Influence of Unmodified and β-Glycerophosphate Cross-Linked Chitosan on Anti-Candida Activity of Clotrimazole in Semi-Solid Delivery Systems

The combination of an antifungal agent and drug carrier with adjunctive antimicrobial properties represents novel strategy of complex therapy in pharmaceutical technology. The goal of this study was to investigate the unmodified and ion cross-linked chitosan’s influence on anti-Candida activity of clotrimazole used as a model drug in hydrogels. It was particularly crucial to explore whether the chitosans’ structure modification by β-glycerophosphate altered its antifungal properties. Antifungal studies (performed by plate diffusion method according to CLSI reference protocol) revealed that hydrogels obtained with chitosan/β-glycerophosphate displayed lower anti-Candida effect, probably as a result of weakened polycationic properties of chitosan in the presence of ion cross-linker. Designed chitosan hydrogels with clotrimazole were found to be more efficient against tested Candida strains and showed more favorable drug release profile compared to commercially available product. These observations indicate that novel chitosan formulations may be considered as promising semi-solid delivery system of clotrimazole.     

New,Non‐quinone Fluorogeldanamycin Derivatives Strongly Inhibit Hsp90

Streptomyces hygroscopicus is a natural producer of geldanamycin. Mutasynthetic supplementation of an AHBA‐blocked mutant with all possible monofluoro 3‐aminobenzoic acids provided new fluorogeldanamycins. These showed strong antiproliferative activity and inhibitory effects on human heat shock protein Hsp90. Binding to Hsp90 in the low nanomolar range was determined from molecular modelling, AFM analysis and by calorimetric studies.     

Modelling radiation effects using the ab-initio based tungsten and vanadium potentials

The Embedded Atom Model (EAM) Derlet-Nguyen-Manh-Dudarev tungsten and vanadium potentials were modified to correctly reproduce the experimentally obtained defect threshold energies. This was done by letting the interactions at short distances be dictated by the universal screened Coulomb potential. Both the repulsive part and the electron density function of the potentials were modified. The potentials were then used in collision cascade simulations and the resulting defects were compared with the corresponding defects in iron. Based on this comparison, factors affecting the outcome of a cascade were identified.     

Effect of cooking and germination on phenolic composition and biological properties of dark beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Legumes are the base´s diet in several countries. They hold a high nutritional value, but other properties related to human health are nowadays being studied. The aim of this work was to study the influence of processes (boiling or germination) on the phenolic composition of dark beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. c.v. Tolosana) and their effect on their antioxidant, neuroprotective and anticancer ability. Phenolic composition of raw and processed dark beans was analysed by HPLC-PAD and HPLC–ESI/MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by ORAC. Astrocytes cultures (U-373) have been used to test their neuroprotective effect. Anticancer activities were evaluated on three different cell lines (renal adenocarcinoma (TK-10), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and melanoma (UACC-62)) by sulphorhodamine B method. Qualitative and quantitative differences in phenolic composition have been observed between raw and processed dark beans that influence the antioxidant activity, mainly for germinated samples which show a decrease of antioxidant capacity. Although every assayed extracts decreased reactive oxygen species release and exhibited cytotoxicity activities on cancer cell lines, raw beans proved to be the most active in neuroprotective and antitumoral effects; this sample is especially rich in phenolic compounds, mainly anthocyanins. This study further demonstrated that phenolic composition of dark beans is related with cooking process and so with their neuroprotective and anticancer activity; cooking of dark beans improves their digestion and absorption at intestinal level, while maintaining its protective ability on oxidative process at cellular level.     

Neuroprotective properties of Spanish red wine and its isolated polyphenols on astrocytes

The neuroprotective effect of Merlot red wine and its isolated polyphenols was evaluated in an oxidative stress model induced by Fenton reaction and hydrogen peroxide in the human astrocytoma U373 MG cell line. Compared with cells treated only with oxidative stress inductors, the pre-incubation with Merlot red wine for 24 h caused a significant increase in cell viability for all concentrations assayed. The most abundant polyphenols found in Merlot red wine were the flavonoids catechin (37.8 mg/l), epicatechin (52.3 mg/l), quercetin (5.89 mg/l) and procyanidins (15.2 mg/l), the hydroxybenzoic acid gallic acid (16.7 mg/l), and the phenolic alcohol tyrosol (31.4 mg/l). The potential protective role of these polyphenols when isolated was then assessed in treated Fenton reaction U373 MG cells. Polyphenols decreased reactive oxygen species generation and increased the activity and the protein expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase. Of the polyphenols, quercetin and procyanidins showed the highest neuroprotective effect.     

