JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
J.H. Ligtenberg
The Lower Eocene El Garia Formation forms the reservoir rock at the Ashtart oilfield, offshore Tunisia. It comprises a thick package of mainly nummulitic packstones and grainstones with variable reservoir quality. Although porosity is moderate to high, permeability is often poor to fair with some high permeability streaks. The aim of this study was to establish relationships between log-derived data and core data, and to apply these relationships in a predictive sense to uncored intervals. An initial objective was to predict from measured logs and core data the limestone depositional texture (as indicated by the Dunham classification), as well as porosity and permeability. A total of nine wells with complete logging suites, multiple cored intervals with core plug measurements together with detailed core interpretations were available. We used a fully-connected Multi-Layer-Perceptron network (a type of neural network) to establish possible non-linear relationships. Detailed analyses revealed that no relationship exists between log response and limestone texture (Dunham class). The initial idea to predict Dunham class, and subsequently to use the classification results to predict permeability, could not therefore be pursued. However, further analyses revealed that it was feasible to predict permeability without using the depositional fabric, but using a combination of wireline logs and measured core porosity. Careful preparation of the training set for the neural network proved to be very important. Early experiments showed that low to fair permeability (1,35 mD) could be predicted with confidence, but that the network failed to predict the high permeability streaks. "Balancing " the data set solved this problem. Balancing is a technique in which the training set is increased by adding more examples to the under-sampled part of the data space. Examples are created by random selection from the training set and white noise is added. After balancing, the neural network's performance improved significantly. Testing the neural network on two wells indicated that this method is capable of predicting the entire range of permeability with confidence. [source]

Mechanical Properties, Water Vapor Permeabilities and Solubilities of Highly Carboxymethylated Starch-Based Edible Films

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2002
K.W. Kim
ABSTRACT: Tensile strength (TS), elongation (E), water vapor permeabilities (WVP) and solubilities were determined for highly carboxymethylated starch (HCMS)-based edible films plasticized with sorbitol (S), xylitol (X), mannitol (M) and glycerol (G). TS and E of HCMS-based film increased as the concentration of plasticizer S, M or × increased. TS of the HCMS-based film containing combined plasticizers were higher than those of films containing single plasticizer. The WVP of HCMS-based films seemed to decreased as the concentration of M, X or G plasticizer increased. Increasing plasticizer concentrations in HCMS-based film resulted in decreasing solubility of the films. [source]

Permeability of receptive fig fruits and its effects on the re-emergence behaviour of pollinators

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
HU HAO-YUAN
1. Figs and pollinating fig wasps provide a model system for studying mutualism. The permeability of the syconium changes during receptivity or between seasons, which may affect the behaviour of pollinators. Fig fruits are permeable during receptivity, and in some species, pollinators can enter and re-emerge after oviposition/pollination. We studied the relationship between fig permeability and pollinator re-emergence behaviour with a functional dioecious fig, Ficus hispida and the obligate pollinator Ceratosolen solmsi marchali. 2. The relationship reflects the interaction of figs and pollinators in the mutualism and also the conflicts of interests between the two partners: figs benefit from the enclosed fig fruits which have low permeability, but pollinators benefit from their re-emergence behaviour, which requires high fig permeability. 3. The results showed that at the end of receptivity, the permeability of fig fruits lowered rapidly with changes to the ostiole structures, and re-emergence rate was low, with more re-emerging pollinators trapped in the ostiolar bracts. Our results also showed that in the rainy season, the length of receptivity was shorter and fig permeability was lower. The re-emergence rates were also lower than those in the dry season. The results elucidated that figs' interests dominated in the conflicts between fig and pollinating wasp. 4. Based on a new criteria which employed the classification of pollinators found dead in the ostiolar bracts and which involved a survey of 6 monoecious and 12 dioecious fig species, we found that re-emergence behaviour was prevalent among fig species, and was more prevalent in functional dioecious figs than monoecious ones. [source]

Magnesium sulphate treatment decreases blood,brain barrier permeability during acute hypertension in pregnant rats

