| 1. |
- Zamora, Juan Carlos, et al.
(författare)
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Considerations and consequences of allowing DNA sequence data as types of fungal taxa
- 2018
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Ingår i: IMA Fungus. - : INT MYCOLOGICAL ASSOC. - 2210-6340 .- 2210-6359. ; 9:1, s. 167-185
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.
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| 2. |
- Robert, E., et al.
(författare)
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Symptoms and management of cow's milk allergy : perception and evidence
- 2024
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Allergy. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2673-6101. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The diagnosis and management of cow's milk allergy (CMA) is a topic of debate and controversy. Our aim was to compare the opinions of expert groups from the Middle East (n = 14) and the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) (n = 13).Methods: These Expert groups voted on statements that were developed by the ESPGHAN group and published in a recent position paper. The voting outcome was compared.Results: Overall, there was consensus amongst both groups of experts. Experts agreed that symptoms of crying, irritability and colic, as single manifestation, are not suggestive of CMA. They agreed that amino-acid based formula (AAF) should be reserved for severe cases (e.g., malnutrition and anaphylaxis) and that there is insufficient evidence to recommend a step-down approach. There was no unanimous consensus on the statement that a cow's milk based extensively hydrolysed formula (eHF) should be the first choice as a diagnostic elimination diet in mild/moderate cases. Although the statements regarding the role for hydrolysed rice formula as a diagnostic and therapeutic elimination diet were accepted, 3/27 disagreed. The votes regarding soy formula highlight the differences in opinion in the role of soy protein in CMA dietary treatment. Generally, soy-based formula is seldom available in the Middle-East region. All ESPGHAN experts agreed that there is insufficient evidence that the addition of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics increase the efficacy of elimination diets regarding CMA symptoms (despite other benefits such as decrease of infections and antibiotic intake), whereas 3/14 of the Middle East group thought there was sufficient evidence.Discussion: Differences in voting are related to geographical, cultural and other conditions, such as cost and availability. This emphasizes the need to develop region-specific guidelines considering social and cultural conditions, and to perform further research in this area.
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| 3. |
- Badia, J. D., et al.
(författare)
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Water absorption and hydrothermal performance of PHBV/sisal biocomposites
- 2014
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Ingår i: Polymer degradation and stability. - : Elsevier BV. - 0141-3910 .- 1873-2321. ; 108, s. 166-174
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The performance of biocomposites of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) and sisal fibre subjected to hydrothermal tests at different temperatures above the glass transition of PHBV (T-H = 26, 36 and 46 degrees C) was evaluated in this study. The influences of both the fibre content and presence of coupling agent were focused. The water absorption capability and water diffusion rate were considered for a statistical factorial analysis. Afterwards, the physico-chemical properties of water-saturated biocomposites were assessed by Fourier-Transform Infrared Analysis, Size Exclusion Chromatography, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy. It was found that the water diffusion rate increased with both temperature and percentage of fibre, whereas the amount of absorbed water was only influenced by fibre content. The use of coupling agent was only relevant at the initial stages of the hydrothermal test, giving an increase in the diffusion rate. Although the chemical structure and thermal properties of water-saturated biocomposites remained practically intact, the physical performance was considerably affected, due to the swelling of fibres, which internally blew-up the PHBV matrix, provoking cracks and fibre detachment.
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| 4. |
- Camacho, W., et al.
(författare)
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Determination of moisture content in nylon 6,6 by near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics
- 2003
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Polymer Science. - : Wiley. - 0021-8995 .- 1097-4628. ; 87:13, s. 2165-2170
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effects of moisture on the morphology and mechanical properties of polyamides have been extensively studied by a number of researchers. However, the assessment of water content in the resins has been carried out by thermal or thermogravimetric methods, which are destructive. In the present work partial least-squares (PLS) calibration models based on near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy were produced in order to predict the moisture content of nylon 6,6. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the loss-on-drying (LOD) method were used as reference methods. TGA, LOD, DSC, and NIR analysis were performed in parallel, and the obtained data were used for multivariate calibration purposes. Data pretreatment techniques such as derivation and multiplicative scattering correction (MSC) successfully eliminated the baseline offset present in the raw spectra and compensated for differences in thickness and light scattering of the analyzed samples. Calibration models were validated by full cross validation with the help of a test set. A comparison of the prediction ability of PLS models based on pretreated data was also done. NIR spectroscopy is a rapid and nondestructive method for the determination of moisture in recycled nylon. The moisture content can be predicted with a RMSEP = 0.05 wt %.
