SMART-Reactors: Tailoring Gas Holdup Distribution by Additively Manufactured Lattice Structures

In chemical process engineering, fast gas-liquid reactions often suffer from an inefficient distribution of gas and therefore mixing and mass transfer performance. This study deals with the possibility of influencing the local gas holdup and bubble size distribution in a gas-liquid process using additively manufactured lattice structures (AMLS). The used measuring technique to study bubble size, velocity, and the local gas holdup is a photo-optical needle probe. By using AMLS, a significant radial homogenization of the local gas holdup and the mean bubble size is achieved. Furthermore, it can be demonstrated that the bubble size can be tailored by the geometry of the inserted structure. It is illustrated that the mean bubble velocities are lowered within the lattice resulting in a higher residence time of the dispersed phase with an impact on the mass transfer performance within the AMLS.     

Label-Free Study of the Global Cell Behavior during Exposure to Environmental Radiofrequency Fields in the Presence or Absence of Pro-Apoptotic or Pro-Autophagic Treatments

It remains controversial whether exposure to environmental radiofrequency signals (RF) impacts cell status or response to cellular stress such as apoptosis or autophagy. We used two label-free techniques, cellular impedancemetry and Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM), to assess the overall cellular response during RF exposure alone, or during co-exposure to RF and chemical treatments known to induce either apoptosis or autophagy. Two human cell lines (SH-SY5Y and HCT116) and two cultures of primary rat cortex cells (astrocytes and co-culture of neurons and glial cells) were exposed to RF using an 1800 MHz carrier wave modulated with various environmental signals (GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications, 2G signal), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, 3G signal), LTE (Long-Term Evolution, 4G signal, and Wi-Fi) or unmodulated RF (continuous wave, CW). The specific absorption rates (S.A.R.) used were 1.5 and 6 W/kg during DHM experiments and ranged from 5 to 24 W/kg during the recording of cellular impedance. Cells were continuously exposed for three to five consecutive days while the temporal phenotypic signature of cells behavior was recorded at constant temperature. Statistical analysis of the results does not indicate that RF-EMF exposure impacted the global behavior of healthy, apoptotic, or autophagic cells, even at S.A.R. levels higher than the guidelines, provided that the temperature was kept constant.     

Dietary intakes and food sources of fatty acids for Belgian women, focused on n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

The intake of fat, saturated and monounsaturated FA (SFA and MUFA), and omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA has been estimated in 641 Belgian women (age 18-39 y). Their food intake was recorded using a 2-d food diary. The PUFA included were linoleic (LA), alpha-linolenic (LNA), arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaeonoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. The mean total fat intake corresponded to 34.3% of total energy intake (E). The mean intake of the FA groups corresponded to 13.7%, 13.1%, and 6.0% of E, for SFA, MUFA, and PUFA, respectively. The mean intake of LA was 5.3% of E and of LNA was 0.6% of E, with a mean LA/LNA ratio of 8.7. The mean intake of AA was 0.03% of E. The mean intake of EPA, DPA, and DHA was 0.4%, 0.01%, and 0.06% of E, respectively. According to the Belgian recommendations, the total fat and SFA intake was too high for about three-quarters of the population. The mean LA and overall n-6 PUFA intake corresponded with the recommendation, with part of the population exceeding the upper level. Conversely, the population showed a large deficit for LNA and n-3 PUFA. The major food source for LA and LNA was fats and oils, followed by cereal products. The main sources of long-chain PUFA were fish and seafood, and meat, poultry, and eggs. From a public health perspective, it seems desirable to tackle the problem of low n-3 PUFA intake.     

