Influence of cooking on benzo(a)pyrene content in smoked sausages

The changes in benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) content of smoked sausages were monitored during 1 h cooking. During this time, the BaP content decreased from 4·80 to 1·87 μg/kg. The maximum drop in BaP content was reached in the first 20 min of cooking. Two factors affected the course of BaP changes, viz. water-holding capacity and the fat content. After excluding these factors, there was a high correlation coefficient of 0·996 between time of cooking and BaP content, which confirmed an inverse relationship between the decrease in BaP content and time of cooking.

The BaP decrease was directly proportional to the decrease of fat content during cooking, when the relatively high BaP content of 7·71 μg/kg was found in the cooked-out fat.     

The density matrix renormalization group algorithm on kilo-processor architectures: Implementation and trade-offs

In the numerical analysis of strongly correlated quantum lattice models one of the leading algorithms developed to balance the size of the effective Hilbert space and the accuracy of the simulation is the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) algorithm, in which the run-time is dominated by the iterative diagonalization of the Hamilton operator. As the most time-dominant step of the diagonalization can be expressed as a list of dense matrix operations, the DMRG is an appealing candidate to fully utilize the computing power residing in novel kilo-processor architectures.     

Elastic peak electron spectroscopy

Elastic peak electron spectroscopy (EPES) determines the elastic peak intensity N (E_p) in absolute units (percentage). The experimental curve N (E_p) is affected by the type of electron spectrometer used (CMA, RFA, etc.) and represents the probability P_e (E, Z) of elastic electron reflection detected by the angular window of the spectrometer. P_e (E, Z) = N_Aσ_eff (E, Z) Δ is the product of the inelastic mean free path Δ, the density N_A of atoms and the effective elastic scattering cross-section σ_eff (E, Z). Elementary processes of elastic scattering are treated with a simplified model based on a single scattering process. A more refined analysis will be to use the Monte-Carlo approach. σ_eff is given by the differential elastic scattering cross-section determined by the atomic number Z, the energy E_p, and the input and scattering angles. Results of σ_eff (E, Z) are presented based on tabulated differential cross-section data published in the literature. Angular effects are discussed. A number of EPES applications are described for AES, plasmon-, ionization-, and low energy loss spectroscopies and SEM. EPES has been successful in the experimental determination of the inelastic mean free path Δ for a number of elements and compounds.     

Investigation of the thermoformability of various D-Lactide content poly(lactic acid) films by ball burst test

In this article, we investigated the thermoformability of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films with various D -Lactide contents and therefore different crystallization properties, performing tensile and ball burst tests at various temperatures and testing rates. We found that the behavior of the PLA films tested above the glass transition temperature significantly differs due to the difference in D -Lactide content, and thus crystallinity. During tensile testing, elevated temperatures and mechanical stress caused the crystallization temperature to decrease and thus highly induced crystallization. At the same time, as testing speed was increased, the ability of the polymer to crystallize decreased. In ball burst tests, the PLA films crystallized more than during tensile testing. We described the differences found between tensile testing and ball burst testing, which latter better represents the conditions of thermoforming through inducing biaxial deformation.     

Terminal Phase Components of the Clotting Cascade in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Hemodiafiltration or Hemodialysis Treatment

Hemostasis disorder in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is frequently associated with bleeding diathesis but it may also manifest in thrombotic complications. Analysis of individual coagulation and fibrinolytic factors may shed light on the background of this paradox situation. Here we explored components essential for fibrin formation/stabilization in ESRD patients being on maintenance hemodiafiltration (HDF) or hemodialysis (HD). Pre-dialysis fibrinogen, factor XIII (FXIII) antigen concentrations and FXIII activity were elevated, while α₂-plasmin inhibitor (α₂PI) activity decreased. The inflammatory status, as characterized by C-reactive protein (CRP) was a key determinant of fibrinogen concentration, but not of FXIII and α₂PI levels. During a 4-h course of HDF or HD, fibrinogen concentration and FXIII levels gradually elevated. When compensated for the change in plasma water, i.e., normalized for plasma albumin concentration, only FXIII elevation remained significant. There was no difference between HDF and HD treatments. Individual HDF treatment did not influence α₂PI activity, however after normalization it decreased significantly. HD treatment had a different effect, α₂PI activities became elevated but the elevation disappeared after normalization. Elevated fibrinogen and FXIII levels in ESRD patients might contribute to the increased thrombosis risk, while decreased α₂PI activity might be associated with elevated fibrinolytic potential.     

