The physiologic function of BUBR1, a key component of the spindle checkpoint, was examined by generating BUBR1-mutant mice. BUBR1 ؊/؊ embryos failed to survive beyond day 8.5 in utero as a result of extensive apoptosis. Whereas BUBR1 ؉/؊ blastocysts grew relatively normally in vitro, BUBR1 ؊/؊ blastocysts exhibited impaired proliferation and atrophied. Adult BUBR1 ؉/؊ mice manifested splenomegaly and abnormal megakaryopoiesis. BUBR1 haploinsufficiency resulted in an increase in the number of splenic megakaryocytes, which was correlated with an increase in megakaryocytic, but a decrease in erythroid, progenitors in bone marrow cells. RNA interference-mediated down-regulation of BUBR1 also caused an increase in polyploidy formation in murine embryonic fibroblast cells and enhanced megakaryopoiesis in bone marrow progenitor cells. However, enhanced megakaryopoiesis in BUBR1 ؉/؊ mice was not correlated with a significant increase in platelets in peripheral blood, which was at least partly due to a defect in the formation of proplateletproducing megakaryocytes. Together, these results indicate that BUBR1 is essential for early embryonic development and normal
Hyaluronic acid (HA) was electrospun. The effects of flow rate, spin length, and the applied voltage on the diameter of the HA nanofibers were analyzed. The average thickness of the webs was 0.041 cm. The air permeability of sterilized HA nanofiber wound dressing was much higher than that of gauze with Vaseline. The degree of crystallinity of HA nanofibers was characterized using powder X-ray technique and was found to be 20.6%. A preclinical study was conducted to compare healing of wounds covered by an adhesive bandage, a sterilized solid HA, gauze with Vaseline, an antibiotic dressing, and a sterilized HA nanofiber wound dressing. Results of the two methods of appraisal showed that the sterilized HA nanofiber wound dressing was the best type of dressing out of the five types of dressings compared.
Plasma treatments are gaining popularity in the textile industry due to their numerous advantages over conventional wet processing techniques. In this study, the nonwoven fabric Sontara®, commonly used for surgical gowns, is treated with antimicrobial finishes and a plasma containing fluorocarbon gas. Treated samples are evaluated for changes in physical and functional characteristics. The plasma treatment does not alter the weight, thickness, stiffness, air permeability, and breaking strength and elongation. Plasma-treated and water-repellent Sontara samples show higher blood and water resistance compared to other treatments. Plasma-treated samples also show a zone of inhibition for Staphylococcus aureus, thus providing a barrier against microbes. There is no zone of inhibition for the water repellent Sontara, untreated, and wet control samples. This implies that the nonwoven fabric treated with plasma can provide a better barrier against microbes than commonly available surgical gown fabric with a fluorocarbon finish.
Decorticated kenaf stalks were retted by bacterial and chemical processes. Bacterial retting was done in troughs at a temperature of 30 ± 2°C. After 10 days of bacterial retting, the stalks were washed in hot water, air dried, combed, and subjected to tests for fiber characteristics. Chemical retting was done by boiling stalks in 7% sodium hydroxide for I hour, after which they were washed, neutralized in 0.2% acetic acid. washed, air dried, and combed. Fiber characteristics such as bundle strength, elongation at break, color, luster, reed length, and gum content were compared for fibers extracted by both processes. Bundle strength, gum content, and reed length were lower for chemically retted fibers as compared with bacterially retted fibers. Gum content of bacterially retted fibers was uniform, and they were superior in luster. Residual gum content of bacterially retted fibers was 21-23% versus 7-12% for chemically retted fibers. Fiber quality from bacterial retting was superior, but a method that combines bacterial and chemical processing may have some merit. The feasibility of large-scale chemical retting and incorporation of fibers into nonwoven and woven textiles is being investigated.
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