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Pellets
Kinds of Pellets Terms modified by Pellets Selected AbstractsHypertrophy and physiological death of equine chondrocytes in vitroEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2007Y. A. Ahmed Summary Reasons for performing study: Equine osteochondrosis results from a failure of endochondral ossification during skeletal growth. Endochondral ossification involves chondrocyte proliferation, hypertrophy and death. Until recently no culture system was available to study these processes in equine chondrocytes. Objective: To optimise an in vitro model in which equine chondrocytes can be induced to undergo hypertrophy and physiological death as seen in vivo. Methods: Chondrocytes isolated from fetal or older (neonatal, growing and mature) horses were cultured as pellets in 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) or 10% horse serum (HS). The pellets were examined by light and electron microscopy. Total RNA was extracted from the pellets, and quantitative PCR carried out to investigate changes in expression of a number of genes regulating endochondral ossification. Results: Chondrocytes from fetal foals, grown as pellets, underwent hypertrophy and died by a process morphologically similar to that seen in vivo. Chondrocytes from horses age >5 months did not undergo hypertrophy in pellet culture. They formed intramembranous inclusion bodies and the cultures included cells of osteoblastic appearance. Pellets from neonatal foals cultured in FCS resembled pellets from older horses, however pellets grown in HS underwent hypertrophy but contained inclusion bodies. Chondrocytes from fetal foals formed a typical cartilage-like tissue grossly and histologically, and expressed the cartilage markers collagen type II and aggrecan mRNA. Expression of Sox9, collagen type II, Runx2, matrix metalloproteinase-13 and connective tissue growth factor mRNA increased at different times in culture. Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA decreased with time in culture. Conclusions: Freshly isolated cells from fetal growth cartilage cultured as pellets provide optimal conditions for studying hypertrophy and death of equine chondrocytes. Potential relevance: This culture system should greatly assist laboratory studies aimed at elucidating the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis. [source] Biocompatibility of various root canal filling materials ex vivoINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 8 2008R. Scotti Abstract Aim, To evaluate the biocompatibility of a resin-based endodontic filler (RealSeal) using the indirect cytotoxicity test. Methodology, Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured ex vivo. Pellets of the materials to be tested were incubated for 24, 48, and 72 h at 37 °C under sterile conditions to obtain their eluates. The fibroblasts were exposed to either diluted (50%) or undiluted eluates for 24 h. A culture medium with foetal calf serum was added to the control wells. Cell viability was estimated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. The data concerning cell viability were statistically analyzed using one-way anova test and Bonferroni multiple comparisons test. Results, Eluates obtained after 24 h of incubation with the resin filler did not reduce cellular viability. An increase in cellular viability, as compared with control cells, was observed in the gutta-percha group. The undiluted eluate from the polyether material was cytotoxic, causing an 82 ± 4% decrease in cellular viability. Eluates obtained after 48 h of incubation with the resin filler increased cellular viability, whereas the polyether significantly reduced viability. Gutta-percha did not cause any detectable change. After 72 h of incubation the eluate of the resin filler caused an increase in cellular viability, as did gutta-percha, whereas polyether caused a significant decrease. Conclusions, RealSeal resin filler was nontoxic in this laboratory model. Further investigations are necessary to verify its usefulness in clinical applications. [source] Assessment of the plasma desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry technique for pesticide adsorption and degradation on ,as-received' treated soil samplesRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 17 2005J. P. Thomas The assessment of the plasma desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PD-TOFMS) technique as a tool for direct characterization of pesticides adsorbed on agricultural soil is made for the first time in this study. Pellets of soils impregnated by solutions of three pesticides, namely norflurazon, malathion and oxyfluorfen, as well as deposits of these solutions onto aluminum surfaces, were investigated to this end. The yield values of the most characteristic peaks of the negative ion mass spectra were used to determine both the lowest concentrations detected on soils and limits of detection from thin films. The lowest values on soils are for malathion (1000,ppm range), and the largest for norflurazon (20,000,ppm), which is close to the limit of detection (LOD) found for the pesticide on the aluminum substrate (,0.2,µg,·,cm,2). Different behaviors were observed as a function of time of storage in the ambient atmosphere or under vacuum; norflurazon adsorbed on soil exhibited high stability for a long period of time, and a rapid degradation of malathion with the elapsed time was clearly observed. The behavior of oxyfluorfen was also investigated but segregation processes seem to occur after several days. Although by far less sensitive than conventional methods based on extraction processes and used for real-world analytical applications, this technique is well suited to the study of the transformations occurring at the sample surface. A discussion is presented of the future prospects of such experiments in degradation studies. