A taxonomy of sports rating systems

Systems analysis is applied to a milieu of sports rating systems (SRSs) resulting in a unifying taxonomy. Each SRS operates in three phases: evaluation of sports performance, weighting of the evaluated performance and creation of a rating for each competitor using the weighted evaluated performance. In the first phase, sports are classified as: combat sports where each competitor tries to control the opponent, object sports where each competitor tries to control an object in direct competition with the opponent and independent sports where each competitor is unimpeded by the opponent. Each sports performance is evaluated by judging, measuring and/or scoring. In the second phase, weighting may be represented by matrix operations. In the third phase, there are two combinations of operations that classify SRSs: accumulative and adjustive approaches. Examples of SRSs are presented for boxing, track and field, golf, skiing, Olympic performances, chess, soccer, tennis, and those with the ability to predict future outcomes     

Effect of plants and filter materials on bacteria removal in pilot-scale constructed wetlands

Due to the lack of testing units or appropriate experimental approaches, only little is known about the removal of bacteria in constructed wetlands. However, improved performance in terms of water sanitation requires a detailed understanding of the ongoing processes. Therefore, we analyzed the microbial diversity and the survival of Enterobacteriaceae in six pilot-scale constructed wetland systems treating domestic wastewater: two vertical sand filters, two vertical expanded clay filters and two horizontal sand filters (each planted and unplanted). Samples were taken from the in- and outflow, from the rhizosphere, and from the bulk soil at various depths. Colony-forming units of heterotrophic bacteria and coliforms were analyzed and the removal of bacteria between the in- and outflow was determined to within 1.5-2.5 orders of magnitude. To access the taxon-specific biodiversity of potential pathogens in the filters and to reduce the complexity of the analysis, specific primers for Enterobacteriaceae were developed. While performing PCR-SSCP analyses, a pronounced decrease in diversity from the inflow to the outflow of treated wastewater was observed. No differences were observed between the bulk soil of planted and unplanted vertical filters. Some bands appeared in the rhizosphere that were not present in the bulk soil, indicating the development of specific communities stimulated by the plants. The fingerprinting of the rhizosphere of plants grown on sand or expanded clay exhibited many differences, which show that different microbial communities exist depending on the soil type of the filters. The use of the taxon-specific primers enabled us to evaluate the fate of the Enterobacteriaceae entering the wetlands and to localize harboring in the rhizosphere. The most abundant bands of the profiles were sequenced: Pantoea agglomerans was found in nearly all samples from the soil but not in the effluent, whereas Citrobacter sp. could not be removed by the horizontal unplanted sand and vertical planted expanded clay filters. These results show that the community in wetland system is strongly influenced by the filtration process, the filter material and the plants.     

Automated identification of phenolics in plant-derived foods by using library search approach

Phenolic compounds may contribute to the organoleptic, commercial and nutritional characteristics of plant-derived food and beverages and their consumption has been associated with positive health benefits. Consequently, it is essential to determine the nature and distribution of these compounds in the diet. We have developed a reliable, reproducible, fast and sensitive method for the identification of phenolics using liquid chromatography interfaced to an ESI-Qq-TOF mass spectrometer, which provides mass accuracy and true isotopic pattern in MS and MS/MS. We built up a library of phenolic compounds using retention time, MS and MS/MS spectra. Fragmentation patterns in the negative ionisation mode are discussed. We have applied the automated library search in some of the components of a food supplement (propolis and lyophilisate of some vegetables) selected by its antioxidant properties. A variety of phenolic components was successfully identified.     

Assessment of root uptake and systemic vine-transport of Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium by melon (Cucumis melo) during field production

Bifidobacterium adolescentis Int57 (Int57) and Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii ATCC 13673 (ATCC 13673) were grown either in coculture or as pure cultures in different media, such as cow's milk, soybean milk, and modified MRS medium. The viable cell counts of bacteria, changes in pH, concentrations of organic acids, and contents of various sugars were analyzed during incubation up to 7days. In soy milk, the survival of cocultured Int57 was six times higher than the monocultured cells, and ATCC 13673 cocultured with Int57 consumed 69.4% of lactic acid produced by Int57 at the end of fermentation. In cow's milk, coculture with ATCC 13673 increased the growth of Int57 from 24h until 120h by approximately tenfold and did not affect the survival of Int57 cells. After 96h of fermentation of modified MRS, the survival of ATCC 13673 cells cocultured with Int57 increased by 3.2- to 7.4-folds as compared with ATCC 13673 monoculture, whereas the growth of Int57 cells was unaffected. The growth and metabolic patterns of two strains during coculture showed noticeable differences between food grade media and laboratory media. The consumption of stachyose in soy milk during coculture of Int57 with ATCC 13673 was increased by more than twice compared with Int57 monoculture, and completed within 24h. The combinational use of Bifidobacterium and Propionibacterium could be applied to the development of fermented milk or soy milk products.     

