Synthesis, physicochemical and photophysical characterization of 4-(1-Pyrenyl)-Butyl-α-d-mannopyranoside

Indexación: Web of Science; Scopus; Scielo.Glycolipids are biomolecules composed of a lipid chain (lipophilic) and a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide as hydrophilic group. Their chemical structure and biological role make them undoubtedly good candidates for a large and continuously growing number of biotechnological applications. Mannose is a carbohydrate present on membrane glycolipids of a wide number of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses) and specifically recognized by several lectins. We synthesized a mannose derivative linked through a short methylene chain to a pyrene moiety which behaves as a surfactant, able to aggregate, and retains the photophysical properties of pyrene: showing comparable absorption and emission spectra, having lower fluorescence quantum yield and the ability to form excimer, and finally the ability to produce O-2((1)Delta(g)) with high quantum yields. Thus, this novel molecule would open future applications for detection (fluorescence) or inactivation (singlet oxygen) of bacterial pathogens, viruses, tumor cells, or particular cells.http://ref.scielo.org/pcn4d

Hormigón ligero autocompactante con fibras para rehabilitación de forjados

The slabs of some buildings in Barcelona are formed by unidirectional beams, with a ceramic arch in between, which are filled with broken pottery or construction waste. These structures often present problems such as displacement of the tiles arranged over it due to the lack of stiffness of the filling material. This supposes a risk to the user and could also cause durability problems. In order to rehabilitate it, a lightweight self-compacting concrete reinforced with fibres (HLACF) has been designed to be used as a filling material, improving the stiffness of the structure. This paper presents a structural analysis of a standard case and the results of an experimental campaign. The concrete showed a density of 1665 kg/m3, a slump flow of 605 mm and a compressive strength of 22.3 MPa, at 28 days. These results are in agreement with the requirements, overcoming common lightweight concrete segregation problems.Los forjados de ciertos edificios del ensanche de Barcelona, formados por viguetas unidireccionales con un revoltón de cerámica entre ellas y un relleno posterior (material cerámico y residuos de construcción), suelen presentar problemas de movimientos y despegues de las baldosas situadas en la parte superior, con el consiguiente riesgo para el usuario, aparte de los problemas de durabilidad asociados. Para rehabilitar esas estructuras se ha diseñado un hormigón ligero autocompactante con fibras (HLACF), como relleno de modo que mejore la rigidez a la estructura. El artículo presenta el análisis estructural de una solución tipo así como los resultados de una campaña experimental realizada. Como resultado se obtiene un hormigón de densidad de 1.665 kg/m3, escurrimiento de 605 mm y resistencia a compresión de 22,3 MPa, a los 28 días, que cumple con los requisitos y significa superar problemas de segregación previsibles para este tipo de hormigones

Silencing of genes involved in Anaplasma marginale-tick interactions affects the pathogen developmental cycle in Dermacentor variabilis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The cattle pathogen, <it>Anaplasma marginale</it>, undergoes a developmental cycle in ticks that begins in gut cells. Transmission to cattle occurs from salivary glands during a second tick feeding. At each site of development two forms of <it>A. marginale </it>(reticulated and dense) occur within a parasitophorous vacuole in the host cell cytoplasm. However, the role of tick genes in pathogen development is unknown. Four genes, found in previous studies to be differentially expressed in <it>Dermacentor variabilis </it>ticks in response to infection with <it>A. marginale</it>, were silenced by RNA interference (RNAi) to determine the effect of silencing on the <it>A. marginale </it>developmental cycle. These four genes encoded for putative glutathione S-transferase (GST), salivary selenoprotein M (SelM), H+ transporting lysosomal vacuolar proton pump (vATPase) and subolesin.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The impact of gene knockdown on <it>A. marginale </it>tick infections, both after acquiring infection and after a second transmission feeding, was determined and studied by light microscopy. Silencing of these genes had a different impact on <it>A. marginale </it>development in different tick tissues by affecting infection levels, the densities of colonies containing reticulated or dense forms and tissue morphology. Salivary gland infections were not seen in any of the gene-silenced ticks, raising the question of whether these ticks were able to transmit the pathogen.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this RNAi and light microscopic analyses of tick tissues infected with <it>A. marginale </it>after the silencing of genes functionally important for pathogen development suggest a role for these molecules during pathogen life cycle in ticks.</p

Pre- and intraoperative variables affecting early outcomes in elderly patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy

AbstractBackgroundConflicting data exist regarding the safety of pancreatic resections in elderly patients. In this study we compared early complication and mortality rates between patients younger and older than 80 years of age who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy using a validated national database.MethodsThe National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for 2005–2009 was used for this retrospective analysis. The primary outcome measures for our analysis were 30-day postoperative mortality, major complication rate and overall complication rate.ResultsA total of 6293 patients who underwent PD for any cause were included in the analysis. Of these, 9.4% were aged ≥80 years. The incidence of 30-day mortality was significantly higher in patients aged ≥80 years (6.3%) than in those aged <80 years (2.7%). Older patients were also noted to have higher rates of overall complications and serious complications. On multivariate analysis, age, ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) classification, reduced functional status, history of dyspnoea, and need for intraoperative transfusion were risk factors associated with the occurrence of overall complications, serious complications and postoperative mortality.ConclusionsThis study shows that age among other factors is a determinant of postoperative morbidity and mortality following PD

Effect of syngas composition on the combustion and emissions characteristics of a syngas/diesel RCCI engine

Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) strategy uses two different fuels with different reactivities which provides more control over the combustion process and has the potential to dramatically lower combustion temperature and NOX and PM emissions. The objective of the present study is to numerically investigate the impact of syngas composition on the combustion and emissions characteristics of an RCCI engine operating with syngas/diesel at constant energy per cycle. For this purpose, different syngas compositions produced through gasification process have been chosen for comparison with the simulated syngas (mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). The results obtained indicate that using syngas results in more soot, CO and UHC emissions compared with simulated syngas. Even though more NOX reduction can be achieved while operating with syngas, the engine could suffer from poor combustion and misfire at low loads due to the presence of nitrogen in the mixture. In terms of exergy, both syngas mixtures lead to more exergy destruction by the increase of syngas substitution. Nevertheless, the magnitude of exergy destruction for simulated syngas is less than the normal syngas

Chemical and structural changes of calcium ion exchange silica pigment in 0.5M NaCl and 0.5M Na 2SO4 solutions

This paper studies the suitability of an environmentallyfriendly anticorrosive pigment (Si/Ca) to replace Cr(VI) pigments, characterising the initial pigment and the products obtained after interaction with aqueous solutions containing aggressive ions from a corrosion viewpoint (Cl - and SO42- ). X-ray diffraction (XRD), calorimetry (DTATG), Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanningelectron microscopy (SEM-EDAX) techniques areused. The ion exchange capacity of the pigment is studied and the solutions obtained after the pigment-solution interaction are analysed. The results obtained show that a series of physical/chemical transformations take place in the pigment on interaction with the Cl - and SO42-  solutions, in some cases accompanied by the appearance of new crystalline phases, mainly calcium and sodium silicates and calcium sulphate. Analysis of the solutions obtained after interaction shows a rise in the calcium content as theionic force of the medium increases. These results suggest that the mechanism by which the pigment acts is not only based on ion exchange reactions but also on a structural modification of the pigment itself and consequently on (co)precipitation reactions that form insoluble compounds in the studied aggressive media

Magnetic separation and high reusability of chloroperoxidase entrapped in multi polysaccharide micro-supports

Enzyme immobilization on magnetic supports represents a great advantage for the industrial application of enzymatic catalysis since it allows an easy recovery of the catalyst, avoiding any contamination of the product by residual enzyme. Iron oxide nanoparticles are very useful for this purpose. Using a polymer to diminish the interaction between the magnetic cores themselves, can improve the colloidal stability of the support and prevent any interaction with the environment that would affect both support properties and enzyme stability. For this reason, in this work different magnetic micro-supports, based on polydopamine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles with a multi polysaccharide shell, have been developed. These supports have been used to immobilize chloroperoxidase, a very interesting enzyme, able to catalyze many reactions of large-scale interest, but whose application is limited by its sensitivity to reaction conditions. The multi polysaccharide shells of the supports were obtained through a combination of chitosan and alginate. An in-depth analysis of physicochemical and catalytic properties of all the developed magnetic supports is reported. CPO was successfully immobilized with an efficiency of entrapment between 92% and 100% in the case of supports with chitosan in the interior or outer shell respectively. A very good chemical stability of the support under reaction conditions was observed in the case of an interior shell of alginate and an outer coating of chitosan, together with an excellent reusability of the immobilized enzyme, that was recycled to catalyze up to 25 consecutive reaction cycles

Ultrafine and nanoparticle formation and emission mechanisms during laser processing of ceramic materials

The use of laser technology in the ceramic industry is undergoing an increasing trend, as it improves surface properties. The present work aimed to assess ultrafine and nanoparticle emissions from two different types of laser treatments (tile sintering and ablation) applied to two types of tiles. New particle formation mechanisms were identified, as well as primary nanoparticle emissions, with concentrations reaching up to 6.7 x 10(6) particles Cm-3 and a mean diameter of 18 nm. Nanoparticle emission patterns were strongly dependent on temperature and raw tile chemical composition. Nucleation events were detected during the thermal treatment independently of the laser application. TOM images evidenced spherical ultrafine particles, originating from the tile melting processes. When transported across the indoor environment, particles increased in size (up to 38 nm) with concentrations remaining high (2.3 x 10(6) particles cm(-3)), Concentrations of metals such as Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, As and al were found in particles < 250 nm