Physico-Chemical Characterisation of Lipids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mytilus galloprovincialis</Emphasis> (L.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rapana venosa</Emphasis> and their Healing Properties on Skin Burns

Black Sea molluscs and gastropods are the most studied organisms from the Romanian littoral zone. In particular, those from the Mytilidae species are of great interest because biochemical investigations have shown that they can be sources of biological active substances which can have different applications (e.g. food additives). We report here the extraction of lipids from two different species of molluscs (Mytilus galloprovincialis L., Mediterranean mussel) and gastropods (Rapana venosa, hard-shell clam). The extracts were evaluated in terms of antioxidant and composition properties and their healing properties were tested on skin burns in Wistar rats. Our studies proved that the two lipid extracts contained a relatively complex distribution of compounds, in terms of characteristic indices, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and vitamins E and D. The presence of such compounds rendered the extracts very efficient in healing induced skin burns in Wistar rats. The histological analysis showed a reduction in the time of healing (12-13 and 13-15 days for the Mytilus galloprovincialis (L.) Rapana venosa extracts, respectively) compared to 20-22 for untreated animals, based on results from tissues and blood samples. Our investigations have been proved to be promising in terms of future potential applications of the extracts as skin-care products, cosmetics and/or pharmaceutical preparations owing to their dermorestitutive properties.     

Semi-rational Engineering of a Promiscuous Fatty Acid Hydratase for Alteration of Regioselectivity

Fatty acid hydratases (FAHs) catalyze regio- and stereo-selective hydration of unsaturated fatty acids to produce hydroxy fatty acids. Fatty acid hydratase-1 (FA-HY1) from Lactobacillus Acidophilus is the most promiscuous and regiodiverse FAH identified so far. Here, we engineered binding site residues of FA-HY1 (S393, S395, S218 and P380) by semi-rational protein engineering to alter regioselectivity. Although it was not possible to obtain a completely new type of regioselectivity with our mutant libraries, a significant shift of regioselectivity was observed towards cis-5, cis-8, cis-11, cis-14, cis-17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). We identified mutants (S393/S395 mutants) with excellent regioselectivity, generating a single hydroxy fatty acid product from EPA (15-OH product), which is advantageous from application perspective. This result is impressive given that wild-type FA-HY1 produces a mixture of 12-OH and 15-OH products at 63 : 37 ratio (12-OH : 15-OH). Moreover, our results indicate that native FA-HY1 is at its limit in terms of promiscuity and regiospecificity, thus it may not be possible to diversify its product portfolio with active site engineering. This behavior of FA-HY1 is unlike its orthologue, fatty acid hydratase-2 (FA-HY2; 58 % sequence identity to FA-HY1), which has been shown earlier to exhibit significant promiscuity and regioselectivity changes by a few active site mutations. Our reverse engineering from FA-HY1 to FA-HY2 further demonstrates this conclusion.     

Relativistic many-body Møller-Plesset perturbation theory calculations of the energy levels and transition rates in Na-like to P-like Xe ions

Relativistic multireference many-body perturbation theory calculations have been performed for Xe⁴³⁺ to Xe³⁹⁺ ions, resulting in energy levels, electric dipole transition rates, and level lifetimes. The second-order many-body perturbation theory calculation of energy levels included mass shifts, the frequency-dependent Breit correction, and Lamb shifts. The calculated transition energies and E1 transition rates are used to present synthetic spectra in the extreme ultraviolet range for some of the Xe ions.     

Innovative manufacturing technology enabling light weighting with steel in commercial vehicles

Improved manufacturing technology is often needed when working with high strength steel.In this respect manufacturing technology has to adapt to the altered(and typically reduced) formability and weldability of modern high strength steel.However,this is a rather passive approach from a manufacturing point of view.An indeed much more powerful approach is to generate synergies between innovative manufacturing technology,design and material enabling additional weight savings and efficiency gains.Laser-based material processing,in particular laser welding,offers a wide range of opportunities in this sense.Furthermore,hot stamping and roll forming open up new possibilities for advanced manufacturing of commercial vehicle components.Applications and examples of these technologies will be given in terms of producing innovative semi-products as well as final components.     

Ionic mobilities of monovalent cations in molten salt mixtures

For a better understanding of the mechanism of electrical conductivity of ionic melts, additive binary systems yield more heuristic information than pure melts do. Thus, mobility isotherms of monovalent cations with a common anion are discussed. The difference in external and internal mobilities is explained. The methods for determining transport numbers of individual ionic species in mixtures are briefly mentioned. The profiles of the isotherms of the internal mobilities of monovalent cations in common anion binary systems may be classified into two types. In most of the binary melts a crossing of the isotherms occurs. Interpretation of the ionic mobilities reversal is given based on molecular dynamics simulation as well as experimental data, which is a clue for elucidation of the mechanism of ionic transport in molten salts.     

