Vitamin E acetate addition to poly(d,l)lactic acid modifies its mechanical behavior without affecting biocompatibility

Mechanical properties of poly(d,l )lactic acid films enriched with Vitamin E and Vitamin E Acetate (5–40% w/w) were investigated. The addition of both formulations resulted in increased polymer Young's modulus and tensile strength. Human foreskin fibroblasts and murine pre‐osteoblasts were used to assess the biocompatibility of polymers. Pre‐osteoblasts adhesion and proliferation were strongly decreased by Vitamin E, whereas Vitamin E Acetate did not alter cell proliferation. Collagen deposition was lower onto Vitamin E blended polymers than onto native and Vitamin E Acetate blended ones. Fibroblasts adhesion and proliferation were increased by both Vitamin E and Vitamin E Acetate addition. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 39970.     

High eEF1A1 Protein Levels Mark Aggressive Prostate Cancers and the In Vitro Targeting of eEF1A1 Reveals the eEF1A1–actin Complex as a New Potential Target for Therapy

Although the eukaryotic elongation factor eEF1A1 plays a role in various tumours, there is little information on its prognosis/therapeutic value in prostate carcinoma. In high-grade and castration-resistant prostate carcinoma (CRPC), the identification of novel therapeutic markers/targets remains a priority. The expression of eEF1A1 protein was determined in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded prostate cancer and hyperplasia tissue by IHC. The role of eEF1A1 was investigated in a cellular model using a DNA aptamer (GT75) we previously developed. We used the aggressive CRPC cancer PC-3 and non-tumourigenic PZHPV-7 lines. Cytotoxicity was measured by the MTS assay and eEF1A1 protein levels by in-cell Western assays. The mRNA levels of eEF1A1 were measured by qPCR and ddPCR. Higher expression of eEF1A1 was found in Gleason 7–8 compared with 4–6 tissues (Gleason ≥ 7, 87% versus Gleason ≤ 6, 54%; p = 0.033). Patients with a high expression of eEF1A1 had a worse clinical outcome. In PC-3, but not in PZHPV-7, GT75 decreased cell viability and increased autophagy and cell detachment. In PC-3 cells, but not in PZHPV-7, GT75 mainly co-localised with the fraction of eEF1A1 bound to actin. Overexpression of the eEF1A1 protein can identify aggressive forms of prostate cancer. The targeting of eEF1A1 by GT75 impaired cell viability in PC-3 cancer cells but not in PZHPV-7 non-tumourigenic cells, indicating a specific role for the protein in cancer survival. The eEF1A1–actin complexes appear to be critical for the viability of PC-3 cancer cells, suggesting that eEF1A1 may be an attractive target for therapeutic strategies in advanced forms of prostate cancer.     

In-House Validation and Comparison of Two Wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis>) Taxon-Specific Real-Time PCR Methods for GMO Quantification Supported by Droplet Digital PCR

Common wheat is one of the most important staple food crops worldwide. However, unlike other important staple crops such as maize or soybean, genetically modified (GM) wheat is not yet present in the global food market. Nonetheless, in the recent past, the adventitious presence of GM glyphosate-tolerant volunteers was reported in open wheat fields in the USA. The European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (EURL-GMFF) was therefore called to develop a strategy to detect such unauthorised GM wheat in wheat samples by using both taxon-specific and screening tests. Two candidate common wheat taxon-specific real-time PCR methods were suggested, one targeting ssII-D gene coding for starch synthase and the other targeting waxy-D1 gene, coding for granule-bound starch synthase. In the present study, the two above-mentioned real-time PCR taxon-specific methods were in-house verified and compared, proposing droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) as a new tool for supporting the application of the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL) established method performance criteria. Preliminary performance data of waxy-D1 and ssII-D methods in ddPCR format are shown too to give a contribution to the bridging process from the consolidated to the emerging quantitative PCR methodology.     

