Air Breathing Cathodes for Microbial Fuel Cell using Mn-, Fe-, Co- and Ni-containing Platinum Group Metal-free Catalysts

© 2017 The Authors The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the major factors that is limiting the overall performance output of microbial fuel cells (MFC). In this study, Platinum Group Metal-free (PGM-free) ORR catalysts based on Fe, Co, Ni, Mn and the same precursor (Aminoantipyrine, AAPyr) were synthesized using identical sacrificial support method (SSM). The catalysts were investigated for their electrochemical performance, and then integrated into an air-breathing cathode to be tested in “clean” environment and in a working microbial fuel cell (MFC). Their performances were also compared to activated carbon (AC) based cathode under similar conditions. Results showed that the addition of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni to AAPyr increased the performances compared to AC. Fe-AAPyr showed the highest open circuit potential (OCP) that was 0.307±0.001V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and the highest electrocatalytic activity at pH 7.5. On the contrary, AC had an OCP of 0.203±0.002V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and had the lowest electrochemical activity. In MFC, Fe-AAPyr also had the highest output of 251±2.3μWcm−2, followed by Co-AAPyr with 196±1.5μWcm−2, Ni-AAPyr with 171±3.6μWcm−2, Mn-AAPyr with 160±2.8μWcm−2and AC 129±4.2μWcm−2. The best performing catalyst (Fe-AAPyr) was then tested in MFC with increasing solution conductivity from 12.4 mScm−1to 63.1 mScm−1. A maximum power density of 482±5μWcm−2was obtained with increasing solution conductivity, which is one of the highest values reported in the field

Air breathing cathodes for Microbial Fuel Cell using Mn-, Fe-, Co- and Ni-containing platinum group metal-free catalysts

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the major factors that is limiting the overall performance output of microbial fuel cells (MFC). In this study, Platinum Group Metal-free (PGM-free) ORR catalysts based on Fe, Co, Ni, Mn and the same precursor (Aminoantipyrine, AAPyr) were synthesized using identical sacrificial support method (SSM). The catalysts were investigated for their electrochemical performance, and then integrated into an air-breathing cathode to be tested in “clean” environment and in a working microbial fuel cell (MFC). Their performances were also compared to activated carbon (AC) based cathode under similar conditions. Results showed that the addition of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni to AAPyr increased the performances compared to AC. Fe-AAPyr showed the highest open circuit potential (OCP) that was 0.307 ! 0.001 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and the highest electrocatalytic activity at pH 7.5. On the contrary, AC had an OCP of 0.203 ! 0.002 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and had the lowest electrochemical activity. In MFC, Fe-AAPyr also had the highest output of 251 ! 2.3 mWcm"2, followed by Co-AAPyr with 196 ! 1.5 mWcm"2, Ni-AAPyr with 171 !3.6 mWcm"2, Mn-AAPyr with 160 ! 2.8 mWcm"2 and AC 129 ! 4.2 mWcm"2. The best performing catalyst (Fe-AAPyr) was then tested in MFC with increasing solution conductivity from 12.4 mScm"1 to 63.1 mScm"1. A maximum power density of 482 ! 5 mWcm"2 was obtained with increasing solution conductivity, which is one of the highest values reported in the field

Switch from enzyme replacement therapy to oral chaperone migalastat for treating fabry disease: real-life data

The treatment options for Fabry disease (FD) are enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alfa or beta, and the oral pharmacological chaperone migalastat. Since few data are available on the effects of switching from ERT to migalastat, we performed a single-center observational study on seven male Fabry patients (18-66 years) to assess the effects of the switch on renal, cardiac, and neurologic function, health status, pain, lyso-Gb3, α-Gal A activity and adverse effects. Data were retrospectively collected at time of diagnosis of FD (baseline, T0), and after 12 months of ERT (T1), and prospectively after 1 year of therapy with migalastat (T2). No patient died or reported renal, cardiac, or cerebrovascular events during the study period. The predefined measures for cardiac, renal and neurologic function, and FD-related symptoms and questionnaires were stable between baseline and the switch, and remained unchanged with migalastat. However, a significant improvement was observed in left ventricular mass index from baseline to T2 (p = 0.016), with a significative difference between the treatments (p = 0.028), and in median proteinuria from T2 vs T1 (p = 0.048). Moreover, scores of the BPI improved from baseline to T1, and remained stable with migalastat. Plasma lyso-Gb3 levels significantly decreased from baseline to T1 (P = 0.007) and T2 (P = 0.003), while did not significantly differ between the two treatments. α-Gal A activity increased from T0 to T2 (p < 0.0001). The frequency of adverse effects under migalastat and ERT was comparable (28% for both drugs). In conclusion, switching from ERT to migalastat is valid, safe and well tolerated

