Effects of Tolvaptan on Oxidative Stress in ADPKD: A Molecular Biological Approach

Autosomal dominant polycystic disease (ADPKD) is the most frequent monogenic kidney disease. It causes progressive renal failure, endothelial dysfunction, and hypertension, all of which are strictly linked to oxidative stress (OxSt). Treatment with tolvaptan is known to slow the renal deterioration rate, but not all the molecular mechanisms involved in this effect are well-established. We evaluated the OxSt state in untreated ADPKD patients compared to that in tolvaptan-treated ADPKD patients and healthy subjects. OxSt was assessed in nine patients for each group in terms of mononuclear cell p22phox protein expression, NADPH oxidase key subunit, MYPT-1 phosphorylation state, marker of Rho kinase activity (Western blot) and heme oxygenase (HO)-1, induced and protective against OxSt (ELISA). p22phox protein expression was higher in untreated ADPKD patients compared to treated patients and controls: 1.42 ± 0.11 vs. 0.86 ± 0.15 d.u., p = 0.015, vs. 0.53 ± 0.11 d.u., p < 0.001, respectively. The same was observed for phosphorylated MYPT-1: 0.96 ± 0.28 vs. 0.68 ± 0.09 d.u., p = 0.013 and vs. 0.47 ± 0.13 d.u., p < 0.001, respectively, while the HO-1 expression of untreated patients was significantly lower compared to that of treated patients and controls: 5.33 ± 3.34 vs. 2.08 ± 0.79 ng/mL, p = 0.012, vs. 1.97 ± 1.22 ng/mL, p = 0.012, respectively. Tolvaptan-treated ADPKD patients have reduced OxSt levels compared to untreated patients. This effect may contribute to the slowing of renal function loss observed with tolvaptan treatment.

Determination of Galendo’s Shelf Life on Various of Storage Temperatures by Arrhenius Method

This study aims to estimate the shelf life by applying the Arrhenius formula model to "galendo" which is vacuum packed and stored at various temperatures. Estimation of the shelf-life limit of galendos was carried out by measuring the peroxide number and sensory values ​​of galendos which were deliberately kept open without being packed at room temperature (25 ○C). The sensory values ​​used as the threshold for consumer rejection of the level of galendo's rancid odor were achieved on the 27th day of storage and the current peroxide count value was 42.2724 meq/kg. Galendo which was vacuum packed with aluminum foil and stored at various temperatures of 15 ○C, 25 ○C, and 35 ○C, then the shelf life was determined using the Arrhenius and Q10 models based on the parameters of the total peroxide number (TPN) and the total microbial content. Based on the experiment in this study, the estimation results of galendo's shelf life based on the total peroxide number (TPN) test parameter show that storage at 15 ○C has a shelf life of 83 days with a deterioration rate (k) of 0.0207, storage at 25 ○C shelf life 67 days with a deterioration rate (k) 0.0247, and storage at a temperature of 35 ○C for 58 days with a deterioration rate (k) 0.0286. The rate of quality degradation with a value of Q10 (15 oC - 25 oC) of 1.23 and a value of Q10 (25 oC - 35 oC) of 1.16. The higher the storage temperature, the higher the microorganism content.

An Uncertain APP Model with Allowed Stockout and Service Level Constraint for Vegetables

Volatile markets and uncertain deterioration rate make it extremely difficult for manufacturers to make the quantity of saleable vegetables just meet the fluctuating demands, which will lead to inevitable out of stock or over production. Aggregate production planning (APP) is to find the optimal yield of vegetables, shortage and overstock symmetry, are not conducive to the final benefit.The essence of aggregate production planning is to deal with the symmetrical relation between shortage and overproduction. In order to reduce the adverse effects caused by shortage, we regard the service level as an important constraint to meet the customer demand and ensure the market share. So an uncertain aggregate production planning model for vegetables under condition of allowed stockout and considering service level constraint is constructed, whose objective is to find the optimal output while minimizing the expected total cost. Moreover, two methods are proposed in different cases to solve the model. A crisp equivalent form can be transformed when uncertain variables obey linear uncertain distributions and for general case, a hybrid intelligent algorithm integrating the 99-method and genetic algorithm is employed. Finally, two numerical examples are carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model.

