Study of the incorporation of native and microencapsulated chia seed oil on pasta properties

The present work studied the effect of the incorporation of encapsulated chia seed oil on the cooking quality of dry pasta. Pasta morphology and oil distribution in the samples were studied. No significant variations were determined in cooking parameters as optimal cooking time, cooking loss and texture of cooked pasta with the incorporation of the encapsulated oil, but significant differences were determined in uncooked pasta texture and variables that describe water interaction, such as water absorption and swelling index. In addition, the incorporation of microencapsulated oil avoided oxidative deterioration, showing a protective effect and preventing the formation of hydroperoxide radicals in pasta preparation, storage and cooking procedures (compared with free oil-containing pasta), resulting in a safer product. Storage at modified atmosphere exerts an additional protective effect on oil, enhancing the effect of the microcapsules. Microencapsulation proved to be an effective technology that preserves oil quality in ω-3 rich pasta.     

Functionalization of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes with gallium to form Ga-CN(x)-multi-wall carbon nanotube hybrid materials

In an effort to combine group III-V semiconductors with carbon nanotubes, a simple solution-based technique for gallium functionalization of nitrogen-doped multi-wall carbon nanotubes has been developed. With an aqueous solution of a gallium salt (GaI(3)), it was possible to form covalent bonds between the Ga(3+) ion and the nitrogen atoms of the doped carbon nanotubes to form a gallium nitride-carbon nanotube hybrid at room temperature. This functionalization was evaluated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.     

Genetic and chemical assessment of Arbequina olive cultivar grown in Córdoba province,Argentina

BACKGROUND: Thirty‐eight accessions of olive (Olea europaea L.) originating from Córdoba province (Argentina) and preliminarily identified as belonging to the Arbequina variety were genotyped using AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) DNA markers. Also, the oil chemical composition was studied during three consecutive crop years. The objectives of the work were (a) to investigate genetic intra‐cultivar diversity and (b) to evaluate the oil chemical composition and compare it with that of Arbequina oil produced in Spain. RESULTS: The 19 primer combinations employed to perform the AFLP analysis produced 98 polymorphic bands. A reduced genetic heterogeneity was obtained, confirming that (a) the selected accessions belong to the Arbequina variety and (b) the traditional vegetative propagation practice has caused low genetic erosion in this variety cultivated in Córdoba. The main features that characterise the Argentinian Arbequina oils studied are the lower content of oleic acid and higher levels of phenolics and high‐molecular‐weight volatile compounds compared with those found in Spanish Arbequina oils. CONCLUSION: In spite of the small proportion of intra‐cultivar variability, the Arbequina variety grown in Argentina produces oils with different chemical traits from those obtained in the original Spanish growing region. These differences can be attributed mainly to the particular environmental conditions of the olive‐growing areas in these countries. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Efficient Total Nitrogen Removal in an Ammonia Gas Biofilter through High-Rate OLAND

Ammonia gas is conventionally treated in nitrifying biofilters; however, addition of organic carbon to perform post-denitrification is required to obtain total nitrogen removal. Oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification/denitrification (OLAND), applied in full-scale for wastewater treatment, can offer a cost-effective alternative for gas treatment. In this study, the OLAND application thus was broadened toward ammonia loaded gaseous streams. A down flow, oxygen-saturated biofilter (height of 1.5 m; diameter of 0.11 m) was fed with an ammonia gas stream (248 ± 10 ppmv) at a loading rate of 0.86 ± 0.04 kg N m(-3) biofilter d(-1) and an empty bed residence time of 14 s. After 45 days of operation a stable nitrogen removal rate of 0.67 ± 0.06 kg N m(-3) biofilter d(-1), an ammonia removal efficiency of 99%, a removal of 75-80% of the total nitrogen, and negligible NO/N(2)O productions were obtained at water flow rates of 1.3 ± 0.4 m(3) m(-2) biofilter section d(-1). Profile measurements revealed that 91% of the total nitrogen activity was taking place in the top 36% of the filter. This study demonstrated for the first time highly effective and sustainable autotrophic ammonia removal in a gas biofilter and therefore shows the appealing potential of the OLAND process to treat ammonia containing gaseous streams.     