Surfactant adsorption onto activated carbon and its effect on absorption with chemical reaction

The effects of surfactant contaminations and activated carbon addition on physical gas absorption, and absorption with fast and instantaneous reaction (sulphite oxidation, carbon dioxide absorption into sodium hydroxide and monoethanol amine (MEA) solutions) have been studied in a stirred cell with a flat gas/liquid interface. Surfactants significantly decrease the liquid-side mass transfer coefficient k_L even at very small concentrations. The surfactants can be removed by adsorption onto activated carbon (“surfactant grazing”).In absorption with fast chemical reaction of the gas (sulphite oxidation), the liquid side mass transfer coefficient k_L has no effect on the absorption rate and, consequently, there are no effects of surfactant and activated carbon. CO₂ absorption into sodium hydroxide solution may occur in the instantaneous absorption regime; then, any change in k_L causes a proportional change in the absorption rate. In CO₂ absorption into MEA solution, however, in the instantaneous regime, much stronger effects of surfactant and of its removal by activated carbon are observed. It is suggested that in the absence of surfactants surface convection (Marangoni instability) may occur in MEA solutions.     

Surface energy of corona treated PP,PE and PET films,its alteration as function of storage time and the effect of various corona dosages on their bond strength after lamination

The aim of this study was to analyze how corona dosages above recommended levels affect film surface energy and hydrophobic recovery of such treated film surfaces as well as laminate bond strength of laminates made of these films. The adhesive for lamination was a polyurethane‐adhesive with a dry film thickness of ～5 µm. Polar and dispersive parts of the surface energy were measured frequently according to DIN 55660‐2 (Owens–Wendt–Rabel‐and‐Kaelble method) for up to 140 days after corona treatment. The corona dosage had a value of up to 280 W min/m². Laminate bond strength was measured according to DIN 55543‐5. The effect of corona treatment was highest for low‐density polyethylene (PE‐LD) films, mean for biaxial‐oriented polypropylene (PP‐BO) films, and lowest for biaxial‐oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET‐BO) films. With increasing storage time, surface energy decreased, as expected. The higher the effect of corona treatment, the faster the polar part of surface energy decreased. At PE‐LD, laminate bond strength increased with a higher corona dosage from 0.05 to 8.87 mN/15 mm, whereas at PET‐BO and PP‐BO laminate bond strength was so high that samples teared before delamination during bond strength testing. By our results is shown that corona dosages above recommended levels resulted in higher laminate bond strength. Only at PP‐BO a reduction of laminate bond strength due to “overtreatment” was be observed. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45842.     

Novel Strategies for Spinal Cord Regeneration

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating lesions, as it can damage the continuity and conductivity of the central nervous system, resulting in complex pathophysiology. Encouraged by the advances in nanotechnology, stem cell biology, and materials science, researchers have proposed various interdisciplinary approaches for spinal cord regeneration. In this respect, the present review aims to explore the most recent developments in SCI treatment and spinal cord repair. Specifically, it briefly describes the characteristics of SCIs, followed by an extensive discussion on newly developed nanocarriers (e.g., metal-based, polymer-based, liposomes) for spinal cord delivery, relevant biomolecules (e.g., growth factors, exosomes) for SCI treatment, innovative cell therapies, and novel natural and synthetic biomaterial scaffolds for spinal cord regeneration.     

Printing newspaper free of mineral oil: report on a test run

The Swiss retailer Coop printed part of his weekly newspaper with inks formulated without mineral oil. The experiment explored this approach to reduce the migration of mineral oil into food when newspaper is recycled to paperboard for food packaging. The mineral oil was replaced by plant oils as well as poly alpha olefins (PAO) with the lowest mass above the n-alkane C₂₄, i.e. of a volatility low enough to prevent transfer through the gas phase into food. With this composition, no major adjustments of the printing machine were necessary. The printing quality was judged excellent by the International Newspaper Color Quality Club (INCQC). As the carryover in the installations was known to be a serious problem, 30 t of inks were used, initially printing daily newspapers and other printed material. Measurement of the residual mineral oil in the inks as delivered to the printing plant and monitored at the top of a printing tower confirmed that no rapid exchange of inks is possible.     

Novel Elastic Threads for Intestinal Anastomoses: Feasibility and Mechanical Evaluation in a Porcine and Rabbit Model

Gastrointestinal anastomoses are an important source of postoperative complications. In particular, the ideal suturing material is still the subject of investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate a newly developed suturing material with elastic properties made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU); Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and TPU were tested in two different textures (round and a modified, “snowflake” structure) in 32 minipigs, with two anastomoses of the small intestine sutured 2 m apart. After 90 days, the anastomoses were evaluated for inflammation, the healing process, and foreign body reactions. A computer-assisted immunohistological analysis of staining for Ki67, CD68, smooth muscle actin (SMA), and Sirius red was performed using TissueFAXS. Additionally, the in vivo elastic properties of the material were assessed by measuring the suture tension in a rabbit model. Each suture was tested twice in three rabbits; No major surgical complications were observed and all anastomoses showed adequate wound healing. The Ki67+ count and SMA area differed between the groups (F (3, 66) = 5.884, p = 0.0013 and F (3, 56) = 6.880, p = 0.0005, respectively). In the TPU-snowflake material, the Ki67+ count was the lowest, while the SMA area provided the highest values. The CD68+ count and collagen I/III ratio did not differ between the groups (F (3, 69) = 2.646, p = 0.0558 and F (3, 54) = 0.496, p = 0.686, respectively). The suture tension measurements showed a significant reduction in suture tension loss for both the TPU threads; Suturing material made from TPU with elastic properties proved applicable for intestinal anastomoses in a porcine model. In addition, our results suggest a successful reduction in tissue incision and an overall suture tension homogenization.