Analyses of the usefulness of Software Defined Storage Solutions for Web-based Digital Preservation Applications

Presentation at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

Effect of antioxidant supplementation on pig and horse gamete storage

According to recent studies, antioxidant supplementation on gamete processing and/or storage solutions improvesgamete quality parameters, after cooling or storage at sub zero temperature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of antioxidant supplementation on pig and horse gamete storage. The first study aimed to determine the effects of resveratrol (RESV) on the apoptotic status of porcine oocytes vitrified by Cryotop method, evaluating phosphatidylserine (PS) exteriorization and caspases activation. RESV(2µM) was added during: IVM (A); 2 h post-warming incubation (B); vitrification/warming and 2 h post-warming incubation (C); all previous phases (D). The obtained data demonstrate that RESV supplementation in the various steps of IVM and vitrification/warming procedure can modulate the apoptotic process, improving the resistance of porcine oocytes to cryopreservation-induced damage. In the second work different concentrations of RESV (10, 20, 40, and 80µM) were added during liquid storage of stallion sperm for 24 hours at either 10°C or 4°C, under anaerobic conditions. Our findings demonstrate that RESV supplementation does not enhance sperm quality of stallion semen after 24 hours of storage. Moreover, the highest RESV concentrations tested (40 and 80µM) could damage sperm functional status, probably acting as pro-oxidant. Finally, in the third work other two antioxidants, ascorbic acid (AA) (100 µM) and glutathione (GSH) (5mM) were added on boar freezing and/or thawing solutions. In our study different sperm parameters were evaluated before freezing and at 30 and 240 minutes after thawing. Our results showed that GSH and AA significantly improved boar sperm cryotolerance, especially when supplemented together to both freezing and thawing media. This improvement was observed in sperm viability and acrosome integrity, sperm motility, and nucleoprotein structure. Although ROS levels were not much increased by freeze-thawing procedures, the addition of GSH and AA to both freezing and thawing extenders significantly decreased intracellular peroxide levels.

Proper paraffin slide storage is crucial for translational research projects involving immunohistochemistry stains.

The use of paraffin slides and tissue microarrays (TMA) is indispensable for translational research. However, storage of paraffin slides over time has a substantial detrimental effect on the quality and reliability of immunohistochemistry stains. Particularly affected by this issue may be any collaborative efforts where paraffin slides or TMAs are shipped to central laboratories and then 'biobanked' for some time until use. This article summarizes some of the key issues affecting loss of antigenicity on paraffin slides and some simple storage solutions to help maintain high quality immunohistochemistry results when paraffin slides must be stored for a certain time prior to use.

Graft preservation solutions in cardiovascular surgery.

Vein grafts are still the most commonly used graft material in cardiovascular surgery and much effort has been spent in recent years on investigating the optimal harvesting technique. One other related topic of similar importance remained more or less an incidental one. The storage solutions of vein grafts following procurement and prior to implantation are, despite their assumed impact, a relatively neglected theme. There is no doubt that the endothelium plays a key role in long-term patency of vein grafts, but the effects of the different storage solutions on the endothelium remain unclear : In a review of the literature, we could find 20 specific papers that addressed the question, of which the currently available preservation solutions are superior, harmless, damaging or ineffective. The focus lies on saline and autologous whole blood. Besides these two storage media, novel or alternative solutions have been investigated with surprising findings. In addition, a few words will be spent on potential alternatives and novel solutions on the market. As there is currently no randomized clinical trial regarding saline versus autologous whole blood available, this review compares all previous studies and methods of analysis to provide a certain level of evidence on this topic. In summary, saline has negative effects on the endothelial layers and therefore may compromise graft patency. Related factors, such as distension pressure, may outbalance the initial benefit of autologous whole blood or storage solutions and intensify the harmful effects of warm saline. In addition, there is no uniform consent on the superiority of autologous whole blood for vein graft storage. This may open the door to alternatives such as the University of Wisconsin solution or one of the specific designed storage solutions like TiProtec™ or Somaluthion™. Whether these preservation solutions are superior or advantageous remains the subject of further studies.

