Delivery of chemotropic proteins and improvement of dopaminergic neuron outgrowth through a thixotropic hybrid nano-gel

Chemotropic proteins guide neuronal projections to their final target during embryo development and are useful to guide axons of neurons used in transplantation therapies. Site-specific delivery of the proteins however is needed for their application in the brain to avoid degradation and pleiotropic affects. In the present study we report the use of Poly (ethylene glycol)-Silica (PEG-Si) nanocomposite gel with thixotropic properties that make it injectable and suitable for delivery of the chemotropic protein semaphorin 3A. PEG-Si gel forms a functional gradient of semaphorin that enhances axon outgrowth of dopaminergic neurons from rat embryos or differentiated from stem cells in culture. It is not cytotoxic and its properties allowed its injection into the striatum without inflammatory response in the short term. Long term implantation however led to an increase in macrophages and glial cells. The inflammatory response could have resulted from non-degraded silica particles, as observed in biodegradation assays.     

Determination of herbicide residues in agricultural crops, foods, soil and water by chronometric method

Summary The method described is based on the biochemical detection of herbicides on a silica gel thin layer following their chromatographic separation. The detection reagent is a mixture of a homogenate of bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris) and of the redox indicator 2,6-dichloroindophenol. This chronometric determination of herbicide residues is based on the observation that dark blue inhibition zones appear on a pale yellow-green background during the exposure of the sprayed chromatoplates Silufol to light. The dark blue zones disappear again after a time, their lifetime is proportional to the amount of the herbicide in the zone.Because of the high selectivity and sensitivity of the biochemical detection this method does not require a multiple clean-up procedure, nor does it require sophisticated instrumentation. It equals gas chromatography in sensitivity and precision. The determination limit lies between 0.01 and 0.001 mg · kg^–1, the average recovery rate is 85 to 90%.

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Bestimmung der Herbicid-Rückstände in landwirtschaftlichen Produkten, in Lebensmitteln, im Boden und Wasser mit der chronometrischen Methode

Zusammenfassung Die Methode stützt sich auf einen biochemischen Nachweis der Herbicide auf einer Silicagel-Dünnschichtplatte nach ihrer chromatographischen Verteilung. Das Nachweisreagens ist eine Mischung aus einem Homogenat von Blättern der Bohnen (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) und des Redoxindikators 2,6-Dichlorphenolindophenol. Die chronometrische Bestimmung der Herbicidrückstände gründet sich auf die Beobachtung, daß während der Lichtexposition der besprühten Dünnschichtplatte Silufol auf einem gelbgrünen Hintergrund dunkelblaue Inhibitionszoneu entstehen, welche nach einer bestimmten Zeit verschwinden. Die Haltbarkeitszeit der Zone ist der Menge des Herbicids in der Zone direkt proportionell.In Betracht der hohen Selektivität und Empfindlichkeit des biochemischen Nachweises benötigt die Methode keine komplizierte Reinigung der Extrakte und keine hochentwickelte Ausstattung des Labors mit Instrumenten. Die Empfindlichkeit und Genauigkeit der chronometrischen Methode ist gleich der der Gaschromatographie. Die Bestimmungsgrenze ist 0,01 bis 0,001 mg·kg^–1, die Wiederfindung ist 85–90%.

     

The catalepsy test: Its ups and downs.

The typical catalepsy (CPSY) test consists of placing an animal in an unusual posture and recording the time taken to correct this posture. This time is regarded as an index of the intensity of CPSY. CPSY is a robust behavior, and the lack of standardization does not usually hinder its actual detection. However, the intensity of the cataleptic effect is influenced by minor methodological differences, and interpretation and comparison of results across laboratories are difficult. The behavioral CPSY test can use any of several different apparatus, including wire grids, parallel bars, platforms, or pegs, to situate the animals in unusual positions. The most common is the bar test (BT), and despite its wide use in psychopharmacological research, even parameters of this test are not standardized. The present article reviews parameters chosen by investigators that measure CPSY. The methodological issues of repeated testing, scaling of scores, apparatus, animal weight, maximal test duration, behavioral criteria, and other influences are discussed. A brief review of the neuropharmacological basis of CPSY is included. It is argued that a universal, standardized BT be adopted by researchers. New data on a novel automated BT in the Digiscan Activity Monitoring System is presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do behavioral observation scales measure observation?

