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1.
Insect Mol Biol ; 32(6): 658-675, 2023 12.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37477164

RESUMEN

Honey bee nutritional health depends on nectar and pollen, which provide the main source of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids to individual bees. During malnutrition, insect metabolism accesses fat body reserves. However, this process in bees and its repercussions at the colony level are poorly understood. Using untargeted lipidomics and gene expression analysis, we examined the effects of different feeding treatments (starvation, sugar feeding and sugar + pollen feeding) on bees and correlated them with colony health indicators. We found that nutritional stress led to an increase in unsaturated triacylglycerols and diacylglycerols, as well as a decrease in free fatty acids in the bee fat body. Here, we hypothesise that stored lipids are made available through a process where unsaturations change lipid's structure. Increased gene expression of three lipid desaturases in response to malnutrition supports this hypothesis, as these desaturases may be involved in releasing fatty acyl chains for lipolysis. Although nutritional stress was evident in starving and sugar-fed bees at the colony and physiological level, only starved colonies presented long-term effects in honey production.


La salud nutricional de la abeja melífera depende del consumo de néctar y polen, que proporcionan la principal fuente de carbohidratos, proteínas y lípidos. En un estado de desnutrición, el metabolismo de los insectos accede a las reservas del cuerpo graso. Sin embargo, en la abeja melífera, este proceso y sus repercusiones a nivel de la colonia, no se han comprendido con claridad. Utilizando lipidómica global y análisis de expresión genética, examinamos los efectos de diferentes tratamientos alimenticios en las abejas (inanición, únicamente azúcar y azúcar + polen) y los correlacionamos con indicadores de salud de la colonia. Encontramos un aumento en triacilgliceroles y diacilgliceroles insaturados y una disminución en los ácidos grasos libres en el cuerpo graso de abejas desnutridas. Hipotetizamos que estas insaturaciones en los lípidos modifican su estructura, tornándolos accesibles. Respaldamos esta hipótesis con la elevada expresión genética observada en tres desaturasas de lípidos durante desnutrición. Estas desaturasas podrían estar involucradas en la liberación de cadenas de ácidos grasos para la lipólisis. El estrés nutricional fue evidente tanto en abejas y colonias en estado de inanición y alimentadas con azúcar. Sin embargo, únicamente las colonias en estado de inanición presentaron efectos negativos a largo plazo en la producción de miel.


Asunto(s)
Lipidómica , Desnutrición , Abejas , Animales , Azúcares , Ácido Graso Desaturasas , Lípidos
2.
Anal Bioanal Chem ; 413(25): 6333-6342, 2021 Oct.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34382104

RESUMEN

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are increasingly being monitored to elucidate the link between gut health and disease. These metabolites are routinely measured in faeces, but their determination in serum is more challenging due to their low concentrations. A method for the determination of eight SCFAs in serum is described here. High-resolution mass spectrometry and gas chromatography were used to identify the presence of isomeric interferences, which were then overcome through a combination of chromatographic separation and judicious choice of MS fragment ion. The SCFAs were derivatised to form 3-nitrophenylhydrazones before being separated on a reversed-phase column and then detected using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QQQ-MS). The LODs and LOQs of SCFAs using this method were in the range 1 to 7 ng mL-1 and 3 to 19 ng mL-1, respectively. The recovery of the SCFAs in serum ranged from 94 to 114% over the three concentration ranges tested.


Asunto(s)
Análisis Químico de la Sangre/métodos , Cromatografía Liquida/métodos , Ácidos Grasos Volátiles/sangre , Espectrometría de Masas/métodos , Humanos , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Sensibilidad y Especificidad
3.
Eur J Nutr ; 59(5): 1845-1858, 2020 Aug.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31273523

