Characterization of variables related to high stability of raw cow milk.

This research paper analyzes the stability of raw cow milk in the alcohol test and seeks to understand to know the factors that influence milk stability and the occurrence of unstable non-acid milk. Milk samples were collected from the cooling tanks of rural farmers in the state of Paraná twice in summer and twice in winter. The farms were classified according to the production system: pasture with supplementation and feedlot.

The Eradication of Tuberculosis in Wild Boar () in the Bieszczady Mountains, Southern Poland - An Administrative Perspective.

Introduction: Animal tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonotic disease caused by acid-fast bacteria belonging to the complex (MTBC). Both animals and humans are susceptible to infection by the MTBC. Interspecies transmission is also possible, including to livestock and humans.

Determination of the Thermal Parameters of Geopolymers Modified with Iron Powder.

The paper presents the results of research concerning the influence of a metallic micromaterial on the thermal conductivity specific heat , and thermal diffusivity of modified geopolymers. Iron oxide in the form of powder with an average granulation of 10 μm was used as the geopolymer-modifying material. The research concerned geopolymer composite samples with metakaolin (activated with potassium silicate) and the addition of iron in amounts ranging from 0.

Fire Resistance of Geopolymer Foams Layered on Polystyrene Boards.

Geopolymer foams are excellent materials in terms of mechanical loads and fire resistance applications. This study investigated the foaming process of geopolymers and foam stability, with a focus on the fire resistance performance when using polystyrene as the base layer. The main purpose is to define the influence of porosity on the physical properties and consequently to find applications and effectiveness of geopolymers.

Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Geopolymer Foams (GFs) Doped with By-Products of the Secondary Aluminum Industry.

The article deals with the investigation of geopolymer foams (GFs) synthesized using by-products coming from the (i) screening-, (iv) pyrolysis-, (iii) dust abatement- and (iv) fusion-processes of the secondary aluminum industry. Based on principles of the circular economy to produce new technological materials, the experimental study involves industrial by-products management through the recovery, chemical neutralization, and incorporation of these relatively hazardous waste into the GFs. The geopolymeric matrix, consisting of metakaolin (MK) and silica sand (SA) with a 1:1 wt.

Low-Density Geopolymer Composites for the Construction Industry.

The article presents preliminary results in studying reinforced and light-weight geopolymers, which can be employed in buildings, especially for walling. Such materials are very promising for the construction industry having great potential due to their favorable properties such as high mechanical strengths, low thermal conductivity, and low density. Moreover, they also exhibit several advantages from an economic and ecological point of view.

Comparison of the Thermal Properties of Geopolymer and Modified Gypsum.

The paper presents the results of research concerning the influence of micromaterials on the heat conductivity coefficient , specifically heat and thermal diffusivity of modified gypsum and geopolymer. Microspheres, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC) polymer, and aerogel were used as the gypsum's modifying materials. The study also investigated an alkali potassium-activated methakaolin-based geopolymer with the addition of aluminium dust.

Quality assessment of white mold-ripened cheeses manufactured with different lactic cultures.

Background: White mold-ripened cheeses were investigated with the objective of proposing a colorimetric method to monitor the surface growth of Penicillium candidum and to evaluate the influence of the mesophilic (homofermentative (QMO) and heterofermentative (QMLD)) and thermophilic (QT) starter cultures on the physicochemical composition and sensory description.

Results: The whiteness index was effective in proving the appearance of superficial mycelium and the stability of white mold growth. The lactic cultures showed significant influence on most of the physicochemical analyses.

Fast assay of glucosamine in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals by capillary zone electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection.

A novel capillary electrophoresis (CE) method with contactless conductivity detection suitable for the determination of glucosamine (GlAm) and K(+) in pharmaceuticals was devised. Under the optimum conditions (aqueous 30 mM acetate buffer of pH 5.2 as the background electrolyte; voltage 30 kV; 25 degrees C), GlAm (migrating as glucosaminium cation) was well separated from K(+) that could occur in the dosage forms as excipient.

Method and device for bio-impedance measurement with hard-tissue applications.

