Effect of Iberian × Duroc genotype on composition and sensory properties of dry‐cured ham

BACKGROUND: Dry‐cured ham quality from three different Iberian × Duroc genotypes was studied: GEN1, Iberian × Duroc1; GEN2, Duroc1 × Iberian; GEN3, Duroc2 × Iberian. GEN1 and GEN2 are reciprocal crosses, while the difference between GEN2 and GEN3 is the Duroc sire line. The line Duroc1 (DU1) was selected for the manufacture of dry‐cured meat products, whereas the line Duroc2 (DU2) was selected for meat production with low carcass fat. RESULTS: Dry‐cured hams from all genotypes had similar chemical composition. However, intramuscular fat of dry‐cured hams from GEN3 was more unsaturated than that from GEN2, while GEN1 was intermediate. Lipid oxidation, measured as 2‐thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) and hexanal content, was similar between genotypes. The colour of hams was affected by genotype; hams from GEN2 showed higher lightness (CIE L*), while those from GEN3 had a less intense colour (lower a* and C*). Texture measured instrumentally did not differ between genotypes; however, in the sensory analysis, panellists considered hams from GEN3 more fibrous, while those from GEN2 were considered juicier. Hams from GEN3 were also perceived as saltier and more acid. CONCLUSION: Genotype affected the quality of Iberian hams, with those from GEN3 being of lower quality, and this genotype was considered less suitable for the manufacture of Iberian dry‐cured ham. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparative study of the volatile composition in wines obtained from traditional vinification and from the Ganimede method

BACKGROUND: This study compares the volatile composition between wines obtained from vinification carried out by the traditional method or using a new method of vinification (so‐called Ganimede). For this, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon musts were fermented by both vinification methods. RESULTS: The volatile compounds that were above their threshold of perception in the wines were practically the same, irrespective of the vinification method used. Most of the compounds studied did not present significant differences in their concentrations between the wines obtained from the traditional and the new vinification methods. When there were significant differences, the concentration of alcohols and acids was higher in the wines vinificated by the traditional method rather than in the wines vinificated by the Ganimede method, whereas for esters, the concentration in the wines depended on the grape variety. CONCLUSION: The Ganimede method favoured polyphenol extraction without greatly affecting the studied volatile composition of the wines. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Enhanced bactericidal effect of enterocin AS-48 in combination with high-intensity pulsed-electric field treatment against Salmonella enterica in apple juice

The effect of the broad spectrum cyclic antimicrobial peptide enterocin AS-48 combination with high-intensity pulsed-electric field (HIPEF) treatment (35 kV/cm, 150 Hz, 4 micros and bipolar mode) was tested on Salmonella enterica CECT 915 in apple juice. A response surface methodology was applied to study the bactericidal effects of the combined treatment. The process variables were AS-48 concentration, temperature, and HIPEF treatment time. While treatment with enterocin AS-48 alone up to 60 microg/ml had no effect on the viability of S. enterica in apple juice, an increased bactericidal activity was observed in combination with HIPEF treatments. Survival fraction was affected by treatment time, enterocin AS48 concentration and treatment temperature. The combination of 100 micros of HIPEF treatment, 30 microg/ml of AS-48, and temperature of 20 degrees C resulted in the lowest inactivation, with only a 1.2-log reduction. The maximum inactivation of 4.5-log cycles was achieved with HIPEF treatment for 1000 micros in combination with 60 microg/ml of AS-48 and a treatment temperature of 40 degrees C. Synergism between enterocin AS-48 and HIPEF treatment depended on the sequence order application, since it was observed only when HIPEF was applied in the presence of previously-added bacteriocin. The combined treatment could improve the safety of freshly-made apple juice against S. enterica transmission.     

Common pediatric esophageal disorders

Esophageal disorders in children can result in significant morbidity. The most common esophageal disorder seen in children is gastroesophageal reflux. Other common disorders affecting the esophagus include peptic esophageal strictures, esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula, caustic and foreign body ingestions, achalasia, and cricopharyngeal achalasia. We discuss what is currently known about these common pediatric esophageal disorders with regard to pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic and treatment strategies.     