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| 5. |
- Gil-Castell, O., et al.
(författare)
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Hydrothermal ageing of polylactide/sisal biocomposites. Studies of water absorption behaviour and Physico-Chemical performance
- 2014
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Ingår i: Polymer degradation and stability. - : Elsevier BV. - 0141-3910 .- 1873-2321. ; 108, s. 212-222
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An accelerated hydrothermal degrading test was designed in order to analyse the synergic effect of water and temperature on PLA/sisal biocomposites with and without coupling agent. As well, the physicochemical properties of biocomposites were monitored along the hydrothermal test by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy, Size Exclusion Chromatography and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The addition of fibre induced higher water absorption capability and promoted physical degradation, as observed in the surface topography. During the processing of biocomposites and throughout the hydrothermal ageing, a reduction of molecular weight due to chain scission was found. As a consequence, a faster formation of crystalline domains in the PIA matrix occurred the higher the amount of fibre was, which acted as a nucleating agent. Higher crystallinity was considered as a barrier against the advance of penetrant and a reduction in the diffusion coefficient was shown. The addition of coupling agent presented a different influence depending on the composition, showing an inflection point around 20% of sisal fibre.
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| 6. |
- Marti-Ferrer, F., et al.
(författare)
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Flour rice husk as filler in block copolymer polypropylene : Effect of different coupling agents
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Polymer Science. - : Wiley. - 0021-8995 .- 1097-4628. ; 99:4, s. 1823-1831
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Flour rice husk (FRH) was employed as a filler in block copolymer polypropylene (PPB) in order to prepare polymer-based reinforced composites. Four coupling agents were selected to modify the surface of the rice husk in the composite materials, including two types of functionalized polymers [PP homopolymer grafted with maleic anhydride (MA-PP) and an elastomer styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer grafted with MA (MA-SEBS)] and two bifunctional organometallic coupling agents (silane and titanate with linear low-density polyethylene as a carrier). The influence of each type of coupling agent on the interfacial bonding strength was studied by dynamic mechanical analysis, scanning electronic microscopy, and rheological tests. The results showed that strong interactions were formed between the coupling agents and the filler surface. The addition of a coupling agent with an elastomeric carrier (MA-SEBS) increased the loss tangent and reduced the storage modulus of the composite. A similar but less intense effect was observed for the titanate coupling agent. However, an antagonistic performance was obtained when MA-PP and silane were employed as coupling agents. In addition, when the percentage of MA-SEBS was increased, the impact properties of FRH/PPB blends were improved and the strength was reduced.
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| 7. |
- Valles-Lluch, A., et al.
(författare)
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Influence of water on the viscoelastic behavior of recycled nylon 6,6
- 2002
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Polymer Science. - : Wiley. - 0021-8995 .- 1097-4628. ; 85:10, s. 2211-2218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nylons are highly sensitive to moisture, as water molecules are able to form hydrogen-bonded complexes with nitrogen and oxygen from the amide functional groups. In recycled nylon 6,6, a higher absorbed moisture content can be detected in comparison to virgin material. Moisture uptake is manifested in chemical and physical properties, and has important technological consequences, so the relationship between them must be assessed. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used to measure the water content of different samples and physical changes have been analyzed by means of dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The relaxation zones of the dynamic-mechanical relaxation spectra of the samples have been characterized according to the Fuoss-Kirkwood equation and with help of the deconvolution method.
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| 8. |
- Vilaplana, Francisco, et al.
