Cancer prognostics by direct detection of p53-antibodies on gold surfaces by impedance measurements

The identification and measurement of biomarkers is critical to a broad range of methods that diagnose and monitor many diseases. Serum auto-antibodies are rapidly becoming interesting targets because of their biological and medical relevance. This paper describes a highly sensitive, label-free approach for the detection of p53-antibodies, a prognostic indicator in ovarian cancer as well as a biomarker in the early stages of other cancers. This approach uses impedance measurements on gold microelectrodes to measure antibody concentrations at the picomolar level in undiluted serum samples. The biosensor shows high selectivity as a result of the optimization of the epitopes responsible for the detection of p53-antibodies and was validated by several techniques including microcontact printing, self-assembled-monolayer desorption ionization (SAMDI) mass spectrometry, and adhesion pull-off force by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This transduction method will lead to fast and accurate diagnostic tools for the early detection of cancer and other diseases.     

Beclomethasone-loaded lipidic nanocarriers for pulmonary drug delivery: preparation, characterization and in vitro drug release

The purpose of this research paper was the development of lipid nanoparticles (LN) formulation suitable for beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) administration via the pulmonary route. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) were prepared by high-shear homogenization method; the effects of process and formulation parameters on nanoparticles characteristics were investigated. LN were characterized in terms of morphology, size, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro drug release and aerosol aerodynamic properties. Nano-sized BDP-loaded LN with high entrapment efficiency values reaching 99% were successfully obtained. Application of in vitro drug release data to the Higuchi kinetic equation indicated a diffusion-controlled release from the lipidic matrix. Aerosolisation and subsequent cascade impaction measurements proved that SLN and NLC were efficiently nebulized yielding aerosols of a suitable particle size for BDP deep lung delivery. Results demonstrate that LN are promising nebulized carriers for BDP opening the way for lipophilic drug-targeting strategies by nebulization.     

Preservation of fatty duck liver by high pressure treatment

Fatty liver samples from duck were treated with high pressures and packaged in multilayer films. Microbiological analysis, permeability of the films to oxygen and fat loss, caused by melting, were assessed after pressure or thermal treatment. Microbiological analysis showed a noteworthy reduction in the total aerobic mesophilic flora and eradication of the coliform flora, whichever film or treatment was used. Nevertheless, a significant bacterial flora was observed during storage at 4 °C from 42 days with a polyethylene/polyamide/polyethylene film and a sample which had been treated with pressure. But, treatment at 550 MPa for 55 °C and 20 min, in combination with two low oxygen permeability films (ethylene and vinyl alcohol copolymer) gave a product with long storage life (90 days) at 4 °C and a significant reduction in the melting of lipids.     

MedHySol: Future federator project of massive production of solar hydrogen

Mediterranean Hydrogen Solar (MedHySol) is a federator project for development of a massive hydrogen production starting from solar energy and its exportation within a framework of a Euro–Maghrebian Cooperation project for industrial and energetic needs in the Mediterranean basin. The proposal of this project is included in the Algiers Declaration's on Hydrogen from Renewable Origin following the organization of the first international workshop on hydrogen which was held in 2005. Algeria is the privileged site to receive the MedHySol platform. The objective of the first step of the project is to realize a technological platform allowing the evaluation of emergent technologies of hydrogen production from solar energy with a significant size (10–100 kW) and to maintain the development of energetic rupture technologies. The second step of the project is to implement the most effective and less expensive technologies to pilot great projects (1–1000 MW). In this article we present the potentialities and the feasibility of MedHySol, as well as the fundamental elements for a scientific and technical supervision of this great project.     

Study of the recrystallization process of AlMgSi alloys containing transition elements

The addition of small amounts of the transition elements such as Zr, Mn and Cr, which have a low solubility in the α-aluminium solid solution and thus form dispersoids, to AlMgSi alloys showed that these elements inhibit recrystallization when the alloys are pre-heated prior to deformation. The formation of coarse particles during casting is mainly due to the presence of Fe. This type of particles found, even, in solution treated samples. The particles, with a diameter exceeding 3 μm, accelerate the recrystallization as they provide good sites for nucleation of recrystallization. Precipitate free zones (PFZ's) developed around the coarse particles favour nucleation of recrystallization by subgrain growth. The presence of dispersoid particles is found to shift the recrystallization energy peak towards higher temperatures. Intermediate annealing before deformation allowed to achieve a high rate of deformation by cold rolling due to the removal of the solute from the matrix by the formation of the hardening phases. Optical and transmission electron microscopy, hardness measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to study the kinetics of precipitation and recrystallization of the AlMgSi alloys.     

Preparation and catalytic activity of nanostructured Pd catalysts supported on hydrogenotitanate nanotubes

Nanostructured palladium particles (nanorods, icosahedra, cubes) were synthesized in aqueous solution using a seeding-mediated approach with a structure-directing agent. These nanostructured Pd particles were then impregnated onto hydrogenotitanate nanotubes using two different impregnation procedures. The as-prepared catalysts were then tested in the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde at 323 K under 10 bars of H₂. The selectivity is influenced by the morphology of the Pd nanostructured particles with a higher selectivity into saturated alcohols when the proportion of (111) Pd sites increases.     

Applications of pore-expanded mesoporous silica. 7. Adsorption of volatile organic compounds

Three different varieties of mesoporous silicas were synthesized by varying the postsynthesis treatment of an as-synthesized ordered mesoporous material type MCM-41. The resulting materials consisted of a purely siliceous MCM-41, a pore-expanded MCM-41 (PE-MCM-41C), and a surfactant-laden pore-expanded MCM-41 (PE-MCM-41E) and were evaluated as adsorbents for two types of volatile organic compounds, i.e., chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons. Values of heat of adsorption and Henry's law constant were determined by pulse chromatography. Additionally, adsorption capacities were calculated with a dynamic method using breakthrough curves for single components in dry and humid environments. The surfactant-containing material exhibited good compatibility with chlorinated compounds in terms of heat of adsorption and efficiency in gaseous streams containing moisture. Purely siliceous mesoporous materials, i.e., MCM-41 and PE-MCM-41C, were more selective toward aromatic hydrocarbons but also gave rise to exceptionally strong adsorption.     

Experimental investigation of solar tower with chimney effect installed in CRTEn,Tunisia

This paper studies the performance of a solar tower power plant (STPP) with chimney effect based on renewable energy proposed for electricity production. That's way, a solar tower prototype was constructed and tested in the Research and Technology Centre of Energy (CRTEn), Borj Cédria, northern Tunisia.The design involves heating air using solar energy and the chimney effect to raise the hot air up the chimney stack. The hot air velocity increases by the use of a convergent nozzle to reach a suitable velocity which can run the wind turbine. The kinetic energy of the hot air is then converted to electricity by the wind turbine.During this study, the influence of the climatic conditions of Borj Cédria site (insulation, ambient temperature) as well as the chimney height and the collector diameter on the amount of electricity production were investigated.The distribution and the evolution of the temperature at different positions of the prototype as well as the electrical energy produced were determined.The results reveal that when the temperatures reach 45 °C, the electric power reaches an average value of about 0.3 W/m² for a solar tower prototype with 8 m of diameter and 2 m of height chimney.