Earth samples (soils and parent materials) eaten by humans on three continents were analyzed chemically and mineralogically. Samples from Changsha county, China, are from three sites and were used as ...recently as the 1950s as famine food; soil from a site in North Carolina, USA was consumed for general health benefits; samples from Zimbabwe are still used as medicine for digestive problems (diarrhea). In each case, it is 'common knowledge' that the geophagy is beneficial. Chemical analysis of the soils and of soil extracts, and mineralogical analysis of the soils, reveal patterns of element levels and clay minerals relatively consistent with the effects desired or reported by consumers. There are important parallels between geophagy in humans and in animals, in particular the apparent quest for dietary/nutritional and pharmaceutical benefits.
•The major green tea catechin, EGCG, interacts with the major dietary protein, OVA.•The binding of EGCG to OVA induces conformational changes in the protein.•The EGCG-binding pocket in OVA partly ...overlaps with the known IgE-binding epitopes.•The OVA/EGCG complex binds IgE and stimulates basophil degranulation.•The EGCG binding to OVA might modulate other cellular processes.
Polyphenols, the potent plant secondary metabolites, have beneficial effects on human health, but the mechanism(s) by which these effects are exerted is not well understood. Here, we present the detailed analysis of the interactions between the major green tea catechin, epigallo-catechin 3-gallate (EGCG), and the major dietary protein and allergen, ovalbumin (OVA). We show that EGCG binds to the pocket that partly overlaps with the previously identified IgE-binding region in OVA, and that this interaction induces structural changes in the allergen. Moreover, our ex vivo studies reveal that OVA binds IgE and stimulates degranulation of basophils, and that its uptake by monocytes proceeds at a slower rate in the presence of EGCG. This study provides further evidence in support of the proposed mechanism by which EGCG interactions with the food allergens contribute to its diverse biological activities and may impair antigen uptake by antigen-presenting cells.
Nitinol is a group of nearly equiatomic alloys composed of nickel and titanium, which was developed in the 1970s. Its properties, such as superelasticity and Shape Memory Effect, have enabled its ...use, especially for biomedical purposes. Due to the fact that Nitinol exhibits good corrosion resistance in a chloride environment, an unusual combination of strength and ductility, a high tendency for self-passivation, high fatigue strength, low Young’s modulus and excellent biocompatibility, its use is still increasing. In this research, Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) experiments were performed on a continuous vertical cast (CVC) NiTi rod (made in-house) and on commercial Nitinol as the control material, which was already in the rolled state. The ALD deposition of the TiO2 layer was accomplished in a Beneq TFS 200 system at 250 °C. The pulsing times for TiCl4 and H2O were 250 ms and 180 ms, followed by appropriate purge cycles with nitrogen (3 s after the TiCl4 and 2 s after the H2O pulses). After 1100 repeated cycles of ALD depositing, the average thickness of the TiO2 layer for the CVC NiTi rod was 52.2 nm and for the commercial Nitinol, it was 51.7 nm, which was confirmed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) using Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The behaviour of the CVC NiTi and commercial Nitinol with and without the TiO2 layer was investigated in a simulated body fluid at body temperature (37 °C) to explain their corrosion resistance. Potentiodynamic polarisation measurements showed that the lowest corrosion current density (0.16 μA/cm2) and the wider passive region were achieved by the commercial NiTi with TiO2. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy measurements revealed that the CVC NiTi rod and the commercial Nitinol have, for the first 48 h of immersion, only resistance through the oxide layer, as a consequence of the thin and compact layer. On the other hand, the TiO2/CVC NiTi rod and TiO2/commercial Nitinol had resistances through the oxide and porous layers the entire immersion time since the TiO2 layer was formatted on the surfaces.
Mary Magdalene is, on the cultural plain, one of the most famous biblical characters. The lack of facts about her life made possible the different interpretations of her significance and function in ...gospel stories. One interpretation of the character of Mary Magdalene was also offered by Ignjat Đurđević, who harmonized it with the time in which he lived and the needs of the society he was trying to teach. In this paper we will try to compare the concept of Mandaline The Penitent with the depiction of this character in the New Testament and the Apocrypha.
Space is a significant and ambiguous component in Serbian Medieval Apocrypha, whose symbolism leans on biblical tradition. Many motifs in the spatial domain represent a product of symbolic ...sedimentation of multiple traditions,from the pre-christian, to those which have formed from the Christian tradition and have developed their own identity. We have also endeavoured to discover the possible influences of Serbian Folklore, that the translators and transcribers could have introduced to the Apocrypha, constituting specific “Serbianised” versions of apocrific themes.
Photodynamics of Azomethane: A Nonadiabatic Surface-Hopping Study Sellner, Bernhard; Ruckenbauer, Matthias; Stambolić, Ivan ...
The journal of physical chemistry. A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment, & general theory,
08/2010, Volume:
114, Issue:
33
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The internal conversion and hot ground-state dynamics of trans- and cis-azomethane starting in the S1 state have been investigated by nonadiabatic ab initio surface hopping dynamics using ...MCSCF-GVB-CAS and MRCISD methods and by determining energy minima and saddle points, minima on the crossing seam, and minimum energy pathways on the ground and first excited-state surfaces. The lifetimes and photoproducts from the dynamics simulations, geometric properties, excitation energies of selected stationary points and minimum energy pathways between them are reported. Our results favor a statistical model with trans-AZM moving to the ground-state minima before the first CN dissociation takes place. A detailed discussion in comparison to recent experimental and theoretical data is presented.
Commercially available nitinol is currently manufactured using classic casting methods that produce blocks, the processing of which is difficult and time consuming. By continuous casting, wherein ...molten metal solidifies directly into a semi-finished product, the casting and processing of ingots can be avoided, which saves time and expense. However, no reports on continuous casting of nitinol could be found in the literature. In this work, Φ 12 mm nitinol strands were continuously cast. Using a graphite crucible, smelting of pure Ni and Ti in a medium frequency induction furnace is difficult, because it is hard to prevent a stormy reaction between Ni and Ti and to reach a homogeneous melt without a prolonged long holding time. Using a clay-graphite crucible, the stormy reaction is easily controlled, while effective stirring assures a homogeneous melt within minutes. Strands of nearly equiatomic chemical compositions were obtained with acceptable surface quality. The microstructure of strands containing over 50 at. % Ni, consisted of Ti2Ni and cubic NiTi, whereas the microstructure of strands containing less than 50 at. % Ni consisted of TiNi3 and cubic NiTi. This is consonant with the results of some other authors, and indicates that the eutectoid decomposition NiTi → Ti2Ni + TiNi3 does not take place.
The character of Mara Brankovic is interesting on many levels to researchers of both history and Serbian literature alike. The reason for this is most likely in the specific relationship of folk and ...written literature to this Serbian noblewoman and wife of the sultan. In this paper, we will attempt to synthesize the opinions and observations that significant researchers of Serbian literature have made about the character of Mara Brankovic and also to give our own humble contribution with observations about the perception of Irina’s daughter.
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