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Low Molecular Weight (low + molecular_weight)
Terms modified by Low Molecular Weight Selected AbstractsRetinoic acid, a regeneration-inducing moleculeDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2003Malcolm Maden Abstract Retinoic acid (RA) is the biologically active metabolite of vitamin A. It is a low molecular weight, lipophilic molecule that acts on the nucleus to induce gene transcription. In amphibians and mammals, it induces the regeneration of several tissues and organs and these examples are reviewed here. RA induces the "super-regeneration" of organs that can already regenerate such as the urodele amphibian limb by respecifying positional information in the limb. In organs that cannot normally regenerate such as the adult mammalian lung, RA induces the complete regeneration of alveoli that have been destroyed by various noxious treatments. In the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), which is another tissue that cannot regenerate, RA does not induce neurite outgrowth as it does in the embryonic CNS, because one of the retinoic acid receptors, RAR,2, is not up-regulated. When RAR,2 is transfected into the adult spinal cord in vitro, then neurite outgrowth is stimulated. In all these cases, RA is required for the development of the organ, in the first place suggesting that the same gene pathways are likely to be used for both development and regeneration. This suggestion, therefore, might serve as a strategy for identifying potential tissue or organ targets that have the capacity to be stimulated to regenerate. Developmental Dynamics 226:237,244, 2003.© 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Murder by poisoning: successful analytical investigations of spectacular cases in AustriaDRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2009Walter Vycudilik Abstract To prove murder by poisoning requires the application of analytical toxicology to detect the fatal substance and clear up the cause of death. Improvements in the development of mass spectrometry in combination with high-resolution chromatographic methods are steadily enhancing detection and identification power but making use of these advances relies on proper sample preparation as well as on knowledge about the chemical nature of the substances and their bio-transformation products. This review gives examples of case reports with successful analytical investigations of murder by poisoning in spectacular Austrian cases involving low molecular weight. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Biomarker discovery in breast cancer serum using 2-D differential gel electrophoresis/ MALDI-TOF/TOF and data validation by routine clinical assaysELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 8 2006Hong-Lei Huang Abstract In the present study, we used 2-D differential gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) and MS to screen biomarker candidates in serum samples obtained from 39,patients with breast cancer and 35,controls. First, we pooled the serum samples matched with age and menopausal status. Then, we depleted the two most abundant proteins albumin and IgG by immunoaffinity chromatography under partly denaturing conditions in order to enrich low-abundance proteins and proteins with low molecular weight. Concentrated and desalted samples were labeled with three different CyDyes including one internal standard, pooled from all the samples, and separated with 2-D DIGE in triplicate experiments. Biological variations of the protein expression level were analyzed with DeCyder software and evaluated for reproducibility and statistical significance. The profile of differentially expressed protein spots between patients and controls revealed proapolipoprotein A-I, transferrin, and hemoglobin as up-regulated and three spots, apolipoprotein,A-I, apolipoprotein,C-III, and haptoglobin,,2 as down-regulated in patients. Finally, routine clinical immunochemical reactions were used to validate selected candidate biomarkers by quantitative determination of specific proteins in all individual serum samples. The serum level of transferrin correlated well with the 2-D-DIGE results. However, the serum levels of apolipoprotein A-I and haptoglobin could not be detected with the clinical routine diagnostic tests. This demonstrated an advantage 2-D DIGE still has over other techniques. 