The olfactory organ of the trout Salmo trutta fario: A novel localization for a progestin receptor

A progestin receptor (PR) has been detected in the olfactory organ of the trout Salmo trutta fario. The specificity of this receptor was high for 17α,20β‐dihydroxy‐4‐pregnen‐3‐one (17α,20β‐DP), but it also bound 17α‐hydroxy‐progesterone (17α‐OHP) and 21‐hydroxyprogesterone (21‐OHP), even when present at low concentrations (10‐fold in relative binding affinity assay). Progesterone (P) competed effectively at much higher concentrations (1,000‐fold in relative binding affinity assay). Immunohistochemical studies carried out with three different monoclonal antibodies against human progesterone receptor (hPR), chicken progesterone receptor hinge region (cPR), and chicken progesterone receptor A/B domain (PR22), revealed that immunoreactivity was present in the epithelium of the olfactory organ of females and males of the trout Salmo trutta fario only against hPR. Western blotting showed two hPR immunoreactive bands of about 62 and 66 kDa. Finally, a portion of the cDNA of about 300 nucleotides extending over the DNA binding domain and the ligand binding domain was cloned and sequenced, revealing a high degree of sequence homology of the PR in Salmo trutta fario with the PR in other teleosts. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Optical properties of high-density dispersions of particles: application to intralipid solutions

We propose to study the scattering properties of dense distributions of spherical scatterers by resorting to an iterative solution of the Foldy-Twersky equation for the propagation of the coherent field. As a result of the first step of the iterative procedure, the host medium is substituted by an effective medium of complex refractive index to account for the multiple-scattering processes that occur among the particles. Although we truncate the above-mentioned iterative procedure to the second step, the results of our calculations are in excellent agreement with previous experimental results of Zaccanti et al. ("Measurement of optical properties of high-density media," to be published in Applied Optics) for the scattering coefficient of Intralipid solutions up to a volume density of 15% and show a limited disagreement at a volume density of 22%.     

Synthesis of an Al-ZrO2 composite by infiltration of Zr-chelates into an Al matrix

Aluminium-based matrix composites were prepared by infiltration with an ammoniacal zirconium chelate within an Al matrix synthesized via Aluminium powder compactation. After infiltration, this chelate can be transformed in situ by sol-gel method that leads to tetragonal phases in zirconia, which in turn, transforms to monoclinic structure on heating. Based on Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), we confirm the reaction sequence to obtain the tetramer, the phase transformation sequence within the Al matrix, and the development of phases that leads to the synthesis of the Al-ZrO₂ composite.     

Characterization of metal-supported Al2O3 thin films by scanning electrochemical microscopy

In this paper, physiochemical properties of amorphous alumina thin films, grown by the metal organic chemical vapour deposition process on the surface of platinum (Pt/Al₂O₃) and stainless steel (SS/Al₂O₃), were investigated in aqueous media. The study was performed by the use of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), which allowed obtaining information on uniformity, topography and chemical stability/reactivity of the alumina coatings with high spatial resolution. In particular, the effects due to local acid, base and fluoride ions attack on alumina layers of thickness of about 250 nm (in the Pt/Al₂O₃ sample) and 1000 nm (in the SS/Al₂O₃ sample) were investigated. In the acid and base attack, high concentrations of H₂SO₄ and KOH were electrogenerated locally by the use of a 25 μm diameter platinum microelectrode. The latter was also used as SECM tip to monitor the chemical effect on the alumina layers. It was found that, regardless of the thickness of the film, alumina provided good resistance against local attack of concentrated H₂SO₄; instead, the film dissolved when subjected to KOH attack. The dissolution rate depended on several experimental parameters, such as SECM-tip to substrate distance, electrolysis time and alumina film thickness. The alumina layer proved also relatively poor resistance to etching in 0.1 M NaF solutions.     

Growth/no growth interfaces of Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis in model systems based on water activity, pH, temperature and ethanol concentration

This study focuses its attention on the boundary between the growth and no growth of three strains ofSalmonella enteritidis , Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of growth controlling factors such as temperature, pH, water activity (A_w) and ethanol concentration. Preliminarly, the minimal values of pH, A_wand temperature, and the maximum ethanol concentrations allowing the growth of the considered micro-organisms were determined. The calculation of these values enabled the use of logistic model to evaluate the growth/no growth boundary for the bacteria in relation to the considered independent variables. The location of the growth/no-growth boundaries for S. enteritidis and Staph. aureus were strongly affected, at the same ethanol concentration, by temperature, pH and A_w. Among the considered species, Staph. aureus was endowed with the highest sensitivity to low pH values whileB. cereus's growth/no growth interface, was quite unaffected by the combination of the stresses, when the physico–chemical conditions were above the minimum for growth. The effects of temperature, A_wand ethanol on the limitation of growth of the considered species were not merely additive. It was possible to identify the combinations of such factors preventing the growth of Salmonella enteritidis, Staph. aureus and B. cereus.     

