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Environmental pH (environmental + ph)
Selected AbstractsEstimation of the soil,water partition coefficient normalized to organic carbon for ionizable organic chemicals,ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2008Antonio Franco Abstract The sorption of organic electrolytes to soil was investigated. A dataset consisting of 164 electrolytes, composed of 93 acids, 65 bases, and six amphoters, was collected from literature and databases. The partition coefficient log KOW of the neutral molecule and the dissociation constant pKa were calculated by the software ACD/Labs®. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation was applied to calculate dissociation. Regressions were developed to predict separately for the neutral and the ionic molecule species the distribution coefficient (Kd) normalized to organic carbon (KOC) from log KOW and pKa. The log KOC of strong acids (pKa < 4) was not correlated to these parameters. The regressions derived for weak acids and bases (undissociated at environmental pH) were similar. The highest sorption was found for strong bases (pKa > 7.5), probably due to electrical interactions. Nonetheless, their log KOC was highly correlated to log KOW. For bases, a nonlinear regression was developed, too. The new regression equations are applicable in the whole pKa range of acids, bases, and amphoters and are useful in particular for relatively strong bases and amphoters, for which no predictive methods specifically have been developed so far. [source] Ambient pH controls the expression of endopolygalacturonase genes in the necrotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorumFEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 2 2003Pascale Cotton Abstract In the necrotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, secretion of polygalacturonases (PGs) and decrease of the environmental pH via oxalic acid production are considered as the main pathogenicity determinants. In order to evaluate the relationship between these two aspects of the infection process, we analyzed the expression of the endoPG-encoding genes pg1,3. Transcription of pg1,3 was not carbon regulated but was strictly controlled by pH and highly favored in a narrow range of acidic pH. During plant infection, a pH gradient was established in relation to oxalic acid secretion. Transcripts of pg1,3 were localized to the zone of colonization of healthy tissues while transcripts of genes encoding other lytic enzymes were restricted to the more acidic zones of the infected tissues. Our results show that progressive acidification of the ambient medium by the fungus is a major strategy for the sequential expression of pathogenicity factors. [source] Integrated Multifunctional Nanosystems for Medical Diagnosis and TreatmentADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009*Article first published online: 9 OCT 200, Donglu Shi Abstract This article provides an overview on the development of integrated multifunctional nanosystems for medical diagnosis and treatment. In particular, a novel system is developed specifically for achieving simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Critical issues are addressed on the architecture and assembly of nanocomponents based on medical requirements: targeted in vivo imaging, controlled drug release, localized hyperthermia, and toxicity. Nanotube-based carriers are summarized with surface functionalized properties. Other types of nanocarriers are also included such as super paramagnetic composite nanospheres and biodegradable hydroxylapatite nanoparticles. In addition, polymeric-based nanosystems are introduced with several novel features: they can be bio-dissolved due to environmental pH and temperature fluctuations. The nanocarriers are surface tailored with key functionalities: surface antibodies for cell targeting, anti-cancer drug loading, and magnetic nanoparticles for both hyperthermia and MRI. Future requirements, aims, and trends in the development of multifunctional nanosystems, particularly with intelligent functionalities for fundamental studies, are also provided. [source] Artificial DNA Nano-Spring Powered by ProtonsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 25 2010Chunyan Wang A novel multifunctional, proton-fueled DNA nano-spring has been constructed. By incorporation of the G-quadruplex/i-motif sequence into the assembly, the nanodevice can perform spring-like motions in response to changes in the environmental pH without permanent deformation. Nanosized objects/functional groups could be assembled/disassembled into this system in an addressable, contractile, and reversible manner. [source] Layer-by-Layer Hydrogen-Bonded Polymer Films: From Fundamentals to ApplicationsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 30 2009Eugenia Kharlampieva Abstract Recent years have seen increasing interest in the construction of nanoscopically layered materials involving aqueous-based sequential assembly of polymers on solid substrates. In the booming research area of layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of oppositely charged polymers, self-assembly driven by hydrogen bond formation emerges as a powerful technique. Hydrogen-bonded (HB) LbL materials open new opportunities for LbL films, which are more difficult to produce than their electrostatically assembled counterparts. Specifically, the