Surface tension as a limiting factor for aerobic n-alkane biodegradation

A new mathematical model for n-alkane biodegradation in crude oil, heavy oil and paraffinic mixtures is described. The pattern of n-alkane degradation as a function of the inverse of hydrocarbon chain length reported in this paper can be considered as general behaviour for many aerobic n-alkane biodegradation processes. A new interpretation of n-alkane biodegradation as a function of surface tension, is given. A mathematical expression was obtained starting from the degradation values of n-alkane and relative surface tension, which is a parameter independent of fermentation conditions. An interesting parameter, b, was identified which represented the accelerating conversion factor for n-alkane biodegradation. The findings suggested that the n-alkane biodegradation. The findings suggested that he n-alkane biodegradation rate may be affected by the fermentation condition (agitation, aeration, etc.) and by the strain of microorganism, while the behaviour pattern of n-alkane degradation was essentially linked to the substrate characteristics (molecular structure, molecular weight and density).     

Harmonic solution of semiconductor transport equations for microwave and millimetre-wave device modelling

The hydrodynamic transport equations for charges in a semiconductor have been solved for a periodic excitation by means of a harmonic approach, in order to model microwave and millimetre-wave active devices. The solution is based on the expansion of physical variables in a Fourier series in the time domain, and on discretisation in the space domain. A waveform-balance technique in the TD is used to solve the nonlinear equations system. This approach allows for a longer time step with respect to standard TD solutions for most cases of interest, greatly reducing simulation time by at least two orders of magnitude in typical cases. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 14: 36–48, 2004.     

Anatomical Laser Microdissection of the Ileum Reveals mtDNA Depletion Recovery in A Mitochondrial Neuro-Gastrointestinal Encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) Patient Receiving Liver Transplant

mitochondrial neuro-gastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by thymidine phosphorylase (TP) enzyme defect. The absence of TP activity induces the imbalance of mitochondrial nucleotide pool, leading to impaired mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and depletion. Since mtDNA is required to ensure oxidative phosphorylation, metabolically active tissues may not achieve sufficient energy production. The only effective life-saving approach in MNGIE has been the permanent replacement of TP via allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell or liver transplantation. However, the follow-up of transplanted patients showed that gut tissue changes do not revert and fatal complications, such as massive gastrointestinal bleeding, can occur. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the reintroduction of TP after transplant can recover mtDNA copy number in a normal range. Using laser capture microdissection and droplet-digital-PCR, we assessed the mtDNA copy number in each layer of full-thickness ileal samples of a naive MNGIE cohort vs. controls and in a patient pre- and post-TP replacement. The treatment led to a significant recovery of gut tissue mtDNA amount, thus showing its efficacy. Our results indicate that a timely TP replacement is needed to maximize therapeutic success before irreversible degenerative tissue changes occur in MNGIE.     

Light Triggers the Antiproliferative Activity of Naphthalimide-Conjugated (η6-arene)ruthenium(II) Complexes

We report the synthesis and characterization of three half-sandwich Ru(II) arene complexes [(η⁶-arene)Ru(N,N′)L][PF₆]₂ containing arene = p-cymene, N,N′ = bipyridine, and L = pyridine meta- with methylenenaphthalimide (C1), methylene(nitro)naphthalimide (C2), or methylene(piperidinyl)naphthalimide (C3). The naphthalimide acts as an antenna for photoactivation. After 3 h of irradiation with blue light, the monodentate pyridyl ligand had almost completely dissociated from complex C3, which contains an electron donor on the naphthalimide ring, whereas only 50% dissociation was observed for C1 and C2. This correlates with the lower wavelength and strong absorption of C3 in this region of the spectrum (λ_max = 418 nm) compared with C1 and C2 (λ_max = 324 and 323 nm, respectively). All the complexes were relatively non-toxic towards A549 human lung cancer cells in the dark, but only complex C3 exhibited good photocytoxicity towards these cancer cells upon irradiation with blue light (IC₅₀ = 10.55 ± 0.30 μM). Complex C3 has the potential for use in photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT).     