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cultivation of Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) on extruded feeds: digestive efficiency, somatic and gonadal growthAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 2 2001Spirlet This study assessed the use of extruded feeds, in the form of pellets, for the growing of echinoid Paracentrotus lividus within a closed-culture system. Two feed types, one with soya-bean protein, the other with both soya-bean and fish protein were compared with dried Lessonia sp. and fresh Laminaria sp. as food sources. Pellets present a very high conversion efficiency (about 80%) against about 50% for Laminaria and 35% for Lessonia. However, as pellets are less absorbed, somatic growth (SG) is statistically equivalent for the sea urchins fed with pellets and Laminaria between 2 and 2.2% g soma day,1. Sea urchins fed with pellets produced significantly more gonadal tissue in a shorter time, resulting in a gonadal index (GI) twice higher (6.5%) than Laminaria (3%) in the second month of the experiment. Dry Lessonia does not promote gonadal growth (GG). This study shows that extruded feeds are well assimilated by P. lividus and promote both SG and production of gonadal tissue. [source] Starch source, screw configuration and injection of steam into the barrel affect the physical quality of extruded fish feedAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010Mette Sørensen Abstract This experiment investigated the physical qualities (,Holmen' durability; ,tumbling box' durability; and pellet strength, length and diameter) of extruded fishmeal-based feeds produced using different starch sources, screw configurations, with or without steam injected in the barrel. The starch sources tested were native or pre-gelatinized potato starch (PGS), wheat starch (WS), whole wheat (WW) or a combination of WS and WW. Screw configurations were a polygon element, followed by two left-pitched segments, Polygon_2L; a polygon, followed by one left-pitched and one right-pitched element, Polygon_LR; and no polygon section, alternating left- and right-pitched elements, LRLR. Starch source and screw configuration affected the physical quality the most. Pellets produced with LRLR had the highest ,Holmen' durability (76%), hardness (30 N) and the least diameter (5.3 mm). The lowest durability (37%) and hardness (22 N) were obtained with Polygon_LR. Potato starch yielded higher expansion than cereal starch. The highest ,Holmen' durability was seen for PGS (79%), while WS yielded the lowest value (44%). Injection of steam reduced hardness and ,Holmen' durability, but provided a minor overall contribution to physical quality compared with the starch source and screw configuration. ,Holmen' durability appeared to be suitable to unveil variation (37,79%) in physical quality, while ,Tumbling box' durability (98.4,98.8%) did not prove efficient. [source] Effective Diffusivities and Convective Coefficients for CaO-CaSO4 and CaO-CaCl2 PelletsCHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 1 2004C. Akosman Abstract Diffusion and convective flow in the pores of pellets formed by compressing mixtures of calcined limestone and CaSO4/CaCl2 powders have been studied experimentally by using the single pellet moment technique. The experiments were conducted in a diffusion cell by flowing nitrogen gas (carrier) through both faces of the pellet. Limestone powder was calcined in an atmosphere of N2 at 800,°C and mixed with CaSO4/CaCl2 for diffusion experiments. Effective diffusivity of helium has been estimated by exposing the upper face of the pellet to a pulse of and matching the response peak on the lower face of the pellet with theoretical expressions. The values of the effective diffusivities increased with temperature, but decreased with increasing CaSO4/CaCl2 content in the pellet. The convective flow contribution to the diffusion flux was found to increase with increasing pressure drop across the pellet. [source] Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Induces Cyclo-oxygenase 2 in Osteoblasts via a Cbfa1 Binding Site: Role in Effects of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 In Vitro and In VivoJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 10 2005Daichi Chikazu Abstract We tested the hypothesis that induction of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) 2 mediates some effects of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2 on bone. BMP-2 induced COX-2 mRNA and prostaglandin (PG) production in cultured osteoblasts. BMP-2 increased luciferase activity in calvarial osteoblasts from mice transgenic for a COX-2 promoter-luciferase reporter construct (Pluc) and in MC3T3-E1 cells transfected with Pluc. Deletion analysis identified the -300/-213-bp region of the COX-2 promoter as necessary for BMP-2 stimulation of luciferase activity. Mutation of core-binding factor activity 1 (muCbfa1) consensus sequence (5,-AACCACA-3,) at -267/-261 bp decreased BMP-2 stimulation of luciferase activity by 82%. Binding of nuclear proteins to an oligonucleotide spanning the Cbfa1 site was inhibited or supershifted by specific antibodies to Cbfa1. In cultured osteoblasts from calvariae of COX-2 knockout (-/-) and wild-type (+/+) mice, the absence of COX-2 expression reduced the BMP-2 stimulation of both ALP activity and osteocalcin mRNA expression. In cultured marrow cells flushed from long bones, BMP-2 induced osteoclast formation in cells from COX-2+/+ mice but not in cells from COX-2,/, mice. In vivo, BMP-2 (10 ,g/pellet) induced mineralization in pellets of lyophilized collagen implanted in the flanks of mice. Mineralization of pellets, measured by microcomputed tomography (,CT), was decreased by 78% in COX-2,/, mice compared with COX-2+/+ mice. We conclude that BMP-2 transcriptionally induces COX-2 in osteoblasts via a Cbfa1 binding site and that the BMP-2 induction of COX-2 can contribute to effects of BMP-2 on osteoblastic differentiation and osteoclast formation in vitro and to the BMP-2 stimulation of ectopic bone formation in vivo. [source] An effective skeletal muscle prefractionation method to remove abundant structural proteins for optimized two-dimensional gel electrophoresisELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 11 2005Bradley Jarrold Abstract Proteomic analysis of biological samples in disease models or therapeutic intervention studies requires the ability to detect and identify biologically relevant proteins present in relatively low concentrations. The detection and analysis of these low-level proteins is hindered by the presence of a few proteins that are expressed in relatively high concentrations. In the case of muscle tissue, highly abundant structural proteins, such as actin, myosin, and tropomyosin, compromise the