The HEPD particle detector of the CSES satellite mission for investigating seismo-associated perturbations of the Van Allen belts

CSES(China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite) is a mission developed by CNSA(Chinese National Space Administration) and ASI(Italian Space Agency), to investigate the near-Earth electromagnetic, plasma and particle environment, for studying the seismo-associated disturbances in the ionosphere-magnetosphere transition zone. The anthropogenic and electromagnetic noise,as well as the natural non-seismic electromagnetic emissions is mainly due to tropospheric activity. In particular, the mission aims to confirming the existence of possible temporal correlations between the occurrence of earthquakes for medium and strong magnitude and the observation in space of electromagnetic perturbations, plasma variations and precipitation of bursts with highenergy charged particles from the inner Van Allen belt. In this framework, the high energy particle detector(HEPD) of the CSES mission has been developed by the Italian LIMADOU Collaboration. HEPD is an advanced detector based on a tower of scintillators and a silicon tracker that provides good energy and angular resolution and a wide angular acceptance, for electrons of 3–100 Me V, protons of 30–200 Me V and light nuclei up to the oxygen. CSES satellite has been launched on February 2~(nd), 2018 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center(China).     

Biomass fuel smoke exposure was associated with adverse cardiac remodeling and left ventricular dysfunction in Peru

While household air pollution from biomass fuel combustion has been linked to cardiovascular disease, the effects on cardiac structure and function have not been well described. We sought to determine the association between biomass fuel smoke exposure and cardiac structure and function by transthoracic echocardiography. We identified a random sample of urban and rural residents living in the high‐altitude region of Puno, Peru. Daily biomass fuel use was self‐reported. Participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the relationship of biomass fuel use with echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function, adjusting for age, sex, height, body mass index, diabetes, physical activity, and tobacco use. One hundred and eighty‐seven participants (80 biomass fuel users and 107 non‐users) were included in this analysis (mean age 59 years, 58% women). After adjustment, daily exposure to biomass fuel smoke was associated with increased left ventricular internal diastolic diameter (P=.004), left atrial diameter (P=.03), left atrial area (four‐chamber) (P=.004) and (two‐chamber) (P=.03), septal E′ (P=.006), and lateral E′ (P=.04). Exposure to biomass fuel smoke was also associated with worse global longitudinal strain in the two‐chamber view (P=.01). Daily biomass fuel use was associated with increased left ventricular size and decreased left ventricular systolic function by global longitudinal strain.     

Neuroprotective effect of blackberry (Rubus sp.) polyphenols is potentiated after simulated gastrointestinal digestion

Blackberry ingestion has been demonstrated to attenuate brain degenerative processes in rodents with the benefits ascribed to the (poly)phenolic components. The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of blackberry polyphenolics in a neurodegeneration cell model before and after simulated gastrointestinal digestion.Digested blackberry metabolites protected neuroblastoma cells from H₂O₂-induced death at low, non-toxic levels that approach physiologically-relevant serum concentrations. However, the original extracts were not protective even at fivefold higher concentrations. This potentiation may reflect alterations in the polyphenolic composition caused by the digestion procedure, as detected by liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis. This protection was not caused by modulation of the intracellular antioxidant capacity or through alteration of glutathione levels, although the original extract influenced both of these parameters. This work reinforces the importance of evaluating digested metabolites in disease cell models and highlights the possible involvement of other mechanisms beyond antioxidant systems.     

Macromolecular crowding affects protein photosensitivity: The case of egg white immunoreactivity

An aqueous solution containing 0.1 g/l egg white proteins was exposed to increasing irradiance (0, 1.6, 7.2, 10.5, 17.0 and 29.1 W m⁻²) UV-C light for up to 30 min at 8 °C. In all cases, a decrease in immunoreactivity was detected. A 10-fold decrease of immunoreactivity was obtained in circa 7 min at 29.1 W/m² and in more than 4 h at 1.6 W/m². The loss of immunoreactivity was attributed to denaturation phenomena leading to the formation of protein fragments partially retaining the original epitopes. A progressive decrease in protein photosensitivity was observed by increasing its concentration. Above a limit concentration of 2.2 g/l, egg white proteins became extremely resistant to UV-light, even prolonging exposure time at 29.1 W/m² to 3 h. Photostability of egg white proteins was attributed to the occurrence of crowding effects which favoured protein folding and hindered photolysis.     

Determination of aldehydes as pentafluorobenzyl derivatives in grape pomace distillates by HS-SPME-GC/MS

This work describes an analytic method that quantifies aldehydes in grape pomace distillates (Orujo). Diluted samples were derivatised with O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine and then microextracted with a solid phase (SPME) for analysis by GC–MS. Twenty compounds, among them, short chain aldehydes having pungent notes (propanal, butanal, and Strecker aldehydes) and long chain aldehydes characterised by fatty odours were studied.     

Analysis of the tumoral cytotoxicity of green tea-infusions enriched with broccoli

Broccoli has risen as rich in bioactive phytochemicals (glucosinolates and phenolic compounds) closely linked with the reduction of cancer risk. Green tea infusion is a beverage that also contains anticarcinogenic compounds, mainly represented by flavanols. The compounds present in new broccoli-enriched green tea drinks and their potential antitumoral activity in vitro were evaluated. The distinct compounds present in the prepared beverages were identified by HPLC-PAD-ESI-MSn and quantified by HPLC-PAD. Caco-2 and CCD-18Co cell lines were exposed to growing percentages (0.2-5%) of infusions of distinct combinations of plant material. The time-dependent cytotoxicity on the malignant cells was also achieved. Cell death was evaluated by trypan blue dye exclusion and a more efficient specific cytotoxic effect on Caco-2 cells was observed on the cells incubated with the mixture of broccoli and green tea than on cells exposed to control infusions. Broccoli added to green tea resulted in a combination of phytochemicals with antitumoral activity with potential for further developments in mechanistic models and the design of novel foods.