A Smart Power Integrated Circuit Educational Tool

This paper describes a course in Smart Power based on the introduction of an innovative educational tool-a preprocessed Smart Power integrated circuit. The methodology used to introduce students to the issue of Smart Power design, resorting to low cost standard CMOS technology is presented. The theoretical support is envisaged to provide the required knowledge to specify characteristics and performance of the most common blocks used in Smart Power and to develop skills for monolithic integration. Through design, simulation, and experimental characterization, the students were able to experience the different steps of a Smart Power project, from the power device basic switching cell mask layout to the final system prototype, in 60 hours of a one semester course. The referred Smart Power Integrated Circuit (IC) embedding analog and digital basic blocks and high-voltage transistor arrays is the key idea to the presented pedagogical methodology. Based on this Smart Power IC, different topologies required by power electronics and power management systems were implemented. A complete system illustrative example-a step-down hard-switching dc-dc regulator (buck regulator)-implemented by the students is shown and discussed.     

Synthesis and preliminary characterization of polyesteramides containing enzymatically degradable amide bonds

Summary Multiblock and regularly alternating biodegradable polyesteramides containing amide bonds susceptible of enzymatic cleavage were prepared and preliminarly characterized by viscosity, IR, ¹H-NMR and DSC techniques. L-phenylalanine was used to build up amide linkages containing a phenyl ring adjacent to the acyl group, enzymatically cleavable by chymotrypsin. Monomers having preformed ester groups or biodegradable amide bonds and/or telechelic oligomers of poly(L-lactide) were used as starting materials. Their chain length was regularly increased in order to improve the overall chain flexibility and, hence, to favour the enzymatic attack.     

100% citrus juice: Nutritional contribution,dietary benefits,and association with anthropometric measures

Citrus juices such as 100% orange (OJ) and grapefruit juice (GJ) are commonly consumed throughout the world. This review examines the contributions of OJ and GJ to nutrient intake, diet quality, and fruit intake, and supports citrus juices as nutrient-dense beverages. This review also explores the research examining associations between OJ and GJ intake and anthropometric measures. Citrus juices are excellent sources of vitamin C and contribute other key nutrients such as potassium, folate, magnesium, and vitamin A. OJ intake has been associated with better diet quality in children and adults. OJ intake has not been associated with adverse effects on weight or other body measures in observational studies in children and adults. In adults, some observational studies report more favorable body mass index or body measure parameters in OJ consumers compared to nonconsumers. Intervention studies in adults report no negative impacts of OJ or GJ consumption on anthropometric measures, although these measures were typically not the primary outcomes examined in the studies. Moderate consumption of citrus juices may provide meaningful nutritional and dietary benefits and do not appear to negatively impact body weight, body composition, or other anthropometric measures in children and adults.     

Bioactive phytonutrients (omega fatty acids,tocopherols, polyphenols), in vitro inhibition of nitric oxide production and free radical scavenging activity of non-cultivated Mediterranean vegetables

Hydroalcoholic extracts from 18 non-cultivated vegetables traditionally consumed in Southern Italy were tested for their free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) in the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil radical) screening assay and for their in vitro inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. The strongest activity was shown for Rubus caesius (leaves), Mentha spicata subsp. glabra (leaves) and Origanum vulgare subsp. viridulum (stems and leaves) with IC₅₀ values of 5, 6, 8 μg/ml, respectively. Extracts from non-cultivated Foeniculum vulgare subsp. piperitum (seeds), Amaranthus retroflexus (leaves) and M. spicata subsp. glabra (leaves) showed high in vitro inhibition of nitric oxide production, with an activity comparable to a reference drug, indomethacin. A significant cytotoxic effect was shown for the seeds of F. vulgare subsp. piperitum. A. retroflexus (leaves) presented the highest content in linoleic acid. R. caesius and M. spicata subsp. glabra had relatively high polyphenols content, 482 and 334 mg/g of extract, respectively.     

Biodegradation of p-chlorophenol by a microalgae consortium

An aquatic community was recovered from a waste discharge container fed with several aromatic pollutants. After 3 months of selective enrichment with p-chlorophenol and p-nitrophenol, two microalgae species, Chlorella vulgaris and Coenochloris pyrenoidosa, were recovered from the microbial consortium. As an axenic culture, this microalgae consortium was able to remove p-chlorophenol under different photo-regimes. Cultures grown under a 24h light regime were capable of biodegrading 50mg l(-1) of p-chlorophenol within 5 days. Addition of zeolite, an adsorbing material, did not improve the p-chlorophenol removal. However, when p-chlorophenol at 150mgl(-1) was fed to the culture supplemented with zeolite, the growth rate of the consortium improved, but the lag phase was longer (16 against 14 days in the absence of zeolite).     

Eruca sativa Might Influence the Growth,Survival under Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions and Some Biological Features of Lactobacillus acidophilus,Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Strains

The growth and viability of three Lactobacillus strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, after their passage through simulated gastric and pancreatic juices were studied as a function of their presence in the growth medium of rocket salad (Eruca sativa). The presence of E. sativa affected some of the biological properties of the strains. For example, L. acidophilus and L. plantarum worked more efficiently in the presence of E. sativa, increasing not only the antioxidant activity of the medium, but also their own antioxidant power and antimicrobial activity; L. rhamnosus was not affected in the same manner. Overall, the presence of vegetables might help to boost, in specific cases, some of the characteristics of lactobacilli, including antioxidant and antimicrobial power.