Enzymatic treatments as alternative to produce chitin fragments of low molecular weight from Alternaria alternata

Chitin and its oligosaccharides are involved in the plant defense response against fungal pathogens. In most studies, these molecules come from crustacean shell, and there are scarce studies on the use of fungal chitin. Usually the extraction of chitin is by alkaline treatments, which affect the acetylation degree (DA), and the obtaining of oligosaccharides of low molecular weight; so the use of enzymes is proposed as an alternative treatment to obtain chitin oligosaccharides from fungi. The objective of this work was to characterize the chitin fragments of Alternaria alternata extracted by alkaline and enzymatic treatments. The chitin extracted was ultrasonicated and ultrafiltrated to produce chitin fragments. Enzymatic treatments decreased the protein content to 29%, and the bands corresponding to β-glucans decreased when β-1,3-glucanase was applied. Fragments smaller than 1 kDa, DA of 76.7%, and 35.4 μg glucosamine/mg dry weight were obtained by enzymatic treatments. The enzymatic treatments show promising results to extract chitin fragments from A. alternata without severely affect the DA of the molecule. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47339.     

Integral Sliding‐Mode Observation and Control for Switched Uncertain Linear Time Invariant Systems: a Robustifying Strategy

A robustifying methodology for switched systems with matched and unmatched uncertainties/perturbations and autonomous location transitions is presented. We avail of such methodology to design a control strategy based on integral sliding modes, thereby ensuring theoretically exact compensation of the matched uncertainties/perturbations and the minimization of the effects of the unmatched ones. An output integral sliding‐mode control technique, based on a switched algebraic hierarchical observer is also proposed. This approach allows the theoretically exact compensation of the matched uncertainties/perturbations right after the first moment. The proposed approach is illustrated via numerical simulations.     

Potential of high pressure homogenization in the control and enhancement of proteolytic and fermentative activities of some Lactobacillus species

Different species of Lactobacillus involved in dairy product fermentation and ripening were considered in order to study the effect of high pressure homogenization (HPH) on: (i) fermentation kinetics of HPH treated cells inoculated in milk; (ii) metabolic profiles; (iii) release of intracellular proteolytic enzymes; and (iv) enhance of the activity of extracellular or cellular wall located proteolytic enzymes. The HPH treatments applied were 50, 100, 150 MPa, 2 cycles at 50 and at 100 MPa. The viability loss did not exceed 1.3 log cfu/ml after the higher treatments applied. The electrophoretic profiles of α- or β-casein incubated with the different cell free filtrates shown that HPH positively affected the proteolytic activity of some strains. Moreover, HPH affected the acidification rates of the milk inoculated with the processed cells and the primary metabolism of some strains. Regarding volatile compounds, ethanol, acetoin and 2-methyl butyric acid were subjected to the major changes when the inoculum had been processed.     

Role of Bevacizumab on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Apolipoprotein E Deficient Mice after Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is believed to play a key role in TBI and to be overexpressed in the absence of apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Bevacizumab, a VEGF inhibitor, demonstrated neuroprotective activity in several models of TBI. However, the effects of bevacizumab on Apo-E deficient mice are not well studied. The present study aimed to evaluate VEGF expression and the effects of bevacizumab on BBB and neuroinflammation in ApoE^−/− mice undergoing TBI. Furthermore, for the first time, this study evaluates the effects of bevacizumab on the long-term consequences of TBI, such as atherosclerosis. The results showed that motor deficits induced by controlled cortical impact (CCI) were accompanied by increased brain edema and VEGF expression. Treatment with bevacizumab significantly improved motor deficits and significantly decreased VEGF levels, as well as brain edema compared to the control group. Furthermore, the results showed that bevacizumab preserves the integrity of the BBB and reduces the neuroinflammation induced by TBI. Regarding the effects of bevacizumab on atherosclerosis, it was observed for the first time that its ability to modulate VEGF in the acute phase of head injury prevents the acceleration of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the present study demonstrates not only the neuroprotective activity of bevacizumab but also its action on the vascular consequences related to TBI.     

The Role of Epigenetics in Neuroinflammatory-Driven Diseases

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by the progressive loss of central and/or peripheral nervous system neurons. Within this context, neuroinflammation comes up as one of the main factors linked to neurodegeneration progression. In fact, neuroinflammation has been recognized as an outstanding factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Interestingly, neuroinflammatory diseases are characterized by dramatic changes in the epigenetic profile, which might provide novel prognostic and therapeutic factors towards neuroinflammatory treatment. Deep changes in DNA and histone methylation, along with histone acetylation and altered non-coding RNA expression, have been reported at the onset of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this work is to review the current knowledge on this field.