The use of biopolymers for tissue engineering has recently gained attention due to the need for safer and highly compatible materials. Starch is one of the most used biopolymers for membrane preparation. However, incorporating other polymers into starch membranes introduces improvements, such as better thermal and mechanical resistance and increased water affinity, as we reported in our previous work. There are few reports in the literature on the biocompatibility of starch/chicken gelatin composites. We assessed the in vivo biocompatibility of the five composites (T1–T5) cassava starch/gelatin membranes with subdermal implantations in biomodels at 30, 60, and 90 days. The FT-IR spectroscopy analysis demonstrated the main functional groups for starch and chicken gelatin. At the same time, the thermal study exhibited an increase in thermal resistance for T3 and T4, with a remaining mass (~15 wt.%) at 800 °C. The microstructure analysis for the T2–T4 demonstrated evident roughness changes with porosity presence due to starch and gelatin mixture. The decrease in the starch content in the composites also decreased the gelatinization heats for T3 and T4 . Finally, the implantation results demonstrated that the formulations exhibited differences in the degradation and resorption capacities according to the starch content, which is easily degraded by amylases. However, the histological results showed that the samples demonstrated almost complete reabsorption without a severe immune response, indicating a high in vivo biocompatibility. These results show that the cassava starch/chicken gelatin composites are promising membrane materials for tissue engineering applications. Biocomposites have recently gained much attention due to the global risk of indiscriminate plastic use with devastating consequences for the living planet and human health . Many reA polymer biocomposite contains a polymer matrix, and one or more dispersed fibers introduce new properties to the polymer matrix ,7. The mStarch is a polymer found in all plants with seeds but in more significant proportion in tubers and grains. Starch is an amylose and amylopectin-derived polymer . AmyloseInterest in the development of starch-derived materials has increased due to their extraordinary versatility mediated by their inherent properties as a polysaccharide  ,14. OtheGelatin is obtained from the hydrolytic cleavage of hydrogen and covalent bonds in collagen with a random coil structure . This prIn this regard, generating different mixtures between gelatin and various components would improve the physical conditions in a biological environment. The improvement would involve the formation of scaffolds for skin lesions or as barriers in processes where it is required to promote bone healing, such as the guided bone regeneration technique. The skin is a vital organ with many functions to protect the tissues; when part of it is lost due to accidents or burns, it is essential to protect the injured tissue by employing scaffolds to prevent water loss and infection. The scaffolds can be natural or synthetic and must comply with the properties of being biocompatible, stable for the healing duration, absorbent of tissue exudates, and ideally with the ability to bio-integrated allowing the closure of the wound properly and be bacteriostatic .In guided bone regeneration techniques, the aim is to stimulate tissue neoformation by using bone substitutes and placing a membrane between the graft material and the soft tissue to act as a barrier that prevents the smooth tissue cells from colonizing the graft site. This barrier must be made of a biocompatible material, one of the most commonly used collagen .We published the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of five different formulations of membrane cassava starch and chicken gelatin composites for food packaging applications . HoweverThe membranes were prepared using cassava starch , sodium hydroxide, glycerol (food grade), and glacial acetic acid . All chemicals were of analytical degree and were used without further purification unless otherwise indicated. Gelatin’s chicken extraction was reported elsewhere . All theChicken gelatin  was prepMembrane synthesis followed Podshivalov’s methodology , as indiThe physicochemical analysis of the composites used FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD technique, thermal analysis, and morphology studies effects under gelatin incorporation to the starch.Thermal stability and transitions used a TGA/DSC 2 STAR System instrument . Heating program: from 25 °C to 900 °C; heating rate: 20 °C/min; nitrogen flow: 60 mL/min. Weight loss was shown as a temperature function from a single sample run. Heat flow was shown as a function of temperature respectively.mΔH) measurements with a DSC1 Star system/500  at the first heating/cooling cycle from a single run of a sample. Heating cycle: from −25 °C to 300 °C; heating rate: 10 °C/min; nitrogen flow: 60 mL/min. Data analysis used the Stare Software version 12.10, .DSC was used for gelatinization temperature and enthalpy . Scans from 500 and 4000 cmA JEOL, JCM 50,000  scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed for the morphology study of the composite membrane cross-section analysis. The samples were covered with a gold layer. The surface membranes were analyzed at 500× and 2000× magnification. A voltage of 10 kV was applied.X-ray diffractometry (XRD) used a PANalytical X’ Pert PRO diffractometer ; irradiation source: CuKα radiation (λ = 0.154 nm). The 2θ range: 5–60°.Nine male Wistar rats, four months old and weighing approximately 360 g, were taken from the LABBIO laboratory of the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, and randomly distributed into three groups for implantation at 30, 60, and 90 days.® solution , and infiltration with 2% Lidocaine with epinephrine  were performed. Five pockets 1 cm long by 2 cm deep were made on the right dorsal surface, and the experimental formulations consisting of membranes 0.5 mm wide by 10 mm long were placed. Each pocket was sutured with absorbable 4 zero suture ; Topical gentamicin , and intramuscular Diclofenac 75 mg  were applied, food and water were provided ad libitum.Animals’ anesthesia was applied intramuscularly using Ketamine 70 mg/kg  and Xylazine 30 mg/kg . Trichotomy of the dorsal surface, disinfection with isodineThere were no complications or deaths in biomodels due to the procedures. Once the implantation period was completed, the biomodels were euthanized using intraperitoneal sodium pentobarbital/sodium diphenylhydantoin (0.3 mL/biomodel kg) .The samples were recovered and fixed with buffered formalin for 48 h. Subsequently, they were washed with phosphate buffer (PBS) for 10 min in 3 exchanges and processed for histological techniques with the Autotechnicon Tissue ProcessorTM equipment .Paraffin blocks were formed with the samples using the Thermo ScientificTM HistoplastTM equipment , cuts were made at 6 µm with the Leica RM2125 RTS microtome , and stains were made with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson’s Trichrome techniques.Photomicrographs were taken using a Leica DM750 optical microscope and a Leica DFC 295 camera. Images were processed with Leica Application Suite version 4.12.0 software .The procedures were carried out using the recommendations of the ARRIVE guide , and the ethical review was carried out by the Animal Ethics Review Committee of the Universidad del Valle  through Resolution No. CEAS 012 of 2019.−1 in T1, but it becomes sharper and more intense with the increasing gelatin content indicating a higher C–H content (from T2 to T5). The bands associated with in-plane bending vibrations for the CH2 and C–OH groups are shown at 1422 and 1337 cm−1, respectively. However, these bands are evident for T1 but less clear with the decreasing amount of starch (From T2–T5). Another peak for T1 due to the antisymmetric bridge of the C–O–C groups rises at 1153 cm−1 [We can observe the FT-IR spectrum for all the composite membranes in 153 cm−1 .−1, while the peak at 1744 cm−1 indicated the gelatin’s −C=O group presence for T2–T5, also increasing with the gelatin content, except for T4, where it was overlapped by the amide I band, probably due to a high amount of hydrogen bonds between starch and gelatin chains [−1. In the case of T3, the small peak at 1026cm−1 was probably due to the 50:50 content of starch: gelatin introducing hydrogen bonds [−1 from C=O groups of amides-I and a band at 1548 cm−1 for amides−II from the C−N bonds [It was interesting that for T2–T5, with the increase in protein content, the amide I stretching bands increased and shifted from 1654 to 1645 cmn chains . Furtheren bonds . T5 pres−N bonds .Concerning the formulations containing gelatin/cassava starch was observed that the formulations T3 (50%G/50%CS) and T4 (75%G/25%CS) above 350 °C have an effective stabilization (lower mass loss) compared with the membranes T1 (100%CS), T2 (25%G/75%CS), and T5 (100%G) A. This oDSC enables the determination of mesomorphic transitions, melting and crystallization temperatures, entropy and enthalpy changes, and the characterization of glass transition temperatures . For allThe gelatinization heats measured for samples T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 were 211.24, 226.90, 195.67, 196.40, and 231.31 J/g, respectively. This means that T2, T3, and T4 composites need less energy to dissociate the amylose and amylopectin helix due to the lower starch content causing less rigidity  which isIt is interesting to observe in Furthermore, the porosity of T2–T4 demonstrates composite microstructure differences due to the different molecular arrangements between amylose and amylopectin . T5 was XRD studies are related to the chemical composition, phases present, and crystallinity of the composite structures . Figure According to Once the euthanasia was carried out and under the UNE EN ISO 10993-6:2017 standard , a macroscopic inspection of the intervened tissues was carried out. In all cases, hair recovery occurred. In addition, healthy tissues were observed when performing skin trichotomy in the dorsal area of the biomodels. On the other hand, when dissecting the skin to retrieve the samples from the implantation area, the skin was completely healed, with no signs of inflammation or infection.The T1 sample was characterized by presenting a very rapid reabsorption/degradation process, with the presence of large blood vessels in the implantation area. It is observed that 30 days after implantation, the material remains in the implantation area A. The smMacroscopic and microscopic observations show that the material behaved as biocompatible and bioresorbable/biodegradable. The healing process was carried out without the fibrous encapsulation reported as typical of an observable foreign body response when biomaterials are implanted subdermally. For T1 (only starch), reabsorption seems to have been completed before 60 days, which can be explained by the fact that starch is an entirely resorbable material  being deT2 presents more stability than T1, remaining stable for at least 60 days due to the presence of 25 wt.% of gelatin. After 30 days, fragments of the material are immersed in connective tissue for healing made up of type I collagen A,B. At 6Material T2 differs from T1 in that 25 wt.% gelatin has been added to its composition. This amount was sufficient to allow excellent stability to the compound, making it observable for up to 60 days. Besides, as observed for T1, the healing process was carried out without generating the foreign body reaction.The macroscopic examination of the areas implanted with the T3 formulation showed biocompatibility reflected in the tissues’ scarring process, leading to hair recovery and a standard appearance without fistulas or the presence of purulent exudate.Microscopic examination indicates a healing process. In this process, the implantation area was surrounded by a fibrous capsule with an inflammatory cell infiltration A. This cThe healing process results show that adding 50% gelatin makes the material more stable, with membranes observable after 60 days. The healing is carried out by reacting to a foreign body with fibrous encapsulation of the material; however, after 90 days, neither the fibrous capsule nor the material is observable.Like the previous results, the macroscopic inspection of the intervened areas showed initial healing with normal parameters such as hair recovery and the absence of signs of inflammation or infection.At the microscopic level, fragments of the material immersed in healing connective tissue with the presence of inflammatory cells are observed after 30 days A; at 60 It is important to remember that the T4 material has a 75 wt.% gelatin content composition. After 30 days of implantation A, the maThe implantation areas of the T5 material presented a macroscopic image of healing very similar to that already described for the other formulations. In the macroscopic aspect, after 30 days, the material is immersed in a connective healing tissue A composeThe T5 material is no longer made up of starch but of gelatin. It was observed that at 30 days, the material incited a reaction by inflammatory cells, and the material was highly fragmented. At 60 days, a portion of the implanted material is observable, surrounded by a fibrous capsule. After 90 days, small fragments of the material in the process of degradation/reabsorption remain observable.When materials are implanted, there is expected to be a foreign body reaction in the final stage of healing with a fibrous capsule surrounding the material . CapsuleThe foreign body reaction with fibrous encapsulation will continue the recovery process of the tissues affected by the surgical preparation. The foreign body reaction is expected to continue if there is remaining material. At the same time, the situation caused by the material’s presence is resolved.Fibrous encapsulation occurs in the resolution stage of the foreign body reaction. In this phase, there is an increase in the production of the TGFβ factor by macrophages and fibroblast-like cells. As a result, type I and Type III collagen bundles are produced .The presence of this fibrous tissue was evident in formulations containing a percentage of gelatin greater than 50%  but not in formulations T1 (100% starch), or T2 (75% starch/25% gelatin), because starch is entirely degraded by amylases avoiding the foreign body response.Gelatin is considered a biocompatible and fast-reabsorbing material ; howeverGelatin is obtained from various types of collagens; however, the degradability of collagen is different from that of gelatin. It has been found that gelatin degrades/reabsorbs faster than collagen because it can induce a foreign body reaction with many giant cells that would phagocytize the implanted material more efficiently . HistoloThis research showed that the material obtained has potential use as a dressing for skin lesions due to trauma or burns. In bone regeneration applications, however, this work has the limitation that the animal experimentation was performed using a subdermal model, which is valid for the preliminary results obtained. For that reason, it is suggested to perform other types of research in the future to evaluate the usefulness of regenerative bone techniques or their application to the skin. For bone regeneration, experimental models should allow qualitatively and quantitatively results for skin dressing, as proposed by Gutierrez and collaborators .We cannot directly compare our system to commercial products since commercial membranes for tissue engineering are made basically from collagen. However, our previous work  determin−1, while the peak at 1744cm−1 indicated the gelatin’s −C=O group presence for T2–T5, also increasing with the gelatin content, demonstrating the existence and interactions between starch and gelatin polymers. The thermal behavior of the membranes showed an internal crosslinking between the protein chains as the starch content decreased. We found that morphologies and crystallinities were influenced by the amylose content inside the starch, as evidenced by the broad peak at 20° on XRD. The increasing amount of gelatin strongly influenced the morphology. The cross-section and the surface structures demonstrated macro porosity and roughness increasing with the gelatin presence in the composites in a gelatin-amount-dependent manner. T4 presented the more heterogeneous structure between the composites.The physical-chemical characterization of the membranes demonstrated that the method was affordable for membrane synthesis. The FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of the leading bands of starch and gelatin polymers. Besides, for T2–T5, with the increase in protein content, the amide I stretching bands increased and shifted from 1654 to 1645 cmThe five implanted formulations showed to be biocompatible and biodegradable. In the case of formulations with high starch content (T1 and T2), the degradation is faster because the material is enzymatically (amylase) degraded due to high starch content. According to the histology analysis, the T3 formulation (50% starch/50% gelatin) was more stable under the degradation/resorption process than T1 and T2. With the increase in gelatin, higher resistance to degradation was observed. However, most of these membranes at 60 days  disappear as a sign of the degradation/resorption process.T5 induced a foreign body reaction with the presence of cells. However, it undergoes a progressive degradation/resorption without an allergic response, demonstrating the materials’ in vivo biocompatibility. On the other hand, the fragments of the T4 and T5 formulations are more stable, and degradation is observed only at 90 days. All these results demonstrate the preliminary biocompatibility of the composites and the potential for biomedical applications.


Secondary prevention of dnDSA through increased post-transplant immunosuppression in children is constrained by a significant risk for viral and oncologic complications. There are currently no FDA-approved therapies that can meaningfully reduce dnDSA burden or improve long-term allograft outcomes. Therefore, primary prevention strategies aimed at reducing the risk of dnDSA formation would allow for the best possible long-term allograft outcomes without the adverse complications associated with over-immunosuppression. Epitope matching, which provides a more nuanced assessment of immunological compatibility between donor and recipient, offers the potential for improved donor selection. Although epitope matching is promising, it has not yet been readily applied in the clinical setting. Our review will describe current strengths and limitations of epitope matching software, the evidence for and against improved outcomes with epitope matching, discussion of eplet load vs. variable immunogenicity, and conclude with a discussion of the delicate balance of improving matching without disadvantaging certain populations.Kidney transplant is the optimal treatment for end-stage kidney disease as it offers significant survival and quality of life advantages over dialysis. While recent advances have significantly improved early graft outcomes, long-term overall graft survival has remained largely unchanged for the last 20 years. Due to the young age at which children receive their first transplant, most children will require multiple transplants during their lifetime. Each subsequent transplant becomes more difficult because of the development of  Epitope matching between donor and recipients provides additional benefit over antigen-level matching.Numerous software programs are available for comparison but require high-resolution tissue typing for accurate results.Enumeration of mismatch does not account for variable immunogenicity of epitopes.de novo donor specific antibodies (dnDSA) is associated with shortened graft survival making each subsequent transplant more difficult by limiting the donor pool and increasing mortality due to longer time on dialysis awaiting re-transplantation (Kidney transplant (KT) is the optimal treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) as it offers significant mortality and quality of life advantages over dialysis. While advances in immunosuppressive pharmacology and surgical techniques have significantly improved early graft outcomes, long-term graft survival has remained largely unchanged for the last 20 years. Due to the young age at which children receive their first transplant and additional 40–60 year life expectancy, children will require multiple transplants during their lifetime. Development of antation , 2.dnDSA can be achieved through secondary prevention by increasing post-transplant immunosuppression. However, this approach is limited in children by a significantly increased risk for viral and oncologic complications . As the methods of accurate HLA characterization improved, it became clear that different HLA alleles had variable number of amino acid differences ranging from one to many, depending on the compared alleles. Simply enumerating HLA allele mismatches was insufficient to account for structural differences with immunological significance. Eventually, NGS (Next Generation Sequencing), a method that produces accurate genotyping at the molecular level, enabled improved characterization of HLA molecules by identifying the amino acid differences among multiple HLA alleles/molecules. The term “high-resolution tissue typing” or two-field (HR-2F) typing has been used to describe the level of characterization that enables identification of all 11 HLA antigens at the protein/molecular level, and thereby allows an epitope compatibility comparison between the donor and recipient . It shoudnDSA , 16. Comormation , 18.This review describes the different software tools currently available for comparison of high-resolution tissue typing, their predictive capability and clinical applicability, and discusses the nuances of variable immunogenicity. Practice applications of this technology, limitations and remaining knowledge gaps will also be also addressed.To support informed clinical decision making, the comparison of donor and recipient HLA types relies on various software applications to identify immunological similarities and differences between pairs. While each has their own approach, the