pH-responsive drug delivery system based on hollow silicon dioxide micropillars coated with polyelectrolyte multilayers

We report on the fabrication of polyelectrolyte multilayer-coated hollow silicon dioxide micropillars as pH-responsive drug delivery systems. Silicon dioxide micropillars are based on macroporous silicon formed by electrochemical etching. Due to their hollow core capable of being loaded with chemically active agents, silicon dioxide micropillars provide additional function such as drug delivery system. The polyelectrolyte multilayer was assembled by the layer-by-layer technique based on the alternative deposition of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes. The polyelectrolyte pair poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) exhibited pH-responsive properties for the loading and release of a positively charged drug doxorubicin. The drug release rate was observed to be higher at pH 5.2 compared to that at pH 7.4. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of the number of polyelectrolyte bilayers on the drug release loading and release rate. Thus, this hybrid composite could be potentially applicable as a pH-controlled system for localized drug release.     

A mixed longitudinal and cross-sectional model to forecast the journal impact factor in the field of Dentistry

Scientometrics - In order to estimate the impact factor value for a journal in Dentistry, two sets of variables were considered in this study: the first takes in the longitudinal behavior of the...     

Microencapsulation of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale,L.) juice using a new chitosan–commercial bovine whey protein isolate system in spray drying

The aim of this work was to obtain a new stable food product from cashew apple juice encapsulated by spray-drying technique using chitosan–whey protein isolate systems. The materials were evaluated according to their physicochemical stability during storage at different conditions and characterized with respect to their particle size distribution and structure. Encapsulated commercial and natural juices showed homogenous and unimodal particle size distribution with diameters ranging from 0.2 to 5.0 μm and from 0.2 to 40.0 μm, respectively. Both juices demonstrated higher physicochemical stability for vitamin C and color measurements than their respective non-encapsulated juices. X-ray diffractograms evidenced that the powder juices after the 140th day of storage were still in amorphous state. These results indicate that the new product was effective in protecting sensitive compounds present in the food matrix and it was also able to remain stable throughout the study period.     

Reputation-based decisions for logic-based cognitive agents

Computational trust and reputation models have been recognized as one of the key technologies required to design and implement agent systems. These models manage and aggregate the information needed by agents to efficiently perform partner selection in uncertain situations. For simple applications, a game theoretical approach similar to that used in most models can suffice. However, if we want to undertake problems found in socially complex virtual societies, we need more sophisticated trust and reputation systems. In this context, reputation-based decisions that agents make take on special relevance and can be as important as the reputation model itself. In this paper, we propose a possible integration of a cognitive reputation model, Repage, into a cognitive BDI agent. First, we specify a belief logic capable to capture the semantics of Repage information, which encodes probabilities. This logic is defined by means of a two first-order languages hierarchy, allowing the specification of axioms as first-order theories. The belief logic integrates the information coming from Repage in terms if image and reputation, and combines them, defining a typology of agents depending of such combination. We use this logic to build a complete graded BDI model specified as a multi-context system where beliefs, desires, intentions and plans interact among each other to perform a BDI reasoning. We conclude the paper with an example and a related work section that compares our approach with current state-of-the-art models.     

Activated carbons as potentially useful non-nutritive additives to prevent the effect of fumonisin B1 on sodium bentonite activity against chronic aflatoxicosis

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) are mycotoxins that often co-occur in feedstuffs. The ingestion of AFB₁ causes aflatoxicosis in humans and animals. Sodium bentonite (NaB), a cheap non-nutritive unselective sequestering agent incorporated in animal diets, can effectively prevent aflatoxicosis. Fumonisins are responsible for equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary oedema, and often have subclinical toxic effects in poultries. Fumonisin B₁ and aflatoxin B₁ are both strongly adsorbed in vitro on sodium bentonite. Co-adsorption studies, carried out with a weight ratio of FB₁ to AFB₁ that mimics the natural occurrence (200:1), showed that FB₁ greatly decreases the in vitro ability of NaB to adsorb AFB₁. The ability of two activated carbons to adsorb FB₁ was also investigated. Both carbons showed high affinity for FB₁. A complex behaviour of the FB₁ adsorption isotherms with pH was observed. In vitro results suggest that under natural contamination levels of AFB₁ and FB₁, a mixture of activated carbon and sodium bentonite might be potentially useful for prevention of sub-acute aflatoxicosis.     

Occurrence of C16:1 isomers in milk fats from ewes fed with different dietary lipid supplements

The trans as well as the cis C16:1 isomer profiles were established in 43 ewe milk fats supplemented with different dietary lipid sources representative of the variety of unsaturated fatty acids found in nature such as olive, sunflower, linseed and fish oils. Fractionation by silver-ion solid phase extraction facilitated a rapid separation of the trans, cis and saturated FA before gas chromatography analysis took place. C16:1 isomers with a double bond in positions 7, 9 and 13 in the cis group and 8 and 9 in the trans fraction were the most abundant. Dietary lipid supplementation produced a noticeable increase in the total trans C16:1 content and elevated correlations were observed between trans-8 C16:1 and trans-10 C18:1 as well as trans-9 C16:1 and trans-11 C18:1. These results support the idea that altering the trans C18:1 profile affects trans C16:1 isomer composition consistent with the β-oxidation products from the trans C18:1 isomers.     

Voltammetric sensing of tryptophan in dark chocolate bars,skimmed milk and urine samples in the presence of dopamine and caffeine

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - The present work reports the development of screen-printed electrode (SPE) using flexible polyester sheets modified with nanodiamond (ND), Au nanoparticles...     

Carotenoid Pigments and Colour of Hermaphrodite and Female Papaya Fruits ( Carica papaya L) cv Sunrise During Post-Harvest Ripening

The predominant carotenoids in extracts of female and hermaphrodite Papaya fruits (Carica papaya L) Solo cv Sunrise were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column using a diode-array detector. Three classes of carotenoids were separated and identified from the papaya extract without saponification; these were xanthophylls, hydrocarbon carotenoids and carotenol fatty acid esters. The xanthophylls were identified as trans-zeaxanthin, cryptoflavin and β-cryptoxanthin; other xanthophyls were detected in very small quantities. The major hydrocarbon carotenoid was identified as lycopene. Carotenol fatty acid esters were identified as carotenol fatty acid esters of β-cryptoxanthin, cryptoxanthin-5,6-epoxide, lutein, zeaxanthin and violaxanthin. There were no qualitative differences among the carotenoid pattern of female and hermaphrodite papaya fruits. Changes in carotenoid composition during ripening in hermaphrodite and female papaya fruits (cv Sunrise) were investigated in three different stages of ripeness. These changes could be shown in terms of Hunter colour values.