La4Ni3O10±δ – BaCe0.9Y0.1O3-δ cathodes for proton ceramic fuel cells; short-circuiting analysis using BaCe0.9Y0.1O3-δ symmetric cells

Protonic ceramic fuel cells are a promising technology for energy conversion and chemical synthesis in the intermediate temperature range (400–600 °C). Nevertheless, a major restriction to their wider implementation concerns their relatively high cathode polarisation resistance that can become performance limiting as working temperatures decrease. As potential new cathode materials, high order nickelates can be attractive candidates as they exhibit high electrical conductivities at lower temperatures due to their metallic behaviour. In the current work, we investigate the performance of La₄Ni₃O_10±δ and La₄Ni₃O_10±δ–BaCe_0.9Y_0.1O_3-δ composite cathodes, deposited on a BaCe_0.9Y_0.1O_3-δ (BCY10), proton-conducting electrolyte in the temperature range 350–550 °C. The study is performed in symmetrical cell configuration to permit separation of the electrode performance from the overall cell behaviour. For such experiments, possible internal short-circuiting of the electrolyte in oxidising conditions can arise from the presence of p-type electronic conductivity in the BCY10 electrolyte, causing underestimation of measured polarisation resistances. The current work corrects for such factors by knowledge of the transference numbers of the BCY10 electrolyte and the use of a parallel short-circuiting resistor in the equivalent circuit model. The results underscore that the cathode characteristics are highly dependent on the electronic leakage, especially at higher temperatures, and that suitable correction of data is imperative before discussion. Corrected values for polarisation resistance in wet O₂ reveal the composite cathode shows an improvement of total polarisation resistance by a factor of 1.5. The analysis on the oxygen reduction reaction mechanism allows the rate-limiting processes between the electrodes to be differentiated, with the low-frequency term, corresponding to surface processes, being the dominant polarisation resistance and the most improved on formation of the composite. Overall performance analysis indicates that the results from this work are in line with some of the best cathodes currently reported.     

Mezcal: indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and their potential as starter cultures

Food Science and Biotechnology - In this study, 19 indigenous mezcal Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were screened for their tolerance to grow under different stress conditions and their potential...     

Optimization of lateral interaction in accumulative computation on GPU-based platform

The Journal of Supercomputing - The lateral interaction in accumulative computation (LIAC) algorithm is a biologically inspired method that allows us to detect moving objects from image sequences...     

Modulation by Ozone Therapy of Oxidative Stress in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: The Background for a Randomized Clinical Trial

(1) Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) decreases the quality of life of patients and can lead to a dose reduction and/or the interruption of chemotherapy treatment, limiting its effectiveness. Potential pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of CIPN include chronic oxidative stress and subsequent increase in free radicals and proinflammatory cytokines. Approaches for the treatment of CIPN are highly limited in their number and efficacy, although several antioxidant-based therapies have been tried. On the other hand, ozone therapy can induce an adaptive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory response, which could be potentially useful in the management of CIPN. (2) Methods: The aims of this works are: (a) to summarize the potential mechanisms that could induce CIPN by the most relevant drugs (platinum, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, and bortezomib), with particular focus on the role of oxidative stress; (b) to summarize the current situation of prophylactic and treatment approaches; (c) to describe the action mechanisms of ozone therapy to modify oxidative stress and inflammation with its potential repercussions for CIPN; (d) to describe related experimental and clinical reports with ozone therapy in chemo-induced neurologic symptoms and CIPN; and (e) to show the main details about an ongoing focused clinical trial. (3) Results: A wide background relating to the mechanisms of action and a small number of experimental and clinical reports suggest that ozone therapy could be useful to prevent or improve CIPN. (4) Conclusions: Currently, there are no clinically relevant approaches for the prevention and treatment of stablished CIPN. The potential role of ozone therapy in this syndrome merits further research. Randomized controlled trials are ongoing.     

Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis in Clinical Oncology: A Comprehensive Review

Acute kidney injury in patients who suffer a malignancy is a common complication. Due to its high prevalence and effective treatment, one of the most frequent causes that both oncologists and nephrologists must be aware of is acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN). ATIN is an immunomediated condition and the hallmark of the disease, with the presence of a tubulointerstitial inflammatory infiltrate in the renal parenchyma. This infiltrate is composed mainly of T lymphocytes that can be accompanied by macrophages, neutrophils, or eosinophils among other cells. One of the major causes is drug-related ATIN, and some antineoplastic treatments have been related to this condition. Worthy of note are the novel immunotherapy treatments aimed at enhancing natural immunity in order to defeat cancer cells. In the context of the immunosuppression status affecting ATIN patients, some pathogen antigens can trigger the development of the disease. Finally, hematological malignancies can also manifest in the kidney leading to ATIN, even at the debut of the disease. In this review, we aim to comprehensively examine differential diagnosis of ATIN in the setting of a neoplastic patient.     

Salting-out assisted liquid–liquid extraction with dansyl chloride for the determination of biogenic amines in food

Biogenic amines (BAs) are compounds present in foodstuff of animal origin that not only can be harmful to the consumer but can also serve as indicators of the product's edibility status. However, BAs’ analysis is rather complicated. Derivatisation methods have been employed to make their analysis less challenging. Salting-out assisted liquid–liquid extraction (SALLE) was herein applied to decrease time that the derivatising agent dansyl chloride (DNS-Cl) requires to be effective. DNS-Cl derivates were separated and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV and fluorescence detection (HPLC-UV/FD). It was by this way possible to analyse methylamine, dimethylamine, ethylamine, β-phenylethylamine, isopentylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, spermidine and spermine in a straightforward manner in several fish-based and meat-based samples, obtaining results in the order of magnitude of about a few mg per kg. All calibrations curves had r² higher than 0.99, and limits of detection ranged from 0.0075 to 1.6 mg L⁻¹.