Platelet-Derived PCSK9 Is Associated with LDL Metabolism and Modulates Atherothrombotic Mechanisms in Coronary Artery Disease

Platelets play a significant role in atherothrombosis. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is critically involved in the regulation of LDL metabolism and interacts with platelet function. The effect of PCSK9 in platelet function is poorly understood. The authors of this article sought to characterize platelets as a major source of PCSK9 and PCSK9’s role in atherothrombosis. In a large cohort of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), platelet count, platelet reactivity, and platelet-derived PCSK9 release were analyzed. The role of platelet PCSK9 on platelet and monocyte function was investigated in vitro. Platelet count and hyper-reactivity correlated with plasma LDL in CAD. The circulating platelets express on their surface and release substantial amounts of PCSK9. Release of PCSK9 augmented platelet-dependent thrombosis, monocyte migration, and differentiation into macrophages/foam cells. Platelets and PCSK9 accumulated in tissue derived from atherosclerotic carotid arteries in areas of macrophages. PCSK9 inhibition reduced platelet activation and platelet-dependent thrombo-inflammation. The authors identified platelets as a source of PCSK9 in CAD, which may have an impact on LDL metabolism. Furthermore, platelet-derived PCSK9 contributes to atherothrombosis, and inhibition of PCSK9 attenuates thrombo-inflammation, which may contribute to the reported beneficial clinical effects.     

Large‐scale anaerobic degradation of betaine

Betaine, also known as N,N,N‐trimethyl glycine, is a soluble nitrogenous compound present at significant concentrations in sugar‐beet molasses. Molasses is used as substrate in a wide range of industrial fermentations, for example, alcohol, acid and yeast cell production. Betaine is not consumed to any significant extent during these fermentations and appears to largely pass through the subsequent processing stages, becoming an important constituent of the wastewater produced by these industries. The present study confirmed that betaine is present in large amounts in sugar‐beet molasses (up to 6% w/w) and in the effluent of processes using sugar‐beet molasses as substrate (up to 4.5 g dm⁻³). Betaine appeared to be almost completely degraded in the two full‐scale anaerobic treatment plants sampled. This was confirmed by anaerobic activity tests performed with both acclimated and unacclimated anaerobic sludge. The results obtained suggest the possible involvement of a multistep degradation process, with the likelihood of a nitrogen‐containing intermediate. Finally, although not totally discountable, betaine degradation does not appear to be coupled to sulfate reduction during treatment of high‐sulfate wastewaters. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Large area 15.8% n-type mc-Si screen-printed solar cell with screen printed Al-alloyed emitter

A record efficiency of 15.8% (independently confirmed at Fraunhofer ISE calibration laboratory) is reported on large area (120 cm²) n-type mc-Si rear junction Si solar cell. Minor modifications to the industrial process for p-type, such as optimization of Al-alloyed screen-printed emitter and phosphorus front surface field, led to an improvement in cell properties. Large improvement in short-circuit current of the cell was possible by decreasing the cell thickness to 130 μm.     

Four archetypes of process improvement: a Q-methodological study

This paper explores the process improvement approaches of organisations. It seeks to identify process redesign principles and the combinations of these principles that are used successfully in industry. We use Q-methodology to explore the viewpoints of a range of highly experienced process experts about the success of 16 improvement practices. Q-methodology enables the examination of the similarities and differences in the success of the improvement principles used by organisations in order to inform archetypes of process improvement. Overall, our findings suggest that process improvement is determined through the application of two foundational principles combined with one of four archetypes. ‘Remove non-value-adding tasks’ and ‘re-sequence tasks’ are described as foundational principles of process improvement, whilst outsourcing needs to be approached with caution. Furthermore, we articulate four distinctive archetypes comprising unique configurations of improvement principles that can be used to redesign operational processes. Based on this evidence we propose a typology of process improvement. This work suggests that rather than adopting generic improvement frameworks, managers should consult the typology to determine the archetype in closest proximity to their specific requirements. This study has several limitations including the small number of items populating the concourse and the fact that implementation problems are not taken into account.     

Measurement of local specific interfacial area in bubble columns via a non-isokinetic withdrawal method coupled to electro-optical detector