general principle employed by all is that a stronger recipient T/B-cell response is more likely to occur the more different a donor is from the recipient, and therefore the software generates a score to quantify the dissimilarity between the donor and recipient . There adnDSA formation, rejection, and graft failure rates . Akin to eplet mismatch in the HLAMatchmaker program, this method assigns an equal weight to all mismatches but does not make any assumptions about which areas of the molecule may be more relevant for antibody recognition . In multThe assessment of various physicochemical parameters may augment the AMS metric, and there have been numerous approaches including Grantham's distance or Epstein coefficient of difference , 26. TheThere remains much potential and promising work in methods that seek to incorporate three-dimensional (3D) contextual information into MM scoring systems , 30.The complex immune alloreactivity after solid organ transplantations involves both T and B cells. Indirect T cell activation is proposed as a key player in the humoral response leading to dnDSA formation . The PIRA recent comparative study among KT recipients EMM, AMS, and AMS as augmented by electrostatic mismatch showed that each method was independently associated with DSA formation after adjustment for recipient age, immunosuppression regiment, and non-adherence without evidence of superiority of either approach . Meneghip = 0.002)  . This stdnDSA compared to antigen-level matching . A sub-analysis including only patients with no preformed DSA (n = 138) demonstrated similar results  and showed significant inconsistency with eplet load, affirming that EMM is a significant correlate of rejection at the population level however is not sufficiently informative to serve as a predictor at the individual level  and sequence-specific oligonucleotide prove typing (SSO) which generates low-intermediate resolution typing at the antigen level, and unable to provide the necessary allele-level specificity to allow EMM analysis. Exact genomic sequencing either through Sanger sequence-based typing (SBT) or Next-Generation sequencing (NGS), is gradually becoming the prevalent method for typing as laboratories seek to transition to a single assay for solid organ and bone marrow transplant programs. The major limitation to NGS is the 2–3 days needed for the assay and associated analysis.In living donor KT, where the time to perform high-resolution typing is not a barrier, there are great possibilities for the application of this technology. The Australian Paired Kidney Exchange employs high-resolution typing and EMM score, utilizing this as a tool to aid in donor selection in addition to other pertinent clinical factors, and has described excellent outcomes in pediatric patients . The Natp < 0.001], however the study was limited by very small sample size. A pediatric center reported their practice of incorporating Class II EMM prospectively in 19 pediatric patients and showed that the adult reported DR and DQ eplet load thresholds may not be the same for pediatric patients. The paper reported only short-term outcomes and further data is needed to assess the impact on DSA formation and allograft survival  is reviewing allocation policy and strategies to improve equity with a proposal to create a composite allocation score in which candidates would get a summary score of different variables associated with their predicted need and potential for survival benefit, including factors such as age (pediatric priority), geographic proximity to donor, and sensitization. These models are under development and will require close monitoring after implementation. More data are needed to inform approaches to optimize matching for children and one approach might include a focus on class II matching .Epitope/eplet matching holds the promise of better immunological compatibility between donors and recipients thereby reducing risk for DSA formation. Despite many advances, many questions remain including the specific mechanisms of variable immunogenicity, technological barriers to rapid high-resolution molecular tissue typing, and balancing equity in an allocation system. The community however, is eager to use this approach, simply because molecular characterization is more meaningful than an allele name. Nevertheless, there remains considerable ambiguity in how to balance epitope mismatch with clinical factors including medical urgency , age, psychosocial factors influencing adherence, and viral infection risk. It is very likely that the appropriate science and tools will soon be available for utilization and application, but additional studies are needed to identify the most efficient and effective approach to optimize outcomes.OC developed the conceptual overview for the review. OC and DLE wrote the review and participated in critical review and revisions. SA and DM provided critical review and guidance. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.This work was supported by (grant number KL2TR003099 to OC) from Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR).DM is a consultant to and owns options in Omixon. DM receive royalties from Omixon. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.


The study investigated the effect of localisation and geometric parameters of cut-outs on the buckling load, postbuckling equilibrium path and failure load. Moreover, the perforated profiles were compared with a profile without cut-outs, which were experimentally tested in previous research. Results showed that the perforated profiles with a Z-cross-section do not lose their stability in the post-critical range. What is more, a well-chosen arrangement of the holes may prevent the mechanical properties from deteriorating.Thin-walled elements, thanks to their good properties, are increasingly used in structural applications, especially in the aircraft and building industries. These kinds of structures are often perforated for reducing weight and to ease servicing and maintenance operations, e.g., in aircraft wing ribs. These perforations cause a redistribution of stresses in the element which may change the ultimate strength of the structure and their elastic stiffness. The buckling behaviour of structural members with perforations is significantly influenced by the size, location, shape and number of perforations. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the influence of these kinds of cut-out parameters on thin-walled structure buckling and postbuckling behaviour. This study investigated numerically the buckling and postbuckling behaviour of thin-walled perforated composite profiles with a Z-cross-section subjected to compression load. Numerical calculations were performed using the finite element method in the ABAQUS The industry is constantly evolving, which influences a growing needs for advanced composite design technologies, which also have a significant role in industries such as aviation, automotive and aerospace. The realisation of these goals is associated with continuous work in improving the design, production technology and selection of materials. The industry is increasingly moving away from classical engineering materials, i.e., metals, which are being replaced by composites. Thanks to their good properties, such as high strength to weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance and very good fatigue strength, these materials are becoming more and more popular in aviation ,2, constThin-walled structures are often perforated for reducing weight and to ease servicing and maintenance operations, e.g., in aircraft wing ribs. These perforations cause a redistribution of stresses in the member that may change the ultimate strength of the structural member and the elastic stiffness.The buckling behaviour of structural members with perforations is significantly influenced by the size, location, shape and number of perforations. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the influence of these kinds of cut-out parameters on thin-walled structure buckling and postbuckling behaviour.For the correct understanding of the mentioned problem and buckling phenomenon, the characteristics of composite structure stability and plate elements with cut-outs are necessary.The problem of stability of compressed thin-walled structures with the finite element method was analysed by Teter and Kolakowski , Debski On the other hand, buckling analysis of plates with different cut-out shapes has been studied by many researchers. The research of the laminated plates stability, with cut-outs, was carried out mainly on rectangular plates ,24,25. OThere have also been investigations on aluminium alloy members with perforations . The autFrom the above-mentioned literature, buckling analysis of composite plates with different cut-out shapes, such as circular holes, elliptical holes, square or rectangular holes, has been the subject of much research. Results presented in the related literature indicate that the buckling behaviour of composite plates is affected by cut-out shape, cut-out size and cut-out orientation. However, the combination of variables considered during previous studies is still limited, and research is connected mainly to plate elements or profiles with different kinds of cross-section, but made of classical materials such as steel and aluminium. What is more, in the literature is hard to find publications where the tested composite profiles are weakened by cut-outs. This area is still not well-tested. Moreover, in previous articles ,38,39,40This paper includes the linear and nonlinear analysis of compressed, thin-walled, perforated profiles with a Z-cross-section, which are used in industry. It should be underlined here that the tested profiles are made of composite material, and previous research has been carried out on perforated profiles made from classic materials. It should also be mentioned here that there are no specific standards for the perforation of composite profiles. The research included linear and nonlinear numerical analysis using the finite element method, which has been widely used in recent years ,45. In aThe subjects of the research were thin-walled, perforated Z-cross-section composite profiles subjected to compression. The columns were analysed in their critical and post-critical states. The tested elements were typical thin-walled structures consisting of perpendicular walls, which were flat plate elements, connected along the longer edges.Laup-Ply modelling technique, which enables mapping the configuration of the composite layer arrangement according to the thickness of the finite element. In the developed models, a model of an orthotropic material in a plane stress state was defined.The profile was modelled using the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) material—a composite reinforced with carbon fibre with a polymer matrix. The main mechanical properties are presented in Ten profiles were selected for the analysis, nine with round cut-outs of various diameters arranged in a regular or chess configuration, and one without cut-out, as the base profile . AdditioThe author and others, in their previous works, investigated the stability