Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Medium pH (medium + ph)
Selected AbstractsVoltammetric Reduction of a 4-Nitroimidazole Derivative on a Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Glassy Carbon ElectrodeELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 13 2008P. Jara-Ulloa Abstract We report the electrochemical behavior of a 4-nitroimidazole derivative, 1-methyl-4-nitro-2-hydroxymethylimidazole (4-NImMeOH), on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). As dispersing agents, dimethylformamide (DMF) and water were used. The electrochemical response of the resulting electrodes was evaluated using linear sweep, cyclic and square-wave voltammetry (LSV, CV and SWV). Several parameters such as medium pH, nature and concentration of the CNTs dispersion and accumulation time were tested. The optimal conditions determined for obtain better response were: pH,2, dispersion concentration=4,mg/mL of CNT in water, accumulation time=7,min. The MWCNT-modified GCE exhibited attractive electrochemical properties producing enhanced currents with a significant reduction in the overpotential and good signal-to-noise characteristics, in comparison with the bare GCE. The modified electrode is highly repeatable for consecutive measurements, reaching a variation coefficient of 2.9% for ten consecutive runs. [source] Toxicity of lead in aqueous medium to Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2003Rajesh K. Sani Abstract The toxicity of Pb(II) to sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was studied using Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20 in a medium specifically designed to assess metal toxicity. The effects of Pb(II) toxicity were observed in terms of longer lag times, lower specific growth rates, and in some cases no measurable growth. With an increase in medium pH from 6 to 8, Pb(II) toxicity decreased. At all pH values, in the presence of Pb(II) concentrations ranging from 3 to 15 ,M, specific growth rates decreased and lag times increased. The minimum inhibiting concentration (MIC) of Pb(II) causing a complete inhibition in growth at pH 6 was 10 ,M, as compared to 15 ,M at pH 7.2 and 8. These MIC values are 40 times lower than previously reported for SRB. Results also show that with increases in initial cell protein concentration (inoculum size), soluble Pb(II) removal rates increased and the degree to which Pb(II) caused increased lag times was reduced. In the presence of Pb(II), in all cases in which D. desulfuricans grew (even after a 312-h lag time), the final cell protein concentration was equivalent to that of the Pb-free control. Live/dead staining, based on membrane integrity, indicated that while Pb(II) inhibited growth, Pb(II) did not cause a loss of D. desulfuricans membrane integrity. [source] In vitro characterization of Inocutis jamaicensis and experimental inoculation of Eucalyptus globulus standing treesFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2009S. Lupo Summary Lesions of variable size, associated with the hymenomycete Inocutis jamaicensis, a white-rot fungus, have been observed on the stems of Eucalyptus globulus trees in Uruguay. The aim of this study was to evaluate some ecophysiological characteristics of I. jamaicensis and assess its ability to colonize E. globulus trees of two different seed origins (Geeveston and Jeeralang) and the clone, 334-1-AR, obtained by micropropagation (ENCE, Spain). The growth of an I. jamaicensis isolate (MVHC11379) was evaluated at 25°C in a medium with a water potential of 0 (, = 0). The growth rate did not vary significantly with a growth medium pH of between 4 and 7. I. jamaicensis showed no growth at either 5 or 37°C at any pH or , tested. Weight loss of heartwood and sapwood of different plant provenances inoculated with I. jamaicensis under laboratory conditions was evaluated, and significant differences observed. Lignin-modifying enzyme activity was evaluated in culture medium with or without E. globulus sawdust as substrate or inducer. Laccase activity was observed with sawdust and manganese peroxidase activity with and without sawdust. Only slight activity of aryl-alcohol oxidase and lignin peroxidase was detected without sawdust. Experimental inoculation with I. jamaicensis of 3-year-old Geeveston and Jeeralang, and of 4-year-old 334-1-AR stems, resulted in successful fungal colonization of 56% of the 334-1-AR, 50% of Geeveston and 25% of Jeeralang trees. Only the heartwood was decayed. In 334-1-AR, the rotted wood was delimited by a reaction zone. Wood characteristics and the ability of I. jamaicensis to overcome the chemical reactions in the tree could partially explain differences in susceptibility to the fungus among provenances observed under natural and laboratory conditions. [source] Chemo- and Stereodivergent