Diffusion and Inhibition Processes in a Hollow-fiber Membrane Bioreactor for Hybridoma Culture. Development of a Mathematical Model

The performance of a hollow-fiber membrane bioreactor (HFBR) (molecular weight cut-off 30 kD, fiber surface area 2050 cm2) containing a culture of hybridoma cells has been investigated. Experimental data were used as basis to develop a model of general application. Concentrations of fundamental nutrients (glucose and glutamine), inhibitory products (ammonium and lactate), and monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against bovine lactoferrin (IgG1) were monitored over time. Exchange of nutrients and products occurred across the capillary surface, whereas cells and MAb remained in the extra-capillary space (ECS). A protein-free culture medium (Hybrimax) with and without antibiotics was used. In both cases, the final MAb concentration was the same; however, antibiotic presence slowed down the time to achieve this concentration. Diffusion assays have been carried out in order to support the development of a mathematical model that describes the performance of the HFBR, including mass transfer and reaction terms. Inhibition by ammonium and lactate has been considered in the kinetics, providing model results consistent with experimental data. Further research with other cell lines and/or culture media will allow to broaden the field of application of this model for general use in HFBR systems

Developmental and Degenerative Cardiac Defects in the Taiwanese Mouse Model of Severe Spinal Muscular Atrophy

We would like to acknowledge the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the University of Aberdeen, Kevin Mackenzie, Debbie Wilkinson, Gillian Milne and Lucy Wight, for the use of their facilities. G.K.M. was funded by a research award from RGA awarded to S.H.P. E.S. was funded by a University of Aberdeen Elphinstone PhD Studentship and a research award from the Euan Macdonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research. H.K.S. was funded by a Euan Macdonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research PhD Studentship. S.H.P. is funded by Tenovus (Scotland), SMA Trust and Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds. T.H.G. is funded by SMA Trust (UK SMA Research Consortium Award), Muscular Dystrophy UK, and Anatomical Society (PhD Studentship).Peer reviewedPostprin

In-situ Micro-Raman spectroscopic analysis of Handprints in Maltravieso Cave (Cáceres), Spain

TECHNART 2015 − Catania, April 27 - 30, 2015; http://technart2015.lns.infn.it/Peer Reviewe

Effect of Impurity Scattering on the Nonlinear Microwave Response in High-Tc Superconductors

We theoretically investigate intermodulation distortion in high-Tc superconductors. We study the effect of nonmagnetic impurities on the real and imaginary parts of nonlinear conductivity. The nonlinear conductivity is proportional to the inverse of temperature owing to the dependence of the damping effect on energy, which arises from the phase shift deviating from the unitary limit. It is shown that the final-states interaction makes the real part predominant over the imaginary part. These effects have not been included in previous theories based on the two-fluid model, enabling a consistent explanation for the experiments with the rf and dc fields

Occupational Therapy Interventions Using New Technologies in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review

New technologies (NT) are increasingly used in Occupational Therapy (OT) interventions in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We conducted a scoping review to describe OT interventions investigated in scientific literature which use NT in children and adolescents with ASD. Two authors independently searched the scientific databases PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science, carried out a peer-review screening of articles and extracted data. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. OT interventions lasted between 1 week and 12 months, consisted of between 1 session per day and 5 sessions per week, were carried out exclusively by an occupational therapist, and the most used NT was the computer (n = 12). The duration of the interventions and assessment measures used varied greatly between studies

Composition and maternal origin of the neonatal oral cavity microbiota

Background: The origin of the initial oral microbiota in neonates still remains poorly understood. Objective: The aim of this study was to understand how the maternal microbiota contributes to the initial neonatal oral microbiota. Design: Twelve mother-neonate pairs with samples from the maternal oral mucosa, uterine cervix and placenta and the neonatal oral cavity immediately after birth were studied. The microbiota composition and diversity were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3-V4 region). The microbiota analyses and comparisons were carried out with Calypso software version 8.1 and with SourceTracker 1.0.1. Results: Samples from the neonatal oral cavity showed moderately high bacterial diversity and low richness. The neonatal oral cavity microbiota seems to share features mainly with the microbes detected in the placenta, followed by the cervical microbiota and the maternal oral microbiota. No statistically significant differences in diversity (Shannon index, p = 0.14), richness (Chao1, p = 0.53) or in microbial composition were observed according to delivery mode. Conclusion: The neonatal oral cavity microbiota is not significantly modulated by the birth canal or maternal oral microbiota but displays clear associations with microbes in the placenta. These results suggest that the neonatal oral microbiota may have a prenatal origin</p

Fast HPLC analysis of omeprazole, 5-hydroxyomeprazole and omeprazole sulfone in liquid culture medium using a monolithic column for application in biotransformation studies with fungi

