Non-destructive examination of the bonding interface in DEMO divertor fingers

Plasma facing components (PFCs) with tungsten (W) armor materials for DEMO divertor require a high heat flux removal capability (at least 10 MW/m² in steady-state conditions). The reference divertor PFC concept is a finger with a tungsten tile as a protection and sacrificial layer brazed to a thimble made of tungsten alloy W – 1% La₂O₃ (WL10). Defects may be located at the W thimble to W tile interface. As the number of fingers is considerable (>250,000), it is then a major issue to develop a reliable control procedure in order to control with a non-destructive examination the fabrication processes. The feasibility for detecting defect with infrared thermography SATIR test bed is presented. SATIR is based on the heat transient method and is used as an inspection tool in order to assess component heat transfer capability. SATIR tests were performed on fingers integrating or not the complex He cooling system (steel cartridge with jet holes). Millimeter size artificial defects were manufactured and their detectability was evaluated. Results of this study demonstrate that the SATIR method can be considered as a relevant non-destructive technique examination for the defect detection of DEMO divertor fingers.     

HIV-2 Neutralization Sensitivity in Relation to Co-Receptor Entry Pathways and Env Motifs

HIV-2, compared to HIV-1, elicits potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies, and uses a broad range of co-receptors. However, both sensitivity to neutralization and breadth of co-receptor use varies between HIV-2 isolates, and the molecular background is still not fully understood. Thus, in the current study, we have deciphered relationships between HIV-2 neutralization sensitivity, co-receptor use and viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) molecular motifs. A panel of primary HIV-2 isolates, with predefined use of co-receptors, was assessed for neutralization sensitivity using a set of HIV-2 Env-directed monoclonal antibodies and co-receptor indicator cell lines. Neutralization sensitivity of the isolates was analysed in relation target cell co-receptor expression, in addition to amino acid motifs and predicted structures of Env regions. Results showed that HIV-2 isolates were more resistant to neutralizing antibodies when entering target cells via the alternative co-receptor GPR15, as compared to CCR5. A similar pattern was noted for isolates using the alternative co-receptor CXCR6. Sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies appeared also to be linked to specific Env motifs in V1/V2 and C3 regions. Our findings suggest that HIV-2 sensitivity to neutralization depends both on which co-receptor is used for cell entry and on specific Env motifs. This study highlights the multifactorial mechanisms behind HIV-2 neutralization sensitivity.     

Towards 3D Bioprinted Spinal Cord Organoids

Three-dimensional (3D) cultures, so-called organoids, have emerged as an attractive tool for disease modeling and therapeutic innovations. Here, we aim to determine if boundary cap neural crest stem cells (BC) can survive and differentiate in gelatin-based 3D bioprinted bioink scaffolds in order to establish an enabling technology for the fabrication of spinal cord organoids on a chip. BC previously demonstrated the ability to support survival and differentiation of co-implanted or co-cultured cells and supported motor neuron survival in excitotoxically challenged spinal cord slice cultures. We tested different combinations of bioink and cross-linked material, analyzed the survival of BC on the surface and inside the scaffolds, and then tested if human iPSC-derived neural cells (motor neuron precursors and astrocytes) can be printed with the same protocol, which was developed for BC. We showed that this protocol is applicable for human cells. Neural differentiation was more prominent in the peripheral compared to central parts of the printed construct, presumably because of easier access to differentiation-promoting factors in the medium. These findings show that the gelatin-based and enzymatically cross-linked hydrogel is a suitable bioink for building a multicellular, bioprinted spinal cord organoid, but that further measures are still required to achieve uniform neural differentiation.     

Effects of dietary α-linolenic acid on the conversion and oxidation of13C-α-linolenic acid

