A mathematical method for temperature compensation of pH measurements.

A continuous recording viscometer using oscillating capillary tubes has been developed. The basic principles, general design, and construction details of the viscosity sensing device are given. Two such devices, mechanically coupled, comprise a bridge viscometer with which two fluids can be compared directly. A bridge viscometer complete with the electronic amplifier circuits is described. The general design is readily adaptable to automatic systems.The instrument has a wide dynamic range. The fluid under test may be allowed to flow through the system. The capacity of each arm of the viscometer bridge is less than 100 μl.     

Measurement of blood viscosity using mass-detecting sensor

A newly designed mass-detecting capillary viscometer is extended to measure the viscosity of whole blood over a range of shear rates without the use of anticoagulants in a clinical setting. In the present study as proof of principle, a single measurement of liquid-mass variation with time replaces the flow rate and pressure drop measurements that are usually required for the operation of a capillary tube viscometer. Using a load cell and capillary, we measured the change of mass flowing through capillary tube with respect to the time, m(t), from which viscosity and shear rate were mathematically calculated. For water and adulterated bloods, excellent agreement was found between the results from the mass-detecting capillary viscometer and those from a commercially available rotating viscometer. Also, the mass-detecting capillary viscometer measured the viscosity of unadulterated whole blood without heparin or EDTA. This new method overcomes the drawbacks of conventional viscometers in the measurement of the whole blood viscosity. First, the mass-detecting capillary viscometer can accurately and consistently measure the unadulterated blood viscosity over a range of shear rates in less than 2 min without any anticoagulants. Second, this design provides simplicity (i.e. ease of operation, no moving parts, and disposable) and low cost.     

Compensation of temperature and concanavalin A concentratration effects for glucose determination by the viscometric affinity assay

A viscometer suitable for rapid measurements in small volumes of highly viscous liquids is described. Using this device the viscometric affinity assay for glucose was studied under variable conditions in order to obtain basic information for the design of a viscometric glucose sensor. The viscosity of the dextran/Concanavalin A (ConA) solution is sensitive to glucose in a broad range of the shear stress. However, for measuring the glucose concentration with this sensitive liquid the strong dependence of the absolute viscosity on temperature and ConA concentration has to be taken into account. For the purpose of calibration a parameter more suitable than the absolute viscosity is the relative fluidity (F(r)) that is defined by the actual measured viscosity at a given glucose concentration, the reference viscosity at a standard glucose concentration, and a constant linearization coefficient. F(r) shows a linear dependence on the glucose concentration in the therapeutically interesting range up to 30 mM and is not significantly changed by moderate variations of the ConA concentration or temperature.     

HUMORAL RHEOLOGY : I. VISCOSITY STUDIES AND ANOMALOUS FLOW PROPERTIES OF HUMAN BLOOD SYSTEMS WITH HEPARIN AND OTHER ANTICOAGULANTS

1. A modified falling ball viscometer (rolling ball viscometer) for blood and other humors is presented. It is capable of easily measuring flow properties at several stresses, as is required to define satisfactorily the properties of anomalous flow systems. At high shearing stresses, apparent specific viscosity values of 2.5 + are observed, corresponding to 2.2 ±0.2 reported as possible with the biological viscometer of Whittaker and Winton. 2. Previous references to the anomalous flow properties of blood were verified. It was demonstrated that these systems conform to the Bingham concept of anomalous flow. To define completely the flow properties of such systems it is necessary to make determinations at at least two shearing stresses, preferably more. Data are reported for the pseudoviscosity and yield value, the latter being possibly the most specific property of the three bloods studied. 3. Heparin in increasing amounts tended to decrease the apparent viscosity, pseudoviscosity, and yield value of blood. Similar increases of heparin also reduced the viscosites of the serum and plasma. 4. The ratio of the apparent viscosity of blood and its plasma was found to be reasonably constant as reported by Trevan. However, as the apparent viscosity is a function of the shearing stress, it is believed that the relationship for the calculations of corpuscular concentrations, such as the Whittaker and Winton modification of the Hatschek formula, is specific for the instrument and conditions of tests by which it was determined. 5. Heparinized blood was found to exhibit thixotropy, dilatancy, and age-hardening phenomena.     

A newly designed oscillating viscometer for blood viscosity measurements

A newly designed type of oscillating viscometer is described. The viscometer consists of either a tube or a rod oscillating at a resonance frequency with amplitudes in the micro- and nanometer range. A fluid flowing through the tube or surrounding the rod damps the torsional oscillations. The increase in the damping depends on the viscosity of the fluid and is used to determine viscosity. It was found that viscosity measurements are feasible during blood flow. This new type of viscometer may be useful to the study of biophysical properties of blood at the wall surface during flow and give new insights into blood flow. The device allows direct viscosity measurement on blood directly as it is drawn from the vein through the tube without any anticoagulant.     