A deteriorating food preservation supply chain model with downstream delayed payment and upstream partial prepayment

This paper investigates a food supply chain model consisting of the supplier, food producer and multi-retailer of a deteriorating item under fully delay-in-payment and partial advance payment scheme. The deterioration rate of raw material is dependent on temperature and other environmental factors with respect to time. Here, the food producer prepares food after collecting the raw material from the supplier and then storing it in cold storage. The refrigeration cost is dependent on the occupied volume in the cold storage (where the products are preserved for freshness) and power consumption. The supplier offers delay-in-payment to stimulate the food producer to buy more raw material (which minimizes the holding cost and earns more revenues), whereas the food producer takes the partial advance payment on purchase cost from the retailers to ensure the order quantity. A mathematical model is developed to obtain optimal production time and the optimal number of deliveries so that the average profit of the food producer is maximum. Finally, a numerical example and sensitivity analysis of the key parameters are provided to illustrate and test the feasibility of the proposed model.

Scientific insights of electrochemical replacement approach to describe the origin of Pre-Columbian Peruvian gilded copper-based objects

Pre-Columbian Peruvian goldsmiths developed gilded copper-based objects by ancient techniques that require identification to propose conservation strategies. Lechtman H, conducted experiments to suggest that the electrochemical replacement was the gilding technique used by the Moche and Vicus cultural groups. Despite her remarkable achievement, the quantitative data provided by her is still open to discussion. This work focused on obtaining experimental data to recreate her protocol by introducing less gold precursor. Polished copper pieces were plated with an adherent gold film of up to 7.5 µm after immersing them into an electrolytic solution for 3 min and 6 min at 80 °C. Our results demonstrated that the electrochemical replacement technique gives rise to anodic regions in the plated objects. Further studies around the corrosion process that undergoes these heritage objects in burial and environmental conditions are suggested to determine their deterioration rate. Moreover, electroless and galvanic techniques should be explored in order to improve current approaches.

Impact of Variable Deterioration Rate of Perishable Food Items on Multi-Echelon Distribution Chains

Customer satisfaction is the backbone of any business entity and supply chain optimization plays a vital role in customer satisfaction efforts. Supply chain inventory control is one of the scientific supply chain optimization methods for determining proper inventory levels at different stages or echelons of the supply chain to meet the requirements of the customers. The intention is to supply right type of material at exact time in appropriate quantities and at competitive rates. Supply chain inventory costs consist of costs to store, track and insure materials. Inventories that mishandled create substantial financial problems for a business, whether the mismanagement results in an inventory accumulation or an inventory shortage. Therefore, an examination of the right quantities to be kept in stock to meet the requirements, the strategic location, storage facilities and recordings of the goods or items should be done systematically such that the desired degree of service can be provided at competitive prices or at minimum ultimate cost. Major objective of inventory control in a multi echelon supply chain is to optimize inventory cost elements like transportation cost, carrying cost, holding cost and all other inventory related costs at all supply chain stages with an elevated service level at the end customer point. The supply chain inventory control becomes tough when the handling material is a perishable one as its deterioration rate is variable rather than constant. This article provides the study results of the deterioration rate of a perishable edible inventory at different selected environmental conditions. The focus of this article is to introduce a mathematical equation for the deterioration rate of the selected perishable inventory which is inevitable for the formulation of inventory models for its supply chain echelons.

