Enhanced magnetic field probe array for improved excluded flux calculations on the C-2U advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration plasma experiment

External flux conserving coils were installed onto the exterior of the C-2U [M. W. Binderbauer et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 056110 (2015)] confinement vessel to increase the flux confinement time of the system. The 0.5 in. stainless steel vessel wall has a skin time of ∼5 ms. The addition of the external copper coils effectively increases this time to ∼7 ms. This led to better-confined/longer-lived field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas. The fringing fields generated by the external coils have the side effect of rendering external field measurements invalid. Such measurements were key to the previous method of excluded flux calculation [M. C. Thompson et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10D709 (2012)]. A new array of B-dot probes and Rogowski coils were installed to better determine the amount of flux leaked out of the system and ultimately provide a more robust measurement of plasma parameters related to pressure balance including the excluded flux radius. The B-dot probes are surface mountable chip inductors with inductance of 33 μH capable of measuring the DC magnetic field and transient field, due to resistive current decay in the wall/coils, when coupled with active integrators. The Rogowski coils measure the total change in current in each external coil (150 A/2 ms). Currents were also actively driven in the external coils. This renders the assumption of total flux conservation invalid which further complicates the analysis process. The ultimate solution to these issues and the record breaking resultant FRC lifetimes will be presented.

Osteonecrosis diagnosed on MR images of the knee: Relationship to reduced bone mineral density determined by high resolution peripheral quantitative CT

Purpose: To evaluate if osteonecrosis diagnosed on MR images of the knee relates to reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and may be caused by an insufficiency fracture.

Material and Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients (8 men, 24 women; age range 27–82 years, mean 62 years) with MR findings of osteonecrosis of the femoral or tibial condyle were prospectively included. Trabecular and cortical BMD were measured with high resolution peripheral quantitative CT in the non-dominant distal radius and the tibia of the involved extremity. One tibia was not measured due to posttraumatic deformity.

Results: The mean trabecular BMD of the radius was 81% of the young-adult average peak BMD (range 19–160%). The mean cortical BMD in the radius was 86% (range 63–108%). The mean trabecular BMD in the tibia was 92% (range 28–160%). The mean cortical BMD in the tibia was 86% (range 49–132%). The values of the trabecular bone of the distal radius (tibia) were normal in 11 (15) patients, osteopenic in 12 (4), and osteoporotic in 9 (12), respectively. The cortical bone values of the distal radius (tibia) were normal in 12 (13) patients, osteopenic in 12 (12), and osteoporotic in 8 (6), respectively.

Conclusion: Osteoporosis and osteopenia are commonly found in patients with osteonecrosis of the knee as diagnosed on MR images. This indicates that for some patients an insufficiency mechanism may be responsible for the MR findings. However, in the patients with normal bone density other reasons for osteonecrosis may be present.

Abstract LB-188: Sensitivity of 89Zr-labeled anti-CD8 minibody for PET imaging of infiltrating CD8+ T cells

Background- The ability to monitor CD8 positive tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in vivo is important for evaluating response to immunotherapies and assisting in the development of more effective immune cell targeted single and combination therapies. “ImmunoPET” imaging of tumor infiltrating T cells can provide a specific and sensitive modality to aid selection of patients for specific immunotherapy regimens and determine whether the therapy is working. Here, we report initial results to define the number of CD8+ T cells that can be detected with 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C, an anti-CD8 immunoPET probe, using different animal models

Methods- IAB22M2C, a humanized anti-CD8 minibody, was conjugated with desferrioxamine (Df) and radiolabeled with 89Zr. NOD scid mice were implanted with varying ratios of CD8+ T and tumor cell admixtures either intramuscularly (IM) without Matrigel or subcutaneously (SC) with Matrigel. One or six days later, CD8+ T-cells were visualized with 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C. The same probe was used to detect CD8+ T cells in NSGTM mice engrafted with human PBMCs for 1 and 4 weeks to monitor the temporal progression of Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD).

Results- CD8+ T cells implanted in the muscles of mice were imaged one day later and SC implanted Matrigel plugs imaged 6 days later. Both approaches yielded similar results and indicated that the lower limit of detection was between 1.6 and 4 million CD8+ T cells in a volume of ∼480 mm3 in the presence of normal tissue background activity. The sensitivity of detection increased 10-fold when ex vivo radiolabeled CD8+ T cells were implanted SC with Matrigel. NSGTM mice engrafted with human PBMCs provide a reliable model for xenogeneic T cell driven Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD). Human CD8+ T cells were readily detectable in the spleens of mice 1 week post PBMC engraftment using 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C. As GvHD progressed 4 weeks later, expansion and trafficking of the engrafted T cells to extra-lymphoid tissues including lungs could be followed. Terminal biodistribution showed a 2-3 fold increase in radioactivity uptake in lungs by week 4 post-engraftment; a result that was confirmed by IHC analysis. T cell enumeration and IHC analyses are in progress to further define the sensitivity range using an optimal dose and specific activity of 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C.

