Milk from cows fed a diet with a high forage:concentrate ratio improves inflammatory state,oxidative stress,and mitochondrial function in rats

Excessive energy intake may evoke complex biochemical processes characterized by inflammation, oxidative stress, and impairment of mitochondrial function that represent the main factors underlying noncommunicable diseases. Because cow milk is widely used for human nutrition and in food industry processing, the nutritional quality of milk is of special interest with respect to human health. In our study, we analyzed milk produced by dairy cows fed a diet characterized by a high forage:concentrate ratio (high forage milk, HFM). In view of the low n-6:n-3 ratio and high content of conjugated linoleic acid of HFM, we studied the effects of this milk on lipid metabolism, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress in a rat model. To this end, we supplemented for 4 wk the diet of male Wistar rats with HFM and with an isocaloric amount (82 kJ, 22 mL/d) of milk obtained from cows fed a diet with low forage:concentrate ratio, and analyzed the metabolic parameters of the animals. Our results indicate that HFM may positively affect lipid metabolism, leptin:adiponectin ratio, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress, providing the first evidence of the beneficial effects of HFM on rat metabolism.     

Distributed Coordination and Workflow on the World Wide Web

This paper describes WebFlow, an environment thatsupports distributed coordination services on theWorld Wide Web. WebFlow leverages the HTTP Webtransport protocol and consists of a number of toolsfor the development of applications that require thecoordination of multiple, distributed servers.Typical applications of WebFlow include distributeddocument workspaces, inter/intra-enterprise workflow,and electronic commerce. In this paper we describe thegeneral WebFlow architecture for distributedcoordination, and then focus on the environment fordistributed workflow.     

<Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR characterization of milk lipids: A comparison between cow and buffalo milk

Characterization of the lipid fraction of raw cow and buffalo milk samples, collected in different breeding areas in Apulia, a region of southern Italy, were performed by means of ¹H NMR. The aim of this work was to establish whether FA composition data obtained by ¹H NMR can be used in the differentiation of buffalo and cow milk samples according to species. A complete assignment of the signals present in the spectrum was attempted by COSY, heteronuclear coherence spectra. Quantification of FA was carried out by inserting the integrals of particular peaks in suitable calculations. Multivariate statistical analysis, conducted on the results of the quantification, permitted buffalo and cow milks to be distinguished.     

Recommendation of RILEM Technical Committee 250-CSM: Test method for Textile Reinforced Mortar to substrate bond characterization

Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM), also known as Fabric Reinforced Mortar or Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix, composites are an emerging technology for the external repair and strengthening of existing structures. For most applications, the effectiveness of the TRM reinforcement relies on its bond performance. This recommendation identifies the best practice to characterize the bond behaviour of TRM. A shear bond test method is proposed to determine the peak axial stress (associated with the maximum load that can be transferred from the structural member to the externally bonded TRM reinforcement), the stress–slip relationship and the failure mode that controls the TRM-to-substrate load transfer capacity. Guidelines on specimen manufacturing, experimental setup, test execution, and determination of test results are provided.     

FRP confinement of masonry: analytical modeling

International and National Building Codes provide requirements for design and construction of new masonry structures, but design provisions for the repair, retrofitting, and rehabilitation of masonry structures are not always available and included in the same documents. Due to the extremely large variability in masonry performances, equations of general validity cannot often be provided, namely relationships suitable for every masonry type. Despite the great research effort in the experimental field, considerable theoretical work is still needed to fully outline a definitive analytical model to predict the behavior of FRP confined masonry. Most of the available models, empirical in nature, have been calibrated against their own sets of experimental data, or they are simply derived from concrete. Even if large amount of results obtained for concrete led to consolidated design guidelines, they cannot be simply extended to masonry. In this study, a mechanically based confinement model is proposed based on mechanical parameters able to differentiate similar masonry types and to highlight that they present different confinement performance. Crucial aspects of masonry confinement will be also discussed, namely: lateral dilation; confinement effectiveness; lateral pressure also in non-circular shapes; effective strain of FRP.     

