Comparing the effect of immobilization methods on the activity of lipase biocatalysts in ester hydrolysis

The activity of various lipases was compared, in both free and immobilized forms, using the kinetics of the hydrolysis reaction of p-nitrophenyl butyrate, which was followed with in situ UV/Vis diode array spectrophotometry. Several enzymes were used to catalyze the reaction, namely Candida antarctica lipase B and Fusarium solani pisi cutinase wildtype and three single-mutation variants. The enzymes were tested in three different forms: free, immobilized as cross-linked aggregates and supported on zeolite NaY. A simple kinetic model was used to allow a quantitative comparison of the behavior of the different catalysts. It was concluded that although immobilization reduces the activity of the enzyme, the zeolite offers a much higher specific activity when compared to the cross-linked aggregates, thus supplying a heterogeneous catalyst with promising catalytic properties.     

A dye mixture (Neurobiotin and Alexa 488) reveals extensive dye-coupling among neurons in leeches; physiology confirms the connections

Although the neuronal circuits that generate leech movements have been studied for over 30 years, the list of interneurons (INs) in these circuits remains incomplete. Previous studies showed that some motor neurons (MNs) are electrically coupled to swim-related INs, e.g., rectifying junctions connect IN 28 to MN DI-1 (dorsal inhibitor), so we searched for additional neurons in these behavioral circuits by co-injecting Neurobiotin and Alexa Fluor 488 into segmental MNs DI–1, VI–2, DE–3 and VE–4. The high molecular weight Alexa dye is confined to the injected cell, whereas the smaller Neurobiotin molecules diffuse through gap junctions to reveal electrical coupling. We found that MNs were each dye-coupled to approximately 25 neurons, about half of which are likely to be INs. We also found that (1) dye-coupling was reliably correlated with physiologically confirmed electrical connections, (2) dye-coupling is unidirectional between MNs that are linked by rectifying connections, and (3) there are novel electrical connections between excitatory and inhibitory MNs, e.g. between excitatory MN VE-4 and inhibitory MN DI-1. The INs found in this study provide a pool of novel candidate neurons for future studies of behavioral circuits, including those underlying swimming, crawling, shortening, and bending movements.     

Analyzing the performance of ArcCHECK diode array detector for VMAT plan

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate performance of ArcCHECK diode array detector for the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) patient specific quality assurance (QA). VMAT patient specific QA results were correlated with ion chamber measurement. Dose response of the ArcCHECK detector was studied.

Background

VMAT delivery technique improves the dose distribution. It is complex in nature and requires proper QA before its clinical implementation. ArcCHECK is a novel three dimensional dosimetry system.

Materials and methods

Twelve retrospective VMAT plans were calculated on ArcCHECK phantom. Point dose and dose map were measured simultaneously with ion chamber (IC-15) and ArcCHECK diode array detector, respectively. These measurements were compared with their respective TPS calculated values.

Results

The ion chamber measurements are in good agreement with TPS calculated doses. Mean difference between them is 0.50% with standard deviation of 0.51%. Concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) obtained for ion chamber measurements is 0.9996. These results demonstrate a strong correlation between the absolute dose predicted by our TPS and the measured dose. The CCC between ArcCHECK doses and TPS predictions on the CAX was found to be 0.9978. In gamma analysis of dose map, the mean passing rate was 98.53% for 3% dose difference and 3 mm distance to agreement.

Conclusions

The VMAT patient specific QA with an ion chamber and ArcCHECK phantom are consistent with the TPS calculated dose. Statistically good agreement was observed between ArcCHECK measured and TPS calculated. Hence, it can be used for routine VMAT QA.     

半导体激光光针(650nm,10mW)对高血压大鼠(SHR)血压及脑血流(rCBF)影响的初步观察

本工作采用了半导体激光器650nm,10mW,CW,对自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）进行“穴位”外照射同时采用了氢清除法组织血流测定仪监测大鼠大脑海马区的脑血流量变化。结果提示光照“扶突”穴5min后,海马脑血流量由原39．04ml下降至30．53ml（n＝14）。在7／14只鼠中测得血压均值,分别为照射前109．57±29．79mmHg,照射后91.28±27．04mmHg（n＝7）。提示其血流量的下降可能与高血压鼠血压的下降有关．在同时光照人中,禾两穴,结果发现亦有类似的上述效应．若不予光照,间隔1小时后进行测定,发现基本与1小时前相仿,提示光照“扶突”穴确有下降的趋向。     

发光二极管光质对念珠藻葛仙米生长及生理生化特性的影响简

利用发光二极管(LED)作为光源,以冷百荧光灯光作为对照,研究不同光质[红光637 nm、绿光529 nm、蓝光453 nm、白光(400—700)nm]对念珠藻葛仙米生长和生理生化特性的影响。结果表明:在培养前期,红光促进藻蓝蛋白合成,而藻红蛋白合成受抑制;蓝光和绿光则促进藻蓝蛋白合成。在培养后期,红光处理有利于叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素积累,其含量分别达到干重的1.33%和0.24%;绿光、白光和冷白荧光培养物的相应色素的含量均约占1.0%和0.16%;蓝光培养物的相应色素含量分别仅为0.45%和0.11%。红光培养物的氨基酸含量达干重的23.1%,是对照的1.58倍。除蓝光外其他光质对还原糖的含量影响无显著差异。在培养过程中LED白光和冷白荧光培养物的平均相对生长速率分别约为其他色光培养物的1.3和1.5倍。     