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
Anna G. Euser
Eclampsia is associated with increased blood,brain barrier (BBB) permeability and formation of cerebral oedema. Magnesium sulphate is used to treat eclampsia despite an unclear mechanism of action. This study was to determine the effect of magnesium sulphate on in vivo BBB permeability and formation of cerebral oedema during acute hypertension and on brain aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein expression. An in vivo model of hypertensive encephalopathy was used in late-pregnant (LP) rats following magnesium sulphate treatment, 270 mg kg,1i.p. injection every 4 h for 24 h. Permeability of the BBB was determined by in situ brain perfusion of Evan's Blue (EB) and sodium fluorescein (NaFl), and dye clearance determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry. Cerebral oedema was determined following acute hypertension by measuring brain water content. The effect of magnesium treatment on AQP4 expression was determined by Western blot analysis. Acute hypertension with autoregulatory breakthrough increased BBB permeability to EB in both brain regions studied (P < 0.05). Magnesium attenuated BBB permeability to EB during acute hypertension by 41% in the posterior cerebrum (P < 0.05) but had no effect in the anterior cerebrum (P > 0.05). Treatment with magnesium did not change NaFl permeability, cerebral oedema formation or AQP4 expression. In summary, BBB permeability to Evan's Blue was increased by acute hypertension in LP rats, and this was attenuated by treatment with magnesium sulphate. The greatest effect on BBB permeability to EB was in the posterior cerebrum, an area particularly susceptible to oedema formation during eclampsia. [source]

Conductivity and Methanol Permeability of Nafion,Zirconium Phosphate Composite Membranes Containing High Aspect Ratio Filler Particles,

FUEL CELLS, Issue 4 2009
M. Casciola
Abstract Gels of exfoliated ,-zirconium phosphate (ZrPexf) in dimethylformamide (DMF) were used to prepare Nafion/ZrPexf composite membranes with filler loadings up to 7,wt.-% by casting mixtures of Nafion 1100 solutions in DMF and suitable amounts of 2,wt.-% ZrP gels in DMF. TEM pictures showed that the ZrPexf particles had aspect ratio of at least 20. All samples were characterised by methanol permeability (P) and through-plane (,thp) and in-plane (,inp) conductivity measurements at 40,°C and 100% RH. The methanol permeability of Nafion membranes containing in situ grown ZrP particles with low aspect ratio (Nafion/ZrPisg) was also determined. The methanol permeability and the swelling behaviour of the composite membranes turned out to be strongly dependent on the filler morphology. As a general trend, both permeability and swelling decreased according to the sequence: Nafion/ZrPisg > Nafion > Nafion/ZrPexf. The maximum selectivity (,thp/P,=,1.4,×,105,S,cm,3,s) was found for the membrane filled with 1,wt.-% ZrPexf: this value is seven times higher than that of Nafion. For the Nafion/ZrPexf membranes, the ratio ,inp/,thp increases with the filler loading, thus indicating that the preferred orientation of the ZrP sheets is parallel to the membrane surface. [source]

Permeability of the continental crust: dynamic variations inferred from seismicity and metamorphism

GEOFLUIDS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1-2 2010
S. E. INGEBRITSEN
Geofluids (2010) 10, 193,205 Abstract The variation of permeability with depth can be probed indirectly by various means, including hydrologic models that use geothermal data as constraints and the progress of metamorphic reactions driven by fluid flow. Geothermal and metamorphic data combine to indicate that mean permeability (k) of tectonically active continental crust decreases with depth (z) according to log k , ,14,3.2 log z, where k is in m2 and z in km. Other independently derived, crustal-scale k,z relations are generally similar to this power-law curve. Yet there is also substantial evidence for local-to-regional-scale, transient, permeability-generation events that entail permeabilities much higher than these mean k,z relations would suggest. Compilation of such data yields a fit to these elevated, transient values of log k , ,11.5,3.2 log z, suggesting a functional form similar to that of tectonically active crust, but shifted to higher permeability at a given depth. In addition, it seems possible that, in the absence of active prograde metamorphism, permeability in the deeper crust will decay toward values below the mean k,z curves. Several lines of evidence suggest geologically rapid (years to 103 years) decay of high-permeability transients toward background values. Crustal-scale k,z curves may reflect a dynamic competition between permeability creation by processes such as fluid sourcing and rock failure, and permeability destruction by processes such as compaction, hydrothermal alteration, and retrograde metamorphism. [source]

Inside Front Cover: Novel Engineered Ion Channel Provides Controllable Ion Permeability for Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules Coated with a Lipid Membrane (Adv. Funct.

