghaedi, M.; Ansari, A.; Bahari, F.; Ghaedi, A. M.; Vafaei, A.

2015-02-01

In the present study, zinc sulfide nanoparticle loaded on activated carbon (ZnS-NP-AC) simply was synthesized in the presence of ultrasound and characterized using different techniques such as SEM and BET analysis. Then, this material was used for brilliant green (BG) removal. To dependency of BG removal percentage toward various parameters including pH, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration and contact time were examined and optimized. The mechanism and rate of adsorption was ascertained by analyzing experimental data at various time to conventional kinetic models such as pseudo-first-order and second order, Elovich and intra-particle diffusion models. Comparison according to general criterion such as relative error in adsorption capacity and correlation coefficient confirm the usability of pseudo-second-order kinetic model for explanation of data. The Langmuir models is efficiently can explained the behavior of adsorption system to give full information about interaction of BG with ZnS-NP-AC. A multiple linear regression (MLR) and a hybrid of artificial neural network and partial swarm optimization (ANN-PSO) model were used for prediction of brilliant green adsorption onto ZnS-NP-AC. Comparison of the results obtained using offered models confirm higher ability of ANN model compare to the MLR model for prediction of BG adsorption onto ZnS-NP-AC. Using the optimal ANN-PSO model the coefficient of determination (R2) were 0.9610 and 0.9506; mean squared error (MSE) values were 0.0020 and 0.0022 for the training and testing data set, respectively.

Brilliant glyconanocapsules for trapping of bacteria.

PubMed

Yan, Xibo; Sivignon, Adeline; Alcouffe, Pierre; Burdin, Béatrice; Favre-Bonté, Sabine; Bilyy, Rostyslav; Barnich, Nicolas; Fleury, Etienne; Ganachaud, François; Bernard, Julien

2015-08-28

Nanoprecipitation of miglyol into droplets surrounded by a functional glycopolymer generates nanocapsules of biointerest. Fluorophores are trapped in situ or post-grafted onto the crosslinked polymer shell for efficient imaging. The resulting colloids induce aggregation of bacteria through strong specific interactions and promote their facile removal.

Educating Exceptional Children: Current Issue for Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Specht, Jacqueline

2004-01-01

The Oxford dictionary defines exceptionality as "forming an exception; very unusual; outstandingly good." A thesaurus provides the following synonyms: outstanding, excellent, brilliant, antonym of ordinary. In education and psychology textbooks and journals, however, it is often defined in ways that focus on limitations, with synonyms…

Evaluation of cavity size, kind, and filling technique of composite shrinkage by finite element.

PubMed

Jafari, Toloo; Alaghehmad, Homayoon; Moodi, Ehsan

2018-01-01

Cavity preparation reduces the rigidity of tooth and its resistance to deformation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dimensional changes of the repaired teeth using two types of light cure composite and two methods of incremental and bulk filling by the use of finite element method. In this computerized in vitro experimental study, an intact maxillary premolar was scanned using cone beam computed tomography instrument (SCANORA, Switzerland), then each section of tooth image was transmitted to Ansys software using AUTOCAD. Then, eight sizes of cavity preparations and two methods of restoration (bulk and incremental) using two different types of composite resin materials (Heliomolar, Brilliant) were proposed on software and analysis was completed with Ansys software. Dimensional change increased by widening and deepening of the cavities. It was also increased using Brilliant composite resin and incremental filling technique. Increase in depth and type of filling technique has the greatest role of dimensional change after curing, but the type of composite resin does not have a significant role.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chang, Seo Hyoung; Kim, Jungho; Phatak, Charudatta

The interaction between X-rays and matter is an intriguing topic for both fundamental science and possible applications. In particular, synchrotron-based brilliant X-ray beams have been used as a powerful diagnostic tool to unveil nanoscale phenomena in functional materials. But, it has not been widely investigated how functional materials respond to the brilliant X-rays. Here, we report the X-ray-induced reversible resistance change in 40-nm-thick TiO 2 films sandwiched by Pt top and bottom electrodes, and propose the physical mechanism behind the emergent phenomenon. Our findings indicate that there exists a photovoltaic-like effect, which modulates the resistance reversibly by a few ordersmore » of magnitude, depending on the intensity of impinging X-rays. Furthermore, we found that this effect, combined with the X-ray irradiation induced phase transition confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, triggers a nonvolatile reversible resistance change. In understanding X-ray-controlled reversible resistance changes we can provide possibilities to control initial resistance states of functional materials, which could be useful for future information and energy storage devices.« less

Bright attosecond γ-ray pulses from nonlinear Compton scattering with laser-illuminated compound targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Xing-Long; Chen, Min; Yu, Tong-Pu; Weng, Su-Ming; Hu, Li-Xiang; McKenna, Paul; Sheng, Zheng-Ming

2018-04-01

Attosecond light sources have the potential to open up totally unexplored research avenues in ultrafast science. However, the photon energies achievable using existing generation schemes are limited to the keV range. Here, we propose and numerically demonstrate an all-optical mechanism for the generation of bright MeV attosecond γ-photon beams with desirable angular momentum. Using a circularly polarized Laguerre-Gaussian laser pulse focused onto a cone-foil target, dense attosecond bunches ( ≲ 170 as ) of electrons are produced. The electrons interact with the laser pulse which is reflected by a plasma mirror, producing ultra-brilliant (˜1023 photons/s/mm2/mrad2/0.1%BW) multi-MeV (Eγ,max > 30 MeV) isolated attosecond ( ≲ 260 as ) γ-ray pulse trains. Moreover, the angular momentum is transferred to γ-photon beams via nonlinear Compton scattering of ultra-intense tightly focused laser pulse by energetic electrons. Such a brilliant attosecond γ-photon source would provide the possibilities in attosecond nuclear science.

Degradation of Active Brilliant Red X-3B by a microwave discharge electrodeless lamp in the presence of activated carbon.

PubMed

Fu, Jie; Wen, Teng; Wang, Qing; Zhang, Xue-Wei; Zeng, Qing-Fu; An, Shu-Qing; Zhu, Hai-Liang

2010-06-01

Degradation of Active Brilliant Red X-3B (X-3B) in aqueous solution by a microwave discharge electrodeless lamp (MDEL) in the presence of activated carbon was investigated. The preliminary results proved this method could effectively degrade X-3B in aqueous solution. The removal percentages of colour and chemical oxygen demand were up to approximately 99% and 66%, respectively, at the conditions of 0.8 g/L dye concentration, 20 g/L activated carbon, pH 7.0 and 8 min microwave irradiation time. The degradation basically belonged to first-order reaction kinetics and its rate constant was 0.42 min(-1). No aromatic organics were detected in the final treated solution, indicating that the mineralization was relatively complete. By studying the change in solution properties, it could be concluded that MDEL-assisted oxidation was the dominant reaction mechanism. In addition, the influence of operational parameters and reuse of activated carbon were also discussed.

Humanizing the Deities of Jazz

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jeppesen, Scott

2017-01-01

As musicians, we have been taught to idolize certain figures in music history. These individuals are considered untouchable, unassailable, and unquestionably brilliant. This practice is increasingly evident in jazz. Figures like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis have all undergone a virtual apotheosis. While there is…

Smartberries: Interpreting Erdrich's Love Medicine

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Treuer, David

2005-01-01

The structure of "Love Medicines" interpreted by Hertha D. Sweet Wong who claims that the book's "multiple narrators confound conventional Western expectations of an autonomous protagonist, a dominant narrative voice, and a consistently chronological narrative". "Love Medicine" is a brilliant use of the Western literary tactics that create the…

Historic American engineering record. Nevada national security site, Bren Tower Complex. Written historical and descriptive data and field records

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Edwards, Susan R.; Goldenberg, Nancy

The BREN (Bare Reactor Experiment, Nevada) Tower Complex is significant for its role in the history of nuclear testing, radiation dosimetry studies, and early field testing of the Strategic Missile Defense System designs. At the time it was built in 1962, the 1,527 ft (465 m) BREN Tower was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River and exceeded the height of the Empire State Building by 55 ft (17 m). It remains the tallest ever erected specifically for scientific purposes and was designed and built to facilitate the experimental dosimetry studies necessary for the development of accurate radiation dosemore » rates for the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The tower was a key component of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission’s (ABCC) mission to predict the health effects of radiation exposure. Moved to its current location in 1966, the crucial dosimetry studies continued with Operation HENRE (High Energy Neutron Reactions Experiment). These experiments and the data they generated became the basis for a dosimetry system called the Tentative 1965 Dose or more commonly the T65D model. Used to estimate radiation doses received by individuals, the T65D model was applied until the mid-1980s when it was replaced by a new dosimetry system known as DS86 based on the Monte Carlo method of dose rate calculation. However, the BREN Tower data are still used for verification of the validity of the DS86 model. In addition to its importance in radiation heath effects research, the BREN Tower Complex is also significant for its role in the Brilliant Pebbles research project, a major component of the Strategic Defense Initiative popularly known as the “Star Wars” Initiative. Instigated under the Reagan Administration, the program’s purpose was to develop a system to shield the United States and allies from a ballistic missile attack. The centerpiece of the Strategic Defense System was space-based, kinetic-kill vehicles. In 1991, BREN Tower was used for the tether tests of the Brilliant Pebbles prototype vehicle at the earth’s surface prior to the more costly space testing program. The success of these tests established the Brilliant Pebbles program as an essential component of America’s space-based missile defense system even after the dismantling of the Soviet Union. Data from the Brilliant Pebbles research program continues to inspire current missile defense system research (Independent Working Group 2009).« less

A brief review of other notable protein blotting methods.

PubMed

Kurien, Biji T; Scofield, R Hal

2009-01-01

A plethora of methods have been used for transferring proteins from the gel to the membrane. These include centrifuge blotting, electroblotting of proteins to Teflon tape and membranes for N- and C-terminal sequence analysis, multiple tissue blotting, a two-step transfer of low and high molecular weight proteins, blotting of Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB)-stained proteins from polyacrylamide gels to transparencies, acid electroblotting onto activated glass, membrane-array method for the detection of human intestinal bacteria in fecal samples, protein microarray using a new black cellulose nitrate support, electrotransfer using square wave alternating voltage for enhanced protein recovery, polyethylene glycol-mediated significant enhancement of the immunoblotting transfer, parallel protein chemical processing before and during western blot and the molecular scanner concept, electronic western blot of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry-identified polypeptides from parallel processed gel-separated proteins, semidry electroblotting of peptides and proteins from acid-urea polyacrylamide gels, transfer of silver-stained proteins from polyacrylamide gels to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes, and the display of K(+) channel proteins on a solid nitrocellulose support for assaying toxin binding. The quantification of proteins bound to PVDF membranes by elution of CBB, clarification of immunoblots on PVDF for transmission densitometry, gold coating of nonconductive membranes before MALDI tandem mass spectrometric analysis to prevent charging effect for analysis of peptides from PVDF membranes, and a simple method for coating native polysaccharides onto nitrocellulose are some of the methods involving either the manipulation of membranes with transferred proteins or just a passive transfer of antigens to membranes. All these methods are briefly reviewed in this chapter.

Increased expression of annexin I and thioredoxin detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of drug resistant human stomach cancer cells.

PubMed

Sinha, P; Hütter, G; Köttgen, E; Dietel, M; Schadendorf, D; Lage, H

1998-11-18

The therapy of advanced cancer using chemotherapy alone or in combination with radiation or hyperthermia yields an overall response rate of about 20-50%. This success is often marred by the development of resistance to cytostatic drugs. Our aim was to study the global analysis of protein expression in the development of chemoresistance in vitro. We therefore used a cell culture model derived from the gastric carcinoma cell line EPG 85-257P. A classical multidrug-resistant subline EPG85-257RDB selected to daunorubicin and an atypical multidrug-resistant cell variant EPG85-257RNOV selected to mitoxantrone, were analysed using two-dimensional electrophoresis in immobilized pH-gradients (pH 4.0-8.0) in the first dimension and linear polyacrylamide gels (12%) in the second dimension. After staining with coomassie brilliant blue, image analysis was performed using the PDQuest system. Spots of interest were isolated using preparative two-dimensional electrophoresis and subjected to microsequencing. A total of 241 spots from the EPG85-257RDB-standard and 289 spots from the EPG85-257RNOV-standard could be matched to the EPG85-257P-standard. Microsequencing after enzymatic hydrolysis in gel, mass spectrometric data and sequencing of the peptides after their fractionation using microbore HPLC identified that two proteins annexin I and thioredoxin were overexpressed in chemoresistant cell lines. Annexin I was present in both the classical and the atypical multidrug-resistant cells. Thioredoxin was found to be overexpressed only in the atypical multidrug-resistant cell line.

Effect of genetic deletion and pharmacological antagonism of P2X7 receptors in a mouse animal model of migraine

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Purine receptors participate in peripheral and central sensitization and are associated with migraine headache. We investigated the role of P2X7 receptor (P2X7) in a nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced mouse model of migraine. Methods Intraperitoneal NTG injection (15 mg/kg) triggered thermal hyperalgesia in the hindpaws of wild-type C57BL/6J mice, followed by the induction of c-fos in upper cervical spinal cord and trigeminal nucleus caudalis. The effect of genetic deletion of P2X7 and the selective P2X7 antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG) were examined on hyperalgesia and c-fos induction. Results NTG decreased the paw withdrawal threshold in both wild-type and P2X7 knockout mice. Nevertheless, subacute BBG treatment (50 mg/kg/day i.p.) completely prevented the effect of NTG in wild-type, but not in knockout mice. Whereas P2X7 deficiency differentially affected the expression of c-fos, the average number of fos-immuno-reactive neurons in trigeminal nucleus caudalis, but not in upper cervical spinal cord was lower in BBG-treated wild-type mice after NTG treatment. Conclusions Our results show that P2X7 receptors might participate in the pathogenesis of migraine, although upregulation of other P2X receptors probably compensate for the loss of its action in knockout mice. The data also suggest the therapeutic potential of P2X7 antagonists for the treatment of migraine. PMID:24885962

Hubble Hotbed of Vigorous Star Formation

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

This galaxy is currently a hotbed of vigorous star formation. NGC 1569 is a starburst galaxy, meaning that — as the name suggests — it is bursting at the seams with stars, and is currently producing them at a rate far higher than that observed in most other galaxies. For almost 100 million years, NGC 1569 has pumped out stars more than 100 times faster than the Milky Way! As a result, this glittering galaxy is home to super star clusters, three of which are visible in this image — one of the two bright clusters is actually the superposition of two massive clusters. Each containing more than a million stars, these brilliant blue clusters reside within a large cavity of gas carved out by multiple supernovae, the energetic remnants of massive stars. In 2008, Hubble observed the galaxy's cluttered core and sparsely populated outer fringes. By pinpointing individual red giant stars, Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys enabled astronomers to calculate a new — and much more precise — estimate for NGC 1569’s distance. This revealed that the galaxy is actually one and a half times farther away than previously thought, and a member of the IC 342 galaxy group. Astronomers suspect that the IC 342 cosmic congregation is responsible for the star-forming frenzy observed in NGC 1569. Gravitational interactions between this galactic group are believed to be compressing the gas within NGC 1569. As it is compressed, the gas collapses, heats up and forms new stars. Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Aloisi, Ford; Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt

Space Shuttle Projects

NASA Image and Video Library

1990-07-08

The STS-40 patch makes a contemporary statement focusing on human beings living and working in space. Against a background of the universe, seven silver stars, interspersed about the orbital path of Columbia, represent the seven crew members. The orbiter's flight path forms a double-helix, designed to represent the DNA molecule common to all living creatures. In the words of a crew spokesman, ...(the helix) affirms the ceaseless expansion of human life and American involvement in space while simultaneously emphasizing the medical and biological studies to which this flight is dedicated. Above Columbia, the phrase Spacelab Life Sciences 1 defines both the Shuttle mission and its payload. Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian man, silhouetted against the blue darkness of the heavens, is in the upper center portion of the patch. With one foot on Earth and arms extended to touch Shuttle's orbit, the crew feels, he serves as a powerful embodiment of the extension of human inquiry from the boundaries of Earth to the limitless laboratory of space. Sturdily poised amid the stars, he serves to link scentists on Earth to the scientists in space asserting the harmony of efforts which produce meaningful scientific spaceflight missions. A brilliant red and yellow Earth limb (center) links Earth to space as it radiates from a native American symbol for the sun. At the frontier of space, the traditional symbol for the sun vividly links America's past to America's future, the crew states. Beneath the orbiting Shuttle, darkness of night rests peacefully over the United States. Drawn by artist Sean Collins, the STS 40 Space Shuttle patch was designed by the crewmembers for the flight.

Proteome approaches to characterize seed storage proteins related to ditelocentric chromosomes in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

PubMed

Islam, Nazrul; Woo, Sun-Hee; Tsujimoto, Hisashi; Kawasaki, Hiroshi; Hirano, Hisashi

2002-09-01

Changes in protein composition of wheat endosperm proteome were investigated in 39 ditelocentric chromosome lines of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Chinese Spring. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining has resolved a total of 105 protein spots in a gel. Quantitative image analysis of protein spots was performed by PDQuest. Variations in protein spots between the euploid and the 39 ditelocentric lines were evaluated by spot number, appearance, disappearance and intensity. A specific spot present in all gels was taken as an internal standard, and the intensity of all other spots was calculated as the ratio of the internal standard. Out of the 1755 major spots detected in 39 ditelocentric lines, 1372 (78%) spots were found variable in different spot parameters: 147 (11%) disappeared, 978 (71%) up-regulated and 247 (18%) down-regulated. Correlation studies in changes in protein intensities among 24 protein spots across the ditelocentric lines were performed. High correlations in changes of protein intensities were observed among the proteins encoded by genes located in the homoeologous arms. Locations of structural genes controlling 26 spots were identified in 10 chromosomal arms. Multiple regulators of the same protein located at various chromosomal arms were also noticed. Identification of structural genes for most of the proteins was found difficult due to multiple regulators encoding the same protein. Two novel subunits (1B(Z,) 1BDz), the structure of which are very similar to the high molecular weight glutenin subunit 12, were identified, and the chromosome arm locations of these subunits were assigned.

