Enantiomer analysis of chiral lactones in foods by on-line coupled reversed-phase liquid chromatography-gas chromatography

A new application is proposed for the on-line coupling of reversed-phase liquid chromatography to gas chromatography (RPLC-GC) that allows the GC chirospecific analysis of gamma-lactones in fruits and commercially available fruit-containing products. The use of a programmed temperature vaporizer as an interface with the system makes the transfer of large volume fractions (i.e., 2520 microL) of aqueous eluents from LC to GC possible (speed of sample transfer, 1800 microL/min). Relative standard deviations obtained for the investigated lactones under the experimental conditions vary from 7 to 14%. The described system enlarges the LC-GC application field and overcomes the limitations reported thus far concerning the use of typical normal-phase eluents (i.e., the transfer of rather small volume fractions at low speeds of sample introduction).     

Evolutionary Generalized Radial Basis Function neural networks for improving prediction accuracy in gene classification using feature selection

Radial Basis Function Neural Networks (RBFNNs) have been successfully employed in several function approximation and pattern recognition problems. The use of different RBFs in RBFNN has been reported in the literature and here the study centres on the use of the Generalized Radial Basis Function Neural Networks (GRBFNNs). An interesting property of the GRBF is that it can continuously and smoothly reproduce different RBFs by changing a real parameter τ. In addition, the mixed use of different RBF shapes in only one RBFNN is allowed. Generalized Radial Basis Function (GRBF) is based on Generalized Gaussian Distribution (GGD), which adds a shape parameter, τ, to standard Gaussian Distribution. Moreover, this paper describes a hybrid approach, Hybrid Algorithm (HA), which combines evolutionary and gradient-based learning methods to estimate the architecture, weights and node topology of GRBFNN classifiers. The feasibility and benefits of the approach are demonstrated by means of six gene microarray classification problems taken from bioinformatic and biomedical domains. Three filters were applied: Fast Correlation-Based Filter (FCBF), Best Incremental Ranked Subset (BIRS), and Best Agglomerative Ranked Subset (BARS); this was done in order to identify salient expression genes from among the thousands of genes in microarray data that can directly contribute to determining the class membership of each pattern. After different gene subsets were obtained, the proposed methodology was performed using the selected gene subsets as new input variables. The results confirm that the GRBFNN classifier leads to a promising improvement in accuracy.     

On the sizing of a solar thermal electricity plant for multiple objectives using evolutionary optimization

Design, implementation and operation of solar thermal electricity plants are no more an academic task, rather they have become a necessity. In this paper, we work with power industries to formulate a multi-objective optimization model and attempt to solve the resulting problem using classical as well as evolutionary optimization techniques. On a set of four objectives having complex trade-offs, our proposed procedure first finds a set of trade-off solutions showing the entire range of optimal solutions. Thereafter, the evolutionary optimization procedure is combined with a multiple criterion decision making (MCDM) approach to focus on preferred regions of the trade-off frontier. Obtained solutions are compared with a classical generating method. Eventually, a decision-maker is involved in the process and a single preferred solution is obtained in a systematic manner. Starting with generating a wide spectrum of trade-off solutions to have a global understanding of feasible solutions, then concentrating on specific preferred regions for having a more detailed understanding of preferred solutions, and then zeroing on a single preferred solution with the help of a decision-maker demonstrates the use of multi-objective optimization and decision making methodologies in practice. As a by-product, useful properties among decision variables that are common to the obtained solutions are gathered as vital knowledge for the problem. The procedures used in this paper are ready to be used to other similar real-world problem solving tasks.     

Delay-bounded data gathering in urban vehicular sensor networks

Vehicular sensor networks are an emerging network paradigm, suitable for various applications in vehicular environment making use of vehicles’ sensors as data sources and Inter-Vehicle Communication systems for the transmissions. We present a solution, based on vehicular sensor networks, for gathering data from a certain geographic area while satisfying with a specific delay bound. The method leverages the time interval during which the query is active in order to make the gathering process efficient, properly alternating data muling and multi-hop forwarding strategies like in delay-bounded routing protocols. Simulations show that our proposed solution succeeds in performing efficient data gathering outperforming other solutions.     

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Promising Treatment Option for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer?

Since 2010, several treatment options have been available for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), including immunotherapeutic agents, although the clinical benefit of these agents remains inconclusive in unselected mCRPC patients. In recent years, however, immunotherapy has re-emerged as a promising therapeutic option to stimulate antitumor immunity, particularly with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors. There is increasing evidence that ICIs may be especially beneficial in specific subgroups of patients with high PD-L1 tumor expression, high tumor mutational burden, or tumors with high microsatellite instability/mismatch repair deficiency. If we are to improve the efficacy of ICIs, it is crucial to have a better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to ICIs and to identify predictive biomarkers to determine which patients are most likely to benefit. This review focuses on the current status of ICIs for the treatment of mCRPC (either as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs), mechanisms of resistance, potential predictive biomarkers, and future challenges in the management of mCRPC.     

