Intramolecular catalysis in some aliphatic keto-acids.

Ring-chain tautomerism and the kinetics of halogenation have been investigated in the following keto-acids: CH3CO(CH2)nCO2H, where n = 2,3,4. PhCO(CH2)nC02H, where n = 2,3,4. 2-methyl levulinic acid. 2,2-dimethyl levulinic acid. 3-methyl levulinic acid. 3.3-dimethyl levulinic acid. 2,2,3-trimethyl levulinic acid. 5,5-dimethyl-4-oxo hexanoic acid. The percentage of ring-lactol present in dilute aqueous solution at 2 5.0°C has been estimated by the comparison of two measured dissociation constants: firstly, the ’mixed' dissociation constant i.e. the equilibrium mixture of both straight chain and ring-lactol tautomers, by the measurement of pH and secondly, the 'true' dissociation constant i.e. the straight chain tautomer alone, by the measurement of the kinetics of the general base-catalysed decomposition of nitramide. The results are discussed with reference to the structure of the keto-acids. Bredt's work on the tautomeric equilibrium in levulinic acid has been repeated and his conclusion concerning the structure of the acetyl derivative has been confirmed. Rates of halogenation of both self-buffered and acetate-buffered substrates have been measured spectrophotometrically at 25.0°C. Rate constants have been obtained for the intra- and inter-molecular processes contributing to the observed rate. For four of the keto-acids, in which two sites are available for reaction, the relative rates of deuterium exchange at the two sites have been estimated by N.M.R. spectroscopy. An attempt has been made to rationalise the observed correlations between rate of reaction, site of reaction and the structure of the keto-acids. Activation parameters have been measured for the halogenation of levulinic acid and 6-oxo heptanoic acid. The results have been rationalised in terms of the effect of substrate chain length on the transition states postulated for the intra-molecular and the inter-molecular processes considered. Acetyl levulinic acid has been used as a model to evaluate the role played by the ring acid tautomer in the kinetics

Nonlinear magnetic field dependence of the conductance in d-wave NIS tunnel junctions

The ab-plane NIS-tunnelling conductance in d-wave superconductors shows a zero-bias conductance peak which is predicted to split in a magnetic field. In a pure d-wave superconductor the splitting is linear for fields small on the scale of the thermodynamic critical field. The field dependence is shown to be nonlinear, even at low fields, in the vicinity of a surface phase transition into a local time-reversal symmetry breaking state. The field evolution of the conductance is sensitive to temperature, doping, and the symmetry of the sub-dominant pairing channel.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Towards zero solid waste: utilising tannery waste as a protein source for poultry feed

Zero waste is now a strongly emerging issue for sustainable industrial development where minimisation and utilisation of waste are a priority in the leather industry. In a tannery hides and skins converted in to leather through various processes. Approximately 20% (w/w) of the chrome containing tannery solid waste (TSW) is generated from one tonne of raw hides and skins. However, tannery solid waste may also be a resource if it is managed expertly as we move towards zero waste. This research illustrates the potential of tannery solid waste as a poultry feed additive. An oxidation method was used to achieve 95% of dechroming rate of chrome tanned waste followed with thermal and enzymatic treatment to produce gelatin solution and collagen concentrates. The thermal stability and fibre structure of samples were analysed by Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Protein content and fourteen amino acid concentrations were determined using amino acid analysis. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to compare the amino acid composition with wheat and soya bean meal that is conventionally used in poultry feed. The nutrient requirements for poultry feed vary according to the purpose for which they have been developed. The high content of arginine, leucine, threonine, serine and methionine in the extract were of a sufficient level for poultry feed. Hexavalent chromium test was performed and showed that levels of the metal were low enough to be used in feed additives. In addition, the extracted product showed 75% digestibility (in vitro) and appears that treated TSW may be utilised in poultry feed, this demonstrates a clear example of waste utilisation. In Bangladesh plans are being formed to use the extract in poultry feed production

Methods of isolation and identification of pathogenic and potential pathogenic bacteria from skins and tannery effluents

Currently there is no standard protocol available within the leather industry to isolate and identify pathogenic bacteria from hides, skins or tannery effluent. This study was therefore carried out to identify simple but effective methods for isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens from the effluent and skins during leather processing. Identification methods based on both phenotypic and genotypic characteristics were investigated. Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used as indicator bacteria to evaluate the isolation and identification methods. Decontaminated calfskins were inoculated with a pure culture of the above mentioned bacterial species followed by a pre-tanning and chromium tanning processes. Effluent samples were collected and skins were swabbed at the end of each processing stage. Bacterial identification was carried out based on the phenotypic characteristics; such as colony appearance on selective solid media, cell morphology following a standard Gram-staining and spore staining techniques, and biochemical reactions, e.g., the ability of a bacterial species to ferment particular sugars and ability to produce certain enzymes. Additionally, an identification system based on bacterial phenotypic characteristics, known as Biolog® system was applied. A pulsed-filed gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method for bacterial DNA fingerprinting was also evaluated and used for the identification of the inoculated bacteria. The methods described in the study were found to be effective for the identification of pathogenic bacteria from skins and effluent

Radar plots: A novel modality for displaying disparate data on the efficacy of eluxadoline for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea

