Evaluation of alginate hydrogels under in vivo–like bioreactor conditions for cartilage tissue engineering

Alginate hydrogels in forms of discs and packed beds of microbeads (~800 μm) were tested in a novel bioreactor at 10% strain using two regimes: at a loading rate of 337.5 μm/s and at sequential increments of 50 μm displacement every 30 min. Compressive strength increased with the increase in alginate concentration (1.5 vs. 2% w/w) and the content of guluronic residues (38.5 vs. 67%). Packed beds of microbeads exhibited significantly higher (~1.5–3.4 fold) compression moduli than the respective discs indicating the effects of gel form and entrapped water. Short-term cultivation of microbeads with immobilized bovine calf chondrocytes (1.5% w/w, 33 × 10⁶ cells/ml) under biomimetic conditions (dynamic compression: 1 h on/1 h off, 0.42 Hz, 10% strain) resulted in cell proliferation and bed compaction, so that the compression modulus slightly increased. Thus, the novel bioreactor demonstrated advantages in evaluation of biomaterial properties and cell-biomaterial interactions under in vivo–like settings.     

Variable neighbourhood decomposition search for 0–1 mixed integer programs

In this paper we propose a new hybrid heuristic for solving 0–1 mixed integer programs based on the principle of variable neighbourhood decomposition search. It combines variable neighbourhood search with a general-purpose CPLEX MIP solver. We perform systematic hard variable fixing (or diving) following the variable neighbourhood search rules. The variables to be fixed are chosen according to their distance from the corresponding linear relaxation solution values. If there is an improvement, variable neighbourhood descent branching is performed as the local search in the whole solution space. Numerical experiments have proven that exploiting boundary effects in this way considerably improves solution quality. With our approach, we have managed to improve the best known published results for 8 out of 29 instances from a well-known class of very difficult MIP problems. Moreover, computational results show that our method outperforms the CPLEX MIP solver, as well as three other recent most successful MIP solution methods.     

The simple one-step solvothermal synthesis of nanostructurated VO2(B)

VO₂(B) has been successfully synthesized by simple, facile and environmental friendly one-step solvothermal method using V₂O₅ and ethanol as a starting agent. Obtained micrometer-sized powder was composed from mutually welded nanosized rod-like, flat and snowflake structures. VO₂(B) powder was tested for possible application as anode material for aqueous lithium ion batteries. Lithium intercalation/deintercalation reaction has been carried out by cyclic voltammetry in a saturated aqueous solution of LiNO₃. At scan rate of 10 mV s^?1 very stable cyclic performance of such obtained VO₂ was established with discharge capacity around 184 mAh g^?1.     

Free radical scavenging activity of morin 2'-O(-) phenoxide anion

Due to intramolecular H-atom transfer, deprotonation of the most acidic 3-OH group of morin yields 2'-O(-) phenoxide anion. The reaction enthalpies related to mechanisms of free radical scavenging activity of this dominant species at a physiological pH of 7.4 were calculated by PM6 and DFT methods in gas-phase, water, benzene and DMSO. Results indicate the 4'-OH group of 2'-O(-) phenoxide anion is the active site for radical inactivation. The thermodynamically favoured mechanism depends on the polarity of the reaction media: in polar solvents (water and DMSO), the sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET) mechanism is preferred while in non-polar benzene (and in gas-phase), the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanism is responsible for the free radical scavenging activity of the morin phenoxide anion. Results show that the fast, semiempirical PM6 method fairly mimics more accurate, though time-consuming DFT methodologies.     

Assessment of changes in desorption mechanism of MgH2 after ion bombardment induced destabilization

This paper deals with non-isothermal kinetics models of hydrogen desorption from MgH₂ altered by ion bombardment and stresses the importance of the MgH₂ surface during its decomposition. In the case of argon-irradiated samples, where defects are induced in the near-surface region, the Avrami Erofeev mechanism with parameter n = 2 can be adopted while in the case of boron-irradiated samples, where defects are created deeper in the bulk, the desorption mechanism is the same with n = 3. The difference is possibly related to the concentration and good dispersion of defects in near-surface region in the samples.     

