Development of a HPLC-UV method for the simultaneous determination of intracellular glutathione species in human cells

In the present work, an HPLC-UV method was set-up to allow the simultaneous quantification of the reduced-GSH, oxidised-GSSG and nitroso-GSNO glutathione species. Chromatographic separation was achieved on YMC ODS-A C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), coupled to a Guard-c precolumn (YMC-Pack, 10 × 1-4,0 mm). The eluted compounds were detected at 215 nm by UV-detector, by keeping the column oven at room temperature while the auto-sampler temperature was maintained at 4°C. A fractional factorial design has been applied for the optimization of the mobile phase resulting in baseline separated peaks within 6 minutes. In-house validation was evaluated by linearity, limits of detection (LODs), limits of quantification (LOQs), reproducibility, repeatability and recovery. The detection and quantification limits obtained for standard solutions were below 0.2 μM and 0.6 μM, respectively (RSD values below 2%). The developed method was applied to the measurement of GSH, GSSG and GSNO in human pulmonary cells (A549) exposed to limonene, limonene oxide solubilized into the culture medium and to NO2 as gas phase. Results show an increase in GSH levels, without significant changes in GSSG, when cells were exposed to limonene oxide, while cells exposed to NO2 resulted in a significant increase of GSNO amount. Detection limits were of 1 μM for the glutathione species measured in A549 cells, with RSD values below 2.5%. In conclusion, the present HPLC-UV method can be readily used to measure in a rapid, simultaneous and accurate way the status of GSH, GSSG and GSNO in human cells, their simultaneous quantification helping to better predict the potential impact of chemicals on human health.JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Observations on the inventory of phytophagous arthropods and phytopathogenic agents from meadows situated in North-eastern Moldavia

In most of grassland ecosystems used for grazing, a change of flower composition took place, by invading these areas with weeds that diminish their economic value, both quantitatively and qualitatively. One of the strategies of weed control is using natural limitative factors, which are pests and phytopathogenic agents. Observations were carried out in 2009 on two plots: the first plot situated near Iaşi – Miroslava and the second plot situated near Bârlad – Perieni, 100 km south from Iaşi. The plots were invaded by Lepidium draba. As a result of inventorying phytophagous bodies of invasive plants in the grassland ecosystems of the Central Moldavian Plateau in 2008, we have shown that the species belonged to orders Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Acari. Among all these species, as potential control agents of Lepidium draba, having a high control rate, there were Ceutorhynchus cardariae Korotyaev, Psylliodes wrasei Leonardi and Arnold., Aceria draba Nal. The signalled micromycetes were Blumeria graminis, found in Perieni (Vaslui) in common meadow grass (Poa pratensis); Puccinia coronifera f. sp. Lolii in Miroslava (Iaşi) in raigrass (Lolium perenne); Puccinia poarum in Perieni (Vaslui) in Poa pratensis; Alternaria alternata was signalled in whitetop (Lepidium draba), alfalfa (Trifolium repens), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), raigras (Lolium perenne) sampled in Perieni (Vaslui) on June 10, 2009 and Cladosporium herbarum found in Lepidium draba and raigrass (Lolium perenne) in Miroslava (Iaşi) on July 5, 2009 and in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in Perieni (Vaslui) on July 25, 2009

Saprophytic and parasitic fungi on ornamental plants from Moldova area (Romania)

This study presents a mycology note that reflects further research for several years of teaching staff of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University conducted on ornamental plants in parks and gardens. Research conducted on ornamental plants led to a ten fungal reports, two of them are new for the country, one fungus is new for Moldova microflora, four are new cited like hosts in Romania, one fungus is cited on a new hosts in Moldova and two are very rare citated in Moldova

Black point incidence in some winter wheat varieties cultivated in North-Eastern Romania

Black point is a common disease in all wheat growing regions of the world and is an important quality defect of the wheat kernel. Black point can be characterized by a dark brown to black discoloration of the pericarp and testa, primarily embryo sides of the grains. Wheat kernel black point disease is associated with many microorganisms, both fungi or bacteria, but those most usually responsable for these symptoms are species of the fungus Alternaria alternata, Cochliobolus sativus, Fusarium graminearum, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp.. This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence of black point on some winter wheat cultivars in the nord-est area of Romania. Twenty-eight (Triticum aestivum L.) winter wheat varieties were compared for reaction to black point in a 2-years field trials. There were individual varietal differences in black point incidence within each of the varieties