CI and CO in Nearby Spiral Galaxies -- I. Line Ratio and Abundance Variations at ~ 200 pc Scales

We present new neutral atomic carbon [CI](3P1-3P0) mapping observations within the inner ~7 kpc and ~4 kpc of the disks of NGC3627 and NGC4321 at a spatial resolution of 190 pc and 270 pc, respectively, using the ALMA Atacama Compact Array (ACA). We combine these with the CO(2-1) data from PHANGS-ALMA, and literature [CI] and CO data for two other starburst and/or active galactic nucleus (AGN) galaxies (NGC1808, NGC7469), to study: a) the spatial distributions of CI and CO emission; b) the observed line ratio RCICO = I_[CI](1-0)/I_CO(2-1) as a function of various galactic properties; and c) the abundance ratio of [CI/CO]. We find excellent spatial correspondence between CI and CO emission and nearly uniform RCICO ~0.1 across the majority of the star-forming disks of NGC3627 and NGC4321. However, RCICO strongly varies from ~0.05 at the centre of NGC4321 to >0.2-0.5 in NGC1808's starburst centre and NGC7469's centre with an X-ray AGN. Meanwhile, RCICO does not obviously vary with $U$, similar to the prediction of PDR models. We also find a mildly decreasing RCICO with an increasing metallicity over 0.7-0.85 solar metallicity, consistent with the literature. Assuming various typical ISM conditions representing GMCs, active star-forming regions and strong starbursting environments, we calculate the LTE radiative transfer and estimate the [CI/CO] abundance ratio to be ~0.1 across the disks of NGC3627 and NGC4321, similar to previous large-scale findings in Galactic studies. However, this abundance ratio likely has a substantial increase to ~1 and >1-5 in NGC1808's starburst and NGC7469's strong AGN environments, respectively, in line with the expectations for cosmic-ray dominated region (CRDR) and X-ray dominated region (XDR) chemistry. Finally, we do not find a robust evidence for a generally CO-dark, CI-bright gas in the disk areas we probed. (abbreviated)Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures and one table in total (17 pages and 9 figures in main text). Accepted for publication in A&A. For associated data cubes and moment maps, see https://www.canfar.net/storage/vault/list/phangs/RELEASES/DZLIU_etal_202

Comunidades de lectura “en los márgenes”: El arte de habitar, un territorio de lo posible

El relato que presentamos forma parte de un proceso colectivo de escritura1 en el que participaron maestras de la Escuela Hugo Leonelli (una escuela pública que apuesta al cuidado de las infancias contra el desamparo), estudiantes de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Educación y el equipo que coordina, desde el 2015, el Seminario de Práctica Sociocomunitaria “Destejiendo itinerarios de enseñanza en la escuela primaria: formas narrativas, memorias visuales, mundos culturales” en la Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades (UNC). En los tiempos actuales de desfinanciamiento de la educación pública, parecen imponerse el utilitarismo y la medición de resultados. Por eso tenemos la tarea de contribuir a ensanchar, desde la universidad y las escuelas, un territorio de lo posible frente a lo uniforme y hegemónico.Como sugiere Michèle Petit, mientras más difícil es el contexto, más necesarios son los espacios poéticos: espacios abiertos hacia otra cosa, espacios para salir de uno mismo por un momento, espacios donde reconocerse y comprender la propia historia, espacios para el pensamiento y los sueños. En este sentido, sostenemos que si apostamos a un proyecto social de infancia, la lectura literaria es una experiencia deseable y vital que debería ser posible para todxs lxs niñxs.Nos interesa especialmente articular prácticas con debates, preocupaciones y teorizaciones vinculadas a un campo relacional muy sensible y relevante, en el cruce entre infancias, territorio, cultura y escuela. Al mismo tiempo, queremos que la reflexión desde distintas voces forme parte de una práctica educativa extensionista. Dicha práctica ha movilizado puentes entre actores sociales extrauniversitarixs y universitarixs, resignificando el diálogo de saberesentre la universidad y las escuelas, y el valor de las narrativas pedagógicas para resituar el carácter público y político de la enseñanza. La perspectiva que asumimos al escribir es que todo puede decirse, pensarse y ser sentido con libertad: la libertad para escribir posibilitando la emergencia de la palabra cargada de mundo (Freire, 1970)

