Effect of low frequency, high power pool ultrasonics on viscosity of fluid food: Modeling and experimental validation

Ultrasound induced changes of certain physical and chemical properties of molecules are nowadays exploited at industrial level for food processing and preservation purposes. Deeper knowledge on the mechanisms influencing these changes would contribute to extend implementations of ultrasound to steer structure and functionality of food molecules. In this study the laws of transfer phenomena were applied in order to investigate on the viscosity changes of a pectin-containing fluid flow, i.e. tomato puree in a cylindrical reactor, induced by low frequency, high intensity ultrasound treatments. In particular, the model for fluid motion was associated to a validating rheological investigation. Results showed a good agreement between experimental and computational data for temperature and viscosity progresses with time. A new power law for viscosity has been proposed based on reactor aspect ratio and Rayleigh numbers for natural convection

Serum micrornas as novel biomarkers for primary sclerosing cholangitis and cholangiocarcinoma

The diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is difficult due to the lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers, as is the early diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CC), a complication of PSC. The aim of this study was to identify specific serum miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for PSC and CC

Program Comprehension: Identifying Learning Trajectories for Novice Programmers

This working group asserts that Program Comprehension (PC) plays a critical part in the writing process. For example, this abstract is written from a basic draft that we have edited and revised until it clearly presents our idea. Similarly, a program is written in an incremental manner, with each step being tested, debugged and extended until the program achieves its goal. Novice programmers should develop their program comprehen- sion as they learn to code, so that they are able to read and reason about code while they are writing it. To foster such competencies our group has identified two main goals: (1) to collect and define learning activities that explicitly cover key components of program comprehension and (2) to define possible learning trajectories that will guide teachers using those learning activities in their CS0/CS1 or K-12 courses. [...

Tautomerism in 1-phenylazo-4-naphthols: experimental results vs quantum-chemical predictions

The reliability in the description of the tautomerism of 1-phenylazo-4-naphthol by using of HF and MP2 ab initio levels of theory and DFT methods with variety of pure GGA (OLYP), hybrid (B3LYP and B3PW91), long range corrected (LC-BLYP) and double-hybrid (B2PLYP and mPW2PLYP) functionals with large number of basis sets was estimated. In this evaluation three criteria were used: reproduction of the bond lengths in the structures of the individual tautomers, description of the non-planarity of the enol tautomer and prediction of the position of the tautomeric equilibrium (∆G value) at 298 K. The results show that in substantial number of cases HF reasonably covers all requirements. The tested pure (OLYP) and hybrid functionals (B3LYP and B3PW91) fail in the prediction of the position of the equilibrium independent on the basis set. The situation is slightly better at the long range corrected functional (LC- BLYP), which give predominance of the enol tautomer at 6-31+G** and D95++**. The double hybrid functionals give very good description with D95++** basis set, but at substantial computational costs

Case report: Canine distemper virus infection as a cause of central nervous system disease in a Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) represents an endangered species with only small populations remaining in Central Europe. Knowledge about the threat posed by potential infectious agents to these animals is crucial for informing ongoing protection measures. Canine distemper virus (CDV) is known to have a wide host range with infection reported in many mammalian species including several lynx species (Lynx pardinus, Lynx canadensis, Lynx rufus), but is an extremely rare finding in the Eurasian lynx. The present report describes a case of a Eurasian lynx showing central nervous signs, including apathy and ataxia. A CT scan revealed multiple hypodense areas in different localizations within the brain as well as enlarged liquid filled areas, leading to the suspicion of a degenerative process. Due to clinical deterioration, the animal was euthanized and submitted for macroscopical and histological investigations. Histological investigations revealed multifocal demyelinations in the cerebellum, brain stem and cervical spinal cord as well as a multifocal, perivascular, lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalitis. A CDV infection was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR analyses. This CDV infection of a Eurasian lynx resembles a classical chronic manifestation of distemper in dogs and highlights the threat posed by canine distemper to this species

Negative regulation of Toll-like receptor 4 signaling by IL-10-dependent microRNA-146b

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play key roles in detecting pathogens and initiating inflammatory responses that, subsequently, prime specific adaptive responses. Several mechanisms control TLR activity to avoid excessive inflammation and consequent immunopathology, including the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Recently, several TLR-responsive microRNAs (miRs) have also been proposed as potential regulators of this signaling pathway, but their functional role during the inflammatory response still is incompletely understood. In this study, we report that, after LPS engagement, monocytes up-regulate miR- 146b via an IL-10-mediated STAT3-dependent loop. We show evidence thatmiR-146b modulates the TLR4 signaling pathway by direct targeting of multiple elements, including the LPS receptor TLR4 and the key adaptor/signaling proteinsmyeloid differentiation primary response (MyD88), interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK-1), and TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6). Furthermore, we demonstrate that the enforced expression of miR-146b in human monocytes led to a significant reduction in the LPS-dependent production of several proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including IL-6, TNF-\u3b1, IL-8, CCL3, CCL2, CCL7, and CXCL10. Our results thus identify miR-146b as an IL-10-responsive miR with an anti-inflammatory activity based on multiple targeting of components of the TLR4 pathway in monocytes and candidate miR-146b as a molecular effector of the IL-10 anti-inflammatory activity

Coordination polymer networks: an alternative to classical polymers ?

