Development of green extraction process to produce antioxidant-rich extracts from purple coneflower

The present study was conducted to develop subcritical water extraction (SWE) of Echinacea purpurea flowers. The influence of temperature and extraction time on quality of extracts considering total phenols content, total flavonoids content, antioxidant capacity and extraction yield, was determined. Optimized extraction parameters for maximised investigated responses were as follows: 147.56 °C and 8.43 min. The experimental values agreed with the values predicted, thus indicating the adequacy of central composite experimental design for modelling the SWE of bioactive compounds from E. purpurea. Results of the study also highlighted the potential application of E. purpurea subcritical water extracts as a source of valuable bioactive compounds.     

Robust adaptive control for unmatched systems with guaranteed parameter estimation convergence

This paper provides a modified model reference adaptive control (MRAC) scheme to achieve better transient control performance for systems with unknown unmatched dynamics, where an adaptive law with guaranteed convergence is introduced. We first revisit the standard MRAC system and analyze the tracking error bound by using L₂‐norm and Cauchy‐Schwartz inequality. Based on this analysis, we suggest a feasible way to compensate the undesired transient dynamics induced by the gradient descent–based adaptive laws subject to sluggish convergence or even parameter drift. Then, a modified adaptive law with an alternative leakage term containing the parameter estimation error is developed. With this adaptive law, the convergence of both the estimation error and tracking error can be proved simultaneously. This enhanced convergence property can contribute to deriving smoother control signal and improved control response. Moreover, this paper provides a simple and numerically feasible approach to online verify the well‐known persistent excitation condition by testing the positive definiteness of an introduced auxiliary matrix. Comparative simulations based on a benchmark 3‐DOF helicopter model are given to validate the effectiveness of the proposed MRAC approach and show the improved performance over several other MRAC schemes.     

Small scale experiments and Fe model validation of structural response during hydrogen vented deflagrations

University of Pisa (UNIPI) conducted a series of vented deflagration tests at B. Guerrini Laboratory. The tests were part of the experimental campaign performed by UNIPI for the European HySEA project (Hydrogen Safety for Energy Applications). Experiments included homogeneous hydrogen-air mixture contained in an about 1 m³ enclosure, called SSE (Small Scale Enclosure). The mixture concentration was variable between 10% and 18% vol. During the deflagrations, structural response was investigated by measuring the displacement of a test plate. The collected data were used to validate the FE model developed by IMPETUS Afea. In this paper experimental facility, displacement measurement system and FE model are briefly described, then comparison between experimental data and simulation results is discussed.     

Effect of spheroidized microstructure on the impact toughness and electrochemical performance of a high-carbon steel

The influence of cementite spheroidization on the impact toughness and electrochemical properties of a high-carbon steel has been thoroughly investigated in this study. Heavy warm rolling, followed by 2 h of annealing, has resulted in near-complete spheroidization, leading to a microstructure consisting of nano-cementite globules dispersed in the ultrafine-grained ferritic matrix. The Charpy impact test exhibited superior impact toughness with increased spheroidization. It is validated by the presence of abundant dimples in the fractographs of spheroidized specimens, in contrast to the as-received one that experienced a brittle failure due to its lamellar pearlitic structure. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) carried out in a 3.5% NaCl solution revealed that the corrosion resistance of the alloy gets improved with the increase in the degree of spheroidization. This is attributed to the lower susceptibility of the spheroidized specimen to microgalvanic corrosion owing to the minimum area of contact between nano-spheroidized cementite and ferrite, as elucidated with the help of EIS results aided by equivalent electrical circuit model.     

The validation and further development of a multidimensional cognitive load scale for virtual environments

Measuring cognitive load is important in virtual learning environments (VLE). Thus, valid and reliable measures of cognitive load are important to support instructional design in VLE. Through three studies, we investigated the validity and reliability of Leppink's Cognitive Load Scale (CLS) and developed the extraneous cognitive load (EL) dimension into three sub-scales relevant for VLE: EL instructions, EL interaction, and EL environment. We investigated the validity of the measures using the Partial Credit Model (PCM), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and correlations with retention tests. Study 1 (n = 73) investigated the adapted version of the CLS. Study 2 describes the development and validation of the Multidimensional Cognitive Load Scale for Virtual Environments (MCLSVE), with 140 students in higher education. Study 3 tested the generalizability of the results with 121 higher education students in a more complicated VLE. The results provide initial evidence for the validity and reliability of the MCLSVE.     

