Cooperative strategies in satellite assisted emergency services

This paper deals with the cooperative strategies, which can be adopted in emergency scenarios by integrating space and terrestrial segments, and communication and localization services. First, the cooperative solutions for integrated Navigation and Communication systems are reviewed and an effective software‐defined radio implementation is described. Then, cooperative systems for broadcast and multicast communications in Incident Area Network are proposed and evaluated: in the broadcast scenario, low‐complexity relaying techniques are adopted to overcome the propagation impairments and the performance degradation; in the multicast system, radio resources management techniques for group communications are designed to allow the efficient use of scarce resources and improve connectivity and reliability of the overall system. The technical solutions have been studied and tested in the framework of the Italian National Research Project SAtellite‐assisted LocalIzation and Communication system for Emergency services [1]. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reduced mammary tumor progression in a transgenic mouse model fed an isoflavone-poor soy protein concentrate

Dietary exposure to soy has been associated with reduced breast cancer incidence. Soy isoflavones and protein components, such as protease inhibitors and the lunasin peptide, have been indicated as potential agents reducing carcinogenesis. In this study, the effect of soy-based diets was evaluated in a transgenic mouse model of breast carcinoma, overexpressing the neu oncogene. Neu female mice were fed for 20 wk a soy- and isoflavone-free diet (IFD), 4RF21 laboratory mouse diet, soy-based, thus isoflavone-rich (STD), or AIN-76-based semisynthetic diets with a soy protein isolate (SPI) or an isoflavone-poor soy protein concentrate (IPSP) as protein source. Mice were then sacrificed and tumors removed. Mammary tumor weights were not different in SPI versus IFD and STD fed mice. In contrast, mice fed IPSP showed reduced tumor progression versus IFD and STD groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, IPSP fed mice showed lower bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into breast tumor cells compared to STD and SPI fed animals (p < 0.02). Lung metastases were detected in 80% of IFD fed mice, in 70% of mice fed STD and SPI, and only in 50% of the IPSP fed animals. These results indicate that a diet containing an isoflavone-poor soy protein concentrate may inhibit breast tumor progression and metastasis development.     

Safety improvement and preservation of typical sensory qualities of traditional dry fermented sausages using autochthonous starter cultures

Traditional dry fermented sausages are manufactured without addition of starter cultures in small-scale processing units, their fermentation relying on indigenous microflora. Characterisation and control of these specific bacteria are essential for the sensory quality and the safety of the sausages. The aim of this study was to develop an autochthonous starter culture that improves safety while preserving the typical sensory characteristics of traditional sausages. An autochthonous starter composed of Lactobacillus sakei, Staphylococcus equorum and Staphylococcus succinus isolated from a traditional fermented sausage was developed. These strains were tested for their susceptibility to antibiotics and their production of biogenic amines. This starter was evaluated in situ at the French traditional processing unit where the strains had been isolated. Effects of the autochthonous starter were assessed by analysing the microbial, physico-chemical, biochemical and sensory characteristics of the sausages. Inoculation with the chosen species was confirmed using known species-specific PCR assays for L. sakei and S. equorum and a species-specific PCR assay developed in this study for S. succinus. Strains were monitored by pulse-field gel electrophoresis typing. Addition of autochthonous microbial starter cultures improved safety compared with the traditional natural fermentation of sausages, by inhibiting the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, decreasing the level of biogenic amines and by limiting fatty acid and cholesterol oxidation. Moreover, autochthonous starter did not affect the typical sensory quality of the traditional sausages. This is the first time to our knowledge that selection, development and validation in situ of autochthonous starter cultures have been carried out, and also the first time that S. equorum together with S. succinus have been used as starter cultures for meat fermentation. Use of autochthonous starter cultures is an effective tool for limiting the formation of unsafe compounds in traditional sausage while preserving their original and specific sensory quality.     