2-D DIGE can distinguish between isoforms of proteins, where the overall immunochemical quantification does fail due to a lack of isoform-special antibodies. [source] Identification of Low Molecular Weight Diapause-Associated Proteins of Two-Spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticaeENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2005JUNG Duck-Oung ABSTRACT Proteins in whole bodies of two-spotted spider mites, Tetranchus urticae, were compared between non-diapause and diapause conditions using one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis. At one-dimensional analysis diapausing mites synthesized several unique proteins that are higher in their quantity than non-diapausing ones. Overall protein numbers in two-dimensional gel show that diapause mites expressed fewer proteins than non-diapausing ones. However, 25 proteins that have higher quantity in diapause were selected at the range of low molecular weight (5-20 kDa). Among them 13 proteins were only present in diapause mites. Our results thus indicate some proteins uniquely expressed during diapause and may have specifie roles during long overwintering period. [source] Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) trunk phloem necrosis: aetiological investigations failed to confirm any biotic causal agentFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2007F. Pellegrin Summary Trunk phloem necrosis (TPN) is currently a main constraint in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations. The apparent spread of the disease, from tree to tree along the planting line, strongly supported the implication of a pathogen that could be transmitted mechanically via the tapping knife. In order to detect a causal agent of the disease, studies focusing on characterization of the known mechanically transmitted pathogens (e.g. viroids, cryptic viruses or phytoplasma) were initiated. RNA strands of low molecular weight (200,400 and >500 bp) displaying structural similarities with viroids and viral dsRNAs were observed in various tested samples. However, attempts to show the potential role of these RNA molecules in the spread of the disease failed. First of all, there was no significant or reproducible correlation between the health status of the rubber trees sampled and these RNA molecules. Moreover, no sequence homology with known pathogens could be found when randomly amplified cDNA fragments isolated from trees presenting the disease symptoms were sequenced. In conclusion, the aetiological investigations, in order to show the presence of a pathogen responsible of the TPN disease, were non-conclusive, which tends to disprove the hypothesis of a biotic causal agent. [source] Lithium-Catalyzed Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane within Mesoporous Carbon Framework for Chemical Hydrogen StorageADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 2 2009Li Li Abstract Ammonia borane (AB) has attracted tremendous interest for on-board hydrogen storage due to its low molecular weight and high gravimetric hydrogen capacity below a moderate temperature. However, the slow kinetics, irreversibility, and formation of volatile materials (trace borazine and ammonia) limit its practical application. In this paper, a new catalytic strategy involved lithium (Li) catalysis and nanostructure confinement in mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) for the thermal decomposition of AB is developed. AB loaded on the 5% Li/CMK-3 framework releases ,7,wt % of hydrogen at a very low temperature (around 60,°C) and entirely suppresses borazine and ammonia emissions that are harmful for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The possible mechanism for enhanced hydrogen release via catalyzed thermal decomposition of AB is discussed. [source] Testing and improving experimental parameters for the use of low molecular weight targets in array-CGH experiments,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 11 2006Marianne Stef Abstract Array,comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) has evolved as a useful technique for the detection and characterization of deletions, and, to a lesser extent, of duplications. The resolution of the technique is dictated by the genomic distance between targets spotted on the microarray, and by the targets' sizes. The use of region-specific, high-resolution microarrays is a specific goal when studying regions that are prone to rearrangements, such as those involved in deletion syndromes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the best experimental conditions to be used for array-CGH analysis using low molecular weight (LMW) targets. The parameters tested were: the target concentration, the way LMW targets are prepared (either as linearized plasmids or as purified PCR products), and the way the targets are attached to the array-CGH slide (in a random fashion on amino-silane coated slides, or by one amino-modified end on epoxysilane-coated slides). As a test case, we constructed a microarray harboring LMW targets located in the CREBBP gene, mutations of which cause the Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS). From 10 to 15% of RTS patients have a CREBBP deletion. We showed that aminosilane- and epoxysilane-coated slides were equally efficient with targets above 1,000,bp in size. On the other hand, with the smallest targets, especially those below 500,bp, epoxysilane-coated slides were superior to aminosilane-coated slides, which did not allow deletion detection. Use of the high resolution array