The electrodes of a cochlear implant are located far from the surviving neurons of the spiral ganglion, which results in decreased precision of neural activation compared to the normal ear. If the neurons could be induced to extend neurites toward the implant, it might be possible to stimulate more discrete subpopulations of neurons, and to increase the resolution of the device. However, a majo...

The Bigger Picture Gels are ubiquitous soft solids that are widely used in everyday life. Most gels are based on polymeric materials, as either entangled biopolymers or covalently crosslinked networks. Low-molecularweight gels, or supramolecular gels, are another fascinating and useful class of gel. Here, the assembly of small molecules into a network immobilizes the solvent. These materials ar...

The purpose of this paper is to describe a technique of zone electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. The salient characteristics of the technique reside in (1) the controlled variation of the gel pore size for the purpose of increasing the resolution of ions based on dimensional differences and (2) an electrophoretic step for concentrating the sample ions into a narrow starting zone prior to el...

A subcellular fraction prepared from fetal rat brain and enriched in growth cone membranes is analyzed for its lectin-binding proteins. Growth-associated glycoproteins are identified by comparing the growth cone glycoproteins with those of synaptosomes. Protein was resolved in one- or two-dimensional gels, electroblotted, and blots probed with radioiodinated concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutini...

The dynamics of interface of chemical gels undergoing volume phase transition is studied for one-dimensional geometry Permeation of solvent through the interface is taken into account It is shown that the rate determining process of motion of interface is the permeation of solvent through the bulk domains Generalization to three-dimensional case is also discussed.

A two-dimensional electrophoretic method which takes advantage of the "migration anomalies" experienced by some polypeptides on gels of different porosities has been successfully used to resolve the seven subunit polypeptides of yeast cytochrome c oxidase and the nine polypeptides associated with bovine cytochrome c oxidase. The two-dimensional maps provided by this method reveal clear differen...

Computerized techniques for the evaluation of O'Farrell two-dimensional electrophoretic gels have been applied to proteins derived from asbestos bearing macrophages. Preliminary results indicate definite changes in the protein content of cells depending on fiber phagocytosis.

The dimensional stability and rheological properties of a series of comb-like copolymers of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (mPEGMA), poly(NIPAAm-co-mPEGMA), with varying poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) graft densities and molecular weights were studied. The thermoresponsive character of the copolymer solutions was investigated by kinetic and equilibri...

The relationship between the development of tension in sheets of fibroblasts and the orientation of these cells and collagen fibres in collagen gels was examined. Cell-containing, three-dimensional collagen gels were established in agarose-coated Epon dies measuring 10 mm X 4 mm X 4 mm, to which pieces of demineralized tooth and bone had been attached at opposite ends. Contraction of the gel in...