The effect of co-encapsulation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 with inulin on alginate/chitosan matrix: the viability in fermented soy blend and simulated digestive system

This research verified the ability of Lactobacillus rhamnosus encapsulated with inulin to tolerate the simulated digestive system and their viability in a soy blend. Probiotic encapsulated in alginate-chitosan matrix without inulin presented a better encapsulation efficiency (80.92%) than encapsulation with inulin (57.39%). On the 28th day, the count of probiotics decreased by 3.42 and 1.99 logarithmic cycles of free and encapsulated cells without inulin, respectively. In contrast, the microorganisms encapsulated with inulin showed an increase of 1.26 logs CFU g⁻¹. During gastrointestinal simulation, cell counts decreased by 0.78, 1.55 and 1.95 CFU g⁻¹ logs for encapsulated cells without inulin, free and encapsulated with inulin, respectively. Sensory panellists liked the fermented soy blend with encapsulated lactobacilli, and this result shows the possibility to create new probiotic foods of plant origin. Therefore, the alginate/chitosan matrix can be considered adequate for the encapsulation of L. rhamnosus. The inulin reduces the encapsulation efficiency and increases the cell loss in gastrointestinal simulation. Considering cellular losses, the best option for preparing a fermented soy blend is to use L. rhamnosus encapsulated without inulin.     

Querying dynamic communities in online social networks简

Online social networks （OSNs） offer people the opportunity to join communities where they share a common interest or objective. This kind of community is useful for studying the human behavior, diffusion of information, and dynamics of groups. As the members of a community are always changing, an efficient solution is needed to query information in real time. This paper introduces the Follow Model to present the basic relationship between users in OSNs, and combines it with the MapReduce solution to develop new algorithms with parallel paradigms for querying. Two models for reverse relation and high-order relation of the users were implemented in the Hadoop system. Based on 75 GB message data and 26 GB relation network data from Twitter, a case study was realized using two dynamic discussion communities：#musicmonday and #beatcancer. The querying performance demonstrates that the new solution with the implementation in Hadoop significantly improves the ability to find useful information from OSNs.     

High surface area LaNiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> electrodes for oxygen electrocatalysis in alkaline media

LaNiO₃ coatings on nickel-foam supports were prepared by brush painting. The electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Comparative studies were performed with LaNiO₃-pelleted electrodes. The roughness factors were determined by CV and found to be 5,208 ± 350 and 4,037 ± 250 for the pelleted and coated electrodes, respectively. EIS measurements confirm the results obtained by CV. Values lower than 0.3 were calculated for the morphology factors for both electrodes, indicating low electrochemical porosity. The experimental method used in this work to synthesise the oxide coupled with the use of Ni foam as support has proved to be very effective in producing oxide electrodes with surface areas higher than those referred to in relevant literature.     

First-Order Phase Transition and Anomalous Hysteresis of Binary Bose Mixtures in an Optical Lattice

We study a first-order phase transition between superfluid and Mott insulator phases in binary Bose mixtures loaded into a hypercubic optical lattice. The system is described by a two-component Bose-Hubbard model. Considering the difference between the two kinds of bosons in the intra-component interaction strength, we discuss the metastability of the system and the hysteresis associated with the first-order superfluid-Mott insulator transition. It is found that the sweeping of hopping amplitude induces a conventional hysteresis-loop behavior. We also find an anomalous hysteresis behavior when the chemical potential is varied. In the anomalous hysteresis, the phase transition occurs in a unidirectional way and a hysteresis loop does not form.     

Enzymatic de-glycosylation of rutin improves its antioxidant and antiproliferative activities

Bioavailability and biological properties of flavonoid glycosides can be improved after the enzymatic hydrolysis of specific glycosyl groups. In this study, we evaluate the antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of rutin after enzymatic hydrolysis performed by α-l-rhamnosidases (hesperidinase from Penicillium sp. and naringinase from Penicillium decumbens) previously heated at 70 °C for 30 min to inactivate the undesirable β-d-glucosidase activity. The highest in vitro antioxidant activity determined by DPPH radical scavenging was achieved with rutin hydrolyzed by hesperidinase. Rutin was predominantly bioconverted into quercetin-3-glucoside. There was no statistical difference between xanthine oxidase inhibition by rutin before and after hydrolysis. However, in vitro inhibitory activity against ten human tumor cell lines showed that hydrolyzed rutin exerted a more potent antiproliferative effect than quercetin and rutin on various cancer cell lines, specially glioma, and ovarian and breast adenocarcinomas. These results indicate that quercetin-3-glucoside could be a promising functional derivative obtained by rutin hydrolysis.     

