Formation of chitosan nanoparticles to encapsulate krill oil (Euphausia superba) for application as a dietary supplement

Encapsulation of krill oil (KO), a rich source of eicosapentanoic (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) was carried out in chitosan-TPP (tripolyphosphate) nanoparticles using a newly developed two-step process (i.e, formation of emulsion and later electrostatic interaction of chitosan with TPP). The encapsulation of KO in chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) was confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the obtained particles were about 9 – 25 and 33 – 59 % respectively, when the initial KO content was in the ratio of 0.25 – 1.25 g/g of Chitosan. Bulk KO showed less protection to oxidation and showed more formation of hydroperoxides during first week as noted by FTIR. However, KO loaded CSNPs showed better prevention of KO towards oxidation with less hydroperoxide formation even after two weeks of storage at elevated temperature (45 oC). The obtained KO-loaded CSNPs were irregular in shape with an average particle diameter of < 130 nm as observed by SEM. The results obtained confirmed the suitability of the emulsion and later electrostatic interaction of CS with TPP for the formation of KO loaded CSNPs with greater EE & LC, which will enhance their usage in the Food and Pharmaceutical industrie

Travellers' profiles definition using statistical multivariate analysis of attitudinal variables

This paper aims at presenting a set of travellers' typologies using attributes characterizing people's attitude, through an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and a subsequent cluster analysis (CA), based on the obtained latent constructs. The final goal is to contribute to deepen the knowledge on market segmentation in order to define more people-oriented transport policies, focusing on a medium size Italian city, Alessandria. Six factors have been defined on which the k-means cluster analysis has been applied finding four travellers' profiles. Results confirm certain hypothesis from behavioural psychological theories. Attitude-behaviour relationships loosen when habits, consolidated in time, do intervene; moreover in small-medium urban context, as opposed to large and dense cities, insufficient transport supply does not favour the use of alternative modes to the motor vehicle, if not to the cost of a great loss in efficiency. In fact, the study shows how significant constraints such as necessity, time saving, and low transport supply (mainly designed around students going to school) are in determining a behavioural change, so that the ‘‘right general attitudes'' are not sufficient to obtain a real modal shift. This leads to expect opportunistic behaviours, even within a overall positive attitude towards the environment. Actually, that overall positive attitude is not enough to prompt consistent behaviour unless a marked self-control and strong motivation are present. These two features seem to be missing in the interviewed sample of population, unlike what emerges from other studies undertaken in Northern Europe. The geographic location most likely plays a significant role in such a difference. Indeed, cultural background and the prevailing habits of the population may well explain the ‘‘slackening'' of the bond between moral norms and behaviour, and the subsequent search for surrogates (e.g. the high willingness to pay for environmental protection) to justify the unwillingness to forgo the private vehicle on behalf of more sustainable modes. Finally, our study seems to prove that education could play a key role in transport policy formulation but, moreover, in social policy, as individuals more akin to modal shift are those showing higher levels of instructio

Freedom Weekend

John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studie

Flood Hazard Assessment and Mapping in Semi-arid Urban Areas: A Case Study in the Wadi Al-Sayelah, Sana'a, Yemen

The Second International Symposium on Flash Floods in Wadi Systems: 25-27 October 2016. Technische Universität Berlin, Campus El Gouna, Egypt

Assessment of water losses in distribution networks: Methods, applications, uncertainties, and implications in intermittent supply

Reducing all water loss components to zero is neither technically possible nor economically viable. The water loss components should be accurately assessed and prioritised for a reduction. This paper investigates all methods that break down the water losses in distribution networks into apparent and real losses. Their accuracies and uncertainties are discussed and applications to three case studies in developing countries are presented. The results show that different methods estimate the water loss components differently. Consequently, different reduction measures are planned and prioritised. Interestingly, the least accurate methods have a low level of uncertainty, but more realistic assumptions yield higher uncertainties. This suggests that the uncertainty analysis only assists in improving the outputs of each of the methods but does not demonstrate their accuracy. The cost of water loss varies depending on the used assessment method and the economic feasibility of the reduction measures is significantly influenced. The water loss components should therefore be assessed for the whole network using at least two methods to reasonably model and monitor the loss reduction in water distribution networks