Effectiveness of UV-based advanced oxidation processes for the remediation of hydrocarbon pollution in the groundwater: a laboratory investigation

The effectiveness of advanced oxidation processes in a batch and a flow reactor was investigated for the remediation of hydrocarbon pollution in the groundwater underlying a petrochemical industrial site. The main organic contaminants present in the groundwater were MTBE, benzene, alkyl-benzenes and alkyl-naphthalenes. Experimental results with a batch reactor showed that for all the organic contaminants the removal efficiency order is UV/TiO2 approximately UV/H2O2>UV (medium-pressure) in a synthetic aqueous solution, compared to UV/H2O2>UV (medium-pressure)>UV/TiO2 for the real polluted groundwater. The much lower performance of UV/TiO2 with respect to UV/H2O2 was inferred to the matrix of the groundwater, i.e. the salt content, as well as the organic and particulate matter. In fact, it is likely that the salts and dissolved organic matter quench the superoxide anion O2(-) and hydroxyl radicals just formed at the surface of the TiO2 catalyst. MTBE was the hardest compound to remove with each of the investigated treatments. UV and UV/TiO2 treatments were not able to reach a residual concentration of 10 microg/L (set by Italian legislation) even after 180 min. As for the UV/H2O2 process, only the MTBE degradation rate resulted affected by the initial H2O2 concentration, while for other compounds a complete removal was obtained within 20 min even with the lowest H2O2 concentration used (0.13 g/L). Only after 120 min of treatment, with an initial H2O2 concentration of 0.13 g/L, did the residual MTBE concentration fall below the above reported maximum admissible concentration. Instead, by using an initial concentration of 2g/L a residual concentration lower than 5 microg/L was obtained after just 30 min of reaction. The UV/H2O2 process was also investigated with a flow reactor. Results showed that it was more efficient than the batch reactor for removing MTBE, in terms of reaction time and initial H2O2 concentration required. This is consistent with the higher power of the UV lamp and with the different geometry of the flow reactor, which has a much shorter optical path than the batch reactor. By-product characterisation was also performed showing that t-butyl-formate and low molecular weight organic acids are formed as intermediate and final by-products, respectively. Finally, a preliminary evaluation of the operational cost of the UV/H2O2 process showed a value of 1.7 euro/m3 under the optimised condition.     

Interference control, working memory, concept shifting, and verbal fluency in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In this study, the authors aimed to examine 4 domains of executive functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)--namely interference control, concept shifting, verbal fluency, and verbal working memory. Four groups of participants were included: (a) adults diagnosed with ADHD (ADHD-; n = 20), (b) adults diagnosed with both ADHD and 1 or more comorbid disorder(s) (ADHD+; n = 22), (c) adults referred for ADHD because of ADHD symptomatology but not diagnosed as such (non-ADHD; n = 34), and (d) healthy controls (n = 136). ADHD-related deficits (independent of comorbidity) were revealed for concept shifting and verbal working memory. In addition, the ADHD+ and non-ADHD groups displayed deficits in terms of general processing speed. Given that these deficits were not found in the ADHD- group, the authors contend that these deficits are likely attributable to comorbidity rather than ADHD itself. Contrary to the authors' expectations, these findings do not correspond with the cognitive subtype hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Platelet-Derived PCSK9 Is Associated with LDL Metabolism and Modulates Atherothrombotic Mechanisms in Coronary Artery Disease

Platelets play a significant role in atherothrombosis. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is critically involved in the regulation of LDL metabolism and interacts with platelet function. The effect of PCSK9 in platelet function is poorly understood. The authors of this article sought to characterize platelets as a major source of PCSK9 and PCSK9’s role in atherothrombosis. In a large cohort of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), platelet count, platelet reactivity, and platelet-derived PCSK9 release were analyzed. The role of platelet PCSK9 on platelet and monocyte function was investigated in vitro. Platelet count and hyper-reactivity correlated with plasma LDL in CAD. The circulating platelets express on their surface and release substantial amounts of PCSK9. Release of PCSK9 augmented platelet-dependent thrombosis, monocyte migration, and differentiation into macrophages/foam cells. Platelets and PCSK9 accumulated in tissue derived from atherosclerotic carotid arteries in areas of macrophages. PCSK9 inhibition reduced platelet activation and platelet-dependent thrombo-inflammation. The authors identified platelets as a source of PCSK9 in CAD, which may have an impact on LDL metabolism. Furthermore, platelet-derived PCSK9 contributes to atherothrombosis, and inhibition of PCSK9 attenuates thrombo-inflammation, which may contribute to the reported beneficial clinical effects.     

Influence of sugars on the characteristics of glucono-δ-lactone-induced soy protein isolate gels

The effects of the reducing sugars (glucose and lactose) and the non-reducing sugar (sucrose), heated in combination with soy protein isolate (SPI) at neutral pH, on the physicochemical and rheological properties of SPI were determined. After formation of gels induced by glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), the textural profile and physicochemical bonds of the non-heated and heated SPI gels were investigated. The gelation of SPI was induced in three stages of processing that is similar to some tofu-making procedures. First, SPI was heated in the presence of sugars at neutral pH above the denaturation temperature of SPI; then gelation was induced by GDL at iso-electric pH and finally the acidic gels were heat treated again. Heat treatment with glucose at neutral pH resulted in SPI with higher glycation degree than with lactose, whereas SPI heat treated in the presence of sucrose was not glycated. GDL-induced gels of SPI glycated with glucose was more soluble in water than gels of SPI reacted with lactose, which in turn was more soluble than the control and gels of SPI heated in the presence of sucrose. This indicates a change in the net charge of proteins caused by the glycation reaction. Glucose and lactose had a protective effect on protein denaturation at neutral pH, albeit less than sucrose, resulting in GDL-induced gels with increased water holding capacity and reduced gel hardness than sucrose. Chemical analysis indicated that disulphide bonds were involved in maintaining the structure of the gels, and solubility profiles of gels in different buffers indicate that other types of covalent bonds besides disulphide bonds were formed in gels of glycated SPI, resulting in reduced gel elasticity.     