Biocompatibility and cutaneous reactivity of cellulosic polysaccharide film in induced skin wounds in rats

The development of a skin substitute suitable for immediately performing the function of the lost dermis and epidermis could result in a positive impact on the treatment of patients with extensive skin lesions. A biopolymer film was applied to skin wounds to investigate the biocompatibility and cutaneous reaction and to test its activity as a mechanical barrier and conductor in the healing process. Forty Wistar rats of both sexes were used in the present study. Two excisions were performed in the dorsal part of the skin flaps. The polysaccharide film was applied over one of the incisions and other incision was washed with saline. The time spent for complete healing of both lesions was virtually the same in both groups, during 21 days of observation. The film remained attached to the bed of the exposed wound for an average period of 6 days. There were no statistically significant differences with regard to lesion measurement area at assessment times of 2nd, 7th and 14th postoperative days. At day 21, the scar area showed a significant difference (0.0229). After 40 days, all wounds were completely healed. No statistically significant differences were found between the histological parameters assessed in the experimental and control groups. The cellulosic polysaccharide film integrated well with the tissue showing high biocompatibility and low skin reactivity.     

Stresses Analysis on a Rail Part

The EFVM （Vitoria Minas Railroad） is one of the main railways in Brazil. It transports freight trains of ore, 220 wagons each. These wagons have 2 boogies of 2 axles each and 32 metric tons on metre gauge. Elastic strains were measured on a special part of this railway due to these trains. The main load to evaluate stresses and strains was a G 16 Locomotive, a C-C kind from Vale, a Brazilian Company. The measurements were obtained by dynamic deflectometer installed on a main line of this railway, near Ipatinga, a city from Minas Gerais, one of Brazil states. This track was equipped to obtain stresses under an equal repeated static load A simulation of the stresses was made under critical strain by Ferrovia 1.0 software. It was also made an evaluation of unequal results from neighbor sleepers taking in comparison two equipped parts of this railway, one with compacted ballast and no compaction to the other. The results were strain limited, avoiding breakage or damage to the studied rails. This work analyses these measurements focusing on the improvement of track quality.     

Comparison of methanol/hydrochloric,ferric chloride acid versus tribochemical silica coating for adhesion of resin cement to zirconium dioxide

This study compared air-abrasion and etching regimens on adhesion of resin luting agent to zirconium dioxide. Ceramic specimens (LAVA, 3 M ESPE) (N = 16) were embedded in acrylic resin and exposed surfaces were polished. The specimens were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 12, 3 specimens for each disc): SC: Air-borne particle abrasion (30 μm aluminum oxide particles coated with silica, CoJet, 3 M ESPE); MH: Heated chemical solution (Methanol-800 mL; 37% Hydrochloric Acid-200 mL; Ferric Chloride-2 g) at 100 °C for 30 min, MHP: Primer (Metal/Zirconia Primer, Ivoclar Vivadent) + MH, P: Primer only (Metal/Zirconia Primer). Cylindrical molds (internal diameter: 0.7 mm; height: 1.5 mm) were placed on each conditioned specimen, filled with resin cement (Multilink Automix) and photo-polymerized for 60 s. After 24 h, the molds were removed and the specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 °C for six months). Microshear test was performed in a Universal Testing Machine (1 mm/min). Failures types were classified as adhesive, mixed, or cohesive. In another set of specimens (n = 2 per group) contact angle measurements were recorded. Data were analyzed statistically using Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s tests (α = 0.05). The surface conditioning method significantly affected the mean bond strength (MPa) (p < 0.0001): SC(18.3 ± 0.3)^a < P(5.00 ± 0.07)^b < MHP(4.7 ± 0.08)^c < MH(0.84 ± 0.01)^c. While Group SC showed mainly adhesive (58%) and mixed (41.7%) failure types, groups MH, MHP, and P presented exclusively adhesive failures. SC, MHP, and P (29–32°) showed lower contact angle than MH (78.9°). Volume loss was the highest with MHP (9.92 μl) followed by SC (9.67 μl).     

Removal of lindane using electrokinetic soil flushing coupled with air stripping

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - This paper evaluates the remediation of soil spiked with lindane using a combined treatment consisting of electrokinetic soil flushing (EKSF) with air...     

Properties of compressed lateritic soil stabilized with a burnt clay–lime binder: Effect of mixture components

In this study, a pozzolanic binder containing lime and a common thermally activated kaolinitic clay, at 750 °C, was formulated. The chemical, mineralogical and pozzolanic properties of raw materials were determined. The percentage of lime in the binder varies between 20% and 30%. The binder was used as a stabilizer in compressed lateritic soil in which water–solid (laterite and binder) and laterite–binder ratios vary, respectively, from 0.12 to 0.20 and 4 to 9. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was added as a chemical activator in the mixture. The NaOH–binder ratio varies from 0.02 to 0.04. The average effect of each component of the mixture on compressive strength, water absorption and apparent density of compressed laterite after 7 or 28 days of conservation at 40 ± 1 °C in an atmosphere saturated with water vapour was evaluated in a screening design of the “design in graeco – latin squares” type. It was observed that water–solid and laterite–binder ratios are the factors that influence more the properties of the products. Compressive strength increases up to a water–solid ratio of 0.16 then decreases for higher ratios. Compressive strength decreases with the increase of laterite–binder ratio. Water absorption decreases with the increase of water–solid ratio up to 0.16 then sharply increases for higher ratios. However, water absorption decreases slightly with the increase in the lime content of the binder and sodium hydroxide–binder ratio. The maximum apparent density is observed at water–solid ratio of 0.16. It increases when sodium hydroxide–binder and laterite–binder ratios increase.