Removal of organochlorines from vegetable oils and its benefits in preventing formation of monochloropropanediol diesters

This paper reports the first results on depleting certain organochlorines from vegetable oils without the use of any solvent in order to mitigate monochloropropanediol diesters (MCDPE). The concept is based on separating the organochlorines from the bulk oil by using trapping agents (e.g. monoacylglycerols) that can be easily separated from the oil. The process starts by mixing and homogenizing crude vegetable oils with the trapping agent and subsequently separating the trapping agent from the oil bulk via crystallization. The proof-of-concept of the approach is demonstrated on a spiked sunflower model system, solvent extracted crude sunflower oil, industrially produced crude soybean and corn oils. The depletion of organochlorines in the crude oils and its beneficial effect on the MCPDE content in the heat treated samples is measured by LC-MS. The depletion efficacy of the monitored organochlorines was estimated to be in the 60–95 % range. Both the melting point and polarity of the trapping agents affected the depletion efficacy of the organochlorines. Trapping agents with higher melting point and polarity, such as monostearin were more effective in comparison to high melting point but less polar agents such as palm stearin or agents rich in polar but low melting point monolinolein/monoolein. The effect of organochlorine depletion on the subsequent MPCDE levels in heat treated oil was in the range of 60–90 % reduction depending on the type of the studied oil.     

Thermochemistry of the combustion of gas phase and condensed phase detonation products in an explosive fireball

This paper uses the thermochemical behaviour of reacting species to differentiate between the combustion of gas phase and condensed phase detonation products in the fireball of an explosion. Experiments were carried out involving the detonation 15 g charges of C-4 and Detasheet-C explosives in a closed vessel. The initial partial pressure of oxygen in the vessel was varied in order to control the extent of the secondary afterburn reactions, and the total heat release was measured using the calorimeter that contained the closed vessel. A simple model that independently describes the evolution of heat from the gas phase and condensed phase detonation products as a function of oxygen consumption was developed, and was used to show that condensed phase products react much more effectively in the fireball than gas phase reactions, because the transport properties of particulates entrained in a turbulent flow gives them an advantage when it comes to the manner in which they mix with the surrounding air. An additional set of trials employing the entrainment of an external combustible material further confirms the importance of particle combustion in explosive fireballs.     

Combining selected immunomodulatory Propionibacterium freudenreichii and Lactobacillus delbrueckii strains: Reverse engineering development of an anti‐inflammatory cheese

Scope : Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) constitutes a growing public health concern in western countries. Bacteria with anti‐inflammatory properties are lacking in the dysbiosis accompanying IBD. Selected strains of probiotic bacteria with anti‐inflammatory properties accordingly alleviate symptoms and enhance treatment of ulcerative colitis in clinical trials. Such properties are also found in selected strains of dairy starters such as Propionibacterium freudenreichii and Lactobacillus delbrueckii (Ld). We thus investigated the possibility to develop a fermented dairy product, combining both starter and probiotic abilities of both lactic acid and propionic acid bacteria, designed to extend remissions in IBD patients. Methods and results : We developed a single‐strain Ld‐fermented milk and a two‐strain P. freudenreichii and Ld‐fermented experimental pressed cheese using strains previously selected for their anti‐inflammatory properties. Consumption of these experimental fermented dairy products protected mice against trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid induced colitis, alleviating severity of symptoms, modulating local and systemic inflammation, as well as colonic oxidative stress and epithelial cell damages. As a control, the corresponding sterile dairy matrix failed to afford such protection. Conclusion : This work reveals the probiotic potential of this bacterial mixture, in the context of fermented dairy products. It opens new perspectives for the reverse engineering development of anti‐inflammatory fermented foods designed for target populations with IBD, and has provided evidences leading to an ongoing pilot clinical study in ulcerative colitis patients.     

Dairy nutrients and their effect on inflammatory profile in molecular studies

Dairy products contain milk fat, proteins, minerals, vitamin D, and other bioactive nutrients that have the potential to contribute to the association observed between increased dairy intake and a decreased risk of inflammation. The objective of this paper is to review the role of dairy bioactive molecules including dairy fat, proteins, micronutrients, and vitamins on inflammation markers in adipose, macrophage, and vascular tissues, which play a key role in the regulation of inflammation. A review was conducted to identify current scientific literature on dairy nutrients and inflammation in cell studies published until November 2014. The majority of saturated fatty acids (FAs) activate proinflammatory markers. Therefore, other dairy FAs or components may offset these harmful effects. Protein and amino acid composition of dairy products may have anti‐inflammatory action. Magnesium may have beneficial effects on inflammatory profile; on the contrary, studies on vitamin D demonstrate conflicting results. In conclusion, numerous studies assessed the effects of individual or mixtures of FAs on inflammatory markers; yet, there is far less research on the effects of other dairy bioactive nutrients. The exact bioactive molecule or combination of these molecules in dairy products, which underlies the inverse association between dairy intake and inflammation remains to be elucidated.     

