Long-term Storage (long-term + storage)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Chemistry


Selected Abstracts


Combination of Super Chilling and High Carbon Dioxide Concentration Techniques Most Effectively to Preserve Freshness of Shell Eggs during Long-Term Storage

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2010
T. Yanagisawa
ABSTRACT:, This study was made to examine the combined effects of stored temperature and carbon dioxide atmosphere on shell egg quality. The shell eggs were packed into polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene (PET/PE) pouches and stored at 0 °C (super chilling), 10 °C, and 20 °C, respectively for 90 d. The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was controlled to obtain the 3 concentration levels of high (about 2.0%), medium (about 0.5%), and low (below 0.01%). Changes in Haugh unit (HU) values, weakening of vitelline membranes, and generation of volatiles were analyzed to evaluate the freshness of shell eggs. Results showed that, compared with the other combinations, the technique of super chilling and high carbon dioxide concentration enabled shell eggs to be most effectively stored for 90 d, based on estimations of the statistical significances of differences in HU values, and on maintaining the initial HU values during storage. In addition, the storage of shell eggs using this combination technique was found to significantly prevent the weakening of the vitelline membrane based on the estimations of numbers of eggs without vitelline membrane breakage when eggs broke, and significantly lowered the incidence of hexanal in the yolk from exposure to the gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses of volatiles. Thus, these results confirmed that the combination of super chilling and high carbon dioxide concentration was the most effective technique for preserving shell eggs during a long term of 90 d compared with other combination techniques. [source]


Study of Short- and Long-Term Storage of Teeth and Its Influence on DNA

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 6 2009
Leticia Rubio M.D.
Abstract:, DNA degradation can interfere with the resolution of forensic cases. Allelic dropout often reduces the opportunity for adequate comparisons between degraded and reference samples. This study analyzed DNA degradation in 24 extracted teeth after storage at room temperature for 0, 2, 5, and 10 years. DNA concentration, quantified by dot-blot hybridization, declined significantly for the first 2 years, but there was no significant further degradation from the second to the tenth year of storage. COfilerÔ analysis was used and the allelic dropout ratio for the amelogenin locus relative to CSF1PO locus was also estimated. Statistically significant differences were found between fresh teeth and teeth from the 2- and 5-year groups but not from the 10-year group. Under our storage conditions most of the DNA degradation occurred during the first 2 years. Further research is needed to control for individual and external factors that could affect DNA. [source]


Variation of Fructooligosaccharides and their Metabolizing Enzymes in Onion Bulb (Allium cepa L. cv. Tenshin) During Long-term Storage

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 3 2005
Noureddine Benkeblia
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to assess the status of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in onion bulbs (Allium cepa L. cv. Tenshin) and their metabolizing-enzymes,1-fructoexohydrolase (1-FEH), 1-kestose hydrolyzing enzyme (1-KH), fructan:fructan 1F -fructosyltransferase (1-FFT) and fructan:fructan 6G -fructosyltransferase (6G-FFT),during storage at 15°C. Fructose varies slightly, whereas 1-kestose peaked after 6 wk and then decreased progressively during the last 18 wk of storage. Lower degree of polymerization (DP) 3 to 6) FOS, higher (DP 7 to 12) FOS, total FOS, and total carbohydrates showed similar and close patterns during 24 wk. They varied slightly at the beginning of the storage period; afterward they decreased progressively and regularly during the last 20 wk of storage. 1-FEH and 1-KH activities were low but peaked abruptly after 12 and 16 wk, respectively, after which they decreased to levels higher (1-FEH) or similar (1-KH) to those observed at the beginning of the storage. Surprisingly, 1-FFT activity showed similar pattern to the variation of 1-KH hydrolyzing activity; on the other hand, 6G-FFT, although higher, was stable during 16 wk but decreased after that. The results allowed us to associate FOS to the dormancy and sprouting states, and the peaks of the degrading enzymes were shown to signal the release of dormancy of onion bulb. [source]


Bioactivity of falcarinol and the influenceof processing and storage on its content in carrots (Daucus carota L)

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2003
Susanne L Hansen
Abstract The concentration-dependent activity of the polyacetylene falcarinol ((9Z)-heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3-ol), isolated from carrots, was investigated in a bioassay with primary mammary epithelial cells in collagen gels and compared with that of ,-carotene, the orange pigment in carrots. Falcarinol showed biphasic activity, having stimulatory effects between 0.01 and 0.05 µg ml,1 and inhibitory effects between 1 and 10 µg ml,1, whereas ,-carotene showed no effect in the concentration range 0.001,100 µg ml,1. The results are discussed in relation to the health-promoting effects of carrots and related vegetables. Falcarinol was quantified in the carrot cultivars Bolero, Rodelika and Fancy by analytical reverse phase HPLC, subjected to various processing and storage conditions in order to study how long-term storage, blanching, freezing and boiling influence the content of falcarinol. Long-term storage of raw carrot cubes (1 cm3) reduced the falcarinol content by almost 35%. A similar reduction was found in steam-blanched carrot cubes (1 cm3). Long-term storage at ,24 °C of steam blanched carrot cubes did not reduce the falcarinol content further. A reduction of almost 70% in the falcarinol content was found in carrot pieces boiled in water for 12 min compared with raw carrots. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Persistence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 in cow slurry