Conclusion- These studies show that the lower limit of CD8+ T cell detection by 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C is between 1.6-4.0 million cells in the presence of normal tissue background activity and that the probe can be used to monitor CD8+ T cell trafficking in a GvHD model in vivo. 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C has sensitivity properties that may enable the detection of CD8+ T cells in human tumors. Clinical trials with 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C in melanoma patients will commence later this year.

Citation Format: Tove Olafsen, Ziyue Karen Jiang, Jason Romero, Charles Zamilpa, Filippo Marchioni, Green Zhang, Michael Torgov, Daulet Satpayev, Jean M. Gudas. Sensitivity of 89Zr-labeled anti-CD8 minibody for PET imaging of infiltrating CD8+ T cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-188.

Small-pore driven high capacitance in a hierarchical carbon via carbonization of Ni-MOF-74 at low temperatures

Low temperature carbonization of Ni-MOF-74 yields carbon with high specific capacitance linked to the presence of very small micropores.

A combined CoMFA and CoMSIA 3D-QSAR study of benzamide type antibacterial inhibitors of the FtsZ protein in drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

A major problem today is bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the small number of new therapeutic agents approved in recent years. The development of new antibiotics capable of acting on new targets is urgently required. The filamenting temperature-sensitive Z (FtsZ) bacterial protein is a key biomolecule for bacterial division and survival. This makes FtsZ an attractive new pharmacological target for the development of antibacterial agents. There have been several attempts to develop ligands able to inhibit FtsZ. Despite the large number of synthesized compounds that inhibit the FtsZ protein, there are no quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) that allow for the rational design and synthesis of promising new molecules. We present the first 3D-QSAR study of a large and diverse set of molecules that are able to inhibit the FtsZ bacterial protein. We summarize a set of chemical changes that can be made in the steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic and donor/acceptor hydrogen-bonding properties of the pharmacophore, to generate new bioactive molecules against FtsZ. These results provide a rational guide for the design and synthesis of promising new antibacterial agents, supported by the strong statistical parameters obtained from CoMFA (r(2)(pred) = 0.974) and CoMSIA (r(2)(pred) = 0.980) analyses.

Synthesis and photophysical and supramolecular study of π-conjugated (diethylene glycol methyl ether) benzoateethynylene oligomers and polymers

The strong π–π interaction that governs (diethylene glycol methyl ether) benzoateethynylene macromolecules was evidenced by X-ray scattering and HRTEM.

Total milk fat extraction and quantification of polar and neutral lipids of cow, goat, and ewe milk by using a pressurized liquid system and chromatographic techniques

Although milk polar lipids such as phospholipids and sphingolipids located in the milk fat globule membrane constitute 0.1 to 1% of the total milk fat, those lipid fractions are gaining increasing interest because of their potential beneficial effects on human health and technological properties. In this context, the accurate quantification of the milk polar lipids is crucial for comparison of different milk species, products, or dairy treatments. Although the official International Organization for Standardization-International Dairy Federation method for milk lipid extraction gives satisfactory results for neutral lipids, it has important disadvantages in terms of polar lipid losses. Other methods using mixtures of solvents such as chloroform:methanol are highly efficient for extracting polar lipids but are also associated with low sample throughput, long time, and large solvent consumption. As an alternative, we have optimized the milk fat extraction yield by using a pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) method at different temperatures and times in comparison with those traditional lipid extraction procedures using 2:1 chloroform:methanol as a mixture of solvents. Comparison of classical extraction methods with the developed PLE procedure were carried out using raw whole milk from different species (cows, ewes, and goats) and considering fat yield, fatty acid methyl ester composition, triacylglyceride species, cholesterol content, and lipid class compositions, with special attention to polar lipids such as phospholipids and sphingolipids. The developed PLE procedure was validated for milk fat extraction and the results show that this method performs a complete or close to complete extraction of all lipid classes and in less time than the official and Folch methods. In conclusion, the PLE method optimized in this study could be an alternative to carry out milk fat extraction as a routine method.

Electrochemical Synthesis of N-Oxopyridine-2-thionate Complexes of Cd(II): The Crystal Structure of Bis(2,2′-bipyridine)(N-oxopyridine-2-thionate) Cadmium(II) Perchlorate 1/4 (Bipyridine)

The electrochemical oxidation of Cd in acetonitrile solution of 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinethione (HPT) and 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) affords [Cd(PT)2(bipy)] · H2O and [Cd(PT)(bipy)2]ClO4· 1/4(bipy). The crystal structure of the perchlorate salt shows the molecule to have a distorted octahedral CdN4OS skeleton.

