Electroporation-Induced Cell Modifications Detected with THz Time-Domain Spectroscopy

Electroporation (electropermeabilization) increases the electrical conductivity of biological cell membranes and lowers transport barriers for normally impermeant materials. Molecular simulations suggest that electroporation begins with the reorganization of water and lipid head group dipoles in the phospholipid bilayer interface, driven by an externally applied electric field, and the evolution of the resulting defects into water-filled, lipid pores. The interior of the electroporated membrane thus contains water, which should provide a signature for detection of the electropermeabilized state. In this feasibility study, we use THz time-domain spectroscopy, a powerful tool for investigating biomolecular systems and their interactions with water, to detect electroporation in human cells subjected to permeabilizing pulsed electric fields (PEFs). The time-domain response of electroporated human monocytes was acquired with a commercial THz, time-domain spectrometer. For each sample, frequency spectra were calculated, and the absorption coefficient and refractive index were extracted in the frequency range between 0.2 and 1.5 THz. This analysis reveals a higher absorption of THz radiation by PEF-exposed cells, with respect to sham-exposed ones, consistent with the intrusion of water into the cell through the permeabilized membrane that is presumed to be associated with electroporation.     

S-map and tracial states

The notion of s-map introduced in quantum logics to define conditional expectations for non-compatible events is studied in projection lattices of von Neumann algebras. It is shown that every tracial state gives rise to an s-map, and conversely, every s-map defines a tracial state.     

Pattern formation in models of fixed-bed reactors

This work reviews and compares spatiotemporal patterns in three models of adiabatic fixed catalytic beds for reactions with oscillatory kinetics: homogeneous and heterogeneous models, which are studied using generic first-order kinetics, and a detailed model of CO oxidation in the monolithic reactor. These three models describe reactors with one, two or all three phases (fluid-, solid- and adsorbed-phases), respectively. Pattern selection is based on the oscillatory or bistable nature of the kinetics and on the nature of fronts. The heterogenous and detailed models may exhibit local bistability while the homogeneous model does not admit this property: a simple conversion between the parameters of the homogeneous and heterogeneous models is suggested.

The spatiotemporal patterns in the reactor can be predicted from the sequence of phase planes spanned by the reactor. Stationary or oscillatory front solutions, oscillatory states that sweep the whole surface or excitation fronts may be realized in the homogeneous and heterogeneous models. The detailed model of the converter may exhibit oscillatory motion, which may be periodic or chaotic, in which typically a hot domain enters the reactor exit and moves quickly upstream; the following extinction occurs almost simultaneously due to strong coupling by convection.     

Study of Evaporative Convection in an Open Cavity under Shear Stress Flow

When a layer of volatile liquid is exposed to a shear flow of inert gas, thermal patterns, in the form of interfacial ripples and bulk plumes, are created by the combined action of evaporative, shear-driven and surface-tension-driven instabilities. The topology of the interfacial thermal patterns is mainly influenced by the geometry of the evaporating surface, the thickness of the evaporating layer, the intensity of the shear flow and by the physic-chemical properties of the working fluid. In this paper, by means of numerical simulations, we focused our attention on the dynamics of the interfacial thermal patterns for different working fluids and thicknesses of the volatile liquid layer. This study has been performed in the frame of the ESA sponsored Space Program on heat and mass transfer CIMEX-1. The choice of the fluids—ethyl alcohol and FC72 (n-perfluorohexane)—the reference values for the inert gas flow rate, the thickness of the liquid layer as well as the geometrical features of the computational domain correspond exactly to the ones foreseen for the CIMEX-1 experiment. However, the main conclusions can be considered of more general validity.     

A stochastic method for stand-alone photovoltaic system sizing

Photovoltaic systems utilize solar energy to generate electrical energy to meet load demands. Optimal sizing of these systems includes the characterization of solar radiation. Solar radiation at the Earth’s surface has random characteristics and has been the focus of various academic studies. The objective of this study was to stochastically analyze parameters involved in the sizing of photovoltaic generators and develop a methodology for sizing of stand-alone photovoltaic systems. Energy storage for isolated systems and solar radiation were analyzed stochastically due to their random behavior. For the development of the methodology proposed stochastic analysis were studied including the Markov chain and beta probability density function. The obtained results were compared with those for sizing of stand-alone using from the Sandia method (deterministic), in which the stochastic model presented more reliable values. Both models present advantages and disadvantages, however, the stochastic one is more complex and provides more reliable and realistic results.     

