scholarly journals Preparation of Innovative Skin Compatible Films to Release Polysaccharides for Biobased Beauty Masks

Cosmetics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria-Beatrice Coltelli ◽  
Serena Danti ◽  
Luisa Trombi ◽  
Pierfrancesco Morganti ◽  
Giovanna Donnarumma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Human Keratinocytes ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Biobased Materials ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Good Starting Point ◽  
Skin Compatibility ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fast Release

The preparation and selection of biobased materials compatible with skin is essential for producing innovative and highly eco-friendly beauty masks. The use of a commercial elastomeric poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and starch was fundamental to select materials for bioplastic films with the necessary resistance in wet conditions, skin compatibility and capacity for a fast release of polysaccharides and similar active and functional molecules. Micrometric calcium carbonate was also used to control the stickiness of film during moulding. Starch release in water was investigated by gravimetric and infrared analyses. The compatibility with skin was investigated via two different in vitro tests based on human keratinocytes and human mesenchymal stromal cells. The materials were highly cytocompatible with skin, enabled immune modulation by keratinocytes and starch release in water up to 49% by weight in 30 min. These outcomes are a good starting point for boosting the production of biobased and biodegradable beauty masks, thus decreasing the impact onto environment of cosmetic products that are currently still mainly produced using petrol-based substrates.

scholarly journals Alternative Control of Phragmidium rubi-idaei Infecting Two Rubus Species

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1452
Author(s):  
Raluca-Maria Pârlici ◽  
Aurel Maxim ◽  
Stefania Mirela Mang ◽  
Ippolito Camele ◽  
Lucia Mihalescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Rust Disease ◽  
Conidia Germination ◽  
The Impact

Organic berry plantations have been gaining popularity among farmers during recent years. Even so, farmers experience serious challenges in disease control management, which is a concern in organic farming. Phragmidiumrubi-idaei (DC) P. Karst is the pathogen responsible for blackberry and raspberry rust disease, one of the most present and active diseases in plantations. The antifungal certified products found on the organic farming market offer the opportunity for an efficient control strategy over plant pathogens in fruit shrub plantations. In this study, 5 natural based products—namely Altosan, Mimox, Canelys, Zitron, and Zeolite—were tested for their fungistatic effect over P. rubi-idaei. The experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions, performing observations over the impact of organic products, used at different concentration levels, on rust conidia germination. Moreover, field experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of different treatments for rust control on raspberry (‘Polka’, ‘Veten’ and ‘Heritage’) and blackberry (‘Thorn Free’, ‘Chester’ and ‘Loch Ness’) varieties. Data analysis based on ANOVA tests showed significant differences between the tested variants and the control sample at p < 0.001. Furthermore, LSD test confirmed differences between all substances tested (p < 0.005). The natural products Canelys (formulated with cinnamon) and Zytron (based on citrus extract) have proven the highest inhibitory capacity for conidia germination during in vitro tests registering values of 80.42% and 78.34%, respectively. The same high inhibitory rates against rust pathogen were kept also in the field tests using the same two natural-based products mentioned earlier. In addition, outcomes from this study demonstrated that Zeolite is not recommended for raspberry or blackberry rust control.

scholarly journals Keratinocytes Regulate the Threshold of Inflammation by Inhibiting T Cell Effector Functions

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1606
Author(s):  
Peter Seiringer ◽  
Stefanie Eyerich ◽  
Kilian Eyerich ◽  
Daniela Dittlein ◽  
Anna Caroline Pilz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cytokine Production ◽  
Nickel Sulfate ◽  
Human Keratinocytes ◽  
T Cell Proliferation ◽  
Effector Functions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cell Effector

Whilst the importance of keratinocytes as a first-line defense has been widely investigated, little is known about their interactions with non-resident immune cells. In this study, the impact of human keratinocytes on T cell effector functions was analyzed in an antigen-specific in vitro model of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to nickel sulfate. Keratinocytes partially inhibited T cell proliferation and cytokine production. This effect was dependent on the keratinocyte/T cell ratio and was partially reversible by increasing the number of autologous dendritic cells. The inhibition of T cell proliferation by keratinocytes was independent of the T cell subtype and antigen presentation by different professional antigen-presenting cells. Autologous and heterologous keratinocytes showed comparable effects, while the fixation of keratinocytes with paraformaldehyde abrogated the immunosuppressive effect. The separation of keratinocytes and T cells by a transwell chamber, as well as a cell-free keratinocyte supernatant, inhibited T cell effector functions to the same amount as directly co-cultured keratinocytes, thus proving that soluble factor/s account for the observed suppressive effects. In conclusion, keratinocytes critically control the threshold of inflammatory processes in the skin by inhibiting T cell proliferation and cytokine production.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Exposure of Organisms to the Action of Nanomaterials

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Staroń ◽  
Olga Długosz ◽  
Jolanta Pulit-Prociak ◽  
Marcin Banach
Keyword(s):  
Metal Oxides ◽  
Metal Nanoparticles ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Nanoparticle Interactions ◽  
The Impact

