Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Wool”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Separation and characterization of macrophage precursors and of interleukin 2-responding cells from nylon wool-nonadherent murine spleen cells by using Bauhinia purpurea agglutinin.

Precursors of macrophages were found to be enriched in nylon wool-nonadherent cells which are often used as purified T cells. By using a 2-step agglutination sedimentation method with Bauhinia purpurea agglutinin (BPA), the precursors of macrophages which were enabled to proliferate and differentiate by the addition of colony-stimulating factor (CSF) or high concentrations of concanavalin A (Con A) were exclusively separated into a nylon wool-nonadherent, BPA-agglutinated (bottom) fraction. Cells responsive to some kind of factor(s) other than CSF in Con A supernatants (Con A-Sup) were also fractionated into the bottom fraction. Under these conditions, T cells were separated into both BPA-nonagglutinated (top) and agglutinated (bottom) fractions. The proliferative response of the cells in the top fraction was higher than that in the bottom fraction when they were stimulated with an optimal concentration of Con A (3 micrograms/ml). As assessed by the Con A pulse experiments, T cells in the bottom fraction required larger amounts of interleukin 2 (I1-2) than those in the top fraction for proliferation and the growth of T cells in both fractions was completely dependent upon I1-2.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1993

Polyester but not cotton or wool textiles inhibit hair growth.

The effect of different types of textile fabrics on hair growth was investigated in 40 mongrel dogs divided into 5 groups. An area of 10 x 20 cm on the dog's back was shaved; half of this area was covered by a textile patch of 100% polyester material in the 1st group, 100% cotton in the 2nd group, 100% wool in the 3rd group and a 50%/50% polyester/cotton blend in the 4th group. The remaining half of the shaved area in the 4 groups as well as the whole area in the 5th group (control) were left uncovered. The textile patch was worn for 2 months. The polyester-covered hair grew at a significantly lower rate and density than in the uncovered area of the same animal and the controls (p < 0.01). The hair color was similar to that of the surrounding uncovered hair. This is in contrast to cotton- and wool-covered skin area which showed nonsignificant differences in hair density, growth rate and color (p > 0.05) against the uncovered area and controls. In the polyester-covered skin, a thinning of the epidermis of the skin was noted microscopically with fragmentation and vacuolation of the hair follicle pulp. The study has shown that the polyester material generated electrostatic potentials, which may have inhibited hair growth, whereas cotton and woolen textiles did not. Friction between the polyester textile and the skin generates electrostatic charges which are suggested to create an 'electrostatic field' that seems to be responsible for the inhibited hair growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Differential lectin binding to presumptive cortical cells of the wool follicle bulb.

An alpha-D-galactoside-specific lectin from Bandeiraea simplicifolia (BSLI) showed differential binding to cortical cells of the wool follicle bulb. The lectin bound to cells on one side only of the bulb and was completely blocked by alpha-D-galactose. The region of lectin binding extended from presumptive cortical cells at the base of the bulb to cortical cells at the top of the bulb, disappearing as cortical cells entered the fibre cortex. An orthocortex-specific monoclonal antibody was used to show that cortical cells recognised by the lectin lie directly below the fibre orthocortex and presumably give rise to the orthocortex. The results suggest that two distinct populations of presumptive cortical cells are present only two to three cell layers from the base of the bulb in a region where no morphological differences are detectable. The lectin-bound pre-cortical cells appear to give rise to orthocortical cells while cells not bound by lectin presumably give rise to paracortical cells. Electron microscopy showed that the lectin bound to sites on the plasma membrane, probably on the extracellular surface. This suggests that the lectin target may be a membrane glycoprotein or glycolipid. Two polypeptides recognised by BSLI were separated from wool follicle extracts by SDS-gel electrophoresis. These polypeptides migrated at approximately 69 kDa and 17 kDa. However, only the 69 kDa molecule showed the expected loss of binding by BSLI in the presence of alpha-D-galactose. Further work will be required to determine if this glycoprotein is the bulb cell molecule recognised by BSLI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Inhibitory effect of increased photoperiod on wool follicle growth.