Modeling of Electric Hybrid Vehicles based on Innovative Energy Storage Technologies for Super Sports Cars Applications

Today, the contribution of the transportation sector on greenhouse gases is evident. The fast consumption of fossil fuels and its impact on the environment has given a strong impetus to the development of vehicles with better fuel economy. Hybrid electric vehicles fit into this context with different targets, starting from the reduction of emissions and fuel consumption, but also for performance and comfort enhancement. Vehicles exist with various missions; super sport cars usually aim to reach peak performance and to guarantee a great driving experience to the driver, but great attention must also be paid to fuel consumption. According to the vehicle mission, hybrid vehicles can differ in the powertrain configuration and the choice of the energy storage system. Lamborghini has recently invested in the development of hybrid super sport cars, due to performance and comfort reasons, with the possibility to reduce fuel consumption. This research activity has been conducted as a joint collaboration between the University of Bologna and the sportscar manufacturer, to analyze the impact of innovative energy storage solutions on the hybrid vehicle performance. Capacitors have been studied and modeled to analyze the pros and cons of such solution with respect to batteries. To this aim, a full simulation environment has been developed and validated to provide a concept design tool capable of precise results and able to foresee the longitudinal performance on regulated emission cycles and real driving conditions, with a focus on fuel consumption. In addition, the target of the research activity is to deepen the study of hybrid electric super sports cars in the concept development phase, focusing on defining the control strategies and the energy storage system’s technology that best suits the needs of the vehicles. This dissertation covers the key steps that have been carried out in the research project.

The requirement of zinc and calcium ions for functional MMP activity in demineralized dentin matrices

The progressive degradation of resin-dentin bonds is due, in part, to the slow degradation of collagen fibrils in the hybrid layer by endogenous matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) of the dentin matrix. In in vitro durability studies, the storage medium composition might be important because the optimum activity of MMPs requires both zinc and calcium. Objective. This study evaluated the effect of different storage media on changes in matrix stiffness, loss of dry weight or solubilization of collagen from demineralized dentin beams incubated in vitro for up to 60 days. Methods. Dentin beams (1 mm x 2 mm x 6 mm) were completely demineralized in 10% phosphoric acid. After baseline measurements of dry mass and elastic modulus (E) (3-point bending, 15% strain) the beams were divided into 5 groups (n = 11/group) and incubated at 37 degrees C in either media containing both zinc and calcium designated as complete medium (CM), calcium-free medium, zinc-free medium, a doubled-zinc medium or water. Beams were retested at 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days of incubation. The incubation media was hydrolyzed with HCl for the quantitation of hydroxyproline (HOP) as an index of solubilization of collagen by MMPs. Data were analyzed using repeated measures of ANOVA. Results. Both the storage medium and the storage time showed significant effects on E, mass loss and HOP release (p < 0.05). The incubation in CM resulted in relatively rapid and significant (p < 0.05) decreases in stiffness, and increasing amounts of mass loss. The HOP content of the experimental media also increased with incubation time but was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in the control CM medium, the recommended storage medium. Conclusions. The storage solutions used to age resin-dentin bonds should be buffered solutions that contain both calcium and zinc. The common use of water as an aging medium may underestimate the hydrolytic activity of endogenous dentin MMPs. (c) 2010 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

T-Stratus - confiabilidade e privacidade com nuvens de armazenamento de dados

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática

Role of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury during Heart Transplantation.

In solid organ transplantation, ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury during organ procurement, storage and reperfusion is an unavoidable detrimental event for the graft, as it amplifies graft inflammation and rejection. Intracellular mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways regulate inflammation and cell survival during IR injury. The four best-characterized MAPK subfamilies are the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal- regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAPK, and big MAPK-1 (BMK1/ERK5). Here, we review the role of MAPK activation during myocardial IR injury as it occurs during heart transplantation. Most of our current knowledge regarding MAPK activation and cardioprotection comes from studies of preconditioning and postconditioning in nontransplanted hearts. JNK and p38 MAPK activation contributes to myocardial IR injury after prolonged hypothermic storage. p38 MAPK inhibition improves cardiac function after cold storage, rewarming and reperfusion. Small-molecule p38 MAPK inhibitors have been tested clinically in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, but not in transplanted patients, so far. Organ transplantation offers the opportunity of starting a preconditioning treatment before organ procurement or during cold storage, thus modulating early events in IR injury. Future studies will need to evaluate combined strategies including p38 MAPK and/or JNK inhibition, ERK1/2 activation, pre- or postconditioning protocols, new storage solutions, and gentle reperfusion.