allowed us to map intragenic breakpoints with precision and to identify a very small deletion and a duplication that were not detected by the currently available techniques for finding CREBBP deletions. Hum Mutat 27(11), 1143,1150, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Novel Thiophene-Thiazolothiazole Copolymers for Organic Field-Effect Transistors,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 23 2007I. Osaka A semiconducting polymer bearing the thiazolothiazole moiety in the polythiophene backbone (see figure) is synthesized. The polymer is found to have small bandgap and large ionization potential. Despite the low molecular weight, the polymer exhibited a high field-effect mobility after annealing. A high on/off ratio suggests the polymer possesses high stability against oxygen doping. The polymer device also showed good environmental stability. [source] Identification of four low molecular and water-soluble proteins from grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seedsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Ting Zhou Summary Profiles of soluble proteins isolated from mature seeds of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) pomace were studied using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI,TOF,MS). Two-dimensional gels stained with Coomassie brilliant blue revealed more than fifty protein spots. Four abundant protein spots showing low molecular weight (Mr) and wide isoelectric point (pI) were analysed by MALDI,TOF,MS, resulting in their identification. Taken together, these results suggest that identified proteins may be linked to seed development and metabolism, but more instructive is that they have some potential functions for future food application. These results provide some insights into conversion of grape processing wastes into useful products or even as raw material for other industries. [source] Inhibition of endive (Cichorium endivia L.) polyphenoloxidase by a Carica papaya latex preparationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2001David De Rigal When endive polyphenoloxidase (PPO) was incubated with a crude papaya latex extract, it rapidly lost its activity. Inactivation was ascribed to thermostable nonenzymatic factors of low molecular weight. These factors were partially purified by a two step protocol including gel filtration chromatography on Biogel P2 and ion exchange chromatography using DEAE Sephadex A25. The PPO-inactivation rate was first order, when either inactivating agent or proton concentration was evaluated. Inactivation could be partially reversed by CuSO4, which suggested that the inactivating factor(s) bound to the copper site of the enzyme. On a more rapid time scale than inactivation, papaya latex extract acted also as a weak noncompetitive PPO inhibitor. [source] Studies on the condensation of depolymerized chitosans with DNA for preparing chitosan-DNA nanoparticles for gene delivery applicationsJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009Viola B. Morris Abstract High molecular weight chitosan (CS) was depolymerized by oxidative degradation with NaNO2 at room temperature to get 11 samples of CS derivatives of varying molecular weights with a view to assessing their effective molecular weight range for gene delivery applications. Viscosity studies indicated that the molecular weight of the depolymerized CS was proportional to the CS/NaNO2 ratio. The condensation behavior of DNA/CS complexes at various charge ratios was studied using UV spectroscopy, FTIR, CD, SEM, and AFM. The results indicated that CSs having very low molecular weights and high charge density exhibited strong binding affinity to DNA compared to high molecular weight CSs. However, the very low molecular weight (1.9,7.7 kDa) CSs were found to form aggregates easily even at very low charge ratios. On the other hand, CSs having medium molecular weight (49,51 kDa) and high degree of deacetylation (DD) gave stable uniform-sized nanoparticles. Biological studies carried out with the spherical nano-sized polyplexes formed between CS of 50 kDa (DD of 94%) and pEGFP plasmid DNA at N/P ratio of 5.0 showed excellent gene transfection efficiency at pH 6.5 in HeLa cells without cytotoxicity indicating their potential as genedelivery carriers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009 [source] Evaluation of Nondigested Carbohydrates in Hydroxypropylated Tapioca StarchJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2010M. Tachibe ABSTRACT:,In vitro,and,in vivo,digestibilities of hydroxypropyl starch were investigated to determine an appropriate nondigested carbohydrate assaying method for hydroxypropyl starch. Hydroxypropyl tapioca starch (HPTS), with a 0.338 degree of substitution, was used as a hydroxypropyl starch source. Practically all nondigested carbohydrate in HPTS was low molecular weight and was not precipitated in 78% ethanol. The contents of nondigested carbohydrate in HPTS and in effluents of ileorectomized