Identification of multidrug resistant protein 1 of mouse leukemia P388 cells on a PVDF membrane using 6-aminoquinolyl-carbamyl (AQC)-amino acid analysis and World Wide Web (WWW)-accessible tools.

PubMed

Shindo, N; Fujimura, T; Nojima-Kazuno, S; Mineki, R; Furusawa, S; Sasaki, K; Murayama, K

1998-11-15

Multidrug resistant protein 1 (MDR1) in a doxorubicin-resistant mouse leukemia cell line (P388/DOX) was identified using its amino acid composition combined with protein database searching (ExPASy and EMBL PROPSEARCH) via the World Wide Web. The proteins were separated by one-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, blotted onto a polyvinylidene fluoride membrane, and stained with Coomassie brilliant blue. A 160-kDa protein band was acid-hydrolyzed in the vapor phase (6 N HC1) and converted to 6-aminoquinolyl-carbamyl (AQC)-amino acids without extraction of the amino acids from the membrane. The amino acid composition of the protein was determined using the sensitive AQC-amino acid analysis method, improving our previously described method. The improved method involved using a Cosmosil 5C8-MS column instead of a Pegasil C8; replacement of the mobile phase A, constituent, 75 mM ammonium phosphate (pH 7.5), with 30 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2); and slight modification of the separation program (9). All manipulations for protein hydrolysis and AQC derivatization were carried out in a hood using clean tools. This minimized contamination of amino acids at the low femtomolar level. A database search was carried out with bovine serum albumin as a calibration protein. MDR1 in P388/DOX was ranked first by both databases with high reliability (score 14 for ExPASy, distance 1.34 for EMBL).

Adenosine triphosphate regulates the activity of guinea pig Cav1.2 channel by direct binding to the channel in a dose-dependent manner.

PubMed

Feng, Rui; Xu, Jianjun; Minobe, Etsuko; Kameyama, Asako; Yang, Lei; Yu, Lifeng; Hao, Liying; Kameyama, Masaki

2014-05-01

The present study is to investigate the mechanism by which ATP regulates Cav1.2 channel activity. Ventricular tissue was obtained from adult guinea pig hearts using collagenase. Ca(2+) channel activity was monitored using the patch-clamp technique. Proteins were purified using wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose, and the concentration was determined using the Coomassie brilliant blue technique. ATP binding to the Cav1.2 channel was examined using the photoaffinity method. EDA-ATP-biotin maintains Ca(2+) channel activity in inside-out membrane patches. ATP directly bound to the Cav1.2 channel in a dose-dependent manner, and at least two molecules of ATP bound to one molecule of the Cav1.2 channel. Low levels of calmodulin (CaM) increased ATP binding to the Cav1.2 channel, but higher levels of CaM decreased ATP binding to the Cav1.2 channel. In addition, Ca(2+) was another regulator for ATP binding to the Cav1.2 channel. Furthermore, ATP bound to GST-fusion peptides of NH2-terminal region (amino acids 6-140) and proximal COOH-terminal region (amino acids 1,509-1,789) of the main subunit (α1C) of the Cav1.2 channel. Our data suggest that ATP might regulate Cav1.2 channel activity by directly binding to the Cav1.2 channel in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the ATP-binding effect to the Cav1.2 channel was both CaM- and Ca(2+) dependent.

Melatonin protects against myocardial hypertrophy induced by lipopolysaccharide.

PubMed

Lu, Qi; Yi, Xin; Cheng, Xiang; Sun, Xiaohui; Yang, Xiangjun

2015-04-01

Melatonin is thought to have the ability of antiatherogenic, antioxidant, and vasodilatory. It is not only a promising protective in acute myocardial infarction but is also a useful tool in the treatment of pathological remodeling. However, its role in myocardial hypertrophy remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of melatonin on myocardial hypertrophy induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to identify their precise mechanisms. The cultured myocardial cell was divided into six groups: control group, LPS group, LPS + ethanol (4%), LPS + melatonin (1.5 mg/ml) group, LPS + melatonin (3 mg/ml) group, and LPS + melatonin (6 mg/ml) group. The morphologic change of myocardial cell was observed by inverted phase contrast microscope. The protein level of myocardial cell was measured by Coomassie brilliant blue protein kit. The secretion level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ca(2+) transient in Fura-2/AM-loaded cells was measured by Till image system. The expression of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and calcineurin (CaN) was measured by Western blot analysis. Our data demonstrated that LPS induced myocardial hypertrophy, promoted the secretion levels of TNF-α, and increased Ca(2+) transient level and the expression of CaMKII and CaN. Administration of melatonin 30 min prior to LPS stimulation dose-dependently attenuated myocardial hypertrophy. In conclusion, the results revealed that melatonin had the potential to protect against myocardial hypertrophy induced by LPS in vitro through downregulation of the TNF-α expression and retains the intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis.

STS-40 Mission Insignia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

The STS-40 patch makes a contemporary statement focusing on human beings living and working in space. Against a background of the universe, seven silver stars, interspersed about the orbital path of Columbia, represent the seven crew members. The orbiter's flight path forms a double-helix, designed to represent the DNA molecule common to all living creatures. In the words of a crew spokesman, ...(the helix) affirms the ceaseless expansion of human life and American involvement in space while simultaneously emphasizing the medical and biological studies to which this flight is dedicated. Above Columbia, the phrase Spacelab Life Sciences 1 defines both the Shuttle mission and its payload. Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian man, silhouetted against the blue darkness of the heavens, is in the upper center portion of the patch. With one foot on Earth and arms extended to touch Shuttle's orbit, the crew feels, he serves as a powerful embodiment of the extension of human inquiry from the boundaries of Earth to the limitless laboratory of space. Sturdily poised amid the stars, he serves to link scentists on Earth to the scientists in space asserting the harmony of efforts which produce meaningful scientific spaceflight missions. A brilliant red and yellow Earth limb (center) links Earth to space as it radiates from a native American symbol for the sun. At the frontier of space, the traditional symbol for the sun vividly links America's past to America's future, the crew states. Beneath the orbiting Shuttle, darkness of night rests peacefully over the United States. Drawn by artist Sean Collins, the STS 40 Space Shuttle patch was designed by the crewmembers for the flight.

Kinin and Purine Signaling Contributes to Neuroblastoma Metastasis.

PubMed

Ulrich, Henning; Ratajczak, Mariusz Z; Schneider, Gabriela; Adinolfi, Elena; Orioli, Elisa; Ferrazoli, Enéas G; Glaser, Talita; Corrêa-Velloso, Juliana; Martins, Poliana C M; Coutinho, Fernanda; Santos, Ana P J; Pillat, Micheli M; Sack, Ulrich; Lameu, Claudiana

2018-01-01

Bone marrow metastasis occurs in approximately 350,000 patients that annually die in the U.S. alone. In view of the importance of tumor cell migration into the bone marrow, we have here investigated effects of various concentrations of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), bradykinin- and ATP on bone marrow metastasis. We show for first time that bradykinin augmented chemotactic responsiveness of neuroblastoma cells to SDF-1 and ATP concentrations, encountered under physiological conditions. Bradykinin upregulated VEGF expression, increased metalloproteinase activity and induced adhesion of neuroblastoma cells. Bradykinin augmented SDF-1-induced intracellular Ca 2+ mobilization as well as resensitization and expression of ATP-sensing P2X7 receptors. Bradykinin treatment resulted in higher gene expression levels of the truncated P2X7B receptor compared to those of the P2X7A full-length isoform. Bradykinin as pro-metastatic factor induced tumor proliferation that was significantly decreased by P2X7 receptor antagonists; however, the peptide did not enhance cell death nor P2X7A receptor-related pore activity, promoting neuroblastoma growth. Furthermore, immunodeficient nude/nude mice transplanted with bradykinin-pretreated neuroblastoma cells revealed significantly higher metastasis rates compared to animals injected with untreated cells. In contrast, animals receiving Brilliant Blue G, a P2X7 receptor antagonist, did not show any specific dissemination of neuroblastoma cells to the bone marrow and liver, and metastasis rates were drastically reduced. Our data suggests correlated actions of kinins and purines in neuroblastoma dissemination, providing novel avenues for clinic research in preventing metastasis.

Preferential transport of isoproturon at a plot scale and a field scale tile-drained site

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zehe, Erwin; Flühler, Hannes

2001-06-01

Irrigation experiments using the tracers Brilliant Blue (BB) and Bromide (Br) were conducted on three plots of 1.4×1.4 m 2 (plot scale) and a field scale subsurface drained test site (900 m 2) to clarify mechanisms causing rapid transport of surface applied Isoproturon (IPU) during preferential flow events. One of the small plots (site 10) and the field scale test site are located on the same field. One day after irrigation of the plot scale sites the Br and IPU concentration in two vertical soil profiles as well as the macroporousity on separate profiles and hydraulic properties of single macropores were determined. During irrigation of the field scale test site discharge, soil moisture as well as the concentration of IPU and Br in the drainage outlet were measured. Preferential flow in deep penetrating earthworm burrows caused a fast breakthrough of IPU and Br into the tile drain (1.2 m depth) at the field scale site as well as leaching of IPU into the subsoil (>0.8 m) at site 10. The results suggest a hierarchy of preconditions for the occurrence of preferential flow events of which a sufficient number of deep penetrating macropores interconnected to the soil surface seems to be the most important one. Moreover there is evidence that facilitated transport of IPU attached to mobile soil particles occurred during the preferential flow events at the field scale site and site 10. The susceptibility for preferential flow as well as the susceptibility for facilitated transport appear to be intrinsic properties of the investigated soil.

Depth distribution of sulfonamide antibiotics in pore water of an undisturbed loamy grassland soil.

PubMed

Burkhardt, Michael; Stamm, Christian

2007-01-01

Despite the concern raised by the detections of veterinary antibiotics like sulfonamides (SA) in the environment, their fate in soils is still not sufficiently understood. In a previous article, we demonstrated that manure may substantially influence losses of SA via runoff from soils. Here, we report on the effect of manure on SA availability in soil pore water. Three sulfonamides (sulfadimidine, sulfadiazine, sulfathiazole) and two tracers (bromide and Brilliant Blue) were either applied in manure or as aqueous solution on grassland plots. After 1 and 3 d contact time, the plots were irrigated with deionized water. One day after irrigation, soil cores were taken and profiles of pore water concentrations were determined. The median SA concentrations of the top layer on manured plots varied between 40 and 60 microg L(-1) and between 10 and 30 microg L(-1) on the controls. For the conservative tracer Br the mass recovery was about 60 to 75% and much lower for the SA (2 to 14%). Apparent distribution coefficients K(d,app) of the SA in the topsoil ranged between 3 and 15 L kg(-1) on the manured plots and between 30 to 35 kg L(-1) on the controls. Below the top layer, the concentration distribution showed a pattern typical for preferential flow. Locally, SA concentrations down to 30- to 50-cm depth were as high as in the top 5 cm with little effect of the two application matrices. In the topmost layer, the data indicate that 10 to 25% of sulfadimidine were transformed to its acetyl-metabolite.

The Trajectory of Techniques: Lessons from the Past.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crease, Robert P.

1992-01-01

Discusses role of laboratory techniques in scientific investigations. Describes Rutherford's development of scattering techniques and von Wassermann's development of test for syphilis. States that discovering an effect requires a brilliant scientist, however, making it a technique requires that it be made usable by ordinary people. Uses Moseley's…

Reviews

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2002-11-01

CD-ROM REVIEW (551) Essential Physics BOOK REVIEWS (551) Collins Advanced Science: Physics, 2nd edition Quarks, Leptons and the Big Bang, 2nd edition Do Brilliantly: A2 Physics IGCSE Physics Geophysics in the UK Synoptic Skills in Advanced Physics Flash! The hunt for the biggest explosions in the universe Materials Maths for Advanced Physics

Low Vision Rehabilitation of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Practice Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rundquist, John

2004-01-01

Retinitis pigmentosa is a rod-cone dystrophy, commonly genetic in nature. Approximately 60-80% of those with retinitis pigmentosa inherit it by an autosomal recessive transmission (Brilliant, 1999). There have been some reported cases with no known family history. The symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa are decreased acuity, photophobia, night…

Rousseau's "Emile", or the Fear of Passions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trohler, Daniel

2012-01-01

Notwithstanding the general accepted understanding that Rousseau is the master of modern education reflecting the progress by enlightenment this articles suggests that Rousseau's "Emile" is--as most of Rousseau's other writings are, too--testimony to a brilliant and passionate writer expressing thoughts about his concern how to deal with…

A Tribute to Gary Nash

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jason-Fives, Alli

2009-01-01

In this article, the author gives tribute to Gary Nash, a brilliant scholar, an award-winning professor, a prolific writer, a true humanitarian, and a revered historian. She honors him for his work with public school teachers. He has provided the educational support, encouragement, and motivation behind the importance of teaching history. Here,…

JPRS Report, Soviet Union, International Affairs.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-25

and in the almost still oily-black water we could see the twinkling lights from the skyscraper hotels built after the proclamation of "infitah...Heliopolis can boast green squares and brilliant store windows and boutiques Paris style. But Heliopolis is not all Cairo. Not far from the citadel raised

"That Was Brilliant!"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Penny; Fleetwood, Colin; Garnett, Rosie; Metcalfe, Gareth

2012-01-01

In this article, the authors report on the Top Marks project and some of the successful activities that made assessment "real." The aim of Top Marks project was to "invigorate the assessment of science with fun, relevance, real-life and engagement". The project involved collaboration between schools and primary science consultants from the Centre…

Degas: Vision and Perception.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kendall, Richard

1988-01-01

The art of Edgar Degas is discussed in relation to his impaired vision, including amblyopia, later blindness in one eye, corneal scarring, and photophobia. Examined are ways in which Degas compensated for vision problems, and dominant themes of his art such as the process of perception and spots of brilliant light. (Author/JDD)

Parameters, Journal of the US Army War College, Volume 16, Number 3, Autumn 1986.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-01-01

extension of this reasoning is Ecuador, Honduras, Morocco, Peru , the that forces designed specifically for coun- Philippines, Sudan, and Thailand... overweight .’. MacArthur evokes the image of a and concerned about his waistline.’ What brilliant, confident, and supremely Eichelberger did have going for

Archiving Derrida

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morris, Marla

2003-01-01

Derrida's archive, broadly speaking, is brilliantly mad, for he digs exegetically into the most difficult textual material and combines the most unlikely texts--from Socrates to Freud, from postcards to encyclopedias, from madness(es) to the archive, from primal scenes to death. In this paper, the author would like to do a brief study of the…

Alternative Pulse Detonation Engine Ignition System Investigation through Detonation Splitting

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-03-01

on the soccer field and later discovered is a brilliant and dedicated scientist and engineer. He’s been an inspiration and role model, who sees...designing configurations before cutting metal for an experiment reduces research time and cost. Dr. Vish Katta had built an in-house program ( UNICORN

Euler Teaches a Class in Structural Steel Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boyajian, David M.

2009-01-01

Even before steel was a topic of formal study for structural engineers, the brilliant eighteenth century Swiss mathematician and physicist, Leonhard Euler (1707-1783), investigated the theory governing the elastic behaviour of columns, the results of which are incorporated into the American Institute of Steel Construction's (AISC's) Bible: the…

Materialist Nonrepresentational Thought

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jagodzinski, Jan

2012-01-01

In this response to Juuso Tervo's ("The Problem of Representation" in this issue of "Studies in Art Education: A Journal of Issues and Research in Art Education"), jan jagodzinski replies that the commentary has provided a brilliant review that precisely fingers the concerns he has with a visual studies approach and the…

Chlorophyll Meters Aid Plant Nutrient Management

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2009-01-01

On December 7, 1972, roughly 5 hours and 6 minutes after launch, the crew of Apollo 17 took one of history s most famous photographs. The brilliant image of the fully illuminated Earth, the African and Antarctic continents peering out from behind swirling clouds, came to be known as the Blue Marble. Today, Earth still sometimes goes by the Blue Marble nickname, but as the satellites comprising NASA s Earth Observing System (EOS) scan the planet daily in ever greater resolutions, it is often the amount of green on the planet that is a focus of researchers attention. Earth s over 400,000 known plant species play essential roles in the planet s health: They absorb carbon dioxide and release the oxygen we breathe, help manage the Earth s temperature by absorbing and reflecting sunlight, provide food and habitats for animals, and offer building materials, medication, and sustenance for humans. As part of NASA s efforts to study our own planet along with the universe around it, the Agency s EOS satellites have been accumulating years of valuable data about Earth s vegetation (not to mention its land features, oceans, and atmosphere) since the first EOS satellite launched in 1997. Among the powerful sensors used is the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board the NASA Terra and Aqua satellites. MODIS sweeps the entire Earth every few days, beaming back information gathered across 36 bands of visible and infrared light, yielding images that let scientists track how much of Earth is green over the course of seasons and years. Monitoring the density and distribution of vegetation on Earth provides a means of determining everything from the impact of natural and human-induced climate change to the potential outbreak of disease. (Goddard Space Flight Center and U.S. Department of Defense researchers have determined, for example, that vegetation density can be used to pinpoint regions of heavy rainfall in Africa regions ripe for outbreaks of rainfall-correlated diseases like mosquito-borne Rift Valley fever.) While the Space Agency is continually seeking to upgrade the power and scope of its satellite sensors, it is also finding ways to bring that potent information-gathering capacity down to Earth. Scientists at Stennis Space Center developed one such tool that is placing some of those sensor capabilities in the hands of farmers and agricultural researchers on the ground.

