European Drying Conference -EuroDrying

Abstract: The fluidized bed extraction using superheated steam can be used for the production of volatile ingredients (essential oils) from plant materials. Depending on its properties the plant material must be pretreated. Some experimental investigations of this process and their results are presented. A simple model to describe and calculate the oil release from the plant material and the oil concentration in the steam is also represented

Supercooled-liquid and plastic-crystalline state in succinonitrile-glutaronitrile mixtures

We report a thorough characterization of the glassy phases of mixtures of succinonitrile and glutaronitrile via dielectric spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. This system is revealed to be one of the rare examples where both glassy states of matter, a structurally disordered supercooled liquid and an orientationally disordered plastic crystal, can be prepared in the same material. Both disordered states can be easily supercooled, finally arriving at a structural-glass or a glassy-crystal state. Detailed investigations using broadband dielectric spectroscopy enable a comparison of the glassy dynamics in both phases. Just as previously demonstrated for supercooled-liquid and plastic-crystalline ethanol, our experiments reveal very similar relaxational behavior and glass temperatures of both disordered states. Thus the prominent role of orientational degrees of freedom in the glass transition, suggested on the basis of the findings for ethanol, is fully corroborated by the present work. Moreover, the fragilities of both phases are determined and compared for different mixtures. The findings can be well understood within an energy-landscape based explanation of fragility.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Advances in multispectral and hyperspectral imaging for archaeology and art conservation

Multispectral imaging has been applied to the field of art conservation and art history since the early 1990s. It is attractive as a noninvasive imaging technique because it is fast and hence capable of imaging large areas of an object giving both spatial and spectral information. This paper gives an overview of the different instrumental designs, image processing techniques and various applications of multispectral and hyperspectral imaging to art conservation, art history and archaeology. Recent advances in the development of remote and versatile multispectral and hyperspectral imaging as well as techniques in pigment identification will be presented. Future prospects including combination of spectral imaging with other noninvasive imaging and analytical techniques will be discussed

Adaptation of Mouse Skeletal Muscle to Long-Term Microgravity in the MDS Mission

The effect of microgravity on skeletal muscles has so far been examined in rat and mice only after short-term (5–20 day) spaceflights. The mice drawer system (MDS) program, sponsored by Italian Space Agency, for the first time aimed to investigate the consequences of long-term (91 days) exposure to microgravity in mice within the International Space Station. Muscle atrophy was present indistinctly in all fiber types of the slow-twitch soleus muscle, but was only slightly greater than that observed after 20 days of spaceflight. Myosin heavy chain analysis indicated a concomitant slow-to-fast transition of soleus. In addition, spaceflight induced translocation of sarcolemmal nitric oxide synthase-1 (NOS1) into the cytosol in soleus but not in the fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. Most of the sarcolemmal ion channel subunits were up-regulated, more in soleus than EDL, whereas Ca2+-activated K+ channels were down-regulated, consistent with the phenotype transition. Gene expression of the atrophy-related ubiquitin-ligases was up-regulated in both spaceflown soleus and EDL muscles, whereas autophagy genes were in the control range. Muscle-specific IGF-1 and interleukin-6 were down-regulated in soleus but up-regulated in EDL. Also, various stress-related genes were up-regulated in spaceflown EDL, not in soleus. Altogether, these results suggest that EDL muscle may resist to microgravity-induced atrophy by activating compensatory and protective pathways. Our study shows the extended sensitivity of antigravity soleus muscle after prolonged exposition to microgravity, suggests possible mechanisms accounting for the resistance of EDL, and individuates some molecular targets for the development of countermeasures

