Immunostimulatory activity of polysaccharide-poly(I:C) nanoparticles

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Immunostimulatory properties of mushroom derived polysaccharides (PS) as stand-alone agents were tested. Next. PS were nanocomplexed with polyI:C (pIC) to yield stable nanoparticles around 200 nm in size evidenced by atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering analyses. PSs were selectively engaged by cells expressing TLR2 and initiated NF kappa B dependent signaling cascade leading to a Th1-biased cytokine/chemokine secretion in addition to bactericidal nitric oxide (NO) production from macrophages. Moreover, cells treated with nanoparticles led to synergistic IL6, production and upregulation of TNF alpha, MIP3 alpha, IFN gamma and IP10 transcript expression. In mice, PS-Ovalbumin-pIC formulation surpassed anti-OVA IgG responses when compared to either PS-OVA or pIC-OVA mediated immunity. Our results revealed that signal transduction initiated both by TLR2 and TLR3 via co-delivery of pIC by PS in nanoparticle depot delivery system is an effective immunization strategy. The present work implicate that the PS and nucleic acid based nanoparticle approach along with protein antigens can be harnessed to prevent infectious diseases. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserve

Monitoring of pesticide and heavy metal discharge of the major rivers and drainage canals into the Mediterranean sea in the north-east coastal zone, Turkey

Pesticide and toxic metal contamination in 118 water samples of the two major rivers (Seyhan and Ceyhan) and their four major drainage canals in Çukurova basin, Turkey were analyzed for 11 organochlorine and 15 organophosphate pesticides that have been used in the basin. The samples were taken within 15 days every month during a 15 months lasting period near the points of discharge to the sea. Organochlorine pesticides were only detected in water samples of the summer period. In twenty soil samples taken during summer from the agricultural lands nearby, the same pesticides have been found, but with increasing concentrations. Ten metals have been monitored in the water samples. Iron and zinc were found in all water samples. Lead, aluminum and nickel were the second most frequently and the rest of the metals the least observed. The Ceyhan river had a higher mean value and higher variance for iron when compared with the Seyhan river. Both rivers showed similar zinc contents with comparably high variance indicating irregular discharges of zinc-containing materials. In general, the drainage canals have higher iron contents and variances when compared with the rivers

Fuzzy control of direct drive manipulators

Direct drive motors, sometimes referred to a torque motors are speciality servo actuators which posess high torque capacity without the necessity of gears. The author worked on a number of direct drive robots and their control methods since early 1990s when Professor Okyay Kaynak taught him fundamentals of fuzzy control and gave him the opportunity of experimental work on direct drive robotics. This chapter presents samples of the studies of the author on indirect fuzzy control implemented on direct drive robots between 1993 and 2012. The role of on-line controller parameter adaptation for sliding mode trajectory controllers, force controllers and for the integration of visual servoing and force control is discussed with case studies

CHEMICAL STRUCTURES OF PYRIDINE EXTRACTS AND RESIDUES OF COALS AS INDICATED BY SOLID-STATE C-13 NMR

WOS: A1984SJ21400016

INVESTIGATION OF PYRIDINE EXTRACTS AND RESIDUES OF COALS BY SOLID-STATE C-13 NMR-SPECTROSCOPY

WOS: A1986D915700015

Chemical structures of pyridine extracts and residues of coals as indicated by solid state 13C NMR.

The pyridine extracts and the residues of four Turkish coals were investigated in the solid state by CP/MAS C-13 NMR. No systematic correlation was observed between the ranks of the coals and the aromaticities of the pyridine extracts. There were pronounced structural differences between the pyridine extracts and the corresponding parent fuels and these differences were most prominent in the lower rank coals. In general, the C-13 NMR spectra of the residues were quite similar to those of the corresponding parent fuels. © 1984

Direct liquefaction of high-sulfur coals: Effect of the catalyst, the solvent, and the mineral matter

Two low-rank coals with high sulfur contents (Gediz subbituminous coal: 7.6 wt % S:dry basis. Çayirhan lignite: 5.7 wt% S:dry basis.) were subjected to hydroliquefaction. Liquefaction conditions included dry or solvent mediated runs under pressurized hydrogen without added catalyst or with the impregnated catalyst precursor ammonium heptamolybdate (AHM). Gediz coal having higher sulfur content gave 90% conversion in the absence of catalyst and solvent. Maximum conversion (98%) and maximum oil + gas yield (70%) from this coal were obtained by impregnating AHM onto coal and carrying out liquefaction in H2/tetralin system at 450 °C for 30 min. Under the same conditions, Çayirhan lignite gave 85% conversion and 70.5% oil + gas yield. The superior hydrodesulfurization effect of impregnated AHM on the oil fraction when used in the absence of solvent (less than 0.1% S in lignite's oil and less than 1% S in subbituminous coal's oil following one-stage hydrogenation) is a promising finding of this work. AHM was found to be much more effective in liquefaction of Çayirhan lignite and this has been ascribed to the well-dispersion of AHM throughout this lignite's structure via a cation-exchange mechanism through oxygen functionalities. Strong evidence for the catalytic effect of clay minerals in coal structure on char-forming reactions during liquefaction was observed by making use of liquefaction reactions of demineralized coal samples. It was also observed that tetralin had a retarding effect on the condensation and subsequent cross-linking reactions

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Solid Lignin Samples by Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry

Thesolid lignin preparations from two common woods, red oak and lodgepole pine, have been methylated and acetylated in order to examine the relationships between the 13C nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift and molecular structure in solid lignin samples. Comparison of the untreated and chemically modified lignins results in a detailed set of chemical shift assignments, many of which directly reflect previously reported solution-state studies on model compounds and lignin extracts. The present study also demonstrates the ability of solid state 13C cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS NMR) spectrometry to identify many of the key functionalities in lignin and to probe lignin chemistry. Finally, the ability of 13C CP/MAS NMR spectrometry to yield quantitative results in lignin and wood spectra is discussed. © 1987, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved

Investigation of pyridine extracts and residues of coals by solid-state 13C n.m.r. spectroscopy

The 13C n.m.r. technique of cross polarization with magic angle spinning was applied to seven coals in their original states and the components obtained after pyridine extraction. It was observed that for the higher rank coals, short and straight alkyl groups are preferentially transferred to the extracts, while long-chain alkyl groups, branched alkyl groups or alicyclic structures are concentrated in the residues. Aliphatic ether or ester moieties were also observed to be concentrated in the residues. For all coals the computer-generated composite extract-residue spectra differed appreciably from the spectra of the original coals, indicating that some structures may be lost or that some structural conversion may occur during the extraction procedure. It was concluded that caution should be used in trying to determine detailed organic structural information of a coal from data obtained on its pyridine extract. © 1986.The authorsg ratefullya cknowledgep artial support of this work by the NATO researchg rantsp rogramme