Modeling Stem/Progenitor Cell-Induced Neovascularization and\ud Oxygenation around Solid Implants

Tissue engineering constructs and other solid implants with biomedical applications, such as drug delivery devices or bioartificial organs, need oxygen (O2) to function properly. To understand better the vascular integration of such devices, we recently developed a novel model sensor containing O2-sensitive crystals, consisting of a polymeric capsule limited by a nano-porous filter. The sensor was implanted in mice with hydrogel alone (control) or hydrogel embedded with mouse CD117/c-kit+ bone marrow progenitor cells (BMPC) in order to stimulate peri-implant neovascularization. The sensor provided local partial O2 pressure (pO2) using non-invasive electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal measurements. A consistently higher level of per-implant oxygenation was observed in the cell-treatment case as compared to the control over a 10-week period. In order to provide a mechanistic explanation of these experimental observations, we present in this paper a mathematical model, formulated as a system of coupled partial differential equations, that simulates peri-implant vascularization. In the control case, vascularization is considered to be the result of a Foreign Body Reaction (FBR) while in the cell-treatment case, adipogenesis in response to paracrine stimuli produced by the stem cells is assumed to induce neovascularization. The model is validated by fitting numerical predictions of local pO2 to measurements from the implanted sensor. The model is then used to investigate further the potential for using stem cell treatment to enhance the vascular integration of biomedical implants. We thus demonstrate how mathematical modeling combined with experimentation can be used to infer how vasculature develops around biomedical implants in control and stem celltreated cases

Методические аспекты повышения качества услуг в сфере транспортной логистики

Розробка методичних аспектів підвищення якості обслуговування в транспортно-логістичних компаніях на основі вимог міжнародних стандартів якості ISO 9000:2008 з використанням простих інструментів контролю якості.Article on developing methodological aspects of service quality improvement in transportation and logistics companies, based on the requirements of international quality standards ISO 9000:2008, using simple tools of quality control. This paper defines the key issues to improve the quality of logistics services, approaches to the selection of methods and tools to ensure continuous improvement of transport and logistics companies. The mechanisms of implementing the requirements of the standard relating to the measurement of the quality of the provision of logistics services. The essence of the method and the role of «six sigma» in implementing the concept of «zero defects». Defines the approaches to the selection criteria and evaluation methodology for outsourcing companies, and recommendations on the use of quality control tools to improve the quality of logistics services.Разработка методических аспектов повышения качества обслуживания в транспортно-логистических компаниях на основе требований международных стандартов качества ISO 9000:2008 с использованием простых инструментов контроля качества

Foliar biofortification of chervil with selenium and iodine under silicon containing fertilizer supply

Selenium (Se) and iodine (I) are essential elements for humans, and their deficiency is widespread throughout the world. In order to obtain a functional nutritional product with an increased content of these trace elements in the vegetative experiment, foliar biofortification of two chervil varieties with selenium (sodium selenate 10 mg/l) and iodine (potassium iodide 100 mg/l) was carried out without and against the background of the use of silicon-containing fertilizers Siliplant (3 ml/l). The combined and separate application of selenate, iodide and Siliplant increased plants' biomass. Siliplant utilization increased the accumulation of iodine by 1.7-1.9 times, and selenium supply – by 2.2-3.1 times. A significant increase in ascorbic acid content was provided by the combined supplementation of iodine and selenium (1.25-1.27 times), iodine and silicon (1.46-1.87 times) and joint application of selenium, iodine, and silicon (1.31-1.73 times), while an increase in total antioxidant activity (1.3-1.4 times) was observed for (Se+I) and (Se+I+Si) treatments. High varietal differences in the responsiveness of plants to the selected treatments were manifested, particularly an increase of polyphenols accumulation under separate and joint treatments of chervil with iodine and selenium by 1.26 times in the cultivar 21-20, and the absence of a significant effect in the cultivar 24-20. Taking into account the adequate consumption levels (ACL) of iodine and selenium, 50 g of the resulting functional product can provide up to 79% of iodine ACL and up to 40% in selenium ACL

Spatial Persistence of Fluctuating Interfaces

We show that the probability, P_0(l), that the height of a fluctuating (d+1)-dimensional interface in its steady state stays above its initial value up to a distance l, along any linear cut in the d-dimensional space, decays as P_0(l) \sim l^(-\theta). Here \theta is a `spatial' persistence exponent, and takes different values, \theta_s or \theta_0, depending on how the point from which l is measured is specified. While \theta_s is related to fractional Brownian motion, and can be determined exactly, \theta_0 is non-trivial even for Gaussian interfaces.Comment: 5 pages, new material adde

Printing of cotton with eco-friendly, red algal pigment from Gracilaria sp

[EN] Natural dyes represent an emerging trend in the textile industry and eco-fashion due to the increasing awareness of the sustainability concept, which must be applied to the surrounding environment. In the light of the stated problem, the search for alternative sources of dyes, revealed the new, eco-friendly, biodegradable, non-carcinogenic and sustainable colorant matter, the algal biomass. In the present work, the suitability and viability of printing cotton fabrics with pigments obtained from the red macroalgae Gracilaria sp., has been investigated. For this aim, phycoerythrin, the red pigment, was extracted from fresh algal biomass, and used in a laboratory pigment-printing process, employing a natural and synthetic printing paste, for process efficiency comparison. The color values and the rubbing and laundering fastness of the printed substrates were evaluated. Results show that a light pink color can be obtained when applying both tested printing processes, and in terms of color fastness, both printing pastes show good behavior. In conclusion, the algal pigments show a high printing capacity on cotton substrates, either when employing the synthetic conventional paste and; moreover, when applying the more sustainable and eco-friendly natural paste.This work was supported by the European research project ¨SEACOLORS¨ (Demonstration of new natural dyes from algae as substitution of synthetic dyes actually used by textile industries) within the LIFE 2013 ¨Environment Policy and Governance project application¨ program.Moldovan, S.; Ferrándiz, M.; Franco, E.; Mira, E.; Capablanca, L.; Bonet-Aracil, M. (2017). Printing of cotton with eco-friendly, red algal pigment from Gracilaria sp. IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering. 254:1-6. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/254/19/192011S1625

Effect of sodium selenate foliar supplementation on Cryptotaenia japonica and Petroselinum crispum nutritional characteristics and seed quality

Production of functional food with high levels of selenium and other antioxidants is very valuable for human protection against different forms of oxidant stress. Among leafy vegetables parsley demonstrate the highest levels of antioxidants. Biochemical analysis and fluorimetric determination of selenium revealed that foliar biofortification of 4 parsley (Petroselinum crispum) cultivars and Mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica) with sodium selenate (25 mg L-1) resulted in the highest biofortification level in curly parsley cultivar Krasotka (102.9) which showed the highest leaf surface area, antioxidant activity (65 mg GAE g-1 d.w.) and flavonoids content (25.9 mg quercetin equivalent g-1 d.w.), and the increase by 1.4 times in carotene content and 1,5 times in total chlorophyll content. ICP-MS method of mineral composition evaluation recorded extremely high levels of B and Si in Mustuba, which increased due to Se supplementation by 1.23 and 1.46 times respectively. In a two-year experiment with control and Se-fortified, leafy parsley, cultivar Moskvichka reached high values of seed yield and viability, and seed Se content (6170 µg kg-1 d.w.). The results of the present investigation demonstrate high prospects of parsley and Mitsuba selenium biofortification for production of functional food with elevated levels of microelement and high antioxidant activity

