Surface adsorption of sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfone)/C(14)TAB mixtures and its correlation with foam film stability

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures of rigid monosulfonated poly(phenylene sulfone) (sPSO(2)-220) and tetradecyl trimethylammonium bromide (C(14)TAB) were investigated by surface tension, surface elasticity and foam film stability measurements. The results were compared to former measurements of polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures containing more flexible polyelectrolytes (PAMPS or PSS and C(14)TAB). For all polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures an increased surface adsorption in comparison to the pure surfactant was detected. Moreover, sPSO(2)-220/C(14)TAB mixtures showed a much higher surface activity and foam film stability than mixtures with more flexible polyelectrolytes. The results presented give insight into the surface adsorption and foam film formation of rigid polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures. Therefore, this study helps to understand the role of polyelectrolyte backbone rigidity in the formation and stabilization of foam films made from polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures.DFG, SPP 1273, Kolloidverfahrenstechni

The Role of Polysorbate 80 and HPβCD at the Air-Water Interface of IgG Solutions

Purpose: To test the hypothesis of surface displacement as the underlying mechanism for IgG stabilization by polysorbates and HPβCD against surface-induced aggregation. Methods: Adsorption/desorption-kinetics of IgG-polysorbate 80/-HPβCD were monitored. Maximum bubble pressure method was used for processes within seconds from surface formation. Profile analysis tensiometry was applied over long periods and to assess surface rheologic properties. Additionally, the kinetics of adsorption, desorption and surface displacement was followed by a double-capillary setup of the profile analysis tensiometer, allowing drop bulk exchange. Results: Weak surface activity for HPβCD vs. much higher surface activity for polysorbate 80 was shown. Protein-displacement when exceeding a polysorbate 80 concentration close to the CMC and a lack of protein displacement for HPβCD was observed. The drop bulk exchange experiments show IgG displacement by polysorbate 80 independent of the adsorption order. In contrast, HPβCD coexists with IgG at the air-water interface when the surface layer is built from a mixed IgG-HPβCD-solution. Incorporation of HPβCD in a preformed IgG-surface-layer does not occur. Conclusions: The results confirm surface displacement as the stabilization mechanism of polysorbate 80, but refute the frequently held opinion, that HPβCD stabilizes proteins against aggregation at the air-water interface in a manner comparable to non-ionic surfactant

Recent Progress in Neutron Star Theory

This review contains chapters discussing: Energy density fluctionals of nuclear matter, Many-body theory of nucleon matter, Hadronic and quark matter, Mixtures of phases in dense matter, Neutron star observations and predictions.Comment: 33 pages +13 figs., Ann. Rev. Nucl. & Part. Science, 200

Entrance channel dependence and isospin dependence of preequilibrium nucleon emission in intermediate energy heavy ion collisions

Using isospin dependent quantum molecular dynamical model, the studies of the isospin effect on preequilibrium nucleon emission in heavy ion collisions under different entrance channel conditions show that the ratio of preequilibrium neutron number to proton number depends strongly on symmetry potential, beam energy, and the ratio of neutron to proton of the colliding system, but weakly on isospin dependent in-medium nucleon-nucleon cross sections, impact parameter, Pauli potential, and momentum dependent interaction in the energy region from 45MeV/u up to 150 MeV/u where the dynamics is dominated by nucleon-nucleon collisions. In addition, the ratio of preequilibrium neutron number to proton number for a neutron-rich colliding system is larger than the initial value of the ratio of the colliding system, but the ratio for a neutron-deficient system is less than the initial value

Pseudo-spin symmetry in density-dependent relativistic Hartree-Fock theory

The pseudo-spin symmetry (PSS) is investigated in the density-dependent relativistic Hartree-Fock theory by taking {the} doubly magic nucleus $^{132}$Sn as a representative. It is found that the Fock terms bring significant contributions to the pseudo-spin orbital potentials (PSOP) and make it comparable to the pseudo-centrifugal barrier (PCB). However, these Fock terms in the PSOP are counteracted by other exchange terms due to the non-locality of the exchange potentials. The pseudo-spin orbital splitting indicates that the PSS is preserved well for the partner states \lrb{\nu 3s_{1/2}, \nu2d_{3/2}} of $^{132}$Sn in the relativistic Hartree-Fock theory.Comment: 6 figue

Lack of evidence for xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus(XMRV) in German prostate cancer patients

