Chemical Composition of Seed Oils Recovered from Different Pear (Pyrus communis L.) Cultivars

Lipophilic bioactive compounds in oils recovered from the seeds of eight pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars were studied. Oil yield in pear seeds ranged between 16.3 and 31.5 % (w/w) dw. The main fatty acids were palmitic acid (6.13–8.52 %), oleic acid (27.39–38.17 %) and linoleic acid (50.73–63.78 %), all three representing 96–99 % of the total detected fatty acids. The range of total tocochromanols was between 120.5 and 216.1 mg/100 g of oil. Independent of the cultivar, the γ‐tocopherol was the main tocochromanol and constituted approximately 88 %. The contents of the carotenoids and squalene were between 0.69–2.99 and 25.5–40.8 mg/100 g of oil, respectively. The β‐sitosterol constituted 83.4–87.6 % of total sterols contents, which ranged between 276.4 and 600.1 mg/100 g of oil. Three significant correlations were found between oil yield and total contents of sterols (r = ?0.893), tocochromanols (r = ?0.955) and carotenoids (r = ?0.685) in pear seed oils.     

In‐vitro study on the efficacy of tannin fractions of edible nuts as antioxidants

Tannin fractions were isolated from crude acetonic extracts of defatted walnut, hazelnut and almond kernels using Sephadex LH‐20 column chromatography. The obtained material was characterized by content of total phenolics and electrophoretic separations using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The antioxidant activities of the tannin fractions were analyzed by several methods: DPPH and ABTS assays, photochemiluminescence (PCL) method, as well as in two lipid model systems: emulsion with β‐carotene‐linoleic acid and L ‐α‐lecithin liposomes. The contents of total phenolics in the tannin fractions of walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds were 550, 329 and 83 mg catechin eq/g, respectively. The electrophoretic profiles of hazelnut and almond tannin fractions were similar, in contrast to the walnut profile. All analyzed fractions exhibited strong antioxidant properties. The antioxidant capacity of lipid‐soluble (ACL) compounds determined by PCL method was the highest for the fraction isolated from walnuts – 7.35 mmol Trolox eq/g. The DPPH radical and the ABTS radical cation were scavenged by the walnut tannin fraction with a higher efficacy than by the two other fractions. EC₅₀ values of the DPPH method were 1.8 times higher for the hazelnut fraction and 2.3 times higher for the almond fraction when compared to the walnut tannins. In turn, the total antioxidant activity values were 8.17, 2.82 and 1.98 mmol Trolox eq/g for the walnut, hazelnut and almond fractions, respectively. On the other hand, in both lipid models applied, lower antioxidant activity of walnut tannins than of hazelnut tannins was noted. The antioxidant effect of almond tannins was weaker or similar than that of walnut tannins in the β‐carotene‐linoleic acid emulsion and the L ‐α‐lecithin liposomal system, respectively.     

Degradative transport of cationic amphiphilic drugs across phospholipid bilayers

Drug molecules must cross multiple cell membrane barriers to reach their site of action. We present evidence that one of the largest classes of pharmaceutical drug molecules, the cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs), does so via a catalytic reaction that degrades the phospholipid fabric of the membrane. We find that CADs partition rapidly to the polar-apolar region of the membrane. At physiological pH, the protonated groups on the CAD catalyse the acid hydrolysis of the ester linkage present in the phospholipid chains, producing a fatty acid and a single-chain lipid. The single-chain lipids rapidly destabilize the membrane, causing membranous fragments to separate and diffuse away from the host. These membrane fragments carry the drug molecules with them. The entire process, from drug adsorption to drug release within micelles, occurs on a time-scale of seconds, compatible with in vivo drug diffusion rates. Given the rate at which the reaction occurs, it is probable that this process is a significant mechanism for drug transport.     

In-vessel composting for utilizing of municipal sewage-sludge

The amount of sludge generated from wastewater treatment plants has been increasing year-by-year as the sewerage service area expanded. The composting process is considered to be one of the best management methods to stabilize different organic wastes. The main goal of this investigation was to find the optimal ratio of the quantity of the organic waste to the quantity of the sewage sludge. The process of composting was carried out in the Horstmann bioreactor (pilot scale) for 2–3 weeks and then in a compost pile for 6–12 weeks. Seven experiments were performed, with different ratios of the quantity of organic wastes to the quantity of sewage sludge. The results enabled an estimation of the quality of compost and its usefulness and also the usefulness of the bioreactor to be deduced.     

All‐Cellulose‐Based Quasi‐Solid‐State Sodium‐Ion Hybrid Capacitors Enabled by Structural Hierarchy

Na‐ion hybrid capacitors consisting of battery‐type anodes and capacitor‐style cathodes are attracting increasing attention on account of the abundance of sodium‐based resources as well as the potential to bridge the gap between batteries (high energy) and supercapacitors (high power). Herein, hierarchically structured carbon materials inspired by multiscale building units of cellulose from nature are assembled with cellulose‐based gel electrolytes into Na‐ion capacitors. Nonporous hard carbon anodes are obtained through the direct thermal pyrolysis of cellulose nanocrystals. Nitrogen‐doped carbon cathodes with a coral‐like hierarchically porous architecture are prepared via hydrothermal carbonization and activation of cellulose microfibrils. The reversible charge capacity of the anode is 256.9 mAh g^?1 when operating at 0.1 A g^?1 from 0 to 1.5 V versus Na⁺/Na, and the discharge capacitance of cathodes tested within 1.5 to 4.2 V versus Na⁺/Na is 212.4 F g^?1 at 0.1 A g^?1. Utilizing Na⁺ and ClO₄^? as charge carriers, the energy density of the full Na‐ion capacitor with two asymmetric carbon electrodes can reach 181 Wh kg^?1 at 250 W kg^?1, which is one of the highest energy devices reported until now. Combined with macrocellulose‐based gel electrolytes, all‐cellulose‐based quasi‐solid‐state devices are demonstrated possessing additional advantages in terms of overall sustainability.     

