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Biological Components (biological + component)
Selected AbstractsHepatocyte Cell Lines as the Biological Component of Liver SupportARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 7 2001Hugo O. Jauregui M.D. Guest Editor First page of article [source] Results of a Proposed Breath Alcohol Proficiency Test ProgramJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 1 2006Rod G. Gullberg M.P.A. ABSTRACT: Although proficiency test programs have long been used in both clinical and forensic laboratories, they have not found uniform application in forensic breath alcohol programs. An initial effort to develop a proficiency test program appropriate to forensic breath alcohol analysis is described herein. A total of 11 jurisdictions participated in which 27 modern instruments were evaluated. Five wet bath simulator solutions with ethanol vapor concentrations ranging from 0.0254 to 0.2659 g/210 L were sent to participating programs, instructing them to perform n=10 measurements on each solution using the same instrument. Four of the solutions contained ethanol only and one contained ethanol mixed with acetone. The systematic errors for all instruments ranged from ,11.3% to +11.4% while the coefficient of variations ranged from zero to 6.1%. A components-of-variance analysis revealed at least 79% of the total variance as being due to the between-instrument component for all concentrations. Improving proficiency test program development should consider: (1) clear protocol instructions, (2) frequency of proficiency testing, (3) use lower concentrations for determining limits-of-detection and -quantitation, etc. Despite the lack of a biological component, proficiency test participation should enhance the credibility of forensic breath test programs. [source] A scalar analysis of landscape connectivityOIKOS, Issue 2 2003Article first published online: 4 JUL 200 Landscape connectivity is critical to the maintenance of spatially-structured populations and consists of both a structural component, which describes the shape, size and location of landscape features; and a biological component, which consists of both the response of individuals to landscape features, and the patterns of gene flow that result from those individual responses. Traditional studies of landscape connectivity have attempted to discern individual behavioral responses to landscape features, but this methodology is intractable for many species. This paper is an attempt to relate the components of landscape connectivity through the explicit treatment of their spatial and temporal scales. Traditional measures of structural and biological components of connectivity are reviewed and more recently developed methods for the analysis of scale for each are introduced. I then present a framework for the comparison of scalar phenomena based on Watt's unit pattern, describe the potential outcomes of the comparison and discuss the implications of each. Several testable hypotheses emerge from the analysis that may serve as a useful framework for the investigation of landscape connectivity in the future. [source] Interaction of Plasma Deposited HMDSO-Based Coatings with Fibrinogen and Human Blood Plasma: The Correlation between Bulk Plasma, Surface Characteristics and Biomolecule InteractionPLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS, Issue 5 2010Ram P. Gandhiraman Abstract The success of a biomaterial depends on the nature of interaction and the progressive reaction between the biological components and the surface of the biomaterial. In order to control the interaction between the biomaterial and biological component, it is necessary to understand the factors that influence the protein adsorption and cell proliferation. Surface chemistry plays a crucial role in the success of any blood contacting biomaterial. Plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) is an interesting commonly used technique for tailoring surface characteristics while retaining bulk material properties. Two different films, namely polymer-like and silica-like coatings, with varying surface characteristics have been deposited from hexamethyldisiloxane, by PECVD, on 316L stainless steel. A correlation between the bulk plasma, interfacial adhesion of the coating to 316L steel, surface characteristics and biomolecule interaction is presented in this work. The interfacial adhesion strength analysis demonstrated that silica-like coatings have higher adhesion strength to 316L stainless steel than polymer-like coatings, caused due to the formation of a strong FeOSi and CrOSi bonds. It was observed that the effect of nanoscale surface roughness (close to 6,nm) was less significant, and that the surface chemistry played a significant role in governing the fibrinogen adsorption. Highest fibrinogen adsorption on plain steel was due to the electrostatic interaction of the metal oxide layer with the protein. Hydrophobicity of the polymer-like film resulted in a higher fibrinogen binding than the silica-like films. [source] Alginate-encapsulated HepG2 Cells in a Fluidized Bed Bioreactor Maintain Function in Human Liver Failure PlasmaARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 12 2009Sam M. Coward Abstract Alginate-encapsulated HepG2 cells cultured in microgravity have the potential to serve as the cellular component of a bioartificial liver. This study investigates their performance in normal and liver failure (LF) human plasma over 6,8 h in a fluidized bed bioreactor. After 8 days of microgravity culture, beads containing 1.5 × 109 cells were perfused for up to 8 h at 48 mL/min with 300 mL of plasma. After exposure to 90% LF plasma, vital dye staining showed maintained cell viability, while a 7% increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity indicated minimal cell damage. Glucose consumption, lactate production, and a 4.3-fold linear increase in alpha-fetoprotein levels were observed. Detoxificatory function