Antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds and sugars of wild and commercial Tuberaria lignosa samples: Effects of drying and oral preparation methods

The antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition (ascorbic acid, free sugars and phenolic compounds) of decoctions and infusions of wild and commercial samples of Tuberaria lignosa (Sweet) Samp. Aerial parts were evaluated and compared. Among wild samples, the effects of the drying method (freeze or shade-drying) on those parameters were studied. Infusion of the freeze-dried wild sample gave the highest levels of sugars, while infusion of shade-dried wild sample and decoction of the freeze-dried sample presented higher ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds content (including ellagitannins and flavonoids) than the other samples. The last two samples also revealed higher antioxidant activity, in some cases even higher than Trolox. Decoctions gave lower amounts of disaccharides than infusions, which seemed to be hydrolysed, increasing the content of monosaccharides. Commercial samples showed the lowest content in phenolic compounds, mainly in ellagitannins and flavonoids, and also the lowest antioxidant activity. This work gives scientific evidence to the traditional medicinal uses of wild Tuberaria lignosa, highlighting the interest of its decoctions and infusions as a source of bioactive compounds and functional beverages.     

Changes in polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity after thermal treatments of grape seed extract and grape pomace

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of heat treatment on polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity in grape pomace (GP) and grape seed extract (GSE). GP and GSE were heat treated in a furnace or autoclaved at 100 °C for 15, 30 and 60 min. Structural modifications of the polyphenols during thermal processes were determined by HPLC–MS, and the antioxidant activity was determined by ABTS, DPPH and photochemiluminescence methods. In general, furnace thermal treatment of GSE and GP did not affect the total extractable polyphenols content, tannin content, procyanidin components and the antioxidant activity. Autoclave treatment caused an extensive hydrolysis of gallocatechin (70%), catechin (61%), epicatechin (65%), procyanidin B1 (75%) and procyanidin B2 (73%) in GSE, and an increase in gallic acid (71%), gallocatechin (100%) and epicatechin gallate (129%) in GP. Autoclave treatment did not affect the antioxidant activity of GSE or GP. It can be concluded that the effect of autoclave was more severe than furnace heat treatment modifying the phenolic profile in a different manner depending on the grape seed product used. These modifications were not related with changes in antioxidant activity.     

Effect of ultraviolet processing on selected properties of egg white

The effect of ultraviolet processing (10.6 and 63.7 kJ m(-2)) on selected properties of egg white (absorbance, particle size, protein fractions, free sulfhydryl content, immunoreactivity, viscosity, gelling and foaming properties) was investigated. Ultraviolet exposure induced the development of browning, the formation of large protein aggregates by disulfide exchange, and protein backbone cleavage. However, egg white proteins were differently sensitive to UV radiation. No changes in immunoreactivity, gelling temperature and gel firmness were observed. Independently on the UV dose, light treated egg white produced foams with higher stability. This effect was attributed to protein aggregates jamming in the fluid interstices between bubbles and/or to the higher viscosity of the aqueous phase. The latter was also associated to higher foam volume.     

Host Restriction Factors Modulating HIV Latency and Replication in Macrophages

In addition to CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, myeloid cells and, particularly, differentiated macrophages are targets of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection via the interaction of gp120Env with CD4 and CCR5 or CXCR4. Both T cells and macrophages support virus replication, although with substantial differences. In contrast to activated CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, HIV-1 replication in macrophages occurs in nondividing cells and it is characterized by the virtual absence of cytopathicity both in vitro and in vivo. These general features should be considered in evaluating the role of cell-associated restriction factors aiming at preventing or curtailing virus replication in macrophages and T cells, particularly in the context of designing strategies to tackle the viral reservoir in infected individuals receiving combination antiretroviral therapy. In this regard, we will here also discuss a model of reversible HIV-1 latency in primary human macrophages and the role of host factors determining the restriction or reactivation of virus replication in these cells.     

Putrescine: A Key Metabolite Involved in Plant Development,Tolerance and Resistance Responses to Stress

Putrescine (Put) is the starting point of the polyamines (PAs) pathway and the most common PA in higher plants. It is synthesized by two main pathways (from ornithine and arginine), but recently a third pathway from citrulline was reported in sesame plants. There is strong evidence that Put may play a crucial role not only in plant growth and development but also in the tolerance responses to the major stresses affecting crop production. The main strategies to investigate the involvement of PA in plant systems are based on the application of competitive inhibitors, exogenous PAs treatments, and the most efficient approaches based on mutant and transgenic plants. Thus, in this article, the recent advances in understanding the role of this metabolite in plant growth promotion and protection against abiotic and biotic stresses will be discussed to provide an overview for future research.     

