Antimicrobial soy protein isolate‐based films: physical characterisation,active agent retention and antifungal properties against Penicillium italicum

Soy protein isolates (SPI) films were evaluated as carriers of citral and limonene, and their physical and antifungal properties were evaluated. The presence of antimicrobials in SPI films resulted in changes on colour without affecting the transparency. Films with citral added were more extensible; however, a reduction in tensile strength and elastic modulus was observed in films with limonene added. Aroma compounds addition in films induced a slight increase in water vapour properties in relation to discontinuity of network proteins evidenced by SEM. Besides, FTIR spectra evidenced a partial alteration of SPI secondary structure. Citral was less retained than limonene. The increase in limonene release with high relative humidity was explained by increase in protein chain mobility. SPI films enriched with limonene exhibited strong antifungal activity against the postharvest decay pathogen Penicillium italicum under storage conditions.     

Investigating effects of bromide ions on trihalomethanes and developing model for predicting bromodichloromethane in drinking water

Chlorination for drinking water can form brominated trihalomethanes (THMs) in the presence of bromide ions. Recent studies have reported that bromodichloromethane (BDCM) has a stronger association with stillbirths and neural tube defects than other THMs species. In this paper, the results of an experimental investigation into the factors forming THMs in the presence of bromide ions are presented. The experiments were conducted using synthetic water samples with different characteristics (e.g., pH, temperature, dissolve organic content). Different combinations of these characteristics were considered in the experimental program. The results showed that increased bromide ion concentrations led to increases in the formation of total THMs, with higher BDCM and dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and lower chloroform formation. By increasing the pH from 6 to 8.5, increased chloroform and decreased BDCM and DBCM formation were observed. Higher bromide ions to chlorine ratios increased BDCM and DBCM and decreased chloroform formation, while higher temperatures increased BDCM, DBCM and chloroform formation. In most cases, bromoform (CHBr₃) concentrations were found to be below the detection limit. Significant factors influencing BDCM formation were identified using a statistical analysis. A model for BDCM formation was estimated from 44 experiments and statistical adequacy was assessed using appropriate diagnostics, including residual plots and an R² of 0.97. The model was validated using external data from 17 water supply systems in Newfoundland, Canada. The predictive performance of the model was found to be excellent, and the resulting model could be used to predict BDCM formation in drinking water and to perform risk-cost balance analyses for best management practices.     

Grafting polymers to titania nanoparticles by radical polymerization initiated by diazonium salt

The grafting of biocompatible poly(hydroxyethyl) methacrylate (PHEMA) by a very simple method onto titanium dioxide nanoparticles is reported. The selected grafting process is based on the chemical reduction of diazonium salts by reducing agents in presence of the vinylic monomer. As previously demonstrated on flat surfaces, it leads to strongly grafted and stable polymer films and has many advantages residing in a short one-step reaction occurring at atmospheric pressure, ambient air and room temperature in water. TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by laser pyrolysis, giving nanoparticles with controlled size and composition. The coating, the composition, the chemical structure, and the grafted PHEMA quantities of the resulting products were investigated by Transmission electron microscopy, Infrared-attenuated total reflection, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Thermogravimetric analysis. It was demonstrated that the PHEMA shell was successfully chemically grafted onto the surface of the TiO₂ core without any significant influence on the morphology of the nanoparticles.     

Numerical modelling of plastic forming of aluminium single crystals

The current study focused on modelling of micro-deep drawing of aluminium single crystals using a physically-based crystal plasticity model. The approach consisted in modelling the gauge area located at the centre of the crystals with boundary conditions extracted from displacement fields measured experimentally by digital image correlation. Thanks to three different geometries of samples, three loading paths were considered: uniaxial tension, plane strain tension and equi-biaxial tension. Comparisons between simulations and experimental observations were performed in terms of displacement fields, strain fields and slip traces. Data obtained from the simulations also allowed analysis of the results in terms of crystal rotation, dislocation density evolution and accumulated slip. Reasonable agreement between experimental observations and simulations was generally obtained, except for the prediction of strain localisation which was only correct in the case of uniaxial and plane strain tension. Discrepancies and validity of the modelling approach are then discussed in terms of experimental inaccuracies and numerical approximations.     

