Physiologic considerations facilitation

With so many different neurosteroids with differing and even opposing neuronal effects, much will depend on their relative concentrations at any time and any evaluation of their function must take this into consideration. Hopefully the synthesis and use of appropriate antagonists will throw more light on the physiological role of steroids in the CNS and facilitate the development and clinical use of new neuroactive steroids (see Gasior et al. 1999). 

Facilitated" transfer of solutes in liquid membranes has been also an active field of research. This process, which has been investigated in physiological systems, may be used for separation purposes indeed, there has been considerable interest in COo selective liquid membranes, but so far no commercial application have been reported. "Facilitated" transport in a liquid membrane has also been applied in extraction of metals and progress in this area was the topic of a recent seminar (39). 

A novel aspect of bioreactor application that is currently under consideration is the use of bioreactors as shipping containers. That is, small, portable, battery-operated, stand-alone units capable of maintaining all key design aspects (temperature/pH control, sterility, mass transfer and physiological stimulation) over relatively short periods of time (1-2 days) to facilitate the shipment of viable tissue... 

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