Digital Classrooms Take Flight

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schachter, Ron

2009-01-01

It used to be that anyone who made it through the semester without cracking a textbook was supposed to be very brilliant or very lazy. But schools across the country--driven by concerns ranging from the financial to the pedagogical--are changing that stereotype, as they switch from conventional textbooks to electronic versions of the same or…

Podcast 1 2 3

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffey, Jason

2007-01-01

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) offers student workshops that range from Cool New Web Stuff (what is on the web that can help make research or just plain life easier) and How To Use Google Scholar. These workshops are brilliant fodder for podcasting. In fact, the initial idea for its podcast project came from a student plagiarism…

Translations on North Korea, Number 551, KULLOJA, Number 6, 1977

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-09-16

with the ever higher glory of a victor who has occu- pied the towering heights of the Six-Year Plan they are brilliantly fulfilling this year’s tasks...with panache staking the honor of Chuche Korea, Hero Korea. An important question arising in further strengthening national defense might in

Losing Our Favorite Teacher

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bigelow, Bill

2010-01-01

Howard Zinn was a brilliant teacher, a passionate activist, and a warm and generous friend. His most influential work, "A People's History of the United States," was a gift to teachers everywhere--an eloquent anti-textbook that pointed the way to an approach to the past that was at once angry, passionate, and hopeful. Corporate textbooks…

Dissociation of Blood Volume and Flow in Regulation of Salt and Water Balance in Burn Patients,

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-01

with the diagnosis of the Syndrome of Inappropriate An- lowing resuscitation. Whether there is an additional role of al- tidiuretic Hormone Secretion...osmolarity. demonstrates a remarkable, if not astounding, paradox. It really flies Leaf and Bartter then, in a brilliant series of experiments in humans

Simple and Intelligible Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blaisdell, Bob

2010-01-01

Some of the students in this author's developmental writing class are, to their own surprise, brilliant storytellers. They simply trust the tale, not the teller. If they tell a ghost story, they do not pretend, for instance, to believe in ghosts or zombies or duppies; they actually do. And so when they write faithfully, the reader sees what they…

Leaders, Leveraging, and Abundance: Competencies for the Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alfred, Richard L.

2012-01-01

Leadership, as it is practiced today in community colleges, has taken three brilliant ideas to excess and made them into guiding ideologies. The first is "growth," a means for gauging organizational legitimacy and success that has eclipsed other means. The second is "complexity," which has gained acceptance as a structural necessity for managing…

Integrating the Curriculum: Print, Scatter and Splatter

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lambert, Phyllis Gilchrist

2012-01-01

Autumn is a colorful season--with the brilliant yellows, oranges and reds against the evergreen trees. It makes sense to incorporate the beauty of season into art projects, and it provides an opportunity to integrate natural science into the lesson as well. Literacy was also incorporated into the lesson, as the author introduced this printing…

Brilliant Colours from a White Snow Cover

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vollmer, Michael; Shaw, Joseph A

2013-01-01

Surprisingly colourful views are possible from sparkling white snow. It is well known that similarly colourful features can exist in the sky whenever appropriate ice crystals are around. However, the transition of light reflection and refraction from ice crystals in the air to reflection and refraction from those in snow on the ground is not…

Brilliant but Cruel: Perceptions of Negative Evaluators.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Amabile, Teresa M.

Two studies examined the hypothesis that negative evaluators will be perceived as more intelligent than positive evalutors. Two types of stimuli were used: excerpts from actual negative and positive book reviews, and versions of those excerpts that were edited so that the balance of the reviews varied but the content did not. The results strongly…

Werner Jaeger's "Paideia" and His 'Third Humanism'

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horn, Christoph

2018-01-01

Werner Jaeger (1888-1961) was at his time the most brilliant and the most influential German classicist. His most important project was a tripartite study that he finally published under the title of "Paideia. Die Formung des griechischen Menschen" (1933-1947). "Paideia" was much more than a detailed scholarly book on pedagogy…

Fall Leaf Portraits

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Hara, Cristina

2012-01-01

In this article, the author describes how students can create a stunning as well as economical mosaic utilizing fall's brilliantly colored leaves, preserved at their peak in color. Start by choosing a beautiful fall day to take students on a nature walk to collect a variety of leaves in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Focus on collecting a…

Textual Transformations in Contemporary Black Writing in Britain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dhouib, Jawhar Ahmed

2014-01-01

While the first wave of Caribbean immigrant writers brilliantly explored race-related issues, black Britons like Andrea Levy, Zadie Smith and Caryl Phillips, among others, have sought to depart from earlier fiction, motivated in their project by the changing white face of Britain. In this article, I would like to argue that cultural change in…

Wrong turns and dead ends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, Len

2013-12-01

In his book Brilliant Blunders, Mario Livio offers a detailed and fascinating examination of major errors made by five great scientists - Charles Darwin, Linus Pauling, Lord Kelvin, Fred Hoyle and Albert Einstein - as they sought to understand the evolution of life on Earth, the evolution of the Earth itself and the evolution of the universe as a whole.

The Use of Computer-Simulated Trajectories to Teach Real Particle Flight

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gagnon, Michel

2011-01-01

The close relationship between charged particles and electromagnetic fields has been well known since the 19th century, thanks to James Clerk Maxwell's brilliant unified theory of electricity and magnetism. Today, electromagnetism is recognized as an essential aspect of human activity and has consequently become a major component of senior…

X-ray Irradiation Induced Reversible Resistance Change in Pt/TiO 2 /Pt Cells

DOE PAGES

Chang, Seo Hyoung; Kim, Jungho; Phatak, Charudatta; ...

2014-02-25

The interaction between X-rays and matter is an intriguing topic for both fundamental science and possible applications. In particular, synchrotron-based brilliant X-ray beams have been used as a powerful diagnostic tool to unveil nanoscale phenomena in functional materials. But, it has not been widely investigated how functional materials respond to the brilliant X-rays. Here, we report the X-ray-induced reversible resistance change in 40-nm-thick TiO 2 films sandwiched by Pt top and bottom electrodes, and propose the physical mechanism behind the emergent phenomenon. Our findings indicate that there exists a photovoltaic-like effect, which modulates the resistance reversibly by a few ordersmore » of magnitude, depending on the intensity of impinging X-rays. Furthermore, we found that this effect, combined with the X-ray irradiation induced phase transition confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, triggers a nonvolatile reversible resistance change. In understanding X-ray-controlled reversible resistance changes we can provide possibilities to control initial resistance states of functional materials, which could be useful for future information and energy storage devices.« less

Evaluation of cavity size, kind, and filling technique of composite shrinkage by finite element

PubMed Central

Jafari, Toloo; Alaghehmad, Homayoon; Moodi, Ehsan

2018-01-01

Background: Cavity preparation reduces the rigidity of tooth and its resistance to deformation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dimensional changes of the repaired teeth using two types of light cure composite and two methods of incremental and bulk filling by the use of finite element method. Materials and Methods: In this computerized in vitro experimental study, an intact maxillary premolar was scanned using cone beam computed tomography instrument (SCANORA, Switzerland), then each section of tooth image was transmitted to Ansys software using AUTOCAD. Then, eight sizes of cavity preparations and two methods of restoration (bulk and incremental) using two different types of composite resin materials (Heliomolar, Brilliant) were proposed on software and analysis was completed with Ansys software. Results: Dimensional change increased by widening and deepening of the cavities. It was also increased using Brilliant composite resin and incremental filling technique. Conclusion: Increase in depth and type of filling technique has the greatest role of dimensional change after curing, but the type of composite resin does not have a significant role. PMID:29497445

Covert linear polarization signatures from brilliant white two-dimensional disordered wing structures of the phoenix damselfly.

PubMed

Nixon, M R; Orr, A G; Vukusic, P

2017-05-01

The damselfly Pseudolestes mirabilis reflects brilliant white on the ventral side of its hindwings and a copper-gold colour on the dorsal side. Unlike many previous investigations of odonate wings, in which colour appearances arise either from multilayer interference or from wing-membrane pigmentation, the whiteness on the wings of P. mirabilis results from light scattered by a specialized arrangement of flattened waxy fibres and the copper-gold colour is produced by pigment-based filtering of this light scatter. The waxy fibres responsible for this optical signature effectively form a structure that is disordered in two dimensions and this also gives rise to distinct optical linear polarization. It is a structure that provides a mechanism enabling P. mirabilis to display its bright wing colours efficiently for territorial signalling, both passively while perched, in which the sunlit copper-gold upperside is presented against a highly contrasting background of foliage, and actively in territorial contests in which the white underside is also presented. It also offers a template for biomimetic high-intensity broadband reflectors that have a pronounced polarization signature. © 2017 The Author(s).

X-ray irradiation induced reversible resistance change in Pt/TiO2/Pt cells.

PubMed

Chang, Seo Hyoung; Kim, Jungho; Phatak, Charudatta; D'Aquila, Kenneth; Kim, Seong Keun; Kim, Jiyoon; Song, Seul Ji; Hwang, Cheol Seong; Eastman, Jeffrey A; Freeland, John W; Hong, Seungbum

2014-02-25

The interaction between X-rays and matter is an intriguing topic for both fundamental science and possible applications. In particular, synchrotron-based brilliant X-ray beams have been used as a powerful diagnostic tool to unveil nanoscale phenomena in functional materials. However, it has not been widely investigated how functional materials respond to the brilliant X-rays. Here, we report the X-ray-induced reversible resistance change in 40-nm-thick TiO2 films sandwiched by Pt top and bottom electrodes, and propose the physical mechanism behind the emergent phenomenon. Our findings indicate that there exists a photovoltaic-like effect, which modulates the resistance reversibly by a few orders of magnitude, depending on the intensity of impinging X-rays. We found that this effect, combined with the X-ray irradiation induced phase transition confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, triggers a nonvolatile reversible resistance change. Understanding X-ray-controlled reversible resistance changes can provide possibilities to control initial resistance states of functional materials, which could be useful for future information and energy storage devices.

Study on the fabrication of composite photonic crystals with high structural stability by co-sedimentation self-assembly on fabric substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yichen; Zhou, Lan; Liu, Guojin; Chai, Liqin; Fan, Qinguo; Shao, Jianzhong

2018-06-01

The Silica/Poly(methylmethacrylate-butylacrylate)[SiO2/P(MMA-BA)] photonic crystals(PCs) with brilliant structural colors were fabricated on fabric substrates by co-sedimentation self-assembly, in which the relatively smaller P(MMA-BA) copolymer particles filled in the interstices among the larger SiO2 microspheres. The fabricated composite PCs were mechanically robust and strongly bonded to the substrate because of the cementing effect caused by the soft P(MMA-BA) copolymer particles filling in the interstices of the SiO2 microspheres like cement filling in the gap and tightly holding stones in a sturdy cement wall. The volume fraction and the size ratios of the two components significantly influenced the structural colors of the composite PCs, and the larger volume fraction could improve the structural stability of the composite PCs, while the smaller size ratios could enhance the brightness of the structural colors of the composite PCs. The composite PCs with both high structural stability and brilliant structural colors have great application prospect for structural coloration of textiles.

New CNT/poly(brilliant green) and CNT/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) based electrochemical enzyme biosensors.

PubMed

Barsan, Madalina M; Pifferi, Valentina; Falciola, Luigi; Brett, Christopher M A

2016-07-13

A combination of the electroactive polymer poly(brilliant green) (PBG) or conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) with carbon nanotubes to obtain CNT/PBG and CNT/PEDOT modified carbon film electrodes (CFE) has been investigated as a new biosensor platform, incorporating the enzymes glucose oxidase (GOx) as test enzyme, alcohol oxidase (AlcOx) or alcohol dehydrogenase (AlcDH). The sensing parameters were optimized for all biosensors based on CNT/PBG/CFE, CNT/PEDOT/CFE platforms. Under optimized conditions, both GOx biosensors exhibited very similar sensitivities, while in the case of AlcOx and AlcDH biosensors, AlcOx/CNT/PBG/CFE was found to give a higher sensitivity and lower detection limit. The influence of dissolved O2 on oxidase-biosensor performance was investigated and was shown to be different for each enzyme. Comparisons were made with similar reported biosensors, showing the advantages of the new biosensors, and excellent selectivity against potential interferents was successfully demonstrated. Finally, alcohol biosensors were successfully used for the determination of ethanol in alcoholic beverages. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sustained Release of Antibacterial Agents from Doped Halloysite Nanotubes

PubMed Central

Patel, Shraddha; Jammalamadaka, Uday; Sun, Lin; Tappa, Karthik; Mills, David K.

2015-01-01

The use of nanomaterials for improving drug delivery methods has been shown to be advantageous technically and viable economically. This study employed the use of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as nanocontainers, as well as enhancers of structural integrity in electrospun poly-e-caprolactone (PCL) scaffolds. HNTs were loaded with amoxicillin, Brilliant Green, chlorhexidine, doxycycline, gentamicin sulfate, iodine, and potassium calvulanate and release profiles assessed. Selected doped halloysite nanotubes (containing either Brilliant Green, amoxicillin and potassium calvulanate) were then mixed with poly-e-caprolactone (PLC) using the electrospinning method and woven into random and oriented-fibered nanocomposite mats. The rate of drug release from HNTs, HNTs/PCL nanocomposites, and their effect on inhibiting bacterial growth was investigated. Release profiles from nanocomposite mats showed a pattern of sustained release for all bacterial agents. Nanocomposites were able to inhibit bacterial growth for up to one-month with only a slight decrease in bacterial growth inhibition. We propose that halloysite doped nanotubes have the potential for use in a variety of medical applications including sutures and surgical dressings, without compromising material properties. PMID:28952563

Emerging electro-optical technologies for defense applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venkateswarlu, Ronda; Ser, W.; Er, Meng H.; Chan, Philip

1999-11-01

Technological breakthroughs in the field of imaging and non- imaging sensor sand the related signal processors helped the military users to achieve 'force multiplication'. Present day 'smart-weapon systems' are being converted to 'brilliant-weapon systems' to bridge the gap until the most potent new 'fourth generation systems' come on line based on nanotechnology. The recent military tactics have evolved to take advantage of ever improving technologies to improve the quality and performance over time. The drive behind these technologies is to get a first-pass-mission-success against the target with negligible collateral damage, protecting property and the lives of non-combatants. These technologies revolve around getting target information, detection, designation, guidance, aim-point selection, and mission accomplishment. The effectiveness of these technologies is amply demonstrated during recent wars. This paper brings out the emerging trends in visible/IR/radar smart-sensors and the related signal processing technologies that lead to brilliant guided weapon systems. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview to the readers about futuristic systems. This paper also addresses various system configurations including sensor-fusion.

Near-ultraviolet laser diodes for brilliant ultraviolet fluorophore excitation.

PubMed

Telford, William G

2015-12-01

Although multiple lasers are now standard equipment on most modern flow cytometers, ultraviolet (UV) lasers (325-365 nm) remain an uncommon excitation source for cytometry. Nd:YVO4 frequency-tripled diode pumped solid-state lasers emitting at 355 nm are now the primary means of providing UV excitation on multilaser flow cytometers. Although a number of UV excited fluorochromes are available for flow cytometry, the cost of solid-state UV lasers remains prohibitively high, limiting their use to all but the most sophisticated multilaser instruments. The recent introduction of the brilliant ultraviolet (BUV) series of fluorochromes for cell surface marker detection and their importance in increasing the number of simultaneous parameters for high-dimensional analysis has increased the urgency of including UV sources in cytometer designs; however, these lasers remain expensive. Near-UV laser diodes (NUVLDs), a direct diode laser source emitting in the 370-380 nm range, have been previously validated for flow cytometric analysis of most UV-excited probes, including quantum nanocrystals, the Hoechst dyes, and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. However, they remain a little-used laser source for cytometry, despite their significantly lower cost. In this study, the ability of NUVLDs to excite the BUV dyes was assessed, along with their compatibility with simultaneous brilliant violet (BV) labeling. A NUVLD emitting at 375 nm was found to excite most of the available BUV dyes at least as well as a UV 355 nm source. This slightly longer wavelength did produce some unwanted excitation of BV dyes, but at sufficiently low levels to require minimal additional compensation. NUVLDs are compact, relatively inexpensive lasers that have higher power levels than the newest generation of small 355 nm lasers. They can, therefore, make a useful, cost-effective substitute for traditional UV lasers in multicolor analysis involving the BUV and BV dyes. Published 2015 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of ISAC.

PAMAM templated N,Pt co-doped TiO2 for visible light photodegradation of brilliant black.

PubMed

Nzaba, Sarre Kadia Myra; Ntsendwana, Bulelwa; Mamba, Bhekie Brilliance; Kuvarega, Alex Tawanda

2018-05-01

This study examined the photocatalytic degradation of an azo dye brilliant black (BB) using non-metal/metal co-doped TiO 2 . N,Pt co-doped TiO 2 photocatalysts were prepared by a modified sol-gel method using amine-terminated polyamidoamine dendrimer generation 0 (PG0) as a template and source of nitrogen. Structural, morphological, and textural properties were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy (RS), photoluminescence (PL) and ultra-violet/visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The synthesized photocatalysts exhibited lower band gap energies as compared to the Degussa P-25, revealing a red shift in band gap towards the visible light absorption region. Photocatalytic activity of N,Pt co-doped TiO 2 was measured by the reaction of photocatalytic degradation of BB dye. Enhanced photodegradation efficiency of BB was achieved after 180-min reaction time with an initial concentration of 50 ppm. This was attributed to the rod-like shape of the materials, larger surface area, and enhanced absorption of visible light induced by N,Pt co-doping. The N,Pt co-doped TiO 2 also exhibited pseudo-first-order kinetic behavior with half-life and rate constant of 0.37 and 0.01984 min -1 , respectively. The mechanism of the photodegradation of BB under the visible light irradiation was proposed. The obtained results prove that co-doping of TiO 2 with N and Pt contributed to the enhanced photocatalytic performances of TiO 2 for visible light-induced photodegradation of organic contaminants for environmental remediation. Therefore, this work provides a new approach to the synthesis of PAMAM templated N,Pt co-doped TiO 2 for visible light photodegradation of brilliant black.