detection and analysis of more biologically relevant proteins. We have developed a practical protocol which exploits high-pH extraction to reduce or remove abundant structural proteins from skeletal muscle crude membrane preparations in a manner suitable for two dimensional gel electrophoresis. An initial whole-cell muscle lysate is generated by homogenization of powdered tissue in Tris-base. This lysate is subsequently partitioned into a supernatant and pellet containing the majority of structural proteins. Treatment of the pellet with high-pH conditions effectively releases structural proteins from membrane compartments which are then removed through ultracentrifugation. Mass spectrometric identification shows that the majority of protein spots reduced or removed by high-pH treatment were contractile proteins or contractile-related proteins. Removal of these proteins enabled successful detection and identification of minor proteins. Structural protein removal also results in significant improvement of gel quality and the ability to load higher amounts of total protein for the detection of lower abundant protein classes. [source] Olfactory deficits in mice overexpressing human wildtype ,-synucleinEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 2 2008Sheila M. Fleming Abstract Accumulation of ,-synuclein in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system is a hallmark of sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) and mutations that increase ,-synuclein levels cause familial PD. Transgenic mice overexpressing ,-synuclein under the Thy1 promoter (Thy1-aSyn) have high levels of ,-synuclein expression throughout the brain but no loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons up to 8 months, suggesting that they may be useful to model pre-clinical stages of PD. Olfactory dysfunction often precedes the onset of the cardinal motor symptoms of PD by several years and includes deficits in odor detection, discrimination and identification. In the present study, we measured olfactory function in 3- and 9-month-old male Thy1-aSyn mice with a buried pellet test based on latency to find an exposed or hidden odorant, a block test based on exposure to self and non-self odors, and a habituation/dishabituation test based on exposure to non-social odors. In a separate group of mice, ,-synuclein immunoreactivity was assessed in the olfactory bulb. Compared with wildtype littermates, Thy1-aSyn mice could still detect and habituate to odors but showed olfactory impairments in aspects of all three testing paradigms. Thy1-aSyn mice also displayed proteinase K-resistant ,-synuclein inclusions throughout the olfactory bulb. These data indicate that overexpression of ,-synuclein is sufficient to cause olfactory deficits in mice similar to that observed in patients with PD. Furthermore, the buried pellet and block tests provided sufficient power for the detection of a 50% drug effect, indicating their usefulness for testing novel neuroprotective therapies. [source] Nucleus accumbens neurons encode Pavlovian approach behaviors: evidence from an autoshaping paradigmEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 5 2006Jeremy J. Day Abstract Environmental stimuli predictive of appetitive events can elicit Pavlovian approach responses that enhance an organism's ability to track and secure natural rewards, but may also contribute to the compulsive nature of drug addiction. Here, we examined the activity of individual nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons during an autoshaping paradigm. One conditioned stimulus (CS+, a retractable lever presented for 10 s) was immediately followed by the delivery of a 45-mg sucrose pellet to a food receptacle, while another stimulus (CS,, a separate retractable lever presented for 10 s) was never followed by sucrose. Approach responses directed at the CS+ and CS, were recorded as lever presses and had no experimental consequence. Rats (n = 9) selectively approached the CS+ on more than 80% of trials and were surgically prepared for electrophysiological recording. Of 76 NAc neurons, 57 cells (75%) exhibited increases and/or decreases in firing rate (i.e. termed ,phasically active') during the CS+ presentation and corresponding approach response. Forty-seven percent of phasically active cells (27 out of 57) were characterized by time-locked but transient increases in cell firing, while 53% (30 out of 57) showed a significant reduction in firing for the duration of the CS+. In contrast, the same excitatory subpopulation exhibited smaller increases in activity relative to CS, onset, while the inhibitory subpopulation showed no change in firing during the CS, period. The magnitude and prevalence of cue-related neural responses reported here indicates that the NAc encodes biologically significant, repetitive approach responses that may model the compulsive nature of drug addiction in humans. [source] Involvement of NMDA and AMPA/KA receptors in the nucleus accumbens core in instrumental learning guided by reward-predictive cuesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 6 2005Christian Giertler Abstract The use of reward-predictive cues to guide behavior critically involves the nucleus accumbens. However, little is known regarding the role of ionotropic glutamate receptors in the core subregion of the nucleus accumbens (AcbC) in instrumental learning guided by reward-predictive cues. Here we examined the effects of an intra-AcbC blockade of NMDA and AMPA/KA receptors on the acquisition of an instrumental response in a reaction time (RT) task in rats. In this task, discriminative cues signaled in advance the upcoming reward magnitude (5 or 1 food pellet) associated with a lever release. During early acquisition (days 1,6) rats received daily bilateral injections of either the NMDA receptor antagonist AP5 (5.0 µg per side, n = 14), the AMPA/KA receptor antagonist CNQX (2.5 µg per side, n = 14) or vehicle (0.5 µL per side, n = 19). No treatment was given during late acquisition (days 7,12). The main result was that rats which received intra-AcbC injections of AP5 or CNQX during early acquisition exhibited a general RT increase of responses to high and low reward. However, treatment with AP5 and CNQX did not interfere with discriminative guidance of RTs by cue-associated reward magnitudes, i.e. during