Use of a specific anti‐stretch mark cream for preventing or reducing the severity of striae gravidarum. Randomized,double‐blind,controlled trial

Few studies have tested the efficacy of commercially available cosmetic products for preventing striae gravidarum. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy on prevention of striae gravidarum using a specific anti‐stretch mark cream containing hydroxyprolisilane‐C, rosehip oil, Centella asiatica triterpenes and vitamin E. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted between November 2009 and April 2011. Pregnant women were included and classified as treated group (emollient and moisturizer containing hydroxyprolisilane C, rosehip oil, Centella asiatica triterpenes and vitamin E) and control group (cream without the active ingredients). Overall incidence of stretch marks during pregnancy was 33.3% for the control group and 37.6% for the treated group (n.s.). Severity of previous stretch marks significantly increased in the control group during the study (17.8%, P = 0.001), but not in the treated group (6.3%, ns). In women who developed new stretch marks during the study, there was a significantly greater ‘difference in severity’ (between baseline and maximum severity) in control group vs. treated group (0.47 [0.57] vs. 0.14 [0.60], P = 0.031). In women without previous striae, incidence of these marks was significantly lower for the treated group patients compared with control group (5.6% vs. 35%, P = 0.031, OR: 9.2 [95% CI: 1.0–83.3]). The use of the anti‐stretch mark product is proved to be effective in reducing severity of the striae during pregnancy, prevents the appearance of new striae and halts progression of those already present. In women who had no striae at baseline, use of the anti‐stretch mark cream was more effective than placebo in preventing new stretch marks.     

Rheology and microstructure of functionalized polymer‐modified asphalt

Viscoelastic and morphological properties of functionalized‐polymer‐modified asphalt, FPMA, have been described as function of number of epoxy groups presented in the functionalized polymer. At low temperatures, simple viscoelastic models can predict the elastic response of FPMA at short times and its viscous behavior at long times. The increase of epoxy groups yielded an increase on activation energy for viscous deformation of FPMA, and so, on its resistance to irreversible deformations under strain cycles. From ambient to higher temperatures, emulsion model can predict rheological properties of FPMA because they behave as viscoelastic emulsions. Modification of relaxation spectrum for FPMA due to the presence of a polymer network was not as strong as in normal PMA, thus, the rheological behavior of FPMA was found similar to systems having weak networks. However, the network became stronger as the number of epoxy groups was increased. This trend was verified by morphology of FPMA. Emulsion‐like structure was observed for all FPMA but differentiating each other by the polymer particle size. It was also observed that increase on epoxy groups, polymer particle size in the FPMA decreased, and higher stability at 180°C of FPMA was observed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Construction and Analytical Application of Internal Amplification Controls (IAC) for Detection of Food Supply Chain-Relevant Viruses by Real-Time PCR-Based Assays

Internal amplification controls (IACs) were constructed for incorporation into real-time nucleic acid amplification assays for bovine polyomavirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, human adenovirus, human norovirus genogroup I, human norovirus genogroup II, murine norovirus and porcine adenovirus. The addition of optimised amounts of IAC into the assays did not affect the limits of detection for each specific target virus. A poorly performed extraction of viral nucleic acids was simulated, and the effectiveness of IACs in identifying failed assays was demonstrated. The IACs constructed in this study can be reliably used in their specific assays to provide a robust control that can be routinely applied in the analysis of foods for viruses.     

Effect of Process Variables on Kinetics and Gas Consumption in Rotor-Degassing Assisted by Physical and Mathematical Modeling

Mathematical and physical models of water deoxidation in a batch aluminum degassing reactor using the rotor-injector technique were developed. The mathematical model was successfully validated against measured degassing kinetics. The physical model was employed to perform a process analysis using a two-level factorial experimental design to determine the influence of gas flow rate, impeller angular velocity, and gas injection points on gas consumption efficiency and degassing kinetics. A combination of higher rotor speeds and gas flow rates results in fast degassing kinetics. However, moderate gas flow rates are recommended to save gas.     

Influence of gel composition in the synthesis of MoVTeNb catalysts over their catalytic performance in partial propane and propylene oxidation

MoVTeNb mixed oxides catalysts have been prepared by a slurry method with different molar compositions (Mo/Te ratio from 2 to 6 and Nb/(V + Nb) ratio from 0 to 0.7) in the synthesis gel leading to different crystalline phases distribution and catalytic behaviour in the partial oxidation of both propane and propylene to acrylic acid. Chemical analysis indicates that the composition of samples before and after the heat-treatment changes, especially the Te-content, since a significant amount of Te is lost during the heat-treatment step when the amount of oxalate (from niobium oxalate) increases in the synthesis gel. Thus, the nature of the crystalline phases and the catalytic performance of heat-treated materials will be related to the final chemical composition. On the other hand, only the catalysts presenting Te₂M₂₀O₅₇ (M = Mo, V, Nb) crystalline structure, the so-called M1 phase, were active and selective in the partial oxidation of propane to acrylic acid. Moreover, all catalysts were active and relatively selective to the formation of O-containing products, i.e. acrolein and/or acrylic acid, during the partial propylene oxidation although the more active ones were those presenting M1 phase.     

