Non‐galloylated and galloylated proanthocyanidin oligomers in grape seeds from Vitus vinifera L. cv. Graciano,Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon

Non‐galloylated and galloylated flavan‐3‐ol composition in seeds from Vitis vinifera L. var. Graciano, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes harvested in 2000, 2001 and 2002 at the same geographical area were determined using normal‐phase HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS) detection. Non‐galloylated and monogalloylated flavan‐3‐ols up to octamers, and di‐, and trigalloylated flavan‐3‐ols up to heptamers were identified in all grape seeds. Comparisons of the flavan‐3‐ol composition in three grape varieties harvested in three different years indicate that levels of non‐galloylated flavan‐3‐ols decrease as the degree of polymerization increased, whereas the monogalloylated dimers were present in the highest levels in all varieties and vintages. The levels of other monogalloylated flavan‐3‐ols varied in different vintages. Tempranillo contained the lowest levels of non‐galloylated and monogalloylated flavan‐3‐ols, whereas Graciano contained the highest levels, with the exception of non‐galloylated flavan‐3‐ols in vintage 2001, and non‐galloylated monomers in vintages 2000 and 2002. Grape seeds from vintage 2000 contained the highest levels of both non‐galloylated and galloylated structures. Statistical analyses indicate that the distribution of the flavan‐3‐ols is primarily determined by genetic factors and is also strongly influenced by climate conditions. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polyphenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Galician Monovarietal Wines from Native and Experimental Non-Native White Grape Varieties

Galicia region (Northwestern Spain) wine production is mainly focused to high-quality white wines. The polyphenolic composition and the antioxidant activity have been determined to characterize the wines obtained from white grape varieties (Albariño, Branco Lexitimo, Caiño blanco, Godello, Loureiro, Torrontes, and Treixadura) grown in Galician protected production areas, and the wines elaborated with non-native varieties experimentally grown in Galicia (Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Riesling, and Sauvignon blanc). Since Albariños are the varietal wines with the highest production and commercialization extension, we have studied their polyphenolic composition as a function of the production subarea. Three vintage years (2010, 2011, and 2012) have been considered to account for climate variability. Liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detection was used to obtain the phenolic profiles. Wines from native grapes could be fully discriminated by their phenolic composition, with only Albariño being partially confused with other varietal wines. Albariño wines produced in O Rosal and Ribera do Ulla could be clearly differentiated, whereas Condado do Tea and Val do Salnés wines were partially confused. The polyphenolic profile was enough to differentiate the wines obtained from non-native grapes. The total polyphenols content and the antioxidant activity of white wines elaborated in Galicia were comparable, although significant differences were found among varieties.     

Influence of NaCl,Na2SO4 and O2 on power generation from microbial fuel cells with non-catalyzed carbon electrodes and natural inocula

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are facing several technological challenges before they can be considered as reliable energy sources. Although several feasible inocula, materials and catalysts have been employed to produce energy, the design of a MFC should be done under realistic conditions: abundant and economic feedstock. In this study, two different MFC designs (parallel plate and tank reactors) are tested with non-catalyzed carbon electrodes and natural inocula. In both approaches cathodic oxygen reduction is performed on two different non-catalyzed carbon materials: carbon fabric and reticulate vitreous carbon. This study shows that power and current densities can be boosted by systematically decreasing the catholyte resistance (by additions of NaCl or Na₂SO₄) and dissolved oxygen concentration. In the parallel plate cell configuration, a mixed culture coming from sludge wastewater was used and power outputs up to 73 mW m^?2 (2867 mW m^?3) coupled to 187 mA m^?2 (anode surface area), were achieved. In the Sediment MFC cell configuration, lagoon sediment was used as both organic source of energy and natural supply of bacteria. Under this approach, the concentration of the organic matter is limited but it is demonstrated that bacteria can be adapted to degrade acetate. Power outputs up to 3.9 mW m^?2 normalized to the anodic electrode footprint area, coupled to 13 mA m^?2 were achieved.     

Shallow levels in the band gap of CdTe films deposited on metallic substrates

CdTe thin films were developed on flexible metallic substrates using close spaced sublimation and electrodeposition techniques. The films were nearly stiochiometric, highly uniform and exhibit good crystallinity. The films were characterized using XRD, SEM and AUGER. The shallow levels in the band gap of CdTe were determined using photoluminescence and photoinduced current transient spectroscopy. The photoluminescence studies revealed a defect dominated CdTe surface. The two lines detected at 1.587 and 1.589 eV at 15 K are assigned to the donor levels associated with Cl at the Te sites. The additional features observed in the photoluminescence spectra of the CdCl₂ treated films revealed that the CdCl₂ treatment improves the quality of the films and the close space sublimated films are better than the electrodeposited films. The photoinduced current transient spectroscopic technique was effectively used to identify the electron and hole traps. Two shallow levels with activation energy 0.056 and 0.13 eV were detected and assigned to electron and hole traps, respectively.     

