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Selected AbstractsBiocompatibility evaluation of alendronate paste in rat's subcutaneous tissueDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Graziela Garrido Mori Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the biocompatibility of experimental alendronate paste in subcutaneous tissue of rats, for utilization in teeth susceptible to root resorption. The study was conducted on 15 male rats, weighing ,180,200 grams. The rats' dorsal regions were submitted to one incision on the median region and, laterally to the incision, the subcutaneous tissue was raised and gently dissected for introduction of two tubes, in each rat. The tubes were sealed at one end with gutta-percha and taken as control. The tubes were filled with experimental alendronate paste. The animals were killed at 7, 15 and 45 days after surgery and the specimens were processed in laboratory. The histological sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and analyzed by light microscopy. Scores were assigned to the inflammatory process and statistically compared by the Tukey test (P < 0.05). Alendronate paste promoted severe inflammation process at 7 days, with statistically significant difference compared to the control (P < 0.05%). However, at 15 days, there was a regression of inflammation and the presence of connective tissue with collagen fibers, fibroblasts and blood vessels was observed. After 45 days, it was observed the presence of well-organized connective tissue, with collagen fibers and fibroblasts, and few inflammatory cells. No statistical difference was observed between the control and experimental paste at 15 and 45 days. The experimental alendronate paste was considered biocompatible with subcutaneous tissue of rat. [source] The "Modified" Winch StitchDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 10 2001J. Michael Casparian MD Background. The methods described to achieve intraoperative tissue expansion have drawbacks. Objective. To report an intraoperative tissue expansion technique using standard suture material and hemostats to create a "modified" winch stitch. Methods. A continuous running suture is placed with both ends left free. A "fixed" hemostat is placed above the skin at one end. After pulling at the other end with a second hemostat, a third hemostat is placed proximal to this hemostat just above the skin, which is left in place to produce stretching. The second and third hemostats are then used in an alternating pulling and holding fashion. Results. This method produces significant tissue expansion. If the desired degree of approximation is achieved, the ends of the suture can be tied together, as in the previously described winch stitch. Conclusion. The modified winch stitch is a simple and inexpensive means to facilitate closure of wounds under a significant amount of tension. [source] Design differentiation for global companies: Value exporters and value collectorsDESIGN MANAGEMENT REVIEW, Issue 4 2001Clive Grinyer In the global marketplace, should companies maintain uniform product profiles,some with strong national characteristics,or adapt regionally? Most companies tend toward one end or the other, concludes Clive Grinyer. Clearly distinguishing between "value exporters" and "value collectors," he articulates the advantages and disadvantages of each. Companies must strike their own strategic balance, hopefully without diluting the regional diversity that makes life and consumer choices so interesting. [source] Cholecystokinin receptor antagonists increase the rat pup's preference toward maternal-odor and rug textureDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Michal Shayit Abstract The role of the cholecystokinin (CCK) system in mediating the infant's natural preferences toward maternal-related stimuli was examined by peripheral administration of selective CCKA and CCKB receptor antagonists (Devazepide and L-365,260, respectively) to 11,12-day-old rats and presenting them with a 3-minute preference test. In Experiment 1, the choice was between two floor textures, rug and plywood; the time spent on the relatively preferred side (rug) was measured. In Experiment 2, the odor of maternal faces emanated from one end of the test arena; time spent near that end was measured. These sensory stimuli were chosen as they represent olfactory and tactile aspects of the dam and nest. Compared to controls, both CCK receptor antagonists selectively increased the time spent on the preferred side, in both experiments, without affecting axillary temperature or locomotor activity. The results suggest that CCK may mediate and attenuate the infant's attraction toward naturally preferred stimuli. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 38: 164,173, 2001 [source] Kinematic response functions and dynamic stiffnesses of bridge embankmentsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 11 2002Jian Zhang Abstract Recognizing that soil,structure interaction affects appreciably the earthquake response of highway overcrossings, this paper compares approximate analytical solutions and finite element results to conclude on a simple procedure that allows for the estimation of the kinematic response functions and dynamic stiffnesses of approach embankments. It is shown that the shear-wedge model yields realistic estimates for the amplification functions of typical embankments and reveals the appropriate levels of dynamic strains which are subsequently used to estimate the stiffness and damping coefficients of embankments. The shear-wedge model is extended to a two-dimensional model in order to calculate the transverse static stiffness of an approach embankment loaded at one end. The formulation leads to a sound closed-form expression for the critical length, Lc, that is the ratio of the transverse static stiffness of an approach embankment and the transverse static stiffness of a unit-width wedge. It is shown through two case studies that the transverse dynamic stiffness (,spring' and ,dashpot') of the approach embankment can be estimated with confidence by multiplying the dynamic stiffness of the unit-width wedge with the critical length, Lc. The paper concludes that the values obtained for the transverse kinematic response function and dynamic stiffness can also be used with confidence to represent the longitudinal kinematic response function and dynamic stiffness, respectively. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Temperature and hen harrier productivity: from local mechanisms to geographical patternsECOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2002S. M. Redpath Climate is an important factor limiting demography and distribution patterns in many organisms. For species with a broad geographical distribution, the mechanism by which climate influences demography is likely to vary dramatically from one end of the range to the other. In this paper we first assess, in a Scottish population of hen harriers Circus cyaneus, how temperature and rainfall influence adult behaviour and chick mortality patterns at the nest. We then test for associations between harrier productivity and weather across Scotland, towards the northern edge of the range, and Spain, towards the southern edge of the range. We show that during the nestling period, female brooding time increased in cold weather. Male provisioning rate was negatively related to temperature and rainfall. Chick mortality increased in cold temperatures and was most likely to occur at nests where male prey delivery rates were low relative to temperature. Annual values of harrier fledged brood size across Scotland were positively related to summer temperature suggesting that the patterns seen in one population held at a national scale. In Spain, however, the opposite patterns were observed with fledged brood size being negatively related to temperature. This shows that whilst the impact of weather on productivity may be equally strong at two ends of a geographical range, the mechanisms vary dramatically. Large-scale predictive models need to take such patterns into account. [source] A Reference Electrode for Electrochemical and Cryoelectrochemical Use in Tetrahydrofuran SolventELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 21 2005Christopher Abstract We report a reference electrode for direct use in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at low temperatures. A reference solution containing equimolar amounts of ferrocene/ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate (Fc/Fc+) are prepared to give a 4,mM solution in THF that contains tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAF) supporting electrolyte thus, minimizing liquid junction potentials. The reference solution is added to a sealed glass tube with a porous frit at one end, and a platinum wire is inserted into the tube. The reference electrode assembly is then inserted into a THF test solution. Potentiometric measurements show that the system responds in the expected Nernstian fashion over the concentration and temperature ranges, 4,mM to 40,,M and 20,°C to ,45,°C respectively. In addition, it is shown by steady,state cyclic voltammetry at a platinum microelectrode that the chemical reactivity of ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate (Fc+) otherwise seen in THF is suppressed by ion-pairing with PF using tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAF) as the supporting electrolyte. [source] On-line concentration of peptides and proteins with the hyphenation of polymer monolithic immobilized metal affinity chromatography and capillary electrophoresisELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 11 2005Lingyi Zhang Abstract An iminodiacetic acid (IDA)-type adsorbent is prepared at the one end of a capillary by covalently bonding IDA to the monolithic rods of macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate,co -ethylene dimethacrylate). Cu(II) is later introduced to the support via the interaction with IDA. By this means, polymer monolithic immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) materials are prepared. With such a column, IMAC for on-line concentration and capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the subsequent analysis are hyphenated for the analysis of peptides and proteins. The reproducibility of such a column has been proved good with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of