A Short History of the Fibonacci and Golden Numbers with Their Applications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Debnath, Lokenath

2011-01-01

This article deals with a brief history of Fibonacci's life and career. It includes Fibonacci's major mathematical discoveries to establish that he was undoubtedly one of the most brilliant mathematicians of the Medieval Period. Special attention is given to the Fibonacci numbers, the golden number and the Lucas numbers and their fundamental…

What about Albert Einstein? Using Biographies to Promote Students' Scientific Thinking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fingon, Joan C.; Fingon, Shallon D.

2009-01-01

Who hasn't heard of Einstein? Science educators everywhere are familiar with Einstein's genius and general theory of relativity. Students easily recognize Einstein's image by his white flyaway hair and bushy mustache. It is well known that Einstein was a brilliant physicist and an abstract thinker who often used his creativity and imagination in…

Human Capital and Rates of Return: Brilliant Ideas or Ideological Dead Ends?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klees, Steven J.

2016-01-01

Human capital theory and rate of return methodology have long been a dominant framework in comparative and international education and other fields. While there have been criticisms since its inception, it has been ubiquitous and widely accepted as an important mechanism for educational planning, evaluation, and policy making. In this article, I…

Brilliant Ideas for Using ICT in the Inclusive Classroom. David Fulton/Nasen

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKeown, Sally; McGlashon, Angela

2012-01-01

This practical teachers' guide will help you to unlock the enormous potential of new technology in order to enhance pupils' learning, particularly for young people with additional needs. Written by two of the UK's leading technology experts, this new resource will enable you to use ICT effectively to make lessons more accessible, motivating and…

78 FR 14964 - Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-08

... segment. 1. Brilliant Charter Limited, 2. Dalian Thrive Metallurgy Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd. 3. GES (China) Co... Carbon (China) Co., Limited 4. Anssen Metallurgy Group Co., Ltd. 5. AMGL 6. Apex Maritime (Dalian) Co.... Dalian Horton International Trading Co., Ltd. 21. Dalian LST Metallurgy Co., Ltd. 22. Dalian Shuangji Co...

Alexander Hamilton: Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution. A Bicentennial Series No. 16.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Army Center of Military History, Washington, DC.

Alexander Hamilton was among the most intellectually gifted of the Founding Fathers and a brilliant political theorist, but he lacked practical political experience, and his major political contributions occurred only when his specific policies were adopted and carried forward by others with broader vision. This booklet on Hamilton is one in a…

Argonne News Brief: Secret of Butterfly Wings Revealed With X-Rays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

Scientists used powerful X-rays at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne to get a unique look at the structure of the tiny crystals that make up the wings of butterflies. The results show us how the wings get their iridescent, brilliant colors—and could give us ideas for technology of our own.

KSC-02pd0553

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-04-07

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Roseate Spoonbills march alongside a pool of water near KSC. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, usually feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. [Photo by Mike Brown

KSC-99pc15

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-01-05

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A roseate spoonbill feeds alongside a canal in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds are named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill and feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas

The Professors, the Press, the Think Tanks--And Their Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alterman, Eric

2011-01-01

Think back to the famous 1920s debate between Walter Lippmann and John Dewey. The argument--begun by Lippmann with a series of three brilliant books published between 1919 and 1925 and ended by Dewey in 1927 with his book-length response to "Public Opinion," Lippmann's masterpiece--turned on many issues simultaneously but rested foundationally on…

School Leaders Facing Real Change: Shifting Geography, Uncertain Paths

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Louis, Karen Seashore

2003-01-01

A central problem for school leadership in the United States is to create settings in which success for students motivates teachers. Meeting this objective is becoming more difficult as teachers, except the most brilliant, struggle to cope with the diversity of students in a changing socio-economic climate and a context in which there is a…

Empty Success or Brilliant Failure: An Analysis of Chinese Students' Study Abroad Experience in a Collaborative Master of Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fang, Wang; Clarke, Anthony; Wei, Yu

2016-01-01

More than at any other time, the importance of internationalization and of establishing global partnerships in education is acknowledged by governments and higher education institutions. As a result, collaboration between institutions resulting in increased study abroad opportunities, now viewed as signifiers of internationalization, have…

Teachers on Teaching: A Splash of Color

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perry, Michael Wolfe

2006-01-01

This article focuses on a small experiment initiated by two three-year-old preschool children without the instruction or supervision of a teacher, while playing in the yard. During their playtime, they began to color the blacktop with chalk. They thought of a brilliant idea of pouring water over the chalk drawings and after the water dries up,…

You Are Brilliant, and the Earth Is Hiring

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hawken, Paul

2013-01-01

Paul Hawken's commencement address presents a picture of the deterioration that is being wrought by human activity and motivates college graduates to join the invisible, ordinary masses who are already saving the planet with everyday processes. In a call to live and hope for something better, he stresses, in the language of a poet, how nature…

Pure Dead Brilliant?: Evaluating the Glasgow Story Digitisation Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Ian G.

2007-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present an evaluation of The Glasgow Story (TGS) digitisation project, funded by the UK's National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund digitisation (NOF-Digi) programme, and a critique of the evaluation process itself. The paper emphasises the need for user impact evaluation and for results to be brought into…

Plymouth Rock Landed on Us: Malcolm X's Whiteness Theory as a Basis for Alternative Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Keith D.

2004-01-01

Using Burkean theory, I claim that Malcolm X brilliantly exposed the rhetoric and epistemology of whiteness as he rejected the African American jeremiad--a dominant form of African American oratory for more than 150 years. Whiteness theory served as the basis for Malcolm X's alternative literacy, which raises important questions that literacy…

From Fear to Hope: Reclaiming the Art of Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prakash, Madhu Suri

2010-01-01

In this article, the author expresses her view on how urban agriculture can be a source of hope among people particularly the uneducated and undereducated ones. The author shares that urban agriculture is a brilliant answer to the difficulties in these times of crisis. One of its most relevant elements is its impact in education: it allows people…

Anxiety and Uncertainty in Aesthetic Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schiralli, Martin

2002-01-01

In choosing a title for what might well be his least successful long poem, W. H. Auden nonetheless succeeded brilliantly in the far more ambitious task of naming an age. Set in his version of the urban Waste Land, a New York bar, "The Age of Anxiety" probes the dislocations of the modern consciousness as its four principal characters move uneasily…

Hubble Snaps Sharp Image Of Cosmic Concoction

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

NASA image release July 13, 2010 To view a video of this image go to: www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4790394066/ and here: www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4789786191/ A colourful star-forming region is featured in this stunning new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 2467. Looking like a roiling cauldron of some exotic cosmic brew, huge clouds of gas and dust are sprinkled with bright blue hot young stars. Strangely shaped dust clouds, resembling spilled liquids, are silhouetted against a colourful background of glowing gas in this newly released Hubble image. The star-forming region NGC 2467 is a vast cloud of gas – mostly hydrogen – that serves as an incubator for new stars. Some of these youthful stars have emerged from the dense clouds where they were born and now shine brightly, hot and blue in this picture, but many others remain hidden. The full beauty of this object and hints of the astrophysical processes at work within it are revealed in this super-sharp image from Hubble. Hot young stars that recently formed from the cloud are emitting fierce ultraviolet radiation that is causing the whole scene to glow while also sculpting the environment and gradually eroding the gas clouds. Studies have shown that most of the radiation comes from the single hot and brilliant massive star just above the centre of the image. Its fierce radiation has cleared the surrounding region and some of the next generation of stars are forming in the denser regions around the edge. One of the most familiar star-forming regions is the Orion Nebula, which can be seen with the naked eye. NGC 2467 is a similar but more distant example. Such stellar nurseries can be seen out to considerable distances in the Universe, and their study is important in determining the distance and chemical composition of other galaxies. Some galaxies contain huge star-forming regions, which may contain tens of thousands of stars. Another dramatic example is the 30 Doradus region in the Large Magellanic Cloud. NGC 2467 was discovered in the nineteenth century and lies in the southern constellation of Puppis, which represents the poop deck of Jason's fabled ship Argo from Greek mythology. NGC 2467 is thought to lie about 13 000 light-years from Earth. The picture was created from images taken with the Wide Field Channel of the Advanced Camera for Surveys through three different filters (F550M, F660N and F658N, shown in blue, green and red respectively). These data were taken in 2004. The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Credit: NASA, ESA and Orsola De Marco (Macquarie University) NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is home to the nation's largest organization of combined scientists, engineers and technologists that build spacecraft, instruments and new technology to study the Earth, the sun, our solar system, and the universe.

Visualization procedures for proteins and peptides on flat-bed monoliths and their effects on matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection.

PubMed

Wouters, Bert; Vanhoutte, Dominique J D; Aarnoutse, Petra; Visser, Adriaan; Stassen, Catherine; Devreese, Bart; Kok, Wim Th; Schoenmakers, Peter J; Eeltink, Sebastiaan

2013-04-19

The present study concerns the application of visualization methods, i.e. coomassie-brilliant-blue-R staining (CBB-R), silver-nitrate staining, and fluorescamine labeling, and subsequent MALDI-MS analysis of intact proteins and peptides on the surface of flat-bed monoliths, intended for spatial two-dimensional chromatographic separations. The use of 100-μm thick macroporous poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) flat-bed monoliths renders a fixation step obsolete, so that CBB-R and silver-nitrate staining and destaining could be achieved in 10-15 min as opposed to up to 24h, as is typical on 2D-PAGE gels. The detection limits remained comparable. The compatibility of the monolithic layer with subsequent MALDI-MS analysis of individual proteins and peptide spots was investigated with regards to mass accuracy, mass precision, resolution, and signal intensity. When comparing results from MALDI-MS analysis of proteins and peptides on a flat-bed monolith to results obtained directly on stainless-steel target plates, significant losses in mass precision, signal intensity, and an increased variation in resolution were observed. In addition, a loss in signal intensity up to two orders of magnitude was observed when using monolithic layers. After CCB-R and silver-nitrate staining and destaining to disrupt the protein-dye complexes no MALDI spectra with significant S/N ratios could be achieved. After fluorescamine labeling heterogeneous signals were observed, which resulted from a distribution in the number of fluorescence-labeled lysine groups and from the presence of labeled derivatives that had undergone condensation reactions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 23 Crew

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-05-25

ISS023-E-057948 (25 May 2010) --- A sunset on the Indian Ocean is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 23 crew member on the International Space Station (ISS). The image presents an edge-on, or limb view, of Earth’s atmosphere as seen from orbit. The Earth’s curvature is visible along the horizon line, or limb, that extends across the image from center left to lower right. Above the darkened surface of Earth, a brilliant sequence of colors roughly denotes several layers of the atmosphere. Deep oranges and yellows are visible in the troposphere that extends from Earth’s surface to 6-20 kilometers high. This layer contains over 80 percent of the mass of the atmosphere and almost all of the water vapor, clouds, and precipitation – several dark cloud layers are visible within this layer. Variations in the colors are due mainly to varying concentrations of either clouds or aerosols (airborne particles or droplets). The pink to white region above the clouds appears to be the stratosphere; this atmospheric layer generally has little or no clouds and extends up to approximately 50 kilometers above Earth’s surface. Above the stratosphere blue layers mark the upper atmosphere (including the mesosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere, and exosphere) as it gradually fades into the blackness of outer space. The ISS was located over the southern Indian Ocean when this image was taken, with the observer looking towards the west. Crew members aboard the space station see 16 sunrises and sunsets per day due to their high orbital velocity (greater than 28,000 kilometers per hour). The multiple chances for photography are fortunate, as at that speed each sunrise/sunset event only lasts a few seconds.

[Modified technique of autologous transplantation of internal limiting membrane for macular hole].

PubMed

Hernández-da Mota, Sergio Eustolio; Béjar-Cornejo, Francisco

Autologous internal limiting membrane transplantation has allowed some cases of macular holes refractory to conventional surgery techniques to be treated. The purpose of this study is to describe the anatomical and functional outcomes of a modification of this technique in a case series of naïve macular hole patients. A consecutive case series study was performed on patients with naïve macular holes with a diameter greater than 600 μ. Best corrected visual acuity, clinical features of the macular area, and optical coherence tomography were recorded before the operation and at the end of follow-up in all patients studied. All patients underwent 23 Ga core vitrectomy, posterior hyaloid separation, and brilliant-blue assisted internal limiting membrane peeling. A small piece of the internal limiting membrane was peeled off to make a free flap, and this was trasplanted and placed inside the macular hole under perfluorocarbon liquids. Air-fluid exchange was performed and SF6 gas was injected at a non-expansile concentration. The study included 5 eyes of 5 patients who underwent internal limiting membrane autograft. The mean age was 50.6 (SD 12.3) years. Four of the 5 cases had macular hole closure. The case where there was no closure of the macular hole was secondary to trauma. There was an improvement in visual acuity in all patients where the closing of the macular hole was achieved at the end of follow-up. In this cases series of macular hole patients, the autologous internal limiting membrane transplantation was associated with an anatomical closure of the macular hole and functional improvement in most of the patients studied. Copyright © 2016 Academia Mexicana de Cirugía A.C. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

Identification of runoff formation with two dyes in a mid-latitude mountain headwater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vlček, Lukáš; Falátková, Kristýna; Schneider, Philipp

2017-06-01

Subsurface flow in peat bog areas and its role in the hydrologic cycle has garnered increased attention as water scarcity and floods have increased due to a changing climate. In order to further probe the mechanisms in peat bog areas and contextualize them at the catchment scale, this experimental study identifies runoff formation at two opposite hillslopes in a peaty mountain headwater; a slope with organic peat soils and a shallow phreatic zone (0.5 m below surface), and a slope with mineral Podzol soils and no detectable groundwater (> 2 m below surface). Similarities and differences in infiltration, percolation and preferential flow paths between both hillslopes could be identified by sprinkling experiments with Brilliant Blue and Fluorescein sodium. To our knowledge, this is the first time these two dyes have been compared in their ability to stain preferential flow paths in soils. Dye-stained soil profiles within and downstream of the sprinkling areas were excavated parallel (lateral profiles) and perpendicular (frontal profiles) to the slopes' gradients. That way preferential flow patterns in the soil could be clearly identified. The results show that biomat flow, shallow subsurface flow in the organic topsoil layer, occurred at both hillslopes; however, at the peat bog hillslope it was significantly more prominent. The dye solutions infiltrated into the soil and continued either as lateral subsurface pipe flow in the case of the peat bog, or percolated vertically towards the bedrock in the case of the Podzol. This study provides evidence that subsurface pipe flow, lateral preferential flow along decomposed tree roots or logs in the unsaturated zone, is a major runoff formation process at the peat bog hillslope and in the adjacent riparian zone.

PIXE-electrophoresis shows starving collembolan reallocates protein-bound metals.

PubMed

Bengtsson, Göran; Pallon, Jan; Nilsson, Christina; Triebskorn, Rita; Köhler, Heinz-R

2016-01-01

One of multiple functions of metalloproteins is to provide detoxification to excess metal levels in organisms. Here we address the induction and persistence of a range of low to high molecular weight copper- and zinc binding proteins in the collembolan species Tetrodontophora bielanensis exposed to copper- and zinc-enriched food, followed by a period of recovery from metal exposure, in absence and presence of food. After 10 days of feeding copper and zinc contaminated yeast, specimens were either moved to ample of leaf litter material from their woodland stand of origin or starved (no food offered). The molecular weight distribution of metal binding proteins was determined by native polyacryl gel electrophoresis. One gel was stained with Comassie brilliant blue and a duplicate gel dried and scanned for the amount of copper and zinc by particle-induced X-ray emission. Specimens exposed to copper and recovered from it with ample of food had copper bound to two groups of rather low molecular weight proteins (40-50 kDa) and two of intermediate size (70-80 kDa). Most zinc in specimens from the woodland stand was bound to two large proteins of about 104 and 106 kDa. The same proteins were holding some zinc in metal-exposed specimens, but most zinc was found in proteins <40 kDa in size. Specimens recovered from metal exposure in presence of ample of food had the same distribution pattern of zinc binding proteins, whereas starved specimens had zinc as well as copper mainly bound to two proteins of 8 and 10 kDa in size. Thus, the induction and distribution of copper- and zinc-binding proteins depend on exposure conditions, and the presence of low molecular weight binding proteins, characteristic of metallothioneins, was mainly limited to starving conditions.

Exosomal and Non-Exosomal Transport of Extra-Cellular microRNAs in Follicular Fluid: Implications for Bovine Oocyte Developmental Competence

PubMed Central

Sohel, Md. Mahmodul Hasan; Hoelker, Michael; Noferesti, Sina Seifi; Salilew-Wondim, Dessie; Tholen, Ernst; Looft, Christian; Rings, Franca; Uddin, Muhammad Jasim; Spencer, Thomas E.; Schellander, Karl; Tesfaye, Dawit

2013-01-01

Cell-cell communication within the follicle involves many signaling molecules, and this process may be mediated by secretion and uptake of exosomes that contain several bioactive molecules including extra-cellular miRNAs. Follicular fluid and cells from individual follicles of cattle were grouped based on Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) staining of the corresponding oocytes. Both Exoquick precipitation and differential ultracentrifugation were used to separate the exosome and non-exosomal fraction of follicular fluid. Following miRNA isolation from both fractions, the human miRCURY LNA™ Universal RT miRNA PCR array system was used to profile miRNA expression. This analysis found that miRNAs were present in both exosomal and non-exosomal fraction of bovine follicular fluid. We found 25 miRNAs differentially expressed (16 up and 9 down) in exosomes and 30 miRNAs differentially expressed (21 up and 9 down) in non-exosomal fraction of follicular fluid in comparison of BCB- versus BCB+ oocyte groups. Expression of selected miRNAs was detected in theca, granulosa and cumulus oocyte complex. To further explore the potential roles of these follicular fluid derived extra-cellular miRNAs, the potential target genes were predicted, and functional annotation and pathway analysis revealed most of these pathways are known regulators of follicular development and oocyte growth. In order to validate exosome mediated cell-cell communication within follicular microenvironment, we demonstrated uptake of exosomes and resulting increase of endogenous miRNA level and subsequent alteration of mRNA levels in follicular cells in vitro. This study demonstrates for the first time, the presence of exosome or non-exosome mediated transfer of miRNA in the bovine follicular fluid, and oocyte growth dependent variation in extra-cellular miRNA signatures in the follicular environment. PMID:24223816

Photo-catalytic, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer properties of phyto-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Artemisia tournefortiana Rchb extract.

