Analysis of First Order Reversal Curves in the Thermal Hysteresis of Spin-crossover Nanoparticles within the Mechanoelastic Model

The recently obtained spin-crossover nanoparticles are possible candidates for applications in the recording media industry as materials for data storage, or as pressure and temperature sensors. For these applications the intermolecular interactions and interactions between spin-crossover nanoparticles are extremely important, as they may be essential factors in triggering the transition between the two stable phases: the high-spin and low-spin ones. In order to find correlations between the distributions in size and interactions and the transition temperatures distribution, we apply the FORC (First Order Reversal Curves) method, using simulations based on a mechanoelastic model applied to 2D triangular lattices composed of molecules linked by springs and embedded in a surfactant. We consider two Gaussian distributions: one of the size of the nanoparticles and one of the elastic interactions between edge spin-crossover molecules and the surfactant molecules. In order to disentangle the kinetic and non-kinetic parts of the FORC distributions, we compare the results obtained for different temperature sweeping rates. We also show that the presence of few larger particles in a distribution centered around much smaller particles dramatically increases the hysteresis width.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 2014 59-th MMM conferenc

Secretory to multi-ciliated cell imbalance by altered cellular progeny in end-stage COPD facilitates resilience to environmental pollutants

Background: Air pollution is a major risk factor for patients suffering from chronic res-piratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as it drives episodes of exacerbation and subsequently disease progression. Analysis of the differentiation process of the primary human bronchial epithelial cells (pHBECs) from non-chronic lung disease (non-CLD) and CLD/ COPD-diseased tissue samples is of critical importance to understand the underlying pathophysiological mech-anisms that characterize the disease specific response to air pollutant exposure at the first line of defense, i.e. the human bronchial epithelium. In addition, pHBECs culture con-tributes to potential identification of preventive and therapeutic strategies in CLD. Materials and Methods: We established 3D air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures in pHBECs isolated from large airway resections of diseased (n=3 COPD-II and n=6 COPD-IV) and healthy (non-CLD, n=4) patients. To mimic air pollution, pHBECs were exposed to relevant aerosolized nanoparticles (NPs, i.e. carbon black soot surrogate NP (CNP) and Zinc oxide (ZnO)) using the pre-clinical, highly standardized VITROCELL® CLOUD 12 nebulization system (Waldkirch, Germany). ALI cultures, validated for their disease specific, biomimetic cellular composition using trans-mural bronchial punches (BP), were analyzed for functional consequences of NP exposure via transepi-thelial electrical resistance (TEER), WST-1, LDH, 3D confocal immunofluorescence (IF), transcriptome, secretome as well as ciliary beating frequencies (CBF) of multi-ciliated cells (MCC). To highlight the cell differentiation trajectory that explains the outlined cell composition and functional changes postexposure, single cell RNA-seq drop-seq analysis and immunofluorescence (IF) stainings of native bronchial tissue sam-ples were performed. Results: ZnO exposure induced effects on the amount of MCC and function exceeded the effects observed by CNP or LPS exposure. Exposure to moderate ZnO doses in-duced a decrease in the number of MCC in COPD-II (20.35±14.07%) and COPD-IV pHBECs (18.51±11.86%) when compared to non-CLD cells (47.01±2.80%), as well as an elevated number of MUC5AC+ cells in COPD-IV cultures (12.75±2.90%) when compared to non-CLD cultures (5.17±2.43%). These findings were accompanied by a concentration dependent reduction in epithelial barrier integrity (TEER), metabolic cell viability (WST-1) and membrane integrity (LDH release) in non-CLD and COPD-II pHBECs when compared to COPD-IV pHBECs. Following ZnO and CNP exposure, COPD-IV cultures were characterized by transcriptional regulation of genes involved in secretory cells (SC)-MCC differentiation axis (cilium assembly and organization), TLR-mediated innate immunity and regulation of extracellular matrix remodeling (ECM). Also at baseline level, transcriptome analysis revealed an overrepresentation of ECM gene clusters in COPD-IV cultures. Cellular composition of pHBECs ALI cultures resembled the ex vivo picture achieved by culturing BPs at ALI. These findings highlight an oligo-ciliated hypersecretory phe-notype in COPD-IV cultures, with a skewed basal cells (BC)-induced cell trajectory towards SC at the expense of the more vulnerable MCC. Terminal differentiation into MCC resulted from progenitor SC (MUC5AC+, CC10+). The outlined phenotype was in line with an aberrant expression of MCC genes together with a pathologic CBF spectrum in COPD-IV cultures. Drop-seq single cell RNA-seq analysis in both non-CLD and COPD-IV cultures on ALI day 0 and ALI day 28 revealed two distinct BC populations (basal_1, basal_2) as pro-genitor cells for the SC-MCC differentiation axis. BC present a strong shift