dead time of less than 5% for injection-to-injection and 12% for column-to-column (n = 3). Through application on the analysis of standard peptides and real protein samples, such a technique has shown promising in proteome study. [source] Chemoselective Reagents for Covalent Capture and Display of Glycans in Microarrays,EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2010Emiliano Cló Abstract Glycobiology has made very significant progress in the past decades. However, further progress will significantly depend on the establishment of novel methods for miniaturized, high-throughput analysis of glycan,protein interactions. Robust solid-phase chemical tools and new, chemoselective reagents for biologically meaningful display of surface-immobilized glycans are likely to play a key role. Here we present four new bifunctional linkers that allow highly chemoselective capture of unprotected glycans in solution to form glycan-linker conjugates for direct construction of glycan microarrays (glycochips). The bifunctional linkers carry O -linked aminooxy moieties, some with N -substituents at one end and an amino group at the other. In addition, they contain a substituted benzene ring for UV traceability and improved purification of glycan-linker conjugates. NMR spectroscopic studies in solution proved that N -substituted aminooxy linkers provided model glycan-linker conjugates with the ,-glucopyranoside configuration, i.e. the ring-closed form required for biological recognition. Then an ensemble of glycan-linker conjugates were assembled from mannobiose, lactose, and N -acetyl-lactosamine and used for covalent printing of glycan microarrays. The stability of oximes were studied both in solution and on-chip. In solution, two of the linkers provided glycan-linker conjugates with a remarkable stability at pH 4 or higher, on-chip this relative stability was upheld. Two of the linkers, with different properties, are recommended for the glycobiology toolbox for the construction of glycan microarrays from unprotected glycans. [source] Effects of proline mutations in the major house dust mite allergen Der f 2 on IgE-binding and histamine-releasing activityFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 22 2000Toshiro Takai Der f 2 is the major group 2 allergen from house dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae and is composed of 129 amino-acid residues. Wild-type and six proline mutants of Der f 2 (P26A, P34A, P66A, P79A, P95A, and P99A) expressed in Escherichia coli were refolded and purified. Formations of intramolecular disulfide bonds in the purified proteins were confirmed correct. The apparent molecular masses analyzed by gel-filtration were 14,15 kDa. The IgE-binding capacity in the sera of seven mite-allergic patients, inhibitory activity for IgE-binding to immobilized wild-type Der f 2, and activity to stimulate peripheral blood basophils to release histamine in two volunteers were analyzed. P95A and P99A, which slightly differed from the wild-type Der f 2 in their CD spectrum, showed reduced IgE-binding, reduced inhibitory activity, and less histamine-releasing activity than the wild-type. P34A also showed reduced allergenicity. Considering that Pro95, Pro99 and Pro34 are closely located in loops at one end of the tertiary structure of Der f 2, we concluded that these loop regions included an IgE-binding site common to all tested patients. P66A showed reduced IgE-binding in two sera out of seven. P26A and P79A showed no reduced allergenicity. However, in immunoblot analysis after SDS/PAGE under reduced conditions, P79A showed no or markedly reduced IgE-binding while the other mutants showed IgE-binding corresponding to that in the assay using correctly refolded proteins. This suggests that Pro79 is involved in refolding of Der f 2. The findings in this study are important for the understanding of the antigenic structure of mite group 2 allergens and for manipulation of the allergens for specific immunotherapy. [source] Surface-Grafted Gel-Brush/Metal Nanoparticle HybridsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 6 2010Edmondo M. Benetti Abstract Polymer brushes are classically defined and are to date employed as assemblies of macromolecules tethered at one end to a surface. The concept of preparing surface-grafted gels by crosslinking such brushes is attractive since it gives rise to new opportunities related to the constraints present in this type of structure. Aiming at the development of nanostructured films possessing precisely adjustable chemical, mechanical, and optical properties, the present article describes the preparation of novel grafted layers based on gel-brush/metal nanoparticle hybrids. These films were synthesized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate with a small percentage of a crosslinker. The swelling, morphological, and mechanical properties of the gel-brushes are shown to be highly dependent on the relative amount of crosslinker used. The gel-brushes are subsequently used as matrixes for the controlled synthesis of silver nanoparticles with overall characteristics that are specifically tunable as a function of the macromolecular structure of the brush