Обогащение кервеля селеном

Relevance. Production of functional food with high levels of antioxidant status and selenium is essential for human protection against viral and cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer.Methods. Evaluation of the efficiency in foliar sodium selenate biofortification (25. 50 and 75 mg Se/L) was achieved on three chervil genotypes.Results. Intervarietal differences in biofortification level was demonstrated: from 15.5 to 31.1 for 25 mg Se/L dose; from 36.9 to 64.6 for 50 mg Se/L dose; and from 72.9 to 130 for 75 mg Se/L dose. At the chosen doses, selenium supply did not affect significantly the yield, antioxidant properties and photosynthetic content of chervil. Total antioxidant activity was in the range from 30 to 42 mg GAE/g d.w., phenolics content from 9 to 13 mg GAE/g d.w, flavonoids from 5 to 12 mg-eq quercetin/g d.w., ascorbic acid from 33 to 66 mg/100 g fresh w. High levels of carotene were a typical feature of Se fortified and non-fortified chervil. A direct correlation was recorded between phenolics content and total antioxidant activity (r=+0.954, P<0.01), and between water soluble compounds and nitrates accumulation (r=+0.920, P<0.01). Biofortification with selenium did not affect significantly the mineral content of plants. Consumption of 100 g of fresh chervil leaves, fortified with selenium, provides from 50 to 75% of the adequate selenium consumption level and from 16 to 20% of potassium. Taking into account that both selenium and potassium normalize heart activity, the new functional food product may be recommended for prophylactics and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and for the human selenium status optimization.Актуальность. Получение функциональных продуктов питания с высоким антиоксидантным статусом и повышенным содержанием селена является актуальным для защиты организма человека от вирусных, онкологических и кардиологических заболеваний.Материал и методика. Исследована эффективность внекорневого обогащения селенатом натрия в концентрациях 25, 50 и 75 мг Se/л трех сортообразцов кервеля. Установлена межсортовая вариабельность в уровнях обогащения растений микроэлементом (от 15,.5 до 31,1 при дозе 25 мг Se/л; от 36,9 до 64,6 при дозе 50 мг Se/л и от 72,9 до 130 при дозе 75 мг Se/л).Результаты. Выявлено, что при выбранных дозах селена обогащение растений микроэлементом не влияет достоверно на урожай и оказывает слабое влияние на антиоксидантные свойства и содержание фотосинтетических пигментов кервеля. Уровень общей антиоксидантной активности варьировал от 30 до 42 мг ГКЭ/г сухой массы (с.м.), полифенолов- от 9 до 13 мг ГКЭ/г с.м., флавоноидов от 5 до 12 мг-экв кверцетина/г с.м., аскорбиновой кислоты от 33 до 66 мг/100 г сырой массы. Отличительной особенностью кервеля обогащенного и не обогащенного селеном является повышенное содержание каротина. Установлена прямая корреляция между содержанием полифенолов и общей антиоксидантной активностью растений (r=+0,954, P<0,01), а также между содержанием водорастворимых соединений н уровнем накопления нитратов (r=+0,920, P<0,01). Обогащение растений селеном не влияло достоверно на элементный состав листьев. Потребление 100 г свежих листьев кервеля, обогащенного селеном, обеспечивает поступление в организм человека от 50 до 75% суточной потребности человека в селене и от 16 до 20% от суточной потребности калия. Принимая во внимание, что селен, так же, как и калий, нормализует работу сердца, полученный функциональный продукт можно рекомендовать в профилактике кардиологических заболеваний и оптимизации селенового статуса населения

The complex TIE between macrophages and angiogenesis

Macrophages are primarily known as phagocytic immune cells, but they also play a role in diverse processes, such as morphogenesis, homeostasis and regeneration. In this review, we discuss the influence of macrophages on angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation from the pre-existing vasculature. Macrophages play crucial roles at each step of the angiogenic cascade, starting from new blood vessel sprouting to the remodelling of the vascular plexus and vessel maturation. Macrophages form promising targets for both pro- and anti-angiogenic treatments. However, to target macrophages, we will first need to understand the mechanisms that control the functional plasticity of macrophages during each of the steps of the angiogenic cascade. Here, we review recent insights in this topic. Special attention will be given to the TIE2-expressing macrophage (TEM), which is a subtype of highly angiogenic macrophages that is able to influence angiogenesis via the angiopoietin-TIE pathway