Brush End Research Articles

Efficacy of visual evaluation of insect-damaged kernels of malting barley by Sitophilus granarius from various observation perspectives

Although there is growing evidence that arthropod detection methods are not sensitive enough to meet current quality demands, few adequate validations are available for the detection of insect-damaged kernels (IDK- quality parameter). Therefore the aims of this work were to (i) describe categories of exit holes of Sitophilus granarius (L.) in terms of their location on the grain surface; (ii) analyse spatial distribution of exit holes on kernels of three varieties of malting barley; (iii) analyse the sensitivity of visual laboratory methods for IDK detection, and (iv) test if the turning effect of automatic shaking can increase damage visibility from the upper-view perspective of an inspector. Six topological categorises of exit holes were described and photo-documented. It was found that the relative distribution of exit holes on the kernel surface was in decreasing order from lateral, brush, ventral or dorsal (depending on variety), subapical, to germ area. The ventral and dorsal exit holes were significantly bigger than the apical exit holes. It was found that distribution patterns of exit holes on kernels affected their proportional visibility from various observation perspectives. Only 50% of lateral or dorsal exit holes was visible from top or crease views, respectively. The most effective was the side (brush end) view perspective, with visibility of up to 90% of exit holes. Although the shaking effect was statistically significant, it only increased the efficacy of upper view detection perspective from 54% to 58%. This is the first study showing that the inspector upper view of inspected grain samples (without grain rotation) poses a risk of underestimating actual insect-damaged kernels by 50%. Thus, advanced methods that are independent of observation perspectives (X-ray, NIRS, etc.) should be promoted for routine use in commercial laboratories, despite higher cost.

Activator Generated Electron Transfer Combined Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (AGET-ATRP) for Controlled Grafting Location of Glycidyl Methacrylate on Regenerated Cellulose Ultrafiltration Membranes

This investigation indicates the ability to selectively graft glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) only from the external surface of regenerated cellulose (RC) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes using activator generated electron transfer (AGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). This controlled polymerization resulted in epoxy functionalized polymer brush ends. Further reaction of the terminal epoxy groups provides a flexible platform to introduce desired functionalities either by electrophilic or nucleophilic epoxy ring opening. Selective grafting from the external membrane surface was achieved by using an appropriate pore filling solvent prior to modification. A high viscosity pore filling solvent that is immiscible with the reactive monomer solution used during surface modification was the most effective in supressing grafting from the internal pore surface. The effects of grafting on membrane performance were evaluated by determining water permeability and protein rejection.

Highly enhanced liquid flows via thermoosmotic effects in soft and charged nanochannels.

Enhancing nanoscale liquid flows remains an existing challenge in nanofluidics. Here we propose the generation of highly augmented thermoosmotic (TOS) liquid flows in soft nanochannels (or nanochannels functionalized by grafting with end-charged polyelectrolyte or PE brushes) by employing an axial temperature gradient. The TOS transport is a combination of the induced-electric-field electroosmotic (EOS) transport and a thermo-chemioosmotic (TCOS) transport with the latter resulting from an induced pressure gradient on account of the changes associated with the imposition of the axial temperature gradient. The end-charged brushes develop an electric double layer (EDL) localized at the charged, non-grafted brush end. Depending on the system parameters, this EDL localization massively augments the influence of the EOS body force and the induced pressure-gradient resulting in a TOS transport in soft nanochannels that can be more than one order of magnitude larger than that in brush-free nanochannels. Given the existing notion that the presence of the brushes invariably reduces the flow strength, this result of massive flow augmentation is extremely significant and non-trivial serving as a paradigm shift in the study of liquid transport in brush-grafted nanochannels.

The effects of different levels of brush end rounding on gingival abrasion: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of filament end rounding on gingival abrasions (GAs). The study was a crossover, split-mouth, contra-lateral, double-blinded, randomized design using professional brushing. Three manual toothbrushes, with 0%, 40-50% and >90% end-rounded filaments, were investigated. Participants refrained from all oral hygiene procedures for 48 h prior to each of the three visits. Prior to brushing, oral soft tissue (OST) and GAs were assessed. Based on the randomization, during every visit contra-lateral quadrants were brushed with one of the three test brushes. After brushing, GAs were re-assessed. The means of the GAs prebrushing and post-brushing and differences per brush were calculated. Subanalyses were performed based on the size of the abrasion and its location. A total of 46 generally healthy participants without periodontitis completed the study and provided a full data set. All brushes had statistically significant increases of abrasions following their use (P < 0.001). Non-end-rounded brushes provided significantly more GAs than did the 40-50% and the >90% brushes (P ≥ 0.001). A subanalysis showed that significantly more small-sized (P ≥ 0.002) abrasions located at the gingival margin (P < 0.001) occurred when a non-end-rounded brush was used. No significant differences were found between the 40-50% and >90% end-rounded brushes in any of the analyses. OST deviations were not observed. Based on the results of this experiment involving professional brushing, it can be concluded that 40-50% or greater end-rounded filaments can provide a significant reduction in gingival abrasions compared to non-end-rounded filaments.