Economics of Power-to-Gas integration to wastewater treatment plant

Solar and wind power produce electricity irregularly. This irregular power production is problematic and therefore production can exceed the need. Thus sufficient energy storage solutions are needed. Currently there are some storages, such as flywheel, but they are quite short-term. Power-to-Gas (P2G) offers a solution to store energy as a synthetic natural gas. It also improves nation’s energy self-sufficiency. Power-to-Gas can be integrated to an industrial or a municipal facility to reduce production costs. In this master’s thesis the integration of Power-to-Gas technologies to wastewater treatment as a part of the VTT’s Neo-Carbon Energy project is studied. Power-to-Gas produces synthetic methane (SNG) from water and carbon dioxide with electricity. This SNG can be considered as stored energy. Basic wastewater treatment technologies and the production of biogas in the treatment plant are studied. The utilisation of biogas and SNG in heat and power production and in transportation is also studied. The integration of the P2G to wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is examined mainly from economic view. First the mass flows of flowing materials are calculated and after that the economic impact based on the mass flows. The economic efficiency is evaluated with Net Present Value method. In this thesis it is also studied the overall profitability of the integration and the key economic factors.

Akkuvarastot omakotitaloissa

Energian varastointi on noussut keskeiseksi energia-alan teemaksi viime vuosina. Erityi-sesti uusiutuvan tuotannon lisääntyminen ja energian käytön tehostaminen ovat edesautta-neet energiavarastoratkaisuiden mukaantuloa. Työssä tarkastellaan litiumrautafosfaattiak-kujen käytön kannattavuutta omakotitaloissa. Tavoitteena on selvittää, millä reunaehdoilla näiden akkujen käyttö energiavarastoina tulee kannattavaksi Lappeenrannan olosuhteissa. Kannattavuutta selvitetään litiumrautafosfaattiakkujen markkina-analyysin ja teknistalou-dellisen analyysin sekä Matlab-simulaation avulla.

Kahden lämmitysjärjestelmiä valmistavan tuotantoyksikön toimintojen yhdistäminen kustannustehokkuuden lisäämiseksi

Tämä työ käsittelee Oilon Oy:n tehtaan layout -suunnittelua, kun yhdistetään kaksi eri kiinteistössä toimivaa tuotantoyksikköä saman katon alle. Yksiköt ovat Hollolassa toimiva Oilon Home Oy ja Lahden pääkonttorissa toimiva Oilon Industry Oy. Yhdistämisellä haetaan säästöjä tuotantoyksiköiden välisistä logistiikkakuluista sekä kiinteistön vuokra- ja ylläpitokuluista ja samalla tehostetaan tehtaan sisäistä materiaalinkäsittelyä. Oilon Oy on toiminut Lahden pääkonttorissa jo yli 50 vuoden ajan ja sen tuotanto on kokenut historiansa aikana useita pienempiä muutoksia, jotka ovat jättäneet nykyiseen layoutiin paljon toivomisenvaraa. Jotta molemmat tuotantoyksiköt saadaan mahtumaan Lahden yksikköön, on sinne saatava luotua tarvittavat tilat siellä olemassa oleville toiminnoille ja Hollolan yksiköstä saapuville tuotantolinjoille. Työn alussa perehdytään kirjallisuuden avulla siihen kuinka tuotanto on kehittynyt maailmalla lähihistorian aikana, jotta voidaan paremmin ymmärtää Oilon Oy:n nykytilanteeseen johtaneita syitä. Koska Hollolasta saapuville tuotantolinjoille ei ole tarkoitus rakentaa uutta tuotantotilaa, pyritään tilaa vapauttamaan Lahden tehtaalta varastointia tehostamalla ja sen logistiikkaa helpottamalla. Tämän vuoksi vertaillaan yleisimpiä tavaroiden varastointi ratkaisuita sekä tutkitaan kuinka materiaalin käsittelyä voitaisiin tehostaa varastossa ja tuotantosuluissa. Varastoinnin tehostaminen ei kuitenkaan yksin riitä vapauttamaan tarvittavia tiloja, joten layout-muutoksen aikana rakennetaan myös kaksi uuttaa varastohallia. Uudessa layout-suunnitelmassa huomioidaan kunkin solun nykyiset ja tulevat tilantarpeet, sekä rakennetaan ne niin, että työvoimaa voidaan käyttää niissä joustavasti eri tuotteiden valmistamiseen. Tutkimusmetodeina käytetään teemahaastatteluita, joilla selvitetään työntekijöiden tarpeet sekä kirjallisuuden avulla perehdytään Lean-tuotantoon, kanban:iin, 5S:ään ja arvovirta-analyysiin. Näitä soveltamalla saadaan luotua tehokkaasti toimiva kokonaisuus, jolla tavoitellut säästöt saadaan toteutumaan.

