<Emphasis Type="Italic">In silico</Emphasis> coronary wave intensity analysis: application of an integrated one-dimensional and poromechanical model of cardiac perfusion

Coronary wave intensity analysis (cWIA) is a diagnostic technique based on invasive measurement of coronary pressure and velocity waveforms. The theory of WIA allows the forward- and backward-propagating coronary waves to be separated and attributed to their origin and timing, thus serving as a sensitive and specific cardiac functional indicator. In recent years, an increasing number of clinical studies have begun to establish associations between changes in specific waves and various diseases of myocardium and perfusion. These studies are, however, currently confined to a trial-and-error approach and are subject to technological limitations which may confound accurate interpretations. In this work, we have developed a biophysically based cardiac perfusion model which incorporates full ventricular–aortic–coronary coupling. This was achieved by integrating our previous work on one-dimensional modelling of vascular flow and poroelastic perfusion within an active myocardial mechanics framework. Extensive parameterisation was performed, yielding a close agreement with physiological levels of global coronary and myocardial function as well as experimentally observed cumulative wave intensity magnitudes. Results indicate a strong dependence of the backward suction wave on QRS duration and vascular resistance, the forward pushing wave on the rate of myocyte tension development, and the late forward pushing wave on the aortic valve dynamics. These findings are not only consistent with experimental observations, but offer a greater specificity to the wave-originating mechanisms, thus demonstrating the value of the integrated model as a tool for clinical investigation.     

Computational modeling of the arterial wall based on layer-specific histological data

Arterial walls typically have a heterogeneous structure with three different layers (intima, media, and adventitia). Each layer can be modeled as a fiber-reinforced material with two families of relatively stiff collagenous fibers symmetrically arranged within an isotropic soft ground matrix. In this paper, we present two different modeling approaches, the embedded fiber (EF) approach and the angular integration (AI) approach, to simulate the anisotropic behavior of individual arterial wall layers involving layer-specific data. The EF approach directly incorporates the microscopic arrangement of fibers that are synthetically generated from a random walk algorithm and captures material anisotropy at the element level of the finite element formulation. The AI approach smears fibers in the ground matrix and treats the material as homogeneous, with material anisotropy introduced at the constitutive level by enhancing the isotropic strain energy with two anisotropic terms. Both approaches include the influence of fiber dispersion introduced by fiber angular distribution (departure of individual fibers from the mean orientation) and take into consideration the dispersion caused by fiber waviness, which has not been previously considered. By comparing the numerical results with the published experimental data of different layers of a human aorta, we show that by using histological data both approaches can successfully capture the anisotropic behavior of individual arterial wall layers. Furthermore, through a comprehensive parametric study, we establish the connections between the AI phenomenological material parameters and the EF parameters having straightforward physical or geometrical interpretations. This study provides valuable insight for the calibration of phenomenological parameters used in the homogenized modeling based on the fiber microscopic arrangement. Moreover, it facilitates a better understanding of individual arterial wall layers, which will eventually advance the study of the structure–function relationship of arterial walls as a whole.     

Low diversity and abundance of root endophytes prevail throughout the life cycle of an annual halophyte

Plants growing in highly saline soils harbor unique communities of fungal root endophytes. We aimed to gain insight into how these communities are established in natural plant populations. We used cultivation-based and molecular approaches to examine root-endophytic colonization in the annual halophyte Salicornia patula at three time points over a 5-month period, from establishment to flowering. At the last sampling, the endophytic community of S. patula was compared to that in the related but perennial halophyte Arthrocnemum macrostachyum. The presence of root endophytes in S. patula was negligible at the first two sampling times, and remained low at the last sampling compared to A. macrostachyum. The latter species showed a well-established endophytic community in its roots that differed from that in S. patula, which was dominated by members of Pleosporales. Although such differences could be partially due to the host lifestyle, the possibility of a strong effect of the substratum could not be excluded. Altogether, our data indicate that the fungal endophytic colonization of roots is a slow process under salt stress. Therefore, we suggest that, in contrast to what is proposed for other systems, endophyte symbioses are unlikely to impact the development of the short-life-cycled S. patula living in these environments.     