Solubility,functional properties,ACE‐I inhibitory and DPPH scavenging activities of Alcalase hydrolysed soy protein hydrolysates

Soy proteins are less soluble at acidic pH value, which impedes their utilisation in acidic beverages. Soy protein isolate (SPI) was hydrolysed using varying Alcalase concentrations (0.0001–2.0 U g^?1 protein) at different pHs (3.0–4.0). Degree of hydrolysis (DH) of soy protein hydrolysates (SPH) at pH 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 were 5.0–10.7%, 2.3–6.1% and 0–5.4%, respectively, while solubilities ranged from 70.7 to 74.9%, 18.8 to 51.2% and 7.1 to 40.4%, respectively. The highest solubility (74.9%) was observed at pH 3.0 with 1.5 U Alcalase per g protein (DH = 9.2%). Emulsifying activities of SPHs at pH 3.0 and 4.0 ranged from 0.49 to 0.63 AU and 0.19 to 0.24 AU, respectively, while the emulsifying stabilities were 12.2–14.7 min and 18.7–56.0 min, respectively. The foaming capacity at pH 3.0 and 4.0 was 44.9–46.3 mL and 31.2–41.3 mL, respectively, whereas the foaming stability was 25.5–35.2 min and 12.8–15.1 min, respectively. However, hydrolysates had an insignificant effect on ACE‐I inhibitory and DPPH scavenging activities in comparison with SPI.     

Connexin and Pannexin Large-Pore Channels in Microcirculation and Neurovascular Coupling Function

Microcirculation homeostasis depends on several channels permeable to ions and/or small molecules that facilitate the regulation of the vasomotor tone, hyperpermeability, the blood–brain barrier, and the neurovascular coupling function. Connexin (Cxs) and Pannexin (Panxs) large-pore channel proteins are implicated in several aspects of vascular physiology. The permeation of ions (i.e., Ca²⁺) and key metabolites (ATP, prostaglandins, D-serine, etc.) through Cxs (i.e., gap junction channels or hemichannels) and Panxs proteins plays a vital role in intercellular communication and maintaining vascular homeostasis. Therefore, dysregulation or genetic pathologies associated with these channels promote deleterious tissue consequences. This review provides an overview of current knowledge concerning the physiological role of these large-pore molecule channels in microcirculation (arterioles, capillaries, venules) and in the neurovascular coupling function.     

Simultaneous determination of quality parameters of biodiesel/diesel blends using HATR-FTIR spectra and PLS, iPLS or siPLS regressions

Partial least-squares (PLS), interval partial least squares (iPLS) and synergy partial least squares (siPLS) regressions were used to simultaneous determination of quality parameters of biodiesel/diesel blends. Biodiesel amount, specific gravity, sulfur content and flash point were evaluated using spectroscopic data in the mid-infrared region obtained with a horizontal attenuated total reflectance (HATR) accessory. Eighty-five binary blends were prepared using biodiesel and two types of diesel, in concentrations from 0.2 to 30% (v/v). Fifty-seven samples were used as a calibration set, whereas 28 samples were used as an external validation set. All samples were characterized using the appropriated standard methods. The specific gravity values at 20 °C were in the range of 848.2-866.2 kg/m³. Flash point values lay between 47.0 and 79.5 °C. Sulfur content values varied from 312 to 1351 mg/kg. Raw spectra of the samples were corrected by multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) and were pre-processed using a mean-centered procedure. Algorithms iPLS and siPLS were able to select the most adequate spectral region for each property studied. For all the properties studied, the siPLS algorithm produced better models than the full-spectrum PLS, selecting the most important bands. The quantification of biodiesel was performed using two spectral regions between 650-1909 cm⁻¹ and 2746-3165 cm⁻¹, and an excellent correlation coefficient of R² = 0.9996 was obtained. The specific gravity was determined from the spectral region from 650 to 1070 cm⁻¹, which yielded a very good correlation coefficient of R² = 0.9987. The sulfur content was evaluated from the spectral regions of 1070-1491 cm⁻¹ and 2746-3165 cm⁻¹. A very good correlation coefficient of R² = 0.9995 was obtained, regardless of whether the samples were formulated with metropolitan or countryside diesel. Finally, the flash point was determined from the spectral region between 756 and 968 cm⁻¹ and a very good correlation coefficient of R² = 0.9982 was obtained.     