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The Paleolithic diet is promoted worldwide for improved gut health. However, there is little evidence available to support these claims, with existing literature examining anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between dietary intake, markers of colonic health, microbiota, and serum trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a gut-derived metabolite associated with cardiovascular disease. DESIGN: In a cross-sectional design, long-term (n = 44, > 1 year) self-reported followers of a Paleolithic diet (PD) and controls (n = 47) consuming a diet typical of national recommendations were recruited. Diets were assessed via 3-day weighed diet records; 48-h stool for short chain fatty acids using GC/MS, microbial composition via 16S rRNA sequencing of the V4 region using Illumina MiSeq. TMAO was quantified using LC-MS/MS. RESULTS: Participants were grouped according to PD adherence; namely excluding grains and dairy products. Strict Paleolithic (SP) (n = 22) and Pseudo-Paleolithic (PP) (n = 22) groups were formed. General linear modelling with age, gender, energy intake and body fat percentage as covariates assessed differences between groups. Intake of resistant starch was lower in both Paleolithic groups, compared to controls [2.62, 1.26 vs 4.48 g/day (P < 0.05)]; PERMANOVA analysis showed differences in microbiota composition (P < 0.05), with higher abundance of TMA-producer Hungatella in both Paleolithic groups (P < 0.001). TMAO was higher in SP compared to PP and control (P < 0.01), and inversely associated with whole grain intake (r = - 0.34, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although the PD is promoted for improved gut health, results indicate long-term adherence is associated with different gut microbiota and increased TMAO. A variety of fiber components, including whole grain sources may be required to maintain gut and cardiovascular health. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ANZCTRN12616001703493).


Asunto(s)
Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Almidón Resistente , Australia , Cromatografía Liquida , Estudios Transversales , Dieta Paleolítica , Humanos , Metilaminas , Nueva Zelanda , ARN Ribosómico 16S , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem
4.
Nutr J ; 19(1): 41, 2020 05 12.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32398091

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is recommended for cardiovascular health. However, the majority of Australians do not consume the recommended number of vegetable servings each day. Furthermore, intakes of vegetables considered to have the greatest cardiovascular benefit are often very low. Results from prospective observational studies indicate that a higher consumption of cruciferous vegetables (e.g. broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk. This may be due to the presence of specific nutrients and bioactive compounds found almost exclusively, or at relatively high levels, in cruciferous vegetables. Therefore, the aim of this randomised controlled crossover trial is to determine whether regular consumption of cruciferous vegetables results in short-term improvement in measures related to cardiovascular disease risk, including ambulatory blood pressure, arterial stiffness, glycaemic control, and circulating biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation. METHODS: Twenty-five participants (50-75 years) with mildly elevated blood pressure (systolic blood pressure 120-160 mmHg) will complete two 2-week intervention periods in random order, separated by a 2-week washout period. During the intervention period, participants will consume 4 servings (~ 300 g) of cruciferous vegetables per day as a soup (~ 500-600 mL/day). The 'control' soup will consist of other commonly consumed vegetables (potato, sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin). Both soups will be approximately matched for energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate content. All measurements will be performed at the beginning and end of each intervention period. DISCUSSION: The findings of this study will provide evidence regarding the potential cardiometabolic health benefits of cruciferous vegetables, which may contribute to the revision of dietary and clinical guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry on 19th September 2019 (ACTRN12619001294145).


Asunto(s)
Brassicaceae , Hipertensión/dietoterapia , Hipertensión/prevención & control , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto , Verduras , Anciano , Australia/epidemiología , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Presión Sanguínea , Estudios Cruzados , Femenino , Control Glucémico , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estrés Oxidativo , Rigidez Vascular
5.
BMC Public Health ; 20(1): 1037, 2020 Jun 30.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32605552