acquisition RTs of responses to expected high reward became significantly faster than RTs of responses to expected low reward. Our findings suggest that NMDA and AMPA/KA receptors in the AcbC play a critical role in invigorating responding during instrumental learning, but seem less important in guiding responding according to reward-predictive cues. [source] TESTING THE QUALITY OF A CARRIER: A FIELD EXPERIMENT ON LIZARD SIGNALERSEVOLUTION, Issue 3 2009Mats Olsson In the Australian painted dragon lizard (Ctenophorus pictus), males occur in two different morphs with respect to gular color, with or without a yellow bib. Males without a bib lost within-clutch paternity significantly more often to rivals than bibbed males. Thus, it appears that bibs identify some phenotypic advantage linked to competitive ability. To test whether this could be related to whole-organism capacity to withstand an increased workload (due to better health and vigor, or evolved differences in self-maintenance), we implanted males with a lead pellet (loaded), Styrofoam pellet (controls), or sham-operated males without implants (shams), and compared male categories with respect to how they maintained body mass during the mating season. Somewhat unexpectedly, bibbed males consistently lost more body weight across all treatments and controls, although we could not verify that this translated into higher mortality in this short-lived animal (about 80% survive for one year only). However, bibbed males may invest more into "mating success" than nonbibbed males, which agrees with our experimental results and paternity data. [source] Synthesis and Thermoelectric Characterization of Bi2Te3 NanoparticlesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009Marcus Scheele Abstract Here, a novel synthesis for near monodisperse, sub-10,nm Bi2Te3 nanoparticles is reported. A new reduction route to bismuth nanoparticles is described, which are then applied as starting materials in the formation of rhombohedral Bi2Te3 nanoparticles. After ligand removal by a novel hydrazine hydrate etching procedure, the nanoparticle powder is spark plasma sintered to a pellet with preserved crystal grain sizes. Unlike previous works on the properties of Bi2Te3 nanoparticles, the full thermoelectric characterization of such sintered pellets shows a highly reduced thermal conductivity and the same electric conductivity as bulk n-type Bi2Te3. [source] Shiny spheres of placozoans (Trichoplax) function in anti-predator defenseINVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Alexis M. Jackson Abstract. When individual placozoans, Trichoplax adhaerens, were fed to polyps of the hydroid Podocoryna carnea, the polyps became paralyzed in all 27 trials. In one instance the hydroid polyp died and in five instances a fragment of the placozoan survived. The time to recovery from paralysis varied with the relative size of the polyp and the placozoan. Placozoans were disassociated into separate cells and then reaggregated by centrifugation to produce pellets of tissue lacking the vesicles called shiny spheres, normally abundant in the upper epithelium. We fed pellets of two size classes to the hydroid polyps. When the placozoan pellet was smaller than the hydroid, paralysis was eliminated in nine of ten trials. When the placozoan pellet was comparable in size to the polyp, paralysis occurred but the recovery time was substantially reduced, compared with trials in which polyps were fed intact placozoans possessing shiny spheres. These results support a function of shiny spheres in anti-predator defense. [source] Rotational molding of two-layered polyethylene foamsADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Shih-Jung Liu Rotational molding of polyethylene foams has increasingly become an important process in industry because of its resultant thicker walls, low sound transfer, high stiffness, and good thermal insulation. This report assesses the rotomoldability of two-layer polyethylene foamed parts. The polymeric material used in this study was linear low-density polyethylene and the foaming material was an endothemic chemical blowing agent. Two different molding methods, by powder and by pellet, were used to mold the multilayer foamed parts. Rotational molding experiments were carried out in a laboratory scale uniaxial machine, capable of measuring internal mold temperature in the cycle. Characterization of molded part properties was performed after molding. Optical microscopy was also employed to determine the bubble distribution in foamed parts. The final goal of this study was to investigate how the blowing agent and processing conditions can influence the process of rotational molding and the final product quality. It was found that the rotational molding of two-layer polyethylene foams produced parts of better impact properties, as well as fine outside surfaces. In addition, rotational molding of foamed parts by pellets saves the cost of powder grinding, but is counteracted by uneven inner surfaces. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 20: 108,115, 2001 [source] Pulmonary responses and recovery following single and repeated inhalation exposure of rats to polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate aerosolsJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2002Joanne D. Kilgour Abstract Acute and repeated inhalation exposures (for 28 days) to polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI) were performed in rats. Investigations were made at the end of exposures and after 3, 10 and 30 days of recovery following single acute exposures and after 30 days of recovery following 28 days of exposure. Acute exposures to 10, 30 or 100 mg m,3 PMDI produced clinical signs in all animals that were consistent with exposure to irritant aerosols. An exposure concentration-related body weight loss and increase in lung weight were seen post-exposure, with complete recovery by day 8. The time course of changes in the lung over the initial days following exposure consisted of a pattern of initial toxicity, rapid and heavy influx of inflammatory cells and soluble markers of inflammation and cell damage, increased lung surfactant, a subsequent recovery and epithelial proliferative phase and, finally, a return to the normal status quo of the lung. During these stages there was evidence for perturbation of lung surfactant homeostasis, demonstrated by increased amounts of crystalline surfactant and increased number and size of lamellar bodies within type II alveolar cells. Repeated exposure over 28 days to the less toxic concentrations of 1, 4 or 10 mg m,3 PMDI produced no clinical signs or body weight changes, but an increase in lung weight was seen in animals exposed to 10 mg m,3, which resolved following the 30-day recovery period. Other effects seen were again consistent with exposure to irritant aerosols, but were less severe than those seen in the acute study. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed similar changes to those seen in the acute study. At both 10 and 4 mg m,3 PMDI increased numbers of ,foamy' macrophages in lung lavage cell pellet correlated with the increased phospholipid content of the pellet. Changes in lung lavage parameters and electron microscopic evidence again suggested perturbations in surfactant homeostasis. Histologically, bronchiolitis and thickening of the central acinar regions was seen at 10 and 4 mg m,3, reflecting changes in cell proliferation in the terminal bronchioles and centro-acinar regions. Almost all effects seen had recovered by day 30 post-exposure. Both acute and subacute studies demonstrate rapid recovery of effects in the lung following exposure to PMDI, with no progression of these effects even at concentrations higher than those shown to produce tumours in a chronic study. These findings add weight to the hypothesis that pulmonary tumours seen following chronic exposure to PMDI are most likely due to a combination of the chronic irritant effects of repeated exposure, coupled with the presence of insoluble polyureas formed by polymerization of PMDI (found in studies reported here and previous chronic studies), and therefore acute or short-term exposures to PMDI are likely to be of little concern for long-term pulmonary health. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Expression of a releasable form of annexin II by human keratinocytesJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2002Feridoun Karimi-Busheri Abstract Annexin II is a multifunctional calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein whose presence in epidermis has previously been reported. However, like other members of annexin family, annexin II has been regarded as either an intracellular protein or associated with the cellular membrane. Here, we report the presence of a releasable annexin II and p11, two monomers of annexin II tetramer, in keratinocyte-conditioned medium (KCM). Proteins present in KCM were fractionated on a gel filtration column and following further evaluation, a releasable protein with apparent MW of 36 kDa was identified. Further characterization identified this protein as the p36 monomer of annexin II tetramer. The phospho-tyrosine antibody did not visualize this protein as the phosphorylated form of p36. Several experiments were conducted to examine whether this protein is soluble or associated with keratinocyte cell membranes in the conditioned medium. A centrifugation of conditioned medium was not able to bring this protein down into the pellet. Surprisingly, the results of Western analysis identified p36 and p11, two monomers of the annexin II tetramer, in conditioned medium derived from either keratinocytes cultured alone or keratinocytes co-cultured with fibroblasts. In contrast to the keratinocyte-conditioned medium in which annexin II was easily detectable, both monomers were barely detectable in conditioned medium collected from dermal fibroblasts. This finding was in contrast to the cell lysates in which p36 was detectable in both keratinocytes and fibroblasts. However, the amount of this protein was markedly higher in keratinocyte lysate relative to that of dermal fibroblasts. Conditioned medium derived from keratinocyte established from adult showed a higher level of annexin II compared to that of keratinocytes established from newborn babies. The expression of p11 seems to increase with differentiation of keratinocytes derived from either adult or newborn skin samples. When the site of annexin synthesis in human skin was examined by immunohistochemical staining, the antibody for p36 localized the annexin to the keratinocyte cell members in the basal and suprabasal keratinocytes. In conclusion, Western blot detection of both p36 and p11 in conditioned medium from skin cells revealed that human keratinocytes, but not fibroblasts, express a releasable monomer form of annexin II which is regulated by differentiation status of keratinocytes. This finding is consistent with the localization of annexin II detected by immunohistochemical staining. J. Cell. Biochem. 86: 737,747, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Epoxidation of allyl chloride and hydrogen peroxide over titanium silicalite-1 film on SiO2 pellet supportJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Li Wang Abstract Titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) films were prepared on SiO2 pellet supports via an in situ hydrothermal synthesis method and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 29Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (Si MAS NMR). The growth time of TS-1 film had a strong effect on its morphology and the thickness and size of the crystals. The uniformity and thickness of TS-1 films increased with increase of growth times. The epoxidation of allyl chloride (ACH) with dilute hydrogen peroxide to form epichlorohydrin (ECH) over the TS-1 films was carried out in a fixed bed reactor. The conversion of ACH and the selectivity to ECH over the TS-1 films of the second growth were higher than that of the first growth, the third and the fourth growth. And the conversion and selectivity as a function of time-on-stream gave a good stable performance in an extended test up to at least 19 h. The final steady-state conversion and selectivity were approximately 86% and 55%, respectively. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] DNA Extraction from Olive Oil and PCR Amplification of Microsatellite MarkersJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005Raffaele Testolin And ABSTRACT: DNA was extracted from single-cultivar of cold-pressed (virgin) unfiltered and cotton-filtered olive oils that were stored at 4 °C for up to a year using different DNA extraction kits and protocols. DNA was amplified using original and nested primers designed on 6 microsatellites loci of the UDO series. The most consistent results in terms of successful single sequence repeat amplifications were achieved using the Qiagen QIAamp DNA stool extraction kit, slightly modified and applied to oil sample amounts as small as 200 ,L without any pretreatment. The kit allowed getting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons visible on gel and scorable peaks at the automatic sequencer for all 6 markers analyzed. Less consistent results were achieved with other kits, such as the Promega Wizard Magnetic DNA Purification System for Food, the LB Link-Biotech ExtMan 50,100 Evolution, the Qiagen Plant Mini kit, and the standard cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide-based DNA extraction protocol. The integration in the protocols of further tools, such as the hexane-based phase separation, the addition of water or NaCl solutions to the oil, the precipitation and the use of the pellet, and others, did not result in any substantial use. PCR amplifications that gave low DNA yields were improved by adopting the nested PCR technique, which uses the product of the 1st PCR as a template for a 2nd PCR carried out by means of internal primers. Conclusions are drawn as to the applicability of the method to trace the identity of single-cultivar virgin olive oils. Further work is required to check the sensitivity of the method in determining the varietal composition of blended oils, especially in detecting alleles from cultivars present in only small amounts. [source] .177 Caliber Pellet Classification System and Identification Key,JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 6 2007James A. Bailey Ph.D. Abstract:, A classification system and identification key for .177 caliber air gun pellets was developed based on a five-class characteristic criterion. Sixty-eight pellet types from 15 companies were examined and compared. A classification system was developed based on the pellets' head shapes, skirt types, lengths, weights, and other markings or observations. In some cases, when a pellet is recovered from a crime scene, product brand identification may aid the investigation. Even though all product brands cannot be identified, various brands of pellets can be eliminated based on a pellet's class characteristics. The pellet producers in this study were located in the following countries: China, Czech Republic, England, Korea, Spain, and the United States. An identification key can be used for possible pellet identification or elimination. [source] Prediction of gas sorption kinetics for porous media using MRIAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 9 2006Matthew J. Watt-Smith Abstract Diffusion and reaction within porous media involving condensable vapors are important processes in catalysis, fuel cells, and membrane separations. In this work, 3-D maps of the spatial variation of porosity, pore size and network tortuosity within a porous solid, derived from magnetic resonance images, have been used to construct a structural model for a mesoporous catalyst pellet. Simulations of the kinetic uptake, adsorption and capillary condensation of butane vapor within the porous solid, conducted on the structural model, have successfully predicted experimental measurements of the effects of the onset of capillary condensation on mass transfer rates without the need of the various adjustable parameters prevalent in other models. These findings suggest that accurate mathematical models for both the complex void space of the porous medium, and the mass transport processes taking place within it, have been successfully developed. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006 [source] Use of chitosan-alginate as alternative pelletization aid to microcrystalline cellulose in extrusion/spheronizationJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 9 2007Nattawut Charoenthai Abstract Two types of different molecular weight chitosan were investigated as a pelletization aid in extrusion/spheronization using water as granulation liquid. Spherical pellets with a maximum fraction of 60% w/w chitosan could be produced when 1.25,2.5% w/w sodium alginate was included in the formulations with no microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Chitosan with lower molecular weight of 190 kDa showed a better pellet forming property. The pellets obtained had acceptable physical characteristics and a fast drug release. The results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and 13C CP-MAS nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed the formation of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) between chitosan and sodium alginate, which might be a reason for successful pelletization by extrusion/spheronization. Moreover, the presence of PEC might influence the physical characteristics and dissolution behavior of chitosan-alginate pellets. The results indicated an achievement in production of pellets by extrusion/spheronization without using MCC. Moreover, chitosan combined with sodium alginate could be used as a promising alternative pelletization aid to MCC in extrusion/spheronization. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 96: 2469,2484, 2007 [source] Comparative bioavailability study in dogs of a self-emulsifying formulation of progesterone presented in a pellet and liquid form compared with an aqueous suspension of progesteroneJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2004Catherine Tuleu Abstract A pellet formulation of progesterone in a self-emulsifying system (SES) was prepared by the process of extrusion/spheronization to provide a good in vitro drug release (100% within 30 min, T50% at 13 min). A three-way randomized crossover study was performed in six fasted male beagle dogs with these pellets and the same SES liquid formulation, both contained in a hard shell capsule, and an aqueous suspension. The same dose of progesterone (16 mg) in pellets and in the SES liquid formulation resulted in similar AUC, Cmax and Tmax values, estimated from progesterone plasma levels by 125I radioimmunoassay. Although the maximum absorption was slightly retarded (0.5 to 1 h) by SES (pellets and liquid), AUC and Cmax were approximately seven and nine times greater then those obtained when an aqueous suspension formulation of the same dose of progesterone was administered to the same dogs. These results showed that it was possible to improve the bioavailability of the poorly soluble, poorly permeable progesterone when administered in SES. Moreover, presenting the progesterone in the form of a pellet did not prevent the release of the drug in vivo. These data demonstrate the utility of extrusion/spheronization in delivering a nonaqueous system in a novel solid dosage form. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 93:1495,1502, 2004 [source] Adjustment and control of SERS activity of metal substrates by pressureJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 4 2010Lixin Xia Abstract Metal pellets of silver and copper for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy were prepared by compression with different pressures. It was found that the SERS activity of the pellet could be controlled by pressure. Enhanced Raman scattering properties of the metal pellets in the presence of adsorbed 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) with excitation at 632.8 or 514 nm could be obtained by choosing proper pressure of pellatization. The SERS peak intensity of the band at ,1584 cm,1 of 4-MBA adsorbed on the metal pellets varies as a function of applied pressure, and which is about 1.2,32 times greater than when it is adsorbed on silver and copper particles. The calculated results of three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method (3D-FDTD) are in good agreement with the experimental data. Moreover, no spurious peaks appear in the SERS spectra of the samples because no other chemicals are involved in the simple preparation process of the metal pellets, which will facilitate its use as an SERS-active substrate for analytical purposes. In summary, SERS-active metal pellets can be produced simply and cost effectively by the method reported here, and this method is expected to be utilized in the development of SERS-based analytical devices. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Schedule-Induced Ethanol Self-Administration in DBA/2J and C57BL/6J MiceALCOHOLISM, Issue 6 2003Guy Mittleman Background: The purpose of these experiments was to provide an initial investigation into ethanol self-administration elicited in the schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) paradigm. Methods: Mature male mice were food deprived to between 80 and 85% of their baseline weight and received 20 daily 1 hr SIP test sessions in which a food pellet (20 mg) was delivered on a fixed-time 60 sec schedule. In different groups, the acquisition of drinking 5% (v/v) ethanol solution (experiment 1) or water (experiment 2) was recorded along with other behaviors that occurred in the test chambers. Results: Results indicated that C57BL/6J mice drank significantly more ethanol than DBA/2J mice and that C57 mice achieved blood alcohol concentrations as high as 300 mg/dl. Blood alcohol concentrations were consistently correlated with g/kg ethanol intake. The groups did not differ in consumption of water. SIP test sessions using higher concentrations of ethanol (10,20% v/v, experiment 1) or sucrose solutions (0.1,2% w/v, experiment 2) then were performed. Group differences in ethanol consumption were maintained at all ethanol concentrations. Although DBAs drank more of a low concentration of sucrose (0.1%), when expressed as g/kg, sucrose intake was equivalent in the two strains at all concentrations. Analysis of the time course of drinking clearly showed that this behavior was adjunctive in nature. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the effectiveness of this procedure in inducing ethanol self-administration and its utility for investigating the genetic bases of vulnerability toward excessive ethanol consumption. [source] Pressureless Rapid Sintering of UO2 Assisted by High-frequency Induction Heating ProcessJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 10 2008Jae Ho Yang Heat generation of uranium dioxide (UO2) powder and its pressureless rapid sintering behaviors have been studied using a high-frequency induction heating apparatus. The porous graphite housing has been used to prevent heat loss and to preheat the uranium oxides, simultaneously. At an elevated temperature, UO2 powder generated extra heat by itself. The synergism of individual heat generation between the graphite and UO2 powder could effectively heat the UO2 to the sintering temperature of 1700°C. Using this process, densification behavior of cylindrical and disk-type UO2 green pellets according to the heating rate and grain structure of sintered UO2 pellets were investigated. Rapid sintering caused a large crack around the circumference of the sintered pellet. The formation of cracks could be avoided when the heating rate or sample dimension are properly reduced. A dense and crack-free UO2 pellet with a relative density of up to 96% was produced within 5 min of the process time. The induction heat sintering process can be a potential candidate for the rapid fabrication of ceramics and composites. [source] Synthesis of Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 Microwave Ceramics through a Sol,Gel Route Using Acetate SaltsJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 11 2004Chien-Cheng Tsai A sol,gel process to unsophisticatedly synthesize Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 (BMT) ceramics at low cost has been developed in the present work. This process involves the reaction of TaCl5 with acetates of Ba and Mg in the presence of citric acid. Pure BMT polycrystalline powders can be obtained by calcining the synthesized products at 1000°C. The BMT powders were found to have a primary particle size as small as 100 nm. BMT ceramics with favorable structural characteristics can be obtained from sintering of the sol,gel BMT at temperatures much lower than that for the conventional solid-state BMT. Sintering the sol,gel BMT in pellet form at 1300°C resulted in an ordering parameter of 0.72 for the pellet, and a relative density of >95% was achieved with sintering at 1500°C. The grain size of the sintered sol,gel BMT was large and uniform in comparison with the products from the solid-state method. Using the sol,gel route, sintering at temperatures as low as 1400°C