(författare)
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Swelling behavior of PDMS-PMHS pervaporation membranes in ethyl acetate-water mixtures
- 2004
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Polymer Science. - : Wiley. - 0021-8995 .- 1097-4628. ; 93:3, s. 1384-1393
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pervaporation composite membranes were prepared with a three-layer structure: a PP support, a PEI microporous structure, and a PDMS-PMHS selective layer. Swelling tests were performed in water, ethyl acetate, and four different ethyl acetate-water mixtures, to calculate the diffusional and swelling parameters. Moreover, the dynamic-mechanical properties of the membranes were obtained before and after the swelling experiments, and their relaxation spectra were characterized with the Fuoss-Kirkwood equation and analyzed in terms of the free volume parameter. It was found that the ethyl acetate possesses high affinity with the composite membranes and that the absorption of these small molecules substantially modifies the viscoelastic behavior and structure of the active layer. The combination of swelling experiments and the study of the mechanical relaxations proved to be an appropriate technique to investigate the behavior of pervaporation membranes immersed in different mixtures.
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| 9. |
- Vriezinga, S. L., et al.
(författare)
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Randomized feeding intervention in infants at high risk for celiac disease
- 2014
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Ingår i: New England Journal of Medicine. - : Massachusetts Medical Society. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 371:14, s. 1304-1315
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND A window of opportunity has been suggested for reducing the risk of celiac disease by introducing gluten to infants at 4 to 6 months of age. METHODS We performed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dietary-intervention study involving 944 children who were positive for HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 and had at least one first-degree relative with celiac disease. From 16 to 24 weeks of age, 475 participants received 100 mg of immunologically active gluten daily, and 469 received placebo. Anti-transglutaminase type 2 and antigliadin antibodies were periodically measured. The primary outcome was the frequency of biopsy-confirmed celiac disease at 3 years of age. RESULTS Celiac disease was confirmed by means of biopsies in 77 children. To avoid underestimation of the frequency of celiac disease, 3 additional children who received a diagnosis of celiac disease according to the 2012 European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition diagnostic criteria (without having undergone biopsies) were included in the analyses (80 children; median age, 2.8 years; 59% were girls). The cumulative incidence of celiac disease among patients 3 years of age was 5.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6 to 6.8), with similar rates in the gluten group and the placebo group (5.9% [95% CI, 3.7 to 8.1] and 4.5% [95% CI, 2.5 to 6.5], respectively; hazard ratio in the gluten group, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.91). Rates of elevated levels of anti-transglutaminase type 2 and antigliadin antibodies were also similar in the two study groups (7.0% [95% CI, 4.7 to 9.4] in the gluten group and 5.7% [95% CI, 3.5 to 7.9] in the placebo group; hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.73). Breast-feeding, regardless of whether it was exclusive or whether it was ongoing during gluten introduction, did not significantly influence the development of celiac disease or the effect of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS As compared with placebo, the introduction of small quantities of gluten at 16 to 24 weeks of age did not reduce the risk of celiac disease by 3 years of age in this group of high-risk children. (Funded by the European Commission and others; PreventCD Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN74582487.)
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| 10. |
- Badia, J. D., et al.
(författare)
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A statistical design of experiments for optimizing the MALDI-TOF-MS sample preparation of polymers. An application in the assessment of the thermo-mechanical degradation mechanisms of poly (ethylene terephthalate)
- 2011
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Ingår i: Analytica Chimica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-2670 .- 1873-4324. ; 692:1-2, s. 85-95
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The sample preparation procedure for MALDI-TOF MS of polymers is addressed in this study by the application of a statistical Design of Experiments (DoE). Industrial poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was chosen as model polymer. Different experimental settings (levels) for matrixes, analyte/matrix proportions and concentrations of cationization agent were considered. The quality parameters used for the analysis were signal-to-noise ratio and resolution. A closer inspection of the statistical results provided the study not only with the best combination of factors for the MALDI sample preparation, but also with a better understanding of the influence of the different factors, individually or in combination, to the signal. The application of DoE for the improvement of the MALDI measure of PET stated that the best combination of factors and levels was the following: matrix (dithranol), proportion analyte/matrix/cationization agent (1/15/1, V/V/V), and concentration of cationization agent (2 g L-1). In a second part, multiple processing by means of successive injection cycles was used to simulate the thermo-mechanical degradation effects on the oligomeric distribution of PET under mechanical recycling. The application of MALDI-TOF-MS showed that thermo-mechanical degradation primarily affected initially predominant cyclic species. Several degradation mechanisms were proposed, remarking intramolecular transesterification and hydrolysis. The ether links of the glycol unit in PET were shown to act as potential reaction sites, driving the main reactions of degradation.
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