The effects of extrusion conditions and the addition of volatile compounds and flavour enhancers to corn grits on the retention of the volatile compounds and texture of the extrudates

Corn grits that were supplemented with isovaleraldehyde, ethyl butyrate, butyric acid and flavour enhancers were extruded under different processing conditions. Volatile compounds retained in the extrudates were isolated by dynamic headspace and analysed using gas chromatographymass spectrometry. The expansion ratio, density and cut force to break down the extrudates were evaluated and aroma intensity was assessed using a multisample difference test. Butyric acid showed the greatest retention (96.4%), regardless of the extrusion conditions. All compounds were better retained when samples were extruded at 20% feed moisture and 90 degrees C processing temperature (2.981.0%), conditions that also resulted in greater aromatic intensity (moderate to moderate-strong intensity). The addition of volatile compounds reduced the expansion ratio and cut force, whereas the addition of flavour enhancers increased the expansion ratio but reduced ethyl butyrate and butyric acid retention.

Diastereoselective Addition of Arylzinc Reagents to Sugar Aldehydes

The diastereoselective arylation of sugar-derived aldehydes is described. The arylating reagents are generated in situ by a boron-to-zinc exchange reaction of arylboronic acids with Et2Zn to generate arylethylzinc reagents. The exquisite reactivity of the arylzinc reagents allowed for an efficient and mild arylation, delivering the corresponding products in diastereolsomeric ratios of up to >20:1. The utility of the methodology is highlighted with an efficient formal synthesis of (+)-7-epl-goniofufurone, a member of the styryllactone family of natural products.

Addition of increasing doses of ricinoleic acid from castor oil (Ricinus communis L.) in diets of Nellore steers in feedlots

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and blood parameters of feedlot Nellore cattle fed increasing doses of ricinoleic acid (RA) in the diet. Ninety-six Nellore steers divided into 12 groups of 8 animals were used. The animals were randomly assigned to four treatments: 0, 1, 2, or 4 g of RA/animal/day, with three replicates per treatment. The experimental period consisted of 84 days divided into three 28-day periods preceded by three step-up diets. A quadratic effect was found for average daily gain and final body weight, as well as for leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, and for urea and blood urea nitrogen. A linear effect was observed for albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyl transferase. The inclusion of 2 g of RA daily improved the performance of feedlot Nellore steers.

Regioregular improvement on the oxidative polymerization of poly-3-octylthiophenes by slow addition of oxidant at low temperature

Many pathways can be used to synthesize polythiophenes derivatives. The polycondensation reactions performed with organometallics are preferred since they lead to regioregular polymers (with high content of heat-to-tail coupling) which have enhanced conductivity and luminescence. However, these pathways have several steps; the reactants are highly moisture sensitive and expensive. On the other hand, the oxidative polymerization using FeCl3 is a one-pot reaction that requires less moisture sensitive reactants with lower cost, although the most common reaction conditions lead to polymers with low regioregularity. Here, we report that by changing the reaction conditions, such as FeCl3 addition rate and reaction temperature, poly-3-octylthiophenes with different the regioregularities can be obtained, reaching about 80% of heat-to-tail coupling. Different molar mass distributions and polydispersivities were obtained. The preliminary results suggest that the oxidative polymerization process could be improved to yield polythiophenes with higher regioregularity degree and narrower molar mass distributions by just setting some reaction conditions. We also verified that it is possible to solvent extract part of the lower regioregular fraction of the polymer further improving the regioregularity degree. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

Influence of milk type and addition of passion fruit peel powder on fermentation kinetics, texture profile and bacterial viability in probiotic yoghurts

The effect of the addition of passion fruit peel powder (PFPP) on the fermentation kinetics and texture parameters, post-acidification and bacteria counts of probiotic yoghurts made with two milk types were evaluated during 28 days of storage at 4 degrees C. Milks were fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (CY340), and one strain of probiotic bacteria: Lactobacillus acidophilus (L10 and NCFM), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (8104 and HN019). The addition of PFPP reduced significantly fermentation time of skim milk co-fermented by the strains L10, NCFM and HN019. At the end of 28-day shelf-life, counts of B. lactis Bl04 were about 1 Log CFU mL(-1) higher in whole yoghurt fermented with PFPP regarding its control but, in general, the addition of PFPP had less influence on counts than the milk type itself. The titratable acidity in yoghurts with PFPP was significantly higher than in their respective controls, and in skim yoghurts higher than in the whole ones. The PFPP increased firmness, consistency (except for the NCFM strain of L acidophilus) and cohesiveness of all skim yoghurts. The results point out the suitability of using passion fruit by-product in the formulation of both skim and whole probiotic yoghurts. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bulk neutrinos as an alternative cause of the gallium and reactor anti-neutrino anomalies

