Day-night variation of thermoregulatory responses to intraperitoneal electric heating in rats

1. 1.Hypothalamic temperature (T_hy), nonevaporative heat loss (R + C + K), evaporative heat loss (E), thermal conductance (k), metabolic heat production (M) and heat storage (S) of rats were simultaneously measured by direct and indirect calorimetry during internal heat loading (2 W per rat) with an intraperitoneal electric heater.

2. 2.The tests were made twice a day; once during the day (1000–1200 h) and once at night (2200–2400 h) at an ambient temperature of 24°C.

3. 3.The resting values of T_hy, colonic temperature, (R + C + K), E, M and heart rate, and the T_hy threshold for tail skin vasodilation (T_th) during internal heat load were significantly higher at night than during the day.

4. 4.The slopes showing the relationshiop between (R + C + K), k or M and T_hy were significantly steeper during the day than at night after T_hy exceeded T_th.

5. 5.The slopes showing the relationship between E or S and T_hy were not different during the day and at night.

6. 6.These results indicate that the responses of nonevaporative heat loss and heat production to internal heat load vary with the time of day in rats.

Studies on the molecular chain morphology of konjac glucomannan

The chain geometry and parameters of konjac glucomannan were studied by using laser light scatter (LLS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and viscosimetry. The weight-average molecular weight (M_w), root-mean-square ratio of gyration (S^21/2), second viral coefficient (A₂) and polydispersity index (M_w/M_n) were 1.036×10⁶, 105±0.9 nm, (−1.587±0.283)×10⁻³  mol ml g⁻² and 1.015±0.003 respectively. Mark-Houwink equation was established as , and the molecular chain parameters were as follows: M_L=982.82 nm⁻¹, q=27.93 nm, d=0.74 nm, h=0.26 nm, L=1054.11 nm. To confirm the above results, konjac glucomannan was observed by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The physical image showed directly that the konjac glucomannan molecule was an extending semi-flexible linear chain without branches, and than the molecular dimension also conformed to the parameters above. Therefore the image of molecular chain geometry confirmed the deduction drawn by Mark-Houwink equation and molecular chain parameters magnificently.     

Hydrodynamic properties of the fractions of mannan formed by Rhodotorula rubra yeast

Aqueous solutions of fractions of an extracellular linear mannan formed by Rhodotorula rubra yeast have been investigated by hydrodynamic methods (high-speed sedimentation, translation isothermic diffusion and viscometry). The molecular weight was determined according to Svedberg ( ) and the polydispersity parameters of the initial sample were also determined (M_w/M_n = 1·20 and M_z/M_w = 1·21). Relationships between the molecular weight (M) and s_o, D_o and [η] in the range were: [η] = 2·33 × 10⁻² M^0.75, D_o = 1·65 × 10⁻⁴ M^0·58, s_o = 2·24 × 10⁻¹⁵ M^0·43. The equilibrium rigidity and hydrodynamic diameter of chains representing mannan molecules were evaluated.     

Intramuscular temperatures during exercise in the heat following pre-cooling and pre-heating

Pre-cooling improves heat tolerance and time to exhaustion in the heat. We tested the possibility that reduced tissue temperatures may explain this phenomenon, using three whole-body treatments: pre-cooling, thermoneutral (control) and pre-heating. Pre-cooling reduced muscle temperature (T_m) by 6.3 °C while pre-heating increased T_m 3.4 °C, relative to control. Despite this offset, T_m climbed towards a common asymptote, with pre-cooling offering no thermal protection beyond 40 min. Following pre-cooling, exercising oesophageal temperature (T_es) initially increased at 0.09 °C min⁻¹, being significantly faster than control (0.05 °C min⁻¹) and pre-heated conditions (0.03 °C min⁻¹). Pre-cooling lowered the sweat threshold and also resulted in a reduced cardiac frequency across the exercise-heat exposure. Our observations do not support the hypothesis that pre-cooling reduces T_m at the end of an exercise-heat exposure, thereby delaying the development of fatigue.     

