Molecular mechanisms of toxicity of important food-borne phytotoxins

At present, there is an increasing interest for plant ingredients and their use in drugs, for teas, or in food supplements. The present review describes the nature and mechanism of action of the phytochemicals presently receiving increased attention in the field of food toxicology. This relates to compounds including aristolochic acids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, beta-carotene, coumarin, the alkenylbenzenes safrole, methyleugenol and estragole, ephedrine alkaloids and synephrine, kavalactones, anisatin, St. John's wort ingredients, cyanogenic glycosides, solanine and chaconine, thujone, and glycyrrhizinic acid. It can be concluded that several of these phytotoxins cause concern, because of their bioactivation to reactive alkylating intermediates that are able to react with cellular macromolecules causing cellular toxicity, and, upon their reaction with DNA, genotoxicity resulting in tumors. Another group of the phytotoxins presented is active without the requirement for bioactivation and, in most cases, these compounds appear to act as neurotoxins interacting with one of the neurotransmitter systems. Altogether, the examples presented illustrate that natural does not equal safe and that in modern society adverse health effects, upon either acute or chronic exposure to phytochemicals, can occur as a result of use of plant- or herb-based foods, teas, or other extracts.     

Characterization of chitosan–whey protein films at acid pH

The capability to produce blend chitosan–whey protein films at acidic pH, carrying a high amount of protein, is demonstrated, even though under these conditions a pure whey protein film could not be obtained. The films are biphasic and characterized by a compositional gradient, with the downward film surface containing a lower amount of protein than the upward surface. The surface richer in protein was more hydrophobic than that richer in chitosan. The difference in composition and hydrophilicity between both surfaces increases with the amount of protein incorporated in the film. Increasing the protein amount decreased elongation at break and tensile strength but, in general, had little effect on water vapor permeability. Although some of the film functionality might be compromised due to the incompatibility between the polysaccharide and protein components within the film matrix, the blended films, especially those with intermediated protein amount, may have useful applications on those food systems where the edible films should break up during the cooking or mastication process.     

四开关逆变器供电永磁同步电机直接转矩控制系统转矩脉动抑制

永磁同步电机直接转矩控制(PMSM DTC)系统的转矩脉动问题一直被广泛关注，特别是在四开关逆变器供电系统中，由于可用电压矢量减少，转矩脉动更加严重。空间矢量调制(SVM)是一种常用的消除电力谐波的调制技术，更可用于电机控制中转矩脉动的削减。该文针对四开关逆变器供电PMSM DTC系统的特殊性，采用了一种新型SVM方法，分析了等效零矢量模拟技术，将传统SVPWM调制中的劈零思想引入到空间矢量的合成上。仿真及实验结果验证了该新型SVM DTC方法大大减小了转矩脉动，且仍保持了DTC系统固有的快速转矩动态响应。     

Protein profile and malt activity during sorghum germination

BACKGROUND: The effect of germination time on major sorghum macromolecules was followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Sorghum flour was also incubated with sorghum malt to evaluate amylase and protease activities. RESULTS: The SDS‐PAGE results showed that levels of high‐molecular‐weight aggregates, β monomer and γ and α monomers increased by 120.5, 20.3 and 12.7% respectively during the first few days of germination. This behaviour shows the enhancement of prolamin extractability and concentration in sorghum as a result of starch degradation. After the third day, proteins suffered degradation by intrinsic proteases. FTIR spectroscopy showed a gradual decrease in lipid and protein levels and starch structural changes during the germination period. These modifications are due to intrinsic lipases, proteases and amylases. Sorghum flour was incubated with different malt samples resulting from 0–7 days of germination. It was found that a 5 day malt led to a sixfold increase in carbohydrate digestibility and a fourfold increase in free amino acid content. CONCLUSION: A 5 day sorghum malt is the best inoculum for porridge preparation, representing an inexpensive, effortless and culturally acceptable way to prepare weaning foods at domestic and industrial levels. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Induction of electrophile-responsive element (EpRE)-mediated gene expression by tomato extracts in vitro