A fast liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of omeprazole (OMZ), 5-hydroxyomeprazole (5-HOMZ) and omeprazole sulphone (OMZ SUL) in liquid culture medium for application in biotransformation studies employing phytopathogenic and endophytic fungi. The separation was achieved using a monolithic Chromolith Fast gradient RP 18 endcapped column, using a mobile phase consisting of 0.15% (v/v) trifluoroacetid acid (TFA) in water (solvent A) and 0.15% (v/v) TFA in acetonitrile (solvent B), under linear gradient of 5 to 90% of B in 1 min, flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1, temperature at 30 ºC and detection at 220 nm. Sample preparation was performed by liquid-liquid extraction, with recoveries in the range of 62.3 to 76.6% for all analytes. The method was linear in the range of 0.2 to 10.0 µg mL-1 (r &#8805; 0.995). The values for intra- and inter-day precision (% coefficient of variation) and accuracy (% relative error) were < 15% for all analytes. The validated method was used to evaluate OMZ biotransformation to their mammalian metabolites by selected fungi. In general, the phytopathogenic fungi studied were more efficient to biotransform OMZ. The sulfonation reaction was more prevalent for all studied fungi.Um método rápido por cromatografia líquida foi desenvolvido para a determinação simultânea de omeprazol (OMZ), 5-hidroxiomeprazol (5-HOMZ) e omeprazol sulfona (OMZ SUL) em meio de cultura líquido, para aplicação em estudos de biotransformação empregando fungos fitopatogênicos e endofíticos. A separação foi realizada empregando uma coluna monolítica Chromolith Fast gradient RP 18 com a fase móvel constituída por ácido trifluoroacético (TFA) 0,15% (v/v) em água (solvente A) e TFA 0,15% (v/v) em acetonitrila (solvente B). Foi empregado um gradiente linear de 5 a 90% de B em 1 minuto, vazão de 1,0 mL min-1, temperatura de 30 ºC e detecção em 220 nm. A extração líquido-líquido foi empregada na preparação das amostras, com recuperações na faixa de 62,3-76,6% para todos os analitos. O método foi linear na faixa de 0,2-10,0 µg mL-1 (r &#8805; 0,995). Os valores de precisão e exatidão intra- e inter-dias (coeficiente de variação e erro relativo) foram inferiores a 15% para todos os analitos. O método validado foi utilizado para avaliar a biotransformação do OMZ em seus principais metabólitos humanos pelos fungos selecionados. Em geral, os fungos fitopatogênicos foram mais eficientes para biotransformar o OMZ. A reação de sulfonação foi mais prevalente em todos os fungos estudadosFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Preparation and degradation of rhodium and iridium diolefin catalysts for the acceptorless and base-free dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols

Rhodium and iridium diolefin catalysts for the acceptorless and base-free dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols have been prepared, and their degradation has been investigated, during the study of the reactivity of the dimers [M(µ-Cl)(I4-C8H12)]2 (M = Rh (1), Ir (2)) and [M(µ-OH)(I4-C8H12)]2 (M = Rh (3), Ir (4)) with 1, 3-bis(6'-methyl-2'-pyridylimino)isoindoline (HBMePHI). Complex 1 reacts with HBMePHI, in dichloromethane, to afford equilibrium mixtures of 1, the mononuclear derivative RhCl(I4-C8H12){¿1-Npy-(HBMePHI)} (5), and the binuclear species [RhCl(I4-C8H12)]2{µ-Npy, Npy-(HBMePHI)} (6). Under the same conditions, complex 2 affords the iridium counterparts IrCl(I4-C8H12){¿1-Npy-(HBMePHI)} (7) and [IrCl(I4-C8H12)]2{µ-Npy, Npy-(HBMePHI)} (8). In contrast to chloride, one of the hydroxide groups of 3 and 4 promotes the deprotonation of HBMePHI to give [M(I4-C8H12)]2(µ-OH){µ-Npy, Niso-(BMePHI)} (M = Rh (9), Ir (10)), which are efficient precatalysts for the acceptorless and base-free dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols. In the presence of KOtBu, the [BMePHI]- ligand undergoes three different degradations: Alcoholysis of an exocyclic isoindoline-N double bond, alcoholysis of a pyridyl-N bond, and opening of the five-membered ring of the isoindoline core.

Simultaneous Surface Plasmon Resonance and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

We present here an experimental set-up to perform simultaneously measurements of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in a synchrotron beamline. The system allows measuring in situ and in real time the effect of X-ray irradiation on the SPR curves to explore the interaction of X-rays with matter. It is also possible to record XAS spectra while exciting SPR in order to detect the changes in the electronic configuration of thin films induced by the excitation of surface plasmons. Combined experiments recording simultaneously SPR and XAS curves while scanning different parameters can be carried out. The relative variations in the SPR and XAS spectra that can be detected with this set-up ranges from 10-3 to 10-5, depending on the particular experiment