Glucosinolates profile of Brassica rapa L. subsp. Sylvestris L. Janch. var. esculenta Hort

Glucosinolates in different ecotypes of Brassica rapa L. subsp. sylvestris L. Janch. var. esculenta Hort. widely distributed in Southern Italy and locally known as “friariello” and “cima di rapa”, were characterized and their glucosinolate composition was compared with that of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica).     

Care transitions in the outpatient surgery preoperative process: facilitators and obstacles to information flow and their consequences

Patient care transitions have been shown to be critical points at which failure as well as recovery from potential failure may occur. The purpose of this research was to identify transitions in patient care and the flow of associated information at different steps in the outpatient surgery preoperative care process and, in turn, attempt to identify breakdowns in the information flow process and their ramifications. A study of one organization’s preoperative process for outpatient surgery was conducted, employing four means of data collection to gather information on preoperative work processes: employee shadowing, patient shadowing, clinic observation, and dictated feedback. Various facilitators and obstacles in information flow were found to be present in the preoperative care process. Obstacles often resulted in negative consequences for healthcare providers and patients. Helping care providers understand how their actions affect the various elements of the preoperative process, through improved awareness, may be one way to improve information flow problems within the outpatient surgery process.     

Genesis of new HDS catalysts through a careful control of the sulfidation of both Co and Mo atoms: Study of their activation under gas phase

Impregnation of oxidic precursor with thioglycolic acid aqueous solution was successfully used to improve the performances of thiophene hydrodesulfurization catalysts. Raman, EXAFS and XPS studies indicate that addition of this chelating agent affects the sulfidation of the supported metals. The higher catalytic performances were attributed to an optimization of the nature and morphology of the active phase obtained by the use of this chelating agent which permits a simultaneous sulfidation of both Co and Mo atoms.     

Autosomal Dominant Gyrate Atrophy-Like Choroidal Dystrophy Revisited: 45 Years Follow-Up and Association with a Novel C1QTNF5 Missense Variant

We present a long-term follow-up in autosomal dominant gyrate atrophy-like choroidal dystrophy (adGALCD) and propose a possible genotype/phenotype correlation. Ophthalmic examination of six patients from two families revealed confluent areas of choroidal atrophy resembling gyrate atrophy, starting in the second decade of life. Progression continued centrally, reaching the fovea at about 60 years of age. Subretinal deposits, retinal pigmentation or choroidal neovascularization as seen in late-onset retinal degeneration (LORD) were not observed. Whole genome sequencing revealed a novel missense variant in the C1QTNF5 gene (p.(Q180E)) which was found in heterozygous state in all affected subjects. Haplotype analysis showed that this variant found in both families is identical by descent. Three-dimensional modeling of the possible supramolecular assemblies of C1QTNF5 revealed that the p.(Q180E) variant led to the destabilization of protein tertiary and quaternary structures, affecting both the stability of the single protomer and the entire globular head, thus exerting detrimental effects on the formation of C1QTNF5 trimeric globular domains and their interaction. In conclusion, we propose that the p.(Q180E) variant causes a specific phenotype, adGALCD, that differs in multiple clinical aspects from LORD. Disruption of optimal cell-adhesion mechanisms is expected when analyzing the effects of the point mutation at the protein level.     

Synthesis and properties of photosensitive poly(urethane‐acrylate) containing anil groups with application in the chemosensors area

Some aspects of the enol‐imine to keto‐enamine photoisomerism and fluorescent behavior of the new monomer with urethane and anil units in its structure, namely, methacryloyloxyethyl‐2‐carbamoyloxy(m‐methyl, o‐hydroxybenziliden)aniline (UAN), were studied comparatively with the corresponding copolymer poly (methacryloyloxyethyl‐2‐carbamoyloxy(m‐methyl, o‐hydroxybenziliden)aniline)‐co‐methyl methacrylate) (COP‐UAN). The structure, thermal properties, and morphology of the anil compounds were investigated by Fourier transform infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, fluorescence spectroscopies, UV spectrophotometry, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and atomic force microscopy. The photochromic behavior of salicylideneanil units was investigated by UV/laser irradiation, and an inspection of their photophysical properties suggested that such structures could function as fluorescent chemosensors for some transition metals, a fluorescence quenching in the presence of different metal cations (Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ni²⁺) being evidenced. The direct observation of an enhancement in the fluorescence emission caused of the presence of Zn²⁺ (solution) or Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ (thin film) would be rather suitable for the production of turn‐on fluorescent chemosensors. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers