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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Performance of individual fibers in a submerged hollow fiber bundle.

Hollow fiber membranes are popular as they have a high specific membrane area. To take advantage of this, it is necessary to pack the fibers into closely packed bundles. The fibers in different positions in the bundle behave differently as they are exposed to different hydrodynamic conditions. In this paper, a 'model' bundle of 9 fibers was tested in a setup which provides flow measurement from individual fibers and the same suction pressure in each fiber. The parameters studied were packing density, cross flow velocity, feed concentration and bubbling. It was found that a low cross flow velocities, high pressures and high feed concentrations, the surrounded (center) fiber performed very poorly compared to the fibers at the corner and the sides. Under these conditions, the overall performance of the bundle was much worse that of a single fiber.

Equipment Failure↗

[Exposure to ceramic fibers in the work environment. II. Occupational exposure to dust in plants producing ceramic fiber; fibrogenic effect of the fibers].

The aim of the work was to assess the exposure to dust containing ceramic fibres among workers employed in the plant producing aluminosilicate fibres, and to investigate fibrogenic properties of produced ceramic aluminosilicate fibres (L-1). The studies carried out in the work environment revealed that workers were exposed to dust containing respirable fibres from materials produced (fibres, mats). Mean concentrations of these fibres ranged from 0.07 to 0.37 f/cm3 and they were considerably lower than MAC value (1 f/cm3) proposed for respirable ceramic fibres. Mean total dust concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 2.9 mg/m3, and at two working posts they exceeded the proposed MAC value (2 mg/m3). In animal experiments (Wistar female rats) a single dose (25 mg) of L-1 fibres administered intratracheally induced pathological symptoms in lungs, limited to reactive changes in the form of granuloma with weakly pronounced cytolysis, and mean levels of hydroxyproline in the lungs did not differ significantly from the physiological level. The L-1 fibre was classified in the group of dusts with insignificant fibrogenic effects.

Animals↗

[Exposure to ceramic fibers in the work environment. III. occupational exposure to ceramic fibers in plants which produce and apply insulation materials made of ceramic fibers].

The study was aimed at assessing the exposure to dust in the work environment of plants which produced and apply packing and insulation materials made of ceramic fibres. The study revealed that workers were exposed to dust containing respirable ceramic fibres and in some cases (production of packing cord, insulating tape and paperboard) respirable asbestos fibres. The mean concentration of respirable fibres ranged from 0.05 to 0.62 f/l cm3, and concentrations of total dust fell between 0.6 and 23.2 mg/m3. The mean concentrations of respirable fibres were usually below (0.5 f/l cm3 for respirable ceramic fibres with asbestos mixture; 1 f/cm3 for respirable ceramic fibres), and of total dust much higher (1 mg/m3 and 2 mg/m3, respectively) than MAC values proposed. The initial dermatological examinations (25 workers) allow the conclusion that contact with ceramic fibres induces in some workers acute dermatitis and dermal papilla.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Effect of fiber architecture on flexural characteristics and fracture of fiber-reinforced dental composites.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare and elucidate the differences in damage mechanisms and response of fiber-reinforced dental resin composites based on three different brands under flexural loading. The types of reinforcement consisted of a unidirectional E-glass prepreg (Splint-It from Jeneric/Petron Inc.), an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber based biaxial braid (Connect, Kerr) and an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber based leno-weave (Ribbond). METHODS: Three different commercially available fiber reinforcing systems were used to fabricate rectangular bars, with the fiber reinforcement close to the tensile face, which were tested in flexure with an emphasis on studying damage mechanisms and response. Eight specimens (n=8) of each type were tested. Overall energy capacity as well as flexural strength and modulus were determined and results compared in light of the different abilities of the architectures used. RESULTS: Under flexural loading unreinforced and unidirectional prepreg reinforced dental composites failed in a brittle fashion, whereas the braid and leno-weave reinforced materials underwent significant deformation without rupture. The braid reinforced specimens showed the highest peak load. The addition of the unidirectional to the matrix resulted in an average strain of 0.06mm/mm which is 50% greater than the capacity of the unreinforced matrix, whereas the addition of the braid and leno-weave resulted in increases of 119 and 126%, respectively, emphasizing the higher capacity of both the UHM polyethylene fibers and the architectures to hold together without rupture under flexural loading. The addition of the fiber reinforcement substantially increases the level of strain energy in the specimens with the maximum being attained in the braid reinforced specimens with a 433% increase in energy absorption capability above the unreinforced case. The minimum scatter and highest consistency in response is seen in the leno-weave reinforced specimens due to the details of the architecture which restrict fabric shearing and movement during placement. SIGNIFICANCE: It is crucial that the appropriate selection of fiber architectures be made not just from a perspective of highest strength, but overall damage tolerance and energy absorption. Differences in weaves and architectures can result in substantially different performance and appropriate selection can mitigate premature and catastrophic failure. The study provides details of materials level response characteristics which are useful in selection of the fiber reinforcement based on specifics of application.

