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PubMed2003

Modified arabinoxylan-based films. Part B. Grafting of omega-3 fatty acids by oxygen plasma and electron beam irradiation.

Arabinoxylans (AXs) are byproducts of the cereal milling industry. To obtain high-value products, AXs have been used as a film-forming agent. Hence, AX-based films are poor water vapor barriers. The objectives of this study were to graft omega-3 (omega3) fatty acids onto AX polymeric chains by using two new technologies: cold plasma and electron beam (EB) irradiation. Results show that the surface hydrophobicity of the modified films is higher than that of a waxy coating or a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film. In addition, FTIR spectroscopy analysis reveals vibration bands attributed to new chemical functions. Finally, a decrease in water vapor permeability (WVP) is obtained for the film treated with the alpha-linolenic acid-rich oil. This result could be explained by a better diffusion of this shorter polyunsaturated fatty acid into the AX network. Linseed oils provide better barrier properties and a higher surface hydrophobicity than oils extract from marine oils. Edible oils were chosen for edible application of these films to retard moisture transfers in stuffed biscuits.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed2005

Low-temperature and high-pressure induced swelling of a hydrophobic polymer-chain in aqueous solution.

We report molecular dynamics simulations of a hydrophobic polymer-chain in aqueous solution between 260 K and 420 K at pressures of 1 bar, 3000 bar, and 4500 bar. The simulations reveal a hydrophobically collapsed structure at low pressures and high temperatures. At 3000 bar and about 260 K and at 4500 bar and about 260 K, however, an abrupt transition to a swelled state is observed. The transition is driven by a smaller volume and a remarkably strong lower enthalpy of the swelled state, indicating a steep positive slope of the corresponding transition line. The swelling is strongly stabilized by the energetically favorable state of water in the polymer's hydrophobic first hydration shell at low temperatures. This finding is consistent with the observation of a positive heat capacity of hydrophobic solvation. Moreover, the slope and location of the estimated swelling transition line for the collapsed hydrophobic chain coincides remarkably well with the cold denaturation transition of proteins.

Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions↗
PubMed2005

Identification of cold acclimated genes in leaves of Citrus unshiu by mRNA differential display.

Citrus unshiu is freeze tolerant to -10 degrees C when fully acclimated after exposure to cold, nonfreezing temperatures. To gain an understanding of its cold tolerance mechanism, mRNA differential display reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) and quantitative relative RT-PCR were used to study gene expression under a gradual cold-acclimation temperature regime. Six up-regulated and two down regulated genes were identified based on their amino acid sequences. The identified proteins encoded by the up-regulated genes were: 14-3-3 protein, 40S ribosomal protein S23, putative 60S ribosomal protein L15, nucleoside diphosphate kinase III protein, regulator of chromosome condensation-like protein, and amino acid permease 6. The proteins encoded by the two down-regulated genes were: miraculin-like protein and beta-galactosidase. Their individual function has been briefly reviewed based on published information. In addition to the findings in this study, we compared the function of cold responsive genes of Poncirus trifoliata, a very cold hardy relative of Citrus species that is freeze tolerant to -30 degrees C when fully acclimated, to the function of genes in the current study.

14-3-3 Proteins↗
PubMed1983

Preferential association of kappa IIIb light chains with monoclonal human IgM kappa autoantibodies.

The predominance of the relatively uncommon V region subgroup isotype kappa III among the light chains of human monoclonal (IgM kappa) anti-IgG antibodies, (i.e., rheumatoid factors), was further documented through sequence analyses of ten such autoantibodies isolated from IgM-anti-IgG cold-insoluble immune complexes (mixed cryoglobulins). The amino-terminal sequence of all ten kappa-chains was characteristic for kappa III proteins and virtually identical to that of a prototype kappa III light chain. Similar sequence identity was found for kappa-chains isolated from three IgM kappa autoantibodies that formed cold-insoluble immune complexes with low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The thirteen light chains were found to be virtually identical in sequence for the first framework region (FR); ten of these proteins sequenced through the first complementarity-determining region (CDR) and into the second FR were markedly similar. The second CDR of five proteins was almost identical in sequence to that of the prototype kappa III-chain. Concordance was also demonstrated between the structural classification of the light chains as kappa III and their immunochemical classification as members of this V region subgroup. Serologic analyses of light chains isolated from seven IgM kappa autoantibodies (six anti-IgG, one anti-LDL) and of one intact IgM kappa anti-LDL antibody showed that each had antigenic determinants common to kappa II proteins. These light chains also expressed the antigenic determinant(s) of a V-region sub-subgroup of kappa III proteins designated kappa IIIb. Our studies confirm the preferential association of kappa III (and kappa IIIb) light chains with IgM kappa anti-IgG antibodies and demonstrate a similar association for IgM kappa anti-LDL antibodies. The finding that these and other types of IgM kappa autoantibodies, e.g., cold agglutinins, have remarkably similar light chains suggests an inherent restriction in the immune response to self-antigens.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Water permeability and lipid composition of toad urinary bladder: the influence of temperature.