This chapter of "Polymer Networks: Synthesis, Properties, Theory and Applications" provides a brief overview on metal ion containing coordination polymer networks, how and why they are made, as an alternative to classical polymers. Our focus will be polymorphism, supramolecular isomerism and pseudo-polymorphism. Examples from our group of metal ion containing coordination polymer networks with flexible molecules as building blocks will be highlighted, as they might show parallels with purely organic polymer compounds

Comparaci\uf3n de presencia de anticuerpos para Trypanosoma cruzi mediante metodolog\ueda recomendada por la OMS y la utilizada en el banco de sangre "Dr. Jos\ue9 Jes\ufas Boada Boada" y presencia de antecedentes epidemiol\uf3gicos para enfermedad de Chagas en dona

Se realiz\uf3 un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal con la finalidad de comparar la presencia de anticuerpos para Trypanosoma cruzi mediante metodolog\ueda recomendada por la Organizaci\uf3n Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y la utilizada en Banco de Sangre "Dr. Jos\ue9 Jes\ufas Boada Boada" de Barquisimeto y presencia de antecedentes epidemiol\uf3gicos para Enfermedad de Chagas en 1077 donantes voluntarios que asistieron en el lapso Agosto - Septiembre de 2003 a dicha instituci\uf3n. Los resultados muestran una distribuci\uf3n por sexo de 87,65% masculino y 12,35% femenino, el grupo de edad entre 18-28 a\uf1os present\uf3 un 49,30%, seguido del grupo de 29-38 a\uf1os con 29,90% y de 39-48 a\uf1os con 16,62%. La determinaci\uf3n de anticuerpos para T. cruzi seg\ufan las recomendaciones de la OMS (Aglutinaci\uf3n Directa, Inmunofluorescencia y Ensayo Inmunoenzimatico) arroj\uf3 un 0,65%, mientras que Banco de Sangre en la misma muestra report\uf3 0,46% utilizando una prueba diagnostica. Todos pertenec\uedan al sexo masculino; 42,86% de los seropositivos determinados en el estudio y 60% reportados por Banco de Sangre comprend\uedan edades entre 39-48 a\uf1os. Esta diferencia pone de manifiesto un 28,5% o de falsos negativos reportados por la prueba aplicada en Banco de Sangre, adem\ue1s que todos los seropositivos hablan donado con anterioridad en este mismo centro. Del total de donantes estudiados, un 43,55% presentaron antecedentes epidemiol\uf3gicos relacionados con la Enfermedad de Chagas, de los cuales 63,37% refiri\uf3 conocimiento el vector; 42,99% habit\uf3 en el \ue1rea rural y 1,11% refiri\uf3 picadura del vector; estos datos no fueron relevantes para los seropositivos. Los resultados sugieren la necesidad de emplear t\ue9cnicas con alta sensibilidad y especificidad e implementar medidas permanentes de control de calidad para el despistaje de anticuerpos para T. cruzi, garantizando de esta forma a los usuarios del Banco de Sangre productos seguros y fomentar la educaci\uf3n del personal de salud y p\ufablico en general sobre la posibilidad de la transmisi\uf3n sangu\uednea del T. cruzi

Learning transfer in novice programmers: A preliminary study

Learning transfer refers to the ability to correctly apply learned skills, knowledge and behaviors to new situations or contexts. This paper explores novice programmers’ transfer through the analysis of two related coding tasks completed by CS1 students as part of their assessment. The first task was a take-home practical and the second task was a lab practical exam; both tasks requested the implementation of a C function with an integer parameter from which the digits are to be extracted and operated on. The solution set generated from each task by a cohort of 255 CS1 students has been explored and classified in order to determine the extent of transfer from the practice task to the later assessment task.This classification shows 36.5% of students consolidated or extended the acquired skills and 13% at least partly; 38%, on the other hand, failed to recall their previous valid strategy or to devise a better one, and were unsuccessful in the second task. On the positive side, 9% of students devised a different and improved strategy in the exam, indicating additional learning had occurred in between the two tasks. Peer review of key coding tasks could improve transfer by forcing weaker students to compare and evaluate different design strategies.Cruz Izu, Claudio Mirol