Background: A novel gammaretrovirus named xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) has been recently identified and found to have a prevalence of 40% in prostate tumor samples from American patients carrying a homozygous R462Q mutation in the RNaseL gene. This mutation impairs the function of the innate antiviral type I interferon pathway and is a known susceptibility factor for prostate cancer. Here, we attempt to measure the prevalence of XMRV in prostate cancer cases in Germany and determine whether an analogous association with the R462Q polymorphism exists. Results: 589 prostate tumor samples were genotyped by real-time PCR with regard to the RNaseL mutation. DNA and RNA samples from these patients were screened for the presence of XMRV-specific gag sequences using a highly sensitive nested PCR and RT-PCR approach. Furthermore, 146 sera samples from prostate tumor patients were tested for XMRV Gag and Env antibodies using a newly developed ELISA assay. In agreement with earlier data, 12.9% (76 samples) were shown to be of the QQ genotype. However, XMRV specific sequences were detected at neither the DNA nor the RNA level. Consistent with this result, none of the sera analyzed from prostate cancer patients contained XMRV-specific antibodies. Conclusion: Our results indicate a much lower prevalence (or even complete absence) of XMRV in prostate tumor patients in Germany. One possible reason for this could be a geographically restricted incidence of XMRV infections

Influence of medium correction of nucleon nucleon cross section on the fragmentation and nucleon emission

The influence of medium correction from an isospin dependent nucleon nucleon cross section on the fragmentation and nucleon emission in the intermediate energy heavy ion collisions was studied by using an isospin dependent quantum molecular dynamical model (IQMD). We found that the medium correction enhances the dependence of multiplicity of intermediate mass fragment $N_{imf}$ and the number of nucleon emission $N_{n}$ on the isospin effect of the nucleon nucleon cross section,while the momentum dependent interaction (MDI) produces also an important role for enhancing the influence of the medium correction on the isospin dependence of two-body collision in the fragmentation and nucleon emission processes. After considering the medium correction and the role of momentum dependent interaction the increase for the dependence of $N_{imf}$ and $N_{n}$ on the isospin effect of two-body collision is favorable to learn the information about the isospin dependent nucleon nucleon cross sectionComment: 7 figure

Filariasis of the Axilla in a Patient Returning from Travel Abroad: A Case Report

Background: The term filariasis comprises a group of parasitic infections caused by helminths belonging to different genera in the superfamily Filaroidea. The human parasites occur mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, but filariae are also found in temperate climates, where they can infect wild and domestic animals. Humans are rarely infected by these zoonotic parasites. Patients and Methods: A 55-year-old patient presented with a new-onset, subcutaneous, non-tender palpable mass in the right axilla. Ultrasonography showed a 1.3-cm, solid, singular encapsulated node. Sonography of the breast on both sides, axilla and lymphatic drainage on the left side, lymphatic drainage on the right side, and mammography on both sides were without pathological findings. The node was excised under local anesthesia as the patient refused minimal invasive biopsy. Results: On histopathological examination, the tail of a parasite of the group of filariae was found. The patient revealed that she had stayed in Africa and Malaysia for professional reasons. 6 months before the time of diagnosis, she had also suffered from a fever and poor general condition after a trip abroad. The patient was referred for further treatment to the Institute for Tropical Medicine at the University of Dusseldorf, where a treatment with ivermectin was conducted on the basis of positive staining with antibodies against filariae. Conclusion: Our case demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between breast center, pathology, and other specialties such as microbiology and tropical medicine

Influence of Surfactants on Lipase Fat Digestion in a Model Gastro-intestinal System

In the present study, we use a model gastro-intestinal system to study the influence of different food-grade surface-active molecules (Sn-2 monopalmitin, β-lactoglobulin, or lysophosphatodylcholine) on lipase activity. The interfacial activity of lipase and surfactants are assessed with the pendant drop technique, a commonly used tensiometry instrument. A mathematical model is adopted which enables quantitative determination of the composition of the water–oil interface as a function of bulk surfactant concentration in the water–oil mixtures. Our results show a decrease in gastric lipolysis when interfacially active molecules are incorporated into a food matrix. However, only the Sn-2 monopalmitin caused a systematic decrease in triglyceride hydrolysis throughout the gastro-intestinal tract. This effect is most likely due to exclusion of both lipase and triglyceride from the water–oil interface together with a probable saturation of the solubilization capacity of bile with monoglycerides. Addition of β-lactoglobulin or lysophopholipids increased the hydrolysis of fat after the gastric phase. These results can be attributed to an increasing interfacial area with lipase and substrate present at the interface. Otherwise, β-lactoglobulin, or lysophopholipids reduced fat hydrolysis in the stomach. From the mathematical modeling of the interface composition, we can conclude that Sn-2 monopalmitin can desorb lipase from the interface, which, together with exclusion of substrate from the interface, explains the gradually decreased triglyceride hydrolysis that occurs during the digestion. Our results provide a biophysics approach on lipolysis that can bring new insights into the problem of fat uptake