Nanocomposites of PBAT and cellulose nanocrystals modified by in situ polymerization and melt extrusion

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were successfully grafted with a low molecular weight poly(butylene glutarate) through an in situ polymerization procedure. The grafting treatment decreased the CNC hydrophilic character and increased the onset of their thermal degradation by approximately 20°C, thus increasing the possibilities of CNC application. Composites of grafted and nongrafted CNC with a poly(butylene‐adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) matrix were prepared by melt extrusion. The CNC addition led to an increase of 50% of the tensile elastic modulus of the PBAT. In addition, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis showed that the composite with CNC retained its high modulus even at temperatures far above the glass transition temperature of PBAT. At 60°C the storage modulus of the composite with CNC was approximately 200% higher than that of the pure PBAT. Thus, in this work, nanocomposites of improved properties were obtained through a combination of in situ polymerization and melt extrusion. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:1339–1348, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Bioleaching of metal from waste stream using a native strain of Acidithiobacillus isolated from a coal mine drainage

In this study, the feasibility of using a biohydrometallurgical technique for selective metals recovery from electronic waste (e‐waste) by bacterial bioleaching was investigated. Acidithiobacillus was identified in coal mining acid mine drainage (AMD). The microorganism was studied using specific sequencing of a 16s rDNA fragment. The potential for the dissolution of copper from waste printed wire boards (PWBs) using the isolated Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferroxidans) was evaluated. The bioleaching experiments were performed in an orbital shaker at 30 °C and 170 rpm, with 10 % (v/v) inoculum and a pulp density of 30 g/L. The copper concentration was determined by energy dispersive x‐ray fluorescence (XRF). The result shows that copper recovery from PWBs using our A. ferrooxidans strain was 95 % after 8 days, which showed the feasibility of this process.     

Stability Is Not Everything: The Case of the Cyclisation of a Thrombin-Binding Aptamer

With the aim of developing a new approach to obtain improved aptamers, a cyclic thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA) analogue (cycTBA) has been prepared by exploiting a copper(I)-assisted azide–alkyne cycloaddition. The markedly increased serum resistance and exceptional thermal stability of the G-quadruplex versus TBA were associated with halved thrombin inhibition, which suggested that some flexibility in the TBA structure was necessary for protein recognition.     

Remarkable change in the broadband electrical behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride)–multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites with the use of different processing routes

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanocomposites have plenty of applications in the electronic realm. In this study, we produced nanocomposites based on PVDF and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), with various MWCNT loadings, using three different processing routes: solution mixing, melt mixing, and electrospinning. The broadband electrical behavior of these nanocomposites was studied and compared via impedance spectroscopy. The morphologies of the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results reveal that the electrical behaviors of the samples were completely different according to the processing route used. Solution mixing was the most suitable method for producing nanocomposites with the highest conductivities, at low MWCNT loadings, whereas electrospinning was the most suitable method for producing nanocomposites with the lowest dielectric permittivity. These differences were attributed to the different arrangements of the MWCNTs caused by the different processes. Although the solution-mixed samples exhibited long and twisted MWCNTs, the melt-mixed samples had shorter MWCNTs, and the electrospun samples had MWCNTs embedded and aligned inside the insulating polymer nanofibers. Thus, these results project a vast horizon for tailoring the structure and thereby the broadband electrical behavior of PVDF–MWCNT nanocomposites for different types of applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47409.     

Thermal and viscoelastic behaviour of copolymers of propene and 1-hexene

Summary The thermal and viscoelastic behaviour of several copolymers of propene and 1-hexene have been studied in a wide range of compositions. The samples were prepared with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst with both internal and external donors. A significant amount of crystallinity has been found for the sample with a comonomer content as high as 19 mol %. The dynamic mechanical results show a considerable decrease of the storage modulus in the copolymers in relation to that of iPP. A single relaxation, corresponding to the glass transition, has been found in all the samples. Only the copolymer with the highest hexene content seems to display the beginning of another relaxation at low temperature.     

A panoramic view and swot analysis of artificial intelligence for achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030: progress and prospects

Applied Intelligence - The17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations Agenda 2030 constitute a global blueprint agenda and instrument for peace and prosperity...