Fabrication of polymer brush surfaces with highly-ordered perfluoroalkyl side groups at the brush end and their antibiofouling properties.

Acrylate block polymer brushes (Au-PMMA65-b-PODMAy-ec-FMA2) with two 2-perfluorooctylethyl methacrylate units at the brush end were successfully prepared on an Au substrate using a "grafting to" method. Characterization by XPS, contact angle measurement, ellipsometry and nanomechanical measurement showed that a well-ordered and perpendicularly oriented structure of the perfluoroalkyl side chains on the brush surface was enhanced with an increasing degree of polymerization (y) of poly (n-octadecyl methacrylate), and a crystalline structure of perfluoroalkyl side chains formed when y was equal to 24. Protein adsorption studies indicated that the adsorbed mass of fibrinogen decreased with an increasing order of the structure of the perfluoroalkyl side chains at the brush end. When the perfluoroalkyl group on the brush surface formed a crystal structure, there was only trace fibrinogen adsorption on the brush surface. This work demonstrates that the protein-resistant performance was enhanced greatly by constructing polymer brush surfaces with well-ordered and perpendicularly oriented structures of the perfluoroalkyl side chains.

Analysis of carbon fiber brush loading in anodes on startup and performance of microbial fuel cells

Flat carbon anodes placed near a cathode in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) are adversely affected by oxygen crossover, but graphite fiber brush anodes placed near the cathode produce high power densities. The impact of the brush size and electrode spacing was examined by varying the distance of the brush end from the cathode and solution conductivity in multiple MFCs. The startup time was increased from 8 ± 1 days with full brushes (all buffer concentrations) to 13 days (50 mM), 14 days (25 mM) and 21 days (8 mM) when 75% of the brush anode was removed. When MFCs were all first acclimated with a full brush, up to 65% of the brush material could be removed without appreciably altering maximum power. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that the main source of internal resistance (IR) was diffusion resistance, which together with solution resistance reached 100 Ω. The IR using EIS compared well with that obtained using the polarization data slope method, indicating no major components of IR were missed. These results show that using full brush anodes avoids adverse effects of oxygen crossover during startup, although brushes are much larger than needed to sustain high power.

Chewing Sticks In The Era Of Toothbrush: A Review

There is a long history of the use of plants to improve dental health and promote oral hygiene and is still commonly practiced among Afro-Asian communities. Pencil sized sticks are fashioned from certain plant parts and are chewed on one end until they become frayed into a brush and the brush end is used to clean the teeth in a similar manner to the toothbrush. The plant parts when used in this manner are commonly referred as the “chewing stick”. Their use still continues in the modern era of dentistry. It is inexpensive and easily available in rural areas. Further they are used for customary and religious reasons as well. Several studies have demonstrated the anti-plaque, anti carious and antibacterial effect of these sticks. The effect of the chewing sticks and the modern toothbrush and tooth paste on the oral and dental hygiene are reviewed.

Clarification of magnetic abrasive finishing mechanism

In order to clarify the mechanism of magnetic abrasive polishing, a planar type process for a non-magnetic material, stainless steel, was examined. A magnetic abrasive brush was formed between a magnetic pole and a workpiece material, in which the summation of three kinds of energy necessary for magnetization of abrasives, i.e. repulsion between bundles (Faraday effect) and line tension of outer curved bundle was considered to be minimum. A normal force that pushes the abrasives on the brush end to be indented into the material surface is generated by the magnetic field. The magnetic abrasive brush will then be an extension of the magnetic pole. In this process, the tangential force acts to be the returning force created when the abrasive deviates from the magnetic balance point. Thus, the magnetic abrasives are expected to polish the material surface softly.