Bio-impedance measurements can be used to detect and monitor several properties of living hard-tissues, some of which include bone mineral density, bone fracture healing or dental caries detection. In this paper a simple method and hardware architecture for hard tissue bio-impedance measurement is proposed. The key design aspects of such architecture are discussed and a commercial handheld ac impedance device is presented that is fully certified to international medical standards.

The inactivation of single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator by thrombin in a plasma milieu: effect of thrombomodulin.

Thrombin cleaves single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) into a virtually inactive two-chain form (tcu-PA/T), a process which may contribute to the maintenance of a fresh blood clot. We have examined the inactivation of scu-PA by thrombin in a plasma milieu to get more insight in the physiological relevance of this phenomenon. Citrated pooled normal plasma was treated with thrombin in the absence and presence of thrombomodulin.

Impedance spectroscopy of teeth with and without approximal caries lesions--an in vitro study.

Caries diagnosis by the measurement of electrical resistance is hampered by polarization effects when dc or single-low-frequency ac currents are used. Electrical impedance spectroscopy, measuring impedance over a large range of frequencies, will provide more detailed information about the electrical characteristics of teeth. It was the aim of this study (a) to characterize the complex impedance behavior of whole extracted teeth, measured at the approximal surface, and (b) to identify parameters of the complex impedance behavior of the teeth which would be useful in distinguishing between degrees of carious involvement.

Detection of dental decay and its extent using a.c. impedance spectroscopy.

Dental caries (decay), the most prevalent of diseases, represents a health problem of immense proportions. It principally affects posterior (back) teeth on occlusal (biting) and approximal (adjacent contacting) surfaces. Caries starts as a subsurface demineralization of enamel, may progress to the underlying dentine and, eventually, to cavitation of the surface.

Fibrin binding of plasminogen coated liposomes in vitro.

In this study, the fibrin binding properties of liposomes containing a number of plasminogen (Plg) molecules on the outside were compared to those of free (non-liposomal) Plg in an in vitro model system. Fibrin monolayer coated 96-wells plates were used, containing fibrin monomer at a density of around 3.4 to 3.

Thrombolytic treatment with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) containing liposomes in rabbits: a comparison with free t-PA.

In this study, we aimed at improving the therapeutic index of tissue-type Plasminogen Activator (t-PA) as thrombolytic agent in the treatment of myocardial infarction. Liposome-encapsulated t-PA was tested in a rabbit jugular vein thrombosis model: administration of free t-PA (t-PA) as a bolus injection in the ear vein was compared to a similar administration of liposomal t-PA (t-PA-lip), liposomal t-PA in plasminogen-coated liposomes (Plg-t-PA-lip), a mixture of free t-PA and empty liposomes (t-PA+ empty lip) and a saline-blank (blank) in terms of thrombolytic activity and side effects. Liposomal t-PA (t-PA-lip/Plg-t-PA-lip) showed a significantly better thrombolysis efficiency than equimolar doses of free t-PA (t-PA/ t-PA+ empty lip): about 0.

Development of a procedure for coupling the homing device glu-plasminogen to liposomes.

The aim of this study was to find a suitable way of coupling the homing-device glu-plasminogen to the outside of liposomes. The described procedure is based on the reaction of thiol-groups introduced in the protein with thiol-reactive groups of the liposome. Details on the thiolation of proteins with the reagent succinimidyl-S-acetylthioacetate (SATA) were studied for a model-protein, amylase.

Plasmin inhibitors in the prevention of systemic effects during thrombolytic therapy: specific role of the plasminogen-binding form of alpha 2-antiplasmin.

To delineate the role of plasmin inhibitors, especially the two molecular forms of alpha 2-antiplasmin (that is, the plasminogen-binding and the nonplasminogen-binding forms), in the control of systemic effects during thrombolytic therapy, the consumption of plasmin inhibitors and the degree of fibrinogen breakdown were studied in 35 patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) or streptokinase. At a low degree of plasminogen activation (in six patients treated with rt-PA), plasminogen-binding alpha 2-antiplasmin was consumed first. At a higher degree of plasminogen activation (in 20 patients), plasminogen-binding alpha 2-antiplasmin became exhausted (less than 20%) and other plasmin inhibitors (that is, nonplasminogen-binding alpha 2-antiplasmin and alpha 2-macroglobulin) were consumed.