Comparison between conjugated linoleic acid and essential fatty acids in preventing oxidative stress in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Some in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated protective effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers against oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. However, only a few and conflicting studies have been conducted showing the antioxidant potential of essential fatty acids. The objectives of the study were to compare the effects of CLA to other essential fatty acids on the thiol redox status of bovine mammary epithelia cells (BME-UV1) and their protective role against oxidative damage on the mammary gland by an in vitro study. The BME-UV1 cells were treated with complete medium containing 50 μM of cis-9,trans-11 CLA, trans-10,cis-12 CLA, α-linolenic acid, γ-linolenic acid, and linoleic acid. To assess the cellular antioxidant response, glutathione, NADPH, and γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase activity were measured 48 h after addition of fatty acids (FA). Intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde production were also assessed in cells supplemented with FA. Reactive oxygen species production after 3 h of H₂O₂ exposure was assessed to evaluate and to compare the potential protection of different FA against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. All FA treatments induced an intracellular GSH increase, matched by high concentrations of NADPH and an increase of γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase activity. Cells supplemented with FA showed a reduction in intracellular malondialdehyde levels. In particular, CLA isomers and linoleic acid supplementation showed a better antioxidant cellular response against oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂ compared with other FA.     

A green and facile one-pot synthesis of Ag–ZnO/RGO nanocomposite with effective photocatalytic activity for removal of organic pollutants

In this study, Ag–ZnO/reduced graphene oxide (Ag–ZnO/RGO) composite was synthesized by a green and facile one-step hydrothermal process. Aqueous suspension containing Ag and ZnO precursors with graphene oxide (GO) sheets was heated at 140 °C for 2 h. The morphology and structure of as-synthesized particles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy which revealed the formation of composite of metal, metal oxide and RGO. It was observed that the presence of Ag precursor and GO sheets in the hydrothermal solution could sufficiently decrease the size of ZnO flowers. The hybrid nanostructure, with unique morphology, obtained from this convenient method (low temperature, less time, and less number of reagents) was found to have good photocatalytic and antibacterial activity. The perfect recovery of catalyst after reaction and its unchanged efficiency for cyclic use showed that it will be an economically and environmentally friendly photocatalyst.     

Dynamic Embrittlement in Cu-Cr-Zr-Ti Alloy: Evidence of Intergranular Segregation of Sulphur

In the present investigation, Cu-0.6Cr-0.005Zr-0.0045Ti alloy was subjected to different heat treatment and thermomechanical treatment (TMT) to simulate the conditions experienced during brazing and forming, respectively. Grain coarsening was observed in the samples subjected to heat treatment, and grain refinement was observed in the samples subjected to TMT. Tensile tests conducted with these samples at room temperature and 600 °C have shown that Cu-Cr-Zr-Ti alloy was susceptible to dynamic embrittlement (DE). However, the observation was limited to coarse-grained samples (280-350 μm) at 600 °C. On the other hand, the fine-grained samples (20-40 μm) showed good ductility. Electron microscopy studies conducted on the tensile-tested specimens prone to DE indicated the presence of sulfur on the fractured surface and intergranular segregation of sulfur. Therefore, it can be inferred from the results that DE due to sulfur can occur in Cu-Cr-Zr-Ti alloy at elevated temperature for coarse-grained samples.     

Reoptimization of the Shortest Common Superstring Problem

A reoptimization problem describes the following scenario: given an instance of an optimization problem together with an optimal solution for it, we want to find a good solution for a locally modified instance.     

Pavement Life-Cycle Cost and Asphalt Binder Quality: Theoretical and Experimental Investigation

Quality control/quality assurance tests can be used to demonstrate that an as-constructed pavement has characteristics different from the contracted specifications of the as-designed pavement because the bitumen employed was of insufficient quality. Many different issues affect asphalt binder quality. Such problems can significantly increase the pavement life-cycle cost, which means that a pay adjustment (PA) is needed. Unfortunately, the quantitative analysis of this issue is very complex. The objectives of this study were to model the dependence of the pavement life-cycle cost on asphalt binder quality and to determine the quantitative relationship between bitumen viscosity and the PA for a given class of boundary conditions. In addition to modeling this problem theoretically, experiments and simulations were carried out through the use of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide. We then derived the consequences of these effects on life-cycle cost by using a specific life-cycle cost model. Our results demonstrate that asphalt binder viscosity can strongly affect the expected pavement life and the PA, and thus needs to be taken into account in contract and construction management.