Statistical optimisation of the exopolysaccharide production by Lactobacillus fermentum Lf2 and analysis of its chemical composition

Lactobacillus fermentum Lf2 produces high amounts of exopolysaccharides (EPS) (~1 g/L) with demonstrated functional and technological roles when applied as a food ingredient in dairy matrices, properties that made these EPS interesting in comparison with other similar molecules from lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Those characteristics encouraged us to optimise the production. The EPS extract is composed of a high molecular mass β‐glucan and a medium molecular mass heteroglycan. In the present work, the optimal conditions that doubled the EPS yield using a semidefined medium (SDM, 0.63% yeast nitrogen base, 0.53% bacto casitone, 0.53% ammonium citrate, 6.25% sucrose, pH 6.5) were found by means of response surface methodology (RSM). The chemical characterisation indicated that under optimised conditions the synthesis of the heteroglycan was favoured compared with that of the β‐glucan.     

AmOctα2R: Functional Characterization of a Honeybee Octopamine Receptor Inhibiting Adenylyl Cyclase Activity

The catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine are important regulators of vertebrate physiology. Insects such as honeybees do not synthesize these neuroactive substances. Instead, they use the phenolamines tyramine and octopamine for similar physiological functions. These biogenic amines activate specific members of the large protein family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Based on molecular and pharmacological data, insect octopamine receptors were classified as either α- or β-adrenergic-like octopamine receptors. Currently, one α- and four β-receptors have been molecularly and pharmacologically characterized in the honeybee. Recently, an α₂-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor was identified in Drosophila melanogaster (DmOctα2R). This receptor is activated by octopamine and other biogenic amines and causes a decrease in intracellular cAMP ([cAMP]_i). Here, we show that the orthologous receptor of the honeybee (AmOctα2R), phylogenetically groups in a clade closely related to human α₂-adrenergic receptors. When heterologously expressed in an eukaryotic cell line, AmOctα2R causes a decrease in [cAMP]_i. The receptor displays a pronounced preference for octopamine over tyramine. In contrast to DmOctα2R, the honeybee receptor is not activated by serotonin. Its activity can be blocked efficiently by 5-carboxamidotryptamine and phentolamine. The functional characterization of AmOctα2R now adds a sixth member to this subfamily of monoaminergic receptors in the honeybee and is an important step towards understanding the actions of octopamine in honeybee behavior and physiology.     

Bioactive compounds from flesh and by-product of fresh-cut watermelon cultivars

BACKGROUND: The fresh‐cut industry produces thousands of tons of waste in non‐edible portions that present an environmental and management problem. These by‐products could be reused, in particular, to obtain bioactive compounds. In this study, five different fresh‐cut watermelon cultivars were assessed for their flesh and by‐product bioactive contents. RESULTS: The amount of by‐product varied between 31.27 and 40.61% of initial fresh weight (f.w.) depending on the cultivar. Watermelon cultivars were poor sources of total antioxidant, and the content was similar between rind and flesh samples (46.96 vs 43.46 mg ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity kg^?1 f.w.). However, the rind had a moderate total phenolic content higher than that of the flesh (458 vs 389 mg chlorogenic acid equivalent kg^?1 f.w.) and a much higher content of the amino acid citrulline (3.34 vs 2.33 g kg^?1 f.w.), which has potential bioactive properties. CONCLUSION: Watermelon rind offers quantitative interest as a natural source of citrulline, particularly Fashion, a dark‐skinned, seedless cultivar. More research is required on the efficient extraction of citrulline from watermelon rind and its suitability as an additive to drinks, juices or others products to produce new functional food products with valid health claims. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Steady state multiplicity in an UOP FCC unit with high-efficiency regenerator

The possibility of existence of multiple steady states in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units has a major impact in the supervision of these systems. The origins of these behaviours are usually due to the exothermicity of the catalyst regeneration reactions and to the strong interactions between the reactor and the regenerator system.Prior work has focused on modelling and control problems of different operating FCC units. However, none of these studies have considered a high-efficiency regenerator. This paper presents an analysis of the existence of output and input multiple steady states in an UOP FCC unit with a high-efficiency regenerator.The influence of unit disturbances and model uncertainties, such as coke composition and cracking enthalpy, in the output multiplicity, was studied and the results show that the high-efficiency regenerator exhibits at least three multiple output steady states and a maximum of five output steady states, in the operating range considered. Moreover, the state multiplicity analysis revealed that input multiplicity can be present in this FCC unit, depending on the choice of the control structure, and that operating the unit in full combustion mode can prevent instabilities due to input and output multiplicities. Therefore, these results can be used to guide the design of the most appropriate control structures in industrial applications. For the FCC unit with high-efficiency regenerator the most appropriate control structure corresponds to the control of the riser reactor temperature and the oxygen level in the flue gas, with the catalyst circulation rate and the combustion air flow rate, respectively.     