was demonstrated by quantification of bilirubin conjugation, urea synthesis, and Cyp450 1A activity. These data show that in LF plasma, alginate-encapsulated HepG2 cells can maintain viability, and metabolic, synthetic, and detoxificatory activities, indicating that the system can be scaled-up to form the biological component of a bioartificial liver. [source] Acid microenvironments in microbial biofilms of antarctic endolithic microecosystemsENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2003Asunción Los Ríos Summary Antarctic endolithic microecosystems harbour distinct biofilms. The lithic substrate and the microorganisms comprising these films are intimately linked, leading to complex mineral,microbe interactions. Hence, the microhabitats and microenvironments of these microecosystems are not only determined by the physicochemical features of the lithic substrate, but are also conditioned by the biological components of these biofilms. The Antarctic biofilms analysed in this study are characterized by the presence of extracellular polymer substances and acid microenvironments in the proximity of the cells; cyanobacteria appearing as key components. On ultrastructural analysis, these endolithic cyanobacteria showed differences in sheath organization, probably related to their spatial position in the lithic substrate. It is proposed that in this type of ecosystem, biofilm structure could favour the formation of microsites with specific physicochemical conditions appropriate for the survival of microbial communities in this extreme environment. [source] Microbial interactions affecting the natural transformation of Bacillus subtilis in a model aquatic ecosystemFEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2003Kazuaki Matsui Abstract The involvement of microbial interactions in natural transformation of bacteria was evaluated using an aquatic model system. For this purpose, the naturally transformable Bacillus subtilis was used as the model bacterium which was co-cultivated with the protist Tetrahymena thermophila (a consumer) and/or the photosynthetic alga Euglena gracilis (a producer). Co-cultivation with as few as 102 individuals ml,1 of T. thermophila lowered the number of transformants to less than the detectable level (<1×100 ml,1), while co-cultivation with E. gracilis did not. Metabolites from co-cultures of T. thermophila and B. subtilis also decreased the number of transformants to less than the detectable level, while metabolites from co-culture of T. thermophila and B. subtilis with E. gracilis did not. Thus, the introduction of transformation inhibitory factor(s) by the grazing of T. thermophila and the attenuation of this inhibitory factor(s) by E. gracilis is indicated. These observations suggest that biological components do affect the natural transformation of B. subtilis. The study described is the first to suggest that ecological interactions are responsible not only for the carbon and energy cycles, but also for the processes governing horizontal transfer of genes, in microbial ecosystems. [source] A kinetic perspective on extracellular electron transfer by anode-respiring bacteriaFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 1 2010César I. Torres Abstract In microbial fuel cells and electrolysis cells (MXCs), anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) oxidize organic substrates to produce electrical current. In order to develop an electrical current, ARB must transfer electrons to a solid anode through extracellular electron transfer (EET). ARB use various EET mechanisms to transfer electrons to the anode, including direct contact through outer-membrane proteins, diffusion of soluble electron shuttles, and electron transport through solid components of the extracellular biofilm matrix. In this review, we perform a novel kinetic analysis of each EET mechanism by analyzing the results available in the literature. Our goal is to evaluate how well each EET mechanism can produce a high current density (>10 A m,2) without a large anode potential loss (less than a few hundred millivolts), which are feasibility goals of MXCs. Direct contact of ARB to the anode cannot achieve high current densities due to the limited number of cells that can come in direct contact with the anode. Slow diffusive flux of electron shuttles at commonly observed concentrations limits current generation and results in high potential losses, as has been observed experimentally. Only electron transport through a solid conductive matrix can explain observations of high current densities and low anode potential losses. Thus, a study of the biological components that create a solid conductive matrix is of critical importance for understanding the function of ARB. [source] Electroaddressing of Cell Populations by Co-Deposition with Calcium Alginate HydrogelsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 13 2009Xiao-Wen Shi Abstract Electroaddressing of biological components at specific device addresses is attractive because it enlists the capabilities of electronics to provide spatiotemporally controlled electrical signals. Here, the electrodeposition of calcium alginate hydrogels at specific electrode addresses is reported. The method employs the low pH generated at the anode to locally solubilize calcium ions from insoluble calcium carbonate. The solubilized Ca2+ can then bind alginate to induce this polysaccharide to undergo a localized sol-gel transition. Calcium alginate gel formation is shown to be spatially controlled in the normal and lateral dimensions. The deposition method is sufficiently benign that it can be used to entrap the bacteria E. coli. The entrapped cells are able to grow and respond to chemical inducers in their environment. Also, the entrapped cells can be liberated from the gel network by adding sodium citrate that can compete with alginate for Ca2+ binding. The capabilities of calcium alginate electrodeposition is illustrated by entrapping reporter cells that can