Effects of red-wine grape pomace on the quality and sensory attributes of beef hamburger patty

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of red-wine grape pomaces on the quality and sensory attributes of beef hamburger patties. Both phenolic content and antioxidant activity were assessed using Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon pomaces. Following the assessment, hamburger patties were prepared with Merlot pomace at 0%, 2% and 4% for the patty quality and sensory attributes. Grape seeds possessed significantly higher phenolics and antioxidant activities over the seedless pomace (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found for phenolics and antioxidant activities within the seeds and seedless pomaces. The patty pH decreased as the pomace was added for 2% and 4%. Colour values (L*, a* and b*) of patties lowered as the pomace was added. Allo-Kramer shear force and hardness values increased while cooking yield decreased (P < 0.05) with the addition of pomace. No significant difference between control and Merlot patties was found for flavour, juiciness and colour, whereas lower sensory attributes were observed for texture, taste and overall acceptability. It is observed that the addition of fermented red-wine grape pomace provides hamburger patties with health promoting factors such as antioxidant and other functional components, but it also provided darker, sourer and lower cooking yield.     

As the number falls,alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number method: A review

This review examines the application, limitations, and potential alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number (FN) method used in the global wheat industry for detecting the risk of poor end-product quality mainly due to starch degradation by the enzyme α-amylase. By viscometry, the FN test indirectly detects the presence of α-amylase, the primary enzyme that digests starch. Elevated α-amylase results in low FN and damages wheat product quality resulting in cakes that fall, and sticky bread and noodles. Low FN can occur from preharvest sprouting (PHS) and late maturity α-amylase (LMA). Moist or rainy conditions before harvest cause PHS on the mother plant. Continuously cool or fluctuating temperatures during the grain filling stage cause LMA. Due to the expression of additional hydrolytic enzymes, PHS has a stronger negative impact than LMA. Wheat grain with low FN/high α-amylase results in serious losses for farmers, traders, millers, and bakers worldwide. Although blending of low FN grain with sound wheat may be used as a means of moving affected grain through the marketplace, care must be taken to avoid grain lots from falling below contract-specified FN. A large amount of sound wheat can be ruined if mixed with a small amount of sprouted wheat. The FN method is widely employed to detect α-amylase after harvest. However, it has several limitations, including sampling variability, high cost, labor intensiveness, the destructive nature of the test, and an inability to differentiate between LMA and PHS. Faster, cheaper, and more accurate alternatives could improve breeding for resistance to PHS and LMA and could preserve the value of wheat grain by avoiding inadvertent mixing of high- and low-FN grain by enabling testing at more stages of the value stream including at harvest, delivery, transport, storage, and milling. Alternatives to the FN method explored here include the Rapid Visco Analyzer, enzyme assays, immunoassays, near-infrared spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging.     

Prandtl–Tomlinson-Type Models for Coupled Molecular Sliding Friction: Chain-Length Dependence of Friction of Self-assembled Monolayers

Tribology Letters - Most asteroids with a diameter larger than $$\sim 300 \ {\mathrm{m}}$$ are rubble piles, i.e., consisting of more than one solid object. All asteroids are rotating but almost...     

Reversible Control of Gelatin Hydrogel Stiffness by Using DNA Crosslinkers**

Biomaterials with dynamically tunable properties are critical for a range of applications in regenerative medicine and basic biology. In this work, we show the reversible control of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel stiffness through the use of DNA crosslinkers. We replaced some of the inter-GelMA crosslinks with double-stranded DNA, allowing for their removal through toehold-mediated strand displacement. The crosslinks could be restored by adding fresh dsDNA with complementary handles to those on the hydrogel. The elastic modulus (G’) of the hydrogels could be tuned between 500 and 1000 Pa, reversibly, over two cycles without degradation of performance. By functionalizing the gels with a second DNA strand, it was possible to control the crosslink density and a model ligand in an orthogonal fashion with two different displacement strands. Our results demonstrate the potential for DNA to reversibly control both stiffness and ligand presentation in a protein-based hydrogel, and will be useful for teasing apart the spatiotemporal behavior of encapsulated cells.     

