Influence of sodium chloride on colour,residual volatiles and acrylamide formation in model systems and breakfast cereals

To elucidate the salt action in breakfast cereals to decrease its amount without a quality loss, a model system was developed. This model, composed of native maize starch, glucose and a mixture of five amino acids (glucose/amino acids molar ratio = 1/1) generated similar colour and volatiles (m/z = 45, 59, 69, 73, 87 and 103 g mol^?1) after heating compared to commercial breakfast cereals. A designed experiment used this model to study the influence of salt concentration (0–5.44%), heating time (0–25 min) and temperature (180–230 °C) on colour, residual volatiles and acrylamide formation. The higher the salt concentration, heating time and temperature, the darker were the products (P < 0.05). The L* values of the model systems containing 5 % salt and heated for 25 min at 230 °C were twelve points lower than the same systems without salt heated in the same conditions. Presence of salt significantly decreased acrylamide formation in the model systems (up to 50 % decrease when 2.5 % salt is added). However, salt did not have a significant impact on volatile levels. These findings were confirmed by observations made on four types of commercial breakfast cereals.     

Unnatural Polyketide Analogues Selectively Target the HER Signaling Pathway in Human Breast Cancer Cells

Receptor tyrosine kinases are critical targets for the regulation of cell survival. Cancer patients with abnormal receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) tend to have more aggressive disease with poor clinical outcomes. As a result, human epidermal growth factor receptor kinases, such as EGFR (HER1), HER2, and HER3, represent important therapeutic targets. Several plant polyphenols including the type III polyketide synthase products (genistein, curcumin, resveratrol, and epigallocatechin‐3‐galate) possess chemopreventive activity, primarily as a result of RTK inhibition. However, only a small fraction of the polyphenolic structural universe has been evaluated. Along these lines, we have developed an in vitro route to the synthesis and subsequent screening of unnatural polyketide analogues with N‐acetylcysteamine (SNAc) starter substrates and malonyl‐coenzyme A (CoA) and methylmalonyl‐CoA as extender substrates. The resulting polyketide analogues possessed a similar structural polyketide backbone (aromatic‐2‐pyrone) with variable side chains. Screening chalcone synthase (CHS) reaction products against BT‐474 cells resulted in identification of several trifluoromethylcinnamoyl‐based polyketides that showed strong suppression of the HER2‐associated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, yet did not inhibit the growth of nontransformed MCF‐10A breast cells (IC₅₀>100 μM ). Specifically, 4‐trifluoromethylcinnamoyl pyrone (compound 2 e ) was highly potent (IC₅₀<200 nM ) among the test compounds toward proliferation of several breast cancer cell lines. This breadth of activity likely stems from the ability of compound 2 e to inhibit the phosphorylation of HER1, HER2, and HER3. Therefore, these polyketide analogues might prove to be useful drug candidates for potential breast cancer therapy.     

Zur Untersuchung von Ausscheidungsvorgängen in warmfesten Stählen mit rd. 12% Cr bei 500 und 600 °C

Metallographische, elektronenmikroskopische und röntgenographische Untersuchung des Gefügezustandes von sieben verschiedenen warmfesten Stählen mit rd. 0,20% C, rd. 12% Cr und Gehalten an Molybdän bis 2,2%, Vanadin bis 1,11% und Wolfram bis 3,97% nach dem Lösungsglühen bei 1300 °C und Abschrecken in Wasser sowie nach anschließendem Glühen bei 500 und 600 °C während 0,5 bis 5000 h. Gehalt an δ-Ferrit im lösungsgeglühten Zustand. Nachweis der aufeinanderfolgenden Carbidausscheidungsreaktionen im angelassenen Martensit und der Bildung von Lavesphase in δ-Ferrit bei Anwesenheit von Molybdän oder Wolfram. Härteänderung in Abhängigkeit von der Glühdauer. Einfluß der Keimbildungsbedingungen auf den Anstieg der Härte durch Ausscheidung von M₇C₃.     

A Multi-formalism Approach for the Validation of UML Models

Our approach is based on UML models. They are edited with the rational Rose^™ tool [Rat96] and complemented with annotations that state several constraints. The class diagram is the starting point of a translation process that produces formal specifications in Z [Spi92] and Lustre [CHP87]. The RoZ tool is used to translate the class diagram into Z automatically. The Z and Lustre specifications are used to validate the UML models by means of a prover and a testing environment. Received February 2000 / Accepted in revised form December 2000     

The xanthate method of grafting. VI. The copolymer–homopolymer ratio

Wood pulp was compolymerized with butyl acrylate as monomer. The xanthate redox method was employed to initiate the reaction. The effect of reaction time and temperature on the relative yield of grafted polymer and homopolymer was investigated. In the lower temperature region (15°–25°C), induction periods ranged from 10 to 30 min. No induction periods were observed at higher temperatures (40° and 60°C). The copolymer/homopolymer ratio was found to depend on both time and temperature. A considerable amount of homopolymer was formed in the initial stage of the reaction. Increased reaction temperature resulted in lower grafting efficiency. Similarly, both graft and homopolymer molecular weight decreased with rising reaction temperature.     