The market for food products with additional health benefits is increasing rapidly and tools for identification of bio-functional characteristics of food items are essential. To facilitate the detection of beneficial effects of tomato on gene expression, methods to prepare tomato extracts suitable to test in the EpRE LUX assay and other cell-based reporter gene assays for health-related bioactivity mechanisms, were developed. An isoprenoid-containing chloroform extract of tomato fruit and most individual isoprenoids did not induce electrophile-responsive element (EpRE)-mediated gene expression. A semi-polar extract of tomato fruits, enzymatically hydrolysed to remove the glycosyl residues from the phenolic ingredients was able to induce EpRE-mediated luciferase expression at both mRNA and protein level, which might be partly due to the presence of quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin and naringenin chalcone. It was concluded that induction of EpRE-regulated genes, such as detoxifying phase II and antioxidant enzymes, may contribute to the beneficial health effects of tomato.     

Inulin potential for encapsulation and controlled delivery of Oregano essential oil

The ability of inulin, a prebiotic material, as encapsulation matrix was explored. Microcapsules of Raftiline were produced by spray drying inulin solutions at different solids content (5, 15 and 25%) at 120, 155 and 190 °C, according to a Central Composite Rotatable design. Produced capsules were analysed for morphology and size by SEM and physiochemical characterized by DSC, IR and RAMAN. Oregano essential oil was incorporated in the inulin solutions at 15% solids basis and the emulsions dried at the same conditions. The above mentioned methodologies were applied to evaluate the encapsulation ability and the changes induced by the presence of the EO in capsules morphology and structure. Furthermore the kinetics and amount of release was assessed by a spectrophotometric method. Results showed that it was possible to produce regular spherical inulin microcapsules (3–4.5 μm) for all the tested experimental conditions. According to IR and Raman results mainly drying temperature affected the structure of the capsules, three groups being clearly formed. These groups could be related to the morphology of inulin crystals. The EO was successfully encapsulated in the system as demonstrated by IR and Raman analysis. The differences found in the EO releasing amount, make clear that different degrees of core material retention is achieved, what should be related to structural changes in the matrix wall, denoting in some processing conditions interactions phenomena among inulin and EO. Those different releasing profiles patterns may be quite useful in finding different potential uses for the encapsulates.     

Distribution of exhaled contaminants and personal exposure in a room using three different air distribution strategies

The level of exposure to human exhaled contaminants in a room depends not only on the air distribution system but also on people's different positions, the distance between them, people's activity level and height, direction of exhalation, and the surrounding temperature and temperature gradient. Human exhalation is studied in detail for different distribution systems: displacement and mixing ventilation as well as a system without mechanical ventilation. Two thermal manikins breathing through the mouth are used to simulate the exposure to human exhaled contaminants. The position and distance between the manikins are changed to study the influence on the level of exposure. The results show that the air exhaled by a manikin flows a longer distance with a higher concentration in case of displacement ventilation than in the other two cases, indicating a significant exposure to the contaminants for one person positioned in front of another. However, in all three cases, the exhalation flow of the source penetrates the thermal plume, causing an increase in the concentration of contaminants in front of the target person. The results are significantly dependent on the distance and position between the two manikins in all three cases. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Indoor environments are susceptible to contaminant exposure, as contaminants can easily spread in the air. Human breathing is one of the most important biological contaminant sources, as the exhaled air can contain different pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. This paper addresses the human exhalation flow and its behavior in connection with different ventilation strategies, as well as the interaction between two people in a room. This is a key factor for studying the airborne infection risk when the room is occupied by several persons. The paper only takes into account the airborne part of the infection risk.     

Information-Age Landscapes Outside the Developed World Bangalore,India, and Guadalajara,Mexico

This article examines two so-called “silicon valleys” located in Bangalore, India, and Guadalajara, Mexico. Drawing its theoretical propositions from the global city literature and the informational/network society framework, it posits that the metropolitan edges of these cites contain new industrial landscapes inserted in a global system of production. This new urban form is dynamically shaped by the location decisions of multinational software and electronics corporations, government entrepreneurial activities, and amenities valued by the “information-age elite.” The author examines the local sociospatial implications of this new urban form and discusses the challenges facing these cities, which must balance their local social and environmental responsibilities with the polarizing effects of the global/informational economy.