PubMed

Baghbani-Arani, Fahimeh; Movagharnia, Rabee; Sharifian, Alireza; Salehi, Soheil; Shandiz, Seyed Ataollah Sadat

2017-08-01

Metal nanoparticles have largely been investigated due to their potential medicinal activities. This study demonstrates the biological properties of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using Artemisia tournefortiana Rchb ethanol extract. Instrumentations such as ultraviolet-visible spectra analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to reveal the synthesized AgNPs. Microscopic results showed that the particles were mostly spherical in shape, having an average diameter of 22.89±14.82nm. The antibacterial activity of the phyto-fabricated AgNPs was investigated by the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The in vitro cytotoxicity effect was investigated against normal human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells and human colon adenocarcinoma cancer (HT29) cells. The apoptotic cells were identified by annexin V/PI FITC staining, and morphological assessment. The expressions of Bax and Bcl2 were evaluated by quantitative real time PCR method. The phyto-synthesized AgNPs have shown increased cell apoptosis and demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity in HT29 cancer cells. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of the phyto-synthesized AgNPs was evaluated by degradation of Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 under UV light exposure and these fabricated Ag nanoparticles demonstrated efficacy in degrading the dye within 60min. Overall, the present results highlighted the antibacterial and anticancer properties of fabricated AgNPs, suggesting that phyto-synthesized silver nanoparticles could possess potent anti-pathogenic bacteria and anti-colon cancer activities. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Boolean Logic Tree of Label-Free Dual-Signal Electrochemical Aptasensor System for Biosensing, Three-State Logic Computation, and Keypad Lock Security Operation.

PubMed

Lu, Jiao Yang; Zhang, Xin Xing; Huang, Wei Tao; Zhu, Qiu Yan; Ding, Xue Zhi; Xia, Li Qiu; Luo, Hong Qun; Li, Nian Bing

2017-09-19

The most serious and yet unsolved problems of molecular logic computing consist in how to connect molecular events in complex systems into a usable device with specific functions and how to selectively control branchy logic processes from the cascading logic systems. This report demonstrates that a Boolean logic tree is utilized to organize and connect "plug and play" chemical events DNA, nanomaterials, organic dye, biomolecule, and denaturant for developing the dual-signal electrochemical evolution aptasensor system with good resettability for amplification detection of thrombin, controllable and selectable three-state logic computation, and keypad lock security operation. The aptasensor system combines the merits of DNA-functionalized nanoamplification architecture and simple dual-signal electroactive dye brilliant cresyl blue for sensitive and selective detection of thrombin with a wide linear response range of 0.02-100 nM and a detection limit of 1.92 pM. By using these aforementioned chemical events as inputs and the differential pulse voltammetry current changes at different voltages as dual outputs, a resettable three-input biomolecular keypad lock based on sequential logic is established. Moreover, the first example of controllable and selectable three-state molecular logic computation with active-high and active-low logic functions can be implemented and allows the output ports to assume a high impediment or nothing (Z) state in addition to the 0 and 1 logic levels, effectively controlling subsequent branchy logic computation processes. Our approach is helpful in developing the advanced controllable and selectable logic computing and sensing system in large-scale integration circuits for application in biomedical engineering, intelligent sensing, and control.

Space Science

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-01-01

This is an artist's impression of how the very early universe (less than one billion years old) might have looked when it went through a voracious onset of star formation, converting primordial hydrogen into myriad stars at an unprecedented rate. The deepest views of the cosmos from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) yield clues that the very first stars may have burst into the universe as brilliantly and spectacularly as a firework finale. Except in this case, the finale came first, long before Earth, the Sun ,and the Milky Way Galaxy formed. Studies of HST's deepest views of the heavens lead to the preliminary conclusion that the universe made a significant portion of its stars in a torrential firestorm of star birth, which abruptly lit up the pitch-dark heavens just a few hundred million years after the "big bang," the tremendous explosion that created the cosmos. Within the starburst galaxies, bright knots of hot blue stars come and go like bursting fireworks shells. Regions of new starbirth glow intensely red under torrent of ultraviolet radiation. The most massive stars self-detonate as supernovas, which explode across the sky like a string of firecrackers. A foreground starburst galaxy at lower right is sculpted with hot bubbles from supernova explosions and torrential stellar winds. Unlike today there is very little dust in these galaxies, because the heavier elements have not yet been cooked up through nucleosynthesis in stars. Recent analysis of HST deep sky images supports the theory that the first stars in the universe appeared in an abrupt eruption of star formation, rather than at a gradual pace. Science Credit: NASA and K. Lanzetta (SUNY). Artwork Credit: Adolf Schaller for STScI.

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of synthetic dyes in food samples after cloud point extraction using multiple response optimizations.

PubMed

Heidarizadi, Elham; Tabaraki, Reza

2016-01-01

A sensitive cloud point extraction method for simultaneous determination of trace amounts of sunset yellow (SY), allura red (AR) and brilliant blue (BB) by spectrophotometry was developed. Experimental parameters such as Triton X-100 concentration, KCl concentration and initial pH on extraction efficiency of dyes were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) with a Doehlert design. Experimental data were evaluated by applying RSM integrating a desirability function approach. The optimum condition for extraction efficiency of SY, AR and BB simultaneously were: Triton X-100 concentration 0.0635 mol L(-1), KCl concentration 0.11 mol L(-1) and pH 4 with maximum overall desirability D of 0.95. Correspondingly, the maximum extraction efficiency of SY, AR and BB were 100%, 92.23% and 95.69%, respectively. At optimal conditions, extraction efficiencies were 99.8%, 92.48% and 95.96% for SY, AR and BB, respectively. These values were only 0.2%, 0.25% and 0.27% different from the predicted values, suggesting that the desirability function approach with RSM was a useful technique for simultaneously dye extraction. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the range of 0.02-4 for SY, 0.025-2.5 for AR and 0.02-4 μg mL(-1) for BB under optimum condition. Detection limit based on three times the standard deviation of the blank (3Sb) was 0.009, 0.01 and 0.007 μg mL(-1) (n=10) for SY, AR and BB, respectively. The method was successfully used for the simultaneous determination of the dyes in different food samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

X-Ray Mosaic of Milky Way Taken by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO) has made a sturning, high-energy panorama of the central regions of our Milky Way galaxy. The findings are an important step toward understanding the most active area of the Milky Way as well as other galaxies throughout the universe. This 400 by 900-light-year mosaic of several CXO images reveals hundreds of white dwarf stars, neutron stars, and black holes bathed in an incandescent fog of miltimillion-degree gas. The diffuse x-ray emission seems to be related to the turmoil and density of matter in the inner Milky Way. Stars are forming there at a much more rapid rate than in the galactic 'suburbs.' Many of the most massive stars in the galaxy are located in the galactic center and are furiously boiling off their outer layers in searing stellar winds. Supernova explosions are far more common in the region and send shock waves booming through the inner galaxy. The super massive black hole at the center of the galaxy is located inside the bright white patch in the center of the image. The colors indicate x-ray energy bands-red (low), green (medial), and blue (high). A supernova occurs when a massive star has used up its nuclear fuel and the pressure drops in the central core of the star. The matter in the core is crushed by gravity to higher and higher densities, and temperatures reach billions of degrees. Under these extreme conditions, nuclear reactions occur violently and catastrophically reversing the collapse. A thermonuclear shock wave races through the now expanding stellar debris, fusing lighter elements into heavier ones and producing a brilliant visual outburst. (Photo credit: NASA/UMass/D. Wang et al)

[Effect of endotoxin pretreatment-induced glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibition on glycogen metabolism in rat liver and the mechanism].

PubMed

Chen, Xiaole; Gong, Jianping; Xu, Faliang

2014-02-01

To investigate the changes in the functional activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) in the hepatic tissue after endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) tolerance and explore the effects of LPS-induced GSK-3 inhibition on glycogen metabolism in the liver. Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, endotoxin pretreatment and GSK-3 inhibitor (lithium chloride) groups with corresponding pretreatments prior to a large dose of LPS challenge (10 mg/kg) to induce liver injury. Glycogen deposition and content in the hepatic tissue was detected using periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and a glycogen quantification kit, respectively. Western blotting was performed for semi-quantitative analysis of protein level and inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK-3, and a Coomassie brilliant blue G-250-based colorimetric assay was used to detect calpain activity in the liver. Glycogen content in the liver decreased significantly after LPS challenge in all the 3 groups (P<0.05) but showed no significant difference among the groups (P>0.05). Both LPS and lithium chloride pretreatments caused a significant increase of liver glycogen content (P<0.05). LPS pretreatment induced inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK-3β (P<0.05) and partial cleavage of GSK-3α but did not affect the expression of GSK-3 protein (P>0.05). Large-dose LPS challenge significantly increased the activity of calpain in the liver tissue (P<0.05) to a comparable level in the 3 groups (P>0.05). Endotoxin pretreatment induces inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK-3β and partial cleavage of GSK-3α and promotes the deposition of liver glycogen but does not affect the activity of calpain, which may contribute to an increased glycogen reserve for energy supply in the event of large-dose LPS challenge.

The role of P2X7R/ERK signaling in dorsal root ganglia satellite glial cells in the development of chronic postsurgical pain induced by skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR).

PubMed

Song, Jingnian; Ying, Yanlu; Wang, Wei; Liu, Xianguo; Xu, Xuebing; Wei, Xuhong; Ruan, Xiangcai

2018-03-01

The mechanisms of chronic postsurgical pain remain to be elucidated. We reported here that skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR), a rat model of postsurgical pain, phosphorylated the extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling components c-Raf, MEK (ERK kinase) and ERK1/2 in lumbar 3 dorsal root ganglion (L3 DRG) in rats. Intrathecal injection of ERK specific inhibitor SCH772984 suppressed the mechanical allodynia induced by SMIR. Furthermore, SMIR upregulated tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in L3 DRG, which could be inhibited by SCH772984. Intrathecal injection of TNF antagonist Etanercept could also inhibit the mechanical allodynia and the increased ERK phosphorylation in L3 DRG induced by SMIR. In addition, immunofluorescent data showed that P2X7R was located exclusively in GFAP labeled satellite glial cells and was highly colocalized with p-ERK1/2 following SMIR. Pretreatment with P2X7R antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG) could also block the mechanical allodynia, inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Raf, MEK, ERK1/2, and decrease the expression of TNF-α. Finally, intrathecal injection of BzATP produced mechanical allodynia and induced ERK phosphorylation in satellite glial cells in L3 DRG. Thus, P2X7R activation in satellite glial cells in L3 DRG, leading to a positive feedback between ERK pathway activation and TNF-α production, is suggested to be involved in the induction of chronic postsurgical pain following SMIR. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of immunosuppressive treatment on protein expression in rat kidney

PubMed Central

Kędzierska, Karolina; Sporniak-Tutak, Katarzyna; Sindrewicz, Krzysztof; Bober, Joanna; Domański, Leszek; Parafiniuk, Mirosław; Urasińska, Elżbieta; Ciechanowicz, Andrzej; Domański, Maciej; Smektała, Tomasz; Masiuk, Marek; Skrzypczak, Wiesław; Ożgo, Małgorzata; Kabat-Koperska, Joanna; Ciechanowski, Kazimierz

2014-01-01

The structural proteins of renal tubular epithelial cells may become a target for the toxic metabolites of immunosuppressants. These metabolites can modify the properties of the proteins, thereby affecting cell function, which is a possible explanation for the mechanism of immunosuppressive agents’ toxicity. In our study, we evaluated the effect of two immunosuppressive strategies on protein expression in the kidneys of Wistar rats. Fragments of the rat kidneys were homogenized after cooling in liquid nitrogen and then dissolved in lysis buffer. The protein concentration in the samples was determined using a protein assay kit, and the proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The obtained gels were then stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue, and their images were analyzed to evaluate differences in protein expression. Identification of selected proteins was then performed using mass spectrometry. We found that the immunosuppressive drugs used in popular regimens induce a series of changes in protein expression in target organs. The expression of proteins involved in drug, glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism was pronounced. However, to a lesser extent, we also observed changes in nuclear, structural, and transport proteins’ synthesis. Very slight differences were observed between the group receiving cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and glucocorticoids (CMG) and the control group. In contrast, compared to the control group, animals receiving tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and glucocorticoids (TMG) exhibited higher expression of proteins responsible for renal drug metabolism and lower expression levels of cytoplasmic actin and the major urinary protein. In the TMG group, we observed higher expression of proteins responsible for drug metabolism and a decrease in the expression of respiratory chain enzymes (thioredoxin-2) and markers of distal renal tubular damage (heart fatty acid-binding protein) compared to expression in the CMG group. The consequences of the reported changes in protein expression require further study. PMID:25328384

St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) products - an assessment of their authenticity and quality.

PubMed

Booker, Anthony; Agapouda, Anastasia; Frommenwiler, Débora A; Scotti, Francesca; Reich, Eike; Heinrich, Michael

2018-02-01

St John's wort products (Hypericum perforatum L.) are widely available for sale in many countries including the UK via the internet. In the UK, these products are required to hold either a marketing authorisation or Traditional herbal registration (THR) to be sold legally. The THR and other regulatory schemes help to ensure product safety and quality providing an example of best practice but there is a risk if both regulated and un-regulated products continue to be available to consumers. The project is embedded in a larger study aiming to investigate the quality of different herbal medicinal products along diverse value chains. Here we focus on a comparison of the quality of the finished products and assess phytochemical variation between registered products (THRs) and products obtained from the market without any registration. 47 commercial products (granulated powders and extracts) were sourced from different suppliers. We analysed these samples using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and 1 H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multi-variate analysis software following a method previously developed by our group. The consistency of the products varies significantly. Adulteration of the products (36%), possibly with other Hypericum species obtained from China or use of chemically distinct H. perforatum cultivars or chemotypes, and adulteration of the products (19%) with food dyes (tartrazine, amaranth, brilliant blue, sunset yellow) were the principle findings of this study. There is significant compositional variation among commercial finished products and two main causative quality problems were identified as adulteration by incorrect species or adulteration with food dyes. Generally, food supplements and unlicensed products were found to be of poorer quality than the regulated ones including THRs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of commercially prepared transport systems for nonlethal detection of Aeromonas salmonicida in salmonid fish

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cipriano, R.C.; Bullock, G.L.

2001-01-01

In vitro studies indicated that commercially prepared transport systems containing Amies, Stuart's, and Cary-Blair media worked equally well in sustaining the viability of the fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida, which causes furunculosis. The bacterium remained viable without significant increase or decrease in cell numbers for as long as 48 h of incubation at 18-20??C in Stuart's transport medium; consequently, obtaining mucus samples in such tubes were comparable to on-site detection of A. salmonicida by dilution plate counts on Coomassie Brilliant Blue agar. In three different assays of 100 samples of mucus from Atlantic salmon Salmo salar infected subclinically with A. salmonicida, dilution counts conducted on-site proved more reliable for detecting the pathogen than obtaining the samples in the transport system. In the on-site assays, dilution counts detected the pathogen in 34, 41, and 22 samples, whereas this was accomplished in only 15, 15, and 3 of the respective samples when the transport system was used. In an additional experiment, Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus sustaining a frank epizootic of furunculosis were sampled similarly. Here, too, dilution counts were more predictive of the prevalence of A. salmonicida and detected the pathogen in 46 mucus samples; in comparison, only 6 samples collected by using the transport system were positive. We also observed that the transport system supported the growth of the normal mucus bacterial flora. Particularly predominant among these were motile aeromonads and Pseudomonas fluorescens. In studies of mixed culture growth, two representatives of both of the latter genera of bacteria outgrew A. salmonicida - in some cases, to the total exclusion of the pathogen itself.

FasL-triggered death of Jurkat cells requires caspase 8-induced, ATP-dependent cross-talk between Fas and the purinergic receptor P2X(7).

PubMed

Aguirre, Adam; Shoji, Kenji F; Sáez, Juan C; Henríquez, Mauricio; Quest, Andrew F G

2013-02-01

Fas ligation via the ligand FasL activates the caspase-8/caspase-3-dependent extrinsic death pathway. In so-called type II cells, an additional mechanism involving tBid-mediated caspase-9 activation is required to efficiently trigger cell death. Other pathways linking FasL-Fas interaction to activation of the intrinsic cell death pathway remain unknown. However, ATP release and subsequent activation of purinergic P2X(7) receptors (P2X(7)Rs) favors cell death in some cells. Here, we evaluated the possibility that ATP release downstream of caspase-8 via pannexin1 hemichannels (Panx1 HCs) and subsequent activation of P2X(7)Rs participate in FasL-stimulated cell death. Indeed, upon FasL stimulation, ATP was released from Jurkat cells in a time- and caspase-8-dependent manner. Fas and Panx1 HCs colocalized and inhibition of the latter, but not connexin hemichannels, reduced FasL-induced ATP release. Extracellular apyrase, which hydrolyzes ATP, reduced FasL-induced death. Also, oxidized-ATP or Brilliant Blue G, two P2X(7)R blockers, reduced FasL-induced caspase-9 activation and cell death. These results represent the first evidence indicating that the two death receptors, Fas and P2X(7)R connect functionally via caspase-8 and Panx1 HC-mediated ATP release to promote caspase-9/caspase-3-dependent cell death in lymphoid cells. Thus, a hitherto unsuspected route was uncovered connecting the extrinsic to the intrinsic pathway to amplify death signals emanating from the Fas receptor in type II cells. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Oxidative-stress-related proteome changes in Helicobacter pylori-infected human gastric mucosa.

