An optimisation study of colour measurements on digitised slides of painted works of art

This paper deals with the problem of the colorimetric fidelity of digitised colour slides of painted works of art. A six-matrix conversion model was derived that permitted the transformation of any RGB device-dependent measurement on digitised colour slides to XYZ CIE 1931 device-independent values. The model was calibrated against a reference colour chart. Eighty-one uniformly-painted colour samples were photographed together with a painting on a 4 × 5 inch colour slide that was digitised using a high resolution scanner. A 3 × 3 transformation matrix, of the corrected R, G and B values and the respective X, Y and Z tristimulus values provided by spectrophotometry, was calculated. The calculated matrix was then applied to a 13th century Byzantine fresco, captured on the same digitised slide, to transform the RGB measurements to XYZ CIE 1931 device-independent values which were then converted into the L* a* b* CIE 1976 colorimetric system.     

New developments in fire retardant non‐halogen aromatic phosphates

Akzo Nobel Chemicals has recently introduced on the market an aromatic oligomeric phosphate (BDP) based on Bisphenol A. This product shows higher thermal and hydrolytic stability than other aryl phosphates. It provides similar or better fire retardant performance than an oligomeric phosphate (RDP) based on resorcinol. Fire retardant formulations with BDP based on polycarbonate/ABS plastic (PC/ABS) blend, polyphenylene oxide/high impact polystyrene (PPO/HIPS) blend, and HIPS alone show similar or better physical properties than those obtained with RDP. Upon thermal decomposition of the fire retarded polymers containing BDP, phosphorus tends to accumulate in the solid residue, a result which indicates that the primary fire retardant action of BDP is likely to occur in the condensed phase.     

Charge engineering of a protein domain to allow efficient ion-exchange recovery

We have created protein domains with extreme surface charge.These mutated domains allow for ion-exchange chromatographyunder conditions favourable for selective and efficient capture,using Escherichia coli as a host organism. The staphylococcalprotein A-derived domain Z (Z_wt) was used as a scaffold whenconstructing two mutants, Z_basic1 and Z_basic2, with high positivesurface charge. Far-ultraviolet circular dichroism measurementsshowed that they have a secondary structure content comparableto the parental molecule Z_wt. Although melting temperatures(T_m) of the engineered domains were lower than that of the wild-typeZ domain, both mutants could be produced successfully as intracellularfull-length products in E.coli and purified to homogeneity byion-exchange chromatography. Further studies performed on Z_basic1and Z_basic2 showed that they were able to bind to a cation exchangereven at pH values in the 9 to 11 range. A gene fusion betweenZ_basic2 and the acidic human serum albumin binding domain (ABD),derived from streptococcal protein G, was also constructed.The gene product Z_basic2–ABD could be purified using cation-exchangechromatography from a whole cell lysate to more than 90% purity.     

Preparation,alumina-pillaring and oxidation catalytic performances of synthetic Ni-saponite

Synthetic saponite containing Ni²⁺ as octahedral cations has been prepared by a simple hydrothermal procedure, and has been intercalated with Al₁₃-polycations. The catalytic performance of the pillared solids in the epoxidation of (Z)-cyclooctene and the oxidation of cyclohexanone in the presence of benzonitrile, Baeyer–Villiger reaction, using hydrogen peroxide (70%) as a clean oxidant have been studied. For comparison, Mg-saponite was synthesized under the same conditions and tested for the same reaction.     

PPAR-Gamma Activation May Inhibit the In Vivo Degeneration of Bioprosthetic Aortic and Aortic Valve Grafts under Diabetic Conditions

Background: We aimed to examine the anti-calcification and anti-inflammatory effects of pioglitazone as a PPAR-gamma agonist on bioprosthetic-valve-bearing aortic grafts in a rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: DM was induced in male Wistar rats by high-fat diet with an intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) injection. The experimental group received additional pioglitazone, and controls received normal chow without STZ (n = 20 each group). Cryopreserved aortic donor grafts including the aortic valve were analyzed after 4 weeks and 12 weeks in vivo for analysis of calcific bioprosthetic degeneration. Results: DM led to a significant media proliferation at 4 weeks. The additional administration of pioglitazone significantly increased circulating adiponectin levels and significantly reduced media thickness at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0107, respectively). Graft media calcification was highly significantly inhibited by pioglitazone after 12 weeks (p = 0.0079). Gene-expression analysis revealed a significant reduction in relevant chondro-osteogenic markers osteopontin and RUNX-2 by pioglitazone at 4 weeks. Conclusions: Under diabetic conditions, pioglitazone leads to elevated circulating levels of adiponectin and to an inhibition of bioprosthetic graft degeneration, including lower expression of chondro-osteogenic genes, decreased media proliferation, and inhibited graft calcification in a small-animal model of DM.     

