A Perinatal Palatable High-Fat Diet Increases Food Intake and Promotes Hypercholesterolemia in Adult Rats

The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of a perinatal palatable high-fat diet on the food intake and cholesterol profile of adult rats. Male Wistar rats (aged 22 days) were divided into two groups according to their mother’s diet during gestation and lactation (C _p, n = 10; pups from control mothers; and HL_p n = 10; pups from mothers fed a palatable high-fat diet). At the 76th day, pups were housed individually for 14 days, and daily food consumption was determined during a period of 6 days. Blood from 100-day-old rats was sampled by cardiac puncture. Fasting (12 h) serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides (TG), and VLDL-C levels were determined. The measurement of food intake was higher in the animals submitted to a hyperlipidic diet during the perinatal period. Serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, VLDL-C and glycemia were increased in the HL_p group compared to the control group. Our findings show that an early life environment with a high-fat diet can contribute to metabolic disease in later life.     

The role of particle size of particulate nano-zinc oxide wood preservatives on termite mortality and leach resistance

Historically most residential wood preservatives were aqueous soluble metal formulations, but recently metals ground to submicron size and dispersed in water to give particulate formulations have gained importance. In this study, the specific role nano-zinc oxide (ZnO) particle size and leach resistance plays in termite mortality resulting from exposure to particulate ZnO-treated wood was investigated. Southern yellow pine (SYP) sapwood impregnated with three concentrations of two particle sizes (30 and 70 nm) of ZnO were compared to wood treated with soluble zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄) preservative for leach resistance and termite resistance. Less than four percent leached from the particulate nano-ZnO-treated specimens, while 13 to 25% of the zinc sulphate leached from the soluble treated wood. Nano-ZnO was essentially non-leachable from wood treated with 5% formulation for the 30-nm particle size. In a no-choice laboratory test, eastern subterranean termites (Reticulitermes flavipes) consumed less than 10% of the leached nano-ZnO-treated wood with 93 to 100% mortality in all treatment concentrations. In contrast, termites consumed 10 to 12% of the leached ZnSO₄-treated wood, but with lower mortality: 29% in the 1% treatment group and less than 10% (5 and 8%, respectively) in the group of wood blocks treated with 2.5 and 5.0% ZnSO₄. We conclude that termites were repelled from consuming wood treated with nano-ZnO, but when consumed it was more toxic to eastern subterranean termites than wood treated with the soluble metal oxide formulation. There were no differences in leaching or termite mortality between the two particle sizes of nano-ZnO.     

Extrusion of highly filled flexible polymer sheet

Highly-filled polymer systems include color masterbatches, feedstocks for powder injection molding, and rigid sheets with high levels of flame retardants, but they have not been explored for flexible sheet. This work investigated the (a) selecting a polymer matrix with enough melt strength and flexibility to form a stable sheet with high filler loading, (b) the maximum achievable filler loading for the sheet, and (c) optimizing the process of extruding a highly-filled flexible polymer system. Extrusion grade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) provided sufficient flexibility and permitted a maximum filler loading of 36 vol% (~78 wt%). Good dispersion of the nanoparticle filler, however, required two passes through multiple screw extruders and a small reduction in the viscosity of the LDPE. Sheet with thickness of 415 μm, surface roughness of <1 μm, and sufficient flexibility was extruded continuously at a rate of 10 m/min., but it required a more traditional coat hanger manifold to prevent filler hang up in the sheet die. The filler particles were distributed uniformly through the core and skin of the sheet, giving the sheet good mechanical properties.     

Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase L1: Biochemical and Cellular Characterization of a Covalent Cyanopyrrolidine-Based Inhibitor

The deubiquitinase (DUB) ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) is expressed primarily in the central nervous system under normal physiological conditions. However, UCHL1 is overexpressed in various aggressive forms of cancer with strong evidence supporting UCHL1 as an oncogene in lung, glioma, and blood cancers. In particular, the level of UCHL1 expression in these cancers correlates with increased invasiveness and metastatic behavior, as well as poor patient prognosis. Although UCHL1 is considered an oncogene with potential as a therapeutic target, there remains a significant lack of useful small-molecule probes to pharmacologically validate in vivo targeting of the enzyme. Herein, we describe the characterization of a new covalent cyanopyrrolidine-based UCHL1 inhibitory scaffold in biochemical and cellular studies to better understand the utility of this inhibitor in elucidating the role of UCHL1 in cancer biology.     

Equilibrium Shape of Internal Cavities in Ruby and the Effect of Surface Energy Anisotropy on the Equilibrium Shape

Cavities formed in ruby (99.46Al₂O₃·0.54Cr₂O₃) by the healing and annealing of indentation cracks at 1600°C are more equiaxed than similar cavities in sapphire. Surface energies for the observed facet planes (R, S, and A) relative to the surface energy of the basal plane, C , were γ_A/C= 1.00 ± 0.03, γ_R/C= 1.05 ± 0.07, and γ_S/C= 1.02 ± 0.04, with the uncertainty representing 95% confidence limits. Thus, the surface energies of all observed facets were statistically indistinguishable. Unlike sapphire, P-plane facets were not observed. The substantial rounding of the cavities in ruby indicated that portions of the Wulff shape were above the roughening transition temperature. Thus, even though Cr₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ form ideal solutions, Cr³⁺ ions are sufficiently surface active to modify the relative free energy of the surfaces.     

Effect of fish oil on the fatty acid composition of human milk and maternal and infant erythrocytes

To examine the effect of fish oil supplementation on the fatty acid (FA) composition of human milk and maternal and infant erythrocytes, five lactating women were supplemented with 6 g of fish oil daily for 21d. Usual maternal diets contained 1,147 mg of total n−3 FA, with 120 mg from very long-chain (>C₁₈) n−3 FA. Supplementation increased dietary levels to 3,092 mg of total n−3 FA and 2,006 mg of very long-chain n−3 FA. Milk samples were collected daily, prior to fish oil ingestion, and at 4-h intervals on days 1, 7, 14 and 21. Milk n−3 FA content increased within 8 h and reached steady state levels within one week. The n−6 fatty acid content decreased. Erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid content increased from 0.24% to 1.4% (P<0.01) in mothers and from 0.11% to 0.70% (P<0.05) in infants. Docosapentaenoic acid increased from 1.4% to 2.2% (P<0.05) in mothers and from 0.30% to 0.78% (P<0.01) in infants. There was no significant change in docosahexaenoic acid or n−6 fatty acid content. Maternal platelet aggregation responses were variable. No differences in milk or plasma tocopherol levels were noted. Based on a paper presented at the Symposium on Milk Lipids held at the AOCS Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, April 1990.     

Dietary intake of essential and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy

The dietary intake of EFA and long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) by women with (n=14) and without (n=31) gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was determined by repeated 24-h recalls. Women with GDM consumed significantly more energy as fat compared with women who had uncomplicated pregnancies; absolute dietary fat did not differ. Dietary n−3 LCPUFA was substantially lower than the current recommendation for pregnancy, whereas intake of saturated FA (SFA) exceeded it. We conclude that replacing dietary sources of SFA with those of EFA and LCPUFA, especially n−3 LCPUFA, would benefit the dietary fat profiles of all pregnant women.     