PubMed Central

Baek, Hye Yeon; Lim, Joo Weon; Kim, Hyeyoung; Kim, Jung Mogg; Kim, Joo Sung; Jung, Hyun Chae; Kim, Kyung Hwan

2004-01-01

Helicobacter pylori infection leads to gastroduodenal inflammation, peptic ulceration and gastric carcinoma. Proteomic analysis of the human gastric mucosa from the patients with erosive gastritis, peptic ulcer or gastric cancer, which were either infected or not with H. pylori, was used to determine the differentially expressed proteins by H. pylori in the human gastric mucosa in order to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of H. pylori -induced gastric diseases. Prior to the experiment, the expression of the main 18 proteins were identified in the gastric mucosa and used for a proteome map of the human gastric mucosa. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis of the protein isolated from the H. pylori -infected tissues, Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining and computerized analysis of the stained gel, the expression of eight proteins were altered in the H. pylori -infected tissues compared with the non-infected tissues. MS analysis (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight MS) of the tryptic fragment and a data search allowed the the identification of the four increased proteins (78 kDa glucose-regulated protein precursor, endoplasmin precursor, aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 and L-lactate dehydrogenase B chain) and the four decreased proteins (intracellular chloride channel protein 1, glutathione S-transferase, heat-shock protein 60 and cytokeratin 8) caused by H. pylori infection in the gastric mucosa. These proteins are related to cell proliferation, carcinogenesis, cytoskeletal function and cellular defence mechanism. The common feature is that these proteins are related to oxidative-stress-mediated cell damage. In conclusion, the established gastric mucosal proteome map might be useful for detecting the disease-related protein changes. The H. pylori -induced alterations in protein expression demonstrate the involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of H. pylori -induced gastric diseases, including inflammation, ulceration and carcinogenesis. PMID:14711373

San Jose, Costa Rica

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2007-01-01

San Jose, capital city of Costa Rica, fills the valley between two steep mountain ranges. In this image made from data collected by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA's Terra satellite, visible, shortwave, and near-infrared wavelengths of light that the sensor observed have been combined to produce a false-color version of the scene in which vegetation is red, urban areas are silvery gray, water is dark blue, and clouds are white. The image was captured on February 8, 2007. San Jose is in the center of the image. The Rio Torres winds through downtown San Jose. Cartago, the much smaller colonial capital, sits in the lower right corner, while the city of Alajuela appears across the river, northwest of San Jose. The cities' manmade surfaces contrast sharply with the lushly vegetated landscape surrounding the city. Greenhouses are common in the region, and their glass roofs may be the brilliant white spots around the outer edges the cities. The long, straight runway of the Tobias Bolanos International Airport is visible as a dark line southeast of Alajuela. The landscape around the two cities shown here is rugged. Steep mountain peaks cast dark shadows across their leeward slopes. Patches of dark red vegetation on the mountains north of San Jose may be rainforest. Coffee plantations also cover the slopes of the mountains around the city. February is the dry season in Costa Rica. During the rainy season, from about April to November, clouds usually block the satellite's view of this tropical location. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data provided courtesy of Asaf Ullah and Tim Gubbels, SERVIR project.

P2X7 receptor inhibition increases CNTF in the subventricular zone, but not neurogenesis or neuroprotection after stroke in adult mice.

PubMed

Kang, Seong Su; Keasey, Matthew Phillip; Hagg, Theo

2013-10-01

Increasing endogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) expression with a pharmacological agent might be beneficial after stroke as CNTF both promotes neurogenesis and, separately, is neuroprotective. P2X7 purinergic receptor inhibition is neuroprotective in rats and increases CNTF release in rat CMT1A Schwann cells. We, first, investigated the role of P2X7 in regulating CNTF and neurogenesis in adult mouse subventricular zone (SVZ). CNTF expression was increased by daily intravenous injections of the P2X7 antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG) in naïve C57BL/6 or Balb/c mice over 3 days. Despite the ∼40-60 % increase or decrease in CNTF with BBG or the agonist BzATP, respectively, the number of proliferated BrdU+SVZ nuclei did not change. BBG failed to increase FGF2, which is involved in CNTF-regulated neurogenesis, but induced IL-6, LIF, and EGF, which are known to reduce SVZ proliferation. Injections of IL-6 next to the SVZ induced CNTF and FGF2, but not proliferation, suggesting that IL-6 counteracts their neurogenesis-inducing effects. Following ischemic injury of the striatum by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), a 3-day BBG treatment increased CNTF in the medial penumbra containing the SVZ. BBG also induced CNTF and LIF, which are known to be protective following stroke, in the whole striatum after MCAO, but not GDNF or BDNF. However, BBG treatment did not reduce the lesion area or apoptosis in the penumbra. Even so, this study shows that P2X7 can be targeted with systemic drug treatments to differentially regulate neurotrophic factors in the brain following stroke.

Bursting at the seams

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-06-27

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image reveals the iridescent interior of one of the most active galaxies in our local neighbourhood — NGC 1569, a small galaxy located about eleven million light-years away in the constellation of Camelopardalis (The Giraffe). This galaxy is currently a hotbed of vigorous star formation. NGC 1569 is a starburst galaxy, meaning that — as the name suggests — it is bursting at the seams with stars, and is currently producing them at a rate far higher than that observed in most other galaxies. For almost 100 million years, NGC 1569 has pumped out stars over 100 times faster than the Milky Way! As a result, this glittering galaxy is home to super star clusters, three of which are visible in this image — one of the two bright clusters is actually  the superposition of two massive clusters. Each containing more than a million stars, these brilliant blue clusters reside within a large cavity of gas carved out by multiple supernovae, the energetic remnants of massive stars. In 2008, Hubble observed the galaxy's cluttered core and sparsely populated outer fringes. By pinpointing individual red giant stars, Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys enabled astronomers to calculate a new — and much more precise — estimate for NGC 1569’s distance. This revealed that the galaxy is actually one and a half times further away than previously thought, and a member of the IC 342 galaxy group. Astronomers suspect that the IC 342 cosmic congregation is responsible for the star-forming frenzy observed in NGC 1569. Gravitational interactions between this galactic group are believed to be compressing the gas within NGC 1569. As it is compressed, the gas collapses, heats up and forms new stars.

Fast determination of seven synthetic pigments from wine and soft drinks using magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Chen, Xiao-Hong; Zhao, Yong-Gang; Shen, Hao-Yu; Zhou, Li-Xin; Pan, Sheng-Dong; Jin, Mi-Cong

2014-06-13

A novel, simple and sensitive method based on the use of magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction (M-dSPE) procedure combined with ultra-fast liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) was developed to determine seven synthetic pigments (tartrazine, amaranth, carmine, sunset yellow, allura red, brilliant blue and erythrosine) in wines and soft drinks. An amino-functionalized low degrees of cross-linking magnetic polymer (NH2-LDC-MP) was synthesized via suspension polymerization, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The NH2-LDC-MP was used as the M-dSPE sorbent to remove the matrix from the solution, and the main factors affecting the extraction were investigated in detail. The obtained results demonstrated the higher extraction capacity of NH2-LDC-MP with recoveries between 84.0 and 116.2%. The limits of quantification (LOQs) for the seven synthetic pigments were between 1.51 and 5.0μg/L in wines and soft drinks. The developed M-dSPE UFLC-MS/MS method had been successfully applied to the real wines and soft drinks for food-safety risk monitoring in Zhejiang Province, China. The results showed that sunset yellow was in three out of thirty soft drink samples (2.95-42.6μg/L), and erythrosine in one out of fifteen dry red wine samples (3.22μg/L), respectively. It was confirmed that the NH2-LDC-MP was a kind of highly effective M-dSPE materials for the pigments analyses. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A new methodology for fluorescence analysis of composite resins used in anterior direct restorations.

PubMed

de Lima, Liliane Motta; Abreu, Jessica Dantas; Cohen-Carneiro, Flavia; Regalado, Diego Ferreira; Pontes, Danielson Guedes

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to use a new methodology to evaluate the fluorescence of composite resins for direct restorations. Microhybrid (group 1, Amelogen; group 2, Opallis; group 3, Filtek Z250) and nanohybrid (group 4, Filtek Z350 XT; group 5, Brilliant NG; group 6, Evolu-X) composite resins were analyzed in this study. A prefabricated matrix was used to prepare 60 specimens of 7.0 × 3.0 mm (n = 10 per group); the composite resin discs were prepared in 2 increments (1.5 mm each) and photocured for 20 seconds. To establish a control group of natural teeth, 10 maxillary central incisor crowns were horizontally sectioned to create 10 discs of dentin and enamel tissues with the same dimensions as the composite resin specimens. The specimens were placed in a box with ultraviolet light, and photographs were taken. Aperture 3.0 software was used to quantify the central portion of the image of each specimen in shades of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) of the RGB color space. The brighter the B shade in the evaluated area of the image, the greater the fluorescence shown by the specimen. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the groups. The fluorescence achieved in group 1 was statistically similar to that of the control group and significantly different from those of the other groups (Bonferroni test). Groups 3 and 4 had the lowest fluorescence values, which were significantly different from those of the other groups. According to the results of this study, neither the size nor the amount of inorganic particles in the evaluated composite resin materials predicts if the material will exhibit good fluorescence.

History of Chandra X-Ray Observatory

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-07-01

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO) has made a sturning, high-energy panorama of the central regions of our Milky Way galaxy. The findings are an important step toward understanding the most active area of the Milky Way as well as other galaxies throughout the universe. This 400 by 900-light-year mosaic of several CXO images reveals hundreds of white dwarf stars, neutron stars, and black holes bathed in an incandescent fog of miltimillion-degree gas. The diffuse x-ray emission seems to be related to the turmoil and density of matter in the inner Milky Way. Stars are forming there at a much more rapid rate than in the galactic "suburbs." Many of the most massive stars in the galaxy are located in the galactic center and are furiously boiling off their outer layers in searing stellar winds. Supernova explosions are far more common in the region and send shock waves booming through the inner galaxy. The super massive black hole at the center of the galaxy is located inside the bright white patch in the center of the image. The colors indicate x-ray energy bands-red (low), green (medial), and blue (high). A supernova occurs when a massive star has used up its nuclear fuel and the pressure drops in the central core of the star. The matter in the core is crushed by gravity to higher and higher densities, and temperatures reach billions of degrees. Under these extreme conditions, nuclear reactions occur violently and catastrophically reversing the collapse. A thermonuclear shock wave races through the now expanding stellar debris, fusing lighter elements into heavier ones and producing a brilliant visual outburst. (Photo credit: NASA/UMass/D. Wang et al)

Artist's Concept of Early Universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

This is an artist's impression of how the very early universe (less than one billion years old) might have looked when it went through a voracious onset of star formation, converting primordial hydrogen into myriad stars at an unprecedented rate. The deepest views of the cosmos from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) yield clues that the very first stars may have burst into the universe as brilliantly and spectacularly as a firework finale. Except in this case, the finale came first, long before Earth, the Sun ,and the Milky Way Galaxy formed. Studies of HST's deepest views of the heavens lead to the preliminary conclusion that the universe made a significant portion of its stars in a torrential firestorm of star birth, which abruptly lit up the pitch-dark heavens just a few hundred million years after the 'big bang,' the tremendous explosion that created the cosmos. Within the starburst galaxies, bright knots of hot blue stars come and go like bursting fireworks shells. Regions of new starbirth glow intensely red under torrent of ultraviolet radiation. The most massive stars self-detonate as supernovas, which explode across the sky like a string of firecrackers. A foreground starburst galaxy at lower right is sculpted with hot bubbles from supernova explosions and torrential stellar winds. Unlike today there is very little dust in these galaxies, because the heavier elements have not yet been cooked up through nucleosynthesis in stars. Recent analysis of HST deep sky images supports the theory that the first stars in the universe appeared in an abrupt eruption of star formation, rather than at a gradual pace. Science Credit: NASA and K. Lanzetta (SUNY). Artwork Credit: Adolf Schaller for STScI.

Evidence signaling the start of enhanced counterjet flow in the symbiotic system R AquarII

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Michalitsianos, A. G.; Perez, M.; Kafatos, M.

1994-01-01

The velocity struture of strong far-UV emission lines observed in the symbiotic variable R Aqr suggests the start of new jet activity which will probably culminate in the appearance of a series of intense nebular emission knots within a decade. This is indicated by a systematic redward wavelength drift of emission lines, which we have followed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) since the discovery of the brilliant northeast jet emission knots more than 10 years ago. The C IV wavelengths 1548, 1550 resonance lines, which previously showed a prominent blue asymmetric wing that extended to velocities in excess -200 km/s, exhibit red wing asymmetry that extends to speeds of approximately +200 km/s in late 1992. The C IV line profile structure is consistent with the model proposed by Solf (1993), who explains the appearance of the northeast jet knots in terms of a approximately 300-500 km/s collimated wind that collides with slower moving material expelled earlier in a nova outburst that occurred approximately 190 yr ago. Based upon these high-resolution UV spectra, similar emission structues should appear southwest of the central star when the counterwind (or stream) interacts with material in the southwest inner nebula. The apparent change in direction of flow could result from a precessing accretion disk that alters the projection angle of collimated flow from the disk poles. The direction of the collimated wind may be related to the binary orbit, because the velocity shifts associated with emission lines formed in the flow change direction on a timescale which is comparable to the binary period.

Comparative study of ex vivo probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy and light microscopy in lung cancer diagnostics.

PubMed

Sorokina, Anastasia; Danilevskaya, Olesya; Averyanov, Alexander; Zabozlaev, Fedor; Sazonov, Dmitry; Yarmus, Lonny; Lee, Hans J

2014-08-01

Probe-based confocal laser endoscopy (pCLE) allows for real-time non-invasive histological imaging via bronchoscopy. Interpreting CLE images and correlating with traditional histopathology remains challenging. We performed an ex vivo study to evaluate the correlation between light microscopy findings and pCLE imaging of primary lung carcinoma. Post-lobectomy specimens for lung cancer nodules were examined ex vivo by pCLE. The examined areas were marked with brilliant green dye, and the surrounding tissues were stained by methylene blue dye. Lung tissue segments were resected and histopathological specimens were generated with 50-μm thickness from the marked areas and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Pathologists and pulmonologists reviewed the images for correlating features. Eighteen lobectomy specimens from 18 different patients were collected. Three primary features were observed in all samples using pCLE in the cancer surroundings: alveolar dystelectasis with thickening of alveolar walls, alveolar edema and a large amount of macrophages. The stromal and parenchymal components of the studied subtypes of non-small-cell lung cancer differed from each other. The stromal component for all nine adenocarcinoma specimens had a highly fluorescent field penetrated by dark hollows. All six squamous cell carcinoma specimens had the stromal component appeared as 'biparously' branching, highly fluorescent fibres. No stromal component was observed in any small-cell carcinoma specimen, and at low power field, the cellular component was dominant with an observed light scattering pattern. pCLE can identify lung carcinoma in ex vivo samples. Certain light microscopy features of lung carcinoma can be visualized with pCLE. © 2014 Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.

Earth Observations

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-16

ISS024-E-006136 (16 June 2010) --- Polar mesospheric clouds, illuminated by an orbital sunrise, are featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 24 crew member on the International Space Station. Polar mesospheric, or noctilucent (?night shining?), clouds are observed from both Earth?s surface and in orbit by crew members aboard the space station. They are called night-shining clouds as they are usually seen at twilight. Following the setting of the sun below the horizon and darkening of Earth?s surface, these high clouds are still briefly illuminated by sunlight. Occasionally the ISS orbital track becomes nearly parallel to Earth?s day/night terminator for a time, allowing polar mesospheric clouds to be visible to the crew at times other than the usual twilight due to the space station altitude. This unusual photograph shows polar mesospheric clouds illuminated by the rising, rather than setting, sun at center right. Low clouds on the horizon appear yellow and orange, while higher clouds and aerosols are illuminated a brilliant white. Polar mesospheric clouds appear as light blue ribbons extending across the top of the image. These clouds typically occur at high latitudes of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and at fairly high altitudes of 76?85 kilometers (near the boundary between the mesosphere and thermosphere atmospheric layers). The ISS was located over the Greek island of Kos in the Aegean Sea (near the southwestern coastline of Turkey) when the image was taken at approximately midnight local time. The orbital complex was tracking northeastward, nearly parallel to the terminator, making it possible to observe an apparent ?sunrise? located almost due north. A similar unusual alignment of the ISS orbit track, terminator position, and seasonal position of Earth?s orbit around the sun allowed for striking imagery of polar mesospheric clouds over the Southern Hemisphere earlier this year.

Rapamycin ameliorates IgA nephropathy via cell cycle-dependent mechanisms

PubMed Central

Tian, Jihua; Wang, Yanhong; Liu, Xinyan; Zhou, Xiaoshuang

2014-01-01

IgA nephropathy is the most frequent type of glomerulonephritis worldwide. The role of cell cycle regulation in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy has been studied. The present study was designed to explore whether rapamycin ameliorates IgA nephropathy via cell cycle-dependent mechanisms. After establishing an IgA nephropathy model, rats were randomly divided into four groups. Coomassie Brilliant Blue was used to measure the 24-h urinary protein levels. Renal function was determined using an autoanalyzer. Proliferation was assayed via Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry. Rat mesangial cells were cultured and divided into the six groups. Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation and the cell cycle phase. Western blotting was performed to determine cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2, p27Kip1, p70S6K/p-p70S6K, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2/p- extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 protein expression. A low dose of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor rapamycin prevented an additional increase in proteinuria, protected kidney function, and reduced IgA deposition in a model of IgA nephropathy. Rapamycin inhibited mesangial cell proliferation and arrested the cell cycle in the G1 phase. Rapamycin did not affect the expression of cyclin E and cyclin-dependent kinase 2. However, rapamycin upregulated p27Kip1 at least in part via AKT (also known as protein kinase B)/mTOR. In conclusion, rapamycin can affect cell cycle regulation to inhibit mesangial cell proliferation, thereby reduce IgA deposition, and slow the progression of IgAN. PMID:25349217

Rapamycin slows IgA nephropathy progression in the rat.

