Sourdough fermentation of wheat fractions rich in fibres before their use in processed food

Fibre‐rich fractions of wheat are an important source of minerals but also contain considerable amounts of phytic acid, known to impair mineral absorption. This study explores the efficiency of wheat bran sourdough fermentation on phytate hydrolysis and mineral solubility, in comparison with whole‐wheat flour. In vitro trials were performed to assess the consequences of the addition of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), an alkalinising salt, on phytic acid breakdown and mineral bioavailability during sourdough fermentation. Sourdough fermentation was found effective for solubilising minerals in whole‐wheat flours but was less effective with bran. In addition, sourdough acidity was blunted by the addition of CaCO₃, whereas degradation of phytic acid remained effective. Despite extensive breakdown of phytic acid (almost 70%), the addition of calcium exerted a very negative effect on zinc solubility. In conclusion, a pre‐fermentation process of whole cereals or bran, in suitable conditions of hydration, allows degradation of the major part of phytic acid and optimal mineral bioavailability. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Integrated synthetic, pharmacological, and computational investigation of cis-2-(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid enantiomers as positive allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4

2‐(3,5‐Dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid ( 1 ) is a potent and selective positive allosteric modulator of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4). The activity of 1 was reported to reside in the cis diastereomer with equal potency between its enantiomeric forms (Niswender et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 2008 , 74, 1345–1358). In the present study, the asymmetric synthesis of each of the cis enantiomers was performed, and their activities were compared with that of the racemic trans. In our assays, the cis enantiomers differ in potency, with one of them (1R,2S) higher and the other (1S,2R) lower than the racemic trans. High‐level quantum chemical calculations were carried out to characterize the structures of minimum energy in all‐isomer conformational space as well as particular intermediates between conformational transitions. Computational analysis identified structural features of 1 that can play a role in mGluR4 functionality and establish the basis for subsequent work, in which molecular chirality constructed on conformations derived from those found for the active (1R,2S) enantiomer can provide new ideas for drug discovery. Comparison between experimental and theoretical circular dichroism spectra confirmed both the absolute configuration of the (1R,2S) compound and its calculated most stable conformation, thereby supporting experimental and theoretical work.     

Fe/N/C non-precious catalysts for PEM fuel cells: Influence of the structural parameters of pristine commercial carbon blacks on their activity for oxygen reduction

Fifteen commercial SRCC furnace carbon blacks of various grades, ranging from N1 to N9, were used as carbon supports in the preparation of Fe/N/C type electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEM fuel cell conditions. All catalysts were prepared by loading the various carbon grades with 0.2 wt.% Fe as iron acetate and heat-treating the resulting material at 950 °C in pure NH₃. This reaction provides the nitrogen content and the microporosity necessary to synthesize and host the Fe/N/C catalytic sites that perform ORR. The maximum catalytic activity (V_pr max) for each carbon grade was determined by optimizing pyrolysis time. The aim of this study is to determine which structural characteristics of the pristine carbon black are important for maximizing catalytic activity. Three structural parameters that influenced the catalytic site density on the carbon support were identified. They are: (i) the average particle diameter of the pristine carbon black, d_particle, available from BET area measurements; (ii) the amount of disordered phase which is proportional to W_D, the width at half maximum of the D peak in the Raman spectrum of the pristine carbon; and (iii) the mean size of the graphene layers characterizing the graphitic crystallites in the carbon black, L_a. The latter is available by Rietveld analysis of the XRD spectra of the pristine carbons. The best catalytic activities are obtained for the smallest d_particle, the largest W_D, and the largest L_a. Optimizing these three parameters maximizes the fraction of the pristine carbon black that becomes microporous upon reaction with NH₃ and, therefore, enables the formation of Fe/N/C catalytic sites. A FeN₂₊₂/C structure bridging two adjacent graphitic crystallites is proposed as a potential model for most of the catalytic sites present in such Fe/N/C type catalysts.     

Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of flour of orange (Citrus sinensis), tangerine (Citrus reticulata) and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) peels cultivated in Venezuela

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition and some bioactive compounds in the peel's flour of some of the most consumed citrus fruits cultivated in Venezuela. Chemical composition as well as some trace elements, ascorbic acid, carotenoids dietary fiber, total polyphenols and their antiradical efficiency, using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidracyl (DPPH) were assessed in the dried peels of orange (Citrus sinensis), tangerine (Citrus reticulata) and white grapefruit (Citrus paradisi). Moisture, fat, protein and ash content for all samples showed statistical differences (p < 0.05). Tangerine's peel showed the highest magnesium and carotenoid content, while highest ascorbic acid and carotenoid content was found in the grapefruit's peel. Dietary fiber content presented significant high value in the tangerine peel. All samples presented high content of extractable polyphenols (4.33; 7.6 and 5.1 g/100g). The highest antiradical efficiency was shown by the tangerine's peel, value which correlates with the polyphenol content. These results suggest that tangerine peel should be the most suitable, to reduce risk of some diseases such as cardiovascular and some associated to lipid oxidation. Studied samples are good sources of dietary fiber and phenolic compounds, whose use could be useful in the formulation of functional foods, taking advantage of the presence of dietary fiber and antioxidant compounds in only one ingredient.     