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 2 2009
Mater.
In their Full Paper on page 201, Donald Martin and co-workers describe the covering of polyelectrolyte microcapsules with a lipid bilayer that incorporates a novel engineered ion channel to provide a functional capability to control transport across the microcapsule wall. The cover image shows atomic-force microscopy images of these 8-layer polyelectroctrolyte capsules recorded using tapping mode in an aqueous environment. The capsules can be seen to collapse in a folded manner, with an occasional wrinkle that "absorbs" the extra surface area when flattening the spherical surface. [source]

Novel Engineered Ion Channel Provides Controllable Ion Permeability for Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules Coated with a Lipid Membrane

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 2 2009
Andrew R. Battle
Abstract The development of nanostructured microcapsules based on a biomimetic lipid bilayer membrane (BLM) coating of poly(sodium styrenesulfonate) (PSS)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) polyelectrolyte hollow microcapsules is reported. A novel engineered ion channel, gramicidin (bis-gA), incorporated into the lipid membrane coating provides a functional capability to control transport across the microcapsule wall. The microcapsules provide transport and permeation for drug-analog neutral species, as well as positively and negatively charged ionic species. This controlled transport can be tuned for selective release biomimetically by controlling the gating of incorporated bis-gA ion channels. This system provides a platform for the creation of "smart" biomimetic delivery vessels for the effective and selective therapeutic delivery and targeting of drugs. [source]

Slug Test Analysis to Evaluate Permeability of Compressible Materials

GROUND WATER, Issue 4 2008
Hangseok Choi
The line-fitting methods such as the Hvorslev method and the Bouwer and Rice method provide a rapid and simple means to analyze slug test data for estimating in situ hydraulic conductivity (k) of geologic materials. However, when analyzing a slug test in a relatively compressible geologic formation, these conventional methods may have difficulties fitting a straight line to the semilogarithmic plot of the test data. Data from relatively compressible geologic formations frequently show a concave-upward curvature because of the effect of the compressibility or specific storage (Ss). To take into account the compressibility of geologic formations, a modified line-fitting method is introduced, which expands on Chirlin's (1989) approach to the case of a partially penetrating well with the basic-time-lag fitting method. A case study for a compressible till is made to verify the proposed method by comparing the results from the proposed methods with those obtained using a type-curve method (Kansas Geological Survey method [Hyder et al. 1994]). [source]

Permeation of Sumatriptan Through Human Vaginal and Buccal Mucosa

HEADACHE, Issue 2 2000
P. Van Der Bijl DSc
Continued interest in the various routes by which sumatriptan may be administered prompted us to investigate its passage through buccal mucosa. Because human buccal mucosa is scarce, we proposed using the relatively abundant vaginal mucosa, which has been shown to have comparable diffusion rates for a number of widely varying molecules, as a model of buccal mucosa. In addition, by comparing these two tissues with respect to their permeability to sumatriptan, the human vaginal/buccal mucosa model could be further evaluated. Clinically healthy human vaginal and buccal mucosa specimens were used in the permeability studies. Permeability to sumatriptan was determined using a continuous flow-through diffusion system in the presence and absence of permeation enhancers. No statistically significant differences in permeability could be demonstrated for both mucosae toward sumatriptan. Flux values obtained in the absence and presence of glycodeoxycholate and lauric acid (1:1 molar ratio) to sumatriptan of buccal and vaginal mucosa, respectively, were not significantly different. The results obtained further support the hypothesis of the vaginal/buccal mucosal in vitro permeability model and suggest that this model may be used in conjunction with various absorption enhancers. Further studies on the buccal route of absorption of sumatriptan are thus warranted. [source]

