Chitosan–Starch–Keratin composites: Improving thermo-mechanical and degradation properties through chemical modification

The lysozyme test shows an improved in the degradability rate, the weight loss of the films at 21 days is reduced from 73 % for chitosan-starch matrix up to 16 % for the composites with 5wt% of quill; but all films show a biodegradable character depending on keratin type and chemical modification. The outstanding properties related to the addition of treated keratin materials show that these natural composites are a remarkable alternative to potentiat-ing chitosan–starch films with sustainable featuresChitosan–starch polymers are reinforced with different keratin materials obtained from chicken feather. Keratin materials are treated with sodium hydroxide; the modified surfaces are rougher in comparison with untreated surfaces, observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results obtained by Differential Scanning Calorimetry show an increase in the endothermic peak related to water evaporation of the films from 92 °C (matrix) up to 102–114 °C (reinforced composites). Glass transition temperature increases from 126 °C in the polymer matrix up to 170–200 °C for the composites. Additionally, the storage modulus in the composites is enhanced up to 1614 % for the composites with modified ground quill, 2522 % for composites with modified long fiber and 3206 % for the composites with modified short fiber. The lysozyme test shows an improved in the degradability rate, the weight loss of the films at 21 days is reduced from 73 % for chitosan-starch matrix up to 16 % for the composites with 5wt% of quill; but all films show a biodegradable character depending on keratin type and chemical modification. The outstanding properties related to the addition of treated keratin materials show that these natural composites are a remarkable alternative to potentiat-ing chitosan–starch films with sustainable featuresUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de México Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Querétaro Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Celaya Universidad Autónoma de Cd. Juáre

Local structure of luminescent InGaN alloys

Comparative Ga and In K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure studies provide the first direct evidence of an inequality of mean In-Ga and Ga-In next-nearest neighbor separations in InGaN alloys. The degree of inequality increases with decreasing InN fraction x in the range accessible to extended x-ray absorption fine structure analysis of alloys (0.9 <x <0.1). Its concurrence with an increase of luminescence efficiency in this composition range suggests that the breakdown of In/Ga randomness in InGaN is correlated with efficient radiative recombination in blue-green light emitting devices

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Intelligence Quotient in Early-Treated Individuals with Classical Galactosemia.

INTRODUCTION Cognitive impairment is a well-known complication of classical galactosemia (CG). Differences in patient characteristics and test methods have hampered final conclusions regarding the extent of intellectual disabilities in CG. The primary aim of this systematic review was to assess intellectual performance in early-treated (≤4 weeks of life) individuals with confirmed CG (defined by absent or barely detectable GALT enzyme activity and/or the presence of two null or severe missense variations), assessed with comparable test instruments. The full-scale IQ (FSIQ) was the variable of interest. METHODS A clinical librarian developed search strategies, and two independent investigators performed the study selection, risk of bias assessment and data extraction. Individual patient data were pooled for meta-analysis using linear mixed-effect models with a random intercept per study and including covariates (age or gender) as fixed effects where appropriate. RESULTS Four articles were included in this meta-analysis. Data of 87 individuals (median age 13 years, range 3-38 years) were used to assess mean FSIQ in CG. The FSIQ ranged from 47 to 122, and the mean score was 87 (95% CI, 81-94). Forty-five percent of individuals attained scores <85, almost 40% attained scores of 85-100, and a minority (15%) attained scores above 100. There was no significant correlation between FSIQ and age. CONCLUSIONS Results from this meta-analysis fortify conclusions from previous studies that early-treated individuals with CG are at risk for having impaired cognitive abilities. However, IQ varies considerably between affected individuals

Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in a Random Sample of the Urban Population of Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brazil Prevalencia de la incontinencia urinaria en muestra aleatoria de la población urbana de Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brasil Prevalência da incontinência urinária em amostra randomizada da população urbana de Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brasil

This study determines and analyzes the prevalence of Urinary Incontinence (UI) and its demographic and clinical predictors. This epidemiological and cross-sectional study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of São Paulo, Nursing School. The sample was randomly selected by cluster technique and included 519 individuals aged &#8805;18 years, living in 341 houses in urban areas. Data were analyzed through Chi-Square, Hosmer Lemeshow’s test and multivariate logistic regression (stepwise). Prevalence rates were standardized by gender and age. Of the 519 people composing the sample: 20.1% had UI, 32.9% were women and 6.2% were men. Longer duration of losses (OR = 29.3; p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR = 17.7; p<0.001), stroke (OR = 15.9; p<0.001), and cystocele (OR = 12.5; p <0.001) were the factors most strongly associated with UI. This study enabled the identification of UI epidemiology and can contribute to the development of public policies for its primary and secondary prevention and treatment, even if such measures are initially implemented at the city level.<br>El estudio tiene por objetivo conocer la prevalencia de la incontinencia urinaria (IU), de los factores de predicción demográficos y clínicos de la presencia de IU. Se trata de un estudio epidemiológico de corte transversal, aprobado por el Comité de Ética de la Escuela de Enfermería de la Universidad de Sao Paulo. Muestreo estratificado por conglomerado compuesto de 519 individuos con edad &#8805;18 años, residentes en 341 domicilios del área urbana, sorteados aleatoriamente. Las pruebas utilizadas fueron Chi-cuadrado, Hosmer Lemeshow y regresión logística multivariante (stepwise). Las prevalencias de IU fueron estandarizadas por sexo y edad, en una muestra de 519 personas, siendo 20,1 % en la población general - 32,9% eran mujeres y 6,2% hombres. Los factores más fuertemente asociados a la IU fueron: mayor tiempo de pérdidas (OR=29,3; p<0,001), diabetes mellitus (OR=17,7; p<0,001), accidente vascular encefálico (OR=15,9; p<0,001) y cistocele (OR=12,5; p<0,001). El estudio permitió conocer la epidemiologia de la IU y puede contribuir para el desarrollo de políticas públicas para su prevención primaria y secundaria, su tratamiento, inclusive considerando su inicio en el ámbito municipal.<br>Os objetivos deste trabalho foram conhecer a prevalência da incontinência urinária (IU), dos fatores demográficos e clínicos preditores da presença de IU. Estudo epidemiológico, corte transversal, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo. A amostragem, estratificada por conglomerado, foi composta por 519 indivíduos com idade &#8805;18 anos, residentes em 341 domicílios da área urbana, sorteados aleatoriamente. Os testes utilizados foram qui-quadrado, Hosmer Lemeshow e regressão logística multivariada (stepwise). As prevalências foram padronizadas por sexo e idade, portanto, das 519 pessoas que compuseram a amostra, 20,1% dessas tinha IU numa população total; 32,9% eram mulheres e 6,2% homens. Maior tempo de perdas (OR=29,3; p<0,001), diabetes mellitus (OR=17,7; p<0,001), acidente vascular encefálico (OR=15,9; p<0,001) e cistocele (OR=12,5; p<0,001) foram os fatores mais fortemente associados à IU. O estudo permitiu conhecer a epidemiologia da IU e pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas para a sua prevenção primária e secundária, seu tratamento, ainda que inicialmente em nível municipal