Alkaline-sulfite pretreatment and use of surfactants during enzymatic hydrolysis to enhance ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse

Sugarcane bagasse is a by-product from the sugar and ethanol industry which contains approximately 70 % of its dry mass composed by polysaccharides. To convert these polysaccharides into fuel ethanol it is necessary a pretreatment step to increase the enzymatic digestibility of the recalcitrant raw material. In this work, sugarcane bagasse was pretreated by an alkaline-sulfite chemithermomechanical process for increasing its enzymatic digestibility. Na₂SO₃ and NaOH ratios were fixed at 2:1, and three increasing chemical loads, varying from 4 to 8 % m/m Na₂SO₃, were used to prepare the pretreated materials. The increase in the alkaline-sulfite load decreased the lignin content in the pretreated material up to 35.5 % at the highest chemical load. The pretreated samples presented enhanced glucose yields during enzymatic hydrolysis as a function of the pretreatment severity. The maximum glucose yield (64 %) was observed for the samples pretreated with the highest chemical load. The use of 2.5 g l^?1 Tween 20 in the hydrolysis step further increased the glucose yield to 75 %. Semi-simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation of the pretreated materials indicated that the ethanol yield was also enhanced as a function of the pretreatment severity. The maximum ethanol yield was 56 ± 2 % for the sample pretreated with the highest chemical load. For the sample pretreated with the lowest chemical load (2 % m/m NaOH and 4 % m/m Na₂SO₃), adding Tween 20 during the hydrolysis process increased the ethanol yield from 25 ± 3 to 39.5 ± 1 %.     

Characterization of the biochemical properties of recombinant Xyn10C from a marine bacterium, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharophagus degradans</Emphasis> 2-40

Endo-1,4-β-xylanases are mostly classified into glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 10 or 11. In this study, we examined the catalytic functions of a recombinant endo-1,4-β-xylanase belonging to GH10 (Xyn10C) from a marine bacterium, Saccharophagus degradans 2-40. Optimal activity of this enzyme was evident at 30 °C and pH 7.0, but activity remained even at low temperatures, indicating its adaptation to cold. With respect to other xylanases known to be active in cold temperatures, Xyn10C is unique in that it showed maximal activity in the presence of 2 M of NaCl. The action patterns of recombinant Xyn10C on xylans from hardwood and softwood differed in part, but the enzyme hydrolyzed polysaccharidic substrates primarily to xylobiose and xylotriose through xylo-oligosaccharides, releasing a small amount of xylose. The K _m and V _max values on birchwood xylan were 10.4 mg mL^?1 and 253 µmol mg^?1 min^?1, respectively. The efficient catalytic function of Xyn10C on short-length xylo-oligosaccharide chains was similar to the typical function of other known GH10 xylanases.     

Effect of propionic acid on citric acid fermentation in an integrated citric acid–methane fermentation process

In this study, an integrated citric acid-methane fermentation process was established to solve the problem of wastewater treatment in citric acid production. Citric acid wastewater was treated through anaerobic digestion and then the anaerobic digestion effluent (ADE) was further treated and recycled for the next batch citric acid fermentation. This process could eliminate wastewater discharge and reduce water resource consumption. Propionic acid was found in the ADE and its concentration continually increased in recycling. Effect of propionic acid on citric acid fermentation was investigated, and results indicated that influence of propionic acid on citric acid fermentation was contributed to the undissociated form. Citric acid fermentation was inhibited when the concentration of propionic acid was above 2, 4, and 6 mM in initial pH 4.0, 4.5 and, 5.0, respectively. However, low concentration of propionic acid could promote isomaltase activity which converted more isomaltose to available sugar, thereby increasing citric acid production. High concentration of propionic acid could influence the vitality of cell and prolong the lag phase, causing large amount of glucose still remaining in medium at the end of fermentation and decreasing citric acid production.     

