Isolation and Characterization of Alpha-1-Antitrrpsin from the Cohn Fraction Iv-1 of Human Plasma

Cohn Fraction IV-I from pooled human plasma was used as a starting material in the large-scale purification of alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha-1-AT). Following ion-exchange, blospecific affinity and gel exclusion chromatographic procedures, material of high biological activity was obtained in 307percnt; overall yield. Homogeneity was demonstrated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, gel filtration and end-group determination. The present preparation should be applicable to large scale industrial processing of alpha-1-AT with the potential for use in protein replacement therapy.     

A Staining Rack for Handling Cover-Glass Preparations

A porcelain staining rack (Fig. 1) has been devised for handling cover-glass preparations. The design is along the general lines of staining racks for slides commonly sold by commercial houses. It consists of three parallel rods—one at the bottom, two on the sides. These three rods are held together by two end pieces. Each of the rods has twelve slots, thus the rack holds twelve cover glasses. The slots have been arranged to hold the cover glasses some distance apart. Circular cover glasses having a diameter of 22 mm. are most desirable. Each of the two end pieces has a hole near the top for inserting one end of the wire tongs or handle (see Fig. 1) which is used for removing the rack from the stender dish. The staining rack is 40 mm. long and 35 mm. high and is designed, as shown in the figure, to fit the ordinary Stender dishes commonly used in many laboratories.     

Investigation of the spectral characteristics of Sm3+ ions in lead borosilicate glass for photonic applications

Different concentrations of Sm₂O₃-doped lead borosilicate glass were synthesized using a melt–quenching method and their characteristics were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy absorption, emission, and decay curves. From the XRD patterns, the noncrystalline nature of titled glass was confirmed. The structural groups that existed in the host glass were observed from FTIR spectra. The Judd–Ofelt (JO) intensity parameters and oscillator strengths were derived from the absorption spectra and compared with various reported systems. The excitation luminescence levels of the Sm³⁺ ion radiative properties were further computed using the JO intensity parameters. Effective bandwidth, emission cross-sections (σ_e), and several lasing properties were assessed from emission spectra and compared with other reported glass systems. The decay curves of the ⁴G_5/2 level of Sm³⁺ ion were also been measured and examined. Additionally, the colour coordinates of the Commission International de I'Éclairage chromaticity were assessed. The titled glass were suitable for visible reddish orange luminescence devices based on all obtained parameters.     

TLD characteristic of glass,feldspathic and lithium disilicate ceramics

Thermoluminescence (TL) emission of dental ceramics could be potentially used for retrospective dosimetry purposes as this allows a quick and reliable dose assessment in case of nuclear accident or bad use of a nuclear attack. This paper reports on the chemical and luminescence characterization of glass, feldspathic and lithium disilicate glass ceramic (LS₂). Swedish and Turkish dental ceramics supplied by Vivadent Ivoclar considering: (i) the dose response in the range 10 Gy to 6.9 kGy which displays a linear dose?response at low dose values up to 36 Gy (glass and feldspathic ceramics) and shows sublinear behavior from 12 Gy to 6 kGy (lithium disilicate glass ceramics), (ii) a reproducibility of the TL signal in which the area under the glow curve increased about 25% after 10 cycles for glass and lithium disilicate ceramics and increased about 30% after seven cycles for feldspathic ceramics, (iii) stability of the luminescence emission with the elapsed time and (iv) effect of the heating rate. Glass, lithium disilicate and feldspathic ceramics display a complex UV‐blue glow emission that can be respectively fitted to five and four groups of components assuming first‐order kinetics behavior.     

Material Flows and Energy Analysis of Glass Containers Discarded in New Jersey,USA

The use of glass cullet (crushed recycled glass containers) as aggregate in construction projects and landfills has increased rapidly even though the use of cullet as feedstock in new glass container and fiberglass production is energetically more sound. The effect of increased use of cullet as aggregate has not yet been thoroughly assessed. The objectives of this study were to model and quantify glass container flows across New Jersey and the associated life cycle energy consumption, and then compare life cycle energy consumption for two different recycling scenarios and three different end‐use/disposal scenarios. The results of a material flow analysis showed that in 2008 only about 11% of the glass containers consumed in New Jersey were used as glass container or fiberglass feedstock, while five times more were used as construction aggregate. However, a lower system energy requirement can be achieved by increased use of cullet as container feedstock compared to construction aggregate, even when the cullet is transported 1,600 miles to a glass container manufacturer. Based on the uncertainty analysis, there is about an 80% probability for the scenario with increased use as container feedstock to have a lower system energy requirement when compared with all other scenarios. To achieve increased use of cullet as glass container feedstock in New Jersey, the quality of the cullet must be improved.     

A simple method of DNA extraction from whole tissues and blood using glass powder for detection of transgenic animals by PCR

A very simple and reliable method to extract DNA directly from mouse tail, rabbit ear and blood is described. Tissue was homogenized in a solution of NaI and the DNA was extracted using glass powder. The extracted DNA was obtained in sufficient quantity and purity to allow direct detection of transgene by PCR.     

Properties of pullulan-based blend films as affected by alginate content and relative humidity

Pullulan-sodium alginate blend films were prepared and characterized as a function of water activity (a_w). At low a_w, the incorporation of alginate into pullulan film increased the tensile strength and elastic modulus, but decreased the elongation at break of the composite films; the opposite trends were observed at elevated a_w. Above 0.43 a_w, water exerted a typical plasticization effect upon the biopolymer blends. As a_w increased from 0.23 to 0.43, an anti-plasticization effect was observed as tensile strength and elastic modulus increased. The glass transition temperature of all samples decreased substantially as aw increased from 0.23 to 0.84 due to the plasticization effect of water. Within this a_w range, one transition temperature was observed for all film specimens. The stretching vibration band of O-H was investigated using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to identify the various species of water interacting with the polysaccharide films.     

Thermoluminescence characteristics of lithium borosilicate glass doped with Sm2O3

Lithium borosilicate glass composite (SiO₂–Li₂CO₃–H₃BO₃) doped with various concentrations of Sm₂O₃ (0–0.7 mole %) was prepared using the melt quenching method. The investigated thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of the prepared system revealed that the highest TL response was obtained for this glass composite at 0.05 mol% Sm₂O₃. In this study, the 0.05 mol% Sm₂O₃‐doped lithium borosilicate glass composite was subjected to detailed dosimetric investigation in terms of its annealing condition, dose–response, and minimum detectable dose. The reproducibility of the response, thermal characteristics, and optical fading were also studied. The obtained results showed that the prepared glass composite had a linear dose–response over the wide gamma dose range 2Gy to 2 kGy, as well as reasonable thermal fading and excellent reproducibility. These attributes render the composite under investigation promising for utilization in radiation detection.     

海底玄武岩玻璃中蚀变微结构:探索海洋深地生物圈的新材料

玄武岩玻璃中的生物蚀变微结构为微生物摄取玄武岩玻璃中营养成分,通过新陈代谢产生有机酸溶解玄武岩玻璃而形成的微米级孔洞或钻穴.生物蚀变微结构在现代海洋洋壳及代表古老洋壳残片的蛇绿岩和绿岩带中广泛存在.研究玄武岩玻璃中蚀变微结构的形态特征、形成机制及其时空分布,不仅对探索地球早期生命起源和演化具有重要启示意义,也为研究海洋...