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NaCl
Kinds of NaCl Terms modified by NaCl Selected AbstractsMotility-induced but not vasoactive intestinal peptide-induced increase in luminal alkalinization in rat duodenum is dependent on luminal Cl,ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 2 2010L. Pihl Abstract Aim:, To investigate whether the motility- and the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-induced increase in luminal alkalinization in the duodenum is dependent on luminal Cl,. Methods:, Experiments were performed in anaesthetized rats in vivo. The proximal duodenum was perfused luminally with an isotonic solution, containing zero or low Cl, and the effects on luminal alkalinization, motility, fluid flux and epithelial permeability were determined. Parecoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor, was used to induce duodenal contractions. Results:, Control rats lacked duodenal wall contractions while parecoxib-treated ones exhibited contractions throughout the experiment. Most animals had a net fluid absorption during the perfusion with isotonic NaCl. Luminal alkalinization was about 100% higher in parecoxib-treated rats than in controls. Cl, -free solutions did not affect epithelial permeability or motility but decreased luminal alkalinization by ,50% and decreased net fluid absorption in both control and parecoxib-treated animals. Reduction in luminal Cl, decreased alkalinization in a concentration-dependent manner. The parecoxib-induced increase in alkalinization was markedly reduced in the absence of luminal Cl,. VIP increased luminal alkalinization and induced fluid secretion. The lack of luminal Cl, did not affect the VIP-induced increase in alkalinization but reduced fluid secretion. Conclusions:, The parecoxib-induced increase in luminal alkalinization is highly dependent on luminal Cl, and it is proposed that COX-2 inhibition, via induction of duodenal motility, enhances HCO3, efflux through stimulation of apical Cl,/HCO3, exchange in duodenal epithelial cells. Although the VIP-induced stimulation of fluid secretion is partly dependent on luminal Cl,, the VIP-induced increase in luminal alkalinization is not. [source] Interaction between a dislocation and monovalent anion in various alkali halide crystalsCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2010Y. KohzukiArticle first published online: 30 AUG 2010 Abstract It was investigated from (L0/L)2 versus ,0 curve that the Friedel relation between the effective stress and the average length of dislocation segments, L, is appropriate for the interaction between a dislocation and the monovalent anion in various alkali halides single crystals (NaCl: Br - , NaBr: Cl - or I - , KCl: Br - or I - , and RbCl: Br - or I - ). Here, L0 represents the average spacing of monovalent anions on a slip plane and ,0 is the bending angle at which the dislocation breaks away from the anion at the temperature of 0 K. This is because the anions are the weak obstacles such as impede the dislocation at ,0 above about 150 degrees, where the Friedel relation agrees with the Fleischer one (L02 = L2(,,,0)/2). Furthermore, the values of (L /L0) were found to be within 4.05 to 5.87 for the crystals. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Studies on multiphased mixed crystals of NaCl, KCl and KICRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2009M. Priya Abstract Multiphased mixed crystals of NaCl, KCl and KI were grown by the melt method, for the first time. Densities and refractive indices of all the grown crystals were determined and used for the estimation of the composition in the crystal. Atomic absorption spectroscopic measurements were done to estimate the metal atom contents in the crystal. Lattice parameters and thermal parameters (Debye-Waller factor, mean square amplitude of vibration, Debye temperature and Debye frequency) were determined from the X-ray powder diffraction data. DC and AC electrical measurements were done at various temperatures ranging from 40 to 150°C. Activation energies were also estimated. The observed lattice parameters showed that the system exhibits three phases each nearly corresponds to NaCl, KCl and KI. The thermal and electrical parameters show a highly nonlinear bulk composition dependence. Results are reported. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Effect of NaCl filler on ferroelectric phase and polaron configurations of PVDF filmsCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2007I. S. ElashmawiArticle first published online: 8 MAR 200 Abstract Polyvinyldene fluoride (PVDF) films filled with NaCl of mass fraction range 1 , W , 6 % were prepared by casting technique. Their crystalline structure, thermal, optical properties and Electron spin resonance (ESR) were examined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements indicated a maximum ferroelectric ,-phase increment at 4%. DTA was used to identify the phase transition temperatures, the order of reaction and the activation energy of melting. The UV-Visible optical absorption implied a minimum value of the estimated optical energy gap at W = 4%. ESR spectra contained a Lorentizian signal exhibiting a minimum value of the symmetry factor at W = 4%. The energy levels of the optical gap boundaries were though to contribute to ESR transitions. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Mechanisms of transjunctional transport of NaCl and water in proximal tubules of mammalian kidneysACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2002F. KIILArticle first published online: 30 APR 200 ABSTRACT Tight junctions and the intercellular space of proximal tubules are not accessible to direct measurements of fluid composition and transport rates, but morphological and functional data permit analysis of diffusion and osmosis causing transjunctional NaCl and water transport. In the S2 segment NaCl diffuses through tight junctions along a chloride gradient, but against a sodium gradient. Calculation in terms of modified Nernst,Fick diffusion equation after eliminating electrical terms shows that transport rates (300,500 pmol min,1 mm,1 tubule length) and transepithelial voltage of +2 mV are in agreement with observations. Diffusion coefficients are Dtj=1500 ,m2 s,1 in the S1 segment, and Dtj=90,100 ,m2 s,1 in the S2 segment where apical intercellular NaCl