Assays that use dyes such as trypan blue or propidium iodide are

Assays that use dyes such as trypan blue or propidium iodide are based on the concept that these dyes will be prevented from entering the cell unless there is disruption to the cells membrane (Strober, 2001). Hence healthy cells will remain unstained, while dead cells will stain positive. The amount of dye within a cell population can be measured and used to determine the percentage of cytotoxic cells. One limitation with this approach is that it only stains dead cells whilst dying or unhealthy cells may remain unstained. Alternatively a dye such as crystal violet can

stain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) within a cell as shown (Fig. 5). In this assay the color absorbance of the stained cells can be measured at a wavelength of approximately 570 nm, which can then check details be used to assess ABT-888 purchase the number of cells present (Gillies et al., 1986 and Rothman, 1986). A reduction in cell number would indicate a cytotoxic effect. In the neutral red assay, lysosomes rather than DNA in healthy cells are stained positive. The dye can then be extracted and used to quantify the number of viable cells (Repetto et al., 2008). Fotakis and Timbrell (2006) found

that the neutral red assay was more sensitive to cytotoxic effects on cells than several other assays tested. In addition to staining, DNA can be quantified using other techniques. For example in a thymidine incorporation assay, 3H-thymidine (a radioactive nucleoside) is incorporated into newly synthesized DNA during mitosis. Inhabitation of thymidine incorporation would indicate cytotoxicity. Protein Carnitine dehydrogenase assays have been used to determine cytotoxicity by measuring protein content within cells. A reduction

in protein concentration would correspond to a decrease in the number of cells. Coomassie brilliant blue protein assays (also referred to as the Bradford assay) is a colorimetric protein assay that can be used to quantify cellular protein by measuring the color absorbance from stained cells. Similarly, the Lowry test measures the amount of cellular protein by reacting copper ions to amino acids in proteins under alkaline conditions and measuring a subsequent color change. Enzymatic assays are among the most commonly used to assess cytotoxicity. LDH assays quantify the release of LDH following rupture of the cell membrane by using it to catalyze the conversion of lactate to pyruvate which can be measured colormetrically and used to quantify cell death. MTT assays measures the reduction of yellow MTT to purple formazan by mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase. This change in color is measurable via spectrophotometry. As MTT reduction only occurs in metabolically active cells, the spectrophotometer reading can give an estimate of the number of viable cells present. The short time exposure test (STE) is a relatively simple assay method that estimates cell cytotoxicity and viability using MTT (Kojima et al., 2013, Takahashi et al., 2008 and Takahashi et al., 2011).

Ethylene glycol is a CPA commonly used in vitrification solutions

Ethylene glycol is a CPA commonly used in vitrification solutions for bovine embryos [35] and [7] and Aqp3 channel may participate in the diffusion rate of this CPA during vitrification. Considering that dehydration and rehydration are important events during cryopreservation, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of culture media and stage of development in the osmotic ability of in vitro-fertilized bovine embryos. In addition, the relative expression of Aqp3 and Na/K ATPase isoform alpha 1 (ATPase1) gene was also evaluated in blastocysts with

different ability to undergo rehydration and after vitrification. http://www.selleckchem.com/products/blz945.html All chemicals were from Sigma Chemical (St. Louis, MO, USA) unless stated otherwise. Three experiments were carried out in order to evaluate: (1) the effect of culture media and stage of development in the capacity of in vitro-fertilized bovine embryos to undergo shrinkage and swelling; (2) the expression of Aqp3 and ATPase1 genes in embryos with different ability to undergo rehydration and; (3) the expression of Aqp3 and ATPase1 genes in embryos after vitrification/warming. Two trials were performed. In the first one, in vitro fertilized presumptive zygotes were co-culture with their own cumulus cells in SOFaac [14] or modified CR2aa (modified from Rosenkrans Jr. and First Selleckchem JNK inhibitor [27] – sodium chloride 108.0 mM,

potassium chloride 3.0 mM, sodium bicarbonate 26.0 mM, hemicalcium lactate 5.0 mM, sodium pyruvate 0.36 mM, glycine 10.0 mM, alanine 1.0 mM, glutamine 1.0 mM, minimal essential

