bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improvement of an eia system for basic fibroblast growth factor by use of biotinylated antibody prepared with nhs‐lc‐biotin
Authors: Takei Yoshifumi , Higashira Hanae , Hayashi Kyozo 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe improved our previously devised enzyme immunoassay (FIA) system for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) using biotinylated antibody prepared with sulfosuccinimidyl‐6‐(biotinamido)hexanoate (NHS‐LC‐Biotin, Pierce), a water‐soluble biotin analogue, with an extended spacer arm. The discriminatory detection limit of the improved EIA was found to be 5 pg/ml (0.5 pg/assay tube), sixfold more sensitive than that of the previous system. The reproducibility of within‐ and between‐assay series was 5.10–8.61% and 5.99–8.69%, respectively; and recovery of exogenous bFGF from serum was approximately 102%. Employing the improved EIA system, we investigated by chromatofocusing chromatography the isoelectric points of two immunoreactive bFGFs (high‐molecular‐weight bFGF‐like immunoreactive substance, designated as HMW‐bFGF‐LI and 16‐kd bFGF‐LI, having the same molecular weight as recombinant bFGF) detected in serum from a breast cancer patient. As a result, the pl value of HMW‐bFGF‐LI was estimated to be 7.13, and that of 16 kd bFGF‐LI, 9.58.©1995 wiley‐Liss, inc.
A new plastic evacuated tube with plasma separator
Authors: Landt Michael , Wilhite Timothy R. , Smith Carl H. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA new plastic‐walled, evacuated blood collection tube (Terumo Venoject II) with plasma separator was evaluated for characteristics related to the use of plastic in place of glass. Plastic tubes were highly resistant to breakage through handling mishaps or failure during centrifugation. Higher centrifugation speed (13,600g) was well tolerated, and centrifugation times as short as 3 minutes at 13,600g effectively cleared plasma of cellular components, at high plasma yield. Plastic tubes were nearly completely combustible under incineration conditions commonly used for medical waste, and plastic tubes effectively retained vacuum during the typical shelf life of evacuated blood collection tubes. Collection of carbamezepine specimens in plastic tubes decreased levels an average of 6.8% compared to a heparinized glass tube control under conditions approximating routine use; levels of other drugs (phenytoin, phenobarbital, valproic acid, theophylline, and cyclosporine) were less significantly affected. This modest decrease appeared to result from a combination of an immediate interaction with the plastic surface of the tubes and a time‐dependent interaction with the olefin‐based separator. Modest but clear benefits including reduction in specimen breakage, reduced centrifugation time and reduced solid waste after incineration derive from the use of plastic in place of glass in evacuated blood collection tubes.©1995 wiley‐Liss, inc.
Detection of autoantibodies to ss‐a/ro by indirect immunofluorescence using a transfected and overexpressed human 60 kd ro autoantigen in hep‐2 cells
Authors: Fritzler Marvin J. , Miller B. Joan 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe objective of the study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay using transfected HEp‐2 cells to detect anti‐SS‐A/Ro autoantibodies in human sera. Seventy‐three sera having SS‐A/Ro autoantibodies as determined by double immunodiffusion (ID) and immunoblotting (IB) were tested by IIF on a HEp‐2 cell substrate that had been transfected with a full‐length cDNA encoding a human 60 kD SS‐A/Ro autoantigen. Controls included 30 normal human sera and 50 sera with a variety of other antinuclear antibodies. Prototype human and rabbit sera directed against the 60 kD SS‐A/Ro antigen produced intense speckled nuclear and nucleolar staining of transfected cells. Sixty‐nine of 73 (95%) SS‐A/Ro positive sera also produced this characteristic staining pattern. The endpoint autoantibody titers on transfected cells was fivefold greater than on untransfected cells. The 30 normal human sera and the 50 sera with other antinuclear antibodies did not produce this characteristic staining. Six of 32 (19%) unselected sera that were sent for autoantibody testing had reactivity with transfectants by IIF. Four of the six sera were confirmed to have anti‐SS‐A/Ro antibodies by ID and 5/6 by IB. By contrast, only three of these sera were scored as having a staining pattern compatible with SS‐A/Ro antibodies by IIF on standard HEp‐2 substrates. We conclude that SS‐A/Ro autoantibodies can be detected by an IIF assay using a HEp‐2 cell substrate transfected with a SS‐A/Ro cDNA. This new substrate detects SS‐A/Ro antibodies that were not identified on standard HEp‐2 substrates and by other immunoassays.©1995 wiley‐Liss, inc.