White-rot fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ganoderma</Emphasis> sp.En3 had a strong ability to decolorize and tolerate the anthraquinone,indigo and triphenylmethane dye with high concentrations

The ability of the white-rot fungus Ganoderma sp.En3 to decolorize different kinds of dyes widely applied in the textile and dyeing industry, including the anthraquinone dye Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), indigo dye indigo carmine and triphenylmethane dye methyl green, was evaluated in this study. Ganoderma sp.En3 had a strong capability of decolorizing high concentrations of RBBR, indigo carmine and methyl green. Obvious reduction of Chemical Oxygen Demand was observed after decolorization of different dyes. Ganoderma sp.En3 had a strong ability to tolerate RBBR, indigo carmine and methyl green with high concentrations. High concentrations of RBBR, indigo carmine and methyl green could also be efficiently decolorized by the crude enzyme of Ganoderma sp.En3. Different redox mediators such as syringaldehyde, acetosyringone and acetovanillone could enhance the decolorization capability for higher concentration of indigo carmine and methyl green. Different metal ions had little effect on the ability of the crude enzyme to decolorize indigo carmine and methyl green. Our study suggested that Ganoderma sp.En3 had a strong capability for decolorizing and tolerating high concentrations of different types of dyes such as RBBR, indigo carmine and methyl green.     

Enzymatic formation of carbohydrate rings catalyzed by single-walled carbon nanotubes

Macrocyclic carbohydrate rings were formed via enzymatic reactions around single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as a catalyst. Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase, starch substrate and SWNTs were reacted in buffer solution to yield cyclodextrin (CD) rings wrapped around individual SWNTs. Atomic force microscopy showed the resulting complexes to be rings of 12–50 nm in diameter, which were highly soluble and dispersed in aqueous solution. They were further characterized by Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and molecular simulation using density functional theory calculation. In the absence of SWNT, hydrogen bonding between glucose units determines the structure of maltose (the precursor of CD) and produces the curvature along the glucose chain. Wrapping SWNT along the short axis was preferred with curvature in the presence of SWNTs and with the hydrophobic interactions between the SWNTs and CD molecules. This synthetic approach may be useful for the functionalization of carbon nanotubes for development of nanostructures.     

Cloning and characterization of two distinct water-forming NADH oxidases from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus pentosus</Emphasis> for the regeneration of NAD

Two uncharacterized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidases (named as LpNox1, LpNox2) from Lactobacillus pentosus ATCC 8041 were cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The sequence analysis revealed that the two enzymes are water-forming Noxs with 64 % and 52 % identity to LbNox from Lactobacillus brevis DSM 20054. The optimal pH and temperature of the purified LpNox1 and LpNox2 were 7.0 and 8.0 and 35 and 40 °C, respectively, with K _M of 99.0 μM (LpNox1) and 27.6 μM (LpNox2), and yielding catalytic efficiency k _cat/K _M of 1.0 and 0.2 μM^?1 s^?1, respectively. Heat inactivation studies revealed that the two enzymes are relatively instable. The application of LpNox1 for the regeneration of NAD⁺ was demonstrated by coupling with a glycerol dehydrogenase-catalyzed oxidation of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone. The characteristics of the LpNox1 could prove to be of interest in industrial application such as NAD⁺ regeneration in dehydrogenase-catalyzed oxidations.     

Production of butanol and isopropanol with an immobilized <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium</Emphasis>

Clostridium beijerinckii optinoii is a Clostridium species that produces butanol, isopropanol and small amounts of ethanol. This study compared the performances of batch and continuous immobilized cell fermentations, investigating how media flow rates and nutritional modification affected solvent yields and productivity. In 96-h batch cultures, with 80 % of the 30 g L^?1 glucose consumed in synthetic media, solvent concentration was 9.45 g L^?1 with 66.0 % as butanol. In a continuous fermentation using immobilized C. beijerinckii optinoii cells, also with 80 % of 30 g L^?1 glucose utilization, solvent productivity increased to 1.03 g L^?1 h^?1. Solvent concentration reached 12.14 g L^?1 with 63.0 % as butanol. Adjusting the dilution rate from 0.085 to 0.050 h^?1 to allow extended residence time in column was required when glucose concentration in fresh media was increased from 30 to 50 g L^?1. When acetate was used to improve the buffer capacity in media, the solvent concentration reached 12.70 on 50 g L^?1 glucose. This continuous fermentation using immobilized cells showed technical feasibility for solvent production.