medium amino acids [MEM] 10 μL/mL, basal medium Eagle [BME] amino acids 20 μL/mL and BSA 3 mg/mL), both supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). Data of cleavage was collected at 72 h post insemination and blastocyst production at day 7 and 8 post-insemination. Six replicates were performed. The second trial evaluated the ability of blastocysts and expanded blastocysts, co-cultured in CR2aa or SOFaa as in the first trial, to undergo shrinkage and swelling. Embryos at day 7 post-insemination were exposed to a buffered hypertonic Tacrolimus (FK506) medium with 900 mOsm (TALP-HEPES supplemented with NaCl) for 5 min and then transferred to an isotonic medium where they remained for 10 min. Afterwards the embryos were cultured in CR2aa medium under 5% CO2 and 39 °C for 120 min. Pictures of embryos from each culture media were taken at 0, 5, 10 and 120 min (T0, T5, T10 and T120, respectively), for further area measurement and dehydration and rehydration calculations. Ability in dehydrate and rehydrate of embryos co-cultured in CR2aa or SOFaac and of embryos at different stages of development (blastocyst and expanded blastocyst) were compared. Six replicates were performed. In this experiment embryos cultured in CR2aa plus 10% (FCS) for 7 days post-insemination were exposed to a hypertonic medium in the same conditions of experiment 1.

015), higher pain during the muscular palpation of the face (P < 

015), higher pain during the muscular palpation of the face (P < 0.001) and neck (P = 0.002) and more masticatory complaints

(P = 0.002). Pain itself has probably interfered with the mandibular activities, and these findings also support the high frequency of TMD in this sample. Amongst risk factors for TMD, bruxism was commonly observed, but the groups did not statistically differ. Bruxing or clenching the teeth causes an overload on the masticatory muscles and can precipitate TMD. 38 Limitations of this study are the design, which does not allow Selleck VX 809 the investigation of cause–effect associations, and a higher frequency of women in the study group. Chronic pain is more frequent in the female gender,24 and it might have interfered with the results Alpelisib ic50 observed. Doses of antidepressants

and anti-hypertensive drugs, which were not investigated, may also have underlain, at least in part, the results as to lower salivary flow in the study group. In conclusion, orofacial pain patients need to be evaluated in regard to their salivary function. They had lower salivary flow and more xerostomia complaints than the controls, which can cause discomfort and effectively contribute to pain. This study was supported by FAPESP (Foundation of Research of the State of Sao Paulo, 2009/00350-6). None declared. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital das Clinicas, Medical School, University of Sao PARP inhibitor Paulo, Brazil (0901/2008). We would like to acknowledge Raphael Sa, Rodrigo Primiceri da Silva and Maira Caracas for their participation in the study. This study was supported by FAPESP (Foundation of Research of the State of Sao Paulo, 2009/00350-6). “
“The growing obesity epidemic affects millions of people in the modern world and has become a risk factor for the development of many chronic-degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus type II. Several scientific

studies have suggested that obesity contributes effectively to the severity of periodontal disease.1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Periodontitis is a chronic infectious disease caused predominantly by bacteria that release endotoxins activating pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF-α, amongst others) that affect the supporting tissues of teeth and induce the loss of alveolar bone, cementum and periodontal ligament.6 and 7 The increase in body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) are associated with the development of periodontitis.4 Epidemiological data have shown that obese and insulin resistant patients show high plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers. The adipose tissue secretes large quantities of TNF-α and IL-66 and the concentration of these cytokines is proportional to the BMI. The increase in plasma concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines might explain the relationship between obesity and periodontal disease.

15 In fact, the observed pancreatic alterations of patients with

15 In fact, the observed pancreatic alterations of patients with UC are more frequent than initially expected. Although UC patients present an increase incidence of gallbladder lithiasis and are administered drugs that can potentially be pancreato-toxic, these factors alone are probably not enough to explain the great incidence of pancreatic alterations among UC patients.16 Some studies demonstrate insufficient levels of pancreatic exocrine

in 21–80% of IBD patients and autopsy studies register pancreatic alterations, macroscopic or microscopic, in 14–53% of UC patients. Pancreatic duct changes, such as irregularities or short-segment stenosis of the main pancreatic duct, were observed in 8.4–10.8% of IBD patients independently

