Morphological Structure, Physicochemical Properties Analysis and Application in Processing Vermicelli of the Kidney Bean Starch Grown in Qianjiang, China

 The structure, morphology, physicochemical properties and potential use in vermicelli of kidney bean starch, grown in Qianjiang, China, were carried out. Results pointed out that the scanning electron micrographs revealed the presence of kidney or ovoid- to globose-shaped granules and with a diameter ranging from 5 to 50 μm. And the kidney bean starch exhibited an A-type X-ray diffraction pattern. The freeze-thaw stability was poor that the rate of water release was only 41.90%. But the thermal stability and cold stability were good and it showed a C- type Brabender viscosity curve. Besides, the kidney bean vermicelli was prepared by the optimized process. The viscosity and swelling of kidney bean vermicelli were less than mung bean vermicelli, which lead to the acceptable unable to equal to mung bean vermicelli. But considering the price and big cooking loss, weak tensile strength and weak shear strength of other starch vermicelli, the kidney bean starch vermicelli still has important application value

Resveratrol enhances prostate cancer cell response to ionizing radiation. Modulation of the AMPK, Akt and mTOR pathways

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prostate cancer (PrCa) displays resistance to radiotherapy (RT) and requires radiotherapy dose escalation which is associated with greater toxicity. This highlights a need to develop radiation sensitizers to improve the efficacy of RT in PrCa. Ionizing radiation (IR) stimulates pathways of IR-resistance and survival mediated by the protein kinase Akt but it also activates the metabolic energy sensor and tumor suppressor AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK). Here, we examined the effects of the polyphenol resveratrol (RSV) on the IR-induced inhibition of cell survival, modulation of cell cycle and molecular responses in PrCa cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Androgen-insensitive (PC3), sensitive (22RV1) PrCa and PNT1A normal prostate epithelial cells were treated with RSV alone (2.5-10 μM) or in combination with IR (2-8 Gy). Clonogenic assays, cell cycle analysis, microscopy and immunoblotting were performed to assess survival, cell cycle progression and molecular responses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>RSV (2.5-5 μM) inhibited clonogenic survival of PC3 and 22RV1 cells but not of normal prostate PNT1A cells. RSV specifically sensitized PrCa cells to IR, induced cell cycle arrest at G1-S phase and enhanced IR-induced nuclear aberrations and apoptosis. RSV enhanced IR-induced expression of DNA damage (γH2Ax) and apoptosis (cleaved-caspase 3) markers as well as of the cell cycle regulators p53, p21^cip1and p27^kip1. RSV enhanced IR-activation of ATM and AMPK but inhibited basal and IR-induced phosphorylation of Akt.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that RSV arrests cell cycle, promotes apoptosis and sensitizes PrCa cells to IR likely through a desirable dual action to activate the ATM-AMPK-p53-p21^cip1/p27^kip1and inhibit the Akt signalling pathways.</p

Pharmacological actions of isoprostane metabolites and phytoprostanes in human and bovine pulmonary smooth muscles

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Improved Recrystallization Resistance of Al–Cu–Li–Zr Alloy through Ce Addition

The effects of the addition of 0.29 wt % Ce on the recrystallization behavior of an Al&#8315;Cu&#8315;Li&#8315;0.13Zr (wt %) alloy during isothermal annealing were investigated. Ce addition greatly improved inhibition of recrystallization in this alloy compared with that in the Ce-free alloy. The texture of the Ce-containing alloy contained a large amount of &#946;-fibers and fibrous unrecrystallized grain microstructures distributed along the rolling direction in the overall annealing process. The improved recrystallization resistance endowed by Ce addition can be attributed to the large number of small Al8Cu4Ce species formed on the grain boundary. These fine particles with high-temperature stability can exert a Zener pressure on the Al3Zr dispersoid-free grain boundary. The yield strength of the Ce-containing alloy increased significantly, to 38 MPa, and the fracture toughness improved by 56.28% compared with those of the Ce-free alloy. This work provides a convenient and economical method for enhancing the overall performance of an Al&#8315;Cu&#8315;Li&#8315;Zr alloy via recrystallization inhibition by Ce addition

Size Effects of Closed Encounter Ag Nanoshell Pairs for SERS Application

Closed encounter Ag nanoshell pairs with remarkable improved plasmonic light enhancement in their gaps have been attracting much attention in the production of sensitivity SERS substrates. This work demonstrates the size effects of Ag nanoshell pairs on obtaining higher light intensity in their gaps. It is found that very complex light intensity changes occur in the gaps of Ag nanoshell pairs with their diameter enlargements (diameters>100 nm). By the calculation of scattering efficiency and electric field vectors, the size-related light intensity changes in the gaps have been revealed and been concluded systematically. This work fills in the gaps of application of nanoshell pairs with larger sizes in SERS detectors and could guide the design of some other Ag nanoshell pair-based optical devices

A New 5(6→7)abeo-sterol from the twigs of <i>Podocarpus fleuryi</i>

<p>A new 5(6→7)abeo-sterol with rarely reported [6–5-6–5]-fused rings, 3<i>β</i>,5<i>β</i>,6-trihydroxyl-<i>B</i>-norsitostane (<b>1</b>), along with 10 known compounds were isolated from the twigs of <i>Podocarpus fleuryi</i>. Their structures were elucidated by means of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound <b>1</b> was assessed for their cytotoxicity against five human tumour cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW-480), and the result showed that it had no activity.</p

Effect of shading on accumulation of soybean isoflavonoid under maize-soybean strip intercropping systems

Maize-soybean strip intercropping system is an important ecological planting system; the wide development of intercropped soybean has contributed to the soybean industry in China. Soybean growth and seed production were affected by the shading from maize. Previous studies confirmed that relay strip intercropping shading facilitates the accumulation of isoflavone glucosides but does not take advantage of the accumulation of isoflavone aglycone. However, the regulation of isoflavones accumulation under strip intercropping system was unknown; in which soybean and maize were sown at the same time, and soybean was mainly shaded in the reproductive stage. In order to reveal the effects of intercropping shading on the isoflavones accumulation in soybean seed, two independent field experiments were conducted in eastern China. We compared the isoflavones profiles of soybean seeds, which were grown under various maize-soybean intercropping systems with different shade levels. The results showed that the intercropping shading was not benefited to the accumulation of soy-isoflavones, including aglycones and isoflavones glycosides and various forms of isoflavones were decreased with the decline of photosynthetic active radiation. Multivariate statistical analysis and significance analysis showed that acylated isoflavones may be more susceptible to intercropping shading. Abbreviations: HCA: Hierarchical cluster analysis; PAR: photosynthetically active radiation; PCA: Principal component analysis; LC-MS: Liquid chromatography mass spectrometer