Effect of addition of Agaricus blazei mushroom residue to milk enriched with Omega‐3 on the prevention of lipid oxidation and bioavailability of bioactive compounds after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

The residue from a hydroalcoholic extract of the mushroom Agaricus blazei (MAR) was evaluated for phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. The ability of MAR to slow the oxidation of Omega‐3 resulting from light exposure in milk matrix, and its bioavailability after in vitro digestion was investigated. MAR presented phenolic compounds and flavonoids and showed antioxidant activity. At each concentration, addition of MAR to Omega‐3‐supplemented milk inhibited the production of conjugated dienes and malonaldehyde compared with samples without MAR. The bioavailability assay showed that polyphenols were still present after in vitro digestion and had antioxidant activity.     

Tight binding of the antitumor drug ditercalinium to quadruplex DNA

The structural selectivity of the DNA-binding antitumor drug ditercalinium was investigated by competition dialysis with a series of nineteen different DNA substrates. The 7H-pyridocarbazole dimer was found to bind to double-stranded DNA with a preference for GC-rich species but can in addition form stable complexes with triplex and quadruplex structures. The preferential interaction of the drug with four-stranded DNA structures was independently confirmed by electrospray mass spectrometry and a detailed analysis of the binding reaction was performed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy. The BIAcore SPR study showed that the kinetic parameters for the interaction of ditercalinium with the human telomeric quadruplex sequence are comparable to those measured with a duplex sequence. Slow association and dissociation were observed with both the quadruplex and duplex structures. The newly discovered preferential binding of ditercalinium to the antiparallel quadruplex sequence d(AG(3)[T(2)AG(3)](3)) provides new perspectives for the design of drugs that can bind to human telomeres.     

Evaluation of the effect of probiotic cultures added to commercial yogurt over a known population of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7

The effect of probiotic cultures over Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 during yogurt storage was evaluated. Two different yogurt brands, one with additional probiotic cultures (Lactobacillus casei and L. acidophilus) were inoculated with known populations (106 UFC/g) of either L. monocytogenes or E. coli O157:H7 in three different times and stored for 32 days at 5 degrees C. Every four days the count of lactic bacteria, the added pathogens and pH was evaluated, according to the methodology described in the Bacteriological Analytical Manual. The pH and lactic bacteria population were constant during the testing period. Yogurt with additional probiotic cultures reduced the population of L. monocytogenes in 8 days, the population of E. coli O157:H7 in 16; yogurt with no additional probiotics took 20 days to reduce L. monocytogenes to non-detectable levels and even after 28 days of storage, E. coli O157:H7 was cultured. In this work, the beneficial effects of additional probiotic cultures in yogurt is confirmed again.     

Heavy metal bioaccumulation and macroinvertebrate community changes in a Mediterranean stream affected by acid mine drainage and an accidental spill (Guadiamar River, SW Spain)

In the 1998 Aznalcóllar mining accident, 5 million cubic meters of toxic waste were spilled into the Guadiamar River (SW Spain). This paper describes the likely effects of metal pollution on the macroinvertebrate community in the first 15 km of the river adjacent to the mine, 2 years after the spill. The contents of Zn, Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Tl, and Sb in water, sediment, and in the caddisfly Hydropsyche were analysed, together with some physico-chemical parameters. From the results of physico-chemical and community parameters, the studied area was divided into three sections: the first section contained upstream control stations, not affected by current mining activities, and with a diverse macroinvertebrate community structure (mean number of families = 19); the second section, close to the mine, was severely polluted, with more than 50 mg l(-1) of Zn or 1.6 mg l(-1) of Cu in water, a pH of nearly 4, and a very diminished macroinvertebrate community (three families); in the last section, 6-15 km downstream from the mine, the water quality improved, metal concentrations decreased, pH reached neutrality and the macroinvertebrate community comprised eight families. We also determined metal concentrations in the larvae of Hydropsyche and found increases of 3- to 35-fold (for Cu and Cd, respectively) compared to control sites. As far as we are aware, these values are the highest concentrations so far detected in this caddisfly anywhere in the world. Different patterns of metal and pH tolerance were identified in macroinvertebrates. Most of the species were intolerant to present pollution levels and were only present in control sites. Others were tolerant to metal pollution but not to low pH and were present in the main river downstream of the mine, while a very few species managed to live in the most polluted section, with very low pH and high metal concentrations.     

Industrial capacity planning in oligopolistic markets

Available productive capacity is determinant of a company’s success once it allows meeting the current and future demand. This article proposes a quantitative model for determining long-term productive capacity in competitive oligopolistic markets, based on the Nash Equilibrium formulated as a Variational Inequality problem. Numerical examples enable an analytical evaluation of the economic equilibrium’s sensitivity to marginal costs, investment costs, hurdle rate, and market saturation. Results show that, in order to achieve a greater market share, it is important to adopt strategies that reduce marginal costs. On the other hand, variations in the hurdle rate may or may not reinforce the position of a competitor in the market and his interest in investing in capacity expansion. Additionally, market saturation may be achieved, beyond which investment becomes unattractive. Each of these is a positive outcome for society, triggering diversified investments and competition in economic sectors where competition is low and profits are high.     