Salt-Sensitive Hypertension in GR+/− Rats Is Accompanied with Dysregulation in Adrenal Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Pathways

Mutations within the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene locus lead to glucocorticoid resistance which is characterized by several clinical symptoms such as adrenal gland hyperplasia and salt-sensitive hypertension, although the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. We studied GR haploinsufficient (GR^+/−) Sprague Dawley rats which, on a standard diet, showed significantly increased plasma aldosterone and corticosterone levels and an adrenocortex hyperplasia accompanied by a normal systolic blood pressure. Following a high salt diet, these rats developed salt-sensitive hypertension and maintained elevated enzyme-soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) in adrenal glands, while sEH was significantly decreased in wild-type rats. Furthermore, GR^+/− rats showed dysregulation of the equilibrated linoleic and arachidonic acid pathways, with a significant increase of less active metabolites such as 8,9-DiHETrE. In Sprague Dawley rats, GR haploinsufficiency induced steroid disturbances, which provoked hypertension only in combination with high salt intake, which was accompanied by disturbances in sEH and fatty acid metabolism. Our results suggest that sEH inhibition could be a potential target to treat hypertension in patients with GR haploinsufficiency.     

Morphology Engineering of Porous Media for Enhanced Solar Fuel and Power Production

The favorable and adjustable transport properties of porous media make them suitable components in reactors used for solar energy conversion and storage processes. The directed engineering of the porous media’s morphology can significantly improve the performance of these reactors. We used a multiscale approach to characterize the changes in performance of exemplary solar fuel processing and solar power production reactors incorporating porous media as multifunctional components. The method applied uses imaging-based direct numerical simulations and digital image processing in combination with volume averaging theory to characterize the transport in porous media. Two samples with varying morphology (fibrous vs. foam) and varying size range (mm vs. μm scale), each with porosity between 0.46 and 0.84, were characterized. The obtained effective transport properties were used in continuum-scale models to quantify the performance of reactors incorporating multifunctional porous media for solar fuel processing by photoelectrochemical water splitting or power production by solar thermal processes.     

Effect of temperature on structural properties of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) gel and Weibull distribution for modelling drying process

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) gel was dried at five inlet temperatures 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 °C, in a convective dryer with a constant air flow of 2.0 ± 0.2 m/s. Rehydration ratio, water holding capacity, texture, microstructure and total polysaccharide content were evaluated. Drying kinetics was estimated using the Weibull distribution (r² > 0.97 and Chi-square < 0.0009). Values of scale and shape parameters ranged from 90.94 to 341.06 (min) and 1.43 to 1.49, respectively. Furthermore, the influence of temperature on the model parameters as well as on the quality attributes was analysed using a least significant difference test (p-value < 0.05). These effects were more evident for the long drying period (e.g. 810 min at 50 °C). However, minor alterations in the structural properties and total polysaccharide content were produced at drying temperatures of 60–70 °C, resulting in a high quality gel.     

Skeletal Muscle Health and Cognitive Function: A Narrative Review

Sarcopenia is the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function with advancing age. It involves both complex genetic and modifiable risk factors, such as lack of exercise, malnutrition and reduced neurological drive. Cognitive decline refers to diminished or impaired mental and/or intellectual functioning. Contracting skeletal muscle is a major source of neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which regulate synapses in the brain. Furthermore, skeletal muscle activity has important immune and redox effects that modify brain function and reduce muscle catabolism. The identification of common risk factors and underlying mechanisms for sarcopenia and cognition may allow the development of targeted interventions that slow or reverse sarcopenia and also certain forms of cognitive decline. However, the links between cognition and skeletal muscle have not been elucidated fully. This review provides a critical appraisal of the literature on the relationship between skeletal muscle health and cognition. The literature suggests that sarcopenia and cognitive decline share pathophysiological pathways. Ageing plays a role in both skeletal muscle deterioration and cognitive decline. Furthermore, lifestyle risk factors, such as physical inactivity, poor diet and smoking, are common to both disorders, so their potential role in the muscle–brain relationship warrants investigation.     

Prenylated Flavonoids with Potential Antimicrobial Activity: Synthesis,Biological Activity,and In Silico Study

Prenylated flavonoids are an important class of naturally occurring flavonoids with important biological activity, but their low abundance in nature limits their application in medicines. Here, we showed the hemisynthesis and the determination of various biological activities of seven prenylated flavonoids, named 7–13, with an emphasis on antimicrobial ones. Compounds 9, 11, and 12 showed inhibitory activity against human pathogenic fungi. Compounds 11, 12 (flavanones) and 13 (isoflavone) were the most active against clinical isolated Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, showing that structural requirements as prenylation at position C-6 or C-8 and OH at positions C-5, 7, and 4′ are key to the antibacterial activity. The combination of 11 or 12 with commercial antibiotics synergistically enhanced the antibacterial activity of vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, and methicillin in a factor of 10 to 100 times against drug-resistant bacteria. Compound 11 combined with ciprofloxacin was able to decrease the levels of ROS generated by ciprofloxacin. According to docking results of S enantiomer of 11 with ATP-binding cassette transporter showed the most favorable binding energy; however, more studies are needed to support this result.