Inulin Improves Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Increases Intestinal Akkermansia Genus Level

Hepatic steatosis is characterized by triglyceride accumulation within hepatocytes in response to a high calorie intake, and it may be related to intestinal microbiota disturbances. The prebiotic inulin is a naturally occurring polysaccharide with a high dietary fiber content. Here, we evaluate the effect of inulin on the intestinal microbiota in a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model. Mice exposed to a standard rodent diet or a fat-enriched diet, were supplemented or not, with inulin. Liver histology was evaluated with oil red O and H&E staining and the intestinal microbiota was determined in mice fecal samples by 16S rRNA sequencing. Inulin treatment effectively prevents liver steatosis in the fat-enriched diet group. We also observed that inulin re-shaped the intestinal microbiota at the phylum level, were Verrucomicrobia genus significantly increased in the fat-diet group; specifically, we observed that Akkermansia muciniphila increased by 5-fold with inulin supplementation. The family Prevotellaceae was also significantly increased in the fat-diet group. Overall, we propose that inulin supplementation in liver steatosis-affected animals, promotes a remodeling in the intestinal microbiota composition, which might regulate lipid metabolism, thus contributing to tackling liver steatosis.     

Studies of Diesel Engine Particle Emissions During Transient Operations Using an Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer

Diesel engine particle emissions during transient operations, including emissions during FTP transient cycles and during active regenerations of a NOx adsorber, were studied using a fast Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer (EEPS). For both fuels tested, a No. 2 certification diesel and a low sulfur diesel (BP-15), high particle concentrations and emission rates were mainly associated with heavy engine acceleration, high speed, and high torque during transient cycles. Averaged over the FTP transient cycle, the particle number concentration during tests with the certification fuel was 1.2e8/cm³, about four times the particle number concentration observed during tests using the BP-15 fuel. The effect of each engine parameter on particle emissions was studied. During tests using BP-15, the particle number emission rate was mainly controlled by the engine speed and torque, whereas for Certification fuel, the engine acceleration also had a strong effect on number emission rates. The effects of active regenerations of a diesel NOx adsorber on particle emissions were also characterized for two catalyst regeneration strategies: Delayed Extended Main (DEM) and Post 80 injection (Post80). Particle volume concentrations observed during DEM regenerations were much higher than those during Post80 regenerations, and the minimum air to fuel ratio achieved during the regenerations had little effect on particle emission for both strategies. This study provides valuable information for developing strategies that minimize the particle formation during active regenerations of NOx adsorbers.     

A mathematical analysis of the motion coherence theory

In motion perception, there are a number of important phenomena involving coherence. Examples include motion capture and motion cooperativity. We propose a theoretical model, called the motion coherence theory, that gives a possible explanation for these effects [1,2]. In this framework, the aperture problem can also be thought of as a problem of coherence and given a similar explanation. We propose the concept of a velocity field defined everywhere in the image, even where there is no explicit motion information available. Theough a cost function, the model imposes smoothness on the velocity field in a more general way than in previous theories. In this paper, we provide a detailed theoretical analysis of the motion coherence theory. We discuss its relations with previous theories and show that some of them are approximations to it. A second paper [3] provides extensions for temporal coherence and comparisons to psychophysical phenomena. The theory applies to both short-range and long-range motion. It places them in the same computational framework and provides a way to define interactions between the two processes.     

Use of Neural Networks in the Simulation and Optimization of Pressure Swing Adsorption Processes

In this work a method for the simulation and optimization of a pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of nitrogen from air by using neural networks was developed. The model is used to obtain a prediction for the process performance, namely, the specific product and yield, over a wide range of operating conditions. These results are compared with the predictions from a mass tranfer model, and a very good agreement is found. The network developed is also used to minimize a cost objective function, and it is shown that it can easily be used in process optimization and/or control.     

Theoretical analysis of band alignment and charge carriers migration in mixed-phase TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> systems

Photocatalysts based on mixtures of rutile and anatase forms of titania usually show a better catalytic performance than each individual component. In order to understand this behavior, several experimental and theoretical approaches have been proposed in the past, looking for an adequate reference frame for aligning energy bands, and arriving sometimes to opposite results. In this work, the theoretical results obtained for the band alignment applying a modified common anion rule for different possibilities of mixed-phase (anatase–rutile) interaction are presented. According to our results, mixed-phase systems involve the transfer of electrons from rutile to anatase and holes from anatase to rutile. This analysis would be applicable to real samples of mixed phase of titania with large particle size. However, for heterogeneous size particulate systems, it is not only necessary to consider the alignment of bands of the bulk system, but also those of the corresponding surfaces. In keeping with the analysis performed, the best mixed systems are those composed by large particles of both polymorphs or by small particles of anatase dissolved in rutile. Our results could explain the disagreement found in the literature regarding the experimental works.     

