<p>Hereditary ichthyosis is a collective name for many dry and scaly skin disorders ranging in frequency from common to very rare. The main groups are autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis, autosomal dominant epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and ichthyosis vulgaris, and x-linked recessive ichthyosis. Anhidrosis, ectropion and keratodermia are common symptoms, especially in lamellar ichthyosis, which is often caused by mutations in the transglutaminase 1 (TGM1) gene. The aim of this work was to study patients with different types of ichthyosis regarding (i) the patho-aetiology (TGM1 and electron microscopy [EM] analysis), (ii) skin signs and symptoms (clinical score and subjective measure of disease activity), (iii) quality of life (questionnaires DLQI, SF-36 and NHP and face-to-face interviews) and (iv) a search for new ways of topical treatment. Patients from Sweden and Estonia with autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (n=83) had a broader clinical spectrum than anticipated, but a majority carried TGM1 mutations. Based on DNA analysis and clinical examinations the patients were classified into three groups, which could be further subdivided after EM analysis. Our studies indicate that patients with ichthyosis have reduced quality of life as reflected by DLQI and by some domains of SF-36, by NHP and the interviews. All the interviewees reported that their skin disease had affected them negatively to varying degrees during their entire lives and that the most problematic period was childhood. All patients with ichthyosis use topical therapy. In a double-blind study creams containing either 5% urea or 20% propylene glycol were found inferior to a cream formulation containing lactic acid 5% and propylene glycol 20% both regarding clinical improvement and thinning of the skin barrier. Improved topical therapy may reduce the need of more toxic, oral drugs. Future studies should elucidate whether this increases the quality of life of ichthyosis patients, especially if combined with more detailed information about the aetiology and inheritance of the diseases.</p>

Hereditary ichthyosis is a collective name for many dry and scaly skin disorders ranging in frequency from common to very rare. The main groups are autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis, autosomal dominant epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and ichthyosis vulgaris, and x-linked recessive ichthyosis. Anhidrosis, ectropion and keratodermia are common symptoms, especially in lamellar ichthyosis, which is often caused by mutations in the transglutaminase 1 (TGM1) gene. The aim of this work was to study patients with different types of ichthyosis regarding (i) the patho-aetiology (TGM1 and electron microscopy [EM] analysis), (ii) skin signs and symptoms (clinical score and subjective measure of disease activity), (iii) quality of life (questionnaires DLQI, SF-36 and NHP and face-to-face interviews) and (iv) a search for new ways of topical treatment. Patients from Sweden and Estonia with autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (n=83) had a broader clinical spectrum than anticipated, but a majority carried TGM1 mutations. Based on DNA analysis and clinical examinations the patients were classified into three groups, which could be further subdivided after EM analysis. Our studies indicate that patients with ichthyosis have reduced quality of life as reflected by DLQI and by some domains of SF-36, by NHP and the interviews. All the interviewees reported that their skin disease had affected them negatively to varying degrees during their entire lives and that the most problematic period was childhood. All patients with ichthyosis use topical therapy. In a double-blind study creams containing either 5% urea or 20% propylene glycol were found inferior to a cream formulation containing lactic acid 5% and propylene glycol 20% both regarding clinical improvement and thinning of the skin barrier. Improved topical therapy may reduce the need of more toxic, oral drugs. Future studies should elucidate whether this increases the quality of life of ichthyosis patients, especially if combined with more detailed information about the aetiology and inheritance of the diseases.

