Integrated Study of APS YSZ Coatings with Different Spray Angle

Spray parameters play an important role on the microstructure and properties of plasma-sprayed coatings. Parameters such as spray distance, plasma gas flow and current, raster speed, and spray angle all can be varied. In this paper, an integrated study to investigate the effects and influences of spray angle on properties of yttria-stabilized zirconia coatings was carried out with spray angles of 60°, 75°, and 90° (to the substrate surface). In situ coating property sensor based on beam curvature measurements was used to measure the evolving stress and elastic moduli of the resultant coatings and combined with other characterization tools for thermo-physical property and microstructure analysis, such as laser flash and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the coating with 60° spray angle had the lowest thermal conductivity and more compliant structure. This study seeks to understand the mechanism for this effect and will provide important insight into parametric sensitivities on complex spray parts.     

Blood Thiol Redox State in Chronic Kidney Disease

Thiols (sulfhydryl groups) are effective antioxidants that can preserve the correct structure of proteins, and can protect cells and tissues from damage induced by oxidative stress. Abnormal levels of thiols have been measured in the blood of patients with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to healthy subjects, as well as in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. The levels of protein thiols (a measure of the endogenous antioxidant capacity inversely related to protein oxidation) and S-thiolated proteins (mixed disulphides of protein thiols and low molecular mass thiols), and the protein thiolation index (the molar ratio of the S-thiolated proteins to free protein thiols in plasma) have been investigated in the plasma or red blood cells of CKD and ESRD patients as possible biomarkers of oxidative stress. This type of minimally invasive analysis provides valuable information on the redox status of the less-easily accessible tissues and organs, and of the whole organism. This review provides an overview of reversible modifications in protein thiols in the setting of CKD and renal replacement therapy. The evidence suggests that protein thiols, S-thiolated proteins, and the protein thiolation index are promising biomarkers of reversible oxidative stress that could be included in the routine monitoring of CKD and ESRD patients.     

A Modular Composite Device of Poly(Ethylene Oxide)/Poly(Butylene Terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) Nanofibers and Gelatin as a Dual Drug Delivery System for Local Therapy of Soft Tissue Tumors

In the clinical management of solid tumors, the possibility to successfully couple the regeneration of injured tissues with the elimination of residual tumor cells left after surgery could open doors to new therapeutic strategies. In this work, we present a composite hydrogel–electrospun nanofiber scaffold, showing a modular architecture for the delivery of two pharmaceutics with distinct release profiles, that is potentially suitable for local therapy and post-surgical treatment of solid soft tumors. The composite was obtained by coupling gelatin hydrogels to poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(butylene terephthalate) block copolymer nanofibers. Results of the scaffolds’ characterization, together with the analysis of gelatin and drug release kinetics, displayed the possibility to modulate the device architecture to control the release kinetics of the drugs, also providing evidence of their activity. In vitro analyses were also performed using a human epithelioid sarcoma cell line. Furthermore, publicly available expression datasets were interrogated. Confocal imaging showcased the nontoxicity of these devices in vitro. ELISA assays confirmed a modulation of IL-10 inflammation-related cytokine supporting the role of this device in tissue repair. In silico analysis confirmed the role of IL-10 in solid tumors including 262 patients affected by sarcoma as a negative prognostic marker for overall survival. In conclusion, the developed modular composite device may provide a key-enabling technology for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma.     

Host Restriction Factors Modulating HIV Latency and Replication in Macrophages

In addition to CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, myeloid cells and, particularly, differentiated macrophages are targets of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection via the interaction of gp120Env with CD4 and CCR5 or CXCR4. Both T cells and macrophages support virus replication, although with substantial differences. In contrast to activated CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, HIV-1 replication in macrophages occurs in nondividing cells and it is characterized by the virtual absence of cytopathicity both in vitro and in vivo. These general features should be considered in evaluating the role of cell-associated restriction factors aiming at preventing or curtailing virus replication in macrophages and T cells, particularly in the context of designing strategies to tackle the viral reservoir in infected individuals receiving combination antiretroviral therapy. In this regard, we will here also discuss a model of reversible HIV-1 latency in primary human macrophages and the role of host factors determining the restriction or reactivation of virus replication in these cells.     

A simplified method to evaluate the energy performance of CO2 heat pump units

The prediction of the performances of CO₂ transcritical heat pumps demands accurate calculation methods, where a particular effort is devoted to the gas cooler modelling, as the correlation between high pressure and gas cooler outlet temperature strongly affects the cycle performance. The above-mentioned methods require a large amount of input data and calculation power. As a consequence they are often useless for the full characterisation of heat pumps which are sold on the market.A simplified numerical method for the performance prediction of vapour compression heat pumps working in a transcritical cycle is presented, based only on performance data at the nominal rating conditions. The proposed procedure was validated against experimental data of two different tap water heat pumps. For the considered units, simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental ones. The deviations range from −6.4% to +1.7% and from −3.8% to +5.8% for the COP_H of the air/water heat pump and the water/water heat pump, respectively. The heating capacity deviations stayed within −5.5% and +1.7% range and within −5.0% and +7.9% range for the same units.The proposed mathematical model appears to be a reliable tool to be used by the refrigeration industry or to be implemented into dynamic building-plant energy simulation codes. Finally, it represents a useful instrument for the definition of tailored approximated optimal high pressure curve considering the operating characteristics of the specific CO₂ transcritical unit. It could also be implemented on board of a real unit control system where it could be used as model coupled to computational intelligence algorithms for pressure optimisation.     

Cell therapy using an array of ultrathin hollow microneedles

Microsystem Technologies - Cell transplantation traditionally employs needles to inject donor cells into tissues to treat certain diseases. However, it is difficult for the current method to...     

Diverse food in urban gardens in the promotion of food and nutrition security in Brazil: a review

Food and nutrition security can be supported by an urban garden. The present study comprises a critical reflection on the difficulty of producing food in urban gardens in Brazil and shows the potential of food production and the obstacles to its expansion. In addition, issues related to the agroecological management of gardens are addressed and suggestions are made to improve the proposed public policies. Urban gardens are multifunctional and have social, economic and environmental impacts. They are strategically important for supporting low-income families and urban development. Through urban gardens, diverse foods and quality foods can be produced for self-consumption. This review highlights the importance of generating detailed information on urban gardens in Brazil to support policies aimed at this sector. Long-term and multidisciplinary studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between food production in urban gardens and household food and nutrition security. This approach revealed a lack of information on the amount of food produced by Brazilians in their gardens and consumed by the household. In addition, there is little information on the management of production. There is a gap relating to the impact of food produced in urban gardens and the prevalence of food and nutrition security. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry