\n\nConclusion: Systemic LPS administration induced brain inflammatory responses in neonatal rats; these inflammatory responses included induction of COX-2 expression in TH neurons and astrocytes. Application of the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib after LPS treatment attenuated the inflammatory response and improved LPS-induced impairment, both biochemically and behaviorally.”
“Some selleck properties of immobilized a-amylase by Aspergillus sclerotiorum

within calcium alginate gel beads were investigated and compared with soluble enzyme. Optimum pH and temperature were found to be 5.0 and 40 degrees C, respectively, for both soluble and immobilized enzymes. The immobilized enzyme had a better Km value, but k(cat)/K-m values were the same for both enzymes. Entrapment within calcium alginate gel beads improved, remarkably, the thermal and storage stability of a-amylase. The half life values of immobilized enzyme and soluble enzyme at 60 degrees C were 164.2, and 26.2 min, respectively. The midpoint of thermal inactivation (T-m) shifted from 56 degrees C (for soluble enzyme) to 65.4 degrees C for immobilized enzyme. The percentages of soluble starch hydrolysis for soluble and immobilized alpha-amylase were determined to be 97.5 and 92.2% for 60 min, respectively.”
“Biodegradable hydrogels were synthesized by the

click reaction GW4869 inhibitor of 4-arm azido-terminated PEG differing in molecular weight (2 100 and 8 800) and two alkyne-terminated peptides: [alkyne]-GFLGK-[alkyne] and ([alkyne]-GFLG)(2)K. The physical properties of in situ formed hydrogels were examined. The hydrogels were highly elastic as determined by rheological and microrheological studies. Swelling degree and enzymatic degradation by papain were dependent on the molecular weight of the PEG, but not the peptide. Caspase inhibition For PEG8800-based hydrogels,

time-course analysis of degradation showed that the molecular weight of the soluble fraction quickly reached the PEG precursor value. These findings may guide future design of hydrogels with controllable mechanical properties and enzymatic degradability.”
“A two-dimensional, solid/solid phononic crystal (PC) comprised a square array of steel cylinders in epoxy is shown to perform a variety of spectral, wave vector, and phase-space functions. Over a range of operating frequencies, the PC’s elastic band structure shows uniquely shaped equifrequency contours that are only accessible to excitations of longitudinal polarization. Under this condition, the PC is shown to behave as (1) an acoustic wave collimator, (2) a defect-less wave guide, (3) a directional source for elastic waves, (4) an acoustic beam splitter, (5) a phase-control device, and (6) a k-space multiplexer.