A Polymersome Nanoreactor with Controllable Permeability Induced by Stimuli-Responsive Block Copolymers

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 27 2009
Kyoung Taek Kim
A method to generate and control the permeability of polymersome membranes using mixtures of amphiphilic and stimuli-responsive boronic acid-containing block copolymers is reported. The latter block copolymers form phase-separated domains in the polymersomes, which can be dissolved by increasing the pH of the medium or by introducing sugar molecules that covalently bind to the boronic acid moieties. [source]

The Modulation of Endothelial Cell Permeability: winter meeting of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI), London, UK, 2,4 January 2002

JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 6 2002
Lopa Leach
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Water Vapor Permeability of Mammalian and Fish Gelatin Films

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 4 2006
R.J. Avena-Bustillos
ABSTRACT:, Water vapor permeability of cold- and warm-water fish skin gelatins films was evaluated and compared with different types of mammalian gelatins. Alaskan pollock and salmon gelatins were extracted from frozen skins, others were obtained from commercial sources. Water vapor permeability of gelatin films was determined considering differences on percent relative humidity (%RH) at the film underside. Molecular weight distribution, amino acid composition, gel strength, viscoelastic properties, pH, and clarity were also determined for each gelatin. Water vapor permeability of cold-water fish gelatin films (0.93 gmm/m2hkPa) was significantly lower than warm-water fish and mammalian gelatin films (1.31 and 1.88 gmm/m2hkPa, respectively) at 25 °C, 0/80 %RH through 0.05-mm thickness films. This was related to increased hydrophobicity due to reduced amounts of proline and hydroxyproline in cold-water fish gelatins. As expected, gel strength and gel setting temperatures were lower for cold-water fish gelatin than either warm-water fish gelatins or mammalian gelatins. This study demonstrated significant differences in physical, chemical, and rheological properties between mammalian and fish gelatins. Lower water vapor permeability of fish gelatin films can be useful particularly for applications related to reducing water loss from encapsulated drugs and refrigerated or frozen food systems. [source]

Permeability of a novel ,-lactamase inhibitor LK-157 and its ester prodrugs across rat jejunum in vitro

JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 9 2009
Petra Igli
Abstract Objectives LK-157 is a novel 10-ethylidene tricyclic carbapenem that resembles the structure of the broad-spectrum antibiotic sanfetrinem and acts as a potent inactivator of ,-lactamases of classes A, C and D. LK-157 is a highly soluble but poorly permeable drug. Since most of the ,-lactams are poorly absorbed, ester prodrugs LK-159, LK-157E1 and LK-157E2 were designed to enhance membrane permeability. This study investigated the permeability of LK-157 and the three ester prodrugs across rat intestine in vitro. The morpholinoethyl ester of sanfetrinem was also investigated. Method Permeability across rat jejunum was determined using EasyMount side-by-side diffusion chambers. Key findings The solubility and permeability of morpholinoethyl ester LK-157E2 were superior to those of LK-159 and LK-157E1. The morpholinoethyl ester of sanfetrinem LK-176E1 had the highest observed permeability coefficient and consequently the highest predicted absorption in humans. Conclusions These results suggest that the morpholinoethyl esters of LK-157 and sanfetrinem could be further investigated to assess bioavailability in vivo. [source]

Phosphatidylcholine Reverses Ethanol-Induced Increase in Transepithelial Endotoxin Permeability and Abolishes Transepithelial Leukocyte Activation