主板行情

微星本月推出了一款集成主板，这本来没有什么好引起关注的，但是由于该主板采用创新音效解码芯片，相当于Sound Blaster Audigy SE，因此不免令人非常好奇。集成声卡对于创新公司的冲击勿庸置疑，而此番创新再次选择配合集成主板，很可能预示着未来还会有更大的动作。凭借创新的号召力，预计搭配创新声卡的主板将在市场上非常抢手。     

主板行情

Intel退出中低端芯片组市场已经是公开的秘密，然而就在人们为其接替者争论不休时，似乎Intel心中早巳饮点了合作者。一向与Intel关系紧密的SiS成内了幸运者，继Intel在官方渠道宣布推荐SiS中低端芯片组之后，近期竟然宣布免受SiS芯片组权益金。2.5美元的权益金令SiS在面对VIA等芯片组厂商时占据很大的成本优势。     

Liver Transplantation for Colorectal Liver Metastases: Current Management and Future Perspectives

Patients with nonresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer have few therapeutic options and a dismal prognosis. Although liver transplantation for this indication has historically a poor reputation, recent advances in the field of chemotherapy and immunosuppression have paved the way to revisit the concept. New data have shown promising results that need to be validated in several ongoing clinical trials. Since liver grafts represent a scarce resource, several new tools are being explored to expand the donor pool for this indication. The purpose of this review is to present all current available data and perspectives about liver transplantation for nonresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer.     

Optical,FTIR and DC Conductivity of Soda Lime Silicate Glass Containing Cement Dust and Transition Metal Ions

Four soda lime silicate glass samples of composition (70 % SiO₂+ 20 % Na₂O+ 10 % CaO mol %) were prepared after adding 5 wt% cement dust to each sample mixture besides 0.1 wt% of one transition metal (TM) oxide of Fe, Co or Cu. The four samples were melted by a conventional melt-annealing technique at 1400 ^°C for 2.5 h. Density, UV/VIS, FTIR and DC conductivity measurements were performed for each glass. Experimental results indicate that there are only slight differences in the density values. The optical spectra reveal that the TM free sample and the sample containing iron ions have the same spectral features while the samples containing copper or cobalt exhibit distinct characteristic absorption bands due to each TM ion. FTIR spectra reveal characteristic vibrational bands due to stretching and bending modes of the silicate network. DC conductivity data show variations in the values of the studied samples according to the type of TM ions added. All the experimental results were correlated with each other in accordance with the current views on the constitution of the studied glasses.     

Chymosin sensitivity of the heat-induced serum protein aggregates isolated from skim milk

The sensitivity of heat-induced milk serum κ-casein/whey protein aggregates to recombinant chymosin was investigated in the serum phase of heated skim milk or on aggregates isolated from it. In both cases, significant amounts of caseinomacropeptide were produced after 1 h-incubation at 37 °C, as assayed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis. In milk serum, the aggregates remained stable upon hydrolysis, as opposed to 10 g L⁻¹ suspensions of isolated aggregates in imidazole/Ca²⁺ buffer where visible flocculation occurred. The results are discussed in terms of variation in chymosin activity between the two systems.     

Reduction of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine by zerovalent iron: product distribution

RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) and HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) are cyclic nitramines ((CH2NNO2)n; n = 3 or 4, respectively) widely used as energetic chemicals. Their extensive use led to wide environmental contamination. In contrast to RDX, HMX tends to accumulate in soils due to its unique recalcitrance. In the present study, we investigated the potential of zerovalent iron (ZVI) to transform HMX under anoxic conditions. HMX underwent a rapid transformation when added in well-mixed anoxic ZVI-H2O batch systems to ultimately produce formaldehyde (HCHO), ammonium (NH4+), hydrazine (NH2NH2), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Time course experiments showed that the mechanism of HMX transformation occurred through at least two initial reactions. One reaction involved the sequential reduction of N-NO2 groups to the five nitroso products (1NO-HMX, cis-2NO-HMX, trans-2NO-HMX, 3NO-HMX, and 4NO-HMX). Another implied ring cleavage from either HMX or 1NO-HMX as demonstrated by the observation of methylenedinitramine (NH(NO2)CH2NH(NO2)) and another intermediate that was tentatively identified as (NH(NO2)CH2N(NO)CH2NH-(NO2)) or its isomer (NH(NO)CH2N(NO2)CH2NH(NO2)). This is the first study that demonstrates transformation of HMX by ZVI to significant amounts of NH2NH2 and HCHO. Both toxic products seemed to persist under reductive conditions, thereby suggesting that the ultimate fate of these chemicals, particularly hydrazine, should be understood prior to using zerovalent iron to remediate cyclic nitramines.