The relationships between circulating prolactin (PRL), wool follicle growth and daylength were investigated in 24 New Zealand Wiltshire ewes housed indoors from September 1989 to May 1991. Twelve control (C) ewes were maintained under natural photoperiod. Two other groups were held in short days (SD; 8 h light: 16 h darkness) commencing from the winter solstice (22 June 1990) for either three (group SD3, n = 7) or six (group SD6, n = 5) months before reversion to natural daylength. Skin was sampled at one- to four-week intervals for histological determination of percentages of growing primary and secondary follicles. Hourly blood samples over 24 h were collected via jugular cannulae from C sheep in March and July and then monthly from all animals until December 1990 for estimation of mean monthly PRL concentrations for each treatment group. Between autumn (March 1990) and winter (July) primary follicle activity (PFA) and secondary follicle activity (SFA) declined in C ewes (PFA: 97 to 43%, SFA: 100 to 57%). Follicle regrowth during July and August in eight C ewes preceded the initial rise in plasma PRL from the winter minimum (1.6 ng/ml). Across the three groups, four instances of decreased follicle activity were observed, closely following or concurrent with increases in plasma PRL concentrations. The resumption of spring growth in four C sheep was temporarily checked by falls in follicle activities during September and October as PRL concentrations began to increase (3.4 to 8.9 ng/ml). Follicle activity also declined in November and December in eight C sheep, coincident with the rapid rise in PRL to a seasonal maximum in late November (165.4 ng/ml). The increase in SD3 follicle activity over spring was not delayed by short days but during October, after release from treatment, PRL concentrations rose (1.8 to 12.0 ng/ml) and follicle activity declined (PFA: 65 to 38%, SFA: 68 to 43%). In SD6 ewes, PRL concentrations were suppressed (2.1 ng/ml) and relatively constant levels of follicle activity (PFA: 73%, SFA: 95%) were maintained throughout short-day treatment. Release of SD6 ewes into summer photoperiod in January 1991 temporarily interrupted follicle growth (PFA: 68 to 17%, SFA: 96 to 19%) and caused out-of-season shedding in March and April. Contemporary C follicle activities were high (PFA: 95%, SFA: 98%). These data suggest that natural and experimental increases in daylength have a short-term inhibitory effect on growing wool follicles which could be mediated through rising concentrations of plasma prolactin.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Distribution of prolactin receptor immunoreactivity in ovine skin and changes during the wool follicle growth cycle.

Prolactin is believed to mediate seasonal cues entraining seasonal reproductive and hair follicle growth cycles. Prolactin receptor binding activity and prolactin receptor gene expression in mammalian skin have recently been described. In this report, prolactin receptor immunoreactivity is identified in sheep skin using a monoclonal antibody against the rat liver prolactin receptor. Western blotting analysis of microsomal membrane proteins from skin showed major bands corresponding to molecular weights of 87 and 71 kDa and minor bands at 101 and 21 kDa. RNase protection analysis revealed the presence of mRNA species coding for long and short forms of the prolactin receptor. Formalin-fixed sections, exposed to the monoclonal antibody and stained by an immunogold method, revealed prolactin receptor-immunoreactivity in the dermal papilla, germinal matrix, outer root sheath, lower regions of the inner root sheath and connective tissue sheath of wool follicles. Staining was absent from keratinised cell populations. In all samples, the interfollicular epidermis, sebaceous and sweat glands were positively stained. The distribution of prolactin receptor is described in both growing and inactive wool follicles and related to postulated cycle-specific actions of circulating prolactin in the control of seasonal fibre growth.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Regulation of prolactin receptor expression in ovine skin in relation to circulating prolactin and wool follicle growth status.

