Quality of Infrared Dried Apple Slices

The aim of this work was to compare quality of apple slices dried by near infrared heating and convection in such parameters in which final material temperature in both methods was similar. The infrared drying was done at the distance between the emitters (with total power of 7.875 kW/m²) and heated surface equal to 10, 20, and 30 cm. Flow of ambient air was set at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m/s. Convective drying was done in the same dryer using hot air at 65 and 75°C flowing with velocity 1.5 m/s. Quality attributes measured in this work included: color, kinetics of water adsorption, mechanical properties, and microstructure. It was stated that the changes in chromaticity coefficients are not dependent on the mode of heat supply, but are related to the final temperature of the dried material. Luminance of dried apple slices was affected by temperature as well. Final material temperature, not the way heat is supplied, could be responsible for the differences in the ability of dry apple slices to adsorb water. The similar correlation was stated for mechanical properties: slope of initial part of the deformation curve (crispness), breaking force (hardness or crispness), and work of breaking were all related to the final material temperature. Microstructure of convective and infrared dried apple were different but it seems that the drying rate can be responsible for observed differences.     

Interactions among Lacosamide and Second-Generation Antiepileptic Drugs in the Tonic-Clonic Seizure Model in Mice

Combination therapy with two or three antiseizure medications (ASMs) is sometimes a preferred method of treatment in epilepsy patients. (1) Background: To detect the most beneficial combination among three ASMs, a screen test evaluating in vivo interactions with respect to their anticonvulsant properties, was conducted on albino Swiss mice; (2) Methods: Classification of interactions among lacosamide (LCM) and selected second-generation ASMs (lamotrigine (LTG), pregabalin (PGB), oxcarbazepine (OXC), and topiramate (TPM)) was based on the isobolographic analysis in the mouse maximal electroshock-induced seizure (MES) model. Interactions among LCM and second-generation ASMs were visualized using a polygonogram; (3) Results: In the mouse MES model, synergy was observed for the combinations of LCM + TPM + PGB and LCM + OXC + PGB. Additivity was reported for the other combinations tested i.e., LCM + LTG + TPM, LCM + LTG + PGB, LCM + LTG + OXC, and LCM + OXC + TPM in this seizure model. No adverse effects associated with triple ASM combinations, containing LCM and second-generation ASMs were observed in mice; (4) Conclusions: The combination of LCM + TPM + PGB was the most beneficial combination among the tested in this study, offering synergistic suppression of tonic-clonic seizures in mice subjected to the MES model. Both the isobolographic analysis and polygonogram method can be recommended for experimental epileptology when classifying interactions among the ASMs.     

Action type and goal type modulate goal-directed gaze shifts in 14-month-old infants.

Ten- and 14-month-old infants’ gaze was recorded as the infants observed videos of different hand actions directed toward multiple goals. Infants observed an actor who (a) reached for objects and displaced them, (b) reached for objects and placed them inside containers, or (c) moved his fisted hand. Fourteen-month-olds, but not 10-month-olds, anticipated the goal of reaching actions but tracked all the other actions reactively. Fourteen-month-olds also produced more anticipatory gaze shifts during containment compared with displacement and differentiated between reaching actions dependent on whether the overall goal was to displace objects or place objects inside containers. These results demonstrate that action type and goal type modulate the latency of goal-directed gaze shifts in infants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Boron and Gadolinium Loaded Fe3O4 Nanocarriers for Potential Application in Neutron Capture Therapy

In this article, a novel method of simultaneous carborane- and gadolinium-containing compounds as efficient agents for neutron capture therapy (NCT) delivery via magnetic nanocarriers is presented. The presence of both Gd and B increases the efficiency of NCT and using nanocarriers enhances selectivity. These factors make NCT not only efficient, but also safe. Superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were treated with silane and then the polyelectrolytic layer was formed for further immobilization of NCT agents. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) and Mössbauer spectroscopies, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) were applied for the characterization of the chemical and element composition, structure, morphology and magnetic properties of nanocarriers. The cytotoxicity effect was evaluated on different cell lines: BxPC-3, PC-3 MCF-7, HepG2 and L929, human skin fibroblasts as normal cells. average size of nanoparticles is 110 nm; magnetization at 1T and coercivity is 43.1 emu/g and 8.1, respectively; the amount of B is 0.077 mg/g and the amount of Gd is 0.632 mg/g. Successful immobilization of NCT agents, their low cytotoxicity against normal cells and selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells as well as the superparamagnetic properties of nanocarriers were confirmed by analyses above.     

Analysis of the Potential Genetic Links between Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Cardiovascular risk factors are one of the most common comorbidities in psoriasis. A higher prevalence of hypertension, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome, depression, as well as cardiovascular disease was confirmed in psoriatic patients in comparison to the general population. Data suggest that psoriasis and systemic inflammatory disorders may originate from the pleiotropic interactions with many genetic pathways. In this review, the authors present the current state of knowledge on the potential genetic links between psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors. The understanding of the processes linking psoriasis with cardiovascular risk factors can lead to improvement of psoriasis management in the future.     