The Selectivity of Immunoassays and of Biomimetic Binding Assays with Imprinted Polymers

Molecularly imprinted polymers have been shown to be useful in competitive biomimetic binding assays. Recent developments in materials science have further enhanced the capabilities of imprinted polymers. Binding assays, biological and biomimetic alike, owe their usefulness to their selectivity. The selectivity of competitive binding assays has been characterized with the cross-reactivity, which is usually expressed as the ratio of the measured IC50 concentration values of the interferent and the analyte, respectively. Yet this cross-reactivity is only a rough estimate of analytical selectivity. The relationship between cross-reactivity and analytical selectivity has apparently not been thoroughly investigated. The present work shows that this relationship depends on the underlying model of the competitive binding assay. For the simple but widely adopted model, where analyte and interferent compete for a single kind of binding site, we provide a simple formula for analytical selectivity. For reasons of an apparent mathematical problem, this formula had not been found before. We also show the relationship between analytical selectivity and cross-reactivity. Selectivity is also shown to depend on the directly measured quantity, e.g., the bound fraction of the tracer. For those cases where the one-site competitive model is not valid, a practical procedure is adopted to estimate the analytical selectivity. This procedure is then used to analyze the example of the competitive two-site binding model, which has been the main model for describing molecularly imprinted polymer behavior. The results of this work provide a solid foundation for assay development.     

Liquid Biopsy as a Source of Nucleic Acid Biomarkers in the Diagnosis and Management of Lynch Syndrome

Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant inherited cancer predisposition disorder, which may manifest as colorectal cancer (CRC), endometrial cancer (EC) or other malignancies of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract as well as the skin and brain. Its genetic cause is a defect in one of the four key DNA mismatch repair (MMR) loci. Testing of patients at risk is currently based on the absence of MMR protein staining and detection of mutations in cancer tissue and the germline, microsatellite instability (MSI) and the hypermethylated state of the MLH1 promoter. If LS is shown to have caused CRC, lifetime follow-up with regular screening (most importantly, colonoscopy) is required. In recent years, DNA and RNA markers extracted from liquid biopsies have found some use in the clinical diagnosis of LS. They have the potential to greatly enhance the efficiency of the follow-up process by making it minimally invasive, reproducible, and time effective. Here, we review markers reported in the literature and their current clinical applications, and we comment on possible future directions.     

Investigations of Native and Resistant Starches and Their Mixtures Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Resistant starches (RS) play important roles in our nutrition; therefore, the investigation of these starches is notably important. In our study, two native starches (maize and wheat) and two resistant starches (Hi-maize™260, high amylose maize starch as RS2 and Fibersym™70, phosphorylated wheat starch as RS4) were investigated as is and in their physical mixtures (samples containing 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% RS) using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The aim of our study was to examine the spectra of resistant starches and to differentiate the resistant starch components in different ratios by NIR spectroscopy. The differences of samples were presented in two characteristic absorption bands for carbohydrate: carbohydrate II (2,080–2,130 nm) and carbohydrate III (2,275–2,290 nm) regions. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) for all samples was carried out. It was shown that the increasing amount of amylose can be sensitively followed up in carbohydrate II region. The phosphorylated RS4 is not so characteristic probably due to the reduced mobility of amorphous chains; however, the RS4 addition can be observed. Additionally, it was proven that the carbohydrate III region is sensitive for the changes of amylose–amylopectin ratio as well. The wheat-based RS4 addition causes linear changes in maize-based mixtures; thus the botanical origin is determining in this region. The global PCA analysis justified that the RS2 addition can be sensitively followed up independent on the medium; however, the increasing amount of RS4 cannot be detected in the PCA plot. The loading spectra of PC1 component attribute great significance to the carbohydrate III region.     

A polymer-based spiky microelectrode array for electrocorticography

The advanced technology of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) makes possible precise and reproducible construction of various microelectrode arrays (MEAs) with patterns of high spatial density. Polymer-based MEMS devices are gaining increasing attention in the field of electrophysiology, since they can be used to form flexible, yet reliable electrical interfaces with the central and the peripheral nervous system. In this paper we present a novel MEA, designed for obtaining neural signals, with a polyimide (PI)—platinum (Pt)—SU-8 layer structure. Electrodes with special, arrow-like shapes were formed in a single row, enabling slight penetration into the tissue. The applied process flow allowed reproducible batch fabrication of the devices with high yield. In vitro characterization of the electrode arrays was performed with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in lactated Ringer’s solution. Functional tests were carried out by performing acute recordings on rat neocortex. The devices have proven to be convenient tools for acute in vivo electrocorticography.