Preparation of Terminal Epoxides and Bromohydrins through One-Pot Biocatalysed Reactions: Access to Enantiopure Five- and Six-Membered N-HeterocyclesADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 10 2010Fabricio Abstract Different enantiopure terminal epoxides or bromohydrins have chemoselectively been synthesised in one-pot starting from the corresponding ,-bromo ketones through alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-catalysed processes adding an organic co-solvent and tuning appropriately the medium pH and the temperature. Thus, at neutral pH enantiopure bromohydrins were obtained while using basic conditions (pH,9.5,10) epoxides were isolated as the main product. Furthermore, by simple selection of the biocatalyst, chemo- and stereodivergent transformations were achieved to obtain, e.g., enantiopure prolinol or piperidin-3-ol. [source] Effect of culture conditions on lactic acid production of Tetragenococcus speciesJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2004T. Kobayashi Abstract Aims:, To investigate the effects of the salt concentration, incubation temperature and initial pH of the medium on the fermentative ability of the halophilic lactic acid bacteria, Tetragenococcus muriaticus and T. halophilus. Method and Results:, The growth, lactic acid production and pH reduction ability of five strains of T. muriaticus and T. halophilus in MRS broth medium under various culture conditions such as salt concentration (3, 7, 15 and 23% NaCl), temperature (20, 30 and 40°C), and initial medium pH (5·8, 6·5 and 7·5) were investigated. Those of T. halophilus were seriously affected by a high salinity (23% NaCl); in contrast, those of T. muriaticus were affected by a low initial pH (5·8). Conclusions:, The results indicate that high saline concentrations and low pH values have significant impact on the growth, lactic acid production and pH reduction ability of T. halophilus and T. muriaticus, respectively. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study appears to be important in biopreservation during the manufacture of fermented food products. Both T. muriaticus and T. halophilus may support each other in reducing pH in hypersaline or low pH environment. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the fermentation ability of T. muriaticus. [source] Employment of stressful conditions during culture production to enhance subsequent cold- and acid-tolerance of bifidobacteriaJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003J.E. Maus Abstract Aims: This study examined whether exposure of early stationary phase Bifidobacterium longum and B. lactis cells to various combinations of reduced temperature, reduced pH and starvation would enhance the cells' subsequent cold- and/or acid-tolerance. Methods and Results: Survival of B. longum in growth medium at 6°C significantly (P < 0·05) increased as a result of starving cells for 30 or 60 min without any simultaneous decrease in temperature or pH. Acid-tolerance of B. lactis (at pH 3·5 in synthetic gastric fluid) increased significantly when the growth medium pH was decreased from 6·0 to 5·2 and cells experienced 30 or 60 min of starvation. Enhanced B. lactis acid-tolerance persisted through 8,11 weeks of ,80°C storage in the pH 5·2 growth medium. Upon addition to milk during yogurt manufacture, these cells initially had enhanced acid-tolerance relative to untreated cells but untreated cells became equally acid-tolerant during the first 2·5 h of yogurt manufacture. Conclusions: The cold- and acid-tolerance of bifidobacteria vary widely, but may be significantly increased by application of sub-lethal stress to early stationary phase cells during culture production. Significance and Impact of the Study: The enhancement of B. lactis acid-tolerance observed in this study may be of potential importance in the production of effective ready-to-consume probiotic dietary supplements. [source] Metabolic Acidosis Stimulates RANKL RNA Expression in Bone Through a Cyclo-oxygenase-Dependent Mechanism,JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 7 2003Kevin K Frick Abstract Metabolic acidosis inhibits osteoblastic bone formation and stimulates osteoclastic resorption. To determine whether acidosis alters expression of RNA for the osteoclastic differentiation factor RANKL, mouse calvariae were incubated in neutral or physiologically acidic media. Acidosis resulted in a significant cyclo-oxygenase-dependent increase in RANKL RNA levels, which would be expected to induce the associated increase in bone resorption. Introduction: Metabolic acidosis increases net calcium efflux from bone, initially through physicochemical mechanisms and later through predominantly cell-mediated mechanisms. Acidosis decreases osteoblastic bone formation and increases osteoclastic resorption. The