Biotreatment for air pollution control can generally be categorized as biofilter, bioscrubbing and biotrickling filter systems. Generally, biotreatments could be effective and more economical treatment for containment waste gas if designed and operated properly. A two stage down-flow biofilter (2.18 m in height and 0.4 m¡Ñ0.4 m in cross-sectional area) was constructed to develop a biofilter packed only with fern chips for the removal of air-borne propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA). Both stages were packed with fern chips of 0.30 m in height and 0.40 m ¡Ñ0.40 m in cross section. Fern chips could avoid the shortcomings of traditional media, such as compaction, drying, and breakdown, which lead to the performance failure of the biofilters. In addition, the fern chip medium has the following merits: (1) simplicity in composition, (2) low pressure drop for gas flow (< 20 mmH2O m-1), (3) simple in humidification, nutrient addition, pH control, and metabolite removal, (4) economical (USD$ 174 ¡V 385 m-3), and (5) low weight (wet basis around 290 kg m-3). Results indicate that with operation conditions of media moisture content controlled in the range of 50 ¡V 74%, media pH of 6.5 ¡V 8.3, EBRT (empty bed retention time) of 0.27 ¡V 0.4 min, influent PGMEA concentrations of 100 to 750 mg m-3, volumetric organic loading of < 170 g m-3 h-1, and nutrition rates of Urea-N 66.0 g m-3.day-1, KH2PO4-P 13.3 g m-3.day-1 and milk powder 1.0 g m-3 day-1, the fern-chip packed biofilter could achieve an overall PGMEA removal efficacy of around 94%. Instant milk powder or liquid milk was essential to the good and stable performance of the biofilter for PGMEA removal. An activated sludge aeration basin (20 cm i.d., 140 cm height) equipped with either a coarse air diffuser (a plastic pipe perforated with 56 orifices of 2 mm in diameter) or a fine diffuser (porous plastic type with 100-micrometer pores) was utilized to treat an air-borne hydrophobic VOC (toluene, 700 ¡V 800 mg m-3). The purposes of this study were to test the influences of both MLSS and diffuser type on the VOC removal efficiency. Results show that higher MLSS (mixed liquor suspended solids) such as 10,000 ¡V 40,000 mg L-1 in the mixed liquor did not enhance greatly the transfer and removal of the introduced toluene. Instead, activated sludge basins with a normal MLSS (e.g., 2,000 ¡V 4,000 mg L-1) in the mixed liquor and an efficient gas diffusion system with volumetric VOC transfer coefficient of around 10 ¡V 15 h-1 can be used for the removal of hydrophobic VOCs from the introduced gas. For achieving a removal of over 95% of the introduced toluene or similar hydrophobic VOCs, commercial air diffusers for aerobic biological wastewater treatment basins can be used with a submerged liquid depth of over 0.40 m over the diffusers and an aeration intensity (air flow rate/basin cross-sectional area) of lower than 5.0 m3 m-2 h-1.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Neste estudo, o comportamento em solução diluída de pré-polímeros uretânicos à base de poli(glicol propilênico) (PPG) e diisocianato de isoforona (IPDI) foi avaliado por medidas viscosimétricas a 30&#61616; C em dois tipos de solventes, com diferentes polaridades: isopropanol e tolueno. Os pré-polímeros foram sintetizados em massa, ou seja, na ausência de qualquer solvente, e nas formulações foram variadas as razões entre o número de equivalentes-grama de grupamentos isocianato e hidroxila [NCO/OH] e a massa molar do PPG. Os pré-polímeros foram caracterizados por espectrometria na região do infravermelho. No tratamento matemático dos dados viscosimétricos, foram empregadas cinco diferentes equações para determinar os valores de viscosidade intrínseca: Huggins; Kraemer e Schulz-Blaschke, por extrapolação gráfica; e Solomon-Ciuta; Deb-Chanterjee e; novamente, Schulz-Blaschke, para determinações por um único ponto. Os valores de viscosidade intrínseca obtidos pelos dois métodos (extrapolação gráfica e por um único ponto) foram comparados a fim de se verificar a validade da determinação por um único ponto para os sistemas