We consider an alternative explanation for the deficit of nu(e) in Ga solar neutrino calibration experiments and of the (nu) over bar (e) in short-baseline reactor experiments by a model where neutrinos can oscillate into sterile Kaluza-Klein modes that can propagate in compactified submicrometer flat extra dimensions. We have analyzed the results of the gallium radioactive source experiments and 19 reactor experiments with baseline shorter than 100 m, and showed that these data can be fit into this scenario. The values of the lightest neutrino mass and of the size of the largest extra dimension that are compatible with these experiments are mostly not excluded by other neutrino oscillation experiments.

Diastolic function parameters are improved by the addition of simvastatin to enalapril-based treatment in hypertensive individuals

Objective: Diastolic dysfunction (DD) is a frequent condition in hypertensive patients whose presence increases mortality and whose treatment remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate in a prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized design the additive effect of simvastatin on DD in enalapril-treated hypertensive patients with average cholesterol levels. Methods: Hypertensive patients with DD and LDL-cholesterol <160 mg/dL underwent a run-in phase to achieve a systolic blood pressure (SBP) <135 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <85 mmHg with enalapril. Hydrochlorothiazide was added when need to achieve blood pressure control. Four weeks after reaching the optimum anti-hypertensive regimen patients were randomized to receive 80 mg simvastatin (n = 27) or placebo (n = 28) for a period of 20 weeks. Echocardiograms were performed before and after treatment with measurement of maximum left atrial volume (LAV), conventional and tissue Doppler velocities in early diastole (E, e') and late diastole (A, a'). Results: After 20 weeks, the simvastatin group presented reduction in SBP (-4 +/- 2 mmHg, p = 0.02), increase in E/A ratio (1.0 +/- 0.05 to 1.2 +/- 0.06, p = 0.03) and decrease of LAV indexed to body surface area (24.5 +/- 0.9 to 21.1 +/- 0.8 ml/m(2), p = 0.048), as compared with placebo arm. No change in systolic function and no correlation between the E/A ratio, LAV and changes in blood pressure or lipid profile were observed. Conclusions: The addition of simvastatin to enalapril in hypertensive patients with average cholesterol levels improves parameters of diastolic function independently of changes in blood pressure or cholesterol. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rare-earth impurities in gallium nitride: The role of the Hubbard potential

We performed a first principles investigation on the electronic properties of 4f-rare earth substitutional impurities in zincblende gallium nitride (GaN:REGa, with RE=Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm). The calculations were performed within the all electron methodology and the density functional theory. We investigated how the introduction of the on-site Hubbard U potential (GGA + U) corrects the electronic properties of those impurities. We showed that a self-consistent procedure to compute the Hubbard potential provides a reliable description on the position of the 4f-related energy levels with respect of the GaN valence band top. The results were compared to available data coming from a recent phenomenological model. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Identification of SL addition trans-splicing acceptor sites in the internal transcribed spacer I region of pre-rRNA in Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

Trypanosomatidae is a family of early branching eukaryotes harbouring a distinctive repertoire of gene expression strategies. Functional mature messenger RNA is generated via the trans-splicing and polyadenylation processing of constitutively transcribed polycistronic units. Recently, trans-splicing of pre-small subunit ribosomal RNA in the 5' external transcribed spacer region and of precursor tRNAsec have been described. Here, we used a previously validated semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction strategy to investigate internal transcribed spacer (ITS) I acceptor sites in total RNA from Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Two distinct spliced leader-containing RNAs were detected indicating that trans-splicing reactions occur at two AG acceptor sites mapped in this ITS region. These data provide further evidence of the wide spectrum of RNA molecules that act as trans-splicing acceptors in trypanosomatids.

