http://www.hindawi.com The latest articles from Hindawi Publishing Corporation © 2013 , Hindawi Publishing Corporation . All rights reserved. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:14:34 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2013/892615/ The effects of concentrations of peroxymonosulphate, mercaptosuccinic acid, hydrogen ion, acrylic acid, and carrageenan on grafting parameters were studied to find out the maximum grafting ratio. The corresponding values were found to be , , ,  mol dm−3, and  g dm−3, respectively. The optimal reaction time duration and reaction temperature were found to be 120 min and 40°C, respectively. The effect of hydrogen ion variation from 5.0 up to  mol dm−3 shows prompt changes on grafting parameter. The grafted copolymer was found more thermally stable than the ungrafted substrate. Also the grafted copolymer absorbed more water, namely hazardous metal cations. Hg2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+, showed better flocculation behavior than carrageenan. Arti Srivastava and Rajesh Kumar Copyright © 2013 Arti Srivastava and Rajesh Kumar. All rights reserved. Wed, 08 May 2013 13:36:56 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2013/856142/ Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chain of proteoglycans (PGs) which are widely distributed in the extracellular matrix and at cell surface. CS shows a highly structural diversity in not only molecular weight (MW) but sulfonation pattern. CS has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory activity by having effects on cytokine production by helper T cells. In this study, we focused on the structures of CS chains, especially MW of CS, and investigated effect of the different MW of CS on binding affinity with L-selectin and cytokine production by murine splenocytes. Firstly, we fractionated CS by employing gel　filtration chromatography and obtained several CS fractions with different MW. Then the interaction between fractionated CS and L-selectin was analyzed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Finally, the influence of MW of CS on cytokine production by murine splenocytes was investigated in vitro. The results showed that interferon-gamma production was significantly increased by mouse splenocytes cocultivated with CS. On the contrary, CS inhibited interleukin 5 production by murine splenocytes depending on MW of the cocultivated CS. These results strongly indicate the existence of the optimal molecular size for an anti-inflammatory effect of CS through cytokine production by murine splenocytes. Naoko Igarashi, Atsuko Takeguchi, Shinobu Sakai, Hiroshi Akiyama, Kyohei Higashi, and Toshihiko Toida Copyright © 2013 Naoko Igarashi et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:30:50 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2013/463907/ Guar gum and its derivatives are highly important industrial hydrocolloids as they find applications in various industrial sectors. Guar is a polymer of high molecular weight and its aqueous solutions exhibit unique rheological properties, which has led to its wide acceptance by the industry. In certain industrial applications low molecular weight guar and its derivatives are needed, and conventionally chemical depolymerisation of guar is carried out for this purpose. Radiation processing is a novel and green technology for carrying out depolymerization and can be an ideal substitute for chemical depolymerisation technique. In order to study the effect of radiation on guar derivatives, three types of derivatives have been taken in the present study: carboxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, and methyl guar. The effect of 1–50 KGy radiation dose on the rheological behavior of these derivatives has been studied, and the results have been described in the present paper. The effect on storage and loss modulus with respect to frequency and effect on viscosity with respect to shear rate have been discussed in detail. Meenu Kapoor, Dhriti Khandal, Ruchi Gupta, Pinklesh Arora, Geetha Seshadri, Saroj Aggarwal, and Rakesh Kumar Khandal Copyright © 2013 Meenu Kapoor et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:45:16 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2013/243695/ Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/poly(acrylamide-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels were prepared by using free radical polymerization technique. Silver nanoparticles were formed by reduction of silver nitrate in semi-IPN hydrogels with sodium borohydrate at room temperature. UV-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetrical analysis, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques were used to characterize the formation of silver nanoparticles in hydrogels. SEM images indicated clearly the formation of group of silver nanoparticles with size range of 10–20 nm. The sizes of silver nanoparticles were also supported by transmission electron microscopy results. The semi-IPN silver nanocomposite hydrogels reported here might be a potentially smart material in the range of applications of antibacterial activity. A. Chandra Babu, M. N. Prabhakar, A. Suresh Babu, B. Mallikarjuna, M. C. S. Subha, and K. Chowdoji Rao Copyright © 2013 A. Chandra Babu