The rapid development of the production of materials containing metal nanoparticles and metal oxides is a potential risk to the environment. The degree of exposure of organisms to nanoparticles increases from year to year, and its effects are not fully known. This is due to the fact that the range of nanoparticle interactions on cells, tissues and the environment requires careful analysis. It is necessary to develop methods for testing the properties of nanomaterials and the mechanisms of their impact on individual cells as well as on entire organisms. The particular need to raise public awareness of the main sources of exposure to nanoparticles should also be highlighted. This paper presents the main sources and possible routes of exposure to metal nanoparticles and metal oxides. Key elements of research on the impact of nanoparticles on organisms, that is, in vitro tests, in vivo tests and methods of detection of nanoparticles in organisms, are presented.

scholarly journals The Toothbrush Microbiome: Impact of User Age, Period of Use and Bristle Material on the Microbial Communities of Toothbrushes

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc-Kevin Zinn ◽  
Laura Schages ◽  
Dirk Bockmühl
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Colonization ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Bacterial Survival ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Ngs Data ◽  
The Impact

Toothbrushes play a central role in oral hygiene and must be considered one of the most common articles of daily use. We analysed the bacterial colonization of used toothbrushes by next generation sequencing (NGS) and by cultivation on different media. Furthermore, we determined the occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the impact of different bristle materials on microbial growth and survival. NGS data revealed that Enterobacteriaceae, Micrococcaceae, Actinomycetaceae, and Streptococcaceae comprise major parts of the toothbrush microbiome. The composition of the microbiome differed depending on the period of use or user age. While higher fractions of Actinomycetales, Lactobacillales, and Enterobacterales were found after shorter periods, Micrococcales dominated on both toothbrushes used for more than four weeks and on toothbrushes of older users, while in-vitro tests revealed increasing counts of Micrococcus on all bristle materials as well. Compared to other environments, we found a rather low frequency of ARGs. We determined bacterial counts between 1.42 × 106 and 1.19 × 107 cfu/toothbrush on used toothbrushes and no significant effect of different bristles materials on bacterial survival or growth. Our study illustrates that toothbrushes harbor various microorganisms and that both period of use and user age might affect the microbial composition.

scholarly journals Expression of a Heterologous Glutamate Dehydrogenase Gene inLactococcus lactis Highly Improves the Conversion of Amino Acids to Aroma Compounds

2000 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 1354-1359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liesbeth Rijnen ◽  
Pascal Courtin ◽  
Jean-Claude Gripon ◽  
Mireille Yvon
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Glutamate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Aroma Compounds ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Keto Acid ◽  
Cheese Curd ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT The first step of amino acid degradation in lactococci is a transamination, which requires an α-keto acid as the amino group acceptor. We have previously shown that the level of available α-keto acid in semihard cheese is the first limiting factor for conversion of amino acids to aroma compounds, since aroma formation is greatly enhanced by adding α-ketoglutarate to cheese curd. In this study we introduced a heterologous catabolic glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) gene into Lactococcus lactis so that this organism could produce α-ketoglutarate from glutamate, which is present at high levels in cheese. Then we evaluated the impact of GDH activity on amino acid conversion in in vitro tests and in a cheese model by using radiolabeled amino acids as tracers. The GDH-producing lactococcal strain degraded amino acids without added α-ketoglutarate to the same extent that the wild-type strain degraded amino acids with added α-ketoglutarate. Interestingly, the GDH-producing lactococcal strain produced a higher proportion of carboxylic acids, which are major aroma compounds. Our results demonstrated that a GDH-producing lactococcal strain could be used instead of adding α-ketoglutarate to improve aroma development in cheese.

scholarly journals Artificial moral agents: an intercultural perspective

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Michael Nagenborg
Keyword(s):  
Poor Countries ◽  
Moral Agents ◽  
Artificial Moral Agents ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Good Starting Point ◽  
Cultural Dialogue ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

In this paper I will argue that artificial moral agents (AMAs) are a fitting subject of intercultural information ethics because of the impact they may have on the relationship between information rich and information poor countries. I will give a limiting definition of AMAs first, and discuss two different types of AMAs with different implications from an intercultural perspective. While AMAs following preset rules might raise con-cerns about digital imperialism, AMAs being able to adjust to their user‘s behavior will lead us to the question what makes an AMA ?moral?? I will argue that this question does present a good starting point for an inter-cultural dialogue which might be helpful to overcome the notion of Africa as a mere victim.

scholarly journals Impact of a Brief Postharvest Hot Water Drench Treatment on Decay, Fruit Appearance, and Microbe Populations of California Lemons and Oranges

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph L. Smilanick ◽  
David Sorenson ◽  
Monir Mansour ◽  
Jonah Aieyabei ◽  
Pilar Plaza
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Carbonate ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Citrus Limon ◽  
Sour Rot ◽  
Green Mold ◽  
Water Treatments ◽  
The Impact