of composite profiles with different kinds of cross-sections, as well with Z-cross-section, which were subjected under compressive load . PhysicaIn reference to the above results, the analysed continuous profiles became a reference point for research presented in this paper. This work focuses on the behaviour of perforated Z-cross-section profile and on the evaluation of the impact of geometric parameters of cut-outs and their distribution, and on the compression strength of composite profiles. This paper does not concern the in-depth presentation of the experimental results; only the numerical analysis is presented, but this is the start for further experimental research.The numerical analysis was performed in Abaqus program with using FEM. Numerical calculations were carried out in two stages. The first stage was the analysis of the critical state of the structure using linear buckling analysis, which enabled the determination of the critical loads of the compressed element and the corresponding buckling forms. The second stage of the calculations was to solve the problem of nonlinear stability, in which the calculations were carried out on a model with an initiated geometric imperfection corresponding to the lower buckling form of the structure. The value of the initial amplitude was 0.05 mm. The calculations were carried out in accordance with the adopted Tsai-Wu criterion, until failure of the first layer.The perforated profiles were modelled and analysed in ABAQUS software. The plate structure used in the numerical analysis was discretized using 8-node shell elements (S8R) of the second order with reduced integration. The structure of the composite material was defined with respect to thickness of the finite element. The modelling of the laminate structure was based on the Layup-Ply technique, thanks to which the configuration of the laminate layers was mapped to the thickness of the profile.To investigate the effect of meshing size, in this study we tested five different element sizes: from 1 mm to 5 mm, for chosen profile type. The mesh convergence was established by increased the mesh density in each part of the model. It was observed that there were no considerable changes in load response between 1 mm and 5 mm element size , but theThe boundary conditions formulated for the numerical model ensured articulated support of the compressed composite columns—The conducted analysis concerned ten thin-walled composite profiles with a Z-cross-section—including nine perforated profiles with different cut-outs locations and one profile without cut-outs. Thanks to this, it was possible to carry out a comparative analysis of the impact and arrangement of cut-outs on the results of the critical and post-critical state of the columns until the failure of the first layer of the laminate. The profile without cut-outs was used as a reference point to determine the influence of perforation on the mechanical properties of the analysed columns.FEM numerical analysis Fallowed to assess the critical state of the perforated profiles subjected to compression. The values of the critical forces and the corresponding lowest forms of stability loss were compared. In the analysed profiles, the structure loss of stability was characterized by local buckling, characterized by two half-waves in the longitudinal direction of the column. The presented results show that the value of the critical force for perforated composite profiles is lower than for a profile without cut-outs. What is more, the location and size of the holes significantly effect the critical value. The biggest difference, in comparison with the model without cut-out, was observed for the Z4 profile and was 660.6 N. This model is characterized by holes of 20 mm of diameter in the axis of the web and the axis of the shelves. Whereas, Z1 profile had the closest value of the critical force to the non-perforated laminate. During the analysis, we obtained a value lower by 64.3 N.From the comparative analysis of the Z2 and Z3 profile, it can be concluded that the diameter of the holes has a greater influence on the results than their number. The first one had only 5 holes with a diameter of 20 mm in the axis of the web and the second one had 36 symmetrically arranged holes along the shelves and the web, but with a smaller diameter. Despite a much larger number of holes, the difference in the critical force is 58 N.The presented results show that despite of the decrease in rigidity, each of the profiles still shows good strength properties. Z4 profile was the least rigid from all tested profiles. The critical force was approx. 30% lower compared to the profile without cut-outs. It is also worth paying attention for the Z3 and Z6 profiles, where the location of the cut-outs and their diameters are practically identical. The difference relates to the web where the cut-outs for the Z3 model were made in one row and for the Z6 model in two rows. The difference in the value of the critical force for these two profiles equal 267.5 N. It can be concluded that the additional row of cut-outs significantly weakened the laminate.The linear analysis excluded that the perforation of the thin-walled Z-section profiles quickly destroy the structure and the composite loses its properties. The used composite configuration has proven effective in profiles with cut-outs and maintains the original properties of the composite. However, it can be noticed that the value of the critical force has influence on the appropriate selection of the geometric parameters of the cut-outs and their arrangement.In During the compression analysis of the Z-profiles, the local buckling of the web and profile walls was characterized by the formation of two half-waves in the longitudinal direction of the column . On the Compering the results with the Z-profile without cut-outs j, it canThe performed analysis of the critical state of perforated profiles with a Z-cross-section proved a significant influence on changing the diameter, number of cut-outs and their arrangement on the deformation scale and the corresponding value of the critical force. Despite the variable parameters, each profile retained the same buckling form in the form of two half-waves. The obtained results allowed to observe that the increase in the cut-out diameter significantly effects the deterioration of the mechanical properties.The second part of the analysis was devoted to the work of profiles after loss of stability. Numerical calculations were also performed in the Abaqus program. The aim of the analysis was to investigate profile behaviour in a post-critical state with the implemented lower buckling mode, which was determined in the first part of the tests, and to check whether the obtained characteristics are stable. During the loading of the structure a deepening form of laminate buckling was observed. In all analysed cases, the scope of the profiles’ work was determined by the load initiating failure of the first composite layer, according to the Tsai-Wu failure criterion. Carried out analysis allowed for the determination of composite failure maps. Additionally, in The load value initiating the failure of the first layer is different for each model. On the basis of the results presented above, it can be concluded that the profile without cut-outs is the least susceptible to damage. However, the Z4 profile will deform at the lowest applied load, among all models. It is due to the location and diameter of the cut-outs on the web and shelves. In this case, failure of the first layer will occur when the load equals 4776 N, which indicates a value around 38% less than that required to load the model without cut-outs. Despite the significant difference between those two values, the Z4 profile retains good rigidity parameters.The conducted analysis showed that the outer layers, on which the fibres are arranged at an angle of 0°, most often fail first. This situation is in 60% cases. The second most vulnerable layer for failure is layer 7, where fibres are arranged at an angle of 45°.An additional post-failure analysis was performed by comparing the post-critical equilibrium paths .The obtained characteristics have a stable nature of work, which confirm the structure’s ability to carry the load in the post-critical range. The determined post-critical equilibrium paths of compressed Z-section columns tend to decrease the stiffness of the structure due to the introduction of cut-outs on the shelves. Decrease in stiffness between the extreme profiles (profile without cut-outs and the profile with the lowest stiffness) amounts to approx. 37%. On the other hand, the decrease in stiffness for Z5 profile in relation to the profile without the cut-out is at the level of approx. 15%.On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that the diameter and arrangement of the cut-outs significantly affect on the critical state and postcritical behaviour of the tested structures. All models deformed in the asymmetrical two half-waves form. Critical forces and buckling modes have shown that the holes made in the profiles weaken the structure, but not as so much as to exclude them from the possibility of industrial application. The proper arrangement of the holes in the laminate allows achieving similar mechanical properties as for the non-perforated profile.The holes located on the composite shelves have the least impact on the loss of stability of profile. The biggest difference in the value of the critical load in comparison with the non-perforated profile was noticed in the Z-profile with diameter of holes equal to 20 mm, located in the axis of the web and in the axis of the shelves. The difference in the value of the critical force in this case was around 30%. The remaining profiles showed a decrease in critical force of about 3–15% in compared to the laminate without holes. By changing the arrangement and diameter of the holes, can significantly affect the obtained results of the analysis as well as improve properties of element.Based on the results of the nonlinear stability analysis, it can be noted that the profiles with one row of holes on the web are characterized by the failure of the first laminate layer at first, and the nevralgic area occurs at the connection of the web and the shelves. The situation changes when additional holes are added. More holes in the profile shelves causes failure of the first layer and the nevralgic place was located in the area of the opening located closest to the outer edge of the shelve. In the case of a profile with two rows of holes on the web, the failure will occur close to one of one of them. The deflection value of the analysed models also depends on the localisation of the holes. The difference in value between the two extreme profiles is approx. 0.16 mm.The presented results of the numerical analysis confirm that thin-walled, perforated profiles with a Z-cross-section do not lose their stability in the post-critical range. In addition, perforated Z-profiles can be used as structural elements, and a well-chosen arrangement of the holes may prevent the mechanical properties from deteriorating.The presented results of the numerical analysis confirm that thin-walled, perforated profiles with a Z-cross-section do not lose their stability in the post-critical range.In the numerical tests, it was found that the profile with smaller size of holes located on the web causes less change in stiffness compared with the other configurations of holes.The perforated Z-profiles can be used as structural elements, and a well-chosen arrangement of the holes may prevent the mechanical properties from deteriorating.The performed analysis may be as the beginning of further research aimed at improving the obtained results by performing parametrisation of cut-outs and their arrangement, by changing the orientation of the fibre layers, as well as the type of profile cross-section.The problems related with failure analysis in the full load range seem worthy of further continuation.From the results obtained, the following conclusions can be obtained:


All nephrectomies were performed using a retroperitoneal pure laparoscopic approach. The ureter was dissected at the lower level of the common iliac artery and trimmed to the shortest length, enough to reach the bladder using extra vesicular ureterocystoneostomy with a 3 cm submucosal tunnel. Twenty-nine recipients (13.7%) developed UTI within 5 years, and the median time to onset was 40.0 days. After adjusting for the well-known factors, including recipient sex, graft ureter length was an independent factor for UTI occurrence  in the multivariate Cox regression analysis. The long ureter is usually trimmed, and the widest part is used for anastomosis, which may increase the possibility of reflux from the bladder to the ureter in the standard technique. The ureter length may be associated with the incidence of UTI after LDKT.Urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs in 25% of recipients of living-donor kidney transplantation (LDKT). Female sex, age, and anatomical abnormalities have been reported as recipient-related risk factors for UTI after LDKT; few studies have reported donor-related factors. We retrospectively examined UTI occurrence within 5 years of transplantation in recipients (  Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections after kidney transplantation. UTI has been reported to occur in 25% of recipients within the first year after living-donor kidney transplantation –3. It isRecipient-related factors, such as older age, female sex, recurrent UTI before kidney transplantation, number of days with indwelling urinary catheter, congenital urinary tract malformations, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), history of UTI 1 month before kidney transplantation, and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), are known to increase the incidence of UTI , 9. AlthWe hypothesized that donor-related factors could also affect the incidence of UTI. We retrospectively examined the association between the incidence of UTI after living-donor kidney transplantation and donor-related factors.We performed a retrospective analysis of the factors related to UTI occurrence within 5 years of living-donor kidney transplantation. Consecutive 211 recipients who underwent living-donor kidney transplantation at our hospital from April 2011 to April 2021 were included.2), body surface area , presence of diabetes, history of dialysis and duration of dialysis (months), pre-transplant bladder volume (ml). The following donor characteristics were collected: age, sex, weight (kg), BMI (kg/m2), BSA (m2), graft weight (g), graft volume (cm3), graft major axis (mm), graft density (g/cm3), graft ureter length (cm), side of the graft (left or right). The ureter length was defined as the length from the lower pole of the kidney to the stump of the ureter. Graft volume and graft density were calculated as follows: graft volume (cm3) = Long diameter (mm) x short diameter (mm) x thickness (mm) x 4/3 x π x 1000; graft density (g/cm3) = graft weight (g)/graft volume (cm3). The eGFR slope (ΔeGFR/year) was calculated as follows: eGFR slope = (the latest eGFR—eGFR at 1-year post-transplant)/(post-operative years of the latest eGFR—1).A list of recipient and donor characteristics was made according to the previous reports , 8–11, aWe included all recipients with symptomatic uncomplicated and complicated UTI for the analysis. Urinalysis and urine cultures were performed if the recipient had a fever or complained of urinary symptoms.5 colony-forming unit [CFU]) without any symptoms. Uncomplicated UTI (simple cystitis): positive urine culture (identified as >105 CFU) with local urinary symptoms such as dysuria, frequency, and urgency without systemic symptoms such as fever and abdominal pain. Complicated UTI: positive urine culture (identified as >105 CFU) with the systemic manifestation of fever, graft pain, chills, malaise caused by the same bacteria in urine, or biopsy with findings consistent with pyelonephritis(The definitions of UTI related terms are as follows. Asymptomatic bacteriuria: positive urine culture (identified as >10nephritis.All patients were administered methylprednisolone (500 mg/body) immediately before graft reperfusion, and basiliximab (20 mg/body) on days 0 and 4. The standard protocol consisted of administration of tacrolimus (TAC), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and methylprednisolone. The dosages of TAC and MMF were adjusted to achieve optimal trough levels and area under the curve (AUC) of 0–4 levels as previously reported . MMF wasAll nephrectomies were performed using a retroperitoneal pure laparoscopic approach. The surrounding tissue of the ureter was carefully preserved and dissected at the lower level of the common iliac artery. We measured the longest length of the ureter from the inferior pole of the graft kidney to the tip of the ureter while trailing the ureter down to the kidney after completing the back-table procedures. The graft kidney was placed on the right iliac fossa and the iliac vessels were used for the anastomoses of the artery and vein. The vena cava or aorta was not used for the anastomosis in this cohort. During the study period, the donor and recipient surgeries were performed by the same surgical team, and no technical changes were made. In this study, two primary surgeons were involved in the recipient surgeries, which were performed or supervised by at least one of these surgeons. One primary surgeon performed or supervised all donor surgeries. Several surgeons, mostly residents, accompanied each surgery.Ureterocystoneostomy was performed using the extravesical anastomosis method as previously reported . BrieflyThis study conformed with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki of 1964 and the Declaration of Istanbul of 2018. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee at Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital , and the requirement of written informed consent was waived considering the retrospective and non-invasive nature of this study. None of the transplant donors were from a vulnerable population and all the donors or next of kin provided freely given written informed consent.p-value <0.05 was considered to be significant. To identify independent predictors of outcomes, donor-related factors with significant differences were identified using univariate analyses, and multivariate analyses were performed with known factors, such as recipient sex, by using Cox proportional hazards models. Forward stepwise logistic regression was performed to identify the potential independent risk factors associated with the UTI within 5 years of transplantation. The analyses of the incidence of UTI within 5 years were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method, and statistical differences between curves were assessed using the log-rank test. Initial UTI events for recurrent cases were used for Kaplan–Meier and Cox analysis. Cases with missing data were not included in the study. All statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25 .Baseline characteristics were evaluated for significant differences by Chi-square test for categorical variables, Shapiro–Wilk test of normality for quantitative variables, and t-test or Mann–Whitney U test for significant differences. Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine each factor that was considered to affect the incidence of UTI. A n = 29). Of these, 14 out of 29 recipients experienced recurrent UTIs . The median time of onset was 40.0 days after transplantation . There were six symptomatic uncomplicated UTI patients and 23 symptomatic complicated UTI patients. The distribution of the ureter length was not significantly different between the groups. Complications such as including uretero-ureteral anastomosis was not observed.p = 0.001) was significantly different between the groups. There were no significant differences in age, weight, BMI, BSA, presence of diabetes mellitus, dialysis modality, duration of hemodialysis, and bladder capacity measured at the operating room. For donor-related factors, graft weight , and graft side  were significantly different between the groups, while no significant differences were seen in age, sex, BW, BMI, BSA, major axis, and graft density. Other factors had no difference including the number of HLA mismatches and incompatible transplants. No patient had a history of catheterization before transplantation.For recipient-related factors, female sex  catheter placement, and there were no significant differences between the groups.p = 0.002), graft weight , and ureter length  were significantly associated with UTI. Multivariate analysis that included donor sex revealed ureter length was an independent risk factor for UTI , even after adjusting for the recipient sex .n = 31, 14.7%), Group 2: 9.1∼11.0 cm , Group 3: 11.1∼13.0 cm  and Group 4:13.1∼15.5 cm . UTI-free survivals in 5 years were significantly different between the groups , and significant differences were observed between Groups 1 and 3 (p = 0.008) and between Groups 3 and 4  to a small diameter (3.96 ± 0.65 mm) at the lower pole of the kidney. It then widens to its maximum diameter (5.11 ± 1.34 mm) at the abdominal ureter and retracts 3.59 ± 1.20 mm) at the pelvic margin across the common iliac artery, 20 (Fig mm at thConversely, the duration of dialysis and preoperative bladder capacity, which are well-established risk factors for post-transplant VUR –25 were Besides these factors, the long duration of indwelling urethral catheter insertion, age, and DM have been reported as risk factors , 9; howeThere are several limitations to the present study. This is a single-center, retrospective study. We did not measure the length of the sacrificed ureter and the diameter of the ureter at the site of anastomosis. Also, we did not routinely check the post-transplant VUR. VUR may be a confounding factor for ureter length and ureter length may be a predictor of VUR. This aspect needs further investigation.The ureter length may be associated with the incidence of UTI after living-donor kidney transplantation. Further studies are needed to confirm the impact of ureter length and diameter on UTI incidence after living-donor kidney transplantation.


