Effect of inclusion complex formation and mechanoactivation on the structure and rheological behavior of starch-oleic acid mixtures.

In the present work, for the first time, mechanical activation implemented in a rotor-stator device (RSD) has been used to enhance the formation of the amylоse-fatty acid complex in gelatinized starch at a moderate temperature (40 °C) using oleic acid (ОА) as a model guest compound. Mechanical activation was found to cause an increase in the complexing index from 10 to 30 % for non-activated mixtures to 83-92 %. The study of aqueous and dried starch-OA mixtures using optical and AFM microscopy and dynamic light scattering methods revealed a uniform distribution of amylose-OA complex particles with a size of 125-260 nm in the starch matrix.

Structure and properties of starch - BaSO composite obtained using mechanical activation techniques.

The aim of this study is to obtain and characterize starch films structurally modified by in situ precipitation of BaSO combined with mechanical activation of casting dispersion in a rotor-stator device. By the rheological method, it was found that the modification causes a decrease in the ability of casting dispersions to structure over time. Composite films with a filler content of 0 %-15 % (w/w) were characterized using optical and SEM microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, and tensile and moisture resistance testing data.

Prevalence and Diversity of Haemotropic Species in Cats and Their Ectoparasites (Fleas and Ticks).

spp. pathogens frequently cause chronic and acute diseases in cats. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence and genetic diversity of spp.

The influence of the combined impact of shear stress and cavitation on the structure and properties of starch-natural rubber composite.

In this article, we examined a high-performance, environmentally friendly method for producing composite films based on starch and natural rubber latex (NR). To increase the compatibility of the components, the casting dispersions were subjected to short-term (10 s) mechanical activation in a rotor-stator device. Using the rotational viscosimetry method, it was found that mechanical activation reduces the structuring degree and the effective viscosity of the casting dispersions.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum in European bison (Bison bonasus) and their ticks from Lithuania and Poland.

The increasing population of European bison (Bison bonasus) can contribute to the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens. The aim of the present study was to assess the presence of A. phagocytophilum infection in European bison tissues as well as ticks removed from European bison in Lithuania and Poland.

First Molecular Detection of and in European Bison ().

bacteria infect the erythrocytes and endothelial cells of mammalians. The spread of the infection occurs mainly via bloodsucking arthropod vectors. Studies on infection in European bison, the largest wild ruminant in Europe, are lacking.

Infections in Cats and Cat Fleas in Lithuania.

are vector-borne parasitic bacteria that cause zoonotic infections in humans. One of the most common infections is cat-scratch disease caused by and . Cats are the major reservoir for these two species of bacteria, while cat fleas are vectors for the transmission of infection agents among cats.

Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in European bison (Bison bonasus) and their ticks.

Babesia spp. are tick-borne haemoparasites that infect a wide range of domestic and wild mammals. Free-ranging ungulates are considered to be important reservoir hosts of Babesia parasites.

Effect of mechanical activation on starch crosslinking with citric acid.

The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of mechanical activation in a rotor-stator device on starch crosslinking with citric acid and the properties of the films obtained by the casting method. Two methods of preparation of the casting hydrogels were used: involving the introduction of chemical reagents before and after the mechanical activation. The films from the initial and mechanically activated hydrogels were characterized using optical and AFM microscopy, X-ray diffraction and FTIR-spectroscopy.

Dual-Mode Solution Plasma Processing for the Production of Chitosan/Ag Composites with the Antibacterial Effect.

The development of novel biocompatible and biodegradable materials for medical applications has been drawing significant interest in the scientific community for years. Particularly, chitosan loaded with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has a strong antimicrobial potential and could be applied, for example, as wound dressing material. In this work, chitosan/Ag NP composites were produced utilizing a single-step plasma-solution process, which is simple and environmentally friendly.

Effect of composition and mechanoactivation on the properties of films based on starch and chitosans with high and low deacetylation.

The effect of composition and mechanoactivation in the rotor-stator device on the rheological and film-forming properties of casting blends based on corn starch and chitosans with high (HDC) and low (LDC) deacetylation degree was studied. Films were characterized using optical and atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, FTIR-spectroscopy and by tensile and moisture permeability testing data. An increase in chitosan content was found to result in the blends viscosity increase as well as the tensile strength, elongation and moisture permeability of films.

Bartonella washoensis infection in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) and their ectoparasites in Lithuania.

This is the first study to investigate the presence of Bartonella infections in different internal organs of red squirrels and their ectoparasites in Lithuania. A total of 39 roadkill red squirrels were collected. Squirrels were infested with Ixodes ricinus ticks (191) and Ceratophyllus sciurorum fleas (36).

