Binder Technology Research Articles

Novel Method for Investigation of Interactions between Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase and Adenine Nucleotide Translocase

The aim of this study was to elaborate fluorescent labeling of mitochondrial creatine kinase (MtCK) and adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) to investigate the mechanism of their functional coupling with Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique. New alternative fluorescent labeling technique - Fluorescein Arsenical Hairpin (Flash/tetracystein) binder technology was exploited to fluorescently label MtCK. Implementation of fluorescent proteins such as GFP for MtCK fluorescent tagging was excluded because of the functional importance of MtCK C- and N-terminal part and insertion of large fluorescent protein inside the MtCK protein imposes potential risk to interfere the structure, localization and function of the fused protein. Tetracysteine motifs were introduced into five different positions in MtCK by mutagenesis. Sequentially the recombinant MtCK constructs were expressed in different eukaryotic cells lines and activity of the constructs were determined. The cells were stained with Flash labeling reagent and the expression of tetracysteine tagged MtCK mutants were visualized ab inito with epifluorescent and confocal microscopy. Improved variant of cyan fluroescent protein Cerulean as an appropriate FRET partner for Flash was chosen to fluorescently label ANT. Both N- and C-terminally fused ANT-Cerulean constructs were generated. ANT fusion proteins were expressed in different eukaryotic cell lines and their expression was visualized with epifluorescent and confocal microscopy. Functional constructs of MtCK and ANT-Cerulean were selected for studies of their interaction in cardiomyocytes by applying FRET technique.

A strategy to reduce energy usage in ceramic fabrication

Because of serious global environmental problems, the ceramic industry has been concentrating on the reduction of energy usage during manufacturing. In this project, we have investigated low-energy processing techniques for ceramic components. Our research and development approach was carried out with the goal of realizing new ceramics that can be manufactured using conventional manufacturing processes and equipment at low-cost without significant degradation in material properties. After a careful investigation of possible technologies, we concluded that a decrease in the amount of organic binder is the most effective technique to promote low-energy processing, and have successfully developed a novel binder technology. Our technology and knowledge have contributed to greatly reduce the amount of energy required for ceramic fabrication through a collaborative research project with a private company.

Interpreting chemistry and technology of lime binders and implementing it in the conservation field

O objectivo do presente artigo e a compilacao, revisao e disseminacao do actual conhecimento cientifico sobre teoria e tecnologia da cal no campo da conservacao do patrimonio. Com base na investigacao da ultima decada, sao destacados os fortes indicios do efeito positivo - nao demonstravel por equacao quimica - do elo perdido 'chave', o processo de maturacao. E demonstrado que as excepcionais caracteristicas de desempenho das argamassas a base de cal mais duraveis dependem predominantemente das suas capacidades para uma rapida, eficiente e extensa carbonatacao da fase de presa aerea da cal, em particular quando e usada cal em pasta com maior tempo de maturacao (extincao humida ao nivel das nanoparticulas); e da estabilidade quimica e mecânica dos com-ponentes de resistencia (principalmente silicatos de calcio hidratados (CSHs)) da fase hidraulica da cal, que e mais elevada nas for-mas mais cristalinas das misturas historicas de cal e pozolana do que nas formas amorfas dos cimentos modernos. Deste modo sao asseguradas as ligacoes fisico-quimicas por adesao e por coesao, quer na matriz de cal, quer nas interfaces ligante/agregado, conferindo minimizacao de fissuras e durabilidade a argamassas a base de cal e alvenarias historicas. Uma abrangente documentacao destes processos permitira a obtencao de materiais e procedimentos progressivamente mais adequados a preservacao do nosso patrimonio cultural.

A review of pressure-sensitive paint for high-speed and unsteady aerodynamics

The current paper describes the development of pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technology as an advanced measurement technique for unsteady flow fields and short-duration wind tunnels. Newly developed paint formulations have step response times approaching 1 μs, making them suitable for a wide range of unsteady testing. Developments in binder technology are discussed, which have resulted in new binder formulations such as anodized aluminium, thin-layer chromatography plate, polymer/ceramic, and poly(TMSP) PSP. The current paper also details modeling work done to describe the gas diffusion properties within the paint binder and understand the limitations of the paint response characteristics. Various dynamic calibration techniques for PSP are discussed, along with summaries of typical response times. A review of unsteady and high-speed PSP applications is presented, including experiments with shock tubes, hypersonic tunnels, unsteady delta wing aerodynamics, fluidic oscillator flows, Hartmann tube oscillations, acoustics, and turbomachinery. Flowfields with fundamental frequencies as high as 21 kHz have been successfully measured with porous PSP formulations.

Pasteurella multocida detection by 5′ Taq nuclease assay: A new tool for use in diagnosing fowl cholera

A 5′ Taq nuclease assay utilising minor groove binder technology and targeting the 16S rRNA gene was designed to detect Pasteurella multocida (the causative agent of fowl cholera) in swabs collected from poultry. The assay was first evaluated using pure cultures. The assay correctly identified four P. multocida taxonomic type strains, 18 P. multocida serovar reference strains and 40 Australian field isolates (17 from poultry, 11 from pigs and 12 from cattle). Representatives of nine other Pasteurella species, 26 other bacterial species (18 being members of the family Pasteurellaceae) and four poultry virus isolates did not react in the assay. The assay detected a minimum of approximately 10 cfu of P. multocida per reaction. Of 79 poultry swabs submitted to the laboratory for routine bacteriological culture, 17 were positive in the 5′ Taq nuclease assay, but only 10 were positive by culture. The other 62 swabs were negative for P. multocida by both 5′ Taq nuclease assay and culture. The assay is suitable for use in diagnosing fowl cholera, is more rapid than bacteriological culture, and may also have application in diagnosing P. multocida infections in cattle and pigs.