Photoreceptor spectral sensitivity of the compound eyes of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) informing the design of LED-based illumination to enhance indoor reproduction

Mating in the black soldier fly (BSF) is a visually mediated behaviour that under natural conditions occurs in full sunlight. Artificial light conditions promoting mating by BSF were designed based on the spectral characteristics of the compound eye retina. Electrophysiological measurements revealed that BSF ommatidia contained UV-, blue- and green-sensitive photoreceptor cells, allowing trichromatic vision. An illumination system for indoor breeding based on UV, blue and green LEDs was designed and its efficiency was compared with illumination by fluorescent tubes which have been successfully used to sustain a BSF colony for five years. Illumination by LEDs and the fluorescent tubes yielded equal numbers of egg clutches, however, the LED illumination resulted in significantly more larvae. The possibilities to optimize the current LED illumination system to better approximate the skylight illuminant and potentially optimize the larval yield are discussed.     

Simultaneous real‐time assay of copper and cadmium ions by infrared photo diode electrode implanted in the muscle of live fish

The electrical circuit of an infrared photodiode electrode (IPE) was used in the simultaneous assay of copper and cadmium ions. The electrode's cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry and square‐wave (SW) stripping voltammetric optimum conditions were examined. Results for 0–160 mg L^?1 and 50–400 μg L^?1 SW Cu(II) Cd(II), the relative standard deviation of 0.158 Cu(II), 0.077 Cd(II) (n = 15) using 20.0 mg L^?1 have been obtained at optimum conditions. The low detection limit (S/N) was attained to be at 14.71 μg L^?1(2.31 × 10^?7 mol L^?1) Cu(II) and 18.42 μg L^?1(1.63 × 10^?7 mol L^?1) Cd(II). The handmade electrode was implanted deep in the muscle of live fish and interfaced with an electrochemical workstation. Real‐time analytical application was performed on the online assay of living tissue as the specimen was moving. The methods are deemed useful in interfaced assay for physiological control, nanodiode fabrication, and in the production of laboratory on a biochip. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 23:256–262, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20287     

Different sample treatment approaches for the analysis of T-2 and HT-2 toxins from oats-based media

A LC-DAD method is proposed for the determination of the T-2 and HT-2 toxins in cultures of Fusarium langsethiae in oat-based and other in vitro media. Test media consisted of freshly prepared milled oats to which T-2 and HT-2 toxin stock solutions were added. Different mixtures of extraction solvent (acetonitrile:water and methanol:water), extraction times (30′, 60′ or 90′) and drying methods were investigated. Results showed that extraction with methanol:water (80:20, v/v) for 90 min, drying with N₂ and subsequent analysis by LC-DAD was the fastest and most user friendly method for detecting HT-2 and T-2 toxins production by F. langsethiae strains grown on oat-based media at levels of 0.459 and 0.508 mg of toxin/kg of agar, respectively. The proposed method was used to investigate toxin production of 6 F. langsethiae strains from northern Europe and provided clear chromatograms with no interfering peaks in media with and without glycerol as water activity modifier.     

Effect of system variables involved in packed column SFC of nevirapine as model analyte using response surface methodology: application to retention thermodynamics, solute transfer kinetic study and binary diffusion coefficient determination

A multifactor optimization technique is successfully applied to study the effect of simultaneously varying the system variables on feasibility of nevirapine analysis by packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (PC-SFC). The optimal conditions were determined with the aid of the response surface methodology using 3(3) factorial designs. The method is based on methanol-modified carbon dioxide as the mobile phase at flow rate of 3.0 ml/min with elution through a JASCO Finepak SIL-5, [C18 (5-micron, 25 cm x 4.6 mm, i.d.)] column using photodiode array detection. The method has been successfully used to analyze commercial solid dosage form to assess the chromatographic performance of SFC system. The present work briefs the thermodynamic applications of PC-SFC with an emphasis on the results of nevirapine. The foremost of such applications is the determination of solute diffusion coefficient in supercritical mobile phase by Taylor-Aris peak broadening technique.     

人体半导体激光外照射的疗效及其作用机理研究：血浆肽类神经递质 …

本工作应用半导体激光（６５０ｎｍ,１５－２０ｍＷ,ＣＷ）穴位照射人体双侧“扶突”穴后,同步观察其在血浆肽类神经递质上的变化以及其在血液黏度,免疫功能,抗氧化体系等方面的影响及其相关性。结果发现β－Ｅｐ有非常显著性的下降（Ｐ＜０．０２）,患者的ＮＫ细胞活性,在照射后即有所显著性地提高（Ｐ＜０．０５）。患者的超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）亦有同步增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）。此外在血液流变学方面,发现血粘度指标中有