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Australia, like other nations, has experienced a shift in dietary patterns away from home cooking of nutritious foods, towards a reliance on pre-prepared convenience meals. These are typically energy-dense, nutrient-poor and contribute to the rising prevalence of obesity and chronic disease burden. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether a community-based cooking program instigated a change to participants' skills, attitudes, knowledge, enjoyment and satisfaction of cooking and cooking confidence (self-efficacy). METHODS: The pseudo-random, pre-post study design consisted of an intervention and a control group. Participant recruitment and group allocation was based on their program start dates. Intervention participants were surveyed three times (baseline, 7 weeks and 6 months) and the control group were surveyed at baseline and 5 weeks. All participants were registered via an online website and were 18 years or over. Upon consent, participants were offered four levels of commitment, defined by different assessments. The minimum participation level included an online survey and levels 2, 3 and 4 involved attendance at a clinic with increasing functional, anthropometric and biomarker measurements. Primary endpoints were participants' cooking confidence as a proxy for self-efficacy. Secondary endpoints were dietary intake, physical activity levels, body composition, anthropometry, blood, urine and faecal biomarkers of systemic, physical and mental health. DISCUSSION: The community cooking program provided participants with information and advice on food sourcing, preparation and nutrition to improve home cooking skills. The study was designed to explore whether food literacy programs are efficacious in improving participant physical health and well-being in order to combat the rise in obesity and diet-related disease. It will support future use of public health cooking program initiatives aimed at improving food literacy, self-efficacy and physical and mental health. The extensive data collected will inform future research into the relationship between diet, the gut-microbiota and human health. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered on 16.08.2019 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). ACTRN12619001144101 . Protocol version 4.


Asunto(s)
Culinaria , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Promoción de la Salud/métodos , Autoeficacia , Adulto , Australia , Biomarcadores , Enfermedad Crónica , Dieta/efectos adversos , Dieta/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Humanos , Estilo de Vida , Masculino , Obesidad/epidemiología , Obesidad/prevención & control , Satisfacción Personal , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Proyectos de Investigación , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Australia Occidental/epidemiología
6.
Br J Nutr ; 121(3): 322-329, 2019 02.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30419974

RESUMEN

The Paleolithic diet excludes two major sources of fibre, grains and legumes. However, it is not known whether this results in changes to resistant starch (RS) consumption. Serum trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is produced mainly from colonic fermentation and hepatic conversion of animal protein and is implicated in CVD, but changes in RS intake may alter concentrations. We aimed to determine whether intake of RS and serum concentrations of TMAO varied in response to either the Paleolithic or the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE) diets and whether this was related to changes in food group consumption. A total of thirty-nine women (mean age 47 (sd 13) years, BMI 27 (sd 4) kg/m2) were randomised to AGHE (n 17) or Paleolithic diets (n 22) for 4 weeks. Serum TMAO concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-MS; food groups, fibre and RS intake were estimated from weighed food records. The change in TMAO concentrations between groups (Paleolithic 3·39 µm v. AGHE 1·19 µm, P = 0·654) did not reach significance despite greater red meat and egg consumption in the Paleolithic group (0·65 serves/d; 95 % CI 0·2, 1·1; P <0·01, and 0·22 serves/d; 95 % CI 0·1, 0·4, P <0·05, respectively). RS intake was significantly lower on the Paleolithic diet (P <0·01) and was not associated with TMAO concentrations. However, the limited data for RS and the small sample size may have influenced these findings. While there were no significant changes in TMAO concentrations, increased meat consumption and reduced RS intake warrant further research to examine the markers of gastrointestinal health of Paleolithic diet followers and to update Australian food databases to include additional fibre components.


Asunto(s)
Dieta Paleolítica/efectos adversos , Metilaminas/sangre , Almidón/análisis , Adulto , Dieta Saludable/métodos , Femenino , Voluntarios Sanos , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad
7.
Anal Bioanal Chem ; 411(5): 1019-1028, 2019 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30552494

RESUMEN

Serum branched chain amino acids and trimethylamine-N-oxide are monitored as potential indicators of diabetes and cardiovascular health respectively. A rapid method for their simultaneous determination using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry is described here. Branched chain amino acids and trimethylamine-N-oxide were quantified based on their specific MS/MS fragments using a selected reaction monitoring approach. A number of columns were tested for their ability to separate the analytes. A C18-PFP column separated the analytes in just 4 minutes, and resulted in excellent peak shape and retention time repeatability, and was therefore chosen as the optimal column. A second column, the Intrada Amino Acid column, was chosen for comparison and validation experiments as it provided an orthogonal separation mechanism. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy were less than 12% for trimethylamine-N-oxide and less than 6% for the branched chain amino acids. Recoveries, where serum was spiked with three different concentrations of the analytes, ranged from 97 to 113%. The LODs and LOQs for trimethylamine-N-oxide were 1 and 6 ng/mL, for leucine and isoleucine were 4 and 8 ng/mL, and for valine were 5 and 15 ng/mL, respectively. The C18-PFP column method was validated using the Intrada Amino Acid column method and percentage agreement for all four analytes was within 10%. Sample preparation was minimal, and use of labelled internal standards accounted for matrix effects. The method was successfully applied to human plasma samples. Graphical abstract ᅟ.