growth and maturation of osteoclasts, derived from hematopoietic precursors in the monocyte/macrophage lineage, are dependent on the interplay of a number of factors. Commitment of pre-osteoclasts to osteoclasts is induced by the interaction of the osteoclastic cell-surface receptor RANK with a ligand expressed by osteoblasts, RANKL. The RANK/RANKL interaction not only initiates a differentiation cascade that culminates in mature bone-resorbing osteoclasts but also increases osteoclastic resorptive capacity and survival. Methods: To test the hypothesis that metabolic acidosis increases expression of RANKL, we cultured neonatal mouse calvariae in acidic (initial medium pH ,7.1 and [HCO3,] ,11 mM) or neutral (initial medium pH ,7.5 and [HCO3,] ,25 mM) medium for 24 and 48 h. We determined the relative expression of RANKL RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitated the expression by Northern analysis. Results: In this model of metabolic acidosis, there was significantly increased expression of RANKL RNA at both 24 (2-fold) and 48 h (5-fold) compared with respective controls. Net calcium efflux from bone was also increased in acidic medium compared with control medium. At 48 h, net calcium efflux correlated directly with RANKL expression (r = 0.77, n = 15, p < 0.001). Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin blocked the acid-induced increase in RANKL RNA as well as the increased calcium efflux. Conclusions: Metabolic acidosis induces osteoblastic prostaglandin synthesis, followed by autocrine or paracrine induction of RANKL. This increase in RANKL would be expected to augment osteoclastic bone resorption and help explain the increase in cell-mediated net calcium efflux. [source] Thermogravimetric investigation of the hydration behaviour of hydrophilic matricesJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2010Lorena Segale Abstract This article proposes thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) as a useful method to investigate the hydration behaviour of hydrophilic matrix tablets containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) or a mixture of these two polymers and four drugs with different solubility. The hydration behaviour of matrix systems was studied as a function of the formulation composition and of the dissolution medium pH. TGA results suggest that the hydration of matrices containing HPMC is pH-independent and not affected by the characteristics of the loaded drug; this confirms HPMC as a good polymer to formulate controlled drug delivery systems. On the other hand, the performances of NaCMC matrix tablets are significantly affected by the medium pH and the hydration and swelling of this ionic polymer is influenced by the loaded drug. For systems containing the two polymers, HPMC plays a dominant role in the hydration/dissolution process at acidic pH, while at near neutral pH both the cellulose derivatives exert a significant influence on the hydration performance of systems. The results of this work show that TGA is able to give quantitative highlights on the hydration behaviour of polymeric materials; thus this technique could be a helpful tool to support conventional hydration/swelling/dissolution studies. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99: 2070,2079, 2010 [source] Capillary electrophoresis of intact basic proteins using noncovalently triple-layer coated capillariesJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 14 2009Rob Haselberg Abstract The usefulness of a noncovalent, positively charged capillary coating for the efficient analysis of intact basic proteins with CE was studied. Capillaries were coated by subsequent flushing with solutions of 10% w/v Polybrene (PB), 3% w/v dextran sulfate (DS), and again 10% w/v PB. Coating characterization studies showed that stable coatings could be produced which exhibited a pH-independent and highly reproducible EOF. The PB,DS,PB coating was evaluated with Tris phosphate BGEs of various pH using the four basic model proteins: ,-chymotrypsinogen A, ribonuclease A, cytochrome c, and lysozyme. Typical migration time RSDs for the proteins were less than 0.85%, and apparent plate numbers were above 125 000 using a capillary length of 40 cm. The high separation efficiency allowed detection of several minor impurities in the model proteins. Using a BGE of medium pH, the CE system with triple-layer coating appeared to be useful for the repeatable profiling of recombinant humanized mouse monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 showing a characteristic pattern of glycoforms. The CE system was also applied to the characterization of two llama antibodies, which were produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, revealing the presence of a side product in one of the antibodies. The high migration