Coordination Environment of Cu(II) Ions Bound to N-Terminal Peptide Fragments of Angiogenin Protein

Angiogenin (Ang) is a potent angiogenic factor, strongly overexpressed in patients affected by different types of cancers. The specific Ang cellular receptors have not been identified, but it is known that Ang–actin interaction induces changes both in the cell cytoskeleton and in the extracellular matrix. Most in vitro studies use the recombinant form (r-Ang) instead of the form that is normally present in vivo (“wild-type”, wt-Ang). The first residue of r-Ang is a methionine, with a free amino group, whereas wt-Ang has a glutamic acid, whose amino group spontaneously cyclizes in the pyro-glutamate form. The Ang biological activity is influenced by copper ions. To elucidate the role of such a free amino group on the protein–copper binding, we scrutinized the copper(II) complexes with the peptide fragments Ang(1–17) and AcAng(1–17), which encompass the sequence 1–17 of angiogenin (QDNSRYTHFLTQHYDAK-NH₂), with free amino and acetylated N-terminus, respectively. Potentiometric, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and circular dichroism (CD) studies demonstrate that the two peptides show a different metal coordination environment. Confocal microscopy imaging of neuroblastoma cells with the actin staining supports the spectroscopic results, with the finding of different responses in the cytoskeleton organization upon the interaction, in the presence or not of copper ions, with the free amino and the acetylated N-terminus peptides.     

Carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan: a novel thermosensitive hydrogel forming polysaccharide for drug delivery applications

A carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan (Scl-CM) with a derivatization degree of 65 ± 5% was synthesized. The rheological behaviour of this novel polymer was studied and compared with that of the starting polymer. We observed that the charged moieties carried on the chains could prevent the triple helix formation of Scl. Scl-CM aqueous solutions behave like true polymer solutions up to 1% w/v, whereas above this concentration a weak gel behaviour was observed. CaCl₂ addition to aqueous Scl-CM solutions led to a physical gel formation; the hydrogel strength was related to polymer and CaCl₂ concentrations. Temperature sweeps, registered at 1 Hz on hydrogels differing in CaCl₂ concentration, evidenced a gel → sol transition in the range of 30–40°C, depending on the molar ratio between carboxylic groups and Ca⁺². In order to verify a possible use of these hydrogels as drug delivery systems, acyclovir was loaded into the network. Rheological analysis evidenced that the loaded drug can affect the hydrogel elastic modulus. The release of acyclovir in phosphate buffer was evaluated at different temperatures in order to assess the suitability of this novel drug delivery system in topical applications.     

Traumatic brain injury and memory: The role of hippocampal atrophy.

In traumatically brain-injured (TBI) patients (n?=?83), memory performance was examined on the Warrington Recognition Memory Test, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure, and the Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised in relationship to time postinjury and structural changes based on MRI volumetry, including hippocampus volume. Significant trauma-induced changes were observed, including hippocampal atrophy. Structure-function relationships generally became significant only after 90 days postinjury. Memory tended to relate more to the degree of hippocampal atrophy, particularly left hippocampus, than to nonspecific indicators such as the temporal horns or the ventricle-to-brain ratio. A stronger relationship with left versus right hippocampus was evident for measures of verbal and supposedly nonverbal memory. These results are discussed with regard to the role the hippocampus may play in a neural system of memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Integrated ambient ozone evaluation by passive samplers and clover biomonitoring mini-stations

An ozone monitoring network was set up using passive samplers and biological mini-stations of two clones of white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Regal), NC-R (O(3)-resistant) and NC-S (O(3)-sensitive). This paper reports on a pilot study performed in the period June-October 1999 in the Rome municipal area by using five biomonitoring mini-stations and ozone passive samplers with a new nitrite based design. This combined methodology can be used to obtain information on the biological implications of the injury due to tropospheric ozone. The two techniques can integrate data for the short-medium period and can be placed in different urban and rural sites, proving to be a very useful tool for ozone concentration mapping.