analisados, bem como determinar qual equação seria a mais adequada para esse tipo de cálculo. Foram calculadas as constantes viscosimétricas de Huggins, Kraemer e Schulz-Blaschke, e foi feita uma análise da qualidade do solvente. / In this study the behavior of urethanes prepolymers based on poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), in diluted solutions, were studied by viscosimetric measurements, at 30&#61616; C, in two types of solvents with different polarities: isopropyl alcohol and toluene. The prepolymers were synthesized in bulk, i.e, in the absence of solvent. In the formulations were varied the ratio between the equivalent-grams number of isocyanate functional groups and hydroxyl group [NCO/OH] and PPG molecular mass. The prepolymers were characterized by infrared spectrometry (FTIR). Five different equations were used to determine intrinsic viscosities values: Huggins; Kraemer and Schulz-Blaschke, by graphic extrapolation; and Solomon-Ciuta; Deb-Chanterjee and; again, Schulz-Blaschke, by a single point determination. The intrinsic viscosities values obtained by two methods (graphic extrapolations and through a single point determination) were compared in order to verify the validity of the single point determination for the systems studied, as well as the more accurate equation for this type of calculation. Viscometric constants from Huggins; Kraemer and Schulz-Blaschke equations were also determined to verify solvent quality.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Neste estudo, o comportamento em solução diluída de pré-polímeros uretânicos à base de poli(glicol propilênico) (PPG) e diisocianato de isoforona (IPDI) foi avaliado por medidas viscosimétricas a 30&#61616; C em dois tipos de solventes, com diferentes polaridades: isopropanol e tolueno. Os pré-polímeros foram sintetizados em massa, ou seja, na ausência de qualquer solvente, e nas formulações foram variadas as razões entre o número de equivalentes-grama de grupamentos isocianato e hidroxila [NCO/OH] e a massa molar do PPG. Os pré-polímeros foram caracterizados por espectrometria na região do infravermelho. No tratamento matemático dos dados viscosimétricos, foram empregadas cinco diferentes equações para determinar os valores de viscosidade intrínseca: Huggins; Kraemer e Schulz-Blaschke, por extrapolação gráfica; e Solomon-Ciuta; Deb-Chanterjee e; novamente, Schulz-Blaschke, para determinações por um único ponto. Os valores de viscosidade intrínseca obtidos pelos dois métodos (extrapolação gráfica e por um único ponto) foram comparados a fim de se verificar a validade da determinação por um único ponto para os sistemas analisados, bem como determinar qual equação seria a mais adequada para esse tipo de cálculo. Foram calculadas as constantes viscosimétricas de Huggins, Kraemer e Schulz-Blaschke, e foi feita uma análise da qualidade do solvente. / In this study the behavior of urethanes prepolymers based on poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), in diluted solutions, were studied by viscosimetric measurements, at 30&#61616; C, in two types of solvents with different polarities: isopropyl alcohol and toluene. The prepolymers were synthesized in bulk, i.e, in the absence of solvent. In the formulations were varied the ratio between the equivalent-grams number of isocyanate functional groups and hydroxyl group [NCO/OH] and PPG molecular mass. The prepolymers were characterized by infrared spectrometry (FTIR). Five different equations were used to determine intrinsic viscosities values: Huggins; Kraemer and Schulz-Blaschke, by graphic extrapolation; and Solomon-Ciuta; Deb-Chanterjee and; again, Schulz-Blaschke, by a single point determination. The intrinsic viscosities values obtained by two methods (graphic extrapolations and through a single point determination) were compared in order to verify the validity of the single point determination for the systems studied, as well as the more accurate equation for this type of calculation. Viscometric constants from Huggins; Kraemer and Schulz-Blaschke equations were also determined to verify solvent quality.

