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PubMed2004

Discovery of pectin-degrading enzymes and directed evolution of a novel pectate lyase for processing cotton fabric.

There is a growing need in the textile industry for more economical and environmentally responsible approaches to improve the scouring process as part of the pretreatment of cotton fabric. Enzymatic methods using pectin-degrading enzymes are potentially valuable candidates in this effort because they could reduce the amount of toxic alkaline chemicals currently used. Using high throughput screening of complex environmental DNA libraries more than 40 novel microbial pectate lyases were discovered, and their enzymatic properties were characterized. Several candidate enzymes were found that possessed pH optima and specific activities on pectic material in cotton fibers compatible with their use in the scouring process. However, none exhibited the desired temperature characteristics. Therefore, a candidate enzyme was selected for evolution. Using Gene Site Saturation Mutagenesistrade mark technology, 36 single site mutants exhibiting improved thermotolerance were produced. A combinatorial library derived from the 12 best performing single site mutants was then generated by using Gene Reassemblytrade mark technology. Nineteen variants with further improved thermotolerance were produced. These variants were tested for both improved thermotolerance and performance in the bioscouring application. The best performing variant (CO14) contained eight mutations and had a melting temperature 16 degrees C higher than the wild type enzyme while retaining the same specific activity at 50 degrees C. Optimal temperature of the evolved enzyme was 70 degrees C, which is 20 degrees C higher than the wild type. Scouring results obtained with the evolved enzyme were significantly better than the results obtained with chemical scouring, making it possible to replace the conventional and environmentally harmful chemical scouring process.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2003

Xyloglucan breakdown during cotton fiber development.

Cotton (Gossypium herbaceum L.) fibers elongated almost linearly up to about 20 days post anthesis. The molecular mass of xyloglucans in fiber cell walls decreased gradually during the elongation stage. When enzymatically active (native) cell wall preparations of fibers were autolyzed, the molecular mass of xyloglucans decreased. The decrease was most prominent in wall preparations obtained from the rapidly elongating fibers. The xyloglucan-degrading activity was recovered from the fiber cell walls with 3 mol/L NaCl, and the activity was high at the stages in which fibers elongated vigorously. These results suggest the possible involvement of xyloglucan metabolism in the regulation of cotton fiber elongation.

Cell Wall↗
PubMed2003

Mondays without dread: the Trade Union response to byssinosis in the Lancashire cotton industry in the twentieth century.

Trade unions have often been criticized for their failure to address occupational health issues. This article explores their response to byssinosis-a chronic respiratory disease caused by exposure to cotton dust that was rife in the Lancashire cotton industry in the early nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Using the archives of the cardroom and spinning unions, it is demonstrated that trade union efforts to combat byssinosis began before the First World War and were sustained for over 70 years. During that period, byssinosis became a recognized medical condition and a compensatable disease, due in no small measure to the trade unions campaigning tirelessly for better dust control, compensation for all affected workers, and more medical research.

Byssinosis↗
PubMed2003

Respiratory effects of long-term exposure to cotton dust.

Traditionally, the concept of cotton dust-related disease focused on acute airway responses. A possible connection of long-term exposure to cotton dust with chronic obstructive airway disease was not addressed until the past two decades. This review summarizes the latest findings relevant to this topic that were observed from longitudinal cohort studies and discusses the relation between acute airway responses and chronic losses of lung function.

Byssinosis↗
PubMed2006

Predictors of early leaving from the cotton spinning mill environment in newly hired workers.

OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study aimed to identify the predictors of leaving during the first year of employment from the cotton spinning mill environment in newly hired workers. METHODS: One hundred and ninety eight consecutively appointed new employees were investigated by questionnaire, lung function test, and skin test. They were examined before employment and at the end of the 1st week, and the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after starting work and when possible before leaving their job. 572 personal dust sampling and 191 endotoxin measurements were performed to assess the environmental exposure. For the univariate analysis chi2, Student t tests, ANOVA, and Kruskall Wallis tests were used. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify factors associated with leaving the job. RESULTS: Fifty three per cent of workers left the mill environment during their first working year. Work related lower respiratory tract symptoms reported at the third month were associated with an increase rate of leaving the industry compared to those remaining in the industry (25% v 4.8%; p<0.005). Having respiratory symptoms at the first month of work predicted those leaving the industry at some point in the next 11 months. According to the Cox model, increasing age and having work related lower respiratory tract symptoms were found to be predictors for leaving job at the first working year. Atopic status, dust and endotoxin levels, and lung function changes were not consistently predictive of workers who left the industry in the follow up period. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that work related respiratory symptoms can predict workers likely to leave the cotton mill environment during the first year of employment, but atopy or acute lung function changes do not.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Diffuse lung disease caused by cotton fibre inhalation but distinct from byssinosis.