Disrupted secretory activation of the mammary gland after antenatal glucocorticoid treatment in sheep

Antenatal glucocorticoids are administered to women at risk of preterm delivery to prevent neonatal respiratory morbidity. The effects of exogenous glucocorticoids on the development of lactation are unknown. This study investigated the effects of a single dose of antenatal glucocorticoids on secretory activation in sheep before and after parturition. Pregnant ewes (N=36) were randomised to receive either medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) at 118 days of pregnancy and betamethasone at 125 days (BETA group), MPA at 118 days and saline at 125 days (MPA group) or saline at 118 and 125 days (SALINE group). The concentration of lactose, progesterone, cortisol and prolactin in maternal plasma was measured during pregnancy. After term parturition, the concentration of lactose in milk and maternal plasma was measured daily for 5 days. Lambs were weighed at birth and at 5 days of age; milk volume was measured on day 5. The concentration of lactose in maternal plasma increased significantly after betamethasone administration, corresponding to a fall in plasma progesterone. No changes in lactose were observed in MPA or SALINE ewes. Transient decreases in cortisol and increases in prolactin were observed in the BETA group, but not in either the MPA or SALINE group. After parturition, BETA ewes experienced reduced milk yield and lamb weight gain, and delayed increases in milk lactose levels compared with MPA and saline controls. This study demonstrated that, in sheep, antenatal glucocorticoid administration disrupted secretory activation, causing precocious mammary secretion before parturition and compromising postpartum milk production and lamb growth.     

Rate of dibutylsulfide decomposition by ozonation and the O3/H2O2 advanced oxidation process

A process of dibutylsulfide (DBS) oxidation using advanced methods of oxidation with ozone and hydrogen peroxide was studied. It was demonstrated that depending on pH value there are two mechanisms of DBS oxidation present: ionic and radical. The ionic mechanism predominates in acidic environment and the radical mechanism predominates in alkaline environment. At high pH ozone stability decreases and hydrogen peroxide has a deciding effect on DBS oxidation rate. At pH 9, and at high concentration of hydrogen peroxide (ranging from 0.1 to 1 mol/L), a clear increase in DBS decomposition rate was observed. That was caused by production of hydroperoxide radicals in reaction of hydrogen peroxide and ozone. In solutions pH value of which is close to 2, the rate of DBS oxidation by ozone alone is slower than in a O(3)/H(2)O(2) system, regardless the H(2)O(2) concentration. For higher H(2)O(2) concentrations (ranging from 0.1 to 1 mol/L), regardless the pH value of the solution, oxidation in a O(3)/H(2)O(2) system is faster, compared to a situation in which ozone is a sole oxidizer. For H(2)O(2) concentrations below 0.1 mol/L and when pH>2DBS oxidation in O(3)/H(2)O(2) system is slower compared to the situation in which ozone was the only oxidizer.     

Construction particleboards made from rapeseed straw glued with hybrid pMDI/PF resin

The paper investigates the possibility of manufacturing rapeseed particleboards (RPB) which could be used as construction material in eco buildings. Therefore, single-layer particleboards were produced from rapeseed straw particles glued with mixture of 4.4′-methylenediphenyl isocyanate (pMDI) and phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resins in the weight ratio 70:30 (hybrid pMDI/PF resin). The boards were manufactured with density of 650, 600, 550, 500 and 450 kg/m³. Next, their physico-mechanical properties were determined, i.e. modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, internal bond and internal bond after the boil test (V-100) and thickness swelling after 24 h soaking in water. The thermal conduction coefficient (λ) and sorption properties in changeable relative humidity conditions were also determined. Based on the obtained results, it was found that rapeseed straw may be a valuable material used in the production of construction particleboards which meet high strength requirements. Boards with density of 650 kg/m³ meet the requirements of EN 312 standard for type P7 boards. It is also possible to decrease their density to 600 kg/m³ (type P5 boards) and even 550 kg/m³ (type P3 boards). However, rapeseed particleboards are characterized by relatively high values of thickness swelling after 24 h of soaking in water. The weaker resistance to humidity has also been confirmed by tests on sorption and desorption of vapour in changeable relative humidity conditions. Nonetheless, an important advantage of these boards is the fact that they are characterized by better thermal insulation than particleboards.     

Effects of the structure of polymer and nanosilica additive on the sorption and electric properties of various alginate fibers

Effects of the structure of polymer and nanosilica additive on the sorption and electric properties of various alginate fibers has been investigated. It has been found that regardless of the differences in the chemical structure and the presence of nanosilica, the examined types of alginate fibers show similar values of moisture absorption at relative humidity up to 85%. An exception is the fiber from sodium alginate. It has been found that the electric conductivity and the accompanying polarization processes of various types of alginate fibers depend on the chemical structure of the fiber‐forming polymer. It has been found that the amount of moisture absorbed by the fiber‐forming polymer of alginate fibers exerts a strong influence on their electric properties. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 686–694, 2006     

Adsorption of aminopropyltriethoxy silane on quartz: an XPS and contact angle measurements study

Aminopropyltriethoxy silane (APS) adsorption onto quartz has been monitored by XPS and found to be of the Langmuir type. XPS brings evidence for the partial protonation of the coupling agent amino group. It is shown by angular dependent XPS that the ammonium group is in that case oriented towards the quartz substrate. Contact angle measurements of water indicated that the quartz surface wettability has decreased following APS treatment.