Preparation of hydroxy acids by sulfation of oleic and linoleic acids

Summary Monohydroxystearic acids were prepared by sulfation and subsequent hydrolysis of oleic acid, and the effect of reaction conditions on yield was studied. Monohydroxystearic acids were obtained from commercial oleic acid in 72% yield and from pure oleic acid in 86% yield. Conditions for the best yields apparently gave increased amounts of isomeric hydroxy acids. Hydroxy acids prepared by the sulfation and subsequent hydrolysis of linoleic acid were converted to methyl esters, and purified by fractional distillation and low temperature crystallization. Experimental evidence indicates that sulfuric acid reacts with one double bond of linoleic acid to form isomeric monohydroxyoleic acids and with both double bonds to form dihydroxystearic acids. The by-products formed by the sulfation of linoleic acid include both ester-type polymers and additional polymeric material which cannot be converted to monomers by alkaline saponification. When commercial oleic acid is sulfated and subsequently hydrolyzed, the monohydroxystearic acid thus obtained presumably contains monohydroxyoleic acids and dihydroxystearic acids resulting from the linoleic acid present in the starting material. The formation of an unsaponifiable polymer during the sulfation of linoleic acid accounts in part for the lower yield of hydroxy acids obtained from commercial oleic acid, as compared with that of purified oleic acid. One of the laboratories of the Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Ohemistry, Agricultural Research Administration, U. S. Department of Agriculture.     

Genetic Variants Associated with Long-Terminal Repeats Can Diagnostically Classify Cannabis Varieties

Cannabis sativa (Cannabis) has recently been legalized in multiple countries globally for either its recreational or medicinal use. This, in turn, has led to a marked increase in the number of Cannabis varieties available for use in either market. However, little information currently exists on the genetic distinction between adopted varieties. Such fundamental knowledge is of considerable value and underpins the accelerated development of both a nascent pharmaceutical industry and the commercial recreational market. Therefore, in this study, we sought to assess genetic diversity across 10 Cannabis varieties by undertaking a reduced representation shotgun sequencing approach on 83 individual plants to identify variations which could be used to resolve the genetic structure of the assessed population. Such an approach also allowed for the identification of the genetic features putatively associated with the production of secondary metabolites in Cannabis. Initial analysis identified 3608 variants across the assessed population with phylogenetic analysis of this data subsequently enabling the confident grouping of each variety into distinct subpopulations. Within our dataset, the most diagnostically informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were determined to be associated with the long-terminal repeat (LTRs) class of retroelements, with 172 such SNPs used to fully resolve the genetic structure of the assessed population. These 172 SNPs could be used to design a targeted resequencing panel, which we propose could be used to rapidly screen different Cannabis plants to determine genetic relationships, as well as to provide a more robust, scientific classification of Cannabis varieties as the field moves into the pharmaceutical sphere.     

Synthetic Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside (LGM2605) Prevents Asbestos-Induced Inflammation and Genotoxic Cell Damage in Human Mesothelial Cells

Although alveolar macrophages play a critical role in malignant transformation of mesothelial cells following asbestos exposure, inflammatory and oxidative processes continue to occur in the mesothelial cells lining the pleura that may contribute to the carcinogenic process. Malignant transformation of mesothelial cells following asbestos exposure occurs over several decades; however, amelioration of DNA damage, inflammation, and cell injury may impede the carcinogenic process. We have shown in an in vitro model of asbestos-induced macrophage activation that synthetic secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (LGM2605), given preventively, reduced inflammatory cascades and oxidative/nitrosative cell damage. Therefore, it was hypothesized that LGM2605 could also be effective in reducing asbestos-induced activation and the damage of pleural mesothelial cells. LGM2605 treatment (50 µM) of huma n pleural mesothelial cells was initiated 4 h prior to exposure to asbestos (crocidolite, 20 µg/cm²). Supernatant and cells were evaluated at 0, 2, 4, and 8 h post asbestos exposure for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, DNA damage (oxidized guanine), inflammasome activation (caspase-1 activity) and associated pro-inflammatory cytokine release (IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, TNFα, and HMGB1), and markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2a (8-iso-PGF2α). Asbestos induced a time-dependent ROS increase that was significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced (29.4%) by LGM2605 treatment. LGM2605 pretreatment also reduced levels of asbestos-induced DNA damage by 73.6% ± 1.0%. Although levels of inflammasome-activated cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18, reached 29.2 pg/mL ± 0.7 pg/mL and 43.9 pg/mL ± 0.8 pg/mL, respectively, LGM2605 treatment significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced cytokine levels comparable to baseline (non-asbestos exposed) values (3.8 pg/mL ± 0.2 pg/mL and 5.4 pg/mL ± 0.2 pg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, levels of IL-6 and TNFα in asbestos-exposed mesothelial cells were high (289.1 pg/mL ± 2.9 pg/mL and 511.3 pg/mL ± 10.2 pg/mL, respectively), while remaining undetectable with LGM2605 pretreatment. HMGB1 (a key inflammatory mediator and initiator of malignant transformation) release was reduced 75.3% ± 0.4% by LGM2605. Levels of MDA and 8-iso-PGF2α, markers of oxidative cell injury, were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by 80.5% ± 0.1% and 76.6% ± 0.3%, respectively. LGM2605, given preventively, reduced ROS generation, DNA damage, and inflammasome-activated cytokine release and key inflammatory mediators implicated in asbestos-induced malignant transformation of normal mesothelial cells.     