Allergenic Lipid Transfer Proteins from Plant-Derived Foods Do Not Immunologically and Clinically Behave Homogeneously: The Kiwifruit LTP as a Model

BACKGROUND: Food allergy is increasingly common worldwide. Tools for allergy diagnosis measuring IgE improved much since allergenic molecules and microarrays started to be used. IgE response toward allergens belonging to the same group of molecules has not been comprehensively explored using such approach yet. OBJECTIVE: Using the model of lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) from plants as allergens, including two new structures, we sought to define how heterogeneous is the behavior of homologous proteins. METHODS: Two new allergenic LTPs, Act d 10 and Act c 10, have been identified in green (Actinidia deliciosa) and gold (Actinidia chinensis) kiwifruit (KF), respectively, using clinically characterized allergic patients, and their biochemical features comparatively evaluated by means of amino acid sequence alignments. Along with other five LTPs from peach, mulberry, hazelnut, peanut, mugwort, KF LTPs, preliminary tested positive for IgE, have been immobilized on a microarray, used for IgE testing 1,003 allergic subjects. Comparative analysis has been carried out. RESULTS: Alignment of Act d 10 primary structure with the other allergenic LTPs shows amino acid identities to be in a narrow range between 40 and 55%, with a number of substitutions making the sequences quite different from each other. Although peach LTP dominates the IgE immune response in terms of prevalence, epitope recognition driven by sequence heterogeneity has been recorded to be distributed in a wide range of behaviors. KF LTPs IgE positive results were obtained in a patient subset IgE positive for the peach LTP. Anyhow, the negative results on homologous molecules allowed us to reintroduce KF in patients' diet. CONCLUSION: The biochemical nature of allergenic molecule belonging to a group of homologous ones should not be taken as proof of immunological recognition as well. The availability of panels of homologous molecules to be tested using microarrays is valuable to address the therapeutic intervention

Genetic determinants in a critical domain of ns5a correlate with hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients infected with hcv genotype 1b

HCV is an important cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV NS5A domain‐1 interacts with cellular proteins inducing pro‐oncogenic pathways. Thus, we explore genetic variations in NS5A domain‐1 and their association with HCC, by analyzing 188 NS5A sequences from HCV genotype‐1b infected DAA‐naïve cirrhotic patients: 34 with HCC and 154 without HCC. Specific NS5A mutations significantly correlate with HCC: S3T (8.8% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.01), T122M (8.8% vs. 0.0%, p &lt; 0.001), M133I (20.6% vs. 3.9%, p &lt; 0.001), and Q181E (11.8% vs. 0.6%, p &lt; 0.001). By multivariable analysis, the presence of &gt;1 of them independently correlates with HCC (OR (95%CI): 21.8 (5.7–82.3); p &lt; 0.001). Focusing on HCC‐group, the presence of these mutations correlates with higher viremia (median (IQR): 5.7 (5.4–6.2) log IU/mL vs. 5.3 (4.4–5.6) log IU/mL, p = 0.02) and lower ALT (35 (30–71) vs. 83 (48–108) U/L, p = 0.004), suggesting a role in enhancing viral fitness without affecting necroinflammation. Notably, these mutations reside in NS5A regions known to interact with cellular proteins crucial for cell‐cycle regulation (p53, p85‐PIK3, and β‐ catenin), and introduce additional phosphorylation sites, a phenomenon known to ameliorate NS5A interaction with cellular proteins. Overall, these results provide a focus for further investigations on molecular bases of HCV‐mediated oncogenesis. The role of these NS5A domain‐1 mutations in triggering pro‐oncogenic stimuli that can persist also despite achievement of sustained virological response deserves further investigation