Effect of Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Data on the Design of Separation Sequences by Distillation

An evaluation of the effect of vapor-liquid equilibrium experimental data on the design of separation sequences by distillation was done using computer simulation. Separation of a mixture of ace-tone-chloroform-benzene was chosen as an example problem. Two sequences were compared. To quantify the thermodynamic data uncertainties for each se-quence two sets of binary vapor-liquid equilibrium data were chosen. These two sets of data were used to generate simulation cases as in classical two-level fac-torial design of experiments. A third set of binary va-por-liquid experimental data allows comparing phase liquid models. For the two-column sequence, analysis done to each column alone or to the whole sequence gave the same results. In the three-column sequence, results were different and simulation of the whole se-quence gave a complete different account that simula-tion of each column alone.Fil: Parodi, C. A.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Campanella, Enrique Angel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentin

EXOSOMES: CAN DOCTORS STILL IGNORE THEIR EXISTENCE?

With this invited commentary we want to draw the attention of young medical doctors, the main readers of this journal, towards the existence and importance of a group of nanovesicles released by human cells: the exosomes. These vesicles are incontinently se-creted as a mean of cell-to-cell communication. They are involved in a number of physiol-ogic processes as well as in the pathogenesis of, virtually, all human diseases. They can be isolated from all biological fluids, like blood, urine, sweat, sperm, crevicular fluid, bile, etc., and their composition in terms of proteins, RNA and lipids is different in pathology that in physiologic conditions. It is therefore possible to predict that they will become an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool in medicine

Curcumin affects HSP60 folding activity and levels in neuroblastoma cells

The fundamental challenge in fighting cancer is the development of protective agents able to interfere with the classical pathways of malignant transformation, such as extracellular matrix remodeling, epithelial\u2013mesenchymal transition and, alteration of protein homeostasis. In the tumors of the brain, proteotoxic stress represents one of the main triggering agents for cell transformation. Curcumin is a natural compound with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties with promising potential for the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Among the mediators of cancer development, HSP60 is a key factor for the maintenance of protein homeostasis and cell survival. High HSP60 levels were correlated, in particular, with cancer development and progression, and for this reason, we investigated the ability of curcumin to affect HSP60 expression, localization, and post-translational modifications using a neuroblastoma cell line. We have also looked at the ability of curcumin to interfere with the HSP60/HSP10 folding machinery. The cells were treated with 6, 12.5, and 25 \ub5M of curcumin for 24 h, and the flow cytometry analysis showed that the compound induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner with a higher percentage of apoptotic cells at 25 \ub5M. This dose of curcumin-induced a decrease in HSP60 protein levels and an upregulation of HSP60 mRNA expression. Moreover, 25 \ub5M of curcumin reduced HSP60 ubiquitination and nitration, and the chaperonin levels were higher in the culture media compared with the untreated cells. Furthermore, curcumin at the same dose was able to favor HSP60 folding activity. The reduction of HSP60 levels, together with the increase in its folding activity and the secretion in the media led to the supposition that curcumin might interfere with cancer progression with a protective mechanism involving the chaperonin

Experimental Comparison of the MIG and Friction Stir Welding Processes for AA 6005 Aluminium Alloy

In this study, the mechanical properties of welded joints of AA 6005 aluminum alloy obtained with friction stir welding (FSW) and conventional metal inert gas welding (MIG) are studied. FSW welds were carried out on a semi-automatic milling machine. The performance of FSW and MIG welded joints were identified using tensile and bending impact tests, as far as the environmental aspects are also included in the discussion. The joints obtained with FSW and MIG processes were also investigated in their microstructure. The results indicate that, the microstructure of the friction stir weld is different from that of MIG welded joint. The weld nugget consists of small grains in FSW than those found in MIG weld. Taking into consideration the process conditions and requirements, FSW and MIG processes were also compared with each other to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the processes for welding applications of studied Al alloy. Better tensile and bending strength were obtained with FSW welded joints

Evaluación mediante teledetección del efecto de canalizaciones sobre el humedal del Saladillo, Argentina

