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The heterologous strategy could improve the sensitivity of competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of chemical contaminants in food samples. In this study, the heterologous coating antigen ELISA was developed to evaluate its sensitivity for mebendazole (MBZ). Results showed that the heterologous ELISA had a linear range of (IC20–IC80) 0.34–10.54 ng/mL, an IC50 value of 1.83 ng/mL, and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.13 ng/mL, in which the sensitivity of ELISA improved 1.7- and 2-fold (IC50 value dropping from 7.41 and 3.65 ng/mL to 4.27 and 1.83 ng/mL) than that of rabbit IgG- and chicken IgY-based homologous ELISA for MBZ, respectively. The heterologous coating antigen ELISA showed negligible cross reactivity (<0.2%) with its structural analogues, including hydroxy-MBZ, albendazole, oxfendazole, fenbendazole, and flubendazole, except the value of 72.6% for amino-MBZ. The average recoveries of MBZ spiked in pork and chicken muscle samples by the assay ranged from 83.7% to 109.8% and agreed well with those of high-performance liquid chromatography. The results suggested that using heterologous coating antigen could distinctly improve the sensitivity of ELISA for routine screening of MBZ residues in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a medical emergency with high morbidity and mortality. Motor, memory, and emotion-related deficits are common symptoms following TBI, yet treatment is very limited. To develop new drugs and find new therapeutic avenues, a wide variety of TBI models have been established to mimic the heterogeneity of TBI. In this regard, along with histologic measures, behavioral functional outcomes provide valuable insight into the underlying neuropathology and guide neurorehabilitation efforts for neuropsychiatric impairment after TBI. Development, characterization, and application of behavioral tests that can assess functional neurologic deficits are essential to the development of translational therapies. This comprehensive review aims to summarize 19 common behavioral tests from three aspects (motor, memory, and emotion-related) that are associated with TBI pathology. Discussion covers the apparatus, the test steps, the evaluation indexes, data collection and analysis, animal performance and applications, advantages and disadvantages as well as precautions to eliminate bias wherever possible. We discussed recent studies on TBI-related preconditioning, biomarkers, and optimized behavioral protocols. The neuropsychologic tests employed in clinics were correlated with those used in mouse TBI models. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive, up-to-date reference for TBI researchers to choose the right neurobehavioral protocol according to the research objectives of their translational investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken egg yolk IgY has proven to be qualified for analysis of targets in immunoassays. In order to explore the feasibility of chicken IgY-based ELISA for detection of mebendazole (MEB), the chicken IgY against MEB was generated in the laying hens. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on chicken IgY was developed for detection of MEB with a half-maximum signal inhibition concentration (IC50) of 3.65 ng mL−1 and a limit of detection of 0.25 ng mL−1. The assay showed a lower cross reactivity (less than 1%) with other structures analogues (except amino-MEB with the values of 70.7%). The average recoveries of MEB spiked in pork and mutton muscle samples ranged from 93.6% to 106.3% with relative standard deviation less than 8.78% and 10.85% for intra-assay and inter-assay, respectively, and agreed well with those of high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results indicate that generated IgY could be used as a robust reagent for routine screening analysis of small molecular compounds residues in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gentamicin (Gent) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic being used in livestock sector. Gent residues could cause some genetic disorders by nonsense mutations. This study aimed to develop IgY-based ELISA for the detection of Gent in animal products. Gent was conjugated with Bovine serum albumin (BSA) by carbodiimide method for further immunization in the laying chickens. PEG-6000 extraction method was employed to extract IgY from the egg yolk. The titer of anti-Gent-IgY attained the peak of 1:256,000 after the 5thbooster immunization. Checkerboard titration confirmed that, anti-Gent IgY in 1:2,000 dilution could give an Optical Density (OD) 1.0 at 2 µg mL−1of Gent-OVA coating concentration. IgY-based indirect competitive ELISA (Ic-ELISA) showed that, the IC50value of anti-Gent IgY was 2.69 ng mL−1and regression curve equation wasy= −16.27x + 56.97 (R2= 0.95,n= 3), confirming that, the detection limit (LOD, IC10value) was 0.01 ng mL−1. Recoveries from fresh milk, pork and chicken samples were ranged from 69.82% to 94.32%, with relative standard deviation lower than 10.88%. Our results suggested that generated anti-Gent IgY antibodies can be used in routine screening analysis of Gent residues in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Glycidyl methacrylate functionalized methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer (MBS-g-GMA) core-shell particles were prepared via an emulsion polymerization process. MBS-g-GMA was used to toughen poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and the synergistic toughening effect of polycarbonate (PC) on PBT/MBS-g-GMA blends were investigated. Notched impact tests showed the percolation threshold became lower with the increase of PC content. Transmission electron microscopy displayed a very good dispersion of MBS-g-GMA particles in the PBT matrix with the different PC contents. The synergistic toughening effect was due to the encapsulation structure of PC which could facilitate the whole PBT matrix to yield. The more perfect the encapsulation structure formed, the more obvious the synergistic toughening the PC achieved. Sufficient strength of the phase interface was important to ensure the stress transfer effectively and facilitate the whole PBT matrix to yield. The interface strength between PC and MBS-g-GMA could be ensured by the good miscibility between Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (grafted onto the polybutadiene-based rubber core) and PC. For the PBT/PC, the transesterification between PBT and PC improved the interface strength of the PBT and PC phases, as demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) scans. Scanning electron microscopy results showed shear yielding of the matrix and cavitation of the rubber particles were the major toughening mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The influence on adsorption of dye-polyether derivatives of different molecular weights and degrees of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity on the dispersion behavior of C.I. disperse red 60 has been investigated. A range of experimental methods including derivative adsorption isotherms, particle size measurements and dispersion stability tests were used to assess the dispersing capability of the derivatives. The adsorption mainly depends on the hydrophobicity of the derivative but its molecular weight, while the dispersion stability is related to both the adsorption layer and the hydration layer. The results showed that good dispersion stability were obtained even when the weight ratio of dye/dye-polyether derivative was quite low. The dyeing performance of the prepared dispersions was also evaluated by comparing with that of commercial dye. The chemical oxygen demand of the dyeing effluent could be reduced dramatically by the adoption of the dye-polyether derivatives, while the dye exhaustion was higher and the quality of the dyed polyester fabric was at least as good as the dyeing with the commercial dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of dye-polyether derivatives, supposedly to be used as dispersants for parent dye, were synthesized by grafting poly(oxyalkylene)-amines based on differing both molecular weights and degrees of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, onto C.I. disperse red 60 via a stable urea linkage. The structures of the dye-polyether derivatives were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, and SEC. The influence of pH on the hydrolysis behaviors of the dye-polyether derivatives were studied in buffered aqueous solutions within the pH range of 4 to 10. The hydrolysis of dye-polyether derivatives was pH dependent and relatively faster in mild alkaline buffer solution than in acidic one. The influence of poly(oxyalkylene)-amine structure on the hydrolysis behavior was also investigated; it was found that the hydrolysis rate is affected little by the molecular weight and increases with the increasing hydrophilicity of the poly(oxyalkylene)-amine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]