Monitoring of biogenic amines in cheeses manufactured at small-scale farms and in fermented dairy products in the Czech Republic

The aim of the study was the monitoring of six biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine, tryptamine, putrescine, and cadaverine) and two polyamines (spermidine and spermine) in 112 samples of dairy products purchased in the Czech Republic, namely in 55 cheeses made in small-scale farms and in 57 fermented dairy products. The products were tested at the end of their shelf-life period. Neither tryptamine nor phenylethylamine was detected in the monitored samples; histamine was found only in four cheese samples containing up to 25 mg/kg. The contents of spermine and spermidine were low and did not exceed the values of 35 mg/kg. Significant amounts of tyramine, putrescine, and cadaverine occurred especially in cheeses produced from ewe’s milk or in long-term ripened cheeses. In about 10% of the tested cheeses, the total concentration of all the monitored biogenic amines and polyamines exceeded the level of 200 mg/kg, which can be considered toxicologically significant. In fermented dairy products, the tested biogenic amines occurred in relatively low amounts (generally up to 30 mg/kg) that are regarded safe for the consumer’s health.     

Hydrogen cryo-adsorption by hexagonal prism monoliths of MIL-101

Hexagonal prism shaped monoliths of envelope density 0.40–0.467 g/cm³ and remarkable mechanical stability were obtained from MIL-101 powder. The hydrogen adsorption isotherms within an extended pressure range show that the excess adsorption decreases with the increasing density of the pellets. At 77 K and 150 bar, the total volumetric capacity is 46.5 g/L; the discharge to 159 K and 5 bar leads to 45 g/L (38.8 g/L referring to the outer tank volume) supporting MIL-101 as a promising candidate for applications in the 77–160 K range of interest for cryo-adsorption hydrogen storage method. The isosteric adsorption enthalpy evaluated from the experimental data with the van't Hoff equation, using fugacity, is in agreement with the calorimetric heat of adsorption reported in literature. Monoliths of this shape allow the best possible packing density of any sorbent in a container and the primary data reported here on MIL-101 could serve as material engineering properties required for modeling hydrogen storage tanks.     

A study of beer bitterness loss during the various stages of the Romanian beer production process

Beer is one of the oldest known alcoholic beverages produced by a yeast fermentation of a cereal extract that was germinated in water beforehand. The bitter taste of beer comes from the group of substances introduced during wort boiling, which are the extracted components of hops. The aim of this study was to determine some characteristics of beer (original extract, alcohol content, colour, pH, total acidity, carbon dioxide and bitterness values) during the three stages of the beer production process in a typical Romanian brewery. Measurements were carried out on 60 samples of beers, 10 measurements for each step of the process examining wort, unfiltered fermented beer and bottled beer (final product) from two different types of beer (light and dark). Statistical process control of the beer was performed. Losses in the bitterness units during the production process were between 24.7 and 41.54%, reported in terms of final product. Copyright © 2013 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Antihypertensive and antithrombotic activities of a commercial fermented milk product made with Lactobacillus casei Shirota and Streptococcus thermophilus

Peptides which inhibit the human angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) may be released during milk fermentation, and the micro‐organisms or fermentation conditions influence the specific peptides produced. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ACE inhibitory and antithrombotic activities of a fermented milk product commercially available in Mexico. Viable cell numbers, protein hydrolysis and the pH remained constant during refrigerated storage. The IC₅₀ of ACE inhibitory activity was 31.38 mg/mL. Eight peptide fractions exhibited ACE inhibitory activity and six showed antithrombotic activity. Two fractions showed both. This is the first time that both activities have been reported in a commercial probiotic product.     

Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from the surface of chicken eggshells obtained in Argentina

The prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica on chicken eggshell surfaces in San Luis, Argentina, was investigated. The pathogenic potential of recovered isolates was assessed by means of phenotypic virulence tests and the presence of the 72-kb pYV plasmid. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the agar diffusion method. DNA digested with XbaI was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and relationships between genomic DNA profiles were established. Eight Y. enterocolitica B2 O:9 strains were recovered after enrichment, for a prevalence of 2.27%. All strains harbored the virulence pYV plasmid, bound Congo red, grew in a low-calcium medium, and autoagglutinated at 37 degrees C. They lacked pyrazinamidase activity and did not hydrolyze esculin. These Y. enterocolitica strains were susceptible to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and were resistant to rifampin. According to the genomic DNA patterns obtained by PFGE, the isolates clustered into two groups, I and II. The highest similarity coefficient observed between Y. enterocolitica strains was 0.947. Microbiological controls on production stages of eggs and good culinary practices are necessary to reduce the risk of Y. enterocolitica infection for consumers.     

Efficient Transfection of siRNA by Peptide Dendrimer–Lipid Conjugates

Efficient delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) into cells is the basis of target‐gene‐specific silencing and, ultimately, gene therapy. However, current transfection reagents are relatively inefficient, and very few studies provide the sort of systematic understanding based on structure–activity relationships that would provide rationales for their improvement. This work established peptide dendrimers (administered with cationic lipids) as siRNA transfection reagents and recorded structure–activity relationships that highlighted the importance of positive charge distribution in the two outer layers and a hydrophobic core as key features for efficient performance. These dendrimer‐based transfection reagents work as well as highly optimised commercial reagents, yet show less toxicity and fewer off‐target effects. Additionally, the degrees of freedom in the synthetic procedure will allow the placing of decisive recognition features to enhance and fine‐tune transfection and cell specificity in the future.