Continuous-Flow UV Liquid Food Pasteurization: Engineering Aspects

Ultraviolet (UV)-C treatments are a promising technology for liquid food pasteurization as an alternative to heat treatments. However, the design of efficient UV reactors to reduce pertinent microorganisms and comply with current food safety goals is still an engineering challenge due to the low penetration depth of UV light in liquid foods with high UV absorbance and suspended particles, and the variations in the residence time of the product in the UV reactors. This review focuses on physical aspects of UV radiation related to the essential product and processing parameters for the design of UV reactors. The UV equipment available for liquid food processing is described and the main drawbacks and advantages are discussed.     

Enzymatic de-glycosylation of rutin improves its antioxidant and antiproliferative activities

Bioavailability and biological properties of flavonoid glycosides can be improved after the enzymatic hydrolysis of specific glycosyl groups. In this study, we evaluate the antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of rutin after enzymatic hydrolysis performed by α-l-rhamnosidases (hesperidinase from Penicillium sp. and naringinase from Penicillium decumbens) previously heated at 70 °C for 30 min to inactivate the undesirable β-d-glucosidase activity. The highest in vitro antioxidant activity determined by DPPH radical scavenging was achieved with rutin hydrolyzed by hesperidinase. Rutin was predominantly bioconverted into quercetin-3-glucoside. There was no statistical difference between xanthine oxidase inhibition by rutin before and after hydrolysis. However, in vitro inhibitory activity against ten human tumor cell lines showed that hydrolyzed rutin exerted a more potent antiproliferative effect than quercetin and rutin on various cancer cell lines, specially glioma, and ovarian and breast adenocarcinomas. These results indicate that quercetin-3-glucoside could be a promising functional derivative obtained by rutin hydrolysis.     

Host Restriction Factors Modulating HIV Latency and Replication in Macrophages

In addition to CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, myeloid cells and, particularly, differentiated macrophages are targets of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection via the interaction of gp120Env with CD4 and CCR5 or CXCR4. Both T cells and macrophages support virus replication, although with substantial differences. In contrast to activated CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, HIV-1 replication in macrophages occurs in nondividing cells and it is characterized by the virtual absence of cytopathicity both in vitro and in vivo. These general features should be considered in evaluating the role of cell-associated restriction factors aiming at preventing or curtailing virus replication in macrophages and T cells, particularly in the context of designing strategies to tackle the viral reservoir in infected individuals receiving combination antiretroviral therapy. In this regard, we will here also discuss a model of reversible HIV-1 latency in primary human macrophages and the role of host factors determining the restriction or reactivation of virus replication in these cells.     

ARP-P4: deep analysis of a hybrid SDN ARP-Path/P4Runtime switch

Telecommunication Systems - The Software-Defined Networking (SDN) architecture decouples the control plane from the data plane, but it does not explicitly state where the control should be located....     

Characterisation of SiOxCyHz thin films deposited by low-temperature PECVD

SiO_xC_yH_z thin films were deposited from hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO)/O₂ mixtures in a parallel plate, capacitively coupled, RF plasma reactor. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Si(1 0 0) wafers and KBr tablets were chosen as substrates. Effect of HMDSO/O₂ ratio, total treatment pressure and power input on the properties of the deposited films were investigated. The structure and bondings were studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Wettability characteristics of the deposited thin films were investigated by means of water droplet contact angle measurements. Surface morphology was investigated with atomic force microscopy. Barrier properties of the SiO_xC_yH_z thin films were investigated by measuring the water vapour transmission rate of the coated PET substrates. Correlations between the characteristics of the deposited film and their barrier properties were discussed.     

Effects of long-term heavy metal contamination on soil microbial characteristics

In this study, total heavy metal content and its effects on soil microbiological characteristics were investigated in soil samples from an area with known long-term pollution problems. The total heavy metal concentrations of contaminated soil samples were 109 and 1,558 mg/kg for Hg and As, respectively. Key microbiological parameters measured included dehydrogenase activity, ATP content and number of culturable aerobic bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and asymbiotic nitrogen-fixers. Quantitative analysis of soil microbial populations shows a marked decrease in total culturable numbers of the different microbial groups of the contaminated soil samples. Certain groups of soil microbes were particularly sensitive to long-term contamination (asymbiotic nitrogen-fixers and heterotrophic bacteria). Dehydrogenase activity was found to be a sensitive assay for determining the effect of heavy metals on physiologically active soil microbial biomass and sustains the high applicability of this parameter for soil ecotoxicological testing as reported by other authors.     

Malignant Transformation of Giant Cell Tumour of Bone: A Review of Literature and the Experience of a Referral Centre

Giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) is a benign, locally aggressive primary bone neoplasm that represents 5% of all bone tumours. The principal treatment approach is surgery. Although generally GCTB is considered only a locally aggressive disease, it can metastasise, and lung metastases occur in 1–9% of patients. To date, only the use of denosumab has been approved as medical treatment for GCTB. Even more rarely, GCTB undergoes sarcomatous transformation into a malignant tumour (4% of all GCTB), but history of this malignant transformation is unclear and unpredictable. Considering the rarity of the event, the data in the literature are few. In this review, we summarise published data of GCTB malignant transformation and we analyse three cases of malignant transformation of GCTB, evaluating histopathology, genetics, and radiological aspects. Despite the rarity of this event, we conclude that a strict follow up is recommended to detect early malignant transformation.     

Cellulose nanocomposites based on silane reinforced 3-butynoate-substituted zirconium-oxocluster copolymers: Mechanical,thermal and hydrophobic properties

Silica based cellulose nanocomposites obtained from (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane or vinyltrimethoxysilane and 3-butynoate-substituted zirconium-oxoclusters were prepared and their surface morphology, wettability, and thermo-mechanical properties were studied. The composites showed a hydrophobic surface, high strength, and resistance to thermal degradation and aging; in comparison to the untreated paper they required a higher temperature to activate combustion and generated less heat during all thermal processes.