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 3 2009
Katja Mitzscherling
Background:, Chronic alcohol abuse increases both intestinal bacterial overgrowth and intestinal permeability to macromolecules. Intestinal permeability of endotoxin, a component of the outer cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, plays a crucial role in the development of alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD). As impaired bile flow leads to endotoxemia and the bile component phosphatidylcholine (PC) is therapeutically active in ALD, we tested the hypothesis that conjugated primary bile salts (CPBS) and PC inhibit ethanol-enhanced transepithelial permeability of endotoxin and the subsequent transepithelial activation of human leukocytes. Methods:, For this purpose, we used a model in which intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) were basolaterally cocultivated with mononuclear leukocytes. Cells were challenged apically with endotoxin from Escherichia coli K12 and were incubated with or without the addition of CPBS (1.5 mM), PC (0.38 mM), pooled human bile (2%) in combination with ethanol (0 to 66 mM). Results:, Ethanol decreased integrity of intestinal epithelial cell monolayer and enhanced transepithelial permeability of endotoxin. Both the transepithelial permeability of endotoxin and the transepithelial stimulation of leukocytes were nearly completely abolished after the apical supplementation of PC with CPBS, but not by CPBS alone. Ethanol up to 66 mM was not able to reverse this effect. Conclusions:, A considerable part of the therapeutic and preventive effect of PC supplementation in ALD might result from a reduction of ethanol-enhanced permeability of endotoxin through the intestinal barrier. [source]

Scaling Analysis of the Effect of Binder Content and Binder Distribution on the Gas Permeability of Porous Green Ceramics

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 7 2008
Jeong Woo Yun
Two models have been developed to describe how variations in binder content and binder distribution influence the specific surface and the gas permeability of porous media. In the Core-Shell model, a shell of binder surrounds each ceramic particle, and the specific surface increases with decreasing volume fraction of binder. In the Multi-Sphere model, binder particles occupy the interstices between the ceramic particles, and the specific surface generally decreases with decreasing volume fraction of binder. The variation in the permeability with binder content predicted by each model is different as compared with the case of a constant specific surface. [source]

Enhanced Permeability and Dielectric Constant of NiZn Ferrite Synthesized in Nanocrystalline Form by a Combustion Method

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 5 2007
Sasanka Deka
The performance parameters of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4, synthesized in the nanocrystalline form by an autocombustion method, have been investigated. The sample sintered at 1200°C, with Bi2O3 as additive shows a very high value of initial permeability ,,i of >400 at 1 MHz, with low loss. Similarly, a very high dielectric constant is obtained at lower frequencies. The results show that optimum magnetic and electrical properties can be achieved for the NiZn ferrite nanocrystalline powders synthesized by the present autocombustion method and sintered at a relatively lower temperature of 1200°C when compared with a temperature of 1400°C required for the materials synthesized by the conventional ceramic method. [source]

Measuring Permeability of Rigid Materials by a Beam-Bending Method: I, Theory

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 9 2000
George W. Scherer
When a saturated porous material is deformed, pressure gradients are created in the liquid, and the liquid flows within the pores to equilibrate the pressure. This phenomenon can be exploited to measure permeability: A rod of saturated porous material is instantaneously bent by a fixed amount, and the force required to sustain the deflection is measured as a function of time. The force decreases as the liquid flows through the pore network, and the rate of decrease depends on the permeability. This technique has been applied successfully to determine the permeability of gels, as well as their viscoelastic properties; in this paper the method is extended to ceramic materials, such as porous glass and cement paste. The theory has been modified to take account of the compressibility of the solid and liquid phases (whereas, those factors are negligible for gels). Analyses are presented for constant deflection, constant rate of deflection, and sinusoidal oscillation, where the solid phase is either purely elastic or viscoelastic, and the beam is either cylindrical or square. Experimental tests on Vycor® glass and cement paste will be presented in companion papers. [source]

Permeability and Conductivity Studies on Ionomer-Polysilsesquioxane Hybrid Materials

MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 3 2006
Chedarampet S. Karthikeyan
Abstract Summary: Hybrid materials based on sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK, ionomer) and (RSiO1.5)n network (polysilsequioxane) were prepared by sol-gel process. Two different precursors namely aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and imidazoleglycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (IGPTMS) were utilized to generate (RSiO1.5)n in SPEEK matrix by sol-gel process. 29Si MAS NMR confirmed the formation of RSiO3/2 network structure inside the matrix. Characterisation of the hybrid materials showed lower methanol and water permeability compared to the plain SPEEK. They are therefore promising materials as membranes for direct methanol fuel cells applications. The hybrid material derived from amino group was more effective in decreasing the permeability than the material derived from imidazole group. However, the proton conductivity of the latter was higher than the material derived from amino group. The results indicate that hybrid material prepared from imidazole containing silane is more suitable as a membrane for direct methanol fuel cell than the one prepared from amino carrying silane because it fulfils the two main requirements, namely low methanol permeability and reasonably good proton conductivity. Figure shows a network of silica phase in SPEEK matrix. [source]