Tolerance,Adaptation, and Cell Response Elicited by Micromonospora sp. Facing Tellurite Toxicity: A Biological and Physical-Chemical Characterization

The intense use of tellurium (Te) in industrial applications, along with the improper disposal of Te-derivatives, is causing their accumulation in the environment, where oxyanion tellurite (TeO₃²⁻) is the most soluble, bioavailable, and toxic Te-species. On the other hand, tellurium is a rare metalloid element whose natural supply will end shortly with possible economic and technological effects. Thus, Te-containing waste represents the source from which Te should be recycled and recovered. Among the explored strategies, the microbial TeO₃²⁻ biotransformation into less toxic Te-species is the most appropriate concerning the circular economy. Actinomycetes are ideal candidates in environmental biotechnology. However, their exploration in TeO₃²⁻ biotransformation is scarce due to limited knowledge regarding oxyanion microbial processing. Here, this gap was filled by investigating the cell tolerance, adaptation, and response to TeO₃²⁻ of a Micromonospora strain isolated from a metal(loid)-rich environment. To this aim, an integrated biological, physical-chemical, and statistical approach combining physiological and biochemical assays with confocal or scanning electron (SEM) microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode (ATR-FTIR) was designed. Micromonospora cells exposed to TeO₃²⁻ under different physiological states revealed a series of striking cell responses, such as cell morphology changes, extracellular polymeric substance production, cell membrane damages and modifications, oxidative stress burst, protein aggregation and phosphorylation, and superoxide dismutase induction. These results highlight this Micromonospora strain as an asset for biotechnological purposes.     

关于复迭代的Julia集的注记

提出了把复迭代的Julia集及充满Julia集的概念作一定程度的拓广(原先在文献中所认为的Julia集仍是拓广后的Julia集),后指出当指定任何一个三角形区域之后,它必可是某个复迭代的Julia集。并讨论了一些相关的问题,为建立分形集合分析理论的基础进行了初步探索。     

Thermal fluid multiphysics optimization of spherical tokamak centerpost

An experimental Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) is required that will create the environment that simultaneously achieves high energy neutrons and high ion fluence necessary in order to bridge the gaps from ITER to the realization of a fusion nuclear power plant. One concept for achieving this is a high duty cycle spherical torus. This study will focus on thermal modeling of the spherical torus centerpost using computational fluid dynamics to effectively model the thermal transfer of the cooling fluid to the centerpost. The design of the fluid channels is optimized in order to minimize the temperature in the centerpost. Results indicate the feasibility of water cooling for a long-pulse spherical torus FNSF.     

Separation of strontium from low level radioactive waste solutions using hydrous manganese dioxide composite materials

⁹⁰Sr is one of the major isotopes present in the low level radioactive liquid waste (LLW) generated during operation of nuclear reactors and spent fuel reprocessing plants. A composite ion exchange material consisting of hydrous manganese oxide and poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) was developed for removal of strontium from aqueous radioactive waste. The prepared composite material showed very good strontium adsorption properties in aqueous solutions. Sorption of strontium on the composite material as a function of pH, equilibration time and strontium ion concentrations were studied. The process of sorption of strontium from solution was analysed using different isotherm models like Langmuir, D-R and Freundlich. Four different error functions were employed to find out the most suitable isotherm model to represent the experimental data and it was found that Freundlich model best fits the sorption of strontium on the composite material. Analysis of the data obtained from the sorption kinetics studies showed that the data fitted better to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. Lab scale column performance study of the composite material revealed that the material could be effectively used in column operations to remove strontium from LLW solutions.