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007
B. Fremaux
Abstract Aims: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and survival of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26 in cow slurry; this serogroup is regarded as an important cause of STEC-associated diseases. Methods and Results: Four STEC were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine whether they harbour key virulence determinants and also by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to obtain overview fingerprints of their genomes. They were transformed with the pGFPuv plasmid and were separately inoculated at a level of 106 CFU ml,1 in 15 l of cow slurry. All STEC O26 strains could be detected for at least 3 months in cow slurry without any genetic changes. The moisture content of the slurry decreased over time to reach a final value of 75% while the pH increased from 8·5 to 9·5 units during the last 50 days. Conclusion: STEC O26 strains were able to survive in cow slurry for an extended period. Significance and Impact of the Study: Long-term storage of waste slurry should be required to reduce the pathogen load and to limit environmental contamination by STEC O26. [source]


Gene expression measurements in the context of epidemiological studies

ALLERGY, Issue 12 2008
C. Bieli
Background:, Gene expression measurements became an attractive tool to assess biological responses in epidemiological studies. However, collection of blood samples poses various technical problems. We used gene expression data from two epidemiological studies to evaluate differences between sampling methods, comparability of two methods for measuring RNA levels and stability of RNA samples over time. Methods:, For the PARSIFAL study, PBLC of 1155 children were collected using EDTA tubes in two countries. In the PASTURE study, tubes containing RNA-stabilizing solutions (PAXgene® Blood RNA Tubes; PreAnalytiX) were used to collect cord blood leucocytes of 982 children in five countries. Real-time PCR (conventional single tube assay and high-throughput low density arrays) was used to quantify expression of various innate immunity genes. In 77 PARSIFAL samples, gene expression was measured repeatedly during prolonged storage. Results:, In PARSIFAL (EDTA tubes) the median RNA yield after extraction significantly differed between the two centres (70 and 34 ng/,l). Collecting blood into an RNA-stabilizing solution markedly reduced differences in RNA yield in PASTURE (range of medians 91,107 ng/,l). The agreement [Spearman rank correlation (r)] between repeated measurements of gene expression decreased with increasing storage time [e.g., for CD14: r (first/second measurement) = 0.35; r (first/third measurement) = 0.03]. RNA levels measured with either the conventional method or low-density arrays were comparable (r > 0.9). Conclusion:, Collecting blood samples into tubes containing an RNA-stabilizing solution increases RNA yield and reduces its variability. Long-term storage of samples may lead to RNA degradation, requiring special attention in longitudinal studies. [source]


Adipogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose Tissue,Derived Stem Cells Obtained from Cryopreserved Adipose Aspirates

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 7 2010
JUNG EUN LEE MS
BACKGROUND Although frozen adipose tissue is frequently used for soft tissue augmentation, the viability of frozen fat remains a controversy. The cryopreservation of adipose tissue is important for the future use of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and adipocytes. OBJECTIVE To determine whether optimal cryopreservation techniques with regard to the addition of cryopreservative agents and preservation temperature is essential for the long-term storage of adipose tissue and whether ASCs from cryopreserved adipose aspirates are reliable for use in adipogenic differentiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adipose tissue was frozen directly or with cryoprotectant at ,20°C or ,80°C for 1 year. The viability of adipose aspirates and the differentiation of ASCs isolated from adipose tissue were evaluated. RESULTS The viability of adipose aspirates frozen with dimethyl sulfoxide at ,80°C was approximately 87% after 2 months of storage. Moreover, ASCs from adipose tissue stored with cryoprotectant survived successfully for 1 year and differentiated into adipocytes, although ASCs were not detected in the directly frozen adipose tissue. CONCLUSION Adipose tissue cryopreserved with cryoprotectant and stored at optimal temperature might prove to be a reliable source of human ASCs and adipocytes. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters. [source]