template. [source] Psychiatric endophenotypes and the development of valid animal modelsGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 2 2006T. D. Gould Endophenotypes are quantifiable components in the genes-to-behaviors pathways, distinct from psychiatric symptoms, which make genetic and biological studies of etiologies for disease categories more manageable. The endophenotype concept has emerged as a strategic tool in neuropsychiatric research. This emergence is due to many factors, including the modest reproducibility of results from studies directed toward etiologies and appreciation for the complex relationships between genes and behavior. Disease heterogeneity is often guaranteed, rather than simplified, through the current diagnostic system; inherent benefits of endophenotypes include more specific disease concepts and process definitions. Endophenotypes can be neurophysiological, biochemical, endocrine, neuroanatomical, cognitive or neuropsychological. Heritability and stability (state independence) represent key components of any useful endophenotype. Importantly, they characterize an approach that reduces the complexity of symptoms and multifaceted behaviors, resulting in units of analysis that are more amenable to being modeled in animals. We discuss the benefits of more direct interpretation of clinical endophenotypes by basic behavioral scientists. With the advent of important findings regarding the genes that predispose to psychiatric illness, we are at an important crossroads where, without anthropomorphizing, animal models may provide homologous components of psychiatric illness, rather than simply equating to similar (loosely analogized) behaviors, validators of the efficacy of current medications or models of symptoms. We conclude that there exists a need for increased collaboration between clinicians and basic scientists, the result of which should be to improve diagnosis, classification and treatment on one end and to increase the construct relevance of model organisms on the other. [source] The murine allantois: emerging paradigms in development of the mammalian umbilical cord and its relation to the fetusGENESIS: THE JOURNAL OF GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2007Kimberly E. Inman Abstract The fertilized egg of the mammal gives rise to the embryo and its extraembryonic structures, all of which develop in intimate relation with each other. Yet, whilst the past several decades have witnessed a vast number of studies on the embryonic component of the conceptus, study of the extraembryonic tissues and their relation to the fetus have been largely ignored. The allantois, precursor tissue of the mature umbilical cord, is a universal feature of all placental mammals that establishes the vital vascular bridge between the fetus and its mother. The allantois differentiates into the umbilical blood vessels, which become secured onto the chorionic component of the placenta at one end and onto the fetus at the other. In this way, fetal blood is channeled through the umbilical cord for exchange with the mother. Despite the importance of this vascular bridge, little is known about how it is made. The aim of this review is to address current understanding of the biology of the allantois in the mouse and genetic control of its features and functions, and to highlight new paradigms concerning the developmental relationship between the fetus and its umbilical cord. genesis 45: 237,258, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Imaging genetics and development: Challenges and promisesHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 6 2010B.J. Casey Abstract Excitement with the publication of the human genome has served as catalyst for scientists to uncover the functions of specific genes. The main avenues for understanding gene function have been in behavioral genetics on one end and on the other end, molecular mouse models. Attempts to bridge these approaches have used brain imaging to conveniently link anatomical abnormalities seen in knockout/transgenic mouse models and abnormal patterns of brain activity seen in humans. Although a convenient approach, this article provides examples of challenges for imaging genetics, its application to developmental questions, and promises for future directions. Attempts to link genes, brain, and behavior using behavioral genetics, imaging genetics, and mouse models of behavior are described. Each of these approaches alone, provide limited information on gene function in complex human behavior, but together, they are forming bridges between animal models and human psychiatric disorders. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A typology of solo independent women travellersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010Karen Elizabeth McNamara Abstract This paper aims to profile solo independent women travellers in Tropical North Queensland, describe their key motivations for travel and behaviours, and locate this group on a typology of solo independent travellers in Australia. Previous research has painted solo independent women at one end of a travel spectrum as fearful and risk-adverse and at another end, as risk-takers who have few concerns about safety within the destination. This analysis is based on visitor surveys completed over 21 months at Cairns Airport (n = 2,618). The results indicated that solo independent women travellers (n = 228) felt safe in the destination and participated in a wide variety of activities including those with some degree of risk. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Thermal properties and flame retardancy of polyglycidyloxypropyl silsesquioxane/layered titanate nanocompositesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008Miyuki Harada Abstract Polyglycidyloxypropyl silsesquioxane, which has an excellent heat resistance, was combined with sheet-like and spherical titanate as nano-fillers. The burning property of the composites was related to the shape of the dispersed titanate. A burning test was carried out according to the UL-94 test method. As a result, though the test specimen burned from one end to the other in the spherical titanate filled composite system, a fire extinguishing property was observed in the sheet-like titanate filled composite system. The extinguishing time of the latter system classified V-0 in the specification test. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Crystallization and morphology of cholesterol end-capped poly(ethylene glycol)JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 4 2007Yuan-Jin Qiu Abstract Crystallization and morphology of polyethylene glycol with molecular weight Mn = 2000 (PEG2000) capped with cholesterol at one end (CS-PEG2000) and at both ends (CS-PEG2000-CS) were investigated. It is found that the bulky cholesteryl end group can retard crystallization rate and decrease crystallinity of PEG, especially for CS-PEG2000-CS. Isothermal crystallization kinetics shows that the Avrami exponent of CS-PEG2000 decreases as crystallization temperature (Tc). The Avrami exponent of CS-PEG2000-CS increases slightly with Tc, but it is lower than that of CS-PEG2000. Compared to the perfect spherulite morphology of PEG2000, CS-PEG2000 exhibits irregular and leaf-like spherulite morphology, while only needle-like crystals are observed in CS-PEG2000-CS. The linear growth rate of CS-PEG2000 shows a stronger dependence on Tc than PEG2000. The cholesterol end group alters not only the free energy of the folding surface, but also the temperature range of crystallization regime. The small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results show that lamellar structures are formed in all these three samples. By comparing the long periods obtained from SAXS with the theoretically calculated values, we find that the PEG chains are extended in PEG2000 and CS-PEG2000, but they are once-folded in CS-PEG2000-CS. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2464,2471, 2007 [source] Gas-phase-assisted surface polymerization of methyl methacrylate with Fe(0)/TsCl initiator systemJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007Yoshito Andou Abstract To obtain a high polymer coated Fe(0) surface, gas-phase-assisted surface polymerization (GASP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was investigated using a zero-valent iron (Fe(0))/p -toluene sulfonylchloride (TsCl) initiator system, resulting in successful high polymer production on the solid surface. GASP was found to be initiated by radical species that might have been generated via redox reactions with Fe(0), Fe(II), Fe(III), and TsCl. From 1H-NMR analysis, the p -toluene sulfonyl group was found at one end of the polymer chain. The molecular weight of obtained PMMA drastically decreased with increase in the composition ratio of Fe(0) in the initiator system, and increased with increase in polymer yield. From the results, it was assumed that the physically controlled polymerization of MMA proceeded by immobilized active species at gas,solid interfaces. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1879,1886, 2007 [source] Studies on codon usage in Thermoplasma acidophilum and its possible implications on the occurrences of lateral gene transferJOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2005S. K. Gupta Codon usage studies have been carried out on the coding sequences of Thermoplasma acidophilum, which is an archaeon and grows at very low pH and high temperature. Overall codon usage data analysis indicates that all the four bases are almost equifrequent at the third position of codons, which is expected (since genomic GC % of this genome is about 46%). However, multivariate statistical analysis indicates that there are two major trends in the codon usage variation among the genes in this organism. In the first major trend it is observed that genes having G and C ending codons are clustered at one end while, A and T ending ones are clustered at the other end. We have also found a significant positive correlation between the expressivities of genes and GC contents at the synonymous third codon positions. In the second major trend, it is seen that the genes are clustered into three distinct parts. A comparative analyses of codon usage data of T. acidophilum and Sulfolobus solfataricus reveals that one of the three clusters of genes of T. acidophilum is very similar to a considerable number of S. solfataricus genes, suggesting possible occurrences of lateral gene transfer between these two microorganisms as reported by earlier workers. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Effect of Storage Temperature and Duration on the Behavior of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Packaged Fresh-Cut Salad Containing Romaine and Iceberg LettuceJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2010Yaguang Luo Abstract:, This study investigated the impact of storage temperature and duration on the fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on commercially packaged lettuce salads, and on product quality. Fresh-cut Romaine and Iceberg lettuce salads of different commercial brands were obtained from both retail and wholesale stores. The packages were cut open at one end, the lettuce salad inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 via a fine mist spray, and resealed with or without an initial N2 flush to match the original package atmospheric levels. The products were stored at 5 and 12 °C until their labeled "Best If Used By" dates, and the microbial counts and product quality were monitored periodically. The results indicate that storage at 5 °C allowed E. coli O157:H7 to survive, but limited its growth, whereas storage at 12 °C facilitated the proliferation of E. coli O157:H7. There was more than 2.0 log CFU/g increase in E. coli O157:H7 populations on lettuce when held at 12 °C for 3 d, followed by additional growth during the remainder of the storage period. Although there was eventually a significant decline in visual quality of lettuce held at 12 °C, the quality of this lettuce was still fully acceptable when E. coli O157:H7 growth reached a statistically significant level. Therefore, maintaining fresh-cut products at 5 °C or below is critical for reducing the food safety risks as E. coli O157:H7 grows at a rapid, temperature-dependent rate prior to significant quality deterioration. Practical Application:, Specific information regarding the effect of temperature on pathogen growth on leafy greens is needed to develop science-based food safety guidelines and practices by the regulatory agencies and produce industry. Temperature control is commonly thought to promote quality of leafy greens, not safety, based at least partially on a theory that product quality deterioration precedes pathogen growth at elevated temperatures. This prevalent attitude results in temperature abuse incidents being frequently overlooked in the supply chain. This study demonstrates that human pathogens, such as E. coli O157:H7, can grow significantly on commercially packaged lettuce salads while the product's visual quality is fully acceptable. Packaged fresh-cut salads are marketed as "ready-to-eat" while lacking an effective pathogen kill step during their preparation. Thus, maintaining storage temperature at 5 °C or below is critical to prevent pathogen proliferation and mitigate food safety risks should pathogen contamination inadvertently occur during crop growth or postharvest fresh-cut processing. [source] Hamiltonian N2 -locally connected claw-free graphsJOURNAL OF GRAPH THEORY, Issue 2 2005Hong-Jian Lai Abstract A graph G is N2 - locally connected if for every vertex , in G, the edges not incident with , but having at least one end adjacent to , in G induce a connected graph. In 1990, Ryjá,ek conjectured that every 3-connected N2 -locally connected claw-free graph is Hamiltonian. This conjecture is proved in this note. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 48: 142,146, 2005 [source] Mechanisms of actin stress fibre assemblyJOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, Issue 3 2008P. NAUMANEN Summary Stress fibres are contractile acto-myosin structures found from many types of non-muscle cells, where they are involved in adhesion, motility and morphogenesis. Stress fibres typically display a periodic ,-actinin,myosin II pattern and are thus suggested to resemble the sarcomeric actin filament structures of muscle cells. Mammalian cells contain three categories of stress fibres: ventral stress fibres that are attached to focal adhesions at both ends, dorsal stress fibres that are attached to focal adhesions typically at one end and transverse arcs that are curved acto-myosin bundles, which do not directly attach to focal adhesions. In this review, we discuss the definition of stress fibres, organization of actin filaments and other components within these contractile structures, and the mechanisms of stress fibre assembly. [source] Measurement of Horizontal and Vertical Movement of Ralstonia solanacearum in SoilJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 10 2006M. Satou Abstract Two model systems were constructed to measure horizontal and vertical movement of bacteria in soil. These systems were applied to measuring movement of Ralstonia solanacearum (race 1, biovar 3), a causal agent of bacterial wilt of tomato, in andosol and sand at 28°C. The first system was used to measure horizontal movement of the bacteria in soil packed in a narrow horizontal frame. Suspension of the pathogen was applied to soil at one end of the frame, and bacterial number per gram of soil was measured