concentration is 132 mM, 1 mM below complete stop (Dtj=0 and Donnan equilibrium). Tight junctions with gap distance 6 Å are impermeable to mannitol (effective molecular radius 4 Å); reflection coefficients are ,=0.92 for NaHCO3 and ,=0.28 for NaCl, because of difference in anion size. The osmotic force is provided by a difference in effective transjunctional osmolality of 10 mOsm kg,1 in the S1 segment and 30 mOsm kg,1 in the S2 segment, where differences in transjunctional concentration contribute with 21 mOsm kg,1 for NaHCO3 and ,4 mOsm kg,1 for NaCl. Transjunctional difference of 30 mOsm kg,1 causes a volume flow of 2 nL min,1 mm,1 tubule length. Luminal mannitol concentration of 30 mM stops all volume flow and diffusive and convective transport of NaCl. In conclusion, transjunctional diffusion and osmosis along gradients generated by transcellular transport of other solutes account for all NaCl transport in proximal tubules. [source] Mechanisms of intercellular hypertonicity and isotonic fluid absorption in proximal tubules of mammalian kidneysACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2002F. KIILArticle first published online: 30 APR 200 ABSTRACT The main purpose of this theoretical analysis (second of two articles) is to examine whether transjunctional diffusion of NaCl causes intercellular hypertonicity, which permits transcellular water transport across solute-impermeable lateral cell membranes until osmotic equilibration. In the S2 segment with tubular NaCl concentration 140 mM, the calculated apical intercellular NaCl concentration is c0 , 132 mM, which exceeds peritubular NaCl concentration by 12 mM or 22 mOsm kg,1. Variations in volume flow, junctional reflection coefficient (,NaCl=0.25,0.50), gap distance (g=6,8 Å), junctional depth (d=18,100 Å), intercellular diffusion coefficient (DLIS=500,1500 ,m2 s,1) and hypothetical active NaCl transport alter c0 only by a fraction of 1 mM. However, dilution and back-leakage of NaHCO3 lower apical intercellular hyperosmolality to ,18 mOsm kg,1. Water transport through solute-impermeable lateral cell membranes continues until intercellular and cellular osmolalities are equal. Transcellular and transjunctional volume flow are of similar magnitude (2 nL min,1 mm,1 tubule length) in the S2 segment. Thus, diffusion ensures isotonic absorption of NaCl. Two-thirds of NaHCO3 and other actively transported sodium salts are extruded into the last third of the exponentially widening intercellular space where the exposure time is only 0.9 s. Osmotic equilibration is dependent on aquaporins in the cell membranes. If permeability to water is low, transcellular water transport stops; tubular fluid becomes hypotonic; NaCl diffusion diminishes, but transjunctional water transport remains unaltered as long as transcellular transport of NaHCO3 and other solutes provides the osmotic force. [source] Contribution of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger to the regulation of myogenic tone in isolated rat small arteriesACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 2 2001S. Horiguchi The contribution of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger to the myogenic vascular tone was examined in rat isolated skeletal muscle small arteries (ASK) with pronounced myogenic tone and mesenteric small arteries (AMS) with little myogenic tone. Myogenic tone was assessed by the vascular inner diameter at transmural pressures of 40 and 100 mmHg. To depress the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, the extracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]o) was lowered from 143 to 1.2 mM by substituting choline-Cl for NaCl. The ASK developed significant myogenic tone and constricted further in low [Na+]o. Nifedipine (1 ,M) reduced both myogenic tone and low [Na+]o-induced contraction. Because the membrane potential of ASK was not changed by low [Na+]o (,35 ± 2 mV at 143 mM [Na+]o, ,37 ± 3 mV at 1.2 mM [Na+]o), depolarization-induced Ca2+ influx was not a cause of the low [Na+]o-induced contraction. The AMS did not develop significant myogenic tone. Although low [Na+]o also constricted AMS, the magnitude of constriction was significantly weaker than that in ASK (17 ± 4 vs. 47 ± 6%, P < 0.01, at 58 mM Na+). With Bay K 8644, AMS developed myogenic tone, and low [Na+]o-induced constriction was significantly increased. In conclusion, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger may play an important role in regulating myogenic tone, likely via mediating Ca2+ -extrusion. [source] Influence of neurohumoral blockade on heart rate and blood pressure responses to haemorrhage in isoflurane anaesthetized ratsACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 3 2000UllmanArticle first published online: 24 DEC 200 Four groups of Sprague,Dawley rats were anaesthetized with isoflurane (ISO) (1.7% end-tidal concentration) in 40% oxygen, and mechanically ventilated. The animals were bled 15 mL kg,1 b.w. from the femoral vein over 10 min, followed by an observation period of 30 min. Ten minutes before haemorrhage each group of animals was pre-treated with intravenous injection/infusion of either: isotonic saline (Group B; CON; n=7), vasopressin V1 -receptor antagonist [d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP; 10 ,g kg,1] (Group C; AVP-a; n=7), the non-selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist saralasin (10 ,g kg,1 min,1) (Group D; SAR; n=7) or hexamethonium (10 mg kg,1) (Group E; HEX; n=7). A separate group of conscious animals were pre-treated with isotonic NaCl and subjected to the same haemorrhage protocol (Group A; AW; n=7). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and blood gases were observed during the experiments. Only pre-treatment with SAR and HEX reduced MAP significantly. The pre-haemorrhage HR was only affected by HEX, which caused a reduction by 17%. The HR was significantly lower at the end of haemorrhage compared with pre-haemorrhage levels in all groups except that group treated with HEX. In that group the HR changed in the opposite direction. The ability to maintain MAP during haemorrhage, and the post-haemorrhage period, was significantly impaired in the groups treated with AVP-a, SAR or HEX compared with the group receiving NaCl. It is concluded that autonomic nervous activity is of major importance for the maintenance of MAP during isoflurane anaesthesia, whereas circulating angiotensin II and vasopressin levels contribute to a much smaller degree in this regard. General anaesthesia in combination with different degrees of neurohumoral blockade impairs the haemodynamic responses to blood loss, seen in conscious individuals. The impairment involves both the early and late phases during haemorrhage, as well as the post-bleeding recovery period. All three neurohumoral systems (autonomic nervous activity, angiotensin II and vasopressin) are of importance for regulating MAP during and after haemorrhage, although the autonomic nervous outflow appears to contribute to a larger extent. [source] Factors regulating renal angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in the ratACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2000Changes in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity appear to be important in mediating the natriuresis which ensues after administration of an oral or gastric sodium load. In this study, we sought to determine the time course of the changes in ACE activity in the kidney which occur after sodium ingestion. In addition, we sought to investigate mechanisms which might underlie these changes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was measured by generation of histidyl-leucine in homogenates of kidneys harvested at varying time-points after gastric sodium administration. The effects of intravenous sodium loading, solution osmolality and of changes in renal nerve activity were also investigated. Intragastric instillation of both the sodium-containing solution and its iso-osmotic urea control solution resulted in significant increases in renal ACE activity (NaCl: P < 0.0005; Urea: P < 0.01). The increase in renal ACE activity after gastric sodium loading was more prolonged than after the urea control (P < 0.025, NaCl vs. urea at 90 min). This prolonged increase in renal ACE activity appeared to reflect a response to absorbed sodium as intravenous sodium administration caused a significant increase in renal ACE activity at 90 min (P < 0.0005). In contrast to these stimuli which increased renal ACE activity, renal denervation caused a significant decrease in ACE activity in the kidney (P < 0.05). We conclude that gastric sodium loading increases renal ACE activity. This effect appears to be due initially to a response to an increase in gastric lumenal osmolality and later to absorbed sodium. These changes in renal ACE activity are not mediated by a decrease in renal nerve activity. [source] Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Myobloc (Botulinum Toxin Type B) for the Treatment of Palmar HyperhidrosisDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 3 2005Leslie Baumann MD Background Palmar hyperhidrosis is a problem of unknown etiology that affects patients both socially and professionally. Botulinum toxin type B (Myobloc), approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of cervical dystonia in the United States in December 2000, has subsequently been used effectively in an off-label indication to treat hyperhidrosis. There are sparse data, however, in the literature evaluating the safety and efficacy of BTX-B for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Objective We evaluated the safety and efficacy of Myobloc in the treatment of bilateral palmar hyperhidrosis. This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to report on the safety and efficacy of Myobloc. Methods Twenty participants (10 men, 10 women) diagnosed with palmar hyperhidrosis were injected with either Myobloc (5,000 U per palm) or a 1.0 mL vehicle (100 mM NaCl, 10 mM succinate, and 0.5 mg/mL human albumin) into bilateral palms (15 Myobloc, 5 placebo). The participants were followed until sweating returned to baseline levels. The main outcome measures were safety, efficacy versus placebo, and duration of effect. Results A significant difference was found in treatment response at day 30, as determined by participant assessments, between 15 participants injected with Myobloc and 3 participants injected with placebo. The duration of action, calculated in the 17 participants who received Myobloc injections and completed the study, ranged from 2.3 to 4.9 months, with a mean duration of 3.8 months. The single most reported adverse event was dry mouth or throat, which was reported by 18 of 20 participants. The adverse event profile also included indigestion or heartburn (60%), excessively dry hands (60%), muscle weakness (60%), and decreased grip strength (50%). Conclusion Myobloc proved to be efficacious for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Myobloc had a rapid onset, with most participants responding within 1 week. The duration of action ranged from 2.3 to 4.9 months, with a mean of 3.8 months. The adverse event profile included dry mouth, indigestion or heartburn, excessively dry hands, muscle weakness, and decreased grip strength. MYOBLOC WAS PROVIDED FOR THIS STUDY BY ELAN PHARMACEUTICALS. [source] Ontogeny of urine preference and its relationship to NH4Cl preference and sodium hunger in suckling rat pupsDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005Micah Leshem Abstract We chart the postnatal ontogeny of urine preference in the suckling rat. Twelve-day-old sucklings, when offered urine, NH4Cl, or NaCl, ingest more urine and NH4Cl than NaCl. When rendered sodium hungry by ivc renin or by sodium depletion, these sucklings prefer urine and NH4Cl to NaCl, dilute urine, or an NaCl and KCl mineral mix equimolar to urine; however, by 18 days of age, urine and NH4Cl are no longer preferred to NaCl. Hence, urine preference in the suckling may be specific and preparatory for the variety of purposes urine preference serves in the adult rat, and it might guide the pup to urinary sodium in the nest. Since preference for urine and NH4Cl covary during postnatal development, the high preference for NH4Cl in midterm sucklings might be because its ammonium flavor is similar to urine. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 46: 111,117, 2005. [source] 4-Aminothiophenol Self-Assembled Monolayer for the Development of a DNA Biosensor Aiming the Detection of Cylindrospermopsin Producing CyanobacteriaELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 22 2008Elisabete Valério Abstract The development of a DNA biosensor for the detection of cylindrospermopsin, based on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 4-aminothiophenol, is investigated. SAMs were characterized by electrochemical reductive desorption. Detection of probe immobilization and hybridization has been achieved by cyclic and square-wave voltammetry (SWV), using methylene blue (MB) as electroactive indicator. The SWV data obtained in phosphate buffer, with and without NaCl, after MB accumulation, revealed an increase of the redox indicator current peaks after the hybridization step. This behavior is consistent with MB intercalation into DNA, for high ionic strength media and attributed to electrostatic interactions in the absence of salt. Evidence for surface modification is also provided by atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry. [source] Voltammetry as an Alternative Tool for Trace Metal Detection in Peloid Marine SedimentsELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 13 2007Irena Ciglene Abstract Here was demonstrated for the first time a possible application of abrasive stripping voltammetry in the direct measurement of trace metals in anoxic, sulfidic marine sediments (peloid mud) from a small and shallow (0.2,1,m) marine lagoon in Central Dalmatia, Croatia. Trace amounts of sample compounds are transferred to the graphite electrode surface and electrochemical reduction or oxidation processes are followed by the cyclic voltammetry in seawater or 0.55,M NaCl as electrolyte. After a preelectrolysis at potentials ranging from ,1.0 to ,1.5,V (vs. SCE) a well-defined anodic stripping peak corresponding to the oxidation of metal deposits generated at deposition potentials is obtained around ,0.74,V (vs. SCE). The same samples were studied by anodic stripping voltammetry at the Hg electrode and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). ICP-MS showed higher concentrations of trace metals such as Al, Fe, Mo, Mn. A relatively high concentration of reduced sulfur species (RSS) (10,3 M) is determined electrochemically in porewater of the peloid mud, indicating that the magnitude of metal enrichment in the sediments is probably controlled by precipitation with sulfide. [source] Direct and Rapid Detection of Diphtherotoxin via Potentiometric Immunosensor Based on Nanoparticles Mixture and Polyvinyl Butyral as MatrixesELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 24 2005Dianping Tang Abstract In this paper a novel potentiometric immunosensor for direct and rapid detection of diphtherotoxin (D-Ag) has been developed by means of self-assembly of monoclonal diphtheria antibody (D-Ab) onto a platinum electrode based on nanoparticles mixture (containing gold nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB) as matrixes. At first, D-Ab was absorbed onto the surface of nanoparticles mixture, and then they were entrapped into polyvinyl butyral sol-gel network on a platinum electrode. The detection is based on the change in the potentiometric response before and after the antigen-antibody reaction in a phosphate buffer solution (pH,7.0). The immobilized D-Ab exhibited direct potentiometric response toward D-Ag. In comparison to the conventional applied methods, this strategy could allow antibodies immobilized with higher loading amount and better retained immunoactivity, as demonstrated by potentiometric response, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the immunosensor. The immunosensor with nanoparticles mixture exhibited much higher sensitivity, better reproducibility, and long-term stability than that with gold nanoparticles or silica nanoparticles alone. The linear range was from 5.0×10,3 to 1.2,,g,mL,1 with a detection limit of 1.1×10,3,,g,mL,1. Up to 16 successive assay cycles with retentive sensitivity were achieved for the probes regenerated with in 0.2,mol,L,1 glycine-hydrochloric acid (Gly-HCl) buffer solution and 0.25,mol,L,1 NaCl. Moreover, the immunosensor with nanoparticles mixture was applied to evaluate a number of practical specimens with potentiometric results in acceptable agreement with those given by the ELISA method, implying a promising alternative approach for detecting diphtherotoxin in the clinical diagnosis. [source] Simultaneous Determination of Hydroquinone and Catechol at a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Multiwall Carbon NanotubesELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 10 2005Honglan Qi Abstract A simply and high selectively electrochemical method for simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol has been developed at a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT). It was found that the oxidation peak separation of hydroquinone and catechol and the oxidation currents of hydroquinone and catechol greatly increase at MWNT modified electrode in 0.20,M acetate buffer solution (pH,4.5). The oxidation peaks of hydroquinone and catechol merge into a large peak of 302,mV (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3,M NaCl) at bare glassy carbon electrode. The two corresponding well-defined oxidation peaks of hydroquinone in the presence of catechol at MWNT modified electrode occur at 264,mV and 162,mV, respectively. Under the optimized condition, the oxidation peak current of hydroquinone is linear over a range from 1.0×10,6,M to 1.0×10,4,M hydroquinone in the presence of 1.0×10,4,M catechol with the detection limit of 7.5×10,7,M and the oxidation peak current of catechol is linear over a range from 6.0×10,7,M to 1.0×10,4,M catechol in the presence of 1.0×10,4,M hydroquinone with the detection limit of 2.0×10,7 M. The proposed method has been applied to simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol in a water sample with simplicity and high selectivity. [source] Protein separations using polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings with molecular micelles in open tubular capillary electrochromatographyELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 4 2008Candace A. Luces Abstract Novel polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coatings for enhanced protein separations in open tubular CEC (OT-CEC) are reported. Use of four cationic polymers (poly- L -lysine, poly- L -ornithine, poly- L -lysine-serine, and poly- L -glutamic acid-lysine), and three anionic molecular micelles, sodium poly(N -undecanoyl- L -leucyl-alaninate) (poly- L -SULA), sodium poly(N -undecanoyl- L -leucyl-valinate) (poly- L -SULV), and sodium poly(undecylenic sulfate) (poly-SUS) were investigated in PEM coatings for protein separations. The simultaneous effects of cationic polymer concentration, number of bilayers, temperature, applied voltage, and pH of the BGE on the separation of four basic proteins (,-chymotrypsinogen A, lysozyme, ribonuclease A, and cytochrome c) were analyzed using a Box Behnken experimental design. The influence of NaCl on the run-to-run reproducibility was investigated for PEM coatings containing each cationic polymer. All coatings exhibited excellent reproducibilities with a %RSD of the EOF less than 1% in the presence of NaCl. Optimal conditions were dependent on both the cationic and anionic polymers used in the PEM coatings. Poly- L -glutamic acid-lysine produced the highest resolution and longest migration time. The use of molecular micelles to form PEM coatings resulted in better separations than single cationic coatings. Chiral poly- L -SULA and poly- L -SULV resulted in higher protein resolutions as compared to the achiral, poly-SUS. Furthermore, the use of poly- L -SULV reversed the elution order of lysozyme and cytochrome c when compared to poly- L -SULA and poly-SUS. [source] Production of PHB from Crude GlycerolENGINEERING IN LIFE SCIENCES (ELECTRONIC), Issue 5 2007G. Mothes Abstract Crude glycerol , a by-product of the large scale production of diesel oil from rape , is examined for its possible use as a cheap feedstock for the biotechnological synthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). The glycerol samples of various manufacturers differ in their contamination with salts (NaCl or K2SO4), methanol or fatty acids. At high cell density fermentation these pollutants could possibly accumulate to inhibiting concentrations. The bacteria used were Paracoccus denitrificans and Cupriavidus necator JMP 134, which accumulate PHB from pure glycerol to a content of 70 % of cell dry mass. When using crude glycerol containing 5.5 % NaCl, a reduced PHB content of 48 % was observed at a bacterial dry mass of 50 g/L. Furthermore the PHB yield coefficient was reduced, obviously due to osmoregulation. The effect of glycerol contaminated with K2SO4 was less pronounced. The molecular weight of PHB produced with P. denitrificans or C. necator from crude glycerol varies between 620000 and 750000 g/mol which allows the processing by common techniques of the polymer industry. [source] Lysozyme as Pathogen-Recognition Protein in the Hemolymph of Galleria mellonellaENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2003In Hee LEE ABSTRACT Recognition of invading micro-organisms into hemolymph is a pivotal event for triggering diverse immune mechanisms in insects. It has been known that this recognition was mediated by the binding of hemolymph proteins to pattern-molecules on the cell surface of microbes. Recently, I found that the lysozyme in the G. mellonella hemolymph has binding affinity to cell-walls of Gram (-), (±) bacteria and fungus (Candida albicans). After the hemolymph was incubated with heat-killed microbes and treated with acidic buffer containing high concentration of NaCl, several plasma proteins detached from microbes were detected by reverse phase HPLC and SDS-PAGE analyses. Of binding proteins, it was assumed that the major one might be a lysozyme, which was previously characterized in the G. mellonella hemolymph. Furthermore immunoblot analysis performed with antiserum to G. mellonella lysozyme revealed that it was a lysozyme. [source] Halophilic archaea in the human intestinal mucosaENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Andrew P. A. Oxley Summary The human gastrointestinal tract microbiota, despite its key roles in health and disease, remains a diverse, variable and poorly understood entity. Current surveys reveal a multitude of undefined bacterial taxa and a low diversity of methanogenic archaea. In an analysis of the microbiota in colonic mucosal biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel disease we found 16S rDNA sequences representing a phylogenetically rich diversity of halophilic archaea from the Halobacteriaceae (haloarchaea), including novel phylotypes. As the human colon is not considered a salty environment and haloarchaea are described as extreme halophiles, we evaluated and further discarded the possibility that these sequences originated from pre-colonoscopy saline lavage solutions. Furthermore, aerobic enrichment cultures prepared from a patient biopsy at low salinity (2.5% NaCl) yielded haloarchaeal sequence types. Microscopic observation after fluorescence in situ hybridization provided evidence of the presence of viable archaeal cells in these cultures. These results prove the survival of haloarchaea in the digestive system and suggest that they may be members of the mucosal microbiota, even if present in low numbers in comparison with methanogenic archaea. Investigation of a potential physiological basis of this association may lead to new insights into gastrointestinal health and disease. [source] Halotaxis of cyanobacteria in an intertidal hypersaline microbial matENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Katharina Kohls Summary An intertidal hypersaline cyanobacterial mat from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) exhibited a reversible change in its surface colour within several hours upon changes in salinity of the overlying water. The mat surface was orange-reddish at salinities above 15% and turned dark green at lower salinities. We investigated this phenomenon using a polyphasic approach that included denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, microscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, hyperspectral imaging, absorption spectroscopy, oxygen microsensor measurements and modelling of salinity dynamics. Filaments of Microcoleus chthonoplastes, identified based on 16S rRNA sequencing and morphology, were found to migrate up and down when salinity was decreased below or increased above 15%, respectively, causing the colour change of the mat uppermost layer. Migration occurred in light and in the dark, and could be induced by different salts, not only NaCl. The influence of salinity-dependent and independent physico-chemical parameters, such as water activity, oxygen solubility, H2S, gravity and light, was