Fatty Acids,CD36, Thrombospondin-1, and CD47 in Glioblastoma: Together and/or Separately?

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive tumors of the central nervous system, characterized by a wide range of inter- and intratumor heterogeneity. Accumulation of fatty acids (FA) metabolites was associated with a low survival rate in high-grade glioma patients. The diversity of brain lipids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), is greater than in all other organs and several classes of proteins, such as FA transport proteins (FATPs), and FA translocases are considered principal candidates for PUFAs transport through BBB and delivery of PUFAs to brain cells. Among these, the CD36 FA translocase promotes long-chain FA uptake as well as oxidated lipoproteins. Moreover, CD36 binds and recognizes thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), an extracellular matrix protein that was shown to play a multifaceted role in cancer as part of the tumor microenvironment. Effects on tumor cells are mediated by TSP-1 through the interaction with CD36 as well as CD47, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. TSP-1/CD47 interactions have an important role in the modulation of glioma cell invasion and angiogenesis in GBM. Separately, FA, the two membrane receptors CD36, CD47, and their joint ligand TSP-1 all play a part in GBM pathogenesis. The last research has put in light their interconnection/interrelationship in order to exert a cumulative effect in the modulation of the GBM molecular network.     

Shigella Outer Membrane Vesicles as Promising Targets for Vaccination

The clinical symptoms of shigellosis, a gastrointestinal infection caused by Shigella spp. range from watery diarrhea to fulminant dysentery. Endemic infections, particularly among children in developing countries, represent the majority of clinical cases. The situation is aggravated due to the high mortality rate of shigellosis, the rapid dissemination of multi-resistant Shigella strains and the induction of only serotype-specific immunity. Thus, infection prevention due to vaccination, encompassing as many of the circulating serotypes as possible, has become a topic of interest. However, vaccines have turned out to be ineffective so far. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are promising novel targets for vaccination. OMVs are constitutively secreted by Gram-negative bacteria including Shigella during growth. They are composed of soluble luminal portions and an insoluble membrane and can contain toxins, bioactive periplasmic and cytoplasmic (lipo-) proteins, (phospho-) lipids, nucleic acids and/or lipopolysaccharides. Thus, OMVs play an important role in bacterial cell–cell communication, growth, survival and pathogenesis. Furthermore, they modulate the secretion and transport of biomolecules, the stress response, antibiotic resistance and immune responses of the host. Thus, OMVs serve as novel secretion machinery. Here, we discuss the current literature and highlight the properties of OMVs as potent vaccine candidates because of their immunomodulatory, antigenic and adjuvant properties.     

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers,Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines,and Histological Changes in Experimental Hypertension,Dyslipidemia, and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The present study aims to compare the oxidative stress biomarkers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and histological changes induced by three cardiovascular risk factors, namely, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. Hypertension was induced with 40 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl (L-NAME) administered orally. Dyslipidemia was induced by the administration of a diet with a high cholesterol (2%) content. Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal administration of a single dose of streptozocin (65 mg/kg). Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidative status (TOS) are increased by all three cardiovascular risk factors (up to 207%). The indirect assessment of NO synthesis (NOx) is observed to be reduced after L-NAME administration (43%), and dyslipidemia induction (16%), while type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with the highest levels of NOx (increased 112%). Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 1 diabetes reduced the total antioxidative capacity (TAC) and total thiol (SH) levels (up to 57%). The values of evaluated pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), assessed from the ascending aorta were elevated by all three cardiovascular risk factors, with the highest levels induced by type 1 diabetes mellitus (up to 259%). The histopathological examination of the ascending and descending aorta revealed reversible pro-atherogenic changes consisting of the accumulation of lipid droplets in the subendothelial connective tissue on rats with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Irreversible pro-atherogenic changes consisting of a reduction of the specific elasticity of the arteries were observed in rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes mellitus demonstrates an alteration of the oxidative stress parameters, the elevation of tissue levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and causing irreversible pro-atherogenic changes on the aortic wall.     