Application of the Antibody-Inducing Activity of Glycosphingolipids to Human Diseases

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are composed of a mono-, di-, or oligosaccharide and a ceramide and function as constituents of cell membranes. Various molecular species of GSLs have been identified in mammalian cells due to differences in the structures of oligosaccharides. The oligosaccharide structure can vary depending on cell lineage, differentiation stage, and pathology; this property can be used as a cell identification marker. Furthermore, GSLs are involved in various aspects of the immune response, such as cytokine production, immune signaling, migration of immune cells, and antibody production. GSLs containing certain structures exhibit strong immunogenicity in immunized animals and promote the production of anti-GSL antibodies. By exploiting this property, it is possible to generate antibodies that recognize the fine oligosaccharide structure of specific GSLs or glycoproteins. In our study using artificially synthesized GSLs (artGSLs), we found that several structural features are correlated with the antibody-inducing activity of GSLs. Based on these findings, we designed artGSLs that efficiently induce the production of antibodies accompanied by class switching and developed several antibodies that recognize not only certain glycan structures of GSLs but also those of glycoproteins. This review comprehensively introduces the immune activities of GSLs and their application as pharmaceuticals.     

Rapid Hormetic Responses of Photosystem II Photochemistry of Clary Sage to Cadmium Exposure

Five-day exposure of clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) to 100 μM cadmium (Cd) in hydroponics was sufficient to increase Cd concentrations significantly in roots and aboveground parts and affect negatively whole plant levels of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), since Cd competes for Ca channels, while reduced Mg concentrations are associated with increased Cd tolerance. Total zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) uptake increased but their translocation to the aboveground parts decreased. Despite the substantial levels of Cd in leaves, without any observed defects on chloroplast ultrastructure, an enhanced photosystem II (PSII) efficiency was observed, with a higher fraction of absorbed light energy to be directed to photochemistry (Φ_PSΙΙ). The concomitant increase in the photoprotective mechanism of non-photochemical quenching of photosynthesis (NPQ) resulted in an important decrease in the dissipated non-regulated energy (Φ_NO), modifying the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS), through a decreased singlet oxygen (¹O₂) formation. A basal ROS level was detected in control plant leaves for optimal growth, while a low increased level of ROS under 5 days Cd exposure seemed to be beneficial for triggering defense responses, and a high level of ROS out of the boundaries (8 days Cd exposure), was harmful to plants. Thus, when clary sage was exposed to Cd for a short period, tolerance mechanisms were triggered. However, exposure to a combination of Cd and high light or to Cd alone (8 days) resulted in an inhibition of PSII functionality, indicating Cd toxicity. Thus, the rapid activation of PSII functionality at short time exposure and the inhibition at longer duration suggests a hormetic response and describes these effects in terms of “adaptive response” and “toxicity”, respectively.     

Antithrombin and Its Role in Host Defense and Inflammation

Antithrombin (AT) is a natural anticoagulant that interacts with activated proteases of the coagulation system and with heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) on the surface of cells. The protein, which is synthesized in the liver, is also essential to confer the effects of therapeutic heparin. However, AT levels drop in systemic inflammatory diseases. The reason for this decline is consumption by the coagulation system but also by immunological processes. Aside from the primarily known anticoagulant effects, AT elicits distinct anti-inflammatory signaling responses. It binds to structures of the glycocalyx (syndecan-4) and further modulates the inflammatory response of endothelial cells and leukocytes by interacting with surface receptors. Additionally, AT exerts direct antimicrobial effects: depending on AT glycosylation it can bind to and perforate bacterial cell walls. Peptide fragments derived from proteolytic degradation of AT exert antibacterial properties. Despite these promising characteristics, therapeutic supplementation in inflammatory conditions has not proven to be effective in randomized control trials. Nevertheless, new insights provided by subgroup analyses and retrospective trials suggest that a recommendation be made to identify the patient population that would benefit most from AT substitution. Recent experiment findings place the role of various AT isoforms in the spotlight. This review provides an overview of new insights into a supposedly well-known molecule.     

响应面法优化农产品中抗性淀粉的体外检测

目的 采用响应面法优化农产品中抗性淀粉(Resistant Starch, RS)的体外检测方法。方法 选择谷类、薯类、豆类3类抗性淀粉主要来源的农产品，设计单因素试验和Box-Behnken试验。单因素试验考察了水浴时间、淀粉葡萄糖苷酶（AMYLOGLUCOSIDASE, AMG）作用温度、AMG作用时间、AMG添加量和离心力与离心时间5个条件，并选择AMG作用温度、AMG作用时间、AMG添加量来设计Box-Behnken试验。结果 根据单因素试验，确定了水浴时间为14 h，离心条件选择4500 g离心5 min；根据响应面实验确定对RS含量检测结果影响程度排序为AMG添加量＞AMG作用时间＞AMG作用温度。结合单因素响应面试验，确定最佳检测方法为水浴14 h，4500 g离心5 min，AMG作用温度49℃、AMG添加量0.2 mL、AMG作用时间38 min。结论 优化后的方法重复性良好，适用于玉米、马铃薯和红豆3类样品，且有望适用于其他主要农产品。