Composite Resins↗

Quantitative evaluation of threshold fiber strain that induces reorganization of cytoskeletal actin fiber structure in osteoblastic cells.

The cytoskeletal stress fiber structure plays essential roles in various kinds of cellular functions such as shape maintenance, active motility and mechanosensing, and its structure is dynamically reorganized under each functional process. In known reorganization mechanisms of the stress fibers, a change in its mechanical condition has been suggested as one of the key mediators that affect the reorganization process. Some experimental studies have clarified that tension release in the stress fibers induces fiber depolymerization that is considered to be the initial phase of the reorganization process. However, quantitative mechanical values such as strain or stress that induce depolymerization have still not been evaluated. This study is aimed at the quantitative evaluation of the mechanical value that induces stress fiber depolymerization, to gain a basic understanding of the reorganization phenomenon from a mechanical viewpoint. Osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1) were cultured on prestretched silicone rubber substrate. Compressive deformation was applied to the cells by uniaxially releasing the prestretched substrate strain and change in the stress fiber structure was observed. The results indicated that the compressive strain magnitude, not in the whole cell body but in the stress fiber itself, is important to induce disassembly of the stress fiber structure. The existence of a threshold strain magnitude for initiating fiber disassembly was also suggested; the threshold strain magnitude was evaluated as approximately -0.20.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Does the triple helical domain of type I collagen encode molecular recognition and fiber assembly while telopeptides serve as catalytic domains? Effect of proteolytic cleavage on fibrillogenesis and on collagen-collagen interaction in fibers.

Over the last several decades, it has been established that proteolytic removal of short, non-helical terminal peptides (telopeptides) from type I collagen significantly alters the kinetics of in vitro fibrillogenesis. However, it has also been observed that the protein is still capable of forming fibers even after complete removal of telopeptides. This study focuses on the characterization of this fibrillogenesis competency of collagen. We have combined traditional kinetic and thermodynamic assays of fibrillogenesis efficacy with direct measurements of interaction between collagen molecules in fibers by osmotic stress and x-ray diffraction. We found that telopeptide cleavage by pepsin or by up to 20 h of Pronase treatment altered fiber assembly kinetics, but the same fraction of the protein still assembled into fibers. Small-angle x-ray diffraction showed that these fibers have normal, native-like D-stagger. Force measurements indicated that collagen-collagen interactions in fibers were not affected by either pepsin or Pronase treatment. In contrast, prolonged (>20 h) Pronase treatment resulted in cleavage of the triple helical domain as indicated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The triple-helix cleavage correlated with the observed decrease in the fraction of protein capable of forming fibers and with the measured loss of attraction between helices in fibers. These data suggest that telopeptides play a catalytic role, whereas the information necessary for proper molecular recognition and fiber assembly is encoded in the triple helical domain of collagen.

Animals↗

The cotton ACTIN1 gene is functionally expressed in fibers and participates in fiber elongation.

Single-celled cotton fiber (Gossypium hirsutum) provides a unique experimental system to study cell elongation. To investigate the role of the actin cytoskeleton during fiber development, 15 G. hirsutum ACTIN (GhACT) cDNA clones were characterized. RNA gel blot and real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that GhACT genes are differentially expressed in different tissues and can be classified into four groups. One group, represented by GhACT1, is expressed predominantly in fiber cells and was studied in detail. A 0.8-kb GhACT1 promoter sufficient to confirm its fiber-specific expression was identified. RNA interference of GhACT1 caused significant reduction of its mRNA and protein levels and disrupted the actin cytoskeleton network in fibers. No defined actin network was observed in these fibers and, consequently, fiber elongation was inhibited. Our results suggested that GhACT1 plays an important role in fiber elongation but not fiber initiation.