time stability allowed the reliable determination of antibody,antigen binding by monitoring migration time shifts. Finally, the feasibility of using the PB,DS,PB coated capillaries for CE with mass spectrometric detection was shown by the characterization of the impure llama antibody sample. [source] Dye-affinity hollow-fibres and their lysozyme adsorption,desorption characteristicsPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 10 2001Serap, enel Abstract Dye-affinity adsorption is increasingly used for protein separation. Hollow-fibres have advantages as adsorbents in comparison to conventional bead supports because they are not compressible and can eliminate internal diffusion limitations. The aim of this study was to explore in detail the performance of polyamide hollow-fibres to which Reactive Green HE-4BD was attached for adsorption of lysozyme. The hollow-fibre was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. These dye-carrying hollow-fibres (26.3,µmol,g,1) were used in the lysozyme adsorption,elution studies. The effect of initial concentration of lysozyme and medium pH on the adsorption efficiency of dye-attached hollow-fibres was studied in a batch system. The non-specific adsorption of lysozyme on the polyamide hollow-fibres was 1.8,mg,g,1. Reactive Green HE-4BD attachment significantly increased the lysozyme adsorption up to 41.1,mg,g,1. Langmuir adsorption model was found to be applicable in interpreting lead adsorption by Reactive Green HE-4BD attached hollow fibres. Significant amount of the adsorbed lysozyme (up to 95%) was eluted in 1,h in the elution medium containing 1.0,M NaSCN at pH 8.0. In order to determine the effects of adsorption conditions on possible conformational changes of lysozyme structure, fluorescence spectrophotometry was employed. We concluded that polyamide dye-affinity hollow-fibres can be applied for lysozyme adsorption without causing any significant conformational changes. Repeated adsorption,elution processes showed that these dye-attached hollow-fibres are suitable for lysozyme adsorption. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Simulation of pH-dependent edge strand rearrangement in human ,-2 microglobulinPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 1 2006Sheldon Park Abstract Amyloid fibrils formed from unrelated proteins often share morphological similarities, suggesting common biophysicalmechanisms for amyloidogenesis. Biochemical studies of human ,-2 microglobulin (,2M) have shown that its transition from a water-soluble protein to insoluble aggregates can be triggered by low pH. Additionally, biophysical measurements of ,2M using NMR have identified residues of the protein that participate in the formation of amyloid fibrils. The crystal structure of monomeric human ,2M determined at pH 5.7 shows that one of its edge ,-strands (strand D) adopts a conformation that differs from other structures of the same protein obtained at higher pH. This alternate ,-strand arrangement lacks a ,-bulge, which may facilitate protein aggregation through intermolecular ,-sheet association. To explore whether the pH change may yield the observed conformational difference, molecular dynamics simulations of ,2M were performed. The effects of pH were modeled by specifying the protonation states of Asp, Glu, and His, as well as the C terminus of the main chain. The bulged conformation of strand D is preferred at medium pH (pH 5,7), whereas at low pH (pH < 4) the straight conformation is observed. Therefore, low pH may stabilize the straight conformation of edge strand D and thus increase the amyloidogenicity of ,2M. [source] Modulation of gene expression by extracellular pH variations in human fibroblasts: A transcriptomic and proteomic studyPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 5 2003Maja A. Bumke Abstract Homeostasis of the intracellular ionic concentration, in particular that of hydrogen ions, is pivotal to the maintenance of cell function and viability. Nonetheless, pH fluctuations in both the intracellular and the extracellular compartments can occurr during development, in physiological processes and in disease. The influence of pH variations on gene expression has been studied in different model systems, but only for a limited number of genes. We have performed a broad range analysis of the patterns of gene expression in normal human dermal fibroblasts at two different pH values (in the presence and in the absence of serum), with the aim of getting a deeper insight into the regulation of the transcriptional program as a response to a pH change. Using the Affymetrix gene chip system, we found that the expression of 2068 genes (out of 12,565) was modulated by more than two-fold at 24, 48 or 72 h after the shift of the culture medium pH to a more acidic value, stanniocalcin 