Development and validation of an automated particle‐enhanced nephelometric immunoassay method for the measurement of human plasma c1q
Authors: Borque Luis , Olivan V. , Iguaz F. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe have developed a sensitive immunoassay based on latex particle agglutination for measuring C1q concentrations in human plasma. In this simple and fast particle‐enhanced immunoassay, we used carboxylated latex particles (diameter 210 nm) covalently coated with F(ab)2 fragments of anti‐C1q antibodies. These particles are incubated with diluted sample (400‐fold) for 6 min at room temperature, with the resulting agglutination quantified by measuring the change of light‐scatter produced. The assay has been automated on the Behring nephelometer analyzer with a sampling rate of 150 samples/hr. This assay generates a standard curve in the range of 24–775 mg/L, showing intraassay and interassay precision of <8% and <10%, respectively. Dilution linearity was validated throughout the dynamic range of the assay. There were no interferences from bilirubin, Intralipid, haemoglobin, and rheumatoid factor. Results obtained in 45 clinical samples correlated well with those obtained by a commercial radial immunodiffusion method (r=0.936), and with those obtained by the Behring immunoprecipitation nephelometric test (r=0.950). The mean concentration in plasma from healthy subjects was 180 mg/L and the reference interval was from 128 to 237 mg/L. This latex nephelometric procedure is a convenient method and an interesting alternative to other immunoassays for routine measurement of human C1q.
(1↠3)‐β‐D‐Glucan in culture fluid of fungi activates factor g, a limulus coagulation factor
Authors: Miyazaki Takashige , Kohno Shigeru , Mitsutake Kotaro , Maesaki Shigefumi , Tanaka Ken‐Ichi , Hara Kohei 
Published: March 2007

AbstractTwo well‐known polysaccharides, (1→3)‐b̃‐D‐glucan and mannan, are major structural components of the fungus cell wall. The G test is a direct method to measure (1→3)‐b̃‐D‐glucan using a (1→3)‐b̃‐D‐glucan‐sensitive component, factor G, fractionated from the limulus lysate. The concentration of (1→3)‐b̃‐D‐glucan in culture supernatants of Candida albicans increased to 1,390.0 pg/ml at 24 hours. The concentration of mannan also increased parallel with fungal growth. However, after digestion of supernatants with endo‐(1→3)‐b̃‐D‐glucanase, the reactivity to factor G disappeared, although titers of anti‐mannan monoclonal antibody‐based latex agglutination were unchanged. Our study demonstrated that cell suspensions of both C. albicans and Cryptoccocus neoformans activated the limulus factor G, and that not only the conidia form but also the filamentous form of Aspergillus fumigatus reacted with factor G. Various Candida spp. (C. paraspilosis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei), Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhodotorula rubra, Trichosporon beigelii, and A. fumigatus released soluble (1→3)‐b̃‐D‐glucan into their culture supernatants, but C. neoformans and Cunninghamella bertholletiae showed only a small reaction to the G test during their culture. Our results indicate that the G test is a good method for serodiagnosis of deep mycosis and also as a screening tool for contamination of medical devices, drugs, and experimental materials with (1→3)‐b̃‐D‐glucan.
Noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay (hetero‐two‐site enzyme immunoassay) for γ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (γ‐msh) and measurement of immunoreactive γ‐msh in plasma of healthy subjects
Authors: Yogi Yoshikuni , Hashida Seiichi , Ekman Rolf , Setoguchi Toshiaki , Ishikawa Eiji 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay (hetero‐two‐site enzyme immunoassay) for γ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (γ‐MSH) was developed. γ‐MSH (1–12) was biotiny‐lated, trapped onto an anti‐γ‐MSH (1–12) IgG‐coated polystyrene bead, eluted at pH 1 after washing to eliminate other biotiny‐lated substances, and measured using two streptavidin‐coated polystyrene beads and affinity‐purified anti‐γ‐MSH (1–12) Fab'‐per‐oxidase conjugate. The detection limit of γ‐MSH (1–12) was 10–30 amol (16–48 fg)/assay and 130–400 fmol (210–630 pg)/L of plasma. There was little or only slight cross reaction with α‐MSH, b̃‐MSH, and ‐MSH. By this immunoassay, the concentration and molecular size of immunoreactive γ‐MSH in plasma of healthy subjects were examined, and the results were compared with those by competitive enzyme immunoassay. Immunoreactive γ‐MSH measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay was a mixture of substances with high molecular weights (100–500 kDa), and its concentration was calculated to be 50–60 pmol/L using γ‐MSH (1–12) as standard. Immunoreactive γ‐MSH detected by the noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay after removal of high molecular weight substances was not homogeneous and smaller than γ‐MSH (1–12), and its concentration was ∼ 1 pmol/L. The exact nature of these immunoreactive γ‐MSHs remains to be elucidated. γ‐MSH (1–12) added to plasma was degraded rapidly, and the concentration of γ‐MSH (1–12) was very low, if any, in plasma of healthy subjects.
Schwann cells express IP prostanoid receptors coupled to an elevation in intracellular cyclic AMP
Authors: Muja Naser , Nelson Julie K. , DeVries George H. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe have shown previously that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) are each produced in an explant model of peripheral nerve injury. We report that IP prostanoid receptor mRNA and protein are present in primary rat Schwann cells. IP prostanoid receptor stimulation using prostacyclin produced an elevation in intracellular cyclic AMP concentration ([cAMP]i) in primary Schwann cells. Peak [cAMP]i was observed between 5–15 min of stimulation followed by a gradual recovery toward basal level. Phosphorylation of cyclic AMP‐response element binding protein (CREB) on Ser133 was also detected after IP prostanoid receptor stimulation and CREB phosphorylation was inhibited completely by the protein kinase A inhibitor, H‐89. Intracellular calcium levels were not affected by IP prostanoid receptor stimulation. Unlike forskolin, IP prostanoid receptor stimulation did not significantly augment Schwann cell proliferation in response to growth factor treatment. However, IP prostanoid receptor stimulation increased the number of Schwann cells that were able to generate a calcium transient in response to P2 purinergic receptor activation. These findings suggest that signaling via the IP prostanoid receptor may by relevant to Schwann cell biology in vivo. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multivariate analysis of flavour terms used by experts and non‐experts for describing teas
Authors: Palmer Donald H. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThree multivariate methods of analysis were applied to the problem of selecting the most important descriptions of tea from a list of 11 relevant ones. Principal component analysis gave useful information with data from homogeneous groups of experts but not with data from an heterogeneous group of non‐experts. When cluster analysis was used to give homogeneous groups of non‐experts from the heterogeneous one then principal component analysis again gave useful and similar information. Stepwise discriminant analysis gave different results from that of principal component analysis, a quite logical solution. The value of using more than one method of multivariate analysis is stressed.
Assessment of field performance and fruit quality of a range of strawberry clones
Authors: Maclachlan James , Gormley Ronan 
Published: March 2007

AbstractTwenty strawberry cultivars/selections were screened to determine the most satisfactory ones for commercial production in Ireland and also to find suitable parents for crossing in a breeding programme. Factors evaluated were yield, fruit size, earliness and shelf life. Fruit was tested for acidity, soluble solids, colour, firmness and suitability for freezing. Canned fruit was tested for colour and jam samples for flavour, colour and quantity of whole fruit.The cultivar Cambridge Favourite was ranked best for the fresh market on the basis of high yield, long shelf life and a high soluble‐solids content. Fruits of Cambridge Vigour, 68/5, IVT 6032 and Templar were also suitable for the fresh market on a similar basis. These high yielding cultivars/selections had a poor flesh colour and were therefore not ideally suited for processing. In particular, the lack of redness was noticeable in jams and in the canned product. In addition, freezing performance, based on drip loss, was generally unsatisfactory.In contrast, the cultivars Africa, Kristina and Domanil had a good flesh colour but the yield was uneconomically low.