The effects of a diet rich in α-linolenic acid vs. one rich in oleic acid on the oxidation of uniformly labeled¹³C-α-linolenic acid and its conversion into longer-chain polyunsaturates (LCP) were investigatedin vivo in healthy human subjects. Volunteers received a diet rich in oleic acid (n=5) or a diet rich in α-linolenic acid (n=7; 8.3 g/d) for 6 wk before and during the study. After 6 wk, subjects were given 45 mg of¹³C-α-linolenic acid dissolved in olive oil. Blood samples were collected att=0, 5, 11, 24, 96, and 336 h. Breath was sampled and CO₂ production was measured each hour for the first 12 h. The mean (±SEM) maximal absolute amount of¹³C-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in plasma total lipids was 0.04 ±0.01 mg in the α-linolenic acid group, which was significantly lower (P=0.01) than the amount of 0.12±0.03 mg¹³C-EPA in the oleic acid group. Amounts of¹³C-docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and¹³C-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) tended to be lower as well. The mean proportion of labeled α-linolenic acid (ALA) recovered as¹³CO₂ in breath after 12 h was 20.4% in the ALA and 15.7% in the oleic acid group, which was not significantly different (P=0.12). The cumulative recovery of¹³C from¹³C-ALA in breath during the first 12 h was negatively correlated with the maximal amounts of plasma¹³C-EPA (r=−0.58,P=0.047) and¹³C-DPA (r=−0.63,P=0.027), but not of¹³C-DHA (r=−0.49,P=0.108). In conclusion, conversion of¹³C-ALA into its LCP may be decreased on diets rich in ALA, while oxidation of¹³C-ALA is negatively correlated with its conversion into LCP. In a few pilot samples, low¹³C enrichments of n−3 LCP were observed in a diet rich in EPA/DHA as compared to oleic acid.     

Bilsenkrautsamen enthaltender Mohn

Ohne ZusammenfassungMitteilung aus dem Pharmakognostischen Universitätsinstitut in Wien. (Vorstand: Privatdozent Dr. R. Wasicky.)     

The choose-get-keep model of psychiatric rehabilitation: A synopsis of recent studies.

Objective: Comprehensive review of studies using the choose-get-keep (CGK) process model of psychiatric rehabilitation. Also, other studies are identified that have demonstrated methodologies useful in future research on the CGK model. Intervention Model: The CGK process is conceptualized as the phases through which people with psychiatric disabilities proceed as they engage in psychiatric rehabilitation. Conclusion: The CGK model is a potentially useful psychiatric rehabilitation intervention that can be implemented in a variety of service settings and that focuses on the activities of the practitioner and the service recipient. The CGK model warrants further empirical study to examine its effectiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Acidic hydrolysis of plasmalogens followed by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, quantitative method for determining the plasmalogen content of small samples is reported here. The method uses the different susceptibility to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the alkyl, alkenyl and acyl linkages to separate the plasmalogen subclass from the other two non-labile subclasses. Hydrolysis of plasmenylethanolamine and plasmenylcholine was complete after 4 and 1 min of acid treatment, respectively. The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis did not alter the phospholipid fatty acid composition, making this method useful for fatty acid compositional analysis of the plasmalogen subclass. High-performance liquid chromatography was used for separations, and phospholipids were quantitated by assay of lipid phosphorus or by direct quantitation of peak area. Using this method, small amounts (10 nmol) of ethanolamine glycerophospholipid and choline glycerophospholipid are subjected to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and subsequent separation of the resulting lysocompounds obtained from plasmalogens from the more acid-stable alkylacyl and diacyl glycerophospholipid fractions. Our values for plasmalogens from commercial preparations of choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids agree with literature values. The usefulness of the method is demonstrated for small glycerophospholipid samples that are equivalent to samples from cultured neural cells.     

Technological and spoiling characteristics of the yeast microflora isolated from Bella Di Cerignola table olives

This study focused to investigate the technological significance and the spoiling impact of diverse yeast strains, isolated from 'Bella di Cerignola' Italian table olives. Sixty-four isolates (belonging mainly to the species Candida famata and C. guilliermondii ) were studied to assess their growth at different temperatures (15, 25 and 37 °C), pHs (4.0, 5.0 and 9.5) and NaCl concentrations (0–10.0%) in lab medium. Their pectolytic, xylanolytic, lipolytic and catalase activities were also evaluated. Most of the yeasts showed a moderate pectolytic activity and were able to grow at pH 9.5 after 120 h of incubation. Salt and temperature were the most important environmental variables affecting yeast growth, which could exert a strong selective pressure on yeast population. Candida guilliermondii appeared more resistant to high salt concentrations, whereas C. famata was able to grow at 15 °C.     

Effects of practice on character-classification performance.

Presented a character-classification task to 7 male college students under conditions of limited practice consistent with the characterization of memory search as a high-speed internal exhaustive serial comparison process having an average rate of 25-30 symbols/sec. Ss each performed under 3 positive set size conditions on each of 30 sessions. Results indicate that throughout sessions (a) the relationship between set size and response latency remained linear; (b) equality of slopes obtained from positive and negative trials was maintained; and (c) the estimate of scanning rate was stable, and its absolute value almost identical to previous values obtained with limited practice. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)