Bio-Based and Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for a Circular Economy.

Nowadays, plastic contamination worldwide is a concerning reality that can be addressed with appropriate society education as well as looking for innovative polymeric alternatives based on the reuse of waste and recycling with a circular economy point of view, thus taking into consideration that a future world without plastic is quite impossible to conceive. In this regard, in this review, we focus on sustainable polymeric materials, biodegradable and bio-based polymers, additives, and micro/nanoparticles to be used to obtain new environmentally friendly polymeric-based materials. Although biodegradable polymers possess poorer overall properties than traditional ones, they have gained a huge interest in many industrial sectors due to their inherent biodegradability in natural environments.

As We Were and As We Should Be, Combined Exercise Training in Adults With Schizophrenia: CORTEX-SP Study Part II.

Objective: To determine the changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep quality following a supervised combined exercise (EX) program compared to a Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) and to analyze the relationship between the differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and HRQoL domains in people with schizophrenia (SZ).

Methods: The SZ (n = 112, 41.3 ± 10.

The Structural Dispersity of Oligoethylene Glycol-Containing Polymer Brushes Determines Their Interfacial Properties.

Ought to their bioinert properties and facile synthesis, poly[(oligoethylene glycol)methacrylate]s (POEGMAs) have been raised as attractive alternatives to poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) in an array of (bio)material applications, especially when they are applied as polymer brush coatings. However, commercially available OEG-methacrylate (macro)monomers feature a broad distribution of OEG lengths, thus generating structurally polydisperse POEGMAs when polymerized through reversible deactivation radical polymerization. Here, we demonstrate that the interfacial physicochemical properties of POEGMA brushes are significantly affected by their structural dispersity, , the degree of heterogeneity in the length of side OEG segments.

Polymer Brushes on Nanoparticles for Controlling the Interaction with Protein-Rich Physiological Media.

The interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with biological environments triggers the formation of a protein corona (PC), which significantly influences their behavior . This review explores the evolving understanding of PC formation, focusing on the opportunity for decreasing or suppressing protein-NP interactions by macromolecular engineering of NP shells. The functionalization of NPs with a dense, hydrated polymer brush shell is a powerful strategy for imparting stealth properties in order to elude recognition by the immune system.

Moderators of functional improvement after integrative cognitive remediation in schizophrenia: Toward a personalized treatment approach.

Cognitive remediation is an effective intervention for improving functional outcome in schizophrenia. However, the factors that moderate this improvement are still poorly understood. The study aimed to identify moderators of functional outcome improvement after integrative cognitive remediation (REHACOP) in schizophrenia.

Delta variant neutralizing antibody response following maternal COVID-19 vaccination.

The Delta pandemic wave saw increased maternal morbidity and mortality compared to prior viral strains. COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy elicits detectable levels of neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 wild type and SARS-CoV-2 Delta variants in both maternal and neonatal samples at delivery. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of vaccination which confers an immunological response against newer, and potentially more dangerous, viral variants.

Use of Raw Peach Gum as a Sustainable Additive for the Development of Water-Sensitive and Biodegradable Thermoplastic Starch Films.

In this study, formulations of thermoplastic starch (TPS) with 5, 10, and 15 parts per hundred resin (phr) of raw peach gum (PG) were prepared by melt extrusion followed by injection molding to obtain standard specimens for characterization. In addition, biodegradable films were developed by compression molding. It was determined that TPS with 5 phr and 10 phr of PG presented similar mechanical behavior to pure TPS after the processing.

Analyzing structural and functional brain changes related to an integrative cognitive remediation program for schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial.

Cognitive remediation has been shown to improve cognition in schizophrenia, but little is known about the specific functional and structural brain changes related to the implementation of an integrative cognitive remediation program. This study analyzed the functional and structural brain changes identified after implementing an integrative cognitive remediation program, REHACOP, in schizophrenia. The program combined cognitive remediation, social cognitive training, and functional and social skills training.

Effect of Epoxidized and Maleinized Corn Oil on Properties of Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Blend.

The present work analyzes the influence of modified, epoxidized and maleinized corn oil as a plasticizing and/or compatibilizing agent in the PLA-PHB blend (75% PLA and 25% PHB wt.%). The chemical modification processes of corn oil were successfully carried out and different quantities were used, between 0 and 10% wt.

Mechanical, Dynamic-Mechanical, Thermal and Decomposition Behavior of 3D-Printed PLA Reinforced with CaCO Fillers from Natural Resources.

This study evaluates the effect of CaCO fillers extracted from waste eggshells on 3D-printed PLA performance. Samples of neat PLA and PLA reinforced with CaCO fillers embedded with different wt.% were prepared using an FDM (fused deposition modeling) technology.

Evaluation of Metabolic Changes in Acute Intermittent Porphyria Patients by Targeted Metabolomics.

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an inherited rare hepatic disorder due to mutations within the hydroxymethylbilane gene. AIP patients with active disease overproduce aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG) in the liver which are exported inducing severe neurological attacks. Different hepatic metabolic abnormalities have been described to be associated with this condition.

