Fabrication and Characterization of Native and Oxidized Potato Starch Biodegradable Films

The need to replace conventional polymers due to environmental pollution caused by them has led to increased production of biodegradable polymers such as starch. Thus, the application possibilities of starch have increased. In this study, we produced and characterized biodegradable films derived from native and oxidized potato starch. The film-forming solution was prepared with different concentrations of extracted starch (native or oxidized) and a plasticizer (glycerol or sorbitol). Then, the mechanical, barrier, morphological, and structural properties of the films were characterized. The moisture content of the films varied from 15.35?±?1.31 to 21.78?±?0.49%. The elastic modulus of the films ranged from 219?±?14.97 to 2299?±?62.91 MPa. The film of oxidized starch plasticized with sorbitol in the lowest content was the most resistant and flexible; moreover, this film also presented lower water vapor permeability and low solubility in water. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of the biodegradable films indicated the presence of same functional groups as those of starch with bands in the same regions. The film thickness was lower for the films plasticized with glycerol whereas the color variation (Δ?) was lower for the ones plasticized with sorbitol. In case of both plasticizers, the increase in their content decreased the Δ? value. All the biodegradable films presented stability against water absorption owing to their low solubility in water. Morphological evaluation revealed the presence of partially gelatinized starch granules in the films. The roughness parameter (Rq) of the films varied from 3.39 to 10.9 nm, indicating that their surfaces are smooth. X-ray diffraction studies showed a B-type pattern for the starches, which is representative of tubers. Further, the films present higher relative crystallinity (RC) compared to the starches. The biodegradable starch films are uniform, transparent and with low solubility in water. The oxidation of starch and use of sorbitol as a plasticizer resulted in improved properties of the starch films, which is suitable for application.     

Anti-proliferative and cytotoxic activity of pentadactylin isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptodactylus labyrinthicus</Emphasis> on melanoma cells

Nowadays, the emergence of resistance to the current available chemotherapeutic drugs by cancer cells makes the development of new agents imperative. The skin secretion of amphibians is a natural rich source of antimicrobial peptides (AMP), and researchers have shown that some of these wide spectrum molecules are also toxic to cancer cells. The aim of this study was to verify a putative anticancer activity of the AMP pentadactylin isolated for the first time from the skin secretion of the frog Leptodactylus labyrinthicus and also to study its cytotoxic mechanism to the murine melanoma cell line B16F10. The results have shown that pentadactylin reduces the cell viability of B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. It was also cytotoxic to normal human fibroblast cells; nevertheless, pentadactylin was more potent in the first case. The studies of action mechanism revealed that pentadactylin causes cell morphology alterations (e.g., round shape and shrinkage morphology), membrane disruption, DNA fragmentation, cell cycle arrest at the S phase, and alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that B16F10 cells die by apoptosis. The exact mechanism that causes reduction of cell viability and cytotoxicity after treatment with pentadactylin is still unknown. In conclusion, as cancer cells become resilient to death, it is worthwhile the discovery of new drugs such as pentadactylin that induces apoptosis.     

Preliminary testing of Anostraca from Italy for use in freshwater fish culture

Annual production of age-1 and age-2 crayfish of three populations in the New River, West Virginia, was quantified and then compared to previously reported harvest of crayfish by a bait fishery. Sampling of crayfish within circular plots and age and growth analyses aided estimation of crayfish production. Orconectes sanbornii sanbornii has a two-year life cycle, and Cambarus sciotensis and Orconectes virilis had three-year life cycles. Production by age-1 and age-2 crayfish (all species) was about 7.0 g live weight m⁻² yr⁻¹; almost half of this production was by C. sciotensis. Greater crayfish density and therefore production occurred in riffles than in pools. Annual crayfish harvest by anglers and commercial catchers was equivalent to about 5% of annual crayfish production.     

Observations on the biology of the rare Branchipus visnyai Kertesz 1956 (Crustacea, Anostraca) from Monti Reatini (Latim, central Italy)

Branchipus visnyai is presently known from only one location, in Italy, on Monte Catabio (central Appennine, Latium, 1590 m a.s.l). It lives in a large astatic pond and in a small temporary pool close to the pond. Typically two generations appear in the pond (in spring after snowmelt and in autumn after dilution by rainfall), unless an exceptionally dry season occurs. Yet, due to shallowness and small size, filling and duration of the pool is erratic and depends on the annual amount of snow and rainfall. Consequently, B. visnyai does not always appear in the pool.Field studies suggest that either a rise in temperature or a drop in conductivity may trigger cyst hatching in the two biotopes. Also, the species exhibits a high tolerance to change in environmental factors like water temperature. Hatching occurs within a range of 10–22 °C, adults survive at temperatures from 1 to 27 °C. The optimum seems to correspond to 10–20 °C.     

Decrease of rotenone inhibition is a sensitive parameter of complex I damage in brain non-synaptic mitochondria of aged rats

We investigated NADH oxidation in non-synaptic and synaptic mitochondria from brain cortex of 4- and 24-month-old rats. The NADH oxidase activity was significantly lower in non-synaptic mitochondria from aged rats; we also found a significant decrease of sensitivity of NADH oxidation to the specific Complex I inhibitor, rotenone. Since the rotenone-binding site encompasses Complex I subunits encoded by mtDNA, these results are in accordance with the mitochondrial theory of aging, whereby somatic mtDNA mutations are at the basis of cellular senescence. Accordingly, a 5 kb deletion was detected only in the cortex of the aged animals.     

Life history adaptation of Tanymastix stagnalis (Crustacea,Branchiopoda) to habitat characteristics

Life histories of two populations of Tanymastix stagnalisfrom sites in central Italy, differing in climate and altitude above sea level, were compared to obtain information on the tolerance limits of this species.Temperature was the main factor affecting the biology of Tanymastix stagnalis. Significant differences in growth patterns occurred at different sites. A colder climate induced delayed hatching, slower differentiation and maturation, but a longer life span in the mountain population (Forca Canapine) than in the plain (Fosso dei Mergani).Both populations exhibited an initial fluctuating sex ratio, which later became female biased, a pattern which could be the consequence of adaptation to the unstable nature of the biotopes studied.