Degradation of organophosphoric esters (OPEs) in leachate from a sea-based solid waste disposal site was investigated by laboratory experiment. Aryl-phosphates, tricresyl phosphate and triphenyl phosphate, in leachate rapidly decreased to less than the detection limit within 20 days under aerobic condition, suggesting high biodegradability. These phosphates also decreased in sterilized leachate...

In order to research into the cytology mechanism of anti-virus action of total flavone of Scutellaria barbata (TFSB), the effects of TFSB on host cells membrane potential, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and membrane fluidity after parainfluenza virus type1 (PIV-1) infection were studied. The changes of membrane potential which was fluorescent labeled with DiBAC4(3) and its changes were measured by ...

Characterization and optimization studies of N-methyl-4-hydrazino-7-nitrobenzofurazan (MNBDH) as a new fluorogenic substrate in the peroxidation reaction catalyzed by DNAzyme are reported. The effects of pH, H2O2 concentration, metal-cation type, and the concentration and type of surfactant on the fluorescence intensity were investigated. The optimized reaction was subsequently used for the dev...

It is well known that the plasma membranes of mammalian spermatozoa undergo extensive remodeling during maturation in the epididymal duct. In this investigation, we have used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) techniques to: 1) measure rates of lipid diffusion in the plasma membrane of mouse spermatozoa at different stages of maturation; 2) examine the effects of varying external...

Sphingolipids are abundant constituents of neuronal membranes that have been implicated in intracellular signaling, neurite outgrowth and differentiation. Differential localization and trafficking of lipids to membrane domains contribute to the specialized functions. In non-neuronal cultured cell lines, plasma membrane short-chain sphingomyelin and glucosylceramide are recycled via endosomes or...

The concentrations of L-3-hydroxybutyrate (L-3HB) in the serum of aristolochic acid (AA)treated mice were determined by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The samples were derivatized with 4-nitro-7-piperazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-PZ) and determined fluorimetrically. Total 3-HB derivatives in serum were separated by an ODS column and then introduced to a sample...

Treatment of 4-heptafluoroisopropyl-2-methoxy-3,5,6-trifluropyridine (4 ) with aqueous ammonia in THF gave 2-amino-3,5-difluoro-4-heptafluoroisopropyl- 6-methoxy pyridine (5) in 7 1% yield. Chlorination of this amine with 'ButOCl at -16°C gave an unstable product, namely 2-dichloroarnino-3,5- difluoro-4-heptafluoroisopropyl-6-methoxy pyridine (6). Iodine-catalysed rearrangement of this dic...

Nickel ferrite nanoparticles with superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature were synthesized using a coprecipitation method. These magnetic nanoparticles were either covered with a lipid bilayer, forming dry magnetic liposomes (DMLs), or entrapped in liposomes, originating aqueous magnetoliposomes (AMLs). A new and promising method for the synthesis of DMLs is described. The presence of th...

We have measured the rates of insertion into, desorption from, and spontaneous interlayer translocation (flip-flop) in liquid-disordered and liquid-ordered phase lipid bilayer membranes, of the fluorescent phospholipid derivative NBD-dimyristoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine. This study made use of a recently described method that exploits a detailed knowledge of the binding kinetics of an amphiphil...

Endosomal escape is a major barrier to the nuclear delivery of DNA. Quantitative measurements of endosomal escape would help identify inefficiencies of current nonviral gene therapy agents and would allow for the development of rationally designed delivery vehicles. We investigated two commonly used, commercially available nonviral delivery systems: Lipofectamine 2000 (L2K) and polyethylenimine...