gave ceramics with acceptable microwave dielectric properties (a dielectric constant of 16 and Qf factor of 14 400 GHz), while higher temperatures (>1600°C) are needed for the solid-state route to give similar properties. [source] Effect of Feeding Frequency, Water Temperature, and Stocking Density on the Growth of Tiger Puffer, Takifugu rubripesJOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2006Kotaro Kikuchi Effects of daily feeding frequency, water temperature, and stocking density on the growth of tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes, fry were examined to develop effective techniques to produce tiger puffer in a closed recirculation system. Fish of 4, 14, and 180 g in initial body weight were fed commercial pellet diets once to five times a day to apparent satiation each by hand for 8 or 12 wk at 20 C. Daily feeding frequency did not affect the growth of 14- and 180-g-size fish. However, the daily feed consumption and weight gain of the 4-g-size fish fed three and five times daily were significantly higher than those of fish fed once daily (P < 0.05). Fish of 4 and 50 g in initial body weight were reared with the pellet diet at 15,30 C for 8 wk. The weight gain of fish increased with increasing water temperature up to 25 C and decreased drastically at 30 C for both sizes. Similar trends were observed for feed efficiency, although 4-g fish had highest efficiency at 20 C. Effects of stocking density on growth were examined with fish of 8, 13, and 100 g in initial body weight. Fish were reared with the pellet diet for 8 or 16 wk at 20 C. Fish were placed in floating net cages in the culture tank, and the stocking density was determined based on the total weight of fish and volume of the net cage. Fish of 8 g in body weight grew up to 35,36 g during the 8-wk rearing period independent of the stocking density of 8, 15, and 31 kg/m3 at the end of rearing. Final biomass per cage reached 32, 60, and 115 kg/m3 for 13-g-size fish, and 10, 18, and 35 kg/m3 for 100-g-size fish, and the growth of the fish tended to decrease with increasing stocking density for both sizes. [source] Tryptophan catabolites regulate mucosal sensitization to ovalbumin in respiratory airwaysALLERGY, Issue 3 2009S. O. Odemuyiwa Background:, Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), the rate-limiting enzyme in tryptophan catabolism, is important in generating tolerance at the foetal,maternal interface. Studies using 1-methyl-tryptophan (1-MT), the specific inhibitor of IDO, showed that this enzyme is important in interferon-gamma (IFN-,)-dependent inhibition of allergic inflammation in the respiratory airway during immunotherapy. Aims of study:, We investigated the role of IDO in the development of allergic sensitization, leading to allergic inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR). Methods:, We used a mouse model to generate mucosal tolerance to lipopolysaccharide-free ovalbumin (OVA) following repeated intranasal inoculation of OVA over a 3-day period. We tested the successful induction of tolerance by subsequent intraperitoneal (i.p.) sensitization followed by intranasal challenge with OVA. A slow-release pellet of 1-MT implanted into mice was used to block IDO activity prior to repeated intranasal inoculation of OVA. We measured T-cell proliferation in response to OVA, determined airway inflammation, and measured AHR to intranasal methacholine to investigate the role of IDO in sensitization to OVA. Results:, Repeated intranasal administration of OVA generated tolerance and prevented a subsequent sensitization to OVA via the i.p. route. This response was inhibited in mice receiving a slow-release pellet of 1-MT. However, we successfully reconstituted tolerance in mice receiving 1-MT following intra-peritoneal injection of a mixture of kynurenine and hydroxyanthranilic acid. Conclusion:, Our data suggest that, in addition to their role in IFN-,-mediated inhibition of allergic airway inflammation, products of tryptophan catabolism play an important role in the prevention of sensitization to potential allergens in the respiratory airway. [source] Toxico-kinetics, recovery efficiency and microsomal changes following administration of deltamethrin to black Bengal goatsPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 3 2001Sanis Juliet Abstract A study of the toxico-kinetics, recovery percentage from different substrates, cytotoxicity and role of cytochrome P450 and b5 of liver microsome in the metabolism of deltamethrin were carried out in female black Bengal goat. The ALD50 value of deltamethrin in goat by intravenous route lies between 0.2 and 0.6,mg,kg,1. Intravenous disposition kinetics using a dose of 0.2,mg,kg,1 showed that the maximum blood concentration of deltamethrin was recorded at 0.5,min, followed by rapid decline, and a minimum concentration was detected at 6,min after administration. The following values were obtained,:,Vdarea 0.148 (±,0.02) litre,kg,1; t1/2 (,) 0.22 (±,0.02),min; t1/2 (,) 2.17 (±,0.37),min; Kel 1.05 (±,0.24) min,1; AUC 4.30(±,0.45),µg min,ml,1; ClB 0.05 (±,0.006) litre,kg,1 min,1; T,B 1.93 (±,0.58); fc 0.40(±,0.05). After 10,min, liver retained the maximum residue, and heart, adrenal gland, kidney, spleen, fat and brain also held the insecticide; liver, fat, heart and spleen retained residue after 30,min, and bone, liver and fat retained residue after 60,min of intravenous administration. Oral absorption of deltamethrin was poor and inconsistent, and approximately 65% of administered dose was recovered from faeces and gastrointestinal contents. The excretion of deltamethrin through urine was meagre, and only 0.01 and 0.013% of the administered dose was recovered after 3 and 5 days of oral administration respectively. All the tissues retained the residue after 3 days; while fat, rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, large and small intestine and bone retained the residue after 5 days of oral administration; and the percentage recoveries were 1.73 and 0.027 respectively. Deltamethrin reduced the level of cytochrome P450 content of liver microsomal pellet of goat after 5 days of oral administration. Histopathological examination of liver, kidney, heart, spleen brain and lung sections of treated goats did not reveal any pathological changes. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||