Structural characteristics of modified natural zeolite

Natural zeolite of Slovak provenience has been modified with magnetic nanoparticles at selected temperatures of 20, 50 and 85 °C with the aim to enhance its sorption properties. The pore, surface and structural properties of zeolite/iron oxide composite were characterized using nitrogen adsorption measurements, electron probe microanalysis and powder X-ray diffraction. The crystallinity of the host zeolite was strongly influenced by the temperature of iron oxide particles precipitation, but it was still retained. It followed from the nitrogen adsorption measurements that the surface area and the pore volume of zeolite composites have increased in relation to the precipitation temperature, the best sorption properties were revealed at the composite prepared at 85 °C. As followed also from the SEM images, the iron oxide nanoparticles being of size 30 nm are forming mesoporous aggregates adsorbed on the zeolite surface. Fractal analysis used to describe the modified geometry of zeolite composites has given the values of surface fractal dimension between 2.36 and 2.51.     

In-house validation of an ELISA method for screening of semicarbazide in eggs

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method is described for the semi-quantitative determination of semicarbazide (SEM), the marker residue for the banned nitrofuran drug, nitrofurazone, in chicken eggs. The sample homogenate is subjected to acid hydrolysis and derivatisation with o-nitrobenzaldehyde, followed by ethyl acetate/hexane extraction and detection by ELISA. The ELISA procedure has been validated using 0.3, 1.0 and 3 µg kg^?1 of SEM in fortified samples. Detection capability (CC_ß) was based on the acceptance of 5% false compliant results for a given concentration level according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and was determined to be 0.3 µg kg^?1 with a respective limit of detection of 0.13 µg kg^?1. A validated LC–MS/MS method was used for the analysis of incurred egg samples and the results compared with ELISA. A good correlation between the results obtained from ELISA and LC–MS/MS within the concentration range 0.12–20.3 µg kg^?1 was observed in samples collected from chickens fed with a medicated ration of nitrofurazone (r?=?0.992, n?=?14). Validated ELISA enabled reliable monitoring of SEM levels in eggs collected from incurred chickens over a 90-day period.     

DNA delivery systems based on copolymers of poly (2-methyl-2-oxazoline) and polyethyleneimine: Effect of polyoxazoline moieties on the endo-lysosomal escape

Poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)-polyethylenimine (PMeOx-co-PEI) copolymers differing by degree of polymerization (DP = 50 and 200) and PEI content (from 37 to 99 mol%) were synthesized by living cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline, followed by partial hydrolysis. Upon mixing with DNA in a wide range of N/P ratios, they formed well-defined polyplex particles of small size (typically below 100 nm) and narrow size distribution. The polyplexes demonstrated good colloidal stability and very low in vitro cytotoxicity. The copolymers exhibited buffering capacity of over 50% relative to that of the reference PEI implying effective endo-lysosomal escape of the polyplexes. Increased cellular internalization of both PCR fragments and plasmid DNA, attributable to the strongly positive ζ potential and small size of the polyplexes, was observed. In spite of these favorable prerequisites, the transfection efficiency was low (below 20% relative to the control PEI) and was attributed to retarded swelling of the polyplex particles, endo-lysosomal rupture, and DNA release.     

Alcohol use disorder history moderates the relationship between avoidance coping and posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Avoidance coping (AVC) is common in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Given that PTSD and AUD commonly co-occur, AVC may represent a risk factor for the development of comorbid posttraumatic stress and alcohol use. In this study, the relationship between AVC and PTSD symptoms (PTSS) was examined in individuals with versus without AUDs. Motor vehicle accident (MVA) victims were assessed 6 weeks postaccident for AUD history (i.e. diagnoses of current or past alcohol abuse or dependence) and AVC. PTSS were assessed 6 weeks and 6 months post-MVA. All analyses were conducted on the full sample of MVA victims as well as on the subset of participants who were legally intoxicated (blood alcohol concentration ≥ 0.08) during the accident. It was hypothesized that the relationship between AVC and PTSS would be stronger in those individuals with an AUD history and especially strong in the subset of individuals who were legally intoxicated during the MVA. Results were largely supportive of this hypothesis, even after controlling for in-hospital PTSS, gender, and current major depression. Early assessment of AUD history and avoidance coping may aid in detecting those at elevated risk for PTSD, and intervening to reduce AVC soon after trauma may help buffer the development of PTSD + AUD comorbidity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diagnosis of Liposcelis entomophila (Insecta: Psocodea: Liposcelididae) based on morphological characteristics and DNA barcodes