Effect of pH on the Binding of Sodium,Lysine, and Arginine Counterions to <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-Undecyl Leucinate Micelles

Micelle formation by the amino acid-based surfactant undecylenyl l-leucine was investigated as a function of solution pH with NMR, dynamic light scattering, and fluorescence spectroscopy. NMR and dynamic light scattering showed that 50 mM undecylenyl l-leucine and 50 mM NaHCO₃ solutions contained micelles approximately 20 Å in diameter and that micelle radius and the mole fraction of surfactant molecules associated with micelles changed very little with solution pH. The binding of the amino acids arginine and lysine to the anionic micelles was also investigated from pH 7.0 to 11.5. Below pH 9.0, the mole fraction of arginine cations bound to the micelles was approximately 0.4. Above pH 9.0, the arginine counterions became zwitterionic, and the mole fraction of bound arginine molecules decreased steadily to less than 0.1 at pH 11. When arginine dissociated from the micelles, their radii decreased from 14 to 10 Å. Similar behavior was observed with lysine; however, when lysine dissociated from the micelle surface, little change in micelle radius was observed. Two-dimensional NMR experiments suggested that below pH 9.0, l-arginine bound perpendicular to the micelle surface primarily though its side chain amine while l-lysine bound parallel to the surface through both of its amine functional groups. Finally, the rate at which the amide protons on the surfactant headgoup exchanged with solvent was investigated with NMR spectroscopy. The exchange reaction was faster in solutions containing only surfactant monomers and slower when the surfactants were in micellar form and the headgoup amide protons were less exposed to solvent.     

Combination of resistant starches types II and IV with minimal amounts of oat bran yields good quality,low glycaemic index pasta

The objective of this work was to study the effects of the combination of resistant starch type II (RSII), resistant starch type IV (RSIV) and oat bran (OB) on technological and nutritional properties of pasta, applying response surface analysis. Cooking properties were improved by combining RSII and RSIV in pasta formulation, while OB addition negatively affected all technological attributes, and a negative synergistic effect was observed between this fibre and resistant starches in cooking losses. Considering nutritional properties, substitution of bread wheat flour with resistant starch type II and IV increased starch resistant to digestion and OB addition increased pasta starch hydrolysis. A positive synergistic effect was observed on glycaemic index by combining both types of resistant starches. Finally, we optimised the formulation considering three aspects separately: technological properties, nutritional attributes and these two features together. The combination of RSII 12.6, RSIV 3.1 and OB 0.6 g per 100 g of wheat flour will allow to obtain a pasta with low glycaemic index (GI = 69) and good technological characteristics.     

California's Safe Routes to School Program: Impacts on Walking,Bicycling, and Pedestrian Safety

This article evaluates California's pioneering Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program, which funds traffic improvement projects designed to improve safety for children's walking and bicycling to school and to increase the number of children who do so. Through surveys of parents and observations of vehicle and pedestrian traffic before and after project construction, we examined the impacts of 10 traffic improvement projects funded through the SR2S program. We measured changes in perceived safety and in safety-related behaviors associated with children's trips to school, and examined changes in the number of children walking and bicycling following these improvements. Five of the 10 traffic improvement projects we evaluated showed evidence of a successful impact. The findings have implications for California's SR2S program and for similar initiatives throughout the country.