Optimization of fully aligned bioactive electrospun fibers for “in vitro” nerve guidance

Complex architecture of natural tissues such as nerves requires the use of multifunctional scaffolds with peculiar topological and biochemical signals able to address cell behavior towards specific events at the cellular (microscale) and macromolecular (nanoscale) level. In this context, the electrospinning technique is useful to generate fiber assemblies having peculiar fiber diameters at the nanoscale and patterned by unidirectional ways, to facilitate neurite extension via contact guidance. Following a bio-mimetic approach, fully aligned polycaprolactone fibers blended with gelatin macromolecules have been fabricated as potential bioactive substrate for nerve regeneration. Morphological and topographic aspects of electrospun fibers assessed by SEM/AFM microscopy supported by image analyses elaboration allow estimating an increase of fully aligned fibers from 5 to 39 % as collector rotating rate increases from 1,000 to 3,000 rpm. We verify that fully alignment of fibers positively influences in vitro response of hMSC and PC-12 cells in neurogenic way. Immunostaining images show that the presence of topological defects, i.e., kinks—due to more frequent fiber crossing—in the case of randomly organized fiber assembly concurs to interfere with proper neurite outgrowth. On the contrary, fully aligned fibers without kinks offer a more efficient contact guidance to direct the orientation of nerve cells along the fibers respect to randomly organized ones, promoting a high elongation of neurites at 7 days and the formation of bipolar extensions. So, this confirms that the topological cue of fully alignment of fibers elicits a favorable environment for nerve regeneration.     

Mechanical behaviour and failure modes of metal to composite adhesive joints for nautical applications

In this paper, the influence of several parameters on the mechanical behaviour and failure modes of hybrid bonded joints aluminium/composite was investigated. Particularly, the effects of metallic surface condition, adhesive properties and thickness on single-lap joint resistance were analysed. To these aims, two adhesives were used and, for each adhesive, two different adhesive thicknesses (0.5 and 1.5?mm) have been investigated. Furthermore, two sets of joints for each adhesive kind and thickness were investigated: the former was obtained using aluminium blanks which were previously mechanically treated with sandpaper (P60) and the latter using aluminium treated with sandpaper and with presence of fillets in the ends of the overlap area. In order to improve the adhesion strength between polymeric adhesive and aluminium, two metal surface treatments have also been performed using a silane coupling agent, ??-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (??-GPS). The mechanical performances and failure modes were found to be significantly increased using the chemical pre-treatments with ??-GPS silane coupling agent unlike other parameters investigated. As regard the thickness of the adhesive layer, the better value is found to be equal to 0.5?mm, for both adhesives investigated.     

Bioaccumulation of dioxin-like substances and selected brominated flame retardant congeners in the fat and livers of black pigs farmed within the Nebrodi Regional Park of Sicily

An observational study was designed to assess the bioaccumulation of polychlorodibenzodioxins (PCDD) and polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDF), dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (DL-PCB), and 13 selected polybromodiphenylethers (PBDE) in autochthonous pigs reared in the Nebrodi Park of Sicily (Italy). Perirenal fat and liver samples were drawn from animals representative of three different outdoor farming systems and from wild pigs and then analyzed for the chemicals mentioned previously. The highest concentrations of PCDD + PCDF and DL-PCB were detected in the fat (0.45 and 0.35 pg World Health Organization toxicity equivalents [WHO-TE] per g of fat base [FB], respectively) and livers (12.7 and 3.28 pg WHO-TE per g FB) of the wild group, whereas the free-ranging group showed the lowest levels (0.05 and 0.03 pg WHO-TE per g FB in fat and 0.78 and 0.27 pg WHO-TE per g FB in livers). The sum of PBDE congeners was highest in wild pigs (0.52 ng/g FB in fat and 5.64 ng/g FB in livers) and lowest in the farmed group (0.14 ng/g FB in fat and 0.28 ng/g FB in livers). The contamination levels in fat and livers of outdoor pigs had mean concentration values lower than those levels reported for intensively indoor-farmed animals. In wild pigs, bioaccumulation was associated with their free grazing in areas characterized by bush fires. The results of this study aid to emphasize the quality of the environment as a factor to guarantee food safety in typical processed pig meat products, specifically from outdoor and extensive Nebrodi farming systems.     

