Identification of mobile lipids in human cancer tissues by ex vivo diffusion edited HR-MAS MRS

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy visible mobilelipids are considered important markers in the diagnosis ofhuman cancer and are thought to be closely involved in variousaspects of tumour transformation, such as cell proliferation,necrosis, apoptosis, hypoxia and drug resistance. A methodallowing the straightforward identification of the lipid classescontributing to the mobile lipids in human malignant tissuesis highly advisable. Ex vivo High Resolution Magic AngleSpinning Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy was done directlyon human cerebral, renal and colorectal malignant tissuespecimens. A diffusion edited sequence, based on stimulatedecho and bipolar gradient pulses, was used to characterizemolecules with low diffusion rates, arising from mobile lipidcomponents. Cholesterol, triglycerides and phosphatidylcholineare simultaneously detected and all contribute to the mobilelipid resonances present in malignant glioma and clear cellrenal carcinoma tissue specimens spectra. On the contrary,papillary cell renal carcinoma spectrum is predominated byphosphatidylcholine resonances and that of colorectal adenocarcinoma is characterized by signals arising from triglycerides. Ex vivo diffusion edited High Resolution Magic AngleSpinning Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, done on intacttissue, is a powerful analytical tool to obtain a simple andimmediate identification of mobile lipid components. This can offer a significant contribution to better understanding their involvement in cancer tissues. Furthermore, ex vivo high resolution spectroscopic measurements allow to improve the interpretation of in vivo Magnetic Resonance spectra, increasing its clinical potentiality

Water washing of axial flow compressors: Numerical study on the fate of injected droplets

In turbomachinery applications blade fouling represents a main cause of performance degradation. Among the different techniques currently available, online water washing is one of the most effective in removing deposit from the blades. Since this kind of washing is applied when the machine is close to design conditions, injected droplets are strongly accelerated when they reach the rotor blades and the understanding of their interaction with the blades is not straightforward. Moreover, undesirable phenomena like blades erosion or liquid film formation can occur. The present study aims at assessing droplets dragging from the injection system placed at the compressor inlet till the first stage rotor blades, with a focus on droplets impact locations, on the washing process and the associated risk of erosion. 3D numerical simulations of the whole compressor geometry (up to the first rotor stage) are performed by using Ansys Fluent to account for the asymmetric distribution of the sprays around of the machine struts, IGV and rotor blades. The simulations are carried out by adopting the k-ϵ realizable turbulence model with standard wall functions, coupled with the discretephase model to track injected droplets motion. Droplets-wall interaction is also accounted for by adopting the Stanton-Rutland model which define a droplet impact outcome depending on the impact conditions. The induced erosion is evaluated by adopting an erosion model previously developed by some of the authors and implemented in Fluent through the use of a User Defined Function (UDF). Two sets of simulations are performed, by considering the rotor still and rotating, representative of off-line and on-line water washing conditions, respectively. In the rotating simulation, the Multiple Reference Frame Model is used. The obtained results demonstrate that the washing process differs substantially between the fixed and the rotating case. Moreover, to quantify the water washing effectiveness and the erosion risk, new indices were introduced and computed for the main components of the machine. These indices can be considered as useful prescriptions in the optimization process of water washing systems

Metabolic findings on 3T 1H-MR spectroscopy in peritumoral brain edema.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Little is known about the metabolic properties of brain edema associated with tumors. This work was conducted on the basis of the assumption that, in the presence of intra-axial and extra-axial brain tumors, the white matter involved by the edema is a site of metabolic change that involves the structure of the myelin sheath. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients comprised our cohort affected by intra-axial and extra-axial cerebral tumors with a peritumoral T2-weighted MR signal hyperintensity as a result of edema, where MR spectroscopy showed no increase in choline-containing compounds. Measurements on proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MR spectroscopy) were performed with a 3T whole-body scanner with use of a point-resolved spectroscopy sequence for localization (TR, 2000 ms; TE, 35 ms), and the metabolites were quantified with the SAGE method. Peak intensities of the main metabolites were expressed as ratios of one another and were compared with values obtained in the white matter of the left frontal region in a control group of 16 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Choline-to-creatine (Cho/Cr) and myo-inositol-to-creatine (mIns/Cr) signal intensity ratios were normal in all patients. N-acetylaspartate-to-creatine (NAA/Cr) and N-acetylaspartate-to-choline (NAA/Cho) ratios decreased in 4 patients. Glutamate plus glutamine-to-creatine (Glx/Cr) was increased in 10 patients. A resonance peak at 3.44 ppm, strongly suggesting the presence of glucose, was detected in all but 1 patient. Lactate was detected in 12 patients and lipids in 5. Moreover, the resonances that pertained to the aliphatic amino acids valine, leucine, and isoleucine were present in 12 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings on MR spectroscopy confirmed the hypothesis that in the edema surrounding brain tumors, an energy-linked metabolic alteration was associated with injury to the myelin sheath