of prior history of pancreatitis or exocrine insufficiency.4 and 17 It seems that predominantly asymptomatic pancreatic alterations of indolent development might exist in these patients, albeit the fact that the Dolutegravir mouse exact aetiology and pathogenesis are still poorly understood. We believe that a large spectrum of pancreatic changes can be documented in IBD patients, from symptom-free cases (likely the majority) to clinically exuberant forms such as the case of our patient. The aetiopathogenesis could be related to an abnormal immunological response leading to pancreatic inflammation such as Ectors et al. previously suggested.18 The association between AIP and UC presents a clinical challenge concerning the treatment strategy. UC patients need immunosuppressive treatment in up to 30% of cases.19 Thiopurins www.selleckchem.com/products/azd5363.html (azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine)

continue to be the most widely used. However, potential pancreatic adverse effects are well established, raising concerns of its use in patients with AIP. In this setting other therapies PtdIns(3,4)P2 (e.g. methotrexate or biological therapy) could step-in as first line options.20 There are some authors who advise against the use of thiopurins in AIP, although its use has been described as presenting good results in cases of relapse of AIP with a low level of adverse effects.21, 22 and 23 Albeit more studies are needed, its use can be justified to avoid long-term treatment with corticosteroids, under close monitoring for pancreatic toxicity. In respect to corticotherapy, a good clinical response is considered by some groups as a diagnostic criterion for AIP.7 In our case, a clinical and analytical improvement was seen, with no cholestasis relapse after biliary stent removal. Pancreatic morphology improvement on EUS was not observed after corticotherapy, supporting the idea of an irreversible extensive fibrotic process.11 A word of caution is in order, concerning the uneventful evolution of the presented case. A long-term follow-up strategy is mandatory, namely to maintain a low threshold for future associated autoimmune illnesses. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

This is the most critical item related to treatment decision base

This is the most critical item related to treatment decision based on the tumor characteristics which is the second component of personalized therapy (the first FRAX597 manufacturer one being patient’s characteristics). This is often a limiting step in the proper diagnosis and work-up of lung cancer patients with common habit of obtaining the least possible diagnostic specimen such as cytology from bronchial tree or pleural effusion or small

biopsy specimen by different approaches. This approach once accepted as standard of care, is no longer appropriate for the management of NSCLC for the following reasons: 1. The need to have adequate tissue to determine the histological subtype of NSCLC as this determination will have major implication on treatment selection as follows: a. The documented benefit of certain treatment options is limited

to histological subtypes such as pemetrexed and bevacizumab in non squamous cell lung cancer. The staging work-up by imaging studies was organized in a way that is more practical to avoid doing tests that do not impact patient management. For example, the use of PET–CT Scan was limited to clinical scenarios where curative treatment is indicated to eliminate futile treatment of metastatic disease. PET Scan should not be done when it does not have an added value such as in definite metastatic setting. This is a practical approach due to the shortage of PET–CT Scans in our regions. If PET is not available, then a bone scan should be done for stages IB–IV. There was no modification of the treatment of stages I–III as no new practice changing evidence emerged recently except the impact of the Selleckchem CH5424802 new staging system. For example, malignant pleural effusion became stage IVA and not IIIB. The management of stage IV evolved drastically over the last

couple of years. The major changes were due to incorporation of EGFR mutation testing and EML4-ALK fusion into the practice and the emphasis on clarifying the histological subtypes which has practical implication as mentioned earlier. The Nitroxoline treatment decision is based on multiple factors that are summarized as following: 1. Determining curable conditions: such as single brain or adrenal lesion to provide potentially curable treatment. The required tests were clarified based on the clinical situation and treatment rendered conforming to the most common practice and recommendations. In summary, 2012 Saudi Lung Cancer Guidelines incorporated many recent advances in the field as personalizing the management of lung cancer becomes more feasible due to major advances in the laboratory field as well as drug development. The manuscripts in this supplement give further details about these issue. No funding sources. None declared. Not required. “
“The treatment and prognosis of patients with NSCLC depend on disease staging (the determination of anatomic extent of disease at initial presentation) [1] and [2].

