Polyphenols and Fish Oils for Improving Metabolic Health: A Revision of the Recent Evidence for Their Combined Nutraceutical Effects

Polyphenols and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oils, i.e., eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, are well-recognized nutraceuticals, and their single antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been demonstrated in several studies found in the literature. It has been reported that the combination of these nutraceuticals can lead to three-fold increases in glutathione peroxidase activity, two-fold increases in plasma antioxidant capacity, decreases of 50–100% in lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and urinary 8-isoprotanes, as well as 50–200% attenuation of common inflammation biomarkers, among other effects, as compared to their individual capacities. Therefore, the adequate combination of those bioactive food compounds and their single properties should offer a powerful tool for the design of successfully nutritional interventions for the prevention and palliation of a plethora of human metabolic diseases, frequently diet-induced, whose etiology and progression are characterized by redox homeostasis disturbances and a low-grade of chronic inflammation. However, the certain mechanisms behind their biological activities, in vivo interaction (both between them and other food compounds), and their optimal doses and consumption are not well-known yet. Therefore, we review here the recent evidence accumulated during the last decade about the cooperative action between polyphenols and fish oils against diet-related metabolic alterations, focusing on the mechanisms and pathways described and the effects reported. The final objective is to provide useful information for strategies for personalized nutrition based on these nutraceuticals.     

Unveiling the relevance of the redox character of nitroaromatic and nitroheteroaromatic compounds as potential medicines

This review discusses the state of the art, challenges, and perspectives in recent applications of nitroaromatics and nitroheteroaromatics, which are redox-bio-activated drugs or leads, in Medicinal Chemistry. It deals mainly with the electrochemical approach toward the electron transfer-based molecular mechanisms of drug action, drug design, estimation and measurement of redox potentials, correlation of physicochemical and pharmacological data, and electrochemical studies of the main representatives of nitro-containing prodrugs, along with approaches to combat their toxicity issues, aiming at a better therapeutic profile. Electrochemical investigation plays essential roles, being strategic in the design and discovery of potential medicines.     

InSb芯片碎裂与迸溅金点的关系

批量生产中经常发生的锑化铟(InSb)芯片碎裂问题制约着InSb红外焦平面探测器(IRFPAs)成品率的提升.经分析认为:低周期液氮冲击下发生在器件边沿区域的InSb芯片破碎与该区域中迸溅金点的存在有关.为从理论上明晰迸溅金点对InSb芯片局部碎裂的影响,本文建立了包含迸溅金点的InSb IRFPAs结构模型,分析了迸溅金点的存在对应力分布的影响.在此基础上,在应力集中处预置不同长度的初始裂纹用以描述InSb晶片中的位错,以能量释放率为判据,探究InSb芯片碎裂与迸溅金点和位错线长短的关系.结论如下:1)迸溅金点的存在对InSb芯片碎裂的影响是局部的,在迸溅金点与InSb芯片接触区域的两侧会形成两个应力集中点; 2)环绕预置裂纹的能量释放率会随着预置裂纹长度的增加而加速增大,当预置裂纹长度接近InSb芯片上表面时,能量释放率近乎指数增加,并在预置裂纹贯穿InSb芯片时达到最大值; 3)迸溅金点引起的InSb芯片破碎属于Ⅰ型断裂失效模式,在多周期液氮冲击中,位错线在应力集中效应的驱使下逐步扩展,直至贯穿InSb芯片,最终形成宏观碎裂失效现象.     

Cold,warm, and hot programming of shape memory polymers

In this article, programming is classified as hot, warm, and cold, based on the temperature zone within which the programming is conducted. The strain and stress locking and releasing mechanisms are discussed within the thermodynamics framework. A new formula is developed for quantifying the strain recovery ratio of cold-programmed SMPs. Stress fixity ratio and stress recovery ratio are also defined based on the understanding of stress locking and recovery mechanisms. State-of-the-art literature on warm and cold programming is reviewed. Well-controlled programming as well as free strain recovery test and constrained stress recovery test are conducted, in order to validate the memory mechanisms discussed in this study. It is found that, while programming temperature has an insignificant effect on the final free shape recovery, it has a significant effect on the stress recovery. The recovery stress programmed by cold programming may be lower, equal to, or higher than that by hot programming, due to the different stress locking mechanisms and other factors such as damage during the thermomechanical cycle. Cold, Warm, and Hot Programming of Shape Memory Polymers © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1319–1339     

The ASBM-SA turbulence closure: Taking advantage of structure-based modeling in current engineering CFD codes

Structure-based turbulence models (SBM) carry information about the turbulence structure that is needed for the prediction of complex non-equilibrium flows. SBM have been successfully used to predict a number of canonical flows, yet their adoption rate in engineering practice has been relatively low, mainly because of their departure from standard closure formulations, which hinders easy implementation in existing codes. Here, we demonstrate the coupling between the Algebraic Structure-Based Model (ASBM) and the one-equation Spalart–Allmaras (SA) model, which provides an easy route to bringing structure information in engineering turbulence closures. As the ASBM requires correct predictions of two turbulence scales, which are not taken into account in the SA model, Bradshaw relations and numerical optimizations are used to provide the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate. Attention is paid to the robustness and accuracy of the hybrid model, showing encouraging results for a number of simple test cases. An ASBM module in Fortran-90 is provided along with the present paper in order to facilitate the testing of the model by interested readers.     

