Post-harvest HPLC determination of chlorfluazuron residues in pears treated with different programs

The present study was conducted to monitor the level of chlorfluazuron residues in pear samples in order to assess the risk posed by the presence of such residues to the consumer. Chlorfluazuron was sprayed onto pear trees at the recommended dose rate at two different times at 30 and 21 days prior to harvesting in one treatment, at 21 and 14 days prior to harvesting in another treatment, and three times at 30, 21 and 14 days prior to harvesting in a third treatment. Chlorfluazuron residues were extracted with acetonitrile and partitioned into ethyl acetate. The residue determination was performed on an Apollo C(18) column using HPLC with a UV detection of 254 nm following the clean-up of the extract by open column chromatography with Florisil. The versatility of this method was evidenced by its good linearity (>0.995) in the concentration range between 0.2 and 10 microg/mL. The majority of the mean recoveries at two different fortification levels, 0.05 and 0.25 ppm, ranged from 84.9 +/- 3.2 to 94.3 +/- 10.6, and the repeatability (as the relative standard deviation) from three repetitive determinations of recovery was between 3.8 and 11%. The calculated limit of detection (LOD) was 0.008 ppm and the limit of quantitation was 0.03 ppm. Trace amounts of chlorfluazuron were detectable when it was applied onto the pear trees at two or three times prior to harvesting; however, the levels of chlorfluazuron were not quantified. The excellent sensitivity and selectivity of this method allowed for quantitation and identification at low levels with a run time of less than 12 min. Chlorfluazuron can be used safely to protect pears when sprayed two or three times at 14 days prior to harvesting.     

Kinetics of hydrogen atom transfer from (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Cr(CO)(3)H to various olefins: influence of olefin structure

Treating (etha(5)-C(5)H(5))Cr(CO)3H (1) or (etha(5)-C(5)H(5))Cr(CO)3D (1-d(1)) with an excess of olefin containing the opposite isotope generally leads to H/D exchange, although hydrogenation is also observed in some cases. Application of an appropriate statistical correction to the observed exchange rate gives kH and kD, the rate constants for H* (D*) transfer from (etha(5)-C(5)H(5))Cr(CO)(3)H (D) to various olefins. The values of kH and kD vary appreciably with the substituents on the double bond. Phenyl-substituted olefins accept H* more readily than do carbomethoxy-substituted olefins, although the latter accept H* more readily than do alkyl-substituted olefins. A methyl substituent on the incipient radical site increases k(H) at 323 K by a factor between 5 and 50. A methyl substituent on the carbon to which the H* is being transferred decreases kH substantially. On the whole, the rate constants for H* transfer reflect steric effects as well as the stability of the resulting carbon-centered radicals.     

Rapid vapor-phase fabrication of organic-inorganic hybrid superlattices with monolayer precision

We report a new layer-by-layer growth method of self-assembled organic multilayer thin films based on gas-phase reactions. In the present molecular layer deposition (MLD) process, alkylsiloxane self-assembled multilayers (SAMs) were grown under vacuum by repeated sequential adsorptions of C=C-terminated alkylsilane and titanium hydroxide. The MLD method is a self- limiting layer-by-layer growth process, and is perfectly compatible with the atomic layer deposition (ALD) method. The SAMs films prepared exhibited good thermal and mechanical stability, and various unique electrical properties. The MLD method, combined with ALD, was applied to the preparation of organic-inorganic hybrid nanolaminate films in the ALD chamber. The organic-inorganic hybrid superlattices were then used as active mediums for two-terminal electrical bistable devices. The advantages of the MLD method with ALD include accurate control of film thickness, large-scale uniformity, highly conformal layering, sharp interfaces, and a vast library of possible materials. The MLD method with ALD is an ideal fabrication technique for various organic-inorganic hybrid superlattices.     

A degradable hyperbranched poly(ester amine) based on poloxamer diacrylate and polyethylenimine as a gene carrier

Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a well-known cationic polymer which has high transfection efficiency due to its buffering effect. However, nondegradability, cytotoxicity, aggregation, and short-circulation time in vivo still need to be overcome for a successful gene delivery. Degradable, hyperbranched poly(ester amine)s (PEAs) based on poloxamer diacrylate and low molecular weight branched PEI, were successfully synthesized and evaluated as a nonviral gene carrier. The PEAs were obtained in significant yields through Michael type addition reaction of diacrylate monomers and low molecular weight branched PEI. Analysis of degradation products by the reduction in molecular weight demonstrated that PEAs degrade in a controlled fashion. The PEA showed good DNA binding ability and the sizes of complexes under physiological condition were below 150 nm, implicating its potential for intracellular delivery. It showed lower cytotoxicity in three different cell lines (A549, 293T, and HepG2) compared with PEI 25K. PEAs showed much higher transfection efficiencies in three cell lines compared with PEI 25K and PEI 1.8K, and revealed little serum dependency in A549 cell line when the content of poloxamer in the PEA was increased up to 30%.     