Precise measurement of gas-liquid interfacial surface area is essential to reactor design and operation. Mass transfer from the gas phase to the liquid phase is often a key feature that controls the overall process. Measurement of gas-liquid interfacial area is often made through a separate measurement of the gas holdup and bubble size with complex and/or sophisticated methods. In this work, an inexpensive method is presented for the simultaneous determination of both local gas holdup and bubble diameter. The method is based on the withdrawal of the air-liquid dispersion under non-isokinetic conditions and on bubble counting via a simple optical device. The method was calibrated in a bubble column with several withdrawal pressures using coalescing and non-coalescing media. During the same calibration experiment, gas holdup was also measured manometrically and individual bubble diameters were measured by a photographic method. With a vacuum pressure of 3 kPa, local interfacial area measured with the withdrawal method produced a relative error below 13%, compared to the manometric/photographic method. The method was then used to characterize local specific interfacial area in a bubble column under several operating conditions with coalescing and non-coalescing media. In coalescing media and with superficial gas velocities (v_g) from 0.25 to 3.5 cm/s, the average interfacial area ranged from 17 to . With non-coalescing media the average interfacial area ranged from 40 to . Under the test condition it was observed that gas holdup is a parameter that has a greater distribution (standard deviation from 30% to 70%) than the volume-mean bubble diameter (standard deviation from 6% to 12%). It is shown that a model previously developed for characterizing gas holdup homogeneity is also suitable for characterizing interfacial area homogeneity.     

Development of Real-time PCR Assays for the Detection of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">pin</Emphasis> II Terminator (t<Emphasis Type="Italic">pin</Emphasis>II) Used in GM Constructs and Its Donor Organism,Potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis>)

Two singleplex TaqMan methods were developed for the detection of potato targets: one for the detection of the tpinII terminator, which is an emerging terminator used in GM constructs, and one for the detection of the endogenous StLS gene of potato. Performance criteria such as specificity and sensitivity were successfully tested for the two methods, taking into account the recommendations of international guidelines. The presence of the StLS target was checked in 16 potato cultivars. The StLS target is present at low copy number and can be used for quantitation purposes, as demonstrated on transgenic potatoes in this paper. The StLS target is an excellent candidate to replace the presently recommended endogenous target based on the UGP gene, which shows several disadvantages due to its high copy number and lack of specificity. The research also indicates that DNA can easily be extracted from different parts of potato tubers with a classical cetyltrimethylammonium bromide method.     

Efficacy of an advanced sewage treatment plant in southeast Queensland, Australia, to remove estrogenic chemicals

The estrogenicity profile of domestic sewage during treatment at a medium-sized (3800 EP) advanced biological nutrient removal plant in Queensland, Australia, was characterized using a sheep estrogen receptor binding assay (ERBA) and the MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation assay (E-Screen). The raw influent was highly estrogenic (20-54 ng/L EEq), and primary treatment resulted in a slight increase in estrogenicity that was detected in one of the assays (6-80 ng/L). Concurrent chemical analysis suggested that most of the estrogenicity in the influent was due to natural hormones (>48%). Secondary activated sludge treatment followed by nitrification/denitrification effectively removed > 95% of the estrogenic activity (to <0.75-2.6 ng/L), and estrogenicity of the final tertiary-treated effluent was below the detection limit of both assays (<0.75 ng/L).     

Combined extraction processes of lipid from Chlorella vulgaris microalgae: microwave prior to supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

Extraction yields and fatty acid profiles from freeze-dried Chlorella vulgaris by microwave pretreatment followed by supercritical carbon dioxide (MW-SCCO(2)) extraction were compared with those obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction alone (SCCO(2)). Work performed with pressure range of 20-28 Mpa and temperature interval of 40-70 °C, gave the highest extraction yield (w/w dry weight) at 28 MPa/40 °C. MW-SCCO(2) allowed to obtain the highest extraction yield (4.73%) compared to SCCO(2) extraction alone (1.81%). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of microalgae oil showed that palmitic, oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic acid were the most abundant identified fatty acids. Oils obtained by MW-SCCO(2) extraction had the highest concentrations of fatty acids compared to SCCO(2) extraction without pretreatment. Native form, and microwave pretreated and untreated microalgae were observed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). SEM micrographs of pretreated microalgae present tearing wall agglomerates. After SCCO(2), microwave pretreated microalgae presented several micro cracks; while native form microalgae wall was slightly damaged.     

Torus cutter positioning in five-axis milling using balance of the transversal cutting force

This article introduces a new torus cutter positioning strategy for five-axis milling of free-form surfaces. This approach ensures elimination of local interference while also allowing better surface quality to be obtained than with positioning proposed by computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software. In practice, the cutter axis is inclined to the rear in relation to the feed movement. A first inclination for the cutter axis is calculated to allow local interference to be eliminated. Then, an additional inclination is given to tool axis to achieve balancing of the transversal cutting force component perpendicular to the plane containing the tool axis and the feedrate vector. This particular machining situation considerably enhances the cutter's dynamic behaviour and gives better roughness values than those obtained with positioning by CAM software. A positioning method is adapted to the negative rearward inclination of the cutter axis, and it is then shown how transversal cutting force balancing is integrated in the form of an additional inclination. Finally, a comparison of the results obtained after milling with this new positioning and positioning calculated by a CAM program highlights the new method’s advantages.