Retinal Pigment Epithelium Remodeling in Mouse Models of Retinitis Pigmentosa

In retinitis pigmentosa (RP), one of many possible genetic mutations causes rod degeneration, followed by cone secondary death leading to blindness. Accumulating evidence indicates that rod death triggers multiple, non-cell-autonomous processes, which include oxidative stress and inflammation/immune responses, all contributing to cone demise. Inflammation relies on local microglia and recruitment of immune cells, reaching the retina through breakdowns of the inner blood retinal barrier (iBRB). Leakage in the inner retina vasculature suggests similarly altered outer BRB, formed by junctions between retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, which are crucial for retinal homeostasis, immune response, and privilege. We investigated the RPE structural integrity in three models of RP (rd9, rd10, and Tvrm4 mice) by immunostaining for zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), an essential regulatory component of tight junctions. Quantitative image analysis demonstrated discontinuities in ZO-1 profiles in all mutants, despite different degrees of photoreceptor loss. ZO-1 interruption zones corresponded to leakage of in vivo administered, fluorescent dextran through the choroid-RPE interface, demonstrating barrier dysfunction. Dexamethasone, administered to rd10 mice for rescuing cones, also rescued RPE structure. Thus, previously undetected, stereotyped abnormalities occur in the RPE of RP mice; pharmacological targeting of inflammation supports a feedback loop leading to simultaneous protection of cones and the RPE.     

Introducing service robotics to the pharmaceutical industry

In this paper, we present the development of a prototype of service robot for the pharmaceutical industry. First, the paper describes the analysis of functional and economical justifications of a service robot in this manufacturing segment. The warehouse of the Parma (Italy) GSK plant was identified as suitable, and goods transportation as the highest impact application. Then, the paper describes some of the key technologies of mobile manipulation proposed for this service robot. We summarize the functional aspects of the system, and its main control elements. The project produced a feasibility proof of safe and efficient goods transportation in a partially structured, dynamic and public environment, with minimal impact on the manufacturing plant. We conclude the paper by summarizing the validation steps needed to make these technologies accepted by the pharmaceutical industry.     

Optimization of lipase production by Penicillium simplicissimum in soybean meal

BACKGROUND: Lipase production by Penicillium simplicissimum using soybean meal as substrate has been investigated. A factorial design technique was used to evaluate the effects of incubation temperature, initial moisture of the meal and substrate supplementation with low cost supplements, on lipase production. Soybean oil and wastewater from a slaughterhouse, which is rich on oil and fat, corn steep liquor and yeast hydrolysate, were tested as supplementary carbon and nitrogen sources. RESULTS Cultivation conditions were optimized for the production of lipase by factorial design and response surface methodology. Results show that the microorganism produces very low protease activity (0.21 U gds^?1 dry substrate), which helps to maximize lipase production. Soybean meal without supplements appears to be the best medium of those tested for lipase production by P. simplicissimum. CONCLUSION: This work showed that temperature and moisture are the factors that most strongly influence lipase production by P. simplicissimum using soybean meal as substrate. The growth conditions that optimize lipase production are 27.5 °C using substrate with 550 g kg^?1 of initial moisture. In optimum conditions lipase activity of 30 U gds^?1 dry substrate was obtained. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of two specific inhibitors on steel corrosion in a synthetic solution simulating a carbonated concrete with chlorides

The present research aims at studying two corrosion inhibitors, that is sodium 2‐amino‐benzoate (2AMB) and sodium glycero‐phosphate (GPH), in a synthetic solution simulating the composition of the pore solution in a carbonated concrete, containing chlorides. Tests have been performed to verify if the simultaneous use of the two substances is compatible and if their addition can efficiently hinder the corrosion attack in the presence of both chlorides and carbonation. The synthetic solution has been prepared by bubbling carbon dioxide through a saturated (and filtered) solution of Ca(OH)₂, containing 0.1 M NaCl, in order to reach pH 7. Polarization curve recording and EIS technique have shown that, after an induction period of about 24 h, the highest inhibiting efficiencies are obtained by mixtures of the two additives at the concentration of 0.05 M, which still produce high inhibiting efficiencies (87%) at the end of 120 h immersion. At the end of this exposure period, also more diluted symmetric mixtures (0.025 and 0.01 M) exhibit comparable efficiencies. The analysis of EIS spectra gives interesting information concerning the inhibiting mechanism of the studied mixture.     

Forecasting technical debt evolution in software systems: an empirical study

Technical debt is considered detrimental to the long-term success of software development, but despite the numerous studies in the literature, there are still many aspects that need to be investigated for a better understanding of it. In particular, the main problems that hinder its complete understanding are the absence of a clear definition and a model for its identification, management, and forecasting. Focusing on forecasting technical debt, there is a growing notion that preventing technical debt build-up allows you to identify and address the riskiest debt items for the project before they can permanently compromise it. However, despite this high relevance, the forecast of technical debt is still little explored. To this end, this study aims to evaluate whether the quality metrics of a software system can be useful for the correct prediction of the technical debt. Therefore, the data related to the quality metrics of 8 different open-source software systems were analyzed and supplied as input to multiple machine learning algorithms to perform the prediction of the technical debt. In addition, several partitions of the initial dataset were evaluated to assess whether prediction performance could be improved by performing a data selection. The results obtained show good forecasting performance and the proposed document provides a useful approach to understanding the overall phenomenon of technical debt for practical purposes.     

