Effect of the lentil flour and hydrocolloids on baking characteristics of wholemeal durum wheat bread

In this study, the characterisation of functional bread based on wholemeal durum wheat flour enriched with lentil flour was investigated to find a good balance between the nutritional and organoleptic properties of the final product. In particular, the effect of different percentage of lentil flour (10%, 20% and 25%) and the type and amount of structuring agents (carboxymethyl cellulose, guar seed flour, pectin and tapioca starch) were studied by assessing the sensorial, textural and nutritional properties of the functional bread. Results showed that the increase in the lentil flour at 20% and 25% negatively affected the dough texture and the sensorial quality of the bread. The screening of different hydrocolloids on the bread sample enriched with 25% of legume flour highlighted that the guar seed flour at concentration of 2% allowed obtaining the best results in terms of sensory properties. The nutritional analysis of the optimised functional bread showed an increase in proteins and dietary fibre (total, soluble and insoluble), suggesting its high functional value and the possibility to propose it on a market that is constantly changing and attentive to health benefit of foods.     

Identification of four amino acid residues essential for catalysis in human cytidine deaminase by site-directed mutagenesis and chemical modifications

By site-directed mutagenesis on human cytidine deaminase (CDA), five mutantproteins were obtained: C65A, C99A, C102A, E67D and E67Q. The threecysteine mutants were completely inactive, whereas E67D and E67Q showed aspecific activity about 200- and 200000-fold lower, respectively, than thewild-type CDA. Zinc analysis revealed that only E67D, E67Q and C65Acontained 1 mol Zn2+/mol subunit as in the wild- type CDA. Kineticmeasurements with the specific carboxylic group reagentN-ethoxy-carbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline performed on wild-type CDAsuggest that Glu67 is essential for the catalytic process. Furthermore,when both native and denatured CDA was titrated with5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) six sulfhydryl groups were detected,whereas in the denatured and reduced enzyme nine such groups were found,according to the sequence data. When p-hydroxymercuriphenyl sulfonate wasused, nine sulfhydryl groups were detectable and the release of 1 mol ofzinc per mole of CDA subunit was revealed by the metal indicator dye4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol. It seems plausible that the limiting step forthe maintenance of zinc in the active site is the formation of coordinationbetween Cys99 and Cys102, whereas Cys65 could lead the zinc to the correctposition and orientation within the active site.     

Effect of areal density and fiber orientation on the deformation of thermomechanical bonds in a nonwoven fabric

This study proposes a novel method to mechanically characterize the performance of individual bonds in low‐density, thermomechanically bonded nonwoven fabrics. Commercial bicomponent, polyethylene/polypropylene (PE/PP), nonwoven fabric was laser cut into bowtie‐shaped specimens for uniaxial tensile testing so that the central region of each specimen contained an individual bond. Three groups, each composed of 20 specimens, were tested with their longitudinal axes oriented along the machine direction (MD), the cross direction (CD), and at 45° between these two directions (DD). Prior to testing, the intrinsic variation in areal density and fiber orientation in the region surrounding the individual bond were quantified via orientation and relative basis weight parameters. During testing, images of the specimens were acquired to determine the occurrence of fiber breakage, bond deformation, and bond cohesive failure. Maximum force, stiffness, and orientation parameters were found to be significantly different among the three specimen groups (p < 0.01) but the relative basis weight was not (p > 0.01). The stiffness and maximum load were linearly correlated with both the areal density and fiber orientation. Pre‐existing voids or windows within the bond lowered the maximum force for specimens with the longitudinal axes aligned with the MD. These voids had no influence on the maximum force achieved by the specimens aligned with the CD and DD. The bonds in these specimens were observed to deform less than the bonds in the specimens with the longitudinal axes aligned with the MD. The results indicate the importance of the fiber structure surrounding the bond on the tensile properties, deformation and failure mode of individual bonds within the nonwoven fabric. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:311–322, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Essential Oils Biofilm Modulation Activity,Chemical and Machine Learning Analysis. Application on Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Bacterial biofilm plays a pivotal role in chronic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection and its inhibition may represent an important strategy to develop novel therapeutic agents. The scientific community is continuously searching for natural and “green alternatives” to chemotherapeutic drugs, including essential oils (EOs), assuming the latter not able to select resistant strains, likely due to their multicomponent nature and, hence, multitarget action. Here it is reported the biofilm production modulation exerted by 61 EOs, also investigated for their antibacterial activity on S. aureus strains, including reference and cystic fibrosis patients’ isolated strains. The EOs biofilm modulation was assessed by Christensen method on five S. aureus strains. Chemical composition, investigated by GC/MS analysis, of the tested EOs allowed a correlation between biofilm modulation potency and putative active components by means of machine learning algorithms application. Some EOs inhibited biofilm growth at 1.00% concentration, although lower concentrations revealed different biological profile. Experimental data led to select antibiofilm EOs based on their ability to inhibit S. aureus biofilm growth, which were characterized for their ability to alter the biofilm organization by means of SEM studies.     

