Investigation of technological approaches for reduction of methanol formation in plum wines

Methanol is natural ingredient of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks; however, the products of its metabolic transformations (formaldehyde and formic acid) are toxic to humans. The aim of this research was to assess the application of different physico‐chemical treatments of pomace in order to find the most efficient method for reducing the methanol during fermentation with the least effect on the sensory properties of the wine. The following procedures were studied: addition of tannins in pomace, addition of phenolic acids, addition of d ‐galacturonic and pectic acid, use of bentonite and zeolite, heat treatment of pomace, thermosonication and treatment of pomace with microwaves. Fruit wine used in this study was produced from plums (Prunus domestica L.). Applied treatments showed variable efficiency in reduction of methanol formation in plum wine. It may be noted that the procedures that involved some form of thermal treatment were characterized by a significant decrease in the production of methanol (up to 60–70%) but mostly tended to have a negative impact on the sensory properties of the produced wines. However, exposure of pomace to microwaves for a short time, owing to the contribution of mechanisms of non‐thermal nature (kinetic and chemical), allowed for a significant reduction in methanol formation with a negligible impact on the sensory properties. The decrease in methanol formation during fermentation using tannins, pectic acid, bentonite and zeolite was poor, with only a reduction of up to 15%. Obtained results are significant to the fruit wine and spirit industry, considering the common problem related to an increased content of methanol in these beverages. Copyright © 2016 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Measuring individual research productivity: A review and development of the integrated research productivity index.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate methods of measuring individual research productivity for counseling psychologists. Using the 60 members of the Journal of Counseling Psychology editorial board, the authors computed a comparison of 6 popular indices of productivity, revealing considerable levels of positive skewness, kurtosis, and overlap with each other. Combining the strengths of the 6 indices, the authors developed a new productivity index entitled the Integrated Research Productivity Index (IRPI). The IRPI measures individual productivity by statistically combining an individual's author-weighted publications, average times cited by other publications, and years since first publication into a comprehensive score. Productivity values and IRPI scores for 3 groups of counseling psychologists (Tyler Award recipients, Kuder Award recipients, and Division 17 Presidents) were computed to provide evidence of discriminant validity among the indices. In contrast to the other measures examined, the IRPI accounts for productivity per year and years in the field and assesses mean citation count per article as opposed to total citation count, thus yielding similar scores for Tyler (lifetime) and Kuder (early career) research award recipients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hyperthermia Enhances Doxorubicin Therapeutic Efficacy against A375 and MNT-1 Melanoma Cells

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and its incidence has alarmingly increased in the last few decades, creating a need for novel treatment approaches. Thus, we evaluated the combinatorial effect of doxorubicin (DOX) and hyperthermia on A375 and MNT-1 human melanoma cell lines. Cells were treated with DOX for 24, 48, and 72 h and their viabilities were assessed. The effect of DOX IC10 and IC20 (combined at 43 °C for 30, 60, and 120 min) on cell viability was further analyzed. Interference on cell cycle dynamics, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and apoptosis upon treatment (with 30 min at 43 °C and DOX at the IC20 for 48 h) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Combined treatment significantly decreased cell viability, but not in all tested conditions, suggesting that the effect depends on the drug concentration and heat treatment duration. Combined treatment also mediated a G2/M phase arrest in both cell lines, as well as increasing ROS levels. Additionally, it induced early apoptosis in MNT-1 cells, while in A375 cells this effect was similar to the one caused by hyperthermia alone. These findings demonstrate that hyperthermia enhances DOX effect through cell cycle arrest, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cell death.     

Negative electrodes for nickel-cadmium accumulators: their properties as determined by impregnation procedure

Sintered negative electrodes for nickel-cadmium secondary cells were studied. Model electrodes prepared by means of three different impregnation methods were evaluated. It was demonstrated that the impregnation procedure may affect properties of active mass and the service life of electrodes in a significant way.     

Potential of proton-enhanced 13C n.m.r. for the classification of kerogens

High resolution n.m.r. spectroscopy, involving the technique of cross-polarization, along with magicangle spinning, was used in the structural characterization of eight kerogens of different origins, selected to represent the three types of kerogens (types I–III evolution paths). The influence of cross-polarization dynamics on the sensitivity of the method and the ratio of individual fractions in the spectrum was studied in more detail. It is suggested that an analysis of the influence of the mixing time is necessary prior to definitive characterization of any sample. Good separation of signals in aliphatic, aromatic, and carboxylic regions was achieved. The general correlation between the ¹³C n.m.r. structural characteristics and the classification based on ultimate analysis of the kerogens (types I–III, van Krevelen atomic H/C vs. O/C diagrams) was found to be satisfactory. The structural features of kerogens derived from ¹³C n.m.r. analysis agreed quite well with characteristics constituting the above mentioned classification. The ¹³C n.m.r. method used in this paper may be considered promising in the classification of kerogens.     