recognize the quorum sensing autoinducer 2 (AI-2) signaling molecule. These reporter cells were observed to recognize and respond to AI-2 generated from an external bacterial population. Thus, calcium alginate electrodeposition provides a programmable method for the spatiotemporally controllable assembly of cell populations for cell-based biosensing and for studying cell-cell signaling. [source] Oligotrophication outweighs effects of global warming in a large, deep, stratified lake ecosystemGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010H. B. STICH Abstract Between 1951 and 1979, total phosphorous concentrations in Lake Constance increased from 7 to 87 ,g L,1. Following wastewater treatment, phosphorus levels were brought under control, returning to 7.6 ,g L,1 by spring 2007. The biological and chemical data from 1980 to 2004 were first modelled by seasonal time series analyses and then used to create a general model. Excluding collinear variables allowed the data set to be condensed to six variables that could be fitted into a general linear model that explained ,75% of the observed annual variation in chlorophyll a. A clear seasonal influence was apparent, with chlorophyll a tracking trends in temperature and the progress of spring. A nonseasonal influence was also observed in the interaction of two biological components, the proportion of phytoplankton biomass available to Daphnia (i.e. the percentage of ingestible size <30 ,m) and the grazing intensity. In combination, these biotic variables had a negative impact on chlorophyll a levels. In contrast, the concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) correlated positively with chlorophyll a. The effect of SRP showed a significant seasonal component, as it was more abundant in spring than at other times of year. In general, the model predicts a negative exponential response of chlorophyll a to further depletion of SRP in Lake Constance, while the temperature trends predicted by current global warming scenarios will result in a moderate increase in productivity. Data from 2005 to 2007 were used to verify the model. The modelled chlorophyll a values were nonbiased and showed a close match to the measured values (r2: 75%). Thus the applicability, reliability, and informative value of the model for pelagic Lake Constance was confirmed. The approach might easily be applied to other waters. [source] Climatic effects on the phenology of lake processesGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2004Monika Winder Abstract Populations living in seasonal environments are exposed to systematic changes in physical conditions that restrict the growth and reproduction of many species to only a short time window of the annual cycle. Several studies have shown that climate changes over the latter part of the 20th century affected the phenology and population dynamics of single species. However, the key limitation to forecasting the effects of changing climate on ecosystems lies in understanding how it will affect interactions among species. We investigated the effects of climatic and biotic drivers on physical and biological lake processes, using a historical dataset of 40 years from Lake Washington, USA, and dynamic time-series models to explain changes in the phenological patterns among physical and biological components of pelagic ecosystems. Long-term climate warming and variability because of large-scale climatic patterns like Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) and El Niño,southern oscillation (ENSO) extended the duration of the stratification period by 25 days over the last 40 years. This change was due mainly to earlier spring stratification (16 days) and less to later stratification termination in fall (9 days). The phytoplankton spring bloom advanced roughly in parallel to stratification onset and in 2002 it occurred about 19 days earlier than it did in 1962, indicating the tight connection of spring phytoplankton growth to turbulent conditions. In contrast, the timing of the clear-water phase showed high variability and was mainly driven by biotic factors. Among the zooplankton species, the timing of spring peaks in the rotifer Keratella advanced strongly, whereas Leptodiaptomus and Daphnia showed slight or no changes. These changes have generated a growing time lag between the spring phytoplankton peak and zooplankton peak, which can be especially critical for the cladoceran Daphnia. Water temperature, PDO, and food availability affected the timing of the spring peak in zooplankton. Overall, the impact of PDO on the phenological processes were stronger compared with ENSO. Our results highlight that climate affects physical and biological processes differently, which can interrupt energy flow among trophic levels, making ecosystem responses to climate change difficult to forecast. [source] Contrast analysis of the composition of ribosomes extracted with different purification proceduresJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2000Giuseppe Briganti The composition and hydration of E. coli ribosomes isolated with different purification protocols has been analysed by combining two experimental techniques: measurements of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), for two different isotopic solvent compositions, and refractive index (RI) increments. From the contrast between the solvent and solute scattering densities and the molar polarizability, determined experimentally with SANS and RI measurements, three independent equations are obtained and three unknown quantities are determined: (i) the volume of the solute hydrated skeleton Vs, (ii) the material contained in it, namely the biological components, intrinsic (rRNA and proteins) and extrinsic, such as aminoacylsynthetase and elongation factors, (iii) the number of water molecules structurally bound to the ribosome and non-exchangeable with the solvent. From the form factor at infinite contrast, a second definition of the solute volume is