Study of the copper leaching in the wet oxidation of phenol with CuO-based catalysts: Causes and effects

Catalytic wet oxidation of phenol as a model pollutant has been performed in a three phase fixed-bed reactor (FBR) by using a commercial catalyst based on copper oxide in order to analyze the variables affecting significantly the copper leaching. It has been found that temperature has an almost negligible influence in the range studied (70–160 °C). On the contrary, an important effect of the pH value was noticed. The copper leaching reduces when the pH of the solution fed to the reactor increases, being almost negligible at pH ≥ 5. Moreover, the composition of the reaction media also influences the leaching. Higher copper concentrations than those expected by the effect of the acid aqueous media have been measured in the reactor effluent when phenol, catechol, hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone and maleic acid are present in the reaction media. On the contrary, oxalic acid has a negative influence on the leaching, since it captures the copper in solution to form copper oxalate which precipitates on the catalyst surface. For a previously acidified medium, the acetic and formic acids do not have any other effect on the copper leaching. It has been also demonstrated that as copper in solution decreases, so does phenol conversion, because the homogeneous catalysis contributes significantly to the oxidation reactions even in fixed-bed reactors.     

Rheological properties of ethylcellulose latex

Because of their large specific surface area, aqueous‐based pseudolatex systems of ethylcellulose can absorb large amounts of drugs. In addition, the stability of polymeric particles in biological fluids delays the release of the drug as in controlled drug delivery systems. The aim of the present study was to characterize the rheological properties of latex particles as a measure of their colloidal stability. Here, we report the effect of three variables: pH, electrolyte concentration, and temperature. The rheograms clearly show that the polymer suspensions displayed Bingham plastic behavior. Internal structuring of the latex was greatest at acid and natural pH values, particularly at the highest ionic strength. In acid solutions, only temperature appeared to play a fundamental role; both the shear stress corresponding to the onset of nonlinear viscoelasticity and the elastic modulus at all frequencies were higher at 37°C than those at room temperature. This is assumed to be a consequence of deformation of the polymer particles upon heating. The effect of ionic strength was noticeable only at the natural pH (pH ? 6.5). At high concentrations of sodium chloride, the particles aggregated because of the decrease in double layer repulsion, and as a result, the latex became structured and its elastic modulus subsequently increased. Interestingly, when the temperature was increased further, this structure presumably broke, down, at least partially, and the storage modulus was reduced. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 847–851, 2006     

Pd deposited on Cu(110): a highly performant catalyst for the 1,3-butadiene hydrogenation reaction

The catalytic properties, with respect to the 1,3-butadiene hydrogenation reaction, of strained Pd films on Cu(110) (lattice mismatch 8%) has been probed as a function of the film thickness. The characterization of the adlayer has been made by the combined use of STM with LEED and AES. For deposits below 10¹⁵ Pd/cm² (i.e., about 1 ML) the catalytic activity is near zero. This is the consequence of the formation of a Pd–Cu surface alloy with tendency for Cu to migrate/segregate to the surface. The catalytic activity suddenly increases to reach a maximum value for about 3 ML; the activity is then one order of magnitude higher than that of the pure Pd(110) surface. This is the consequence of the presence of a strained Pd overlayer, with Pd surface atoms having very unusual geometry, and hence very peculiar electronic and chemical properties. The catalytic activity then decreases as the Pd coverage is increased, and tends to values near that of the pure Pd(110). Gradual relaxation of the film geometry towards that of the normal fcc Pd structure probably exists.     

Carbohydrate type and amount alter intravascular processing and catabolism of plasma lipoproteins in guinea pigs

To test the effects of exchanging dietary complex and simple carbohydrate for fat calories on lipoprotein metabolism, guinea pigs were fed two different fat/carbohydrate ratios: 2.5∶58% (w/w) or 25∶29% (w/w) with either sucrose or starch as the carbohydrate source. Animals fed high-fat had higher plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and hepatic cholesterol concentrations than animals fed low-fat diets (P<0.01). The cholesteryl ester content per particle was higher, and the number of triacylglycerol (TAG) molecules was lower in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and LDL from animals fed high-fat diets. Intake of high-fat/sucrose resulted in higher plasma LDL concentrations than intake of high-fat/starch, and animals fed low-fat/starch had the highest plasma TAG concentrations associated with VLDL particles containing more TAG molecules, as well as a TAG-enriched LDL. The activity of plasma lecithin cholesteryl:acyl transferase (LCAT) was highest in animals fed high-fat/sucrose, and heart lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was higher in animals fed high-fat diets. Hepatic apoprotein B/E (apo B/E) receptor number (B_max) was increased 21% with low-fat diets (P<0.01). These results suggest that the hypercholesterolemia induced by high-fat and by sucrose intake are associated with a higher plasma LCAT activity which results in a cholesteryl ester-enriched VLDL which, by the action of LPL, might be more readily converted to LDL through the delipidation cascade leading to downregulation of hepatic apo B/E receptors. The hypertriglyceridemia associated with low-fat intake may result from increased production of VLDL TAG, which would explain the increased TAG content and the higher TAG/CE ratio of VLDL from animals fed the low-fat/starch diet.     

CALIBRATION OF THE METHOD TO MEASURE BUBBLE PROPERTIES IN 2D FLUIDIZED BEDS

The purpose of the present work is to demonstrate the reliability of a digital image processing technique. A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used to perform an investigation on the bubble properties of a 2D gas-solid fluidized bed, and the aim of this study is to establish a criterion in order to reject all images that could not be interpreted as bubbles. This may lead to an alteration of the information obtained. The two-dimensional fluidized bed is 20 cm wide and at least 20 cm high, and the field of view of the camera is 12.54 cm wide and 12.99 cm high. In this way, bubbles could be totally or partially placed into this field of view so that a partial image of a bubble could be analyzed as a whole bubble. With this calibration, a geometric decision criterion for the rejection of nonbubble images was developed.