Electrochemical Syntheses of Pyrimidine-2-thiolato Complexes of Nickel(II) / Crystal and Molecular Structure of 2,2′-Bipyridine-bis(pyrimidine-2-thiolato)nickel(II) Monohydrate

The electrochemical oxidation of nickel in pyrimidine-2-thione (pymt H) solution yields a compound of formula [Ni(pymt)2]. When pyridine (py), 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) are added to the solution phase, the product obtained is a complex [Ni(pymt)2py2] or [Ni(pymt)2L] (L = bipy or phen). The crystal structure of [Ni(pymt)2bipy] · H2O is monoclinic, space group P 21/c, with a = 726.6(2), b = 1586.2(2), c = 1696.7(4) pm, β = 99.04(4)° and Z = 4. The nickel atom has highly distorted octahedral coordination and the pyrimidine-2-thiolato ligand is bidentate, forming two four-membered chelate rings with a small “bite” angle of ca. 68°. The two sulphur atoms are in a trans arrangement. The vibrational and electronic spectra of the compounds are discussed.

Direct Electrochemical Synthesis of Pyrimidine-2-thionato Complexes of Zinc(II) and Cadmium(II): The Crystal Structure of (1,10-Phenanthroline)bis(pyrimidine-2-thionato)cadmium(II)

Zn(pymt)2 and Cd(pymt)2 complexes have been obtained by electrochemical oxidation of anodic zinc or cadmium in acetonitrile solutions of pyrimidine-2-thione (Hpymt). When 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) was added to the electrochemical cell, the adducts [M(pymt)2(bipy)], or [M(pymt)2(phen)] (M = Zn or Cd) were obtained. Crystals of [Cd(pymt)2phen] are orthorhombic, with a = 9.882(2), b = 12.491(1), c = 16.513(2)Å, space group P212121 and Z = 4. The cadmium atom has distorted octahedral geometry, and one nitrogen atom of each pyrimidine-2-thiolato ligand is not coordinated.

The Electrochemical Synthesis of Neutral Zinc(II) Complexes of Schiff Base Ligands: The Crystal Structure of Bis[N-(4-methylphenyl)salicylaldiminato]zinc(II)

The electrochemical synthesis and physico-chemical properties of neutral zinc(II) complexes of bidentate Schiff bases derived from salicylaldehydes are presented together with the X-ray structure of bis[N-(4-methylphenyl)salicylaldiminato]zinc(II). The crystal is monoclinic, a = 21.877(3), b = 8.801(2), c = 12.027(5) Å, β = 96.55(3)°, space group C2/c. The complex is a monomer, and the zinc atom is tetrahedrally coordinated.

Dietary synbiotic application modulates Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) intestinal microbial communities and intestinal immunity

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary administration of Pediococcus acidilactici MA18/5M and short chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) intestinal health. Salmon (initial average weight 250 g) were allocated into triplicate sea pens and were fed either a control diet (commercial diet: 45% protein, 20% lipid) or a synbiotic treatment diet (control diet + P. acidilactici at 3.5 g kg(-1) and 7 g kg(-1) scFOS) for 63 days. At the end of this period, fish were sampled for intestinal microbiology, intestinal histology and the expression of selected immune-related genes (IL1β, TNFα, IL8, TLR3 and MX-1) in the intestine. Compared to the control fish, the total bacterial levels were significantly lower in the anterior mucosa, posterior mucosa and posterior digesta of the synbiotic fed fish. qPCR revealed good recovery (log 6 bacteria g(-1)) of the probiotic in the intestinal digesta of the synbiotic fed fish and PCR-DGGE revealed that the number of OTUs, as well as the microbial community diversity and richness were significantly higher in the anterior digesta of the synbiotic fed fish than the control. Compared to the control fed fish, the mucosal fold (villi) length and the infiltration of epithelial leucocytes were significantly higher in the anterior and posterior intestine, respectively, in the synbiotic group. Real-time PCR demonstrated that all of the genes investigated were significantly up-regulated in the anterior and posterior intestine of the synbiotic fed salmon, compared to the control group. At the systemic level, serum lysozyme activity was significantly higher in the synbiotic fed fish and growth performance, feed utilisation and biometric measurements (condition factor, gutted weight and gut loss) were not affected. Together these results suggest that the synbiotic modulation of the gut microbiota has a protective action on the intestinal mucosal cells, improving morphology and stimulating the innate immune response without negatively affecting growth performance or feed utilization of farmed Atlantic salmon.

Dual role of astrocytes in perinatal asphyxia injury and neuroprotection

Perinatal asphyxia represents an important cause of severe neurological deficits including delayed mental and motor development, epilepsy, major cognitive deficits and blindness. However, at the moment, most of the therapeutic strategies were not well targeted toward the processes that induced the brain injury during perinatal asphyxia. Traditionally, experimental research focused on neurons, whereas astrocytes have been more related with the damage mechanisms of perinatal asphyxia. In this work, we propose to review possible protective as well as deleterious roles of astrocytes in the asphyctic brain with the aim to stimulate further research in this area of perinatal asphyxia still not well studied.