Exposure to 16 Hz Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Protect the Structural Integrity of Primary Cilia and Associated TGF-β Signaling in Osteoprogenitor Cells Harmed by Cigarette Smoke

Cigarette smoking (CS) is one of the main factors related to avoidable diseases and death across the world. Cigarette smoke consists of numerous toxic compounds that contribute to the development of osteoporosis and fracture nonunion. Exposure to pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) was proven to be a safe and effective therapy to support bone fracture healing. The aims of this study were to investigate if extremely low frequency (ELF-) PEMFs may be beneficial to treat CS-related bone disease, and which effect the duration of the exposure has. In this study, immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells (SCP-1 cells) impaired by 5% cigarette smoke extract (CSE) were exposed to ELF-PEMFs (16 Hz) with daily exposure ranging from 7 min to 90 min. Cell viability, adhesion, and spreading were evaluated by Sulforhodamine B, Calcein-AM staining, and Phalloidin-TRITC/Hoechst 33342 staining. A migration assay kit was used to determine cell migration. Changes in TGF-β signaling were evaluated with an adenoviral Smad2/3 reporter assay, RT-PCR, and Western blot. The structure and distribution of primary cilia were analyzed with immunofluorescent staining. Our data indicate that 30 min daily exposure to a specific ELF-PEMF most effectively promoted cell viability, enhanced cell adhesion and spreading, accelerated migration, and protected TGF-β signaling from CSE-induced harm. In summary, the current results provide evidence that ELF-PEMF can be used to support early bone healing in patients who smoke.     

Quantitation of Saccharin and Cyclamate in Tabletop Formulations by Portable Raman and NIR Spectrometers in Combination with Partial Least Squares Regression

Rapid, direct, and reagent-free screening tools using vibrational spectroscopy in combination with partial least squares regression (PLSR) were developed for the determination of sodium saccharin and sodium cyclamate in tabletop formulations. The four vibrational spectroscopic instruments employed were a portable Raman spectrometer, a NIR handheld device, and two FT-NIR benchtop spectrometers. Wavenumber ranges and type of spectral pretreatment were optimized for each PLSR calibration model using an independent validation set. Each sweetener model provided reliable predictions (low errors in validation and r ² above 0.90) for both saccharin and cyclamate samples. Optimized models were tested with four commercially available tabletop formulations in order to simulate the application of the developed models towards routine sweetener analysis. With the exception of one model, the sweetener concentration predictions in commercial tabletop formulations using the portable devices were not significantly different from those based on spectra collected on the benchtop spectrometers. PLSR-predicted mean sweetener concentrations were within 80–120% of the label declared values, while the sweetener without a label declaration had consistent concentrations across the analytical methods used. As shown by the good agreement between spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses, the portable spectrometers offer an alternative to traditional chromatographic methods. To our knowledge, this is the first time portable Raman and handheld NIR devices with PLSR calibration models have been employed to evaluate sweeteners, and these analytical methods hold potential to be used for rapid screening of tabletop formulations for quality assurance and for regulatory labeling verification.     

Application of β-Cyclodextrin/2-Nonanone Inclusion Complex as Active Agent to Design of Antimicrobial Packaging Films for Control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis>

The aim of this study was to develop, characterize and evaluate in vitro the efficacy of active films, based on an inclusion complex formed by β-cyclodextrin, 2-nonanone and two polymer matrices (polylactic acid and low density polyethylene). The different films were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), themogravimetric analysis (TGA), optical properties and antimicrobial activity against B. cinerea. The results showed important differences in the parameters evaluated where the level of agglomerates of additives was a key to explain these changes. Finally, microbiological analysis showed high effectiveness in reducing the Botrytis cinerea growth. The active films developed in this study were able to inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungus B. cinerea at different experimental conditions. The studied films have potential use for packaging fresh fruit susceptible to biological attack by this fungus.     

Splitting for strength: Manipulating polymerization reactor split ratios to control mechanical and rheological properties in bimodal polyethylene resins

This study integrates advanced mathematical modeling and experimental methodologies to investigate the simultaneous impact of modifications in the split ratio and molecular weight (MW) of chains on the rheological and mechanical properties of bimodal polyethylene (BiPE) resins. The outcomes underscored the viability of fine-tuning the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of a BiPE resin by augmenting the MW of high molecular weight (HMW) chains while simultaneously diminishing their proportion in the final alloy formulation. In addition, the experimental results illuminated the prospect of attaining a targeted melt flow index for the final polymers by elevating the MW of HMW chains alongside an increase in the proportion of low molecular weight chains. Significantly, these adjustments resulted in remarkable enhancements in the shear thinning index and strain hardening modulus of the fabricated resins.     

Combined effect of electrical stimulation, aging time and marination on quality of chicken breast fillet processed under commercial conditions

BACKGROUND: Electrical stimulation (ES) in poultry processing is reported in the literature with varying degrees of effectiveness. Furthermore, the combined effects of ES and polyphosphate marination are not completely known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of ES, aging time prior to deboning and phosphate marination on meat quality of broiler breast fillets. RESULTS: The implementation of ES accelerated pH decline in fillets at any aging time studied regardless of marination treatment, but no differences (P > 0.05) were found in pH of fillets deboned without aging. Warner–Bratzler (WB) shear values of ES fillets significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at 2 h of aging whereas WB of non‐ES fillets decreased at 6 h of aging in breast meat, with or without marination. In non‐marinated fillets the ES treatment reduced (P < 0.05) cooking loss in meat aged 0, 2 and 4 h. In marinated fillets the ES treatment decreased cooking loss at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h of aging. CONCLUSION: ES in carcasses aged 2 or 4 h improves tenderness and reduces cooking loss. Marination improves tenderness in both stimulated and non‐stimulated fillets, at all aging times. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Acid-treated Bentonite as filler in the development of novel composite PVA hydrogels

