Optimization of the in Situ Transesterification of Grain Sorghum (Milo) DDGS to Fatty Acid Methyl Esters and Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters

Distillers grains and solubles generated from the ethanol fermentation of grains contain acylglycerols (AG) that can be successfully converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), commonly known as biodiesel. However, when grain sorghum (milo) DDGS were used as a feedstock for in situ transesterification (IST) under the previously established optimal conditions for other AG-bearing substrates, the yield plateaued at only 32.2% (corrected in this study to 24.2%). Several IST studies have reported significantly higher conversions of AG-bearing substrates to FAME. Therefore, the goal of this IST study was to improve the conversion of the AG in milo DDGS to FAME and FAEE by varying the temperature of reaction, the concentrations of the base (sodium methylate, NaOMe), volume of methanol and ethanol, and the amount of moisture in DDGS. Methyl tert-butyl ester was also evaluated as a co-solvent intended to improve miscibility and reaction rate. Among these variables, the most effective change was an increase in temperature from 40 to 65 °C. The most successful reaction used a AG:NaOMe:MeOH molar ratio of 1.0:2.6:168.9. Those reaction conditions used 4.8 mmol NaOMe dissolved in 12.6 mL MeOH and resulted in a 79.8% conversion of AG to FAME.     

Loss of heterozygosity and overexpression of the p53 gene in ovarian carcinoma

Eight anticonvulsant drugs-including clonazepam, diazepam and phenobarbital-were tested for their effects on GABA-stimulated chloride uptake in rat cerebral cortical microsacs (unfiltered synaptoneurosomes). "Mid" and "high" therapeutic concentrations were screened, and, if significant enhancement was found, full concentration-response tests were done. In the initial screens, enhancement of GABA-stimulated uptake was found only with phenobarbital, clonazepam and diazepam. In subsequent concentration-response tests, the effects of phenobarbital were found to occur throughout the range of normal, anticonvulsant concentrations, whereas the effects of clonazepam and diazepam were observed only above the concentrations normally used for the chronic control of seizures or anxiety. These data suggest that phenobarbital's anticonvulsant effects are mediated via the GABAA receptor complex, but that the low-dose effects of the benzodiazepines may be mediated via some other mechanism.     

In vivo fluorescence microscopy for the assessment of microvascular reperfusion injury in small bowel transplants in rats

With the use of in vivo fluorescence microscopy we have analyzed microvascular reperfusion injury of small bowel isograft transplants in rats. Following 1 hr cold storage in University of Wisconsin solution, the small bowel was transplanted heterotopically, and the intestinal microcirculation was quantitatively analyzed 20-60 min after onset of reperfusion. The intestinal grafts' capillary perfusion of both the mucosa and the circular and longitudinal muscles was not found altered when compared with the intestinal capillary perfusion of sham-operated controls. In contrast, leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction, including leukocyte rolling (40 +/- 5%) and sticking (280 +/- 100 mm-2) in submucosal postcapillary venules, was significantly increased when compared with nontransplanted controls (12 +/- 8% and 20 +/- 10 mm-2, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction was associated with a marked alteration of lymphatic capillary drainage, as indicated by the low functional density of lymphatic microvessels of 10.2 +/- 6.1 cm-1 (P < 0.01 vs. sham-operated controls (39.2 +/- 6.1 cm-1)). From these results we propose that leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction, not capillary "no-reflow," is the primary step in the manifestation of microvascular reperfusion injury following a short period of cold ischemia in small bowel grafts.     

Severity of delayed (“secondary”) cerebral energy failure after acute hypoxia-ischemia is related to the time integral of acute ATP depletion

The aim of this study was to reproduce the delayed (secondary) cerebral energy failure previously described in birth-asphyxiated newborn infants and to investigate relationships between primary insult severity and the extent of the delayed energy failure. Phosphorus (³¹P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 7 T was used to study the brains of 12 newborn piglets during an acute, reversible, cerebral hypoxic-ischemic episode which continued until nucleotide triphosphates (NTP) were depleted. After reperfusion and reoxygenation, spectroscopy was continued for 48 h. High-energy metabolite concentrations returned to near normal levels after the insult, but later they fell as delayed energy failure developed. The time integral of NTP depletion in the primary insult correlated strongly with the minimum [phosphocreatine (PCr)]/[inorganic orthophosphate (P_i)] observed 24–48 h after the insult. (Linear regression analysis gave slope –8.04 h^–1; ordinate intercept=1.23;r=0.92;P<0.0001.) This model is currently being used to investigate the therapeutic potential of various cerebroprotective strategies including hypothermia.     

