Pharmacological Evidence on Augmented Antiallodynia Following Systemic Co-Treatment with GlyT-1 and GlyT-2 Inhibitors in Rat Neuropathic Pain Model

The limited effect of current medications on neuropathic pain (NP) has initiated large efforts to develop effective treatments. Animal studies showed that glycine transporter (GlyT) inhibitors are promising analgesics in NP, though concerns regarding adverse effects were raised. We aimed to study NFPS and Org-25543, GlyT-1 and GlyT-2 inhibitors, respectively and their combination in rat mononeuropathic pain evoked by partial sciatic nerve ligation. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glycine content was also determined by capillary electrophoresis. Subcutaneous (s.c.) 4 mg/kg NFPS or Org-25543 showed analgesia following acute administration (30–60 min). Small doses of each compound failed to produce antiallodynia up to 180 min after the acute administration. However, NFPS (1 mg/kg) produced antiallodynia after four days of treatment. Co-treatment with subanalgesic doses of NFPS (1 mg/kg) and Org-25543 (2 mg/kg) produced analgesia at 60 min and thereafter meanwhile increased significantly the CSF glycine content. This combination alleviated NP without affecting motor function. Test compounds failed to activate G-proteins in spinal cord. To the best of our knowledge for the first time we demonstrated augmented analgesia by combining GlyT-1 and 2 inhibitors. Increased CSF glycine content supports involvement of glycinergic system. Combining selective GlyT inhibitors or developing non-selective GlyT inhibitors might have therapeutic value in NP.     

Identification of a minor component of the sex pheromone ofLeucoptera malifoliella (Lepidoptera,lyonetiidae)

A new minor component in the female volatile extract ofLeucoptera malifoliella (Costa) (Lepidoptera, Lyonetiidae) has been identified as 5,9-dimethyloctadecane (2). The amount detected of the minor compound2 ranged from 4 to 8% in comparison with the major component 5,9-dimethylheptadecane (1). Neither compound has been found in the male volatile extract. The identification has been based on its spectroscopic properties and Chromatographic behavior in comparison with an authentic synthetic sample. The synthesis has been carried out through a short route from 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanone (3). In field tests, compound2 appears to act as a Synergist of the major component1 when mixed with the latter in a 1000.1– 5 ratio.     

ESTIMATION OF EFFECTIVE SHEAR RATE FOR AERATED NON-NEWTONIAN LIQUIDS IN AIRLIFT BIOREACTOR”“

Effective shear rate is one of the indispensable parameters for the design of aerobic fermentors using a viscous non-Newtonian system. The estimation of effective shear rate in airlift loop bioreactors has been investigated with liquid circulation velocity. An empirical correlation of effective shear rate in airlift loop reactors is proposed.

γ_eπ= 3.26-3.51 ; 10²U_G + 1.48 10⁴U²_G

It is found that the effective shear rate is lower in airlift reactors than in bubble columns. This equation can be used for the cultivation of cells sensitive to shear stress.     

A decision support system for coating selection based on fuzzy logic and multi-criteria decision making

Wear and corrosion are the most important factors that the surface of the engineering parts must confront. The need for protection and improvement of the mechanical characteristics of the surface of engineering parts can be to some extent satisfied by coatings. Coatings are considered as an excellent solution when resistance to corrosion, oxidation or low friction is demanded, but due the complexity of selecting the appropriate one, engineers often avoid them. The need for simultaneous consideration of qualitative and quantitative properties, render the use of classic material selection theories inadequate. An expert system for coating selection is presented in this paper, which can handle both qualitative and quantitative variables. The mathematical model used combines the multi-criteria decision making theories (MCDM) together with the fuzzy sets theory. The “Max-Min set” method is applied to calculate the ordering value of the alternatives while the TOPSIS method is used to rank them. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the method. Finally, the process presented can be easily computerized, to create the relative software.     

Simple and stereoselective synthesis of sex pheromone of processionary mothThaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiff.)

A simple and stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-13-hexadecen-11-yn-1-yl acetate, the major component of the sex pheromone ofThaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiff.) is described. The procedure essentially involves formylation of a terminal acetylene to the corresponding aldehyde followed by a stereochemically controlled Wittig reaction, which has been studied under a variety of conditions.     

On the confluence of lambda-calculus with conditional rewriting

The confluence of untyped λ-calculus with unconditional rewriting is now well un- derstood. In this paper, we investigate the confluence of λ-calculus with conditional rewriting and provide general results in two directions.First, when conditional rules are algebraic. This extends results of Müller and Dougherty for unconditional rewriting. Two cases are considered, whether β-reduction is allowed or not in the evaluation of conditions. Moreover, Dougherty’s result is improved from the assumption of strongly normalizing β-reduction to weakly normalizing β-reduction. We also provide examples showing that outside these conditions, modularity of confluence is difficult to achieve.Second, we go beyond the algebraic framework and get new confluence results using a restricted notion of orthogonality that takes advantage of the conditional part of rewrite rules.     

