Effects of milk high pressure homogenization on biogenic amine accumulation during ripening of ovine and bovine Italian cheeses

The aim of this work was to evaluate the biogenic amine (BA) content during the ripening of both bovine and ovine cheeses obtained using milk subjected to a homogenization treatment at 100 MPa before cheese-making. The data obtained were compared with those from cheeses produced by the same milks without any treatment or thermized. The results showed that both microbial ecology and BA concentrations of cheeses during ripening were significantly influenced by the type of milk used for cheese-making and by the treatment applied to the raw materials. In particular, the microbial counts found in Caciotta indicated that the high pressure homogenization (HPH) of milk significantly reduced the presence of the yeasts, Micrococcaceae and lactobacilli at the end of ripening. On the other hand, the HPH treatment of milk favoured the proliferation of yeasts in ovine cheese. Moreover, the ovine cheeses were characterized by a remarkably higher accumulation of BA than bovine cheeses. However, the HPH treatment of milk was able to drastically reduce the biogenic amine concentrations in both cheese typologies at the end of ripening.     

Algebraic factorizations for 3D non-hydrostatic free surface flows

The high amount of computer resources required to simulate complex free surface flows has prompted for developing fractional step schemes capable of reducing the computational effort. These schemes are borrowed from a wider family of methods originally devised for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. An alternative approach is to perform an algebraic splitting on the coefficient matrix of the linear system resulting from the discretized problem, ending up with the successive solution of sub-problems of smaller size. The resulting schemes are shown in different cases to be the algebraic counterpart of the standard fractional step formulations. This algebraic procedure was again originally devised in the context of incompressible Navier-Stokes system, but we believe it is far more general: in this paper it is indeed extended to the more involved 3D free surface flow model. The inexact block factorization technique is applied to the coefficient matrix arising from the problem at hand and two significant choices for the approximation are discussed and numerically tested.     

Theoretical considerations on the adsorption isotherm for ionic systems at electrode interphases

The Guggenheim model of the interphase has been used to study ionic adsorption at electrode interphases from constant ionic strength solutions. Starting with an experimental adsorption isotherm, we deduce the electric equation of state and this equation can help to know what kind of systems respond to the adsorption isotherm. Interphase electrochemical potentials are also obtianed and the stardard state guage is comented. Results can be transferred to understand some trends of ionic adsorption at varying ionic strength solutions.     

Pectic Galactan Polysaccharide-Based Gene Delivery System for Targeting Neuroinflammation

Treating neuroinflammation-related injuries and disorders through manipulation of neuroinflammation functions is being heralded as a new therapeutic strategy. In this study, a novel pectic galactan (PG) polysaccharide based gene therapy approach is developed for targeting reactive gliosis in neuroinflammation. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a cell protein with a high affinity to β-galactoside sugars and is highly expressed in reactive gliosis. Since PG carries galactans, it can target reactive gliosis via specific carbohydrate interaction between galactan and Gal-3 on the cell membrane, and therefore can be utilized as a carrier for delivering genes to these cells. The carrier is synthesized by modifying quaternary ammonium groups on the PG. The resulting quaternized PG (QPG) is found to form complexes with plasmid DNA with a mean diameter of 100 nm and have the characteristics required for targeted gene therapy. The complexes efficiently condense large amounts of plasmid per particle and successfully bind to Gal-3. The in vivo study shows that the complexes are biocompatible and safe for administration and can selectively transfect reactive glial cells of an induced cortical lesion. The results confirm that this PG-based delivery system is a promising platform for targeting Gal-3 overexpressing neuroinflammation cells for treating neuroinflammation-related injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.     

Are electronic white canes better than traditional canes? A comparative study with blind and blindfolded participants

Visually impaired individuals often rely on assistive technologies such as white canes for independent navigation. Many electronic enhancements to the traditional white cane have been proposed. However, only a few of these proof-of-concept technologies have been tested with authentic users, as most studies rely on blindfolded non-visually impaired participants or no testing with participants at all. Experiments involving blind users are usually not contrasted with the traditional white cane. This study set out to compare an ultrasound-based electronic cane with a traditional white cane. Moreover, we also compared the performance of a group of visually impaired participants (N = 10) with a group of blindfolded participants without visual impairments (N = 31). The results show that walking speed with the electronic cane is significantly slower compared to the traditional white cane. Moreover, the results show that the performance of the participants without visual impairments is significantly slower than for the visually impaired participants. No significant differences in obstacle detection rates were observed across participant groups and device types for obstacles on the ground, while 79% of the hanging obstacles were detected by the electronic cane. The results of this study thus suggest that electronic canes present only one advantage over the traditional cane, namely in its ability to detect hanging obstacles, at least without prolonged practice. Next, blindfolded participants are insufficient substitutes for blind participants who are expert cane users. The implication of this study is that research into digital white cane enhancements should include blind participants. These participants should be followed over time in longitudinal experiments to document if practice will lead to improvements that surpass the performance achieved with traditional canes.