Los humedales son ecosistemas naturales cuya dinámica está determinada principalmente por la presencia de agua. Generalmente se los identifica como áreas que se inundan temporariamente donde el agua subterránea aflora en la superficie, o con áreas con suelos de baja permeabilidad que permanecen cubiertos por agua poco profunda. El agua, por lo tanto, juega un rol fundamental en la determinación de su estructura y funciones ecológicas. Los datos provistos por imágenes satelitales son una herramienta apropiada para analizar humedales y los cambios ocurridos en ellos a lo largo del tiempo. Los Bañados del Saladillo son un complejo de humedales en el centro de Argentina, de gran importancia para la preservación de aves acuáticas. Estos bañados han sufrido profundos cambios por el avance de la agricultura y las canalizaciones realizadas para mitigar el efecto de inundaciones en el sudeste de la provincia de Córdoba de este país. El objetivo del trabajo fue conocer la condición histórica y presente de los Bañados del Saladillo, y analizar los efectos de las canalizaciones sobre los mismos. Se estudiaron 6 imágenes satelitales que se clasificaron con ENVI 4.8 (ITT, 2010), representando la estación seca y húmeda en tres períodos: previo a las canalizaciones (1996); posterior a las canalizaciones (2004-2006); período reciente (2010-2011). Éstas fueron seleccionadas de acuerdo a las precipitaciones acumuladas en 6 meses previos para que fueran comparables. El área de lagunas se redujo entre un 70% (estación húmeda) y un 33% (estación seca). Los mayores cambios observados en la estación húmeda se reflejaron también en la reducción del número de lagunas (40%), la variabilidad de su tamaño (66%), el perímetro de las mismas (28%) y el incremento de la distancia entre ellas. Más allá de la mitigación de las inundaciones, las canalizaciones favorecieron el avance de la agricultura sobre áreas históricamente inundadas en la estación lluviosa, poniendo en riesgo la persistencia de este importante humedal del sudeste de Córdoba en el centro de Argentina. Los resultados obtenidos representan una herramienta útil al momento de tomar decisiones para el manejo y conservación de estos relictos de hábitat natural y su biodiversidad.Wetlands are natural ecosystems whose dynamics is mainly determined by the presence of water. They are generally identified as temporarily flooded areas where groundwater emerges at the surface, or areas with low permeability soils that remain covered by shallow water. The water, therefore, plays a key role in determining the structure and ecological functions of wetlands. Data provided by satellite images are an appropriate tool for analyzing wetlands and their changes over time. The Saladillo Wetlands are a complex of marshlands in the centre of Argentina, of great importance to the preservation of birds. These marshes have suffered profound changes caused by the advancement of agriculture and channels made to mitigate the effects of flooding in the southeast of the province of Cordoba in this country. The objective of our work was to know the historical and present condition of the Saladillo Wetlands, and to analyze the effects of the channelization on them. We studied six satellite images classified with ENVI 4.8. These images represented the dry and the wet season into three periods: prior to the channelization (1996), after the channelization (2004-2006); and recent period (2010- 2011). They were selected according to the accumulated rainfall during the previous 6 months to make them comparable. The pond area was reduced by 70% (wet season) and 33% (dry season). The major changes observed in the wet season also reflected in the reduction in the number of ponds (40%), the variability of their size (66%), the perimeter of flooded areas (28%) and an increasing the distance between ponds. Beyond the flood mitigation, the channelization favoured the advancement of agriculture on areas historically flooded in the rainy season, threatening the persistence of this important wetland of the southeast of Cordoba in central Argentina. Our results represent a useful tool for the management and conservation of these remnants of natural habitat and biodiversity.Fil: Lopez, C.. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Brandolin, Pablo Germán. Asociación Civil Amigos para la Conservación de las Aves, Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Campanella, O. R.. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Geologia; ArgentinaFil: Martino, A. L.. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: de Angelo, Carlos Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales. Instituto de Biologia Subtropical - Sede Puerto Iguazu; Argentin

Thermo-mechanical behaviour of a compacted swelling clay

Compacted unsaturated swelling clay is often considered as a possible buffer material for deep nuclear waste disposal. An isotropic cell permitting simultaneous control of suction, temperature and pressure was used to study the thermo-mechanical behaviour of this clay. Tests were performed at total suctions ranging from 9 to 110 MPa, temperature from 25 to 80 degrees C, isotropic pressure from 0.1 to 60 MPa. It was observed that heating at constant suction and pressure induces either swelling or contraction. The results from compression tests at constant suction and temperature evidenced that at lower suction, the yield pressure was lower, the elastic compressibility parameter and the plastic compressibility parameter were higher. On the other hand, at a similar suction, the yield pressure was slightly influenced by the temperature; and the compressibility parameters were insensitive to temperature changes. The thermal hardening phenomenon was equally evidenced by following a thermo-mechanical path of loading-heating-cooling-reloading

Exosome levels in human body fluids: A tumor marker by themselves?

Despite considerable research efforts, the finding of reliable tumor biomarkers remains challenging and unresolved. In recent years a novel diagnostic biomedical tool with high potential has been identified in extracellular nanovesicles or exosomes. They are released by the majority of the cells and contain detailed molecular information on the cell of origin including tumor hallmarks. Exosomes can be isolated from easy accessible body fluids, and most importantly, they can provide several biomarkers, with different levels of specificity. Recent clinical evidence shows that the levels of exosomes released into body fluids may themselves represent a predictive/diagnostic of tumors, discriminating cancer patients from healthy subjects. The aim of this review is to highlight these latest challenging findings to provide novel and groundbreaking ideas for successful tumor early diagnosis and follow-up

design and restoration the roots of architectureporject for the built

It is absolutely essential now to prepare a project of pre-critical understanding of the building which will be the object of action, free from preconceived notions of value, fully committed to the implementation of a variety of useful and indispensable to determine that operating margin and freedom that each architecture has not being linked uniquely to the precise original function. This is the margin that you can leverage to implement the architectural project for the built that mutuerà inside knowledge, conservation and innovation at the same time. The binomials in the lead paragraph as all sides of the same coin that merge into one integrated design process that takes charge of design including those different styles of drafting of survey (in all aspects) of an existing architecture

AMBRA1 is able to induce mitophagy via LC3 binding, regardless of PARKIN and p62/SQSTM1

Damaged mitochondria are eliminated by mitophagy, a selective form of autophagy whose dysfunction associates with neurodegenerative diseases. PINK1, PARKIN and p62/SQTMS1 have been shown to regulate mitophagy, leaving hitherto ill-defined the contribution by key players in 'general' autophagy. In basal conditions, a pool of AMBRA1 - an upstream autophagy regulator and a PARKIN interactor - is present at the mitochondria, where its pro-autophagic activity is inhibited by Bcl-2. Here we show that, upon mitophagy induction, AMBRA1 binds the autophagosome adapter LC3 through a LIR (LC3 interacting region) motif, this interaction being crucial for regulating both canonical PARKIN-dependent and -independent mitochondrial clearance. Moreover, forcing AMBRA1 localization to the outer mitochondrial membrane unleashes a massive PARKIN- and p62-independent but LC3-dependent mitophagy. These results highlight a novel role for AMBRA1 as a powerful mitophagy regulator, through both canonical or noncanonical pathways