excluded, indicating that the observed migration was due to a direct response to salt stress. We propose to term this salinity-driven cyanobacterial migration as ,halotaxis', a process that might play a vital role in the survival of cyanobacteria in environments exposed to continuous salinity fluctuations such as intertidal flats. [source] Ion transport and osmotic adjustment in Escherichia coli in response to ionic and non-ionic osmoticaENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Lana Shabala Summary Bacteria respond to osmotic stress by a substantial increase in the intracellular osmolality, adjusting their cell turgor for altered growth conditions. Using Escherichia coli as a model organism we demonstrate here that bacterial responses to hyperosmotic stress specifically depend on the nature of osmoticum used. We show that increasing acute hyperosmotic NaCl stress above ,1.0 Os kg,1 causes a dose-dependent K+ leak from the cell, resulting in a substantial decrease in cytosolic K+ content and a concurrent accumulation of Na+ in the cell. At the same time, isotonic sucrose or mannitol treatment (non-ionic osmotica) results in a gradual increase of the net K+ uptake. Ion flux data are consistent with growth experiments showing that bacterial growth is impaired by NaCl at the concentration resulting in a switch from net K+ uptake to efflux. Microarray experiments reveal that about 40% of upregulated genes shared no similarity in their responses to NaCl and sucrose treatment, further suggesting specificity of osmotic adjustment in E. coli to ionic and non-ionic osmotica. The observed differences are explained by the specificity of the stress-induced changes in the membrane potential of bacterial cells highlighting the importance of voltage-gated K+ transporters for bacterial adaptation to hyperosmotic stress. [source] Limits of life in MgCl2 -containing environments: chaotropicity defines the windowENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007John E. Hallsworth Summary The biosphere of planet Earth is delineated by physico-chemical conditions that are too harsh for, or inconsistent with, life processes and maintenance of the structure and function of biomolecules. To define the window of life on Earth (and perhaps gain insights into the limits that life could tolerate elsewhere), and hence understand some of the most unusual biological activities that operate at such extremes, it is necessary to understand the causes and cellular basis of systems failure beyond these windows. Because water plays such a central role in biomolecules and bioprocesses, its availability, properties and behaviour are among the key life-limiting parameters. Saline waters dominate the Earth, with the oceans holding 96.5% of the planet's water. Saline groundwater, inland seas or saltwater lakes hold another 1%, a quantity that exceeds the world's available freshwater. About one quarter of Earth's land mass is underlain by salt, often more than 100 m thick. Evaporite deposits contain hypersaline waters within and between their salt crystals, and even contain large subterranean salt lakes, and therefore represent significant microbial habitats. Salts have a major impact on the nature and extent of the biosphere, because solutes radically influence water's availability (water activity) and exert other activities that also affect biological systems (e.g. ionic, kosmotropic, chaotropic and those that affect cell turgor), and as a consequence can be major stressors of cellular systems. Despite the stressor effects of salts, hypersaline environments can be heavily populated with salt-tolerant or -dependent microbes, the halophiles. The most common salt in hypersaline environments is NaCl, but many evaporite deposits and brines are also rich in other salts, including MgCl2 (several hundred million tonnes of bischofite, MgCl2·6H2O, occur in one formation alone). Magnesium (Mg) is the third most abundant element dissolved in seawater and is ubiquitous in the Earth's crust, and throughout the Solar System, where it exists in association with a variety of anions. Magnesium chloride is exceptionally soluble in water, so can achieve high concentrations (> 5 M) in brines. However, while NaCl-dominated hypersaline environments are habitats for a rich variety of salt-adapted microbes, there are contradictory indications of life in MgCl2 -rich environments. In this work, we have sought to obtain new insights into how MgCl2 affects cellular systems, to assess whether MgCl2 can determine the window of life, and, if so, to derive a value for this window. We have dissected two relevant cellular stress-related activities of MgCl2 solutions, namely water activity reduction and chaotropicity, and analysed signatures of life at different concentrations of MgCl2 in a natural environment, namely the 0.05,5.05 M MgCl2 gradient of the seawater : hypersaline brine interface of Discovery Basin , a large, stable brine lake almost saturated with MgCl2, located on the Mediterranean Sea floor. We document here the exceptional chaotropicity of MgCl2, and show that this property, rather than water activity reduction, inhibits life by denaturing biological macromolecules. In vitro, a test enzyme was totally inhibited by MgCl2 at concentrations below 1 M; and culture medium with MgCl2 concentrations above 1.26 M inhibited the growth of microbes in samples taken from all parts of the Discovery interface. Although DNA and rRNA from key microbial groups (sulfate reducers and methanogens) were detected along the entire MgCl2 gradient of the seawater : Discovery brine interface, mRNA, a highly labile indicator of active microbes, was recovered only from the upper part of the chemocline at MgCl2 concentrations of less than 2.3 M. We also show that the extreme chaotropicity of MgCl2 at high concentrations not only denatures macromolecules, but also preserves the more stable ones: such indicator molecules, hitherto regarded as evidence of life, may thus be misleading signatures in chaotropic environments. Thus, the chaotropicity of MgCl2 would appear to be a window-of-life-determining parameter, and the results obtained here suggest that the upper MgCl2 concentration for life, in the absence of compensating (e.g. kosmotropic) solutes, is about 2.3 M. [source] Characterization of a Vibrio cholerae phage isolated from the coastal water of PeruENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Miguel Talledo Summary A Vibrio cholerae bacteriophage, family Myoviridae, was isolated from seawater collected from the coastal water of Lima, Peru. Genome size was estimated to be 29 kbp. The temperate phage was specific to V. cholerae and infected 12/13 V. cholerae O1 strains and half of the four non-O1/non-O139 strains tested in this study. Vibrio cholerae O139 strains were resistant to infection and highest infection rates were obtained in low nutrient media amended with NaCl or prepared using seawater as diluent. [source] Ni2+ removal from aqueous solutions using conditioned clinoptilolites: Kinetic and isotherm studiesENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 1 2009Semra Çoruh Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of conditioning with NaCl and HCl solutions on removal of Ni2+ ions from aqueous solutions using natural clinoptilolite. Batch studies were performed to evaluate the effects of various parameters such as chemically conditioning, adsorbent amount, contact time, initial pH of the solution, mixing temperature, and initial metal ions. The results clearly showed that the conditioning improved both the exchange capacity and the removal efficiency. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich (DKR) isotherm models were adopted to describe the adsorption isotherms. Adsorption isotherms of Ni2+ ions could be best modeled by Langmuir equation. Three simplified models including pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion and Elovich were used to test the adsorption kinetics. These results indicate a significant potential for the natural and conditioned clinoptilolites as an adsorbent/ion-exchange material for heavy metal removal. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2009 [source] Toxicity of the molybdate anion in soil is partially explained by effects of the accompanying cation or by soil pHENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2010Jurgen Buekers Abstract Previous studies have shown that toxicity of cationic trace metals in soil is partially confounded by effects of the accompanying anions. A similar assessment is reported here for toxicity of an oxyanion, i.e., molybdate (MoO), the soil toxicity of which is relatively unexplored. Solubility and toxicity were compared between the soluble sodium molybdate (Na2MoO4) and the sparingly soluble molybdenum trioxide (MoO3). Confounding effects of salinity were excluded by referencing the Na2MoO4 effect to that of sodium chloride (NaCl). The pH decrease from the acid MoO3 amendment was equally referenced to a hydrochloric (HCl) treatment or a lime-controlled MoO3 treatment. The concentrations of molybdenum (Mo) in soil solution or calcium chloride (CaCl2) 0.01,M extracts were only marginally affected by either MoO3 or Na2MoO4 as an Mo source after 10 to 13 days of equilibration. Effects of Mo on soil nitrification were fully confounded by associated changes in salinity or pH. Effects of Mo on growth of wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L) were more pronounced than those on nitrification, and toxicity thresholds were unaffected by the form of added Mo. The Mo thresholds for wheat growth were not confounded by pH or salinity at incipient toxicity. It is concluded that oxyanion toxicity might be confounded in relatively insensitive tests for which reference treatments should be included. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:1274,1278. © 2010 SETAC [source] The effect of food rations on tissue-specific copper accumulation patterns of sublethal waterborne exposure in Cyprinus carpioENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2007Shodja Hashemi Abstract Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were fed to two different food rations, 0.5% body weight (low ration [LR]) and 5% body weight (high ration [HR]), and were exposed to sublethal (1 ,M) copper levels for 28 d in softened Antwerp (Belgium) city tap water (Ca2+, 79.3 mg/L; Mg2+, 7.4 mg/L; Na+, 27.8 mg/L; pH 7.5,8.0). Copper accumulations in the liver, gills, kidney, anterior intestine, posterior intestine, and muscle were determined. Copper accumulation in the gills, liver, and kidney of LR fish was significantly higher than in HR fish. The only time copper uptake in HR fish was significantly higher than in LR fish was in the posterior intestine after two weeks of exposure. No difference was found between the two rations in the anterior intestine. Copper accumulation in the liver of both feeding treatments occurred in a time-dependent manner and did not reach steady state in any treatment. On the contrary, copper concentration in the gills reached a steady state for both HR and LR fish within the first week of exposure. No copper accumulation was found in muscle tissues of either treatment. Copper concentration dropped to control levels in all tissues, except liver tissue, two weeks after the exposure ended. Our studies indicated that copper uptake was influenced by the food ration in carp. The difference in copper accumulation probably is related to the amount of dietary NaCl and different rates of metallothionein synthesis. Low food availability provides less Na+ influx and leads to increased brachial uptake of Na+ and copper. In addition, it has been shown that starved animals show increased levels of metallothionein, possibly causing higher copper accumulation. [source] Association of europium(III), americium(III), and curium(III) with cellulose, chitin, and chitosanENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2006Takuo Ozaki Abstract The association of trivalent f-elements,Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III),with cellulose, chitin, and chitosan was determined by batch experiments and time-resolved, laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The properties of these biopolymers as an adsorbent were characterized based on speciation calculation of Eu(III). The adsorption study showed that an increase of the ionic strength by NaCl did not affect the adsorption kinetics of Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) for all the biopolymers, but the addition of Na2CO3 significantly delayed the kinetics because of their trivalent f-element complexation with carbonate ions. It also was suggested from the speciation calculation study that all the biopolymers