Chemical vapor generation atomic spectrometry using amineboranes and cyanotrihydroborate(III) reagents

Amineboranes of the type L-BH3 (L = NH3; tert-BuNH2; Me2NH; Me3N) and sodium cyanotrihydroborate(III) (NaBH3CN) have been tested as derivatization reagents in the generation of volatile hydrides and elemental mercury following aqueous phase reaction with ionic species of Hg(II), As(III), As(V), Sb(V), Sb(III), Bi(III), Se(IV), Se(VI), Te(IV), and Te(VI). Continuous flow generation atomic absorption spectrometry coupled with a flameless quartz tube atomizer (T = 25 degrees C) and a miniature argon-hydrogen diffusion flame atomizer were employed for the detection of mercury vapors and volatile hydrides, respectively. All of the reductants were able to reduce Hg(II) to the elemental state, giving sensitivities comparable to NaBH4 reduction. Under reaction conditions giving maximum sensitivity for hydride generation with NaBH4, only some amineboranes are able to produce volatile hydrides from all the elements. No evidence of hydride formation was observed from the Se(VI) and Te(VI). In general, the reducing power decreased in the order NaBH4 > H3N-BH3 > tert-BuNH2-BH3 > NaBH3CN > or = Me2HN-BH3 > Me3N-BH3. In comparison with THB, amineboranes and NaBH3CN allowed, in general, a better control of interference effects of Fe(III), Ni(II), Co(II), and Cu(II). Application to determination of mercury in certified reference material is reported. The most likely mechanism of reaction of borane complexes in chemical vapor generation is based on the direct action of hydrogen bound to boron.     

Light-emitting nanocomposite CdS-polymer electrospun fibres via in situ nanoparticle generation

We report on the simple, in situ generation of CdS nanocrystals inside electrospun polymer fibres by thermal decomposition of a cadmium thiolate precursor, leading to nanocomposite light-emitting fibres. The modifications induced in the precursor by the thermal decomposition are investigated by a morphological, structural and spectroscopic analysis of the resulting nanocomposite fibres. This approach allows us to overcome nanofabrication difficulties related to disfavoured micro- or nanofluidic molecular flow as given by the direct incorporation of particles in the electrospinning solution. This method therefore enables the synthesis of luminescent, CdS-based composite fibres with emission peaked in the visible range, suitable as building blocks for nanophotonic devices based on light-emitting nanomaterials.     

Gelation kinetics of crosslinked gelatin

Experimental results have shown that the kinetics of bond formation in chemical crosslinking of gelatin solutions is strongly affected not only by gelatin and reactant concentrations but also by the solution pH. We present an extended numerical investigation of the phase diagram and of the kinetics of bond formation as a function of the pH, via Monte Carlo simulations of a lattice model for gelatin chains and reactant agent in solution. We find that gelation can be hindered either by loop formation, at low reactant concentrations, or by saturation of active sites of the chains via formation of single bonds with crosslinkers, at high reactant concentrations. The ratio of the characteristic times for the formation of first and the second bond between the crosslinker and an active site of a chain is found to depend on the reactant reactivity, in good agreement with experimental data. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013 © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The Structural Characterization and Antipathogenic Activities of Quinoin,a Type 1 Ribosome-Inactivating Protein from Quinoa Seeds

Quinoin is a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) we previously isolated from the seeds of pseudocereal quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and is known as a functional food for its beneficial effects on human health. As the presence of RIPs in edible plants could be potentially risky, here we further characterised biochemically the protein (complete amino acid sequence, homologies/differences with other RIPs and three-dimensional homology modeling) and explored its possible defensive role against pathogens. Quinoin consists of 254 amino acid residues, without cysteinyl residues. As demonstrated by similarities and homology modeling, quinoin preserves the amino acid residues of the active site (Tyr75, Tyr122, Glu177, Arg180, Phe181 and Trp206; quinoin numbering) and the RIP-fold characteristic of RIPs. The polypeptide chain of quinoin contains two N-glycosylation sites at Asn115 and Asp231, the second of which appears to be linked to sugars. Moreover, by comparative MALDI-TOF tryptic peptide mapping, two differently glycosylated forms of quinoin, named pre-quinoin-1 and pre-quinoin-2 (~0.11 mg/100 g and ~0.85 mg/100 g of seeds, respectively) were characterised. Finally, quinoin possesses: (i) strong antiviral activity, both in vitro and in vivo towards Tobacco Necrosis Virus (TNV); (ii) a growth inhibition effect on the bacterial pathogens of plants; and (iii) a slight antifungal effect against two Cryphonectria parasitica strains.