, 2005), our research did not find a significant association betw

, 2005), our research did not find a significant association between the

CRP gene and the metabolic syndrome. However, we showed an interaction between CRP rs1205 and affective status on the risk of the metabolic syndrome. Our finding of adolescent emotional problems being associated with elevated risk for the metabolic syndrome only in rs1205 CC homozygotes may be linked to their higher CRP levels. According the study by Halder et al., C allele carriers had a higher mean CRP level than the TT genotype ( Halder et al., 2010). Consistently with this finding, we showed that depressive symptoms were associated with higher risk Akt inhibitor of the metabolic syndrome only in CC homozygotes, possibly through higher level of inflammation. The same study also reported interaction effect between three-marker haplotype (A–G–T, rs1417938–rs1800947–rs1205) and depressive symptoms on the higher level of CRP ( Halder et al., 2010). Unfortunately, our results are not directly comparable with these findings, since we do not have the information on the two other SNPs. It is possible that this three-marker haplotype, with T allele of rs1205, captures another functional significant variant within CRP gene. Our findings are in line with

the following hypothesis explaining the association Epigenetics Compound Library in vitro between depression and the metabolic syndrome: that depression dysregulates immune system pathways in ways that promote inflammation and through inflammation lead to higher risk of the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies have shown that early life trauma, with or without clinical depression, is associated with clinically significant levels of inflammation in adulthood (Danese

et al., 2007 and Pace et al., 2006). Stress system activation might promote inflammation process through several mechanisms: through activation of the sympathetic nervous system, through vagal withdrawal or through the development of glucocorticoid resistance associated with increased cytokine production (Raison et al., 2006). Thus, HPA axis hyperactivity and autonomic nervous system dysfunction could be one Oxymatrine plausible mechanism that explains how emotional problems in adolescence affect the metabolic syndrome in adulthood via the inflammation process (Kop and Gottdiener, 2005). In conclusion, we find that adolescent emotional problems are associated with the metabolic syndrome 40 years later, in women but not in men, although this sex difference was not statistically significant. We also show that a CRP polymorphism modifies the association between adolescent affective status and the metabolic syndrome. This suggests that inflammatory system genes could provide a link between depression and the metabolic syndrome but through more complex interactions than simple associations. Funding organisations had no role in design and conduct of the study or in preparation of the manuscript. The authors have no conflict of interests to disclosure.

Samples were tested at three different concentrations (5, 15 and

Samples were tested at three different concentrations (5, 15 and 30 μg/mL). Three cell culture flasks were used for each concentration/experiment totalizing 6 different volunteers. The mutagenic potential on human cell cultures was analyzed for B. jararacussu, B. alternatus, B. atrox, B. moojeni and B. brazili crude venoms and isolated toxins (BthTX-I,

BthTX-II, BjussuMP-II and BatxLAAO). The samples were added 24 h after the initiation of the cultures. After 44 h, cytochalasin-B (4 μg/mL, Sigma) was added to the cultures. The CBMN test preparations were performed according to Fenech and Morley, 1985a and Fenech and Morley, 1985b. The analyses were carried out after 72 h. Scores were taken according to the criteria of Fenech (2000). All slides

were coded and scored blindly. Three slides were made for each flask/treatment/experiment, AZD6244 clinical trial and 1000 binuclear cells were counted considering the presence or absence of micronuclei, this way making it possible to determine the genotoxic effect of venoms or isolated toxins. Based on the values obtained for the controls that contained only cells and culture media, in which the micronuclei formation mean was of approximately 1.0, mean values higher than 2 micronuclei/1000 binuclear cells (MN/1000 BN cells) were considered significant for the assayed samples. The antineoplastic drug, Cisplatin (PLATINIL®, Quiral Química do Brasil S.A.) (6 μg/mL) was used as positive control. The cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI) was calculated by counting 500 cells, considering the number of nuclei (mono, bi, tri or tetranucleated). The CBPI defines whether the Lumacaftor cultures are multiplying normally after the addition of samples. The following formula was used according