Asunto(s)
Aminoácidos de Cadena Ramificada/sangre , Metilaminas/sangre , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem/métodos , Cromatografía Liquida/métodos , Humanos , Límite de Detección , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados
8.
J Sep Sci ; 42(18): 2909-2921, 2019 Sep.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31293055

RESUMEN

A diet rich in polyphenolic compounds has recognized health benefits, and as such is routinely monitored as part of dietary intervention studies. A method for the simultaneous determination of 36 phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry is described here. The target analytes were quantified based on their specific mass spectral fragments using a selected reaction monitoring approach. A C18 column with embedded aromatic functionality ensured separation of all phenolic compounds studied which included several pairs of isomers. Sample preparation involved the use of ß-glucuronidase to release the phenolic compounds from their conjugated forms. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy was less than 7% for all phenolic compounds studied. Recoveries, where plasma was spiked with three different concentrations of the analytes, ranged from 95-115%. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.23-3.89 and 1.15-7.79 nM, respectively. The method was successfully applied to real samples and the range reported for each phenolic compound, with the exception of hydroferulic acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, methylgallate, and m-coumaric acid, was at least an order of magnitude higher than the limit of quantification for the method.


Asunto(s)
Polifenoles/sangre , Calibración , Cromatografía Liquida , Humanos , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem
9.
Nature ; 520(7546): 164-5, 2015 Apr 09.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25830887
10.
J Struct Biol ; 192(3): 487-499, 2015 Dec.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26481418

RESUMEN

Many armored fish scale assemblies use geometric heterogeneity of subunits as a design parameter to provide tailored biomechanical flexibility while maintaining protection from external penetrative threats. This study analyzes the spatially varying shape of individual ganoid scales as a structural element in a biological system, the exoskeleton of the armored fish Polypterus senegalus (bichir). X-ray microcomputed tomography is used to generate digital 3D reconstructions of the mineralized scales. Landmark-based geometric morphometrics is used to measure the geometric variation among scales and to define a set of geometric parameters to describe shape variation. A formalism using continuum mechanical strain analysis is developed to quantify the spatial geometry change of the scales and illustrate the mechanisms of shape morphing between scales. Five scale geometry variants are defined (average, anterior, tail, ventral, and pectoral fin) and their functional implications are discussed in terms of the interscale mobility mechanisms that enable flexibility within the exoskeleton. The results suggest that shape variation in materials design, inspired by structural biological materials, can allow for tunable behavior in flexible composites made of segmented scale assemblies to achieve enhanced user mobility, custom fit, and flexibility around joints for a variety of protective applications.


Asunto(s)
Peces/anatomía & histología , Fenómenos Fisiológicos de la Piel , Piel/anatomía & histología , Animales , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Imagenología Tridimensional/métodos , Modelos Estructurales , Estrés Mecánico , Microtomografía por Rayos X/métodos
11.
Soft Matter ; 11(13): 2547-54, 2015 Apr 07.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25715866

RESUMEN

Inspired by the imbricated scale-tissue flexible armor of elasmoid fish, we design hybrid stiff plate/soft matrix material architectures and reveal their ability to provide protection against penetration while preserving flexibility. Indentation and bending tests on bio-inspired 3D-printed prototype materials show that both protection and flexibility are highly tunable by geometrical parameters of the microstructure (plate inclination angle and volume fraction). We show that penetration resistance can be amplified by a factor of 40, while flexibility decreases in less than 5 times. Different deformation resistance mechanisms are found to govern flexibility (inter-plate matrix shear) versus penetration resistance (localized plate bending) for this microstructural architecture which, in turn, enables separation of these functional requirements in the material design. These experiments identify the tradeoffs between these typically conflicting properties as well as the ability to design the most protective material architecture for a required flexibility, providing new design guidelines for enhanced flexible armor systems.


