Subjective poverty moderates the association between carer status and psychological outcomes of adult siblings of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Adult siblings are potentially important sources of care, support, advocacy, and friendship for their brothers and sisters with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Drawing on data about 851 adult siblings who completed an online national survey, we examined predictors and potential key moderators of siblings’ mental distress, wellbeing, quality of life, and health outcomes. Moderated regression analyses indicated that siblings experiencing higher levels of subjective poverty; siblings with brothers and sisters with lower levels of independence; and siblings who are carers and also experiencing low levels of subjective poverty, had worse outcomes and may be in need of specific supports. Compared to normative samples, adult siblings of people with IDD had worse outcomes across the measures

Subjective poverty moderates the association between carer status and psychological outcomes of adult siblings of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Adult siblings are potentially important sources of care, support, advocacy, and friendship for their brothers and sisters with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Drawing on data about 851 adult siblings who completed an online national survey, we examined predictors and potential key moderators of siblings’ mental distress, wellbeing, quality of life, and health outcomes. Moderated regression analyses indicated that siblings experiencing higher levels of subjective poverty; siblings with brothers and sisters with lower levels of independence; and siblings who are carers and also experiencing low levels of subjective poverty, had worse outcomes and may be in need of specific supports. Compared to normative samples, adult siblings of people with IDD had worse outcomes across the measures

Metabolism of Daidzein and Genistein by Gut Bacteria of the Class Coriobacteriia

The intake of isoflavones is presumed to be associated with health benefits in humans, but also potential adverse effects of isoflavones are controversially discussed. Isoflavones can be metabolized by gut bacteria leading to modulation of the bioactivity, such as estrogenic effects. Especially bacterial strains of the Eggerthellaceae, a well-known bacterial family of the human gut microbiota, are able to convert the isoflavone daidzein into equol. In addition, metabolization of genistein is also described for strains of the Eggerthellaceae. The aim of this study was to identify and investigate gut bacterial strains of the family Eggerthellaceae as well as the narrowly related family Coriobacteriaceae which are able to metabolize daidzein and genistein. This study provides a comprehensive, polyphasic approach comprising in silico analysis of the equol gene cluster, detection of genes associated with the daidzein, and genistein metabolism via PCR and fermentation of these isoflavones. The in silico search for protein sequences that are associated with daidzein metabolism identified sequences with high similarity values in already well-known equol-producing strains. Furthermore, protein sequences that are presumed to be associated with daidzein and genistein metabolism were detected in the two type strains ‘Hugonella massiliensis’ and Senegalimassilia faecalis which were not yet described to metabolize these isoflavones. An alignment of these protein sequences showed that the equol gene cluster is highly conserved. In addition, PCR amplification supported the presence of genes associated with daidzein and genistein metabolism. Furthermore, the metabolism of daidzein and genistein was investigated in fermentations of pure bacterial cultures under strictly anaerobic conditions and proofed the metabolism of daidzein and genistein by the strains ‘Hugonella massiliensis’ DSM 101782T and Senegalimassilia faecalis KGMB04484T

Steel protection using sol-gel coatings in simulated concrete pore solution contaminated with chloride

This work compares the anticorrosion features of polysiloxane hybrid films deposited on carbon steel substrates by dip-coating. To assess the influence of the components, sol-gel coatings were prepared from condensation and polymerization of TEOS and MPTS, TEOS and MTES, TMOS and MPTS or TMOS and MTES mixtures in three molar ratios. The corrosion protection of the coatings was evaluated by means of polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. The coatings' thickness was quantified by field emission-scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that all the coatings improved the corrosion resistance of carbon steel in an alkaline environment contaminated with 3. wt.%NaCl solution and show that the protective properties of the coating were especially improved when MTES was added to the formulations and when the TMOS/MPTS mixture was used, probably due to a highly cross-linked network and a greater coating thickness, capable of delaying the corrosion process. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.M. Criado expresses her gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Juan de la Cierva contract (Ref. JDC-2010)Peer Reviewe

Phytosterol Recognition via Rationally Designed Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) prepared via a semi-covalent imprinting strategy using stigmasteryl methacrylate as a polymerisable template have been evaluated by static binding methods for their ability to selectively capture other valuable phytosterol targets, including campesterol and brassicasterol. Design criteria based on molecular modelling procedures and interaction energy calculations were employed to aid the selection of the co-monomer type, as well as the choice of co-monomer:template ratios for the formation of the pre-polymerisation complex. These novel hybrid semi-covalently imprinted polymers employed N,N′-dimethylacryl-amide (N,N′-DMAAM) as the functional co-monomer and displayed specific binding capacities in the range 5.2–5.9 mg sterol/g MIP resin. Their binding attributes and selectivities towards phytosterol compounds were significantly different to the corresponding MIPs prepared via non-covalent procedures or when compared to non-imprinted polymers. Cross-reactivity studies using stigmasterol, ergosterol, cholesterol, campesterol, and brassicasterol as single analytes revealed the importance of the A-ring C-3-β-hydroxyl group and the orientational preferences of the D-ring alkyl chain structures in their interaction in the templated cavity with the N,N′-dimethylamide functional groups of the MIP. Finally, to obtain useful quantities of both campersterol and brassicasterol for these investigations, improved synthetic routes have been developed to permit the conversion of the more abundant, lower cost stigmasterol via a reactive aldehyde intermediate to these other sterols