PubMed

Tian, Jihua; Wang, Yanhong; Zhou, Xiaoshuang; Li, Yanjiao; Wang, Chen; Li, Jiaming; Li, Rongshan

2014-01-01

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most frequent glomerulonephritis worldwide. Different therapeutic approaches have been tested against IgAN. The present study was designed to explore the renoprotective potential of low-dose mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor rapamycin in an IgAN rat model and the possible mechanism of action. After establishing an IgAN model, the rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, control with rapamycin treatment, IgAN model, and IgAN model with rapamycin treatment. Coomassie Brilliant Blue was utilized to measure 24-hour urinary protein levels. Hepatic and renal function was determined with an autoanalyzer. Proliferation was assayed via 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation. Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were utilized to detect the expression of α-SMA, collagen I, collagen III, TGF-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to determine p-S6 protein levels. Low-dose mTOR inhibitor rapamycin prevented an additional increase in proteinuria and protected kidney function in a model of IgAN. Rapamycin directly or indirectly interfered with multiple key pathways in the progression of IgAN to end-stage renal disease: (1) reduced the deposition of IgA and inhibited cell proliferation; (2) decreased the expression of fibrosis markers α-SMA and type III collagen, and (3) downregulated the expression of the profibrotic growth factors platelet-derived growth factor and TGF-β1. The expression of p-S6 was significantly elevated in IgAN rats. The mTOR pathway was activated in IgAN rats and the early application of low-dose mTOR inhibitor rapamycin may slow the renal injury of IgAN in rats.

Rapamycin ameliorates IgA nephropathy via cell cycle-dependent mechanisms.

PubMed

Tian, Jihua; Wang, Yanhong; Liu, Xinyan; Zhou, Xiaoshuang; Li, Rongshan

2015-07-01

IgA nephropathy is the most frequent type of glomerulonephritis worldwide. The role of cell cycle regulation in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy has been studied. The present study was designed to explore whether rapamycin ameliorates IgA nephropathy via cell cycle-dependent mechanisms. After establishing an IgA nephropathy model, rats were randomly divided into four groups. Coomassie Brilliant Blue was used to measure the 24-h urinary protein levels. Renal function was determined using an autoanalyzer. Proliferation was assayed via Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry. Rat mesangial cells were cultured and divided into the six groups. Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation and the cell cycle phase. Western blotting was performed to determine cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2, p27(Kip1), p70S6K/p-p70S6K, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2/p- extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 protein expression. A low dose of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor rapamycin prevented an additional increase in proteinuria, protected kidney function, and reduced IgA deposition in a model of IgA nephropathy. Rapamycin inhibited mesangial cell proliferation and arrested the cell cycle in the G1 phase. Rapamycin did not affect the expression of cyclin E and cyclin-dependent kinase 2. However, rapamycin upregulated p27(Kip1) at least in part via AKT (also known as protein kinase B)/mTOR. In conclusion, rapamycin can affect cell cycle regulation to inhibit mesangial cell proliferation, thereby reduce IgA deposition, and slow the progression of IgAN. © 2014 by the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

Assessment of existing roadside swales with engineered filter soil: II. Treatment efficiency and in situ mobilization in soil columns.

PubMed

Ingvertsen, Simon T; Cederkvist, Karin; Jensen, Marina B; Magid, Jakob

2012-01-01

Use of roadside infiltration systems using engineered filter soil for optimized treatment has been common practice in Germany for decades, but little documentation is available regarding their long-term treatment performance. Here we present the results of laboratory leaching experiments with intact soil columns (15 cm i.d., 25-30 cm length) collected from two German roadside infiltration swales constructed in 1997. The columns were irrigated with synthetic solutions of unpolluted or polluted (dissolved heavy metals and fine suspended solids) road runoff, as well as a soluble nonreactive tracer (bromide) and a dye (brilliant blue). The experiments were performed at two irrigation rates corresponding to catchment rainfall intensities of approximately 5.1 and 34 mm/h. The bromide curves indicated that preferential flow was more pronounced at high irrigation rates, which was supported by the flow patterns revealed in the dye tracing experiment. Nonetheless, the soils seemed to be capable of retaining most of the dissolved heavy metals from the polluted road runoff at both low and high irrigation rates, except for Cr, which appears to pass through the soil as chromate. Fluorescent microspheres (diameter = 5 μm) used as surrogates for fine suspended solids were efficiently retained by the soils (>99%). However, despite promising treatment abilities, internal mobilization of heavy metals and P from the soil was observed, resulting in potentially critical effluent concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Pb. This is mainly ascribed to high concentrations of in situ mobilized dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Suggestions are provided for possible improvements and further research to minimize DOC mobilization in engineered filter soils. Copyright © by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

Influence of ɣ and ultrasonic irradiations on the physicochemical properties of CeO2-Fe2O3-Al2O3 for textile dyes removal applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, Marwa M.; El-Molla, Sahar A.; Ismail, Sahar A.

2018-04-01

In this study highly effective adsorbent ternary mixed oxide CeO2-Fe2O3-Al2O3 was prepared by precipitation method. Various methods used to treat the mixed hydroxide like calcination, ultrasonic, hydrothermal and ɣ radiation with different doses to obtain the ternary mixed oxide. XRD, TEM, EDX, FTIR and SBET are used to study the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles. The CFAH and CFAɣ0.8 have the different morphologies and high surface area. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to remove anionic Remazol Red RB-133 dye. The experimental data showed that The CFAH and CFAɣ0.8 have high adsorption rate for removing of dye. The removal of dye is enhanced by ultrasonic radiation and high temperature. The adsorption process was fitted well for pseudo second order kinetics and followed the Freundlich isotherm model. In addition to, Thermodynamic results of adsorption process displayed that, the adsorption of dye on adsorbent was spontaneous, endothermic and chemisorptions process.

Nanostructured Gd3+-TiO2 surfaces for self-cleaning application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saif, M.; El-Molla, S. A.; Aboul-Fotouh, S. M. K.; Ibrahim, M. M.; Ismail, L. F. M.; Dahn, Douglas C.

2014-06-01

Preparation of self-cleaning surfaces based on lanthanide modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles has rarely been reported. In the present work, gadolinium doped titanium dioxide thin films (x mol Gd3+-TiO2 where x = 0.000, 0.005, 0.008, 0.010, 0.020 and 0.030 mol) were synthesized by sol-gel method and deposited using doctor-blade method. These films were characterized by studying their structural, optical and electrical properties. Doping with gadolinium decreases the band gap energy and increase conductivity of thin films. The photo self-cleaning activity in term of quantitative determination of the active oxidative species (rad OH) produced on the thin film surfaces was evaluated using fluorescent probe method. The results show that, the highly active thin film is the 0.020 Gd3+-TiO2. The structural, morphology, optical, electrical and photoactivity properties of Gd3+-TiO2 thin films make it promising surfaces for self-cleaning application. Mineralization of commercial textile dye (Remazol Red RB-133, RR) and durability using 0.020Gd3+-TiO2 film surface was studied.

Brilliant breastfeeding!

PubMed

Hilton, Sioned

2014-10-01

The 9th lactation and breastfeeding symposium was hosted in Madrid, Spain in April 2014. This year the team also shared the information further afield, taking to Twitter to run live chats. This article reports on three discussions of interest to The Practising Midwife readers: what is regarded as 'normal' in terms of breastfeeding; human milk lipids and health outcomes; and considering the research into the lactating mammary gland.

Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Diane M.; Banks, Rebecca S.; Grandin, Temple

2011-01-01

The future of our society depends on our gifted children--the population in which we'll find our next Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, or Virginia Woolf. Yet the gifts and talents of some of our most brilliant kids may never be recognized because these children fall into a group known as twice exceptional, or "2e." Twice exceptional kids are both…

To Tweet or Not to Tweet... That Is the Question

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gittner, Alastair

2011-01-01

Twitter is a website that enables one to send and receive short text messages to and from another person. It is an easy way of communicating at virtually no cost with friends and family, a brilliant way of getting up-to-date news, teaching resources and ideas, and the means of receiving a really useful, free, hour's CPD each week, through…

Biotic-Abiotic Nanoscale Interactions in Biological Fuel Cells

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-28

oneidensis MR-1 bacterial nanowires are lipid-based extensions of the outer- membrane and periplasmic electron transport proteins, Science Magazine ...Minnesota Biotechnology Institute Seminar 2013 California State University, Long Beach Physics Colloquium 2014 Okayama University, Japan. Mini...Investigator Program Award 2012 Selected by Popular Science Magazine as one of the “Brilliant 10” of 2012 2013 USC Dornsife Raubenheimer award for

"Brilliant, Bright, Boiling Words": Literary Disability, Language and the Writing Body in the Work of Christopher Nolan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coogan, Tom

2012-01-01

This article uses theory on disability, embodiment and language to explore the production, context and presentation of two pieces of life-writing by Christopher Nolan. It examines Nolan's unusual use of language and form in his presentations of an experience of disability, and considers its literary and political significance. Consideration is…

The "Patron Saint" of Comprehensive Education: An Interview with Clyde Chitty. Part One

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benn, Melissa; Martin, Jane

2017-01-01

FORUM invited Melissa Benn and Jane Martin to interview Clyde Chitty, a brilliant and effective classroom and university teacher, one of the most well-known advocates of comprehensive education, a long-standing member of FORUM's editorial board, and for two decades co-editor of the publication. It was Michael Armstrong who called him 'the patron…

The Black/White History of Women's Rights.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katz, William Loren

The coalition of women has roots that reach back through more than a century of American history. In the decades before the Civil War, women spoke out against men on the issue of slavery, and this served a new breed of brilliant and aggressive women who found themselves talking about female as well as black rights and who recognized that white…

The Reading Mind: A Cognitive Approach to Understanding How the Mind Reads

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Willingham, Daniel T.

2017-01-01

Stop for a moment and wonder: what's happening in your brain right now--as you read this paragraph? How much do you know about the innumerable and amazing connections that your mind is making as you, in a flash, make sense of this request? "Why does it matter?" "The Reading Mind" is a brilliant, beautifully crafted, and…

Comparing Two Examination Results Using Means of Sample Means and Control Charts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alabi-Labaika, A. Bisi; Ahani, E.

2015-01-01

Some examination candidates submit their scripts first, sometimes, for recognition as being brilliant, and some do for not knowing what to write. However, some equally submit last because they want to dot i's and cross t's. The objective of this research is to compare the results of both the earliest and latest submissions with the aim of finding…

Tunable Amorphous Photonic Materials with Pigmentary Colloidal Nanostructures

DOE PAGES

Han, Jinkyu; Lee, Elaine; Dudoff, Jessica K.; ...

2017-01-31

Amorphous photonic structures using pigmentary α-Fe 2O 3/SiO 2 core–shell nanoparticles are succesfully fabricated. The resulting non-iridicent brilliant colors can be manipulated by shell thickness, particle concentration, and external electrical stimuli using electrophoretic deposition process. In conclusion, fully reversible and instantaneous color changes as well as noticeable difference between transmitted and reflected colors is observed.

Scientist as detective: Luis Alvarez and the pyramid burial chambers, the JFK assassination, and the end of the dinosaurs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wohl, Charles G.

2007-11-01

Luis Alvarez (1911-1988) was one of the most brilliant and productive experimental physicists of the twentieth century. His investigations of three mysteries, all of them outside his normal areas of research, show what remarkable things a far-ranging imagination working with an immense store of knowledge can accomplish.

KSC-02pd0550

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-04-07

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Roseate Spoonbill takes flight. The colorful birds are seen often throughout KSC and nearby wetlands. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, usually feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. [Photo by Mike Brown

The Montessori Method and the Kindergarten. Bulletin, 1914, No. 28. Whole Number 602

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harrison, Elizabeth

1914-01-01

Recently an earnest, brilliant, and learned Italian woman, Dr. Maria Montessori, has become famous, probably beyond her desire, for her contribution to the knowledge of little children and for the embodiment of her own and the discoveries of others in what she likes to call "a method of a new science of education." Her scientific investigations as…

The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Page, Scott E.

2008-01-01

In this landmark book, Scott Page redefines the way we understand ourselves in relation to one another. "The Difference" is about how we think in groups--and how our collective wisdom exceeds the sum of its parts. Why can teams of people find better solutions than brilliant individuals working alone? And why are the best group decisions…

Shakespeare as a geneticist.

PubMed

Berg, J M

2001-03-01

There are frequent allusions in Shakespeare's plays to physical and mental characteristics and qualities of individuals that often reflect genetic and related insights, ideas and implications with a bearing on the determination of these phenotypes. Quotations from the plays with comments are presented here to indicate varied perceptions in these regards that Shakespeare brilliantly conveyed some 400 years ago through many of his 'dramatis personae'.

"Please Remember We Are Not All Brilliant": Undergraduates' Experiences of an Elite, Research-Intensive Degree at a Research-Intensive University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howitt, Susan; Wilson, Anna; Wilson, Kate; Roberts, Pam

2010-01-01

Undergraduate research experiences are being incorporated into degree programs with increasing frequency. However, there has been little study into their effectiveness in preparing students for research or into the learning gains that students realise from one or more research experiences. We surveyed science students in an elite, research-based…

Stranger in a Strange Land: The Undergraduate in the Academic Library--A Collaborative Pedagogy for Undergraduate Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bankert, Dabney A.; Van Vuuren, Melissa S.

2008-01-01

This is not another tired lament for a Golden Age when all students were brilliantly prepared for college, but rather an elaboration of a central pedagogical reality the authors had each separately faced--it is not easy to teach the complex set of skills subsumed under the heading "research," that organic, contingent, messy, recursive…

High resolution laser micro sintering / melting using q-switched and high brilliant laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Exner, H.; Streek, A.

2015-03-01

Since the discovery of selective laser sintering/melting, numerous modifications have been made to upgrade or customize this technology for industrial purposes. Laser micro sintering (LMS) is one of those modifications: Powders with particles in the range of a few micrometers are used to obtain products with highly resolved structures. Pulses of a q-switched laser had been considered necessary in order to generate sinter layers from the micrometer scaled metal powders. LMS has been applied with powders from metals as well as from ceramic and cermet feedstock's to generate micro parts. Recent technological progress and the application of high brilliant continuous laser radiation have now allowed an efficient laser sintering/melting of micrometer scaled metal powders. Thereby it is remarkable that thin sinter layers are generated using high continuous laser power. The principles of the process, the state of the art in LMS concerning its advantages and limitations and furthermore the latest results of the recent development of this technology will be presented. Laser Micro Sintering / Laser Micro Melting (LMM) offer a vision for a new dimension of additive fabrication of miniature and precise parts also with application potential in all engineering fields.

Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous spinel NiCo2O4 using surfactant-assembled dispersion for asymmetric supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, Chun-Tsung; Hu, Chi-Chang

2013-11-01

A simple and scalable process has been developed for synthesizing spinel NiCo2O4 nanocrystals through a thermal decomposition method. The introduction of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, (C16H33)N(CH3)3Br) into precursor solutions significantly enhances the homogeneity and porosity of spinel NiCo2O4. The porosity and high specific surface area of NiCo2O4 preserves the brilliant pseudo-capacitive performances due to providing smooth paths for electrolyte penetration and ion diffusion into inner active sites. Morphologies and microstructures of the active materials are examined by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is used to evaluate the thermal properties of precursor solutions. The electrochemical performances of NiCo2O4 are systematically characterized by cyclic voltammetry and charge-discharge tests. Asymmetric supercapacitors are assembled with these brilliant binary oxides as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode. The highly porous NiCo2O4 exhibits superior capacitive performances, i.e., high specific capacitance (764 F g-1 at 2 mV s-1) and long cycle life.

Mark retention of calcein in Cisco and Bloater

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chalupnicki, Marc A.; Mackey, Gregg; Nash, Kendra; Chiavelli, Richard; Johnson, James H.; Kehler, Thomas; Ringler, Neil H.

2016-01-01

Since 2012, a multi-agency initiative to restore these native forage species has been under way. Evaluating the restoration success of Cisco Coregonus artedi and Bloater C. hoyi in Lake Ontario waters requires methods to identify stocked fish. However, juvenile Cisco and Bloater are fragile; thus, mass marking techniques that reduce the handling of individual fish are required and have not previously been evaluated. In 2014–2015 we evaluated the usefulness of calcein (SE-MARK) as a marker on bony structures, including the otolith. Juvenile Bloater and Cisco (14, 100, 128 d old) were immersed in a calcein bath at 5,000 mg/L of water for 4 min to apply the chemical marker. Observations of the marking retention were evaluated 8 d following the treatment. All fish immersed in calcein had strong brilliant marks (rating scale 3) on all bony structures including scales, fin rays, jaw bones, and vertebrate. The otolith was the only hard structure that did not show a brilliant marking due to the opaque nature of the structure. Our results suggest that calcein produces a strong discernable mark on hard bony structures of Cisco and Bloater; however, long-term retention needs further study.

[The research-study of pneumococci transformation in the laboratory, and the rise of bacterial genetics and molecular biology].