Some perspectives on the viscosity of actin filaments

Measurements of the dynamic viscosity of various actin filament preparations under conditions of low and controlled shear: (a) confirm the shear rate dependence of F-actin viscosities and show that this dependence obeys the power law relationship observed for entangled synthetic polymers; (b) permit estimation of the extent to which shear artifact amplifies changes in the apparent viscosity of F-actin measured in a falling ball viscometer; (c) show that gel-filtration chromatography of actin and the addition of cytochalasin B to F-actin bring about small (20-40%) changes in the viscosity of the F-actin solutions. These variations are consistent with alterations in the actin-binding protein concentrations required for incipient gelation, a parameter inversely related to average filament length. Therefore: (a) changes in the viscosity of F-actin can be magnified by use of the falling ball viscometer, and may exaggerate their biological importance; (b) chromatography of actin may not be required to obtain meaningful information about the rheology of actin filaments; (c) changes in actin filament length can satisfactorily explain alterations in F-actin viscosity exerted by cytochalasin B and by chromatography, obviating the need to postulate specific interfilament interactions.     

Physicochemical properties of N4 virus solutions. I. Viscosity--temperature behavior

The viscosity–temperature behavior of N4 virus solution was investigated by using a Zimm type viscometer. The role of ionic strength (LiBr) and pH in the viscosity–temperature behavior was determined. Supporting measurements of the sedimentation coefficient, infectivity, and optical density are presented. The viscosity–temperature behavior generally includes a region of low viscosity, characteristic of the intact virus, followed, upon increasing temperature, by a rather abrupt increase of viscosity which corresponds to the ejection of native DNA from the protein shell, presumably through a suitable opening in the capside. The viscosity remains constant upon further increase of temperature until a second abrupt increase is observed which is shown to correspond to the degradation of the empty protein shell (ghost). Finally, at a still higher temperature, denaturation of DNA occurs. This sequence of events can be altered by changes in pH and ionic strength. Increasing LiBr concentration reduces the temperature of ghost degradation and raises the temperature of DNA ejection and DNA de naturation. It is suggested that polyelectrolyte effects play a controlling role in the ejection of native DNA and that the conformation of the latter within the protein shell is stabilized by a decrease of the electrostatic free energy due to the swamping effect of the co-ions.     

Cellular determinants of low-shear blood viscosity

Low-shear viscometry is one of the methods commonly used to estimate the degree of red blood cell (RBC) aggregation in various bloods and RBC suspensions. However, it has been previously shown that alterations in RBC morphology and mechanical behavior can affect the low-shear apparent viscosity of RBC suspensions; RBC aggregation is also sensitive to these cellular factors. This study used heat treatment (48°C, 5 min), glutaraldehyde (0.005–0.02%) and hydrogen peroxide (1 mM) to modify cell geometry and deformability. Red blood cell aggregation was assessed via a Myrenne Aggregometer (“M” and “Ml” indexes), RBC suspension viscosity was measured using a Contraves LS-30 viscometer, and RBC shape response to fluid shear stresses (i.e., deformability) was determined by ektacytometry (LORCA system). Our results indicate that low-shear apparent viscosity and related indexes may not always reflect changes of RBC aggregation if cellular properties are altered: for situations where RBC aggregation has been only moderately affected, cellular mechanical factors may be the major determinant of low-shear viscosity. These findings thus imply that in situations which may be associated alterations of RBC geometry and/or deformability, low-shear viscometry should not be the sole measurement technique used to assess RBC aggregation.     

Influence of temperature on the optimal hematocrit of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Summary The influence of temperature on blood viscosity and consequently on the potential for oxygen transport by blood was determined using a controlled flow, variable pressure tube viscometer, and blood from adult bullfrogs. Blood viscosity was determined as a function of hematocrit and temperature, and oxygen capacity was determined as a function of hematocrit. These data were used to describe 1) the potential for oxygen transport in the tube viscometer, and 2) the relation between the optimal hematocrit, the hematocrit which provided the greates oxygen transport, and temperature. The optimal hematocrit increased at a rate of 0.237% per °C increase in temperature. This value is close to the rate of change inin vivo hematocrit of 0.246 and 0.240% per °C increase in body temperature (T_b) observed in winter bullforgs acclimated to 5 and 20°C, respectively. During the summer the hematocrit ratio showed no consistent relation to T_b. These results suggest that in bullfrogs the cardiovascular adjustments to change in T_b involve the optimal hematocrit in winter, but not in summer.     