Systematic Evaluation of Extraction Methods for Multiplatform-Based Metabotyping: Application to the Fasciola hepatica Metabolome

Combining data from multiple analytical platforms is essential for comprehensive study of the molecular phenotype (metabotype) of a given biological sample. The metabolite profiles generated are intrinsically dependent on the analytical platforms, each requiring optimization of instrumental parameters, separation conditions, and sample extraction to deliver maximal biological information. An in-depth evaluation of extraction protocols for characterizing the metabolome of the hepatobiliary fluke Fasciola hepatica , using ultra performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis coupled with mass spectroscopy is presented. The spectrometric methods were characterized by performance, and metrics of merit were established, including precision, mass accuracy, selectivity, sensitivity, and platform stability. Although a core group of molecules was common to all methods, each platform contributed a unique set, whereby 142 metabolites out of 14,724 features were identified. A mixture design revealed that the chloroform:methanol:water proportion of 15:59:26 was globally the best composition for metabolite extraction across UPLC-MS and CE-MS platforms accommodating different columns and ionization modes. Despite the general assumption of the necessity of platform-adapted protocols for achieving effective metabotype characterization, we show that an appropriately designed single extraction procedure is able to fit the requirements of all technologies. This may constitute a paradigm shift in developing efficient protocols for high-throughput metabolite profiling with more-general analytical applicability.     

Immobilization of olfactory receptors onto gold electrodes for electrical biosensor

We investigate the immobilization of native nanovesicles containing functional olfactory receptors onto gold electrodes by means of atomic force microscopy in liquid. We show that nanovesicles can be adsorbed without disrupting them presenting sizes once immobilized ranging from 50 nm to 200 nm in diameter. The size of the nanovesicles shows no dependence on the electrode hydrophobicity being constant in a height/width ratio close to 1:3. Nevertheless, electrode hydrophobicity does affect the surface coverage, the surface coverage is five times higher in hydrophilic electrodes than on hydrophobic ones. Surface coverage is also affected by nanovesicles dimensions in suspension, the size homogenization to around 50 nm yields a further five fold increment in surface coverage achieving a coverage of about 50% close to the hard spheres jamming limit (54.7%). A single layer of nanovesicles is always formed with no particle overlap. Present results provide insights into the immobilization on electrodes of olfactory receptors for further olfactory electrical biosensor development.     

Silver/poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) hydrogel nanocomposites obtained by electrochemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles inside the polymer hydrogel aimed for biomedical applications

Silver nanoparticles were produced inside a poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) hydrogel (PVP) by an innovative method based on the electrochemical reduction of Ag⁺ ions within the swollen PVP hydrogel. UV‐visible spectroscopy showed the highest value of the absorbance intensity and the lowest values of the wavelength of the absorbance maximum and the full width at the half‐maximum absorbance for the Ag/PVP nanocomposite obtained at 200 V during 4 min. Cyclic voltammetry results suggested an adequate entrapment of the silver nanoparticles. The mechanical properties under bioreactor conditions of the Ag/PVP nanocomposite suggested the possibility of wound dressing application. Silver release from Ag/PVP nanocomposites was confirmed under static conditions as well as by their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:217–226, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A Review on Kombucha Tea—Microbiology,Composition, Fermentation,Beneficial Effects,Toxicity, and Tea Fungus

Fermentation of sugared tea with a symbiotic culture of acetic acid bacteria and yeast (tea fungus) yields kombucha tea which is consumed worldwide for its refreshing and beneficial properties on human health. Important progress has been made in the past decade concerning research findings on kombucha tea and reports claiming that drinking kombucha can prevent various types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, promote liver functions, and stimulate the immune system. Considering the widespread reports on kombucha, we recognized the need to review and update the research conducted in relation to kombucha tea, its products and tea fungus. Existing reports have suggested that the protective effects of kombucha tea are as good as those of black tea, however, more studies on kombucha tea and its composition are needed before final conclusions can be made.     

Contents of cadmium, copper, mercury and lead in fish from the Neretva river (Bosnia and Herzegovina) determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

The concentrations of cadmium, copper, mercury and lead in fish from the Neretva river have been investigated in order to assess safety for consumers and the level of contamination. Samples of muscle and liver from six fish species (brown trout, common carp, prussian carp, chub, rudd and gray mullet) were collected at six locations upstream and downstream from the three largest towns along the Neretva river. Metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid mineralisation. Accumulation of metals in fish tissues was species-dependent. The average content of metals in fish muscle samples was 0.013-0.055, 0.068-16.059, 0.050-0.401 and 0.055-0.703 mg/kg for Cd, Cu, Hg and Pb, respectively. Health effects due to fish consumption could not be excluded. Further investigation is recommended, including a survey of fish consumption frequency among the local inhabitants and sports fishermen.