Valorization of byproducts from tropical fruits: A review,Part 2: Applications,economic, and environmental aspects of biorefinery via supercritical fluid extraction

The global trade of tropical fruits is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. In 2018, the production was approximately 100 million tones, an increase of 3.3% compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization, every year one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption is lost or wasted. More specifically, around 45% of the fruits, constituted mainly by peels, seeds, and pulps after juice extraction, are discarded mainly in the agricultural and processing steps. Therefore, decreasing and/or using these byproducts, which are often rich in bioactive components, have become an important focus for both the scientific community and the fruit processing industry. In this line, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technology is expected to play a significant role in the valorization of these byproducts. This review presents the concepts of a tropical fruit biorefinery using supercritical CO₂ extraction and the potential applications of the isolated fractions. There is a specific focus on the extraction of bioactive compounds, that is, carotenoids and phenolics, but also oils and other valuable molecules. Moreover, the techno-economic and environmental performance is assessed. Overall, the biorefinery of tropical fruits via SFE provides new opportunities for development of food and pharmaceutical products with improved economic and environmental performance.     

Hollow superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoshells as a hydrophobic anticancer drug carrier: intracelluar pH-dependent drug release and enhanced cytotoxicity

With curcumin and doxorubicin (DOX) base as model drugs, intracellular delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs by hollow structured superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoshells (hydrodynamic diameter: 191.9 ± 2.6 nm) was studied in glioblastoma U-87 MG cells. SPIO nanoshell-based encapsulation provided a stable aqueous dispersion of the curcumin. After the SPIO nanoshells were internalized by U-87 MG cells, they localized at the acidic compartments of endosomes and lysosomes. In endosome/lysosome-mimicking buffers with a pH of 4.5-5.5, pH-dependent drug release was observed from curcumin or DOX loaded SPIO nanoshells (curcumin/SPIO or DOX/SPIO). Compared with the free drug, the intracellular curcumin content delivered via curcumin/SPIO was 30 fold higher. Increased intracellular drug content for DOX base delivered via DOX/SPIO was also confirmed, along with a fast intracellular DOX release that was attributed to its protonation in the acidic environment. DOX/SPIO enhanced caspase-3 activity by twofold compared with free DOX base. The concentration that induced 50% cytotoxic effect (CC(50)) was 0.05 ± 0.03 μg ml(-1) for DOX/SPIO, while it was 0.13 ± 0.02 μg ml(-1) for free DOX base. These results suggested SPIO nanoshells might be a promising intracellular carrier for hydrophobic anticancer drugs.     

The inhibitory effects of silver nanoparticles, silver ions, and silver chloride colloids on microbial growth

Emerging nanomaterials are of great concern to wastewater treatment utilities and the environment. The inhibitory effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and other important Ag species on microbial growth were evaluated using extant respirometry and an automatic microtiter fluorescence assay. Using autotrophic nitrifying organisms from a well-controlled continuously operated bioreactor, Ag NPs (average size=14+/-6 nm), Ag(+) ions (AgNO(3)), and AgCl colloids (average size=0.25 microm), all at 1mg/L Ag, inhibited respiration by 86+/-3%, 42+/-7%, and 46+/-4%, respectively. Based on a prolonged microtiter assay, at about 0.5mg/L Ag, the inhibitions on the growth of Escherichia coli PHL628-gfp by Ag NPs, Ag(+) ions, and AgCl colloids were 55+/-8%, 100%, and 66+/-6%, respectively. Cell membrane integrity was not compromised under the treatment of test Ag species by using a LIVE/DEAD Baclight bacterial viability assay. However, electron micrographs demonstrated that Ag NPs attached to the microbial cells, probably causing cell wall pitting. The results suggest that nitrifying bacteria are especially susceptible to inhibition by Ag NPs, and the accumulation of Ag NPs could have detrimental effects on the microorganisms in wastewater treatment.     