to Kirsch-Volders (1997): CBPI = [1 (mono) + 2 (bi) + 3 (tri + tetra)] / 500. This test was performed according to the methodology described by Singh et al. (1988). The lymphocytes were cultured in total blood obtained from 6 healthy volunteers and each one corresponded to one experiment. The concentration and incubation times were performed according to Marcussi Phospholipase D1 et al. (2011). Three cell culture flasks were used for each treatment/experiment, and the culture period was of 7 h at 37 °C. The cells were incubated with different treatments for 4 h at 37 °C, and were then utilized to prepare the slides before the first cellular division. A cellular suspension containing approximately 105 cells/mL was used to obtain 5–8 million cells per slide. Three slides were made for each flask of each treatment/experiment, although only 100 nucleoids were evaluated per flask/treatment/experiment-volunteer, totalizing 300 nucleoids/treatment/volunteer. Approximately 60 μL of each cell culture were transferred to microtubes containing 300 μL of LMP (low melting point) agarose, for the slides preparation in triplicate.

Our reported

post-operative transfusion rate of 43% is ve

Our reported

post-operative transfusion rate of 43% is very similar to those reported elsewhere [28] and [29]. The reason Selleckchem BLU9931 for the higher rate of peri-operative transfusion in patients with DSA compared with Non-DSA is therefore uncertain. It may be due to the greater medical and surgical complexities of this patient group and their greater waiting time on dialysis for example. However, it is notable that there was no difference in gender, re-transplantation, deceased donors or Pre-RBCT between the DSA and Non-DSA groups at time of surgery, or between the haemoglobin at surgery or at 1 month post-surgery. Although residual confounding by indication remains possible, it is not possible to either entirely adjust or explain and this difference requires further testing. The immunological interaction of blood transfusion and transplantation is complex. Pre-RBCT is associated with better graft outcomes and less acute rejection, and this is suggested to be due to immunomodulation with down-regulation of an immune response and the induction of regulatory T-cells [11] and [30]. Indeed

our study confirms the continued benefit of Pre-RBCT alone with this group having the lowest rate of Non-AMR. We also confirm that Pre-RBCT is still associated with an increased risk of HLA-antibody sensitisation. Several recent reports [28] and [29] raise some concern that post-operative transfusion is associated with poor graft outcome. However these studies did not consider sensitisation or prior transfusion http://www.selleckchem.com/products/z-vad-fmk.html as potential modifiers and these factors may account for their conflicting conclusions. Here we report that peri-operative blood transfusion is associated with an increased risk of AMR, but only in recipients with pre-transplant DSA detected using solid phase assays, all of whom had been previously

exposed to RBCT and other sensitising events. This effect of peri-operative transfusion was not found in recipients without DSA, suggesting that the combination of DSA and peri-operative blood transfusion may be particularly detrimental to the transplanted Gemcitabine molecular weight graft. Importantly, adverse events after peri-operative blood transfusion included not only antibody mediated rejection, but also poorer long term graft outcome and recipient death, independent of the risk of AMR and Non-AMR, consistent with the findings of O’Brien et al. [28]. In light of our findings it is worth considering the immunological mechanisms whereby blood transfusion could increase the pathogenicity of pre-existing DSA. This might be through direct quantitative or qualitative alterations in antibody or indirectly via specific transfusion factors. Scornik et al. [16] have previously identified that re-exposure to blood in those with prior sensitising events such as transplant or pregnancy elicits a broad antibody response; findings that are consistent with our study.

The more distant matches are diverse, and somewhat different for

The more distant matches are diverse, and somewhat different for the two subunits. Two sets of putative pyruvate oxidoreductase (Por) genes are found in the BOGUAY genome, one for the homodimeric form (PorABCD, Fig. S6E) related to several

gamma- and betaproteobacterial sequences and another for a possible multisubunit type (PorAB, PorC, PorD, Fig. S7). The PorAB sequence is most closely related to one from Symbiobacterium thermophilum ATCC 14863 (a species also seen in the PorABCD tree), and more distantly to a large group of Bacilli. S. thermophilum is a clostridial strain isolated see more from compost, which grows in apparently obligate association with a Geobacillus strain ( Ohno et al., 2000) from whom it obtains CO2 ( Ueda and Beppu, 2007) and may also have obtained one set of Por genes. The putative PorD and PorC have a somewhat similar set of affiliates, notably including sequences from Thermotogales and diverse Archaea, but appear to be divergent from all of these. The three pathways just considered – the Calvin–Benson–Bassham and