Preparation, characterisation of thermally treated Algerian dolomite powders and application to azo-dye adsorption

Dolomite powder from Ouled Mimoun, Tlemcen (western region of Algeria) was thermally treated within the temperature range 450-1000 °C. The modifications undergone by dolomite, inherent to thermal treatment, were investigated from X-ray diffraction patterns. The results were also discussed using scanning electronic microscopy and nitrogen adsorption. The XRD data, analysed from X Pert Plus program, showed that the dolomite phase ceases at 700 °C and is relayed by the formation of in situ calcite and periclase. The crystallographic parameters of these two phases tend towards that of pure periclase and calcite at 1000 and 900 °C, respectively. SEM analysis indicated that the morphological properties were profoundly affected. SEM images of D-1000 (sample treated at 1000 °C) indicated that the original particle shape of dolomite (presence of discrete grains having sharp edges with presence of cleavages) was totally destroyed, leading to small spherical particles with a diameter of 0.1 μm. The specific surface area value of D-1000 increased more than 6 times against that of the raw dolomite. Adsorption of azo-dye Orange I from aqueous solutions onto untreated and treated dolomites was also reported. The isotherms were of L-type. The interaction was explained by electrostatic considerations between sulfonate groups of the dye (D-SO₃Na), which are dissociated in the aqueous system, and positively charged adsorption sites. The affinity of orange I for the dolomitic solids follows the sequence D-900 > D-1000 > D-800 > > D-600 > raw dolomite. The maximum retention capacity shown by D-900 was explained and correlated with its crystallographic properties.     

Exploring natural products for new taste sensations

This paper discusses the discovery of uncommon taste or trigeminal active compounds and their associated sensory analysis using human tasting panels with the aim of enhancing the overall taste experience whilst reducing where possible the sugar and salt content of foods. The first example outlines the discovery of the sensory quality attributes of (R)-2-(carboxymethylamino)propanoic acid, named (R)-strombine, as assessed by a panel of 47 subjects to confirm its contribution to the typical taste of scallop muscle. The second example discusses the pungency and trigeminal effect of polygodial, which is compared with piperine and capsaicin, as well as the elucidation of a new structure eliciting a trigeminal effect, (+/-)-trans-2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1 H-indene-4-carbaldehyde, discovered in Amomum tsao-ko. Finally, the time intensity trigeminal effect of (-)-menthol is compared with (1R,2RS,4RS)-1-isopropyl-4-methylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ol, named dihydroumbellulol, a new cooling compound obtained by hemi-synthesis from umbellulone extracted from Umbellularia californica Nutt.     

The development of a silica nanoparticle-based label-free DNA biosensor

A silica nanoparticle-based DNA biosensor capable of detecting Bacillus anthracis bacteria through the use of unlabelled ss-oligonucleotides has been developed. The biosensor makes use of the optical changes that accompany a nanoparticle-immobilized cationic conjugated polymer (polythiophene) interacting with single-stranded vs. hybridized oligonucleotides, where a fluorescence signal appears only when hybridized DNA is present (i.e. only when the ss-oligonucleotide interacting with the polymer has hybridized with its complement). In order to enhance the sensitivity of the biosensor, two different nanoparticle architectures were developed and used to elucidate how the presence of neighboring fluorophores on the nanoparticle surface affects F?rster-resonant energy transfer (FRET) between the polythiophene/oligonucleotide complex (FRET donor) and the fluorophores (FRET acceptors). We demonstrate that the silica nanoparticle-based FRET platform lowers the limit of detection at least 10-fold in comparison to the polythiophene itself, and allows the detection of ～2 × 10(-12) moles of ss-oligonucleotide in a 100 μL sample with a standard fluorimeter (i.e. has a limit of detection of ～2 nM ssDNA). Such nanoparticle-based biosensor platforms are beneficial because of the robustness and stability inherent to their covalent assembly and they provide a valuable new tool that may allow for the sensitive, label-free detection (the target DNA that produces the fluorescence signal is unlabelled) without the use of polymerase chain reaction.     

