EFFECT OF LIQUID CONTAMINATION ON HERMETICITY AND SEAL STRENGTH OF FLEXIBLE POUCHES WITH LLDPE SEALANT

Flexible packaging is a growing successful market and the majority of flexible package applications are for the food industry. The demand for process optimization and reduced production costs, has led to an increase in flexible packaging. However, fast production lines can result in contamination in the seal area. For flexible food packaging, contamination is considered any food particle or substance trapped in the seal area. Current quality control processes can detect contamination in the seal area, but it is not determined if seal contamination effects seal quality. Oil-based and sodium based snack foods are two common categories that can be packaged on a horizontal flow film and seal (HFFS) flow-wrap machine. The study uses vegetable oil and a salt water solution to simulate the effect of liquid contamination along the T-point of flexible pouches made on an HFFS. The T-point refers to where the fin seal meets the end seal and requires the seal jaw to seal through four layers of film, which is the most difficult point to seal. The study tests a combination of different sealing temperatures and dwell time to determine the optimal sealing condition for a hermetic seal. A quality hermetic seal provides an enclosed seal with no leaks due to successful polymer chain entanglement between the two sealant layers. The different test categories of the study are non-contaminated (control), salt water solution for salt based foods, and vegetable oil for oil-based foods. Given the test parameters of the study, 140⁰C sealing temperature and 0.3 seconds dwell time are considered to be the optimal sealing condition for all three test categories. For Phase 1 of the study, salt water has a lower hermeticity pass rate compared to vegetable oil and non-contaminated seals. In addition, the effect of refrigerated storage temperature and ambient storage temperature did not show to be significant for any of the test categories. However, refrigerated conditions showed a higher hermeticity pass rate, but it was not statistically different. The findings for seal strength indicated no test category had higher or lower seal strength over the 14 day test period. Overall, the study shows there is no effect of liquid contaminant on hermeticity and seal strength for flexible film with LLDPE sealant layer

Effect of Liquid Contamination on Hermeticity and Seal Strength of Flexible Pouches with LLDPE

Flexible packaging is a growing successful market and the majority of flexible package applications are for the food industry. The demand for process optimization and reduced production costs, has led to an increase in flexible packaging. However, fast production lines can result in contamination in the seal area. For flexible food packaging, contamination is considered any food particle or substance trapped in the seal area. Current quality control processes can detect contamination in the seal area, but it is not determined if seal contamination affects seal quality. Oil-based and sodium based snack foods are two common categories that can be packaged on a horizontal form fill and seal (HFFS) flow-wrap machine. The study uses vegetable oil and a salt water solution to simulate the effect of liquid contamination along the T-point of flexible pouches made on an HFFS. The T-point refers to where the fin seal meets the end seal and requires the seal jaw to seal through four layers of film, which is the most difficult point to seal. The study tests a combination of different sealing temperatures and dwell time to determine the optimal sealing condition for a hermetic seal. A quality hermetic seal provides an enclosed seal with no leaks due to successful polymer chain entanglement between the two sealant layers. The different test categories of the study are non-contaminated (control), salt water solution for salt based foods, and vegetable oil for oil-based foods. Given the test parameters of the study, 140⁰C sealing temperature and 0.3 seconds dwell time are considered to be the optimal sealing condition for all three test categories. For Phase 1 of the study, salt water had a lower Hermeticity pass rate compared to vegetable oil and non-contaminated seals. In addition, the effect of refrigerated storage temperature and ambient storage temperature did not show to be significant for any of the test categories. However, refrigerated conditions showed a higher Hermeticity pass rate, but it was not statistically different. The findings for seal strength indicated no test category had higher or lower seal strength over the 14 day test period. Overall, the study shows there is no effect of liquid contaminant on Hermeticity and seal strength for flexible film with LLDPE sealant layer

A expansão das Big Techs nos mercados digitais e as killer acquisitions : a função do CADE no controle de estruturas na previsão de possíveis aquisições anticoncorrenciais