Hierarchical Design for Fabricating Cost‐Effective High Performance Supercapacitors

The salient feature of a supercapacitor is its ability to deliver much higher power density than a battery. A hierarchical design and a cost‐effective approach to fabricate high performance supercapacitors using functional carbon nano‐particles is reported. A special arc synthesis method is used to produce amorphous/crystalline composite with nitrogen and boron co‐doped high charge density carbon nanoparticles. Upon etch removal of the amorphous phase in the composite nanoparticle, a crystalline carbon framework emerges, consisting of a mixture of nano‐graphitic sheets mostly in the middle and single nanohorns distributed around the surface of the nanoparticle. These nanoparticles have large internal/external surfaces with subnano channels and sharp nano‐tips for high speed charge transport and local charge accumulation. To deliver high power density, the internal resistance of the device is reduced by assembling the nanoparticles via electro‐spraying and compacting them into dense films (without any binder) under 700 MPa of pressure before supercapacitor assembly. Taken together, the hierarchical processed supercapacitor has a very high (compared to literature values) power density of nearly 4.5 kW cm^?3 and a respectable energy density of 2.45 mWh cm^?3. Combining these carbon nanoparticles with large area spraying coating, it can lead to a cost‐effective production of high performance supercapacitors.     

Water‐soluble star polymers with a phthalocyanine as the core and poly(ethylene glycol) chains as branches

Uncharged water‐soluble phthalocyanines (Pc's) and some metallophthalocyanines (Me‐Pc's) were prepared by means of a chemical modification of a commercial Pc or by a cyclic tetramerization reaction starting from 4‐nitrophthalonitrile derivatives. The necessary hydrophilicity for the water solubility of these Pc derivatives was achieved by the binding of eight 9‐methoxytriethyleneoxy branches on peripheral Pc positions or, alternatively, four or eight linear poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEGME; weight‐average molar mass = 350 or 750 g/mol) units. The chemical structure of these products was characterized by ¹H‐NMR and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization–time ‐of ‐flight mass spectrometric analysis. Finally, their solutions were examined by ultraviolet–visible and luminescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering experiments. All of the samples were water soluble, although the formation of small aggregates was ascertained by dynamic light scattering measurements. Furthermore, a lower scattered light intensity was measured for Pc derivatives with longer PEGME branches, which, probably playing a more negative role in the self‐assembly process, hindered the aggregation phenomenon. Preliminary data on their sensing ability are also reported. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Gelation and microstructure of dilute gellan solutions with calcium ions

The viscoelasticity at 25 °C and microstructure of 0.02–0.07 wt% of low acyl gellan aqueous media were investigated for ratios of Ca²⁺ to gellan in the range of 0–38.8, using small amplitude oscillatory shear rheometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), respectively. The total ionic concentration (C_T = γ C_P + C_S, being C_P and C_S the gellan and calcium concentrations, respectively, and γ the mean activity coefficient) of the systems was found to be the triggering and critical factor for the gelation and elasticity of gellan systems. The gel point (T_gel) and storage moduli (G′) increased upon increasing C_T. However, G′ showed a maximum for C_T = 9.3 ± 1.2 meq/L, followed by a progressive reduction as C_T increased; this was primarily due to further addition of calcium, as C_P had a low contribution to C_T of the systems. CLSM demonstrated that the level of counter-ions was enough to induce the formation of a network, whose connection depended on C_P and whose reinforcement was ion dependent. Therefore, even at very low levels of gellan, it is possible to create a wide spectrum of viscoelastic behaviors going from structured liquids to strong gels through the specific combinations of gellan and cation concentrations.     

Direct oxygen imaging in titania nanocrystals

Recently, rutile nanotwins were synthesized using high temperature organic solvent methods, yielding two kinds of common high-quality rutile twinned nanocrystals, (101) and (301) twins, accompanied by minor rutile nanorods (Lu et?al 2012 CrystEngComm 14 3120-4). In this report, the atomic structures of the rutile and anatase nanocrystals are directly resolved with no need for calculation or image simulation using atomic resolution STEM techniques. The locations of the oxygen rows in the rutile twins' boundaries are directly determined from both HAADF images and ABF images. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time oxygen columns have been distinguished in rutile twin boundaries using HAADF and BF imaging.     

Nanocrystalline carbonate-apatites: role of Ca/P ratio on the upload and release of anticancer platinum bisphosphonates

In the present study two nanocrystalline apatites have been investigated as bone-specific drug delivery devices to be used for treatment of bone tumors either by local implantation or by injection. In order to assess how the Ca/P ratio can influence the adsorption and release of anticancer platinum-bisphosphonate complexes, two kinds of apatite nanocrystals having different Ca/P ratios but similar morphologies, degree of crystallinity, and surface areas have been synthesized and characterized. The two platinum-bisphosphonate complexes considered were the bis-{ethylenediamineplatinum(ii)}-2-amino-1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diyl-bisphosphonate and the bis-{ethylenediamineplatinum(ii)}medronate. The Ca/P ratio plays an important role in the adsorption as well as in the release of the two drugs. In fact, the apatite with a higher Ca/P ratio showed greater affinity for both platinum complexes. Also the chemical structure of the two Pt complexes appreciably affects their affinity towards as well as their release from the two kinds of apatites. In particular, the platinum complex whose bisphosphonate contains a free aminic group showed greater upload and smaller release. The cytotoxicity of the Pt complexes released from the apatite was tested against human cervical, colon, and lung cancer cells as well as against osteosarcoma cells. In agreement with previous work, the Pt complexes released were found to be more cytotoxic than the unmodified complexes.