On the role of 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-(4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-pyran-4-one in antioxidant capacity of prunes

Despite available reports on phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity (AOC) of fresh plums and prunes, there is a scarcity of published knowledge on the antioxidants formed and/or released during the drying process in the literature. To evaluate the compounds participating in reducing capacity of prunes, we compared aqueous and methanol extracts of fresh plums, commercial prunes and home-made prunes prepared at different drying temperatures using an HPLC method with amperometric detection (HPLC-ECD). The prunes dried at high temperature (90 °C, 18 h) in kitchen or laboratory oven with restricted ventilation gave up to 3.3 times higher electrochemical capacity (EC) than fresh plums (dry matter; P. domestica cv. Domestica) in dependence on production protocol. Drying at 60 °C (low-temperature drying) for 18 h did not change the EC significantly. Yet, lower EC was found in commercial tenderized prunes with sorbate; they were by a factor of 1.1–8.2 lower in EC than the prepared low-temperature prunes. The principle responsible for the increase in EC in the prunes prepared at high temperatures is 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-(4H)-pyran-4-one (DDMP). It was not detected until 74 °C was set during isothermal 18 h drying or until 6 h of drying passed at 90oC drying. The ultimate acceptable dwell-time for the preparation of conveniently eatable prunes dried at 90oC under the conditions used was assessed to 12 h. The EC of plums and prunes as well as the role of DDMP was confirmed by the use of several methods for the assessment of AOC-DPPH^• assay, β-carotene bleaching method, Oxipres test and Schaal oven test.     

Colour constancy of vat prints on cotton fabrics

Colour constancy of prints with vat dyes on cotton fabrics was investigated by computing the CMCCON02 colour inconstancy index with the key element CAT02 for chromatic adaptation transform. The results show that the highest changes in colour appearance can be expected when the average daylight is replaced with fluorescent light. If D65 daylight is replaced with some other type of daylight, such as D50 or D55, only minor colour deviations occur which do not substantially change the colour appearance of the prints. The analysis of the influence of the lightness and chromaticity of prints shows that the chromaticity of the samples significantly affects their colour constancy. The change of appearance of the prints with lower chroma because of changed illumination conditions is less probable. The influence of a dye blend composition was also investigated. On average, multi‐coloured dye blends have proved to be more colour constant.     

Late season nitrogen fertilization of soybeans: effects on leaf senescence, yield and environment

Nitrogen demand from soybean seeds during seed filling is very high and has been proposed as the cause of nitrogen remobilization and leaf senescence. Previous research has not shown consistent effects of late season fertilization on seed yield, while its effects on leaf senescence have not been evaluated. Two field experiments were performed to determine the effects of a late season N fertilization on leaf senescence and fall, seed yield and its components, and residual soil nitrate, and to evaluate the potential risk of groundwater contamination. Two rates of nitrogen (50 and 100 kg N ha^–1) were applied at the R3 and R5 development stages. Nitrogen fertilization, either at R3 or R5, increased soil nitrate availability during the seed-filling period. Seed yield, seed number and protein content were not affected by N fertilization. The addition of 100 kg N ha^–1 produced a small delay of 1–2 days in the leaf fall, and slightly increased seed size (3.6%). Our results suggest that increasing soil N availability during the seed-filling period is not an effective way to delay leaf senescence or to increase seed growth and yield of soybean. Nitrogen fertilization increased the level of residual nitrate in the top soil at one site (the one with lowest seed yield), increasing the risk of nitrate leaching during subsequent fallow.     

Design of tailored biodegradable implants: The effect of voltage on electrodeposited calcium phosphate coatings on pure magnesium

Magnesium, as a biodegradable metal, offers great potential for use as a temporary implant material, which dissolves in the course of bone tissue healing. It can sufficiently support the bone and promote the bone healing process. However, the corrosion resistance of magnesium implants must be enhanced before its application in clinical practice. A promising approach of enhancing the corrosion resistance is deposition of bioactive coating, which can reduce the corrosion rate of the implants and promote bone healing. Therefore, a well-designed substrate-coating system allowing a good control of the degradation behavior is highly desirable for tailored implants for specific groups of patients with particular needs. In this contribution, the influence of coating formation conditions on the characteristics of potentiostatically electrodeposited CaP coatings on magnesium substrate was evaluated. Results showed that potential variation led to formation of coatings with the same chemical composition, but very different morphologies. Parameters that mostly influence the coating performance, such as the thickness, uniformity, deposits size, and orientation, varied from produced coating to coating. These characteristics of CaP coatings on magnesium were controlled by coating formation potential, and it was demonstrated that the electrodeposition could be a promising coating technique for production of tailored magnesium-CaP implants.