The water diffusional permeability, its activation energy and the lipid composition were studied in urinary bladders from toads adapted to different temperatures. It was observed that the unidirectional water flux greatly depends on the temperature at which the experiments are performed. This dependence is greater in the animals adapted to higher temperatures. Toads adapted to cold show strong reduction in the activation energy for water diffusion permeability (from 11.4+/-1.9 kcal-mol-1 to 4.4+/-1.1kcal-mol-1) and an increase of 30% in the amount of total lipids from bladder epithelial cells. There were no significant changes in the phospholipid/cholesterol ratio, composition of the parafinic chains or protein concentration between toads adapted to both temperatures. The possibility that water translocates through the mucosal border of the toad bladder by partitioning in the polar zone and diffusioning between the hydrocarbon chains of the membrane lipids and that cold adaptation would induce a stronger "packing" of lipids in the membrane is discussed.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2002

Cold elicits the simultaneous induction of fatty acid synthesis and beta-oxidation in murine brown adipose tissue: prediction from differential gene expression and confirmation in vivo.

A survey of genes differentially expressed in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) of mice exposed to a range of environmental temperatures was carried out to identify novel genes and pathways associated with the transition of this tissue toward an amplified thermogenic state. The current report focuses on an analysis of the expression patterns of 50 metabolic genes in BAT under control conditions (22 degrees C), cold exposure (4 degrees C, 1 to 48 h), warm acclimation (33 degrees C, 3 wk), or food restriction/meal feeding (animals fed the same amount as warm mice). In general, expression of genes encoding proteins involving glucose uptake and catabolism was significantly elevated in the BAT of cold-exposed mice. The levels of mRNAs encoding proteins critical to de novo lipogenesis were also increased. Gene expression for enzymes associated with procurement and combustion of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) was increased in the cold. Thus, a model was proposed in which coordinated activation of glucose uptake, fatty acid synthesis, and fatty acid combustion occurs as part of the adaptive thermogenic processes in BAT. Confirmation emerged from in vivo assessments of cold-induced changes in BAT 2-deoxyglucose uptake (increased 2.7-fold), BAT lipogenesis (2.8-fold higher), and incorporation of LCFA carboxyl-carbon into BAT water-soluble metabolites (elevated approximately twofold). It is proposed that temperature-sensitive regulation of distinct intracellular malonyl-CoA pool sizes plays an important role in driving this unique metabolic profile via maintenance of the lipogenic pool but diminution of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 inhibitory pool under cold conditions.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1986

Autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis: light chains.

We studied the light chain type of autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptor (AChR) by affinity chromatography with monoclonal anti-kappa and anti-lambda antibodies. The autoantibodies in four of eight myasthenic patients were of a single light chain type; the others comprised both types. In Graves' disease and cold-reactive hemolytic anemia, the pathogenic autoantibodies are confined to a single light chain type in individual patients, and in other diseases, doubtfully pathogenic autoantibodies are invariably mixtures of both light chain types. AChR antibodies may comprise both pathogenic and nonpathogenic types of autoantibody.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Detection of a new carbon-chain molecule, CCO.

We have detected a new carbon-chain molecule, CCO(3 sigma-), in the cold, dark molecular cloud TMC-1. The excitation temperature and the column density of CCO are, respectively, approximately 6 K and approximately 6 x 10(11) cm-2. This column density corresponds to a fractional abundance relative to H2 of approximately 6 x 10(-11). This value is two orders of magnitude less than the abundance of the related carbon-chain molecule CCS, and about half that of C3O. The formation mechanism for CCO is discussed.

Astronomical Phenomena↗
PubMed1985

Preliminary characterization of two glucan synthetase preparations and their reaction products from Candida albicans.

