Electrode activation sequencing employing conductivity changes in irreversible electroporation tissue ablation

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) uses high-voltage pulses applied to tissue, which cause dielectric breakdown of cell membranes resulting in cell death. IRE is a promising technique for ablation of nonresectable tumors because it can be configured to spare critical structures such as blood vessels. A consequence of pulse application is an increase in tissue electrical conductivity due to current pathways being opened in cell membranes. We propose a novel IRE method introducing electrode switching and pulse sequencing in which tissue conductivity is first increased using preparatory pulses in order to form high-conductivity zones, which then helps provide higher electric field intensity within the targeted tissue as subsequent pulses are applied, and hence, enhances the efficiency and selectivity of the IRE treatment. We demonstrate the potential of this method using computational models on simple geometries.     

Volumetric quantification of atherosclerotic plaque in CT considering partial volume effect

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is quantified based on a computed tomography (CT) scan image. A calcified region is identified. Modified expectation maximization (MEM) of a statistical model for the calcified and background material is used to estimate the partial calcium content of the voxels. The algorithm limits the region over which MEM is performed. By using MEM, the statistical properties of the model are iteratively updated based on the calculated resultant calcium distribution from the previous iteration. The estimated statistical properties are used to generate a map of the partial calcium content in the calcified region. The volume of calcium in the calcified region is determined based on the map. The experimental results on a cardiac phantom, scanned 90 times using 15 different protocols, demonstrate that the proposed method is less sensitive to partial volume effect and noise, with average error of 9.5% (standard deviation (SD) of 5-7mm(3)) compared with 67% (SD of 3-20mm(3)) for conventional techniques. The high reproducibility of the proposed method for 35 patients, scanned twice using the same protocol at a minimum interval of 10 min, shows that the method provides 2-3 times lower interscan variation than conventional techniques.     

Differential Distributed Space-Time Modulation for Cooperative Networks

In this paper, we develop a protocol for the construction of cooperative networks when the channel state information is not available at the transmitters and the receivers. In the proposed protocol, differential space-time codewords are generated at the source terminal. In the broadcast phase, each row of the differential space-time codeword is transmitted to a different relay, whereas in the relay phase, the relaying terminals retransmit the codeword through simple amplify-and-forward algorithm. The performance of the cooperative diversity system is analyzed for a two-user case for different channel environments in. terms of the diversity gain and the diversity product. The optimization of the power allocation between source and relay terminals is considered for the maximization of the diversity product. When the same modulation scheme is used, the performance of differential detection is degraded by 3 dB noise enhancement compared with coherent detection     

Molecular and cellular radiobiological effects of Auger emitting radionuclides

Although the general radiobiologic principles underlying external beam therapy and radionuclide therapy are similar, significant differences in the biophysical and radiobiologic effects from the two types of radiation continue to accumulate. Here, I will address the unique features that distinguish the molecular and cellular radiobiological effects of Auger electron-emitting radionuclides consequent to (1) the physical characteristics of the decaying atom and its subcellular localisation, (2) DNA topology and (3) the bystander effect. Based on these experimental findings, I postulate that the ability of track structural simulations as primary tools in modelling DNA damage and cellular survival at the molecular level would be greatly enhanced when these contributions are factored in.     

Effect of bark beetle infestation on secondary organic aerosol precursor emissions

Bark beetles are a potentially destructive force in forest ecosystems; however, it is not known how insect attacks affect the atmosphere. The emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were sampled i.) from bark beetle infested and healthy lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) trees and ii.) from sites with and without active mountain pine beetle infestation. The emissions from the trunk and the canopy were collected via sorbent traps. After collection, the sorbent traps were extracted with hexane, and the extracts were separated and detected using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Canister samples were also collected and analyzed by a multicolumn gas chromatographic system. The samples from bark beetle infested lodgepole pine trees suggest a 5- to 20-fold enhancement in total VOCs emissions. Furthermore, increases in the β-phellandrene emissions correlated with bark beetle infestation. A shift in the type and the quantity of VOC emissions can be used to identify bark beetle infestation but, more importantly, can lead to increases in secondary organic aerosol from these forests as potent SOA precursors are produced.     

Quality retention and shelf life extension of fresh beef using Lepidium sativum seed mucilage-based edible coating containing Heracleum lasiopetalum essential oil: an experimental and modeling study

Food Science and Biotechnology - The instability and strong flavor or odor of essential oils (EO) limit their direct incorporation into food products. In this study, the antioxidant and...     

