Multifaceted Analysis of IL-23A- and/or EBI3-Including Cytokines Produced by Psoriatic Keratinocytes

Interleukin (IL) 23 (p19/p40) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and is upregulated in psoriasis skin lesions. In clinical practice, anti-IL-23Ap19 antibodies are highly effective against psoriasis. IL-39 (p19/ Epstein-Barr virus-induced (EBI) 3), a newly discovered cytokine in 2015, shares the p19 subunit with IL-23. Anti-IL-23Ap19 antibodies may bind to IL-39; also, the cytokine may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. To investigate IL23Ap19- and/or EBI3-including cytokines in psoriatic keratinocytes, we analyzed IL-23Ap19 and EBI3 expressions in psoriasis skin lesions, using immunohistochemistry and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) stimulated with inflammatory cytokines, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-Ms/Ms). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that IL-23Ap19 and EBI3 expressions were upregulated in the psoriasis skin lesions. In vitro, these expressions were synergistically induced by the triple combination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-17A, and interferon (IFN)-γ, and suppressed by dexamethasone, vitamin D3, and acitretin. In ELISA and LC-Ms/Ms analyses, keratinocyte-derived IL-23Ap19 and EBI3, but not heterodimeric forms, were detected with humanized anti-IL-23Ap19 monoclonal antibodies, tildrakizumab, and anti-EBI3 antibodies, respectively. Psoriatic keratinocytes may express IL-23Ap19 and EBI3 proteins in a monomer or homopolymer, such as homodimer or homotrimer.     

Overview of Sourdough Technology: from Production to Marketing

Sourdough is a type of dough fermented by yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) used as sponge dough in bread making. Sourdough may have four classifications according to the fermentation type and the technological process used. On sourdough type I, the fermentation of yeasts and LAB present in the flour occurs spontaneously whereas in type II, fermentation occurs after the inoculation of a starter culture. Type III is simply type II sourdough dehydrated and type IV is a mixture of type I and type II sourdough, produced on laboratory scale. With LAB’s growth during fermentation, pH decreases with subsequent hydrolysis of starch and protein, favoring the growth of yeasts. The yeast in turn, releases amino acids during autolysis, contributing to the growth of LAB. Due to this synergistic growth of LAB and yeasts, the products obtained from sourdough show more concentration of flavor, more elastic dough, and a longer shelf life than bread fermented only by yeast. Although, the benefits of this technology, using sourdough, is present just in a few countries, where it is also possible to obtain the dehydrated sourdough starters, for domestic use, in local supermarkets. Due to its fermentative process complexity, this paper presents updated information about the fabrication process of sourdough, main factors affecting this process, benefits of sourdough use for bakery products, and the varieties of dehydrated sourdough commercially available throughout the world.     

Sample Preparation as a Critical Aspect of Blood Platelet Mitochondrial Respiration Measurements—The Impact of Platelet Activation on Mitochondrial Respiration

Blood platelets are considered as promising candidates as easily-accessible biomarkers of mitochondrial functioning. However, their high sensitivity to various stimulus types may potentially affect mitochondrial respiration and lead to artefactual outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the factors associated with platelet preparation that may lead to changes in mitochondrial respiration. A combination of flow cytometry and advanced respirometry was used to examine the effect of blood anticoagulants, the media used to suspend isolated platelets, respiration buffers, storage time and ADP stimulation on platelet activation and platelet mitochondria respiration. Our results clearly show that all the mentioned factors can affect platelet mitochondrial respiration. Briefly, (i) the use of EDTA as anticoagulant led to a significant increase in the dissipative component of respiration (LEAK), (ii) the use of plasma for the suspension of isolated platelets with MiR05 as a respiration buffer allows high electron transfer capacity and low platelet activation, and (iii) ADP stimulation increases physiological coupling respiration (ROUTINE). Significant associations were observed between platelet activation markers and mitochondrial respiration at different preparation steps; however, the fact that these relationships were not always apparent suggests that the method of platelet preparation may have a greater impact on mitochondrial respiration than the platelet activation itself.     

乳状液膜法萃取废水中氰化物的特性

针对氰化废水的特点,以三正辛胺（TOA）为载体、煤油为膜溶剂、液体石蜡为膜助剂、NaOH水溶液为内水相,采用乳状液膜技术处理工业废水中的氰化物。重点考察了表面活性剂用量、流动载体用量、内相液NaOH浓度等因素对氰化物萃取率的影响规律。研究结果表明：当TOA体积分数为2%、表面活性剂Span-80体积分数为3%、液体石蜡体积分数为1%、内水相NaOH质量分数为2%、油内比为1︰1、乳水比为1︰7、萃取时间为15min时,氰化废水中氰化物的萃取率达到95%以上。在实验得出的最优条件下,考察最优条件对初始浓度不同的实际废水的适用范围,分别对初始浓度为322.23mg/L、483.35mg/L、644.46mg/L和966.70mg/L的氰化废水进行处理,可得该体系下处理氰化废水的较佳的浓度范围为300～500mg/L,氰化废水中氰化物的萃取率可达到95%以上。综上所述,乳状液膜法在工业上具有良好的应用前景。     