were degraded under alkaline conditions, leading to their masking of the adsorption of Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) on the nondegraded biopolymers. The masking effect was higher for cellulose than for chitin and chitosan, indicating that of the three, cellulose was degraded most significantly in alkaline solutions. Desorption experiments suggested that some portion of the adsorbed Eu(III) penetrated deep into the matrix, being isolated in a cavity-like site. The TRLFS study showed that the coordination environment of Eu(III) is stabilized mainly by the inner spherical coordination in chitin and by the outer spherical coordination in chitosan, with less association in cellulose in comparison to chitin and chitosan. These results suggest that the association of these biopolymers with Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) is governed not only by the affinity of the functional groups alone but also by other factors, such as the macromolecular steric effect. The association of degraded materials of the biopolymers also should be taken into consideration for an accurate prediction of the influence of biopolymers on the migration behavior of trivalent f-elements. [source] Effects of oral electrolyte supplementation on endurance horses competing in 80 km ridesEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue S36 2006F. SAMPIERI Summary Reasons for performing study: There is no evidence that use of oral electrolyte pastes enhances performance in competing endurance horses. Objective: To ascertain whether oral administration of a high dose (HD) of sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) to endurance horses would differentially increase water intake, attenuate bodyweight (bwt) loss and improve performance when compared to a low dose (LD). Methods: A randomised, blinded, crossover study was conducted on 8 horses participating in two 80 km rides (same course, 28 days apart). Thirty minutes before and at 40 km of the first ride 4, horses received orally 0.2 g NaCl/kg bwt and 0.07 g KCl/kg bwt. The other 4 received 0.07 g NaCl/kg bwt and 0.02 g KCl/kg bwt. Horses received the alternate treatment in the second ride. Data were analysed with 2-way ANOVA for repeated measures (P<0.05). Results: Estimated water intake was significantly greater with HD both at the 40 km mark and as total water intake; however, differences in bwt loss and speed between HD and LD were not found. Treatment significantly affected serum Na+, Cl,, HCO3, pH and water intake, but not serum K+ or bwt. Serum Na+ and Cl, were significantly higher at 80 km when horses received HD, but no differences were found in early recovery. Venous HCO3 and pH were significantly lower throughout the ride and in early recovery when horses received HD. Conclusions and potential relevance: Other than enhancing water intake, supplementing endurance horses with high doses of NaCl and KCl did not provide any detectable competitive advantage in 80 km rides. Further, the elevated serum electrolyte concentrations induced with HD might not be appropriate for endurance horses. [source] Highly Crystalline, Idiomorphic Na2Ti6O13 Whiskers Grown from a NaCl Flux at a Relatively Low TemperatureEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 19 2010Katsuya Teshima Abstract Well-developed, highly crystalline Na2Ti6O13 whiskers were successfully grown by cooling a NaCl flux at a relatively low temperature of 700 °C. The obtained Na2Ti6O13 whiskers were colorless and transparent. The whiskers grown at 700 °C were single phase and exhibit the lowest sizes of up to about 3.5 ,m,×,0.1 ,m. From the results of SEM, XRD, and TEM, it was confirmed that the Na2Ti6O13 whiskers have very good crystallinity and elongated in the [lang]010[rang] directions. Furthermore, the whiskers exhibited good photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet light irradiation. It is reasonable to suppose that NaCl can be adequately used to synthesize high quality and well-developed titanate whiskers in an environmentally friendly process of crystal growth. [source] Stability Constants and Dissociation Rates of the EDTMP Complexes of Samarium(III) and Yttrium(III)EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 30 2008Ferenc Krisztián Kálmán Abstract The stability constants of Sm(EDTMP) (log,KML = 20.71) and Y(EDTMP) (log,KML = 19.19) were determined by a competition reaction between the Ln3+ ion (Ln3+ = Sm3+ or Y3+) and Cu2+ for the EDTMP ligand by spectrophotometry at pH , 10, in the presence of an excess amount of citrate (0.15 M NaCl, 25 °C). For determining the stability constants of Cu(EDTMP) (log,KML = 19.36) and Ca(EDTMP) (log,KML = 8.71) pH,potentiometry was used. In the pH range 4,9 the EDTMP complexes are present in the form of nonprotonated and mono-, di- and triprotonated species. The Ca2+ ion forms a dinuclear complex with Ln(EDTMP). In a simplified blood plasma model consisting of Sm3+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ metal ions, EDTMP, citrate, cysteine and histidine ligands, Sm3+ is practically present in the form of [Sm(HEDTMP)Ca]2,, whereas Zn2+ predominantly forms [Zn(HEDTMP)]5, and [Zn(H2EDTMP)]4, complexes. For studying the dissociation rates of the complexes, the kinetics of the metal exchange (transmetallation) reactions between the Ln(EDTMP) complexes and Cu2+,citrate were investigated in the pH range 7,9 by the stopped-flow method. The rates of the exchange reactions are independent of the Cu2+ concentration and increase with the H+ concentration. The rate constants, characterizing the proton-assisted dissociation of the Ln(EDTMP) complexes, are several orders of magnitude higher than those of the similar Ln(EDTA) complexes, because the protonation constants of Ln(EDTMP) are high and the protonated Ln(HEDTMP) and Ln(H2EDTMP) species are present in higher concentration. The half-times of dissociation of Sm(EDTMP) and Y(EDTMP) at pH = 7.4 and 25 °C are 4.9 and 7.5 s, respectively. These relatively short dissociation half-time values do not predict the deposition of Ln3+ ions in bones in the form of intact Ln(EDTMP) complexes. It is more probable that sorption of the EDTMP ligand and Sm3+ or Y3+ ions occurs independently after the dissociation of complexes.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008) [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||