Development of a Biological Bread

The objective of this work was to develop a wheat biological bread with good textural and sensorial characteristics, using biological ingredients, such as usual and certified biological yeasts and biological salt varying the added amounts to the dough. Several experiences were also done to find the most appropriate processing stages until establishing the best operation conditions. The optimized product was characterised considering the chemical and physical properties. This bread presented similar chemical characteristics to other wheat breads, with similar energetic value (232.8 Kcal/100g). The L colour parameter is high both in crust and loaf, with predominance of red and yellow colorations. It showed high elasticity and high alveoli percentage (about 25%). The global sensorial appreciation was 6.2 in a maximum scale of 10

Biodegradation of metallic biomaterials: its relation with the generation of reactive oxygen species

Fil: Fagali, Natalia Soledad. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Grillo, Claudia Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Puntarulo, Susana. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Lorenzo de Mele, Mónica. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentin

Comparing the performances of two techniques for the optimization under parametric uncertainty of the simultaneous design and planning of a multiproduct batch plant

This paper addresses the comparison between two techniques for the optimization under parametric uncertainty of multiproduct batch plants integrating design and production planning decisions. This problem has been conceived as a two-stage stochastic mixed integer linear programming (MILP) in which the first-stage decisions consist of design variables that allow determining the batch plant structure, and the second-stage decisions consist of production planning continuous variables in a multiperiod context. The objective function maximizes the expected net present value. In the first solving approach, the problem has been tackled through mathematical programming considering a discrete set of scenarios. In the second solving approach, the multi-scenario MILP problem has been reformulated by adopting a simulation-based optimization scheme to accommodate the variables belonging to different management levels. Advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are demonstrated through a case study. Results allow concluding that a simulation-based optimization strategy may be a suitable technique to afford two-stage stochastic programming problems.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

The innovative approach of Biomimetica and its application to sustainable retrofitting of existing buildings

In recent decades, elements and technological systems inspired by the natural world have become more widespread in architecture and construction industry, in order to improve the energy efficiency and thermal behavior of buildings. The best known example are green facades, increasingly used to improve the energy efficiency of new buildings and the bioclimatic comfort of urban settlements. Through biomimetic studies, innovative solutions are being proposed, from the use of living biological systems (e.g. bio-reactive facades) for climate control to new natural materials (e.g. metal-sensitive wooden sheets) that react directly to external factors such as light, heat, humidity, opening and closing without the use of energy or mechanical aids. All these systems contribute to improving the energy efficiency of both buildings and the urban system in which they are located. The contribution aims to examine technological solutions based on biomimetic methodology, to assess their applicability in the retrofitting of existing buildings

Chlorhexidine delivery system from titanium/polybenzyl acrylate coating: evaluation of cytotoxicity and early bacterial adhesion

Objectives: The formation of biofilms on titanium dental implants is one of the main causes of failure of these devices. Streptococci are considered early colonizers that alter local environment favouring growing conditions for other colonizers. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is so far the most effective antimicrobial treatment against a wide variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms as well as fungi. This study was designed to develop a CHX delivery system appropriate for healing caps and abutments, with suitable drug release rate, effective as antimicrobial agent, and free of cytotoxic effects. Methods: Polybenzyl acrylate (PBA) coatings with and without CHX (Ti/PBA and Ti/PBA-CHX, respectively) and different drug loads (0.35, 0.70, and 1.40%, w/w) were assayed. The cytotoxic effect of CHX released from the different substrates on UMR106 cells was tested by alkaline phosphatase specific activity (ALP), and microscopic evaluation of the cells. Noncytotoxic drug load (0.35%, w/w) was selected to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of the system using a microbial consortium of Streptococcus species. Results: The kinetic profile of CHX delivered by Ti/PBA-CHX showed an initial fast release rate followed by a monotonic increase of delivered mass over 48 h. The number of attached bacteria decreased in the following order: Ti > Ti/PBA > Ti/PBA-0.35. Conclusions: PBA-0.35 coating is effective to inhibit the adhesion of early colonizers on Ti without any cytotoxic effect on UMR-106 cells

Chlorhexidine delivery system from titanium/polybenzyl acrylate coating: Evaluation of cytotoxicity and early bacterial adhesion

Objectives: The formation of biofilms on titanium dental implants is one of the main causes of failure of these devices. Streptococci are considered early colonizers that alter local environment favouring growing conditions for other colonizers. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is so far the most effective antimicrobial treatment against a wide variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms as well as fungi. This study was designed to develop a CHX delivery system appropriate for healing caps and abutments, with suitable drug release rate, effective as antimicrobial agent, and free of cytotoxic effects. Methods: Polybenzyl acrylate (PBA) coatings with and without CHX (Ti/PBA and Ti/PBA-CHX, respectively) and different drug loads (0.35, 0.70, and 1.40%, w/w) were assayed. The cytotoxic effect of CHX released from the different substrates on UMR106 cells was tested by alkaline phosphatase specific activity (ALP), and microscopic evaluation of the cells. Noncytotoxic drug load (0.35%, w/w) was selected to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of the system using a microbial consortium of Streptococcus species. Results: The kinetic profile of CHX delivered by Ti/PBA-CHX showed an initial fast release rate followed by a monotonic increase of delivered mass over 48 h. The number of attached bacteria decreased in the following order: Ti > Ti/PBA > Ti/PBA-0.35. Conclusions: PBA-0.35 coating is effective to inhibit the adhesion of early colonizers on Ti without any cytotoxic effect on UMR-106 cells.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Chlorhexidine delivery system from titanium/polybenzyl acrylate coating: Evaluation of cytotoxicity and early bacterial adhesion

