This paper describes the double phase transition behavior of a thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brush at the surface of a hydrophobic core. Reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) was conducted by using a hyperbranched polyester (Boltorn H40) based macroRAFT agent. The resultant multiarm star block copolymer (H40-PNI...

Calf housing often only meets the basic needs of calves, but there is a growing interest in providing enrichments. This study described the behaviour of calves when they were given the opportunity to interact with two commonly available enrichment items. Female and male calves (approximately 11 days old) were pair-housed in 8 identical pens fitted with an automated brush and a hanging rope. Fre...

Glutamine uptake was examined in isolated renal brush-border and basolateral-membrane vesicles from control and acidotic rats. In brush-border vesicles from acidotic animals, there was a significant increase in the initial rate of glutamine uptake compared with that in controls. Lowering the pH of the medium increased the initial rate of glutamine uptake in brush-border vesicles from acidotic, ...

The Ca2+ transport process by isolated renal brush-border membranes was characterized and the influence of the acidic phospholipid phosphatidic acid (PtdA) on this transport process was assessed. Ca2+ uptake by brush-border membranes exhibited saturation kinetics. It was inhibitable by a variety of multivalent cations, as well as by Ca2+-entry inhibitors, including verapamil, Ruthenium Red and ...

We report here a dielectric study on three kinds of anionic spherical polyelectrolyte brush (SPBs, consisting of a polystyrene (PS) core and three different poly (acrylic acid) chains grafted onto the core) suspensions over a frequency ranging from 40 Hz to 110 MHz. The relaxation behavior of the SPB suspensions shows significant changes in the brush-layer properties when the mass fraction of S...

We have investigated the role of myosin in contraction of the terminal web in brush borders isolated from intestinal epithelium. At 37 degrees C under conditions that stimulate terminal web contraction (1 microM Ca++ and ATP), most (60-70%) of the myosin is released from the brush border. Approximately 80% of the myosin is also released by ATP at 0 degree C, in the absence of contraction. Preex...

SUMMARY The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the plaque control effectiveness and handling of an interdental brush with a short curved handle and a triangular cross-section of the brush head (IDB) and an interdental brush with a long straight handle in combination with a monotufted brush head (MTB). In a split-mouth design, 110 multibracket patients were randomly assigned to...

The gastric epithelium is protected from the highly acidic luminal content by alkaline mucus which is secreted from specialized epithelial cells. In the stomach of mice strong secretion of alkaline fluid was observed at the "gastric groove," the border between corpus and fundus mucosa. Since this region is characterized by numerous brush cells it was proposed that these cells might secrete alka...

BACKGROUND Brush border microvilli are approximately 1-microm long finger-like projections emanating from the apical surfaces of certain, specialized absorptive epithelial cells. A highly symmetric hexagonal array of thousands of these uniformly sized structures form the brush border, which in addition to aiding in nutrient absorption also defends the large surface area against pathogens. Here,...