Numerical simulation of blood pulsatile flow in a stenosed carotid artery using different rheological models

Symmetrical 30-60% stenosis in a common carotid artery under unsteady flow condition for Newtonian and six non-Newtonian viscosity models are investigated numerically. Results show power-law model produces higher deviations, in terms of velocity and wall shear stress in comparison with other models while generalized power-law and modified-Casson models are more prone to Newtonian state. Comparing separation length of recirculation region at different critical points of cardiac cycle confirms the necessity of considering blood flow in unsteady mode. Increasing stenosis intensity causes flow patterns more disturbed downstream of the stenosis and WSS appear to develop remarkably at the stenosis throat.     

Changing patterns of acute phase proteins and inflammatory mediators in experimental caprine coccidiosis

This experiment was conducted to assess the changing patterns and relative values of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines in experimental caprine coccidiosis. Eighteen newborn kids were allocated to 3 equal groups. Two groups, A and B, were inoculated with a single dose of 1×10(3) and1×10(5) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria arloingi, respectively. The third group, C, received distilled water as the control. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of each kid in both groups before inoculation and at days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 post-inoculation (PI), and the levels of haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), TNF-α, and IFN-γ were measured. For histopathological examinations, 2 kids were selected from each group, euthanized, and necropsied on day 42 PI. Mean Hp concentrations in groups A and B (0.34 and 0.68 g/L) at day 7 PI were 3.2 and 6.3 times higher than the levels before inoculation. The mean SAA concentrations in groups A and B (25.6 and 83.5 μg/ml) at day 7 PI were 4.2 and 13.7 times higher than the levels before inoculation. The magnitude and duration of the Hp and SAA responses correlated well with the inoculation doses and the severity of the clinical signs and diarrhea in kids. These results were consistent with the histopathological features, which showed advanced widespread lesions in group B. In both groups, significant correlations were observed for TNF-α and IFN-γ with SAA and Hp, respectively. In conclusion, Hp and SAA can be useful non-specific diagnostic indicators in caprine coccidiosis.     

Dilute solution properties of Balangu (Lallemantia royleana) seed gum: effect of temperature, salt, and sugar

The interaction between hydrocolloids and solvent/cosolutes are the predominant factors determining their functional properties in food systems. In this research, the influence of different temperatures, salts and sugars were investigated on some molecular parameters of Balangu seed gum (BSG) as a new potential source of hydrocolloid. The results revealed that BSG has a high molecular weight (3.65 × 10(6)g/mole) and intrinsic viscosity (7236.18 ml/g), rather flexible chain with a chain flexibility parameter of 1156.53, low stiffness parameter (0.346 for Na(+) and 0.507 for Ca(2+)) and hydrogel content (46%). It was observed that except for water, the solutions of different salts (NaCl and CaCl(2)) and sugars (sucrose and lactose) are poor solvents for BSG as indicated by a monotonous decrease in intrinsic viscosity, swollen specific volume, shape function, hydration parameter, and coil dimensions. The parameters representing the interactions of BSG molecules with different cosolutes, i.e. hydrogel content and Huggins constant, were observed to increase significantly as the ionic strength and sugar concentrations increased from 0.005 to 0.05 M and 2.5 to 40% w/v, respectively. In addition, the elevated temperatures (20-50 °C) induced a clear contraction in BSG dimensional and shape parameters along with a decrease in solvent quality and the extent of associated water molecules through hydrogen bonds and/or physical entrainment. These results may be of high significance when considering the influence of major additives generally used in food products, such as various salts and sugars, and/or frequent processing parameters like temperature on rheological and functional points of view.     

Effect of Extraction Procedures on Functional Properties of Eruca sativa Seed Mucilage

The effect of different extraction procedures on functional properties of mucilage extracted from Eruca sativa seed were investigated using response surface methodology. A Central Composite Face Design (CCFD) with three independent variables: temperature (25–85 °C), pH (4–10) and water to seed ratio (20:1–60:1) was used to study the response variables (yield, viscosity, emulsion stability, foam stability, solubility and water absorption capacity). For each response, a second-order polynomial model was developed using multiple linear regression analysis. The results indicated that extraction temperature and pH significantly (p < 0.05) affected all functional properties. Applying desirability function method, optimum operating conditions were found to be extraction temperature of 65.5 °C, pH: 4 and water to seed ratio of 60:1. At this optimum point, maximum extraction yield, viscosity, emulsion stability (ES), foam stability (FS), solubility and water absorption capacity (WAC) were found to be 10.3 (%), 357 (mPas), 87 (%), 87.5 (%), 28.5 (%) and 9.3 (g/g), respectively.     