The effects of aging on moisture-enhanced pork loins

The effects of preinjection aging time on pork loins injected with a salt/phosphate/lactate solution were investigated. Ninety-six fresh pork loins, in two replicates, were divided into two treatments. Loins in the first treatment were injected to 13% of loin weight at 1 day post-slaughter with a brine containing 2.17% salt/3.04% phosphate/20.8% lactate. The second group was injected with the same brine 4 days after slaughter. Color and Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force were measured immediately, 7 and 14 days after injection. Purge was measured 8 and 15 days postmortem. Western blots to measure troponin-T degradation were performed on samples from the two loins that resulted in the lowest shear force, and from the two loins that resulted in the highest shear force, as measured by Warner-Bratzler shear. The two loins with the most purge loss and the two loins with the least purge loss were also analyzed by Western blots for desmin degradation. The L(?) and b(?) color values were higher (P<0.05) and purge was greater (P<0.05) for loins injected 1 day postmortem than for loins injected 4 days postmortem. Western blots demonstrated that injection did not affect protein degradation. Therefore, differences between individual animals that affect protein degradation remain important regardless of injection treatment.     

Bioenergetics-based modeling of individual PCB congeners in nestling tree swallows from two contaminated sites on the upper Hudson River, New York

A bioenergetics-based model was used to simulate the accumulation of total PCBs and 20 PCB congeners by nestling tree swallows at two contaminated sites on the Upper Hudson River, New York. PCB concentrations in birds were calculated as the sum of inherited residues and those acquired through consumption of contaminated insects. Close agreement between simulations and measured residues in 5-, 10-, and 15-day-old nestlings was obtained when PCB concentrations in the diet were set equal to those in food boli taken from adult birds. These simulations were further optimized by fitting the value of a dietary assimilation efficiency constant. Fitted constants for both sites were similar and averaged about 0.7. An evaluation of model performance for individual congeners provided no evidence of metabolic biotransformation. The results of this study are consistent with a companion effort in which principal components analysis was used to compare PCB congener patterns in insects and in tree swallow eggs, nestlings, and adults. Together, these studies establish a quantitative linkage between nestling tree swallows and the insects that they consume and provide strong support for the use of nestling swallows as a biomonitoring species for exposure assessment.     

Geomicrobiological redox cycling of the transuranic element neptunium

Microbial processes can affect the environmental behavior of redox sensitive radionuclides, and understanding these reactions is essential for the safe management of radioactive wastes. Neptunium, an alpha-emitting transuranic element, is of particular importance because of its long half-life, high radiotoxicity, and relatively high solubility as Np(V)O(2)(+) under oxic conditions. Here, we describe experiments to explore the biogeochemistry of Np where Np(V) was added to oxic sediment microcosms with indigenous microorganisms and anaerobically incubated. Enhanced Np removal to sediments occurred during microbially mediated metal reduction, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy showed this was due to reduction to poorly soluble Np(IV) on solids. In subsequent reoxidation experiments, sediment-associated Np(IV) was somewhat resistant to oxidative remobilization. These results demonstrate the influence of microbial processes on Np solubility and highlight the critical importance of radionuclide biogeochemistry in nuclear legacy management.     

Positive versus negative self-monitoring in the self-control of smoking.

Compared smoking treatment programs using negative (recording number of cigarettes smoked) vs positive (recording number of urges resisted) self-monitoring. Nine Ss each, mean age 36.7 yrs, participated in 1 of 2 similar broad-spectrum treatment programs, within which they either used positive or negative self-monitoring. Over treatment, Ss in both self-monitoring groups demonstrated similarly significant reductions in smoking frequency as compared to the control group. These findings were generally maintained at follow-up. It is suggested that clinical findings question the accuracy of the "positive" and "negative" labels used to designate the 2 self-monitoring modes. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

三维互连中光刻及晶圆级键合技术的挑战、趋势和解决方案

基于它的技术优势三维集成技术正在不断地被应用到新的产品中,也包括被应用到消费电子产品里。N时也对许多工艺提出了新的要求,其中也包括光刻和晶圆级键合。三维集成技术还是需要光刻工艺来完成图形的转换．为此．讨论了三维集成工艺对工艺设备和技术提出的挑战。介绍了SUSS公司与三维技术相关的产品。着重讨论与三维集成工艺相关的光刻和键合工艺。描述了三维集成对它们提出的挑战以及目前已有的解决方案和前景。并介绍一款新的具有0．25汕m对准精度的接近接触式光刻机。