Degradation of a polyester‐urethane coating: Physical properties

In this article we studied the evolution of thermomechanical properties of a polyester‐urethane coating during degradation under different degradation conditions, i.e., aerobic and anaerobic conditions with and without dry/wet cycling during degradation. Dynamic mechanical and thermal analyses show that under aerobic conditions the coatings become stiffer and more brittle in the glassy state. This stiffening is probably due to the increase in the amount of hydrogen bonding and the formation of oxidized groups which increase the polarity of the material and enhance the interactions of the polymer segments. However, oxidation reactions result in a considerable decrease in cross‐link density and stiffness in the rubbery state. Both changes, in the glassy and rubbery states, give rise to development of internal stresses. These stresses increase as the degradation process proceeds. Nevertheless, for samples exposed to anaerobic conditions, the stiffness remains constant in the glassy state and the cross‐link density slightly increases as a result of degradation. This reconfirms the dominance of the effect of oxidation reactions on the mechanical failure of the coatings. Oxygen permeation measurements show a more‐or‐less time‐independent diffusion coefficient and a gradual decrease in solubility of oxygen as a function of exposure time. This results in a slight decrease in oxygen permeation (mainly in the early stage of the degradation) as degradation proceeds. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 659–671     

CALCULATION FORMULAS FOR PRINCIPAL STRESSES

在前人工作的基础上,运用一元三次方程的理论直接求解应力状态的特征方程,得到了实用的主应力计算公式.     

Trichosanthes kirilowii ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in both in vitro and in vivo

The aim of this study was to explore the protective effects of Trichosanthes kirilowii ethanol extract (TKE) against cisplatin-induced acute renal failure (ARF). In the in vitro study, TKE-pretreated porcine kidney cells (PK15) exhibited enhanced cell viability after cisplatin (15 μg mL^? 1) treatment in both MTT and crystal violet assays. PK15 cells pretreated with TKE (50 μg mL^? 1) exhibited increased glutathione content, decreased reactive oxygen species production and ameliorated p53 expression. In vivo study, rats were administered with TKE for 4 weeks before cisplatin (5 mg kg^? 1) injection. TKE (100 mg kg^? 1) decreased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels by 24% and 47%, respectively, in comparison with cisplatin-alone group. In addition, TKE pretreatment ameliorated cisplatin-induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased antioxidative enzyme levels and decreased lipid peroxidation levels. Moreover, TKE pretreatment reduced histopathological alterations in the kidney with decreased apoptotic cells. Taken together, TKE might be beneficial in treating cisplatin-induced ARF.     

Olive oil and its phenolic constituent tyrosol attenuates dioxin-induced toxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells via an antioxidant-dependent mechanism

Olive oil (OO) and its phenolic compounds are reported to possess many potential biological effects, which are ascribed to its powerful antioxidant property. In this study, we have assessed whether OO and its phenolic compound tyrosol (TY) could mitigate 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced oxidative damages in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The results showed that exposure of PBMC to 10 nM TCDD caused significant cell death and elevated cellular concentrations of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Comet assay indicated that OO and TY protected DNA damage against dioxin toxicity. In addition, alterations in levels of antioxidant enzymes were substantially prevented by OO and TY. TCDD-induced CYP1A1 activity and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly reduced by the administration of OO and TY. The results suggested that dietary modifications incorporating diets rich in OO and associated phenolics could prove beneficial in protecting individuals against toxicity induced by dioxins.     

Nanotechnology for Electroanalytical Biosensors of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species

Over the past several decades, nanotechnology has contributed to the progress of biomedicine, biomarker discovery, and the development of highly sensitive electroanalytical / electrochemical biosensors for in vitro and in vivo monitoring, and quantification of oxidative and nitrosative stress markers like reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). A major source of ROS and RNS is oxidative stress in cells, which can cause many human diseases, including cancer. Therefore, the detection of local concentrations of ROS (e. g. superoxide anion radical; O₂^•−) and RNS (e. g. nitric oxide radical; NO^• and its metabolites) released from biological systems is increasingly important and needs a sophisticated detection strategy to monitor ROS and RNS in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we discuss the nanomaterials‐based ROS and RNS biosensors utilizing electrochemical techniques with emphasis on their biomedical applications.