Longitudinal development of chlorophyll and phytoplankton assemblages in a regulated large river (the Ebro River)

The distribution of chlorophyll and phytoplankton communities were compared to nutrient concentrations and hydrological parameters along the main stretch of the river Ebro. A progressive increase in planktonic chlorophyll was observed from the upper reaches to the middle section of the river. Chlorophyll reached a maximum (60-80 microg L(-1)) in the meandering section (downstream of the city of Zaragoza), where nutrient inputs (both N and P) and the residence time of the water are very high. In this meandering section phytoplankton assemblages consisted of large centric diatoms and Scenedesmus sp.pl. These longitudinal patterns were interrupted by the presence of three large reservoirs in the lower section of the river. In the section below the reservoirs, the shorter residence water time, the presence of the invasive zebra mussel, and the massive macrophyte development may explain the historical decrease in chlorophyll-a (from 20-45 microg L(-1) in the 1990s to the present 2-5 microg L(-1)). Phytoplankton densities were extremely poor in this section of the river, where large colonial Coelastrum sp.pl. and Pediastrum sp.pl. were the most characteristic taxa.     

Computation and visualization of the MacAdam limits for any lightness, hue angle, and light source

We present a systematic algorithm capable of searching for optimal colors for any lightness L* (between 0 and 100), any illuminant (D65, F2, F7, F11, etc.), and any light source reported by CIE. Color solids are graphed in some color spaces (CIELAB, SVF, DIN99d, and CIECAM02) by horizontal (constant lightness) and transversal (constant hue angle) sections. Color solids plotted in DIN99d and CIECAM02 color spaces look more spherical or homogeneous than the ones plotted in CIELAB and SVF color spaces. Depending on the spectrum of the light source or illuminant, the shape of its color solid and its content (variety of distinguishable colors, with or without color correspondence) change drastically, particularly with sources whose spectrum is discontinuous and/or very peaked, with correlated color temperature lower than 5500 K. This could be used to propose an absolute colorimetric quality index for light sources comparing the volumes of their gamuts, in a uniform color space.     

Mathematical modeling of the heat transfer process and protein denaturation during the thermal treatment of Patagonian marine crabs

Southern Ocean swimming crab Ovalipes trimaculatus and the Patagonian stone crab Platyxanthus patagonicus are fishing resources with commercial value. Thermal treatment of crabs is necessary to denature muscle proteins, facilitating meat detachment from the crab shell (picking procedure). The proximal composition, protein patterns of crab muscle, thermophysical properties and heat transfer coefficients were determined. Heat transfer during thermal processing of body (i.e., cephalothorax) and claws of both crab species was simulated using a finite element computational code; the simulations were experimentally validated. Color changes in crab muscle during the heating process were measured. Thermal denaturation kinetics of myofibrillar proteins was determined using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in small samples previously heated in water under controlled conditions. DSC thermograms of raw crab muscle showed two peaks at 49.0 ± 0.4 and 77.5 ± 0.6 °C corresponding to myosin and actin respectively. Activation energies for the denaturation of myosin (145.70 kJ/mol) and actin (156.42 kJ/mol) were calculated from Arrhenius equation. The degree of denaturation achieved by the myofibrillar proteins at the coldest point of the muscle in body and claws during the heating process was established by considering the protein denaturation kinetics determined by DSC, the activation energies and the heat penetration curves. Adequate conditions for the detachment of meat from the crab exoskeleton were established. The obtained results may help in determining the optimal heating times during the industrialization of these crustaceans.     

Titanium/Palladium‐Mediated Regioselective Propargylation of Ketones using Propargylic Carbonates as Pronucleophiles

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of homopropargylic alcohols using propargylic carbonates as pronucleophiles is reported. The reaction is based on a combination of transition metal (palladium) and radical chemistry (titanium). The reaction takes place with an excellent regioselectivity and tolerates a great degree of substitution of the starting propargylic carbonate, thus being an interesting tool in the context of synthetic organic chemistry.     

New insight on the genesis and fate of odor-active compounds in vanilla beans (Vanilla planifolia G. Jackson) during traditional curing

Green vanilla beans were subjected to the traditional curing process in Mexico. Odor-active potential from beans including 23 compounds was monitored through the analysis of both free and glucosidically bound volatiles. 8 of them were aliphatic aldehydes, acids, alcohol and ketone. 15 molecules were shikimate derivatives in which 13 were detected in glucosylated form. Some glucosides were efficiently hydrolyzed while some others partly or not at all after 90 days of curing. Moreover kinetics of hydrolysis of glucosides were not the same. A major part of glucovanillin was hydrolyzed at the first stages of curing while some other glucosides at the advanced stages. Data support hypothesis that hydrolysis of glucosides during curing is rather enzymatic origin than chemical one. Free shikimate derivatives or those liberated from glucosides are prone to chemical or enzymatic interconversions leading to a significant change in the aroma profile of cured vanilla.     

New Electrosynthesis of Arylboronic Esters from Aromatic Halides and Pinacolborane

A novel synthesis of arylboronic esters by a reductive electrochemical coupling reaction between aromatic halides and pinacolborane (HBpin, pin=pinacolate) has been carried out leading to arylboronic esters in moderate to good yields.     

Biopolymer films and the effects of added lipids,nanoparticles and antimicrobials on their mechanical and barrier properties: a review

Packaging made from biodegradable biopolymers such as proteins, polysaccharides and lipids is a promising alternative to synthetic polymers. Films made from these biopolymers exhibit certain disadvantages in terms of their mechanical, barrier and physicochemical properties. Plasticisers, nanoparticles, lipids and antimicrobial compounds can be added to them to improve these properties. The tendency of biopolymer films to brittleness can be mitigated by adding plasticisers and/or nanoparticles. These films also tend to have high water vapour permeability, which can be reduced by adding lipids and/or nanoparticles. Incorporating natural compounds with antimicrobial activity into biopolymer films can provide them the advantages of maintaining food safety and extending shelf life. Addition of plasticisers, nanoparticles, lipids and/or antimicrobial compounds to biopolymer films can help to make them comparable to conventional synthetic films with the advantages that they reduce pollution and are biodegradable.