Microstructure and crystallization kinetics analysis of the (In15Sb85)(100-x)Zn(x) phase change recording thin films.

The (In15Sb85)(100-x)Zn(x) films (x = 0 - 17.4) were deposited on nature oxidized Si wafer and glass substrate at room temperature by magnetron co-sputtering of Sb target and InZn composite target. The thermal property of the films was examined by a homemade reflectivity thermal analyzer. Microstructures of the films were analyzed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). We examined the effects of Zn addition on the thermal property, crystallization kinetics, and crystallization mechanism of the In15Sb85 recording film. As x = 0 - 17.4, thermal analysis shows that the (In15Sb85)(100-x)Zn(x) films have two phase transition temperature ranges which are 189 degrees C-215 degrees C and 300 degrees C-350 degrees C. It is found that the activation energy is increased with Zn content. This indicates that the thermal stability of amorphous state is improved by doping Zn. The optical contrasts of the films are all larger than 15%, as x = 0 - 6.2, indicating that the films have the potential in blue laser optical recording media application.

Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA for three species of Eimeria from chickens in Taiwan.

Coccidiosis of chickens caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria (Coccidia: Eimeriidae) is an enteric disease that results in great economic losses throughout the world, including Taiwan. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers specific for the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), three species of Eimeria, E. tenella, E. maxima, and E. acervulina have been successfully characterised from chickens in Taiwan. The sizes of PCR products from various isolates representing these three species were between 370 and 580 base pairs (bp). After cloning and sequencing of the PCR products, high nucleotide sequence identity (96.8-100%) was observed within a species. In addition, ITS-2 nucleotide sequences for E. tenella had higher homology (98.5-99.3%) than E. maxima (81.6-96.5%) when compared with appropriate sequences deposited in GenBank. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a 412-bp ITS-2 sequence for E. acervulina from chickens.

Anti-oxidant activity and effect of Pinus morrisonicola Hay. on the survival of leukemia cell line U937.

The free radical scavenging and anti-cancer activites of Pinus morrisonicola Hay. were studied using different parts of the pine, namely, needle, bark and cone. Results showed that pine needle water extract has the highest scavenging superoxide anion activity and the lowest IC50 value in inhibiting superoxide anion formation; however, the bark water extract showed the best anti-lipid peroxidation activity. Additionally, needle water extract displayed the highest inhibition of leukemia cell line U937 growth. The results indicated that P. morrisonicola Hay. possesses potential chemopreventative and therapeutic properties.

Effect of ionizing radiation on liver mitochondrial respiratory functions in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the radiation effect on mitochondria of the mouse liver in vivo. METHODS: Livers of BALB/c mice were squeezed out through openings cut on the upper abdomen and radiation doses were delivered only to the livers. Radiation effects on the structure and function of liver mitochondria were evaluated from both respiratory control ratio (RCR) and ADP/O (adenosine 5'-diphosphate/oxygen) ratio supported by two substrates, succinate and glutamate/malate mixtures. RESULTS: The data showed that both state 3 and state 4 respiratory rates were significantly decreased concomitantly with the increase of radiation dose up to 20 Gy. Succinate-supported, but not glutamate/malate-supported, respiratory control ratio, was also decreased with the increase of radiation dose. ADP/O ratios measured from the support of both succinate and glutamate/malate were not changed by gamma-radiation. This differential radiation damage indicated that respiratory control ratio was more vulnerable to radiation than oxidative phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: Although the functional integrity of ATP synthetic machinery of the mitochondria was not perturbed by ionizing radiation under 20 Gy, the structural integrity of mitochondrial membrane might be affected by ionizing radiation at a dose-dependent manner.

Development of a monoclonal antibody specific to cooked mammalian meats.

Detection of species adulteration in ground meat products is important for consumer protection and food-labeling law enforcement. This study was conducted to develop monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that can be used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for rapid detection of any cooked mammalian meats in cooked poultry products. Soluble muscle proteins extracted from cooked pork (heated at 100 degrees C for 15 min) were used as the antigen to immunized mice for developing the MAb. One that was developed, MAb 2F8 (IgG2b class), strongly reacted with cooked meat of five mammalian species (beef cattle, hogs, sheep, horse, and deer) but did not react with any cooked poultry (chicken, turkey, and duck) or raw meats. At least 0.5% by weight of pork, beef, lamb, and horse meats in a chicken-based mixture could not detect using the indirect ELISA with MAb 2F8. The MAb 2F8 is useful in a single initial screening test to detect the presence of five nonpoultry meat adulterants in cooked poultry products.

Production and partial characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific to cooked poultry meat.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to cooked poultry muscle proteins have been developed for the detection of poultry adulterants in cooked mammalian meat. Saline (0.85% NaCl) extract of heat-treated (100 °C, 15min) chicken muscle proteins was used to immunize mice for MAb development. The specificity of MAbs was tested against chicken antigen and protein extracts from seven other meat species (pork, beef, lamb, deer, horse, turkey and duck) by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent immunoassay (ELISA). The immunogenic components in the poultry protein extracts were determined by SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting. A total of six hybridoma cell lines that secrete IgG class MAbs have been developed: MAbs 3E12 and 1A5 were able to distinguish between cooked poultry and mammalian meats, MAbs 9C6 and 6F7 reacted strongly with cooked chicken only, and MAbs, 5D2 and 6G8, reacted with both cooked turkey and chicken but not other species. All six MAbs demonstrated a proportional increased ELISA response to respective adulterated poultry samples in pork over a 0-100% range of aduleration.