Assessment of Synthetic Protein-A MAbsorbents in Antibody Purification from Tobacco Plant Extract

Several plant-derived antibody (plantibody) purification approaches have been assessed demonstrating high purification capacities, but low recoveries (<30%) and poor sorbent stability. Thus, application of sorbents with high recovery, low ligand leakage and stable under harsh sanitization conditions could improve the efficiency antibody purification from this source. This paper reports for the first time MAbsorbents assessments in plantibody purification from tobacco plants. In conclusion MAbsorbent A1P is not suitable for plantibody HB-01 purification, while MAbsorbent A2P demonstrated high recovery (37.54 ± 15.15%) in 25 purification cycles. As recommendation, we consider that other elution conditions should be assessed before restudy the stability of this sorbent.     

Simulation study of χc→J/Ψ+γ detection with J/Ψ→e+e? in pp collisions in the ALICE experiment at LHC

We present Monte Carlo preliminary results about the feasibility to detect the χ _c family in p-p collisions at 14 TeV in the ALICE Central Barrel at CERN LHC. The χ _c1 and χ _c2 were forced to decay in the radiative channel J/Ψ+γ→e ⁺ e ⁻+γ and were merged with a proton-proton non-biased collision. After Monte Carlo transport and simulation of the detector response, the e ⁺, e ⁻ and converted γ were reconstructed and identified in the ALICE ITS, TPC and TRD detectors. Separate signals corresponding to γ from χ _c1 and from χ _c2 were observed. The position and relative weight of the fit to gaussians agreed with the input values within the statistical limits. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of Chuquiraga jussieui J.F.Gmel from the highlands of Ecuador

Abstract

Chuquiraga jussieui J.F.Gmel is grown between 3000 and 5000 meters above sea level throughout the Andean region of Ecuador and used by the indigenous populations of the Andes for medicinal purposes. Here, we determined the total phenolic, flavonoids, vitamin C and carotenoids content of the leaves and flowers of Ch. jussieui J.F.Gmel from different highlands of Ecuador as well as the capacity of a crude methanolic extract from the both parts of the plant to scavenge free radicals and protect red blood cell membranes from lipid oxidation. The leaves showed a high bioactive compound content in comparison to the flowers. The crude extract from the leaves proved to be more effective than the flowers in reducing iron and scavenging the DPPH, O₂^? and H₂O₂ radicals, as well as in protecting cellular membrane against lipid oxidation, demonstrating that Ch. jussieui J.F.Gmel represents an important source of bioactive compounds with relevant healthy properties.     

Conditional entropies and position–momentum correlations in atomic systems

We show via Wigner functions how the sum and difference between Shannon entropies in position and in momentum space are related to conditional entropies, and how these quantities are linked to position–momentum correlations. The connection between Fermi, Coulomb and position–momentum correlations on these quantities is made, and the impact of these are discussed in atomic systems.     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF HOMOPOLYMER AND COPOLYMERS OBTAINED FROM 1-OCTADECENE WITH ZIRCONOCENE CATALYSTS

Studies related to the behavior of different metallocene catalysts for the homopolymerization of 1-octadecene andits copolymerization with ethylene will be presented. The metallocenes: rac-Et(Ind)_2ZrCl_2, rac-Me_2Si(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 andPh_2C(Flu)(Cp)ZrCl_2 were chosen for the homopolymerization study. They show important differences in catalytic activity athigh temperatures (≥70℃), with rac-Et(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 showing the highest activity. At lower temperatures (≤30℃) thedifferences are negligible. For the copolymerization of ethylene with 1-octadecene only the catalysts rac-Et(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 andrac-Me_2Si(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 were studied. The results show that their catalytic activity is just like that for the homopolymerizationof 1-octadecene, with higher activity for the metallocene with the Et-bridged catalyst. ~(13)C-NMR analysis shows that thecomposition of the copolymerization products depends on the catalytic systems. Copolymers obtained with rac-Me_2Si(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 have greater comonomer incorporation. Thermal analysis shows that poly-1-octadecene synthesized withthe catalyst rac-Et(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 is very dependent on the polymerization temperature. The homopolymer obtained at 70℃presents two endothermal peaks at 41℃ and 53℃, as compared with the one obtained at 30℃ which presents one wider peakwith a maximum at 67℃. For the catalyst rac-Me_2Si(Ind)_2ZrCl_2 this trend is not observed. The type of metallocene and thereaction time do not significantly change the intrinsic viscosity, but the polymerization temperature changes it drastically,giving higher values at lower temperature. Viscosity measurements on the copolymers show that an increase of comonomerconcentration in the feed reduces the molecular weight of the copolymer, and it was also found that for homopolymer, themolecular weight is independent of the catalytic systems.     