over distance from the inoculation point after 4 days. Horizontal movement of R. solanacearum in supersaturated soil, but without flow, was possibly due to diffusion and the front advanced at 2.2 cm/day in andosol, and at 8.1 cm/day in sand. Using the same experimental system, but applying water inflow to one end of the frame only, the bacterium was detected at the front of water in andosol and sand. The front of the distribution advanced at 20.4 cm/h in andosol and 66.3 cm/h in sand. In the second experimental system, a cylinder of soil packed in a short tube was soaked with water, and soil at the top of the tube was inoculated with bacterial suspension. Immediately, soil cylinders were turned upward, and the bacterial number per gram of soil was measured along vertical distance from the inoculation point after 7 days. Using the system with andosol, the capillary water front rose to 32.5 cm over 7 days after inoculation, and R. solanacearum reached to 18.8 cm height. In sand, capillary water rose to 20.0 cm and the bacteria reached to 16.3 cm height. [source] An efficient synthetic route to well-defined theta-shaped copolymersJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 10 2009Gang-Yin Shi Abstract A series of well-defined ,-shaped copolymers composed of polystyrene (PS) and poly(,-caprolactone) (PCL) with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution have been successfully synthesized without any purification procedure by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), ring-opening polymerization (ROP), and the "click" chemistry. The synthetic process involves two steps: (1) synthesis of AB2 miktoarm star copolymers, which contain one PCL chain terminated with two acetylene groups and two PS chains with two azido groups at their one end, (,,,,-diacetylene-PCL) (,-azido-PS)2, by ROP, ATRP, and the terminal group transformation; (2) intramolecular cyclization of AB2 miktoarm star copolymers to produce well-defined pure ,-shaped copolymers using "click" chemistry under high dilution. The 1H NMR, FTIR, and gel permeation chromatography techniques were applied to characterize the chemical structures of the resultant intermediates and the target polymers. Their thermal behavior was investigated by DSC. The mobility decrease of PCL chain across PS ring in the theta-shaped copolymers restricts the crystallization ability of PCL segment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2620,2630, 2009 [source] Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry investigations of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) produced by monoacylphosphine oxide photoinitiationJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 11 2007Faith J. Wyzgoski Abstract The chain-end-group composition was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analyses of low-molecular-weight polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) produced by free-radical polymerization with a monoacylphosphine oxide, (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO), as a photoinitiator. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) fractionation of the PS and PMMA samples with initial polydispersities of 1.81 and 2.81, respectively, yielded improved MALDI-TOF MS spectra. Spectral analyses of the PS fractions showed distributions attributable to PS having two diphenylphosphinyl ends and PS having one diphenylphosphinyl end and/or one 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl end, indicating that a combination of PS radicals with the highly reactive diphenylphosphine oxide group at one end of the chains was the predominant mode of termination. MALDI-TOF MS results for PMMA fractions provided evidence for termination primarily by disproportionation, but structure determination was confounded by the presence of isobaric peaks. Discernible peaks were obtained by MALDI-TOF MS analyses of GPC fractions of TPO-initiated poly(methyl- d3 methacrylate- d5), in which the major product was PMMA with a diphenylphosphinyl end group and an abstracted deuterium end group, whereas the minor combination product had two diphenylphosphinyl chain ends. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2161,2171, 2007 [source] Synthesis of asymmetric telechelic polymers bearing a primary amino end groupJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 10 2006Sunil K. Varshney Asymmetric telechelic polymers bearing a primary amino group on one end and different functional groups, such as thiol, at the other end were synthesized by anionic living polymerization. The anionic initiator was based on a protected primary amine-containing initiator, such as 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-(3-lithiopropyl)-1-aza-2,5-disilacyclopentane. [source] Gradient graft copolymers derived from PEO-based macromonomersJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 4 2006Dorota Neugebauer Abstract Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of two poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomers, with different polymerization degrees (DPn) and different end groups, was conducted in solution via the grafting through method. Selection of a PEO methacrylate with a methyl end-group (PEOMeMA, DPPEO = 23) and a PEO acrylate end-capped by a phenyl ring (PEOPhA, DPPEO = 4) for the copolymerization led to a spontaneous gradient of PEO grafts along the copolymer backbone. Such a composition was formed because of significantly different reactivities of the two PEO macromonomers. The resulting copolymer has PEOMeMA at one end of the polymer chain, gradually changing through hetero-sequences of PEOPhA at the other chain end. An increase in the initial feed ratio of PEO acrylate reduced the rate of change in the shape of the gradient. Amorphous,crystalline structure in the copolymers was demonstrated by DSC and WAXS. The mechanical measurements of copolymers consisting of an amorphous PEOPhA and crystallizable PEOMeMA segments indicated elastomeric properties in the range of a soft rubber (G, , 104 Pa, G, , G,). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1347,1356, 2006 [source] Synthesis of poly[N -isopropylacrylamide- g -poly(ethylene glycol)] with a reactive group at the poly(ethylene glycol) end and its thermosensitive self-assembling characterJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 4 2006Michihiro Iijima Abstract Poly[N -isopropylacrylamide- g -poly(ethylene glycol)]s with a reactive group at the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) end were synthesized by the radical copolymerization of N -isopropylacrylamide with a PEG macromonomer having an acetal group at one end and a methacryloyl group at the other chain end. The temperature dependence of the aqueous solutions of the obtained graft copolymers was estimated by light scattering measurements. The intensity of the light scattering from aqueous polymer solutions increased with increasing temperature. In particular, at temperatures above 40°C, the intensity abruptly increased, indicating a phase separation of the graft copolymer due to the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the poly(N -isopropylacrylamide) segment. No turbidity was observed even above the LCST, and this suggested a nanoscale self-assembling structure of the graft copolymer. The dynamic light scattering measurements confirmed that the size of the aggregate was in the range of several tens of nanometers. The acetal group at the end of the PEG graft chain was easily converted to the aldehyde group by an acid treatment, which was analyzed by 1H NMR. Such a temperature-induced nanosphere possessing reactive PEG tethered chains on the surface is promising for new nanobased biomedical materials. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1457,1469, 2006 [source] Site-specific deposition of Ag nanoparticles on ZnO nanorod arrays via galvanic reduction and their SERS applicationsJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 9 2010Wei Song Abstract A controllable heterostructure consisting of ZnO nanorod arrays with attached Ag nanoparticles at only one end has been synthesized via a facile and convenient galvanic reduction method. Scanning electron microscopic images of these nanostructures showed good selectivity of Ag deposition on the tip of ZnO nanorod arrays. The formation of these regular AgZnO heterogeneous nanorod arrays can be explained by a localization of the electrons at the ends of the ZnO nanorods after the electron transfer step. By tuning the reaction time and the concentration of silver nitrate, the density of Ag nanoparticles on the tip of ZnO nanorods can be well controlled. Owing to the introduction of Ag nanoparticles with different densities, the resulting AgZnO heterogeneous nanorod arrays have been proved to be a versatile substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering not only for common organic molecules but also for label-free protein detection. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Structure of Polymer Brushes in Cylindrical Tubes: A Molecular Dynamics SimulationMACROMOLECULAR THEORY AND SIMULATIONS, Issue 7 2006Dimitar I. Dimitrov Abstract Summary: Molecular dynamics simulations of a coarse-grained bead-spring model of flexible macromolecules tethered with one end to the surface of a cylindrical pore are presented. Chain length N and grafting density , are varied over a wide range and the crossover from "mushroom" to "brush" behavior is studied for three pore diameters. The monomer density profile and the distribution of the free chain ends are computed and compared to the corresponding model of polymer brushes at flat substrates. It is found that there exists a regime of N and , for large enough pore diameter where the brush height in the pore exceeds the brush height on the flat substrate, while for large enough N and , (and small enough pore diameters) the opposite behavior occurs, i.e. the brush is compressed by confinement. These findings are used to discuss the corresponding theories on polymer brushes at concave substrates. Snapshot picture of a brush grafted inside of a cylinder, for , , displaying different chains in distinct colors in order to be able to distinguish them. Top shows a side view of the cylinder, and the lower part a view of the cross-section. Note that the particles forming the cylindrical wall are not displayed. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||