obtained, , which represents the volume within the contour surface of the ribosome. This value is generally larger than Vs and can include a certain amount of water molecules, i.e. those inside the volume (,Vs). Considering the molar volume of this water to be equal to that of the bulk water, it is possible to evaluate its amount. The particle density calculated from the ribosome components in , including proteins, RNA, bound and unbound water molecules, corresponds to the buoyant density measured for E. coli 70S particles. The two ribosomal preparations display different performances in protein synthesis; hence the results indicate that the optimal condition corresponds to a wider skeleton and contour volume but containing a smaller amount of segregated water molecules. It is believed that the method provides a reliable technique to determine the composition of ribosomes under various experimental conditions. [source] In Silico Modeling and Simulation of Bone Biology: A ProposalJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 7 2005Nadine A Defranoux Abstract Contemporary, computer-based mathematical modeling techniques make it possible to represent complex biological mechanisms in a manner that permits hypothesis testing in silico. This perspective shows how such approaches might be applied to bone remodeling and therapeutic research. Currently, the dominant conceptual model applied in bone research involves the dynamic balance between the continual build-up and breakdown of bone matrix by two cell types, the osteoblasts and osteoclasts, acting together as a coordinated, remodeling unit. This conceptualization has served extraordinarily well as a focal point for understanding how mutations, chemical mediators, and mechanical force, as well as external influences (e.g., drugs, diet) affect bone structure and function. However, the need remains to better understand and predict the consequences of manipulating any single factor, or combination of factors, within the context of this complex system's multiple interacting pathways. Mathematical models are a natural extension of conceptual models, providing dynamic, quantitative descriptions of the relationships among interacting components. This formalization creates the ability to simulate the natural behavior of a system, as well as its modulation by therapeutic or dietetic interventions. A number of mathematical models have been developed to study complex bone functions, but most include only a limited set of biological components needed to address a few specific questions. However, it is possible to develop larger, multiscale models that capture the dynamic interactions of many biological components and relate them to important physiological or pathological outcomes that allow broader study. Examples of such models include Entelos' PhysioLab platforms. These models simulate the dynamic, quantitative interactions among a biological system's biochemicals, cells, tissues, and organs and how they give rise to key physiologic and pathophysiologic outcomes. We propose that a similar predictive, dynamical, multiscale mathematical model of bone remodeling and metabolism would provide a better understanding of the mechanisms governing these phenomena as well as serve as an in silico platform for testing pharmaceutical and clinical interventions on metabolic bone disease. [source] ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT FROM FLOWER BUDS OF CLEISTOCALYX OPERCULATUS (ROXB.) MERR.JOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2009AND PERRY ABSTRACT The antioxidant activities and hypolipidemic effects of aqueous extract from Cleistocalyx operculatus flower buds (COB) (Roxb.) Merr. and Perry, a commonly used material for drink preparation in Vietnam, were investigated in vitro and in diabetic rats. In vitro, the aqueous extract of COB which has highest phenolic and flavonoid contents showed a strong antioxidant effect and highest pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity when compared with green tea and guava leaf extracts. Oral administration of aqueous extract from COB (500 mg/kg body weight/day) on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 8 weeks resulted in significant reduction in the levels of glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride in plasma as well as the concentration of glucose and sorbitol in the lens. In addition, COB showed significant recovery in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase) and glutathione level in liver with markedly decrease in the lipid peroxide level in liver and lens of the COB-treated diabetic rats. These results indicated that COB showed antioxidant activities, prevention of sorbitol accumulation in lens and hypolipidemic effects in addition to its antidiabetic effects and may be considered as a promising material for the prevention of diabetic complications and metabolic syndrome. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS In recent years, research on traditional medicinal plants for the management of diabetes has attracted the interest of medical scientists. A suitable plant material for antidiabetes and prevention of diabetic complications should possess various biological components, such as antihyperglycemia, antioxidant activities and antihyperlipidemia, without side effects. In this study, the aqueous extract from Cleistocalyx operculatus flower buds (COB) with high polyphenolic and flavonoid content has shown beneficial biological functions in vitro and in diabetic rats, including antioxidant activity, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects. The results of our study suggest that COB might have a potential role in the management of the prediabetic state and the prevention of diabetic complications. Therefore, there is the possibility for the development of C. operculatus as a beverage for the prevention of diabetes, as well as the prevention of the metabolic syndrome. [source] A scalar analysis of landscape connectivityOIKOS, Issue 