Achieving Diagnosis by Consensus

This paper provides an analysis of the collaborative work conducted at a multidisciplinary medical team meeting, where a patient’s definitive diagnosis is agreed, by consensus. The features that distinguish this process of diagnostic work by consensus are examined in depth. The current use of technology to support this collaborative activity is described, and experienced deficiencies are identified. Emphasis is placed on the visual and perceptual difficulty for individual specialities in making interpretations, and on how, through collaboration in discussion, definitive diagnosis is actually achieved. The challenge for providing adequate support for the multidisciplinary team at their meeting is outlined, given the multifaceted nature of the setting, i.e. patient management, educational, organizational and social functions, that need to be satisfied.

Solvent vapor treatment controls surface wettability in PMMA femtosecond-laser-ablated microchannels

A solvent vapor treatment was applied to femtosecond-laser-ablated microchannels in PMMA to selectively restore the original hydrophilic wetting behavior of the pristine surface. The hydrophobic surface of the microchannels from the submicron porosity induced by ablation becomes smoother and more transparent after the treatment. This simple and low-cost method, together with suitable masking, can produce wettability patterns that may be exploited to develop passive microfluidic elements such as valves and mixers.     

A Phenylacetamide Resveratrol Derivative Exerts Inhibitory Effects on Breast Cancer Cell Growth

Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural compound that displays several pharmacological properties, including anti-cancer actions. However, its clinical application is limited because of its low solubility and bioavailability. Here, the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activity of a series of phenylacetamide RSV derivatives has been evaluated in several cancer cell lines. These derivatives contain a monosubstituted aromatic ring that could mimic the RSV phenolic nucleus and a longer flexible chain that could confer a better stability and bioavailability than RSV. Using MTT assay, we demonstrated that most derivatives exerted antiproliferative effects in almost all of the cancer cell lines tested. Among them, derivative 2, that showed greater bioavailability than RSV, was the most active, particularly against estrogen receptor positive (ER+) MCF7 and estrogen receptor negative (ER-) MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell lines. Moreover, we demonstrated that these derivatives, particularly derivative 2, were able to inhibit NO and ROS synthesis and PGE2 secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated U937 human monocytic cells (derived from a histiocytoma). In order to define the molecular mechanisms underlying the antiproliferative effects of derivative 2, we found that it determined cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, modified the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins, and ultimately triggered apoptotic cell death in both breast cancer cell lines. Taken together, these results highlight the studied RSV derivatives, particularly derivative 2, as promising tools for the development of new and more bioavailable derivatives useful in the treatment of breast cancer.     

Impact of Debaryomyces hansenii strains inoculation on the quality of slow dry-cured fermented sausages

Debaryomyces hansenii strains, M4 and P2, isolated from natural fermented sausages were inoculated in slow fermented sausages to study their effect on processing parameters, microbial population, volatile compound and sensory characteristics. The inoculation of D. hansenii strains, M4 and P2, did not affect the ripening process as no differences in pH and Aw were detected. The dominance of the inoculated yeast strains along the process was followed by RAPDs of M13 minisatellite. The inoculated yeasts, P2 and M4, were recovered at the end of the ripening process although P2 appeared in higher counts than M4. The sausages inoculated with P2 resulted in a decrease in lipid oxidation values (TBARS) and a reduction of lipid-oxidation derived aldehydes in addition to a highest acid compound abundance. M4 inoculated sausages resulted in highest sulphur containing compound abundance. However, no differences in consumer acceptance were detected. Moreover, both yeast strains were responsible for the generation of ethyl methyl-branched ester compounds in the dry-cured sausages.     

Optical and electrical characterization of carbon nanoparticles produced in laminar premixed flames

Optical and electrical properties of carbonaceous particles produced in laboratory scale, premixed ethylene/air flames are obtained. Light absorption and Raman spectroscopy show that the change in particle nanostructure follows a graphitization trajectory as the flame richness increases. The optical band gap decreases and the size of the aromatic network in the particle increases, while the interlayer spacing between parallel layers decreases. The electrical conductivity of the materials increases by increasing flame richness in agreement to the graphitization trajectory. A non-ohmic behavior has been found and explained in terms of electron tunneling in a percolative network. Our results show that the electrical properties of flame formed carbon nanoparticles are strongly dependent on their nanostructure, and hence they have to be used carefully for the determination of particle concentration with conductometric sensors. Moreover, the dependence of the electrical properties of combustion formed particles might be useful for the development of cheap sensors for the selective detection of different classes of combustion aerosols.     