Impact of climatic conditions on yield and plant diseases of winter wheat in North-Eastern Romania

Climate elements, such as temperature and atmospheric precipitation, are driving factors in plant diseases developmenet and vary widely between years. Weather factors play a decisive role in achieving higher yields and in the development of plant pathogens. Besides temperature and atmospheric precipitation, wind and relative humidity of the air, play an important role in the development of diseases. In this study are presented the results obtained during the period 2015- 2018, in the northeastern part of Romania, Iasi county. During the three agricultural years studied, the climatic conditions were different from one year to the next. The influence of climatic factors was observed as a result of differences in production yields and the presence of the pathogens and the frequency with which they were manifested. In view of climate change and unfavorable influence on the agricultural sector, cultivation of the most suitable varieties can lead to higher yields, even in years when climatic conditions are unfavorable

Visualizing the dynamics of twodimensional foams with FoamVis. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects

Abstract We describe an interactive computer program FoamVis that provides techniques for visualization, exploration and analysis of time-dependent 2D foam simulation data generated by the Surface Evolver. The program takes a sequence of Surface Evolver files and animates them to show velocity vectors, local strain, the position of topological changes, and the forces on objects immersed in a foam flow, and enables the user to simultaneously compare different simulations. We use FoamVis to show the correlation between different attributes, such as bubble velocity and T1 density, in a foam flowing through a constriction, the relationship between orientation and foam-induced forces acting on an elliptical object falling through a foam under gravity, and the changes in bubble size that occur during diffusion-driven coarsening of a foam containing a mixture of gases

SENSORY CHARACTERISATION OF EMULSIFIED SAUSAGES INCORPORATING CELERY POWDER AND OBTAINED WITH DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

This study aimed to evaluate and sensorily describe membrane-emulsified poultry and pork meat products (frankfurter sausages) manufactured in the USV Iași Meat Processing Workshop, products to which celery powder was added. Six technology sheets were developed to obtain six batches of products (three chicken and three pork): C1 (66% chicken breast, 17% pork backfat, 1.8% celery powder) and P1 (66% pork, 17% pork backfat, 1.8% celery powder), C2 (56% chicken breast, 24% pork backfat, 3.5% celery powder) and P2 (56% pork, 24% pork backfat, 3.5% celery powder) and C3 (48% chicken breast, 31% pork backfat, 4.5% celery powder) and P3 (48% pork, 31% pork backfat, 4.5% celery powder). The samples were evaluated in terms of instrumental colour and sensory evaluation (acceptability test and CATA – check-all-that-apply). The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the samples regarding the instrumental colour, chicken meat frankfurter sausages having significantly higher lightness values (L*) compared to pork frankfurter sausages, and in terms of the proportion of raw materials: the lightness increased significantly in direct proportion to the percentage of fat added. According to the CATA analysis, the evaluators associated a pink colour and meaty flavour with batch 1 products and attributes such as uniformity of colour, characteristic flavour, the right amount of seasoning and smooth texture were identified in all six batches of products. However, the batches with the highest scores on the hedonic scale, considered acceptable by the evaluators, were C1, P1 and C2

Survey of Surveys (SoS) ‐ Mapping The Landscape of Survey Papers in Information Visualization

Information visualization as a field is growing rapidly in popularity since the first information visualization conference in 1995.However, as a consequence of its growth, it is increasingly difficult to follow the growing body of literature within the field.Survey papers and literature reviews are valuable tools for managing the great volume of previously published research papers,and the quantity of survey papers in visualization has reached a critical mass. To this end, this survey paper takes a quantumstep forward by surveying and classifying literature survey papers in order to help researchers understand the current landscapeof Information Visualization. It is, to our knowledge, the first survey of survey papers (SoS) in Information Visualization. Thispaper classifies survey papers into natural topic clusters which enables readers to find relevant literature and develops thefirst classification of classifications. The paper also enables researchers to identify both mature and less developed researchdirections as well as identify future directions. It is a valuable resource for both newcomers and experienced researchers in andoutside the field of Information Visualization and Visual Analytic