The Effect of Ovariectomy and Estrogen on Penetrating Brain Arterioles and Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability

MICROCIRCULATION, Issue 8 2009
Marilyn J. Cipolla
ABSTRACT Objective: We investigated the effect of estrogen replacement on the structure and function of penetrating brain arterioles (PA) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Materials and Methods: Female ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats were replaced with estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) (OVX + E;N=13) and compared to ovariectomized animals without replacement (OVX; N=14) and intact controls (CTL, proestrous; N=13). Passive and active diameters, percent tone, and passive distensibility of pressurized PA were compared. In addition, BBB permeability to Lucifer Yellow, a marker of transcellular transport, was compared in cerebral arteries. Results: Ovariectomy increased myogenic tone in PA, compared to CTL, that was not ameliorated by estrogen treatment. Percent tone at 75 mmHg for CTL vs. OVX and OVX + E was 44±3% vs. 51±1% and 54±3% (P<0.01 vs. CTL for both). No differences were found in passive diameters or distensibility between the groups. BBB permeability increased 500% in OVX vs. CTL animals; however, estrogen replacement restored barrier properties: flux of Lucifer Yellow for CTL, OVX, and OVX + E was (ng/mL): 3.4±1.2, 20.2±5.3 (P<0.01 vs. CTL), and 6.15±1.2 (n.s.). Conclusions: These results suggest that estrogen replacement may not be beneficial for small-vessel disease in the brain, but may limit BBB disruption and edema under conditions that cause it. [source]

Effects of Arg-Gly-Asp Sequence Peptide and Hyperosmolarity on the Permeability of Interstitial Matrix and Fenestrated Endothelium in Joints

MICROCIRCULATION, Issue 6 2004
A. POLI
ABSTRACT Objectives: The aims were to assess the contribution of arg-gly-asp (RGD) mediated cell integrin,matrix bonds to interstitial hydraulic resistance and to fenestrated endothelial permeability in joints. Joint fluid is generated by filtration from fenestrated capillaries and drains through a fibronectin-rich synovial intercellular matrix. The role of parenchymal cell,matrix bonding in determining tissue hydraulic resistance is unknown. Methods: The knee cavity of anesthetized rabbits was infused with saline or the competitive hexapeptide blocker GRGDTP, with or without added osmotic stress (600 mosm saline). Intra-articular pressure Pj, net trans-synovial drainage rate s, and the permeation of Evans blue-labeled albumin (EVA) from plasma into the joint cavity were measured. Results: GRGDTP increased the hydraulic conductance of the synovial drainage pathway, ds/dPj, by 71% (p = .02, paired t test, n = 6 animals). Synovial plasma EVA clearance (control 7.1 ± 0.8 ,L h,1, mean ± SEM, n = 15) was unaffected by GRGDTP (7.0 ± 2.3 ,L h,1, n = 6) or hyperosmolarity (4.9 ± 1.5 ,L h,1, n = 8) but was increased by GRGDTP and hyperosmolarity together (15.9 ± 4.8 ,L h,1, n = 5) (p = .01, ANOVA). Changes in dPj/dt evoked by GRGDTP plus hyperosmolarity, but neither alone, demonstrated increased microvascular filtration into the joint cavity (p < .001, ANOVA), as did changes in fluid absorption from the infusion system at fixed Pj. Conclusions: RGD-mediated bonds between the parenchymal cells and interstitial polymers reduce the interstitial hydraulic conductance by 42%. This helps to retain the lubricating fluid inside a joint cavity. RGD-mediated bonds also support the macromolecular barrier function of fenestrated endothelium, but in vivo this is evident only in stressed endothelium (cf. in vitro). [source]

