Understanding of the influence of composition,structure and texture on salty perception in model dairy products

The aim of this study was to better understand salt release and perception in model dairy products, having different composition, structure and/or texture. Sensory and instrumental methods were used to quantify and relate texture to salt mobility and perception. A high dry matter content (protein and fat jamming) and a gel structure with a protein network formation induced a decrease of diffusion coefficient of salt in matrices. Moreover, salty perception was higher for non-renneted products than for gelled ones. For gels, saltiness was enhanced in fat products. These results were discussed in regards with textural and physico-chemical food properties: the structural parameter tan δ was the most correlated with salty perception highlighting the impact of product structure on saltiness. Results also demonstrated that physiology and complex events (mastication, dilution and mixing with saliva, dynamic of bolus formation) occurring during food consumption must be considered to go further in understanding.     

Transient stages in the chemical vapor deposition of silicon carbide

Transient CVD experiments were simulated by varying continuously the deposition temperature or the initial gas flow rates (Q(MTS) or Q(H2)). Their consequences on the physicochemical properties of the coatings have been first examined. The adhesion of SiC/SiC bilayers containing these "transient interphases" (phi(Tr)) was investigated by scratch testing. For transient stages resulting from a decrease of Q(MTS) or T, free silicon can be co-deposited in proportions depending on alpha = Q(H2)/Q(MTS), T and P. This phenomenon is related to the high reactivity of the Si bearing species and is activated by high T and P and low a values. In this case, the continuous covalent bonding through the Si-rich interphases preserves the adhesion between the two SiC layers. Transient stages resulting from a decrease of Q(H2) lead first to larger and columnar SiC grains and finally to the deposition of anisotropic carbon, due to the formation of unsaturated hydrocarbons in the gas phase. The interphases with the highest carbon concentrations and thicknesses lead to delamination and local chipping of the outer SiC layer. The poor shear strength of these continuous and anisotropic layers is detrimental to the adherence of the bilayers.     

Functional biohybrid materials synthesized via surface-initiated MADIX/RAFT polymerization from renewable natural wood fiber: Grafting of polymer as non leaching preservative

Crude wood fibers represent a wide class of renewable resources. The surface modification of such materials via covalent grafting of polymer offers new surface properties with non-leaching coating. The grafting of the polymer chains was achieved by surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization through a grafted xanthate chain transfer agent. Macromolecular design via interchange of xanthate (MADIX) technique was chosen to graft poly(vinyl acetate), polystyrene, poly(n-butyl acrylate) and poly(4-vinylbenzyl chloride)-polystyrene amphiphilic cationic copolymers. Water contact angle measurements highlighted the hydrophobization of the wood fiber surface with a nanoscaled polymer monolayer indicating the appropriate coverage of the fiber. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed the successful grafting of the polymer after drastic washing procedure. The quaternization of the grafted polystyrene-co-poly(4-vinyl benzyl chloride) copolymers with tertiary amine allows the introduction of biocide quaternary ammonium functions while preserving the hydrophobic character of the modified wood fiber when introducing a long alkyl chain in the statistical copolymer. Finally, the cationic copolymer was subjected to Coniophora Puteana to evaluate its propensity to limit the fungi expansion.     

北京创意园区整体规划

"于自然中的都市"这一主题旨在保护延庆当地的自然特征,同时容纳一定的城市生活,整个设计将绿带与城市肌理两个尺度结合起来。通过对城市肌理的浓缩,创造出一个高度编织和紧密的城市环境,从而在城市与自然之间既形成清晰的界限又具有紧凑性。两个不同但相互联系的创意产业带和基础设施带相互编织成边缘地带的城市     

Systemic Application of L-Phenylalanine Increases Plant Resistance to Vertebrate Herbivory

The systemic application of L-phenylalanine (PHE), a phenolic precursor, significantly increases the phenolic pool of oilseed rape (Brassica napus var. Bristol). In a two-choice test with captive feral pigeons (Columba livia), PHE-treated plants sustained significantly less damage than control plants. This was supported by the results of behavioral studies, where video analyses showed that the PHE-treated plants received significantly fewer pecks than the controls. This is the first report of increased resistance to damage by a vertebrate pest following the systemic application of precursors for plant defense compounds.     

Localization of the functional domains of human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 and the effects of a Sorsby's fundus dystrophy mutation

A transient COS-7 cell expression system was used to investigate the functional domain arrangement of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3), specifically to assess the contribution of the amino- and carboxyl-terminal domains of the molecule to its matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitory and extracellular matrix (ECM) binding properties. Wild type TIMP-3 was entirely localized to the ECM in both its glycosylated (27 kDa) and unglycosylated (24 kDa) forms. A COOH-terminally truncated TIMP-3 molecule was found to be a non-ECM bound MMP inhibitor, whereas a chimeric TIMP molecule, consisting of the NH2-terminal domain of TIMP-2 fused to the COOH-terminal domain of TIMP-3, displayed ECM binding, albeit with a lower affinity than the wild type TIMP-3 molecule. Thus the functional domain arrangement of TIMP-3 is analogous to that seen in TIMP-1 and -2, namely that the NH2-terminal domain is responsible for MMP inhibition whereas the COOH-terminal domain is most important in mediating the specific functions of the molecule. A mutant TIMP-3 in which serine 181 was changed to a cysteine, found in Sorsby's fundus dystrophy, a hereditary macular degenerative disease, was also expressed in COS-7 cells. This gave rise to an additional 48-kDa species (possibly a TIMP-3 dimer) that retained its ability to inhibit MMPs and localize to the ECM. These data favor the hypothesis that the TIMP-3 mutations seen in Sorsby's fundus dystrophy contribute to disease progression by accumulation of mutant protein rather than by the loss of functional TIMP-3.     

Heat and Mass Transfer in Ceramic Lattices During High‐Temperature Oxidation

This work reports on the heat and mass transfer evolution of ceramic lattices during their oxidation at 1400°C and 1600°C in air. Si–SiC and Si–SiC–ZrB₂ systems were employed as skeleton material because they, previously produced as monolithic bars, showed promising oxidation behavior at high temperatures. Regular arrays of tetrakaidecahedra were first designed by CAD, then 3D printed and finally converted into ceramic by replica technique followed by reactive silicon infiltration. The surface area of each sample was calculated and specific weight variations were evaluated as a function of time. During oxidation, effective thermal conductivity and pressure drop of each sample were measured. Finally, results were correlated with the phenomena occurring during high‐temperature oxidation.