Protein phosphorylation pathways disruption by pesticides

Phosphosites in the human proteome represent an excellent source of potential biomarkers of pesticide toxicity. In fact, experimental animal models as well as in vitro studies have revealed phosphorylation disruption associated to metabolic regulation, hormone signaling, neuronal function and differentiation, cell survival and death. Due to their estrogen-mimicking ability, pesticides are considered as prime etiological suspects of increasing tumor incidence. Evidences of alterations in the signal transduction pathways involved in the tumor progression stage of pesticides were also provided. Despite progress in understanding the effect of pesticides on the human phosphorproteome and their health outcomes, it remains a complex issue to be studied. By now, the potential impact of pesticides in epigenetic phosphorylation pathways remains poorly explored. In addition, studies involving pesticides mixtures effects are needed. This review updates and provides a comprehensive discussion on the molecular and biochemical events underlying protein phosphorylation pathway disruption caused by pesticides most frequently detected in human tissues and fluids, such as organochlorine pesticides and organophosphates. The link between epidemiological studies and experimental approaches is also considered. Future challenges, such as micro-array phosphoproteome studies to complement gene expression arrays to understand the mechanisms involved in pesticide toxicology are briefly discussed.

Stress Analysis on Single-Crystal Diamonds by Raman Spectroscopy 3D Mapping

Results on stress analysis for single-crystal diamonds are presented. Isolated crystals were studied by Raman mapping and depth profiling techniques, using confocal microscopy. Diamonds were deposited on molybdenum and tantalum by hot filament and microwave CVD methods at growth rates between 10 and 30 μm·h-1. Crystals from 10 to 40 μm size were examined. Local stress was evaluated by analyzing the position, broadening and splitting of the 1332 cm-1 Raman peak in a 3D mapping. For the (001) orientation, the most stressed zone was found at the center of the crystal base, close to the interface with the substrate: a Raman peak around 1340 cm-1 was measured, corresponding to a pressure c.a. 3 GPa, according to our dynamical calculations. This peak disappears few microns out of the center, suggesting that this highly concentrated stress sector was the nucleation zone of the crystal. A shifting and slight broadening of the 1332 cm-1 band was observed in the rest of the crystal. The causes of these effects are discussed: they proved not to be due to anisotropic stress but to refractive effects. Same results were found for different crystal sizes and growth rates.

Phosphoinositide and phospholipid phosphorylation and hydrolysis pathways<br/>—Organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides effects<br>

Phospholipid and phosphoinositide phosphorylation pathways have been shown to be of crucial importance on producing lipid mediators. The earlier findings reported on lipid molecules playing roles in different metabolic pathways used to assign them the exclusive role of second messenger generators. Several researchers have recently described how direct interaction of phospholipids and phosphoinositides with molecules or organelles, without the need for producing second messenger molecules, is responsible for their mechanism of action. Organophosphate and organochlorine pesticide toxicity mechanisms have been extensively studied in relation to their well known effects on cholinesterase activities and on the alterations of electric activity in the nervous system of different organisms respectively. There is little but consistent evidence that some compounds, including in both groups of pesticides, are also able to interact with phospholipid and phosphoinositide phosphorylation pathways in several organisms and tissues. The present review consists of an actualization of basic research on phospholipid and phosphoinositide phosphorylation and hydrolysis pathways, as well as a description of some reported evidences for the effects of the above mentioned pesticides on them.

Highly compliant planar Hall effect sensor with sub 200 nT sensitivity

Being a facet of flexible electronics,mechanically reshapeable magnetic field sensorics enable novel device ideas for soft robotics,interactive devices for virtual-and augmented reality and point of care diagnostics.These applications demand mechanically compliant yet robust sensor devices revealing high sensitivity to small magnetic fields.To push the detection limit of highly compliant and linear magnetic field sensors to be in the sub-µT range,we explore a new fundamental concept for magnetic field sensing,namely the planar Hall effect in magnetic thin films.With their remarkable bendability down to 1 mm,these compliant planar Hall effect sensors allow for an efficient detection of magnetic fields as small as 200 nT with a limit of detection of 20 nT.We demonstrate the application potential of these devices as a direction(angle)as well as proximity(distance)sensors of tiny magnetic fields emanating from magnetically functionalized objects.With their intrinsic linearity and simplicity of fabrication,these compliant planar Hall effect sensors have the potential to become a standard solution for low field applications of shapeable magnetoelectronics in point of care applications and on-skin interactive electronics.

Validation of CFD-DEM simulation of a liquid-solid fluidized bed by dynamic analysis of time series

Liquid-solid fluidized beds(LSFB)modeling validation is crucial for establishing design rules and monitor-ing tools.However,it generally relies on comparing global variables,which overlook dynamic features that influence reaction outputs.This work aims to implement time series analysis tools to compare Radioactive Particle Tracking data with a simulation consisting of Computational Fluid Dynamics cou-pled with Discrete-Element Method.Experiments have been performed in a pilot-scale LSFB of calcium alginate spheres fluidized with a calcium chloride solution.The Diks'test indicates that the simulation can capture the LSFB behavior.It also allows diagnosing flow regime transitions from the simulation.Trends of solid dispersion coefficients and mixing times predicted by the simulation are in good agreement with the experiments.