L’objectif de ce travail est de démontrer que la présence de glucomannane de konjac (KGM) dans une matrice d’amidon de pomme de terre permet d’accroître sa stabilité physique sans inhiber l’encapsulation moléculaire de composés d’arôme par l’amylose. Pour cette étude, les deux polyosides choisis sont issus de tubercules de plantes abondantes dans la nature.L’amidon est connu pour interagir avec des composés volatils, soit en les piégeant dans la zone amorphe, soit en formant des complexes d'inclusion. Ce phénomène est appelé encapsulation moléculaire. Cependant, les matrices amylacées à forte teneur en eau présentent une synérèse pouvant être néfaste sur la stabilité du piégeage des composés d’arôme dans le temps. Le KGM possède une capacité à former des solutions extrêmement visqueuses. L’ajout de KGM à faible concentration (0,2 %) à une suspension d’amidon (5 %) perturbe la gélatinisation de l’amidon, accélère la rétrogradation de l’amylose et ralentit la rétrogradation de l’amylopectine. Lors d’un vieillissement accéléré, la présence de KGM assure la stabilité de la suspension d’amidon. Dans une matrice amidon – KGM, l’encapsulation moléculaire du carvacrol par l’amylose a été mise en évidence. Les complexes formés sont de type V6III. Leur formation est dépendante des conditions expérimentales. L’utilisation du propylène glycol favorise la formation de complexes amylose carvacrol. Lors d’un vieillissement accéléré, le KGM assure la stabilité du piégeage du carvacrol.La matrice amidon de pomme de terre – KGM avec un ajout du carvacrol en fin de process présente la stabilité physique du gel et la stabilité du piégeage du carvacrol les plus optimales. / The objective of this study is to demonstrate that the presence of konjac glucomannan (KGM) in a potato starch matrix enhances its physical stability without inhibiting the molecular encapsulation of aroma compounds by amylose. For that purpose, the two selected polysaccharides are from plant tubers, abundant in nature.Starch is known to interact with volatile compounds either by trapping in amorphous phase or by forming inclusion complexes. This phenomenon is called molecular encapsulation. However, at high water content, these starchy matrices exhibit syneresis that can be harmful to the stability of the aroma compounds trapping over time. KGM has the ability to form highly viscous solutions. Our results show that the addition of KGM at low concentration (0.2 %) in starch dispersion (5 %) disrupts the gelatinisation of starch, accelerates the retrogradation of amylose and delays the one of amylopectin. During accelerate aging, the presence of KGM ensures stability of starch suspensions.In starch – KGM matrix, the molecular encapsulation of carvacrol by amylose has been demonstrated. The complexes of caravacrol – amylose are V6III type structure. Their establishment is dependent on experimental conditions. The use of propylene glycol as carrier solvent of carvacrol promotes the formation of complexes between amylose and carvacrol. During accelerate aging, the presence of KGM ensures the stability of carvacrol trapping.The potato starch – KGM matrix with an addition of carvacrol at the end of the process shows the best physical stability of the gel and the best carvacrol trapping.

Au laboratoire, une méthode originale d'encapsulation par transacylation entre l'alginate de propylène-glycol (PGA) et une protéine a été mise au point. Cette méthode est basée sur la création de liaisons amides entre les fonctions amines libres de la protéine et les groupes esters du PGA dans une phase aqueuse émulsionnée (E/H) après alcalinisation. Les microparticules obtenues, stables, biocompatibles et biodégradables, sont potentiellement intéressantes pour la délivrance de substances actives en thérapeutique ou en cosmétique.Le premier objectif de ce travail est d'étudier l'influence des propriétés physicochimiques des deux biopolymères (protéine et PGA) et de leurs solutions, ainsi que l'effet des paramètres de préparation sur la réaction de transacylation et sur les propriétés des microparticules obtenues. Pour cela, la sérumalbumine humaine (HSA) a servi de protéine modèle et les microparticules ont été préparées dans différentes conditions physicochimiques puis caractérisées. Différents liens ont été établis entre les propriétés physicochimiques des solutions