The olfactory organ of the trout Salmo trutta fario: A novel localization for a progestin receptor

A progestin receptor (PR) has been detected in the olfactory organ of the trout Salmo trutta fario. The specificity of this receptor was high for 17α,20β‐dihydroxy‐4‐pregnen‐3‐one (17α,20β‐DP), but it also bound 17α‐hydroxy‐progesterone (17α‐OHP) and 21‐hydroxyprogesterone (21‐OHP), even when present at low concentrations (10‐fold in relative binding affinity assay). Progesterone (P) competed effectively at much higher concentrations (1,000‐fold in relative binding affinity assay). Immunohistochemical studies carried out with three different monoclonal antibodies against human progesterone receptor (hPR), chicken progesterone receptor hinge region (cPR), and chicken progesterone receptor A/B domain (PR22), revealed that immunoreactivity was present in the epithelium of the olfactory organ of females and males of the trout Salmo trutta fario only against hPR. Western blotting showed two hPR immunoreactive bands of about 62 and 66 kDa. Finally, a portion of the cDNA of about 300 nucleotides extending over the DNA binding domain and the ligand binding domain was cloned and sequenced, revealing a high degree of sequence homology of the PR in Salmo trutta fario with the PR in other teleosts. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Structures and electronic properties of surface/edges of nanodiamond and nanographite

The structure, electronic and magnetic properties of nanodiamond and nanographite/nanographene are investigated. Detonation nanodiamond particles that are covered with amorphous graphitic composites are hydrothermally treated to remove the graphitic surface composites and to terminate the surface carbon atoms with hydrogen. The number of localized spins of dangling bonds and the hydrogen concentration increase upon the increase in the hydrothermal treatment time up to 40 h. Above 40 h, both drop discontinuously, a surface structural reconstruction was suggested. The creation of dangling bonds and an incomplete hydrogenation of the surface carbon atoms destabilize the surface, resulting in the structural reconstruction. Nanodiamond particles are thermally converted to nanographite/nanographene. A single nanographene sheet is successfully prepared by heat-treating nanodiamond particles. The edge of graphene sheet with its edge carbon atoms being hydrogen-terminated is investigated by UHV-STM/STS. Zigzag edges are found to have non-bonding π-state of edge origin, in good agreement with theoretical prediction.     

Microwave-Assisted Reaction Sintering of Bismuth Titanate-Based Ceramics

Bismuth titanate-based ceramics, pure and doped with 5 mol% WO₃, were prepared by reaction-sintering using a microwave oven. High densities, ≥96% of theoretical density were achieved with very short thermal treatments, with soaking time ranging from 5 to 15 min. Relatively small platelet-like grains were formed, and microstructure seemed not to be strongly affected by doping nor soaking time. Electrical measurements were performed and, as expected, a decrease of electrical conductivity was observed in WO₃-doped materials. The results of reaction-sintered samples, both conventional as well as microwave sintered, are compared with those of samples prepared with previously calcined powders and sintered using microwaves as well as a conventional electric furnace.     

Some Characteristics of Free Cell Population in the Airways of Rats after Intratracheal Instillation of Copper-Containing Nano-Scale Particles

We used stable water suspensions of copper oxide particles with mean diameter 20 nm and of particles containing copper oxide and element copper with mean diameter 340 nm to assess the pulmonary phagocytosis response of rats to a single intratracheal instillation of these suspensions using optical, transmission electron, and semi-contact atomic force microscopy and biochemical indices measured in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Although both nano and submicron ultrafine particles were adversely bioactive, the former were found to be more toxic for lungs as compared with the latter while evoking more pronounced defense recruitment of alveolar macrophages and especially of neutrophil leukocytes and more active phagocytosis. Based on our results and literature data, we consider both copper solubilization and direct contact with cellular organelles (mainly, mitochondria) of persistent particles internalized by phagocytes as probable mechanisms of their cytotoxicity.     

The orexinergic system in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and its regulation by dietary lipids

In this study, we report the distribution of orexin A (OXA), orexin B (OXB), and orexin receptor (OX2R) immunoreactive (ir) cells in the hypothalamus and gastrointestinal tract of Oncorhynchus mykiss fed diets with different dietary fatty acid compositions. Trout were fed five iso‐energetic experimental diets containing fish oil, or one of four different vegetable oils (olive, sunflower, linseed, and palm oils) as the added dietary lipid source for 12 weeks. OXA, OXB, and OX2R immunoreactive neurons and nervous fibers were identified in the lateral and ventro‐medial hypothalamus. OXA, OXB, and OX2R ir cells were found in the mucosa and glands of the stomach and in the mucosa of both the pyloric cecae and intestine. OX2R ir cells were localized in the mucosa layer of both the pyloric cecae and intestine. These immunohistochemical (IHC) results were confirmed via Western blotting. Antibodies against preproorexin (PPO) crossreacted with a band of ～16 kDa in the hypothalamus, stomach, pyloric cecae, and intestine. Antibodies against OX2R crossreacted with a band of ～38 kDa in the hypothalamus, pyloric cecae, and intestine. The presence and distribution of OXA, OXB, and OX2R ir cells in the hypothalamus and gastrointestinal tract did not appear to be affected by dietary oils. The presence of orexin system immunoreactive cells in the stomach, pyloric cecae, and intestine of rainbow trout, but not in the enteric nervous system, could suggest a possible role of these peptides as signaling of gastric emptying or endocrine modulation, implying a main local action played by orexins. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:707–714, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Solid catalysts for wet oxidation of nitrogen-containing organic compounds

