The Valorisation of Biochar Produced from Black Liquor Pyrolysis for the Development of CO Adsorbents.

The paper manufacturing process produces liquid and gaseous alternative fuels, as well as solid wastes. These can be subsequently treated through chemical processing, oxidation, and thermal activation, resulting in adsorbent materials with CO adsorption capacities. The valorisation of black liquor waste resulting from paper manufacturing was achieved through a catalytic pyrolysis process using two catalysts previously prepared in house (Cu-Zn-MCM-41 and Ni-SBA-16).

Phenolic Composition and Bioactivities of Invasive (Mill.) Swingle Leaf Extracts Obtained by Two-Step Sequential Extraction.

, a highly invasive species, contains valuable compounds in different plant parts, indicating great practical potential. This paper proposes the use of non-polar (-hexane) and polar (ethanol) solvents for the extraction of antioxidant compounds from (family Simaroubaceae) leaves in a sequential two-step process. Fresh and dried leaves were examined for their microstructure by scanning electron microscopy, and for color changes in the CIELAB color space co-ordinates.

In Vitro Screening of Ecotoxic and Cytotoxic Activities of Leaf Extract against Target and Non-Target Plant and Animal Cells.

, an invasive plant species, exhibits pharmacological properties, but also some allergic effects on humans. This study aimed to evaluate the potential toxicity of leaves, using a complex approach towards different organisms. The ecotoxic impact of a crude extract was investigated on seeds germination and brine shrimp lethality.

Relevance of amphiphilicity and helicity on the antibacterial action of a histatin 5-derived peptide.

Peptide dhvar4, derived from the active domain of our salivary peptide histatin 5, bears a Phe residue in the middle of its hydrophilic face when folded into an α-helix. We then synthesized an analog with this Phe replaced by Lys and two analogs preserving Phe but bearing two and three α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues to stabilize the helical structure. The aim of this design was to verify which of the two features is more favorable to the biological activity.

A Study of Hyaluronic Acid's Theoretical Reactivity and of Magnetic Nanoparticles Capped with Hyaluronic Acid.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has attracted much attention in tumor-targeted drug delivery due to its ability to specifically bind to the CD44 cellular receptor, which is widely expressed on cancer cells. We present HA-capped magnetic nanoparticles (HA-MNPs) obtained via the co-precipitation method, followed by the electrostatic adsorption of HA onto the nanoparticles' surfaces. A theoretical study carried out with the PM3 method evidenced a dipole moment of 3.

Influence of Convective and Vacuum-Type Drying on Quality, Microstructural, Antioxidant and Thermal Properties of Pretreated Mushrooms.

Freshly harvested mushrooms are subjected to rapid loss of quality due to the high moisture content and enzymatic activity. Drying time, quality characteristics, microstructural and thermal properties were studied in mushrooms ground to puree subjected to hot air drying (HAD), freeze drying (FD) and centrifugal vacuum drying (CVD). The influence of hot water blanching and UV-C pretreatments was additionally investigated.

Impact of Magnetite Nanoparticles Coated with Aspartic Acid on the Growth, Antioxidant Enzymes Activity and Chlorophyll Content of Maize.

In recent decades, magnetite nanoparticles received greater attention in nanobiotechnology due to wide applications. This study presents the influence of the oxidative stress caused by magnetite nanoparticles coated with aspartic acid (A-MNP) of 9.17 nm mean diameter size, on maize ( seedlings, in terms of growth, enzymatic activity and chlorophyll content as evaluated in exposed plant tissues.

Low-Molecular-Weight Synthetic Antioxidants: Classification, Pharmacological Profile, Effectiveness and Trends.

Mounting research has been performed and published on natural antioxidants, more so than on synthetic ones, as key molecules that control oxidative damage and its pathway to disease. Since the discovery of vitamins, various fully synthetic or natural-identical compounds have been developed as stable small molecules translated into constantly active and completely controlled products which are widely exploited in the food and pharmaceutical industries. There is currently a debate within the literature about their mechanism of action, bioavailability, safety and real benefit for human health.

Aspartic Acid Stabilized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications.

Aspartic acid stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles (A-IONPs) with globular shape and narrow size distribution were prepared by the co-precipitation method in aqueous medium. A quantum-mechanical approach to aspartic acid optimized structure displayed negative charged sites, relatively high dipole moment, and hydrophilicity, which recommended it for interaction with iron cations and surrounding water electrical dipoles. A-IONPs were characterized by TEM, XRD, ATR-FTIR, EDS, DSC, TG, DLS, NTA, and VSM techniques.

A Review of the Current Knowledge of Thermal Stability of Anthocyanins and Approaches to Their Stabilization to Heat.