Molecular and granular characteristics of corn starch modified by HCl-methanol at different temperatures

Native corn starch was hydrolyzed with 0.36% HCl in methanol at 25 and 45 °C for periods of time up to 240 h. The action of acid penetration and hydrolysis was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) equipped with viscometry, right-angle laser light scattering (RALLS) and refractive index (RI) detectors. Corn starch hydrolyzed at 45 °C for 240 h showed strong intensity of APTS (8-amino-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulfonic acid) fluorescence and sharp growth ring structure. Exocorrosion over the surface of corn starch was only observed on the corn starch hydrolyzed at 25 °C for 240 h and observed on all corn starch hydrolyzed at 45 °C. The M_w and R_h of acid-hydrolyzed corn starch decreased with increasing the degree of hydrolysis. The acid hydrolysis rate in methanol of corn starch was mainly dependent on the temperature, which dominated the penetration efficiency of acid.     

Modulation of Mucor miehei lipase properties via directed immobilization on different hetero-functional epoxy resins: Hydrolytic resolution of (R,S)-2-butyroyl-2-phenylacetic acid

Purified lipase from Mucor miehei (MML) has been covalently immobilized on different epoxy resins (standard hydrophobic epoxy resins, epoxy-ethylenediamine, epoxy-iminodiacetic acid, epoxy-copper chelates) and adsorbed via interfacial activation on octadecyl-Sepabeads support (fully coated with very hydrophobic octadecyl groups). These immobilized enzyme preparations were used under slightly different conditions (temperature ranging from 4 to 25 °C and pH values from 5 to 7) in the hydrolytic resolution of (R,S)-2-butyroyl-2-phenylacetic acid.

Different catalytic properties (activity, specificity, enantioselectivity) were found depending on the particular support used. For example, the epoxy-iminodiacetic acid-Sepabeads gave the most active preparation at pH 7 while, at pH 5, the ethylenediamine-Sepabeads was superior.

More interestingly, the enantiomeric ratio (E) also depends strongly on the immobilized preparation and the conditions employed. Thus, the octadecyl-MML preparation was the only immobilized enzyme derivative which exhibited enantioselectivity towards R isomer (with E values ranging from 5 at 4 °C and pH 7 to 1.2 at pH 5 and 25 °C).

The other immobilized preparations, in contrast, were S selective. Immobilization on iminodiacetic acid-Sepabeads afforded the catalyst with the highest enantioselectivity (E=59 under optimum conditions).     

Solid substrate cultivation of Gibberella fujikuroi on an inert support

Growth of Gibberella fujikuroi on Amberlite, an inert support, and gibberellic acid (GA₃) production was studied in glass columns under different conditions of temperature and water activity (a_w). Maximum biomass concentration and GA₃ production were respectively 40 (mg/g inert support) and 0.73 (mg/g inert support). While high specific growth rates were obtained, low initial nitrogen resulted in low biomass concentrations. Maximum GA₃ (31°C, a_w=0.985) was not produced by the maximum concentration of biomass (25°C, a_w=0.992). Peaks in the rate curves of either outlet gas, CO₂ or O₂, occurred on exhaustion of urea indicating, for future works, just when to feed the culture additional nitrogen.     

A computational formula for heat influx in animal experiments

1. 1.The bahavioural paradigm in which cold-exposed animals can work for pulses of infrared radiation has been extensively used in the literature, but a formula to calculate the amount of heat obtained has not been advanced.

2. 2.This paper describes a computational formula for heat influx in rats: E = 3.64 · 10⁻⁶ · n · d · I · M^0.6 where E is heat influx (kJ), n is number of rewards, d is reward duration (sec), I is irradiance (mW/cm²), and M is body mass (g).

Multi-temperature effects on Hill reaction activity of barley chloroplasts

1. 1. The relationship between temperature and Hill reaction activity has been investigated in chloroplasts isolated from barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Abyssinian).

2. 2. An Arrhenius plot of the photoreduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCIP) showed no change in slope over the temperature range 2–38 °C. The apparent Arrhenius activation energy (E_a) for the reaction was 48.1 kJ/mol.

