Chaos in a novel Wien bridge-based RC chaotic oscillator: dynamic analysis with application to image encryption

Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing -     

Impact of Lipase-Mediated Hydrolysis of Castor Oil on γ-Decalactone Production by Yarrowia lipolytica

γ‐Decalactone is an industrially interesting peach‐like aroma compound that can be produced biotechnologically through the biotransformation of ricinoleic acid. Castor oil (CO) is the raw material most used as the ricinoleic acid source. The effect of different CO concentrations on the γ‐decalactone production by Yarrowia lipolytica was investigated in batch processing, and 30 g L^?1 was found to be the optimal oil concentration. Under these conditions, cells were able to produce lipase but at low activity levels, which might limit ricinoleic acid release and consequently, the γ‐decalactone production rate. Thus, the enzymatic hydrolysis of CO by commercial lipases was studied under different operating conditions. Lipozyme TL IM was found to be the most efficient and the optimal hydrolysis conditions were pH 8 and 27 °C. The use of hydrolyzed CO in the aroma production allowed a decrease in the lag phase for γ‐decalactone secretion.     

Non-Conventional Techniques for the Study of Phase Transitions in NiTi-Based Alloys

Differential scanning calorimetry and electrical resistance measurements are the two most common techniques for the study of the phase transition path and temperatures of shape memory alloys (SMA) in stress-free condition. Besides, it is well known that internal friction measurements are also useful for this purpose. There are indeed some further techniques which are seldom used for the basic characterization of SMA transition: dilatometric analysis, magnetic measurements, and Seebeck coefficient study. In this work, we discuss the attitude of these techniques for the study of NiTi-based phase transition. Measurements were conducted on several fully annealed Ni_50?x Ti₅₀Cu _x samples ranging from 3 to 10 at.% in Cu content, fully annealed at 850 °C for 1 h in vacuum and quenched in water at room temperature. Results show that all these techniques are sensitive to phase transition, and they provide significant information about the existence of intermediate phases.     

Purification and properties of pectinesterase from papaya

Pectinesterase (PE) was partially purified from papaya pulp, and its biochemical properties were studied. The enzyme was eluted in a single peak after DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100 chromatography. The PE had a molecular weight of 53000 and showed an optimum pH of 8.0. Its activity was dependent on an NaCl concentration of 0.2M . The enzyme was heat stable: approximately 80% of the original activity remained after 60 min of heating at 50°C but completely inactivated by incubation at 80°C for 1 min. The activity was linear with time and protein concentration. The maximum reaction in 3 min was found at 60°C and the initial rate increased 9-fold from 20 to 60°C. The estimated K_m was 0.12g litre^?1 with citrus pectin as the substrate. The kinetic study revealed that polygalactur-onic acid is a competitive inhibitor, and a K_i value of 0.07 g litre^?1 was determined. On the basis of this study, papaya PE properties resembled those of pectinesterase from other sources.     

The Role of Porphyrinoid Photosensitizers for Skin Wound Healing

Microorganisms, usually bacteria and fungi, grow and spread in skin wounds, causing infections. These infections trigger the immune system and cause inflammation and tissue damage within the skin or wound, slowing down the healing process. The use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) to eradicate microorganisms has been regarded as a promising alternative to anti-infective therapies, such as those based on antibiotics, and more recently, is being considered for skin wound-healing, namely for infected wounds. Among the several molecules exploited as photosensitizers (PS), porphyrinoids exhibit suitable features for achieving those goals efficiently. The capability that these macrocycles display to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) gives a significant contribution to the regenerative process. ROS are responsible for avoiding the development of infections by inactivating microorganisms such as bacteria but also by promoting cell proliferation through the activation of stem cells which regulates inflammatory factors and collagen remodeling. The PS can act solo or combined with several materials, such as polymers, hydrogels, nanotubes, or metal-organic frameworks (MOF), keeping both the microbial photoinactivation and healing/regenerative processes’ effectiveness. This review highlights the developments on the combination of PDT approach and skin wound healing using natural and synthetic porphyrinoids, such as porphyrins, chlorins and phthalocyanines, as PS, as well as the prodrug 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), the natural precursor of protoporphyrin-IX (PP-IX).     

Interaction between bradykinin potentiating nonapeptide (BPP9a) and β-cyclodextrin: A structural and thermodynamic study

Herein, we demonstrate the physical and chemical characterizations of the supramolecular complex formed between β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and bradykinin potentiating nonapeptide (BPP9a), an endogenous toxin found in Bothrops jararaca. Circular dichroism results indicate a conformational change in the BPP9a secondary structure upon its complexation with βCD. Nuclear magnetic resonance results, mainly from NOESY experiments, and theoretical calculations showed a favorable interaction between the tryptophan residue of BPP9a and the βCD cavity. Thermodynamic inclusion parameters were investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry, demonstrating that βCD/BPP9a complex formation is an exothermic process that results in a reduction in entropy. Additionally, in vitro degradation study of BPP9a against trypsin (37 °C, pH 7.2) showed higher stability of peptide in presence of βCD. This βCD/BPP9a complex, which presents new chemical properties arising from the peptide inclusion process, may be useful as an antihypertensive drug in oral pharmaceutical formulations.