229 Comparison of Magnetic Polishing Mechanisms on Plane and Curved surfaces

The mechanisms of magnetic abrasive polishing was clarified by observations of magnetic abrasive behavior, polished surfaces and so on and theoretical considerations. A magnetic abrasive brush was formed between a magnetic pole and a workpiece material, in which the summation of three kinds of energy necessary for magnetization of abrasives, i.e. repulsion between bundles (Faraday effect) and line tension of outer curved bundle was considered to be minimum. A normal force that pushes the abrasives on the brush end to the indented into the material surface is generated by the magnetic field. The magnetic abrasive brush will then be an extension of the magnetic pole. In this process, the tangential force acts to be the returning force created when the abrasive deviates from the magnetic balance point. Thus, the magnetic abrasives are expected to polish the material surface softly.

Self-consistent-field theory of a brush of randomly branched polymers

The conformational properties of randomly branched polymers grafted at one end on a planar surface in the good solvent regime are investigated by using a Flory-type scaling theory and by solving a self-consistent-field model numerically. The average monomer height obtained from the self-consistent-field model is shown to be in agreement with the scaling behavior predicted from the scaling theory. The density profile is found to have a near-parabolic form with some discrepancies near the surface and the brush end.

Changes in the coat of cashmere goat kids of two different genotypes from birth to 13 months of age

AbstractThe development and moulting of the birth and first adult coat of two genotypes of cashmere-bearing goats, a highyielding Siberian (S) and low-yielding Icelandic × Scottish feral (IF), were examined. Samples of fibre from the neck, mid side, belly and rear-leg areas and of mid-side skin were obtained monthly from five male and five female kids of each genotype from birth to 13 months of age. Guard hair and undercoat length, secondary/primary (S/P) skin follicle ratio and the proportion of skin follicles containing a non-growing fibre with a brush end were recorded. S/P ratio reached an asymptote between 4 and 5 months of age and was higher fP &lt; 0·01) in S (10·7) than in IF (6·7) kids. In both genotypes peaks of brush formation in primary follicles occurred between 2 and 4 months and again between 8 and 11 months of age. In contrast to primary follicles, secondary follicles had only a single peak of brush formation occurring at 10 and 8 months of age for S and IF kids respectively. Guard hair moulted from the birthcoat, but there was no loss of undercoat prior to 12 months of age and harvesting of cashmere prior to this time is unnecessary.The secondary follicles of S kids had a longer growing period and fibre length increased at a greater rate than that of IF kids, resulting in more than a two-fold difference in the maximum undercoat length. Assessments to estimate the final weight and proportion of cashmere, made prior to completion of growth of the fleece, are likely to underestimate these parameters for high-yielding goats in comparison with their low-yielding counterparts. However, it is unlikely to alter the ranking, and hence the selection, of animals for retention in the breeding herd.

Transforming growth factor-alpha immunoreactivity during induced hair follicle growth cycles in sheep and ferrets.

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) has been associated with cell proliferation of keratinocytes and implicated in hair growth. We therefore examined changes in the immunocytochemical localization of TGF-alpha and cell proliferation markers in the skin of two unrelated species in which hair cycles could be induced, to elucidate the role of this growth factor in the control of fiber growth. Skin was collected from melatonin-treated ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), untreated Romney sheep (Ovis aries), and New Zealand Wiltshire sheep in which interruption of wool growth had been photoperiodically induced. Immunostaining patterns were very similar in ferrets and sheep. TGF-alpha immunoreactivity was observed in epithelial tissues of the skin but was not co-localized with cell proliferation markers. In anagen follicles, specific staining was most intense in the innermost cells of the outer root sheath and cortical cells in the keratogenous zone but was absent from inner root sheath or dermal papilla. TGF-alpha immunostaining diminished during catagen, although faint staining was retained in all epithelial cells. In telogen and early proanagen follicles, staining remained faint or was restricted to cells on the margin of the brush end and follicle neck. Immunoreactivity in the outer root sheath was reestablished in late proanagen. Sebaceous glands and epidermis were stained intensely throughout the hair cycle. TGF-alpha-immunoreactive components of skin extracts, analyzed by Western blotting, showed mobility corresponding to approximately 32 KD, but not to the size of the fully cleaved peptide. These results are consistent with an epithelial autocrine or juxtacrine, but not a mitogenic, function of TGF-alpha.