3. 3. In the presence of an uncoupler of photophosphorylation, methylamine, the E_a for DCIP photoreduction went through a series of changes as the temperature was increased. Changes were found at 9, 20, 29 and 36 °C. The E_a was highest below 9 °C at 63.7 kJ/mol. Between 9 and 20 °C the E_a decreased to 40.4 kJ/mol and again to 20.2 kJ/mol between 20 and 29 °C. Between 29 and 36 °C there was no further increase in activity with increasing temperature. The temperature-induced changes at 9, 20 and 29 °C were reversible. At temperatures above 36 °C (2 min) a thermal and largely irreversible inactivation of the Hill reaction occurred.

4. 4. Temperature-induced changes in E_a were also found when ferricyanide was substituted for DCIP or gramicidin D for methylamine. The addition of an uncoupler of photophosphorylation was not required to demonstrate temperature-induced changes in DCIP photoreduction following the exposure of the chloroplasts to a low concentration of cations.

5. 5. The photoreduction of the lipophilic acceptor, oxidized 2, 3, 5, 6-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, also showed changes in E_a in the absence of an uncoupler.

6. 6. The temperature-induced changes in Hill activity at 9 and 29 °C coincided with temperature-induced changes in the fluidity of chloroplast thylakoid membranes as detected by measurements of electron spin resonance spectra. It is suggested that the temperature-induced changes in the properties and activity of chloroplast membranes are part of a control mechanism for regulation of chloroplast development and photosynthesis by temperature.

Determination of the maximum and minimum lethal temperatures (LT50) for Loxosceles intermedia Mello-Leitão, 1934 and L. laeta (Nicolet, 1849) (Araneae, Sicariidae)

In this study, the maximum and minimum lethal temperatures (LT₅₀) of L. intermedia and L. laeta were determined in two treatments: gradual heating (25–50°C) and cooling (25°C to −5°C), and 1 h at a constant temperature. In gradual temperatures change, L. intermedia mortality started at 40°C and the LT₅₀ was 42°C; for L. laeta, mortality began at 35°C and the LT₅₀ was 40°C. At low temperatures, mortality was registered only at −5°C for both species. In the constant temperature L. intermedia showed a maximum LT₅₀ at 35°C and L. laeta at 32°C; the minimum LT for both species was −7°C.     

Bradykinin dilates rat middle cerebral artery and its large branches via endothelial B2 receptors and release of nitric oxide

Ring segments of rat middle cerebral artery (MCA) were prepared for measurement of isometric force and precontracted with 10⁻⁴ M uridine triphosphate (UTP). Concentration-effect curves (CEC) were constructed for bradykinin (BK, 10⁻⁸–10⁻⁵ M) in segments with functionally intect (E+) or denuded (E−) endothelium. E− segments did not dilate to BK. The BK receptor was characterized by application of specific B₁ or B₂ antagonists [des-Arg⁹-Leu⁸] BK (10⁻⁵ M) and [ -Arg⁰-Hyp³-Thi⁵- -Tic⁷-Oic⁸] BK (HOE140,3 × 10⁻⁷ M), respectively, or B₁ agonist [des-Arg⁹] BK (10⁻⁸–10⁻⁴ M). Involvement of nitric oxide (NO) was tested with N^G-nitro- -arginine (LNNA, 10⁻⁴ M). BK induced concentration-dependent relaxation with a maximal effect (E_max) of 40.86 ± 1.50% at 10⁻⁶ M and a pD₂ (−log₁₀ EC₅₀) of 6.818 ± 0.044. This relaxation could be prevented with HOE140 or LNNA, but was not influenced by [des-Arg⁹-Leu⁸] BK. [des-Arg⁹] BK did not induce any effect. These results demonstrate that BK induced relaxation via endothelial B₂ receptors and release of NO in isolated rat MCA.     

Short- and long-term responses to fescue toxicosis at different ambient temperatures

Intake of endophyte-infected tall fescue by cattle results in fescue toxicosis, which is characterized by increased hyperthermia during heat stress and concomitant reductions in feed intake and growth. Rats were monitored at 21 or 31 °C for short- or long-term periods to determine temporal changes associated with the intake of endophyte-infected (E+) or uninfected (E−) fescue seed diets. Core temperature only changed in rats fed E+ diet at 31 °C. Intake of E+ diet reduced feed intake, daily gain, and serum prolactin. There were temporal and thermal differences in the response to endophytic toxins, with short-term changes diminishing over time at 21 °C, but increasing for certain parameters at 31 °C.     