Sea bream (Sparus aurata) intensive larval rearing : effects of microalgae and phages addition on the performance of the larvae

Máster Oficial en Cultivos Marinos. Trabajo presentado como requisito parcial para la obtención del Título de Máster Oficial en Cultivos Marinos, otorgado por la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), el Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas (ICCM), y el Centro Internacional de Altos Estudios Agronómicos Mediterráneos de Zaragoza (CIHEAM)

Study of the components of quality in SO2-free wines obtained by innovative vinification protocols. Evaluation of the pre-fermentative addition of lysozyme and oenological tannins.

The research performed during the PhD candidature was intended to evaluate the quality of white wines, as a function of the reduction in SO2 use during the first steps of the winemaking process. In order to investigate the mechanism and intensity of interactions occurring between lysozyme and the principal macro-components of musts and wines, a series of experiments on model wine solutions were undertaken, focusing attention on the polyphenols, SO2, oenological tannins, pectines, ethanol, and sugar components. In the second part of this research program, a series of conventional sulphite added vinifications were compared to vinifications in which sulphur dioxide was replaced by lysozyme and consequently define potential winemaking protocols suitable for the production of SO2-free wines. To reach the final goal, the technological performance of two selected yeast strains with a low aptitude to produce SO2 during fermentation were also evaluated. The data obtained suggested that the addition of lysozyme and oenological tannins during the alcoholic fermentation could represent a promising alternative to the use of sulphur dioxide and a reliable starting point for the production of SO2-free wines. The different vinification protocols studied influenced the composition of the volatile profile in wines at the end of the alcoholic fermentation, especially with regards to alcohols and ethyl esters also a consequence of the yeast’s response to the presence or absence of sulphites during fermentation, contributing in different ways to the sensory profiles of wines. In fact, the aminoacids analysis showed that lysozyme can affect the consumption of nitrogen as a function of the yeast strain used in fermentation. During the bottle storage, the evolution of volatile compounds is affected by the presence of SO2 and oenological tannins, confirming their positive role in scaveging oxygen and maintaining the amounts of esters over certain levels, avoiding a decline in the wine’s quality. Even though a natural decrease was found on phenolic profiles due to oxidation effects caused by the presence of oxygen dissolved in the medium during the storage period, the presence of SO2 together with tannins contrasted the decay of phenolic content at the end of the fermentation. Tannins also showed a central role in preserving the polyphenolic profile of wines during the storage period, confirming their antioxidant property, acting as reductants. Our study focused on the fundamental chemistry relevant to the oxidative phenolic spoilage of white wines has demonstrated the suitability of glutathione to inhibit the production of yellow xanthylium cation pigments generated from flavanols and glyoxylic acid at the concentration that it typically exists in wine. The ability of glutathione to bind glyoxylic acid rather than acetaldehyde may enable glutathione to be used as a ‘switch’ for glyoxylic acid-induced polymerisation mechanisms, as opposed to the equivalent acetaldehyde polymerisation, in processes such as microoxidation. Further research is required to assess the ability of glutathione to prevent xanthylium cation production during the in-situ production of glyoxylic acid and in the presence of sulphur dioxide.

Sulfanyl Radical Addition to Alkynes: Revisiting an Old Reaction to Enter the Novel Realms of Green Chemistry, Bioconjugation, and Material Chemistry

In the last decade considerable attention has been devoted to the rewarding use of Green Chemistry in various synthetic processes and applications. Green Chemistry is of special interest in the synthesis of expensive pharmaceutical products, where suitable adoption of “green” reagents and conditions is highly desirable. Our project especially focused in a search for new green radical processes which might also find useful applications in the industry. In particular, we have explored the possible adoption of green solvents in radical Thiol-Ene and Thiol-Yne coupling reactions, which to date have been normally performed in “ordinary” organic solvents such as benzene and toluene, with the primary aim of applying those coupling reactions to the construction of biological substrates. We have additionally tuned adequate reaction conditions which might enable achievement of highly functionalised materials and/or complex bioconjugation via homo/heterosequence. Furthermore, we have performed suitable theoretical studies to gain useful chemical information concerning mechanistic implications of the use of green solvents in the radical Thiol-Yne coupling reactions.