Liposcelis entomophila infests stored grain and is one of the most important psocid species worldwide. Six geographically isolated strains of L. entomophila from Asia, Europe, and United States of America (USA) were compared based on morphological attributes and by molecular methods. Decisive characters of morphological diagnosis were studied using body size measurements and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Molecular identification of the six strains was performed via identification of DNA sequence similarities and phylogenetic analyses based on a 655-bp fragment from the 5′ end of the standard mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcode region. The results showed that both morphological and molecular approaches were able to accurately identify this species. Kimura-2-Parameter (K2P) divergence between geographically isolated strains was on average 1.75% for the COI sequence. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that sequences of L. entomophila strains' COI barcodes formed clusters with tight cohesion that were clearly distinct from those of allied species.     

Impact of oregano and virgin olive oil phenolic compounds on acrylamide content in a model system and fresh potatoes

In this study the effect of olive oil and oregano phenolic compounds on antioxidant activity (AOA) and acrylamide formation in a model system and fresh potatoes was evaluated. The addition of oregano phenolic extract in the model system resulted in an increase of AOA and in a reduction of acrylamide content, up to 49%, after heating. On the contrary, addition of olive oil extract resulted in AOA reduction and a concentration-dependent effect on acrylamide formation was observed with a reduction up to 15% (p < 0.05) followed by an increase up to 48%. The same trend, in acrylamide formation, was observed in fresh potatoes but to a lower extent. Finally, addition of tyrosol, oleuropein and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid in the model system resulted in acrylamide reduction up to 50%. The discrepancy in acrylamide formation, caused by phenolic compounds, is ascribed to their structure and related to their terminal functional hydroxyl and aldehydic groups.     

Raising agents strongly influence acrylamide and HMF formation in cookies and conditions for asparaginase activity in dough

The impact of raising agents on formation of heat-induced contaminants, acrylamide and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), with focus on the efficiency of enzyme asparaginase as a potent tool for acrylamide reduction was investigated in the model system of cereal products. Acrylamide formation was strongly supported by ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH₄HCO₃), observing 6 times higher level in comparison with control sample without raising agents, and was suppressed effectively by sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO₃) up to 52 %. Sodium pyrophosphate (Na₄P₂O₇) had no influence on the final acrylamide content. The level of HMF remained untouched by NH₄HCO₃ contrary to sodium raising agents that both diminished HMF concentration up to 95 % using NaHCO₃. Furthermore, enzyme asparaginase eliminated acrylamide formation in the range from 23 to 75 % depending mainly on pH value of dough and time of enzyme incubation (15, 30 and 60 min). The optimum pH value for asparaginase action was in neutrality. Na₄P₂O₇ shifted pH value of dough to the optimum in comparison with control (from 5.82 to 6.78). NH₄HCO₃ and NaHCO₃ changed pH value out of optimum up to 7.82 and 8.10, respectively. The longer the enzyme treatment, the higher the acrylamide elimination was observed, with the main importance in cases of pH shifting by raising agents. These findings indicate that a product-specific optimization of the conditions for enzymatic treatment is still challenging in terms of achieving desired quality parameters with improved safety, although acrylamide mitigation by means of asparaginase was proved to be a very effective tool especially in cereal-based products.