rats fed the HPTS diet obtained by the AOAC 2001.03 (enzyme-gravimetric-HPLC method) were almost the same, 56% and 59%, respectively. The recovery of hydroxypropyl groups from ileorectomy effluents was 98%. The AOAC 2001.03 method is suggested to be appropriate in determining the content of nondigested carbohydrates in hydroxypropyl starch. [source] Evaluation of a new matrix-free laser desorption/ionization method through statistic studies: comparison of the DIAMS (desorption/ionization on self-assembled monolayer surface) method with the MALDI and TGFA-LDI techniquesJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 12 2008Matthieu Bounichou Abstract This work demonstrates that the desorption/ionization on self-assembled monolayer surface (DIAMS) mass spectrometry, a recent matrix-free laser desorption/ionization (LDI) method based on an organic target plate, is as statistically repeatable and reproducible as matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and thin gold film-assisted laser desorption/ionization (TGFA-LDI) mass spectrometries. On lipophilic DIAMS of target plates with a mixture of glycerides, repeatability/reproducibility has been estimated at 15 and 30% and the relative detection limit has been evaluated at 0.3 and 3 pmol, with and without NaI respectively. Salicylic acid and its d6 -isomer analysis confirm the applicability of the DIAMS method in the detection of compounds of low molecular weight. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Poster Sessions AP13: Novel Techniques and TechnologiesJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 2002J. K. Yao Studies of the antioxidant defense system and the monoamine metabolic pathways are often complicated by cumbersome analytical methods, which require separate and multistep extraction and chemical reaction procedures. Thus, measurements of multiple parameters are limited in relatively small biological samples. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a Coulometric Multi-Electrode Array System (CMEAS) provides us a convenient and most sensitive tool to measure low molecular weight, redox-active compounds in biological sample. The deproteinized sample was analyzed on a HPLC coupled with a 16-channel CMEAS, which incremented from 60 to 960 mV in 60 mV steps. Each sample was run on a single column (Meta-250, 4.6 × 250 mm) under a 150-minute complex gradient that ranged from 0% B (A: 1.1% pentane sulfonic acid) to 20% B (B: 0.1 m lithium acetate in mixture of methanol, acetonenitrile and isopropanol), with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. We have developed an automated procedure to simultaneously measure various antioxidant, oxidative stress marker, and monoamine metabolites in a single column with binary gradient. No other chemical reactions are necessary. In order to reduce the running time and yet achieve a reproducible retention time by the autosampler injection, our gradient elution profile was modified to produce a shorter equilibration time and to compensate for the initial contamination of mobile phase B following the first injection. Without the use of two columns in series and peak suppresser/gradient mixer, we have simplified the previously published method to measure over 20 different antioxidants, oxidative stress markers and monoamine metabolites simultaneously in biological samples. [source] Mice with the deleted neurofilament of low molecular weight (Nefl) gene: 2.JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2005Effects on motor functions, spatial orientation Abstract Mice with a null mutation of the Nefl gene were compared with normal controls in tests of motor activity, equilibrium, and spatial orientation. Despite a normal capacity to ambulate, NFL ,/, mice had fewer rears in an open field, crossed fewer segments on stationary beams, and fell more frequently when suspended on a horizontal bar. In addition, the distance swum before reaching the escape platform was greater in NFL ,/, mice than in controls during acquisition of place learning in the Morris water maze at the start of training. The motor impairments were linearly correlated with increased cytochrome oxidase activity seen in cerebellum and brainstem. These results indicate that, as early as 6 months, depletion of the NFL protein is sufficient to cause mild sensorimotor dysfunctions and spatial deficits, but without overt signs of paresis. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Hydrodynamic Size and Electrophoretic Mobility of Poly(styrene sulfonate) versus Molecular Weight,MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 19-20 2007Ute Böhme Abstract The effective charge of a macromolecule in solution is significantly smaller than the nominal charge, derived form the number of charged groups and the degree of dissociation. It is reduced by counterion condensation, shielding a considerable fraction of the macromolecules charge. As an example the influence of the molecular weight on hydrodynamic size and electrophoretic mobility of poly(styrene sulfonate) has been investigated. While from diffusion the hydrodynamic size is inferred, in a combination with electrophoresis NMR the effective charge is calculated. At low molecular weight the effective charge is equal to the nominal charge, in an intermediate range the effective charge is that predicted from counterion condensation theory, while at higher molecular weights it becomes considerably smaller. [source] An analytical survey of the polyphenols of seeds of varieties of grape (Vitis vinifera) cultivated in Greece: implications for exploitation as a source of value-added phytochemicalsPHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 1 2005Ramila Guendez Abstract Seed samples from 12 white and 25 red international and Hellenic native grape varieties (Vitis vinifera) were screened for their polyphenolic composition. The polyphenols determined were mainly of low molecular weight, including gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate and the procyanidins B1 and B2. Average values of total content for white and red varieties (376 and 388 mg/100 g seeds, respectively) were very similar. Comparable results were observed with respect to the individual polyphenol content with seeds from red varieties being, in general, slightly richer. The predominant ,avanol monomer in white and red varieties was catechin (which accounted for 50.5 and 49.3%, respectively, of the total content), whilst gallic acid and epigallocatechin were the constituents showing the lowest content, respectively. The data obtained are discussed with regard to the exploitation of grape seeds as a low-cost source of value-added phytochemicals. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Proteomics and the lung: Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluidPROTEOMICS - CLINICAL APPLICATIONS, Issue 9 2009Praveen Govender Abstract Our knowledge of the complex bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) proteome has increased significantly over the last decade; but still, there remain many aspects of the BALF proteome that need characterization. Current proteomic methodologies resolve proteins within limited dynamic ranges: thereby, being limited in their ability to examine important areas of the BALF proteome, such as low molecular weight, low abundance proteins. To ensure proper coverage of these proteins in the BALF proteome, a refined 2-DE standard operation protocol is presented, highlighting important issues in sample collection, sample preparation, and 2-D DIGE analysis. It is hoped that this will help advance the field of BALF proteomics, BALFomics, which has lagged behind similar biofluids such as plasma and serum. [source] Analysis of electrochemical degradation products of sulphonated azo dyes using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometryRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 19 2006Dana Van, rková Electrochemical treatment of wastewaters containing azo dyes in the textile industry is a promising approach for their degradation. The monitoring of the course of the decomposition of azo dyes in wastewaters is essential due to the environmental impact of their degradation products. In this work, aqueous solutions of a simple azo dye with a low molecular weight (C.I. Acid Yellow 9) and more complex commercial dye (C.I. Reactive Black 5) were electrochemically treated in a laboratory-scale electrolytic cell in sodium chloride or ammonium acetate as supporting electrolytes. Ion-pairing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with negative-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is applied for the identification of electrochemical degradation products. In addition to simple inorganic salts, the formation of aromatic degradation products obtained due to the cleavage of azo bonds and further degradation reactions is shown, as well as chlorination where sodium chloride is the supporting electrolyte. Degradation mechanisms are suggested for the treatment with sodium chloride as the supporting electrolyte. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The bridged cyclopentadienyl indenyl (fluorenyl) zirconocene complexes for polyethylene macromonomersAPPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2010Wenzhong Huang Abstract The synthesis of long-chain branched polyethylene includes the generation of vinyl-terminated polyethylene macromonomers and the copolymerization of these macromonomers with ethylene. Four new bridged cyclopentadienyl indenyl (fluorenyl) zirconocene complexes 1a,b, 2a,b were prepared and showed high activities for ethylene homopolymerization upon the activation of methylaluminoxane. The steric bulk of bridged substituent has a profound effect on the catalytic activity as well as on the molecular weight of resulting polyethylene. Complex 1b showed the highest activity of up to 5.32 × 106 g PE/(mol Zr h) for ethylene homopolymerization at 70 °C, which was higher than that of Cp2ZrCl2. The polyethylenes produced with complexes 1a,d/MAO are mostly vinyl-terminated, possess low molecular weight and fit as macromonomers. The (p -MePh)2C-bridged cyclopentadienyl indenyl zirconocene complex 1a could produce polyethylene macromonomer with selectivity for the vinyl-terminal as high as 94.9%. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Mercapto-1,3-benzothiazole Derivatives with Potential Antimicrobial ActivityARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE, Issue 10 2009Carlo Franchini Abstract The enhancement of bacterial resistance of pathogens to currently available antibiotics constitutes a serious public health threat. So, intensive efforts are underway worldwide to develop new antimicrobial agents. To identify compounds with a potent antimicrobial profile, we designed and synthesized low molecular weight 2-mercaptobenzothiazole derivatives 2a,2l and 3a,3l. Both series were screened for in-vitro antibacterial activity against the representative panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains. The biological screening identified compounds 2e and 2l as the most active ones showing an interesting antibacterial activity with MIC values of 3.12 ,g/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and 25 ,g/mL against Escherichia coli, respectively. The replacement of the S-H by the S-Bn moiety resulted in considerable loss of the antibacterial action of the 3a,3l series. The antibiotic action of compounds 2e and 2l was also investigated by testing their activity against some clinical isolates with different antimicrobial resistance profile. Moreover, the involvement of the NorA efflux pump in the antibacterial activity of our molecules was evaluated. Finally, in this paper, we also describe the cytotoxic activity of the most interesting compounds by MTS assay against HeLa and MRC-5 cell lines. [source] Mutation of conserved aspartates affect maturation of presenilin 1 and presenilin 2 complexesACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2000G. Yu Presenilin (PS1 and PS2) holoproteins are transiently incorporated into low molecular weight (MW) complexes. During subsequent incorporation into a higher MW complex, they undergo endoproteolysis to generate stable N- and C-terminal fragments (NTF/CTF). Mutation of either of two conserved aspartate residues in transmembrane domains inhibits both presenilin-endoproteolysis and the proteolytic processing of APP and Notch. We show that aspartate-mutant holoprotein presenilins are not incorporated into the high molecular weight, NTF/CTF-containing complexes. Aspartate-mutant presenilin holoproteins also preclude entry of endogenous wild-type PS1/PS2 into the high molecular weight complexes, but do not affect the incorporation of wild-type holoproteins into lower molecular weight holoprotein complexes. These data suggest that the loss-of-function aspartate-mutants cause altered PS complex maturation, and argue that the functional presenilin moieties are contained in the high molecular weight presenilin NTF/CTF-containing complexes. [source] Synthesis and physical properties of low-molecular-weight redistributed poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) for epoxy resinJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008Hann-Jang Hwang Abstract Low-molecular-weight poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) was prepared by the redistribution of regular PPO with 4,4,-isopropylidenediphenol (bisphenol A) with benzoyl peroxide as an initiator in toluene. The redistributed PPO was characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectra, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The redistributed PPO oligomers with terminal phenolic hydroxyl groups and low molecular weights (weight-average molecular weight = 800,4000) were used in the modification of a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A/4,4,-diaminodiphenylmethane network system. The curing behaviors were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of molecular weight and the amount of redistributed PPO oligomers incorporated into the network on the physical properties of the resulting systems were investigated. The thermal properties of the cured redistributed PPO/epoxy resins were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis, thermal mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and dielectric analysis. These cured redistributed PPO/epoxy resins exhibited lower dielectric constants, dissipation factors, coefficients of thermal expansion, and moisture absorptions than those of the control diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A based epoxy. The effects of the composition on the glass-transition temperature and thermal stability are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Studies on the condensation of depolymerized chitosans with DNA for preparing chitosan-DNA nanoparticles for gene delivery applicationsJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009Viola B. Morris Abstract High molecular weight chitosan (CS) was depolymerized by oxidative degradation with NaNO2 at room temperature to get 11 samples of CS derivatives of varying molecular weights with a view to assessing their effective molecular weight range for gene delivery applications. Viscosity studies indicated that the molecular weight of the depolymerized CS was proportional to the CS/NaNO2 ratio. The condensation behavior of DNA/CS complexes at various charge ratios was studied using UV spectroscopy, FTIR, CD, SEM, and AFM. The results indicated that CSs having very low molecular weights and high charge density exhibited strong binding affinity to DNA compared to high molecular weight CSs. However, the very low molecular weight (1.9,7.7 kDa) CSs were found to form aggregates easily even at very low charge ratios. On the other hand, CSs having medium molecular weight (49,51 kDa) and high degree of deacetylation (DD) gave stable uniform-sized nanoparticles. Biological studies carried out with the spherical nano-sized polyplexes formed between CS of 50 kDa (DD of 94%) and pEGFP plasmid DNA at N/P ratio of 5.0 showed excellent gene transfection efficiency at pH 6.5 in HeLa cells without cytotoxicity indicating their potential as genedelivery carriers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009 [source] Cyclic poly(pyridine ether)s by the polycondensation of 2,6-difluoropyridine with various diphenolsJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 20 2005Hans R. Kricheldorf Abstract The bistrimethylsilyl derivatives of six different diphenols were polycondensed with 2,6-difluoropyridine in N -methylpyrrolidone in the presence of K2CO3. On the basis of previous studies, the reaction conditions were optimized for almost quantitative conversions. The feed ratio was systematically varied to optimize the molecular weight. A 2 mol % excess of 2,6-difluoropyridine was needed to obtain maximum molecular weights. In the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectra of the optimized polyethers, only cycles were found (detectable up to 5000 Da). Obviously, the relatively low molecular weights obtained under optimized conditions resulted from a limitation of the chain growth by cyclization, indicating a high cyclization tendency for poly(pyridine ether)s. The size exclusion chromatography measurements not only proved low molecular weights but also demonstrated the existence of bimodal mass distributions and high polydispersities. Protonation of the poly(pyridine ether)s required strong acids such as methane or trifluoromethane sulfonic acid. The solubilities of the neutral and protonated polyethers derived from bisphenol A were studied in various solvents. The MALDI-TOF mass spectra proved that protonation at 20,25 °C did not cause cleavage of ether bonds. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4781,4789, 2005 [source] Cell wall polysaccharides of bush butter (Dacryodes edulis (G Don) HJ Lam) fruit pulp and their evolution during ripeningJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 8 2001Crépin Ella Missang Abstract Cell wall material was isolated as alcohol-insoluble solids (AIS) from bush butter endocarp tissue at different stages of ripeness. AIS were then extracted with 0.05,M CDTA followed by increasing concentrations of KOH (0.05, 1 and 4,M respectively). The chemical extractions solubilised a total of 51.6,60.6% of AIS, the yields of CDTA extracts accounting for approximately 9.6,12.2% of AIS. The extracts as well as the residues were analysed for their sugar composition and protein and starch contents. CDTA extracted the bulk of uronic acid in AIS, but the uronic acid content (after dialysis) of these extracts showed a significant decrease as the fruits ripened (from 439 to 252,mg,g,1 between the first and the last degree of ripeness). Analysis of the CDTA extracts by anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography showed a gradual appearance of new pectic populations at low degrees of methylation and low molecular weights, indicating that CDTA-soluble pectins are demethylated and depolymerised during ripening. The dilute alkali (0.05,M KOH) extracts were essentially composed of proteins in addition to a minor quantity of pectin. The 1,M KOH and principally 4,M KOH treatments led to the extraction of hemicelluloses, mainly xyloglucan-like and mannan-like polymers. These extracts also contained substantial amounts of protein and starch. No variation related to the degree of ripeness was visible in the sugar composition of the alkali extracts. The molecular weight distribution of the hemicelluloses did not change with the degree of ripeness. The final residues accounted for 21.4,27.3% of AIS and were mostly composed of glucose (827,908,mg,g,1). All these results suggested that only CDTA-soluble pectins were involved in bush butter fruit softening. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||