ELECTROPHORETIC MOBILITY AND STABILIZATION OF ASPHALTENES IN LOW CONDUCTIVITY MEDIA

ABSTRACT

The electrophoretic mobilities of asphaltenes in n-heptane and ethanol were determined. The asphaltenes studied show a positive charge in both solvents. However, the magnitude of the charge is considerably lower in n-heptane than in ethanol. It is concluded that although the electrostatic forces are presented in both solvents, the van der Waals’ atractive forces are the main responsable for the flocculation of asphaltene particles. The addition of a well known asphaltene stabilizer, dodecyl benzene sulphonic acid (DBSA), decreases the electrophoretic mobility of asphaltene particles in ethanol until a constant positive value is reached. This means that the neutralization of the positive charges of the asphaltene particles is not complete, probably due to the limited adsorption of the DBSA on asphaltene surface and also, to the presence of charges inside the asphaltene particles that are not accessible to the DBSA.     

Effect of cooking and germination on phenolic composition and biological properties of dark beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Legumes are the base´s diet in several countries. They hold a high nutritional value, but other properties related to human health are nowadays being studied. The aim of this work was to study the influence of processes (boiling or germination) on the phenolic composition of dark beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. c.v. Tolosana) and their effect on their antioxidant, neuroprotective and anticancer ability. Phenolic composition of raw and processed dark beans was analysed by HPLC-PAD and HPLC–ESI/MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by ORAC. Astrocytes cultures (U-373) have been used to test their neuroprotective effect. Anticancer activities were evaluated on three different cell lines (renal adenocarcinoma (TK-10), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and melanoma (UACC-62)) by sulphorhodamine B method. Qualitative and quantitative differences in phenolic composition have been observed between raw and processed dark beans that influence the antioxidant activity, mainly for germinated samples which show a decrease of antioxidant capacity. Although every assayed extracts decreased reactive oxygen species release and exhibited cytotoxicity activities on cancer cell lines, raw beans proved to be the most active in neuroprotective and antitumoral effects; this sample is especially rich in phenolic compounds, mainly anthocyanins. This study further demonstrated that phenolic composition of dark beans is related with cooking process and so with their neuroprotective and anticancer activity; cooking of dark beans improves their digestion and absorption at intestinal level, while maintaining its protective ability on oxidative process at cellular level.     

Harnessing “Click”‐Type Chemistry for the Preparation of Novel Electronic Materials

Sequence‐independent or “click”‐type chemistry is applied for the preparation of novel π‐conjugated oligomers. A variety of bi‐functional monomers for Wittig–Horner olefination are developed and applied in a sequential protection–deprotection process for the preparation of structurally similar π‐conjugated oligomers. Selected oligomers are incorporated as the organic semiconductors in light‐emitting diodes and a field‐effect transistor, demonstrating the potential of the approach.     

Surface area production during grinding

During grinding, in cascading mills, the mass distribution of the material moves continuously to finer sizes. Grinding models are usually designed to predict the size distribution of the mill products either as a function of effective breakage events and the time or the energy consumed by the mill. Mill products are always tested for their size analysis and their fineness is usually expressed as the size d through which a certain amount of material passes, i.e. d₈₀. However, particulate materials have some supplementary properties that a grinding model should predict as well. The specific surface area is such an important supplementary property. Initially, the present work examines the relationship between mass distribution and the surface area of ground materials and determines the conditions under which, mass distribution can be used to determine the surface area. Based on these findings the work further examines the operating conditions of a cascading mill under which the surface area of the material increases at the highest rate. The operating parameter examined is the mill load ratio expressed as the mass ratio of mill grinding media and the material present in the mill.     

Antimicrobial Activity of a Pullulan–Caraway Essential Oil Coating on Reduction of Food Microorganisms and Quality in Fresh Baby Carrot

This research evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of pullulan films containing caraway essential oil (CEO). The films were prepared from a 10% of pullulan, containing from 0.12% to 10.0% of CEO. The composition of the CEO was analyzed with the use of gas chromatography. The antimicrobial activity of the CEO was evaluated with the method of serial microdilutions, and the films containing CEO—with the agar diffusion method against selected Gram‐negative, Gram‐positive bacteria, and fungi. The structure of the film surface and its cross‐section were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Analyses were also carried out to determine the efficacy of a pullulan coating with 10% CEO on baby carrots experimentally inoculated with Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or Aspergillus niger and stored at a room temperature for 7 d. At a concentration of 0.12%, CEO inhibited the growth of all the tested microorganisms. Pullulan films containing 8% to 10% of CEO were active against all tested microorganisms. Populations of S. aureus on carrot samples were reduced by approximately 3 log CFU/g, while those of A. niger and S. cerevisiae by, respectively, 5 and 4 log CFU/g, after 7 d of storage. S. enteritidis was the most resistant among the tested species, since it was not significantly reduced after 7 d of storage. At the end of storage, samples treated with pullulan–caraway oil coating maintained better visual acceptability than control samples. Results of this study suggest the feasibility of applying a pullulan film with incorporated CEO to extend the microbiological stability of minimally processed foods.