Seasonal patterns of hair growth are governed, at least in part, by levels of prolactin in circulation, and although receptors for prolactin (PRLR) have been demonstrated in hair follicles, little is known of their regulation in relation to follicular cycles. In this study, a photoperiod-generated increase in prolactin was used to induce a wool follicle cycle during which changes in PRLR expression in sheep skin were determined by ribonuclease protection assay and in situ hybridisation. mRNA for prolactin and both isoforms of PRLR were also detected in skin by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. As circulating prolactin began to rise from low levels, PRLR mRNA in the skin initially fell. These changes immediately preceded the catagen (regressive) phase of the hair cycle. Further increase in prolactin resulted in up-regulation of PRLR during telogen (dormancy), particularly in the epithelial hair germ, to reach a peak during proanagen (reactivation). In anagen (when follicle growth was fully re-established), PRLR mRNA returned to levels similar to those observed before the induced cycle. Hence, this longer term rise and fall of PRLR expression followed that of plasma prolactin concentration with a lag of 12-14 days. PRLR mRNA was most abundant in the dermal papilla, outer root sheath, hair germ, skin glands and epidermis. Location of PRLR in the dermal papilla and outer root sheath indicates action of prolactin on the growth-controlling centres within wool follicles. These cycle-related patterns of PRLR expression suggest dynamic regulation of PRLR by prolactin, thereby modulating hormonal responsiveness of seasonally growing hair follicles.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Performance of Polypay, Coopworth, and crossbred ewes: II. Survival and cumulative lamb and wool production over 4 years.

Six ewe genotypes, generated by mating Coopworth (C), Polypay (P), and Suffolk (S) rams to P and Coopworth-type (Ct) ewes, were exposed to Hampshire rams for spring lambing from 1987 through 1990. Data from 1,013 exposures and 973 resultant lambings were used to analyze reproductive traits and cumulative ewe productivity over 4 yr. Ewe body and fleece weights were also analyzed. Ewes from S sires weaned the heaviest lambs and ewes from P sires weaned the largest number of lambs, resulting in similar total weight of lamb weaned per ewe mated. Coopworth-sired ewes weaned the least total weight of lamb per ewe mated. Ewes weaning twins produced 54% more total litter weight per ewe than those weaning singles. Annual ewe survival averaged 95%, ranging from 93% for S x P and C x P ewes to 97% for P x Ct and C x Ct ewes. When cumulative number and weight of lamb produced was assessed on the basis of all ewes starting the trial, P-sired ewes were highest, followed in order by daughters of S and C sires. Suffolk-sired ewes (67 kg) were 13% heavier than daughters of P rams and 19% heavier than daughters of C rams. Adjustment of lamb production for ewe metabolic body size resulted in C-sired ewes being more efficient than the heavier S-sired ewes. Coopworth-sired ewes produced 32% more wool than ewes sired by the other two breeds. Differences in wool production between ewes weaning one or two lambs were small.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effects of skirting on processing characteristics of Targhee wool.

Ninety mature Targhee ewes were randomly allocated to nine lots. Lots were randomly assigned to three fleece preparation treatments: 1) nonskirted (control); 2) bellies removed, in which bellies and topknots were removed on the shearing floor; and 3) skirted, in which bellies and topknots were removed and remaining fleece was thrown on a table and lightly skirted. Bellies and topknots composed about 6 to 7% of the fleece weight. An additional 6.6% was removed when fleeces were skirted. Top fiber diameters were not affected (P greater than .10) by skirting. Although not significant (P greater than .10), percentage yield, vegetable content, percentage of noilage, top fiber length, and yellowness indexes tended to be most desirable for skirted lots and least desirable for unskirted lots. Lots with bellies removed were intermediate. Removal of bellies reduced vegetable contamination by 8.4%, with an additional reduction of about .5% by further skirting. Skirting reduced the number of fibers less than 25.4 mm (P less than .10) by 42%. Minimal colored fiber contamination of top was observed. One colored fiber per 15 g of top was detected in two lots of the treatment with bellies removed. All other lots contained no colored fibers. All wools evaluated were well below industry limits set for use in high-quality white or pastel fabrics. All skirted lots of wool evaluated in this study had improved processing characteristics for all processing traits evaluated.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1993

Ten-year linear trends in reproduction and wool production among inbred and noninbred lines of Rambouillet, Targhee, and Columbia sheep.

To investigate the value of creating inbred lines for genetic improvement of sheep, 54 inbred, 1 randombred control, and 3 noninbred control lines were evaluated for lamb and wool production. Results were based on 19,438 dam and 23,625 lamb records from Rambouillet (R), Targhee (T), and Columbia (C) sheep collected over 9 yr (for T and C) and 10 yr (for R), starting in 1954. Average inbreeding in the inbred lines during the period was near 25% for lambs and 20% for ewes. The general trend in inbred lines for litter weight weaned (120 d) and number weaned (net reproductive rate), per ewe exposed to breeding, was downward as inbreeding increased. Trends in fleece weight generally also were down, regardless of concomitant increases in body weight. Declines were most pronounced in two lines developed by rapid inbreeding. Reproductive merit in the R and C noninbred controls also declined, but the declines were less than those for most inbred lines. Although the T noninbred control declined in fleece weight, trends for fleece weight in the R and C controls were positive and significantly different from the negative trends in the inbred lines. For the randombred control, slight downward trends in litter weight and number weaned were less (P < .05) than those for most inbred lines, indicating genetic declines in these traits for most inbred lines. Direct selection for an index of overall phenotypic merit, recurrent selection for combining ability for overall merit, and direct selection for body type, clean fleece weight, or staple length were all ineffective in preventing a decline in reproductive merit. Ending means (last 2 yr of production) revealed that litter weight weaned in the control groups of each breed was clearly superior to that in most inbred lines. Controls also were typically superior for fleece and body weight. Not one of the 54 inbred lines was superior (P < .05) to its respective noninbred control in weight of lamb weaned or net reproductive rate. Only four of the inbred lines were superior to the noninbred controls in fleece weight. These results, after at least 23 yr of development for most lines, reflect little encouragement for the costly development of many inbred lines for the purpose of improving lamb and wool production, especially when using the above selection criteria.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effects of substituting feather meal for soybean meal on ruminal fiber fermentation and lamb and wool growth.

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of substituting feather meal (FM) for soybean meal (SBM) on ruminal fiber fermentation, lamb gain, blood metabolite profiles, and wool growth. A SBM supplement was formulated, and FM replaced either 33% (33FM), 66% (66FM), or 100% (FMS) of the SBM protein. Four ruminally cannulated wethers were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design to study in situ ruminal digestion. Wethers were limit-fed barley straw and fed the supplements once daily. Ruminal NH3 N concentrations reflected a sampling time x protein source interaction (P < .01). Within sampling times, ruminal NH3 N concentrations decreased linearly (P < .05) as FM replaced soybean meal. Cubic (0 h; P < .10) and quadratic (24 h; P < .05) responses also were noted for ruminal NH3 N concentration. Substitution of FM for SBM had no effect (P > .10) on rate and extent of straw NDF disappearance. A 56-d feeding trial was conducted using 28 wether lambs (n = 7 per treatment; initial BW 32.3 kg). Wethers were individually fed chopped barley straw and one of the four supplements described previously. Linear increases (P < .05) in BW gain and serum total protein concentration were observed as FM replaced SBM. Wool fiber diameter and sulfur content did not differ (P > .10) among treatments. These data suggest that FM can be substituted for SBM in protein supplements fed to sheep consuming low-quality roughages at a maintenance level of ME intake.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1995

Performance of hair breeds and prolific wool breeds of sheep in southern Illinois: lamb production of F1 adult ewes.