Examining natural rock varnish and weathering rinds with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for application to ChemCam on Mars

A laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument is traveling to Mars as part of ChemCam on the Mars Science Laboratory rover. Martian rocks have weathered exteriors that obscure their bulk compositions. We examine weathered rocks with LIBS in a martian atmosphere to improve interpretations of ChemCam rock analyses on Mars. Profile data are analyzed using principal component analysis, and coatings and rinds are examined using scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. Our results show that LIBS is sensitive to minor compositional changes with depth and correctly identifies rock type even if the series of laser pulses does not penetrate to unweathered material.     

As(V) removal from aqueous media using α-MnO2 nanorods-impregnated laterite composite adsorbents

We present a novel way of enhancing the utility of low cost readily available laterite by impregnating it with the α-MnO₂ nanorods, thus making a composite material suitable for the removal of As(V) from aqueous media. The composites were synthesized by two methods: (i) ball-milling of a physical blend of laterite with pre-synthesized MnO₂; and (ii) in situ formation of MnO₂ in the presence of laterite. The BET surface area of composites prepared by both methods was markedly higher compared to un-modified laterite, and the presence of MnO₂ in the composite was also confirmed by XRD analysis and TEM microscopy. The adsorption capacity for As(V) was found to be highly pH dependent and the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo second-order kinetic model. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm was found to be the best model to describe the adsorption equilibrium of As(V) onto un-modified laterite as well both ball-milled and in situ formed composite. The adsorption capacities at room temperature and pH 7.0 were found to be 1.50 mg g^?1, 8.93 mg g^?1 and 9.70 mg g^?1, for un-modified laterite, ball-milled and in situ formed composite, respectively.     

Mechanochemical synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline BiSe, Bi2Se3 semiconductors

Mechanochemical synthesis of bismuth selenides (BiSe, Bi₂Se₃) was performed by high-energy milling of bismuth and selenium powders in a planetary ball mill. The particle size distribution and the specific surface area of Bi/Se and 2Bi/3Se powder mixtures were analysed at increasing milling time. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy. The presence of bismuth selenide phases was observed after only 1?min of milling and full conversion into hexagonal BiSe phase (nevskite) and rhombohedral Bi₂Se₃ phase (paraguanajuatite) was reached after 10?min of milling. The nanocrystalline nature of both mechanochemically synthesised bismuth selenides was confirmed and their optical band gap energies were obtained on the basis of the recorded absorption spectra in UV–Vis spectral region.     

准噶尔盆地腹部侏罗系深部优质储层成因

准噶尔盆地腹部侏罗系主要发育辫状河、三角洲和湖泊等沉积相类型,其岩石类型以成分成熟度低的岩屑砂岩和长石质岩屑砂岩为主,压实作用是控制储层质量的主要成岩作用。通过铸体薄片和物性资料综合分析,认为准噶尔盆地莫索湾地区在埋深 3500～4500m 发育孔隙度和渗透率较高的优质砂岩储层带,且此深部优质储层带是原生孔隙带,而非次生溶蚀孔隙带。结合测井资料分析,认为莫索湾地区存在欠压实带,该区莫13井、莫15井、盆5井等在欠压实带均表现出高声波时差、低视电阻率等异常。该区欠压实引起的异常高压大大削弱了正常压实作用对深部地层的影响,是造成该区深部优质储层发育的主要原因。研究区欠压实砂岩储层分布具有明显规律,即砂泥比越低,泥岩层厚度越大,越容易发育欠压实砂岩储层。     

Mechanical properties of 10 mol% Sc2O3-1 mol% CeO2-89 mol% ZrO2 ceramics

The mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus, Vickers hardness, indentation fracture resistance, room and high temperature four-point bending strength and SEVNB fracture toughness along with the stress-strain deformation behavior in compression, of 10 mol% Sc₂O₃-1 mol% CeO₂-ZrO₂ (ScCeZrO₂) ceramics have been studied. The chosen composition of the ScCeZrO₂ has very high ionic conductivity and, therefore, is very promising oxygen ion conducting electrolyte for the intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. Therefore, its mechanical behavior is of importance and is presented in the paper.     

改进的小波阈值在电能质量信号去噪中的应用

针对硬阈值去噪效果不佳,软阈值过度光滑使信号失真的缺点,提出了一种改进的自适应的阈值去噪方法。该算法将数理统计与信号和噪声的小波系数的分布规律和传播特点及噪声的标准差贡献率结合起来,对阈值门限进行了改进,并采用软阈值函数对信号进行处理,实现了其去噪的功能。结果表明,改进后的算法对电能质量信号进行消噪处理,信噪比增益和均方误差上均优于传统阈值算法及一些改进后的阈值算法,而且能够较好地保留电能质量信号的特征信息。