et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:15:20 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2013/537202/ Polysaccharides present in several seaweeds (Kappaphycus alvarezii, Calliblepharis jubata, and Chondrus crispus—Gigartinales, Rhodophyta; Gelidium corneum and Pterocladiella capillacea—Gelidiales, Rhodophyta; Laurencia obtusa—Ceramiales, Rhodophyta; Himanthalia elongata, Undaria pinnatifida, Saccorhiza polyschides, Sargassum vulgare, and Padina pavonica—Phaeophyceae, Ochrophyta) are analyzed by spectroscopic techniques. The nature of the polysaccharides (with extraction and without any type of extraction) present in these seaweeds was determined with FTIR-ATR and FT-Raman analysis of extracted phycocolloids and ground dry seaweed. Leonel Pereira, Saly F. Gheda, and Paulo J. A. Ribeiro-Claro Copyright © 2013 Leonel Pereira et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:18:40 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2013/657951/ The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of tribomechanical treatments on rheological, thermophysical, and some physical properties of tapioca starch. Samples of tapioca starch were treated using laboratory equipment for tribomechanical micronization and activation (TMA equipment). Before and after the TMA treatment, analysis of the particle size and particle size distribution was carried out, in addition to scanning electron micrography in tapioca starch. Scanning electron micrography showed that tribomechanical processing of tapioca starch resulted in breaking accumulations of starch granules in the form of granules. Pasting parameters have shown that maximal viscosities of model starch suspension have been decreasing after tribomechanical treatment. On the basis of gelatinization curves, it can be concluded that there are changes in the gelatinization point after treatment, and there is decrease in enthalpy of gelatinization for model suspension. After tribomechanical treatment, changes in physical properties of starch suspensions were determined, as well as specific swelling capacity, solubility index, and turbidity of tapioca starch suspensions. Zoran Herceg, Verica Batur, Anet Režek Jambrak, Tomislava Vukušić, Ines Gmajnički, and Igor Špoljarić Copyright © 2013 Zoran Herceg et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:53:14 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2013/624967/ Hyaluronan is a polysaccharide with multiple functions in the human body being involved in creating flexible and protective layers in tissues and in many signalling pathways during embryonic development, wound healing, inflammation, and cancer. Hyaluronan is an important component of active pharmaceutical ingredients for treatment of, for example, arthritis and osteoarthritis, and its commercial value far exceeds that of other microbial extracellular polysaccharides. Traditionally hyaluronan is extracted from animal waste which is a well-established process now. However, biotechnological synthesis of biopolymers provides a wealth of new possibilities. Therefore, genetic/metabolic engineering has been applied in the area of tailor-made hyaluronan synthesis. Another approach is the controlled artificial (in vitro) synthesis of hyaluronan by enzymes. Advantage of using microbial and enzymatic synthesis for hyaluronan production is the simpler downstream processing and a reduced risk of viral contamination. In this paper an overview of the different methods used to produce hyaluronan is presented. Emphasis is on the advancements made in the field of the synthesis of bioengineered hyaluronan. Carmen G. Boeriu, Jan Springer, Floor K. Kooy, Lambertus A. M. van den Broek, and Gerrit Eggink Copyright © 2013 Carmen G. Boeriu et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:04:06 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2013/615124/ Chitosan has been widely used in the preparation of microparticles for drug delivery; however, it has not been considered in forensic applications. Tripolyphosphate- (TPP-) chitosan microparticles were formed using ionotropic gelation in the presence of a coloured dye and deposited onto latent fingerprints enabling fingerprint identification. Issa M. A. Il Dueik and Gordon A. Morris Copyright © 2013 Issa M. A. Il Dueik and Gordon A. Morris. All rights reserved. Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:30:36 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2013/141034/ Effect of acetylation on pretreated wood flour of four different wood species, Boabab (Adansonia digitata), Mahoganny (Daniella oliveri), African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) and Beech wood (Gmelina arborea), had been investigated. The first batch of wood species were acetylated using acetic anhydride while the second batch were acetylated with commercial vinegar. Both experiments were conducted in the presence of varying amount of CaCl2 as catalyst and at temperature of 120°C for 3 h. The success of acetylation was determined based on Weight Percent Gain for each sample treated with either chemicals used. FT-IR, a veritable tool was used for the analysis of both treated and untreated samples to further investigate the success of acetylation. The results showed the presence of important band