Synthesis of spherical core‐shell poly(vinyl acetate)/poly(vinyl alcohol) particles for use in vascular embolization: Study of morphological and molecular modifications during shell formation

Transarterial vascular embolization and chemoembolization has become common medical procedures, where partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) beads remains as one of the most used embolic agent materials. Although synthetic, PVA cannot be synthesized by direct polymerization and must be obtained by chemical modification of another polymer, usually poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc). The aim of the present work is to synthesize spherical core‐shell PVAc/PVA particles and study the morphological and molecular modifications during shell formation. The polymer particles where produced in two stages, where first the PVAc core was obtained by suspension polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) and then the PVA shell synthesized through hydrolysis. Spherical PVAc particles were successfully produced and isolated using an optimized suspension polymerization process. During the shell formation, it was shown that none of the conditions used affected the overall morphology of the particles although changes in the final size distribution could be observed. However, it was possible to identify the process variables and reaction condition that affect the molecular weight averages and polydispersities of the final copolymer. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:2237–2244, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Changes in actin and tubulin expression in osteogenic cells cultured on bioactive glass‐based surfaces

The present study evaluated whether the changes in the labeling pattern of cytoskeletal proteins in osteogenic cells cultured on bioactive glass‐based materials are due to altered mRNA and protein levels. Primary rat‐derived osteogenic cells were plated on Bioglass® 45S5, Biosilicate®, and borosilicate (bioinert control). The following parameters were assayed: (i) qualitative epifluorescence analysis of actin and tubulin; (ii) quantitative mRNA and protein expression for actin and tubulin by real‐time PCR and ELISA, respectively, and (iii) qualitative analysis of cell morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At days 3 and 7, the cells grown on borosilicate showed typical actin and tubulin labeling patterns, whereas those on the bioactive materials showed roundish areas devoid of fluorescence signals. The cultures grown on bioactive materials showed significant changes in actin and tubulin mRNA expression that were not reflected in the corresponding protein levels. A positive correlation between the mRNA and protein as well as an association between epifluorescence imaging and quantitative data were only detected for the borosilicate. SEM imaging of the cultures on the bioactive surfaces revealed cells partly or totally coated with material aggregates, whose characteristics resembled the substrate topography. The culturing of osteogenic cells on Bioglass® 45S5 and Biosilicate® affect actin and tubulin mRNA expression but not the corresponding protein levels. Changes in the labeling pattern of these proteins should then be attributed, at least in part, to the presence of a physical barrier on the cell surface as a result of the material surface reactions, thus limiting fluorescence signals. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1046–1053, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Metabolic analysis of the removal of formic acid by unacclimated activated sludge

This paper investigates the removal of formic acid by unacclimated biomass from a municipal activated sludge wastewater treatment plant. The biomass was initially able to remove formic acid, but its removal rate and Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR) decreased with time, until formic acid removal stopped before the formic acid had been exhausted. Formaldehyde was removed in a similar way, whereas the same biomass was simultaneously able to grow and store PHAs when acetic acid was used as substrate.Batch tests with glycine and ¹³C NMR analysis were performed, showing that unacclimated biomass was not able to synthesize all the metabolic intermediates from formic acid alone. At least glycine needed to be externally supplemented, in order to activate the serine synthesis pathway. A small amount of formic acid removal in the absence of growth was also possible through formaldehyde formation and its further conversion to formalin (1,2-formaldehyde dimer), whereas no PHAs were formed.     

Improvement of mechanical performance of epoxy resins filled with cobalt and chromium powders

Epoxy/ powder metal composites have interesting electrical properties, becoming conductors above the percolation threshold. To complete this study, mechanical investigations have been carried out to show the influence of the fillers on the mechanical performance of these composites. In this framework, different epoxy/metallic powders (Cobalt, Chromium) composites were prepared. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed that the dispersion of the metallic fillers in the matrix is almost homogeneous. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) measurements showed the dependence of the viscoelastic parameters with the frequency, temperature, nature, and content of fillers. The main relaxations observed are the primary α relaxation (associated to the glass transition, T_g) and a secondary β relaxation. A second DMTA run on the same samples showed a slight increase of the T_g. It clearly showed that the used metallic fillers improve the mechanical properties of the obtained composites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Comparison of real‐time methods for maximizing power output in microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) constitute a novel power generation technology that converts organic waste to electrical energy using microbially catalyzed electrochemical reactions. Since the power output of MFCs changes considerably with varying operating conditions, the online optimization of electrical load (i.e., external resistance) is extremely important for maintaining a stable MFC performance. The application of several real‐time optimization methods is presented, such as the perturbation and observation method, the gradient method, and the recently proposed multiunit method, for maximizing power output of MFCs by varying the external resistance. Experiments were carried out in two similar MFCs fed with acetate. Variations in substrate concentration and temperature were introduced to study the performance of each optimization method in the face of disturbances unknown to the algorithms. Experimental results were used to discuss advantages and limitations of each optimization method. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010     