A 66 year old man had inhaled cotton fibre for 50 years at his workplace. He did not have any respiratory symptoms. Chest CT scans revealed diffuse centrilobular and peribronchovascular interstitial thickening. Lung biopsy specimens confirmed the presence of string-like foreign bodies as well as granulomas and fibrosis in the peribronchial region. Infrared spectrophotometry confirmed that the foreign bodies were composed of natural cellulose. This is the first study to show directly by examination of biopsy samples that cotton fibre inhalation can cause diffuse lung disease. The clinical features of the disease were entirely different from those of byssinosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Perineal evaluation in the puerperium. Role of testing with a cotton-tipped swab.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the applicability and significance of testing with a cotton-tipped swab in postpartum evaluation. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred seventy-eight puerperas were examined two months after vaginal delivery and underwent testing with a cotton-tipped swab, digital test, vaginal manometry and uroflowmetric urine stream interruption test. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test to evaluate the difference between mean values of continent and incontinent puerperas and the Bravais-Pearson coefficient to test the correlation between all the tests used in the study. RESULTS: Incontinent puerperas and multiparas had significantly higher swab test values than did continent and primiparas, who demonstrated a swab test mean value of 39.5 degrees during the Valsalva maneuver. The sensitivity of the swab test for stress urinary incontinence was 82.5%, while its specificity and positive predictive value were, respectively, 31.1% and 25.8%. CONCLUSION: Perineal damage occurs not only in symptomatic puerperas but most women. The swab test was unable to assess stress urinary incontinence in postpartum women, also, and demonstrated only urethral hypermobility. The swab test in the puerperium does not add significant information about pelvic floor performance and should not be used routinely postpartum.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Major-polygene effect analysis of super quality fiber properties in upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.)].

The modern textile industry depends on the improvement of fiber quality, especially strength to meet the needs of higher spinning speed. Inheritance of super quality fiber properties in Upland cotton was conducted in the present paper. P1, P2, F1, B1, B2 and F2 of eight crosses from five parents with different fiber strength, i.e. 7235 x TM1, TM1 x 7235, HS42 x TM1, PD69 x TM1, MD51 x TM1, 7235 x HS42, 7235 x PD69 and HS42 x PD69, and F2:3 for 7235 x TM1, were used in the study. The materials were planted in Nanjing or Hainan in 1998 and 1999, the individual plant fiber samples were tested with HVI system in Cotton Research Institute of CAAS at Anyang. The segregation analysis methods for major genes plus polygene mixed inheritance model developed by Gai were used to identify the genetic system of fiber qualities. The results from joint analyses of multiple segregating generations as well as single segregating generations, especially for F2:3, showed one major gene plus polygene mixed inheritance model in all fiber quality characters. The heritability values of major gene in F2 of 7235 x TM1 with great parent difference were estimated as 19.6% for fiber strength, 32.0% for micronaire and 13.9% for fiber length, but little in B1 and B2 for fiber qualities. The fiber length showed high and positive dominant effect, but negative value or zero of major or polygene dominant effects for other fiber qualities. Therefore, Mid-parent value or tendency to lower parent in F1 for most of fiber qualities lead to low selection efficiency, which suggests that molecular assisted selection should be considered at first in the improvement of fiber qualities.

Cotton Fiber↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Allergenic and immunogenic properties of industrial dust of the cotton factory].

The results of the determination of the allergenic and immunogenic properties of industrial dust of the cotton factory complex are presented. The antigen of industrial dust consists of, at least, 5 antigenic components. The presence of common antigenic determinants in the antigen of industrial dust and in cotton pollen antigen has been established. The administration of relatively large doses of the allergen according to a shortened schedule has been experimentally shown to enhance the curative effectiveness of specific therapy.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2005

[Quantitative analysis on the relationships between cotton fiber quality and meteorological factors].

With the method of planting cotton by stages at the sites from Yangtze valley to north Xinjiang, this paper studied the effects of air temperature and sunlight on cotton fiber quality in 2002 approximately 2003. The results showed that with increasing latitude, fiber length increased, while micronaire value and soluble sugar content (SSC) decreased. An ecological model describing the relationships of fiber strength, micronaire value and SSC with air temperature and sunlight was built to determine the optimal range and critical value of air temperature during boll development period. If a high quality fiber (length > or = 27 mm) was targeted, the daily mean temperature (DMT) and minimum temperature (Tmin) during this period should be 21.3 approximately 29.7 and 10.7 approximately 21.3 degrees C, respectively, and the daily temperature difference (DTD) should not be > 15.2 degrees C. Fiber length was the longest when the DMT was 25.4 degrees C. If the lowest fiber length was > or = 25 mm, DMT and Tmin should not be lower than 15.5 and 10.7 degrees C, respectively, and DTD should not be over 17.9 degrees C during boll development period.

Cotton Fiber↗
PubMed1992

An experimental animal model of adenovirus-induced ocular disease. The cotton rat.

The adenoviruses are a common cause of eye disease in humans and clinically cause three basic syndromes: epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, pharyngo-conjunctival fever, and nonspecific follicular conjunctivitis. Although many serotypes of the adenovirus have been implicated, types 8, 19, and 37 are associated most commonly with ocular disease. There has not been a well-defined and reproducible animal model of this disease. The eyes of cotton rats inoculated with either adenovirus type 5 or type 8 developed clinical features similar to those seen in epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, with subepithelial corneal opacities, seroconversion, and virus shedding. The infectivity of adenovirus type 8 in a control animal illustrated the highly contagious nature of the disease. We conclude that ocular inoculation of at least some adenoviruses (ie, types 5 and 8) in the cotton rat produces an in vivo model for the study of adenovirus-induced ocular disease in humans.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1997

Reproductive events of wild cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) in Colombia.

Reproductive patterns of wild cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) females located in La Reserva Forestal Protectora Serranía de Coraza-Montes de María in Colosó, Colombia, were examined using long-term behavioral observations and fecal steroid analysis. Using an enzyme immunoassay, we analyzed fecal samples for E1C and PdG. Comparisons of reproductive cycles of a reproductively active female and her daughters were made. An inhibition of ovarian cycles has been observed in daughters living in their families. However, daughters also exhibited normal ovarian cycling that subsequently resulted in pregnancy. Factors influencing the fertility are discussed as they relate to the reproductive strategies of wild cotton-top tamarin females.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Chemical communication of reproductive status in female cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus).

Among Callitrichids, scent secretions have been identified as carrying information regarding species, subspecies, gender, social status, individuality, hormonal status, and timing of ovulation. We propose that information regarding familiarity and reproductive status is also communicated. Seven male-female pairs of cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus) were presented with several drops of distilled water, a scent secretion from the female of that pair, scent secretions from unfamiliar, reproductively mature but noncycling females, and scent secretions from unfamiliar, reproductively cycling females. Behavioral responses from both males and females were recorded over a 10 min period. Differences in behavioral response for both males and females were significant across all four conditions. This indicates that cotton-top tamarins are capable of discriminating a familiar scent from an unfamiliar scent as well as the reproductive status of an unfamiliar female. The communication of this information may play an important role in regulating mate selection, reducing reproductive competition, and stabilizing transfers in and out of groups in the wild.

Animal Communication↗
PubMed1999

Costs of infant-carrying in the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus).

