The Role of Synovial Membrane in the Development of a Potential In Vitro Model of Osteoarthritis

There is a lack of in vitro models able to plausibly represent the inflammation microenvironment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). We analyzed the molecules released from OA tissues (synovial membrane, cartilage, infrapatellar fat pad) and investigated whether the stimulation of human synovial fibroblasts (SFs), with synthetic cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α or IFN-γ) or conditioned media (CM) from OA tissues, influence the SFs’ response, in the sense of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and degradative enzymes modulation. Human SFs were obtained from OA synovial membranes. SFs and their CM were analyzed for biomarkers, proliferation rate, protein profile and gene expression, before and after stimulation. Real-time PCR and multiplex assays quantified OA-related gene expression and biomolecule production. Unlike other activators, CM from OA synovial membrane (CM-SM), significantly up-regulated all genes of interest (IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, MMP-3, RANTES, MCP-1, TSG-6, YKL-40) in SFs. Multiplex immunoassay analysis showed that levels of OA-related cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, MCP 1, IL-1Ra), chemokine (RANTES) and growth factor (VEGF), produced by CM-SM stimulated SFs, increased significantly compared to non-stimulated SFs. Molecules released from the SM from OA patients induces OA-like changes in vitro, in specific OA synovial populations (SFs). These findings promote the use and establish a compelling in vitro model that simulates the versatility and complexity of the OA disease. This model, in the future, will allow us to study new cell therapies or test drugs by reducing or avoiding animal models.     

‘Emerging’ mycotoxins in cereals processing chains: Changes of enniatins during beer and bread making

Enniatins represent an emerging food safety issue because of their extensive incidence, documented in recent decades, in various small grain cereals. This study was concerned with the fate of these Fusarium mycotoxins within malting, brewing, milling and baking, when employed for the processing of contaminated barley and wheat. Besides enniatins A, A1, B and B1, also deoxynivalenol and its conjugated form (deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside) were determined in almost all tested cereal-based samples. Significant decline of enniatins occurred within all technologies, with the largest drop in their concentrations observed in the brewing process. While enniatins were not detectable in final beers, they were almost quantitatively transferred to spent grains, probably because of their limited water solubility. Regarding bread baking, levels of enniatins decreased down to 30% of their concentration in the initial flour used for baking. In this case, degradation at higher temperatures might be assumed.     

Analysis of multiresidue pesticides in dried hops by LC–MS/MS using QuEChERS extraction together with dSPE clean‐up

A simple and selective method is reported for the simultaneous determination of 48 fungicide, insecticide and herbicide residues in hops by LC–MS/MS. The extraction of pesticide residues from the hop matrix was conducted by a method based on the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) sample preparation approach in combination with dispersive solid‐phase extraction using various sorbent blends consisting of primary–secondary amine, C₁₈ and zirconia based sorbents. The matrix effect of all applied sorbent blends was evaluated. The results showed that the QuEChERS method required further optimization of the dispersive solid‐phase extraction cleaning step owing to co‐extraction of matrix components such as chlorophyll and hop resins. These contaminants resulted in signal suppression, elevated background, and other negative matrix effects. The accuracy, precision, specificity, linearity, limit of detection and limit of quantification were evaluated. The recovery ranged from 70 to 120% for most of the pesticides and RSD was <20% for all pesticides. The limit of quantification was estimated at 0.02 mg/kg or, in the worst cases, 0.05 mg/kg. The results meet the European Commission standard legislation, implying that this method is both accurate and reproducible. Copyright © 2018 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Changes in the colour and the acidity number of egg yolk upon irradiation

Eggs from laying hens were irradiated using radioactive Co-60 at a dose of 1 kGy, 2.5 kGy, and 5 kGy, with a dose input of 3.21 kGy h^–1. Parameters describing the colour of egg yolk such as L*, a*, and b*, were determined spectrophotometrically using the CIELAB system with the help of the portable spectrophotometer Superchroma S-Spex without gloss. The levels of all three parameters dropped upon ionizing radiation. While at a dose of 1 kGy the difference in the parameters was not statistically conclusive, after irradiation using doses of 2.5 kGy and 5 kGy, the levels of the parameters L*, a*, and b* showed a statistically conclusive decrease which was also accompanied with changes in sensorial properties such as decolouration and decreased colour. The colour of the yolk was evaluated according to the Roche scale, showing that more significant changes occurred upon irradiation at doses of 2.5 and 5 kGy (the value decreased from 6 to 5). The number of acidity estimated in egg yolk (mg KOH/g of fat) increased with the increasing dose, being conclusively higher only for doses of 2.5 kGy and 5 kGy.     