Application of the material flow analysis method for evaluating strategic sanitation plan in Sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Fada N'Gourma-Burkina Faso

In the context of rapid urbanization across Sub-Saharan Africa there is a critical need for more robust decision-making between different ways of providing sanitation services in existing and new peri-urban areas. In several countries, authorities tried to find solutions by developing strategies to address sanitation problems in the form of Strategic Sanitation Plans. In Burkina, Strategic Sanitation Plans have been elaborated and implemented since the 1990s. Fada N'Gourma, a secondary city in Burkina, also adopted a Strategic Plan for wastewater and excreta management in 2006. In this study we use material flow analysis as a decision making tool to verify technology options of the Plan. A model was developed and data was collected in order to assess material and nitrogen flows. The status quo situation was compared to scenario based on the proposals made in the Sanitation Plan. Results show that the technology options which were recommended improved human health in the short term. However, the options led to groundwater pollution in the medium term. Compared to the current situation, matter and nitrogen flows would increase by 7% and 7.4% respectively in groundwater. It is thus concluded that the proposed options will not achieve the Plan's stated objectives of environmental protection.     

Genetic Predisposition to the Mortality in Septic Shock Patients: From GWAS to the Identification of a Regulatory Variant Modulating the Activity of a CISH Enhancer

The high mortality rate in septic shock patients is likely due to environmental and genetic factors, which influence the host response to infection. Two genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on 832 septic shock patients were performed. We used integrative bioinformatic approaches to annotate and prioritize the sepsis-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). An association of 139 SNPs with death based on a false discovery rate of 5% was detected. The most significant SNPs were within the CISH gene involved in cytokine regulation. Among the 139 SNPs associated with death and the 1311 SNPs in strong linkage disequilibrium with them, we investigated 1439 SNPs within non-coding regions to identify regulatory variants. The highest integrative weighted score (IW-score) was obtained for rs143356980, indicating that this SNP is a robust regulatory candidate. The rs143356980 region is located in a non-coding region close to the CISH gene. A CRISPR-Cas9-mediated deletion of this region and specific luciferase assays in K562 cells showed that rs143356980 modulates the enhancer activity in K562 cells. These analyses allowed us to identify several genes associated with death in patients with septic shock. They suggest that genetic variations in key genes, such as CISH, perturb relevant pathways, increasing the risk of death in sepsis patients.     

HYDRAULIC PREFERENCES OF SHRIMPS AND FISHES IN TROPICAL INSULAR RIVERS

Hydraulic habitat models based on the preferences of species for the hydraulic characteristics of their microhabitats are frequently used to evaluate the impact on the habitat of a change in river flow regime. Their application in a tropical insular environment is still limited as little is known about the hydraulic preferences of species. Hydraulic preference models have been developed for 15 taxa (diadromous shrimps and fishes) sampled in 52 rivers in the Caribbean (the French West Indies) and the Indian Ocean (the Reunion island). Five datasets were used and group 8353 samples collected by electrofishing during 320 surveys (reach × date) performed between 1999 and 2011. Generalized additive models were used to link variations of taxa density within surveys to the hydraulic characteristics of the microhabitat (velocity, depth and substrate). Hydraulic preferences within each region (Caribbean and Indian Ocean) are significant for most of the taxa and vary little between rivers and surveys. The hydraulic variables explain up to 18.1% (univariate models) and 30.0% (multivariate models) of the deviance of densities within survey. Of the taxa selected, Atya scabra, Macrobrachium heterochirus, Xiphocaris elongata and the Sicydiinae are the most demanding. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The xanthate method of grafting. II. Effect of operating conditions on the grafting of acrylonitrile onto Wood pulp

Wood pulp was copolymerized with acrylonitrile as a monomer using the xanthate grafting method. This method takes advantage of the capability of cellulose xanthates to form a redox couple with a suitable oxidation agent. The present work uses the degree of xanthation γ ? 5 and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Experiments carried out under different conditions have permitted to evaluate the influence of various reaction parameters on the graft copolymerization. Among the factors investigated, two appeared to be a paramount importance: the initial pH of the reaction mixture and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. A change in one of these two parameters produced profound effects on the total conversion to polymer as well as on the copolymer:- homopolymer ratio. By a suitable combination of initial pH and peroxide concentration, it was possible to synthesize graft copolymers whose homopolymer content approaches zero.