Evaluation of the peptide profile with a view to authenticating buffalo mozzarella cheese

Electrophoretic and chromatographic techniques were used to determine water‐soluble peptide profiles aiming to identify the adulteration of buffalo milk mozzarella cheese by the addition of cow's milk. Thus, cheeses were produced with contents of cow's milk varying from 0% to 100%, and the peptides extracted after production and after 20 days of refrigeration. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS‐PAGE) identified a potential peptide marker of exclusively bovine origin with a size of about 21 kDa for the addition of cow's milk above 30%. Reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) indicated the existence of two potential peptides present in higher concentrations in buffalo milk and one exclusive for cow's milk, the latter making it possible to estimate the addition of cow's milk to buffalo milk. Six commercial brands of buffalo mozzarella cheese were evaluated, and indications of adulteration found in four of them.     

Anaerobic methane oxidation and aerobic methane production in an east African great lake (Lake Kivu)

We investigated CH₄ oxidation in the water column of Lake Kivu, a deep meromictic tropical lake with CH₄-rich anoxic deep waters. Depth profiles of dissolved gases (CH₄ and N₂O) and a diversity of potential electron acceptors for anaerobic CH₄ oxidation (NO₃^?, SO₄^2?, Fe and Mn oxides) were determined during six field campaigns between June 2011 and August 2014. Denitrification measurements based on stable isotope labelling experiments were performed twice. In addition, we quantified aerobic and anaerobic CH₄ oxidation, NO₃^? and SO₄^2? consumption rates, with and without the presence of an inhibitor of SO₄^2?-reducing bacteria activity. Aerobic CH₄ production was also measured in parallel incubations with the addition of an inhibitor of aerobic CH₄ oxidation. The maximum aerobic and anaerobic CH₄ oxidation rates were estimated to be 27?±?2 and 16?±?8?μmol/L/d, respectively. We observed a difference in the relative importance of aerobic and anaerobic CH₄ oxidation during the rainy and the dry season, with a greater role for aerobic oxidation during the dry season. Lower anaerobic CH₄ oxidation rates were measured in presence of molybdate in half of the measurements, suggesting the occurrence of linkage between SO₄^2? reduction and anaerobic CH₄ oxidation. NO₃^? consumption and dissolved Mn production rates were never high enough to sustain the measured anaerobic CH₄ oxidation, reinforcing the idea of a coupling between SO₄^2? reduction and CH₄ oxidation in the anoxic waters of Lake Kivu. Finally, significant rates (up to 0.37?μmol/L/d) of pelagic CH₄ production were also measured in oxygenated waters.     

Mobile touchscreen user interfaces: bridging the gap between motor-impaired and able-bodied users

Touchscreen mobile devices are highly customizable, allowing designers to create inclusive user interfaces that are accessible to a broader audience. However, the knowledge to provide this new generation of user interfaces is yet to be uncovered. The goal was to thoroughly study mobile touchscreen interfaces and provide guidelines for informed design. The paper presents an evaluation performed with 15 tetraplegic and 18 able-bodied users that allowed to identify their main similarities and differences within a set of interaction techniques (Tapping, Crossing, and Directional Gesturing) and parameterizations. Results show that Tapping and Crossing are the most similar and easy to use techniques for both motor-impaired and able-bodied users. Regarding Tapping, error rates start to converge at 12 mm, showing to be a good compromise for target size. As for Crossing, it offered a similar level of accuracy; however, larger targets (17 mm) are significantly easier to cross for motor-impaired users. Directional Gesturing was the least inclusive technique. Regarding position, edges showed to be troublesome. For instance, they have shown to increase Tapping precision for disabled users, while decreasing able-bodied users’ accuracy when targets are too small (7 mm). It is argued that despite the expected error rate disparity, there are clear resemblances between user groups, thus enabling the development of inclusive touch interfaces. Tapping, a traditional interaction technique, was among the most effective for both target populations, along with Crossing. The main difference concerns Directional Gesturing that in spite of its unconstrained nature shows to be inaccurate for motor-impaired users.     

Correlation for estimation of the chemical availability (exergy) from ultimate analysis of pyrolytic oils obtained from fast pyrolysis of biomass

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the chemical exergy (E^CH) of liquid products obtained from fast pyrolysis of biomass. I have calculated the chemical exergy values from a formula in literature and have developed a formula for estimating the chemical exergy of biomass from the higher heating value and their ultimate analysis values. The mean differences between these values range from –0.391% to 0.460%. The formula developed for estimating the chemical exergy of biomass from the higher heating value and their ultimate analyses had a correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9999), and the prediction of this formula is good. The goal is to identify desirable attributes that may serve as the basis for decision-making for future biofuel options. Studies on the pyrolytic oils showed that the oils obtained from chestnut cupulae and maple fruit can be used as a renewable fuel and chemical feedstock.     