Extrusion and boundary evaluation for multidimensional polyhedra

Extrusion is a basic operation allowing the generation of higher intrinsic dimension polyhedra. The paper gives closed formulas both to generate a (d+1)-dimensional polyhedron obtained by affine extrusion of a (d)-dimensional polyhedron, and to generate by rotational extrusion. Algorithms for the boundary evaluation when a decompositive representation is given are also discussed.

The representation used in the paper, based on simplicial complexes, is general and simple, and allows us to represent nonconvex, unconnected, unoriented, nonmanifold and unbounded linear polyhedra. A simplicial complex triangulating the extruded polyhedron is generated by independently extruding the simplices of the input object. The approach is very efficient because no a posteriori triangulation of the extruded polyhedron is required; furthermore, both the underlying complex and the adjacencies between cells are calculated by using closed formulas.     

Structural Model to Predict the Failure Behavior of Plated Reinforced Concrete Beams

This paper presents a theoretical model, based on truss analogy, to analyze the structural behavior at failure of reinforced concrete beams with steel plates or fiber-reinforced polymer lamitates bonded to their tension faces. The analytical approach, incorporated in the framework of strut-and-tie models, takes into account the nonlinear behavior of materials and of the structural member. In addition, it includes the load transfer mechanism to reflect the plate-debonding phenomenon and associated cracking of concrete cover, both of which play a critical role in the failure process of plated beams. The model, which takes into consideration all the possible failure modes of plated beams, is capable of predicting the beam load-carrying capacity at ultimate and, also, of indicating the associated mode of failure. It aims to develop a rational engineering analysis in a field which until now has been studied with linear elastic approaches or empirical methods. The proposed model has been validated by comparing the results obtained in the present analysis with over a hundred experimental results available in published literature. Furthermore, the results obtained with the present analysis are compared with those obtained by two other models, and it is shown that the model proposed here provides a consistent and satisfactory correlation with a wide range of reinforced concrete beam tests strengthened with steel or polymer composite plates.     

Synthesis,characterization, and degradation of block polyesteramides containing poly(L-lactide) segments

Random multiblock polyesteramides (PEAs) having polyester (PE) content of 20–50 wt % have been prepared by low-temperature polycondensation using sebacoyl chloride, 1,6-diaminohexane, and telechelic oligomers of L-lactide with M_n = 600–1500. The PEAs were characterized by IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. Only the polyamide segments are able to crystallize, and the crystallinity depends on the composition and architecture of the PEAs. From viscosity and IR measurements it was established that the chain degradation of PEA powders or films suspended in buffer solutions occurs by hydrolysis of the ester linkages. The degradation rate is influenced by pH, PE content, and, to a lesser extent, by crystallinity. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Acrylamide formation in a cookie system as influenced by the oil phenol profile and degree of oxidation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the olive oil phenolic compounds as well as of thermoxidised oil on the formation of acrylamide in a cookies system. Three virgin olive oils having different phenolic profile and a thermoxidised sunflower oil were selected. Cookies were baked at 190 °C for different times (8–16 min) following a basic recipe where type of oil was the variable. Additionally to acrylamide (AA), other parameters such as colour, moisture, antioxidant activity (AOA), and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) were measured. Results showed that concentration and composition of phenolic moiety of virgin olive oil significantly affect the acrylamide formation, particularly at prolonged baking time. Virgin olive oil with a higher dihydroxy/monohydroxy ratio was more efficient in the AA mitigation and AA was reduced up to 20%. Colour and AOA were not significantly different among the three types of oils. However, AA is dramatically increased when thermoxidised oil is used with a parallel increase of browning and HMF. It was concluded that lipid oxidation products should be considered as an important factor in acrylamide formation during baking of fat-rich products.     

AECAM:An Extension Matrix Algorithm on a Cellular Automata Machine

A simplified version of the extension matrix algorithm has been proved to be useful for implementation on a cellular automata machine(CAM-6),Te algorithm and its implementation are described.