Objectives: The formation of biofilms on titanium dental implants is one of the main causes of failure of these devices. Streptococci are considered early colonizers that alter local environment favouring growing conditions for other colonizers. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is so far the most effective antimicrobial treatment against a wide variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms as well as fungi. This study was designed to develop a CHX delivery system appropriate for healing caps and abutments, with suitable drug release rate, effective as antimicrobial agent, and free of cytotoxic effects. Methods: Polybenzyl acrylate (PBA) coatings with and without CHX (Ti/PBA and Ti/PBA-CHX, respectively) and different drug loads (0.35, 0.70, and 1.40%, w/w) were assayed. The cytotoxic effect of CHX released from the different substrates on UMR106 cells was tested by alkaline phosphatase specific activity (ALP), and microscopic evaluation of the cells. Noncytotoxic drug load (0.35%, w/w) was selected to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of the system using a microbial consortium of Streptococcus species. Results: The kinetic profile of CHX delivered by Ti/PBA-CHX showed an initial fast release rate followed by a monotonic increase of delivered mass over 48 h. The number of attached bacteria decreased in the following order: Ti > Ti/PBA > Ti/PBA-0.35. Conclusions: PBA-0.35 coating is effective to inhibit the adhesion of early colonizers on Ti without any cytotoxic effect on UMR-106 cells.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Chlorhexidine delivery system from titanium/polybenzyl acrylate coating: Evaluation of cytotoxicity and early bacterial adhesion

Objectives: The formation of biofilms on titanium dental implants is one of the main causes of failure of these devices. Streptococci are considered early colonizers that alter local environment favouring growing conditions for other colonizers. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is so far the most effective antimicrobial treatment against a wide variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms as well as fungi. This study was designed to develop a CHX delivery system appropriate for healing caps and abutments, with suitable drug release rate, effective as antimicrobial agent, and free of cytotoxic effects. Methods: Polybenzyl acrylate (PBA) coatings with and without CHX (Ti/PBA and Ti/PBA-CHX, respectively) and different drug loads (0.35, 0.70, and 1.40%, w/w) were assayed. The cytotoxic effect of CHX released from the different substrates on UMR106 cells was tested by alkaline phosphatase specific activity (ALP), and microscopic evaluation of the cells. Noncytotoxic drug load (0.35%, w/w) was selected to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of the system using a microbial consortium of Streptococcus species. Results: The kinetic profile of CHX delivered by Ti/PBA-CHX showed an initial fast release rate followed by a monotonic increase of delivered mass over 48 h. The number of attached bacteria decreased in the following order: Ti > Ti/PBA > Ti/PBA-0.35. Conclusions: PBA-0.35 coating is effective to inhibit the adhesion of early colonizers on Ti without any cytotoxic effect on UMR-106 cells.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Low-cost and effective fabrication of biocompatible nanofibers from silk and cellulose-rich materials

Here, we show the production of nanofibrous mats with controlled mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility by combining fibroin with pure cellulose and cellulose-rich parsley powder agro-waste. To this end, trifluoroacetic acid was used as a common solvent for all of the involved biomaterials, achieving highly homogeneous blends that were suitable for the electrospinning technique. Morphological analysis revealed that the electrospun composite nanofibers were well-defined and defect-free, with a diameter in the range of 65–100 nm. Mechanical investigations demonstrated that the fibrous mats exhibited an increased stiffness when pure fibroin was combined with cellulose, whereas they possessed an increased flexibility when the parsley waste was added to fibroin. Lastly, the produced mats were highly biocompatible, as demonstrated by the promoted proliferation of fibroblast cells. The characteristics of the hybrid fibroin–cellulose nanofibers, in terms of nanoscale topography, mechanical propertie..

Could, would, should: theory of mind and deontic reasoning in Tongan children

This study examined the developmental profiles of children's social reasoning about individual agentive and deontic concerns. Tongan children (N = 140, 47.9% male), aged 4–8 years, were given a set of mentalistic (standard theory-of-mind) and deontic reasoning tasks. On average, children found diverse desires, knowledge access, hidden emotion, and belief emotion easier than the false-belief and diverse belief tasks. Tongan children were sensitive to social norms governing behavior, and this information was recruited for predicting behavior in a false-belief task when embedded in a socially normative context. We discuss the potential for cultural mandates to shape children's social understanding and the impact of culture on our theoretical framing of children's development