Food composition databases: The EuroFIR approach to develop tools to assure the quality of the data compilation process

One of the aims of the EuroFIR project is to establish a quality framework for national food composition databases. This paper discusses quality requirements of the data compilation process. Following the analytical production of food composition data, the compilation process is the next most important step in production of food composition data. The internationally recognised and recommended systematic approach to the identification, evaluation and control of significant hazards, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), was used as a starting point. All steps in the compilation process are listed and presented as a generic EuroFIR flowchart describing the overall food data compilation process and identifying hazards and critical control points. The flowchart and standard operating procedures, documenting how to assure hazards at critical control points, are considered mandatory elements of the EuroFIR quality framework.     

Blackening of Pompeian cinnabar paintings: X-ray microspectroscopy analysis

Red Pompeian paintings, very famous for their deep intensity, are currently suffering from darkening. The origins of this darkening degradation are not clearly identified yet and remain a major issue for curators. In the specific case of cinnabar (HgS)-based red pigment, a photoinduced conversion into black metacinnabar is usually suspected. This work is focused on the blackening of red cinnabar paintings coated on a sparry calcite mortar. Different samples exhibiting different levels of degradation were selected upon visual observations and analyzed by synchrotron-based microanalytical techniques. Atomic and molecular compositions of the different debased regions revealed two possible degradation mechanisms. On one hand, micro X-ray fluorescence elemental maps show peculiar distributions of chlorine and sulfur. On the other hand, X-ray absorption spectroscopy performed at both Cl and S K-edges confirms the presence of characteristic degradation products: (i) Hg-Cl compounds (e.g., corderoite, calomel, and terlinguaite), which may result from the reaction with exogenous NaCl, in gray areas; (ii) gypsum, produced by the calcite sulfation, in black coatings. Metacinnabar is never detected. Finally, a cross section was analyzed to map the in-depth alteration gradient. Reduced and oxidized sulfur distributions reveal that the sulfated black coating consists of a approximately 5-mum-thick layer covering intact cinnabar.     

低沸点工质热力学性质的计算及其在船舶余热回收动力系统研究中的应用

本文利用Lee—Kesler方程和Martin—Hou(侯)方程计算低沸点工质的热力学性质,对五种低沸点工质的热力学性质进行了计算。并对船舶柴油机低沸点工质余热回收动力系统参数进行了优化计算,验证了计算方法及所编制的计算机程序的有效性。所编制的程序不仅可以用于能量回收系统的热力计算和系统参数的优选,还具备编制热力学性质表的功能。     

Iron and Single Electron Transfer: All is in the Ligand

This account describes some advances we have made in the field of iron catalysis. Two types of reactivity have been uncovered. Based on the use of an iron(II) precatalyst in the presence of NaBH₄, the first one consists in a SET which can be useful for the reductive dehalogenation of iodide and bromide derivatives. Switching to the non-innocent bis-iminopyridine ligands promotes a previously undescribed Csp²−H activation reaction leading to biaryl derivatives. First clues into the intricate nature of the mechanism were obtained and suggested that the redox-active bis-iminopyridine ligand acts as an electron reservoir. The resulting buildup of electron density triggers the C−H bond breaking. All these findings are discussed in light of the existing literature and perspectives are given.     

Fault Diagnosis of a Rotor Based on a Lifting Wavelet and Local Wave

Aiming at the mode mixture in local wave decomposition(LWD) caused by a noise signal, the original data is preprocessed using the lifting wavelet transformation to suppress abnormal interference of noise and improve the quality of decomposition. It is employed to analyze the vibration signal of rotor rub-impact for extracting the weak impulsive feature. The signal is decomposed into intrinsic mode functions by LWD, then the high-frequency components are analyzed by Hilbert envelop demodulation. The period o...     

Metals in Biotechnology: Cr-Driven Stereoselective Reduction of Conjugated C=C Double Bonds

Elemental metals are shown to be suitable sacrificial electron donors to drive the stereoselective reduction of conjugated C=C double bonds using Old Yellow Enzymes as catalysts. Both direct electron transfer from the metal to the enzyme as well as mediated electron transfer is feasible, although the latter excels by higher reaction rates. The general applicability of this new chemoenzymatic reduction method is demonstrated, and current limitations are outlined.