Physicochemical Properties of Garden Cress (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepidium sativum</Emphasis> L.) Seed Oil

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) is an edible, underutilised herb, grown mainly for its seeds in India. Physicochemical properties, minor components (unsaponifiable matter, tocopherols, carotenoids), fatty acid composition and storage stability of garden cress seed oil (GCO) were studied. Cold press, solvent and supercritical CO₂ extraction methods were employed to extract the oil. The total oil content of garden cress (GC) seeds was 21.54, 18.15 and 12.60% respectively by solvent, supercritical CO₂ and cold press methods. The physical properties of GCO extracted by the above methods were similar in terms of refractive index, specific gravity and viscosity. However, cold pressed oil showed low PV and FFA compared to the oil extracted by other methods. α-Linolenic acid (34%) was the major fatty acid in GCO followed by oleic (22%), linoleic (11.8%), eicosanoic (12%), palmitic (10.1%) erucic (4.4%), arachidic (3.4%) and stearic acids (2.9%). Oleic acid (39.9%) and α-linolenic acid (42.1%) were the predominant fatty acids at the sn-2 position. The total tocopherol and carotenoid content of GCO was 327.42 and 1.0 μmol/100 g oil, respectively. The oil was stable up to 4 months at 4 °C. Tocopherol and BHT offered the least protection, while ascorbyl palmitate (200 ppm) offered the maximum protection to the oil, when subjected to the accelerated oxidative stability test. Thus GCO can be considered as a fairly stable oil with a high content of α-linolenic acid.     

myo-Inositol trispyrophosphate: a novel allosteric effector of hemoglobin with high permeation selectivity across the red blood cell plasma membrane

myo‐Inositol trispyrophosphate (ITPP), a novel membrane‐permeant allosteric effector of hemoglobin (Hb), enhances the regulated oxygen release capacity of red blood cells, thus counteracting the effects of hypoxia in diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular ailments. ITPP‐induced shifting of the oxygen–hemoglobin equilibrium curve in red blood cells (RBCs) was inhibited by DIDS and NAP‐taurine, indicating that band 3 protein, an anion transporter mainly localized on the RBC membrane, allows ITPP entry into RBCs. The maximum intracellular concentration of ITPP, determined by ion chromatography, was 5.5×10^?3 M , whereas a drop in concentration to the limit of detection was observed in NAP‐taurine‐treated RBCs. The dissociation constant of ITPP binding to RBC ghosts was found to be 1.72×10^?5 M . All data obtained indicate that ITPP uptake is mediated by band 3 protein and is thus highly tissue‐selective towards RBCs, a feature of major importance for its potential therapeutic use.     

Reduction of the surface colour variability of thermally modified <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> wood by colour pre-grading and homogeneity thermal treatment

A new method that consists of combining wood pre-grading by surface colour followed by the application of homogeneity thermal treatments is proposed to reduce the surface colour variability of the thermally modified blue gum wood. To identify the conditions of the homogeneity thermal treatment for two pre-graded groups with different initial surface colours (pinkish and yellowish), the effects of applying 25 different thermal treatment intensities to such groups were analysed. The effects of this method on mass loss and volumetric swelling were also analysed. Results show that an optical pre-grading of the wood samples and treatments under different conditions can reduce the colour variability of the blue gum wood samples, as well as the volumetric swelling. Mass loss was not homogenised after the treatment, but the difference of masses between the two groups was similar to their untreated state. The application of this new methodology may be of interest for the sawn timber industry to bring more uniform boards on the markets and to promote Eucalyptus globulus as a price-competitive and sustainable alternative timber.     

Identification of the genetic variants of κ-casein in milk by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis

The genetic variants of κ-casein (κ-CN) A and B were analysed in milk from Holstein–Friesian (HF) and Jersey cows by means of isoelectric focusing (IEF) electrophoresis. Milk samples were obtained in triplicate from pure-breed HF and Jersey cows (three of each) to estimate the protein content, casein and purify κ-CN. The protein and casein contents in the milk from both breeds were statistically different ( P <  0.05). The κ-CN A migrates first with an isoelectric point (pI) of 7.2–7.3 and then B with a pI of 7.5–7.7. Differences in the expression proportion of both variants were detected.