     

Analysis of liver regeneration in mice lacking type 1 or type 2 tumor necrosis factor receptor: requirement for type 1 but not type 2 receptor

We used KO mice lacking either TNF receptor 1 (TNFR-1) or receptor 2 (TNFR-2) to determine whether signaling at the start of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) involves only one or both TNF receptors and to analyze in more detail the abnormalities caused by lack of TNFR-1 receptor, which is required for the initiation of liver regeneration. Lack of TNFR-2 had little effect on NF-kappaB and STAT3 binding, and no effect in interleukin-6 production after PH, but caused a delay in AP-1 and C/EBP binding and in the expression of c-jun and c-myc messenger RNA (mRNA). In contrast to mice lacking TNFR-1, which had deficient hepatocyte DNA synthesis and massive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, TNFR-2 KO mice had normal liver structure and similar levels of hepatocyte DNA replication as those of wild type mice. We conclude that TNFR-1, but not TNFR-2, is necessary for liver regeneration, and that NF-kappaB and STAT3 binding are activated by signals transduced by TNFR-1. Inhibition of AP-1 and C/EBP binding and in the expression of c-jun and c-myc mRNA in the first 4 hours after PH, as well as the apparent lack of Fos in AP-1 complexes, had no effect on the timing or extent of DNA replication.     

{\alpha^{\prime}}_{\text{H}} -Dicalcium silicate bone cement doped with tricalcium phosphate: characterization,bioactivity and biocompatibility

The influence of phosphorus doping on the properties of $ \alpha^{\prime}_{\text{H}} $ -dicalcium silicate (C₂S) bone cement was analyzed, in addition to bioactivity and biocompatibility. All the cements were composed of a solid solution of TCP in C₂S ( $ \alpha^{\prime}_{\text{H}} $ -C₂S_ss) as the only phase present. The compressive strength ranged from 3.8–16.3 MPa. Final setting times ranged from 10 to 50 min and were lower for cements with lower L/P content. Calcium silicate hydrate was the principal phase formed during the hydration process of the cements. The cement exhibited a moderate degradation and could induce carbonated hydroxyapatite formation on its surface and into the pores. The cell attachment test showed that the $ \alpha^{\prime}_{\text{H}} $ -Ca₂SiO₄ solid solution supported human adipose stem cells adhesion and spreading, and the cells established close contacts with the cement after 24 h of culture. The novel $ \alpha^{\prime}_{\text{H}} $ -C₂S_ss cements might be suitable for potential applications in the biomedical field, preferentially as materials for bone/dental repair.     

An Investigation of the Electrical Degradation of GaN High-Electron-Mobility Transistors by Numerical Simulations of DC Characteristics and Scattering Parameters

The effects of direct-current (DC) stress on GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are investigated by means of numerical simulations, by which the creation of an acceptor trap in the AlGaN barrier layer was correlated to the observed experimental degradation. An increase in the trap concentration induces a worsening of the saturated current I _DSS, transconductance g _m, and output conductance g _O. An increase in the length of the trapping region induces a degradation of I _DSS and g _m, but can reduce g _O. Analysis of scattering parameters in the saturation region shows that the cutoff frequency f _T matches the trend of g _m.     

Comparison of MCNPX-C90 and TRIPOLI-4-D for fuel depletion calculations of a Gas-cooled Fast Reactor

The Gas-cooled Fast Reactor is one of the reactor concepts selected by the Generation IV International Forum for the next generation of innovative nuclear energy systems. Several fuel design concepts are being investigated. Burnup depletion of mixed fuel of uranium and plutonium, cooled with gas in a fast neutron energy spectrum must be simulated. Various codes are being developed and/or adapted to improve the quality of the results, and also to reduce the computing time required for the simulations.