Infant-carrying behavior among callitrichids seems to be a costly activity. Costs have been related to the physical efforts of carrying the weight of very heavy infants and to the resulting reduction in foraging efficiency. However, the costs of carrying in terms of the physical consequences for carriers have not previously been assessed. In this study, we have regarded weight loss in infant carriers as a measure of costs. We studied five families of cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) during the first 9 weeks following the birth of infants. Captive-breeding conditions were required so that body weight could be measured frequently. To avoid inflicting undue stress on the subject animals, we used a noninvasive method for weighing the tamarins. Differences in carrying contribution were found amongst fathers and male and female helpers, with female helpers contributing less. We have found that carrying infants in the cotton-top tamarins is an activity that produces a weight loss. Fathers and male helpers go through a maximal body weight loss. While carrying, the tamarins also decrease food intake. However, no relationship was found between contribution to carrying and feeding time or in energetic intake during feeding observations. Thus, it seems that a direct relation doesn't exist between the observations of feeding and weight loss. Fathers increase their contribution to carrying during mothers' periovulatory periods. In this period, male helpers and especially fathers go through a maximal body weight loss. We found body weight losses of up to 11.3% in one subadult male and 9.1% in a father during the fifth week. No changes occurred in food intake in fathers or other male helpers during this period. During periovulatory periods, mothers carried less frequently but did increase their food intake. They gained weight from the second week after birth onward, especially during the periovulatory period. It seems that the infant-carrying behavior of fathers and male helpers may contribute to the improvement of the mothers' physical condition after birth and therefore may support a consecutive pregnancy.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

An extensive monoclonal antibody panel for the phenotyping of leukocyte subsets in the common marmoset and the cotton-top tamarin.

New World monkeys are valuable animal models to study human diseases. To determine the phenotype of cells involved in immune responses, we used flow cytometry to screen a large panel of anti-human monoclonal antibodies (mAb) for cross-reactivity with cells of the common marmoset and the cotton-top tamarin. Certain antigens (e.g., CD2, CD8, CD20) are well conserved. However, CD10, CD23, and CD33 showed a clear discrepancy in their reaction patterns in both species, indicating that significant differences on the epitope level occurred during evolution. Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell lines were shown to be a valuable tool for screening B-cell-specific reagents. In some cases, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and phycoerythrin (PE) modification of mAbs had a negative effect on the binding capacity, which stressed the importance of choosing the right label. Despite the fact that some CD antigens were not detected, adequate numbers of cross-reactive mAbs were identified to perform extensive studies on immunological functions in both the common marmoset and the cotton-top tamarin.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) fail to show mirror-guided self-exploration.

To investigate the problem of inter- and intraspecific differences on the mirror test, we conducted two experiments on cotton-top tamarins. Experiment 1 employed a technique similar to one used recently on chimpanzees, and provided no evidence of mirror-mediated touching of the marked area. In a control condition, involving colored dye applied to one arm, two subjects also failed to show self-directed touching, even though they clearly looked at their newly dyed arm. Under these test conditions, cotton-top tamarins fail to show mirror-guided self-exploration. Experiment 2 examined whether this failure was due to insufficient mirror exposure, as well as other details of the testing conditions. In particular, we replicated the design of a previously successful experiment on mirror-mediated recognition in tamarins [Hauser et al., 1995], providing four new animals with a protracted period (three weeks) of mirror exposure prior to dying their hair. In parallel with results from Experiment 1, we observed no evidence of mirror-mediated behavior (recognition) in Experiment 2.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Byssinosis and other respiratory problems in the cotton industry of Hong Kong.

Between February 1982 and October 1984, a total of 2,317 workers from all levels of cotton processing--carding, blowing, spinning and weaving--were studied in a citywide cross-sectional survey. The workers were administered the British MRC Questionnaire in local dialect and their pre- and postshift lung functions were assessed by portable spirometers. The prevalence of byssinosis for the whole industry was 2.3%, being much greater in the more dusty processes (blowing and carding, 5.6%; weaving 1.6%). Even more important was the prevalence of chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) (13.8%) and a combination of nonspecific respiratory symptoms (10.0%), characterized by chest tightness and dyspnea, but not related to any specific day of the week such as those seen in typical byssinosis. The importance of these two large groups of respiratory problems in relation to byssinosis and the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases in people exposed to cotton dust is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Health effects of cotton dust exposures.

The characteristics of the effects of exposure to cotton dust were adequately described more than 50 years ago. Symptoms of airway irritation, cough with or without phlegm, and Monday morning chest tightness are typical. The symptoms caused by exposure to cotton dust are similar to those induced by other organic dusts. A common pathology is acute or chronic inflammation, and bacterial endotoxins seem to be the causative agents for the acute and some chronic reactions.

Asthma↗