Synthesis of Crosslinked Copolymers based on Acrylonitrile Containing Carboxyl and Amidrazone Groups

Summary Chelating networks based on modified chemically acrylonitrile with hydrazine at alkaline solution were synthesized. The resin beads with different porosities were obtained by aqueous suspension copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and divinylbenzene (DVB). The unmodified and modified resins were characterized by bulk density, surface area, average pore diameter, elemental analysis (CHN), FTIR, ¹³C CP/MAS NMR and scanning electronic microscopy. Elemental analyses were used to observe the increasing of nitrogen and oxygen contents due to chemical modification. Spectroscopic techniques (FTIR and ¹³C CP/MAS NMR) were employed to study the structural changes provoked by the modification with hydrazine. The contents of carboxyl and amidrazone group into the copolymer structure were dependent on the reaction conditions.     

Preparation and characterization of manganese, nickel and cobalt ferrites submicron particles in sulfonated crosslinked networks

Magnetic submicron particles of MnFe₂O₄, NiFe₂O₄ or CoFe₂O₄ were created in or around the porous sulfonated beads based on poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) using an in situ inorganic precipitation procedure. The copolymer beads were treated with a mixed iron/cobalt chloride electrolyte and the doped copolymer networks were converted to their oxides by reaction with sodium hydroxide and potassium nitrate in aqueous solution. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) coupled to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) allowed the observation of the presence of submicron particles in the 0.1-0.5 μm size range, which chemical microanalysis of emitted X-rays revealed the presence of metal oxide particle, such as nickel, manganese or cobalt iron oxide. The morphological features of the binary material particles have depended on the ferrite type. All beads have presented dispersed and agglomerated submicron particles of ferrite located on their surface and inner part as well. Magnetization data of the microbeads showed good ferromagnetic behavior.     

Use of biosurfactant in the removal of oil from contaminated sandy soil

The effectiveness of cell‐free rhamnolipid biosurfactant, derived from the culture medium at the end of fermentation was investigated for the removal of two different kinds of oil from contaminated sandy soils. The crude cultivation medium, containing 13.2 g L^?1 of rhamnolipids, had a surface tension, interfacial tension and critical micellar concentration of 30 mN m^?1, 2 mN m^?1 and 60 mg L^?1, respectively. The evaluation of biosurfactant in the culture medium (BM) and oil concentrations in the removal of oil from different contaminated sandy soil was performed using a statistical experimental design tool. Oil in sandy soil, containing predominantly aromatic or paraffinic hydrocarbons (5 to 10% w/w), was removed by as much as 91 and 78%, respectively, in the presence of reduced amounts of BM (6.3 to 7.9 g L^?1). The progress of oil removal was monitored for 101 days and results indicated that removal efficiency in sandy soil with aromatic characteristics was relatively stable over the entire period. Based on these studies, it is concluded that use of a BM was effective in reducing oil concentrations in contaminated sandy soil. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Endosomal Escape of Polymer‐Coated Silica Nanoparticles in Endothelial Cells

Current investigations into hazardous nanoparticles (i.e., nanotoxicology) aim to understand the working mechanisms that drive toxicity. This understanding has been used to predict the biological impact of the nanocarriers as a function of their synthesis, material composition, and physicochemical characteristics. It is particularly critical to characterize the events that immediately follow cell stress resulting from nanoparticle internalization. While reactive oxygen species and activation of autophagy are universally recognized as mechanisms of nanotoxicity, the progression of these phenomena during cell recovery has yet to be comprehensively evaluated. Herein, primary human endothelial cells are exposed to controlled concentrations of polymer‐functionalized silica nanoparticles to induce lysosomal damage and achieve cytosolic delivery. In this model, the recovery of cell functions lost following endosomal escape is primarily represented by changes in cell distribution and the subsequent partitioning of particles into dividing cells. Furthermore, multilamellar bodies are found to accumulate around the particles, demonstrating progressive endosomal escape. This work provides a set of biological parameters that can be used to assess cell stress related to nanoparticle exposure and the subsequent recovery of cell processes as a function of endosomal escape.     

Estrogen receptor binding assay method for endocrine disruptors using fluorescence polarization

A rapid, simple and nonhazardous assay method for endcrine disruptors was developed using an estrogen receptor (ER) and fluorescence polarization (FP). Among the fluorescent compounds, the 17alpha-fluorescein-labeled estradiol derivative was selected as the most suitable ligand for the ER binding assay, since it showed the highest affinity to ER. In the Scatchard plot analysis, its convex curve exhibited a positive cooperative binding, indicating the induction of a conformational change of the ER with the binding of the ligand to form a dimer and to increase the affinity for the additional ligand. On the basis of the Hill plot analysis, its dissociation constant and Hill coefficient were 10.4 nM and 1.63, respectively. A competitive binding assay with an unlabeled 17beta-estradiol (E2) yielded an IC50 value of 2.82 nM and a Hill coefficient of 1.67, thus providing a Ki value of 0.65 nM. In the same manner, the Hill coefficients for estrone, estriol, diethylstilbestrol, and tamoxifen were determined to be 0.99, 1.17, 1.59, and 2.44, respectively.     

Next-generation lithography for 22 and 16 nm technology nodes and beyond

In this paper, next-generation lithography (NGL) for the 22 and 16 nm technology nodes and beyond is reviewed. A broad range of topics, including history, technologies, critical challenges, and the most plausible candidates are discussed. The 22 and 16 nm technology nodes rely on NGL. NGLs have been extensively studied. Because of technological issues, the semiconductor industry has stopped pursuing several NGLs, such as X-ray proximity lithography, ion projection lithography, and scattering with angular li...