Actins↗

Estimation of skeletal muscle fiber number by mean fiber dry weight.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether skeletal muscle fiber number could be accurately estimated by the determination of mean fiber dry weight (MFD) and total muscle dry weight. The muscles studied were the soleus, plantaris, gastrocnemius, extensor digitorum longus, tibialis anterior, and biceps brachii of the rat, the anterior latissimus dorsi of the chicken, and the flexor carpi radialis of the cat. Bundles of fibers were carefully separated from the muscle following nitric acid digestion (ND) and placed in groups of similar length. MFD determined from 400 to 800 fibers from each group was used to estimate the number of fibers in the remainder of the group. Estimated fiber number was compared with the fiber number determined in the muscle from the contralateral limb by the ND method. No difference in fiber number was observed between the ND method and the MFD estimation method for any of the muscles used in the study. The results indicate that the MFD estimation method is an accurate and relatively rapid method of fiber number determination in skeletal muscle.

Animals↗

Biopersistences of man-made vitreous fibers and crocidolite fibers in rat lungs following short-term exposures.

Biopersistence of commercial man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) and crocidolite were studied in Fischer 344 rats. MMVF used were size-selected to be rat-respirable, and rats were exposed nose-only 6 h/day for 5 days to gravimetric concentrations (30 mg/m3) of two fiber glass compositions--a rockwool, and a slagwool--or to 10 mg/m3 of long-fibered crocidolite, or to filtered air. Animals were sacrificed at 1 hr, 1, 5, 31, 90, 180, 270, 365, and 545 days after exposure stopped. Fibers were recovered from digested lung tissue to determine changes in concentrations (fibers/mg dry lung) and fiber retentions (expressed as percent of day 1 retention [PR]) for selected dimension categories. One-day average concentrations of lung-retained MMVF and crocidolite fibers, of diameter > or = 0.5 micron or > 20 microns in length, were nearly equal, permitting direct comparisons between MMVF and crocidolite. At 270 days average PR for MMVF > or = 0.5 micron in diameter were from 3 to 6 +/- 2% and 27 +/- 9% for crocidolite. For fibers > 20 microns, PR were 1 to 4 +/- 4% for MMVF and 37 +/- 20% for crocidolite. At 545 days, MMVF > 20 microns in length were at background level while concentration of crocidolite fibers > 20 microns in length remained at 2000 +/- 400 f/mg DL (dry lung), or 38 +/- 9% of day-1 retention. These results suggest strongly that MMVF dissolved or fractured in vivo whereas crocidolite fibers did not change.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Prediction of clean mohair, fiber diameter, vegetable matter, and medullated fiber with near-infrared spectroscopy.

Four experiments were conducted in three separate years to test the utility of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict the clean mohair content of Angora goat fleece. Mohair fleece samples were obtained each year from yearling billies at the conclusion of the Angora Goat Performance Test conducted at the Texas A&M University Research Station, Sonora. In Exp. 1 (n = 293) and Exp. 2 (n = 256), fleeces were scanned with a Pacific Scientific (Silver Spring, MD) near-infrared spectrometer fitted with a fiber-optic probe, and calibrations were developed for clean mohair content. In Exp. 3, 59 mohair fleeces collected at the Texas A&M Research Station in San Angelo were sampled four times each. Each sample was scanned with the same spectrometer in reflectance mode fitted with a transport mechanism. This mechanism allowed the instrument to scan a 15-cm2 segment of the fleece sample. Conventional procedures to determine reference values for mohair yield, vegetable matter content, fiber diameter, and percentage of medullated and kemp fibers were conducted. Prediction equations were developed that related NIR spectra to reference values for yield and diameter parameters and were used to predict mohair characteristics for each fleece sample. The predicted and reference values were subjected to a simple analysis of variance to determine variation within and across samples. In Exp. 1, mohair base was related to NIR spectra with R2 = .46 and standard error of calibration (SEC) = 2.84%. In Exp. 2, similar repeatability errors for mohair base could be obtained for both reference- and NIRS-derived values. Fiber diameter and medullated fibers were poorly related to NIR spectra. When samples were scanned using the transport mechanism (Exp. 3), R2 and SEC were .82 and 1.19% for mohair base and .93 and .98 microm for fiber diameter, respectively. The CV for mohair base and diameter were 1.0 and 1.4%, whereas those for predicted mohair base and diameter were 1.4 and 3.4%, respectively. The increased variation within samples for predicted values represents sampling error and lack of fit between NIRS and the laboratory determined values. When the samples from Exp. 1 and 2 were rescanned with the NIRS transport (Exp. 4), R2 and SEC were .79 and 2.03% for mohair base and .52 and 3.49 microm for fiber diameter. The fiber optic probe would facilitate real-time analysis on the shearing floor, but our data indicate that the spectral limitations so far are too severe. A large sample device such as the transport gave excellent results for predicting mohair base and fiber diameter.