such as carbonyl absorptions at 1743, 1744, 1746, 1731, 1718 and 1696 cm−1 as appeared separately in the spectra of acetylated samples, confirming esterification occurred. The purpose of this work was to investigate the applicability of vinegar for acetylation of lignocellulosic fibers. Blends/composites were prepared by solution casting and their kinetics investigated in distilled water. The results indicated they could be used in outdoor applications such as, decking and packaging. Yakubu Azeh, Gabriel Ademola Olatunji, Cheku Mohammed, and Paul Andrew Mamza Copyright © 2013 Yakubu Azeh et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Dec 2012 07:50:36 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/197809/ In recent years, research has focused on the positive effects of prebiotics on intestinal health and gut microbiota. The relationship between their chemical structure and their fermentation pattern by human intestinal microbiota is still not well understood. The aim of this study was to improve understanding of this relationship and identify factors that may be used to design galactooligosaccharides that reach more distal regions than commercial prebiotics which mainly target the proximal colon. The following factors were investigated: monomer type, linkage, substitution, and degree of polymerisation. Total organic acid production from sugars by faecal bacteria was fitted to a model which allowed an estimate of the time when half of the maximal organic acid concentration was reached (T50) in static faecal batch cultures. The different factors can be grouped by their effectiveness at prolonging fermentation time as follows: substitution is most effective, with methylgalactose, -galactose-pentaacetate, D-fucose, and galactitol fermented more slowly than D-galactose. Monomers and linkage also influence fermentation time, with L rhamnose, arabinose, melezitose, and xylose being fermented significantly slower than D-glucose (), maltose, isomaltose, cellobiose, and gentiobiose showing that Glc1-6Glc and Glc1-4Glc were utilised slowest. Chain length had the smallest effect on fermentation time. Eva Gietl, Wim Mengerink, Jaap de Slegte, Glenn Gibson, Robert Rastall, and Ellen van den Heuvel Copyright © 2012 Eva Gietl et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:01:11 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/394574/ The click concept refers ease, efficient, and the selective chemicals transformations. In this study, a novel regiospecific copper (I)-catalyzed 1, 3-dipolar of terminal alkynes to azide provided a practicable synthetic pathway of triazole iminosugars derivatives. A series of new triazole-pyrrolidinols are reported in good yield. Chahrazed Benhaoua Copyright © 2012 Chahrazed Benhaoua. All rights reserved. Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:40:42 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/693629/ The antibacterial performance of sol-gel-derived inorganic-organic hybrid polymers filled with ZnO nanoparticles-chitosan against a gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and a gram-positive Micrococcus luteus has been investigated. Three different molecular weights (MW) of chitosan (CTS) 1.36 · 105, 2.2 · 105, and 3.0 · 105 Da with equal degree of deacetylation (DD, 85%) (coded as S 85-60, He 85-250, and He 85-500) with equal degree of deacetylation (DD, 85%) were examined. ZnO was prepared by the base hydrolysis of zinc acetate in isopropanol using lithium hydroxide (LiOH · H2O) to hydrolyze the precursor. Sol-gel-based inorganic-organic hybrid polymers were modified with these oxides and were applied to cellulosic cotton (100%) and cotton/polyester (65/35%) fabrics. Inorganic-organic hybrids polymers were based on 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Bacteriological tests were performed in nutrient agar media on solid agar plates and in liquid broth systems using ZnO nanoparticles with average particle size of (40 nm). Our study showed the enhanced antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles chitosan (different MW) of against a gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli DSMZ 498 and a gram-positive Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 in repeated experiments. The antibacterial activity of textile treated with ZnO nanoparticles chitosan increases with decreasing the molecular weight of chitosan. Asmaa Farouk, Shaaban Moussa, Mathias Ulbricht, and Torsten Textor Copyright © 2012 Asmaa Farouk et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 09 Dec 2012 11:46:33 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/356563/ The present study describes the synthesis of a chromophoric system 2-(5-(4-dimethylamino-benzylidin)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-thiazolidin-3-yl)acetic acid and its incorporation into starch through esterification of the hydroxyl group by the free carboxyl function of the chromophoric system by DCC coupling. The products were characterized by UV-visible, fluorescence, FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopic methods. The newly developed system was subjected to photoresponsive studies such as light absorption, light stabilization and fluorescence emission. The free chromophoric system and the coupled