Utilização da frutose-1, 6-Bisfosfato como um protetor celular na preservação de fígados para transplante

A solução de preservação da Universidade de Wisconsin (UW) é considerada a solução padrão para preservação de fígados, rins e pâncreas. A frutose-1,6-bisfosfato (FBP) é uma substância que apresenta efeito protetor do fígado contra injúrias provocadas por agentes químicos e ocorridas durante o período de isquemia-reperfusão. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da FBP na composição de soluções para preservação de fígados para transplante. Neste estudo experimental, a perfusão e a preservação dos fígados foram realizadas em cada grupo com as soluções de UW, UW contendo 10 mmol/L de FBP (UWM) e FBP 10 mmol/L (FBPS), respectivamente. Os fígados foram armazenados em um recipiente plástico contendo solução de preservação a 4oC por 24 horas. As mensurações bioquímicas de AST, ALT, LDH e TBARS foram realizadas em amostras das soluções de preservação nos tempos de 0, 12, 18 e 24 horas. A análise histológica foi realizada em fígados preservados por 24 horas. O grau de preservação observado com as soluções de UW e FBPS foi similar até 18 horas de armazenamento. A adição de 10 mmol/L de FBP à solução de UW provocou um aumento das injúrias ocorridas e uma pior preservação quando comparado ao grupo armazenado em UW. A FBP protegeu os fígados contra danos causados pelos radicais livres por tempos de preservação inferiores a 18 horas. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos na análise histológica dos fígados preservados no tempo de 24 horas. A FBP utilizada em solução foi eficaz na preservação de fígados, podendo ser um importante constituinte para outras formulações.

Determinação de parâmetros de qualidade para formas farmacêuticas homeopáticas

All medicine, whether allopathic or homeopathic, must go through strict quality control, which must ratify their characteristics throughout the period of validity. During the time of preparation and storage, solutions of the drugs are in permanent contact with packaging materials that can release undesirable substances to the solution. Several factors may influence the release of packing materials, and factorial design (FD) is a useful tool for analyzing the phenomenon. The aim of this study was the determination of quality parameters for Homeopathic solid (globules) and liquid (drops) dosage forms. It was carried out analysis in homeopathic globules for weight variation, mechanical strength, and moisture content uniformity. For liquid preparations, standard solutions were prepared from natural rubber bulbs, which were subjected to exhaustive extraction with two ethanol solutions (30 and 70%) in the ultrasonic bath for 20 minutes at 25°C and 50°C in three successive cycles. Studies of transfer have been made within five days, by spectrophotometric analysis in the UV region at 312 nm with λmáx and 323 nm for samples in 70% ethanol and 30% respectively. PH values were analyzed. We also conducted two FD studies, where the first, the three-level variables were solvent (chloroform, ethanol and nhexane), sample mass (30, 60 and 90mg), particle size (large disk, small disk and powder sample). In the second study, the solvent level variables were different ethanolic degrees (EtOH 30%, 70% and pure). The percentage of lending in the solutions was 5.5%, 12.4%, 24.2% and 41% of the total estimated in the reference solution. The values of rate constants of transfer were determined in the order of 0.0134 days-1 and 0.0232 days-1 in absorbance values, the solutions in ethanol at 30% and 70% respectively. These results suggest that the speed of transfer of materials from rubber is affected both by the nature of the vehicle as by the temperature

Ultrastructural morphology and morphometry of the normal corneal endothelium of adult crossbred pig

O endotélio corneal é uma monocamada de células poligonais. A integridade e saúde dessa camada são essenciais para a manutenção da transparência corneal normal. Este estudo reportou pela primeira vez, de forma detalhada, a morfologia ultra-estrutural e a morfometria do endotélio corneal de suínos adultos mestiços à microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). A superfície endothelial corneal apresentou um padrão regular de células poligonais, com predomínio da forma hexagonal e de bordas celulares nítidas. O núcleo foi observado como protuberância arredondada no centro da célula. Também foram observados os cílios (2-4) em apenas algumas células da região periférica da córnea, as aberturas das vesículas pinocitóticas na proximidade dos cílios, as microvilosidades, as varas da borda e as bordas celulares em formato de zigzag. A área celular média foi significativamente maior (P<0,05) no centro da córnea do que na periferia, com um coeficiente de variação menor no centro da córnea. A densidade celular média foi significativamente maior na periferia (P<0,05) e 43,9% maior que os dados reportados por outros autores na microscopia especular, o que demonstra o efeito da retração celular durante o processamento das amostras. O valor médio do número de lados das células (pleomorfismo) foi de 5,9, o que evidencia um predomínio do formato hexagonal. A percentagem de células hexagonais foi significativamente maior no centro (P<0,001). Os parâmetros obtidos nesta pesquisa servirão de base para estudos futuros sobre o efeito de medicamentos, cirurgias intracamerulares ou soluções para armazenamento de córneas para transplantes no endotélio corneal do suíno.