initiales des deux polymères et les propriétés fonctionnelles des microparticules obtenues.Le deuxième objectif est de remplacer le PGA, seul polysaccharide utilisable jusqu'à présent pour la microencapsulation par transacylation, par d'autres polysaccharides naturels, dans la préparation de microparticules. Etant donné ses propriétés intrinsèques limitantes, le remplacement du PGA par d'autres esters polysaccharidiques parait avantageux dans le domaine d'application des microparticules.Dans ce travail, le PGA a été remplacé par une série d'esters semi-synthétiques d'alginate puis par d'autres polysaccharides estérifiés naturels (pectines) ou semi-synthétiques (esters polypectiques et esters de l'acide hyaluronique). Les conditions optimales pour l'utilisation de chaque ester ont été alors déterminées. / In our laboratory, an original method of microencapsulation was developed, based on the use of a transacylation reaction, creating covalent bonds between proteins and propylene glycol alginate (PGA). The covalent bonds are created after alkalization of the aqueous phase of a W/O emulsion, without using bifunctional crosslinking reagent.The resulting microparticles, which are stable, biocompatible and biodegradable, have potential applications for the delivery of active compounds for therapeutics or cosmetics.The first aim of this work is to study the influence of the physicochemical properties of the two polymers (protein and PGA) and of their solutions, as well as the effect of the preparation parameters on the transacylation reaction and on microparticle characteristics. For this purpose, human serum albumin (HSA) was picked as a model protein and microparticles were prepared using several physicochemical conditions then characterized. Several relationships were established between the physicochemical properties of the initial solutions of the two polymers and the functional properties of the resulting microparticles.The second purpose is to replace the PGA, only polysaccharide used for microencapsulation by transacylation so far, by other natural polysaccharides in the preparation of microparticles. Given its limiting intrinsic properties, the replacement of PGA by other polysaccharidic esters seems advantageous in the field of microparticle applications.In this work, the PGA was successfully replaced by a series of semisynthetic alginate esters, and then by other polysaccharidic esters, either natural esters (pectin) or semisynthetic esters (polypectate esters and hyaluronate esters). The optimal conditions for the use of each ester were then determined.

O objetivo do primeiro estudo foi avaliar a produção in vitro de embriões (PIVE) em vacas holandesas não lactantes submetidas a aspiração oocitária (OPU) posteriormente ao protocolo de superestimulação folicular similar ao descrito por Nivet et al. (2012) em comparação à realização da OPU em dia aleatório do ciclo estral. Para tal, vacas holandesas não lactantes e não gestantes foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em delineamento tipo crossover em Controle (n = 35), em que as vacas não foram tratadas com FSH, mas submetidas a uma sessão de aspiração em dia aleatório do ciclo estral; ou p-FSH (n = 35), em que, 36 horas após a OPU para sincronização da onda folicular, as vacas foram tratadas com p-FSH por 3 dias e 44 horas após, submetidas a sessões de OPU. O número total de complexos cumulusoócito (CCO) recuperados e o número de oócitos viáveis foram semelhantes entre os grupos controle e p-FSH. Além disso, não houve aumento na proporção de CCO viáveis (CCO viáveis / CCO total recuperado). Da mesma forma, não se detectaram diferenças no número de embriões / sessão de OPU e taxa de blastocistos. O protocolo de superestimulação folicular não melhorou a PIVE em vacas holandesas não lactantes. O experimento 2 testou a hipótese de que vacas leiteiras de alta produção se tornam cada vez mais resistentes à insulina com o avançar da lactação, e consequentemente, a qualidade do oócito é comprometida. Foram utilizadas vacas holandesas em 50 (51,5 ± 3,7; n = 30), 100 (102,3 ± 9,4; n = 30) e 150 (154,5 ± 18,9; n = 30) dias em lactação (DEL). Durante o teste de tolerância à glicose (TTG), não houve diferença entre grupos para qualquer variável relacionada à glicose circulante. No entanto, medidas de insulina circulante foram