Compositional characteristics,texture, shelf-life and sensory quality of snack crackers produced from non-traditional ingredients

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of non-traditional and highly available and nutrient-dense ingredients in the production of value-added crackers. The crackers were prepared by combining partially defatted chia flour, wheat germ, quinoa, and oat. The antioxidant activity and the polyphenol content were 7.0–8.4 times higher in crackers produced with non-traditional ingredients compared to the control snack. The hydroperoxide value indicated a low oxidative deterioration of the oil. The sample with 10% of partially defatted chia flour was selected for shelf-life test under storage conditions and sensory evaluation. Modified atmosphere exerted a protective effect on the lipid stability regardless of the incorporation of BHT to the formulation. All the evaluated attributes scored highly during consumer acceptance. The formulated cracker presented a relevant content of protein, dietary fibre and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. Based on these results, the crackers containing non-traditional ingredients resulted in a product with a good potential for both consumer acceptance and outstanding nutritional benefits.     

Mechanical properties and thermal shock in thin ZrO2–Y2O3–Al2O3 films obtained by the sol-gel method

Thin multilayer coatings of ZrO₂–Y₂O₃–Al₂O₃ were prepared using the sol-gel method and dip-coating technique in order to advance in the study of what influence the incorporation of Al₂O₃ has on films of Y₂O₃-doped ZrO₂, investigating its role in the synthesis of the solutions and in the characteristics and properties of the coatings. After the characterization of the solutions used in the process, the microstructure of the films was studied and their mechanical behaviour and resistance to thermal shock were determined so as to optimize the characteristics and functionality of these coatings. With increased alumina content, 3YSZ-Al₂O₃ (20 mol%), the cubic phase of the zirconia disappeared completely at the sintering temperature used (700 °C), resulting in the tetragonal phase with Al in solution. There was also a decrease in the coatings' hardness and Young's modulus, and an increase in toughness and resistance to thermal shock. These results allow guidelines to be established for the design of multilayer structures that are, tougher, more resistant, and have improved surface properties.     

Nanoconfined (Bio)Catalysts as Efficient Glucose‐Responsive Nanoreactors

Herein, the design, synthesis, and characterization of bifunctional hybrid nanoreactors used for concurrent one‐pot chemoenzymatic reactions are shown. In the design, the enzyme, glucose oxidase, is wrapped with a peroxidase‐mimetic catalytic polymer. Hemin, the organic catalyst, is linked to the flexible polymeric scaffold through coordination to the imidazole groups that hang out the network. This spatial arrangement, which works as a metabolic channel, is optimized for cooperative chemoenzymatic reactions in which the enzyme catalyzes first. A deep characterization of the integrated nanoreactors demonstrates that the confinement of two distinct catalytic sites in the nanospace is very effective in one‐pot reactions. Moreover, besides its role as scaffold material, the polymeric mantel protects both the biocatalyst and the chemical catalyst from degradation and inactivation in the presence of organic solvents. Furthermore, the polymeric environment of the nanoreactors can be tailored in order to trigger the assembly of those into highly active heterogeneous hybrid catalysts. Finally, the new nanoreactors are applied to the efficient degradation of organic aromatic compounds using glucose as the only fuel.     

Modeling Alcohol Dehydrogenase Catalysis in Deep Eutectic Solvent/Water Mixtures

The use of oxidoreductases (EC1) in non-conventional reaction media has been increasingly explored. In particular, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as a novel class of solvents. Herein, an in-depth study of bioreduction with an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in the DES glyceline is presented. The activity and stability of ADH in mixtures of glyceline/water with varying water contents were measured. Furthermore, the thermodynamic water activity and viscosity of mixtures of glyceline/water have been determined. For a better understanding of the observations, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to quantify the molecular flexibility, hydration layer, and intraprotein hydrogen bonds of ADH. The behavior of the enzyme in DESs follows the classic dependence of water activity (a_W) in non-conventional media. At low a_W values (<0.2), ADH does not show any activity; at higher a_W values, the activity was still lower than that in pure water due to the high viscosities of the DES. These findings could be further explained by increased enzyme flexibility with increasing water content.     

Farm-scale carbon and nitrogen fluxes in pastoral dairy production systems using different nitrogen fertilizer regimes

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems - The nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rate (kg&nbsp;ha?1&nbsp;year?1) in pastoral dairy systems affects the flow of N through the soil,...     

Special Issue: Technological Advancements in Wireless and Optical Communication Systems

Wireless Personal Communications -     

CNBP Binds and Unfolds In Vitro G-Quadruplexes Formed in the SARS-CoV-2 Positive and Negative Genome Strands

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global health emergency with no effective medical treatment and with incipient vaccines. It is caused by a new positive-sense RNA virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). G-quadruplexes (G4s) are nucleic acid secondary structures involved in the control of a variety of biological processes including viral replication. Using several G4 prediction tools, we identified highly putative G4 sequences (PQSs) within the positive-sense (+gRNA) and negative-sense (−gRNA) RNA strands of SARS-CoV-2 conserved in related betacoronaviruses. By using multiple biophysical techniques, we confirmed the formation of two G4s in the +gRNA and provide the first evidence of G4 formation by two PQSs in the −gRNA of SARS-CoV-2. Finally, biophysical and molecular approaches were used to demonstrate for the first time that CNBP, the main human cellular protein bound to SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome, binds and promotes the unfolding of G4s formed by both strands of SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome. Our results suggest that G4s found in SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome and its negative-sense replicative intermediates, as well as the cellular proteins that interact with them, are relevant factors for viral genes expression and replication cycle, and may constitute interesting targets for antiviral drugs development.     

SLA-aware operational efficiency in AI-enabled service chains: challenges ahead

Information Systems and e-Business Management - Service providers compose services in service chains that require deep integration of core operational information systems across organizations....