Effect of different cranberry extracts and juices during cranberry juice processing on the antiproliferative activity against two colon cancer cell lines

The effect of cranberry extracts and juices during cranberry juice processing on the antiproliferative properties against colon cancer cells was investigated. Two colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and LS-513 were treated with different concentrations of cranberry phenolic extracts from fruits, puree, depectinised puree and pomace and different concentration of three juices (raw, filtered and concentrated juices). The phenolic extracts consisted of water-soluble phenolic compounds, apolar phenolic compounds and anthocyanins. These phenolic extracts and juices were tested against two cell lines at pH 2.5 (natural juice pH) and at pH 7.0 (physiological pH). All cranberry extracts and juices could inhibit the growth of both cell lines with the IC₅₀ values (the concentration of phenolic content required to inhibit 50% the growth of cancer cells) varied from 3.8 to 179.2 μg gallic acid equivalent/ml. It was found that three types of extracts from fruit at pH 7.0 were the most effective at inhibiting the growth of HT-29 cell line. Extracts containing anthocyanins from fruit and from pomace were the most and the least efficient, respectively, in inhibiting the growth of both cancer cell lines. Further, three juices at natural pH (pH 2.5) were more effective at inhibiting the growth of two cell lines as compared to juices at pH 7.0. Concentrated juice at both pH values was the most effective at growth inhibition of two cancer cell lines compared to two other juices.     

Convergence of real per capita GDP within COMESA countries: A panel unit root evidence

This article examines the absolute and conditional convergence of real GDP per capita in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) during the period 1950?C2003. Income departures across countries were evaluated from several panel data unit root tests. We find no evidence supporting the existence of convergence process for the income in the COMESA. Nevertheless, applying economic development criterion allows to identity two absolute convergence clubs into the COMESA, one for the most four developed countries (Egypt, Libya, Mauritius, Seychelles), and one other for the fourteen less developed ones. Thus, we show that most economies of COMESA are locked into a sustained poverty trap process.     

Comparison of an effect-model-law-based method versus traditional clinical practice guidelines for optimal treatment decision-making: application to statin treatment in the French population

Healthcare authorities make difficult decisions about how to spend limited budgets for interventions that guarantee the best cost-efficacy ratio. We propose a novel approach for treatment decision-making, OMES—in French: Objectif thérapeutique Modèle Effet Seuil (in English: Therapeutic Objective–Threshold–Effect Model; TOTEM). This approach takes into consideration results from clinical trials, adjusted for the patients'' characteristics in treatment decision-making. We compared OMES with the French clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of dyslipidemia with statin in a computer-generated realistic virtual population, representing the adult French population, in terms of the number of all-cause deaths avoided (number of avoided events: NAEs) under treatment and the individual absolute benefit. The total budget was fixed at the annual amount reimbursed by the French social security for statins. With the CPGs, the NAEs was 292 for an annual cost of 122.54 M€ compared with 443 with OMES. For a fixed NAEs, OMES reduced costs by 50% (60.53 M€ yr⁻¹). The results demonstrate that OMES is at least as good as, and even better than, the standard CPGs when applied to the same population. Hence the OMES approach is a practical, useful alternative which will help to overcome the limitations of treatment decision-making based uniquely on CPGs.     

Effect of Vertical Misfit on Screw Joint Stability of Implant-Supported Crowns

The passive fit between prosthesis and implant is a relevant factor for screw joint stability and treatment success. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of vertical misfit in abutment-implant interface on preload maintenance of retention screw of implant-supported crowns. The crowns were fabricated with different abutments and veneering materials and divided into 5 groups (n = 12): Gold UCLA abutments cast in gold alloy veneered with ceramic (Group I) and resin (Group II), UCLA abutments cast in titanium veneered with ceramic (Group III) and resin (Group IV), and zirconia abutments with ceramic veneering (Group V). The crowns were attached to implants by gold retention screws with 35-N cm insertion torque. Specimens were submitted to mechanical cycling up to 10⁶ cycles. Measurements of detorque and vertical misfit in abutment-implant interface were performed before and after mechanical cycling. ANOVA revealed statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) among groups for vertical misfit measured before and after mechanical cycling. The abutments cast in titanium exhibited the highest misfit values. Pearson correlation test did not demonstrate significant correlation (P > 0.05) between vertical misfit and detorque value. It was concluded that vertical misfit did not influence torque maintenance and the abutments cast in titanium exhibited the highest misfit values.     

The influence of train properties on railway ground vibrations

This paper uses a sensitivity analysis to quantify the dominant train properties (mass and spacing of wheels and bogies) that contribute to ground-borne vibration generation, with the aim of reducing the complexity of train–track numerical models. This research is significant because ground-borne vibration from railways is a growing problem, particularly in urban areas. Despite this fact, attempting to predict vibration levels is complex because there are many variables that contribute to the overall dynamic response. Therefore, a deterministic approach is commonly used, that ignores many of these variables. Thus, this paper identifies the variables that can be ignored, while highlighting those that are highly influential on vibration generation. For this purpose, a previously validated 2.5D finite elements-boundary elements approach is used to simulate dynamic train–track interaction. It is computed many times for a variety of modelling variables to investigate the effect of each on the ground-borne vibration levels in the far field. It is found that increases in unsprung mass of the train causes a large increase in vibration levels. Furthermore, changes in wheel/bogie spacing and semi-sprung mass are found to have a minimal effect on vibration generation.