BackgroundPatients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS‐D) experience a range of abdominal and bowel symptoms; successful management requires alleviation of this constellation of symptoms. Eluxadoline, a locally active mixed μ‐ and κ‐opioid receptor agonist and δ‐opioid receptor antagonist, is approved for the treatment of IBS‐D in adults based on the results of 2 Phase 3 studies. Radar plots can facilitate comprehensive, visual evaluation of diverse but interrelated efficacy endpoints.MethodsTwo double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, Phase 3 trials (IBS‐3001 and IBS‐3002) randomized patients meeting Rome III criteria for IBS‐D to twice‐daily eluxadoline 75 or 100 mg or placebo. Radar plots were prepared showing pooled Weeks 1‐26 response rates for the primary efficacy composite endpoint (simultaneous improvement in abdominal pain and stool consistency), stool consistency, abdominal pain, urgency‐free days, and adequate relief, and change from baseline to Week 26 in IBS‐D global symptom score, abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, and daily number of bowel movements.Key ResultsThe studies enrolled 2428 patients. Eluxadoline increased Weeks 1‐26 responder proportions vs placebo for the composite endpoint, stool consistency, abdominal pain, urgency‐free days, and adequate relief. Changes from baseline to Week 26 in IBS‐D global symptom score, abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, and number of bowel movements were greater with eluxadoline vs placebo.Conclusions and InferencesData presentation in radar plot format facilitates interpretation across multiple domains, demonstrating that eluxadoline treatment led to improvements vs placebo across 13 endpoints representing the range of symptoms experienced by patients with IBS‐D.Data presentation in radar plot format can facilitate evaluation of the diverse array of symptoms and outcomes that are relevant to a symptom‐based condition like irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS‐D). In 2 Phase 3 trials, eluxadoline treatment improved stool consistency and frequency, abdominal pain, bloating and discomfort, feelings of urgency, global symptom score, and adequate relief. Radar plots provide a visual demonstration of improvements with eluxadoline across 13 endpoints encompassing the diverse constellation of symptoms experienced by patients with IBS‐D.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145265/1/nmo13331_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145265/2/nmo13331.pd

Increase in Mitochondrial content after Electrical Pulse Stimulation is dependent on duration of stimulation

Increase in Mitochondrial content after Electrical Pulse Stimulation is dependent on duration of stimulation Daniel Conde B.S.1, Jeffrey D. Covington Ph.D.2, Cecilia Gamboa3 George A. King Ph.D.1, Arild C. Rustan Ph.D.4, Sudip Bajpeyi Ph.D.1. 1 Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at El Paso, TX; 2Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA; 3Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso; 4Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Skeletal Muscle Metabolism Laboratory; Kinesiology; University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso, TX Category: Masters Advisor / Mentor: Bajpeyi, Sudip ([email protected]) ABSTRACT We have previously shown that human skeletal muscle myotubes cultured in vitro, retain in vivo characteristics of the donors. Recent studies indicate that electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) can be used as an exercise mimetic in a cell culture model, and could be beneficial to understand molecular mechanisms underlying exercise training. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare acute, moderate and long duration EPS treatments on mitochondrial and lipid content in cultured myotubes. Methods: EPS stimulation was applied to human myotubes cultured from sedentary donors under three conditions: Acute (bipolar pulses of 100 Hz for 200 ms every 5th second; 30V for 60 min) and chronic stimulation (single bipolar pulses of 2 ms; 30V, 1Hz continuously for 24 h or 48 h). Mitochondrial and lipid contents were measured by primary antibody for complex IV and bodipy green dye, respectively, using immunohistochemistry techniques. Fluoroskan ascent microplate reader was used to quantify fluorescence signals. OXPHOS proteins were measured using western immunoblotting. Results: There was no change in lipid or mitochondrial content as assessed by immunohistochemistry after acute EPS stimulation. Chronic stimulation resulted in a significant increase in the mitochondrial content after 24 h (from 0.183 ± 0.02 AU to 0.350 ± 0.03 AU; p=0.008) and 48 h (from 0.290 ± 0.01 AU to 0.337 ± 0.01 AU; p=0.02) of continuous EPS stimulation. OXPHOS proteins increased after 48 h of EPS. There was also a significant increase in lipid content after 48 h of EPS stimulation (from 0.210 ± 0.01 AU to 0.256 ± 0.01 AU; p=0.02). Conclusion: These findings suggest that 48 h of chronic EPS results in an increase in both mitochondrial and lipid contents in human myotubes. The concomitant increase in lipid and mitochondrial content after exercise mimetic EPS stimulation supports the elevated level of intramyocellular lipid and mitochondrial content evident in endurance trained athletes

Appearance and Stability of Anomalously Fluctuating States in Shor's Factoring Algorithm

We analyze quantum computers which perform Shor's factoring algorithm, paying attention to asymptotic properties as the number L of qubits is increased. Using numerical simulations and a general theory of the stabilities of many-body quantum states, we show the following: Anomalously fluctuating states (AFSs), which have anomalously large fluctuations of additive operators, appear in various stages of the computation. For large L, they decohere at anomalously great rates by weak noises that simulate noises in real systems. Decoherence of some of the AFSs is fatal to the results of the computation, whereas decoherence of some of the other AFSs does not have strong influence on the results of the computation. When such a crucial AFS decoheres, the probability of getting the correct computational result is reduced approximately proportional to L^2. The reduction thus becomes anomalously large with increasing L, even when the coupling constant to the noise is rather small. Therefore, quantum computations should be improved in such a way that all AFSs appearing in the algorithms do not decohere at such great rates in the existing noises.Comment: 11 figures. A few discussions were added in verion 2. Version 3 is the SAME as version 2; only errors during the Web-upload were fixed. Version 4 is the publised version, in which several typos are fixed and the reference list is update