Model Assisted Analysis of the Hepatic Arterial Buffer Response During Ex Vivo Porcine Liver Perfusion.

OBJECTIVE: The hepatic arterial buffer response is a well-known phenomenon in hepatic circulation, describing the response of hepatic arterial resistance to changes in portal vein flow. Several vasoactive metabolites underlying its mechanism have been proposed, however, there is currently no clear consensus. The aim of this study is to investigate the hepatic arterial buffer response of porcine livers preserved in a controlled ex vivo perfusion machine. METHODS: Porcine livers are perfused on an ex vivo perfusion machine and hemodynamic experiments investigating the hepatic arterial resistance response to portal vein flow and vena cava pressure variations are conducted. A simple hemodynamic model is developed to support the interpretation of the received measurements. Further, a mechanism is proposed that explains hepatic arterial resistance changes in response to vena cava pressure as myogenic and in response to portal vein flow as a combined washout and myogenic effect. RESULTS: A clear correlation between hepatic sinusoidal pressure levels and hepatic arterial resistance is observed where an increase of approximately 4 mmHg of hepatic sinusoidal pressure level results in doubling of the hepatic arterial resistance. This relation is considered during the analysis of the portal vein flow variations resulting in a reduced isolated effect of adenosine washout on hepatic arterial resistance. With an average buffer capacity of 27% during our experiments, the hepatic arterial buffer response shows to be unimpaired in the ex vivo scenario. CONCLUSION: First, washout and myogenic effects both influence the hepatic arterial buffer response; and second, hepatic sinusoidal pressure levels strongly influence the hepatic arterial resistance. SIGNIFICANCE: These results present new findings in hemodynamics of the liver, which are fundamental for successful ex vivo liver perfusion.

Decisive Role of Perimeter Sites in Silica-Supported Ag Nanoparticles in Selective Hydrogenation of CO2 to Methyl Formate in the Presence of Methanol.

Methyl formate synthesis by hydrogenation of carbon dioxide in the presence of methanol offers a promising path to valorize carbon dioxide. In this work, silica-supported silver nanoparticles are shown to be a significantly more active catalyst for the continuous methyl formate synthesis than the known gold and copper counterparts, and the origin of the unique reactivity of Ag is clarified. Transient in situ and operando vibrational spectroscopy and DFT calculations shed light on the reactive intermediates and reaction mechanisms: a key feature is the rapid formation of surface chemical species in equilibrium with adsorbed carbon dioxide. Such species is assigned to carbonic acid interacting with water/hydroxyls on silica and promoting the esterification of formic acid with adsorbed methanol at the perimeter sites of Ag on SiO2 to yield methyl formate. This study highlights the importance of employing combined methodologies to verify the location and nature of active sites and to uncover fundamental catalytic reaction steps taking place at metal-support interfaces.

Rationally 3D-Textured Copper Surfaces for Laplace Pressure Imbalance-Induced Enhancement in Dropwise Condensation.

Enhancing the thermal efficiency of a broad range of condenser devices requires means of achieving sustainable dropwise condensation on metallic surfaces, where heat transfer can be further enhanced, by harvesting the advantage of the sweeping action of vapor flow over the surface, facilitating a reduction in the droplet departure diameter. Here, we present a rationally driven, hierarchical texturing process of copper surfaces, guided by fundamental principles of wettability and coalescence, which achieves controlled droplet departure under vapor flow conditions and thus significantly enhances phase change thermal transport. The desired texture is attained by fabricating an array of 3D laser-structured truncated microcones on the surface, covered with papillae-like nanostructures and a hydrolytically stable, low surface energy self-assembled-monolayer coating. Passive droplet departure on this surface is achieved through progressive coalescence of droplets arising from microcavities formed by the microcone array, resulting in depinning and subsequent departure of the depinned condensate drops through vapor shear. The synergistic combination of vapor shear and the sustained dropwise condensation on the hierarchical copper surface results in a nearly 700% increase in heat transfer coefficients as compared to filmwise condensation from identical, standard unstructured surfaces.

Characterization of Efficiency and Mechanisms of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Decontamination of Seeds for Sprout Production.

The consumption of fresh fruit and vegetable products has strongly increased during the past few decades. However, inherent to all minimally processed products is the short shelf life, and the risk of foodborne diseases, which have been increasingly related to such products in many parts of the world. Because of the favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria during the germination of seeds, sprouts are a frequent source for pathogenic bacteria, thus highlighting the need for seed decontamination to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Consequently, this study focused on cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) treatment of artificially inoculated seeds in a diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge to determine the inactivation efficiency for relevant foodborne pathogens and fungal spores. Plasma treatment of seeds resulted in a highly efficient reduction of microorganisms on the seed surface, while preserving the germination properties of seeds, at least for moderate treatment times. To characterize the mechanisms that contribute to microbial inactivation during plasma treatment, an experimental setup was developed to separate ultraviolet light (UV) and other plasma components. The combination of bacterial viability staining with confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to investigate the impact of ozone and other reactive species on the bacterial cells in comparison to UV. Further characterization of the effect of CAPP on bacterial cells by atomic force microscopy imaging of the same Escherichia coli cells before and after treatment revealed an increase in the surface roughness of treated E. coli cells and a decrease in the average height of the cells, which suggests physical damage to the cell envelope. In conclusion, CAPP shows potential for use as a decontamination technology in the production process of sprouts, which may contribute to food safety and prolonged shelf life of the product.