product were also subjected to thermal analysis. The results show that modification enhances the light absorption and light fastening properties of the chromophoric system. Thermal stability of the polymeric system greatly enhances on attaching the chromophoric system. In view of these results the newly developed system is proposed as a nature friendly, green, and photoactive product which could find application in dyes, inks, paints, and so forth. Ambily Chandran, Sunny Kuriakose, and Tessymol Mathew Copyright © 2012 Ambily Chandran et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:12:27 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/456491/ Acetylated cellulose and wood cellulose as well as untreated cellulose polyethylene blends were subjected to kinetic studies using water, 0.5 M NaOH, and 0.5 M HCl solutions in order to investigate their absorbent properties at 0.5/1.0 cellulose/wood cellulose/polyethylene matrix. The results of the absorption studies showed that the untreated cellulose and wood cellulose blends absorbed water and the acid and alkali solutions higher than the treated samples, which showed a reduction in acid, alkali, and water uptake. In this work, the effects of acetylation on the morphological studies of the polyethylene blends were obvious. The presence of acetyl groups improved the interfacial bonding between the polymer matrix and cellulose as well as the wood cellulose fibers, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Yakubu Azeh, Gabriel Ademola Olatunji, and Paul Andrew Mamza Copyright © 2012 Yakubu Azeh et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 21 Nov 2012 12:54:02 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/459410/ Pectin polysaccharides (PSs) were isolated from a bark of Larix sibirica Ledeb. Structure of PS fragments determined by chemical transformations, chromatography, and spectroscopic analyses was found to be a linear galacturonane comprising 1,4-linked α-D-GalpA residues and a rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I). The fifth part of galacturonane residues was methyl esterified at at C-2 and/or C-3 and C-6 atoms. Some of RG-I side chains were identified as arabinogalactan subunits with highly branched structure consisting of linear backbone with3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1residues, substituted at C-6 by neutral side chains. This side chains contained2,5)-α-L-Araf-(1and3,5)-α-L-Araf-(1residues and terminal arabinose in the pyranose and furanose form. It was found that “pectin-Ag(0)” nanobiocomposites were formed via the interaction between PS aqueous solutions and silver nitrate, with PS playing both reducing and stabilizing functions. It was shown that the content of Ag(0) particles in “pectin-Ag(0)” depended on the reaction conditions and can range from 0.1 to 72 %, the size of Ag(0) particles being 3–27 nm. Using 13C NMR technique, it was revealed that PS underwent destructive changes and they they were more considerable, more than the lot of Ag(I) that was inputed into the reactionary medium. Nadezhda Viktorovna Ivanova, Natalya Nikolaevna Trofimova, Lydmila Alexandrovna Es'kova, and Vasilyi Anatolievich Babkin Copyright © 2012 Nadezhda Viktorovna Ivanova et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:00:17 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/906389/ The miscibility of Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) blends over an extended range of concentrations in water. The viscosity, ultrasonic velocity, and refractive index of the above blend solutions have been measured at 30°C. The interaction parameters such as and μ proposed by Chee and α proposed by Sun have been obtained using the viscosity data to probe the miscibility of the polymer blends. The values indicated that the blends were miscible when HPC content is more than 40% in the blend. The obtained results have been confirmed by the ultrasonic velocity and refractive index studies. The films of the blends were prepared by solution casting method using water as a solvent. The prepared films have been characterized by analytical techniques such as FTIR, DSC, X-RD, and SEM to probe the miscibility of HPC/PEG blends. The compatibility in the above compositions may be due to the formation of H-bonding between hydroxyl groups of HPC and etheric oxygen atom of PEG molecules. K. Sudharsan Reddy, M. N. Prabhakar, P. Kumara Babu, G. Venkatesulu, U. Sajan Kumarji Rao, K. Chowdoji Rao, and M. C. S. Subha Copyright © 2012 K. Sudharsan Reddy et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 02 Sep 2012 14:22:37 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/209085/ A novel biodegradable graft copolymer of dextran (Dx) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulphonic acid (AMPS) was synthesized by grafting poly-AMPS chains onto dextran backbone by free radical polymerization using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator. Different amounts of AMPS were used to synthesize four different grades of graft copolymers with different side chain lengths. These grafted polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1HNMR, rheological technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). They exhibited efficient flocculation performance in kaolin