Asunto(s)
Biomimética/métodos , Fenómenos Mecánicos , Ensayo de Materiales
12.
Electrophoresis ; 35(23): 3379-86, 2014 Dec.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25219887

RESUMEN

Osmoregulants are the substances that help plants to tolerate environmental extremes such as salinity and drought. Proline and betaine are two of the most commonly studied osmoregulants. An indirect UV CE method has been developed for simultaneous determination of these osmoregulants. A variety of reported probes and compounds were examined as potential probes for the indirect detection of proline and betaine. Mobility and UV-absorption properties highlighted sulfanilamide as a potential probe for indirect analysis of proline and betaine. Using 5 mM sulfanilamide at pH 2.2 with UV detection at 254 nm, proline and betaine were separated in less than 15 min. The LODs for proline and betaine were 11.6 and 28.3 µM, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to quantification of these two osmoregulants in spinach and beetroot samples.


Asunto(s)
Betaína/análisis , Electroforesis Capilar/métodos , Prolina/análisis , Beta vulgaris/química , Cationes/química , Límite de Detección , Modelos Lineales , Extractos Vegetales/química , Spinacia oleracea/química , Sulfanilamida , Sulfanilamidas/química
13.
Phys Rev Lett ; 112(3): 034301, 2014 Jan 24.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24484141

RESUMEN

The ability to control wave propagation in highly deformable layered media with elastic instability-induced wrinkling of interfacial layers is presented. The onset of a wrinkling instability in initially straight interfacial layers occurs when a critical compressive strain is achieved. Further compression beyond the critical strain leads to an increase in the wrinkle amplitude of the interfacial layer. This, in turn, gives rise to the formation of a system of periodic scatterers, which reflect and interfere with wave propagation. We demonstrate that the topology of wrinkling interfacial layers can be controlled by deformation and used to produce band gaps in wave propagation and, hence, to selectively filter frequencies. Remarkably, the mechanism of frequency filtering is effective even for composites with similar or identical densities, such as polymer-polymer composites. Since the microstructure change is reversible, the mechanism can be used for tuning and controlling wave propagation by deformation.

14.
Food Chem X ; 21: 101065, 2024 Mar 30.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38187949

RESUMEN

Sulfur containing compounds including glucosinolates (GLS), sulforaphane (SFN) and S-methyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) have been proposed to be partly responsible for the beneficial health effects of cruciferous vegetables. As such, greater understanding of their measurements within foods is important to estimate intake in humans and to inform dietary intervention studies. Herein is described a simple and sensitive method for simultaneous analysis of 20 GLS, SFN and SMCSO by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Analytes were effectively retained and resolved on an Xbridge C18 column. Detection can be achieved using high resolution or unit resolution mass spectrometry; the latter making the method more applicable to large studies. Quantitative analysis using calibration standards was demonstrated for 10 GLS, SFN and SMCSO. A further 10 GLS were tentatively identified using high resolution mass spectrometry. The use of surrogate GLS standards was shown to be unreliable, with closely related GLS displaying significantly different ionisation efficiencies.

15.
Nano Lett ; 12(8): 4392-6, 2012 Aug 08.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22783965

RESUMEN

We report on the mechanical behavior of an interpenetrating carbon/epoxy periodic submicrometer-scale bicontinuous composite material fabricated following the design principles deduced from biological composites. Using microscopic uniaxial compressive tests, the specific energy absorption is quantitatively evaluated and compared with the epoxy/air and carbon/air precursors. The carbon/epoxy material demonstrates extremely high specific energy absorption up to 720 kJ/kg and shear-dominant interphase interactions from the interlocked hard (carbon) and soft (epoxy) phases. Such bicontinuous nanocomposites are a new type of structural metamaterial with designed cell topology and mechanical anisotropy. Their inherent small length scale can play a critical role in prohibiting segregated mechanical responses leading to flaw tolerance.