In this study, novel eco-friendly hydrogel adsorbents were synthesized based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and different contents of an acid-treated bentonite (1–5 wt %). The hydrogels were prepared by freezing–thawing, which is a simple and nontoxic method. The materials were morphologically and thermally characterized by means of swelling assays, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis in order to evaluate the effect of acid-treated bentonite loading. The composite hydrogels showed very distinct porous structure and thermal features in comparison to neat PVA as a consequence of the addition of the clay. Moreover, the performance of the obtained composite hydrogels was tested toward the adsorption of cationic (methylene blue) and anionic dyes (methyl red and methyl orange) from aqueous media. The presence of acid bentonite seems to be beneficial for improving the removal capacity of PVA-based hydrogels. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47663.     

Application of essential oils in maize grain: impact on Aspergillus section Flavi growth parameters and aflatoxin accumulation

The antifungal activity of Pimpinella anisum L. (anise), Pëumus boldus Mol (boldus), Hedeoma multiflora Benth (mountain thyme), Syzygium aromaticum L. (clove), and Lippia turbinate var. integrifolia (griseb) (poleo) essential oils (EOs) against Aspergillus section Flavi was evaluated in sterile maize grain under different water activity (a_w) condition (0.982, 0.955, and 0.90). The effect of EOs added to maize grains on growth rate, lag phase, and aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) accumulation of Aspergillus section Flavi were evaluated at different water activity conditions. The five EOs analyzed have been shown to influence lag phase and growth rate. Their efficacy depended mainly on the essential oil concentrations and substrate water activity conditions. All EOs showed significant impact on AFB₁ accumulation. This effect was closely dependent on the water activity, concentration, and incubation periods. Important reduction of AFB₁ accumulation was observed in the majority of EO treatments at 11 days of incubation. Boldus, poleo, and mountain thyme EO completely inhibited AFB₁ at 2000 and 3000 μg g⁻¹. Inhibition of AFB₁ accumulation was also observed when aflatoxigenic isolates grew with different concentration of EOs during 35 days.     

In Vivo Biocompatibility Investigation of an Injectable Calcium Carbonate (Vaterite) as a Bone Substitute including Compositional Analysis via SEM-EDX Technology

Injectable bone substitutes (IBS) are increasingly being used in the fields of orthopedics and maxillofacial/oral surgery. The rheological properties of IBS allow for proper and less invasive filling of bony defects. Vaterite is the most unstable crystalline polymorph of calcium carbonate and is known to be able to transform into hydroxyapatite upon contact with an organic fluid (e.g., interstitial body fluid). Two different concentrations of hydrogels based on poly(ethylene glycol)-acetal-dimethacrylat (PEG-a-DMA), i.e., 8% (w/v) (VH-A) or 10% (w/v) (VH-B), were combined with vaterite nanoparticles and implanted in subcutaneous pockets of BALB/c mice for 15 and 30 days. Explants were prepared for histochemical staining and immunohistochemical detection methods to determine macrophage polarization, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) to analyze elemental composition was used for the analysis. The histopathological analysis revealed a comparable moderate tissue reaction to the hydrogels mainly involving macrophages. Moreover, the hydrogels underwent a slow cellular infiltration, revealing a different degradation behavior compared to other IBS. The immunohistochemical detection showed that M1 macrophages were mainly found at the material surfaces being involved in the cell-mediated degradation and tissue integration, while M2 macrophages were predominantly found within the reactive connective tissue. Furthermore, the histomorphometrical analysis revealed balanced numbers of pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages, demonstrating that both hydrogels are favorable materials for bone tissue regeneration. Finally, the EDX analysis showed a stepwise transformation of the vaterite particle into hydroxyapatite. Overall, the results of the present study demonstrate that hydrogels including nano-vaterite particles are biocompatible and suitable for bone tissue regeneration applications.     

Metabolic Signature of Energy Metabolism Alterations and Excess Nitric Oxide Production in Culture Media Correlate with Low Human Embryo Quality and Unsuccessful Pregnancy

Notwithstanding the great improvement of ART, the overall rate of successful pregnancies from implanted human embryos is definitely low. The current routine embryo quality assessment is performed only through morphological criteria, which has poor predictive capacity since only a minor percentage of those in the highest class give rise to successful pregnancy. Previous studies highlighted the potentiality of the analysis of metabolites in human embryo culture media, useful for the selection of embryos for implantation. In the present study, we analyzed in blind 66 human embryo culture media at 5 days after in vitro fertilization with the aim of quantifying compounds released by cell metabolism that were not present as normal constituents of the human embryo growth media, including purines, pyrimidines, nitrite, and nitrate. Only some purines were detectable (hypoxanthine and uric acid) in the majority of samples, while nitrite and nitrate were always detectable. When matching biochemical results with morphological evaluation, it was found that low grade embryos (n = 12) had significantly higher levels of all the compounds of interest. Moreover, when matching biochemical results according to successful (n = 17) or unsuccessful (n = 25) pregnancy, it was found that human embryos from the latter group released higher concentrations of hypoxanthine, uric acid, nitrite, and nitrate in the culture media. Additionally, those embryos that developed into successful pregnancies were all associated with the birth of healthy newborns. These results, although carried out on a relatively low number of samples, indicate that the analysis of the aforementioned compounds in the culture media of human embryos is a potentially useful tool for the selection of embryos for implantation, possibly leading to an increase in the overall rate of ART.