Starch extracted therefrom was investigated for structural and physicochemical properties. Starch granules showed relatively wide granule size distribution; large size granules showed lenticular shapes while medium and small size granules exhibited spherical or irregular shapes. Starch from wheat with a lower grain hardness index exhibited a relatively higher degree of crystallinity. Chain-length profiles of amylopectin showed distinct differences; among the fractions of fa, fb1, fb2, and fb3 representing the weight-based chain-length proportions in amylopectin, the fa fractions ranged from 19.7% to 21.6%, the fb1 fractions ranged from 44.4% to 45.6%, the fb2 fractions ranged from 16.2% to 17.0%, and the fb3 fractions ranged from 16.1% to 18.8%, respectively. To, Tp, Tc, and ∆H of starch ranged from 57.8 to 59.7 °C, 61.9 to 64.2 °C, 67.4 to 69.8 °C, and 11.9 to 12.7 J/g, respectively. Peak viscosity, hot pasting viscosity, cool pasting viscosity, breakdown, and setback of starch ranged from 127 to 221 RVU, 77 to 106 RVU, 217 to 324 RVU, 44 to 116 RVU, and 137 to 218 RVU, respectively. Both G’ and G” increased in the frequency range of 0.628 to 125.6 rad/s; the wheat starch gels were more solid-like during the whole range of frequency sweep.To investigate the physicochemical, structural, and rheological characteristics of starch from wheat cultivars varying in grain hardness index employed in making  Triticum aestivum (common wheat) and Triticum durum (durum wheat) are grown commercially. Common wheat constitutes over 90% of the world’s wheat production. As one of the most important agricultural crops in the world, it provides approximately one third of total cereals globally [Pin a and Pin b in unaltered forms, while all hard kernel hexaploid wheats were shown to possess one (rarely two) mutation in Pin a or Pin b, most often in Pin b [Wheat is one of the oldest food crops grown in the world, and only two modern species, globally . Some grglobally . Grain hglobally . The yieglobally . The priglobally ,6,7. Theglobally . All wheStarch composes the major proportion, approximately 80%, of wheat grains, and two major types of biomacromolecules, amylose and amylopectin, are present in starch. Amylose is an almost linear biopolymer composed of mainly α-D--glucosyl units with very few α-D--glucosyl units, while for amylopectin, the main α-D--glucosyl chains were attached by α-D--glucosyl linkages with a higher percentage of α-D--glucosyl units making the amylopectin much more branched. The quantity of starch in wheat grains can affect the bread staling, dough rheology, and crumb structure; furthermore, the physicochemical properties of starch granules help play a key role in the quality and yield of flour and the water retention capacity of dough; therefore, they have a great effect on the quality of the final product . Coarserjiuqu—a fermentation starter for baijiu production, an ancient Chinese liquor—distinctively [jiuqu preparation, wheat grains are ground, mixed with water and inoculum, and then the mixture is pressed into bricks and cultured in a special room under controlled temperatures for a few weeks to form complex microbial communities with the functions of saccharification and fermentation. Grain hardness has been observed to be negatively correlated with alcohol yield previously [jiuqu significantly, but the reason remained unknown. The value of wheat will increase as a specialist grain rather than a commodity, and assessment of some attributes of grain quality will favor this and guide wheat breeding and farm management. However, currently the breeding of wheat cultivars was aiming for higher yields and greater hardness of grains. To the best of our knowledge, there are few works on structural and functional properties of starch from wheat used for jiuqu making, and considering that the liquor production industry is an important part of the national economy in China and East Asia, the objective of the current work was to investigate the physicochemical, structural, and rheological characteristics of starch from wheat cultivars varying in grain hardness index employed in making jiuqu. This study would deepen our understanding of starch from various wheat grains with a different grain hardness index, and provide some theoretical information for applications of wheat grain in jiuqu production.Common wheat has various applications such as bread, cakes, cookies, and noodles. In China, the main applications of wheat grains are making noodles, steamed bread, or dumpling sheets. Besides these, the wheat grains are also employed to make nctively . During eviously . In pracTriticum aestivum L.), MY2, EM596, CM37, NM2, HM8, JMX22, HG35, and JMT22, with different grain hardness indices, employed in jiuqu making, were collected in the current study. The wheat varieties were grown in the season of 2017–2018, and the wheat grains were harvested in 2018. MY2 and CM37 were planted in Sichuan province; EM596, HM8, and HG35 were planted in Hubei province; and NM2, JMX, and JMT22 were planted in Henan province. All the chemicals used in the current work were of reagent grade and obtained from Sigma-Aldrich .Eight wheat varieties , and calculated as follows:1, the weight of the sample that passed through the sieve after grinding; w%, the moisture content of the sample; t (°C), ambient temperature; k1, the correction factor of moisture; k2, the correction factor of temperature. The correction factors were defined according to GB/T 21304-2007.In the calculation, the HI of the sample was adjusted to 12% of moisture content and 25 °C of ambient temperature; mTotal starch, lipids, proteins, and fiber contents of grains from different wheat cultivars were determined using AACC standard methods .g for 10 min, the supernatant was discarded, and a top, yellow layer of protein was removed using a spatula. The starch sediment was resuspended with MilliQ water and neutralized by a 0.1 M HCl solution, and then centrifuged as in the above procedure. The resuspension and centrifugation were repeated for another several times until the starch sediment surface layer showed white. The purified starch was placed in an oven at 35 °C for 48 h, the dried starch samples were ground with mortar and pestle to pass through a mesh 70 (212 μm) sieve, and the starch powders were enveloped in plastic bags for further analyses.The wheat starch was isolated according to a previous report with some modifications, which are based on the alkaline steeping method . BrieflyThe morphology of wheat starch granules was obtained by a scanning electron microscope . The starch samples were observed at an accelerating potential of 15 kV under low vacuum conditions, and magnified at 1000×, 2000×, and 4000×, respectively.The iodine reagent method was employed to measure the apparent amylose content of wheat starch. Briefly, 20 mg starch sample (dry weight basis) was added by 10 mL of 0.5 M KOH to make a suspension, which was mixed by vortex. The thoroughly mixed suspension was then transferred to a 200 mL flask, and 5 mL of 1 M HCl was added, followed by iodine reagent (0.5 mL). The solution was diluted to 100 mL with MilliQ water and placed at room temperature for 20 min, and then the absorbance was measured at 620 nm on a spectrophotometer. The calculation of apparent amylose content was conducted according to a standard curve developed by using different ratios of amylose and amylopectin blends.c is the total area of ten crystalline peaks, and Aa is the amorphous area on the diffractograms.An X-ray diffractometer  was employed to measure the X-ray diffraction pattern of wheat starches. Prior to measurements, the wheat starch powder samples were conditioned in a desiccator for 24 h. The diffractometer was operated at 40 kV and 40 mA with Cu–K radiation (1.54 Å). The diffractograms were recorded in a 2θ ranged from 5° to 45°. The step intervals were 0.02°. The peaks of crystallinity were determined on Jade software  according to a previous publication , and the−1 with a resolution of 2 cm−1 by 128 scans.Nicolet 6700 FTIR spectrometer  with a Smart iTR diamond attenuated total reflectance (ATR) was employed to determine the short-range molecular order of wheat starch granules. The wheat starch powder samples were conditioned as described in +, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) coupled with a BioLC gradient pump and a pulsed amperometric detector (PAD), were followed according to our previous description [Pseudomonas sp., 1000 U/mL, EC 3.2.1.68, Megazyme, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland) and pullulanase  were employed in the debranching reaction.The previous amylopectin purification method was followed to fractionate amylopectin from wheat starch. The method was based on butanol−alcohol precipitation . The debcription . Isoamylo), peak (Tp), and conclusion (Tc) temperatures and enthalpy (ΔH) of gelatinization, were calculated on the Universal Analysis 2000 (version 4.5A).A differential scanning calorimeter  was employed to determine the thermal properties of wheat starches. Briefly, wheat starch powder  was weighed and added into an aluminum pan, and then 6 μL of MilliQ water was added. The aluminum pan was sealed hermetically and held at room temperature for two hours. The equilibrated pan was then scanned from 35 to 110 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C/min. An empty, sealed pan was used as a reference. Thermal parameters, such as onset  with Thermocline (version 2.0) was employed to determine the pasting properties. Wheat starch  was weighed accurately in an RVA canister, and MilliQ water was added to make a total weight of 28 g and mixed thoroughly. The programmed heating and cooling cycle was used according to a previous report . The staThe wheat starch pastes with a concentration of 8% solids  were prepared by constant stirring at 95 °C in a water bath for half an hour. The prepared wheat starch pastes were transferred to the platform of a rheometer . The rheometer was equipped with a smooth 40 mm diameter parallel geometry. The gap size and strain of measurements were set at 1000 μm and 1% , respectively.The wheat starch pastes were cooled to 25 °C before starting the experimental temperature sweep. Wheat starch pastes were held undisturbed for 5 min at 25 °C to achieve a state of equilibrium, and then subjected to a frequency sweep at the same temperature over the range of 0.628 to 125.6 rad/s to monitor the viscoelastic functions. The sample edges were covered throughout with a thin layer of low-density silicon oil  to minimize evaporation. The parameters of storage modulus  and loss modulus  were recorded. The tanδ is the definition of the phase angle and calculated as G”/G’.Experiments were performed using a completely randomized factorial design. All analytical determination was performed in triplicate. The data reported are an average of triplicate observations. Statistical analysis was conducted using SigmaPlot 14.0 integrated with SigmaStat 4.0 . Results were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test to determine the significance of differences, and principal components analysis (PCA) was performed using XL stat to correlate and discriminate the varieties, and the result was plotted.Kernel texture of wheat is an important