Morphology of Rat Hippocampal CA1 Neurons Following Modified Two and Four-Vessels Global Ischemia Models

Background: An appropriate animal model of ischemia stroke is essential for evaluation of different therapeutic methods. Two and four-vessel global ischemia models are one of the most common types of transient cerebral ischemia. Objectives: In this study, the morphology of rat hippocampal CA1 neurons in modified models of two and four-vessel ischemia and reperfusion were evaluated. Materials and Methods: In this study, 20 Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. In group 2 and 3, both common carotid arteries were occluded for 10 minutes in either 3 or 24 hours of reperfusions, respectively. In group 4 and 5, both common carotid and vertebral arteries were occluded for 10 minutes in either 3 or 24 hours of reperfusions, respectively. Group 1 as control, underwent the whole surgery without any arteries occlusion. Hippocampi of the rats in all groups were processed and tissue sections were stained using the Nissl method. The morphology of CA1 neurons were studied under a light microscope and compared different groups. Results: In all groups ischemic changes were apparently observed in hippocampus CA1 neurons. In two-vessel occlusion model, after 3 and 24 hours of reperfusions, ischemic cells accounted for 14.9% and 23.2%, respectively. In four-vessel occlusion model, after 3 and 24 hours of reperfusions, ischemic cells accounted for 7.6% and 44.9% (P < 0.0001), respectively. Conclusions: Modified four-vessel occlusion model resulted in significant ischemic changes after 24 hours of reperfusion in CA1 neurons of rat hippocampus

Kinetics of Transesterification of Soybean Oil

Transesterification of soybean oil with methanol was investigated. Three stepwise and reversible reacttons are believed to occur. The effect of variations in mixing intensity (Reynolds number = 3,100 to 12,400) and temperature (30 to 70\u27CJ on the rate oireaction were studied while the molar ratio of alcohol to triglycerol (6:l) and the concentration of catalyst (0.20 wt% based on soybean oil) were held constant. The variations in mixing intensity appear to effect the reaction parallel to the variations in temperature. A reaction mechanism consisting of an initial mass transfer-controlled region followed by a kinetically controlled region is proposed. The experimental data for the latter region appear to be a good fit into a second-order kinetic mechanism. The reaction rate constants and the activation energies were determined for all the forward and reverse reactions

Process for producing biodiesel fuel with reduced viscosity and a cloud point below thirty-two (32) degrees fahrenheit

Triglycerides are reacted in a liquid phase reaction with methanol and a homogeneous basic catalyst. The reaction yields a spatially separated two phase result with an upper located non-polar phase consisting principally of non-polar methyl esters and a lower located phase consisting principally of glycerol and residual methyl esters. The glycerol phase is passed through a strong cationic ion exchanger to remove anions, resulting in a neutral product which is flashed to remove methanol and which is reacted with isobutylene in the presence of a strong acid catalyst to produce glycerol ethers. The glycerol ethers are then added back to the upper located methyl ethyl ester phase to provide an improved biodiesel fuel

Retargeted adenoviruses for radiation-guided gene delivery

The combination of radiation with radiosensitizing gene delivery or oncolytic viruses promises to provide an advantage that could improve the therapeutic results for glioblastoma. X-rays can induce significant molecular changes in cancer cells. We isolated the GIRLRG peptide that binds to radiation-inducible 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), which is overexpressed on the plasma membranes of irradiated cancer cells and tumor-associated microvascular endothelial cells. The goal of our study was to improve tumor-specific adenovirus-mediated gene delivery by selectively targeting the adenovirus binding to this radiation-inducible protein. We employed an adenoviral fiber replacement approach to conduct a study of the targeting utility of GRP78-binding peptide. We have developed fiber-modified adenoviruses encoding the GRP78-binding peptide inserted into the fiber-fibritin. We have evaluated the reporter gene expression of fiber-modified adenoviruses in vitro using a panel of glioma cells and a human D54MG tumor xenograft model. The obtained results demonstrated that employment of the GRP78-binding peptide resulted in increased gene expression in irradiated tumors following infection with fiber-modified adenoviruses, compared with untreated tumor cells. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of adenoviral retargeting using the GRP78-binding peptide that selectively recognizes tumor cells responding to radiation treatment

