The Role of Lignocellulosic Composition and Residual Lipids in Empty Fruit Bunches on the Production of Humic Acids in Submerged Fermentations

The aim of this research was to study the production of humic acids (HA) by Trichoderma reesei from empty fruit bunches (EFBs) of palm oil processing, with a focus on the effects of lignocellulosic content and residual lipids. EFBs from two different soils and palm oil producers were previously characterized about their lignocellulosic composition. Submerged fermentations were inoculated with T. reesei spores and set up with or without residual lipids. The results showed that the soil and the processing for removal of the palm fresh fruits were crucial to EFB quality. Thus, EFBs were classified as type 1 (higher lignocellulosic and fatty acids composition similar to the palm oil and palm kernel oil) and type 2 (lower lignocellulosic content and fatty acids composition similar to palm oil). Despite the different profiles, the fungal growth was similar for both EFB types. HA production was associated with fungal growth, and it was higher without lipids for both EFBs. The highest HA productivity was obtained from type 1 EFB (approximately 90 mg L⁻¹ at 48 h). Therefore, the lignocellulosic composition and the nature of the residual lipids in EFBs play an important role in HA production by submerged fermentation.

     

Visualizing iron in multiple sclerosis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols that are designed to be sensitive to iron typically take advantage of (1) iron effects on the relaxation of water protons and/or (2) iron-induced local magnetic field susceptibility changes. Increasing evidence sustains the notion that imaging iron in brain of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may add some specificity toward the identification of the disease pathology. The present review summarizes currently reported in vivo and post mortem MRI evidence of (1) iron detection in white matter and gray matter of MS brains, (2) pathological and physiological correlates of iron as disclosed by imaging and (3) relations between iron accumulation and disease progression as measured by clinical metrics.     

Polymerization of photocurable commercial dental methacrylate-based composites

Due to their excellent aesthetics, photopolymers have been extensively used in several dentistry applications. However, several problems are reported, e.g. low mechanical and abrasion resistance, shrinkage during polymerization, etc. Properties of the final restorations are intrinsically related to the polymerization stage, which can be conveniently studied by photocalorimetry. In the present work the polymerization reaction and the filler content of different photocurable commercial dental methacrylate-based composites were studied by means of photocalorimetry and thermogravimetry, respectively. The results show that the values of curing rate, the heat of polymerization and the filler content vary significantly from one composite to another.     

Pharmacokinetics of Photogem using fluorescence monitoring in Wistar rats

In this study we investigated the pharmacokinetics of a hematoporphyrin derivative (Photogem) in Wistar rats using the fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate the drug distribution in liver, kidney and skin tissues. The detection system is composed of a 532 nm exciting laser, a Y-type catheter for light delivery and collection, a monochromator and a computer for data acquisition. The analysis of the fluorescence spectra was based on the intensity of porphyrin emission bands from specific tissues of the investigated organ. A simple transport model is proposed to determine the accumulation and elimination times for each type of investigated tissue. The obtained results show the viability of the fluorescence spectroscopic technique for the drug concentration monitoring in different target tissues and related pharmacokinetics. These effects should be considered before any in vivo study of Photodynamic Therapy using Photogem.     

Structure and magnetic properties of (meso-tetraphenylporphinato)manganese(III) bis(dithiolato)nickelates

The crystal structures of [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2H(CN)]2} [MnTPP = (meso-tetraphenylporphinato)manganese(III)] and [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2} have been determined. These salts possess trans-mu-coordination of S = 1/2 {Ni[S2C2H(CN)]2}*- and {Ni[S(2)C(2)(CN)(2)](2)}*- to Mn(III) and form parallel 1-D coordination polymer chains exhibiting nu(CN) at 2210 and 2200 and 2220 and 2212 cm(-1), respectively. The bis(dithiolato) monoanions are planar and bridge two cations with MnN distances of 2.339(16), and 2.394(3) A, respectively, which are comparable to related MnN distances observed for [MnTPP][TCNE].x(solvates). In addition, [MnTP'P]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2} {H2TP'P = meso-tetrakis[3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin] and [MnTP'P(OH2)]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2} were prepared. The latter forms isolated paramagnetic ions. The room-temperature values of chiT for 1-D [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2H(CN)]2}, [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2}, and [MnTP'P]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2} are 2.55, 3.28, and 2.86 emu K/mol, respectively. Susceptibility (chi) measurements between 2 and 300 K reveal weak antiferromagnetic interactions with theta= -5.9 and -0.2 K for [MnTPP]{Ni[S(2)C(2)H(CN)](2)} and [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2}, respectively, and stronger antiferromagnetic coupling of -50 K for [MnTP'P]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2} from fits of chi(T) to the Curie-Weiss law. The 1-D intrachain coupling, J(intra), of [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2H(CN)]2} and [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2} was determined from modeling chiT(T) by the Seiden expression (H = -2JSi.Sj) with J/kB = -8.00 K (-5.55 cm(-1); -0.65 meV) for [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2H(CN)]2}, J/kB = -3.00 K (-2.08 cm(-1); -0.25 meV) for [MnTP'P]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2}, and J/kB = -122 K (-85 cm(-1)) for [MnTP'P]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2}. These observed negative J(intra)/kB values are indicative of antiferromagnetic coupling. These materials order as ferrimagnets at 5.5, 2.3, and 8.0 K, for [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2H(CN)]2}, [MnTPP]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2}, and [MnTP'P]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2}, respectively, based upon the temperature at which maximum in the 10 Hz chi'(T) data occurs. [MnTP'P]{Ni[S2C2(CN)2]2} has a coercivity of 17,700 Oe and remanent magnetizations of 7250 emu Oe/mol at 2 K and 17 Oe and 850 emu Oe/mol at 5 K; hence, upon cooling it goes from being a soft magnet to being a very hard magnet.     

Properties of ZnSe films pulse electrodeposited in the presence of phosphotungstic acid

ZnSe films were pulse-electrodeposited on conducting glass substrates with and without the addition of phosphotungstic acid. X-ray diffraction studies indicated the formation of single phase cubic ZnSe. Addition of phosphotungstic acid resulted in films with nanocrystallites. The band gap of the films was found to increase due to addition of phosphotungstic acid. The films had a crystallite size of the order of 15nm and a surface roughness of 1.8nm. Laser Raman studies exhibited the LO phonon peaks of ZnSe. The films were found to possess a slight excess of Se as evident from the energy dispersive X-ray analysis measurements.     

Phototransformation of hematoporphyrin in aqueous solution: Anomalous behavior at low oxygen concentration

The photoactivation of a photosensitizer is the initial step in photodynamic therapy (PDT) where photochemical reactions result in the production of reactive oxygen species and eventually cell death. In addition to oxidizing biomolecules, some of these photochemical reactions lead to photosensitizer degradation at a rate dependent on the oxygen concentration among other factors. We investigated photodegradation of Photogem ® (28 μM), a hematoporphyrin derivative, at different oxygen concentrations (9.4 to 625.0 μM) in aqueous solution. The degradation was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy. The degradation rate (M/s) increases as the oxygen concentration increases when the molar ratio of oxygen to Photogem® is greater than 1. At lower oxygen concentrations (<25 μM) an inversion of this behavior was observed. The data do not fit a simple kinetic model of first-order dependence on oxygen concentration. This inversion of the degradation rate at low oxygen concentration has not previously been demonstrated and highlights the relationship between photosensitizer and oxygen concentrations in determining the photobleaching mechanism(s). The findings demonstrate that current models for photobleaching are insufficient to explain completely the effects at low oxygen concentration.