diferentes em vacas aos 150 DEL em comparação com 50 ou 100 DEL, tais como: maior insulina basal, pico, &Delta; máx de insulina e AUC 5-60. Porém, não houve diferença entre os grupos para o número ou percentagem de oócitos viáveis. Assim, as vacas desenvolveram resistência à insulina com o aumento do DEL. No entanto, o aumento da resistência à insulina não foi associado com alteração detectável na qualidade dos oócitos aspirados de folículos pequenos e médios. O experimento 3 foi para avaliar se o aumento de insulina circulante durante os períodos de pré e pós desvio folicular aumenta o desenvolvimento inicial e final, do folículo, bem como do corpo lúteo (CL). Além disso, por induzir a ovulação de um folículo maior, o CL resultante de vacas com alta insulina circulante também é maior e mais esteroidogênico, refletindo em maiores concentrações circulantes de progesterona (P4). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o quadrado latino em arranjo fatorial 2x2, em quatro grupos experimentais: 1) CC = água pré e pós desvio folicular (n = 16); 2) CP = água e propilenoglicol (PPG) pré e pós desvio folicular, respectivamente (n = 16); 3) PC = PPG e água pré e pós desvio folicular, respectivamente (n = 16) e 4) PP = PPG pré e pós desvio folicular (n = 16). O aumento agudo e transitório, durante os períodos de pré e pós desvio não aumentou o desenvolvimento folicular, luteal e concentrações plasmáticas de P4. / The aim of the first study was to evaluate the in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in nonlactating Holstein cows subjected to ovum pick-up (OPU) after ovarian superstimulation with a protocol similar to that described by Nivet et al. (2012) in comparison with OPU at a random day of the estrous cycle. Nonlactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned in a crossover design to: Control (n = 35) in which cows were not treated with p-FSH, but subjected to OPU at a random day of the estrous cycle; or p-FSH (n = 35), in which, 36 hours after OPU to synchronize follicle wave, the cows were treated with p-FSH for 3 days and 44 hours later, subjected to OPU sessions. The total number of cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) recovered and the number of viable oocytes were similar between control and p-FSH groups. In addition, there was no increase in the proportion of viable COC (viable COC / overall COC recovered). Likewise, we detected no differences in the number of embryos / OPU session and blastocyst rate. Follicle superstimulation protocol with p-FSH did not improve IVEP in nonlactating Holstein cows. Experiment 2 tested the hypothesis that high-producing dairy cows become increasingly resistant to insulin with advancing lactation, and consequently oocyte quality is compromised. We used Holstein cows at 50 (51.5 ± 3.7; n = 30), 100 (102.3 ± 9.4; n = 30) and 150 (n = 30 154.5 ± 18.9) days in milk (DIM). During the glucose tolerance test (GTT), there was no difference between groups for any variable related to circulating glucose. However, circulating insulin measurements such as basal insulin, peak insulin, &Delta; max and AUC 5-60 were higher for cows at 150 DIM. Nevertheless, there was no difference between groups for the number or percentage of viable oocytes. Therefore, although cows developed insulin resistance with increasing DIM, this has not been associated with detectable change in the quality of oocytes aspirated from small and medium follicles. The third experiment assessed whether the increase in circulating insulin during periods of pre- and post-follicle deviation increases the initial and final follicle size and corpus luteum (CL) volume. Moreover, by inducing ovulation of greater follicles, resulting in greater CL, cows with high circulating insulin also have higher circulating progesterone (P4). The experimental design was a Latin square in a 2x2 factorial arrangement in four groups: 1) CC = water pre and post follicle deviation (n = 16); 2) CP = water pre and propylene glycol (PPG) post follicle deviation (n = 16); 3) PC = PPG and water pre and post follicle deviation, respectively (n = 16), 4) PP = PPG pre and post follicle deviation (n = 16). Acute and transient circulating insulin increase during periods of pre and post follicle deviation has not affected follicle development, luteal volume or plasma concentrations of P4.