Impact strength elastomer composites based on polystyrene components separated from waste electrical and electronic equipment

The reuse of plastic components of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is an important concern both for environmental issues and to preserve the material resources, with minimum energy consumption. Considering that polystyrene fraction was reported as approximate 80% of the total amount of WEEE plastic, this article aims to evaluate the recycling of this fraction, without separation by components, by melt compounding with styrene-butadiene block-copolymer (SBS) and hydrogenated and maleinized SBS, the blend of the two elastomers acting both as an impact modifier and compatibilizer. The composites are characterized by mechanical analysis, impact tests, dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The recycling conditions of the polystyrene fraction as composites without eliminating the WEEE additives for improved UV and flame resistance, with physical mechanical properties comparable to those of high-impact polystyrene resulted from the study. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48329.     

Distribution of Mixing Efficiency in a Split-Cylinder Gas-Lift Bioreactor with Immobilized Yarrowia Lipolytica Cells Used for Olive Oil Mill Wastewater Treatment

The distribution of mixing in a split-cylinder gas-lift bioreactor has been investigated for suspensions of immobilized Yarrowia lipolytica cells with particles diameter varying between 3 and 4.2 mm. The results indicated important variation of mixing time on the height of riser or downcomer, as well as different behavior of suspensions flows in these two regions. Therefore, for the riser, the mixing efficiency increases from its bottom to the top, allowing the biocatalyst particles with intermediate size (3.6-mm diameter) reaching the most intense circulation of suspension. The analysis of the suspension flow in the downcomer region revealed that the intermediate positions are associated with the highest mixing mainly for the largest immobilized yeast particles (4.2-mm diameter). In both cases, the influence of aeration on turbulence extent is positive only for air superficial velocity up to 1.05–1.35 × 10^?3 m/s, the magnitude of this effect being correlated with the biocatalyst size and position on the riser or downcomer. By means of the experimental data, mathematical correlations for mixing time have been proposed for each circulation region, taking into consideration both the operational parameters and the distance from the bioreactor bottom. These equations offer a good concordance with the experiment, the average deviation being of 5.82% for the riser and 6.06% for the downcomer zone.     

Fast start-up of a diesel fuel processor for PEM fuel cells

Fuel cell systems based on liquid fuels are particularly suitable for auxiliary power generation due to the high energy density of the fuel and its easy storage. Together with industrial partners, Oel-Waerme-Institut is developing a 3 kW_el PEM fuel cell system based on diesel steam reforming to be applied as an APU for caravans and yachts. The start-up time of a fuel cell APU is of crucial importance since a buffer battery has to supply electric power until the system is ready to take over. Therefore, the start-up time directly affects the battery capacity and consequently the system size, weight, and cost.     

CLA isomers in milk fat from cows fed diets with high levels of unsaturated fatty acids

The concentrations of CLA isomers were determined by Ag⁺-HPLC in the milk fat of cows fed a control diet consisting of hay ad libitum and 15 kg of fodder beets or this diet supplemented with oilseeds containing either high levels of oleic acid (rapeseed), linoleic acid (sunflower seed), or α-linolenic acid (linseed). Highly significant (P≤0.001) correlations were found between the daily intakes of oleic acid and the concentration of the CLA isomer trans-7,cis-9 in milk fat; of linoleic acid and the CLA isomers trans-10,trans-12, trans-9,trans-11, trans-8,trans-10, trans-7,trans-9, trans-10,cis-12, cis-9,trans-11, trans-8,cis-10, and trans-7,cis-9; and of α-linolenic acid and the CLA isomers trans-12,trans-14, trans-11,trans-13, cis,trans/trans,cis-12,14, trans-11,cis-13, and cis-11,trans-13. CLA concentrations were also determined in the milk fat of cows grazing in the lowlands (600–650 m), the mountains (900–1210 m), and the highlands (1275–2120 m). The concentrations of many isomers were highest in milk fat from the highlands, but only three CLA isomers (cis-9,trans-11, trans-11,cis-13, and trans-8,cis-10) showed a nearly linear increase with elevation. Therefore, these three CLA isomers, and particularly the CLA isomer trans-11,cis-13, the second-most important CLA in milk fat from cows grazing at the three altitudes, could be useful indicators of milk products of Alpine origin.     