16.
Water Res ; 230: 119490, 2023 Feb 15.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36580802

RESUMEN

Fires in forested catchments pose a water contamination risk from fire-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM). Fire events are expected to increase under a projection of warmer and drier climatic conditions; therefore, understanding the consequences of fire-derived DOM is critical for water supply and management of drinking water and catchments. This paper addresses how fire regime - the intensity, severity and frequency of fires - influences DOM quantity and composition in surface waters in forested catchments, and how long it takes for water quality to recover to pre-fire levels. A review of post-fire studies in Mediterranean regions reporting on DOM related parameters has been conducted. The literature shows that post-fire DOM composition and reactivity is different from DOM generated under processes of biological degradation, and hence our reliance on DOM 'bulk properties' and surrogate DOM bulk parameters may not provide sufficient information to deal with the potential complexity of the organic compounds produced by a catchment fire. Appropriate measures are important to adequately operate conventional water treatment facilities, for example. Critical parameters for the effects of burning include the alteration of DOM composition, aromaticity, and the relative amounts of labile/recalcitrant organic components. The literature shows mixed information for the influence of both burn severity and fire intensity, on these parameters, which indicates DOM response to fire is highly variable. For fire frequency, the evidence is more unequivocal, indicating that frequent fires change the composition of DOM to components that are less bioavailable, and elevate the degree of aromaticity, which may be detrimental to water quality. In addition, and in general terms, the more recent the fire, the more aromatic and humified DOM components are found, and vice versa. The recovery of surface water quality to pre-fire conditions was variable, with no safe temporal thresholds suggested in the literature. In some cases, fire-induced changes in DOM composition were observable up to 16 years post-fire. The lack of clearly observed trends in post-fire DOM with fire regimes could be attributed to numerous factors such as limited long-term and event-based observations, experimental design challenges, and site-specific biological, physical and hydrological factors. The application of terminologies used to describe fire regimes such as burn severity and fire intensity also creates challenges in comparing the outcomes and results from numerous studies.


Asunto(s)
Materia Orgánica Disuelta , Abastecimiento de Agua , Bosques , Calidad del Agua , Contaminación del Agua
17.
Langmuir ; 28(13): 5580-8, 2012 Apr 03.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22416999

RESUMEN

The collective mechanical behavior of multilayer colloidal arrays of hollow silica nanoparticles (HSNP) is explored under spherical nanoindentation through a combination of experimental, numerical, and theoretical approaches. The effective indentation modulus E(ind) is found to decrease with an increasing number of layers in a nonlinear manner. The indentation force versus penetration depth behavior for multilayer hollow particle arrays is predicted by an approximate analytical model based on the spring stiffness of the individual particles and the multipoint, multiparticle interactions as well as force transmission between the layers. The model is in good agreement with experiments and with detailed finite element simulations. The ability to tune the effective indentation modulus, E(ind), of the multilayer arrays by manipulating particle geometry and layering is revealed through the model, where E(ind) = (0.725m(-3/2) + 0.275)E(mon) and E(mon) is the monolayer modulus and m is number of layers. E(ind) is seen to plateau with increasing m to E(ind_plateau) = 0.275E(mon) and E(mon) scales with (t/R)(2), t being the particle shell thickness and R being the particle radius. The scaling law governing the nonlinear decrease in indentation modulus with an increase in layer number (E(ind) scaling with m(-3/2)) is found to be similar to that governing the indentation modulus of thin solid films E(ind_solid) on a stiff substrate (where E(ind_solid) scales with h(-1.4) and also decreases until reaching a plateau value) which also decreases with an increase in film thickness h. However, the mechanisms underlying this trend for the colloidal array are clearly different, where discrete particle-to-particle interactions govern the colloidal array behavior in contrast to the substrate constraint on deformation, which governs the thickness dependence of the continuous thin film indentation modulus.

