Ferrography: Its application to the study of human joint wear

Synovial fluid aspirates of 20 arthroplastic and 150 osteoarthritic joints were analyzed for evidence of wear particles. Ferrography, an industrial technique for the separation of particulate matter from samples of lubricating solutions, allows extraction of wear particles from synovial fluid. Bichromatic polarized microscopy and scanning electron microscopy permit identification and characterization of metallic, polyethylene and acrylic wear particles from arthroplastic joints as well as biological wear fragments of bone, cartilage, meniscus and synovium from osteoarthritic joints. With both techniques, the number and morphology of the wear particles within the synovial fluid specimens correlate with the rate and mechanism of wear as confirmed by examination of the joint implant or articular surfaces. Toxicity of the various types of wear particles was assessed by cytological examination of the fluid aspirate. Of significant interest is the identification of active phagocytosis of wear particles by synovial fluid white blood cells. This finding may implicate the particles as initiators of secondary inflammatory responses, as occurs in other arthritic diseases.Analysis of aspirated synovial fluid appears to be a useful method for studying the rates, mechanisms and biological responses to wear in both arthroplastic and degenerative joints. In surgical joint replacement, this technique holds much promise, not only as a test for wear and toxicity, but also as a means of assisting in the selection of materials and designs for superior articular implants. In osteoarthritic joints, this analysis provides a method for early diagnosis, serial assessment of therapy and prognostication concerning the future course of the disease. Possibly of most significance, in contrast to previous studies on intact articular surfaces, is the ability to study the principal site of degenerative changes, namely the wear particles. This ability may aid in the elucidation of the underlying cause of osteoarthritis.     

Recycling as an option of used nuclear fuel management strategy

The paper presents recycling as an option of used nuclear fuel management strategy with specific focus on the Slovenia. GEN energija is an independent supplier of integral and competitive electricity for Slovenia. In response to growing energy needs, GEN has conducted several feasibility and installation studies of a new nuclear power plant in Slovenia. With sustainable development, the environment, and public acceptance in mind, GEN conducted a study with AREVA concerning the options for the management of its’ new plant's used nuclear fuel.After a brief reminder of global political and economic context, solutions for used nuclear fuel management using current technologies are presented in the study as well as an economic assessment of a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The paper evaluates and proposes practical solutions for mid-term issues on used nuclear fuel management strategies. Different scenarios for used nuclear fuel management are presented, where used nuclear fuel recycling (as MOX, for mixed oxide fuel, and ERU, for enriched reprocessed uranium) are considered. The study concludes that closing the nuclear fuel cycle will allow Slovenia to have a supplementary fuel supply for its new reactor via recycling, while reducing the radiotoxicity, thermal output, and volume of its wastes for final disposal, reducing uncertainties, gaining public acceptance, and allowing time for capitalization on investments for final disposal.     

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Extracts of Allium sativum,Rosmarinus officinalis and Ocimum basilicum

ZnO nanoparticles(ZnO NPs) were synthesized by chemical method(coprecipitation) and biological method using aqueous extracts of garlic(Allium sativum),rosemary(Rosmarinus officinalis) and basil(Ocimum basilicum).The influence of plant extract on the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of green synthesized nanoparticles was investigated.The X-ray diffraction studies reveal that all ZnO samples have hexagonal wurtzite structure.The particle size of ZnO NPs estimated by transmission electron microscopy analysis(between 14 and 27 nm) varies depending on the synthesis method of nanoparticles and the type of extracts from the plants used.The functional groups involved in the biosynthetic procedure were evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.The presence of Mn~(2+)ions,Zn vacancy complexes and oxygen vacancies in ZnO samples was highlighted by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.The green synthesized ZnO NPs have shown a good bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus,Bacillus subtilis,Listeria monocytogenes,Escherichia coli,Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains.ZnO NPs synthesized using extracts of the selected plant species have been found to exhibit more enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant activities as compared to chemical ZnO NPs.     

Ferrocenyl Monomers and Polymers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Allyl and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Acrylatenaphthalimides

A series of N-allyl, N-ethylmethacrylate and N-phenylmethacrylatenaphthalimide monomers have been prepared with –C=CFc, –C≡CFc and –C≡CSiMe₃ substituents at the 4-position of the naphthalimide ring. All have been characterised by elemental analysis and spectroscopy; the X-ray structure of N-allyl-4-ethenylferrocenylnapththalimide is also reported. Free-radical polymerisation of these monomers gave homopolymers, random co- and terpolymers with polydispersities ranging from 1.7 to 3.2. Incorporation into a polymer matrix has no effect on the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the naphthalimide or ferrocenyl components. The ferrocenyl polymers are electrochromic and when oxidised give naphthalimide charge-transfer bands in the NIR; this electrochromism was examined by OTTLE techniques.     

Assessment of Biotechnologically Important Filamentous Fungal Biomass by Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy

Oleaginous filamentous fungi can accumulate large amount of cellular lipids and biopolymers and pigments and potentially serve as a major source of biochemicals for food, feed, chemical, pharmaceutical, and transport industries. We assessed suitability of Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy for screening and process monitoring of filamentous fungi in biotechnology. Six Mucoromycota strains were cultivated in microbioreactors under six growth conditions (three phosphate concentrations in the presence and absence of calcium). FT-Raman and FT-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic data was assessed in respect to reference analyses of lipids, phosphorus, and carotenoids by using principal component analysis (PCA), multiblock or consensus PCA, partial least square regression (PLSR), and analysis of spectral variation due to different design factors by an ANOVA model. All main chemical biomass constituents were detected by FT-Raman spectroscopy, including lipids, proteins, cell wall carbohydrates, and polyphosphates, and carotenoids. FT-Raman spectra clearly show the effect of growth conditions on fungal biomass. PLSR models with high coefficients of determination (0.83–0.94) and low error (approximately 8%) for quantitative determination of total lipids, phosphates, and carotenoids were established. FT-Raman spectroscopy showed great potential for chemical analysis of biomass of oleaginous filamentous fungi. The study demonstrates that FT-Raman and FTIR spectroscopies provide complementary information on main fungal biomass constituents.     

Regulation of Inflammatory Reaction in Health and Disease

Inflammation is a key mechanism for the clearance of infective agents and other inflammatory triggers and is pivotal for the repairing processes of the affected tissues. Inflammation is a multistep process driven by a great number of mediators which regulate specific aspects of the inflammatory response, in agreement with a well-defined chronobiological program. A great number of inflammation-related diseases show a deeply altered immune chronobiology (e.g., COVID-19-related cytokines storm). This aspect highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the inflammatory phenomenon. It is fundamental to study inflammation as a multilevel phenomenon. Of particular interest is the low-grade chronic inflammation, which is an etiological factor of many chronic diseases. Nowadays, the therapeutic approach to low grade chronic inflammation is one of the great challenges of traditional pharmacology. Currently, no drugs specifically designed for the treatment of chronic inflammatory forms are available. Today, bioregulatory systems medicine (BrSM) and low dose medicine (LDM), two pharmacological paradigms grounded in systems medicine, potentially represent new tools for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. Scientific research has assessed the effectiveness and safety of both these therapeutic approaches, in particular for the management of chronic inflammatory conditions and chronic immunological dysregulations.     

Water Denitration over a Pd–Sn/Al2O3 Catalyst

Bimetallic Pd–Sn catalysts were synthesized by incipient-wetness impregnation of the metals on alumina and employed for the reduction of nitrates from aqueous solutions. The catalysts were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and H₂ chemisorption. The influence of the metal ratio was evaluated in reaction measurements. The bimetallic Pd–Sn catalysts exhibited high selectivity for nitrate removal forming less NO₂⁻ and NH₄⁺ than the Pd–Cu catalysts.     

Individualized Follow-up of Pregnant Women with Asymptomatic Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Maternal hormones are essential for the normal fetal development during pregnancy. Autoimmune thyroid disease is a frequent pathology in our iodine replete region. The aim of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) in cases with known autoimmune thyroid disease, which were in a euthyroid state prior to pregnancy, and to assess the association between supplemental treatments administered and the outcome of the pregnancy. The study is a prospective interventional controlled study. The two cohorts comprise the interventional group, consisting of 109 pregnant women with known autoimmune asymptomatic thyroid disease, without any levothyroxine (LT4) treatment and an aged-matched control group, with an unknown thyroid disease. After the pregnancy, a monthly evaluation of TSH, FT3, and FT4 was performed. Offspring evaluation was made at birth time. 88.8% of the women developed SCH in the first four weeks of pregnancy. Average LT4 doses increased as the pregnancy progressed. The monthly adjustment was 12.5 or 25 μg. All SCH cases developed in the first trimester of pregnancy. There was no significant difference regarding the gestational week, weight, or length at birth between the interventional group and controls, when TSH values were in the optimal range, during the whole pregnancy. Premature birth was described in one case in the interventional group.     

2-(2-Hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylidene)-1,3-indanedione versus Fluorescein Isothiocyanate in Interaction with Anti-hFABP Immunoglobulin G1: Fluorescence Quenching,Secondary Structure Alteration and Binding Sites Localization

The first step in determining whether a fluorescent dye can be used for antibody labeling consists in collecting data on its physical interaction with the latter. In the present study, the interaction between the 2-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylidene)-1,3-indanedione (HNBID) dye and the IgG1 monoclonal mouse antibody anti-human heart fatty acid binding protein (anti-hFABP) has been investigated by fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopies and complementary structural results were obtained by molecular modeling. We have determined the parameters characterizing this interaction, namely the quenching and binding constants, classes of binding sites, and excited state lifetimes, and we have predicted the localization of HNBID within the Fc region of anti-hFABP. The key glycosidic and amino acid residues in anti-hFABP interacting with HNBID have also been identified. A similar systematic study was undertaken for the well-known fluorescein isothiocyanate fluorophore, for comparison purposes. Our results recommend HNBID as a valuable alternative to fluorescein isothiocyanate for use as a fluorescent probe for IgG1 antibodies.     

Immobilization of Ferrocene-Modified SNAP-Fusion Proteins

The supramolecular assembly of proteins on surfaces has been investigated via the site-selective incorporation of a supramolecular moiety on proteins. To this end, fluorescent proteins have been site-selectively labeled with ferrocenes, as supramolecular guest moieties, via SNAP-tag technology. The assembly of guest-functionalized SNAP-fusion proteins on cyclodextrin- and cucurbit [7]uril-coated surfaces yielded stable monolayers. The binding of all ferrocene fusion proteins is specific as determined by surface plasmon resonance. Micropatterns of the fusion proteins, on patterned cyclodextrin and cucurbituril surfaces, have been visualized using fluorescence microscopy. The SNAP-fusion proteins were also immobilized on cyclodextrin vesicles. The supramolecular SNAP-tag labeling of proteins, thus, allows for the assembly of modified proteins via supramolecular host-guest interaction on different surfaces in a controlled manner. These findings extend the toolbox of fabricating supramolecular protein patterns on surfaces taking advantage of the high labeling efficiency of the SNAP-tag with versatile supramolecular moieties.