Segmented poly(urethane‐urea) elastomers based on polycaprolactone: Structure and properties

A series of segmented poly(urethane‐urea) polymers have been synthesized varying the hard segments content, based on the combination of polycaprolactone diol and aliphatic diisocyanate (Bis(4‐isocyanatocyclohexyl)methane), using diamine (1,4‐Butylenediamine) as the chain extender. The microstructure and properties of the material highly depend on the hard segments content (from 14 to 40%). These PUUs with hard segment content above 23% have elastomeric behaviors that allow high recoverable deformation. The chemical structure and hydrogen bonding interactions were studied using FTIR and atomic force microscopy, which revealed phase separation that was also confirmed by DSC, dynamic‐mechanical, and dielectric spectroscopy. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Native and modified chayotextle flour effect on functional property and cooking quality of spaghetti

The objective of this research was to study the effect of partially substituting semolina flour by native (NCHF) and modified chayotextle (CHFMD) flours, on the physicochemical properties and cooking quality of spaghetti. Spaghetti was obtained by replacing semolina flour (control) with five different concentrations of NCHF and CHFMD flours (10%, 17.5%, 25%, 32.5% and 40%). The proximal composition of the flours showed that both NCHF and CHFMD flours lower content of protein and fat but higher content of ash and resistant starch (RS). Moreover, the RS content increased due to thermal modification (TM) and that RS remained high, even after the cooking process. Pasting properties such as peak viscosity, breakdown, setback and final viscosity were influenced by NCHF and CHFMD concentrations. Brightness (ΔL^*) was significantly reduced by inclusion of increasing CHFMD levels. True density and water absorption values increased with addition of NCHF and CHFMD, compared to the control spaghetti. The results obtained in this study demonstrated the possibility for producing spaghetti containing up to 40% CHFMD flour, with acceptable quality and functional properties.     

Cyclic Deactivation with Steam of Metallated Cracking Catalysts: Catalytic Testing at the Bench Scale and the Pilot Scale

Besides offering an adequate product distributions, a cracking catalyst must exhibit a reasonable resistance to the combined effect of high temperature, steam and metals. Two commercial catalysts, poisoned with Ni + V (~2,500 ppm), are subjected to a large scale cyclic deactivation with steam, then characterized using mostly basic techniques and finally tested via bench scale and pilot scale cracking experiments. As examples of industrial deactivation, corresponding equilibrium catalysts (E-CATs) are investigated in parallel. Depending on their specific formulation, catalysts deactivate differently due to the exposition to high temperature steam and metals. The intrinsic deviations in the catalytic properties of cyclic deactivated catalysts (CD-CATs) related to E-CATs are further biases by the particular history of the latter and the particular reactor configuration and hydrodynamics, such deviations being magnified in the bench scale testing. Relative differences in activity and product yields (except for coke and hydrogen) of CD-CATs referred to E-CATs are below 10% at the pilot scale, and within 23% at the bench scale. Relative biases in hydrogen and coke yield of may be as high as 75 and 26% in the pilot plant and as much as 150 and 32% at the bench scale.     

Effect of water on the triaxial response under monotonic loading of asphalt concrete used in dams

Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials - Embankment dams with asphalt concrete cores have been constructed on practically all continents with satisfactory results. Nowadays many advantages, such as...     

Interaction of the human intestinal microbiota with the release of bound phenolic compounds in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The objective of this work was to release bound phenolic compounds (PC) from chickpea by the interaction of the microbiota of a volunteer and to identify the enzymes implied to deliver these PC. The highest amount of PC was released at 12 and 24 h (16.8–18.5 mg GAE/g). Higher antioxidant capacity was observed in these hours through 2,20-azino-bis-(3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,´2.Azobis (2 methylpropionamidine) techniques. Escherichia, Klebsiella, Bacteroides and Veillonella were some genera identified in the microbiota implied in delivered PC. The principal PC identified by ultra performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry were flavonoids. Proteomic analysis identified hundreds of proteins from the intestinal microbiota after 12 h of fermentation, including enzymes related to the release of bound PC from chickpea such as pectin esterase. Therefore, this enzyme could be used in other food sources for the release of PC bound to the food matrix and thus take advantage of their bioactive benefits.