Biorefinery strategies for upgrading Distillers’ Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)

Distillers’ Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) is the major by-product of bioethanol and distillery plants. Due to its high content of proteins, water-soluble vitamins and minerals, DDGS has been long marketed as animal feed for livestock. EU legislation on liquid biofuels could raise the demand on bioethanol production in Europe, with a resulting increase in DDGS availability. DDGS contains a spectrum of complex organic macromolecules, particularly polysaccharides, in addition to proteins and vitamins, and its use as a starting raw material within a biomass-based biorefining strategy could lead to the development of multi-stream processes for the production of commodities, platform molecules or speciality chemicals, with concomitant economic benefits and waste reduction for bioethanol plants. The present review aims to outline the compositional characteristics of DDGS and evaluate its potential utilisation as a starting material for the production of added-value products. Parameters of influence on the chemical and physical characteristics of DDGS are discussed. Moreover, various pre-treatment strategies are outlined in terms of efficient DDGS fractionation into several added value streams. Additional processing steps for the production of medium and high added value compounds from DDGS are evaluated and their potential applications in the food and chemical industry sector are identified

Arg399Gln substitution in XRCC1 as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for prostate cancer: Evidence from 8662 subjects and a structural analysis

Abstract Background The Arg399Gln polymorphism in the X ray repair cross complementing group 1 gene ( XRCC1 ) may alter the risk of prostate cancer (PCa). The present study aimed to investigate the association of the XRCC1 Arg399Gln poly- morphism with PCa risk in an Iranian population, as followed by a meta analysis and an in silico analysis. Methods In a case control study, 360 subjects were included (180 men with PCa and 180 healthy controls). XRCC1 Arg399Gln genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method. In the meta analysis, 14 eligible studies were included to which our case control data were added to estimate the pooled odds ratios. Some bioinformatics tools were employed to evaluate the effects of Arg399Gln substitution on molecular aspects of the XRCC1 protein. Results Our case control study revealed a significant association between the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and PCa risk. The data from overall meta analysis showed significant associations between the mentioned polymorphism and PCa risk in allelic and recessive genetic models. In addition, we observed statistically significant associations in stratified analyses by ethnicity, sample size and source of controls. Our in silico analysis showed that Arg399Gln substitution could be damaging with respect to the function and structure of the XRCC1 protein. Conclusions Based on these results, the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism might be a risk factor for PCa and it could be considered as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for susceptible men. KEYWORDS in silico analysis, meta analysis, prostate cancer, XRCC1 gen

Reaction Kinetics Analysis of Urethane Polymerization to Gelation

A chemical reaction analysis of a thermosetting, urethane resin formulated from a triol and a diisocyanate is reported. Population density distributions of oligomeric molecules, monomer concentration, the cumulative molar concentration of intramolecular bonds, the resin\u27s average molecular weights, and extent of reaction were determined as a function of time. Rate expressions for intermolecular reactions were first order with respect to the concentration of each reactant and were proportional to the functionality of their respective chemical moieties. Rate expressions for intramolecular reactions were first order with respect to the concentration of the reactant and were proportional to the functionality of the limiting chemical moiety on the reactant. The initial ratio of the chemical equivalents and effects of dilution were incorporated into numerical simulations. Stanford and Stepto\u27s experimental data were analyzed. Gel points and the concentration of intramolecular bonds were correlated as a function of conversion. Intramolecular reaction rate expressions derived with the aid of Gaussian chain statistics require the molar concentrations of all chemical isomers of a specified chemical composition. The present reaction rate expression allows chemical isomers to be lumped into a single population density distribution variable, substantially reducing the dimensions of the simulation. Numerical results demonstrate that the simplified rate expression is an excellent