Effect of culture conditions on canthaxanthin production by Dietzia natronolimnaea HS-1

This study investigated the effects of various culture parameters (carbon sources, temperature, initial pH of culture, NaCl concentration, and light) on the growth and canthaxanthin production by Dietzia natronolimnaea HS-1. The results showed that the most effective carbon source for growth and canthaxantin production was glucose, and the best pH and temperature were 7 and 31 degrees C, respectively. In addition, the biomass and canthaxanthin production increased in a medium without NaCl and in the presence of light. Under the optimized conditions, the maximum biomass, total carotenoid, and canthaxanthin production were 6.12 +/- 0.21 g/l, 4.51 +/- 0.20 mg/l, and 4.28 +/- 0.15 mg/l, respectively, in an Erlenmeyer flask system, yet increased to 7.25 g/l, 5.48 mg/l, and 5.29 mg/l, respectively, in a batch fermenter system.     

Effects of Influenza Derived Peptide on CD8 T Cell Responses to MHC Class I-Restricted Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT)-Derived Peptide

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Tumor cells in breast cancer are immunogenic and express proteins that can induce immune responses. One important antigen is human...     

Topological analysis of a haloacid permease of a Burkholderia sp. bacterium with a PhoA-LacZ reporter

Background  

2-Haloacids can be found in the natural environment as degradative products of natural and synthetic halogenated compounds. They can also be generated by disinfection of water and have been shown to be mutagenic and to inhibit glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. We have recently identified a novel haloacid permease Deh4p from a bromoacetate-degrading bacterium Burkholderia sp. MBA4. Comparative analyses suggested that Deh4p is a member of the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS), which includes thousands of membrane transporter proteins. Members of the MFS usually possess twelve putative transmembrane segments (TMS). Deh4p was predicted to have twelve TMS. In this study we characterized the topology of Deh4p with a PhoA-LacZ dual reporters system.     

Semi-rational chemical modification of endoinulinase by pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and ascorbic acid

It is important to improve the quality of the enzyme inulinase used in industrial applications without allowing the treatment to have any adverse effects on enzyme activity. We achieved preferential chemical modification of the non-catalytic domain of endoinulinase (EC 3.2.1.7) to enhance the thermostability of the enzyme. We used pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) to modify the more accessible lysine residues at the surface of endoinulinase and then performed a necessary step of reduction with ascorbate. Endoinulinase was incubated in the presence of PLP at various concentrations; this step was followed by reduction of the resulting Schiff base and dialysis. The effects of different PLP concentrations and incubation times on enzyme modification were evaluated. Enzyme deactivation was observed immediately after treatment, even at low PLP concentrations, while reactivation was observed for samples treated with low PLP concentrations after a period of time. Structural analysis revealed that the α-helix content increased from 13.60% to 17.60% after applying the modification strategy; consequently, enzyme stabilization was achieved. The melting temperature (T_m) of the modified enzyme increased from 64.1 °C to 72.2 °C, and a comparative study of thermal stability at 25 °C, 45 °C, and 50 °C for 150 min confirmed that the enzyme was stabilized because of increase in its half-life (t_1/2) after PLP modification/ascorbate reduction. The modification process was optimized to achieve the optimum mole ratio for the PLP/endoinulinase (1.37). Excess moles of the modifier are thought to be responsible for enzyme deactivation through unwanted/nonspecific and noncovalent interactions, and the optimization ensured that there was no excess modifier after the desired covalent reaction was complete.     

Superovulatory response of Sistani cattle to three different doses of FSH during winter and summer

Objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of season and dose of FSH on superovulatory responses in Iranian Bos indicus beef cattle (Sistani). Cyclic cows, in summer (n=16) and winter (n=16), were assigned randomly to three dose-treatment groups of 120 (n=10), 160 (n=12) and 200 (n=10) total mg of Folltropin-V with injections given twice daily for 4 days in decreasing doses. Estrous cycles were synchronized with two prostaglandin F2alpha injections given 14 days apart. From day 5 after the ensuing cycle, daily ovarian ultrasonography was conducted to determine emergence of the second follicular wave at which time superovulation was initiated. Relative humidity, environmental and rectal temperatures were measured at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 h for the 3 days before and 2 days after the estrus of superovulation. Non-surgical embryo recovery was performed on day 7 after estrus. The effects of season, dose, time of estrous expression and all two-way interactions were evaluated on superovulatory responses: total numbers of CL, unovulated follicles (10 mm), ova/embryo, transferable and non-transferable embryos. Season (summer or winter), doses of Folltropin-V (120, 160 or 200 mg NIH) and time of estrous expression (08:00, 14:00 or 20:00 h) did not affect the number of transferable embryos (3.1+/-0.58). When superovulatory estrus was detected at 08:00, a FSH dose effect was detected with the greatest numbers of CL (12.2+/-0.87) and total ova/embryos (12.2+/-1.46) occurring with 200 mg FSH (dosextime of estrous expression; P<0.01).