Two glucan synthetase preparations from Candida albicans were obtained by lysis of regenerating protoplasts (enzyme A) or mechanical breakage of yeast cells (enzyme B). Enzyme A was insensitive to EDTA or GTP but it was stimulated by a combination of both agents. Enzyme B was inhibited by EDTA, this inhibition being released by increasing the concentration of the chelating agent or by addition of GTP to the assay mixtures. Enzyme A was further activated by glycerol and sodium fluoride. The reaction products were characterized as linear beta-1,3-linked glucans on the basis of their resistance to periodate and susceptibility to beta-glucanases. In both cases the "in vitro" synthesized radioactive chains were added to the non-reducing end of cold, performed glucan or to and acceptor other than glucan. At least, part of the preformerd glucan chains of enzyme A, but no those of enzyme B, showed a free reducing terminal. On the basis of the origin of both enzyme preparations it is suggested that glucan molecules are synthesized while bound to an acceptor of a different nature which is subsequently excised.

Candida albicans↗
PubMed1988

Distinct patterns of heavy chain variable region subgroup use by human monoclonal autoantibodies of different specificity.

Using a panel of antibodies specific for H and L chain variable region subgroups, a panel of human monoclonal cold agglutinin (CA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) autoantibodies were analyzed. The vast majority of the two types of autoantibodies utilized VkIII L chains, many of which probably derive from the Humkv325 gene. However, while most RFs (77%) utilized VHI H chains, all the CAs used VHII subgroup H chains. These results are consistent with a model of autoantibody generation, wherein binding specificity is H chain defined in a set of antibodies that use a multipotential L chain.

Agglutinins↗
PubMed2005

ELOVL3 is an important component for early onset of lipid recruitment in brown adipose tissue.

During the recruitment process of brown adipose tissue, the mRNA level of the fatty acyl chain elongase Elovl3 is elevated more than 200-fold in cold-stressed mice. We have obtained Elovl3-ablated mice and report here that, although cold-acclimated Elovl3-ablated mice experienced an increased heat loss due to impaired skin barrier, they were unable to hyperrecruit their brown adipose tissue. Instead, they used muscle shivering in order to maintain body temperature. Lack of Elovl3 resulted in a transient decrease in the capacity to elongate saturated fatty acyl-CoAs into very long chain fatty acids, concomitantly with the occurrence of reduced levels of arachidic acid (C20:0) and behenic acid (C22:0) in brown adipose tissue during the initial cold stress. This effect on very long chain fatty acid synthesis could be illustrated as a decrease in the condensation activity of the elongation enzyme. In addition, warm-acclimated Elovl3-ablated mice showed diminished ability to accumulate fat and reduced metabolic capacity within the brown fat cells. This points to ELOVL3 as an important regulator of endogenous synthesis of saturated very long chain fatty acids and triglyceride formation in brown adipose tissue during the early phase of the tissue recruitment.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1994

Diagnostic value of finger thermometry and photoplethysmography in the assessment of hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Digital photoplethysmography and skin thermometry are both measures of circulation in the skin of the fingers. These methods and a cold provocation test were performed on 29 chain-saw workers grouped in stages 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to the Stockholm Workshop scale of hand-arm vibration syndrome, and on 16 controls. The reduction of photoplethysmographic amplitude after the cold test reflects the degree of vasoconstriction, and the recovery rate demonstrates passive vasodilatative capacity. Both tests were found to distinguish all vibration--exposed subjects, including those without clinically manifest vibration-induced white fingers, from the controls. With a 75% reduction in photoplethysmographic amplitude as a discriminating threshold, the sensitivity for the detection of Raynaud's phenomenon was 62% and the specificity, 87%. The discriminating threshold of 90% for recovery rate yielded a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 72%.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Quantitative observations on thermal and metabolic responses to cold of workers using vibrating tools.

Quantitative observations on thermal and metabolic responses of 32 patients exposed to moderate cold of vibration hazards due to using chain saw were performed. In this study, many cases showed trends of both in increase of metabolic rate and decrease of mean skin temperatures. The ratio of 60 min mean value of the increase of metabolic rate/decrease of mean skin temperature is 3.5 +/- 2.60. Twenty-two patients (68.8%) indicated the value larger than 3. There are many with markedly large increase in metabolic rate in those who affected Raynaud's phenomenon. It can be suggested that many of the patients with the vibration hazards indicate an decrease of the cold tolerance ot the moderate cold exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of Vibrio cholerae cells entering the viable but non-culturable state and starvation in response to cold shock.