Stereoselective synthesis of a novel 2-aza-7-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane as neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist

A novel neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, (±)-(1R^*,3S^*,4S^*,5S^*)-4-[(N-(2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethoxybenzyl)amino]-3-phenyl-2-aza-7-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (1), was synthesized stereoselectively using Padwa’s intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition methodology as the key step. Compound (±)-1 showed high affinity for the NK-1 receptors in human IM-9 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.22 nM. This new structural scaffold demonstrated significant in vivo antagonistic activity in the guinea pig ureter capsaicin-induced plasma extravasation model with an ED₅₀ value of 1–10 mg/kg, po.     

Staining of fresh, Undecalcified, thin Bone Sections

Fresh, undecalcified bone sections can be reproducibly and reliably stained by any of the following procedures: (A) Basic fuchsin, 1% in 30% alcohol, 48 hr, 22°C. (B) AgNO₃, 0.033 M, 48 hr, 22°C; washing 48 hr in a large volume of distilled water; exposure to light to develop the color. (C) Metallic sulfides (Co⁺⁺, Pb⁺⁺, Hg⁺⁺, Cu⁺⁺): the nitrate of the metal, 0.033 M, 48 hr, 22°C; then Na₂S, 0.033 M, 48 hr, 22° C. (D) Alizarin Red S, 0.1% solution in distilled water, 48 hr, 22°C; differentiated 48 hr at 22°C in weakly alkaline water, pH about 8. (E) KMnO₄: boiling 8-10 min in a 0.1 N, solution. With the exception of D the surface stain must be ground off the section for microscopic examination of its interior. Stain concentration, time and temperature can be altered to suit specific needs.     

Molecular interaction studies of the hyaluronan derivative, hylan A using atomic force microscopy

Intermolecular self-association of hylan chains can be observed in hylan of molecular weight ca. 1×10⁷, with an indication of specific cross-linking protein points and inter-chain cross-links of molecular weight of between 10,000 and 80,000. When this high molecular weight hylan is autoclaved to M_w 1.8×10⁶, to yield a molecular size of the same order as a conventional hyaluronan, the structural features of hylan are retained, with regions of network disintegration having single chains to which one or two chains are joined. After degradation by ^√OH radicals, extended linear chains are found with some of the straight chains having branch points. These can be attributed to the unwinding of the hylan coils by the movement of a droplet of water across the mica surface. The effect of filtration by 1 μm filter does not reduce the measured M_w (corresponding to an intrinsic viscosity of 8188 at low shear rate). However, when stressed through a 0.45 μm filter the M_w falls to a quarter of its previous value. The cross-linked structure of the original hylan is shown to be equivalent to a hyaluronan of ca. 10×10⁶, based on rheological measurements. The cross-linked structure confers stability to degradation by ^√OH radicals not observed for hyaluronan. This distinctive behaviour of hylan is maintained for the entire range of molecular weights studied. The results confirm the tendency of hylan chains to readily undergo chain–chain association.     

Pyrolysis of safflower (Charthamus tinctorius L.) seed press cake: part 1. The effects of pyrolysis parameters on the product yields

Safflower (Charthamus tinctorius L.) seed press cake was pyrolysed in a fixed-bed reactor. The effects of pyrolysis temperature, heating rate and sweep gas flow rates on the yields of the products were investigated. Pyrolysis runs were performed using pyrolysis temperatures between 400 and 600 °C with heating rates of 10, 30 and 50 °C min⁻¹. The obtained bio-char, gas and bio-oil yields ranged between 25 and 34 wt%, 19 and 25 wt%, and 28 and 36 wt%, respectively, at different pyrolysis conditions. The highest liquid yield was obtained at 500 °C pyrolysis temperature with a heating rate of 50 °C min⁻¹ under the sweep gas of N₂ with a flow rate of 100 cm³ min⁻¹. Employing the higher heating rate of 50 °C min⁻¹ results in maximum bio-oil yield, probably due to the decrease in mass transfer limitations. According to the results obtained under the conditions of this study, the effects of pyrolysis temperature and sweep gas flow rate are more significant than the effect of heating rate on the yields.     