factor for milling and flour utilization, and affects marketing and processing. The properties of kernel texture are characterized by grain hardness index, which can be measured by many methods. However, particle size index (PSI), near-infrared reflectance (NIR), and single kernel characterization system (SKCS) are the three most frequently employed. These methods rely on variation in particle-size distribution or granularity of flour or meal after milling or grinding, respectively ,24. The Starches isolated from different wheat cultivars varying in grain hardness showed relatively wide granule size distribution. All of the large-size (>15 μm), medium-size (5–15 μm) and small-size (˂5 μm) granules were present. Large-size granules showed lenticular shapes while medium- and small-size granules exhibited spherical or irregular shapes . The surAmylose content of starches from wheat cultivars varying in grain hardness showed a range from 10.4% (HG35) to 15.0% DW JMX77) . The var7 . The vThe X-ray diffraction patterns of starches from wheat varying in grain hardness are illustrated in −1 seems to have a relationship with the amorphous structure, while the absorbance at 1047 cm−1 is sensitive to the crystalline structure [−1/1022 cm−1 reflecting the degree of order at the surface of starch granules were presented , fb2 (DP 25−36), and fb3 (DP > 36), were calculated to characterize the weight-based chain-length distribution of amylopectin [1 fractions ranged from 44.4% to 45.6%; the fb2 fractions ranged from 16.2% to 17.0%; and the fb3 fractions ranged from 16.1% to 18.8%, respectively. However, there was no defined trend between chain-length distribution of amylopectin and grain hardness index. Starches from all wheat cultivars showed a smooth polymodal distribution with the first peak at DP 12  and the second peak at DP 45, and a shoulder at DP 18-20 was observed in all wheat starch samples .Frequency sweeps over a range of 0.628 to 125.6 rad/s at 25 °C with a strain of 1% were employed to further examine the viscoelastic properties of gels formed by starch from wheat cultivars with various grain hardness indices. G’ represents the elasticity of the material and describes the energy temporarily stored in the sample that can be recovered, whereas G” is a parameter describing energy that has been used for initiation of flow and has been lost into shear heat . The tan3 and crystallinity, and total starch was negatively correlated with protein content and positively correlated with amylose content and fa, significantly (p < 0.05) (2 (p < 0.05); furthermore, fb2 was positively correlated with PV, FV, BD, and SB significantly (p < 0.01). Significant correlations among starch gelatinization temperatures and pasting parameters were also identified in the current work for wheat employed for jiuqu making.Pearson correlation analyses showed that TGW was negatively correlated with fa and positively correlated with fb < 0.05) . Amylose2; these parameters correlated with each other significantly  to 15.0% (JMX77). However, the amylose content might not play a key role in wheat grain hardness index. Starch from wheat with a lower grain hardness index exhibited a relatively higher degree of crystallinity. No defined trend between chain-length distribution of amylopectin and grain hardness index was observed, possibly because in the current work the grain hardness index of wheat employed in


Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a rare neurodegenerative disease characterized by eosinophilic hyaline intranuclear inclusions in cells in the central and peripheral nervous system. High-intensity signal in the corticomedullary junction on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is supportive to the diagnosis of NIID. We describe a patient with sporadic adult-onset NIID but without any high-intensity signal on DWI and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI).18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance. On the basis of 107 GGC repeats  in NOTCH2NLC gene and intranuclear inclusions with p62 immunoreactivity in the adipocyte of cutaneous sweat duct by skin biopsy, NIID was finally diagnosed. The symptomatic treatment was given but the patient had no evident improvement.A 58-year-old woman without special family history developed mild persistent tremor in the right hand and deteriorated 2 years later. At 60 years of age, the patient began to conceive the bank, police and internet being deceptive, further presented apathy and confusion after two and a half years, as well as fabrication of non-existent things. Despite the treatment of antipsychotic drugs due to a diagnosis of mental disorder, the patient appeared weakness in the right limbs. Neurological examination revealed mutism, resting tremor, cogwheel-like rigidity in upper limbs, and weakness in all limbs. Brain magnetic resonance imaging displayed no cerebral atrophy initially but atrophy of frontal, temporal and parietal lobes 5 years later. No any high-intensity signal on DWI and T2WI was revealed. However, hypometabolism in the cortexes with atrophy and the right putamen nucleus were showed on Our case highlights that despite the lack of high-intensity signal on DWI and T2WI, NIID is still considered for patients with parkinsonism and mental impairment. NOTCH2NLC gene was found to be related with NIID [Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by eosinophilic hyaline intranuclear inclusions in cells in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as visceral organs. NIID is categorized into infantile, juvenile, and adult variants according to age of onset, and is also divided into familial and sporadic cases . Due to ith NIID –6.High-intensity signal in the corticomedullary junction on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a strong indicator for the diagnosis of adult-onset NIID, and reported in all of the sporadic adult-onset NIID cases and most of the familial NIID cases . HoweverA 58-year-old Chinese Han woman was admitted to our hospital, with a complaint of subsequent tremor, mental disorder and limbs weakness since she was 53 years old. The patient initially presented mild persistent tremor in the right hand but accepted no special treatment. Two years later, the tremor deteriorated to affect eating. At the same time, the patient began to conceive the bank, police and internet being deceptive, but still accepted no consultation. After two and a half years, apathy, diminished social interest, confusion, fabrication of non-existent things, oligologia, and decreased appetite, appeared in succession. One month later, the patient was diagnosed with mental disorder in a psychiatric clinic and given olanzapine 10 mg and oxazepam 7.5 mg one time every night and aripiprazole 2.5 mg one time every day to improve the psychiatric symptoms, as well as given trihexyphenidyl 2.5 mg three times every day to alleviate tremors. Considering the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), madopar was also prescribed with a dosage of 125 mg three times every day but stopped 4 days later due to the emergence of unsteadiness in standing. About one and a half months later, weakness in the right limbs appeared and gradually deteriorated to stand with assistance. After 2 months, olanzapine, oxazepam, aripiprazole, and trihexyphenidyl were all stopped. During treatment of the above drugs, slow response, occasional urinary and fecal incontinence, sleep reversal, and mutism emerged. One month later, the patient came to our clinic for further consultation. No fever, seizure, infection and dysphagia were reported by the caregivers, except for dysphonia.Neurological examination revealed mutism, resting tremor and cogwheel-like rigidity in upper limbs, weakness in all limbs especially in the right lower limb, decreased deep tendon reflexes except the right upper limb, positive jaw jerk and palmomaxillary reflex, but no orthostatic hypotension and pathological reflexes. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and other neurological examination could not be accomplished by her conditions.Hematological, biochemical and immune-related blood tests were normal results. Normal cell count, glucose level and immune-related indexes except mildly increased protein level (530.0 (150–400) mg/L) were detected in cerebrospinal fluid by lumbar puncture. Parameters related with tumor and paraneoplastic syndrome in blood and cerebrospinal fluid were all negative. Twenty-four hours ambulatory electroencephalograph revealed no abnormality. Nerve conduction study showed decreased compound muscle action potential amplitude in bilateral peroneal nerves. Needle electromyography examination detected chronic denervation potential in right tibialis anterior.18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) showed hypometabolism in the corresponding cortexes with atrophy, and in the right putamen nucleus , an abnormal expansion  scanned at the age of 53 years old, and displayed no cerebral atrophy and hyperintensities on DWI and T2WI Fig.  A1-A4. HIn the current study, we report a sporadic adult-onset NIID case, presenting with parkinsonism and mental impairment. Skin biopsy and gene detection demonstrated the diagnosis of NIID.High-intensity signal in the corticomedullary junction on DWI, being called ‘ribbon sign’ or ‘diaper sign’, was presented in 100% patients with sporadic NIID while in 81.8% patients with hereditary NIID , and wasIn particular, DWI showed a small high-intensity lesion in the right frontal corticomedullary junction until 7 years after the first episode of recurrent vomiting in a patient with NIID . Further18F-FDG to explore the brain metabolism. In a sporadic adult-onset NIID case predominantly with dementia and gait disturbance, 18F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated glucose hypometabolism in bilateral cerebral hemisphere, especially in the frontoparietal cortex, wider than the range of leukoencephalopathy on MRI [18F-FDG PET/CT of a familial adult-onset NIID patient with dementia and Parkinson’s syndrome showed decreased metabolism in the left frontal lobe and right parietal lobe [18F-FDG also demonstrated glucose hypometabolism in the left parietal, bilateral medial prefrontal, and bilateral anterior temporal cortexes, alongside corresponding atrophy. Although SPECT showed normal uptake in the thalamus and basal ganglia in a NIID patient presenting with resting tremor but no other signs of parkinsonism [Despite the majority of sporadic NIID cases showed regionally decreased cerebral blood flow of the frontal, parietal, precuneous, and posterior cingulate cortices on single-photon computed emission tomography (SPECT) , 18, 19,y on MRI . The 18Ftal lobe . Furthertal lobe . In our insonism , our casFor the first time in the literatures, we describe a patient with sporadic adult-onset NIID who displayed no high-intensity signal on DWI and T2WI. On account of the apparent mental impairment is not always captured in the duration of PD or Parkinson’s syndrome, neurological clinicians are supposed to consider the diagnosis of NIID for patients with mental impairment and parkinsonism even lack of the high-intensity signal on DWI and T2WI.