new properties associated with HB assembly include: 1) the ease of producing films responsive to environmental pH at mild pH values, 2) numerous possibilities for converting HB films into single- or two-component ultrathin hydrogel materials, and 3) the inclusion of polymers with low glass transition temperatures (e.g., poly(ethylene oxide)) within ultrathin films. These properties can lead to new applications for HB LbL films, such as pH- and/or temperature-responsive drug delivery systems, materials with tunable mechanical properties, release films dissolvable under physiological conditions, and proton-exchange membranes for fuel cells. In this report, we discuss the recent developments in the synthesis of LbL materials based on HB assembly, the study of their structure,property relationships, and the prospective applications of HB LbL constructs in biotechnology and biomedicine. [source] Heterofermentative pattern and exopolysaccharide production by Lactobacillus helveticus ATCC 15807 in response to environmental pHJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2001M.I. Torino Aims: The objective of this work was to evaluate the fermentation pattern of and the exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by Lactobacillus helveticus ATCC 15807 in milk batch cultures under controlled pH (4·5, 5·0 and 6·2). Methods and Results: EPS concentration was estimated by the phenol/sulphuric acid method and the chemical composition of purified EPS by HPLC. Fermentation products and residual sugars were determined by HPLC and enzymatic methods. The micro-organism shifted from a homofermentative to a heterofermentative pattern, producing acetate (9·5 and 5·8 mmol l,1) at pH 5·0 and 6·2, respectively, and acetate (7·1 mmol l,1) plus succinate (1·2 mmol l,1) at pH 4·5. At pH 5·0 and 6·2, acetate derived from citrate while at pH 4·5 it came from both citrate and pyruvate splitting. The EPS has a MW of 105,106 and contains phosphate (81% in average), rhamnose (traces), and glucose and galactose in a ratio of 1 : 1 (pH 6·2) and 2 : 1 (pH 4·5 and 5·0). The highest production (549 mg l,1) corresponded to pH 5·0 and the lowest (49 mg l,1) to pH 6·2. Conclusions: The heterofermentative pattern of Lact. helveticus ATCC 15807 was linked to alternative pyruvate pathways and/or citrate metabolism according to the environmental pH. The EPS production was improved under low environmental pH conditions. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work provides relevant information of the effect of pH on the metabolism of citrate and EPS production by Lact. helveticus. It may contribute to improve technological aspects of ropy and citrate-utilizing lactic acid bacteria. [source] Mechanical and Chemical Analysis of Gelatin-Based Hydrogel DegradationMACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 15 2003Gabriel J. Martínez-Díaz Abstract The interrelated effect of environmental pH and temperature, gelatin backbone modification and content on the tensile and degradative property of interpenetrating networks (IPNs) containing gelatin and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGdA) was examined. Either increasing the PEGdA content or modifying the gelatin backbone with PEG-monoacetate ester and/or polyanions decreased the IPN elasticity at ambient room temperature (rt). Under an aqueous environment of varying pH levels and elevated temperature, the degradation of IPN tensile properties was further accelerated. IPNs showed an enhanced elasticity and strength when compared to glutaraldehyde-fixed gelatin hydrogels. Under an aqueous condition, IPNs showed a wider range of degradation products than hydrogels cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, as characterized with gel permeation chromatography. The nature of IPN degradation products was independent of the type of gelatin backbone modification. The presence of loaded drug, chlorohexidine digluconate, which was found to interact with PEG-monoacetate esters of the modified gelatin backbone, resulted in unique degradation products. The tensile and chemical degradation of IPNs is a complex interrelationship of the environmental condition, time, and material modification. Stress-strain curves of some IPNs studied here. [source] pH-induced on,off switching of polycarbonate track-etched membranes by plasma-induced surface graftingPOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 10 2010Chunyan Li Abstract Surface functionalization of the plasma-pretreated polycarbonate (PC) track-etched membranes via plasma-induced thermally graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AAc) was carried out. The resulting PC membranes with grafted AAc side chains were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The morphology of the PC membranes was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the grafted PAAc polymers were formed uniformly inside the pores throughout the entire membrane thickness. With increase in the pore-filling ratio, the pore diameters of PAAc-grafted membranes became smaller. The PC-g-PAAc membranes exhibit rapid and reversible response of the flux to the environmental pH as pH is switched between 3 and 9. Between pH 3.5 and 5.5, the membranes demonstrate a pH-valve function as the carboxyl group changes from neutral to charged with a corresponding variation in chain configuration. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||