Physico-chemical studies on di-iodotyrosine dextran

Dextran is currently being considered as a carrier biopolymer system for drug targeting. Di-iodotyrosine (DIT), and its radioactive derivative are useful markers for identifying the in-vivo route of these substrates. The performance of these substances in vivo is closely linked to their physico-chemical properties in solution. These properties have been investigated on a series of gel permeation chromatography fractionated DIT-dextrans using a combination of sedimentation, viscometric and laser-light scattering techniques. Weight average molecular weights, M_w, from sedimentation equilibrium and light scattering range from 0·0195 to 0·054 × 10⁶. Double logarithmic representations of M_w versus sedimentation coefficient, s^o_20.w, and intrinsic viscosity [η] suggest that these labelled dextrans have a more compact conformation in solution than do their unlabelled analogues — which behave as random coils. The implications of this for drug delivery are indicated.     

Occurrence of ofloxacin ester-hydrolyzing esterase from Bacillus niacini EM001

A Bacillus niacini strain (EM001) producing an ofloxacin ester-enantioselective esterase was isolated from the soil samples collected near Taejon, Korea. The cloned gene showed that the esterase EM001 composed of 495 amino acids corresponding to a relative molecular weight (M_r) of 54,098 kDa. Based on the M_r and the protein sequence, the esterase EM001 was similar to p-nitrobenzyl esterase from Bacillus subtilis with an identity of 41.8%. The optimum temperature and pH of the purified His-tagged enzyme were 45 °C and 9.0, respectively. The purified esterase EM001 hydrolyzed preferably (R)-ofloxacin propyl ester than (S)-form ester at the initial reaction phase with an ee_P of 67% until the conversion rate become up to 35%.     

林分密度对马尾松林下植物与土壤种子库多样性的影响

林分密度是影响林下植物多样性的重要因子。本研究以马尾松人工林为对象,设置低密度(1575株·hm^-2,D₁)、中密度(2474株·hm^-2,D₂)和高密度(3550株·hm^-2,D₃)3个林分密度,分析林下植物和土壤种子库多样性及二者的关系,为马尾松人工林实现多目标可持续发展提供科学依据。结果表明: 3种林分密度林下草本与灌木植物共有42科62属70种,D₁密度以喜光植物种类分布较多,而D₂、D₃密度以耐阴植物为主;3种林分密度间的草本、灌木的Margalef (M)、Shannon (H)、Simpson (D)、Pielou (J_sw)、Alatalo (Al)指数均随林分密度增加而呈下降趋势,且在草本与灌木层中对密度的响应不同。在草本层中,D₁与D₃的H、D、J_sw、Al指数均存在显著差异;在灌木层中,不同林分密度J_sw和Al指数存在显著差异,H和D指数差异不显著。土壤种子库H、D、J_sw和Al指数均随林分密度增加呈先下降后升高趋势,D₁密度的物种丰富度及多样性最高;不同林分密度下土壤种子库Jaccard与Sorensen相似性系数均较低。草本层M与J_sw指数呈显著正相关;灌木层林分密度与H、D、J_sw、Al指数的相关性大于草本层,而草本、灌木层的林分密度与J_sw指数均呈显著负相关。林分密度1575株·hm^-2是马尾松林下植被生长发育较为合适的密度,能够维持林下植物多样性,有利于马尾松人工林的可持续经营。     

Interaction between dextran and human low density lipoproteins (LDL) observed using laser light scattering

Dextran infusions in humans lead to a reduction of low density lipoproteins (LDL) in the plasma compartment. The interaction of dextran with human LDL was investigated in vitro by static and dynamic light scattering. The experiments were performed with human LDL (apoB concentration 0.75 g l⁻¹) and dextran (M_w=40 000 and 70 000 g mol⁻¹) at 25°C. The dextran concentrations after mixing were 10 and 50 g l⁻¹. The hydrodynamic radius for native LDL was found to be R_H=12.9 nm. The addition of dextran induces the formation of LDL associates with a mean radius of R_H≈200 nm. These findings show that even non-sulphated polysaccharides interact with LDL. The dextran-dependent formation of LDL associates detected in vitro could be the reason for the in vivo effect of dextran on the lipid metabolism.