A scratching electrode technique for studying the inhibition of stress corrosion cracking

The application of a scratching electrode technique to obtain further information on the mechanism of organic inhibitors and on the repassivation rates in relation to s.c.c. has been studied. The experimental current decay values were analysed by a computer and the following relationship was obtained:In the presence of organic inhibitors effective against s.c.c., the restoration time of the initial surface conditions was always shorter than the time of the blank test, in the same potential range. The mechanism of the organic substances in inhibiting stress corrosion cracking and the mechanisms of cracking are discussed.     

Comparative Study and Quality Evaluation of Italian Focaccias Seasoned with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

An extra virgin olive oil was used as seasoning for three different types of focaccia produced on an industrial scale. This oil and samples of the oil extracted from the focaccias after baking were submitted to routine analyses and to silica gel column chromatography to separate polar compounds. These were then subjected to high performance size-exclusion chromatographic (HPSEC) analysis and it allowed to determine oxidative and hydrolytic degradation products. The results were compared with those obtained from artisan focaccias, seasoned with the same oil and toppings, by statistical analyses. The different technologies and the toppings employed directed in different ways the oxidative and hydrolytic processes in the oil.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis of oil palm microfibril‐reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene rubber composites

The dynamic mechanical properties of microfibers of oil palm‐reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) composites were investigated as a function of fiber content, temperature, treatment, and frequency. The storage modulus (E′) was found to increase with weight fraction of microfibrils due to the increased stiffness imparted by the strong adhesion between the polar matrix and the hydrophilic microfibrils. The damping properties were found to decrease with increase in fiber loading. As the fiber content increases, the damping nature of the composite decreases because of the increased stiffness imparted by the natural fibers. By steam explosion method (STEX), microfibrils are separated from fibers. Natural fibers were undergone treatment such as mercerization, benzoylation, and silane treatment. The NBR is modified by the addition of resorcinol‐hexa‐hydrated silica (HRH) bonding agent. Also dicumyl peroxide (DCP) is used as an alternating vulcanizing agent in the system. In the case of composites containing chemically modified fibers, storage modulus were found to increase. Cole–Cole analysis was made to study the phase behavior of the composite samples. Activation energy for the relaxation processes in different composites was calculated. Morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy of tensile fracture surfaces of treated and untreated composites indicated better fiber matrix/adhesion in the case of treated microfibril‐reinforced composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Extruded Blends of Chitosan and Ethylene Copolymers for Antimicrobial Packaging

Chitosan was melt‐processed with an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer ionomer and with an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer to create antimicrobial extruded films. The key to obtaining a successful antimicrobial blend was the use of solid chitosonium acetate that remained after evaporation of water from the chitosan solution. When solid free‐flowing powders of chitosonium acetate were formed by spray drying chitosan solutions, blended in an extruder (at 2.5% and 4% chitosan) with Elvax® 3175 ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and extruded through a film die onto a chill roll to form films, the films exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli 25922, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis Nal^R, and Listeria monocytogenes Scott A. The log₁₀ reductions in CFU/ml after 24 h in a shake‐flask test were near 2 for films containing 4% chitosan. This melt‐blending/extrusion approach is expected to open applications for chitosan‐based antimicrobial packages and articles that were impossible or impractical with chitosan coatings. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of block copolymer self-assembly on optical anisotropy in azobenzene-containing PS-b-PMMA films

Polystyrene-b-polymethylmethacrylate (PS-b-PMMA) was selected as the host for 4-(4-nitrophenylazo)aniline (Disperse Orange 3, DO3) based on a previous study of DO3/PMMA and DO3/PS binary blends. Selective location of DO3 into the PMMA block of the copolymer was expected during self-assembly of the block copolymer since a preferential interaction of DO3 with PMMA has been demonstrated. However, surface segregation of DO3 was found during the thermal annealing used to nanostructure the copolymer. To avoid this, a thermoplastic polymer (Azo-TP) was synthesized from the bulk reaction of DO3 and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). The choice of DGEBA as a co-reactant was an attempt to encourage the selective location of azo groups in the PMMA phase of PS-b-PMMA. An inspection of solutions of Azo-TP in PS and PMMA, corroborates the preferential affinity of Azo-TP for PMMA. The Azo-TP could be satisfactorily dissolved in PS-b-PMMA. We have investigated the growth and decay processes of the optically induced birefringence in films of PS-b-PMMA containing 12?wt% Azo-TP. The resulting materials showed a good photoinduced time response, high maximum birefringence and an elevated fraction of remnant anisotropy.