Frequency-dependent interpolation rules using first derivatives for oscillatory functions

We construct frequency-dependent rules to interpolate oscillatory functions y(x)$y(x)$ with frequency ω$\omega$ of the form,

y(x)=_f1(x)cos(ωx)+_f2(x)sin(ωx),$y(x)=f_1(x)\cos (\omega x)+f_2(x)\sin (\omega x)\text{,}$

Relation between the permeability and the degree of coil overlap of polymer in the bulk state

Based on the expression of the index of coil interpenetration (i.e.,the degree of coil overlap,ξ_b) of amorphous polymers in the bulk state proposed by Qian,theξ_b was rewritten asξ_b=ρ_b[η]_θ/1.66 via Flory's intrinsic viscosity equation at them conditions.Theξ_b ofpoly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) dense membranes with different molecular weights and cellulose diacetate (CA) dense membranes prepared using different solvents were determined.The permeability,permeation coefficient (P) of nitrogen and permeation flux (J) of liquid through both membranes,respectively,was measured.P and J decreased exponentially with increasingξ_b for PVC and CA membranes were revealed.     

Akt is involved in the inhibition of cell proliferation by EGF

Axin is a negative regulator of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and is involved in the regulation of axis formation and proliferation. Involvement of Axin in the regulation of other signaling pathways is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the involvement of Akt in growth regulation by Axin in L929 fibroblasts stimulated by EGF. Akt activity was increased by EGF treatment and Ras activation, respectively. Both the EGF- and Ras-induced Akt activations were abolished by Axin induction, as revealed by both Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses. The proliferation and Akt activation induced by EGF were decreased by Axin induction, and the effects of EGF were abolished by treatment of an Akt-specific inhibitor. Therefore, Axin inhibits EGF-induced proliferation of L929 fibroblasts by blocking Akt activation.     

A point mutant of apolipoprotein A-I, V156K, exhibited potent anti-oxidant and anti-atherosclerotic activity in hypercholesterolemic C57BL/6 mice

In our previous study, two point mutants of apolipoprotein A-I, designated V156K and A158E, revealed peculiar characteristics in their lipid-free and lipid-bound states. In order to determine the putative therapeutic potential of these mutants, several in vitro and in vivo evaluations were conducted. In the lipid-free state, V156K showed more profound antioxidant activity against LDL oxidation than did the wildtype (WT) or A158E variants in an in vitro assay. In the lipid-bound state, V156K-rHDL showed an enhanced cholesterol delivery activity to HepG2 cells in a time-dependent manner, as compared to WT-rHDL, A158E-rHDL, and R173C-rHDL. We assessed the physiological activities of the mutants in circulation, using hypercholesterolemic mice (C57BL6/J). Palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC)-rHDL preparations containing each of the apoA-I variants were injected into the mice at a dosage of 30 mg of apoA-I/kg of body weight. Forty eight hours after injection, the sera of the V156K-rHDL injected group showed the most potent antioxidant abilities in the ferric acid removal assay. The V156K-rHDL- or R173C-rHDL-injected mice showed no atherosclerotic lesions and manifested striking increases in their serum apo-E levels, as compared to the mice injected with WT-rHDL or A158E-rHDL. In conclusion, V156K-rHDL exhibited the most pronounced antioxidant activity and anti-atherosclerotic activity, both in vitro and in vivo. These results support the notion that HDL-therapy may prove beneficial due to its capacity to induce accelerated cholesterol excretion, as well as its enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and lesion regression effect.     

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in Korean women

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is involved in the 2-hydroxylation of estrogen, the hormone that plays a critical role in the etiology of breast carcinoma. We evaluated the associations between two CYP1A1 polymorphisms [MspI (rs4646903); Ile462Val (rs1048943)] and breast cancer in a multicenter case-control study of 513 breast cancer cases and 447 controls in Korea. Women carrying the T allele of the CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism were found to have a 1.72-fold (95% CI 1.11-2.68) greater risk of developing breast cancer. No association was found between any CYP1A1 Ile462Val polymorphism and breast cancer. Haplotype analysis of the two loci showed that the CA haplotype was associated with the lowest risk of breast cancer, and CA/CA diplotypes were associated with a lower risk of breast cancer [OR=0.28 (0.13-0.61)] than others/others diplotypes. Moreover, this reduced risk was more pronounced among women with a lower body mass index (BMI) [OR=0.18 (0.06-0.58)] or with a shorter lifetime exposure to estrogen [OR=0.23 (0.07-0.81)]. The results obtained suggest that the CYP1A1 MspI polymorphisms could affect susceptibility to breast cancer.