Mechanical Properties of Wheat

Fundamental mechanical properties of the wheat kernel were characterized for five different wheat classes. An Instron testing machine was used to perform a compression test on wheat slices. Wheat slices were prepared by cutting off both ends of the wheat kernel. A cross-sectional area of the wheat slices was measured using a commercial image-processing system. An offset yield of 0.2% was introduced for determining the yield point for wheat and used to determine yield stress, yield strain, modulus of deformability, and energy to yield point. To determine the effect of sample location, each kernel of hard red spring and soft red winter wheats was cut into two slices (germ end and brush end). No significant differences, a = 0.05, were found in values of the physical properties for germ-end and brush-end samples. In general, the four properties increased as loading rate increased up to a 100 mm/min and decreased thereafter. The mean values of yield stress for all five wheat classes decreased as moisture content increased. Soft wheat samples had generally lower modulus of deformability values.

The microanatomy, cell replication, and keratin gene expression of hair follicles during a photoperiod-induced growth cycle in sheep.

Exposure of New Zealand Wiltshire sheep to long days, following 24 weeks of short days, caused a synchronised out-of-season wool follicle growth cycle. Skin biopsies were collected at intervals between 3 and 30 days and follicles were examined by light microscopy in both transverse and longitudinal section to describe the regressive (catagen), resting (telogen) and regenerative (proanagen) stages of the induced growth cycle. Follicles were generally in the growing phase (anagen) during short day treatment but by day 20 after exposure to long day photoperiod. 16% of follicles were in late catagen. By day 52, all follicles were in various stages of catagen, telogen and proanagen. The progression through the cycle occurred more slowly, but was morphologically similar to follicle growth cycles reported in rodents and goats, induced by plucking or melatonin, respectively. Follicles in early catagen were rarely observed, possibly reflecting the brevity of this phase of the cycle. Late catagen follicles were distinguished by the presence of a brush end and an inner root sheath, the latter disappearing as follicles entered telogen. Immunocytochemistry of proliferating cell nuclear antigen provided evidence that mitotic activity in the follicle bulb ceased completely during the brief telogen phase. The simultaneous absence of type I intermediate filament keratin mRNA indicated that keratinocyte differentiation had also been interrupted. Cell proliferation was re-established in early proanagen prior to observable changes in the follicle microanatomy. The relatively synchronised follicle growth cycle induced by photoperiod manipulation represents a potentially useful model for the study of changes in follicle ultrastructure and the endocrine and biochemical regulation of seasonal hair growth patterns.

The effect of sympathectomy on wool growth and catecholamine innervation of the skin in Wiltshire Horn sheep

SummarySeven Wiltshire Horn rams were subjected to unilateral thoracic sympathectomy. Wool shedding was observed during the following 9 months. Fleece samples were collected on two occasions during winter from tattooed areas of skin on both the sympathectomized and unoperated sides. Skin samples were also taken from the sympathectomized and unoperated sides of the sheep during August and examined for catecholamine fluorescence using a fluorescence histochemical technique. While there was no difference in fleece casting between the sympathectomized and unoperated sides, there were increases in both wool growth and the number of brush end fibres on the sympathectomized side. Fluorescent histochemical evaluation of the skin samples revealed that the increases in shed fibres and wool growth were accompanied by a decrease in amine fluorescence in nonvascular tissue adjacent to the wool follicles.

Cyclical fleece growth in cashmere goats

Seasonal changes in fleece parameters were studied in mature feral doe goats, known to produce commercial quantities of cashmere and housed in natural light (NL) or continuous light (CL).Circannual changes in volume growth rate (VGR) of cashmere in NL were asynchronous with those of hair, resulting in maxima in April and November respectively, indicating that follicle-specific mechanisms are controlling the rate of follicle activities.Cycles of cumulative length of cashmere and hair in NL were synchronous. Cashmere maxima of 64.0 and 62.3 mm occurred in June and July respectively for two consecutive years. Distinct circannual cycles of linear growth (period, 365 days) were evident. While exposure to CL initially reduced the cycle period, after 2 years an extended cycle period emerged; this may have been due to photodesensitization.In NL, cashmere fibre diameter minima occurred at June-July and February each year. Hair fibres underwent only one cycle of diameter change each year. The period of the cycles was reduced by CL.An annual cycle of cashmere brush end fibre formation was apparent in NL. This cycle was associated with the cessation of growth in June-July, and a subsidiary event occurred between December and March. Continuous light accelerated brush end formation.Cyclic fibre shedding produced a circannual rhythm in fleece composition with maximum cashmere: hair ratio (CHR) in April-May in non-breeding goats. The maximum CHR of 5.9: 1 in NL did not reach its potential, as illustrated by the follicle S:P ratio of 6.9:1 in the skin. This suggests an irreversible loss of cashmere fibres from the fleece following the cycle of brush end formation in February.The maximum mean length of cashmere and time of occurrence were similar in grazing and penned does, although grazing does were only sampled in 4 months of one year.