Application of Vis/Nir spectroscopy to establish peach ripening as affected by rootstock

The objective of this paper was to monitor peach ripeness of “Chimarrita” and “Maciel” cultivars, grafted on different rootstocks, using the pulp firmness parameter, as an indicator of harvest time through equipment based on Vis/Nir spectroscopy. The orchard was installed in 2005, has a "V" conduction system with spacing of 5.0 x 1.5 m, and the cultivars are grafted on seven rootstocks: “Capdeboscq”, “Flordaguard”, “Nemaguard”, “Okinawa”, “Tsukuba”, “Umezeiro” and “Viamão”. After harvesting, the fruits were evaluated by the NIR CASE spectrophotometer, establishing categories of pulp firmness, between 40N and 60N for fruits consumed in a long term and <40N for immediate consumption. The analyzed rootstocks alter the peach ripeness of the “Chimarrita” and “Maciel” cultivars. The “Umezeiro” rootstock anticipates harvest for the “Chimarrita” cultivar. The “Nemaguard”/ “Maciel” combination provides fruits with a superior harvest period than the other ones evaluated. The Vis/Nir Spectroscopy is a useful tool to monitor the harvest of “Chimarrita” and “Maciel” cultivars

Short-Term Pre-Harvest UV-B Supplement Enhances the Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Ocimum basilicum Leaves during Storage

Ocimum basilicum (basil) leaves are rich in polyphenols, conferring them a high antioxidant activity. The application of UV-B can be used to maintain the post-harvest nutraceutical quality of basil leaves. We aimed to investigate the effects of pre-harvest UV-B application on polyphenolic and pigment contents, antioxidant capacity, and the visual quality of basil stored leaves. We also evaluated the applicability of the non-invasive Dualex&reg; for monitoring the accumulation of leaf epidermal phenolics (Flav Index). After exposing plants to white light (control) and to supplemental UV-B radiation for 4 d, the leaves were harvested and stored for 7d (TS7). The UV-B leaves showed both a higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity than the controls at TS7. In addition, the correlations between the Flav Index and phenolic content demonstrated that Dualex&reg; can reliably assess the content of epidermal phenolics, thus confirming its promising utilization as a non-destructive method for monitoring the phytochemical quality of O. basilicum leaves. In conclusion, a pre-harvesting UV-B application may be a tool for enhancing the content of polyphenols and the antioxidant potential of basil stored leaves without detrimental effects on their visual quality. These results are important considering the nutraceutical value of this plant and its wide commercial distribution

CEFLES2: the remote sensing component to quantify photosynthetic efficiency from the leaf to the region by measuring sun-induced fluorescence in the oxygen absorption bands

The CEFLES2 campaign during the Carbo Europe Regional Experiment Strategy was designed to provide simultaneous airborne measurements of solar induced fluorescence and CO2 fluxes. It was combined with extensive ground-based quantification of leaf- and canopy-level processes in support of ESA's Candidate Earth Explorer Mission of the "Fluorescence Explorer" (FLEX). The aim of this campaign was to test if fluorescence signal detected from an airborne platform can be used to improve estimates of plant mediated exchange on the mesoscale. Canopy fluorescence was quantified from four airborne platforms using a combination of novel sensors: (i) the prototype airborne sensor AirFLEX quantified fluorescence in the oxygen A and B bands, (ii) a hyperspectral spectrometer (ASD) measured reflectance along transects during 12 day courses, (iii) spatially high resolution georeferenced hyperspectral data cubes containing the whole optical spectrum and the thermal region were gathered with an AHS sensor, and (iv) the first employment of the high performance imaging spectrometer HYPER delivered spatially explicit and multi-temporal transects across the whole region. During three measurement periods in April, June and September 2007 structural, functional and radiometric characteristics of more than 20 different vegetation types in the Les Landes region, Southwest France, were extensively characterized on the ground. The campaign concept focussed especially on quantifying plant mediated exchange processes (photosynthetic electron transport, CO2 uptake, evapotranspiration) and fluorescence emission. The comparison between passive sun-induced fluorescence and active laser-induced fluorescence was performed on a corn canopy in the daily cycle and under desiccation stress. Both techniques show good agreement in detecting stress induced fluorescence change at the 760 nm band. On the large scale, airborne and ground-level measurements of fluorescence were compared on several vegetation types supporting the scaling of this novel remote sensing signal. The multi-scale design of the four airborne radiometric measurements along with extensive ground activities fosters a nested approach to quantify photosynthetic efficiency and gross primary productivity (GPP) from passive fluorescence