Immunosenescence in Aging-Related Vascular Dysfunction

The immunosenescence-related disproportion in T lymphocytes may have important consequences for endothelial dysfunction, which is a key event in vascular aging. The study was designed to assess the prognostic values of the inflammatory-immune profile to better predict and prevent vascular diseases associated with old age. Eighty individuals aged 70.9 ± 5.3 years were allocated to a low- (LGI) or high-grade inflammation (HGI) group based on CRP (<3 or ≥3 mg/L) as a conventional risk marker of cardiovascular diseases. Significant changes in inflammatory and endothelium-specific variables IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, oxLDL, H₂O₂, NO, 3-nitrotyrosine, and endothelial progenitor cells (OR 7.61, 95% CI 2.56–29.05, p < 0.0001), confirmed their interplay in vascular inflammation. The flow-cytometry analysis demonstrated a high disproportion in T lymphocytes CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ between LGI and HGI groups. CRP was <3 mg/mL for the CD4/CD8 ratio within the reference values ≥ 1 or ≤2.5, unlike for the CD4/CD8 ratio < 1 and >2.5. The odds ratios for the distribution of CD4⁺ (OR 5.98, 95% CI 0.001–0.008, p < 0.001), CD8⁺ (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08–0.59, p < 0.01), and CD8CD45RO⁺ T naïve cells (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.097–0.695, p < 0.01) and CD4/CD8 (OR 5.69, 95% CI 2.07–17.32, p < 0.001) indicated a potential diagnostic value of T lymphocytes for clinical prognosis in aging-related vascular dysfunction.     

Part III: Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of amino acids and their homodipeptide monolayers deposited onto colloidal gold surface

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra were measured for monolayers of various amino acids: L-methionine (Met), L-cysteine (Cys), L-glycine (Gly), L-leucine (Leu), L-phenylalanine (Phe), and L-proline (Pro) and their homodipeptides (Met-Met, Cys-Cys, Gly-Gly, Leu-Leu, Phe-Phe, and Pro-Pro) deposited onto a colloidal gold surface. Orientation of amino acids and their homodipeptides, as well as specific-competitive interactions of their functional groups with the gold surface, were predicted by detailed spectral analysis of the obtained SERS spectra. The analysis performed allowed us to propose a particular surface geometry for each amino acid and homodipeptide on the gold surface. In addition, we compared the structures of these molecules adsorbed on colloidal gold and silver surfaces.     

Lysophosphatic acid modulates prostaglandin secretion in the bovine uterus

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) modulates prostaglandin (PG) synthesis via LPA receptor 3 (LPAR3) in the murine endometrium. The lack of functional LPAR3 in mice may lead to embryo mortality. In the present study, we examined the role of LPA in the bovine uterus. We confirmed that LPA is locally produced and released from the bovine endometrium. Moreover, there are enzymes involved in LPA synthesis (phospholipase (PL) D(2) and PLA2G1B) in the bovine endometrium during estrous cycle and early pregnancy. Expression of the receptor for LPA (LPAR1) was positively correlated with the expression of PGE(2) synthase (PGES) and negatively correlated with the expression of PGF(2alpha) synthase (aldose reductase with 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity - PGFS) during early pregnancy. In vivo LPA induced P4 and PGE(2) secretion was inhibited by LPAR1 antagonist (Ki16425). The overall results indicate that LPA is locally produced and released from the bovine endometrium. Moreover, LPAR1 gene expression in the endometrium during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy indicates that LPA may play autocrine and/or paracrine roles in the bovine uterus. LPAR1 gene expression is positively correlated with the expression of the enzyme responsible for luteotropic PGE(2) production (PGES) in endometrium. In cow, LPA stimulates P4 and PGE(2) secretion. Thus, LPA in the bovine reproductive tract may indirectly (via endometrium) or directly support corpus luteum action via the increase of P4 synthesis and the increase of PGE(2)/PGF(2)(alpha) ratio. It suggests that LPA may serve as an important factor in the maintenance of early pregnancy in cow.     

Stability of cefacetrile in milk samples with various fat content

The consumers should have access to food that is safe and free of contaminants. Unfortunately, the wide use of antibiotics in livestock, not only for medicinal purposes but also as illegal feed additives, may be the reason for emergence of the antibiotic residues in foodstuffs of animal origin. Milk is one of the most essential nutrients for humans during their lifetimes. Failure of the withdrawal periods, or what is highly prohibited but in spite of this increasingly practiced, addition of the antibiotics to milk in order to prolong its freshness, may lead to occurrence of their residues. Cefacetrile is a first generation cephalosporin that is commonly use for the treatment of bovine mastitis. The aim of this work was to determine the stability of cefacetrile in milk samples of different fat content, that is, 0 , 2 , 3.2 % UHT, 2 % pasteurized and ~3.9 % raw cattle milk, for 5 days. Two chromatographic methods were applied and compared for this purpose, that is, thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. According to the results coming from HPLC-UV analysis, the stability of cefacetrile increase with the increase in the fat mass content in UHT milk. The cefacetrile level in pasteurized and raw cattle milk is similar to that in 3.2 % UHT milk. For the TLC method, this relation can be observed only in the second day of the analysis. The spiked milk samples analyzed by HPLC were deproteinized with MeCN and stored for 5 days of the experiment. Whereas, in the TLC-UV method, the spiked milk samples prepared in the first day of experiment were analyzed directly, without deproteinization. The lower stability of cefacetrile in milk samples observed from the TLC analysis can be related to its partial enzymatic decomposition.     

