Nanoliposomes and Nanoemulsions Based on Chia Seed Lipids: Preparation and Characterization

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are important in reducing the risk for cardiovascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds contain high levels of omega-3 PUFA, α-linolenic acid (ALA) in particular, and are a potential source for development of omega-3 PUFA-based products. Our objective was to obtain and characterize chia seed lipids, focusing on phospholipid fraction, and to investigate their use in the formulation of nanoemulsions (NE) and nanoliposomes (NL). Solvent-based lipid extraction was performed on the ORURO variety of chia seeds, followed by lipid composition analysis using GC and LC-MS and physico-chemical characterization of chia NL and NE. Folch extraction led to a slightly higher yield of ALA as compared to Soxhlet extraction. Lipid, phospholipid, and fatty acid composition analysis of the oil and residue revealed that the residue was rich in phospholipids; these were used to prepare NE and NL. Physico-chemical characterization showed that NE and NL were generally spherical (transmission electron microscopy), with a size of <120 nm under hydrated conditions that remained stable over 5 days. In conclusion, chia oil and phospholipid-rich residue can be used to obtain stable NL or NE using a simple method that involves spontaneous emulsification during lipid hydration, which potentially may be useful in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and other health applications.     

ACTIF: une aide à la conception de systèmes de transports interopérables en france

This article introducesActif the French its framework architecture :

– for readers already in the its domain, it will give a global and prospective view on this project and light on the “stakeholders” role with respect to ITS deployment ;

– for the newcomers, it shall introduce the issues of interoperability and information exchange between systems, and help understand how theActif approach may be similar to the systems engineering approach they are familiar with in their domain.

     

A density-driven phase transition between semiconducting and metallic polyamorphs of silicon

Amorphous and crystalline forms of silicon are well-known, tetrahedrally coordinated semiconductors. High-pressure studies have revealed extensive polymorphism among various metallic crystal structures containing atoms in six-, eight- and 12-fold coordination. Melting silicon at ambient or high pressure results in a conducting liquid, in which the average coordination is greater than four (ref. 3). This liquid cannot normally be quenched to a glass, because of rapid crystallization to the diamond-structured semiconductor. Solid amorphous silicon is obtained by synthesis routes such as chemical or physical vapour deposition that result in a tetrahedrally bonded semiconducting state. It has long been speculated that the amorphous solid and the liquid could represent two polymorphic forms of the amorphous state that are linked by density- or entropy-driven transformations. Such polyamorphic transitions are recognized to occur among several different types of liquid and glassy systems. Here we present experimental evidence for the occurrence of a density-driven polyamorphic transition between semiconducting and metallic forms of solid amorphous silicon. The experiments are combined with molecular dynamics simulations that map the behaviour of the amorphous solid on to that of the liquid state.     

Molecular genetic study of introgression between Saccharomyces bayanus and S. cerevisiae

The genomic constitution of different S. bayanus strains and natural interspecific Saccharomyces hybrids has been studied by genetic and molecular methods. Unlike S. bayanus var. uvarum, some S. bayanus var. bayanus strains (the type culture CBS 380, CBS 378, CBS 425, CBS 1548) harbour a number of S. cerevisiae subtelomeric sequences: Y', pEL50, SUC, RTM and MAL. The two varieties, having 86-100% nDNA-nDNA reassociation, are partly genetically isolated from one another but completely isolated from S. cerevisiae. Genetic and molecular data support the maintaining of var. bayanus and var. uvarum strains in the species S. bayanus. Using Southern hybridization with species-specific molecular markers, RFLP of the MET2 gene and flow cytometry analysis, we showed that the non-S. cerevisiae parents are different in lager brewing yeasts and in wine hybrid strains. Our results suggest that S. pastorianus is a hybrid between S. cerevisiae and S. bayanus var. bayanus, while S. bayanus var. uvarum contributed to the formation of the wine hybrids S6U and CID1. According to the partial sequence of ACT1 gene and flow cytometry analysis, strain CID1 is a triple hybrid between S. cerevisiae, S. kudriavzevii and S. bayanus var. uvarum.     

Challenges in the addition of probiotic cultures to foods

Probiotic cultures are increasingly being added to foods in order to develop products with health-promoting properties. Although the literature is abundant on the beneficial effects of bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus acidophilus on health, little information is available on the challenges industry faces in adding these probiotic cultures to food products. The aim of this article is to examine seven issues that should be addressed when developing functional foods: 1) type or form of probiotic that should be used; 2) addition level required to have a beneficial effect; 3) toxicity; 4) effect of the processing steps on viability; 5) determination, in the product, of the cell populations added; 6) stability during storage; 7) changes in sensory properties of the foods.     

CASE tool for microprocessing

Code Expert is ergonomic text editing software designed to help the user write programs for microprocessors. It runs on an IBM PC with PC-DOS, using popular microprocessor assembly languages and third-generation languages like c and PL/M. This tool has been used successfully in many realtime applications. It has been used, for example, to produce software based on algorithms (signal analysis and pattern recognition), to handle telecommunication (intelligent modem and emergency phone-call processing), and to perform data acquisition (power plant monitoring). Code Expert is introduced here in the context of CASE tools. An example application is given, followed by a discussion of the system's features.     

Cell wall polysaccharides and lignin in cotyledons and hulls of seeds from various lupin (Lupinus L.) species

Cell wall constituents have been analysed in cotyledons and hulls of eleven species of lupins (Lupinus albus, angustifolius, elegans, graecus, hispanicus, luteus, mutabilis, pilosus, subcarnosus, succulentus and varius) and in five varieties of white lupin (Lupinus albus). Cotyledon cell walls obtained after defatting and pronase treatment of dehulled flours ranged from 7% of dry matter in L. elegans to 32% in L. pilosus and essentially consisted of galactose, arabinose and galacturonic acid residues. Wall content was closely related to galactose percent, an increase in cell wall proportion likely being due to branching of additional galactan side-chains on rhamnogalacturonans. Hulls were mainly constituted of cellulose associated with hemicellulosic and pectic polymers. Most lupin hulls had low lignin contents.