Phosphofructokinase from mantle tissue of Mytilus galloprovincialis. Purification and effects of phosphorylation on the enzymatic activity

Phosphofructokinase purified from mantle tissue of the sea mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, was phosphorylated "in vitro" by the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The incorporation of phosphate gave rise to an activation of the enzyme by increasing its affinity for fructose-6-phosphate, by decreasing its sensitivity to the inhibition by ATP and by enhancing the effect of allosteric activators (5'-AMP and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate). In addition, the effects of phosphorylation on the catalytic activity are pH-dependent.     

Introduction to the special section on contemporary issues in human sexuality: research and practice

Critical issues in human sexuality have changed markedly during the past decade and so have the contributions of psychology to the evaluation and treatment of sexual behavior problems. Some of the greatest challenges facing psychologists today include the increasing emphasis on medical interventions for the male sexual disorders and the relative decline of traditional behavioral sex therapies, the recalcitrance of sexual desire disorders, the prevention of "unsafe" sexual behavior, and the limited understanding of female sexuality. This overview introduces a series of 5 articles that examine these selected critical issues in human sexuality. Guidelines for clinical practice and directions for future research are highlighted.     

Arthroscopic Bankart repair with the Suretac device. Part I: Clinical observations

Although arthroscopic Bankart repair has become an accepted surgical stabilization technique for anterior shoulder instability, the failure rate remains unacceptably high. Little information is available concerning healing of the Bankart repair. The purpose of this article is to clarify this issue by analyzing a cohort of 15 patients who underwent a "second-look" arthroscopy to evaluate and treat pain or recurrent instability following arthroscopic Bankart repair with the Suretac device (Acufex Microsurgical, Mansfield, MA). "Second-look" arthroscopy was performed at an average of 9 months following the index surgical procedure. The reasons for this second surgery were recurrent instability in 7, pain in 6, and pain and stiffness in 2. In the 7 patients with recurrent instability, the Bankart repair was found to be completely healed in 3 (43%), partially healed in 1 (14%), and had recurred in 3 (43%); however, 6 of 7 were observed to have lax capsular tissue. In 4 of these cases, retrospective review of the index surgical procedure showed that a technical error had been made during the repair. Two cases had biopsy of the repair site on "second-look" at 6 to 8 months, and this showed residual polyglyconate polymer debris surrounded by a histiocytic infiltrate. In the remaining 8 cases with stable shoulders, the Bankart repair had completely healed in 5 cases (62.5%) and partially healed in 3 cases (37.5%). The higher failure rate with this approach compared with open approaches appears to result from improper patient selection and errors in surgical technique. There is some question concerning healing strength of the Bankart repair, although complete healing of the Bankart does not seem to be a prerequesite for shoulder stability. Success of the procedure might be expected to improve by selecting only patients with unidirectional, posttraumatic, anterior instability who are found to have a discrete Bankart lesion and well-developed ligamentous tissue.     

Interfacial Connections between Organic Perovskite/n+ Silicon/Catalyst that Allow Integration of Solar Cell and Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution from Water

The rapidly increasing solar conversion efficiency (PCE) of hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite (HOIP) thin-film semiconductors has triggered interest in their use for direct solar-driven water splitting to produce hydrogen. However, application of these low-cost, electronic-structure-tunable HOIP tandem photoabsorbers has been hindered by the instability of the photovoltaic-catalyst-electrolyte (PV+E) interfaces. Here, photolytic water splitting is demonstrated using an integrated configuration consisting of an HOIP/n⁺silicon single junction photoabsorber and a platinum (Pt) thin film catalyst. An extended electrochemical (EC) lifetime in alkaline media is achieved using titanium nitride on both sides of the Si support to eliminate formation of insulating silicon oxide, and as an effective diffusion barrier to allow high-temperature annealing of the catalyst/TiO₂-protected-n⁺silicon interface necessary to retard electrolytic corrosion. Halide composition is examined in the (FA_1-xCs_x)PbI₃ system with a bandgap suitable for tandem operation. A fill factor of 72.5% is achieved using a Spiro-OMeTAD-hole-transport-layer (HTL)-based HOIP/n⁺Si solar cell, and a high photocurrent density of −15.9 mA cm⁻² (at 0 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode) is attained for the HOIP/n⁺Si/Pt photocathode in 1 m NaOH under simulated 1-sun illumination. While this thin-film design creates stable interfaces, the intrinsic photo- and electro-degradation of the HOIP photoabsorber remains the main obstacle for future HOIP/Si tandem PEC devices.     