Synthetic Crystals of Silver with Carbon: 3D Epitaxy of Carbon Nanostructures in the Silver Lattice

Only minimum amounts of carbon can be incorporated into silver, gold, and copper in a thermodynamically stable form. Here, the structure of stable silver carbon alloys is described, which are produced by thermoelectrically charging molten silver with carbon ions. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman scattering are combined to establish that large amount of carbon is accommodated in the form of epitaxial graphene‐like sheets. The carbon bonds covalently to the silver matrix as predicted from density functional theory (DFT) calculations with bond energies in the range 1.1–2.2 eV per atom or vacancy. Graphitic‐like sheets embedded in the crystal lattice of silver form 3D epitaxial structures with the host metal with a strain of ≈13% compared to equilibrium graphene. The carbon nanostructures persist upon remelting and resolidification. A DFT‐based analysis of the phonon density of states confirms the presence of intense vibration modes related to the Ag? C bonds observed in the Raman spectra of the alloy. The solid silver–high carbon alloy, termed “Ag‐covetic,” displays room temperature electrical conductivity of 5.62 × 10⁷ S m^?1 even for carbon concentrations of up to ≈6 wt% (36 at%). This process of incorporation of carbon presents a new paradigm for electrocharging assisted bulk processing.     

Imaging experimental infective endocarditis with indium-111-labeled blood cellular components

The capability of radionuclide imaging to detect experimental aortic valve infective endocarditis was assessed with indium-111 (111In)-labeled blood cells. Sequential cardiac imaging and tissue distribution studies were obtained in 17 rabbits with infective endocarditis after administration of 111In-platelets and in five after 111In-polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Forty-eight to 72 hours after platelet administration, in vivo imaging demonstrated abnormal 111In uptake in all animals in the region of the aortic valve in an anatomically distinct pattern. Images of the excised heart showed discrete cardiac uptake conforming to the in vivo image and gross pathological examination. 111In platelet uptake in vegetations from the 17 animals averaged 240 +/- 41 times greater than that in normal myocardium and 99 +/- 15 times greater uptake in blood. In contrast, 111In-leukocyte cardiac imaging showed no abnormal aortic valve uptake 24 hours after tracer administration and the lesion myocardium activity ratio was only 5 +/- 2 (3 +/- 1 for lesion/blood activity). Four normal rabbits demonstrated neither positive 111In platelet scintigraphs nor abnormal cardiac tissue uptake. Likewise, noncellular 111In was not concentrated to any significant extent in three animals with infective endocarditis. This study demonstrates that 111In platelet, but not leukocyte cardiac imaging, is a sensitive technique for detecting experimental infective endocarditis. The imaging data conform to the cellular pathology of the infective endocarditis vegetation.     

Kinetic studies of synthetic metaschoepite under acidic conditions in batch and flow experiments

The weathering and corrosion of depleted uranium (DU) forms a complex series of oxidation reactions, ultimately resulting in metaschoepite, UO3.2H2O. The present work focused on studying the dissolution rate of synthetic UO3. 2H2O using batch and flow-through reactors. Under acidic conditions (pH = 4.4-5.4), atmospheric CO2, room temperature, and 0.1 mionic strength,the log solubility product, log Ksp = 5.26 at equilibrium and a pH-dependent rate law Ro = (0.30 +/- 0.15)[H+]0.83+/-0.1 were established. For consistency, these results were incorporated into the computer program PHREEQC 2.6, and the experimental conditions were simulated. There is generally good agreement between the experimental results and the modeled results. Batch experiments revealed a fast dissolution rate of UO3.2H20 in the first hour, followed by fluctuations in uranium concentration before equilibrium was attained after 3000 h.     

Multilayer films ageing under ultraviolet radiations: Complementary study by dielectric spectroscopy

The effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on a multilayer film made of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Polyamide 6/poly(ethylene terephthalate) was investigated by uniaxial tractions, UV‐visible‐NIR and Fourier transformed infra‐red‐attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry ( DSC), and dynamic dielectric spectroscopy (DDS). The multilayer was exposed to ultraviolet radiations (filtered at 270 nm) for 7 days, in air. The complexity of the multilayer thermograms recorded by DSC and DDS has required the study of each film constituting the multilayer to assess each the contribution of each one of them. A deterioration in mechanical properties and a decrease in UV transmission for low wavelengths are observed. These evolutions seem to result to the photo‐oxidation of the poly(ethylene terephthalate) film mainly localized at the exposed layer. This layer acts as a UV protection filter for the other layers. However, the DDS analyses show a plasticization effect of the primary mode in the Polyamide 6, which is evidence of photo‐oxidation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013