Effects of ellagitannin‐rich berries on blood lipids,gut microbiota,and urolithin production in human subjects with symptoms of metabolic syndrome

Ellagitannins are polyphenols abundant in strawberries, raspberries, and cloudberries. The effects of a mixture of these berries were studied in a randomized controlled trial with subjects having symptoms of metabolic syndrome. The study focused on serum lipid profiles, gut microbiota, and ellagitannin metabolites. The results indicate that bioavailability of ellagitannins appears to be dependent on the composition of gut microbiota.     

Preparation and Characterization of Bifunctional Pt-Sn/H[Al]ZSM5 Catalysts

Bifunctional monometallic Pt/H[Al]ZSM5, Sn/H[Al]ZSM5 and bimetallic Pt-Sn/H[Al]ZSM5 (tin atomic fraction, X _Sn, of 0.46) catalysts were prepared and characterized by means of XPS, EPR, TEM and toluene hydrogenation. The species on their surface as well as the presence of an effect of the electronic and/or geometric type between Pt and Sn in the bimetallic catalyst, which would result in the existence of reduced tin species (Sn⁰ and/or Sn-Pt), were determined. These species were determined through XPS and would explain the decrease in the hydrogenating activity in the toluene hydrogenation reaction.     

Transesterification of soy lecithin by lipase and phospholipase

Soy lecithin was modified by enzymatic transesterification in a solvent-free system. 1,3-SpecificRhizomucor miehei lipase was found to be efficient in the transesterification with lauric acid and oleic acid, where oleic acid was more incorporated into soy lecithin. Phospholipase A₂ incorporated lauric acid hardly at all, but it hydrolyzed lecithin efficiently. The mixture of lipase and phospholipase A₂ (1:1, w/w) incorporated lauric acid to the same extent as did 1,3-specific lipase alone at the same total enzyme concentration. The main fatty acids replaced were palmitic and linoleic acids by 1,3-specific lipase and its mixture with phospholipase A₂, and linoleic and linolenic acids by phospholipase A₂ alone, suggesting an improved oxidative stability of the resulting product. Hydrolysis could not be prevented, but it could be regulated by incubation time and by enzyme dosage. The minimal water content for significant incorporation of lauric acid into lecithin was below 0.5% of the weight of the reaction mixture.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of oat and soya lecithin: Effects on functional properties

Enzymatic hydrolysis of oat and soy lecithins and its effects on the functional properties of lecithins were investigated. The phospholipase used was most efficient at low enzyme and substrate concentrations. More fatty acids were released from soy lecithin than from oat lecithin. The maximum degree of hydrolysis was 760 μmol free fatty acids per gram soy lecithin and 170 μmol free fatty acids per gram oat lecithin. On the basis of the total carbohydrate and phosphorus contents in the polar fractions of the lecithins, oat lecithin contained more glycolipids and less phospholipids than soy lecithin. With regard to functional properties, the stability of oil-in-water emulsions was enhanced by hydrolyzed soy lecithin and by crude and hydrolyzed oat lecithins, but only hydrolyzed soy lecithin prevented the recrystallization of barley starch. The dissociation enthalpy of amylose-lipid-complex (AML-complex) was significantly higher when hydrolyzed soy lecithin was present. Hydrolyzed oat lecithin slightly affected the dissociation enthalpy of AML-complex. The other lecithins had no effect on recrystallization or dissociation enthalpies in the barley-starch matrix.     

Guest Editorial:Special Issue on Spatial Economic Activity Analysis: New Methodologies

Editorial Introduction

Guest Editorial:Special Issue on Spatial Economic Activity Analysis: New Methodologies     

Design and Evaluation of Multichannel Multirate Wireless Networks

In a multirate wireless network, low data rate nodes consume proportionately more channel resources than high data rate nodes, resulting in low overall network performance. The use of multiple non-overlapping frequency channels in multirate wireless networks can overcome the performance degradation by having nodes communicate on different channels based on their data rates. However, no effort has been invested to utilize the multiple channels for a multirate wireless network. In this paper, we introduce the Data Rate Adaptive Channel Assignment (DR-CA) algorithm for a multichannel multirate single-hop wireless network to provide higher network throughput and network efficiency. The main idea is to assign links having same or comparable data rates on the same channel to minimize the wastage of channel resources due to interference between high data links and low data rate links. We also design a new Intermediary Multichannel Layer (IML) which resides between network layer and link layer, at which we implement the DR-CA algorithm. The IML design requires no modifications to the underlying MAC layer and upper layers of the network stack. To evaluate the proposed algorithm we define new performance metrics—channel efficiency and network efficiency for a multichannel multirate wireless network. Using OPNET simulations, we show that the multichannel enhancement using our proposed algorithm provides significant performance improvement in terms of network throughput, channel efficiency, and network efficiency over existing approaches in multirate wireless networks. Under heavy load condition, the network efficiency using DR-CA algorithm reaches 90% of the maximum limit. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to utilize the benefits of multiple channels in the multirate wireless network environment.     

Large displacement analysis of thin-walled beams with generic open section

A finite element formulation for geometric non-linear analysis of elastic straight thin-walled beams is presented. The updated Lagrangian procedure is used for a stiffness matrix derivation-to analyse large displacements or buckling behaviour of space frames. The stiffness matrix is developed for a generic cross-section and is equally efficient for symmetric, monosymmetric or asymmetric open sections. Some non-linear strain terms usually neglected in the literature have been considered, resulting in a formulation which also includes the initial bimoment and torsion effect for all cross-sections analysed. The proposed method has been implemented and the results of sample problems are presented.