Direct employment in the wind energy sector: An EU study

Wind energy is often said to have positive effects on employment, but few studies have systematically dealt with this matter. This article presents estimates of direct wind energy employment in all EU countries, gathered for the first time. By using a thematic survey, the authors have been able to analyse aspects such as gender distribution, company profiles and the shortage of skilled workers reported by wind energy companies. The outcomes show that wind energy deployment creates a significant number of jobs (over 104,000 in 2008), and does so at a time when other energy sectors are shrinking. There is a clear relationship between MW installed and number of jobs, but the use of a single EU job/MW ratio is not feasible, due to differences in the export/import capacity. Wind turbine manufacturers—including major sub-components—are responsible for the lion's share of the jobs, and there is a marked prevalence of males in the workforce. The scarcity of specialist roles—project managers, engineers and O&M technicians—is not likely to be solved unless a series of educational, mobility and dissemination measures are put into practice.     

Expert system for problem solving in distance university education: The successful case of the subject “operations management”

Acquiring the skills needed to solve certain types of problems is one of the main challenges of distance university education, demanding extra motivation from students to tackle it. New technology should be one of our great allies in addressing these problems. This article proposes an expert system with a web‐based problem‐solving simulator for a multidevice environment in order to allow students to access an unlimited number of problems with their corresponding solutions, immediately, anytime and anywhere. The types of problems that can be used are those based on quantitative methods with a fixed methodology to be followed. A successful case study was carried out for the subject Operations Management at the Distance University of Madrid (UDIMA), with three different problem simulators having been developed. The results were very satisfactory compared with previous academic years in terms of motivation. A decrease in students that did not sit the final examination was observed, as was an increase in the number of visits to the Moodle classroom. Students also responded positively in their assessments of the initiative.     

Towards the development of technical specifications for the production of lithium–lead alloys for the ITER HCLL TMB

The ITER and DEMO projects are developing new Test Blanket Modules (TBM), where the Pb–Li alloy plays a key role in the new commercial fusion reactors functionality. The Breeding Blanket (BB) has to perform several functions which are essential for the reactor operation. The HCLL TBM is one of the Breeding Blanket concepts to be tested in ITER. It is cooled by He and uses the eutectic liquid metal LLE (Lithium–Lead Eutectic) as breeder material (enriched at 90% in ⁶Li).Pb–Li eutectic alloy has no known uses outside of fusion technology, so the available databases of this material are currently incomplete. It is very important, within the material specifications, to have a complete characterization in order to define their chemical and physical properties, because any variation in the alloy composition has significant consequences in their behaviour, and therefore in their regenerative function inside the blanket.The chemical characterization methodology developed and presented in this paper (useful for both Pb–Li alloys as any Pb alloy) is a key tool that allows performing standard quality control procedures for base material and/or monitoring the alloy during the reactor operation. This report provides a procedure to perform a wide material chemical characterization, assessing the concentrations of major elements, as well as a review of trace level elements that can be found both in the eutectic alloy and in starting materials. In this determination plays an important role the ICP-MS technique because, as a highly sensitive technique, allows very low detection limits.     

Two-step route polycondensation for polynaphthalimides synthesis through high molar mass soluble precursors: A kinetic study

Research of polynaphthalimides (PNI) frequently reports difficulties over synthesis and processing due to insolubility. In this work, we present a novel comprehensive study on the effects of time, temperature and catalyst on the synthesis of soluble PNI precursors—polyamic acids (PAAs)—, as well as a novel synthetic procedure for the synthesis of PNI using mild conditions. Kinetic studies concerning the monomer conversion and the degree of premature imidization were performed through proton nuclear magnetic resonance and gel permeation chromatography for temperature ranging from 25 to 100°C. High temperatures (above 60°C) entail extensive premature imidization and insolubility. The use of triethylamine also catalyzes imidization. At the optimal condition, soluble PAA precursors for PNI of 72 kDa could be obtained at 40°C in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solution (30 wt%) after 5 hr polymerization.     

Amino acid composition of wheat grain. 1: Changes during development

The changes in the composition of free and total amino acids in wheat grain during development are described: the experiment was performed in a growth chamber with three varieties of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Splendeur, Hobbit and Maris Huntsman. The changes in the total composition of amino acids of the grain as development progressed were consistent with an increase in the proportion of storage proteins. At 15 days after anthesis, the relative amount of glycine increased, suggesting that at this moment the proportion of gliadins was relatively low. The relative amount of arginine increased in mature grain, showing that at times close to maturity the relative proportion of synthesis of a protein fraction rich in this amino acid increased. Free glutamate, proline and arginine decreased at 15 days to a greater extent than the other amino acids and was present in low relative amounts during the period of maximum protein synthesis in the grain; these three amino acids could be the most limiting for protein synthesis in grain. In the free fraction the following showed a similar pattern of change during grain development: aspartate, arginine and histidine on the one hand, and on the other alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, phenylalanine and tyrosine; moreover both groups were inversely correlated. Glycine and lysine were directly related to each other and inversely to glutamate.