USING RAW POTATO PEEL IN THE PRODUCTION OF EXTRUDED FEED ADDITIVE

The paper is concerned with some aspects of processing raw potato peelings. It presents the dynamics of potato production in the world and in Ukraine, and analyses the figures on yields of this crop. Methods of processing potatoes at Ukrainian enterprises have been considered. It has been found that the bulk of the waste (15–60%) is formed during peeling raw potatoes. Methods of utilisation of potato peelings have been analysed. Problems of using fresh potato peel in the diet of farm livestock have been analysed. The technological operations of potato waste processing have been considered, and it has been substantiated how practical the method of extrusion is. The advantages of manufacturing an extruded feed additive with the use of potato peel have been shown. The physical properties, chemical composition, and term of storage of fresh potato peel have been determined. It has been found that fresh potato peel is poorly storable and hardly flowable, so it must be processed within 48 hours. To produce an extruded feed additive including crushed wheat grain and fresh potato peel in the ratio 9:1, a step-by-step scheme has been developed. The physical properties, the content of individual nutrients and minerals, and the shelf life of the extruded additive have been determined. It has been established that manufacturing the feed additive by the method suggested allows increasing the product’s nutritional value, prolonging its shelf life, improving its sanitary quality, technological properties, and conditions of feeding potato peel to livestock. It has been found that when the amount of potato peel introduced is 10% and that of crushed wheat grain is 90%, the optimal moisture content is 16.5%. Besides, this ratio results in the minimum energy consumption and in a coefficient of expansion high enough. During extrusion, the physical properties change: the moisture content, angle of repose, and bulk density decrease, while the flowability increases, which makes the feed additive suitable for use in the feed products technology. Besides, extrusion of the feed additive is accompanied by reduction in crude protein, crude fibre, and crude fat. It has been established that the shelf life of the additive is 4 months

Study of the absorption coefficient of graphene-polymer composites

In this work, we have prepared a series of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites containing various graphene flakes loadings (0.02-2 wt%), and their broadband optical properties are being investigated. We demonstrate the tunability and evolution of transmittance and reflection spectra of the composites in a wide spectral range (0.4-200 μm) as a function of graphene content. Using these data we derive the broadband wavelength-dependent absorption coefficient (α) values. Our results show that α is roughly constant in the visible and IR ranges, and, surprisingly, is approximately one order of magnitude lower in the terahertz regime, suggesting different terahertz radiation scattering mechanism in our composite. Our material could be useful for applications in optical communication, sensing or ultrafast photonics.

Quality indicator set for systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a marked economic burden, high treatment costs and decreased productivity. Although treatment strategies for SSc can have a substantial effect on patients' outcomes, it is not known whether patients with SSc consistently receive such care. Evaluation of process-of-care quality requires specification of quality indicators (QIs), clinically detailed statements of the eligible patients and the care they should receive to achieve a minimal level of quality of care. Our objective was to develop QIs for patients with SSc.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive literature review of diagnosis and treatment of SSc and proposed QIs that were evaluated by a national Expert Panel (n=9) who were asked to review the supporting literature and individually rank the validity of each QI. These rankings formed the basis of discussion at a face-to-face meeting following the RAND/UCLA method to integrate expert opinion with literature review to identify a set of final QIs. We then presented these QIs to members of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium (SCTC).

RESULTS

Thirty-two QIs for SSc care were judged valid by the Expert Panel. The QI set includes 9 QIs for newly diagnosed with SSc, 12 follow-up QIs for management of SSc, and 11 treatment QIs. The SCTC experts agreed with the validity of each of the 32 QI and agreed that for all but one QI the specified tests, procedures and treatments recommended in the QI were generally available.

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed 32 QIs for SSc using a rigorous methodology that can be employed to evaluate and improve care for patients with SSc, as well as inform policy decisions supporting appropriate care for SSc patients.

Increased production of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with antitopoisomerase I antibody and more severe disease in systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family, plays a crucial role in the survival of peripheral B cells, and may contribute to the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) through upregulation of autoantibody production and maintenance of autoimmune phenomena. We evaluated the capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with SSc (SSc-PBMC) to produce APRIL; and investigated correlations between production of APRIL by SSc-PBMC and clinical and laboratory features of the disease.

METHODS

PBMC from 20 patients with SSc and 14 healthy subjects were incubated in fetal calf serum-supplemented RPMI medium. APRIL levels were determined in cell culture supernatants by ELISA.

RESULTS

PBMC from patients with SSc produced significantly more APRIL (961 ± 151 pg/ml/10⁵ cells) than control PBMC (798 ± 219 pg/ml/10⁵ cells; p < 0.01). In patients with SSc, increased production of APRIL was associated with the presence of diffuse skin involvement, scleroderma lung disease, peripheral vasculopathy, greater capillary damage on capillaroscopy, and presence of anti-topoisomerase I (anti-topo I) antibodies. Multivariate regression analysis revealed anti-topo I antibodies as the only independent predictor of high production of APRIL by PBMC.

CONCLUSION

Production of APRIL is increased in SSc-PBMC and is associated with the presence of anti-topo I antibodies and more severe disease. Targeting the APRIL pathway might represent a therapeutic possibility for treatment of patients with SSc, in particular those with anti-topo I antibodies.