Chemical and rheological properties of a starch-rich fraction from the pulp of the fruit cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum)

The pulp obtained from the fruit of cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) was extracted with hot aqueous 0.1% citric acid to give fraction 0.1CA-2 in 15% yield. This was the predominant component polysaccharide, 91% of which was composed of starch, by an iodine test and monosaccharide composition, and its ¹³C NMR spectrum was consistent with that of a high amylose starch. The content of amylose found in fraction 0.1CA-2 was 71%. This value is higher than those of common starches of cereal grains, tubers, roots, and other fruits. The fraction was submitted to rheological examination, gels being prepared on heating with concentrations of 4 to 7% (w/w). A non-Newtonian behavior was observed, and gel viscosity and strength depended on the concentration. The presence of starch, as well as the presence of previously investigated pectin, conferred the high viscosity and gelling capability of the pulp.     

Nanocrystalline diamond on SiO2 fiber: A new class of hybrid material

We report a template technique for the fabrication of high density nanocrystalline diamond (NCD)-coated silica (a-SiO₂) nanofibers with diameters of 1–5 μm. This method includes the synthesis of templates (a-SiO₂ nanofibers) by conventional Vapor–Liquid–Solid method and the conformal coating of the nanofibers with nanodiamond by Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition technique in hydrogen-deficient conditions. A detailed micro-structural analysis was performed to probe the interaction of the NCD grains with a-SiO₂ nanofibers. The specimen for Transmission Electron Microscopy was prepared using Focused Ion Beam lift-out method. Room temperature micro-Raman was performed to study the crystalline quality of the NCD-coated silica nanofibers. Field electron emission of as-synthesized NCD-coated silica nanofibers was observed with a threshold field of ~ 3 V/µm.     

Effects of dopaminergic drugs on innate pheromone-mediated reward in female mice: A new case of dopamine-independent "liking."

Male sexual pheromones are innately rewarding to adult female mice, but the role of dopamine in this natural reward is unknown. The authors have tackled this issue by assessing the effects of intraperitoneal injections of dopamine D? (SCH 23390, 0.02- 0.05mg/kg) and D? (sulpiride, 20.00 mg/kg) antagonists, a dopamine releasing agent (amphetamine, 0.50 -2.00 mg/kg), and D? (SKF 38393, 10.00 -20.00 mg/kg) and D? (quinpirole, 0.20 -1.00 mg/kg) agonists on the chemoinvestigation displayed by female mice in male- versus female-soiled bedding 2-choice tests. Dopamine antagonists and quinpirole failed to affect the unconditioned preference displayed by females towards male chemosignals, whereas both amphetamine and SKF 38393 abolished it. Finally, D? and D? antagonists did not block the induction of operant place conditioning by male chemosignals. As the female mice were tested in their first encounter with male sexual pheromones, their behavior can only be influenced by the "liking" component of reward. Therefore, the results suggest that dopamine mediates neither the hedonic properties of male sexual pheromones nor the acquisition of conditioned place preference. However, dopamine acting on D1 receptors might inhibit female mice attraction towards male chemosignals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Particulate matter in exhaled breath condensate: A promising indicator of environmental conditions

Assessing the retention of aerosol particles in the human lung, one of the most important pathways of absorption, is a demanding issue. At present, there is no direct biomarker of exposure for the respiratory system. The collection of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) constitutes a new non-invasive method for sampling from the lung. However, the heterogeneity of the sample due to particulate matter suspended in the condensed phase may influence the quality of analytical results in occupational assessments.The main objective of the study was to confirm the presence of particulate matter in the condensate, to investigate how large the particles in suspension could be and to determine their elemental contents relative to those of EBC matrix.This paper reports on preliminary nuclear microprobe data of particulate matter in EBC. The sizes and the elemental contents of particles suspended in EBC of workers of a lead processing industry and in EBC of non-exposed individuals were inspected. Results demonstrated that EBC of workers contain large aerosol particles, isolated and in agglomerates, contrasting with non-exposed individuals. The particles contained high concentrations of Cl, Ca, Zn and Pb that are elements associated to the production process. These elements were also present in the EBC matrix although in much lower levels, suggesting that a fraction of the inhaled particulate matter was solubilised or their size-ranges were below the nuclear microprobe resolution. Therefore, the morphological characterization of individual particles achieved with nuclear microprobe techniques helped describing EBC constituents in detail, to comprehend their origin and enabled to delineate methodological procedures that can be recommended in occupational assessments. These aspects are critical to the validation of EBC as a biomarker of exposure to metals for the respiratory system.     

Pruning strategies for the efficient traversal of the search space in PILP environments

Knowledge and Information Systems - Probabilistic inductive logic programming (PILP) is a statistical relational learning technique which extends inductive logic programming by considering...