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Direito, 2021.O século XXI vem sendo palco de profundas transformações na sociedade, a qual se viu imersa em um rápido ritmo de desenvolvimento tecnológico. No compasso da prosperidade cientifica, dentre as mais diversas áreas do conhecimento humano que foram beneficiadas diretamente e indiretamente pelos novos conhecimentos, testemunhamos em primeira mão o progresso das tecnologias digitais, as quais proporcionaram terreno fértil para o desenvolvimento de grandes empresas nos mercados digitais, também conhecidas como Big Techs, representadas principalmente por companhias já muito enraizadas na sociedade, como Google, Apple, Facebook e Amazon. Dentre as diversas atividades promovidas pelas Big Techs destaca-se o exercício do seu poder de compra, tema que vem gerando debates no meio concorrencial. Na presente tese, busca-se abordar, sob a perspectiva do direito antitruste, a estrutura de mercado nas quais estão imersas essas gigantes da tecnologia, além do conceito de killer acquisition, modalidade de aquisição de pequenas empresas supostamente danosa ao ambiente competitivo dos mercados digitais e suas reverberações, tanto nos meios acadêmicos e quanto nas agências concorrencial. A partir do estudo da estrutura de compras realizadas pelas Big Techs, naturalmente indaga-se até que ponto essa atividade pode ser prejudicial para o mercado. As autoridades antitruste devem intervir? Quais os limites da intervenção das agências? Tais perguntas, discutidas ao longo da obra, são de suma importância para o desenvolvimento das ferramentas de vigilância das agências e, consequentemente, para o melhor desenvolvimento dos mercados digitais.The 21st century has been the scene of profound changes in society, which has been immersed in a rapid pace of technological development. In line with scientific prosperity, among the most diverse areas of human knowledge that have benefited directly and indirectly from new knowledge, we report at first hand the progress of digital technologies, as which provided fertile ground for the development of large companies in digital markets, also know as Big Techs, represented mainly by companies already very rooted in society, such as Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon. Among the various activities promoted by the Big Techs, the exercise of their purchasing power stands out, a theme that has been generating debates in the competitive environment. In this thesis, we seek to address, from the perspective of antitrust law, a market structure in which these technology giants are immersed, in addition to the concept of killer acquisition, a modality of acquisition of small companies supposedly harmful to the competition environment of digital markets and its reverberations, both in academic circles and in competitive agencies. From the study of the structure of purchases made by Big Techs, it is naturally asked to what extent this activity can be detrimental to the market. Which antitrust authorities should intervene? What are the limits of agency intervention? These questions, discussed throughout the work, are of paramount importance for the development of the agencies' surveillance tools and, consequently, for the better development of digital markets

Regulation of the Acetylation of C/EBP and its Functional Consequences.

Because of the increasing incidence of obesity worldwide, understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling adipogenesis has become a critical area of research. Studies related to adipogenesis have led to the identification of genes involved sequentially in the differentiation of fat cells, such as C/EBPβ, C/EBPδ, C/EBPα, and PPARγ. This thesis focuses on the regulation of the activity of CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein (C/EBP) β, an early inducer of adipogenesis, which mediates the transcriptional activation of C/EBPα and PPARγ. Because C/EBPβ associates with the nuclear coactivator p300, which contains acetyltransferase activity, we hypothesized that C/EBPβ is acetylated and that acetylation of C/EBPβ may contribute to its role in adipogenesis. This work demonstrates that C/EBPβ is acetylated by p300 and P/CAF, and may be deacetylated by HDAC1, consistent with acetylation of C/EBPβ being a dynamic regulatory event. We have identified multiple acetylation sites in C/EBPβ, including a novel site at lysine (K) 39, in its transcriptional activation domain. Mutation of K39 impairs transcriptional activation of a variety of C/EBPβ target genes. Further, disruption of C/EBPβ acetylation at K39 renders it refractory to coactivation by p300. Expression of HDAC1 impairs acetylation of C/EBPβ at K39, and also decreases C/EBPβ-mediated transcription. The activation of C/EBPβ target genes involved in adipogenesis and adipocyte function, including C/EBPα, PPARγ, Glut-4 and leptin, is also compromised by mutation of K39 in C/EBPβ. Further, analysis of mouse adipose tissue and adipogenic 3T3-L1 cells indicates that endogenous C/EBPβ is acetylated at K39. Together, these findings support a model in which dynamic regulation of the acetylation of C/EBPβ contributes to its ability to mediate transcriptional activation of target genes associated with adipogenesis. Such insights suggest that acetylation at K39 contributes to adipocyte function, add to our ability to understand mechanisms contributing to obesity, and may reveal new therapeutic approaches for obesity and related health problems.Ph.D.Cellular & Molecular BiologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/58512/1/tcesena_1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/58512/2/tcesena_2.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/58512/3/tcesena_3.pd

