Porous,Sintered Glass‐Ceramics from Inorganic Polymers Based on Fayalite Slag

The present paper deals with the synthesis of porous, sintered glass‐ceramics obtained at temperatures below 1150°C, originating from inorganic polymers based on fayalite slag. Firing led to the evaporation of water, dehydroxylation, and oxidation of Fe²⁺ above 345°C. For heating >700°C, the Si–O stretching band shifted from the 1160 and 750 cm^?1 to the 1255 and 830 cm^?1 region, due to a structural reorganization of the amorphous phase, whereas Fe–O bands appeared at 550 cm^?1. The final microstructure consisted predominantly of an amorphous phase, hematite, and franklinite. The open porosity and compressive strength decreased and increased, respectively, as the firing temperature increased. The final values suggest properties comparable to that of structural lightweight concrete, still, the materials synthesized herein, are lighter, and made primarily from secondary resources.     

Direct Ink Writing of a Preceramic Polymer and Fillers to Produce Hardystonite (Ca2ZnSi2O7) Bioceramic Scaffolds

The direct ink writing of an ink composed of a preceramic polymer and fillers was used to produce hardystonite (Ca₂ZnSi₂O₇) bioceramic scaffolds. Suitable formulations were developed for the extrusion of fine filaments (350 μm diameter) through a nozzle. The preceramic polymer was employed with the double purpose of contributing to the rheology of the ink by increasing its viscosity and of forming the hardystonite phase upon heat treatment by reacting with the fillers. A control of the rheology is essential when spanning features have to be produced, and therefore the main rheological characteristics of the inks were measured (flow curves, dynamic oscillation tests, viscosity recovery tests) and compared to models reported in the literature. Highly porous scaffolds (up to 80% total porosity) were produced and heat treated in air or in nitrogen atmosphere. The influence of the heat‐treatment atmosphere on the morphology, crystalline phase assemblage, and compressive strength of the scaffolds was investigated.     

The Casein Kinase 2‐Dependent Phosphorylation of NS5A Domain 3 from Hepatitis C Virus Followed by Time‐Resolved NMR Spectroscopy

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically affects millions of individuals worldwide. The HCV nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) plays a critical role in the viral assembly pathway. Domain 3 (D3) of NS5A is an unstructured polypeptide responsible for the interaction with the core particle assembly structure. Casein kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylates NS5A‐D3 at multiple sites that have mostly been predicted and only observed indirectly. In order to identify the CK2‐dependent phosphorylation sites, we monitored the reaction between NS5A‐D3 and CK2 in vitro by time‐resolved NMR. We unambiguously identified four serine residues as substrates of CK2. The apparent rate constant for each site was determined from the reaction curves. Ser408 was quickly phosphorylated, whereas the three other serine residues reacted more slowly. These results provide a starting point from which to elucidate the role of phosphorylation in the mechanisms of viral assembly—and in the modulation of the viral activity—at the molecular level.     

Liquid Loss as Effected by Post mortem Ultrastructural Changes in Fish Muscle: Cod (Gadus morhuaL) and Salmon (Salmo salar)

This study was performed in order to assess the effect of early post mortem structural changes in the muscle upon the liquid-holding capacity of wild cod, net-pen-fed cod (fed cod) and farmed salmon. The liquid-holding capacity was measured by a low speed centrifugation test. Transmission electron microscopy was used to discover ultrastructural changes both in the connective tissue and in the myofibrils. Differential scanning calorimetric thermograms of the muscle proteins were recorded to elucidate whether fundamental differences did exist between the proteins of the raw material tested. Multivariate statistics were used to explicate the main tendencies of variations in the thermograms. The salmon muscle possessed much better liquid-holding properties than the cod muscle, and wild cod better than fed cod regardless of the storage time. Both fed cod and farmed salmon, underwent the most severe structural alterations, probably caused by the low muscle pH values. The higher liquid-holding capacity of the salmon muscle was related to species specific structural features and better stability of the muscle proteins. The myofibrils of the salmon muscle were denser and intra- and extracellular spaces were filled by fat and a granulated material. The differences in thermograms of muscle from wild and fed cod were largely explained by the variations in pH. The severe liquid loss of fed cod is due to a low pH induced denaturation and shrinkage of the myofibrils. Post mortem degradation of the endomysial layer and the sarcolemma may have further facilitated the release of liquid.     

Scratch hardness and deformation maps for polycarbonate and polyethylene

This paper presents results obtained from the scratching of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and a polycarbonate (PC). The data are used to obtain various surface mechanical properties such as the hardness and also the prevailing deformation mechanisms. Scratch results are reported for the case of rigid conical indenters for various tip included angles, bulk temperatures, scratch velocities, and applied normal loads. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser profilometry data are used to study the surface deformation and damage mechanisms, and to assess the topography of the surfaces after scratching. Deformation maps are provided for these polymers under different experimental conditions, which describe the various deformation characteristics. In general, these polymers show both increasing and decreasing trends for the scratch hardness values with variation of cone angle, (4qW/ηd²; where W is the normal load, d the width of the residual scratch, and q is a characteristic contact parameter, which ranges between 1 and 2). The scratch velocity, which governs the imposed strain rate, imparts an increasing effect on the hardness values, whereas a higher bulk temperature of the material decreases the scratch hardness. The measured responses of the surface properties of these polymers are shown to greatly depend upon the kind of deformation mechanism prevalent during the scratching and associated material removal processes.     