溶液黏度对相转化水凝胶微针制备的影响

目的:选择黏度适宜的高分子溶液,制备相转化水凝胶微针。方法:通过考察两种型号的聚乙烯醇本身的黏度性质、溶液温度、几种不同性质的高分子材料,包括透明质酸、预胶化淀粉等可能影响聚乙烯醇溶液黏度的因素,使用粘度计测定其黏度值并作图比较,观察溶液黏度变化的规律。将所制溶液分别制备微针以观察针形的好坏,选择合适制备相转化水凝胶微针的溶液黏度范围。结果:实验表明黏度范围在2.5万至13万m Pa·s之间的聚合物溶液较为粘稠且流动性适宜。结论:在该黏度范围内的聚合物溶液可用以制备相转化水凝胶微针,适用于工业化生产。     

Effect of shear on membrane-associated enzymes: Studies of the release of intracellular protein and of the progesterone 11alpha-hydroxylase complex from rhizopus nigricans

Rhizopus nigricans ATCC 6227b grown in either shake flasks or a fermentor was sheared in a concentric cylinder viscometer. The cells grown in shake flasks were found to be more susceptible to disruption by shear than those grown in the fermentor. Cells resuspended in a medium containing reduced glutathione and EDTA were found to be more easily disrupted than cells resuspended in 0.5% NaCl. The optimum condition for disruption of shake flask cells grown in the former medium with retention of progesterone 11alpha-hydroxylase activity was a laminar shear rate of 4300 s(-1), for a period of 3 min at 4 degrees C. During the first 30 s the apparent viscosity was found to decrease significantly with applied shear.     

On-line monitoring of the viscosity in dextran fermentation using piezoelectric quartz crystal

A novel viscous sensor utilizing AT-cut quartz crystal to monitor the viscosity of fermentation broth was developed. The sensor system was constructed from the piezoelectric quartz crystal fixed to the cell, exposing only one side of the quartz crystal electrode, an oscillating circuit, a peak level meter, and a personal computer. In order to investigate the characteristics of the sensor system, a sensor signal relating to the resonant resistance of the quartz crystal was measured using dextran solutions with different molecular weights. The linear relationship was obtained between the sensor signal and the (rhoeta)(1/2) of the liquid, where rho and eta are the density and viscosity, respectively. The sensor signal was dependent not only on the viscosity of the liquid but also on the molecular weight of dextran, because dextran solution shows a non-Newtonian property. The sensor system was applied for the on-line monitoring of the viscosity in dextran fermentation. A good correlation was observed between the sensor signal and the viscosity value measured with a rotational viscometer for the fermentation broth. Little bubbling effect and agitation of the sensor signal were observed, showing that this system can be utilized for viscosity monitoring in a bioprocess.     

A recording viscometer for assaying mammalian collagenase.

A recording viscometer for monitoring the action of mammalian collagenase on soluble collagen is described. For this system, where only one peptide bond is cleaved per subunit, it is shown theoretically that the decrease in viscosity is proportional to the fraction of molecules cleaved. Experimental confirmation was obtained by parallel monitoring of hydrolysis by using the fluorescamine assay of liberated amino groups. The initial velocity of reaction is proportional to substrate concentration and enzyme concentration.     

A programmable, computer-controlled cone-plate viscometer for the application of pulsatile shear stress to platelet suspensions

Described is a special purpose cone-plate viscometer that is capable of acceleration or deceleration through a step change in speed in less than 0.7s. The speed of the rotating cone is controlled by a microcomputer which can be programmed to generate speed vs time ramp functions of variable slope. Prior calibration of motor power required to shear Newtonian fluids of known viscosity at various speeds provides the basis for determination of apparent suspension viscosity and enables the viscometer automatically to compensate for changing sample viscosity during shear. The viscometer was used to carry out a series of preliminary studies in which platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was subjected to continuous and pulsatile shear stress at 37 degrees C. Shear-induced platelet aggregation (SIPAG) was significantly greater in response to pulsatile versus continuous shearing except at the lowest applied stress (10 dyn/cm2). Increases ranged from about 40 percent at a stress amplitude of 25 dyn/cm2 to nearly 55 percent at dyn/cm2. This increasing trend with stress amplitude might be interpreted as a positive correlation between SIPAG and the loading rate. Dense granule release, as indicated by serotonin release, was dependent on both stress amplitude and number of pulses even at the higher stress where SIPAG was independent of pulse number.     