Chelating Polymers for Targeted Decontamination of Actinides: Application of PEI-MP to Hydroxyapatite-Th(IV)

In case of an incident in the nuclear industry or an act of war or terrorism, the dissemination of plutonium could contaminate the environment and, hence, humans. Human contamination mainly occurs via inhalation and/or wounding (and, less likely, ingestion). In such cases, plutonium, if soluble, reaches circulation, whereas the poorly soluble fraction (such as small colloids) is trapped in alveolar macrophages or remains at the site of wounding. Once in the blood, the plutonium is delivered to the liver and/or to the bone, particularly into its mineral part, mostly composed of hydroxyapatite. Countermeasures against plutonium exist and consist of intravenous injections or inhalation of diethylenetetraminepentaacetate salts. Their effectiveness is, however, mainly confined to the circulating soluble forms of plutonium. Furthermore, the short bioavailability of diethylenetetraminepentaacetate results in its rapid elimination. To overcome these limitations and to provide a complementary approach to this common therapy, we developed polymeric analogs to indirectly target the problematic retention sites. We present herein a first study regarding the decontamination abilities of polyethyleneimine methylcarboxylate (structural diethylenetetraminepentaacetate polymer analog) and polyethyleneimine methylphosphonate (phosphonate polymeric analog) directed against Th(IV), used here as a Pu(IV) surrogate, which was incorporated into hydroxyapatite used as a bone model. Our results suggest that polyethylenimine methylphosphonate could be a good candidate for powerful bone decontamination action.     

Analysis of the gate current as a suitable indicator for FET degradation under nonlinear dynamic regime

Electron device degradation, although not directly accounted for, represents a key issue in microwave circuit design. This is especially true when the particular applications involved (e.g., satellite, military, consumer) do not allow or strongly discourage any kind of maintenance. As a matter of fact, in order to account for device degradation in circuit design, a suitable electron device model is needed which is able to predict the performance degradation as a function of the actual electrical regime involved in the device operation. Such a kind of model is not available in literature. In this paper, quantitative results are provided for device degradation indicators which correlate DC and RF stress experiments. These results can be considered an important step toward the definition of a nonlinear model accounting for device degradation.     

A Mixed Signal Fuzzy Controller Using Current Mode Circuits

A mixed analog-digital fuzzy logic inference processor chip, designed in a 0.35-μm CMOS technology, is presented. The analog fuzzy engine is based on a novel current-mode CMOS circuit used for the implementation of fuzzy partition membership functions. The architecture consists of a 3 inputs—1 output analog fuzzy engine, internal digital registers to store the parameters of the fuzzy controller, and a digital subsystem that allows the programmability of the fuzzy controller via an I ² C interface. The architecture, circuits, and some Cadence Spectre simulations are presented.     

Light and Strong SiC Networks

The directional freezing of microfiber suspensions is used to assemble highly porous (porosities ranging between 92% and 98%) SiC networks. These networks exhibit a unique hierarchical architecture in which thin layers with honeycomb‐like structure and internal strut length in the order of 1–10 μm in size are aligned with an interlayer spacing ranging between 15 and 50 μm. The resulting structures exhibit strengths (up to 3 MPa) and stiffness (up to 0.3 GPa) that are higher than aerogels of similar density and comparable to other ceramic microlattices fabricated by vapor deposition. Furthermore, this wet processing technique allows the fabrication of large‐size samples that are stable at high temperature, with acoustic impedance that can be manipulated over one order of magnitude (0.03–0.3 MRayl), electrically conductive and with very low thermal conductivity. The approach can be extended to other ceramic materials and opens new opportunities for the fabrication of ultralight structures with unique mechanical and functional properties in practical dimensions.     

The role of vsat systems in broadband networks and intelligent networks

The scope of this paper is to present the status and the preliminary results of the research activities that Telespazio is carrying out with the aim at identifying the role of the VSAT systems in the advanced telecommunications services, which will be dominant in the second half of nineties and beyond. The first part of the paper is devoted to an overview of the evolution trend of the terrestrial networks. The main body of the paper presents the results of our investigations on the application of VSAT systems in two fields: broadband networks and intelligent networks. Background information has been intentionally added for the easier comprehension of the topics presented in the paper. A list of acronyms appears as an Appendix.