Heavy Metal Removal and Neutralization of Acid Mine Waste Water ‐ Kinetic Study

The influence of the apatite on the efficiency of neutralization and on heavy metal removal of acid mine waste water has been studied. The analysis of the treated waste water samples with apatite has shown an advanced purification, the concentration of the heavy metals after the treatment of the waste water with apatite being 25 to 1000 times less than the Maximum Concentration Limits admitted by European Norms (NTPA 001/2005). In order to establish the macro‐kinetic mechanism in the neutralization process, the activation energy, Ea, and the kinetic parameters, rate coefficient of reaction, k_r, and k_t were determined from the experimental results obtained in “ceramic ball‐mill” reactor. The obtained values of the activation energy Ea >> 42 kJ mol^?1 (e.g. Ea = 115.50 ± 7.50 kJ mol^?1 for a conversion of sulphuric acid η_H2SO4 = 0.05, Ea = 60.90 ± 9.50 kJ mol^?1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.10 and Ea = 55.75 ± 10.45 kJ mol^‐1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.15) suggest that up to a conversion of H2SO4 equal 0.15 the global process is controlled by the transformation process, adsorption followed by reaction, which means surface‐controlled reactions. At a conversion of sulphuric acid η ^H2SO4 > 0.15, the obtained values of activation energy Ea < 42 kJ mol^‐1 (e.g. Ea = 37.55 ± 4.05 kJ mol^‐1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.2, Ea = 37.54 ± 2.54 kJ mol^‐1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.3 and Ea = 37.44 ± 2.90 kJ mol^‐1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.4) indicate diffusion‐controlled processes. This means a combined process model, which involves the transfer in the liquid phase followed by the chemical reaction at the surface of the solid. Kinetic parameters as rate coefficient of reaction, kr with values ranging from (5.02 ± 1.62) 10‐4 to (8.00 ± 1.55) 10‐4 (s^‐1) and transfer coefficient, kt, ranging from (8.40 ± 0.50) 10‐5 to (10.42 ± 0.65) 10‐5 (m s^‐1) were determined.     

Antifungal Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Peanuts,Gari, and Orange Fruit Juice against Food Aflatoxigenic Molds

This study aims to evaluate the antifungal activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from some Cameroonian food commodities against mycotoxigenic and spoilage molds. Following LAB isolation, the antifungal activity of the isolates was assessed. The organic acids were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography and the ability of the LAB to reduce mold biomass and aflatoxin production was evaluated. The LAB were identified and the biopreservative potential of strain LO3 was evaluated on tomato paste. Nine percent of the strains isolated showed broad antifungal activity. The activity was due to the effect of organic acids comprising lactic, acetic, 4-hydroxy-3-phenyllactic and 3-phenyllactic acids. Lactobacillus plantarum LO3 exhibiting the highest and broadest antifungal activity was selected and showed the capacity to inhibit fungal growth and aflatoxin production in vitro. Moreover, this strain and its cell-free supernatant showed the ability to prevent aflatoxigenic mold growth in tomato paste without altering its physico-chemical and organoleptic properties.     

Mapping micromechanical properties of soft polymer contact lenses

We present comparative micromechanical characterization of several commercial soft silicone hydrogel contact lenses, which allows for the examination of spatial distribution of different regions with local mechanical properties within the lens under practical wet conditions. We employ elastic contact mechanic model and corresponding analysis of force–distance curves collected with high-resolution atomic force microscopy measurements performed within elastic deformation limits. The measurements were performed on the lens cross section to map the micromechanical properties distribution within the sub-surface regions and bulk material of the different lens. In addition, we have studied topography and mechanical properties of the lens surfaces, which come into direct contact with the surface of the eye and eyelid. AFM images show high contrast distribution maps for the adhesive and mechanical properties of the different microstructured regions such as pores, lamellae and different material inclusions within the lenses. Additional indentation experiments allow for collection of quantitative data for micromechanical properties from different regions within the lens structure and correlate these data with lens-averaged macroscopic measurements available in the literature.