Fear learning induces persistent facilitation of amygdala synaptic transmission

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 7 2005
Bradley W. Schroeder
Abstract In the maintenance phase of fear memory, synaptic transmission is potentiated and the stimulus requirements and signalling mechanisms are altered for long-term potentiation (LTP) in the cortico-lateral amygdala (LA) pathway. These findings link amygdala synaptic plasticity to the coding of fear memories. Behavioural experiments suggest that the amygdala serves to store long-term fear memories. Here we provide electrophysiological evidence showing that synaptic alterations in rats induced by fear conditioning are evident in vitro 10 days after fear conditioning. We show that synaptic transmission was facilitated and that high-frequency stimulation dependent LTP (HFS,LTP) of the cortico-lateral amygdala pathway remained attenuated 10 days following fear conditioning. Additionally, we found that the low-frequency stimulation dependent LTP (LFS,LTP) measured 24 h after fear conditioning was absent 10 days post-training. The persistent facilitation of synaptic transmission and occlusion of HFS,LTP suggests that, unlike hippocampal coding of contextual fear memory, the cortico-lateral amygdala synapse is involved in the storage of long-term fear memories. However, the absence of LFS,LTP 10 days following fear conditioning suggests that amygdala physiology 1 day following fear learning may reflect a dynamic state during memory stabilization that is inactive during the long-term storage of fear memory. Results from these experiments have significant implications regarding the locus of storage for maladaptive fear memories and the synaptic alterations induced by these memories. [source]


Ensilage of wilted whole crop rice (Oryza sativa L.) using a roll baler for chopped material: Silage quality in long-term storage

GRASSLAND SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007
Hidenori Kawamoto
Abstract We examined the effects of long-term storage on the fermentation quality, chemical composition, and digestibility of wilted whole crop rice silage prepared using a roll baler for chopped material (set chop length, 13 mm) and compared the results with those obtained by using a conventional roll baler. The roll balers were used for ensiling whole crop rice of three types: (i) dough-ripe stage with light wilting (45% dry matter); (ii) dough-ripe stage with heavy wilting (65% dry matter); and (iii) yellow-ripe stage with light wilting (45% dry matter). The apparent dry matter density was higher in the ensiled roll bales composed of chopped whole crop rice (chopped bales) than in those composed of non-chopped whole crop rice (conventional bales) (195,250 kg m,3 vs 156,218 kg m,3, respectively). The formation of volatile fatty acids and ammonia-nitrogen was low in all types of silage. Further, no marked differences in the chemical composition and apparent dry matter digestibility were observed between silage from the two types of bales. However, there were significant differences in their lactic acid and ethanol contents. The lactic acid production in the conventional silage was low (0.08,0.14% fresh matter), whereas that in the chopped silage was high (0.71,0.97% fresh matter). A lower pH value (pH 4.0,4.3) was retained in the chopped silage after 10 months of storage. High ethanol production (1.1,2.5% fresh matter) was observed in the conventional silage, whereas ethanol production decreased to less than 1% in the chopped silage. These results indicate that although the ethanol fermentation is readily enhanced in the ensilage of wilted whole crop rice performed by a conventional baler, the ensilage performed by a baler for chopped material encourages lactic acid fermentation and suppresses ethanol production over a wide moisture range throughout the long-term storage. [source]


The hippocampus plays a critical role at encoding discontiguous events for subsequent declarative memory expression in mice

HIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 4 2007
Frédérique Mingaud
Abstract The hypothesis that hippocampal activity at encoding is causally related to subsequent declarative memory expression is tested in the mouse, by using lidocaine inactivation of the hippocampus in combination with c-fos neuroimaging analysis. We employed a two-stage radial maze paradigm of spatial discrimination, which was previously shown to dissociate between declarative and nondeclarative expression of memory related to the same acquired material. In Stage 1 (encoding), mice learnt the constant location of food among a set of six arms (three baited, three unbaited) by being submitted repeatedly to discontiguous experiences with each arm separately ("go/no-go" discrimination). In Stage 2 (test-session), they are challenged with novel presentations of the arms, which are either combined into pairs of opposite valence ("two-choice" discrimination), or opened all six together ("six-choice" discrimination). Previous experiments have demonstrated that the "two-choice" situation is a critical test for declarative memory while "six-choice" discrimination may rely on procedural memory. We observed that (i) hippocampal activity measured by c-fos mRNA expression was increased by "go/no-go" learning, and this activation was blocked by pre-training local infusions of lidocaine; (ii) when performed just before each session of Stage 1, such inactivation spared the acquisition of "go/no-go" discrimination but produced, subsequently, a selective deficit in the "two-choice" test (not in the "six-choice" test). This study indicates that the hippocampus is "spontaneously" engaged in encoding processes necessary for long-term storage of discontiguous experiences under a form enabling flexible declarative memory expression. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Influences of Infant-Directed Speech on Early Word Recognition