Cognitive, creative, functional, and clinical symptom improvements in schizophrenia after an integrative cognitive remediation program: a randomized controlled trial.

This study analyzed the effectiveness of an integrative cognitive remediation program (REHACOP) in improving neurocognition, social cognition, creativity, functional outcome, and clinical symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. In addition, possible mediators predicting improvement in functional outcomes were explored. The program combined cognitive remediation with social cognitive training and social and functional skill training over 20 weeks.

Films Based on Thermoplastic Starch Blended with Pine Resin Derivatives for Food Packaging.

Completely biobased and biodegradable thermoplastic starch (TPS) based materials with a tunable performance were prepared for food packaging applications. Five blends were prepared by blending TPS with 10 wt%. of different pine resins derivatives: gum rosin (GR), disproportionated gum rosin (RD), maleic anhydride-modified gum rosin (CM), pentaerythritol ester of gum rosin (LF), and glycerol ester of gum rosin (UG).

Films Based on Mater-Bi Compatibilized with Pine Resin Derivatives: Optical, Barrier, and Disintegration Properties.

Mater-Bi NF866 (MB) was blended with gum rosin and two pentaerythritol esters of gum rosin (labeled as LF and UT), as additives, to produce biobased and compostable films for food packaging or agricultural mulch films. The films were prepared by blending MB with 5, 10, and 15 wt.% of each additive.

The impact of creativity on functional outcome in schizophrenia: a mediational model.

Functional impairment remains one of the most challenging issues for treatment in schizophrenia. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the negative impact of symptoms excluding variables that could positively impact functional outcome, such as creativity, which is considered an adaptive capacity for real-life problem-solving. This study analyzed the predictive role of creativity on functional outcome in 96 patients with schizophrenia through a mediational model, including sociodemographic, clinical, neurocognitive, and social cognitive variables.

Improvement of PBAT Processability and Mechanical Performance by Blending with Pine Resin Derivatives for Injection Moulding Rigid Packaging with Enhanced Hydrophobicity.

Polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) is a biodegradable polymer with good features for packaging applications. However, the mechanical performance and high prices of PBAT limit its current usage at the commercial level. To improve the properties and reduce the cost of PBAT, pine resin derivatives, gum rosin (GR) and pentaerythritol ester of GR (UT), were proposed as sustainable additives.

Neurocognitive, social cognitive, and clinical predictors of creativity in schizophrenia.

Background: Creativity is considered an essential human accomplishment and a key component for daily life problem solving. It has been suggested that impairment in working memory, cognitive flexibility, and theory of mind could lead to lower creativity in schizophrenia. Additionally, other neurocognitive and social cognitive domains, as well as clinical symptoms could play a role in this relationship.

Brain White Matter Correlates of Creativity in Schizophrenia: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study.

The relationship between creativity and psychopathology has been a controversial research topic for decades. Specifically, it has been shown that people with schizophrenia have an impairment in creative performance. However, little is known about the brain correlates underlying this impairment.

New Materials for 3D-Printing Based on Polycaprolactone with Gum Rosin and Beeswax as Additives.

In this work, different materials for three-dimensional (3D)-printing were studied, which based on polycaprolactone with two natural additives, gum rosin, and beeswax. During the 3D-printing process, the bed and extrusion temperatures of each formulation were established. After, the obtained materials were characterized by mechanical, thermal, and structural properties.

Prophylactic mesh can be used safely in the prevention of incisional hernia after bilateral subcostal laparotomies.

Background: The use of prophylactic mesh to prevent incisional hernia is becoming increasingly common in midline laparotomies and colostomies. The incidence of incisional hernia after subcostal laparotomies is lower than after midline incisions. Nevertheless, the treatment of subcostal incisional hernia is considered to be more complex.

Randomized controlled trial of the use of a large-pore polypropylene mesh to prevent incisional hernia in colorectal surgery.

Objective: To reduce the incidence of incisional hernia (IH) in colorectal surgery by implanting a mesh on the overlay position.

Background: The incidence of IH in colorectal surgery may be as high as 40%. IH causes severe health and cosmetic problems, and its repair increases health care costs.

Survival of Oospores of Phytophthora capsici in Soil.

This study assessed survival of Phytophthora capsici oospores in soil in Illinois. Soils differing in texture and other characteristics were collected from four Illinois Counties (Champaign, Gallatin, Madison, and Tazewell), equilibrated to -0.3 MPa, and infested with oospores of P.

[Hepatic myelolipoma. Diagnosis and treatment].

Myelolipoma is a very uncommon tumor and is extremely rare in the liver. Patients are usually asymptomatic and preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. We report a new case of hepatic myelolipoma and review all the cases previously reported in the literature.

Quantification of Phytophthora capsici Oospores in Soil by Sieving-Centrifugation and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction.

A procedure was developed to quantify Phytophthora capsici oospores in soil by combining a sieving-centrifugation method and a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assay. Five soil samples representing three different soil textures were infested with oospores of P. capsici to produce 10, 10, 10, 10, or 10 spores per 10 g of air-dried soil.