Electrochemical performance of carbon gels with variable surface chemistry and physics

This study describes the electrochemical characterization of N-doped carbon xerogels in the form of microspheres and of carbon aerogels with varied porosities and surface oxygen complexes. The interfacial capacitance of N-doped carbon xerogels decreased with increased micropore surface area as determined by N₂ adsorption at ?196 °C. The interfacial capacitance showed a good correlation with the areal N_XPS concentration, and the best correlation with the areal concentration of pyrrolic or pyridonic nitrogen functionalities. The gravimetric capacitance decreased with greater xerogel microsphere diameter. The interfacial capacitance of carbon aerogels increased with higher percentage of porosity as determined from particle and true densities. The interfacial capacitance showed a linear relationship with the areal oxygen concentration and with the areal concentrations of CO- and CO₂-evolving groups.     

Postfailure Mechanics of Landslides: Laboratory Investigation of Flowslides in Pyroclastic Soils

Of all landslides, subaerial flowslides are the most dangerous. According to the literature, flowslides in saturated granular deposits are caused by static liquefaction induced by loss of stability. However, the catastrophic flowslides that occurred on steep slopes in Campania (southern Italy) in 1998, 1999, and 2005 were triggered by rainwater infiltration into shallow deposits of pyroclastic soils, which were initially unsaturated. Starting from the experience collected during the investigations of some of these landslides, the writers consider flowslide evolution as a result of a mechanical chain process characterized by saturation increase due to rainwater infiltration, mechanical degradation, volumetric collapse, and static liquefaction, culminating in complete fluidization of the soil. In the paper this chain process is investigated through wetting tests both in suction controlled triaxial apparatuses and in a well-equipped small scale slope model.     

Porcelain Faucet Handle Failure Analysis

A porcelain faucet handle failed after years of use in a residential rental property. Determining the cause of failure was hampered by the fact that the failed handle was no longer available. The analysis included mechanical testing of exemplar faucet handles to measure the reasonable forces that could be applied by hand and the forces necessary to cause failure. Interface geometry between the porcelain handle and the interior metal nut was a factor. Finite Element Analysis facilitated the study. Results showed that if the faucet handle had sustained damage during a gasket repair, then the failure could be accounted for.     

Environment Analysis as a Basis for Designing Multimodal and Multidevice User Interfaces

In this article, we present a practical approach to analyzing mobile usage environments. We propose a framework for analyzing the restrictions that characteristics of different environments pose on the user's capabilities. These restrictions along with current user interfaces form the cost of interaction in a certain environment. Our framework aims to illustrate that cost and what causes it. The framework presents a way to map features of the environment to the effects they cause on the resources of the user and in some cases on the mobile device. This information can be used for guiding the design of adaptive and/or multimodal user interfaces or devices optimized for certain usage environments. An example of using the framework is presented along with some major findings and three examples of applying them in user interface design.     

The photoreceptive cells of the pineal gland in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The zebrafish pineal gland plays a fundamental role in the regulation of the circadian rhythm through the melatonin secretion. The pinealocytes, also called photoreceptive cells, are considered the morphofunctional unit of pineal gland. In literature, the anatomical features, the cellular characteristics, and the pinealocytes morphology of zebrafish pineal gland have not been previously described in detail. Therefore, this study was undertaken to analyze the structure and ultrastructure, as well as the immunohistochemical profile of the zebrafish pineal gland with particular reference to the pinealocytes. Here, we demonstrated, using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy, the expression of the mRNA for rhodopsin in the pineal gland of zebrafish, as well as its cellular localization exclusively in the pinealocytes of adult zebrafish. Moreover, the ultrastructural observations demonstrated that the pinealocytes were constituted by an outer segment with numerous lamellar membranes, an inner segment with many mitochondria, and a basal pole with the synapses. Our results taken together demonstrated a central role of zebrafish pinealocytes in the control of pineal gland functions.