The slowing-down thickness dependency of some neutron flux parameters fork 0-standardization

The experimental dependence of the α,f andT _n parameters, in function of the water thickness, for different irradiation channels of Triga Mark III reactor, were analyzed. An exponential law for the α(r) dependence was obtained in the neighborhood of the active zone of the reactor numerically modelated using theS _n method for 69 neutrons groups, and this dependence is slower in light water reactors than in graphite reactors.     

Hysteresis and bistability in the direct transition from 1:1 to 2:1 rhythm in periodically driven single ventricular cells

The transmembrane potential of a single quiescent cell isolated from rabbit ventricular muscle was recorded using a suction electrode in whole-cell recording mode. The cell was then driven with a periodic train of current pulses injected into the cell through the same recording electrode. When the interpulse interval or basic cycle length (BCL) was sufficiently long, 1:1 rhythm resulted, with each stimulus pulse producing an action potential. Gradual decrease in BCL invariably resulted in loss of 1:1 synchronization at some point. When the pulse amplitude was set to a fixed low level and BCL gradually decreased, N+1:N rhythms (N>/=2) reminiscent of clinically observed Wenckebach rhythms were seen. Further decrease in BCL then yielded a 2:1 rhythm. In contrast, when the pulse amplitude was set to a fixed high level, a period-doubled 2:2 rhythm resembling alternans rhythm was seen before a 2:1 rhythm occurred. With the pulse amplitude set to an intermediate level (i.e., to a level between those at which Wenckebach and alternans rhythms were seen), there was a direct transition from 1:1 to 2:1 rhythm as the BCL was decreased: Wenckebach and alternans rhythms were not seen. When at that point the BCL was increased, the transition back to 1:1 rhythm occurred at a longer BCL than that at which the {1:1-->2:1} transition had initially occurred, demonstrating hysteresis. With the BCL set to a value within the hysteresis range, injection of a single well-timed extrastimulus converted 1:1 rhythm into 2:1 rhythm or vice versa, providing incontrovertible evidence of bistability (the coexistence of two different periodic rhythms at a fixed set of stimulation parameters). Hysteresis between 1:1 and 2:1 rhythms was also seen when the stimulus amplitude, rather than the BCL, was changed. Simulations using numerical integration of an ionic model of a single ventricular cell formulated as a nonlinear system of differential equations provided results that were very similar to those found in the experiments. The steady-state action potential duration restitution curve, which is a plot of the duration of the action potential during 1:1 rhythm as a function of the recovery time or diastolic interval immediately preceding that action potential, was determined. Iteration of a finite-difference equation derived using the restitution curve predicted the direct {1:1<-->2:1} transition, as well as bistability, in both the experimental and modeling work. However, prediction of the action potential duration during 2:1 rhythm was not as accurate in the experiments as in the model. Finally, we point out a few implications of our findings for cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., Mobitz type II block, ischemic alternans). (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.     

Neutron activation analysis of U,Th, K and Rb in archaeological samples from Guayabo (Costa Rica) prior to thermoluminescent dating

Neutron activation analysis has been applied to evaluate the concentrations of U, Th, K and Rb in archaeological samples in view of precise thermoluminescent (T.L.) dating. The experimental conditions including the timing and the Ge detector characteristics are examined. For U and Th, the determinations have been made through both the short radioisotopes (²³⁹U and²³³Th) or through the long-lived daughter nuclei (²³⁹Np and²³³Pa). A factor of 7 between the calculated and observed yields for U is found and discussed. The simultaneous measurement of the 4 elements of interest in samples of about 200 mg is easy achieved.