Long-term outcome of COVID-19 patients treated with helmet noninvasive ventilation vs. high-flow nasal oxygen: a randomized trial

Background: Long-term outcomes of patients treated with helmet noninvasive ventilation (NIV) are unknown: safety concerns regarding the risk of patient self-inflicted lung injury and delayed intubation exist when NIV is applied in hypoxemic patients. We assessed the 6-month outcome of patients who received helmet NIV or high-flow nasal oxygen for COVID-19 hypoxemic respiratory failure. Methods: In this prespecified analysis of a randomized trial of helmet NIV versus high-flow nasal oxygen (HENIVOT), clinical status, physical performance (6-min-walking-test and 30-s chair stand test), respiratory function and quality of life (EuroQoL five dimensions five levels questionnaire, EuroQoL VAS, SF36 and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM) were evaluated 6 months after the enrollment. Results: Among 80 patients who were alive, 71 (89%) completed the follow-up: 35 had received helmet NIV, 36 high-flow oxygen. There was no inter-group difference in any item concerning vital signs (N = 4), physical performance (N = 18), respiratory function (N = 27), quality of life (N = 21) and laboratory tests (N = 15). Arthralgia was significantly lower in the helmet group (16% vs. 55%, p = 0.002). Fifty-two percent of patients in helmet group vs. 63% of patients in high-flow group had diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide < 80% of predicted (p = 0.44); 13% vs. 22% had forced vital capacity < 80% of predicted (p = 0.51). Both groups reported similar degree of pain (p = 0.81) and anxiety (p = 0.81) at the EQ-5D-5L test; the EQ-VAS score was similar in the two groups (p = 0.27). Compared to patients who successfully avoided invasive mechanical ventilation (54/71, 76%), intubated patients (17/71, 24%) had significantly worse pulmonary function (median diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide 66% [Interquartile range: 47–77] of predicted vs. 80% [71–88], p = 0.005) and decreased quality of life (EQ-VAS: 70 [53–70] vs. 80 [70–83], p = 0.01). Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19 hypoxemic respiratory failure, treatment with helmet NIV or high-flow oxygen yielded similar quality of life and functional outcome at 6 months. The need for invasive mechanical ventilation was associated with worse outcomes. These data indicate that helmet NIV, as applied in the HENIVOT trial, can be safely used in hypoxemic patients. Trial registration Registered on clinicaltrials.gov NCT04502576 on August 6, 202

Redesigning the Packaging Layout for a Book Binding Company

ii Powis Parker, a book binding company supplies premium quality book supplies. The current problem with the packaging layout includes the multiple inserts and packaging components for their two most popular products, binding strips and hardcovers. The excessive amount of packaging material can be costly and provide more than the needed amount of packaging material. The purpose of the project is redesigning a layout that will reduce packaging costs while maintaining packaging performance. Although the current packaging layout has not failed to damage product through shipment, reducing their packaging material could save costs. The project includes the background research conducted to support the project and three proposed solutions for each design. Each suggested layout to improve their packaging costs can increase pallet loads and reduce packaging material. The proposed solution for binding strips can increase pallet loads by 20 percent and reduce packaging material nearly 28 percent per unit. On the other hand, the proposed solution for hardcovers can increase pallet loads by 16 percent and reduce material by 12 percent per unit. However, the designs will suggest changing the sale patterns in order to implement design. Even though the proposed solutions change the sale pattern, the benefits of each solution show several ways to save costs. Overall, the project suggested layouts that can reduce the packaging costs by 20 percent