Scratch- and mar-resistant refinish two-pack clear coats — linear versus branched acrylics

The new generation clear coats introduced in the automotive industry have improved scratch and mar resistance. It is believed that those properties are related to the introduction of new binder technologies leading to higher film cross-link densities. This was relatively easy to accomplish in the automotive industry because baking temperatures are well above the glass-transition temperature (Tg) of the final clear coat film. In car repair coatings, the cross-linking takes place under conditions where the intermediate and/or final film Tg values are above the curing temperature. Such formulations result in vitrification during the drying process, a transition during which chemical cure and solvent release are slowed down substantially. The chemical cure can be improved through more reactive and/or higher functional binders, but this shifts the gel point to shorter times in the drying cycle which may lead to more solvent entrapment, resulting in low film hardnesses and paint defects. This paper describes the overall properties of 2K-refinish clear coats based on linear versus branched, random and graft acrylic polyols. The authors will try to correlate overall properties with theoretical predictions and practical results.

Predictive Test Methods for Acrylic Thermoset Binders

Safety and health concerns about the use of formaldehyde based thermosets has sparked investigation into alternative, safe thermoset binders. Predicting the performance of thermosetting binders in industrial nonwoven applications, such as the manufacturing of fiberglass building insulation, is key to the development of new, safe binder technology. Reliably predictive laboratory scale experiments facilitate rapid testing of small quantities of experimental binder formulations without the cost and inconvenience associated with full-scale plant trials. The challenge is to mimic key aspects of the industrial process on the laboratory scale. The gap between laboratory and manufacturing environment is exacerbated when making large changes in resin chemistry or formulation, for example, using acrylic thermoset resins such as TSET#1™, in place of phenol-formaldehyde resins. We have developed a battery of laboratory scale tests to assess acrylic thermosetting binders in a fiberglass insulation process. These methods focus on binder cure properties, binder-substrate interactions, or other processing aspects. Aspects of testing such as surrogate substrate materials, time-temperature history, and humid aging are discussed. Each method provides an insight to one aspect of binder performance, and, taken in aggregate, the data from these techniques can be used as a tool to predict binder performance on the plant scale.

Consensus JH Gene Probes with Conjugated 3′-Minor Groove Binder for Monitoring Minimal Residual Disease in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Several approaches for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have shown the importance of determining the level of MRD precisely. In the present study, we tested a new real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) strategy with minor groove binder (MGB) technology for immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements by positioning a MGB probe at the germline JH segments and one of the primers at the downstream introns in combination with an allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) primer complementary to the VH-DH or DH-JH junctional region. A MGB probe forms extremely stable duplexes with single-stranded DNA targets, allowing the use of shorter probes for hybridization-based assays. Therefore, it shows positional flexibility. We have designed two novel consensus MGB JH germline probes for analyzing all of the germline rearrangements registered in the V BASE database, and demonstrated that the MRD was detectable with the probes in 17 cases of childhood ALL. The actual copy number for the targets and dynamic changes before and after treatment were almost identical between the JH MGB probe and conventional non-MGB probes in each patient. MGB technology will undoubtedly contribute to MRD-PCR studies of childhood ALL.

Short consensus probes with 3′-minor groove binder of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene for real-time quantitative PCR in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas

We used 3′-minor groove binder (MGB) technology to develop consensus fluorogenically labeled probes of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) gene for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). Sequence data from 59 patients with B-NHLs revealed a narrow consensus region as a result of somatic hypermutations and variable VH usage, indicating that it would be difficult to design ordinary non-MGB probes. MGB probes, characterized by shorter length but higher melting temperature, are more suitable for this situation than ordinary non-MGB probes. In fact, the present data indicated that about 20% more cases were detectable with MGB probes (34/59, 57.6%) than with the non-MGB probes (23/59, 39.0%) designed by Donovan et al. MGB technology is useful for the design of consensus fluorogenically labeled probes of the IgH gene for detecting MRD.

New Technology of Producing High-Quality Gypsum Binders

New Technology of Producing High-Quality Gypsum Binders

Environment-friendly paints: their technical (im)possibilities

In this paper technical (im)possibilities of environment-friendly paints are discussed from a paint developer's point of view. Special attention is paid to acrylic emulsion paints for wood protection. Important and interesting examples are given based on binder technology and paint formulations.

Trends in magnetic recording media

The fifth M.R.M. Conference in Perugia presents an opportunity to analyse the market situation of magnetic recording media, the trend in future recording systems and the potential of present contenders for flexible media to meet future requirements. The main products in quantity and value are either in their zenith of product cycle or near to it. Highly innovative systems are needed in order to stimulate new applications or markets. The most challenging application is digital recording of HDTV for which particle in polymer binder technology is not yet fully ruled out by thin film ME technology. Improvements are expected from magnetic particles and binder, dispersion as well as coating technology.

Preparation and protoelectrochemical properties of TiO 2 thin binder layers

A new binder method for TiO 2 thin film photoanode preparation is proposed. The TiO 2 powder is first reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere, and the heterogeneous mixture, prepared from the reduced powder, is deposited on a metal substrate. Such a method gives the possibility for low cost fabrication of large area electrodes. The heterogeneous mixture consists of TiO 2 powder, a polymer as a binder and a conductive substance for decreasing the polymer resistivity. The influence of these components on the photoelectrochemical properties of TiO 2 layers is investigated, and an optimal ratio between the components is experimentally determined. The investigation revealed that the binder technology can be economically viable and attractive not only for TiO 2 thin film production but also for preparation of other electrodes from various n- and p-semiconducting materials.