Enzyme-induced Formation of ß-Lactoglobulin Fibrils by AspN Endoproteinase

This paper describes a low temperature, enzymatic route to induce fibrillar structures in a protein solution. The route comprises two steps. First, ß-lactoglobulin was hydrolyzed into peptides at pH 8 and 37°C with the enzyme AspN endoproteinase, which resulted in the formation of random aggregates. After hydrolysis, the pH was lowered to 2. As a result, long fibrillar aggregates were formed which was observed using transmission electron microscopy and Thioflavin T fluorescence measurements

interfacial mass transfer by controlled multilayer disassembly

We demonstrated the one-pot disassembly of self-propagating molecular assemblies (SPMAs) by ligand exchange and the subsequent covalent binding of the molecular components to other surfaces

Composition and teaching quality characteristics in schools for secondary education:Results from secondary analyses on the Dutch OECD-TALIS 2013 data

The current study presents the results of secondary analyses on the Dutch data in the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) from the OECD. Using multi-level regression analyses, job satisfaction, teaching quality characteristics as well as need for professional development are investigated in schools that vary according to composition. The results show that teachers in schools with relatively large percentages of students from low socio-economic backgrounds are less satisfied with their profession, they show lower levels of self-efficacy and less positive student-teacher relationships. In schools with relatively large percentages of students who have a different home language than the language of instruction, the results show no relationships with job satisfaction and the educational quality characteristics. The results also show that teachers in schools with low SES pupils and pupils with different home languages have more need for professional development in the area of diversity and this is especially true for beginning teachers. The study ends with recommendations for future research and educational practice.</p

Surface-confined core–shell structures based on gold nanoparticles and metal–organic networks

A gold nanoparticle platform enhances the optical properties and order in a metal–organic network (MON)

Investigation on the influence of pre-treatments on drying behaviour of broccoli by MRI experiments

Abstract: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows the monitoring of internal moisture content of food products during drying non-destructively. In an experimental set-up with continuous and controlled hot air supply, the internal moisture distribution of broccoli with different pre-treatments are measured during drying. Moisture distribution, drying rate and shrinkage are compared and analyzed quantitatively. MRI results indicated that for fresh broccoli stalks the moisture content in the core of the sample increased after some hours of drying. With pre-treatments as peeling, blanching or freezing the moisture transport barrier in the skin of the broccoli sample was reduced. Shrinkage was uniform for most of the pre-treated samples and the moisture increment in the core did not occur. It was also found that with these pre-treatments progress of drying enhanced significantly. Therefore, from an drying efficiency and economic point of view, pre-treatments prior to drying offer important opportunities. Keywords: MRI, hot air drying, broccoli stalk, increased moisture content, pre-treatment

Mesh-related complications and recurrence after ventral mesh rectopexy with synthetic versus biologic mesh:a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Ventral mesh rectopexy (VMR) is a widely accepted surgical treatment for rectal prolapse. Both synthetic and biologic mesh are used. No consensus exists on the preferred type of mesh material. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to establish an overview of the current literature on mesh-related complications and recurrence after VMR with synthetic or biologic mesh to aid evidence-based decision making in preferred mesh material. METHODS: A systematic search of the electronic databases of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane was performed (from inception until September 2020). Studies evaluating patients who underwent VMR with synthetic or biologic mesh were eligible. The MINORS score was used for quality assessment. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies were eligible after qualitative assessment. Eleven studies reported on mesh-related complications including 4001 patients treated with synthetic mesh and 762 treated with biologic mesh. The incidence of mesh-related complications ranged between 0 and 2.4% after synthetic versus 0–0.7% after biologic VMR. Synthetic mesh studies showed a pooled incidence of mesh-related complications of 1.0% (95% CI 0.5–1.7). Data of biologic mesh studies could not be pooled. Twenty-nine studies reported on the risk of recurrence in 2371 synthetic mesh patients and 602 biologic mesh patients. The risk of recurrence varied between 1.1 and 18.8% for synthetic VMR versus 0–15.4% for biologic VMR. Cumulative incidence of recurrence was found to be 6.1% (95% CI 4.3–8.1) and 5.8% (95% CI 2.9–9.6), respectively. The clinical and statistical heterogeneity was high. CONCLUSIONS: No definitive conclusions on preferred mesh type can be made due to the quality of the included studies with high heterogeneity amongst them