PubMed

Carrada-Bravo, Teodoro

2016-02-01

The virulence of pneumococci for mice depends on the production of a polysaccharide-capsule, which encloses the bacteria and protects it against phagocytosis. Capsulated pneumococci yield smooth, brilliant colonies designated S, but mutant strains arise frequently which have lost the capacity to sinthetise the capsule, are avirulent and rough designated R. F. Griffith discovery of bacterial "transformation" in 1928, is a landmark in the history of genetics, because hereditary determinants could be transferred from one bacteria to another, and laid the foundation for the subsequent recognition of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as the hereditary material. A systematic analysis of the chemical nature of the "transforming principle", by O. T. Avery and his colleagues during next 10 years, culminated in a formidable weight of evidence that it possessed all properties of DNA. In 1953, J. D. Watson and F. H. C Crick by a brilliant synthesis, fitted the chemical X-ray diffraction data together into a symmetrical double-helix structure, which possessed the inherent properties of genetic material, and carries the information necessary to direct all biochemical-cellular activities and self-replications. This paper describes de early rise and development of bacterial genetics and molecular biology.

16 CFR 23.16 - Misuse of the words “brilliant” and “full cut.”

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...,” “brilliant cut,” or “full cut” to describe, identify, or refer to any diamond except a round diamond that has... below. Note to § 23.16: Such terms should not be applied to single or rose-cut diamonds. They may be...) cut diamonds meeting the above-stated facet requirements when, in immediate conjunction with the term...

16 CFR 23.16 - Misuse of the words “brilliant” and “full cut.”

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...,” “brilliant cut,” or “full cut” to describe, identify, or refer to any diamond except a round diamond that has... below. Note to § 23.16: Such terms should not be applied to single or rose-cut diamonds. They may be...) cut diamonds meeting the above-stated facet requirements when, in immediate conjunction with the term...

16 CFR 23.16 - Misuse of the words “brilliant” and “full cut.”

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...,” “brilliant cut,” or “full cut” to describe, identify, or refer to any diamond except a round diamond that has... below. Note to § 23.16: Such terms should not be applied to single or rose-cut diamonds. They may be...) cut diamonds meeting the above-stated facet requirements when, in immediate conjunction with the term...

The Birth and Development of Sociometry: The Work and Legacy of Jacob Moreno (1889-1974)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marineau, Rene F.

2007-01-01

This article profiles Jacob Levy Moreno, the founder of this journal. He was born in 1889 in Romania, but moved to Vienna with his parents when he was four years of age. By all accounts, Moreno as a child was brilliant, spontaneous, creative and, presaging his later successes, was fascinated by relationships, first with his brothers and sisters,…

KSC-99pc14

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-01-05

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This roseate spoonbill seems to pause midstride as it searches for food in a canal in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas

A Glowing Recommendation: A Project-Based Cooperative Laboratory Activity to Promote Use of the Scientific and Engineering Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carmel, Justin H.; Ward, Joseph S.; Cooper, Melanie M.

2017-01-01

One of the most mystifying products on the market for people at any age is the glow stick: a plastic tube that, when snapped, creates a flood of bright, brilliantly colored light without the use of electricity or significant production of heat. In this case, the chemiluminescence reaction also provides an exciting phenomenon through which we can…

Commentary: Race Man and Philosopher of Education--A Reflection on W.E.B. Du Bois

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gordon, Edmund W.; Watkins, L'Tanya M.

2017-01-01

The brilliantly developed emphasis in the work of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois on race and the political economy has led many of his readers to misunderstand and underestimate his additional important contributions to and perspectives on education. In addition, some of his work not commonly read by educators as well as his unpublished musings from later…

Recommended Reading List for Faculty and Students, Military Qualification Standards (MQS) II Reading List.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-01-01

1950s. R 6 Saxe, Comte Maurice de. Reveries on the Art of Wa- (1944). U 101 A brilliant military theorist, Maurice de Sase believed that warfare, like... Agust 1972. 4 16 Middleton. Drew. The Duel at the it: China and Russia iAia(1978). DS 740.5 Th. book chronicles te authr 1, *rSalons of his trip t ino

Adolf Friedrich Fercher: a pioneer of biomedical optics.

PubMed

Hitzenberger, Christoph K

2017-11-01

Adolf Friedrich Fercher, an outstanding pioneer of biomedical optics, passed away earlier this year. He was a brilliant and visionary researcher who pioneered various fields of biomedical optics, such as laser speckle flowgraphy, tissue interferometry, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of OCT, this paper reviews and commemorates Fercher's pioneering work. (2017) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

The Operational Calculus: It’s Not Art

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-22

the running of a business organization . . . it is not entirely rational and that it resides in the moral as well...whole business of war completely within himself.” 2 operational art, while naïve in description, is an attempt to understand the mental calculus... ebooks /10615 (accessed 21 Jan 2012). For a brilliant modern application of the psychology of cognition, see Laurence Gonzalez, Deep Survival (New

Expansion of the scope of AOAC first action method 2012.25 - single-laboratory validation of triphenylmethane dye and leuco metabolite analysis in shrimp, tilapia, catfish, and salmon by LC-MS/MS

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Prior to conducting a collaborative study of AOAC First Action 2012.25 LC-MS/MS analytical method for the determination of residues of three triphenylmethane dyes (malachite green, crystal violet, and brilliant green) and their metabolites (leucomalachite green and leucocrystal violet) in seafood, a...

A Mathematical Analysis of Semantic Maps, with Theoretical and Applied Implications for Blended Learning Software

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tang, Michael; David, Hyerle; Byrne, Roxanne; Tran, John

2012-01-01

This paper is a mathematical (Boolean) analysis a set of cognitive maps called Thinking Maps[R], based on Albert Upton's semantic principles developed in his seminal works, Design for Thinking (1961) and Creative Analysis (1961). Albert Upton can be seen as a brilliant thinker who was before his time or after his time depending on the future of…

KSC-02pd0551

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-04-07

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A small flock of Roseate Spoonbills wade in the water near KSC while two others take flight. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, usually feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. [Photo by Mike Brown

Unmasking the Brilliant Disguise: Smallness, Authority and the Irony of a Teacher's Body

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ingalls, Rebecca

2006-01-01

Emerging from the entanglement of tensions with the perception that if one is a minority, female, and short, it would appear that one is likely never to get to the top of the corporate ladder. In addition to what people already know about the stark realities of gender and racial discrimination in the workplace, some studies suggest that physical…

Risk Management and At-Risk Students: Pernicious Fantasies of Educator Omnipotence. The Cutting Edge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clabaugh, Gary K.

2004-01-01

For tens of thousands of years human beings relied on oracles, prophets, medicine men, and resignation to try to manage unknown risks. Then, in the transformative 200-year period from the mid-17th through the mid-19th centuries, a series of brilliant insights created groundbreaking tools for rational risk taking. Discoveries such as the theory of…

Maurice Gee's Brilliant Borrowings of Maurice Gee and Significant Others: Realism and Postmodernism in Gee's Books for Children and Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Rij, Vivien

2013-01-01

This paper examines the work of one of New Zealand's most acclaimed writers, Maurice Gee, and the use of his children's fiction as an experimental ground for postmodernist techniques further developed in his writing for adults. In particular, it considers Gee's borrowings of his own and others' non-fictional and fictional material, to produce…

Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Major Weapon Programs

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-01

also continue to reduce DOD’s buying power, as less capability will be provided for the money invested. In the larger context, DOD needs to make...Brilliant Antiarmor Submunition BAMS Broad Area Maritime Surveillance CDA Commander’s Digital Assistant CEC Cooperative Engagement Capability CMUP...Defense (DOD) maximize its return on investment and provide the warfighter with needed capabilities at the best value for the taxpayer. Since 1990

Brazil’s Difficult Road to Greatness

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-03-20

perceived to be non-sensical.11 Roberto da Matta summed up contradictory Brazilian values when he wrote that Brazilians “know that destiny exists...Jose Maria da Silva Paranhos, commonly known by his aristocratic title Baron Rio Branco, brilliantly delineated Brazil’s boundaries with its...inefficient state-run enterprises. For three consecutive administrations over a 14-year period, Brazil has followed sound macroeconomic policies that

Fine-Mapping and Analysis of Cgl1, a Gene Conferring Glossy Trait in Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata)

PubMed Central

Liu, Zezhou; Fang, Zhiyuan; Zhuang, Mu; Zhang, Yangyong; Lv, Honghao; Liu, Yumei; Li, Zhansheng; Sun, Peitian; Tang, Jun; Liu, Dongming; Zhang, Zhenxian; Yang, Limei

2017-01-01

Cuticular waxes covering the outer plant surface impart a whitish appearance. Wax-less cabbage mutant shows glossy in leaf surface and plays important roles in riching cabbage germplasm resources and breeding brilliant green cabbage. This is the first report describing the characterization and fine-mapping of a wax biosynthesis gene using a novel glossy Brassica oleracea mutant. In the present paper, we identified a glossy cabbage mutant (line10Q-961) with a brilliant green phenotype. Genetic analyses indicated that the glossy trait was controlled by a single recessive gene. Preliminary mapping results using an F2 population containing 189 recessive individuals revealed that the Cgl1 gene was located at the end of chromosome C08. Several new markers closely linked to the target gene were designed according to the cabbage reference genome sequence. Another population of 1,172 recessive F2 individuals was used to fine-map the Cgl1 gene to a 188.7-kb interval between the C08SSR61 simple sequence repeat marker and the end of chromosome C08. There were 33 genes located in this region. According to gene annotation and homology analyses, the Bol018504 gene, which is a homolog of CER1 in Arabidopsis thaliana, was the most likely candidate for the Cgl1 gene. Its coding and promoter regions were sequenced, which indicated that the RNA splice site was altered because of a 2,722-bp insertion in the first intron of Bol018504 in the glossy mutant. Based on the FGENESH 2.6 prediction and sequence alignments, the PLN02869 domain, which controls fatty aldehyde decarbonylase activity, was absent from the Bol018504 gene of the 10Q-961 glossy mutant. We inferred that the inserted sequence in Bol018504 may result in the glossy cabbage mutant. This study represents the first step toward the characterization of cuticular wax biosynthesis in B. oleracea, and may contribute to the breeding of new cabbage varieties exhibiting a brilliant green phenotype. PMID:28265282

Quality Evaluation of Herbs and Spices in The Military Food System

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-06-01

tested would inhibit bacterial growth, Eseheric- hia coli and Staphyloeoeeus aureus were inoculated in tubes of lauryl sulfate tryptose (LST) broth... lauryl sulfate tryptose (LST) broth by standard methods**. Gas producing LST tubes were confirmed in brilliant green lactose bile (2%) broth (BGLB...and trypticase soy broth (TSB) containing 10% sodium chloride (NaCl), respectively, to which was added 1 ml of 1:10 dilution of each spice

Southeast Asia Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-04-07

Association and a brilliant woman from Sulu, Bobbit Sanchci, Boy Hcrrcra, Leticia Ramos Shahani, Orly Mercado , Sonny Alvarez, Eddie An- gara, Victor...defend us in the WE Forum- case • (another was Tito Guingona), so I should be rooting for him. As municipal mayor of my hometown (with a voting...English 16 Feb 87 pp 1, 6 [Text] Philippine Constabulary el- ements who manned check- points leading to the southern municipalities of the province

Message from the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Mirza Masroor

2008-07-01

Abdus Salam was an Ahmadi Muslim from Pakistan, a renowned theoretical physicist who received the Nobel Prize in 1979 for his work in electroweak theory. Although he was the first Muslim Nobel Laureate, Pakistan's military dictator at that time could not admit that its brilliant scientist was a Muslim citizen. Dr Salam's entire award was devoted to the furtherance of education: he did not spend a penny on himself or his family...

Translations on North Korea, Number 527

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-05-12

embodying the immortal chuche ideology." The discussion emphasized that as a brilliant fruit embodying the immortal chuche idea in the legislative...Korean soil will bear a fruit . We take this opportunity to manifest full support to the resolutions adopted at the world conference for the...in the interests of the two peoples. With highest consideration, El-Hadji Omar Bongo President Republic of’Gabon Libreville, 19 April 1977. His

Keynote address second sudden oak death science symposium Monterey California, January 19, 2005

Treesearch

Lynn Woolsey

2006-01-01

It is my great pleasure to be with you today at this impressive gathering of women and men of science. As a member of the House Science Committee, I am privileged to regularly hear from people from many disciplines in the scientific community. I so enjoy those hearings with not only brilliant, rigorous thinkers, but also people with a passion for the truth and...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Brilliant roses and carnations frame the names of the Columbia crew carved onto the black granite surface of the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at the KSC Visitor Complex.  The flowers were left by visitors who attended a memorial service for the crew on the anniversary of the tragic accident that claimed their lives Feb. 1, 2003.  The service included comments by Center Director Jim Kennedy, Deputy Director Woodrow Whitlow Jr., Executive Director of Florida Space Authority Winston Scott, and Dr. Stephen Feldman, president of the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, who placed the wreath at the mirror.  The mirror honors astronauts who have given their lives for space exploration.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Brilliant roses and carnations frame the names of the Columbia crew carved onto the black granite surface of the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at the KSC Visitor Complex.  The flowers were left by visitors who attended a memorial service for the crew on the anniversary of the tragic accident that claimed their lives Feb. 1, 2003.  The service included comments by Center Director Jim Kennedy, Deputy Director Woodrow Whitlow Jr., Executive Director of Florida Space Authority Winston Scott, and Dr. Stephen Feldman, president of the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, who placed the wreath at the mirror.  The mirror honors astronauts who have given their lives for space exploration.

The potential for human exposure, direct and indirect, to the suspected carcinogenic triphenylmethane dye Brilliant Green from green paper towels.

PubMed

Oplatowska, Michalina; Donnelly, Ryan F; Majithiya, Rita J; Glenn Kennedy, D; Elliott, Christopher T

2011-08-01

Triphenylmethanes - Malachite Green (MG), Crystal Violet (CV) and Brilliant Green (BG) are dyes with known genotoxic and carcinogenic properties. Apart from being illegally used in aquaculture for treatment of fish diseases they are also applied in industry such as paper production to colour paper towels widely used in hospitals, factories and other locations for hand drying after washing. The present study provides evidence that the triphenylmethane dye (BG) present in green paper towels can migrate through the skin even when the exposure time is short (30-300 s). The transfer of the dye from the towel to food (fish) was also studied and a high amount of colour was found to migrate during overnight exposure. The risk to humans associated with these two dye transfer studies was assessed using a 'margin of exposure approach' on the basis of the toxicological data available for the closely related dye MG and its metabolite Leucomalachite Green. The data indicated that the risk associated with the use of triphenylmethane containing paper towels is of a similar proportion to the risk associated with consumption of fish contaminated with these dyes due to the illegal application in aquaculture. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Andreas Vesalius 500 years - A Renaissance that revolutionized cardiovascular knowledge

PubMed Central

Mesquita, Evandro Tinoco; de Souza Júnior, Celso Vale; Ferreira, Thiago Reigado

2015-01-01

The history of medicine and cardiology is marked by some geniuses who dared in thinking, research, teaching and transmitting scientific knowledge, and the Italian Andreas Vesalius one of these brilliant masters. His main scientific work "De Humani Corporis Fabrica" is not only a landmark study of human anatomy but also an artistic work of high aesthetic quality published in 1543. In the year 2014 we celebrated 500 years since the birth of the brilliant professor of Padua University, who with his courage and sense of observation changed the understanding of cardiovascular anatomy and founded a school to date in innovative education and research of anatomy. By identifying "the anatomical errors" present in Galen's book and speech, he challenged the dogmas of the Catholic Church, the academic world and the doctors of his time. However, the accuracy of his findings and his innovative way to disseminate them among his students and colleagues was essential so that his contributions are considered by many the landmark of modern medicine. His death is still surrounded by mysteries having different hypotheses, but a certainty, suffered sanctions of the Catholic Church for the spread of their ideas. The cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists and cardiovascular imaginologists must know the legacy of genius Andreas Vesalius that changed the paradigm of human anatomy. PMID:26107459

Andreas Vesalius 500 years--A Renaissance that revolutionized cardiovascular knowledge.

PubMed

Mesquita, Evandro Tinoco; Souza Júnior, Celso Vale de; Ferreira, Thiago Reigado

2015-01-01

The history of medicine and cardiology is marked by some geniuses who dared in thinking, research, teaching and transmitting scientific knowledge, and the Italian Andreas Vesalius one of these brilliant masters. His main scientific work "De Humani Corporis Fabrica" is not only a landmark study of human anatomy but also an artistic work of high aesthetic quality published in 1543. In the year 2014 we celebrated 500 years since the birth of the brilliant professor of Padua University, who with his courage and sense of observation changed the understanding of cardiovascular anatomy and founded a school to date in innovative education and research of anatomy. By identifying "the anatomical errors" present in Galen's book and speech, he challenged the dogmas of the Catholic Church, the academic world and the doctors of his time. However, the accuracy of his findings and his innovative way to disseminate them among his students and colleagues was essential so that his contributions are considered by many the landmark of modern medicine. His death is still surrounded by mysteries having different hypotheses, but a certainty, suffered sanctions of the Catholic Church for the spread of their ideas. The cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists and cardiovascular imaginologists must know the legacy of genius Andreas Vesalius that changed the paradigm of human anatomy.

Electrochemical wastewater treatment directly powered by photovoltaic panels: electrooxidation of a dye-containing wastewater.

PubMed

Valero, David; Ortiz, Juan M; Expósito, Eduardo; Montiel, Vicente; Aldaz, Antonio

2010-07-01

Electrochemical technologies have proved to be useful for the treatment of wastewater, but to enhance their green characteristics it seems interesting to use a green electric energy such as that provided by photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are actually under active research to decrease the economic cost of solar kW. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility and utility of using an electrooxidation system directly powered by a photovoltaic array for the treatment of a wastewater. The experimental system used was an industrial electrochemical filter press reactor and a 40-module PV array. The influence on the degradation of a dye-containing solution (Remazol RB 133) of different experimental parameters such as the PV array and electrochemical reactor configurations has been studied. It has been demonstrated that the electrical configuration of the PV array has a strong influence on the optimal use of the electric energy generated. The optimum PV array configuration changes with the intensity of the solar irradiation, the conductivity of the solution, and the concentration of pollutant in the wastewater. A useful and effective methodology to adjust the EO-PV system operation conditions to the wastewater treatment is proposed.