Superconducting Quantum Metamaterials from High Pressure Melt Infiltration of Metals into Block Copolymer Double Gyroid Derived Ceramic Templates

Mesoscale order can lead to emergent properties including phononic bandgaps or topologically protected states. Block copolymers offer a route to mesoscale periodic architectures, but their use as structure directing agents for metallic materials has not been fully realized. A versatile approach to mesostructured metals via bulk block copolymer self-assembly derived ceramic templates, is demonstrated. Molten indium is infiltrated into mesoporous, double gyroidal silicon nitride templates under high pressure to yield bulk, 3D periodic nanocomposites as free-standing monoliths which exhibit emergent quantum-scale phenomena. Vortices are artificially introduced when double gyroidal indium metal behaves as a type II superconductor, with evidence of strong pinning centers arrayed on the order of the double gyroid lattice size. Sample behavior is reproducible over months, showing high stability. High pressure infiltration of bulk block copolymer self-assembly based ceramic templates is an enabling tool for studying high-quality metals with previously inaccessible architectures, and paves the way for the emerging field of block-copolymer derived quantum metamaterials.     

A priori performance assessment of line-less mobile assembly systems

Present assembly systems are often based on rigid, line-based approaches and are hindered in their reconfiguration capability. Line-less Mobile Assembly Systems (LMAS) are a novel approach for assembly organization. They improve flexibility through mobile resources, permitting spatiotemporal freedom in scheduling and resource assignment. This paper presents a method for a priori assessment of LMAS during the early stages of the assembly system design process. The method applies a modified, extended mean value analysis to a closed queuing network representation of LMAS to estimate performance. The method is validated model analysis and comparison on two use cases indicating plausible model behavior.     

Functional Coupling of Slack Channels and P2X3 Receptors Contributes to Neuropathic Pain Processing

The sodium-activated potassium channel Slack (K_Na1.1, Slo2.2, or Kcnt1) is highly expressed in populations of sensory neurons, where it mediates the sodium-activated potassium current (I_KNa) and modulates neuronal activity. Previous studies suggest that Slack is involved in the processing of neuropathic pain. However, mechanisms underlying the regulation of Slack activity in this context are poorly understood. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings we found that Slack-mediated I_KNa in sensory neurons of mice is reduced after peripheral nerve injury, thereby contributing to neuropathic pain hypersensitivity. Interestingly, Slack is closely associated with ATP-sensitive P2X3 receptors in a population of sensory neurons. In vitro experiments revealed that Slack-mediated I_KNa may be bidirectionally modulated in response to P2X3 activation. Moreover, mice lacking Slack show altered nocifensive responses to P2X3 stimulation. Our study identifies P2X3/Slack signaling as a mechanism contributing to hypersensitivity after peripheral nerve injury and proposes a potential novel strategy for treatment of neuropathic pain.     

Metallocene QACs: The Incorporation of Ferrocene Moieties into monoQAC and bisQAC Structures

Inspired by the incorporation of metallocene functionalities into a variety of bioactive structures, particularly antimicrobial peptides, we endeavored to broaden the structural variety of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) by the incorporation of the ferrocene moiety. Accordingly, 23 ferrocene-containing mono- and bisQACs were prepared in high yields and tested for activity against a variety of bacteria, including Gram-negative strains and a panel of clinically isolated MRSA strains. Ferrocene QACs were shown to be effective antiseptics with some displaying single-digit micromolar activity against all bacteria tested, demonstrating yet another step in the expansion of structural variety of antiseptic QACs.     

Modulation of electrical transport in calcium cobaltite ceramics and thick films through microstructure control and doping

Ca₃Co₄O₉ is a promising p-type thermoelectric oxide material having intrinsically low thermal conductivity. With low cost and opportunities for automatic large scale production, thick film technologies offer considerable potential for a new generation of micro-sized thermoelectric coolers or generators. Here, based on the chemical composition optimized by traditional solid state reaction for bulk samples, we present a viable approach to modulating the electrical transport properties of screen-printed calcium cobaltite thick films through control of the microstructural evolution by optimized heat-treatment. XRD and TEM analysis confirmed the formation of high-quality calcium cobaltite grains. By creating 2.0 at% cobalt deficiency in Ca_2.7Bi_0.3Co₄O_9+δ, the pressureless sintered ceramics reached the highest power factor of 98.0 μWm^?1 K^-2 at 823 K, through enhancement of electrical conductivity by reduction of poorly conducting secondary phases. Subsequently, textured thick films of Ca_2.7Bi_0.3Co_3.92O_9+δ were efficiently tailored by controlling the sintering temperature and holding time. Optimized Ca_2.7Bi_0.3Co_3.92O_9+δ thick films sintered at 1203 K for 8 h exhibited the maximum power factor of 55.5 μWm^?1 K^-2 at 673 K through microstructure control.