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The development of active packaging is a relevant topic demanding the development of films with diverse properties to preserve specific foodstuff. The objective of this work was to obtain extruded TPCS/PBAT films containing curcumin and evaluate it as an active antimicrobial and antioxidant packaging to protect chia oil from oxidative degradation. Morphology, thermal, mechanical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant evaluation of the films were conducted to determine whether the presence of curcumin affected the film's properties. Infrared Spectroscopy indicated that curcumin addition affected the crosslinking reaction between citric acid and starch, which explains the changes in hydrophilicity and mechanical strength of the films. The incorporation of curcumin conferred antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) bacteria, as well as antioxidant activity. Films were tested as chia oil packaging, being verified that they successfully prevented oil degradation under accelerated stability test (60°C for 7 days), demonstrating the feasibility of using TPCS/PBAT biodegradable films containing curcumin to obtain active packaging materials.

Alginate-based hydrogels can find uses in a wide range of applications, including in the encapsulation field. This type of hydrogels is usually ionically crosslinked using calcium sources giving rise to products with limited internal crosslinking. In this work, it is hypothesized that the combination of alginate crosslinked by calcium chloride (external crosslinking; ionic mechanism) with gelatin crosslinked by transglutaminase (internal crosslinking; enzymatic induced mechanism) can be used to tailor the swelling behavior of alginate-based hydrogel microspheres. A systematic study was conducted by covering process variables such as gelatin content, TGase concentration, and CaCl 2 contact time, added by statistic tools as central composite rotatable design (CCRD), principal component analysis (PCA) and multiobjective optimization, to map their effect on the resulting water content after production (expressed as swelling ratio), and swelling properties at pH 3 and 7. Among the studied variables, particle's swelling was mostly affected by the gelatin content and transglutaminase concentration.

The aim of this research was to perform in situ quantification, morphometry evaluation, and apoptosis analysis of ovarian follicular wall cells in mechanically isolated follicles obtained from ovaries of bovine fetuses (Bos taurus indicus) between 3 and 9 months of age. Apoptosis was evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. The number of isolated follicles increased from 3 months onward (102.5 ± 141.1, mean ± SEM), peaked at 6 months (12855.0 ± 9030.1), and then decreased by 7 months (3208.7 ± 3249.5), consistent with atresia occurring at these stages. Follicular density was greatest at 4 months, consistent with a sudden boost in follicular activity independent of a corresponding increase in ovarian size. Antral follicles were first observed at 5 months. As fetal age increased, there was a tendency for the percentage of primordial and primary follicles to decrease, and the percentage of secondary follicles to increase. However, the high variability (P < 0.05) for all follicle populations up to 5 months of age precluded further interpretation of these results. Oocyte diameter increased from the primordial (23.6 ± 4.4 μm) to the secondary follicular stages (38.0 ± 14.9 μm). Apoptosis was observed in ovaries from all fetal ages analyzed. We concluded that preantral follicles could be isolated from bovine fetuses by 3 months of age, with apoptosis affecting ovarian follicular dynamics throughout fetal life.

Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect many children with an estimated prevalence of 1%. Array-comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) offers significant sensitivity for the identification of submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities and it is one of the most used techniques in daily practice. The main objective of this study was to describe the usefulness of array-CGH in the etiologic diagnosis of ASD. Methods Two-hundred fifty-three patients admitted to a neurogenetic outpatient clinic and diagnosed with ASD were selected for array-CGH (4 × 180K microarrays). Public databases were used for classification in accordance with the American College of Medical Genetics Standards and Guidelines. Results About 3.56% (9/253) of copy number variations (CNVs) were classified as pathogenic. When likely pathogenic CNVs were considered, the rate increased to 11.46% (29/253). Some CNVs apparently not correlated to the ASD were also found. Considering a phenotype–genotype correlation, the patients were divided in two groups. One group according to previous literature includes all the CNVs related to ASDs (23 CNVs present in 22 children) and another with those apparently not related to ASD (10 CNVs present in 7 children). In 18 patients, a next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel were performed. From these, one pathogenic and 16 uncertain significance variants were identified. Conclusion The results of our study are in accordance with the literature, highlighting the relevance of array-CGH in the genetic of diagnosis of ASD population, namely when associated with other features. Our study also reinforces the need for complementarity between array-CGH and NGS panels or whole exome sequencing in the etiological diagnosis of ASD.

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Valorization of industrial low-value side-streams are of great interest, contributing to boosts in the circular economy. In this context, lignin side-streams of the pulp and paper industry were oxypropylated to produce biobased polyols and tested in the synthesis of rigid polyurethane (RPU) foams. E. globulus lignins, namely a lignin isolated from an industrial Kraft black liquor and depolymerized lignins obtained as by-products of an oxidation process, were used. RPU foams, synthesized with 100% lignin-based polyols and using a 1.1 NCO/OH ratio, were characterized concerning apparent density, morphology, thermal conductivity, thermal stability, and heat release rate (HRR). Foams containing the lignin-based polyols presented densities varying from 44.7 to 112.2 kg/m3 and thermal conductivity in the range of 37.2–49.0 mW/mK. For the reference foam (sample produced with 100% wt. Daltofoam TP 32015 polyol), values of 70.9 kg/m3 and 41.1 mW/mK were obtained, respectively. The achieved results point out the viability of using the generated lignin-based polyols at 100% content in RPU foams, mainly when depolymerized lignins are used. Moreover, fire retardancy was favored when the lignin-based polyols were introduced. The proposed strategies can contribute to establishing the integrated pulp and paper biorefinery concept where material synthesis (polyols and RPU foams) can be combined with chemical production (vanillin and syringaldehyde).

Background: 12q14 microdeletion syndrome is characterized by low birth weight and failure to thrive, proportionate short stature and developmental delay. The opposite syndrome (microduplication) has not yet been characterized. Our main objective is the recognition of a new clinical entity-12q14 microduplication syndrome.-as well as confirming the role of HMGA2 gene in growth regulation. Case presentation: Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH), Karyotype, Fluorescence in situ Hybridization, Quantitative-PCR analysis and Whole exome sequencing (WES) were performed in a girl presenting overgrowth and obesity. Array CGH identified a 1.5 Mb 12q14.3 microduplication involving HMGA2, GRIP1, IRAK3, MSRB3 and TMBIM4 genes. Karyotype and FISH showed that duplication was a de novo insertion of 12q14.3 region on chromosome 9p resulting in an interstitial microduplication. Q-PCR confirmed the duplication only in the proband. WES revealed no pathogenic variants. Conclusions: Phenotypic comparison with patients with 12q14 microdeletion syndrome showed a reciprocal presentation, suggesting a phenotypically recognizable 12q14 microduplication syndrome as well as confirming the role of HMGA2 gene in growth regulation. It is also indicative that other genes, such as IRAK3 and MSRB3 might have of role in weight gain and obesity.