Bitter potato starch-based film enriched with copaiba leaf extract obtained using supercritical carbon dioxide: Physical–mechanical,antioxidant, and disintegrability properties

Films based on bitter potato starch (BPS) and its blends with chitosan (BPS-Ch) or soy protein isolate (BPS-SPI) loaded with copaiba leaf extract (E) are prepared via the casting method. The physical–mechanical and antioxidant properties of the as-prepared films are compared with those of a control. Moreover, the half-maximal degradation (t₅₀) of the prepared films is calculated by fitting the Hill model to disintegrability kinetic data. Among the analyzed films, BPS-Ch-E exhibits the lowest (p < 0.05) solubility in water and opacity, strongest water vapor-barrier (3.58 × 10⁻¹¹ g m⁻¹ s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹), and highest tensile strength and elongation at break. The Fourier transform infrared spectra of BPS-Ch-E and BPS-SPI-E demonstrate new peaks at 1550, 1239, and 1070 cm⁻¹ corresponding to N H and C O stretching. The BPS-E and BPS-Ch-E surfaces are devoid of scratches and phase separation. The incorporation of E significantly increases the antioxidant activity of the films. BPS-SPI-E and BPS-Ch-E demonstrate the lowest (t₅₀ ≈ 1.4 days) and highest (t₅₀ ≈ 3.5 days) disintegration rates, respectively, among the prepared films. E loading facilitates the development of films possessing beneficial physical–mechanical and antioxidant properties as well as rapid disintegrability, enabling their potential application as a eco-friendly packaging material.     

Eicosapentaenoic Acid,Arachidonic Acid and Eicosanoid Metabolism in Juvenile Barramundi Lates calcarifer

A two part experiment was conducted to assess the response of barramundi (Lates calcarifer; initial weight = 10.3 ± 0.03 g; mean ± S.D.) fed one of five diets with varying eicosapentaenoic acid (diets 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg) or one of four diets with varying arachidonic acid (1, 6, 12, 18 g/kg) against a fish oil control diet. After 6 weeks of feeding, the addition of EPA or ARA did not impact on growth performance or feed utilisation. Analysis of the whole body fatty acids showed that these reflected those of the diets. The ARA retention demonstrated an inversely related curvilinear response to either EPA or ARA. The calculated marginal utilisation efficiencies of EPA and ARA were high (62.1 and 91.9 % respectively) and a dietary ARA requirement was defined (0.012 g/kg^0.796/day). The partial cDNA sequences of genes regulating eicosanoid biosynthesis were identified in barramundi tissues, namely cyclooxygenase 1 (Lc COX1a, Lc COX1b), cyclooxygenase 2 (Lc COX2) and lipoxygenase (Lc ALOX‐5). Both Lc COX2 and Lc ALOX‐5 expression in the liver tissue were elevated in response to increasing dietary ARA, meanwhile expression levels of Lc COX2 and the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation gene carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (Lc CPT1a) were elevated in the kidney. A low level of EPA increased the expression of Lc COX1b in the liver. Consideration should be given to the EPA to ARA balance for juvenile barramundi in light of nutritionally inducible nature of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes.     

Effect of Mechanical Constraint on Domain Reorientation in Predominantly {111}‐Textured Lead Zirconate Titanate Films

Ferroelectric/ferroelastic domain reorientation was measured in 2.0 μm thick tetragonal {111}‐textured PbZr_0.30Ti_0.70O₃ thin films using synchrotron X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Lattice strain from the peak shift in the 111 Bragg reflection and domain reorientation were quantified as a function of applied electric field amplitude. Domain reorientation was quantified through the intensity exchange between the 112 and 211 Bragg reflections. Results from three different film types are reported: dense films that are clamped to the substrate (as‐processed), dense films that are partially released from the substrate, and films with 3% volume porosity. The highest amount of domain reorientation is observed in grains that are misoriented with respect to the {111} preferred (domain engineered) orientation. Relative to the clamped films, films that were released from the substrate or had porosity exhibited neither significant enhancement in domain reorientation nor in 111 lattice strain. In contrast, similar experiments on {100}‐textured and randomly oriented films showed significant enhancement in domain reorientation in released and porous films. Therefore, {111}‐textured films are less susceptible to changes in properties due to mechanical constraints because there is overall less domain reorientation in {111} films than in {100} films.     

