Electrochemically assisted methane production in a biofilm reactor

Microbial electrolysis is a new technology for the production of value-added products, such as gaseous biofuels, from waste organic substrates. This study describes the performance of a methane-producing microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) operated at ambient temperature with a Geobacter sulfurreducens microbial bioanode and a methanogenic microbial biocathode. The cell was initially operated at a controlled cathode potential of −850 mV (vs. standard hydrogen electrode, SHE) in order to develop a methanogenic biofilm capable of reducing carbon dioxide to methane gas using abiotically produced hydrogen gas or directly the polarized electrode as electron donors. Subsequently, G. sulfurreducens was inoculated at the anode and the MEC was operated at a controlled anode potential of +500 mV, with acetate serving as electron donor. The rate of methane production at the cathode was found to be primarily limited by the acetate oxidation kinetics and in turn by G. sulfurreducens concentration at the anode of the MEC. Temperature had also a main impact on acetate oxidation kinetics, with an apparent activation energy of 58.1 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Glycan-Lectin Interactions as Novel Immunosuppression Drivers in Glioblastoma

Despite diagnostic and therapeutic improvements, glioblastoma (GB) remains one of the most threatening brain tumor in adults, underlining the urgent need of new therapeutic targets. Lectins are glycan-binding proteins that regulate several biological processes through the recognition of specific sugar motifs. Lectins and their ligands are found on immune cells, endothelial cells and, also, tumor cells, pointing out a strong correlation among immunity, tumor microenvironment and vascularization. In GB, altered glycans and lectins contribute to tumor progression and immune evasion, shaping the tumor-immune landscape promoting immunosuppressive cell subsets, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and M2-macrophages, and affecting immunoeffector populations, such as CD8⁺ T cells and dendritic cells (DCs). Here, we discuss the latest knowledge on the immune cells, immune related lectin receptors (C-type lectins, Siglecs, galectins) and changes in glycosylation that are involved in immunosuppressive mechanisms in GB, highlighting their interest as possible novel therapeutical targets.     

Hybrid Self-Assembling Nanoparticles Encapsulating Zoledronic Acid: A Strategy for Fostering Their Clinical Use

Self-assembling nanoparticles (SANPs) promise an effective delivery of bisphosphonates or microRNAs in the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) and are obtained through the sequential mixing of four components immediately before use. The self-assembling approach facilitates technology transfer, but the complexity of the SANP preparation protocol raises significant concerns in the clinical setting due to the high risk of human errors during the procedure. In this work, it was hypothesized that the SANP preparation protocol could be simplified by using freeze-dried formulations. An in-depth thermodynamic study was conducted on solutions of different cryoprotectants, namely sucrose, mannitol and trehalose, to test their ability to stabilize the produced SANPs. In addition, the ability of SANPs to deliver drugs after lyophilization was assessed on selected formulations encapsulating zoledronic acid in vitro in the T98G GBM cell line and in vivo in an orthotopic mouse model. Results showed that, after lyophilization optimization, freeze-dried SANPs encapsulating zoledronic acid could retain their delivery ability, showing a significant inhibition of T98G cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, these results suggest that freeze-drying may help boost the industrial development of SANPs for the delivery of drugs to the brain.     

Reuse of Dairy Product: Evaluation of the Lipid Profile Evolution During and After Their Shelf-Life

The aim of the present work was the characterization of best-by-date dairy products to evaluate their nutritional value for possible re-introduction in the food or feed chain. The attention was devoted to fatty acids and triacylglycerols characterization and their variation during storage of fresh-cheese products before and after their best-by-date. Three kinds of cheese were selected, namely a classic stracchino, stracchino with the addition of yogurt, and one with the addition of probiotic. The variation of FAMEs and TAGs profiles were studied in order to evaluate the degree of variation occurring in the lipid fraction during storage and after the best-by-date. The extraction method was simply scaled-down by ten-fold, starting from the classical Schmid–Bondzynski–Ratzlaff method. The GC run was sped up after a careful comparison of the result with a conventional analysis. The entire data set of results was evaluated performing both a three-way principal component analysis and a traditional two-way one. The three kinds of samples were well discriminated while a change of the lipid profile over the best-by-date period was particularly significant only for the stracchino added with a probiotic.     

The correlation between the interference colour and growth procedure of anodic titanium dioxide nanotube arrays

Titanium dioxide nanotube arrays were anodised from titanium foils in an aqueous electrolyte solution of hydrofluoric acid. The formed oxide showed visually different colours owing to light interference in the titanium dioxide layer. The behaviour of interference colour in anodic titanium dioxide film was investigated by varying anodisation parameters such as the applied voltage and the anodisation time. The morphologies and the crystalline phases of anodised samples were studied on a field emission scanning electron microscope and X‐ray diffractometer. The correlation between the interference colour and growth procedure of anodic titanium dioxide nanotube arrays was studied. The anodic films prepared under different conditions consisted of a compact oxide film with a nanoporous/tubular structure upon/beneath it. The crystalline phase of the anodic oxide layer was amorphous. The optical properties of the oxide film were investigated on a spectrophotometer. Optical interference could be detected in compact oxide layers when the thickness of the titanium dioxide was as small as 70 nm. In general, the interferences of the nanoporous/tubular structures were lower than those for compact structures. The empirical colour properties were estimated by the L*a*b* system. The relationships between the interference colour of anodic titanium dioxide film and its thickness and morphology are discussed.     

Educational issues in childhood cancer.

Discusses the general educational issues for children with cancer, with reference to the short- and long-term consequences of its type and treatment, and focuses on related assessment and intervention issues. Cognitive outcome and school performance are affected by the type and location of the tumor. Radiation therapy results in several side effects, like persistent vomiting and prolonged weight loss, which may interfere with ability to attend school, or cause long-term learning problems. Some chemotherapeutic agents may lower blood counts and affect the energy and concentration levels, or result in long-term neurodevelopmental problems. Deficits in processing speed, visual-motor integration attention and concentration may also result, especially in those under age 3–4 yrs. There must be repeated assessments and individualized educational plans based on understanding of school related effects in children with cancer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)