HBV virological assessment

Management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients involves serological diagnosis, quantitation of HBV-DNA and measurement of HBV drug resistance. Different serological markers such as HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc (total and IgM), HBeAg and anti-HBe are assessed by immunoassays in order to define the infection status. The emergence of surface mutants however is a continuous challenge to design more effective immunoassays. Commercially available quantitative HBV-DNA assays with increased sensitivity and wider linear range give a more accurate estimate of viral replication and contribute decisively in the initiation and the monitoring of the response to HBV therapy. Genotypic drug resistance assays are important diagnostic tools, since the administration of nucleoside/nucleotide analogues to HBV infected patients leads to the development of drug resistance patterns very much dependent on the treatment regimen. Special issues have to be taken into consideration regarding HBV/HIV-1 co-infected patients, since concominant HIV and HBV replication results in higher rates of HBV replication. Current efforts are focused on the standardization of HBV-DNA assays (qualitative and quantitative), of HBV drug resistance assays as well as in the development of new assays and markers that will help in the prognosis and management of HBV infection (quantitative detection of pre-core mutants and HBV ccc-DNA assays). (c) 2005 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Development and assessment of a multiplex real-time PCR assay for quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA

Previous studies showed that high levels of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA are associated with a faster progression to AIDS, an increased risk of death, and a higher risk of HIV RNA rebound in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Our objective was to develop and assess a highly sensitive real-time multiplex PCR assay for the quantification of HIV-1 DNA (RTMP-HIV) based on molecular beacons. HIV-1 DNA quantification was carried out by RTMP in a LightCycler 2.0 apparatus. HIV-1 DNA was quantified in parallel with CCR5 as a reference gene, and reported values are numbers of HIV-1 DNA copies/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The clinical sensitivity of the assay was assessed for 115 newly diagnosed HIV-1-infected individuals. The analytical sensitivity was estimated to be 12.5 copies of HIV-1 DNA per 106 PBMCs, while the clinical sensitivity was 100%, with levels ranging from 1.23 to 4.25 log10 HIV-1 DNA copies/10 6 PBMCs. In conclusion, we developed and assessed a new RTMP-HIV assay based on molecular beacons, using a LightCycler 2.0 instrument. This multiplex assay has comparable sensitivity, reproducibility, and accuracy to single real-time PCR assays. Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved

Development and Assessment of a Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay for Quantification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 DNA▿

Previous studies showed that high levels of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA are associated with a faster progression to AIDS, an increased risk of death, and a higher risk of HIV RNA rebound in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Our objective was to develop and assess a highly sensitive real-time multiplex PCR assay for the quantification of HIV-1 DNA (RTMP-HIV) based on molecular beacons. HIV-1 DNA quantification was carried out by RTMP in a LightCycler 2.0 apparatus. HIV-1 DNA was quantified in parallel with CCR5 as a reference gene, and reported values are numbers of HIV-1 DNA copies/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The clinical sensitivity of the assay was assessed for 115 newly diagnosed HIV-1-infected individuals. The analytical sensitivity was estimated to be 12.5 copies of HIV-1 DNA per 106 PBMCs, while the clinical sensitivity was 100%, with levels ranging from 1.23 to 4.25 log10 HIV-1 DNA copies/106 PBMCs. In conclusion, we developed and assessed a new RTMP-HIV assay based on molecular beacons, using a LightCycler 2.0 instrument. This multiplex assay has comparable sensitivity, reproducibility, and accuracy to single real-time PCR assays

Renal transplantation from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive donors to HBsAg-negative recipients: A case of post-transplant fulminant hepatitis associated with an extensively mutated hepatitis B virus strain and review of the current literature

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present a fatal case of fulminant hepatitis B (FHB) that developed in a renal transplant recipient, immunized against hepatitis B, 1 year post transplantation. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction amplification and full genome sequencing were performed to investigate whether specific mutations were associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and FHB. Results: Molecular analysis revealed multiple mutations in various open reading frames of HBV, the most important being the G145R escape mutation and a frameshift mutation-insertion (1838insA) within the pre-C/C reading frame. Conclusions: Our results highlight the possibility of developing FHB, despite previous immunization against HBV or administration of hyperimmune gammaglobulin, because of the selection of escape virus mutants. The current literature and guidelines regarding renal transplantation from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive to HBsAg-negative patients were also reviewed. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S