1 being a remarkable example of a strongly up-regulated gene. Genes displaying a modulated pattern of expression included, among others, cell cycle regulators (consistent with the observation that acidic pH abolishes the growth of fibroblasts in culture) and relevant extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Extracellular matrix protein 2, a protein with a restricted pattern of expression in adult human tissues, was found to be remarkably overexpressed as a consequence of serum starvation. Since ECM components, whose expression is controlled by pH, have been used as targets for biomolecular intervention, we have complemented the Affymetrix analysis with a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of proteins which are differentially secreted by fibroblasts at acidic or basic pH. Mass spectrometric analysis of more than 650 protein spots allowed the identification of 170 protein isoforms or fragments, belonging to 40 different proteins. Some proteins were only expressed at basic pH (including, for instance, tetranectin), while others (e.g., agrin) were only detectable at acidic pH. Some of the identified proteins may represent promising candidate targets for biomedical applications, e.g., for antibody-mediated vascular targeting strategies. [source] The Excited-State Chemistry of Phycocyanobilin: A Semiempirical StudyCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 7 2005Andreas H. Göller Dr. Abstract Based on previous time-resolved absorption studies, phycocyanobilin undergoes a photoreaction from an A - into a B - and C -form, with the latter two photoproducts showing absorption spectra red-shifted from A. To identify the molecular mechanism involved in the excited-state reactions, the structural origin of the red shift in the absorption spectra is investigated. Using semiempirical AM1 calculations that include configuration interaction by pair doubles excitation configuration interaction, the absorption spectra of different conformers as well as different protonation states were calculated. The results clearly indicate a pronounced red shift in the spectra of structures either protonated or deprotonated at the basic/acidic centres of the tetrapyrrole chromophore whereas, in contrast, conformational changes alone result in a blue shift. Furthermore, it is shown by quantum chemical calculations that the basicity of phycocyanobilin is much higher in the excited than in the ground state, with a decrease in the excited-state pKB* of ,9.5 units. The acidity is only slightly enhanced with a drop in pKA* of only ,1.6 units. From these findings, a reaction model for the excited-state processes in phycocyanobilin is proposed. According to this model, photoexcitation of phycocyanobilin triggers an excited-state proton transfer giving rise to the formation of a protonated species. In parallel, the local increase in the medium pH associated with protonation then forwards a deprotonation at an acidic NH-group so that in effect both protonated and deprotonated phycocyanobilin would arise from the initial photoreaction and account for the observed red shift in the spectra of the B - and C -forms. [source] Occurrence of sublethal injury after pulsed electric fields depending on the micro-organism, the treatment medium ph and the intensity of the treatment investigatedJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005D. García Abstract Aims:, The objective was to investigate the occurrence of sublethal injury after pulsed electric field (PEF) depending on the treatment time, the electric field strength and the pH of the treatment media in two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis ssp. niger, Listeria monocytogenes) and six Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella serotype Senftenberg 775W, Salmonella serotype Typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica) bacterial strains. Methods and Results:, A characteristic behaviour was observed for the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria studied. Whereas Gram-positive bacteria showed a higher PEF resistance at pH 7·0, the Gram-negative were more resistant at pH 4·0. In these conditions, in which bacteria showed their maximum resistance, a large proportion of sublethally injured cells were detected. In most cases, the longer the treatment time and the higher the electric field applied, the greater the proportion of sublethally injured cells that were detected. No sublethal injury was detected when Gram-positive bacteria were treated at pH 4·0 and Gram-negative at pH 7·0. Conclusions:, Sublethal injury was detected after PEF so, bacterial inactivation by PEF is not an ,all or nothing' event. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This work could be useful for improving food preservation by PEF. [source] | |||||||||||||