C-type crystal structure of starch is converted to the B-type structure. The supernatant obtained by starch hydrolysis can be used for producing glucose syrup. The resulting glucose syrup can be used as a sugar substitute in production of confectionery products. No objective technological differences in properties of glucose syrup obtained by comprehensive conversion of starch and the commercially available glucose syrup derived from sucrose were revealed.This study demonstrated the feasibility of comprehensive enzymatic conversion of starch for non-waste applications in food industry. Enzymatic conversion of starch gives rise to nano-sized particles that can be used for manufacturing biodegradable and edible packaging materials and glucose syrup for replacing sugar in confectionery formulations. The 96 h enzymatic hydrolysis yielded starch nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm. Films based on nano-sized starch particles have promising physicochemical properties for manufacturing biodegradable and edible packaging materials. Such properties as reduced moisture content, increased homogeneity, crystallinity, and high initial thermal stability improve the mechanical and performance characteristics of the final food packaging materials. During film formation from starch subjected to preliminary mechanical amorphization, the polymer chain is recrystallized. The  In the current society there is an ever-increasing unmet demand for biodegradable materials from renewable sources with the potential to be used for food storage and transportation. The most promising raw materials for obtaining such materials are natural polysaccharides, such as cellulose, starch, and chitosan ,2,3. PacThe important practical properties of starch, such as its availability and abundance, renewability, ability to be completely biologically degraded, low allergenicity, and low cost (much lower compared to cellulose) have been drawing researchers’ attention to the development of novel applications of starch in food and chemical industries, as well as bioengineering and materials science ,9,10,11.A-, B-, and C-types), which are found in different crops and slightly vary in terms of reactivity [From the chemical standpoint, starch consists of two polysaccharides: linear amylose and branched amylopectin linked so as to form granules with an amorphocrystalline structure ,13. Theractivity ,13,14,15activity .As an alternative to materials made from non-renewable resources, biodegradable (and even edible) polymeric materials  based on polysaccharides are the subject of the rapidly developing trend in materials science ,18. The The process of nanoparticle production can be carried out according to two basic principles: “top-down” and “bottom-up” , which aThe basis of the “top-down” method of producing nanoparticles is the destruction of bulk material to obtain nanoparticles, and the “bottom-up” method is carried out through the growth-up and aggregation of molecules . The mosAlong with fabrication of nanoparticles, enzymatic hydrolysis allows simple and inexpensive production of glucose syrup, which is in-demand not only as a confectionery ingredient in the food industry but also as feedstock for obtaining higher-value products in bioengineering ,36,37,38This study focused on enzymatic hydrolysis enabling non-waste conversion of starch for the food industry that (1) yields nano-sized starch particles for producing biodegradable and edible packaging materials and (2) allows one to produce glucose syrup to be used as sugar substituent in confectionery formulations.The reagents used in this study were as follows: tapioca starch , distilled and bidistilled water, potassium ferricyanide (III) , D(+)-glucose , and glycerol . The enzymatic cocktail “Amylosubtilin G3x”  was used; its biocatalytic activity on model substrates was as follows: α-amylase, not less than 1500 units/g; β-glucanase, up to 500 units/g; and xylanase, up to 100 units/g.The particle sizes of native starch were measured on a CAMSIZER X2 optical analyzer  with a detection threshold of 0.8–8000 μm and compressed air dispersion module (pressure 50 kPa). The average particle size was calculated using the image analysis method in compliance with ISO standard 13322-2:2006.2; nominal motor power, 1.1 kW). Steel balls  were used as grinding media. The weight of treated material was 10 g; the duration of mechanical treatment was 600 s.Tapioca starch was subjected to mechanical treatment in an AGO-2 water-cooled planetary ball mill   was carried out at a temperature of 55 °C and stirring speed of 120 rpm. To perform hydrolysis, starch was suspended in an enzyme solution (10 g of starch + 250 mL of the enzyme cocktail solution). To collect glucose syrup and starch nanoparticle samples, the reaction was stopped by rapid cooling to 4 °C after 6, 12, 24, and 96 h. The supernatant was then separated by centrifuging ; the precipitate was washed several times with distilled water until neutral pH, frozen, dried by freeze dehydration, and weighed to determine the yield.The reducing sugar content was measured using the Hagedorn–Jensen ferrocyanide method . D(+)-GlThe zeta potential and the average particle size of the native and nano starch were determined using a Photocor Compact-Z  at a wavelength of 635.5 nm and 450 nm, respectively. For this purpose, 0.01% suspension of starch nanoparticles in bidistilled water was prepared; the resulting solution was dispersed at 25,000 rpm for 20 min on a T18 digital ULTRA TURRAX ultradisperser .2) and dried in a drying oven at 35 °C for 24 h to obtain films.Suspensions (3 wt. %) of native starch were subjected to gelatinization at 80 °C for 30 min. Next, nano-sized starch particles (5%) were added to the gellified solutions of native starch. The resulting solution was kept at room temperature under stirring at 300 rpm for 30 min, and vacuum degassing was performed. The degassed solutions were poured into round molds 35 mm in diameter  using a halogen lamp as a heating element. Drying to constant mass (mass loss during 3 min drying being less than 2 mg) was performed.Film thickness was measured using an MK 0–25 mm micrometer  (State Standard GOST 6507-90). Film thickness at 10 different spots was measured for each sample.X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out on a D8 Advance X-ray powder diffractometer  with CuKα radiation at a wavelength of 1.5406 Å in the Bragg–Brentano reflection geometry, at a scan step of 0.0195° in the 2θ angle range = 3°–60°.CrI) was calculated as the ratio between the area of the crystalline phase and the total area under the XRD curve using Equation (1) [The crystallinity index (tion (1) :(1)CrI=SThe particle morphologies of native tapioca starch, native starch film, and starch film + 5% starch nanoparticles were studied by scanning electron microscopy on a TM-1000 microscope  at an accelerating voltage of 15 kV. A gold coating was deposited onto the sample surface to remove the accumulated charge using a JFC-1600 Auto Fine Coater  .Differential scanning calorimetry analyses were carried out in argon gas atmosphere on a DSC 204 F1 . Approximately 2 mg of native tapioca starch and starch-based films was weighed in hermetic pans in order to avoid water loss. An empty hermetic pan was used as a reference. Samples were heated from 25 to 250 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C/min in the argon atmosphere.The following ubiquitously available ingredients were used to prepare confectionery products (gingerbread): wheat flour , flaxseed flour , buckwheat flour , corn flour , glucose syrup , experimental glucose syrup, chicken eggs , butter 72.5% fat , “Motley grass” honey , baking soda , dough baking powder .To bake gingerbread according to the basic commonly used formulation , the preGingerbread samples were evaluated according to their appearance, taste, smell, color, and consistency in compliance with the State Standard GOST 31986-2012. Each of the sensory evaluation indicators  was evaluated on a 5-point scale, where 5 points is the highest score and 1 point is the lowest score.In each assay, repeats were performed at least 3 times on different representative samples. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD).C-type crystal structure (1) 293.6 ± 0.2; the peak temperature (T2) 298.1 ± 0.3; the endset temperature (T3) 314.0 ± 0.5; and the enthalpy of phase transition (ΔH) −20.61 ± 0.8 J/g.Tapioca starch had a moisture content of 7.5% and an average particle size of 17 ± 1 μm. Granules of native tapioca starch had a predominantly spherical morphology, with numerous polyhedral fragments a. Tapioctructure b. ThermaThe enzymatic hydrolysis reaction was fully stopped after 6, 12, 24, and 96 h for collecting the supernatant to produce glucose syrup and characterize starch particles after the hydrolysis . Table 1However, the depth of enzymatic hydrolysis sufficient for the formation of starch nanoparticles was reached after 24 h. The yield of starch nanoparticles after 96 h hydrolysis was 34 ± 2%. The zeta potential was +5.6 mV; its low value indicates that interparticle repulsion was low.The SEM images of the films prepared from native starch show that they have a textured surface d. The am1), the melting peak maximum (T2), the endset temperature (T3), and the enthalpy (ΔH) of thermal phase transitions were also determined to characterize thermal properties.The thickness of the films prepared from pre-amorphized starch changed twofold, and the thickness of the films doped with nano-sized starch particles decreased threefold; film homogeneity increased. Moisture content in the films prepared from amorphous starch and in composite films based on nanoparticles differed 1.5- and 2-fold, respectively.C-type starch was converted to the B-type , the peak temperatures (T2), and the peak endset temperatures (T3) were observed between the all films. The enthalpy for amorphous tapioca starch-based film was −53.6 J/g, which may indicate greater homogeneity  and greater thermal stability. The high temperatures of endothermal peak for tapioca starch, native starch films, amorphous starch film, and nanoparticle-containing films can be attributed to the fact that starch gelatinization during the film production was completed and that tapioca starch has a higher crystallinity (41%); they also demonstrate that granules have a higher structural stability, thus resulting in higher thermal stability [The thermal properties of tapioca starch-, amorphous starch-, and nano starch-based films are summarized in tability ,43.To produce glucose syrup, the supernatant collected after enzymatic conversion of starch was concentrated in a water bath until reaching a thick consistency, which is typical of commercially available molasses. A viscous fluid of rich caramel color, with sweet odor and taste, was obtained.Gingerbread samples were baked to compare properties of the produced glucose syrup and the commercially available analog. The following gingerbread samples were prepared from wheat, flaxseed, buckwheat, and corn flour . The molThe samples mainly differed in appearance, which can be explained by the insufficiently viscous consistency of the glucose syrup produced by enzymatic conversion of starch. These differences are not objective quality criteria and can be easily corrected using routine procedures for optimizing the composition of the components. The more important parameters, the results of comprehensive sensory evaluation , demonstThe sensory evaluation scale scores for all the samples were almost identical. The gingerbread made from corn flour had the greatest score: 23 points for the commercial sample of glucose syrup and 22.9 points for the experimental sample of glucose syrup. The gingerbread samples made from flaxseed flour had the lowest score: 17.8 points for the commercial sample of glucose syrup and 21.1 points for the experimental sample of glucose syrup, respectively. It indicates that the role of the source of glucose syrup as the end product is negligible and much less significant than the role of the main components (flour).It was demonstrated for tapioca starch that starch nanoparticles and glucose syrup can be produced by enzymatic hydrolysis under mild conditions (without using buffer solutions). Long-term enzymatic hydrolysis (up to 96 h) gave rise to starch nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm at a high yield (~34%). The supernatant obtained after the enzymatic hydrolysis could be used to produce glucose syrup for substituting sugar in confectionery formulations  after only 24 h.C-type crystal structure of the native starch became B-type.As amorphized starch films were formed, the polymeric chain was recrystallized due to swelling and exposure to high temperatures. The Starch films made from native starch and the nano starch-based composite film  have promising properties for producing biodegradable and edible packaging materials. Such properties as the reduced moisture content, homogeneity, high crystallinity, and high initial thermal stability improve the mechanical and performance characteristics of the final food-packaging materials.The supernatant can be used to produce sugar substitute (glucose syrup). The differences in properties of glucose syrup obtained by comprehensive conversion of tapioca starch and the commercially available glucose syrup can be mitigated using routine procedures for optimizing the confectionery formulations.