Two- and three-year-old F1 crossbred ewes produced from Suffolk and Targhee dams and sires of the prolific wool breeds of Finnsheep, Combo-6, and Booroola Merino and the hair breeds of St. Croix and Barbados were pasture-mated to Dorset rams over a 4-yr period at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Southern Illinois. Booroola Merino sires were homozygous for the FecB allele for high number of ovulations. The effects of age of ewe, sex of lamb (where appropriate), breed of dam, and breed of sire on condition score, breeding weight, ovulation rate, breeding to lambing interval, fertility, prolificacy, lamb survival, weaning weight, and ewe productivity were estimated. All traits were analyzed using mixed-model methodology. Crossbred ewes from Suffolk dams had a higher (P < .01) condition score, heavier (P < .01) breeding weight, higher (P < .01) ovulation rate, shorter (P < .01) breeding to lambing interval, greater (P < .01) prolificacy, heavier (P < .01) lambs at weaning, and greater (P < .05) ewe productivity than crossbred ewes from Targhee dams. Ewes from hair-breed sires had lighter (P < .01) breeding weight, lower (P < .05) ovulation rate, shorter (P < .05) breeding to lambing interval, higher (P < .05) fertility, higher (P < .05) lamb survival, lower (P < .10) lamb weaning weight, and higher (P < .05) ewe productivity than ewes sired by the prolific wool-breed rams. The breed of sire x breed of dam interaction was a significant source of variation for breeding weight, fertility, lamb survival, and ewe productivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alleles↗
PubMed2002

Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic change for reproduction, weight, and wool characteristics of Columbia sheep.

Genetic parameters from both single-trait and bivariate analyses for prolificacy, weight and wool traits were estimated using REML with animal models for Columbia sheep from data collected from 1950 to 1998 at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES), Dubois, ID. Breeding values from both single-trait and seven-trait analyses calculated using the parameters estimated from the single-trait and bivariate analyses were compared with respect to genetic trends. Number of observations were 31,401 for litter size at birth and litter size at weaning, 24,741 for birth weight, 23,903 for weaning weight, 29,572 for fleece weight and fleece grade, and 2,449 for staple length. Direct heritability estimates from single-trait analyses were 0.09 for litter size at birth, 0.06 for litter size at weaning, 0.27 for birth weight, 0.16 for weaning weight, 0.53 for fleece weight, 0.41 for fleece grade, and 0.55 for staple length. Estimate of direct genetic correlation between littersize at birth and weaning was 0.84 and between birth and weaning weights was 0.56. Estimate of genetic correlation between fleece weight and staple length was positive (0.55) but negative between fleece weight and fleece grade (-0.47) and between staple length and fleece grade (-0.70). Estimates of genetic correlations were positive but small between birth weight and litter size traits and moderate and positive between weaning weight and litter size traits. Fleece weight was lowly and negatively correlated with both litter size traits. Fleece grade was lowly and positively correlated with both litter size traits, while staple length was lowly and negatively correlated with the litter size traits. Estimates of correlations between weight traits and fleece weight were positive and low to moderate. Estimates of correlations between weight traits and fleece grade were negative and small. Estimates of correlations between staple length and birth weight (0.05) and weaning weight were small (-0.04). Estimated breeding values averaged by year of birth from both the single-trait and multiple-trait analyses for the prolificacy and weight traits increased over time, but were unchanged for the wool traits. Estimated changes in breeding values over time did not differ substantially for single-trait and multiple-trait analyses, except for traits highly correlated with another trait that was responding to selection.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic change for reproduction, weight, and wool characteristics of Targhee sheep.