Influence of nitrogen on the biological aging of sherry wine

Nitrogen compounds are essential to the growth and metabolism of yeasts. The uptake and metabolism of nitrogen compounds by Saccharomyces cerevisiae depend not only on the strain and its physiological condition, but also on the chemical and physical properties of its environment. The effect of the addition of different amino acids (L ‐proline, L ‐threonine, L ‐arginine, L ‐glutamic acid, L ‐leucine and L ‐valine) to nitrogen‐depleted natural or nitrogen‐free synthetic wine on the cell growth, flor velum formation and sherry wine compound production was investigated under controlled biological aging by S. cerevisiae var. capensis strain G1 a typical flor yeast. The formation of flor velum was dependent on particular amino acid, oxygen availability and the composition of wine. Consumption of glycerol was related with the cell growth; in contrast, acetaldehyde tended to be released. Amino acid supplementation resulted in the release to wine of amino acids, esters and higher alcohols. The amino acid which was released in nearly all cases was L ‐leucine. Addition of L ‐glutamic acid resulted in the release mainly of ethyl acetate, in the case of L ‐leucine isoamyl alcohols were released, and for L ‐valine isobutanol. In the three cases, 1,1‐diethoxyethane was released in large quantities. The findings might indicate that the regulation of metabolism succeeds in the most efficient balancing of the redox potential. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Steady state hormonal secretion in traumatic quadriplegia

Physiologically complete cervical spinal cord transection results in motor and sensory quadriplegia and interruption of the sympathetic neural pathways; this condition leads to metabolic deficiencies suggestive of abnormal endocrine function. An investigation of the non-stimulated secretion of some of the hormones influencing metabolism was undertaken by evaluating thyroxine, iodothyronine binding index, testosterone, growth hormone, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone in venous blood of fasting healthy subjects and quadriplegic patients. The effect of the duration of the paralysis was examined by repeating the evaluations at different periods after onset. The results show that 1) thyroxine was low for 2 months after onset in 21 patients and normal thereafter in 53 patients, 2) testosterone was low throughout the study in 62 patients; the decrease is greatest during the first 2 months, 3) growth hormone was often increased in 46 patients for 8 months after onset, and nearly normal afterward in 25 patients, 4) calcitonin was normal in 22 patients throughout the study, and 5) parathyroid hormone was normal in relation to normal serum calcium as early as 6 days after onset in 79 out of 83 patients. These data do not preclude a parathyroid hormone increase at onset or alterations in the patterns of circadian secretion and in the responses to specific stimulation for the hormones evaluated. Therefore, it may be concluded only that the steady state secretion of these hormones is not altered by traumatic quadriplegia per se, but is temporarily modified by the original insult to the nervous system, and by changes in life pattern and the heavy sedation that follows. The results suggest that the minor endocrin changes occurring in quadriplegic patients during the early period of paralysis will be rapidly overcome by rehabilitation to an active life pattern.     

Edible Insects in a Food Safety and Nutritional Perspective: A Critical Review

Increasing world population worsens the serious problem of food security in developing countries. On the other hand in industrialized countries, where the problem of food security is of minor concern, health problems related to food refer to 2 main factors: food safety and environmental sustainability of food production. For these reasons, new ways must be found to increase yields while preserving food quality, natural habitats, and biodiversity. Insects could be of great interest as a possible solution due to their capability to satisfy 2 different requirements: (i) they are an important source of protein and other nutrients; (ii) their use as food has ecological advantages over conventional meat and, in the long run, economic benefits. However, little is known on the food safety side and this can be of critical importance to meet society's approval, especially if people are not accustomed to eating insects. This paper aims to collect information in order to evaluate how insects could be safely used as food and to discuss nutritional data to justify why insect food sources can no longer be neglected. Legislative issues will also be discussed.     

The cytotoxic effect of Bowman–Birk isoinhibitors,IBB1 and IBBD2, from soybean (Glycine max) on HT29 human colorectal cancer cells is related to their intrinsic ability to inhibit serine proteases

Bowman–Birk inhibitors (BBI) from soybean and related proteins are naturally occurring protease inhibitors with potential health‐promoting properties within the gastrointestinal tract. In this work, we have investigated the effects of soybean BBI proteins on HT29 colon adenocarcinoma cells, compared with non‐malignant colonic fibroblast CCD‐18Co cells. Two major soybean isoinhibitors, IBB1 and IBBD2, showing considerable amino acid sequence divergence within their inhibitory domains, were purified in order to examine their functional properties, including their individual effects on the proliferation of HT29 colon cancer cells. IBB1 inhibited both trypsin and chymotrypsin whereas IBBD2 inhibited trypsin only. Despite showing significant differences in their enzyme inhibitory properties, the median inhibitory concentration values determined for IBB1 and IBBD2 on HT29 cell growth were not significantly different (39.9±2.3 and 48.3±3.5 μM, respectively). The cell cycle distribution pattern of HT29 colon cancer cells was affected by BBI treatment in a dose‐dependent manner, with cells becoming blocked in the G0–G1 phase. Chemically inactive soybean BBI had a weak but non‐significant effect on the proliferation of HT29 cells. The anti‐proliferative properties of BBI isoinhibitors from soybean reveal that both trypsin‐ and chymotrypsin‐like proteases involved in carcinogenesis should be considered as potential targets of BBI‐like proteins.