Examining the relationship between free recall and immediate serial recall: The effects of list length and output order.

In 4 experiments, participants were presented with lists of between 1 and 15 words for tests of immediate memory. For all tasks, participants tended to initiate recall with the first word on the list for short lists. As the list length was increased, so there was a decreased tendency to start with the first list item; and, when free to do so, participants showed an increased tendency to start with one of the last 4 list items. In all tasks, the start position strongly influenced the shape of the resultant serial position curves: When recall started at Serial Position 1, elevated recall of early list items was observed; when recall started toward the end of the list, there were extended recency effects. These results occurred under immediate free recall (IFR) and different variants of immediate serial recall (ISR) and reconstruction of order (RoO) tasks. We argue that these findings have implications for the relationship between IFR and ISR and between rehearsal and recall. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The work–family interface in the United States and Singapore: Conflict across cultures.

This article examines the work–family interface in a cross-cultural comparison between two nationally representative samples from the United States (n = 1,860) and Singapore (n = 1,035) with emphasis on work–family conflict. Family-to-work conflict was negatively related to marital satisfaction in both Singapore and the United States, although the effect was stronger in the United States. Similarly, family-to-work conflict was positively related to job satisfaction in the United States but was negatively related in Singapore. As expected, schedule flexibility was negatively related to depression in the United States, but in Singapore the relationship was positive. These findings suggest that theoretical relationships in the work–family interface developed in the more culturally individualistic West may need to be adapted when studying populations in the more collectivist East. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rational protein design of ThDP-dependent enzymes-engineering stereoselectivity

Benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFD) from Pseudomonas putida is an exceptional thiamin diphosphate-dependent enzyme, as it catalyzes the formation of (S)-2-hydroxy-1-phenylpropan-1-one from benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde. This is the only currently known S-selective reaction (92 % ee) catalyzed by this otherwise R-selective class of enzymes. Here we describe the molecular basis of the introduction of S selectivity into ThDP-dependent decarboxylases. By shaping the active site of BFD through the use of rational protein design, structural analysis, and molecular modeling, optimal steric stabilization of the acceptor aldehyde in a structural element called the S pocket was identified as the predominant interaction for adjusting stereoselectivity. Our studies revealed Leu461 as a hot spot for stereoselectivity in BFD. Exchange to alanine and glycine resulted in variants that catalyze the S-stereoselective addition of larger acceptor aldehydes, such as propanal with benzaldehyde and its derivatives-a reaction not catalyzed by the wild-type enzyme. Crystal structure analysis of the variant BFDL461A supports the modeling studies.     

Xanthohumol induces apoptosis in cultured 40-16 human colon cancer cells by activation of the death receptor- and mitochondrial pathway

Xanthohumol (XN) is one of the major prenylflavonoids found in hop cones (Humulus lupulus L.). In this study, we investigated the cell growth inhibitory potential of XN on cultured human colon cancer cells. Cell proliferation was measured by sulforhodamine B staining. Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) cleavage, activation of caspases-3, -7, -8, and -9, and Bcl-2 family protein expression were detected by Western blot analyses. XN significantly reduced proliferation of the HCT 116-derived colon cancer cell line 40--16. Half-maximal inhibitory concentrations decreased from 4.1 microM after 24 h treatment to 3.6 and 2.6 microM after 48 and 72 h incubation, respectively. Treatment with 15 microM XN for 48 h and with 5 microM for 72 h led to the detection of the cleaved 89 kDa fragment of 116 kDa PARP as an indication of apoptosis induction. Concomitantly, we observed activation and cleavage of the effector caspases-3 and -7, induced by activation of the initiator caspases -8 and -9. Expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was down regulated when the cells were treated with XN for 48--72 h. We conclude that induction of apoptosis by downregulation of Bcl-2 and activation of the caspase cascade may contribute to the chemopreventive or therapeutic potential of XN.     

Interaction of specialized cardiac conduction system with antiarrhythmic drugs: a simulation study

The use of antiarrhythmic drugs is common to treat heart rhythm disorders. Computational modeling and simulation are promising tools that could be used to investigate the effects of specific drugs on cardiac electrophysiology. In this paper, we study the multiscale effects of dofetilide, a drug that blocks IKr, from cellular to organ level paying special attention to its effect on heart structures, in particular the specialized cardiac conduction system (CCS). We include a model of the CCS in a patient-specific anatomical ventricular model and study the drug effects in simulations with and without a CCS. Results confirmed the expected effects of dofetilide at cellular level, increasing the action potential duration, and at organ level, prolonging the QT segment. Notable differences are shown between models with and without the CCS on action potential duration distributions. These techniques show the importance of heart heterogeneity and the global effects of the interaction of drugs with cardiac structures.