Hypocholesterolaemic effect of yoghurt containing Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4 or Bifidobacterium longum BB536

The effect of a yoghurt supplement containing Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4 or Bifidobacterium longum BB536 on plasma lipids, lipid peroxidation and the faecal excretion of bile acids was examined in rats fed a cholesterol-enriched diet. After 8 weeks, the rats in the positive control (PC) group who were fed the cholesterol-enriched diet showed significant increases in plasma total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and malondialdehyde (MDA). However, groups fed a cholesterol-enriched diet supplemented with yoghurt containing B. pseudocatenulatum G4 or B. longum BB536 had significantly lower plasma TC, LDL-C, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and MDA than had the PC group after 8 weeks of treatment. In addition, faecal excretion of bile acids was markedly increased in the rats fed the yoghurt containing B. pseudocatenulatum G4 or B. longum BB536 as compared to the PC and NC groups.     

Effect of Different Drying Treatments and Solvent Ratios on Phytochemical Constituents of Ipomoea aquatica and Correlation with α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity

Ipomoea aquatica is an aquatic plant that is widely consumed in Southeast Asia as a vegetable. In this study, the influence of various ethanol ratios (0, 20, 50, 80, and 100%) as an extraction solvent and different drying methods including air drying, sun drying, and oven drying on phytochemical constituents of I. aquatica was investigated using a proton nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics approach. The effect on α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and total phenolic content was also examined. Clear discrimination was observed between different ethanol ratios and different drying processes by principal component analysis. The highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was observed for absolute ethanol extract from the oven drying method with IC₅₀ value of 204.0 ± 59.0 µg/mL and total phenolic content value of 22.0 ± 0.7 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg extract. Correlation between the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and the metabolite were analyzed using a partial least square analysis. The metabolites that are responsible for the activity were quercetin derivatives, chlorogenic acid derivatives, sucrose, and fructose. This study highlights the basis for future investigations of I. aquatica as a source of food that has the potential for nutraceutical enhancement and as ingredient in medicinal preparation.     

Effects of extended dry storage of powdered infant milk formula on susceptibility of Enterobacter sakazakii to hot water and ionizing radiation

Infant milk formula has been identified as a potential source of Enterobacter sakazakii, which has been implicated in neonatal meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis. This study was undertaken to determine whether the length of E. sakazakii storage in powdered infant milk formula (PIMF) affected the ability of the pathogen to survive subsequent reconstitution of the powder with hot water or treatment with gamma radiation. Five E. sakazakii strains were mixed individually with PIMF and kept for up to 12 months at 25 degrees C. After storage PIMF was reconstituted with water at 60 to 100 degrees C or was exposed to < or = 5 kGy of gamma radiation. Without any treatment secondary to drying, E. sakazakii counts decreased < 1 log/g after 1 month but decreased about 4 log/g during storage for 8 to 12 months. Dry storage decreased thermal resistance but increased resistance of E. sakazakii to ionizing radiation in PIMF. Reconstitution of contaminated powder with water at 70 degrees C after 1 month of dry storage reduced E. sakazakii viability slightly, > 2 log/g, and after powder was stored for 12 months all E. sakazakii strains were eliminated. In contrast, desiccation substantially increased the resistance of E. sakazakii strains to ionizing radiation. Although the D-value for E. sakazakii IMF1 following overnight storage in PIMF was 0.98 kGy, > 4 kGy was required to kill 1.5 log/g of the same strain that had survived 12 months in dry PIMF. Results suggested that low-dose irradiation will more effectively eliminate E. sakazakii from PIMF if the treatment is applied shortly after PIMF manufacture.     

Nutritive value of mango seed kernel

Seed kernels of two cultivars (Chausa and Dusheri) of mango (Mangifera indica) were analysed for chemical composition, lipid classes, fatty acid composition, amino acid profile and chemical evaluation of protein quality. The seed kernels constituted about 18% of the total fruit and had 5% protein, 6–7% crude fat, 0.19–0.44% tannins, iodine value of 34–44 and saponification number 202–213. Oleic acid (42%) and stearic acid (39%) were the principal fatty acids in the oil. The in vitro digestibility was low in these cultivars, possibly due to the presence of tannins. Sulphur-containing amino acids (methionine+cystine) and isoleucine were the limiting amino acids in Chausa and Dusheri, respectively. The essential amino acid index and protein quality index were high, thus indicating the good quality of the protein in mango seed kernel.