INFANCY, Issue 6 2009
Leher Singh
When addressing infants, many adults adopt a particular type of speech, known as infant-directed speech (IDS). IDS is characterized by exaggerated intonation, as well as reduced speech rate, shorter utterance duration, and grammatical simplification. It is commonly asserted that IDS serves in part to facilitate language learning. Although intuitively appealing, direct empirical tests of this claim are surprisingly scarce. Additionally, studies that have examined associations between IDS and language learning have measured learning within a single laboratory session rather than the type of long-term storage of information necessary for word learning. In this study, 7- and 8-month-old infants' long-term memory for words was assessed when words were spoken in IDS and adult-directed speech (ADS). Word recognition over the long term was successful for words introduced in IDS, but not for those introduced in ADS, regardless of the register in which recognition stimuli were produced. Findings are discussed in the context of the influence of particular input styles on emergent word knowledge in prelexical infants. [source]


Transcutaneous delivery and thermostability of a dry trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine patch

INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, Issue 2 2008
Vladimir G. Frolov
A patch containing a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) was prepared in a dried, stabilized formulation for transcutaneous delivery. When used in a guinea pig immunogenicity model, the dry patch was as effective as a wet TIV patch in inducing serum anti-influenza IgG antibodies. When the dry TIV patch was administered with LT as an adjuvant, a robust immune response was obtained that was comparable with or better than an injected TIV vaccine. When stored sealed in a nitrogen-purged foil, the dry TIV patch was stable for 12 months, as measured by HA content, under both refrigerated and room temperature conditions. Moreover, the immunological potency of the vaccine product was not affected by long-term storage. The dry TIV patch was also thermostable against three cycles of alternating low-to-high temperatures of ,20/25 and ,20/40°C, and under short-term temperature stress conditions. These studies indicate that the dry TIV patch product can tolerate unexpected environmental stresses that may be encountered during shipping and distribution. Because of its effectiveness in vaccine delivery and its superior thermostable characteristics, the dry TIV patch represents a major advance for needle-free influenza vaccination. [source]


Consensus guidelines for ,rainy day' autologous stem cell harvests in New South Wales

INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008
J. Trotman
Abstract Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has a well-established role in the treatment of haematological malignancies. Stem cells are commonly collected following salvage chemotherapy although there may be advantages in collecting earlier in the disease course. A 'rainy day' harvest (RDH) refers to the collection of autologous haemopoietic stem cells for long-term storage. Although there are few data to support RDH, there is increasing evidence that such harvests are being carried out, creating storage pressures in stem cell laboratories across New South Wales. The Bone Marrow Transplant Network New South Wales conducted a three-staged exercise to develop consensus-based RDH guidelines. Using available evidence, guidelines were developed supporting RDH for specific patients with acute and chronic myeloid leukaemias, follicular and other lymphomas, and multiple myeloma. Physician agreement with these disease-specific guidelines ranged between 58 and 100%. These consensus guidelines will improve equity of access to appropriate RDH and assist the planning of future storage requirements in New South Wales. [source]


Immunocytochemistry in liquid-based cervical cytology: Analysis of clinical use following a cross-sectional study

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 5 2006
Shaira Sahebali
Abstract Cytological screening for cervical cancer is hampered by imperfect sensitivity and low inter-observer reproducibility. Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing lacks specificity as a primary screening method. Studies indicate that immunocytochemical detection of alterations caused by HPV in the host cells can optimise screening. Here, the potential of p16INK4a (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16) and MIB-1 (Ki-67 proliferation marker) as adjunct molecular markers for cervical lesions was investigated in a prospective, cross-sectional study of 500 samples in the framework of opportunistic screening in Flanders, Belgium. A consecutive series of 200 samples and 100 samples from the cytological categories ASC, LSIL and HSIL were investigated. Surepath samples were interpreted according to the Bethesda 2001 reporting system. HPV testing was done with MY09/MY11 consensus PCR. Immunocytochemistry for p16INK4a and MIB-1 was performed with an automated staining protocol. The number of immunoreactive cells/1,000 cervical cells was assessed. There was a higher mean number of p16INK4A and MIB-1 immunoreactive cells/1,000 cells in HSIL (4.06 ± 1.93 and 11.13 ± 2.83, respectively) compared to other cytological categories. Both markers showed a large spread in counts, for all categories. In cases of HSIL without immunoreactive cells for either marker, low cellularity and long-term storage in water were often the cause of false negativity. This study confirms that positive staining for p16INK4a and MIB-1 is highly correlated with presence of high-grade lesions. These markers could be used as adjuncts to increase the sensitivity of cytological screening as well as the specificity of the HPV test. However, clear methodological standards are needed for optimal performance of immunocytochemistry in a clinical setting. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Formation of Arrayed Droplets by Soft Lithography and Two-Phase Fluid Flow, and Application in Protein Crystallization,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 15 2004
B. Zheng
Abstract This paper presents an overview of our recent work on the use of soft lithography and two-phase fluid flow to form arrays of droplets. The crucial issues in the formation of stable arrays of droplets and alternating droplets of two sets of aqueous solutions include the geometry of the microchannels, the capillary number, and the water fraction of the system. Glass capillaries could be coupled to the PDMS microchannels and droplets could be transferred into glass capillaries for long-term storage. The arrays of droplets have been applied to screen the conditions for protein crystallization with microbatch and vapor diffusion techniques. [source]


