Tritordeum, a hybrid cereal with a highly tricin-enriched lignin.

The lignin from tritordeum straw, a hybrid cereal from crossbreeding of durum wheat and wild barley, was isolated and chemically characterized. Its composition and structure were studied by analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Derivatization Followed by Reductive Cleavage (DFRC) method, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The data revealed an enrichment of guaiacyl (G) units (H:G:S of 3:61:36), which had a significant impact on the distribution of inter-unit linkages. The predominant linkages were the ß-O-4' alkyl-aryl ethers (78 % of all linkages), with substantial proportions of condensed linkages such as phenylcoumarans (11 %), resinols (4 %), spirodienones (4 %), and dibenzodioxocins (2 %). Moreover, DFRC revealed that tridordeum straw lignin was partly acylated at the γ-OH with both acetates and p-coumarates. Acetates were principally attached to G-units, whereas p-coumarates were predominantly attached to S-units. Furthermore, and more importantly, tritordeum lignin incorporates remarkable amounts of a valuable flavone, tricin, exceeding 30 g per kilogram of straw. Given the diverse industrial applications associated with this high-value molecule, tritordeum straw emerges as a promising and sustainable resource for its extraction.

Properties and environmental sustainability of fungal chitin nanofibril reinforced cellulose acetate films and nanofiber mats by solution blow spinning.

Materials from biological origin composed by renewable carbon facilitate the transition from linear carbon-intensive economy to a sustainable circular economy. Accordingly, we use solution blow spinning to develop fully biobased cellulose acetate films and nanofiber mats reinforced with fungal chitin nanofibrils (ChNFs), an emerging bio-colloid with lower carbon footprint compared to crustacean-derived nanochitin. This study incorporates fungal ChNFs into spinning processes for the first time. ChNF addition reduces film surface roughness, modifies film water affinity, and tailors the nanofiber diameter of the mats. The covalently bonded ß-D-glucans of ChNFs act as a binder to improve the interfacial properties and consequently load transference to enhance the mechanical properties. Accordingly, the Young's modulus of the films increases from 200 ± 18 MPa to 359 ± 99 MPa with 1.5 wt% ChNFs, while the elongation at break increases by ~45 %. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is applied to quantify the environmental impacts of solution blow spinning for the first time, providing global warming potential values of 69.7-347.4 kg·CO2-equiv.·kg-1. Additionally, this work highlights the suitability of ChNFs as reinforcing fillers during spinning and proves the reinforcing effect of mushroom-derived chitin in bio-based films, opening alternatives for sustainable materials development beyond nanocelluloses in the near future.

Variations in the composition and structure of the lignins of oat (Avena sativa L.) straws according to variety and planting season.

The differences in the composition and structure of the lignins from straws of different oat (Avena sativa L.) varieties, planted in two seasons (winter and spring), were studied in detail by different analytical techniques such as pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR), derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Overall, the analyses revealed that oat straw lignins were enriched in guaiacyl (G; 50-56 %) and syringyl (S; 39-44 %) units, with relatively lower amounts of p-hydroxyphenyl (H; 4-6 %) units. The lignins also incorporated significant quantities of p-coumarates (8-14 % of total lignin units), which are acylating the γ-OH of the lignin side chains, and predominantly over the S units. Furthermore, oat straw lignins also incorporated considerable amounts of the flavone tricin (5-12 % of total lignin units). Interestingly, this study revealed that the lignin content and composition of the oat straws vary with genotype and planting season. Since p-coumarates and tricin are high-value aromatic compounds especially attractive from a biorefinery point of view, the information disclosed here is highly relevant to plant breeding programs aimed at developing functional foods and lignin modifications for improved biorefinery applications.

Facial rejuvenation and improvement of malar projection using sutures with absorbable cones: surgical technique and case series.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the face can be reshaped with minimally invasive procedures. This report describes how the midface can be suspended by increasing the projection of the malar area, decreasing the nasolabial fold depth, and improving the jaw definition using 3-0 polypropylene sutures with absorbable cones (Silhouette Sutures). METHODS: Preoperative skin marks were made to indicate the four points on each side of the face where the sutures would exit through the skin: 1 cm lateral to the middle of the nasolabial fold, at the corner of the mouth, and on the line from the lateral corner of the lips to the angle of the mandible. The sutures were inserted through a 1.5-cm incision positioned in the temporal area. After insertion of the needle, the sutures were fixed to a small polypropylene mesh over the deep temporal fascia. RESULTS: A total of 316 patients were treated between January 2007 and December 2009. The results over a mean follow-up period of 18 months were good, with high patient satisfaction. All the complications experienced by 42 patients (13.3%) were minor and temporary including temporal area pain (7%), visible dermal pinching (3.5%), hematoma (1.3%), asymmetry (0.6%), and suture palpability (0.3%). There were no infections. CONCLUSIONS: Face-lifts were performed for 257 women with a mean age of 47 years and 59 men with a mean age of 49.5 years. This procedure can be performed for various age groups to rejuvenate and reshape the middle face. Men whose scars cannot be easily hidden due to baldness are good candidates as well. The technique led to stable results and only minor, temporary complications, with a high level of satisfaction among patients and surgeons. The longevity of the results beyond the mean follow-up period of 18 months needs to be determined.

Secondary breast augmentation: managing each case.

Breast augmentation is one of the most regularly performed interventions requiring reoperation in aesthetic surgery. For this reason, it involves a greater chance for complications. In this report, the authors aim to provide young plastic surgeons with guidelines based on their experience for responding to each of these complications, to explain the causes and ways of avoiding them, and to show how they can be treated when they occur.

Ultrathin Composite Polymeric Membranes for CO2 /N2 Separation with Minimum Thickness and High CO2 Permeance.

The use of ultrathin films as selective layers in composite membranes offers significant advantages in gas separation for increasing productivity while reducing the membrane size and energy costs. In this contribution, composite membranes have been obtained by the successive deposition of approximately 1 nm thick monolayers of a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) on top of dense membranes of the ultra-permeable poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] (PTMSP). The ultrathin PIM films (30 nm in thickness) demonstrate CO2 permeance up to seven times higher than dense PIM membranes using only 0.04 % of the mass of PIM without a significant decrease in CO2 /N2 selectivity.

Tratamento cirúrgico da região cervical associado a suturas de suspensão platismal com fios de politetrafluoroetileno / Surgical treatment of cervical region associated with polytetrafluoroetilene platysmal susénsion sutures

Introdução: A partir da década de 70, grande importância tem sido atribuída ao sistema músculo-aponeurótico superficial (SMAS) e ao platisma, sendo o manejo adequado destas estruturas considerado ponto-chave na obtenção de melhores resultados nas cirurgias de rejuvenescimento facial. Consideram-se casos de difícil resolução, atribuídos por McKinney como grau IV, cientes com significativa flacidez de pele e músculos, bandas platismais pronunciadas e separadas, protrusão das glândulas submandibulares, baixa posição do osso hióide, grande quantidade de gordura e uma linha mandibular pouco definida. Método: Um grupo de 89 pacientes com estas características e submetido a tratamento cirúrgico foi avaliado, retrospectivamente. O tratamento cirúrgico constou de ritidoplastias cérvico-faciais associadas a dissecção e tração do complexo SMAS-platisma, platismoplastia medial segundo Feldman e sutura entrecruzada com fio de politetrafluoroetileno (PTFE), realizada nos bordos platismais e fixa à mastóide. Preconiza-se que a sutura de suspensão do complexo SMAS-platisma seja efetuada somente após a conclusão da região cervical, caso contrário, o avanço do platisma à linha média promoveria tração inferior e novo acúmulo tecidual na margem mandibular. Resultados: Os resultados apurados demonstram baixos índices de complicações relevantes 3,2 por cento, associados a maior satisfação pós-operatória. Conclusão: Conclui-se pela eficácia da rotina cirúrgica adotada e pela segurança da sutura de PTFE, possibilitando resultados favoráveis nesta difícil condição.

Introduction: Since the 1970s, great importance has beenatributed to superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS)and platysma dissection, considering the proper approachof these structures the key point in order to achieve better results in facial rejuvenation...