Adaptabilidade e estabilidade de progênies de Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell. - Arg. em três diferentes regiões do estado de São Paulo

Clones com alta produtividade, adaptabilidade e estabilidade a vários ambientes são imprescindíveis para o desenvolvimento da heveicultura no Brasil. O objetivo do trabalho foi selecionar progênies com maior adaptabilidade e estabilidade a partir do diâmetro da planta a 50 cm do solo (DA50) e a produção de borracha seca (PBS, a partir do teste Hamaker Morris Mann modificado), de uma população de seringueira, aos três anos de idade, plantada em três ambientes distintos (Selvíria-MS, Votuporanga-SP e Colina-SP), utilizando-se do método MHPRVG (média harmônica da performance relativa dos valores genéticos) preditos por BLUP e estimar a variabilidade genética a partir de caracteres quantitativos, tais como: altura da planta (ATP), DA50, forma da planta (FOP), sobrevivência das progênies (SOP) e PBS dos três locais, aos dois e três anos de idade, pelo procedimento REML/BLUP visando a conservação dos recursos genéticos da espécie. As sementes utilizadas na produção das mudas dos testes de progênies foram, na sua maioria, coletadas de clones de origem Asiática provenientes da coleção de clones instalada na área experimental da Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios – APTA - Polo Regional de Votuporanga, Estado de São Paulo. As progênies foram instaladas nos três locais sob o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, compostos por 30 tratamentos (progênies), três repetições e parcelas lineares de 10 plantas, no espaçamento de 3,00 x 3,00 metros, totalizando 900 plantas úteis em cada local. O método da MHPRVG propiciou um ganho genético de 12,03 a 45,65% entre 10 progênies selecionadas a partir da PBS e permitiu a seleção de progênies com alto potencial produtivo predito. As 10 melhores progênies foram oriundas dos clones GT1, PB 28/59, PR 261, RRIM 606, PB 217, IAC 41, IAC 35, PR 255, RRIM 701 e IAC 301. Os caracteres ATP, DA50, FOP, SOP e a PBS...Clones with high yield, adaptability and stability for many environments are indispensables to the development of the rubber tree crop in Brasil. The paper objective was to select progenies with high adaptability and stability from the diameter gauges from 50 cm of height of soil (DA50) and dry rubber yield (PBS, from the Hamaker Morris Mann modified test), of genotypes from a rubber tree population, two and three years old, installed in three different locations (Selvíria-MS, Votuporanga-SP e Colina-SP), by the MHPRVG (Harmonic Average Performance Relative breeding values) method predicted by BLUP and to estimate the genetic variability from quantitative characters: total height of the plant (ATP), DA50, plant form (FOP), survival of progeny (SOP) and PBS of three locations, two and three years old, by REML/BLUP procedure, intending the genetic resources conservation of the specie. The seeds used on seedlings production of progenies tests were in majority collected on Asiatic clones origin from the clones installed in the experimental area of Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios – APTA – Votuporanga regional pole, State of São Paulo. The progenies were installed in a randomized block design of 30 treatments (progenies), three replications and 10 plants per plot, with spacing of 3,00 x 3,00 m, a total of 900 useful plants in each location. The method of MHPRVG provided a genetic gain ranging from 12,03 to 45,65% in 10 progenies to the PBS and allowed the selection of progenies with high yield potential predicted. The 10 best progenies were derived from clones GT1, CR 28/59, PR 261, RRIM 606, PB 217, IAC 41, IAC 35, PR 255, RRIM 701 and IAC 301. The characters ATP, DA50, FOP, SOP and PBS presented considerable coefficients of genetic variation, ranging from 1,25% for the ATP to 21,33% for PBS and medium heritability for DA50 and PBS being 0,23 and 0,80, respectively... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Interação genótipo x ambiente, adaptabilidade e estabilidade em genótipos de cana-de-açúcar

A cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) é a cultura mais aplicada para a produção de açúcar tanto para consumo interno quanto para exportação, além da produção de etanol e biomassa. A área de cultivo vem crescendo expressivamente, fato que leva melhoristas a buscar genótipos mais produtivos às diferentes áreas de plantio. Experimentos em multi ambientes são comumente conduzidos em programas de melhoramento de plantas principalmente para avaliação de genótipos potenciais para produção. Este estudo incluiu 16 genótipos de cana-de-açúcar em 14 locais e avaliados por quatro anos, ou seja, quatro cortes (cana planta, primeira, segunda e terceira soca). O objetivo foi investigar a adaptabilidade e estabilidade dos genótipos de cana-de-açúcar para o atributo Tonelada de Pol por Hectare (TPH) em experimentos multi ambientais a partir de três metodologias estatísticas: Regressão linear fenotípica conjunta (E-R), Norma de reação (NR) e Média harmônica da performance relativa do valor genotípico (MHPRVG). Os valores da herdabilidade média genotípica estimados via MHPRVG apresentaram-se altos, o que leva a altas acurácias na seleção genotípica (superiores a 90%). Os genótipos IACSP963076, IACSP963048 e IACSP985024, primeiro corte, IACSP963048, IACSP963076, IACSP962073 e IACSP985024, segundo corte, IACSP962073, IACSP962008 e IACSP963076, terceiro corte e IACSP963076, IACSP985024, IACSP962073 e IACSP962008, quarto corte, foram os selecionados quando se considera os atributos de estabilidade, adaptabilidade e produtividade (TPH), simultaneamente e, portanto, são os genótipos recomendados para o plantio nesta macro região estudada quando analisadas via MHPRVG. Em termos de valores médios, os genótipos recomendados pela seleção simultânea baseada na MHPRVG são os genótipos IACSP963076, IACSP962073, IACSP985024 e IACSP962008, alcançando um valor médio de 2,8% acima...The sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the most applied crop in the sugar yielding as much as internal consumption as exportation, besides its application in yielding alcohol and biomass production. The crop area has been increased expressively leading breeders to search more yielding genotypes to the different planted areas. Multi-environment trials are commonly conducted in plant breeding programs to evaluate potential genotypes mainly to yield. This study included 16 sugarcane genotypes at 14 locations evaluated in four years, that is, four harvests (sugarcane plant, first, second and third ratoon). The objective was to investigate the sugarcane's genotype adaptability and stability to Ton of Pol per Hectare (TPH) attribute in multi-environments trials from three statistical methodologies: Joint phenotypic linear regression (E-R), Reaction norm (NR) and Harmonic average performance relative breeding values (MHPRVG). The estimated genotypic average heritabilities values via MHPRVG showed themselves as high, what lead to high accuracy in the genotypic selection ( higher than 90%). The genotypes IACSP963076, IACSP963048 and IACSP985024, first harvest, IACSP963048, IACSP963076, IACSP962073 and IACSP985024, second harvest, IACSP962073, IACSP962008 and IACSP963076, third harvest and IACSP963076, IACSP985024, IACSP962073 and IACSP962008, fourth harvest, were the selected when one considers simultaneously the stability, adaptability and productivity (TPH) attributes and thereby them are the recommended genotypes to be planted in this studied macro region when analyzed via MHPRVG. In a mean expression, the recommended genotypes by simultaneous selection based in MHPRVG are the IACSP963076, IACSP962073, IACSP985024 and IACSP962008 genotypes, reaching a average value of 2.8% higher than the four harvests overall mean. The percentage of selection ranking from both approach was 31, 44, 50 and 56% at the ..