Is Down syndrome a risk factor for poor outcome after repair of congenital heart defects?

Down syndrome is commonly associated with significant congenital heart disease with the potential for early development of pulmonary hypertension. As such, children with Down syndrome may be at increased risk for both perioperative and long-term mortality. The purpose of this study, using data collected from a population-based outcomes study, is to analyze the potential role that Down syndrome plays in the outcome of surgically "corrected" congenital heart disease. Data were collected from a registry of all Oregon residents who, in the period 1958 to the present, had a reparative operation for one of 14 congenital cardiac malformations when younger than 18 years (N = 3965 patients). Down syndrome was present in 289 (7%) of the total registry patients. In evaluating the cardiac mortality associated with Down syndrome for each of the repaired cardiac malformations, only complete atrioventricular septal defect was associated with significantly higher perioperative (13% vs 5%) as well as higher overall late cardiac mortality through 20 years after the operation (20% vs 5%; p = 0.04). The survival outcomes for each of the other cardiac malformations were similar for children with and without Down syndrome.     

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

CONCLUSION: We conclude that despite inevitable variability the clinical picture of JME is characteristic. It is easy to diagnose JME if one thinks of it while the history should be thoroughly analyzed. An EEG recording during sleep confirms the diagnosis. An early diagnosis of JME permits adequate prognosis of the subsequent course of epilepsy, and adequate therapy brings remission in most of the patients. If treatment starts following the large number of severe GTC seizures, the response to therapy is incomplete. The persistency of the illness throughout the life, the need for continuous medication and therapeutic unresponsiveness in cases with late diagnosis, do not justify the increasing misconception that JME is of benign nature. Diagnosis of JME is rare because of insufficient familiarily of physicians with the illness. BACKGROUND: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is an idiopathic generalized epileptic syndrome characterized with the combination of myoclonic, generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) and absence seizures that are readily provoked by sleep deprivation. PATIENTS: Forty-three patients, aged from 14 to 51 years, participated in a 5-year follow-up study. Diagnosis was made according to the criteria (Table 1) for diagnosis of JME set by Panayiotopoulos et al. (1994). Nineteen patients made their first contact with a neurologist at the Institute of Neurology and were diagnosed as JME, while the remaining 24 were referred to from other medical institutions with a diagnosis of therapy resistant to focal epilepsy. All patients underwent a somatic and neurological examination, "mini mental test," EEG in waking and CT scan of the brain. Some patients had EEG performed during sleep and some had MRI of the head. RESULTS: JME began between 9 and 26 (average 17) years. All patients had myoclonic seizures, 98% had GTC and 23% absence seizures. The first myoclonic seizure occurred between 9 and 24 years while the frst GTC seizure occurred between 10 and 32 years. Myoclonic seizures (83% of patients) and GTC seizures (70% of patients) occurred most often immediately after awaking. The most frequent provocative factors were insufficient sleep, alcohol abuse and tiredness. Epilepsy in the family was present in 39%, focal neurological deficiency in 9% and pathological findings on of CT and MRI in 7% of patients. Waking EEG was pathological in 77% of patients; it included generalized spike-wave discharges in 73%, multiple spike-wave complexes in 33% and focal discharges in 12% of patients, respectively. In all 26 patients tested, sleep EEG was pathological most often with multiple spike-wave complexes in 85% and 3-4 Hz spike-wave complexes in 57% of patients. The correct diagnosis of JME following a comprehensive examination was made in 24 (56%) patients after a delay of 1 to 35 years. In 24 patients with delayed diagnosis of JME the replacement of earlier medication with valproic acid (VPA) induced remission in 18 patients (75%) while 1 patient (4%) experienced a reduction in the number of seizures. Five patients (21%) did not respond to VPA medication: 2 due to a weak compliance, another 2 due to inefficient medication and 1 because of the preexistent malabsorption syndrome. In 19 patients (44%) with initial diagnosis of JME, VPA was introduced immediately upon diagnosis. Of them, 15 (79%) had excellent response to VPA, 1 refused therapy and for 3 patients there is no information. In 2 patients VPA was substituted due to side effects (hepatotoxicity and alopetia) with lamotrigine (low doses), which brought about decrease in frequency and mitigation in myoclonic seizures.