Levels of mycotoxins and sample cytotoxicity of selected organic and conventional grain-based products purchased from Finnish and Italian markets

The contamination levels of 16 different Fusarium- and Aspergillus-mycotoxins were chemically determined from randomly selected organic and conventional grain-based products purchased from Finnish and Italian markets. The cytotoxicity of the samples was analyzed with an in vitro test using feline fetal lung cells. Overall, the concentrations of the mycotoxins studied were low in all of the samples. Enniatins B and B1 as well as deoxynivalenol were the most predominant mycotoxins in the samples, being present in 97%, 97%, and 90% of the samples, respectively. The geographical origin or the agricultural practice had no influence on the mycotoxin concentrations of the samples. The babyfoods included in the samples had significantly lower concentrations of mycotoxins than the other products with a mean total mycotoxin content of 47 microg/kg compared with 99 microg/kg for the other kinds of food. All the samples evoked toxicity in the in vitro test, but no correlation between cytotoxicity and the mycotoxin concentrations was observed.     

Membrane-based technologies for meeting the recovery of biologically active compounds from foods and their by-products

ABSTRACT

To date, according to the latest literature inputs, membranes-based technologies (microfiltration, ultrafiltration and nanofiltration) have demonstrated to meet the recovery of biologically active compounds, mainly phenolic compounds and their derivatives, from agro-food products and by-products. The goal of this paper is to provide a critical overview of the on ongoing development works aimed at improving the separation, fractionation and concentration of phenolic compounds and their derivatives from their original sources. The literature data are analyzed and discussed in relation to separation processes, molecule properties, membrane characteristics and key factors affecting the performance of such technologies. Technological advances and improvements over conventional technologies, as well as critical aspects to be further investigated are highlighted and discussed. Finally, a critical outlook about the current status for a large-scale application and the role of these processes from an environmental viewpoint is provided.     

Importance Sampling for Objective Function Estimations in Neural Detector Training Driven by Genetic Algorithms

To train Neural Networks (NNs) in a supervised way, estimations of an objective function must be carried out. The value of this function decreases as the training progresses and so, the number of test observations necessary for an accurate estimation has to be increased. Consequently, the training computational cost is unaffordable for very low objective function value estimations, and the use of Importance Sampling (IS) techniques becomes convenient. The study of three different objective functions is considered, which implies the proposal of estimators of the objective function using IS techniques: the Mean-Square error, the Cross Entropy error and the Misclassification error criteria. The values of these functions are estimated by IS techniques, and the results are used to train NNs by the application of Genetic Algorithms. Results for a binary detection in Gaussian noise are provided. These results show the evolution of the parameters during the training and the performances of the proposed detectors in terms of error probability and Receiver Operating Characteristics curves. At the end of the study, the obtained results justify the convenience of using IS in the training.     

A GC-EI-MS/MS Method for the Determination of 15 Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Fish and Shellfish Tissues

This paper describes the development and validation of an analytical method to determine 15 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fish and shellfish tissues with gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry using electron impact source (GC-EI-MS/MS). A QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe)-like procedure was applied; the extract was cleaned up on an acidic Extrelut-NT3 column connected on top of a silica cartridge and further purified with gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The SIM acquisition proved to yield better results than traditional MRM approach for octa-, nona-, and deca-brominated congeners. The validation study was carried out in inter-laboratory conditions. The average recoveries were in the range 66–118%, with relative standard deviations generally lower than or equal to 22%. Quality assurance and quality control practices were thoroughly described and highlighted. These long and tedious practices are fundamental to obtain reliable quantitative data during food monitoring programs and, therefore, to support daily intake assessments. Finally, the procedure was applied to the analysis of marine fish samples collected in local markets. Mackerel and mullet were the most contaminated species.