Genetic parameters from both single-trait and bivariate analyses for prolificacy, weight, and wool traits were estimated using REML with animal models for Targhee sheep from data collected from 1950 to 1998 at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, Dubois, ID. Breeding values from both single-trait and seven-trait analyses calculated with the parameters estimated from the single-trait and bivariate analyses were compared across years of birth with respect to genetic trends. The numbers of observations were 38,625 for litter size at birth and litter size at weaning, 33,994 for birth weight, 32,715 for weaning weight, 36,807 for fleece weight and fleece grade, and 3,341 for staple length. Direct heritability estimates from single-trait analyses were 0.10 for litter size at birth, 0.07 for litter size at weaning, 0.25 for birth weight, 0.22 for weaning weight, 0.54 for fleece weight, 0.41 for fleece grade, and 0.65 for staple length. Estimate of direct genetic correlation between litter size at birth and weaning was 0.77 and between birth and weaning weights was 0.52. The estimate of genetic correlation between fleece weight and staple length was positive (0.54), but was negative between fleece weight and fleece grade (-0.47) and between staple length and fleece grade (-0.69). Estimates of genetic correlations were near zero between birth weight and litter size traits and small and positive between weaning weight and litter size traits. Fleece weight was slightly and negatively correlated with both litter size traits. Fleece grade was slightly and positively correlated with both litter size traits. Estimates of correlations between staple length and litter size at birth (-0.14) and litter size at weaning (0.05) were small. Estimates of correlations between weight traits and fleece weight were positive and low to moderate. Estimates of correlations between weight traits and fleece grade were negative and small, whereas estimates between weight traits and staple length were positive and small. Estimated breeding values averaged by year of birth from both the single- and seven-trait analyses for the prolificacy and weight traits increased over time, whereas those for fleece weight decreased slightly and those for the other wool traits were unchanged. Estimated changes in breeding values over time did not differ substantially for the single-trait and seven-trait analyses, except for traits highly correlated with another trait that was responding to selection.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Genome-Wide SNP Characterisation of Three Kazakh Sheep Breeds: Kazakh Fat-Tailed Coarse-Wool, Degeres, and Etti Merino.

Kazakhstan's sheep portfolio underpins much of the country's mutton and wool production, yet several of its principal breeds remain genomically uncharacterised. The aim of this study was to characterise the genomic diversity, population structure, and global phylogenetic placement of three economically important Kazakh breeds and to determine whether they constitute separate gene pools requiring independent management. We present the first genome-wide SNP characterisation to include the Degeres (DE), the Etti Merino (EM), and the Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wool (KKG) breeds simultaneously. A total of 1497 animals (DE = 354, EM = 642, KKG = 501) sampled across seven production households were genotyped and, after quality control, analysed at 42,279 SNPs, of which 22,766 LD-pruned markers were used for principal component analysis and AMOVA. We applied principal component analysis (PCA), pairwise FST, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), neighbour-joining phylogenetics, model-based ancestry estimation (ADMIXTURE), and Hill-number diversity profiling, and projected the breeds against the global Ovine SNP50 HapMap panel (74 reference breeds, 2819 animals; 37,685 shared SNPs). All three breeds retained uniformly high within-breed diversity (expected heterozygosity 0.413-0.417) with fixation indices at or near zero. AMOVA partitioned 94.03% of variance within breeds (&#x3a6;ST = 0.060, p < 0.001). PCA, phylogeny, and ADMIXTURE concordantly resolved three breed-specific clusters at K = 3, with a maximum interbreed FST of 0.038 within the study dataset. Against the global panel, EM was genetically closest to Merino and Merino-derived reference breeds (pooled FST = 0.017) and substantially more distant from Southwest Asian sheep (FST = 0.045), whereas DE and KKG showed the reciprocal pattern (FST = 0.027 and 0.020 to Southwest Asia, 0.052 to the Merino group). DE additionally displayed the heterozygote excess and partial admixture expected of an incompletely consolidated composite. These results delineate three distinct gene pools and carry direct implications for breed management and the conservation of genomic diversity in Kazakhstani sheep.

ADMIXTURE↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of pleural mesothelioma caused by unusual occupational exposure to asbestos in the wool industry].