A brief (15 or 30 seconds) high-volume, low-pressure, hot-water drench at 68, 120, 130, 140, or 145 °F (20.0, 48.9, 54.4, 60.0, or 62.8 °C) was applied over rotating brushes to `Eureka' lemons (Citrus limon) and `Valencia' oranges (Citrus sinensis). The impact of this treatment on populations of surface microbes, injury to the fruit, the incidence of green mold (Penicillium digitatum)or sour rot (Geotrichum citri-aurantii), when inoculated into wounds one day prior to treatment, and temperatures required to kill the spores of these fungi and P. italicum suspended in hot water were determined. Fruit microbial populations were determined immediately after treatment. Decay and injuries were assessed after storage for 3 weeks at 55 °F (12.8 °C). The efficacy of the hot water treatments was compared to immersion of fruit in 3% wt/vol sodium carbonate at 95 °F (35.0 °C) for 30 seconds, a common commercial practice in California. Initial yeast and mold populations, initially log10 6.0 per fruit, were reduced to log10 3.3 on lemons and log10 4.2 on oranges by a 15-second treatment at 145 °F. Green mold control improved with increasing temperature and treatment duration. Green mold incidence was reduced from 97.9% and 98.0% on untreated lemons and oranges, respectively, to 14.5% and 9.4% by 30 seconds treatment with 145 °F water. However, immersion of lemons or oranges in 3% wt/vol sodium carbonate was superior and reduced green mold to 8.0% and 8.9%, respectively. Sour rot incidence on lemons averaged 84.3% after all water treatments, and was not significantly reduced, although arthrospores of G. citriaurantii died at lower water temperatures than spores of P. digitatum and P. italicum in in vitro tests. Sodium carbonate treatment for 30 seconds at 95 °F reduced sour rot to 36.7%. None of the treatments caused visible injuries to the fruit.

scholarly journals αCGRP Affects BMSCs’ Migration and Osteogenesis via the Hippo-YAP Pathway

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1420-1431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Wang ◽  
Jie Lin ◽  
Qin Zhang ◽  
Xinyuan Zhang ◽  
Hui Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Downstream Effector ◽  
Intrinsic Mechanism ◽  
Pathophysiological Role ◽  
Enhanced Expression ◽  
The Hippo Pathway ◽  
The Impact

Alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (αCGRP) plays a significant pathophysiological role in the regulation of bone metabolism. Our previous research indicated that αCGRP might have a potential application in enhancing osseointegration in vivo. To further uncover the intrinsic mechanism of its networks in bone regeneration, here we investigate the impact of αCGRP on osteogenic differentiation in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from both wild-type and αCGRP-/- mice. Considering the half-life of αCGRP in plasma is only 10 min, we applied αCGRP lentivirus and stably transfected it into BMSCs, followed by transfection identification and cell cycle assay. We further conducted a series of in vitro tests, and the results revealed that biological functions including migratory ability and osteogenicity exhibited positive correlation with BMSCs’ αCGRP expression. Meanwhile, this phenomenon was associated with an enhanced expression of YAP (Yes-associated protein), the key downstream effector of the Hippo pathway. To sum up, our data together with previous in vivo observations is likely to elucidate the intrinsic mechanism of αCGRP in bone remodeling, and αCGRP would appear to be a novel treatment to promote bone wound healing.

Coupled Dynamic and Static Analysis of Typhoon TLP Accident During Extreme Environmental Conditions

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Joelsas Timerman ◽  
Marcio Araujo de Campos ◽  
Kazuo Nishimoto ◽  
Oscar Augusto Brito
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
The Other ◽  
Loss Of Stability ◽  
Failure Investigation ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Hurricane Season ◽  
Good Starting Point ◽  
Offshore Industry ◽  
Recent Project ◽  
The Impact

An important path to reviewing technology is through failure investigation, which enables understanding of appropriate levels of safety and assurance of design criteria. In the occurrence of extreme environmental conditions in which most units respond well or at least satisfactorily, the assessment of exception cases can be taken as a good starting point for the failure investigation mentioned above. Hence, especially on account of hurricanes Rita and Katrina, the 2005 hurricane season, which had a notable impact on offshore industry at Gulf of Mexico region, can be taken as a promising scenario to assess the losses and bring out cases to be more carefully appraised. It is the case of the TLP Typhoon found upside down after the passage of Rita. Being the only unit located at a significant water depth which followed recent project standards, the case naturally came to the fore. This paper addresses an investigative analysis held out in order to establish and analyze the possible causes that resulted on the capsizing of the referred unit. The investigation focuses on two major paths which were selected as being the most probable and also had feasibility to be carried out — one that analyzes a possible lack of displacement due to the passage of a hurricane wave and the consequent loss of stability of the TLP and the other, concentrated on a dynamic analysis of the unit under the impact of the hurricane metocean conditions. This second analysis focuses on obtaining the tension on the tethers stating if either they suffered excessive loads causing them to break or lack of it, causing compression and possible buckling.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document