A simple hermetic sample holder for X-ray diffraction analysis of uranium hydride

JOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2007
Bingyun Ao
In order to help resolve unknowns regarding aging effects of uranium during long-term storage of tritium, a number of experiments have been carried out by several researchers. However, almost no literature is available on the structural change of uranium tritide, mainly because its high toxicity and air-sensitivity render appropriate experiments very difficult. In this paper, a simple hermetic sample holder that fits the Philips X'Pert Pro X-ray diffractometer is described. It may be used to study the aging effects of uranium tritide during storage. The sample holder mainly consists of an aluminium container for sample storage and a Mylar window for X-ray measurements. This sample holder can also be used with other air-sensitive, radioactive and toxic materials. In this paper, the first results obtained from X-ray diffraction analysis of uranium hydride are presented. [source]


THE EFFECT OF AIR-DRYING, FREEZE-DRYING AND STORAGE ON THE QUALITY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SOME SELECTED BERRIES

JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 1 2009
MAGDALENA MICHALCZYK
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of air-drying and freeze-drying and subsequent storage of dried products on the content of polyphenols, anthocyanins and the antioxidant properties of selected berry fruits. The material was raspberry (Rubus ideaus L.), strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch) and bilberry (Vaccinum myrtillus). Despite exposure to atmospheric oxygen, the stored freeze-dried fruit retained the properties of the raw material better than the air-dried product. In the case of the latter, there were considerable differences in the retention of total polyphenolic and anthocyanin content as well as antioxidant properties in the three fruit species examined. In particular, bilberry maintained a high polyphenol and anthocyanin content and high antioxidant potential despite the greatest losses of these compounds. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Consumer demand for food with health-promoting qualities is increasing. The food industry has intensified its efforts to provide high quality, semi-processed products that fulfil this requirement. The results presented in this work indicate that even after long-term storage and despite exposure to atmospheric oxygen, freeze-dried berries retain the antioxidant properties of the raw material to a very high degree. Therefore, lyophilisates can satisfy this particular need. Air-dried berries are much less stable during long-term storage. The dynamics of the changes occurring during the storage of both kinds of product are presented in detail. [source]


DEGRADATION KINETICS OF ANTHOCYANIN IN ETHANOLIC SOLUTIONS

JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 5 2006
KUO-CHAN TSENG
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the degradation kinetics of anthocyanin in ethanolic model solutions simulating wine and liqueur in aging or long-term storage. Malvidin-3-glucoside, as the predominant anthocyanin in many cultivars of grape, was chosen to represent anthocyanins. The results from high performance liquid chromatography analysis show that the disappearance of malvidin-3-glucoside follows apparent first-order kinetics, and accelerates with the increase in ethanol concentration. The Ea values were found to be 22.80, 24.45, 24.35 and 22.75 kcal/mole at 0, 10, 30 and 50% ethanol concentrations, respectively. We propose that the decreased stability of anthocyanin at an elevated ethanol concentration is a result of a decreased extent of self-association in the solution. [source]


Quality Changes of Highbush Blueberries Fruit Stored in CA with Different CO2 Levels

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 4 2009
Carolina Duarte
ABSTRACT:, Quality changes of blueberries (Vacccinium corymbosum L. cv Brigitta) were evaluated during CA storage (0 °C) with different concentrations of CO2 (5%, 10%, and 15%) combined with 5% O2, respectively. Atmospheric air (20.9% O2+ 0.03% CO2) was used as control. From samples taken at 0, 24, and 48 d of storage, unmarketable fruits and weight loss were recorded as well as color (h), firmness (g), soluble solid content (%), titratable acidity (% citric acid), ratio, and the monomeric anthocyanin content (ppm). At each sampling time, additional units were kept for 3 d at 10 °C to simulate retail holding conditions. Irrespective of gas concentration, 0.9% of the initial fresh weight was lost after 48 d at 0 °C. CA fruit had better quality than control at the 24 d sampling but due to the high number of unmarketable fruits, this advantage was not observed at 48 d at 0 °C. After 24 d of storage, fruits for CA treatments were more firm and had better color, with higher anthocyanin and acidity levels. Soluble solid content showed no significant differences throughout the cold storage period. Residual effect of CA storage was observed at the retail holding condition yielding better firmness, acidity, and ratio. However, the CO2 level tested increased the number of unmarketable fruit in long-term storage (48 d). Response of "Brigitta" blueberries to the different CO2 levels studied was moderate and could be related to the high storage potential of this cultivar. [source]


Changes in explicit memory associated with early dementia in adults with Down's syndrome

JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2002
S. J. Krinsky-McHale
Abstract Background A modified version of the Selective Reminding Test (SRT) (Buschke 1973) was used to examine the changes in memory that occur with early-stage dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) in adults with intellectual disability (ID) and Down's syndrome (DS), and to compare these changes to those occurring with ,normal' ageing. Method Hierarchical linear modelling analyses showed steep declines in the performance of participants who had met the criteria for the onset of DAT. Non-demented participants also showed declines in performance which were related to their age. However, the absolute magnitude of these declines was consistent with a ,normal' ageing pattern and not with undetected dementia. Results In analysing the specific memory components that are compromised, the present authors found that participants with early-stage DAT showed severely diminished long-term storage and retrieval processing abilities compared to their non-demented peers. Notably, these declines preceded other symptoms of dementia, in most cases by more than a full year and sometimes by as much as 3 years. Conclusions Thus, the present results clearly confirm that memory processes are affected during early dementia in adults with DS, and that the SRT has promise as a clinical tool. [source]


Investigation of freezing- and thawing-induced biological, chemical, and physical changes to enoxaparin solution

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 3 2009
Rahul P. Patel
Abstract This study investigated the effect of freezing and thawing on the biological, physical, and chemical properties of enoxaparin solution. Solutions were frozen and thawed under different conditions, in the presence or absence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD), and the antifactor Xa (AFXa) activity was determined. Enoxaparin solution lost more than 60% of its AFXa activity when thawed rapidly after freezing at ,196°C. The loss of AFXa activity was less with higher freezing temperatures and increased with the number of freeze/thaw cycles, but was independent of the duration of freezing. Slow freezing to ,196°C with rapid thawing, or rapid freezing with slow thawing, resulted in negligible loss of AFXa activity. The loss of AFXa activity did not involve the loss of N -sulfate groups, the breakdown of glycosidic bonds or the glassy state transition. Controlling the freezing or thawing conditions, dilution with water or addition of a small percentage of DMSO ameliorated the loss of enoxaparin AFXa activity. The loss in AFXa activity was found by size exclusion chromatography to be primarily due to aggregation and was reversed by sonication in the presence of DMSO. These results may provide insight into solutions for the long-term storage of concentrated or diluted enoxaparin. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:1118,1128, 2009 [source]


Development of a nanofiltration process to improve the stability of a novel anti-MRSA carbapenem drug candidate

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2002
V. Antonucci
Abstract The benzenesulfonate salt of an anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carbapenem antibiotic studied is a crystalline, nonhygroscopic powder which is stable at room temperature, making it an ideal compound for long-term storage. However, the limited aqueous solubility of this salt prohibits parenteral administration. Conversely, the chloride salt of this carbapenem demonstrates opposing characteristics; it is quantitatively soluble in water, however is amorphous and subject to significant hydrolytic degradation in the solid state. Given two such extreme alternatives for pharmaceutical salt selection, a common approach taken is to develop the bioavailable salt and devise manufacturing and storage conditions that minimize degradation. This report describes a different approach to this manufacturing dilemma via the application of a simple and efficient nanofiltration process to convert the benzenesulfonate salt (storage entity) to the chloride salt (formulated drug product). Such an approach combines the positive attributes of these two salt forms into a single scalable process that reduces processing cycle times via elimination of redundant unit operations, increases the flexibility in manufacturing schedule, and improves overall product quality. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 91: 923,932, 2002 [source]


Long-term stability of an ambient self-curable latex based on colloidal dispersions in water of two reactive polymers

JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 12 2005
Xiaonong Chen
Abstract An ambient self-curable latex (ASCL) was prepared via the blending of colloidal dispersions in water of a chloromethylstyrene-functionalized copolymer and a tertiary-amine-functionalized copolymer. Upon casting and drying under ambient conditions, the ASCL could generate crosslinked continuous polymer films. The crosslinking occurred via the Menschutkin reaction (quaternization) between the two types of functional groups. Because this reaction was reversible at high temperatures, the films could be decrosslinked and hence were self-curable. The prepared ASCL exhibited excellent colloidal and chemical stability during long-term storage: no significant changes in the colloidal properties, such as the particle size, electrophoretic mobility, and crosslinking reactivity, were observed after 48 months of storage. The electrophoretic measurements indicated that the electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged particles of the ASCL was responsible for the excellent stability. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2598,2605, 2005 [source]


