Influence of the processing method and antimicrobial agents on properties of starch-gelatin biodegradable films

[EN] Biodegradable films based on corn starch (CS), bovine gelatin (BG), glycerol as a plasticizer, and lysozyme or N--lauroyl-l-arginine ethyl ester monohydrochloride (LAE) as antimicrobial agents were obtained by both extension-drying (casting) of the aqueous dispersions and melt blending and compression moulding. Microstructural analyses revealed the lack of miscibility between CS and BG, which implied polymer phase separation, with the formation of domains rich in each polymer, with different arrangements for casting and melt blending processes. Thermoprocessed films were more permeable to water vapour (60%-115%) and oxygen (70%-355%) compared to the corresponding cast films and exhibited lower stiffness (50%-75%) and resistance to break (17%-33%) and greater extensibility (150%-190%) than casting films. LAE improved the water vapour barrier and reduced the oxygen barrier of both kinds of films, whereas the opposite effect was observed for lysozyme. Antimicrobial activity against Listeria innocua was observed for formulations containing LAE processed by both casting and compression moulding, all of which exhibited a bactericidal effect. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical IndustryThe authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Ministerio de Economía y Competividad (Projects AGL2013- 42989-R) and the services rendered by the Electron Microscopy Service of the UPV. Olga Moreno Marro also thanks the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, for the FPU 2012–1121 grant.Moreno Marro, O.; Díaz, R.; Atarés Huerta, LM.; Chiralt, A. (2016). Influence of the processing method and antimicrobial agents on properties of starch-gelatin biodegradable films. Polymer International. 65(8):905-914. https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.5115S90591465

A massive rock and ice avalanche caused the 2021 disaster at Chamoli, Indian Himalaya

On 7 February 2021, a catastrophic mass flow descended the Ronti Gad, Rishiganga, and Dhauliganga valleys in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India, causing widespread devastation and severely damaging two hydropower projects. More than 200 people were killed or are missing. Our analysis of satellite imagery, seismic records, numerical model results, and eyewitness videos reveals that ~27 × 10$^{6}$ cubic meters of rock and glacier ice collapsed from the steep north face of Ronti Peak. The rock and ice avalanche rapidly transformed into an extraordinarily large and mobile debris flow that transported boulders greater than 20 meters in diameter and scoured the valley walls up to 220 meters above the valley floor. The intersection of the hazard cascade with downvalley infrastructure resulted in a disaster, which highlights key questions about adequate monitoring and sustainable development in the Himalaya as well as other remote, high-mountain environments

Development and validation of two subject-specific finite element models of human head against three cadaveric experiments

10.1002/cnm.2609International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering303397-41