An attributional Life Cycle Assessment application experience to highlight environmental hotspots in the production of foamy polylactic acid trays for fresh-food packaging usage

Food packaging systems mainly serve to contain and protect foods during their shelf-lives. However, it is well known that a package is responsible for several environmental impacts associated with its entire life-cycle. Therefore, package design should be developed taking into account not only cost, food shelf life and safety, as well as user-friendliness, but also environmental sustainability. To address and improve this latter issue, environmental evaluation methodologies need to be applied: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one amongst them, and can be considered a valid tool for this purpose. Indeed, it has been long applied in the food packaging field to highlight both environmental hotspots and improvement potentials for more eco-friendly products.In this context, this paper reports upon an LCA application experience in the production of foamy Polylactic Acid (PLA) trays for fresh-food packaging applications.The study highlighted that the highest environmental impacts come from the production and transport of the granules, so remarking the need to search for alternative biopolymers. In this regard, the results of this study will form the base for another one regarding the assessment of second-generation PIA granules, namely those produced by processing both wastes and wastewaters from starchy crop cultivation systems and processing plants. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Poly(Alkylene 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate) polyesters: A new class of bio-based high-performance polymers for sustainable packaging

In the present study, 100% bio-based polyesters of 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid were synthesized via two-stage melt polycondensation using glycols containing 3 to 6 methylene groups. The so-prepared samples were characterised from the molecular point of view and processed into free-standing thin films. Afterward, both the purified powders and the films were subjected to structural and thermal characterisation. In the case of thin films, mechanical response and barrier properties to O2 and CO2 were also evaluated. From the results obtained, it emerged that the length of glycolic sub-units is an effective tool to modulate the chain mobility and, in turn, the kind and amount of ordered phases developed in the samples. In addition to the usual amorphous and 3D crystalline phases, in all the samples investigated it was possible to evidence a further phase characterised by a lower degree of order (mesophase) than the crystalline one, whose amount is strictly related to the glycol sub-unit length. The relative fraction of all these phases is responsible for the different mechanical and barrier performances. Last, but not least, a comparison between thiophene-based homopolymers and their furan-based homologues was carried out

Discrete populations of isotype-switched memory B lymphocytes are maintained in murine spleen and bone marrow

At present, it is not clear how memory B lymphocytes are maintained over time, and whether only as circulating cells or also residing in particular tissues. Here we describe distinct populations of isotype-switched memory B lymphocytes (Bsm) of murine spleen and bone marrow, identified according to individual transcriptional signature and B cell receptor repertoire. A population of marginal zone-like cells is located exclusively in the spleen, while a population of quiescent Bsm is found only in the bone marrow. Three further resident populations, present in spleen and bone marrow, represent transitional and follicular B cells and B1 cells, respectively. A population representing 10-20% of spleen and bone marrow memory B cells is the only one qualifying as circulating. In the bone marrow, all cells individually dock onto VCAM1+ stromal cells and, reminiscent of resident memory T and plasma cells, are void of activation, proliferation and mobility

Radiation-induced skin injury in the animal model of scleroderma: implications for post-radiotherapy fibrosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Radiation therapy is generally contraindicated for cancer patients with collagen vascular diseases (CVD) such as scleroderma due to an increased risk of fibrosis. The tight skin (TSK) mouse has skin which, in some respects, mimics that of patients with scleroderma. The skin radiation response of TSK mice has not been previously reported. If TSK mice are shown to have radiation sensitive skin, they may prove to be a useful model to examine the mechanisms underlying skin radiation injury, protection, mitigation and treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The hind limbs of TSK and parental control C57BL/6 mice received a radiation exposure sufficient to cause approximately the same level of acute injury. Endpoints included skin damage scored using a non-linear, semi-quantitative scale and tissue fibrosis assessed by measuring passive leg extension. In addition, TGF-β1 cytokine levels were measured monthly in skin tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Contrary to our expectations, TSK mice were more resistant (i.e. 20%) to radiation than parental control mice. Although acute skin reactions were similar in both mouse strains, radiation injury in TSK mice continued to decrease with time such that several months after radiation there was significantly less skin damage and leg contraction compared to C57BL/6 mice (p < 0.05). Consistent with the expected association of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) with late tissue injury, levels of the cytokine were significantly higher in the skin of the C57BL/6 mouse compared to TSK mouse at all time points (p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>TSK mice are not recommended as a model of scleroderma involving radiation injury. The genetic and molecular basis for reduced radiation injury observed in TSK mice warrants further investigation particularly to identify mechanisms capable of reducing tissue fibrosis after radiation injury.</p

Effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of wild Mediterranean edible plant extracts

The recent interest in wild edible plants is associated with their health benefits, which are mainly due to their richness in antioxidant compounds, particularly phenolics. Nevertheless, some of these compounds are metabolized after ingestion, being transformed into metabolites frequently with lower antioxidant activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the digestive process on the total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of extracts from four wild edible plants used in the Mediterranean diet (Beta maritima L., Plantago major L., Oxalis pes-caprae L. and Scolymus hispanicus L.). HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that S. hispanicus is characterized by the presence of caffeoylquinic acids, dicaffeoylquinic acids and flavonol derivatives, P. major by high amounts of verbascoside, B. maritima possesses 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, quercetin derivatives and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and O. pes-caprae extract contains hydroxycinnamic acids and flavone derivatives. Total phenolic contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu assay, and antioxidant activity by the ABTS, DPPH, ORAC and FRAP assays. Phenolic contents of P. major and S. hispanicus extracts were not affected by digestion, but they significantly decreased in B. maritima after both phases of digestion process and in O. pes-caprae after the gastric phase. The antioxidant activity results varied with the extract and the method used to evaluate the activity. Results showed that P. major extract has the highest total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity, with considerable values even after digestion, reinforcing the health benefits of this species.European Union (FEDER funds through COMPETE)European Union (EU)European Union (FEDER)European Union (EU)Programa de Cooperacion Interreg V-A Espana - Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020 [0377_IBERPHENOL_6_E]project INTERREG - MD. Net: When Brand Meets PeopleFCT Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technolog

The absence of MyD88 has no effect on the induction of alternatively activated macrophage during Fasciola hepatica infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alternatively activated macrophages (AAMϕ) play important roles in allergies and responses to parasitic infections. However, whether signaling through toll-like receptors (TLRs) plays any role in AAMϕ induction when young <it>Fasciola hepatica </it>penetrates the liver capsule and migrates through the liver tissue is still unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The data show that the lack of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) has no effect on the AAMϕ derived from the bone marrow (BMMϕ) <it>in vitro </it>and does not impair the mRNA expression of arginase-1, resistin-like molecule (RELMα), and Ym1 in BMMϕs. The Th2 cytokine production bias in splenocytes was not significantly altered in <it>F. hepatica</it>-infected mice in the absence of MyD88 <it>in vitro </it>and in the pleural cavity lavage <it>in vivo</it>. In addition, MyD88-deficiency has no effect on the arginase production of the <it>F. hepatica </it>elicited macrophages (Fe Mϕs), production of RELMα and Ym1 proteins and mRNA expression of Ym1 and RELMα of macrophages in the peritoneal cavity 6 weeks post <it>F. hepatica </it>infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The absence of MyD88 has no effect on presence of AAMϕ 6 weeks post <it>F. hepatica </it>infection.</p

EAACI position paper on occupational rhinitis

The present document is the result of a consensus reached by a panel of experts from European and non-European countries on Occupational Rhinitis (OR), a disease of emerging relevance which has received little attention in comparison to occupational asthma. The document covers the main items of OR including epidemiology, diagnosis, management, socio-economic impact, preventive strategies and medicolegal issues. An operational definition and classification of OR tailored on that of occupational asthma, as well as a diagnostic algorithm based on steps allowing for different levels of diagnostic evidence are proposed. The needs for future research are pointed out. Key messages are issued for each item