Animals↗

Short fiber reinforced composite: the effect of fiber length and volume fraction.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of short fiber volume fraction and fiber length on some mechanical properties of short fiber-reinforced composite (FRC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Test specimens (2 x 2 x 25 mm3) and (9.5 x 5.5 x 3 mm3) were made from short random FRC and prepared with different fiber volumes (0%-22%) and fiber lengths (1-6 mm). Control specimens did not contain fiber reinforcement. The test specimens (n=6) were either dry stored or thermocycled in water (x10.000, 5-55 degrees C) before loading (three-point bending test) according to ISO 10477 or statically loaded with a steel ball (Ø 3.0 mm) with a speed of 1.0 mm/min until fracture. A universal testing machine was used to determine the flexural properties and the load-bearing capacity. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p=0.05) and a linear regression model. RESULTS: The highest flexural strength and fracture load values were registered for specimens with 22 vol% of fibers (330 MPa and 2308 N) and with 5 mm fiber length (281 MPa and 2222 N) in dry conditions. Mechanical properties of all test specimens decreased after thermocycling. ANOVA analysis revealed all factors were affected significantly on the mechanical properties (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: By increasing the volume fraction and length of short fibers up to 5 mm, which was the optimum length, the mechanical properties of short FRC were improved.

Analysis of Variance↗

Infantile acid maltase deficiency. II. Muscle fiber hypertrophy and the ultrastructure of end-stage fibers.

Infantile acid maltase deficiency (Pompe's disease, glycogenosis II) is a progressive, severe lysosomal storage disease in which skeletal and cardiac muscle fibers accumulate membrane-bound and free glycogen and are destroyed. New information in this report concerns 1) early hypertrophy of skeletal muscle fibers, 2) absence of size change as glycogen is lost, and 3) the ultrastructure of end-stage fibers empty of glycogen. Muscle fibers enlarge as they accumulate glycogen and then stay large as glycogen is lost. They are so large that, if empty fibers did in fact contain glycogen, over 80% of the muscle would be glycogen instead of 6.3-11.5% (from 37 published determinations). Fibers that have reached "empty" end-stage are shown to be more numerous than all other stages combined in biopsies from infantile acid maltase deficiency. Ultrastructurally, end-stage fibers contain much "empty" space (liquid-filled without fine structure) and various remnants and masses of altered myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic material. Many broken membranes originally enclosing glycogen in storage lysosomes are seen. A single broken membrane can enclose an area larger than the cross section area of a muscle fiber from a normal infant. The results support the proposal of Hers that the disease is due to a deficiency of the single lysosomal enzyme acid maltase. The results also support the lysosomal rupture hypothesis of Griffin, which accounts for muscle fibers being more damaged than are other cells and for the release of glycogen to the sarcoplasm.

Glucan 1,4-alpha-Glucosidase↗

Inhibition of ryanodine receptor 1 in fast skeletal muscle fibers induces a fast-to-slow muscle fiber type transition.