Plant Chemical Defense Induced by a Seed-Eating Pollinator Mutualist

Plant-seed parasite pollination mutualisms involve a specific pollinator whose larvae develop by consuming a fraction of the host plant seeds. These mutualisms are stable only if the plant can control seed destruction by the larvae. Here, we studied the chemical response of the European globeflower Trollius europaeus to infestation by an increasing number of Chiastocheta fly larvae. We used liquid chromatographic analysis to compare the content of phenolic compounds in unparasitized and parasitized fruits collected in two natural populations of the French Alps, and mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance to elucidate the structure of adonivernith, a C-glycosyl-flavone. This compound is present in many of the organs of T. europaeus, but not found in other Trollius species. Furthermore, it is overproduced in the carpel walls of parasitized fruits, and this induced response to infestation by fly larvae is density-dependent (increases with larval number), and site-dependent (more pronounced in the high-altitude site). Mechanical damage did not induce adonivernith production. This tissue-specific and density-dependent response of T. europaeus to infestation by Chiastocheta larvae might be an efficient regulation mechanism of seed-predator mutualist population growth if it decreases survival or growth of the larvae.     

Quantitative Analysis of Tau-Microtubule Interaction Using FRET

The interaction between the microtubule associated protein, tau and the microtubules is investigated. A fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay was used to determine the distance separating tau to the microtubule wall, as well as the binding parameters of the interaction. By using microtubules stabilized with Flutax-2 as donor and tau labeled with rhodamine as acceptor, a donor-to-acceptor distance of 54 ± 1 Å was found. A molecular model is proposed in which Flutax-2 is directly accessible to tau-rhodamine molecules for energy transfer. By titration, we calculated the stoichiometric dissociation constant to be equal to 1.0 ± 0.5 µM. The influence of the C-terminal tails of αβ-tubulin on the tau-microtubule interaction is presented once a procedure to form homogeneous solution of cleaved tubulin has been determined. The results indicate that the C-terminal tails of α- and β-tubulin by electrostatic effects and of recruitment seem to be involved in the binding mechanism of tau.     

Influence of new thermoplastic sizing agents on the mechanical behavior of poly(ether ketone ketone)/carbon fiber composites

In this study, unidirectional poly(ether ether ketone)/carbon fiber (CF) composite sheets were elaborated with unsized, epoxy‐sized, and thermoplastic‐sized CFs by hot‐press molding. The thermoplastic sizings that we used were poly(ether imide) (PEI) and poly(ether ketone ketone) oligomer aqueous dispersions. Scanning electron microscopy observation of the composites freeze fractures showed that unlike unsized or epoxy‐sized CFs, the thermoplastic sizings improved the interaction between the fibers and the matrix. A comparative study of the mechanical relaxations by dynamic mechanical analysis was carried out on the different composites before and after immersion in kerosene. At low temperature, the PEI sizing had a significant influence on the β relaxation, particularly after kerosene immersion. The thermoplastic sizings did not modify the glass‐transition temperature but improved the kerosene resistance on the composites. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42550.     

MicroRNA Profiling of B Cell Subsets from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Reveals Promising Novel Biomarkers

MicroRNAs control the differentiation and function of B cells, which are considered key elements in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, a common micro(mi)RNA signature has not emerged since published data includes patients of variable ethnic background, type of disease, and organ involvement, as well as heterogeneous cell populations. Here, we aimed at identifying a miRNA signature of purified B cells from renal and non-renal severe SLE patients of Latin American background, a population known to express severe disease. Genome-wide miRNA expression analyses were performed on naive and memory B cells and revealed two categories of miRNA signatures. The first signature represents B cell subset-specific miRNAs deregulated in SLE: 11 and six miRNAs discriminating naive and memory B cells of SLE patients from healthy controls (HC), respectively. Whether the miRNA was up or down-regulated in memory B cells as compared with naive B cells in HC, this difference was abolished in SLE patients, and vice versa. The second signature identifies six miRNAs associated with specific pathologic features affecting renal outcome, providing a further understanding for SLE pathogenesis. Overall, the present work provided promising biomarkers in molecular diagnostics for disease severity as well as potential new targets for therapeutic intervention in SLE.