suspension. Venkanna Azmeera, P. Adhikary, and S. Krishnamoorthi Copyright © 2012 Venkanna Azmeera et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:22:15 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/458456/ A previous work on Plantago palmata polysaccharides (PS) attributed immunomodulatory properties of leaves to a polysaccharide fraction (PS50) that stimulated NO and TNF-α production by interferon gamma- (IFN-γ-) activated macrophages. The present work aims to elucidate the chemical structure of these immunomodulatory polysaccharides. Size exclusion chromatography showed that the active polymers present an active fraction with a very high molecular weight (about 1200 kDa). These polysaccharides are pectic in nature, with a predominantly unbranched galacturonan domain and with a domain bearing side chains that consist of highly branched arabinan, galactan, and/or arabinogalactan. Comparatively to the well-known Plantago major biologically active PS, Plantago palmata PS50 contained less arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) and had a different composition in glucose, galactose, and galacturonic acid. DNA contamination of the polysaccharide was estimated at about 0.04%, a concentration much lower than those reported immunomodulatory in hyaluronic acid preparations (3 to 15%). Therefore, the eventuality of a contaminating DNA-mediated biological activity could be ruled out. Gabriel Biringanine, Moustapha Ouedraogo, Bernard Vray, Anne Berit Samuelsen, and Pierre Duez Copyright © 2012 Gabriel Biringanine et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:06:17 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/139328/ A novel approach of spectrophotometric quantification of chitosan based on one-step depolymerization with sodium nitrite followed by reaction of the end product with thiobarbituric acid has been proposed, optimized, and validated. In this process, chitosan is converted into 2,5-anhydro-D-mannose that reacts with thiobarbituric acid to form pink color. The color that resulted from the reaction was stabilized and measured at 555 nm. The method optimization was essential as many procedural parameters influenced the accuracy of the determination including hydrolysis conditions, thiobarbituric acid concentration, reaction time, pH, reaction temperature, and color stability period. Under given optimized conditions that appeared to be critical, chitosan was quantitatively analyzed and the calibration graph was linear over the range of 10–50 μg/mL (𝑟2=0.999). This approach was applied for determination of chitosan in pharmaceutical formulation (chitocal) and had a recovery rate of higher than 96%. The developed method is easy to use and highly accurate. Mohamed E. I. Badawy Copyright © 2012 Mohamed E. I. Badawy. All rights reserved. Thu, 31 May 2012 09:12:30 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/104565/ Soybean seeds suffer attacks of various pests that result in a decreased yield in northeastern China. Until recently, people use pesticides such as insecticides to achieve the goal of controlling pests. Chitosan extracted from deacetylation of chitin is promising candidates as a seed-coating agent to control agrotis ypsilon, soybean pod borer, and soybean aphid effectively. An experimental study on influences of chitosan with different concentrations on pest controlling and soybean growth was made in the paper. Coating based on chitosan was used as a feeding deterrent and for enhancing the germination and quality of soybean seeds. Results indicated that all chitosan coating had a significant effect on antifeeding against pests; with the increasing concentration, antifeedant rate (AR) were increased obviously, especially when in the concentration of 5%, santifeedant rate of agrotis ypsilon, soybean pod borer, and soybean aphid reached 82.89%, 87.24%, and 80.21%, respectively. Also chitosan coating increased seed germination, plant growth, and soybean yield efficiently, especially when, in the concentration of 5%, the yield was increased by about 20% compared with CK. The application of chitosan in soybean seed coated is an appropriate option to control pests replacing high-toxicity pesticides and enhance soybean yield. Defang Zeng, Xinrong Luo, and Renjie Tu Copyright © 2012 Defang Zeng et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 14 May 2012 18:24:49 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/840591/ Synthesis of chitosan/ZnO nanoparticles was performed using different concentrations of ZnO at different temperatures. Nanoparticles of ZnO/chitosan were prepared in rod form with average length 60 nm and average width 5–15 nm. Thus, obtained nanoparticles of ZnO/chitosan were characterized using UV spectrophotometer, FTIR, TEM, X-ray, and SEM. Size and shape of chitosan/ZnO nanoparticles relied on conditions of their synthesis. Notably, chitosan/ZnO in rod form with average length of 60 nm and average width 5–15 nm could be achieved. Application of chitosan/ZnO nanoparticles to cotton fabric conferred on the latter antibacterial and UV protection properties. Cotton fabric was characterized using SEM, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating, and antibacterial (gram-positive and gram-negative) characteristics. Finished