Pores in the Sieve and Channels in the Wall: Control of Paracellular Permeability by Junctional Proteins in Endothelial Cells

MICROCIRCULATION, Issue 3 2001
GIANFRANCO BAZZONI
ABSTRACT Exchange of solutes and ions between the luminal and abluminal compartments of the circulation is critically dependent on the barrier properties of the vascular endothelium. Transport of solutes and fluids occurs along the transcellular and paracellular pathways that are mediated by intracellular vesicles and intercellular junctions, respectively. Although the ability of endothelial cells to dynamically regulate permeability has long been recognized, the precise mechanism and the signaling pathways involved have not been fully elucidated. Finally, current definition of the complex molecular composition of intercellular junctions is expected to explain the difference in permeability between diverse segments of the circulation and possibly to highlight the existence of specific junctional channels. The properties of junctional adhesion molecule-1 (JAM-1) and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), two transmembrane components of interendothelial junctions, are described in detail. [source]

Regulation of Blood,Brain Barrier Permeability

MICROCIRCULATION, Issue 2 2001
WILLIAM G. MAYHAN
ABSTRACT The blood-brain barrier minimizes the entry of molecules into brain tissue. This restriction arises by the presence of tight junctions (zonulae occludens) between adjacent endothelial cells and a relative paucity of pinocytotic vesicles within endothelium of cerebral arterioles, capillaries, and venules. Many types of stimuli can alter the permeability characteristics of the blood-brain barrier. Acute increases in arterial blood pressure beyond the autoregulatory capacity of cerebral blood vessels, application of hyperosmolar solutions, application of various inflammatory mediators known to be elevated during brain injury, and/or activation of blood-borne elements such as leukocytes can produce changes in permeability of the blood-brain barrier. The second messenger systems that account for increases in permeability of the blood-brain barrier during pathophysiologic conditions, however, remain poorly defined. This review will summarize studies that have examined factors that influence disruption of the blood-brain barrier, and will discuss the contribution of various cellular second messenger pathways in disruption of the blood-brain barrier during pathophysiologic conditions. [source]

Signal Transduction Pathways in Enhanced Microvascular Permeability

MICROCIRCULATION, Issue 6 2000
SARAH Y. YUAN
ABSTRACT We have been investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying pathophysiological regulation of microvascular permeability on isolated venules and cultured venular endothelial monolayers. Physiological approaches have been employed in combination with molecular analyses to probe the signal transduction pathways leading to enhanced microvascular permeability. A newly developed technique of protein transfection into cells and intact microvessels enables the correlation of functional reactions and signaling events at the molecular level in a direct and specific fashion. The results indicate that inflammatory mediators increase microvascular permeability via intracellular signaling pathways involving the activation of phospholipase C, cytosolic calcium, protein kinase C, nitric oxide synthase, guanylate cyclase, and protein kinase G. In response to the signaling stimulation, complex biochemical and conformational reactions occur at the endothelial structural proteins. Specifically, myosin light-chain activation-mediated myosin light-chain phosphorylation can result in cell contraction. VE-cadherin and ,-catenin phosphorylation may induce dissociation of the junctional proteins and their connection to the cytoskeleton, leading to a loose or opened intercellular junction. Focal adhesion phosphorylation and redistribution further provide an anchorage support for the conformational changes in the cells and at the cell junction. The three processes may act in concert to facilitate the flux of fluid and macromolecules across the microvascular endothelium. [source]

CNS Permeability of Drugs Predicted by a Decision Tree

MOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 4 2006
Claudia Andres
Abstract To predict the ability of drug-like molecules to penetrate the Central Nervous System (CNS), a decision tree was generated. This algorithm was designed to make a straight forward yes/no decision about the permeability of the blood-brain barrier for a given substance, based on the numerical criteria of a large variety of molecular descriptors. The decision tree achieved a prediction accuracy of 96% for the 186 compounds of the training set and 84% for the test set comprising 38 molecules. We found that CNS+drugs are predicted with a higher accuracy (>94%) than CNS- substances (>89%). [source]