between non-CLD and COPD-IV patients on both ALI day 0 and day 28. Specifically, basal_1 cells characterized the COPD-IV cultures, being predominantly detected on ALI day 0 and exclusively on ALI day 28 in COPD-IV derived pHBECs. Conversely, basal_2 cells characterized the non-CLD derived pHBECs on both ALI day 0 and 28. These signatures were validated by IF stainings of native bronchial tissue samples. Conclusion. In summary, our results identify the predominance of SC in the large air-ways of patients suffering from COPD-IV resulting in a greater functional resilience of the pHBECs to environmental small particle exposure underlined by the unsuccessful drive to induce trans-differentiation of the SC cells into MCC.Hintergrund: Luftverschmutzung ist der wichtigste Risikofaktor für Patienten mit chronischen obstruktiven Lungenerkrankung (COPD). Die chronische Nanopartikel (NP) Exposition führt zur wiederholten Exazerbationen und zu einem unvermeidbaren Fortschreiten der COPD Erkrankung. Die Analyse des Differenzierungsprozesses der primären humanen Bronchialepithelzel-len (pHBECs) von Patienten ohne chronische Lungenerkrankungen (non-chronic lung disease/ non-CLD) und mit chronischen Lungenerkrankungen (CLD/ e.g. COPD) ist von entscheidender Bedeutung, die pathophysiologischen Mechanismen des Bronchial-epithels nach Luftverschmutzung zu charakterisieren sowie präventive und therapeuti-sche Strategien für CLD zu etablieren. Materialen und Methoden: Wir haben eine 3D Zellkultur an der Luft-Flüssigkeit-Grenzschicht (air liquid interface/ ALI) mit pHBECs aus den proximalen Hauptbron-chien von COPD (n = 3 COPD-II und n = 6 COPD-IV) und gesunden (n = 4 non-CLD) Patienten etabliert. Um die Umweltverschmutzung in vitro zu simulieren, wurde eine Exposition der pHBECs mit relevanten aerosolierten NP (z.B. Carbon soot surrogate NP (CNP) und Zinkoxid (ZnO)) mit Hilfe eines standardisierten Expositionssystems (VIT-ROCELL® CLOUD 12, Waldkirch, Germany) durchgeführt. Die Validierung von ALI-Zellkulturen und deren krankheitsspezifischen und biomimetischen Zellzusammenset-zung erfolgte mit Hilfe eines neuen 3D Kulturmodells unter Verwendung von frischen nativen humanen Bronchialwand-Präparaten (bronchial punches/ BPs), die die intakte Struktur der gesamten Bronchialwand aufrechterhalten. Für die Validierung der 3D ALI pHBECs Kulturen erfolgte die Analyse des transepithelialen elektrischen Widerstands (TEER), der Zellviabilität (WST-1) und der Membranintegrität (LDH), sowie die 3D konfokale Immunfluoreszenz (IF), Transkriptom- , Sekretomanalyse, und die Analyse der Zilienschlagfrequenz (ciliary beating frequency/ CBF). Um die Änderungen der Zellzusammensetzung und der Epithelfunktion nach NP Exposition genauer zu analysie-ren, wurden eine single cell RNA-seq drop-seq Analyse und IF von nativen Bronchus-gewebeproben ergänzend durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Die ZnO-induzierte Effekte auf die Zilien-tragenden Zellen (multi-ciliated cells/ MCC) übertrafen die bei CNP- oder LPS-Exposition beobachteten Effekte. Die Exposition mit moderaten ZnO NP Dosierungen führte zu einer leichten Zahlabnahme der MCC in COPD-II (20,35 ± 14,07%) und COPD-IV pHBECs (18,51 ± 11,86%) im Vergleich zu non-CLD Zellen (47,01 ± 2,80%), sowie zu einer erhöhten Zahl von MUC5AC+ Zellen in COPD-IV Kulturen (12,75 ± 2,90%) im Vergleich zu non-CLD Zellen (5,17 ± 2,43%). Diese Befunde korrelieren mit einem konzentrationsabhängigen Verlust des transepithelialen elektrischen Widerstands (TEER), der Zellviabilität (WST-1) und der Membranintegrität (LDH-Freisetzung) in non-CLD und COPD-II im Vergleich zu COPD-IV pHBECs. Die ZnO und CNP Exposition führte zu einer aberranten Überexpression von Zilien spe-zifischen Genen in den COPD-IV Kulturen. Die Transkriptomanalyse der COPD-IV Kulturen nach ZnO und CNP Exposition zeigte eine Aktivierung der Mukuszellen-MCC Differenzierungsachse, der TLR-Immunität und der extrazellulären Matrix Biosyntese (extracellular matrix remodeling/ ECM). Des Weiteren bestätigen die unbehandelten COPD-IV Kulturen eine signifikante ECM Genexpression. Darüber hinaus ähnelte die Zellzusammensetzung der pHBEC-ALI-Kulturen dem ex vivo Bild der BPs. Diese Ergebnisse demonstrieren einen „oligo-ciliated“ hypersekretori-schen Phänotyp der COPD-IV ALI Kulturen im Rahmen einer verzerrten, Basalzellen-induzierten Zelldifferenzierung in Richtung sekretorischen Zellen, auf Kosten der anfäl-ligen MCC. Die sekretorischen Zellen (MUC5AC+, CC10+) sind Vorläuferzellen für MCC. Dieser Phänotyp stimmte mit einer aberranten MCC Genexpression sowie einem pathologischen CBF Spektrum in COPD-IV Kulturen überein. Die drop-seq single cell Analyse bei non-CLD und COPD-IV Patienten zeigt zwei un-terschiedliche Basalzellpopulationen (basal_1, basal_2) am ALI Tag 0 und 28. Die ba-sal_1 Zellen sind überwiegend am Tag 0 und ausschließlich am Tag 28 in COPD-IV Kulturen identifizierbar. Die basal_2 Zellen charakterisieren die non-CLD-Kulturen so-wohl am Tag 0 als auch am Tag 28. Die single cell Signaturen wurden durch IF Färbun-gen validiert. Schlussfolgerung: Der hypersekretorische Phänotyp der COPD-IV ALI Kulturen führt zu einer größeren funktionellen Widerstandsfähigkeit des Bronchialepithels nach NP Exposition und resultiert aus einer erfolglosen Transdifferenzierung der sekretorischen Zellen in MCC