Increased urinary excretion of the histamine metabolite N tau-methylhistamine during acetylsalicylic acid provocation in chronic urticaria patients.

Seventeen chronic urticaria patients with a history suggestive of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, Aspirin)-intolerance were challenged with ASA; only 2 patients showed marked clinical reactions. These clinical reactions were accompanied by a significant increase in the urinary excretion of the most important histamine metabolite, N tau-methylhistamine, in comparison with 15 non-responders (p less than or equal to 0.05) and placebo test.

Quantitation of plasma levels of tetranectin--effects of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, treatment with L-asparaginase and liver cirrhosis.

Tetranectin is a tetrameric protein that binds to kringle 4 of plasminogen. Increase of electrophoretic mobility of the otherwise slowly migrating tetranectin in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetate was used to develop a reproducible electroimmunoassay to quantify plasma levels. Plasma levels in normals were found within narrow limits of 100 +/- 16 (SD)%, (100% = 0.

Calcium-dependent binding of tetranectin to fibrin.

The plasma protein, tetranectin, capable of binding to kringle-4 of plasminogen, is reduced in serum after clotting of plasma. Fibrin binding is confirmed by the presence of tetranectin in clot lysates. The amount of tetranectin bound to the fibrin varies with the plasma level, but constitutes a constant percentage of 13-17% of the plasma tetranectin.

Functional analogy between lipoprotein(a) and plasminogen in the binding to the kringle 4 binding protein, tetranectin.

Apolipoprotein(a), apo(a), contains 37 repeats structurally homologous to kringle 4 structures of the fibrinolysis zymogen plasminogen. The aim of the study was to explore the functional analogy between apolipoprotein(a) and plasminogen in the binding to the kringle-4-binding plasma protein, tetranectin. With a modified crossed immunoelectrophoresis technique, reversible binding between lipoprotein(a) and tetranectin could be demonstrated with an apparent Kd of 0.

Modified crossed immunoelectrophoresis to study with whole plasma the reversible complex formation of histidine-rich glycoprotein with plasminogen.

To study the reversible complex formation between the plasma protein histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) and plasminogen, crossed immunoelectrophoresis of HRG was modified. In the modification, purified plasminogen was introduced into the gel of the first dimension electrophoresis. Two molecular forms of plasminogen, Glu- and Lys-plasminogen, induced a dose-dependent reduction of the electrophoretic mobility of HRG, with a half maximal retardation for both plasminogens at 0.

Specific fibrinolytic properties of different molecular forms of pro-urokinase from a monkey kidney cell culture.

The specific fibrinolytic properties of both high molecular weight (55 kd) and low molecular weight (30 kd) pro-urokinase from a monkey kidney cell culture were evaluated in a plasma clot lysis system and compared with those of human urokinase. The system was composed of a radiolabelled plasma clot immersed in plasma containing the fibrinolytic agent. On unit base, 55 kd pro-urokinase was approximately 1.

The mutual relationship between the two molecular forms of the major fibrinolysis inhibitor alpha-2-antiplasmin in blood.

Alpha-2-antiplasmin, a major inhibitor of fibrinolysis, is synthesized in the liver and occurs in blood in two molecular forms: a very active plasminogen-binding (PB) form and a less active nonplasminogen-binding (NPB) form. This study investigates the origin and mutual relationship of these two forms in vivo and in vitro. Despite wide variation in plasma concentration of the inhibitor (16% to 138%), the ratio between the two forms in vivo was found to be, in the main, constant among healthy volunteers, heterozygotes for a congenital deficiency of alpha-2-antiplasmin, and patients with a stable liver cirrhosis: PB/NPB = 2.

The molecular form of alpha 2-antiplasmin with affinity for plasminogen is selectively bound to fibrin by factor XIII.

Two molecular forms of alpha 2-antiplasmin (PB = plasminogen-binding; NPB = non-PB) exist. We have studied the extent of binding of these two forms to fibrin by factor XIII. A modified crossed immunoelectrophoresis technique which separately determines both forms showed that, compared with plasma, the PB-form is reduced by 31 +/- 11% (SD) in serum of twelve individuals and the NPB form by only 6%.