Gelation in solutions of low deacetylated chitosan initiated by high shear stresses.

A new process of mechanically initiated formation of chitosan physical hydrogels in aqueous solution, without a cross-linking agent, was studied. Physical hydrogel is formed by mechanical activation of solutions of chitosan with a low deacetylation degree (58%) in situ in a rotor-stator device for 10 s. The formation of 3D gel structure has been proven by rotational viscometry and dynamic rheometry methods.

Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania.

Background: In Lithuania, the first case of canine subcutaneous dirofilariosis was recorded in 2010. Since then, an increasing number of cases of canine dirofilariosis have been documented in different veterinary clinics throughout the country. Human dirofilariosis was diagnosed in Lithuania for the first time in September 2011.

The influence of the combined impact of shear stress and cavitation on the structure and sorption properties of chitin.

In this work, we studied the structural, morphological and chemical transformations in α- chitin, caused by its mechanical activation in the form of an aqueous suspension in the rotor-stator device for 5-30 s. Mechanically activated chitin (MA-chitin) was characterized using optical and electron scanning microscopy, N adsorption/desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction and FTIR-spectroscopy. It was established that the specific surface area, porosity and the deacetylation degree of chitin increase with increasing processing time, and the decrease in crystallinity and reducing the packing density of macromolecular chains does not correlate with this indicator due to the development of recrystallization.

Adsorption removal of anionic dyes from aqueous solutions by chitosan nanoparticles deposited on the fibrous carrier.

The synthesis, characterization and environmental application of chitosan based material stable in acidic media for adsorption of anionic dyes were investigated. The adsorption material is chitosan nanoparticles immobilized on a fibrous carrier (CPF). The choice of optimal conditions for the preparation of chitosan particles and their immobilization on a chemically activated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber is justified.

Infections with Bartonella spp. in free-ranging cervids and deer keds (Lipoptena cervi) in Norway.

Bartonella bacteria are arthropod-borne and can cause long-term bacteremia in humans and animals. The predominant arthropod vectors and the mode of transmission for many novel Bartonella species remain elusive or essentially unstudied. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Bartonella spp.

Prevalence and diversity of Rickettsia species in ectoparasites collected from small rodents in Lithuania.

Background: Rickettsiae are emerging pathogens causing public health problems in many countries around the world. Rickettsia spp. are found in association with a wide range of arthropods which feed on different species of animals.

Influence of the composition and high shear stresses on the structure and properties of hybrid materials based on starch and synthetic copolymer.

The method of mechanical activation in the rotor-stator device was used to combine the starch hydrogel and the latex of the synthetic copolymer. The compatibility of the components was found to improve consistently by the preliminary mechanoactivation of the starch gel and the joint activation of the mixturs. The joint activation was shown to promote the crystallization of starch and the amorphous phase ordering of the composite.

In situ coupling of chitosan onto polypropylene foils by an Atmospheric Pressure Air Glow Discharge with a liquid cathode.

Atmospheric air plasma treatment of chitosan solutions leads to degradation of chitosan molecules by OH radicals and is accompanied by a predominant cleavage of glycosidic linkages and by a decrease of the molecular weight. The degradation proceeds via first order kinetics with the rate constant of (5.73±0.

The first detection of species of Babesia Starcovici, 1893 in moose, Alces alces (Linnaeus), in Norway.

Babesiosis is an emerging zoonotic disease and various wildlife species are reservoir hosts for zoonotic species of Babesia Starcovici, 1893. The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence and prevalence of Babesia spp. in moose Alces alces (Linnaeus) in two regions of Norway.

Bartonella infection in small mammals and their ectoparasites in Lithuania.

The Bartonella pathogen is an emerging zoonotic agent. Epidemiological studies worldwide have demonstrated that small mammals are reservoir hosts of Bartonella spp. and their ectoparasites are potential vectors.

Fleas (Siphonaptera) in the Nests of Dormice (Gliridae: Rodentia) in Lithuania.

Negative effects of flea (Siphonaptera) parasitism on the host may be expressed in different ways. The aim of this study was to assess distribution of the flea fauna in nests of dormice in Lithuania. Nests of Glis glis (L.

[Low-intensive laser irradiation in combined treatment of lower limbs atherosclerotic lesions].

Seventy-one subjects entered this study. The control group consisted of 12 healthy subjects, the comparative group included 15 patients who received standard therapy of vascular diseases but without physiotherapy. The study group consisted of 44 patients whose treatment was supplemented with laser irradiation.