Modifizierungen des Enzyms Silicatein alpha zur direkten Immobilisierung auf verschiedenen Oberflächen : neuartige Herstellung von Kompositmaterialien unter physiologischen Bedingungen

Das Silicatein α ist ein 24 kDa großes Enzym, welches im Schwamm Suberites domuncula für die Synthese von Biosilikat verantwortlich ist. Vorhergehende Studien haben gezeigt, dass Silicatein auch die Synthese anderer Metalloxide wie Titandioxid, Galliumoxid und Zirkoniumdioxid katalysieren kann. Diese Fähigkeiten machen das Silicatein α für biomedizinische und biotechnologische Anwendungen interessant, da die Synthese unter nahezu physiologischen Bedingungen ablaufen kann, was die Herstellung neuartiger Kompositmaterialien mit einzigartigen Eigenschaften erleichtern würde. Zur Immobilisierung des Silicatein α auf verschiedenen Oberflächen wurde bislang ein Nickel-NTA-Kopolymer eingesetzt. Diese Art der Immobilisierung bietet eine Reihe von Möglichkeiten in der Nanobiotechnologie, stößt aber in der Biomedizin an ihre Grenzen, da sich nicht alle Oberflächen für ein solches Coating eignen. Zudem können die zur Aktivierung des Polymers nötigen Lösungsmittel und die über die Zeit freigesetzten Monomere aus dem Polymergerüst toxische oder mutagene Wirkung auf das umliegende Gewebe haben. Deshalb wurde das Silicatein α in dieser Arbeit mit zwei Affinitäts-Tags so modifiziert, dass es an verschiedene Oberflächen immobilisiert werden kann und dabei seine Aktivität beibehält. Zuerst wurde das Silicatein mit einem Glu-tag am N-terminalen Ende modifiziert. Dadurch gelang die direkte Immobilisierung an Hydroxyapatit und die folgende, enzymkatalysierte Synthese von Biosilikat-Beschichtungen auf diesem Träger. Die Eigenschaften eines solchen HA-Kompositmaterials können zum Beispiel zu einem verbesserten, schnelleren und stabileren Einwachsen von Knochenimplantaten führen, da Biosilikat die Reifung und Differenzierung von Osteoblasten beschleunigt. rnMit dem an Hydroxyapatit-Plättchen immobilisierten Glu-tag-Silicatein wurde ein modifizierter Pull-down Assay etabliert, wodurch bekannte, aber auch bis dahin noch unbekannte Protein-Interaktionspartner identifiziert werden konnten. rnUm zu zeigen, dass der entwickelte Glu-tag an präformierte, calciumhaltige Oberflächen binden kann, wurden die Nadeln des Kalkschwammes Paraleucilla magna als Modellorganismus verwendet. Die Nadeln konnten durch das immobilisierte Silicatein mit einer Titandioxid-Schicht überzogen werden und unter Verwendung des Interaktionspartners Silintaphin-1 konnte diese Beschichtung noch verstärkt werden. Solche CaCO3-Kompositmaterialien könnten sowohl in der Biomedizin als auch in der Biotechnologie zum Einsatz kommen. Neben den erwähnten calciumhaltigen Materialien finden auch andere Stoffe wie TiO2-Nanodrähte Verwendung in der Forschung. In weiterführenden Experimenten konnte gezeigt werden, dass der entwickelte Glu-tag auch Affinität zu Titandioxid-Oberflächen vermittelt. Auch hier konnte durch das oberflächenimmobilisierte Enzym eine Biosilikatbeschichtung synthetisiert werden. rnMit der zweiten Modifikation - einem Cys-tag - konnte Silicatein direkt auf Goldoberflächen immobilisiert werden. Durch die Verwendung eines Polydimethylsiloxan (PDMS)-Stempels wurde das Cys-getaggte Silicatein in einem linienförmigen Muster auf das Gold übertragen und die Synthese von Titandioxid dort nachgewiesen.rnDie Experimente und Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit haben gezeigt, dass Silicatein α durch einfache Modifikationen an verschiedene Oberflächen immobilisiert werden kann und dabei immer noch seine Aktivität behält. rnHierdurch ergibt sich die Möglichkeit, unter Normalbedingungen verschiedenste Kompositmaterialien herzustellen.rn

Switch from antagonist to agonist after addition of a DOTA chelator to a somatostatin analog

Peptide receptor targeting has become an increasingly attractive method to target tumors diagnostically and radiotherapeutically. Peptides linked to a variety of chelators have been developed for this purpose. They have, however, rarely been tested for their agonistic or antagonistic properties. We report here on a somatostatin antagonist that switched to an agonist upon coupling to a DOTA chelator.