A Modified Freezing-Drying Apparatus for Tissues

The preparation of tissues by the freezing-drying technic is preferred for many histochemical studies because of the rapid fixation, avoidance of deleterious action of chemical fixation and extraction by aqueous and lipid solvents in fixation, dehydration and clearing; to facilitate this procedure a freezing-drying apparatus has been constructed which permits cutting of sections within five hours after the fresh tissue is obtained. Liquid nitrogen provides a most efficient moisture trap and in conjunction with a heating element provides any desired temperature down to — 80°C. during tissue drying. Paraffin infiltration is started without disassembling the equipment and completed in a few minutes. Most stains and histochemical reactions for enzyme and other substances can be applied directly to sections of frozen-dried tissue cut from the same blocks.     

Apparatus for Metabolic Studies with Anaerobes

An apparatus is described which allows metabolic experiments with obligate anaerobic bacteria to be performed with minimal disturbance of the E(h) of the culture.     

The Use of Kosher Phenotyping for Mapping QTL Affecting Susceptibility to Bovine Respiratory Disease

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in feedlot cattle, caused by multiple pathogens that become more virulent in response to stress. As clinical signs often go undetected and various preventive strategies failed, identification of genes affecting BRD is essential for selection for resistance. Selective DNA pooling (SDP) was applied in a genome wide association study (GWAS) to map BRD QTLs in Israeli Holstein male calves. Kosher scoring of lung adhesions was used to allocate 122 and 62 animals to High (Glatt Kosher) and Low (Non-Kosher) resistant groups, respectively. Genotyping was performed using the Illumina BovineHD BeadChip according to the Infinium protocol. Moving average of -logP was used to map QTLs and Log drop was used to define their boundaries (QTLRs). The combined procedure was efficient for high resolution mapping. Nineteen QTLRs distributed over 13 autosomes were found, some overlapping previous studies. The QTLRs contain polymorphic functional and expression candidate genes to affect kosher status, with putative immunological and wound healing activities. Kosher phenotyping was shown to be a reliable means to map QTLs affecting BRD morbidity.     

Microstructural Analysis of the Capture Thread Spinning Apparatus in Orb Web Spiders

The microstructural characteristics of the capture thread production from silk glands in the orb web spiders were analyzed using scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Sticky and gluey capture threads of the web are originated from the silks of two flagelliform glands and four aggregate glands. They supply precursors of the secretory silks to a pair of characteristic “triad” spinning units on the posterior spinnerets. The aggregate gland is composed of large and multi‐lobed secretory region and thick excretory duct surrounded by large irregular nodules. The excretory duct of this gland basically consists of three superposed types of cells which are inner columnar epithelium, nodule forming cells and outer connectives. The nodules contain numerous mitochondria and glycogen particles within their cytoplasm and they are surrounded by the same sheath of thin connective tissues. Secretory region of the aggregate gland which produce water‐soluble components of the capture thread comprises discrete secretory vesicles and extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum. Characteristically, secretory droplets are formed without involvement of the Golgi complexes, suggesting that they do not play an important role in the processing of the capture threads. However the electron densities and internal textures of the granules are observed with diverse according to their maturation level. Finally, the secretory products are released by the mechanism of apocrine secretion losing part of their cytoplasm during this process.     

Improvement of a Continuous-Culture Apparatus for Long-Term Use

A glass and plastic apparatus was designed to meet requirements for continuous culture of cells. Some of the improvements incorporated into this apparatus include an all-glass growth vessel with a self-cleaning bottom, special compression fittings to connect tubing to glass tubing, a removable yield reservoir, and a nonwetting gas exhaust assembly. All portions of the system can be autoclaved for sterilization, and medium bottles and pump lines are replaced aseptically.     

漂浮育苗剪叶传播烟草丛顶病风险研究

为了评估漂浮育苗剪叶传播烟草从顶病的风险, 以剪刀剪病叶后再剪苗和剪刀蘸取病烟汁液后再剪苗2种剪叶方法研究了漂浮育苗剪叶对烟草丛顶病和烟草普通花叶病的传播效果。调查数据显示, 2种剪叶方法均不能传播烟草丛顶病, 但能传播烟草普通花叶病, 其平均发病率分别为36.67%和63.33%。实验结果表明, 漂浮育苗剪叶不易传播烟草丛顶病, 但易于传播烟草普通花叶病。     

An Immuno-Electrophoretic Apparatus: Studies in Tuberculosis

Serum applied as a streak to a strip of filter-paper can be separated into six main bands, depending upon respective molecular weights (electrophoresis). When such bands of protein are exposed to a polyvalent anti-human serum diffusing in at right angles, at least 18 protein components can be identified as precipitation arcs (immunoelectrophoresis).Using immunoelectrophoresis, 202 sera taken at intervals from 86 patients with tuberculosis were compared with 160 sera from healthy persons and patients with non-tuberculous disease. With clinical recovery from tuberculosis, shrinkage of the beta-2 macroglobulin band was observed, and a gamma-1 globulin arc appeared or was accentuated. This finding suggests an early antibody response of large molecules, and a later defence by slowly developing small molecules, as seen in many common infections. The macroglobulins involved were found to be selectively adsorbed on attapulgite clay particles. This technique should be useful in developing serological tests for active tuberculosis.The apparatus used was designed and built by the authors at trivial cost. Its construction and operation are described.     

漂浮育苗剪叶传播烟草丛顶病风险研究

为了评估漂浮育苗剪叶传播烟草从顶病的风险,以剪刀剪病叶后再剪苗和剪刀蘸取病烟汁液后再剪苗2种剪叶方法研究了漂浮育苗剪叶对烟草丛顶病和烟草普通花叶病的传播效果.调查数据显示,2种剪叶方法均不能传播烟草丛顶病,但能传播烟草普通花叶病,其平均发病率分别为36.67%和63.33%.实验结果表明,漂浮育苗剪叶不易传播烟草丛顶病,但易于传播烟草普通花叶病.     

The Use of the Ex Vivo Chandler Loop Apparatus to Assess the Biocompatibility of Modified Polymeric Blood Conduits

The foreign body reaction occurs when a synthetic surface is introduced to the body. It is characterized by adsorption of blood proteins and the subsequent attachment and activation of platelets, monocyte/macrophage adhesion, and inflammatory cell signaling events, leading to post-procedural complications. The Chandler Loop Apparatus is an experimental system that allows researchers to study the molecular and cellular interactions that occur when large volumes of blood are perfused over polymeric conduits. To that end, this apparatus has been used as an ex vivo model allowing the assessment of the anti-inflammatory properties of various polymer surface modifications. Our laboratory has shown that blood conduits, covalently modified via photoactivation chemistry with recombinant CD47, can confer biocompatibility to polymeric surfaces. Appending CD47 to polymeric surfaces could be an effective means to promote the efficacy of polymeric blood conduits. Herein is the methodology detailing the photoactivation chemistry used to append recombinant CD47 to clinically relevant polymeric blood conduits and the use of the Chandler Loop as an ex vivo experimental model to examine blood interactions with the CD47 modified and control conduits.