A non‐extractable condensed‐tannins fiber reduces thermal oxidation in oils at frying temperature

Several compounds presenting antioxidant properties have been tested in frying oils to delay thermal oxidation of the triglycerides containing unsaturated fatty acids. The present study was designed to evaluate, for the first time, the antioxidant and antipolymerizing effects of addition of Exxenterol®, a denatured carob fiber very rich in non‐extractable tannins, on olive oil (OO), sunflower oil (SO) and a homogeneous blend of both oils. Exxenterol was added to the three oils in amounts of 50, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg oil before heating. After 36 h of heating at 180 °C, there was a large and relevant increase of the polar material and the polymer contents, but tocopherol decreased to non‐detectable levels in all three oils. Polar content, polymer and thermal oxidation formation (p ≤0.004) and tocopherol degradation (p ≤0.022) were significantly and dose‐dependently inhibited by Exxenterol. Both polar material and polymer formation were inhibited (at least by 44%) in OO and SO and at least by 27% in the oil blend when 1000 mg/kg oil of this product was added. Small but detectable amounts of tocopherol were found in the oil blend containing 50 mg Exxenterol/kg. The results clearly show that this non‐extractable tannin‐rich fiber can be successfully employed as an additive to prolong oil shelf life at frying temperature.     

Hypogonadism in Patients with Prader Willi Syndrome: A Narrative Review

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisystemic complex genetic disorder related to the lack of a functional paternal copy of chromosome 15q11-q13. Several clinical manifestations are reported, such as short stature, cognitive and behavioral disability, temperature instability, hypotonia, hypersomnia, hyperphagia, and multiple endocrine abnormalities, including growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadism. The hypogonadism in PWS is due to central and peripheral mechanisms involving the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. The early diagnosis and management of hypogonadism in PWS are both important for physicians in order to reach a better quality of life for these patients. The aim of this study is to summarize and investigate causes and possible therapies for hypogonadism in PWS. Additional studies are further needed to clarify the role of different genes related to hypogonadism and to establish a common and evidence-based therapy.     

Capturing “Extraordinary” Soft‐Assembled Charge‐Like Polypeptides as a Strategy for Nanocarrier Design

The rational design of nanomedicines is a challenging task given the complex architectures required for the construction of nanosized carriers with embedded therapeutic properties and the complex interface of these materials with the biological environment. Herein, an unexpected charge‐like attraction mechanism of self‐assembly for star‐shaped polyglutamates in nonsalty aqueous solutions is identified, which matches the ubiquitous “ordinary–extraordinary” phenomenon previously described by physicists. For the first time, a bottom‐up methodology for the stabilization of these nanosized soft‐assembled star‐shaped polyglutamates is also described, enabling the translation of theoretical research into nanomaterials with applicability within the drug‐delivery field. Covalent capture of these labile assemblies provides access to unprecedented architectures to be used as nanocarriers. The enhanced in vitro and in vivo properties of these novel nanoconstructs as drug‐delivery systems highlight the potential of this approach for tumor‐localized as well as lymphotropic delivery.     

Ultra-High Q Acoustic Resonance in Superfluid $$^$$He

We report the measurement of the acoustic quality factor of a gram-scale, kilohertz-frequency superfluid resonator, detected through the parametric coupling to a superconducting niobium microwave cavity. For temperatures between 400 mK and 50 mK, we observe a \(T^{-4}\) temperature dependence of the quality factor, consistent with a 3-phonon dissipation mechanism. We observe Q factors up to \(1.4\times 10^8\), consistent with the dissipation due to dilute \(^3\)He impurities, and expect that significant further improvements are possible. These experiments are relevant to exploring quantum behavior and decoherence of massive macroscopic objects, the laboratory detection of continuous gravitational waves from pulsars, and the probing of possible limits to physical length scales.     

Reactive Atmosphere Synthesis of Polymer‐Derived Si–O–C–N Aerogels and Their Cr Adsorption from Aqueous Solutions

Polymer derived ceramic (PDCs) aerogels belonging to the Si–O–C–N system are synthesized by crosslinking a preceramic polymer in a diluted solution followed by supercritical or atmospheric drying and pyrolysis in inert (N₂) or reactive (NH₃/CO₂) atmosphere. Accordingly, aerogels with hierarchical porosity ranging from some microns to few nanometers together with high specific surface area in the range 30–400 m² g^?1 have been obtained. Moreover, their surface contains a broad range of moieties (Si–OH, Si–NH, C=O, etc.) that can interact and bind metal ions thanks to electrostatic interactions. This combination of hierarchical porosity, high SSA, and broad range of chemical functionalities makes these PDCs aerogels interesting candidates for water purification. In this work, SiOC and SiCN aerogels have been tested as adsorbents for Cr(III)/(VI) ions from aqueous solutions with promising results for the SiOC aerogel pyrolyzed in N₂ and the SiCN treated in NH₃. Correlations and similarities among the Cr(VI)/(III) adsorption capacity with the main features of the porous substrates (SSA, N₂ TPV, amount of free C, bulk density, isoelectric point, main IR peaks (Si–OH, OH, NH, C=O, C=C, Si–O, C–N, Si–N) have been investigated by applying the Principal Component Analysis (PCA).