Inflammatory Cutaneous Diseases in Renal Transplant Recipients

Kidney transplant recipients frequently suffer from skin infections and malignancies, possibly due to the effects of long-term immunosuppressive therapy. While the relationships between immunosuppression and these pathological conditions have been widely investigated, little is known about the relative incidence and characteristics of inflammatory skin diseases in this type of patient. In this study, we analyze the incidence of a number of inflammatory cutaneous diseases in a cohort of patients who underwent kidney transplantation. Although our study shows a relatively low incidence of these pathologies in transplanted patients—in agreement with the general action of immunosuppressant therapies in reducing inflammation—we scored a different efficacy of the various immunosuppressive regimens on inflammatory and autoimmune skin diseases. This information can be key for designing immunosuppressive regimens and devising accurate follow-up protocols.     

Chemiotropic behavior of female olive fly (Bactrocera oleae GMEL.) onOlea europaea L

An interpretation is given of a number of observations on the chemiotropic behavior ofBactrocera oleae in connection with olive maceration water and the fly's return to the olive groves after the first summer rains. To this end, the headspace of both maceration water and leaf leaching water, simulating rainfall, were examined. In both cases, the presence of ammonia, which is generally known to attract fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae), was detected and, for the first time, in addition to other compounds that are inert for the fly, the presence of styrene was also detected. This aromatic hydrocarbon was found to be a strong attractant. It is shown that both ammonia and styrene are products of the metabolism of microbial flora present on the olive and leaf surface.     

Mechanism of densification and crystal perfection of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) has been isothermally annealed in a wide range of temperatures from T_g to T_m. The effects of temperature and time of thermal treatment on density, melting curve and WAXS have been systematically explored. The results showed that densification and crystal perfection take place through a step mechanism involving partial melting and diffusion. The evaluation of the activation energies suggests that diffusion is the rate determining step in the low temperature range.     

Relationship between Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Psoriasis: A Novel Hepato-Dermal Axis?

Over the past 10 years, it has become increasingly evident that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disease that affects multiple extra-hepatic organ systems and interacts with the regulation of several metabolic and immunological pathways. In this review we discuss the rapidly expanding body of clinical and epidemiological evidence supporting a strong association between NAFLD and chronic plaque psoriasis. We also briefly discuss the possible biological mechanisms underlying this association, and discuss treatment options for psoriasis that may influence NAFLD development and progression. Recent observational studies have shown that the prevalence of NAFLD (as diagnosed either by imaging or by histology) is remarkably higher in psoriatic patients (occurring in up to 50% of these patients) than in matched control subjects. Notably, psoriasis is associated with NAFLD even after adjusting for metabolic syndrome traits and other potential confounding factors. Some studies have also suggested that psoriatic patients are more likely to have the more advanced forms of NAFLD than non-psoriatic controls, and that psoriatic patients with NAFLD have more severe psoriasis than those without NAFLD. In conclusion, the published evidence argues for more careful evaluation and surveillance of NAFLD among patients with psoriasis.     

Fluoroelastomers-dependence of relaxation phenomena on composition

The dynamic-mechanical properties of some fluoroelastomers were determined as a function of composition at low frequency (≈ 1 Hz), by means of a free oscillation torsion pendulum, between −180°C and the softening point. Vinylidenefluoride (VDF)-hexafluoropropene (HFP) copolymers of molar composition 0–39% HFP and terpolymers of VDF and HFP with up to 30mol% tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and a constant VDF to HFP molar ratio of 3.4 were considered. Two relaxation processes typical of the amorphous phase were found. The first, located at about −87°C, is related to local motions and the transition temperature was found to be independent of composition for copolymers, while it depends on TFE molar content for terpolymers. The second is related to the glass transition and the transition temperature depends on the composition. However, for semicrystalline copolymers the double glass transition phenomenon was observed. When crystallinity goes to zero at about 20 mol% HFP, only one transition is observed. It was also found that ordered structures can take place for terpolymers when TFE molar concentration exceeds 20%. The crystal disorder transition of pure PVDF (75°C) is observed also for low HFP concentrations but the transition temperature is strongly reduced. Analogies between the VDF-HFP and E-P systems are also discussed.