cotton fabric exhibited good antibacterial properties against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The UV testes indicated a significant improvement in UV protection of finished cotton fabric which is increasing by increasing the concentration of nanoparticles of ZnO/chitosan. M. M. AbdElhady Copyright © 2012 M. M. AbdElhady. All rights reserved. Wed, 09 May 2012 10:02:44 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/487564/ Specific HPLC approaches are essential for carbohydrate characterization in food products. Carbohydrates are weak acids with pKa values in the range 12–14 and, consequently, at high pH can be transformed into oxyanions, and can be readily separated using highly efficient anion-exchange columns. Electrochemical detection in HPLC has been proven to be a powerful analytical technique for the determination of compounds containing electroactive groups; pulsed amperometric detection of carbohydrates is favourably performed by taking advantage of their electrocatalytic oxidation mechanism at a gold working electrode in a basic media. High-performance Anion Exchange Chromatography (HPAEC) at high pH coupled with pulsed electrochemical detection (PED) is one of the most useful techniques for carbohydrate determination either for routine monitoring or research application. This technique has been of a great impact on the analysis of oligo- and polysaccharides. The compatibility of electrochemical detection with gradient elution, coupled with the high selectivity of the anion-exchange stationary phases, allows mixtures of simple sugars, oligo- and polysaccharides to be separated with high resolution in a single run. A few reviews have been written on HPAEC-PED of carbohydrates of food interest in the last years. In this paper the recent developments in this field are examined. Claudio Corradini, Antonella Cavazza, and Chiara Bignardi Copyright © 2012 Claudio Corradini et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:52:45 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/948652/ Brönsted acidic ionic liquid 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride (PSMIMCl) shows a higher catalytic activity than sulfuric acid in the hydrolysis of D-cellobiose to D-glucose in water at 90–120°C. This catalytic activity enhancement is more significant at higher temperatures, and at 120°C, PSMIMCl produced 64.5% glucose yield, whereas H2SO4 produced only 42.2% after 40 min. reaction, and this is a 52.8% enhancement of catalytic activity due to the alkylimidazolium group attached to the sulfonic acid group. 1H NMR monitoring of the D-cellobiose hydrolysis in PSMIMCl and sulfuric acid mediums failed to reveal intermediates in the hydrolysis reaction, and this is probably due to rapid conversion of the intermediate(s) to a mixture of D-glucose anomers with 𝛼∶𝛽≈1∶1.6. Ananda S. Amarasekara and Bernard Wiredu Copyright © 2012 Ananda S. Amarasekara and Bernard Wiredu. All rights reserved. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:47:28 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/640923/ Glycosylation is one of the most abundant posttranslation modifications of proteins, and accumulating evidence indicate that the vast majority of proteins in eukaryotes are glycosylated. Glycosylation plays a role in protein folding, interaction, stability, and mobility, as well as in signal transduction. Thus, by regulating protein activity, glycosylation is involved in the normal functioning of the cell and in the development of diseases. Indeed, in the past few decades there has been a growing realization of the importance of protein glycosylation, as aberrant glycosylation has been implicated in metabolic, neurodegenerative, and neoplastic diseases. Thus, the identification and quantification of protein-borne oligosaccharides have become increasingly important both in the basic sciences of biochemistry and glycobiology and in the applicative sciences, particularly biomedicine and biotechnology. Here, we review the state-of-the-art methodologies for the identification and quantification of oligosaccharides, specifically N- and O-glycosylated proteins. Ziv Roth, Galit Yehezkel, and Isam Khalaila Copyright © 2012 Ziv Roth et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:32:23 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2012/725271/ Carbohydrates play vital roles in many biological processes, such as recognition, adhesion, and signalling between cells. The Lewis X determinant is a trisaccharide fragment implicated as a specific differentiation antigen, tumor antigen, and key component of the ligand for the endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule, so it is necessary or essential to determine and to know their conformational and structural properties. In this work, conformational analysis was performed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with the AMBER10 program package in order to study the dynamic behavior of of the Lewis X trisaccharide (β-D-Gal-(1,4)-[α-L-Fuc-(1,3)]-β-D-GlcNAc-OMe) and the Lewis X pentasaccharide (β-D-Gal-(1,4)-[α-L-Fuc-(1,3)]-β-D-GlcNAc-(1,3)-β-D-Gal-(1,4)-β-D-Glu-OMe) in explicit water model at 300 K for 10 ns using the GLYCAM 06 force field. N. Khebichat, K. Nekkaz, and S. Ghalem Copyright © 2012 N. Khebichat et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:36:37 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2011/693759/ Antibacterial efficacy of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) deposited alternatively layer by layer (LBL) on chitosan polymer in the form of a thin film over a quartz plate and stainless steel strip has been studied. An eight-bilayer chitosan/silver (Cs/Ag)8 hybrid was prepared having a known concentration of silver. Techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were carried out to understand and elucidate the physical nature of the film. Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), were used as a test sample in saline solution for antibacterial studies. The growth inhibition at different intervals of contact time and, more importantly, the antibacterial properties of the hybrid film on repeated cycling in saline solution have been demonstrated. AFM studies are carried out for the first time on the microbe to know the morphological changes affected by the hybrid film. The hybrid films on aging (3 months) are found to be as bioactive as before. Cytotoxicity experiments indicated good biocompatibility. The hybrid can be a promising bioactive material for the prevention of biofilms specific to E. coli and in purification of water for safe drinking. Somnath Ghosh, Tasneem Kausar Ranebennur, and H. N. Vasan Copyright © 2011 Somnath Ghosh et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:42:40 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2011/964521/ Rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II) is a type of block copolymer of complex pectins that represents a quantitatively minor component of the primary cell walls of land (vascular) plants. The structural composition of RG-II is almost totally sequenced and appears to be remarkably conserved in all tracheophytes so far examined. The backbone of RG-II, released from complex (cell wall) pectins by endo-polygalacturonase (Endo-PG) treatment, has been found to contain up to 15 (1→4)-linked-α-D-GalpA units, some of which carry four well-defined side chains, often referred to as A-, B-, C-, and D-side chains. Nevertheless, the relative locations on the backbone of these four branches, especially the A chain, remain to be ascertained. A combination of different data suggests that neither the terminal nonreducing GalA nor the contiguous GalA unit is likely to be the branching point of the A chain, but probably the ninth GalA residue from the reducing end, assuming a minimum backbone length of 11 (1→4)-linked-α-d-GalpA. The latest reports on RG-II are here highlighted, with a provided update for the macrostructure and array of functionalities. Beda M. Yapo Copyright © 2011 Beda M. Yapo. All rights reserved. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:56:36 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2011/802693/ Bruno Sarmento, Francisco M. Goycoolea, Alejandro Sosnik, and José das Neves Copyright © 2011 Bruno Sarmento et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:11:20 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2011/165638/ Few natural waxy starches are offered to the industry demand. Therefore, the morphological, physical, and chemical characteristics of “Mapuey” waxy starch were assessed. Amylose contents of starches isolated from Dioscorea trifida L. (“Mapuey”) landraces cultivated in the Amazons of Venezuela were lower (<8.1%) than commercial Mapuey starch (>8.7%). DSC onset gelatinization temperatures varied from 71.1 to 73.2°C. All starches exhibited B-type patterns, with degrees of crystallinity varying from 28% to 33%. The highest crystallinity was found for the starches exhibiting the highest amylose content. At 90°C, solubility and swelling power varied from 2.3 to 4.3% and 20.9 to 32.8%, respectively. Gel clarity was variable from 20.8 to 62.1%. A 5% starch suspension induced a high RVA peak viscosity between 1667 and 2037 cP. This natural waxy yam resource is a promising ingredient for food industry. Elevina Pérez, Olivier Gibert, Agnès Rolland-Sabaté, Xiomara Segovia, Teresa Sánchez, Max Reynes, and Dominique Dufour Copyright © 2011 Elevina Pérez et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:24:30 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcc/2011/146763/ Properties of the flame retardant urea formaldehyde (UF) board made from saw dust fibers were investigated. Flame retardant chemicals that were evaluated include boric acid (BA) and borax (BX) which were incorporated with saw dust fibers to manufacture experimental panels. Three concentration levels, (0.5, 1, and 5%) of fire retardants and 10% urea formaldehyde resin based on oven dry fiber weight were used to manufacture experimental panels. Physical and mechanical properties including water absorption, modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were determined. The results showed that water absorption and bending strength decreased as the flame retardant increased. The highest concentration of (BA + BX) enhanced the fire retardant more than the lower ones. Scanning electron microscope and FTIR of composite panels were studied. Zenat A. Nagieb, Mona A. Nassar, and Magda G. El-Meligy Copyright © 2011 Zenat A. Nagieb et al. All rights reserved.