Effect of photo-translation on fleece growth in cashmere goats

Cyclical changes in fleece parameters were studied in mature feral doe goats exposed to either natural light (NL) followed by continuous light (CL) then NL, or CL followed by NL then CL.Results show that both initial translocations (NL-CL and CL-NL) were recognized immediately and reflected in changes in volume growth rate, length, diameter, brush end fibres of cashmere and cashmere : hair ratio. Cyclic activity continued after the change in photoperiod. Progressive alterations in cycle amplitude, period and frequency appeared in CL following the initial NL-CL change. Following the initial CL-NL change, cycles of some cashmere fleece parameters continued to be influenced by previous CL exposure and did not immediately adopt NL cyclicity. Mean cycle periods of 252-261 days were common to all CL photoperiods and to NL following CL. This suggests that CL exposes a unique cycle of fleece growth, which is independent of photoperiod and retained for some time after the cessation of CL, owing to transient modification of pineal function. Differences between the response to the first and second translocation may be a function of interactions between the cycle status and translocation, rather than solely the change from one photoperiod to another.The NL-CL change resulted in two cycles of cashmere growth in the 392 days following the initial translocation. This would allow two fleeces to be harvested during that time compared with the one expected in NL alone. Exploitation of this principle may represent an opportunity to increase cashmere production.

Fundamental Analysis of Cu Brush-Ag Slip Ring Sliding Electrical Contacts

Electrical contacts involving current-carrying copper-wire brushes sliding on a sputter-cleaned silver slip ring and rotating in an ambient of 1 atm of wet CO 2 were characterized by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy spectroscopy (XES), reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), and in situ measurements of contact resistance. AES analysis of the slip rings showed 1) carbon formation at the contact zone and 2) increasing amounts of Cu transfer from the brushes to the slip ring with increasing contact current. SEM and XES analyses of the brushes, slip ring, and wear particles showed that the copper content of the wear particles and the copper concentration of the slip ring surface increased with increasing contact current. RHEED studies of the wear particles showed that higher currents resulted in larger grain sizes. Initially, high values of the contact resistance decreased to fractions of a milliohm, and then after approximately 2000 cycles, gradually became more erratic as the contact deteriorated. This deterioration was caused by the accumulation of Ag debris on the Cu brush ends.

Characterization of Ag Wire Brush/Cu Slip Ring Electrical Contacts Rotating in Wet CO&amp;lt;inf&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/inf&amp;gt;

Current-carrying silver wire brushes were run on the same track against a rotating copper slip ring in a conventional stainless steel ultra high vacuum system. The experiments were performed after sputter cleaning of the slip ring in a H 2 0-CO 2 ambient held at one atmosphere of pressure. The electrical contact resistance and the frictional coefficient were measured in situ. Subsequently, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and elemental mapping studies were carried out ex situ on the slip ring, brush end, and wear particle surfaces. Both low (50 mA) and high (40 A) currents were used for comparison. Interestingly, it was found that not only was silver transferred to the copper slip ring, but copper was also transferred to the wire brush ends. Moreover, the wear particles were mainly of two types, one being rich in silver and the other rich in copper, the relative concentrations depending on the current flowing through the contacts. These results demonstrate clearly that mechanical mixing of brush and slip ring material and the incorporation of both materials in wear particles play important roles in rotating current-carrying electrical contact phenomena.

Single‐seed identification of wheat varieties: Use of grain hardness testing, electrophoretic analysis and a rapid test paper for phenol reaction

AbstractFor varietal identification of grain samples containing a mixture of varieties, grains must be examined separately. A procedure is described for applying a range of tests to a single grain. The hardness and texture of the grain are checked by cutting a small piece from its brush end. The main part of the grain is ground and gliadin proteins are extracted from it for electrophoretic analysis. The phenol reaction of the grain can be determined by placing the grain end‐piece on paper moistened with 1% phenol or on catechol‐impregnated paper moistened with water. This phenol test takes less than an hour.