Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research

3 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Environment

Optimize Flue Gas Settings to Promote Microalgae Growth in Photobioreactors via Computer Simulations

Lian He¹, Amelia B Chen^1,2, Yi Yu², Leah Kucera³, Yinjie Tang¹

¹Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, ²School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University of China, ³Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis

Flue gas from power plants is a cheap CO₂ source for algal growth. We have built prototype "flue gas to algal cultivation" systems and described how to scale up the algal cultivation process. We have demonstrated the use of a mass-transfer bio-reaction model to simulate and to design the optimal operation of flue gas for the growth of Chlorella sp. in algal photo-bioreactors.

Biology

En Face Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide in Endothelial Layer of Intact Arteries

Yi Yu^1,2, Yuyan Xiong^1,2, Jean-Pierre Montani^2,3, Zhihong Yang^1,2, Xiu-Fen Ming^1,2

¹Cardiovascular and Aging Research, Department of Medicine, Division of Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Fribourg, ²Kidney Control of Homeostasis, Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research, ³System Physiology, Department of Medicine, Division of Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Fribourg

In this article we describe an adapted relatively easy method using the fluorescence dye diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2DA) and dihydroethidium (DHE) for en face simultaneous detection and visualization of intracellular nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O₂^.−) respectively, in freshly isolated intact aortas of an obesity mouse model.

Environment

Investigating the Relationship between Sea Surface Chlorophyll and Major Features of the South China Sea with Satellite Information

Huan-Huan Chen^*1,2, Rui Tang^*2, Hao-Ran Zhang^*1,2, Yi Yu², Yuntao Wang²

¹College of Oceanography, Hohai University, ²State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources

Sea surface chlorophyll, temperature, sea level height, wind, and front data obtained or derived from satellite observations offer an effective way to characterize the ocean. Presented is a method for the comprehensive study of these data, including overall average, seasonal cycle, and intercorrelation analyses, to fully understand regional dynamics and ecosystems.