A Fuzzy Production Inventory Model for Deteriorating Items with Shortages

In this paper we have developed a supply chain production inventory model for deteriorating items with shortage under Fuzzy environment. The formulae for the optimal average system cost, stock level, backlog level and production cycle time are derived when the deterioration rate is very small. In reality it is seen that we cannot define all parameters precisely due to imprecision or uncertainty in the environment. So, we have defined the inventory parameter deterioration rate as triangular fuzzy numbers. The signed distance method and graded mean integration method have been used for defuzzification. Numerical examples are taken to illustrate the procedure of finding the optimal total inventory cost, stock level and backlog level. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to demonstrate the effects of changing parameter values on the optimal solution of the system.

Objective vestibular function changes in children following cochlear implantation

BACKGROUND: To date, systematically objective evaluations of vestibular function in children with cochlear implantation (CI) have been conducted sparsely, especiallyin children with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS). OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to investigate the function of all five vestibular end-organs pre- and post-cochlear implantation in children with LVAS and normal CT. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 34 children (age 4–17 years) with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) undergoing unilateral CI were included. Participants included 18 (52.9%) children with LVAS. Objective modalities to evaluate vestibular function included the caloric test, cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP), ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP), and video head impulse test (vHIT). All measurements were performed before surgery and 9 months after surgery. RESULTS: Mean age at CI was 8.1±3.7 years. Caloric testing showed hypofunction in 38.2%of cases before implantation and in 50%after (p > 0.05). We found a significant increase of overall abnormality rate in cVEMP and oVEMP from pre- to post-CI (p < 0.05). In all three semicircular canals tested by vHIT, there were no statistically significant mean gain changes (p > 0.05). Higher deterioration rates in cVEMP (53.3%) and oVEMP (52.0%) after surgery were observed (p < 0.05). In children with LVAS, cVEMP revealed a higher deterioration rate than superior semicircular canal (SSC) and posterior semicircular canal (PSC) (p < 0.05). In children with normal CT, the deterioration rates in VEMPs were both higher than those in vHIT (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In general, the otolith organs were the most affected peripheral vestibular sensors in children after cochlear implantation. The variations in otolith function influenced by CI were different between children with LVAS and normal CT. We recommend the use of this vestibular function test battery for children with cochlear implantation.

Evaluation of effectiveness various seed processing combination technique to produce True Shallot Seed (TSS) with good quality

The seed processing technique is essential to maintain quality and suppress seed deterioration rate as long as processing time. This research aims to evaluate various seed processing combination techniques to produce TSS with good quality. The study was conducted at Indonesian Vegetables Research Institute, Lembang (1,250 m sal) from March until December 2018. The research used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatment consisted of 12 combinations of seed processing, including the technique of drying, capsule breaking, and sorting. The research result showed that the best treatment was a combination technique with umbels drying in the room at RH 50 % and 30-35°C for 72 hours, breaking capsule by hand manually, and seed sorting by winnower followed by hand manually. The produced seed quality in this treatment showed the seed germination was 75%, the moisture content was 7.5%, and the physical purity was 99.9%. This research implies that the availability of TSS processing technology can be carried out by massal, but still can produce good seed quality.

Oxygen Depletion Testing of Metals

The altered nature of archaeological metals means they deteriorate at much lower relative humidity (RH) conditions than historical metals. The study of deterioration for such materials is hampered by their complexity, variability and difficulties in measuring deterioration. Placing an object in a sealed container, controlling the RH and pollutant gases and measuring any decrease in oxygen concentration is an accessible method to measure the deterioration rate. It has been used for research into suitable environmental conditions to manage the deterioration rates of such artefacts, including the differences in the response of artefacts from different excavation sites. Some objects need the careful control of RH to low values; this is expensive to maintain and poses risks to other artefacts displayed together. Many objects are actually stable up to quite high RH values, and oxygen depletion testing has been used to identify those that can be safely displayed with minimal environmental control. The accelerated corrosion ‘Oddy’ test is frequently used to sift out unsuitable display materials. T the visual assessment is widely recognized to be subjective. the test container has been modified and oxygen depletion appears to give good quantitative measurements of corrosion that correspond with both visual comparison and corrosion loss measurement with linear stripping voltametry or chemical stripping for copper, lead and steel but not for silver.