Nonlinear Absorption of Submicrometer Grain‐Size Cobalt‐Doped Magnesium Aluminate Transparent Ceramics

Transparent cobalt‐doped magnesium aluminate spinel (Co:MgAl₂O₄) ceramics with a submicrometer grain size were prepared by spark plasma sintering. For the first time, the nonlinear absorption of Co:MgAl₂O₄ transparent ceramics was experimentally demonstrated. Both ground state absorption (σ_GSA) and excited state absorption (σ_ESA) were estimated using the solid‐state slow saturable absorber model based on absorption saturation measurements performed at 1.535 μm. σ_GSA and σ_ESA for 0.03 at.% Co:MgAl₂O₄ were found to be 4.1 × 10^?19 cm² and 4.0 × 10^?20 cm², respectively. In the case of 0.06 at.% Co:MgAl₂O₄ ceramics, σ_GSA = 2.6 × 10^?19 cm² and σ_ESA= 5.3 × 10^?20 cm² were determined.     

Genetic Background of Fetal Growth Restriction

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is one of the most formidable challenges in present-day antenatal care. Pathological fetal growth is a well-known factor of not only in utero demise in the third trimester, but also postnatal morbidity and unfavorable developmental outcomes, including long-term sequalae such as metabolic diseases, diabetic mellitus or hypertension. In this review, the authors present the current state of knowledge about the genetic disturbances responsible for FGR diagnosis, divided into fetal, placental and maternal causes (including preeclampsia), as well as their impact on prenatal diagnostics, with particular attention on chromosomal microarray (CMA) and noninvasive prenatal testing technique (NIPT).     

Anisotropic Crystalline Protein Nanolayers as Multi‐Functional Biointerface for Patterned Co‐Cultures of Adherent and Non‐Adherent Cells in Microfluidic Devices

The spatial arrangement of cells in their microenvironment is known to significantly influence cellular behavior, thus making the control of cellular organization an important parameter of in vitro co‐culture models. However, recent advances in micropatterning co‐culture methods within biochips do not address the simultaneous cultivation of anchorage‐dependent and non‐adherent cells. To address this methodological gap we combine S‐layer technology with microfluidics to pattern co‐cultures to study the cell‐to‐cell and cell‐to‐surface interactions under physiologically relevant conditions. We exploit the unique self‐assembly properties of SbpA and SbsB S‐layers to create an anisotropic protein nanobiointerface on‐chip with spatially‐defined cytophilic (adhesive) and cytophobic (repulsive) properties. While microfluidics control physical parameters such as shear force and flow velocities, our anisotropic protein nanobiointerface regulates the biological aspects of the co‐culture method including biocompatibility, biostability, and affinity to non‐adherent cells. The reliability and reproducibility of our microfluidic co‐culture strategy based on laminar flow patterned protein nanolayers is envisioned to advance in vitro models for biomedical research.     

Regulated Necrosis in HeLa Cells Induced by ZnPc Photodynamic Treatment: A New Nuclear Morphology

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment modality based on the administration of a photosensitizer (PS), which accumulates preferentially in tumor cells. Subsequent irradiation of the neoplastic area triggers a cascade of photochemical reactions that leads to the formation of highly reactive oxygen species responsible for cell inactivation. Photodynamic treatments in vitro are performed with the PS, zinc-phthalocyanine (ZnPc). The PS is near the plasma membrane during uptake and internalization. Inactivation clearly occurs by a necrotic process, manifested by nuclear pyknosis, negative TUNEL and Annexin V assays and non-relocation of cytochrome c. In contrast, by increasing the incubation time, ZnPc is accumulated in the Golgi apparatus and produces cell inactivation with characteristics of apoptosis and necrosis: TUNEL positive, relocated cytochrome c and negative Annexin V assay. This type of death produces a still undescribed granulated nuclear morphology, which is different from that of necrosis or apoptosis. This morphology is inhibited by necrostatin-1, a specific inhibitor of regulated necrosis.     

Strength properties of polyimideamide nanocomposite fibers in terms of their porous and supermolecular structure

The strength properties of fibers made from polyimideamide (PIA) nanocomposite were investigated and the effect of the presence of MMT in the fiber‐forming polymer on the porous structure and supermolecular structure of fibers was analyzed. It was found that lower strength properties (tenacity, elongation at break) of PIA nanocomposite fibers, as compared with those ones of fibers without montmorillonite (MMT), are connected with a lower deformability of the polymer during drawing stage and the collapse of MMT galleries, confirmed by WAXS investigations. This results in the formation of agglomerates that are weakly connected with the fiber‐forming polymer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 339–344, 2007