Solution of the inverse problem in solidification of binary alloy by applying the ACO algorithm

The paper presents a solution of the inverse problem consisting in reconstruction of the heat flux and the distribution of temperature in the process of binary alloy solidification when the temperature measurements in the selected points of the alloy are known. The considered task is mathematically modelled by means of the heat conduction equation with the substitute thermal capacity and with the liquidus and solidus temperatures varying in dependence on the concentration of the alloy component, whereas for describing the concentration the lever arm model is applied. An important part of the procedure consists in minimization of some functional executed with the aid of ACO algorithm.     

Novel N‐ethyl‐2‐styrylquinolinium iodides as sensitizers in the photoinitiated free‐radical polymerization of trimethylolopropane triacrylate. II

Results of kinetic studies of two‐component photoinitiator systems used in the visible‐light photoinduced polymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1,3‐propanediol triacrylate are presented. Nine different styrylquinolinum dyes coupled with n‐butyltriphenylborate as a coinitiator have been used as photoinitiating systems. Reactive radicals that initiate the polymerization are formed by the well‐known mechanism of photoinduced electron transfer between dye cations acting as electron acceptors and borate anions acting as electron donors. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Lecane tenuiseta rotifers improves activated sludge settleability in laboratory scale SBR system at 13°C and 20°C

Two experiments at different temperatures were conducted in five laboratory‐scale bioreactors with enhanced nutrient removal simulating the work of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). The process was operated in three 8‐hour cycles. The oxygen concentration, pH and temperature were controlled and maintained at 1 mg of O₂/L, 7 and 13°C, respectively, throughout the first two weeks and at 20°C for the next 10 days. The introduction of Lecane tenuiseta improved the settling properties of the activated sludge dominated by Microthrix parvicella at both temperatures tested. L. tenuiseta rotifers led to a reduction in filamentous bacteria abundance and did not negatively affect the chemical parameters of the effluent. For each temperature, there were no differences in COD, N_tot, N‐NH₄ or P‐PO₄ values between the treatment and control bioreactors. The results have shown that the application of L. tenuiseta is a promising biological tool for bulking prevention especially in a cold season.     

Stress relieving and its effect on life of welded tubular joints

This paper describes investigations into the fabrication and repair of large welded tubular joints and how the processes used affect fatigue life. Research has been conducted to determine the benefit of local post weld heat treatment (PWHT) of the connections in terms of hardness and residual stress. The use of hole drilling and trepanning techniques for residual stresses measurements in the clusters are described. The results are compared with fitness-for-service assessments and considered in relation to the fatigue performance of the welded connections. Very substantial theoretical improvement in fatigue life can be expected after PWHT.     

Molecular Characterisation of Uterine Endometrial Proteins during Early Stages of Pregnancy in Pigs by MALDI TOF/TOF

The molecular mechanism underlying embryonic implantation is vital to understand the correct communications between endometrium and developing conceptus during early stages of pregnancy. This study’s objective was to determine molecular changes in the uterine endometrial proteome during the preimplantation and peri-implantation between 9 days (9D), 12 days (12D), and 16 days (16D) of pregnant Polish Large White (PLW) gilts. 2DE-MALDI-TOF/TOF and ClueGO^TM approaches were employed to analyse the biological networks and molecular changes in porcine endometrial proteome during maternal recognition of pregnancy. A total of sixteen differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified using 2-DE gels and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Comparison between 9D and 12D of pregnancy identified APOA1, CAPZB, LDHB, CCT5, ANXA4, CFB, TTR upregulated DEPs, and ANXA5, SMS downregulated DEPs. Comparison between 9D and 16D of pregnancy identified HP, APOA1, ACTB, CCT5, ANXA4, CFB upregulated DEPs and ANXA5, SMS, LDHB, ACTR3, HP, ENO3, OAT downregulated DEPs. However, a comparison between 12D and 16D of pregnancy identified HP, ACTB upregulated DEPs, and CRYM, ANXA4, ANXA5, CAPZB, LDHB, ACTR3, CCT5, ENO3, OAT, TTR down-regulated DEPs. Outcomes of this study revealed key proteins and their interactions with metabolic pathways involved in the recognition and establishment of early pregnancy in PLW gilts.