Whole Alga,Algal Extracts,and Compounds as Ingredients of Functional Foods: Composition and Action Mechanism Relationships in the Prevention and Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major systemic disease which involves impaired pancreatic function and currently affects half a billion people worldwide. Diet is considered the cornerstone to reduce incidence and prevalence of this disease. Algae contains fiber, polyphenols, ω-3 PUFAs, and bioactive molecules with potential antidiabetic activity. This review delves into the applications of algae and their components in T2DM, as well as to ascertain the mechanism involved (e.g., glucose absorption, lipids metabolism, antioxidant properties, etc.). PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were used. Papers in which whole alga, algal extracts, or their isolated compounds were studied in in vitro conditions, T2DM experimental models, and humans were selected and discussed. This review also focuses on meat matrices or protein concentrate-based products in which different types of alga were included, aimed to modulate carbohydrate digestion and absorption, blood glucose, gastrointestinal neurohormones secretion, glycosylation products, and insulin resistance. As microbiota dysbiosis in T2DM and metabolic alterations in different organs are related, the review also delves on the effects of several bioactive algal compounds on the colon/microbiota-liver-pancreas-brain axis. As the responses to therapeutic diets vary dramatically among individuals due to genetic components, it seems a priority to identify major gene polymorphisms affecting potential positive effects of algal compounds on T2DM treatment.     

Food and beverage can coatings: A review on chemical analysis,migration, and risk assessment

The internal surface of food and beverage cans is generally covered with polymeric coatings to preserve food and protect metal substrate from corrosion. Coating materials are complex formulations that contain different starting substances (e.g., monomers, prepolymers, additives, etc.) and in addition during the manufacture of the material several compounds can be formed (e.g., reaction products, degradation products, etc.). These substances have the potential to migrate into the food. Many of them have not been identified and only some have been toxicologically evaluated. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on the analytical methods used for the identification of potential migrants in can coatings. The migration and exposure to chemicals migrating from can coatings are also reviewed and discussed so far, which is essential for risk assessment. Moreover, a brief section on the current status of the legislation on varnishes and coatings for food contact in Europe is also presented. Liquid chromatography coupled to diode array and fluorescence detectors and particularly to mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry seem to be the techniques of choice for the identification of potential migrants in can coatings. Some studies have reported migration levels of BPA (bisphenol A) and BADGE (bisphenol A diglycidyl ether) and derivatives exceeding the specific migration limits set in the European legislation. On the whole, low dietary exposure to migrants from can coatings has been reported. However, it is interesting to highlight that in these studies the combined exposure to multiple chemicals has not been considered.     

Reclaim of the By-Products from “Horchata” Elaboration Process

The recovery of effluents for different uses is an interesting practice that can contribute to a better management of water resources all over the world. Tiger nuts or “chufa” (Cyperus esculentus) are tubers mainly used to produce “horchata de chufa” (tiger nuts milk), yielding a high quantity of co-products (solids and liquids). The composition of these co-products makes them suitable for other uses. The aim of this work was to study the composition, microbial quality, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity of the “horchata” drained-water. The obtained results prove that “horchata” drained-water could be considered a valuable source of natural antioxidants. A good correlation between total phenol content and reducing power, rancimat performance, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation of buffered egg yolk assays supports the idea that phenols may be the main contributors to the antioxidant power of “horchata” drained-water. However, its microbial quality is poor, so this liquid residue must be heat-treated before its addition to any food product.     

SCLDGM coded modulation for MIMO systems with spatial multiplexing and space‐time block codes

We analyze Multiple‐Input Multiple‐Output (MIMO) coded modulation systems where either Bit‐Interleaved Coded Modulation (BICM) with spatial multiplexing or concatenation of channel coding and Space‐Time Block Codes (STBCs) is used at transmission, assuming iterative Turbo‐like decoding at reception. We optimize Serially‐Concatenated Low‐Density Generator Matrix (SCLDGM) codes (a subclass of LDPC codes) for each system configuration, with the goal of assessing its ability to approach the capacity limits in either ergodic or quasi‐static channels. Our focus is on three relevant STBCs: the Orthogonal Space‐Time Block Codes (OSTBCs) for two transmit antennas (i.e., the Alamouti code), which enables optimum detection with low complexity; the Golden code, which provides a capacity increase with respect to the input constellation; and Linear Dispersion (LD) codes, which enable practical detection in asymmetrical antenna configurations (i.e., more transmit than receive antennas) for cases in which optimum detection is infeasible. We conclude that BICM without concatenation with STBCs is in general the best option, except for Alamouti‐coded 2×1 and Golden‐coded 2×2 MIMO systems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The changing dynamics in citation index publication position China in a race with the USA for global leadership

