Use of coffee by‐products for the cultivation of Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Pleurotus salmoneo‐stramineus and its impact on biological properties of extracts thereof

Incorporating spent coffee grounds (SCGs), a by‐product from coffee brewing, in growth substrate of beneficial edible mushrooms is an approach that has to be further studied due to its potential positive outcomes: environmental impact mitigation, production costs reduction and beneficial impact on consumer health. Hence, cultivation of Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Pleurotus salmoneo‐stramineus was tested using SCG which enabled maximum production yield of P. citrinopileatus which was of 25.1% (w/w). Variable antidiabetic potential was observed between aqueous and enzymatic extracts (3.8%–29% inhibition) regardless species and substrates, whereas aqueous extract of P. citrinopileatus grown in substrate without SCG stood out presenting the highest antioxidant activity and inhibition activity of angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (IC₅₀ = 123 μg mL^?1). Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of both Pleurotus species grown in the presence or absence of SGC proved to be an interesting prebiotic source for growth of Bifidobacterium animalis Bo in comparison with fructooligosaccharides (FOS).     

Effect of addition of Agaricus blazei mushroom residue to milk enriched with Omega‐3 on the prevention of lipid oxidation and bioavailability of bioactive compounds after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

The residue from a hydroalcoholic extract of the mushroom Agaricus blazei (MAR) was evaluated for phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. The ability of MAR to slow the oxidation of Omega‐3 resulting from light exposure in milk matrix, and its bioavailability after in vitro digestion was investigated. MAR presented phenolic compounds and flavonoids and showed antioxidant activity. At each concentration, addition of MAR to Omega‐3‐supplemented milk inhibited the production of conjugated dienes and malonaldehyde compared with samples without MAR. The bioavailability assay showed that polyphenols were still present after in vitro digestion and had antioxidant activity.     

Ageing, Demand for Care and the Role of Migrant Care Workers in the UK

In recent decades, rapid population ageing has dramatically increased the need for older adult care provision in the UK. A prominent role in meeting the care needs of the older population has been played by migrant workers. The aim of this paper is to explore the characteristics of the UK social care system that shape demand for migrant labour, the conditions under which migrant care workers are employed, and older people’s and migrant care workers’ experiences of the quality of care. Our analysis draws on the findings of a survey of providers of social care for older people, in-depth interviews with migrant care workers, and focus groups with older people. The findings show that the underfunding of social care and interrelated workforce shortages are largely responsible for the extensive reliance on migrant workers among social care providers, and raise concerns for workforce inequalities and for the quality of care.     

Unequal representation of women and men in energy company boards and management groups: Are there implications for mitigation?

This survey shows that female representation in boards and management groups of large energy companies in Germany, Spain and Sweden is far from being gender-equal. Of the 464 companies surveyed, 295 (64%) had no women at all in boards or management groups and only 5% could be considered gender-equal by having 40% or more women in such positions. Interviews with energy companies confirmed current trends that gender equality efforts within decision-making in business are weak or non-existent. The findings are discussed against the background of differences in risk perceptions among women and men, evidence of women’s impact on boards and companies’ performance and the substantial risks related to unabated climate change. Research is suggested for exploring potential impacts on energy companies' performance with more women in the boards when it comes to mitigation activities.     

Modulation of the action control system by social intention: Unexpected social requests override preplanned action.

Four experiments investigated the influence of a sudden social request on the kinematics of a preplanned action. In Experiment 1, participants were requested to grasp an object and then locate it within a container (unperturbed trials). On 20% of trials, a human agent seated nearby the participant unexpectedly stretched out her arm and unfolded her hand as if to ask for the object (perturbed trials). In the remaining 3 experiments, similar procedures were adopted except that (a) the human was replaced by a robotic agent, (b) the gesture performed by the human agent did not imply a social request, and (c) the gaze of the human agent was not available. Only when the perturbation was characterized by a social request involving a human agent were there kinematic changes to the action directed toward the target. Conversely, no effects on kinematics were evident when the perturbation was caused by the robotic agent or by a human agent performing a nonsocial gesture. These findings are discussed in the light of current theories proposed to explain the effects of social context on the control of action. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evidence for a double doping regime in Nd:YAG nanopowders

Nanopowders of Yttrium Aluminium Garnet doped with neodymium (Nd:YAG) were investigated by X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) at the Nd L_III edge in the 1.3–20.8% doping range. XANES spectra appear similar in the full range of the Nd concentration. However, a significant decrease in the white line intensity of XANES is revealed as the quantity of Nd doping ions increases. Plotting the white line intensity as a function of Nd doping ions reveals two linear trends with two different slopes, identifying a threshold value where the neodymium concentration reaches 5 at.% This experimental finding provides support for the existence of a double doping regime in Nd:YAG nanopowders. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Heterocyclic polyimides containing siloxane groups in the main chain

BACKGROUND: Among the polymers widely studied for applications in advanced techniques, aromatic polyimides have received considerable attention due to their outstanding thermal stability associated with good electrical and mechanical properties. However, these polymers are usually difficult to process, being insoluble and without a glass transition. To improve the processing characteristics of polyimides, modification of their structure is often achieved by the introduction of flexible linkages in the macromolecular chain or various substituents on the aromatic rings. RESULTS: A series of polyimides and intermediate polyamidic acids were synthesized from aromatic oxadiazole‐diamines and a dianhydride containing a siloxane bridge (? R₂Si? O? SiR₂? ). These polymers exhibit good solubility in certain organic solvents and can be cast into thin and very thin films from their solutions. They exhibit high thermal stability with decomposition being above 440 °C and relatively low glass transition temperatures in the range 160–190 °C. These polymers show strong photoluminescence in the blue spectral region. CONCLUSION: The introduction of oxadiazole rings together with siloxane groups into the chains of aromatic polyimides gives highly thermostable polymers with remarkable solubility and film‐forming ability and that emit blue light, being attractive for applications in micro‐ and nanoelectronics and other related advanced fields. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Tape casting of strontium and cobalt doped lanthanum chromite suspensions

Lanthanum chromite (LaCrO₃) is currently the most widely studied material as interconnector layers for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). The complexity of microstructures and geometries of SOFC devices, which are usually built-up by lamination of the different constitutive layers, make it necessary a precise control of processing parameters to achieve the desired combination of properties. Much effort has been devoted to the processing of electrodes and electrolytes but the other layers, such as that of interconnecting material, have received scarce attention. This work deals with the preparation and optimisation of the rheological behaviour of concentrated suspensions of Sr- and Co-doped LaCrO₃ and the subsequent tape casting to produce homogeneous thin sheets to be used in the SOFC stack.The starting powder was produced by combustion synthesis from the corresponding nitrates and urea as a fuel, and had a final composition of La_0.80Sr_0.20Cr_0.92Co_0.08O₃. These powders were dispersed in ethanol with commercial copolymers (Hypermer, KD6) to solids loading of up to 58 wt%. The binding system (BS) consisted of a mixture of a binder, polyvinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate (PVA-PVAc), and two plasticizers, polyethyleneglycol (PEG400) and benzylbutylphthalate (BBP). The effect of the binding system content and the binder-to-plasticizer ratio on the tape casting performance and the characteristics of the green and the sintered tapes, were studied, as well as the influence of the casting parameters (casting speed and blades height).