Development of a Personal Sampler for Collecting Fungal Spores

Exposure to fungal aerosols is of concern in indoor environments. However, sampling limitations have previously made it difficult to assess exposures accurately, especially long-term exposures. A prototype personal aerosol sampler, based on cyclone principles and using a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube as a particle collection receptacle has been designed and fabricated. Collection efficiency for aerosol particles in the size range of fungal spores has been evaluated for different types of microcentrifuge tubes, together with the effect of a polyethylene glycol coating on the inside of the tube and the effect of adding water to the tube. Monodisperse, fluorescently tagged polymer microspheres with median diameters of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, and 16 μm were used to evaluate sampler performance with particle diameter. The microcentrifuge-tube sampler was tested at flow rates of 2 and 4 liters per minute (l/min). Experimental results indicate that the microcentrifuge-tube sampler has an aspiration efficiency of 100% in calm air for particles up to 16 μm. At 4 l/min, the microcentrifuge-tube sampler is able to collect nearly 100% of particles greater than 3 μm and > 90% of particles between 2.5 and 3 μm. The 50% cutoff size is 1.5 μm. The performance of the sampler did not vary with the different brands of tubes tested or with the presence or absence of a coating on the tube surface. Furthermore, the addition of water to the tube resulted in a slight increase in collection efficiency. A sampling time of 5 h was feasible at 45–50% relative humidity before evaporation led to significant water loss.

The cutoff size of 1.5 μm is comparable to many commercially available bioaerosol samplers. Besides being easy to use, simple to fabricate, and inexpensive, this novel sampler has several advantages over conventional samplers: long-term samples are possible (the limitation of impaction methods); there is no sample transfer loss since the transfer step has been eliminated (the limitation of filter cassettes); laboratory analyses are not dependent solely upon a single analysis method (the limitation of impaction methods), and there is no sampler adherence loss (the limitation of trying to wash microorganisms from filters). In addition, use of the sampler would be applicable in a variety of occupational settings from low bioaerosol concentrations (i.e., indoor environments) to high bioaerosol concentrations (i.e., agricultural setting) by varying sampling time periods and using sensitive analytical methods.     

A New Field-Compatible Methodology for the Collection and Analysis of Fungal Fragments

A field-compatible collection system was developed and tested for the collection and analysis of fungal fragments. The new collection system consists of two types of Sharp-Cut cyclone samplers (PM _2.5 and PM _1.0 ) and an after-filter. Fungal particles are collected into three size fractions: (1) spores ( > 2.5 μ m); (2) a fragment-spore mixture (1.0–2.5 μ m); and (3) submicrometer-sized fragments ( < 1.0 μ m). The system was laboratory-tested using polystyrene latex (PSL) particles and particulate matter aerosolized from sporulating Aspergillus versicolor and Stachybotrys chartarum cultures. In addition to the particle count measured with direct-reading instruments, the (1 → 3)- β -D-glucan content in each size fraction was determined with the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay.

Experiments conducted with PSL particles showed that the 50% cut-off values of the two cyclone samplers under the test conditions were 2.25 μ m and 1.05 μ m, respectively. No particle bounce onto the after-filter was observed when the total particle number entering the collection system was kept below 1.6 × 10 ⁸ . The (1 → 3)- β -D-glucan assay of samples aerosolized from both fungal species suggested that surface area is an important factor for determining the (1 → 3)- β -D-glucan content in the entire size-range of particles.

In conclusion, the new methodology is a promising tool for separating and analyzing fungal fragment samples.     

Stepwise optimisation of enzyme production in solid state fermentation of waste bread pieces

When it is not consumed, bread presents a major source of food waste, both in terms of the amount and its economic value. However, bread also possesses the characteristics of an ideal substrate for solid state fermentation. Yet nearly all wasted bread ends up in landfill sites, where it is converted into methane by anaerobic digestion. Governments are finally taking action and, according to the EU Landfill Directive, for example, biodegradable municipal waste disposed into landfills must be decreased to 35% of 1995 levels, by 2020. Solid state fermentation of waste bread for the production of value added products is a novel idea, which could help with the achievement of this target. In this study, glucoamylase and protease production from waste bread pieces, via solid state fermentation, was investigated in detail. The optimum fermentation conditions for enzyme production were evaluated as, 20 mm particle size, 1.8 (w/w, db) initial moisture ratio, and duration of 144 h. Under these conditions, glucoamylase and protease activities reached up to 114.0 and 83.2 U/g bread (db), respectively. This study confirms that waste bread could be successfully utilised as a primary raw material in cereal based biorefineries.