Social Responsibility Concerns of SMEs in Romania, from the Perspective of the Requirements of the EFQM European Excellence Model

The paper highlights some of the results obtained within a questionnaire-based survey conducted in the SMEs from Romania, the objectives being measurement of the degree to which these enterprises fulfil the EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) requirements regarding the social responsibility and measurement of the impact that the implementation of a quality management system according to the ISO 9001 standard has on the degree of fulfilment of these requirements. The research was carried out on a representative sample of SMEs from Romania, in the period 2007-2010, with data being processed from 918 filled-in questionnaires. The results of the research show that SMEs in Romania are especially concerned with reducing and preventing health and occupational safety risk. In contrast, SMEs are less concerned with: the active involvement in the community life, the assessment of the community’s perception on the organization’s social impact and the use of performance indicators related to this impact. However, it was confirmed that the implementation of a quality management system according to the ISO 9001 standard had a positive impact on the ability of SMEs in Romania to fulfil the requirements of the EFQM Excellence Model related to social responsibility. This work received support from CNCSIS –UEFISCSU, through the ID_856 PNII – IDEI research project, code 273//2007.social responsibility, the EFQM Excellence Model, quality management system, SMEs

Use and abuse of the quasi-steady-state approximation

The transient kinetic behaviour of an open single enzyme, single substrate reaction is examined. The reaction follows the Van Slyke–Cullen mechanism, a spacial case of the Michaelis–Menten reaction. The analysis is performed both with and without applying the quasi-steady-state approximation. The analysis of the full system shows conditions for biochemical pathway coupling, which yield sustained oscillatory behaviour in the enzyme reaction. The reduced model does not demonstrate this behaviour. The results have important implications in the analysis of open biochemical reactions and the modelling of metabolic systems

The Impact of the Implementation of ISO 9000 Quality Management System on the Customer Satisfaction Evaluation Process by the Romanian SMEs

The paper highlights a part of the results of the research carried out at the level of Romanian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the period 2007-2010. One of the objectives of the research was to determine the way the Romanian SMEs use the results of evaluation and monitoring of customer satisfaction in the process of redesigning and improvement of the quality of products and services. These results were compared with those obtained in a study with the same purpose, conducted by the authors, in 2003-2004; it resulted a major progress in the process of evaluating and monitoring customer satisfaction by SMEs in Romania. Furthermore, the research carried out showed that there is still significant reluctance in terms of using the results of this process, in connection with the concerns to ensure a sustainable performance for these companies.customer satisfaction, evaluation, monitoring, Small and Medium Enterprises, ISO 9000