Nutrient composition of australian fresh retail sausages and the effects of cooking on fat content
Authors: Greenfield Heather , Kosulwat Somkiat 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThree types of fresh sausages (beef, thick and thin; and pork, thick) were purchased in ten Sydney suburbs and analysed as composite samples for proximate principles, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and cholesterol. Fat, moisture and meat species were also analysed in individual purchases. In a controlled experiment replicate samples of sausages were analysed for moisture and fat, raw and after cooking by grilling, dry‐frying, shallow‐frying and deep‐frying. Results indicated widespread use of cow, pig and sheep meat in all types of sausages regardless of label identification. Some purchased sausages exceeded regulation limits for fat and starch content. Fat retention was lowest in beef sausages cooked by frying rather than grilling. Pork sausages retained most of their fat on cooking, regardless of method.
Splitting and dehulling lentil (Lens culinaris): Effects of seed size and different pretreatments
Authors: Erskine William , Williams Philip C , Nakkoul Hani 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA conservative estimate of 800 000 T of red‐cotyledon microsperma lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) is consumed annually after postharvest processing into split dehulled seed. This process consists of cleaning the seed of foreign matter, brief immersion in water, spin‐drying, standing to temper, separation into seed size fractions, dehulling/splitting and final separation. The effects of seed size (4 and 4.5 mm fractions), immersion times (1, 5, 10 and 30 min), temperature (19° and 36°) and duration (0, 30, 60 and 120 min) of air drying, and tempering time (0 and 24 h), on the efficiency of dehulling and splitting lentil were examined. Dehulling efficiency (%) was estimated as the sum of split dehulled seed, whole dehulled seed, and whole hulled seed (whole seeds are separated for recycling to the dehuller). Dehulling efficiency was best with the small seed fraction (4 mm), an immersion time of 1 min, no air drying, and a tempering time of 24 h. The drying air temperature did not have a significant effect on dehulling efficiency. Dehulling efficiency was highest with a low seed moisture content.
Effect of long‐term intra‐ruminal infusion of the glucosinolate metabolite allyl cyanide on the voluntary food intake and metabolism of lambs
Authors: Duncan Alan J , Milne John A 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe possible role of allyl cyanide (ACN), the nitrile breakdown product of prop‐2‐enyl glucosinolate, in reducing the voluntary food intake (VFI) of a dried grass pellet diet in sheep was examined in a ruminal infusion experiment. Voluntary food intake of Scottish Blackface wether lambs, infused intraruminally with allyl cyanide (0 mmol day−1, C; 4.8 mmol day−1 L; 9.6 mmol day−1, H) for 9 weeks was significantly depressed (P < 0.05) on H and L treatments compared with the C treatment. Clinical indicators of liver function (plasma gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) activity) and kidney function (plasma urea and creatinc concentrations) indicated minor liver damage but no effects on renal function. Plasma GGTP activity was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the H than in the C group. Liver cytochrome oxidase activity at the end of the infusion period was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the H than in the C group indicating effects on cellular respiration. In general, sheep showed considerable tolerance to administration of ACN in comparison with previously demonstrated toxicity in monogastrics.
Steam distillation of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil
Authors: Johns Michael R , Johns Julia E , Rudolph Victor 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe steam distillation of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel) oil was investigated in a small batch still to ascertain the effect of operating variables on the yield, composition and rate of recovery of oil. Provided suitable distillation times (2–3 h) were used, the oil yield and composition did not vary with steam rate or pretreatment of the leaves by maceration. However, the rates of recovery of individual oil components were markedly affected.The results demonstrate that the oil components can be divided into two main groups according to their distillation behaviour. Oxygenated components, particularly terpinen‐4‐ol and 1,8‐cineole, are recovered the most rapidly, despite their high boiling points relative to other components. Their rates of recovery are increased with increasing steam rate, but are insensitive to leaf maceration. A second group of components, characterised by either a hydrophobic structure (the monoterpenes) or a larger molecular size (sesquiterpenes), exhibited the opposite behaviour. The rates of recovery of these components were unaffected by steam rate and improved by leaf maceration. It is hypothesised that the rate‐limiting processes for oxygenated and hydrophobic components are different. For the former, recovery is mass‐transfer film controlled, whereas the latter are diffusion controlled. This understanding provides the basis for manipulating oil quality by process conditions.