Seasonality of modern pollen and sediment deposition in an estuarine context: the Severn Estuary Levels, southwest England,

JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008
J. R. L. Allen
Abstract Recent sedimentological and palynological research on subfossil Holocene banded sediments from the Severn Estuary Levels suggested seasonality of deposition, registered by variations in mineral grain-size and pollen assemblages between different parts of the bands. Here we provide data that strengthen this interpretation from sampling of modern sediments and pollen deposition on an active mudflat and saltmarsh on the margin of the Severn Estuary, and comparison with a vegetation survey and contemporary records of climate, river and tidal regimes. The results of grain-size analysis indicate deposition of comparatively coarse-grained silts during the relatively cool and windy conditions of winter and comparatively fine-grained sediments during relatively warm and calm summer months. Pollen analysis demonstrates the significance of long-term storage of pollen grains and fern spores in the estuarine waterbody, superimposed on which seasonal variations in pollen inputs from local and regional vegetation remain detectable. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Thermochemistry and Aqueous Durability of Ternary Glass Forming Ba-Titanosilicates: Fresnoite (Ba2TiSi2O8) and Ba-Titanite (BaTiSiO5)

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 9 2009
Tae-Jin Park
Barium titanosilicates are possible oxide forms for the immobilization of short-lived fission products in radioactive waste. Ba2TiSi2O8 (fresnoite) and BaTiSiO5 (Ba-titanite) samples were prepared by a solid-state synthesis. The enthalpies of formation of Ba2TiSi2O8 crystal and glass at 25°C and of BaTiSiO5 glass were obtained from drop solution calorimetry in a molten lead borate (2PbO,B2O3) solvent at 701°C. The enthalpy of formation for fresnoite composition samples from constituent oxides was exothermic and became more exothermic with increasing crystallinity. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the crystallization rate of the fresnoite glasses increased with increasing devitrification. A modified Product Consistency Test-Procedure B (PCT-B) was used to collect solubility data on the fresnoite and titanate phases. The tests suggest that both glassy and crystalline fresnoite exhibit favorable aqueous stability and should be explored further as radioactive waste forms for long-term storage. [source]


Bioactivity of falcarinol and the influenceof processing and storage on its content in carrots (Daucus carota L)

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2003
Susanne L Hansen
Abstract The concentration-dependent activity of the polyacetylene falcarinol ((9Z)-heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3-ol), isolated from carrots, was investigated in a bioassay with primary mammary epithelial cells in collagen gels and compared with that of ,-carotene, the orange pigment in carrots. Falcarinol showed biphasic activity, having stimulatory effects between 0.01 and 0.05 µg ml,1 and inhibitory effects between 1 and 10 µg ml,1, whereas ,-carotene showed no effect in the concentration range 0.001,100 µg ml,1. The results are discussed in relation to the health-promoting effects of carrots and related vegetables. Falcarinol was quantified in the carrot cultivars Bolero, Rodelika and Fancy by analytical reverse phase HPLC, subjected to various processing and storage conditions in order to study how long-term storage, blanching, freezing and boiling influence the content of falcarinol. Long-term storage of raw carrot cubes (1 cm3) reduced the falcarinol content by almost 35%. A similar reduction was found in steam-blanched carrot cubes (1 cm3). Long-term storage at ,24 °C of steam blanched carrot cubes did not reduce the falcarinol content further. A reduction of almost 70% in the falcarinol content was found in carrot pieces boiled in water for 12 min compared with raw carrots. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Applications of mass spectrometry for the structural characterization of recombinant protein pharmaceuticals

MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS, Issue 3 2007
Catherine A. Srebalus Barnes
Abstract Therapeutic proteins produced using recombinant DNA technologies are generally complex, heterogeneous, and subject to a variety of enzymatic or chemical modifications during expression, purification, and long-term storage. The use of mass spectrometry (MS) for the evaluation of recombinant protein sequence and structure provides detailed information regarding amino acid modifications and sequence alterations that have the potential to affect the safety and activity of therapeutic protein products. General MS approaches for the characterization of recombinant therapeutic protein products will be reviewed with particular attention given to the standard MS tools available in most biotechnology laboratories. A number of recent examples will be used to illustrate the utility of MS strategies for evaluation of recombinant protein heterogeneity resulting from post-translational modifications (PTMs), sequence variations generated from proteolysis or transcriptional/translational errors, and degradation products which are formed during processing or final product storage. Specific attention will be given to the MS characterization of monoclonal antibodies as a model system for large, glycosylated, recombinant proteins. Detailed examples highlighting the use of MS for the analysis of monoclonal antibody glycosylation, deamidation, and disulfide mapping will be used to illustrate the application of these techniques to a wide variety of heterogeneous therapeutic protein products. The potential use of MS to support the selection of cell line/clone selection and formulation development for therapeutic antibody products will also be discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev [source]


