Water-Polymer Slide Electrification in Polyethylene Films Coated with Amphiphilic Compounds and Its Connection to Surface Properties Dependent on Water-Polymer Interactions.

Slide electrification experiments were performed on low-density polyethylene films () and sprayed with five amphiphilic compounds, including antistatic and slip additives. Drops of aqueous solutions were delivered on the films and after sliding spontaneously acquired a net electrical charge (), which is dependent on the pH and ionic strength. The slide electrification was detected in pristine films and those with five additives.

Novel approach over template molecule elimination in molecularly imprinted polymers by using heat activated persulfate.

This study proposes a new alternative for template removal from molecularly imprinted polymers by heat activated persulfate. It is known that trace amounts of template molecule remains in the polymer network after extraction by current methodologies leading to bleeding and incomplete removal of template which could compromise final determination of target analytes especially in trace analysis. A previously developed molecularly imprinted polymer specially designed for Coenzyme Q (CoQ) extraction was employed as a model to test this template elimination approach.

Diffusion Coefficients of Variable-Size Amphiphilic Additives in a Glass-Forming Polyethylene Matrix.

Diffusion of additives in polymers is an important issue in the plastics industry since migratory-type molecules are widely used to tune the properties of polymeric composites. Predicting the diffusional behavior of new additives can minimize the need for repetitive experiments. This work presents molecular dynamics simulations at the microsecond time scale and uses the MARTINI force field to estimate self-diffusion coefficients, , of six monounsaturated amides and their analogs carboxylic acids in polyethylene matrices (PE, MW = 5600 Da).

Development of carbohydrate functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for aminoglycosides magnetic solid phase extraction.

Magnetic nanoparticles decorated with d-galactose and galactitol (FeO@SiN-galactose and FeO@SiN-galactitol) were synthesized and employed as sorbent in a magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) procedure prior the analysis of aminoglycosides (AGs) in honey samples by LC-MS/MS. AGs are broad spectrum antibiotics, characterized by aminosugars, widespread used in therapeutic and veterinary applications. AGs can be found in the environment and food of animal origin.

Game-changing restraint of Ros-damaged phenylalanine, upon tumor metastasis.

An abrupt increase in metastatic growth as a consequence of the removal of primary tumors suggests that the concomitant resistance (CR) phenomenon might occur in human cancer. CR occurs in murine tumors and ROS-damaged phenylalanine, meta-tyrosine (m-Tyr), was proposed as the serum anti-tumor factor primarily responsible for CR. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that CR happens in different experimental human solid tumors (prostate, lung anaplastic, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma).

Coenzyme Q in pregnant women and rats with intrahepatic cholestasis.

Background & Aims: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a high-risk liver disease given the eventual deleterious consequences that may occur in the foetus. It is accepted that the abnormal accumulation of hydrophobic bile acids in maternal serum are responsible for the disease development. Hydrophobic bile acids induce oxidative stress and apoptosis leading to the damage of the hepatic parenchyma and eventually extrahepatic tissues.

Lithocholic acid as a biomarker of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy during ursodeoxycholic acid treatment.

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) has important implications on fetal health. The biochemical parameter commonly used in the diagnosis of ICP is the determination of the concentration of total serum bile acids (TSBA). However, bile acid profile, especially lithocholic acid (LCA) analysis is a more sensitive and specific biomarker for differential diagnosis of this pathology and also could be an alternative to evaluate the efficiency of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for ICP treatment.