2 2003Article first published online: 4 JUL 200 Landscape connectivity is critical to the maintenance of spatially-structured populations and consists of both a structural component, which describes the shape, size and location of landscape features; and a biological component, which consists of both the response of individuals to landscape features, and the patterns of gene flow that result from those individual responses. Traditional studies of landscape connectivity have attempted to discern individual behavioral responses to landscape features, but this methodology is intractable for many species. This paper is an attempt to relate the components of landscape connectivity through the explicit treatment of their spatial and temporal scales. Traditional measures of structural and biological components of connectivity are reviewed and more recently developed methods for the analysis of scale for each are introduced. I then present a framework for the comparison of scalar phenomena based on Watt's unit pattern, describe the potential outcomes of the comparison and discuss the implications of each. Several testable hypotheses emerge from the analysis that may serve as a useful framework for the investigation of landscape connectivity in the future. [source] Interaction of Plasma Deposited HMDSO-Based Coatings with Fibrinogen and Human Blood Plasma: The Correlation between Bulk Plasma, Surface Characteristics and Biomolecule InteractionPLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS, Issue 5 2010Ram P. Gandhiraman Abstract The success of a biomaterial depends on the nature of interaction and the progressive reaction between the biological components and the surface of the biomaterial. In order to control the interaction between the biomaterial and biological component, it is necessary to understand the factors that influence the protein adsorption and cell proliferation. Surface chemistry plays a crucial role in the success of any blood contacting biomaterial. Plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) is an interesting commonly used technique for tailoring surface characteristics while retaining bulk material properties. Two different films, namely polymer-like and silica-like coatings, with varying surface characteristics have been deposited from hexamethyldisiloxane, by PECVD, on 316L stainless steel. A correlation between the bulk plasma, interfacial adhesion of the coating to 316L steel, surface characteristics and biomolecule interaction is presented in this work. The interfacial adhesion strength analysis demonstrated that silica-like coatings have higher adhesion strength to 316L stainless steel than polymer-like coatings, caused due to the formation of a strong FeOSi and CrOSi bonds. It was observed that the effect of nanoscale surface roughness (close to 6,nm) was less significant, and that the surface chemistry played a significant role in governing the fibrinogen adsorption. Highest fibrinogen adsorption on plain steel was due to the electrostatic interaction of the metal oxide layer with the protein. Hydrophobicity of the polymer-like film resulted in a higher fibrinogen binding than the silica-like films. [source] Integrating Soil Ecological Knowledge into Restoration ManagementRESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Liam Heneghan Abstract The variability in the type of ecosystem degradation and the specificity of restoration goals can challenge restorationists' ability to generalize about approaches that lead to restoration success. The discipline of soil ecology, which emphasizes both soil organisms and ecosystem processes, has generated a body of knowledge that can be generally useful in improving the outcomes of restoration despite this variability. Here, we propose that the usefulness of this soil ecological knowledge (SEK) for restoration is best considered in the context of the severity of the original perturbation, the goals of the project, and the resilience of the ecosystem to disturbance. A straightforward manipulation of single physical, chemical, or biological components of the soil system can be useful in the restoration of a site, especially when the restoration goal is loosely defined in terms of the species and processes that management seeks to achieve. These single-factor manipulations may in fact produce cascading effects on several ecosystem attributes and can result in unintended recovery trajectories. When complex outcomes are desired, intentional and holistic integration of all aspects of the soil knowledge is necessary. We provide a short roster of examples to illustrate that SEK benefits management and restoration of ecosystems and suggest areas for future research. [source] Combinatorial, selective and reversible control of gene expression using oligodeoxynucleotides in a cell-free protein synthesis system,BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 2 2009Jung-Won Keum Abstract Herein we describe the methods for selective and reversible regulation of gene expression using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) in a cell-free protein synthesis system programmed with multiple DNAs. Either a complete shut down or controlled level of gene expression was attained through the antisense ODN-mediated regulation of mRNA stability in the reaction mixture. In addition to the primary control of gene expression, we also demonstrate that the inhibition of protein synthesis can be reversed by using an anti-antisense ODN sequence that strips the antisense ODN off the target sequence of mRNA. As a result, sequential additions of the antisense and anti-antisense ODNs enabled the stop-and-go expression of protein molecules. Through the on-demand regulation of gene expression, presented results will provide a versatile platform for the analysis and understanding of the complicated networks of biological components. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 577,582. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||