Along with China’s economic emergence is a controversy over the quality and international visibility of citation index publications. This study uses bibliometric statistics to shed further light on the global landscape of citation index publications with special focus on China and the USA. The analysis explores 31 years of the TRS (Thomson Reuters Scientific) database, spanning the 1980–2010 period. Based on this study, the USA maintains global dominance for both WOK (Web of Knowledge) and WOS (Web of Science) TRS publications. Although China ranks a distant second for WOK, it lags behind five other nations for WOS publications. China’s scientific base needs further restructuring for greater global visibility. Emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa are fast rising in the global ranks for WOK/WOS publications. China may already be leading the world in some publication attributes, although it could take several more decades to catch up with the USA in others. Normalizations of the publications with population, PTE (population with tertiary education) and GDP (gross domestic product) put small/low-population countries in the global lead. However, countries such as Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Sweden still rank high for most of these publication attributes. Furthermore, WOS per WOK analysis shows that small and/or economically weak countries place greater emphasis on WOS publications. This is particularly visible for countries in Africa and South America. Despite the addition of a large number of indigenous Chinese journals to the TRS database, prediction analysis suggests that China’s desire to surpass the USA could be delayed for several decades. In the race for the next-generation scientific superpower, however, China not only needs to sustain substantial investments in research and development, but also requires restructuring of its research industry. This is especially critical for data readiness, availability and accessibility to the scientific community, and radical implementations of research recommendations.     

Influence of the spinning rate in the HR-MAS pattern of mobile lipids in C6 glioma cells and in artificial oil bodies

Object

To evaluate how spinning rate affects mobile lipid (ML) resonances visibility in HR-MAS spectra of C6 glioma cells and artificial oil bodies (AOB), as models of cytosolic lipid droplets.

Materials and methods

Using C6 cells and AOB of two different sizes, 780?±?580 and 240?±?293?nm, as models, we acquired HR-MAS pulse and acquire spectra at different spinning rates between 500 and 15,000?Hz, all at 37?°C.

Results

Sample spinning at 15,000?Hz increased by 2.3 and 4.6-fold with respect to 500?Hz spinning the area of resonances corresponding to ML at 0.88 and 1.28?ppm, respectively, for log phase C6 cells. Furthermore, postconfluent C6 cells displayed an increase of 2.5-fold at 0.88?ppm and 4.2-fold at 1.28?ppm. These changes were reversible upon low speed spinning. AOBs did show much lower ML area increases (1.4?C1.5-fold) upon high-speed HR-MAS.

Conclusion

ML can be reversibly mobilized in C6 glioma cells by high-speed HR-MAS, partially unveiling the NMR ??invisible?? ML pool. A small part of the ML pool also shows reduced visibility in freely tumbling AOBs.     

加氢裂化装置生产工业白油的模拟改造

采用Aspen HYSYS流程模拟软件对某蜡油加氢裂化装置分馏塔进行流程模拟,分析了该装置生产5号工业白油的可行性,并提出相应的改造方案。结果表明:该装置重柴油产品中260~380 ℃馏分的芳烃质量分数、40 ℃运动黏度和闪点可满足5号工业白油指标要求;仅通过调整操作条件无法生产出合格的5号工业白油,但通过增设柴油蒸汽汽提塔,采用改变或不改变分馏塔馏出口的改造方案,均能生产出合格的5号工业白油。     

Conchoid surfaces of rational ruled surfaces

The conchoid surface G of a given surface F with respect to a point O is roughly speaking the surface obtained by increasing the radius function of F with respect to O by a constant d. This paper studies real rational ruled surfaces in this context and proves that their conchoid surfaces possess real rational parameterizations, independently of the position of O. Thus any rational ruled surface F admits a rational radius function r(u,v) with respect to any point in space. Besides the general skew ruled surfaces and examples of low algebraic degree we study ruled surfaces generated by rational motions.     

Antioxidant potential and quality characteristics of Mediterranean fruit‐based extruded snacks

‘Mediterranean snacks’ (dried fruits and nuts as principal ingredients), a little known food product with a high nutritional value, might be considered a good alternative for consumers looking for healthy snacks. The aim of this research was to determine the physicochemical properties and nutritional value of this type of food stuff (traditionally called ‘fruit cakes’ in Mediterranean countries) and to evaluate their phenolic content and antioxidant activity. All the fruit‐based extruded snacks studied are shelf‐stable at room temperature (because of their pH and water activity values). The final product has a low moisture (<32%) and high sugar content (>30%), the only sugars being those naturally present in the food. All the fruit‐based extruded snacks had a dietary fibre content higher than 10% (high‐fibre foods). Date extruded snack and apricot extruded snack showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content and also the highest antioxidant activity as determined by the DPPH and FRAP methods.     

The Water Markets as Effective Tools of Managing Water Shortages in an Irrigation District

In this work, the efficiency of water markets in an irrigation district is put under consideration. This efficiency is referred to the private economic losses arising from a reduction in the availability of water, so the most efficient or optimal allocation will be the one that minimizes these losses or the one that provides the maximum private benefit. On this view, the optimal allocation has been studied in an irrigation community, and it has been compared with the rule of fixing a same quota and the proportional reduction. Besides, from the water allocation made by these last two rules, a water market has been simulated. Formulation for all of them is provided. Results show that water markets will improve the suboptimal allocation made by the rule of fixing a same quota and the proportional rule, even when transaction costs are high. They also show that, mostly, the greater the water restrictions, the greater are the gains from trade. It can be inferred too that, as long as all determinants have been taken into account and transaction costs are low enough, the aggregate losses of income ensuing from any prescribed water reduction will be the lowest both by means of the optimal allocation as with a market. Anyhow, results and conclusions clearly dependent on the relations made between allocations and crop yields.