     

Nanostructuring Lipophilic Dyes in Water Using Stable Vesicles,Quatsomes, as Scaffolds and Their Use as Probes for Bioimaging

A new kind of fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) is obtained using quatsomes (QSs), a family of nanovesicles proposed as scaffolds for the nanostructuration of commercial lipophilic carbocyanines (1,1′‐dioctadecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethyl‐indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI), 1,1′‐dioctadecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethyl‐indodicarbocyanine perchlorate (DiD), and 1,1′‐dioctadecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethyl‐indotricarbocyanine iodide (DiR)) in aqueous media. The obtained FONs, prepared by a CO₂‐based technology, show excellent colloidal‐ and photostability, outperforming other nanoformulations of the dyes, and improve the optical properties of the fluorophores in water. Molecular dynamics simulations provide an atomistic picture of the disposition of the dyes within the membrane. The potential of QSs for biological imaging is demonstrated by performing superresolution microscopy of the DiI‐loaded vesicles in vitro and in cells. Therefore, fluorescent QSs constitute an appealing nanomaterial for bioimaging applications.     

Engineered Transport in Microporous Materials and Membranes for Clean Energy Technologies

Many forward‐looking clean‐energy technologies hinge on the development of scalable and efficient membrane‐based separations. Ongoing investment in the basic research of microporous materials is beginning to pay dividends in membrane technology maturation. Specifically, improvements in membrane selectivity, permeability, and durability are being leveraged for more efficient carbon capture, desalination, and energy storage, and the market adoption of membranes in those areas appears to be on the horizon. Herein, an overview of the microporous materials chemistry driving advanced membrane development, the clean‐energy separations employing them, and the theoretical underpinnings tying membrane performance to membrane structure across multiple length scales is provided. The interplay of pore architecture and chemistry for a given set of analytes emerges as a critical design consideration dictating mass transport outcomes. Opportunities and outstanding challenges in the field are also discussed, including high‐flux 2D molecular‐sieving membranes, phase‐change adsorbents as performance‐enhancing components in composite membranes, and the need for quantitative metrologies for understanding mass transport in heterophasic materials and in micropores with unusual chemical interactions with analytes of interest.     

3D‐Structured Stretchable Strain Sensors for Out‐of‐Plane Force Detection

Stretchable strain sensors, as the soft mechanical interface, provide the key mechanical information of the systems for healthcare monitoring, rehabilitation assistance, soft exoskeletal devices, and soft robotics. Stretchable strain sensors based on 2D flat film have been widely developed to monitor the in‐plane force applied within the plane where the sensor is placed. However, to comprehensively obtain the mechanical feedback, the capability to detect the out‐of‐plane force, caused by the interaction outside of the plane where the senor is located, is needed. Herein, a 3D‐structured stretchable strain sensor is reported to monitor the out‐of‐plane force by employing 3D printing in conjunction with out‐of‐plane capillary force‐assisted self‐pinning of carbon nanotubes. The 3D‐structured sensor possesses large stretchability, multistrain detection, and strain‐direction recognition by one single sensor. It is demonstrated that out‐of‐plane forces induced by the air/fluid flow are reliably monitored and intricate flow details are clearly recorded. The development opens up for the exploration of next‐generation 3D stretchable sensors for electronic skin and soft robotics.     

3D fiber deposited polymeric scaffolds for external auditory canal wall

The external auditory canal (EAC) is an osseocartilaginous structure extending from the auricle to the eardrum, which can be affected by congenital, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases, thus reconstructive materials are needed. Current biomaterial-based approaches for the surgical reconstruction of EAC posterior wall still suffer from resorption (biological) and extrusion (synthetic). In this study, 3D fiber deposited scaffolds based on poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) were designed and fabricated to replace the EAC wall. Fiber diameter and scaffold porosity were optimized, leading to 200?±?33?µm and 55%?±?5%, respectively. The mechanical properties were evaluated, resulting in a Young’s modulus of 25.1?±?7.0?MPa. Finally, the EAC scaffolds were tested in vitro with osteo-differentiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) with different seeding methods to produce homogeneously colonized replacements of interest for otologic surgery. This study demonstrated the fabrication feasibility of EAC wall scaffolds aimed to match several important requirements for biomaterial application to the ear under the Tissue Engineering paradigm, including shape, porosity, surface area, mechanical properties and favorable in vitro interaction with osteoinduced hMSCs.

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This study demonstrated the fabrication feasibility of outer ear canal wall scaffolds via additive manufacturing. Aimed to match several important requirements for biomaterial application to ear replacements under the Tissue Engineering paradigm, including shape, porosity and pore size, surface area, mechanical properties and favorable in vitro interaction with osteo-differentiated mesenchymal stromal cells.

     

Variable kinematic finite element models of multilayered composite plates coupled with acoustic fluid

ABSTRACT

This article presents a novel and advanced finite element formulation of the structural-acoustic problem involving thin and thick multilayered composite plates coupled with a cavity. Exploiting the Carrera's unified formulation, many plate and fluid-structure interface elements based on different kinematic models, including higher-order equivalent single-layer and layerwise theories, are developed within a single mathematical framework. Accordingly, a large number of vibro-acoustic models can be easily obtained and selected according to the accuracy requirements of the application. In particular, it is shown that refined models can be adopted in those cases where models relying on traditional or low-order plate theories fail in providing the correct estimation of the fluid-structure coupling. The proposed formulation is also validated with respect to some reference cases available in the literature.