Responsible Commercial Activity Of Smes And Specific Values Of Sustainable Development In Terms Of The European Excellence Model

The paper underlines part of the value of the research based on survey results conducted on SMEs in Romania, in 2007-2008, within the national research project IDEAS 856 "Increasing the competitiveness of SMEs in Romania by implementing a model evaluation and improvement of their performance in accordance with the European model of quality management.” One of the research objectives was the assessment of the satisfaction degree of requirements relating to protection of human health and environmental protection by SMEs from Romania, including those in trade, in terms of an integrated approach to sustainable development values within the European Excellence Model as defined by the European Foundation for Quality Management - EFQM). As a consequence of the study it appears that there is a correlation between the degree of meeting these requirements and mature quality management system of enterprises. Thus, it was found that for SMEs in trade, whose interests in implementing a quality management system is in its early stages, the degree of satisfaction of the requirements of society, from the perspective of an integrated approach to sustainable development values in the EFQM Excellence Model, is relatively low. On the other hand, research carried out showed that data obtained by SMEs in trade in the process of evaluating and monitoring the impact on the environment are used mainly to establish corrective actions, following the complaints occurred, and less to define continuous improvement programs to meet these requirements.responsible commercial activity, sustainable development, demands of society, social responsibility, SMEs in trade, the EFQM excellence model

Plant distribution by water gradient in Carpathian and Subcarpathian sectors of Râmnicu Sărat hydrographic basin

Factorii ecologici (climatici, edafici) au un rol primar în geneza diferitelor ecosisteme. La nivel global, aceste ecosisteme sunt fenerate în principal de factorii climatici iar, reducând scara, factorii edafici devin mai importanţi în personalizarea ecosistemelor. Pentru bazinul Râmnicului Sărat factorii edafici, mai ales cantitatea de apă edafică, în corelaţie cu umiditatea atmosferică, sunt responsabili de diversitatea floristică. Gradientul hidric a fost extras pentru fiecare specie, după A.Popescu şi V.Sanda (1998) care a constituit baza analizei statistice

Performance Assessment of the Training Service Providers in Romania related to the Criteria of the Common Quality Assurance Framework

The paper presents the results of a questionnaire based survey, conducted at the level of training service providers in Romania, which are more and more interested to implement internationally recognized management system models. The objective of the research was to assess the degree of fulfilment by these organizations of the criteria defined by the Common Quality Assurance Framework CQAF, which was developed by the European Forum for Education and Training Quality. Taking into consideration the obtained results, the authors have established there is a correlation between the degree of fulfilment of the criteria regarding planning (leadership, objectives and values, strategies and planning, partnership and resources) and the degree of fulfilment of the criteria regarding the results obtained by these organizations in relation with the client and stakeholder needs fulfilment, personnel requirements fulfilment and the ones related to the profitability of the organization.quality assurance, training services, performance, quality management system, trening

MORPHO-BATHYMETRIC PARAMETERS OF RECESS CRUCII LAKE (STÂNIŞOAREI MOUNTAINS)

Morpho-bathymetric parameters of recess Crucii Lake (Stânişoarei Mountains). Crucii Lake from Stânişoarei Mountains was formed in 1978 as a result of riverbed dam Cuejdel after a landslide triggered on the western slope of Muncelul Peak. The event led initially to a small accumulation of 250-300 acvatoriu m, 25-30 m wide and 4-5 m maximum depth. In the summer of 1991 following the construction of a forest road in the flysch, and amid a high humid conditions, the slide was reactivated, leading to the formation of the largest natural dam lake in Romania. It has a length of 1 km, area of 12.2 ha, maximum depth of 16 m and a water volume of ca. 907.000 m3. Morphometric and morpho-bathymetric measurements performed in the summer of 2011, with the help of the integrated 1.200 GPS of Station Leica System 1.200 surveying measurements and bathymetric measurements Valeyport Ecosounder Midas showed new values for the morpho-bathymetric parameters. Among them stands out: 13,95 ha area, perimeter 2801,1 m, maximum length of 1004,82 m, 282,6 m maximum width, maximum depth 16,45 m. To achieve the numerical model of the lake basin were more than 45.000 points bali reading, with equidistance of 0,25 m. The scale of detail work aimed to draw up a proper database to eliminate suspicions about the old analytical methods inaccuracies. At the same time was studied the evolution of the lake’s basin in the context of relatively recent geomorphological changes