Several solid catalysts (Co₃O₄/γ-Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃, Mn₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃, Zn–Fe–Mn–Al–O, Pt/γ-Al₂O₃, Ru/CeO₂, Ru/C) have been prepared and used to remove N-containing organic contaminants while processing toxic and hazardous industrial waste waters using wet oxidation by air (WAO). The autoclave tests of catalysts were done to reveal the main advantages of catalysts in water presence at high pressures and temperatures. Catalyst activity was determined with regard to oxygen interaction with model mixtures (water–organic contaminant: acetonitrile, carbamide, dimethyl formamide, or multi-component mixture of aliphatic alcohols). Activity tests were done in a static reactor under ideal mixing regime. Reagents and products were monitored using gas chromatograph Cvet-560, Millichrom-1 HPLC, and routine chemical analysis. Optimum process conditions for the best catalyst (Ru/graphite-like carbon) are as follows: partial oxygen pressure – 1.0 MPa, temperature – 473–513 K. At 0.5–5.0 MPa total pressure and 433–523 K catalysts show high water-resistance and high activity level (residual content of toxic compounds is less than 1%, and no NO_x and NH₃ are detected). There are no legal restrictions on catalysts operation, since they are harmless to environment.     

Modeling of a locking mechanism between two rough surfaces under cyclic loading

The work is motivated by experimental studies on energy dissipation due to micro-slip in mechanical joints. It has been observed that the loss of energy undergoes certain evolution under cyclic shear loading. It manifests itself in the form of the gradual decrease approaching a steady state as cycling progresses. This behavior has a repeatable character if contact is re-established and subjected to cycling again. In the present work, a simple multiple-asperity model is developed that suggests a physical hypothesis that when two rough surfaces are brought in contact and subjected to shear loads a certain locking mechanism comes into play at the interface. Such locking occurs due to the tendency of the interface to adapt its contact microstructure to the loading conditions. The adaptation mechanism is described in the present work through the contact inclination angles. The developed model is simple in application and it relates micro-characteristics of the contact to macro-behavior of the system exhibiting itself in energy dissipation.     

Spectroscopic evaluation of the effect of a red microalgal polysaccharide on herpes-infected Vero cells

The sulfated polysaccharide obtained from a species of red microalga has proved to be a potent antiviral agent against various members of the herpes family. In the present study, we used microscopic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to investigate differences between normal cells, those infected with herpes viruses, and infected cells treated with red microalgal polysaccharide. FT-IR enables the characterization of cell or tissue pathology based on characteristic molecular vibrational spectra of the cells. The advantage of microscopic FT-IR spectroscopy over conventional FT-IR spectroscopy is that it facilitates inspection of restricted regions of cell cultures or tissue. Our results showed significant spectral differences at early stages of infection between infected and noninfected cells, and between infected cells treated with the polysaccharide and those not treated. In infected cells, there was an impressive decrease in sugar content and a considerable increase in phosphate levels in conjunction with the infection progress. Our results also proved that sugars penetrated and accumulated inside cells treated with the red microalgal polysaccharide. These could have been sugar fragments of low molecular weight present in the polysaccharide solution, despite purification by dialysis. Such sugar accumulation might be responsible for a breakdown in the internal steps of the viral replication cycle.     

Green pavements: reuse of plastic waste in asphalt mixtures

Nowadays, the disposal of plastic waste is an issue of major concern worldwide because of its considerable volume and growth. An option to tackle this problem is to recycle this waste. This alternative reduces the quantity of net discards, conserves both material and energy and provides a comparatively simple way to make a substantial reduction in the overall volume of solid waste. The purpose of this study is to investigate an environmentally friendly approach about the influence of recycling different percentages of urban and rural plastic waste by adding them in a dry process on an asphalt mixture, through a comparative laboratory study. The resulting mixtures are analyzed considering their volumetric parameters and the values from diverse laboratory mechanical tests. The performance tests include, Marshall stability, Marshall quotient, indirect tensile strength, fracture energy, resilient modulus, permanent deformation and creep compliance, which were carried out on unmodified and modified hot asphalt mixtures. The obtained results are presented and discussed in this paper showing that the reuse of recycled plastics in asphalt mixtures is a viable alternative that contributes to the reduction of plastic wastes as well as the protection of the environment.     

Enrichment of Inorganic Martian Dust Simulant with Carbon Component can Provoke Neurotoxicity

Carbon is the most abundant dust-forming element in the interstellar medium. Tremendous amount of meteorites containing plentiful carbon and carbon-enriched dust particles have reached the Earth daily. National Institute of Health panel accumulates evidences that nano-sized air pollution components may have a significant impact on the central nervous system (CNS) in health and disease. During inhalation, nano-/microsized particles are efficiently deposited in nasal, tracheobronchial, and alveolar regions and can be transported to the CNS. Based on above facts, here we present the study, the aims of which were: 1) to upgrade inorganic Martian dust simulant derived from volcanic ash (JSC-1a/JSC, ORBITEC Orbital Technologies Corporation, Madison, Wisconsin) by the addition of carbon components, that is, nanodiamonds and carbon dots; 2) to analyse acute effects of upgraded simulant on key characteristics of synaptic neurotransmission; and 3) to compare above effects with those of inorganic dust and carbon components per se. Acute administration of carbon-containing Martian dust analogues resulted in a significant decrease in transporter-mediated uptake of L-[¹⁴C]glutamate (the major excitatory neurotransmitter) and [³H]GABA (the main inhibitory neurotransmitter) by isolated rat brain nerve terminals. The extracellular level of both neurotransmitters increased in the presence of carbon-containing Martian dust analogues. These effects were associated with action of carbon components of upgraded Martian dust simulant, but not with its inorganic constituent. This fact indicates that carbon component of native Martian dust can have deleterious effects on extracellular glutamate and GABA homeostasis in the CNS, and so glutamate- and GABA-ergic neurotransmission disballansing exitation and inhibition.