The Role of Testosterone in the Elderly: What Do We Know?

Testosterone is the most important hormone in male health. Aging is characterized by testosterone deficiency due to decreasing testosterone levels associated with low testicular production, genetic factors, adiposity, and illness. Low testosterone levels in men are associated with sexual dysfunction (low sexual desire, erectile dysfunction), reduced skeletal muscle mass and strength, decreased bone mineral density, increased cardiovascular risk and alterations of the glycometabolic profile. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) shows several therapeutic effects while maintaining a good safety profile in hypogonadal men. TRT restores normal levels of serum testosterone in men, increasing libido and energy level and producing beneficial effects on bone density, strength and muscle as well as yielding cardioprotective effects. Nevertheless, TRT could be contraindicated in men with untreated prostate cancer, although poor findings are reported in the literature. In addition, different potential side effects, such as polycythemia, cardiac events and obstructive sleep apnea, should be monitored. The aim of our review is to provide an updated background regarding the pros and cons of TRT, evaluating its role and its clinical applicability in different domains.     

FT-NIR spectroscopy for the quality characterization of apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.)

Abstract: The nondestructive assessment of apricot fruit quality (Bora cultivar) was carried out by means of FT-NIR reflectance spectroscopy in the wavenumber range 12000 to 4000 cm⁻¹. Samples were harvested at four different ripening stages and scanned by a fiber optical probe immediately after harvesting and after a storage of 3 d (2 d at 4 °C and 1 d at 18 °C); the flesh firmness (FF), the soluble solids content (SSC), the acidity (A), and the titratable acidity (malic and citric acids) were then measured by destructive methods. Soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) analysis was used to classify spectra according to the ripening stage and the storage: partial least squares regression (PLS) models to predict FF, SSC, A, and the titratable acidity were also set-up for both just harvested and stored apricots. Spectral pretreatments and wavenumber selections were conducted on the basis of explorative principal component analysis (PCA). Apricot spectra were correctly classified in the right class with a mean classification rate of 87% (range: 80% to 100%). Test set validations of PLS models showed R² values up to 0.620, 0.863, 0.842, and 0.369 for FF, SSC, A, and the titratable acidity, respectively. The best models were obtained for the SSC and A and are suitable for rough screening; a lower power prediction emerged for the other maturity indices and the relative predictive models are not recommended. Practical Application : The results of the study could be used as a tool for the assessment of the ripening stage during the harvest and the quality during the postharvest storage of apricot fruits.     

In-House Validation and Comparison of Two Wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis>) Taxon-Specific Real-Time PCR Methods for GMO Quantification Supported by Droplet Digital PCR

Common wheat is one of the most important staple food crops worldwide. However, unlike other important staple crops such as maize or soybean, genetically modified (GM) wheat is not yet present in the global food market. Nonetheless, in the recent past, the adventitious presence of GM glyphosate-tolerant volunteers was reported in open wheat fields in the USA. The European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (EURL-GMFF) was therefore called to develop a strategy to detect such unauthorised GM wheat in wheat samples by using both taxon-specific and screening tests. Two candidate common wheat taxon-specific real-time PCR methods were suggested, one targeting ssII-D gene coding for starch synthase and the other targeting waxy-D1 gene, coding for granule-bound starch synthase. In the present study, the two above-mentioned real-time PCR taxon-specific methods were in-house verified and compared, proposing droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) as a new tool for supporting the application of the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL) established method performance criteria. Preliminary performance data of waxy-D1 and ssII-D methods in ddPCR format are shown too to give a contribution to the bridging process from the consolidated to the emerging quantitative PCR methodology.     

Functional properties of reduced moisture fruits as ingredients in food systems

Fruit pieces of some species have been processed to be used as ingredients in various food systems, either by partial dehydration alone or by osmosis and partial dehydration, to achieve different levels of water activity and solids contents in the final products.

The relationships existing among processing, phase composition after processing and functional properties of the products have been assessed within a useful range of water content and water activity.

The functional properties are expressed as diagrams relating the phase composition (soluble solids, insoluble solids and water) to the range of consistencies obtainable at various water activities. These diagrams provide a useful tool for preparing fruit ingredients suitable for specific food systems.     

A fuzzy decision tree method for fault classification in the steam generator of a pressurized water reactor

This paper extends a method previously introduced by the authors for building a transparent fault classification algorithm by combining the fuzzy clustering, fuzzy logic and decision trees techniques. The baseline method transforms an opaque, fuzzy clustering-based classification model into a fuzzy logic inference model based on linguistic rules which can be represented by a decision tree formalism. The classification model thereby obtained is transparent in that it allows direct interpretation and inspection of the model. An extension in the procedure for the development of the fuzzy logic inference model is introduced to allow the treatment of more complicated cases, e.g. splitted and overlapping clusters. The corresponding computational tool developed relies on a number of parameters which can be tuned by the user to optimally compromise the level of transparency of the classification process and its efficiency. A numerical application is presented with regards to the fault classification in the Steam Generator of a Pressurized Water Reactor.