We performed a comparative analysis of the Vibrio cholerae strain El Tor 3083 entering the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state and starvation after incubation in artificial seawater (ASW) at 4 and 15 degrees C respectively. To this end, we determined bacterial culturability and membrane integrity, as well as the cellular levels of 16S rRNA and mRNA for the tuf, rpoS and relA genes, which were assessed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR). Bacterial cells entering the VBNC state showed a 154, 5.1 x 10(3), 24- and 23-fold reduction in the number of copies of 16S rRNA and mRNA for tuf, rpoS and relA, in comparison to exponentially growing cells. The differences were less striking between cells in the VBNC and starvation states. The mRNA for relA was selectively increased in VBNC cells (3.2-folds), whereas a 3.9-fold reduction was observed for 16S rRNA. The obtained results confirmed that key activities of the cellular metabolism (i.e. tuf representing protein synthesis, and relA or rpoS stress response) were still detected in bacteria entering the VBNC state and starvation. These data suggest that the new Q-RT-PCR methodology, based on the selected RNA targets, could be successfully exploited for the identification (rRNA) of V. cholerae and assessment of its metabolic activity (tuf, rpoS, relA mRNA) in environmental samples.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1985

[Raynaud's syndrome in lumberjacks using chain saws. Epidemiology, clinical and capillaroscopic findings].

The overall incidence of Raynaud's syndrome in lumberjacks using a mechanic chain saw in France is at least 45%; workers exposed to the risk for more than 3 years have an incidence of about 60%. Vibrations are probably directly responsible for the disease, while among the other favorizing factors the different winter climatic conditions do not appear to be relevant, and this is the case with conventional vascular risk factors, apart perhaps for hypertension. A history of injury to hands is significantly more frequent in affected subjects possibly related to a relative digital cutaneous hypo-esthesia. Capillaroscopy shows organic microangiopathies with reduction in number of nail-bed capillaries and functional angiopathies of arteries of hand in the form of abnormal spasm induced by cold. Technical progress by the use of chain saws has markedly reduced incidence of this occupational disease, but in France it would appear that only modifications in working conditions of lumberjacks could reduce the incidence of the disease.

Capillaries↗
PubMed1999

Climatic influence on mesophilic Bacillus cereus and psychrotolerant Bacillus weihenstephanensis populations in tropical, temperate and alpine soil.

Bacillus weihenstephanensis strains are psychrotolerant and grow from below 7 degrees C to 38 degrees C. Closely related mesophilic Bacillus cereus strains can grow from above 7 degrees C to 46 degrees C. We classified 1060 B. cereus group isolates from different soil samples with respect to their psychrotolerant and mesophilic genotypes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting of specific 16S rDNA and cold shock protein A gene signatures. In parallel, growth tests at 7 degrees C were carried out to determine the thermal phenotype. The geographic distribution of psychrotolerant and mesophilic isolates was found to depend significantly on the prevalent annual average temperature. In one tropical, one temperate and two alpine habitats, the proportion of psychrotolerant cspA genotypes was found to be 0%, 45% and 86% and 98%, respectively, with the corresponding annual average temperatures being 28 degrees C, 7 degrees C, 4 degrees C and 1 degrees C. In the tropical habitat, only the mesophilic B. cereus was found, characterized by correspondence of thermal genotype and phenotype. In the alpine habitat, almost only the psychrotolerant B. weihenstephanensis was isolated. In the temperate habitat, mesophilic B. cereus and psychrotolerant B. weihenstephanensis as well as 'intermediate thermal types' occurred, the latter having opposite thermal genotypes and phenotypes or opposing sets of thermal DNA signatures, characterized by the coexistence of mesophilic and psychrotolerant 16S rDNA operon copies within a single isolate. Both sugar utilization and DNA fingerprinting patterns revealed a high, probably non-clonal microsite diversity within the population of the temperate habitat. We interpret our observations in terms of a temperature-dependent selection regime, acting on recombining B. cereus/ B. weihenstephanensis populations in soil.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1993

Diagnostic value of finger thermometry in assessment of hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Finger thermometry and cold provocation test were performed in 90 chain saw workers and 58 healthy controls. The workers were grouped according to the Taylor-Pelmear scale of hand-arm vibration syndrome into subgroups 0, 1, 2, 3. The recovery rate reflected passive vasodilative ability. According to the results of the study, the test could differentiate the subjects with clinically manifest vibration-induced white fingers (stages 1, 2 and 3) from the controls. The discriminating threshold of recovery rate with regard to Raynaud's phenomenon was 90%. With that diagnostic limit the above method was sensitive and specific enough to verify vibration-induced vasospastic disorders and therefore could be recommended for their surveillance.

Adult↗