Pilot-scale steam explosion pretreatment with 2-naphthol to overcome high softwood recalcitrance.

BACKGROUND: Steam explosion pretreatment has been examined in many studies for enhancing the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass and is currently the most common pretreatment method in commercial biorefineries. It is however not effective for overcoming the extremely high recalcitrance of softwood to biochemical conversion. Recent fundamental research in small-scale liquid hot water pretreatment has shown, though, that the addition of a carbocation scavenger like 2-naphthol can prevent lignin repolymerization and thus enhance the enzymatic digestibility of softwood cellulose. This work studies the technical application potential of this approach in a larger steam explosion pilot plant for surmounting softwood recalcitrance. RESULTS: The addition of 35.36 g 2-naphthol to the steam explosion pretreatment of 1.5 kg spruce wood chips allowed to considerably enhance the enzymatic cellulose digestibility. Different ways of adding the solid 2-naphthol to steam pretreatment were tested. Mixing with the biomass before pretreatment could enhance digestibility by up to 55% compared to control experiments. Impregnation of the biomass with 2-naphthol was yet more effective. Acetone and ethanol were tested to dissolve 2-naphthol and impregnate the biomass. The solvents were then removed again by evaporation before the pretreatment. The impregnation allowed to enhance digestibility by up to 179 and 192%, respectively. A comparison to prevalent acid-catalyzed steam explosion pretreatments for softwood revealed that the scavenger approach allows for obtaining exceptionally high yields in enzymatic hydrolysis. The biomass impregnation with 2-naphthol even renders a complete enzymatic cellulose conversion possible, which is remarkable for a softwood pretreatment not removing lignin. Steam pretreatment experiments without explosive decompression revealed that the enhancing effects of the explosion and the scavenger complement each other well. The explosion enhances the accessibility of the cellulose while the use of the scavenger reduces particularly the deactivation of enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show that a carbocation scavenger in steam pretreatment can enhance the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. The approach opens up a novel possibility for overcoming the high softwood recalcitrance in a process that does not require an acid catalyst or the removal of lignin from the biomass.

Steam explosion pretreatment of softwood: the effect of the explosive decompression on enzymatic digestibility.

BACKGROUND: Steam explosion pretreatment has been examined in many studies for enhancing the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass and is currently the most common pretreatment method in commercial biorefineries. The information available about the effect of the explosive decompression on the biochemical conversion is, however, very limited, and no studies prove that the latter is actually enhanced by the explosion. Hence, it is of great value to discern between the effect of the explosion on the one hand and the steaming on the other hand, to identify their particular influences on enzymatic digestibility. RESULTS: The effect of the explosive decompression in the steam explosion pretreatment of spruce wood chips on their enzymatic cellulose digestibility was studied systematically. The explosion had a high influence on digestibility, improving it by up to 90 % compared to a steam pretreatment without explosion. Two factors were identified to be essentially responsible for the effect of the explosion on enzymatic digestibility: pretreatment severity and pressure difference of the explosion. A higher pretreatment severity can soften up and weaken the lignocellulose structure more, so that the explosion can better break up the biomass and decrease its particle size, which enhances its digestibility. In particular, increasing the pressure difference of the explosion leads to more defibration, a smaller particle size and a better digestibility. Though differences were found in the micro- and nanostructure of exploded and non-exploded biomass, the only influence of the explosion on digestibility was found to be the macroscopic particle size reduction. Steam explosion treatments with a high severity and a high pressure difference of the explosion lead to a comparatively high cellulose digestibility of the-typically very recalcitrant-softwood biomass. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show that explosion can enhance the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. If the enhancing effect of the explosion is thoroughly exploited, even very recalcitrant biomass like softwood can be made enzymatically digestible.

Printability of calcium phosphate powders for three-dimensional printing of tissue engineering scaffolds.

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is a versatile method to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering. In 3DP the solid is created by the reaction of a liquid selectively sprayed onto a powder bed. Despite the importance of the powder properties, there has to date been a relatively poor understanding of the relation between the powder properties and the printing outcome. This article aims at improving this understanding by looking at the link between key powder parameters (particle size, flowability, roughness, wettability) and printing accuracy. These powder parameters are determined as key factors with a predictive value for the final 3DP outcome. Promising results can be expected for mean particle size in the range of 20-35 µm, compaction rate in the range of 1.3-1.4, flowability in the range of 5-7 and powder bed surface roughness of 10-25 µm. Finally, possible steps and strategies in pushing the physical limits concerning improved quality in 3DP are addressed and discussed.

On-chip Raman analysis of heterogeneous catalytic reaction in supercritical CO2: phase behaviour monitoring and activity profiling.

Raman spectroscopy on a chip based Si/glass microreactor allows fast and simultaneous analysis of concentration profiles and phase behaviour of a heterogeneously catalyzed reaction at high pressure.