G. Latham and K. Wexley (see record 1980-02200-001) have claimed that behavioral observation scales (BOS) pose a simpler task for the rater than do either behaviorally anchored rating scales or graphic rating scales; with BOS, the rater need only observe and record behavior and need not make complex judgments about performance. Research on person memory suggests that recall for behaviors is structured by the same trait inferences and judgments that BOS are designed to avoid. In 2 experiments, 91 undergraduates rated videotaped lectures; data from the 1st experiment were used to construct BOS measuring clarity and speaking style. In the 2nd experiment, Ss used the BOS and a graphic rating scale to rate videotaped lectures in immediate and delayed rating conditions. As expected, the correlations between BOS ratings and judgmental ratings of performance were stronger when demands were placed on rater's recall. It is suggested that recall of behaviors is determined by the degree to which certain behaviors are representative of general judgments made about Ss being rated, and that BOS measure traitlike judgments rather than behavioral observation. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Radiation synthesis of hydrogels based on carboxymethyl cellulose and its application in removal of pollutants from wastewater

Synthesis of carboxymethyl cellulose‐g‐methacrylic acid/acrylamide Poly(CMC/MAAc:AAm) hydrogel was carried out using direct radiation copolymerization technique at ambient temperature. The gel (%) increased with increasing the content of AAm till level off at Poly(CMC/MAAc:AAm) (1/50:50 wt%) hydrogel and the swelling behavior found to be increased with increasing MAAc content in the hydrogel composition up to Poly(CMC/MAAc:AAm) (1/60:40 wt%). The grafting yield, grafting ratio, swelling behavior, and the thermal stability of Poly(CMC/MAAc:AAm) binary system are higher than those reported in our previous study by the same author which described the individual grafting of acrylamide (AAm) and methacrylic acid (MAAc) with different concentration onto carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using direct radiation grafting technique. The swelling kinetics and diffusion mechanism indicate that the water penetration obey non‐Fickian transport mechanism. The characterization of the prepared hydrogel was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The analyses by different analytical tools confirmed the successful grafting of both MAAc and AAm onto CMC. The adsorption capacity of Poly(CMC/MAAc:AAm) (1/60:40 wt%) hydrogel toward metal ions such as Cu⁺² and Co⁺², dyes such as acid blue dye and methyl green have been investigated. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:E35–E43, 2019. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Hard wood‐composites made of rice straw and recycled polystyrene foam wastes

The submitted work discussed the possibility of using two of the most problematic wastes to formulate an added‐value hard wood‐composite (HWC). The lignocellulosic rice straws (RS) fibers (as reinforced filler) and recycled expanded polystyrene foam (PS) wastes (as dispersed polymer matrix), were used to formulated the hard wood product applying the hot press technique. The air dried RS was added to the molten PS at increasing ratios (30–70% mass:mass), and the reached HWC sheet was subjected to tensile strength, water absorption and acoustic resistance characterizations. Based on the experimental data, it was found that increasing the RS contents accompanied with a diminish in the tensile strength value by about 50% at 70% RS compare to that at 30% RS. To improve the adhesion between the hydrophilic filler RS and the hydrophobic PS matrix, maleated PS graft (PS‐g‐MA) was prepared and added at the expanse of the PS content, to formulate an additional wood‐composite (HWCg) aiming to have better mechanical and dimensional stability features. Results obtained indicated that increasing the coupling agent content, keeping the RS added constant, enhance the tensile strength feature in addition, reduced the water absorption for the final products by more than 45%. The data obtained suggested that, it can create added‐value hard wood composites entirely from the two nominated problematic wastes. In addition to the value gained by the environment, the reached hard wood products record acceptable mechanical characterization, dimensional stability and sound resistance properties that qualified it to replace the natural wood in many daily applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44770.     

Evidence for organosulfates in secondary organic aerosol

Recent work has shown that particle-phase reactions contribute to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), with enhancements of SOA yields in the presence of acidic seed aerosol. In this study, the chemical composition of SOA from the photooxidations of alpha-pinene and isoprene, in the presence or absence of sulfate seed aerosol, is investigated through a series of controlled chamber experiments in two separate laboratories. By using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, sulfate esters in SOA produced in laboratory photooxidation experiments are identified for the first time. Sulfate esters are found to account for a larger fraction of the SOA mass when the acidity of seed aerosol is increased, a result consistent with aerosol acidity increasing SOA formation. Many of the isoprene and alpha-pinene sulfate esters identified in these chamber experiments are also found in ambient aerosol collected at several locations in the southeastern U.S. It is likely that this pathway is important for other biogenic terpenes, and may be important in the formation of humic-like substances (HULIS) in ambient aerosol.     

Polyamine Metabolism under Different Light Regimes in Wheat

Although the relationship between polyamines and photosynthesis has been investigated at several levels, the main aim of this experiment was to test light-intensity-dependent influence of polyamine metabolism with or without exogenous polyamines. First, the effect of the duration of the daily illumination, then the effects of different light intensities (50, 250, and 500 μmol m^–2 s^–1) on the polyamine metabolism at metabolite and gene expression levels were investigated. In the second experiment, polyamine treatments, namely putrescine, spermidine and spermine, were also applied. The different light quantities induced different changes in the polyamine metabolism. In the leaves, light distinctly induced the putrescine level and reduced the 1,3-diaminopropane content. Leaves and roots responded differently to the polyamine treatments. Polyamines improved photosynthesis under lower light conditions. Exogenous polyamine treatments influenced the polyamine metabolism differently under individual light regimes. The fine-tuning of the synthesis, back-conversion and terminal catabolism could be responsible for the observed different polyamine metabolism-modulating strategies, leading to successful adaptation to different light conditions.