Anthocyanins are colored valuable biocompounds, of which extraction increases globally, although functional applications are restrained by their limited environmental stability. Temperature is a critical parameter of food industrial processing that impacts on the food matrix, particularly affecting heat-sensitive compounds such as anthocyanins. Due to the notable scientific progress in the field of thermal stability of anthocyanins, an analytical and synthetic integration of published data is required.

Kinetic studies on the oxidative stabilization effect of red onion skins anthocyanins extract on parsley (Petroselinum crispum) seed oil.

Cold pressed parsley seed oil gained special interest for the development of new functional foods. Similar to other edible oils it needs protection against oxidation. The present study evaluated the protective effects of anthocyanins extracted from outer skins of red onion on parsley seed oil.

Conformational properties, membrane interaction, and antibacterial activity of the peptaibiotic chalciporin A: Multitechnique spectroscopic and biophysical investigations on the natural compound and labeled analogs.

In this work, an extensive set of spectroscopic and biophysical techniques (including FT-IR absorption, CD, 2D-NMR, fluorescence, and CW/PELDOR EPR) was used to study the conformational preferences, membrane interaction, and bioactivity properties of the naturally occurring synthetic 14-mer peptaibiotic chalciporin A, characterized by a relatively low (≈20%), uncommon proportion of the strongly helicogenic Aib residue. In addition to the unlabeled peptide, we gained in-depth information from the study of two labeled analogs, characterized by one or two residues of the helicogenic, nitroxyl radical-containing TOAC. All three compounds were prepared using the SPPS methodology, which was carefully modified in the course of the syntheses of TOAC-labeled analogs in view of the poorly reactive α-amino function of this very bulky residue and the specific requirements of its free-radical side chain.

Reliability of a decision-tree model in predicting occupational lead poisoning in a group of highly exposed workers.

Objective: This study aimed to provide the toxicological profile of some lead-exposed workers and obtain a predictive model for lead poisoning.

Methods: Data regarding external and absorbed exposure were collected from 585 subjects employed in ten metallurgical production departments. Airborne lead concentration, blood lead level (BLL), cumulative blood lead index (CBLI), urine delta-aminolevulinic acid (DALA), age, workplace/section, exposure period, and whether reported lead poisoning as occupational disease were examined using ANOVA, and, post-ANOVA, Pearson correlation matrix, PCA (principal component analysis), decision-tree modeling, and logistic modeling.

The effect of ultrasonic pretreatment and sample preparation on the extraction yield of antioxidant compounds and activity of black currant fruits.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of an ultrasonic pretreatment at different amplitudes and extraction times, on the content of antioxidant compounds (phenolics, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid) and total antioxidant capacity of black currant fruits. Additionally, the influence of sample preparation (frozen storage/drying) was evaluated. Extraction was performed in 60% ethanol with 0.

Solution synthesis, conformational analysis, and antimicrobial activity of three alamethicin F50/5 analogs bearing a trifluoroacetyl label.

We prepared, by solution-phase methods, and fully characterized three analogs of the membrane-active peptaibiotic alamethicin F50/5, bearing a single trifluoroacetyl (Tfa) label at the N-terminus, at position 9 (central region) or at position 19 (C-terminus), and with the three Gln at positions 7, 18, and 19 replaced by Glu(OMe) residues. To add the Tfa label at position 9 or 19, a γ-trifluoroacetylated α,γ-diaminobutyric acid (Dab) residue was incorporated as a replacement for the original Val(9) or Glu(OMe)(19) amino acid. We performed a detailed conformational analysis of the three analogs (using FT-IR absorption, CD, 2D-NMR, and X-ray diffraction), which clearly showed that Tfa labeling does not introduce any dramatic backbone modification in the predominantly α-helical structure of the parent peptaibiotic.

Conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction of anthocyanins from blackberry and sweet cherry cultivars.

Blackberry and sweet cherry are important plant foods rich in anthocyanins well-known for their pharmacological and antioxidant effects. The aim of the present paper was to comparatively investigate conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction procedures in order to isolate an enriched crude anthocyanin extract from blackberry (Thornfree cultivar) and sweet cherry (Black Gold cultivar). Hydroethanolic solution and acidified ethanol were used to conventionally extract anthocyanins by a discontinuous process at 4 degreeC for 2/ 24 hours.

Spectroscopically labeled peptaibiotics. Synthesis and properties of selected trichogin GA IV analogs bearing a side-chain-monofluorinated aromatic amino acid for (19) F-NMR analysis.