The mechanism of formation of gels from myosin molecules
Authors: Sharp Alan , Offer Gerald 
Published: March 2007

AbstractHeat‐set myosin gels form the basis of the adhesive that binds particles of meat together in meat products. The manner in which a gel network is formed from myosin has been investigated by studying the aggregates produced when dilute solutions of rabbit skeletal myosin molecules in 0.6 M KCI, 20 mM potassium phosphate, pH 6.5, were heated at a single temperature between 30 and 60°C. The aggregates have been examined by transmission electron microscopy after either negative staining or rotary shadowing.After heating at 30°C for 30 min. no change in structure is detected. After heating at 35°C for 30 min, the two heads of some myosin molecules coalesce and some dimers are formed by aggregation through the heads. After heating at 40°C for 30 min. up to about 13 myosin molecules aggregate through their heads to form a globular mass up to 60 nm across with the tails radiating outwards. At higher temperatures such head‐linked oligomers aggregate further. At 48°C oligomers coexist with aggregates formed by the coalescence of two or more oligomers. In such aggregates the globular masses are in close proximity and tails radiate from them. After heating myosin at 50°C, aggregates are formed by the coalescence of more oligomers and the tails are seen only indistinctly. At 60°C the particles formed contain a large number of globular masses and are typically 100 to 200 nm across, occasionally up to 1 μm. It is possible that the globules making up the strands of the gel networks in scanning electron micrographs are composed of similar particles. It is suggested that these globules are formed by head‐head interactions but that tail‐tail interactions may be important in forming the strands and cross‐links of the gel network.When a heat‐set myosin gel is compacted by centrifugation, the supernate contains essentially all the LC1 and LC3 light chains of the parent molecule but only a small fraction of the LC2 light chains. We suppose that dissociation of the LC1 and LC3 chains from the heads creates hydrophobic patches which cause intramolecular and intermolecular head association.
Rancidity in hazelnuts due to volatile aliphatic aldehydes
Authors: Kinderlerer Judith L , Johnson Stuart 
Published: March 2007

AbstractHazelnut kernels became rancid on storage under ambient conditions in the presence of air. The kernels have a high oil content. The oil contains approximately 75 g per 100 g oleic acid (18:1) and 9 g per 100 g linoleic acid (18:2). Rancidity was detected organoleptically, by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of the volatile off‐flavour compounds and by reduction in both the total fatty acid content (g per 100 g oil) and the iodine value (g per 100 g oil). There was an accumulation of volatile alkanals, 2‐alkenals and alkanoic acids on storage of the kernels at ambient temperature in the presence of oxygen. Hexanal (derived from oxidation of linoleic acid) and octanal (derived from oxidation of oleic acid) increased over tenfold on storage, whilst there was concomitant decrease in fatty acid content (83 g per 100 g oil) and iodine value (79) during the same period. It is suggested that analysis of volatile aldehydes such as hexanal and octanal could be used to assess rancidity in foods or oils rather than relatively nonspecific tests such as iodine or peroxide value. There was no evidence in this work that the rancidity was due to microbial spoilage.
Factors in the protein enrichment of cassava by solid state fermentation
Authors: Noomhorm Athapol , Ilangantileke S , Bautista M B 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe enrichment of cassava protein content using solid substrate fermentation was studied on both laboratory and on‐farm scales using Aspergillus niger as a starter. The effects of cassava particle size and of various nitrogen source ratios and mixing methods were investigated. Ammonium sulphate and urea as sources at respective levels of addition (g N kg−1 substrate) of 10:10, 20:10 and 20:20 were used in combination with cassava alone and cassava mixed with rice bran and soya bean each having mixing levels of 50, 100 and 150 g kg−1. The mixture was fermented for 84 h at 35°C and 90–95% RH on the laboratory scale and 29–31°C and 95–99% RH at the on‐farm scale. The results indicated that cube sizes ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 cm3 gave good mycelial growth. Pure cassava alone at the 10:10 nitrogen addition level produced the highest protein yield of about 145 g kg−1. The on‐farm technique yielded higher protein enrichment compared with laboratory experiments. Cassava alone yielded 230 g kg−1 protein while cassava with rice bran and cassava with soya bean each produced 210 g kg−1 protein.
Seed protein, fat and fatty acid profile of Amaranthus species
Authors: Prakash Dhan , Pal M 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe protein, fat and fatty acid composition in the seeds of 41 lines of amaranth Amaranthus spp including both the grain and vegetable types were analysed. Protein varied from 103 to 183 g kg−1 and fat from 8 to 68 g kg−1. Hexadecanoic, octadecenoic and octadecadienoic acids were the major fatty acids of the oil.