TaOx-based resistive switching memories: prospective and challenges

Resistive switching memories (RRAMs) are attractive for replacement of conventional flash in the future. Although different switching materials have been reported; however, low-current operated devices (<100 μA) are necessary for productive RRAM applications. Therefore, TaO_x is one of the prospective switching materials because of two stable phases of TaO₂ and Ta₂O₅, which can also control the stable low- and high-resistance states. Long program/erase endurance and data retention at high temperature under low-current operation are also reported in published literature. So far, bilayered TaO_x with inert electrodes (Pt and/or Ir) or single layer TaO_x with semi-reactive electrodes (W and Ti/W or Ta/Pt) is proposed for real RRAM applications. It is found that the memory characteristics at current compliance (CC) of 80 μA is acceptable for real application; however, data are becoming worst at CC of 10 μA. Therefore, it is very challenging to reduce the operation current (few microampere) of the RRAM devices. This study investigates the switching mode, mechanism, and performance of low-current operated TaO_x-based devices as compared to other RRAM devices. This topical review will not only help for application of TaO_x-based nanoscale RRAM devices but also encourage researcher to overcome the challenges in the future production.     

Application of flow cytometry for the assessment of preservation and recovery efficiency of bioaerosol samplers spiked with Pantoea agglomerans

Exposure assessment of biological aerosols requires trade-offs between efficient sampling of airborne microorganisms as either particles or viable units. The main objective of this work was to characterize aspects of bioaerosol measurement efficiency. A known concentration of the vegetative bacteria Pantoea agglomerans was spiked onto different samplers (AGI-30, BioSampler, and membrane filters) and then run for increasing time periods using HEPA filtered air. Measurement efficiency was evaluated based on total, viable, and culturable counts. Total and viable counts were determined by flow-cytometry (FCM); culturable counts were evaluated by standard plating. FCM as a method for assaying viability showed excellent agreement with known proportions of live/dead organisms (slope = 0.82, R(2) = 0.99). P. agglomerans recoveries (total, viable, and culturable) in order of best sampler performance included the BioSampler (75%, 52%, and 50%), filtration (50%, 13%, and 2%), and the AGI-30 (<30%, 15%, and 5%). The difference between viability and culturability provided an indication of viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. VBNC efficiency for sampling by filter, AGI-30, and BioSampler was 80%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. This research helps characterize recovery, survival, and culturability efficiencies while sampling environmentally sensitive airborne bacteria for purposes of exposure assessment, epidemiologic studies, and homeland security.     

The Role of DNA Repair in Genomic Instability of Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a B cell malignancy marked by genomic instability that arises both through pathogenesis and during disease progression. Despite recent advances in therapy, MM remains incurable. Recently, it has been reported that DNA repair can influence genomic changes and drug resistance in MM. The dysregulation of DNA repair function may provide an alternative explanation for genomic instability observed in MM cells and in cells derived from MM patients. This review provides an overview of DNA repair pathways with a special focus on their involvement in MM and discusses the role they play in MM progression and drug resistance. This review highlights how unrepaired DNA damage due to aberrant DNA repair response in MM exacerbates genomic instability and chromosomal abnormalities, enabling MM progression and drug resistance.     

Effect of friction stir processing on fatigue behavior of an investment cast Al–7Si–0.6 Mg alloy

Cast aluminum alloys in general show poor fatigue performance due to the presence of defects. Friction stir processing (FSP) can be used as a tool to enhance the mechanical properties of cast alloys by eliminating such defects. In the present study FSP led to a five times improvement in fatigue life of an investment cast Al–7Si–0.6 Mg hypoeutectic alloy. The reason for such an enhancement was linked to the closure of casting porosities, which acted as crack nucleation sites in the as cast condition. Porosities acted as notches in the as cast alloy and led to an order of magnitude higher crack growth rate. As FSP eliminated the porosities and refined the Si particles the crack growth rate dropped, due to elimination of the notch effect, together with increased crack path tortuosity. Finally, short crack behavior was noted in both the cast and FSP specimens. The critical crack length, where a transition from a short crack to a long crack behavior took place is related to the respective microstructural characteristic dimensions.     

Non-isothermal crystallization of poly(ε-caprolactone)-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Non-isothermal crystallization behavior of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was studied in order to determine the effects of functionalized MWNTs (f-MWNTs) on its crystallization behavior. Differential scanning calorimeter measurements showed that an introduction of f-MWNTs into the PCL molecules induced heterogeneous nucleation and the crystal growth process was significantly affected. X-ray diffraction showed a decrease in the crystallinity of composites with the addition of f-MWNTs in PCL, likely due to the occurrence of more heterogeneous nucleation induced by f-MWNTs in the samples. The activation energy for crystallization of PCL drastically reduced with the presence of 2 wt.% f-MWNTs in the samples and increased slightly with increasing content of f-MWNTs. A spherulite structure of PCL-grafted MWNTs with MWNTs at the center was developed, clearly indicating the nucleating action of MWNTs in the crystallization process. The experimental data were also analyzed using various kinetic models e.g., Avrami, Tobin, Ozawa, etc.