Skeletal muscle fiber type is regulated by innervation-induced cell signaling including calcium release mechanisms that lead to transcriptional activation of fiber type-specific genes. Avian fast pectoralis major (PM) and slow medial adductor (MA) muscles differentially control expression of the slow myosin heavy chain 2 (slow MyHC2) gene. We report here that slow MyHC2 gene expression in fast PM muscle fibers is repressed by endogenous activity of the ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1). Inhibition of RyR1 with ryanodine led to expression of the slow MyHC2 gene in innervated PM muscle fibers in vitro. Administration of ryanodine to innervated PM muscle fibers also decreased protein kinase C (PKC) activity, the reduction of which is necessary for slow MyHC2 gene expression in both PM and MA muscle fibers. Furthermore, RyR1 inhibition increased slow MyHC2 promoter activity in innervated PM muscle fibers and enhanced transcriptional activities of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2), as well as their interactions with their respective binding sites of the slow MyHC2 promoter. These results indicate that RyR1 activity in innervated fast PM muscle fibers contributes to the cell type-specific repression of slow muscle specific genes.

Animals↗

GLUT4 is reduced in slow muscle fibers of type 2 diabetic patients: is insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes a slow, type 1 fiber disease?

To gain further insight into the mechanisms underlying muscle insulin resistance, the influence of obesity and type 2 diabetes on GLUT4 immunoreactivity in slow and fast skeletal muscle fibers was studied. Through a newly developed, very sensitive method using immunohistochemistry combined with morphometry, GLUT4 density was found to be significantly higher in slow compared with fast fibers in biopsy specimens from lean and obese subjects. In contrast, in type 2 diabetic subjects, GLUT4 density was significantly lower in slow compared with fast fibers. GLUT4 density in slow fibers from diabetic patients was reduced by 9% compared with the weight-matched obese subjects and by 18% compared with the lean control group. The slow-fiber fraction was reduced to 86% in the obese subjects and to 75% in the diabetic subjects compared with the control group. Estimated GLUT4 contribution from slow fibers was reduced to 77% in the obese subjects and to 61% in type 2 diabetic patients compared with the control subjects. We propose that a reduction in the fraction of slow-twitch fibers, combined with a reduction in GLUT4 expression in slow fibers, may reduce the insulin-sensitive GLUT4 pool in type 2 diabetes and thus contribute to skeletal muscle insulin resistance.

Adult↗

Differential sensitivity of fast and slow fibers in mammalian nerve. III. Effect of etidocaine and bupivacaine on fast/slow fibers.

Etidocaine and bupivacaine are long acting local anesthetics with contrasting effects on motor and sensory function. The effect of these drugs on fast-conducting (large, motor) and slow-conducting nerve fibers (small, pain) in the isolated rabbit vagus nerve was examined. Both drugs had an equivalent effect on slow fibers. Etidocaine had a short latency and bupivacaine a prolonged latency of effect on fast fibers. During this long latency of effect by bupivacaine on fast fibers, only the slow fibers were blocked. This period of differential effect on fast and slow fibers is believed to be the explanation for the early effect of bupivacaine on pain fibers followed by a later block of motor function. This difference is believed to be due to the lower lipid solubility solubility and greater ionization of bupivacaine, which impedes diffusion across the permeability barriers present in fast-conducting A fiber.

Acetanilides↗

Organization of the mossy fiber system of the rat studied in extended hippocampi. II. Experimental analysis of fiber distribution with silver impregnation methods.

The mossy fibers, a major intrinsic hippocampal pathway connecting the dentate granule cells with the pyramidal cells in CA4 and CA3, have been reexamined in rats using mainly Fink-Heimer silver impregnation methods for demonstration of degenerating axons. By extending isolated hippocampi and cutting sections normal to the long axis, simple two-dimensional reconstructions of both the lesions and the resultant degeneration could be made. In the hilus, the zone with the greatest concentration of degenerating boutons was found between the lesioned granule cells and the CA3 pyramidal cells abuting on the hilus; outside this zone the concentration declines rather rapidly. Degenerating boutons were also observed in low concentration up to 200-300 microgram septal and temporal to the lesion. The mossy fibers in CA3 nearest the hilus have an intrapyramidal course and display a lamellar organization with fibers from the granule cells of the medial blade lying deep to those from the dentate crest. These in turn lie deep to those from the graule cells of the lateral blade. A mediolateral difference in the projection of the graule cells on the CA3 pyramidal cells was discovered: fibers from the medial granule cells descend about 600 micrometer in the temporal direction, whereas fibers from the lateral granule cells descend about 1,200 micrometer. This causes a divergence of the fibers from one single level, especially of the part of the fibers, being farthest away from the hilus. The degree of descent of the fibers from each mediolateral position of the granule cells was constant at all septotemporal levels examined.

Animals↗