We prepared by solid-phase methods, chromatographically purified, and characterized three analogs of the ten-amino acid-residue, membrane-active, lipopeptaibiotic trichogin GA IV, each containing a single (4-fluorophenyl)alanine in position 3, 7, or 10, where it replaces the hydrophobic residue Leu(3) , Leu(7) , or Ile(10) , respectively. We incorporated the fluorine probe based on the observation that the (19) F-NMR technique has been extensively utilized to analyze peptidemembrane interactions in biological systems. A detailed conformational investigation in solution, including a membrane-mimetic environment, was performed on these compounds using FT-IR absorption, CD, and 2D-NMR, combined with molecular-dynamics calculations.

Spectroscopically labeled peptaibiotic analogs: the 4-nitrophenylalanine infrared absorption probe inserted at different positions into trichogin GA IV.

A set of three analogs of the 10-residue, membrane-active lipopeptaibiotic trichogin GA IV, labeled with the promising 4-nitrophenylalanine IR absorption probe for local polarity, was synthesized by the solid-phase methodology, chromatographically purified, and extensively characterized. A single residue modification was inserted near the N-terminus, in the central region, or at the C-terminus. A solution conformational analysis, carried out by FT-IR absorption, CD, and 2D-NMR combined with molecular dynamics calculations, indicates that the mono-labeled analogs maintain the overall helical properties of the parent compound.

Partial thioamide scan on the lipopeptaibiotic trichogin GA IV. Effects on folding and bioactivity.

Backbone modification is a common chemical tool to control the conformation of linear peptides and to explore potentially useful effects on their biochemical and biophysical properties. The thioamide, ψ[CS-NH], group is a nearly isosteric structural mimic of the amide (peptide) functionality. In this paper, we describe the solution synthesis, chemical characterization, preferred conformation, and membrane and biological activities of three, carefully selected, peptide analogues of the lipopeptaibiotic [Leu(11)-OMe] trichogin GA IV.

Gluten screening of several dietary supplements by immunochromatographic assay.

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic intestinal disorder of public health concern caused by gluten ingestion in sensitive individuals. Gluten is a protein found not only in gluten-containing food but also as normal component of drugs and dietary supplements. Detection of gluten in dietary supplements is a very important task required for establishing their gluten status, which is highly important for the safety of products consumed by CD and gluten-sensitive patients.

Synthesis and preliminary conformational analysis of TOAC spin-labeled analogues of the medium-length peptaibiotic tylopeptin B.

A set of analogues of the 14-residue peptaibol tylopeptin B, containing the stable free-radical 4-amino-1-oxyl-2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid (TOAC) at one or two selected positions, was synthesized by the solid-phase methodology. A solution conformational analysis performed by FTIR absorption and CD suggests that, in membrane-mimicking solvents, the labeled tylopeptin B analogues preserve the helical propensity of the parent peptide, with a preference for the α-helix or the 3(10) -helix type depending upon the nature of the solvent. In aqueous environment, the spin-labeled analogues present a higher content of helical conformation as a consequence of the strong helix promoter effect of the conformationally constrained TOAC residue.

Immunodetection of added glycomacropeptide in milk formulas and milk powders.

The present study aimed the detection of fraudulent manipulation of milk powder with a low cost component--whey powder, by applying the immunochromatographic assay to identify glycomacropeptide. Five commercial milk powder samples of various brands from the national market were analyzed: lactose enriched milk powder type 26, two whole milk powders, vitamin enriched milk powder and full cream milk powder. Our results showed additional whey (1-2%) in 60% of the selected samples after casein removal by precipitation with 20% trichloracetic acid.

An overview of conventional and alternative strategies for developing new antibacterial agents.

Although there is an increased need for novel antibacterial compounds, a regress in developing new antibiotic drugs has been registered in the past decades, as a result of economic, medical, social and political factors. The present paper aims to bring together and to discuss the wealth of information in the subject by presenting both traditional and new approaches for antibiotic drug discovery. The route starting from analogues derived from well-known antibiotics seems that will be the one to offer the great part of new antibiotics having the potential to enter the marketplace.

Main-chain length control of conformation, membrane activity, and antibiotic properties of lipopeptaibol sequential analogues.

To investigate the effect of backbone length and amphiphilicity on the 3D structure, membrane permeability, and antibacterial properties of trichogins, a subclass of lipopeptaibols, we prepared, by the segment condensation approach in solution and chemically characterized, a set of N(alpha)-1-octanoylated -X-(GLUG)(n)-I-L- ( X=G or U where U=Aib; n=1-4) sequential peptide esters. In parallel, the 12-mer (UGGL)(3) aneurism peptide, an analogue of the 11-mer sequential peptide (n=2) with an amino acid insertion was also synthesized and studied. By FT-IR absorption technique, we clearly showed that, in CDCl(3) solution, all peptides essentially populate intramolecularly H-bonded, helical conformations.