Effect of particle size on the shaping of ceramics by slip casting

The effect of the nanometric-ranged particle size of the starting powder through a simple and well-established shaping method, slip casting, has been studied. Several alumina suspensions with the same viscosity (but different solid content suspensions) and different particle size (11, 44, 190 and 600 nm) were prepared and shaped into a dense body. The green and sintered densities ranged between 30–67% and 63–99% of the theoretical value, respectively. These values, together with the microstructure observations reveal the effect of the solid content of the suspensions and the characteristics of the ceramic powder, leading to the determination of an optimal particle size. Based on both processability (rheological behaviour) and microstructure (density and grain size) it has been determined that particles with sizes ranging 100–300 nm are the best for preparing concentrated suspensions with low viscosity and bodies with density close to the theoretical value when using conventional pressureless sintering densification.     

In Vitro Simultaneous Transfer of Lipids to HDL in Coronary Artery Disease and in Statin Treatment

The exchange of lipids with cells and other lipoproteins is a crucial process in HDL metabolism and for HDL antiatherogenic function. Here, we tested a practical method to quantify the simultaneous transfer to HDL of phospholipids, free-cholesterol, esterified cholesterol and triacylglycerols and to verify the lipid transfer in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or undergoing statin treatment. Twenty-eight control subjects without CAD, 27 with CAD and 25 CAD patients under simvastatin treatment were studied. Plasma samples were incubated with a donor nanoemulsion prepared by ultrasonication of the constituent lipids and labeled with radioactive lipids; % lipids transferred to HDL were quantified in the HDL-containing supernatant after chemical precipitation of non-HDL fractions and the nanoemulsion. The assay was precise and reproducible. Increase of temperature (4–37 °C), of incubation period (5 min to 2 h), of HDL-cholesterol concentration (33–244 mg/dL) and of mass of nanoemulsion lipids (0.075–0.3 mg/μL) resulted in increased lipid transfer from the nanoemulsion to HDL. In contrast, increasing pH (6.5–8.5) and albumin concentration (3.5–7.0 g/dL) did not affect lipid transfer. There was no difference between CAD and control non-CAD with regard to the lipid transfer, but statin treatment reduced the transfer to HDL of all four lipids. The test herein described is a valid and practical tool for exploring an important aspect of HDL metabolism.     

Enhancement of pasta antioxidant activity with oregano and carrot leaf

Five different pasta formulations were prepared using different concentrations of carrot leaf meal (CLM) and oregano leaf meal (OLM). One control formulation (wheat flour and semolina, 70:30 w/w) and four other formulations were prepared using the following amounts of leaf meals: 5% CLM and 5% OLM (I), 10% CLM (II), 10% OLM (III), and 10% CLM, 10% OLM (IV). The highest content of alpha-linolenic acid was found in formulations II and IV, which also had a reduced n-6/n-3 ratio, 3.6 (IV), when compared to the control, which was 19.8. All the samples enhanced with leaf meals showed antioxidant activity by the DPPH radical method; however, it was higher in formulation IV, which was the same observed for phenolic compounds. Pasta added with leaf meals lost more solubles, had shorter cooking time and a lower weight increase than the control pasta. All formulations had significant sensory acceptance.     

Influence of dispersant size on rheology of non-aqueous ceramic particle suspensions

The surface of alumina, which is hydrophilic in general, was made hydrophobic either by adsorption of polymer (phys-adsorption) or by an alkylation reaction with alcohol (chem-adsorption) to enable dispersion in dodecane. Hypermer A70 (8.2 nm) was used as the polymer and 1-octanol (1.2 nm), 1-decanol (1.5 nm) and 1-hexadecanol (2.5 nm) were used as the alcohol (values in brackets are the approximate thickness of the steric barrier). Rheological measurements of ceramic suspensions indicate that it is possible to achieve a high solid loading (50 vol.%) with relatively low viscosity (0.25 Pa s at 100 s^?1, the typical shear rate for pumping of liquids in pipes) as long as the stabilising molecule is large enough. The observed rheological behaviour fitted the Quemada viscosity model quite well when excluded volume effects were taken into account. Addition of 2.8 wt.% of Hypermer A70 with respect to weight of alumina was enough to stabilise the particles.     

The effect of chlorine and oxygen concentrations on the removal of mercury at an FGD-batch reactor

A series of laboratory scale experiments were conducted in an FGD-batch reactor. A synthetic flue gas was produced and directed through a CaCO₃ suspension contained in a glass reactor vessel. The suspension temperature was set at 54 °C through a water bath. In order to observe the distribution of mercury species in the system, solid, liquid and gaseous samples were taken and analysed. For gaseous mercury determination, continuous measurements were carried out, up and downstream the reactor. Furthermore, the concentration of chlorine in the scrubber solution of the system was varied from 0 to 62 g/l under different oxidative conditions.In a first approach, a concentration drop of elemental mercury coming out of the system was observed. The latter occurs only when high concentrations of Cl⁻ are present, combined with a high O₂ availability in the scrubber. It was also observed that mercury species distribution in the different phases varies, depending on the available chemical form of chlorine and oxygen concentration.