Human erythrocyte spectrin dimer intrinsic viscosity: temperature dependence and implications for the molecular basis of the erythrocyte membrane free energy

We have determined experimentally the temperature dependence of human erythrocyte spectrin dimer intrinsic viscosity at shear rates 8-12 s-1 using a Cartesian diver viscometer. We find that the intrinsic viscosity decreases from 43 +/- 3 ml/g at 4 degrees C to 34 +/- 3 ml/g when the temperature is increased to 38 degrees C. Our results show that spectrin dimers are flexible worm-like macromolecules with persistence length about 20 nm and that the mean square end-to-end distance for this worm-like macromolecules decreases when the temperature is increased. This implies that the spectrin dimer internal energy decreases when the end-to-end distance is increased and that the free energy increase associated with making the end-to-end distance longer than the equilibrium value for the free molecules is of entropic origin. The temperature dependence of the erythrocyte membrane shear modulus reported previously in the literature therefore appears mainly to be due to temperature dependent alterations in the membrane skeleton topology.     

Demonstration of lag phase in the sol-gel transformation of deoxygenated S hemoglobin without temperature alteration.

1). During the sol to gel transformation of deoxygenated sickle hemoglobin, a time-dependent process preceding gel formation (lag phase) was demonstrated that was inversely proportional to a function of the hemoglobin concentration and that occurred without alteration in temperature, pH, or oxygen tension. 2). As determined by the Schachman modification of the capillary viscometer, preparations of oxyhemoglobin S and A and deoxyhemoglobin A were indistinguishable when compared over a wide range of concentrations. Up to the concentration at which gelling occurred, deoxyhemoglobin S exhibited the same viscosity behavior. The viscosity of deoxygenated hemoglobin S within the lower gelling concentration range was normal during the lag phase and became abnormally high only at the time of gelation.     

Measuring rheological variations with time and depth in livestock waste slurries using rotational viscometry

A commercial rotational viscometer mounted on a motorised stand was used to measure rheological variations with depth, of separated pig-slurry, over a period of approximately 20 h. Results showed that this equipment can measure changes in slurry characteristics with depth, caused by settling. However, it was not possible to measure true viscosities at known depths with standard viscometer spindles because of the slurry settling during the tests and because spindle end-effects were higher than their geometry predicted. It is concluded that any shear thinning or thickening effects which are indicated by rotational viscometers working in pig-slurries may actually be due to the settling of solids during the tests and that readings obtained from the viscometer are of more value as torque measurements for mixing power estimation than as viscosity measurements. Used in this unconventional mode the equipment is unlikely to achieve useful measurements in full-scale waste-storage tanks.     

A simple method for detecting drug effects on the DNA of mammalian cells

A simple method for detecting drug or X-ray effects on the DNA of intact cells is described. This method uses an easily constructed viscometer to measure changes in the viscosity of alkaline cell lysates. The method has been tested by comparing the effects of 4′-[(9-acridinyl)amino]methanesulfon-o-anisidide (oAMSA), 4′-[(9-acridinyl)amino]methanesulfon-m-anisidide (mAMSA), daunorubicin, and adriamycin on cellular DNA.     

Theory for flow of Casson and Herschel-Bulkley fluids in cone-plate viscometers

Mathematical models for blood flow in cone-plate viscometer have been considered, by assuming blood as a Casson/Herschel-Bulkley fluid. Three different cases have been analyzed (i) when there is no shearing, (ii) partial shearing and (iii) full shearing. The relationships between the angular velocity and torque have been obtained for the above three cases. By assuming total shearing, the analytical expression for apparent viscosity has been obtained. Variation of apparent viscosity with yield stress, angular velocity, Casson co-efficient of viscosity, consistency index and flow behaviour index has been computed. It is observed that as the angular velocity increases, the apparent viscosity decreases for both fluids. Further, it is found that as the cone angle increases, the apparent viscosity increases. This behaviour of apparent viscosity in cone-plate viscometer is interesting and unexpected and is being reported first time.     

Blood viscosity in arctic fishes

The blood viscosity of arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, and shorthorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius, from the arctic (74 degrees 42'N) was measured with a cone-plate viscometer. Blood viscosity of the two arctic species was considerably lower, less shear rate dependent, and less temperature dependent than the blood of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) from more temperate waters. The rheological properties of the arctic fish blood would minimize blood flow resistance and thus be advantageous at the low temperatures (0 degree C) characterizing their environment.