Hudens normalflora består av lågpatogena bakterier där stafylokockerna är de vanligaste förekommande bakterierna. Studier visar att antimikrobiella medel kan förändra hudbakteriepopulationer och att dessa förändringar kan leda till kritiska konsekvenser för hudens försvar. Propylenglykol är en substans som klassas som antimikrobiell och bakteriedödande. Propylenglykol har ett brett användningsområde och används ofta som hjälpmedel i en mängd olika läkemedel. Den finns bland annat i kosmetika såsom hudprodukter där den fungerar som fuktbindande och som konserveringsmedel. Vanliga koncentrationer av propylenglykol som fuktighetsbevarande ämne i topikaler är cirka 15 % och i kosmetika finns propylenglykol i koncentrationerna &lt;0,1 % - &gt;50 %. Det saknas i nuläget forskning om propylenglykols effekt på hudens bakterieflora. Syftet med studien var att med olika koncentrationer av propylenglykol bestämma MIC (minsta hämmande koncentration) och MBC (minsta baktericida koncentration) på vanliga stafylokocker (S. epidermidis, S. aureus, S. hominis och S. capitis) som ingår i hudens normalflora. För att bestämma MIC och MBC användes buljongspädningsmetoden där propylenglykol späddes ut i olika koncentrationer med buljong i en mikrotiterplatta. Sedan tillsattes valda testbakterier och OD600 mättes i 24 timmar. Resultatet visade att MIC och MBC för propylenglykol var 12,5 % respektive 25 % på vanliga stafylokocker som finns på huden. Vid koncentrationer av propylenglykol på 12,5 % hämmades synlig bakterietillväxt av S. epidermidis, S. aureus, S. hominis och S. capitis och vid 25 % uppstod en baktericid effekt på bakterierna. Mer forskning behövs dock för att få reda på hur hudens bakterier påverkas av propylenglykol och konsekvenserna av det. / The normal flora of the human skin is consisting of low pathogen bacteria, where the staphylococci are the most common bacteria. Studies show that antimicrobial substances can alter populations of skin bacteria and that these alterations can lead to critical consequences for the resistance of the skin. Propylene glycol is a substance that is classified as antimicrobial and bactericidal and the substance has a wide area of use and is frequently used as a supportive substance in various pharmaceuticals. Propylene glycol can be found in cosmetics and skincare products where it functions as moisture-binding and preservative. Normal concentrations of propylene glycol as moisture-binding substance in topicals is approximately 15 % and in cosmetics the concentration of propylene glycol is &lt;0,1 % - &gt;50 %. As of today, there are few scientific studies regarding the effects of propylene glycol to the bacterial flora of the human skin. The purpose of this study was to determine MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) for normal staphylococci (S. epidermidis, S. aureus, S. hominis och S. capitis) included in the normal flora of the skin using various concentrations of propylene glycol. To be able to determine MIC and MBC the broth dilution method was used, where propylene glycol was diluted in various concentrations with broth in a microtiter plate. Hereafter, selected test bacteria were added and OD600 was measured during 24 hours. The results implicated that MIC and MBC for propylene glycol were 12,5 % and 25 % for common staphylococci located on the skin. At concentrations of propylene glycol of 12,5 %, visible bacterial growth of S. epidermidis, S. aureus, S. hominis and S. capitis was inhibited and at 25 % a bactericidal effect occurred on the bacteria. It shall be noted that further research is needed to find out how the skin's bacteria are affected by propylene glycol and its consequences.

This thesis deals with the problems of wounding of low potential transferred from steam turbine condenser. First, in the theoretical part variations of steam condenser design are described. Then there is a description of variations of cooling cycles and possibilities of their operation range. In second part of the thesis there are two common cooler options chosen. Those are wet cooling tower with natural draft and dry chiller with forced draft. Two types of cooling liquid are chosen to be used for dry cooling. These are water and the other one is 50 % mixture of water and propylene glycol. Based on the calculation results of both cooling cycle variations appropriate pumps are chosen, fan for forced convection respectively. Parts of the thesis are also projection drawings for both calculated variations.