We report the case of a 73-year-old worker who died of pleural mesothelioma, after being employed for 35 years in a wool textile plant of Biella (Italy). Close investigations revealed that he provided for the maintenance of materials and machines. In particular, he used to replace asbestos parts such as rings, joints and insulations of pipelines (dyeing unit), as well as brake linings of warping, looming and combing machines. Beside confirming the importance of an accurate occupational anamnesis to recognize work-induced cancers, the case draws the attention on the risk of mesothelioma in the wool industry, an occupational setting that is not usually considered as a potential source of exposure to asbestos fibres. Such pollution might explain the increased mortality due to pleural mesothelioma in the Biella area (characterized by a prosperous textile industry), reported in previous epidemiological studies.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

An integrated anaerobic--physico-chemical treatment concept for wool scouring wastewater.

The strong flow wastewater from a wool scouring industry is treated by a combination of anaerobic digestion and physico-chemical postreatment. Based on previous laboratory results (Gutiérrez et al., 1999), three anaerobic baffled reactors (ABR) of 300 m3 each were built, processing 60% of the strong flow of a wool scouring mill for about two years. COD and grease removal in the anaerobic reactors were 47-50% and 50-55% respectively, with an organic load between 8.9 and 6.7 kg COD/m3 d. The effluent of the anaerobic reactors was assayed with additives in an industrial decanter centrifuge. As results of these assays, all the effluent of the three reactors was sent to the decanter centrifuge after dosing additives. Overall COD and grease removal of the integrated system were 87% and 93% respectively. Dosage of coagulation-flocculation additives was optimized in a continuous flocculation device. The proposed treatment is cheaper and easier to control than others alternatives with COD removal higher than 93%.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

[Relations between the physico-chemical properties, the chemical reactivity and the local anesthetic activity. 32. (Part 1): Binding capacity of a structural protein (wool) to local anesthetics].

1. The general part deals with the molecular structure of nerve membranes and different local-anesthetic substances as well as the various possibilities of local-anesthetic binding to the nerve membrane. Albumin is usually chosen as a model protein in such investigations, a short extract of which is given. 2. The special part includes the chemical composition and properties of wool macroprotein, the model system used in the present paper. We determined its protein-binding values with cinchocain and tetracain homologues and various known commercial products of local anesthetics (oxybuprocain, parethoxyprocain and tetracain). The binding constants of these substances on wool protein are shown. 3. A statistically confirmed relationship between the alkyl chain length and the strength of protein binding is given. The free energy per CH2-group ranges between 400 and 500 cal/mol and its larger in cases of low pH values. 4. From the present data, a relationship between the binding constant and the partition constant of each substance of the homologous series studied could easily be observed, which further makes it possible to estimate the characteristic protein-binding constant Kp and also the change in pi-values with the change in free reaction energy of the substances. 5. The large differences in the binding values of the different binding mechanisms, which most probably are dependent on the variable binding affinities of the functional groups as well as on steric factors. But as in the homologous series, only substituents like alkyl amino and alkoxy could be changed, the possibility of some other binding process depending on the alkyl chain length of these groups could not be ruled out. Since the alky groups are non-polar, hydrophobic binding plays a role.

Albumins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Industrial processing of wool: biomechanics and ergonomic aspects].

Workers in a wool processing industry were analyzed for risk factors in development of musculoskeletal disorders from specific repetitive movements that they executed, in all phases of the preparation of wool products ("tintoria", "mescolanza", "finitura", "filatura", "riroccatura", "ritorcitura", "confezionamento"). The evaluation revealed nonergonomic work situations, due to both repetitive movements of the upper extremities as well as prolonged asymmetrical postures of the trunk while moving loads; both of these problems were due to suboptimal interface between the anthropomorphic characteristics of the operators and the technical movements required at the machines. The risk analysis was performed both for cumulative trauma disorders as well as for low back pain, based on formulas in the exisiting literature. Ergonomic interventions were implemented and evaluated for the most stressful situations.

Animals↗