the oxidative and reverse tricarboxylic acid cycles – seem to be encoded by mosaics of vertically and horizontally transmitted genes, with the horizontally transmitted ones often at key branch points. For the CBB, RuBisCO (carrying out the initial carbon fixation step) and one of two possible PPi-dependent 6-phosphofructokinases (proposed to be part of an energy-conserving CBB variant Kleiner et al., 2012) are the only two genes where the BOGUAY inferred Selleck Alpelisib amino acid sequence is not most closely related to that from BgP (where found) or B. alba. In the TCA and rTCA cycles, the carboxylation (rTCA) or decarboxylation (TCA) steps likewise appear Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II to be carried out by enzymes with histories of horizontal transfer (PdhAB, KorAB, AclAB, PorAB, IcdA), with the BOGUAY sequences having few or no close gammaproteobacterial relatives. SdhABC, which can link the (r)TCA cycle to the electron

transport chain in its role as Complex II, appears to have been acquired by the marine Beggiatoaceae (BOGUAY, BgP, BgS) at some point after these diverged from B. alba, or to have been preferentially retained by them. Interestingly, the BOGUAY genome appears to lack the membrane-anchor subunit SdhD, while BgP and B. alba are both annotated as having one (Table S5); if it is actually missing, the connection to electron transport may be as well. Analysis of additional Beggiatoaceae genome sequences should shed light on when and in which species the current patchwork was assembled, and how this process may have been governed by the environmental conditions (oxygen, CO2, and organic carbon availability) encountered by different strains. Identification of a possible sodium:acetate symporter (00830_3288) suggests that the BOGUAY strain may be facultatively heterotrophic.

, Tokyo, Japan) at an accelerating potential of 15 kV We measure

, Tokyo, Japan) at an accelerating potential of 15 kV. We measured the transparency of the native and milled starched as previously described ABT199 [11]. Briefly, aqueous suspensions (1%) of the samples were heated in a water bath at 85 °C for 20 min with constant stirring and then cooled for 1 h at room temperature. The transparency was determined by measuring the translucence of the particles at 650 nm against a water blank with a 721-Spectrophotometer (Precise Scientific Instrument Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China). The stability of the maize starch following freeze–thaw was determined according to the Srichuwong method [12] with minor modifications. Briefly, approximately 5 g (dry weight basis) of each sample

was dissolved in deionized water (100 mL), creating a 5% starch dispersion. Heating and cooling were performed as follows: heating from 50 to 95 °C at 6 °C/min TGF-beta pathway (after an equilibration time of 1 min at 50 °C), a holding period at 95 °C for 5 min, cooling from 95 to 50 °C at 6 °C/min, and a holding phase at 50 °C for 2 min. The constant rotating speed of the paddle was maintained at 160 rpm. The resulting gel was allowed to cool at room temperature

for 15 min, and the gel (5 ± 0.5 g) was transferred to a 25 mL centrifugal tube, stored at −18 °C for 21 h, and then thawed at 30 °C for 3 h in a water bath incubator. This freeze–thaw cycle (FTC) was repeated up to five times. Finally, the tubes were centrifuged at 8000 × g

for 10 min and the released free water was carefully weighed. All experiments were conducted in triplicate and the data were analyzed using SPSS Program Version 16.0. For each data set, we performed an analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the least significant difference test (LSD-test). The level of significance used was 95%. In all cases, a value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Following 5 h of milling, we first determined the particle size (diameter; 10%, 50%, and 90% of the cumulative particle volume) and span (the width of the volume distribution) for each maize starch sample (Table 1). Results revealed that the span of the ball-milled maize starch granules (processed Benzatropine in both the ceramic and stainless steel pot) increased significantly above that of the relatively narrow and uniform size distribution found in the untreated maize starch granules (p < 0.05). This increase in size can be explained by the fact that the effect of the ball-milling treatment process can be broadly divided into both grinding and mechanical activation processes. During the milling process, the grinding and mechanical mechanisms are in a dynamic equilibrium that depends on the granule size throughout the tough–brittle transition [13]. During mechanical activation, starch granules are broken into smaller particle sizes that clump together into lumps or adhere to the surface of larger granules.