18.
Nano Lett ; 11(9): 3868-74, 2011 Sep 14.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21755939

RESUMEN

A common feature of the outer layer of protective biological exoskeletons is structural anisotropy. Here, we directly quantify the mechanical anisotropy and fracture of an individual material layer of a hydroxyapatite-based nanocomposite exoskeleton, the outmost ganoine of Polypterus senegalus scale. Uniaxial compression was conducted on cylindrical micropillars of ganoine fabricated via focused ion beam at different orientations relative to the hydroxyapatite rod long axis (θ = 0°, 45°, 90°). Engineering stress versus strain curves revealed significant elastic and plastic anisotropy, off-axial strain hardening, and noncatastrophic crack propagation within ganoine. Off-axial compression (θ = 45°) showed the lowest elastic modulus, E (36.2 ± 1.6 GPa, n ≥ 10, mean ± SEM), and yield stress, σ(Y) (0.81 ± 0.02 GPa), while compression at θ = 0° showed the highest E (51.8 ± 1.7 GPa) and σ(Y) (1.08 ± 0.05 GPa). A 3D elastic-plastic composite nanostructural finite element model revealed this anisotropy was correlated to the alignment of the HAP rods and could facilitate energy dissipation and damage localization, thus preventing catastrophic failure upon penetration attacks.


Asunto(s)
Huesos/patología , Fracturas Óseas/patología , Animales , Anisotropía , Elasticidad , Peces , Imagenología Tridimensional , Nanotecnología/métodos , Esqueleto , Estrés Mecánico
19.
Int J Mol Sci ; 13(2): 1380-1392, 2012.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22408396

RESUMEN

Selected soluble sugars and organic acids were analyzed in strawberry, sweet cherry, and mulberry fruits at different ripening stages by HPLC. The amounts of fructose, glucose and sucrose were found to be: strawberry (1.79-2.86, 1.79-2.25 and 0.01-0.25 g/100 g FW), sweet cherry (0.76-2.35, 0.22-3.39 and 0.03-0.13 g/100 g) and mulberry (3.07-9.41, 1.53-4.95 and 0.01-0.25 g/100 g) at un-ripened to fully-ripened stages, respectively. The strawberry, sweet cherry and mulberry mainly contained tartaric, citric and ascorbic acids in the range of 16-55, 70-1934 and 11-132 mg/100 g; 2-8, 2-10 and 10-17 mg/100 g; 2-118, 139-987 and 2-305 mg/100 g at un-ripened to fully-ripened stages, respectively. Fructose and glucose were established to be the major sugars in all the tested fruit while citric and ascorbic acid were the predominant organic acids in strawberry and mulberry while tartaric acid was mainly present in sweet cherry. The tested fruits mostly showed an increase in the concentration of sugars and organic acids with ripening.


Asunto(s)
Ácido Ascórbico/análisis , Ácido Cítrico/análisis , Análisis de los Alimentos , Fructosa/análisis , Frutas/química , Glucosa/análisis , Morus/química , Prunus/química
20.
Biophys J ; 101(2): 439-48, 2011 Jul 20.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21767497

RESUMEN

Amyloid fibers play important roles in many human diseases and natural biological processes and have immense potential as novel nanomaterials. We explore the physical properties of polymorphic amyloid fibers formed by yeast prion protein Sup35. Amyloid fibers that conferred distinct prion phenotypes ([PSI(+)]), strong (S) versus weak (W) nonsense suppression, displayed different physical properties. Both S[PSI(+)] and W[PSI(+)] fibers contained structural inhomogeneities, specifically local regions of static curvature in S[PSI(+)] fibers and kinks and self-cross-linking in W[PSI(+)] fibers. Force-extension experiments with optical tweezers revealed persistence lengths of 1.5 µm and 3.3 µm and axial stiffness of 5600 pN and 9100 pN for S[PSI(+)] and W[PSI(+)] fibers, respectively. Thermal fluctuation analysis confirmed the twofold difference in persistence length between S[PSI(+)] and W[PSI(+)] fibers and revealed a torsional stiffness of kinks and cross-links of ~100-200 pN·nm/rad.


Asunto(s)
Amiloide/química , Fenómenos Biofísicos , Priones/química , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/química , Módulo de Elasticidad , Fluorescencia , Colorantes Fluorescentes/metabolismo , Humanos , Nanoestructuras/química , Temperatura , Torsión Mecánica
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