Comparative Study on Five Different Commercial Extenders for Boar Semen

REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 1 2004
P Vyt
Contents Increasing interest in a longer preservation of diluted boar sperm raises questions in the field concerning the choice of the extender. The aim of this study was to evaluate the longevity of boar sperm extended in currently used commercial semen extenders. Three long-term extenders and two short-term extenders were compared for different semen quality parameters that can be assessed under routine laboratory conditions. Sperm morphology, motility, pH and bacteriological contamination were investigated during a 7-day period. The number of dead spermatozoa did not differ significantly among the extenders (p > 0.05). Sperm motility was not only related with storage period but most of all with pH, especially in long-term extenders. Differences between the different extenders were prominent (p < 0.05); the sperm preserved in only one long-term extender showed good motility during the whole test period. In all cases, the pH of the extended semen increased by 0.3,0.5 in the first days of storage and was significantly correlated with a decrease in motility. Bacteriological quality had no significant influence on motility or pH of the semen. In conclusion, we can state that in both short-term extenders and in only one long-term extender, sperm longevity, as evaluated by the parameters used in this study, was sufficient during the preservation period. To preserve the quality of diluted boar semen during long-term storage, the choice of the long-term extender is important. In addition, the monitoring of the pH of extended boar semen in our study emphasizes the importance of the buffering capacity of semen extenders. [source]


Cryotherapy of shoot tips: a technique for pathogen eradication to produce healthy planting materials and prepare healthy plant genetic resources for cryopreservation

ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
Q.C. Wang
Abstract Cryotherapy of shoot tips is a new method for pathogen eradication based on cryopreservation techniques. Cryopreservation refers to the storage of biological samples at ultra-low temperature, usually that of liquid nitrogen (,196°C), and is considered as an ideal means for long-term storage of plant germplasm. In cryotherapy, plant pathogens such as viruses, phytoplasmas and bacteria are eradicated from shoot tips by exposing them briefly to liquid nitrogen. Uneven distribution of viruses and obligate vasculature-limited microbes in shoot tips allows elimination of the infected cells by injuring them with the cryo-treatment and regeneration of healthy shoots from the surviving pathogen-free meristematic cells. Thermotherapy followed by cryotherapy of shoot tips can be used to enhance virus eradication. Cryotherapy of shoot tips is easy to implement. It allows treatment of large numbers of samples and results in a high frequency of pathogen-free regenerants. Difficulties related to excision and regeneration of small meristems are largely circumvented. To date, severe pathogens in banana (Musa spp.), Citrus spp., grapevine (Vitis vinifera), Prunus spp., raspberry (Rubus idaeus), potato (Solanum tuberosum) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) have been eradicated using cryotherapy. These pathogens include nine viruses (banana streak virus, cucumber mosaic virus, grapevine virus A, plum pox virus, potato leaf roll virus, potato virus Y, raspberry bushy dwarf virus, sweet potato feathery mottle virus and sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus), sweet potato little leaf phytoplasma and Huanglongbing bacterium causing ,citrus greening'. Cryopreservation protocols have been developed for a wide variety of plant species, including agricultural and horticultural crops and ornamental plants, and can be used as such or adjusted for the purpose of cryotherapy. [source]


Requirement for amino acids in ontogeny of fish

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 5 2010
Roderick Nigel Finn
Abstract Amino acids are vital for all living organisms. During early fish ontogeny, they are important fuel molecules, signalling factors and major substrates for the synthesis of a wide range of bioactive molecules and proteins. Because the majority of fish eggs are cleidoic, i.e. closed free-living systems following ovulation and activation, early development of fish depends on the maternal provision of amino acids during oogenesis. While more than 600 proteins have been identified in the growing oocytes of fish, the major vehicles for supplying amino acids to the growing oocyte before ovulation are the vitellogenins, of which many genes and multiple forms are known. Here we review the importance of amino acids for the intermediary metabolism of fish embryos and larvae, where amino acids have been shown to be the preferred catabolic substrate. Subsequently, we address the specialization of the lysosomal pathway involved in the uptake and degradation of yolk proteins. This latter pathway is specifically modified in the germline to facilitate the long-term storage of egg yolk proteins. In marine teleosts, the degradative pathway may be activated before fertilization during oocyte maturation to release free amino acids for oocyte hydration and the acquisition of egg buoyancy. In other species, including freshwater fish, a more latent activation of acid hydrolases occurs after fertilization during the four phases of yolk resorption. The developmental contributions of the yolk syncytial layer, vitelline circulation and liver are essential components of the amino acid supply during fish ontogeny. [source]