CODES/Neural Network Model: a Useful Tool for in Silico Prediction of Oral Absorption and Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability of Structurally Diverse Drugs

MOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 2-3 2004
Isabel Dorronsoro
Abstract Two different neural network models able to predict both oral absorption (OA) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of structurally diverse drugs in use clinically are presented here. Using the descriptors generated by CODES, a program which codifies molecules from a topological point of view, we avoid the uncertain choice of molecular conformation and physicochemical parameters. In this work, a method called Reduction of Dimensions, designed for compressing data, is applied for the first time in order to minimize the bias factor added to a QSAR study when the selection of descriptors are performed. [source]

Effects of ozone exposure on the structural, mechanical and barrier properties of select plastic packaging films

PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Issue 6 2002
Banu F. Ozen
Abstract The effects of ozone (O3) gas exposure at various concentrations and treatment times on structural, mechanical and barrier properties of polyethylene and polyamide films were investigated. Changes in the structure of the films were monitored using an FT-IR spectrometer. The results showed that O3 treatment affected polyethylene and polyamide films differently. While O3 treatment caused formation of oxygen-containing functional groups and degradation of polymeric chains in polyethylene films, O3 treatment of polyamide films significantly increased the ,C,N, stretch observed at 1125,cm,1 in the FT-IR spectra. The changes in the mechanical properties of polyethylene films depended on the O3 treatment conditions (temperature and O3 concentration were the most significant), but an increase in tensile strength of polyamide films was observed regardless of the treatment conditions. Permeability to O2 for both types of films decreased with increasing O3 treatment time. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

The Effect of Cook-Off on the Bulk Permeability of a Plastic Bonded Explosive

PROPELLANTS, EXPLOSIVES, PYROTECHNICS, Issue 5 2006
Guillermo Terrones
Abstract Plastic bonded explosives when exposed to prolonged heating environments undergo a variety of changes that affect their bulk chemical, thermophysical, and mechanical properties. During slow heating conditions, referred to as cook-off, the thermal behavior of the polymeric binder plays an important role in the transformations of these composite energetic materials. The recently introduced Darcian flow hypothesis for PBX-9501 implies that, during preignition, temperature gradients will lead to pressure gradients which in turn will drive convection of decomposition gases throughout the explosive, thus affecting ignition time and location. Here, we focus on the cook-off behavior of PBX-9501 and investigate its effects on bulk permeability to gases produced as a result of thermal decomposition. The concept of Darcian convection through porous media is defined and illustrated in detail by the derivation of the governing equations for a permeameter. Based on a systematic analysis involving: 1) our current understanding about binder behavior as a function of temperature, 2) the physics of the gas permeameter apparatus, 3) the concept of liquid drainage by gas, and 4) the experimental record of four permeameter experiments with cooked PBX-9501, we conclude that samples heated up to 186,°C were not permeable in the Darcy-flow sense. [source]

Silica-supported biomimetic membranes

THE CHEMICAL RECORD, Issue 6 2004
Katsuhiko Ariga
Abstract The hybridization of lipid membranes with inorganic silica-based framework results in mechanically stable biomembrane mimics. This account describes three types of silica-based biomimetic membranes. As the first example, a Langmuir monolayer of dialkylalkoxysilane was polymerized and immobilized onto a porous glass plate. Permeability through the monolayer-immobilized glass was regulated by phase transition of the immobilized monolayer. In the second example, spherical vesicles covalently attached to a silica cover layer (Cerasome) were prepared. The Cerasome was stable enough to be assembled into layer-by-layer films without destruction of its vesicular structure. This material could be an example of the multicellular assembly. Mesoporous silica films densely filling peptide assemblies (Proteosilica) are introduced as the third example. The Proteosilica was synthesized as a transparent film through template sol-gel reaction using amphiphilic peptides. © 2004 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 3: 297,307; 2004: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.10071 [source]

Super High Threshold Percolative Ferroelectric/Ferrimagnetic Composite Ceramics with Outstanding Permittivity and Initial Permeability,

ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE, Issue 12 2010
Hui Zheng
No abstract is available for this article. [source]