Search results for "wall"

Drying enhances immunoactivity of spent brewer's yeast cell wall β-D-glucans.

2015

Due to immunological activity, microbial cell wall polysaccharides are defined as 'biological response modifiers' (BRM). Cell walls of spent brewer's yeast also have some BRM activity. However, up to date there is no consensus on the use of spent brewer's yeast D-glucan as specific BRM in humans or animals. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of spent brewer's yeast β-D-glucans as BRM, and drying as an efficient pretreatment to increase β-D-glucan's immunogenic activity. Our results revealed that drying does not change spent brewer's yeast biomass carbohydrate content as well as the chemical structure of purified β-D-glucan. However, drying increased purified β-D-glucan TN…

Sensor Properties of Pristine and Functionalized Carbon Nanohorns

2016

Nanodispersions of pristine single-wall carbon nanohorns (i.e., p-SWCNHs) and oxidized-SWCNHs (i.e.; o-SWCNHs) were used to modify screen printed electrode (SPE). p-SWCNHs and o-SWCNHs were fully characterized by using several analytical techniques, as: HR-TEM (High Resolution-Transmission Electron Microscopy), FE-SEM/EDX (Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The chemically modified SPEs were also characterized with Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), using several different electro-active targets. In all cases, p-SWCNHs showed bett…

Electrocardiographic Imaging for Atrial Fibrillation: A Perspective From Computer Models and Animal Experiments to Clinical Value

2021

[EN] Electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) is a technique to reconstruct non-invasively the electrical activity on the heart surface from body-surface potential recordings and geometric information of the torso and the heart. ECGI has shown scientific and clinical value when used to characterize and treat both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Regarding atrial fibrillation (AF), the characterization of the electrical propagation and the underlying substrate favoring AF is inherently more challenging than for ventricular arrhythmias, due to the progressive and heterogeneous nature of the disease and its manifestation, the small volume and wall thickness of the atria, and the relatively large…

Evaluation of ventricular wall stress and cardiac function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

2015

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart disease characterized by both left ventricular dilatation and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, leading to cardiac remodeling and ultimately heart failure. We aimed to investigate the effect of dilated cardiomyopathy on the pump performance and myocardial wall mechanics using patient-specific finite element analysis. Results evinced pronounced end-systolic wall stress on left ventricular wall of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy as compared to that of normal hearts. In dilated cardiomyopathy, both end-diastolic and end-systolic pressure–volume relationships of left ventricle and right ventricle were shifted to the right compared to controls, sugges…

La Casina cinese alla Favorita di Palermo: un'ipotesi di lettura.

2016

L'articolo verte su un'ipotesi interpretativa della componente decorativa della Casina cinese alla Favorita di Palermo basata sulla componente "alla cinese" e su una sua densa natura confuciana. The paper offers a hypothesis of interpretation of the decorative patterns of the Casina cinese at the Favorita Park in Palermo which is based on the component "in Chinese style" that is characterized by a strong Confucian element.

ORGANIC-INORGANIC HYBRID CATALYSTS BASED ON IMIDAZOLIUM AND THIAZOLIUM SALTS

In the last years, great attention was focused on immobilized ionic liquids for their application in the field of catalysis. The main challenge is represented by the possibility of combining the benefits of the ionic liquids to that of the supports. In order to achieve this ambitious objective both the choice of the support and the functionalization strategy are of fundamental importance. In this context, one of the aims of this doctoral project was to develop novel catalysts based on covalently mono- or multilayer imidazolium or thiazolium networks onto a high ordered mesoporous silica or carbon nanotubes materials. The second goal of this PhD thesis was to design novel imidazolium based c…

Transglutaminase activity is involved in Saccharomyces cerevisiae wall construction

2002

Transglutaminase activity, which forms the interpeptidic cross-link N(epsilon)-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine, was demonstrated in cell-free extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by incorporation of [(14)C]lysine into an exogenous acceptor, N,N'-dimethylcasein. Higher levels of the activity were present in the cell wall, which also contained endogenous acceptors. The enzyme activity in the wall was inhibited by cystamine, a known inhibitor of transglutaminase, and by EDTA, indicating a cation-dependent activity. After the endogenous wall acceptors were labelled radioactively by transglutaminase, extraction with SDS solubilized about 50% of the total radioactivity, while Zymolyase and chitinase each…

Isolation and culture of grape vine cv. Chardonnay leaf protoplasts

1990

Experimental conditions were established that resulted in high yields and good viability of the protoplasts obtained from leaves of Vitis vinifera, cv. Chardonnay regenerated in vitro by somatic embryogenesis. The effect of factors of the culture medium and various environmental conditions upon the frequency of cell division has been examined, and a method of culture is described by which protoplasts were induced to begin division. Most protoplasts obtained in this way regenerated cell walls within the first few days and cell division occurred after 10 days of culture in a liquid medium. Some cells have divided two or even three times. Nevertheless, the cells did not continue dividing beyon…

Microtubules and the Establishment of Apparent Cell Wall Invaginations in Mesophyll Cells of Pinus silvestris L.

1995

Summary Ridges of cell wall material protruding into the cellular lumen are characteristic of Pinus silvestris mesophyll cells. These ridges, e.g., appear to increase the inner surface for optimal dispersal of organelles, especially of chloroplasts. We show that the ridges are the result of local, brace-like wall reinforcements deposited during early turgor-driven expansion growth of postmitotic cells. The reinforced sites resist expansion and become the base of deep, narrow folds representing the ridges, while the intervening thin-walled areas evaginate as the cell volume increases. Cell wall material is deposited uniformly after expansion to stabilize the protrusions. There is a distinct …

Candida albicans fibrinogen binding mannoprotein: expression in clinical strains and immunogenicity in patients with candidiasis

1998

A 58 kDa cell wall-associated fibrinogen binding mannoprotein (mp58), previously characterized by our group in a Candida albicans laboratory strain (ATCC 26555), was found to be also present in the cell wall of clinical isolates of this fungus. Most strains examined appear to have functional mp58 species, as detected by their ability to bind fibrinogen. Western immunoblot analysis, with a monovalent polyclonal antibody generated against the mp58 species from strain ATCC 26555, revealed differences in recognition patterns depending on the strain tested and the culture conditions used. Serum samples from normal and Candida infected individuals were examined for the presence of antibodies agai…