Quantification of lupine (Lupinus angustifolius) in wheat flour using real-time PCR and an internal standard material

In the European Union, labelling of the 14 food allergens listed in Annex IIIa of Directive 2000/13/EC is mandatory. The implementation of upper limits for these allergens is under discussion. Therefore, quantitative analytical methods will be needed to verify compliance with regulatory requirements and to provide an improved basis for the legal assessment of allergen labelling. In this study, the lupine flour content in wheat flours was determined using real-time PCR and statice seeds as internal standard material. The method proved to be applicable to the quantification of lupine contents from 1 to 10?mg/kg, which is in the range relevant for allergic consumers.     

Semisynthesis and screening of a small library of pro-apoptotic squamocin analogues: selection and study of a benzoquinone hybrid with an improved biological profile

Acetogenins of Annonaceae, including squamocin (1), exert spectacular cytotoxicity and the most potent inhibition of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase known so far. Cell death induced by these natural products was identified as apoptosis and was thought to be linked to alterations in mitochondrial function. Quinone-squamocin hybrid compounds were semisynthesized and evaluated for their pro-apoptotic properties with a screening method based on dissipation of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim). Herein, we report a short one-step synthesis of a squamocin carboxylic acid analogue. For the first time on a natural product, the radical decarboxylation and quinone addition reaction has enabled preparation of a library of squamocin-quinone hybrids and four other analogues. Squamoquinone, tenfold more potent than squamocin as an inducer of apoptosis, emerged as a promising compound, as it induces apoptosis through a mitochondrial caspase-dependent pathway.     

Characterization of Adrenal miRNA-Based Dysregulations in Cushing’s Syndrome

MiRNAs are important epigenetic players with tissue- and disease-specific effects. In this study, our aim was to investigate the putative differential expression of miRNAs in adrenal tissues from different forms of Cushing’s syndrome (CS). For this, miRNA-based next-generation sequencing was performed in adrenal tissues taken from patients with ACTH-independent cortisol-producing adrenocortical adenomas (CPA), from patients with ACTH-dependent pituitary Cushing’s disease (CD) after bilateral adrenalectomy, and from control subjects. A confirmatory QPCR was also performed in adrenals from patients with other CS subtypes, such as primary bilateral macronodular hyperplasia and ectopic CS. Sequencing revealed significant differences in the miRNA profiles of CD and CPA. QPCR revealed the upregulated expression of miR-1247-5p in CPA and PBMAH (log2 fold change > 2.5, p < 0.05). MiR-379-5p was found to be upregulated in PBMAH and CD (log2 fold change > 1.8, p < 0.05). Analyses of miR-1247-5p and miR-379-5p expression in the adrenals of mice which had been exposed to short-term ACTH stimulation showed no influence on the adrenal miRNA expression profiles. For miRNA-specific target prediction, RNA-seq data from the adrenals of CPA, PBMAH, and control samples were analyzed with different bioinformatic platforms. The analyses revealed that both miR-1247-5p and miR-379-5p target specific genes in the WNT signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study identified distinct adrenal miRNAs as being associated with CS subtypes.     

Sequence analysis suggests the presence of an IG-like domain in the N-terminal region of alpha-dystroglycan which was crystallized after mutation of a protease susceptible site (Arg168-->His)

PURPOSE: Retinal detachment after Nd: YAG laser vitreolysis is rarely reported. The pathogenic role of Nd: YAG laser is analyzed from 3 cases of severe retinal detachment. METHODS: Three men aged (40 to 59 years old) had one or more risk factors for retinal detachment: myopia, complicated cataract surgery, personal or family history of retinal detachment. Nd: YAG laser treatment onto vitreous strand was performed because of: retinal traction, repeated vitreous hemorrhage, anterior vitreous strand in a aphakic patient with cystoid macular edema. Within six weeks following Nd: YAG laser vitreolysis, severe retinal detachment with several tears occurred, complicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy in two patients, and with choroidal hemorrhage in one. In two cases, several surgical procedures with silicon oil were required and visual acuity remained under 20/1000. In the last case retinal reattachment was obtained with scleral buckling and cryopexy, the patient recovered a visual acuity of 20/100 with a macular pucker. DISCUSSION: Retinal detachment occurred shortly after laser YAG vitreolysis. We assumed Nd: YAG laser was possibly responsible and investigated the possible mechanisms: direct retinal tear, vitreous strand traction, side effect of intraocular shock wave. CONCLUSION: Nd: YAG laser vitreolysis seems to be able to cause retinal detachment. Its use is therefore not recommended, particularly in patients at risk, especially since the efficacy of this treatment has not been proved.     

A generic framework for representing and analyzing model concurrency

Software and Systems Modeling - Recent results in language engineering simplify the development of tool-supported executable domain-specific modeling languages (xDSMLs), including editing (e.g.,...     

Thermal expansion,transitions, sensitivities and burning rates of HMX

The phases of HMX and their transitions were investigated by thermal analysis using X-ray diffraction. Series of diffraction pattern were measured, while the samples were heated and cooled. The thermal expansion coefficients and the colume changes at the transitions were extracted from the diffraction series. A contraction of β-HMX was found before changing into δ-HMX resulting in a high volume difference during the transition. On cooling, the reconversion of the high temperature phase requires days. It is further slowed down by decomposition products, which are formed at temperatures beyond 490 K. The final reconversion results in mixtures of α-and βHMX. The mechanical sensitivities and the buring rates of the HMX phase were determined. The high sensitivity of δ-HMX against impact together with its slow reconversion creates handling risks when the HMX is exposed to temperatures above 440 K.     

Advanced testing and debugging support for reactive executable DSLs

Software and Systems Modeling - Executable Domain-Specific Languages (xDSLs) allow the definition and the execution of behavioral models. Some behavioral models are reactive, meaning that during...     

Coupling Ferroelectric to colloidal Nanocrystals as a Generic Strategy to Engineer the Carrier Density Landscape

The design of infrared nanocrystals-based (NCs) photodiodes faces a major challenge related to the identification of barriers with a well-suited band alignment or strategy to finely control the carrier density. Here, this study explores a general complementary approach where the carrier density control is achieved by coupling an NC layer to a ferroelectric material. The up-and-down change in ferroelectric polarization directly impacts the NC electronic structure, resulting in the formation of a lateral pn junction. This effect is uncovered directly using nano X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, which shows a relative energy shift of 115 meV of the NC photoemission signal over the two different up- and down-polarized ferroelectric regions, a shift as large as the open circuit value obtained in the diode stack. The performance of this pn junction reveals enhanced responsivity and reduced noise that lead to a factor 40 increase in the detectivity value.