Internal clock and memory processes in animal timing.

Two experiments, involving a total of 6 male pigeons, investigated temporal control of behavior within the framework of an internal clock model. Ss were exposed to signaled fixed interval (FI) 30-sec trials mixed with extended unreinforced (baseline) trials. On unreinforced break trials, the signal was interrupted for a period of time after trial onset. In Exp 1, comparisons between the peak time obtained on baseline and on break trials produced peak time shifts that were longer than those expected if the clock had stopped during the break but shorter than if the clock had reset. In Exp 2, systematic manipulations of duration and location of breaks produced peak time shifts that were nonlinear functions of break duration and that varied linearly with break location. The obtained peak times were more consistent with a continuous memory decay model than with the stop-retain or the reset hypotheses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Feasibility of pressurization to speed up enzymatic hydrolysis of biological materials for multielement determinations

The feasibility of pressurized solvents (liquids at a high pressure and/or high temperature without the subcritical point being reached) has been newly investigated to accelerate enzymatic hydrolysis processes of mussel tissue for multielement determinations. The target elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Pb, Se, Sr, V, and Zn) were released from dried mussel tissue by action of two proteases (pepsin and pancreatin), and they have been evaluated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Variables inherent to the enzymatic activity (pH, ionic strength, temperature, and enzyme mass) and factors affecting pressurization (static time, pressure, and number of cycles) were simultaneously studied by applying a Plackett-Burman design (PBD) as the screening method. Results showed that pH, ionic strength, and temperature were the most statistically significant factors (confidence interval of 95%) under pressurized conditions for pepsin, while pH and ionic strength affected pancreatin activity. This means that metal extraction is mostly attributed to enzymatic activity. The static time (enzymatic hydrolysis time) was found statistically nonsignificant for most of the elements, meaning that the hydrolysis procedure can be finished within a 2-15 min range. For pepsin, optimized conditions (pH 1.0, temperature 40 degrees C, pressure 1500 psi, static time 2 min, and number of cycles 3) gave quantitative extractions for As, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Li, Mn, Pb, Se, Sr, V, and Zn. The pepsin mass was 0.05 g, and the solution was Milli-Q water at pH 1.0 (adjusted with hydrochloric acid). For pancreatin, quantitative recoveries were only reached for As, Cd, Cu, Li, Pb, and Sr at room temperature, at a pressure of 1500 psi, for a static time of 2 min and a number of cycles of 3. The extraction solution was a 0.3 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate/potassium hydrogen phosphate buffer at a pH of 7.5 working at room temperature. Around 0.5 g of diatomaceous earth was used as dispersing agent for hydrolyses with either enzyme. Analytical performances, such as limits of detection and quantification and repeatability of the overall procedure, have been established. Finally, accuracy of the methods was assessed by analyzing seafood certified reference materials (GBW-08571, DORM-2, DOLT-3, TORT-2), fatty tissues certified reference materials (BCR 185, NIST 1577b), and fibrous certified reference materials (BCR 62, GBW-08501).     

Review of the different methods for the evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant activity of wine and study of in vivo effects

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the significance of these methods, as well as to correlate the antioxidant activity of wines with their phenolic profile, both in qualitative and quantitative terms. Red wines show higher antioxidant capacities than white ones and the magnitude of these differences depends on the method used. The antioxidant activity of wine can not be mainly ascribed to a particular phenolic compound, instead it is explained by the global interaction of all of them. To evaluate the influence of red wine consumption in the human organism, plasma antioxidant capacity has been frequently used as biomarker, and studies have shown that it increases after wine ingestion. We can conclude that it is necessary to use a battery of methods that provide different and complementary information to properly interpret the results. Phenolic compounds undergo metabolic transformations in the organism which modify their activities. In vivo assays do consider these changes. From the studies performed up to date we can conclude that acute ingestion of wine directly acts on plasma antioxidant capacity due to phenolic compounds and indirectly influences by means of changes on plasmatic concentration of endogenous antioxidants.     

The formation of oxo- and hydroxy-fatty acids in heated fats and oils

A fast-food fat (mostly tallow), olive oil and safflower oil were heated in air for 4 d and periodically analyzed for oxofatty acids (OFA), monohydroxy-fatty acids (HFA) and polyhydroxy-fatty acids (PHFA). After transmethylation, the OFA were estimated as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones, and the HFA and PHFA were quantitated as pyruvic acid 2,6-dinitrophenylhydrazone esters. At least half of the maximum concentration attained for OFA, HFA and PHFA was generated between 16–24 h of heating of each oil. Safflower oil contained greater concentrations of HFA and PHFA than either olive oil or the fast-food fat. The fastfood fat sample contained a greater concentration of OFA than did the other oils. The sum of the concentrations of OFA, HFA and PHFA at the time of maximum formation in the oils was approximately 260 μmoles/g at 48–72 h for safflower, 200 μmoles/g at 48–72 h for olive and 170 μmoles/g at 72 h for the fast-food fat. Presented at the 79th Annual AOCS Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, May 8–12, 1988.     

Corrosion mechanisms in ADI parts

The objective of this research is to study the influence of microstructure and grinding on the corrosion resistance of ADI in salt water. Immersion and electrochemical tests were performed on samples austempered at two different temperatures and ground. The results indicate that the dissolution rate increases as the nodule count does, and it is also affected by the microstructure and by the surface changes introduced during grinding. A porous layer is formed on ADI-corroded surface due to the selective dissolution of ferrite, and a preferential dissolution of the matrix around graphite is noticeable. Ground surfaces are less corrosion resistant than polished ones.     

Influence of temperature and relative humidity on the immobilized lactoperoxidase system in a functional chitosan film

The effect of temperature (10–30 °C), relative humidity (RH, 50–90%), and storage period (2–10 days) were studied on the production and sustainability of thiocyanate (SCN⁻) and hypothiocyanite–hypoiodite (OSCN⁻, OI⁻) components of a lactoperoxidase system (LPOSI) in chitosan film by applying response surface methodology and Doelhert experimental design. The results of analysis of variance indicated that the temperature and storage period exhibited a significant effect on the film properties. Temperature had a positive influence on OSCN⁻, OI⁻, while these products (OSCN⁻, OI⁻) decreased during the storage period, and SCN⁻ disappeared after 2 days. Lactoperoxidase systems with iodine (LPOSI) or without iodine (LPOS), incorporated into chitosan films, showed inhibition of Xanthomonas campestris pv. Mangiferae indicae and did not changed the chitosan film permeability to gas and water vapor.     

Vitamin C and sugar levels as simple markers for discriminating Spanish honey sources

In this work, 7 Spanish honeys with different botanical origins were studied. The honey origins were rosemary, chestnut, lavender, echium, thyme, multifloral, and honeydew. The chemical compounds determined were ascorbic acid (vitamin C), hydroxymethylfurfural, and major sugar contents (glucose and fructose). The physicochemical parameters, pH, conductivity, moisture, free acidity, and color, were also measured. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant in food, and the possibility to use it as discriminate parameter among different honeys was studied. The determination of vitamin C in honey samples was carried out by 2 different methods, volumetric and chromatographic comparing the results by both statistically. Vitamin C content was higher in thyme honeys than in the other types; however a wide dispersion in the values was found. Through a linear discriminant analysis (LDA), conductivity, glucose, fructose, and vitamin C content were the most important discriminant parameters. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Vitamin C content in different honey sources has been determined by a simple and rapid chromatographic method (less than 3 min) in honeys from 6 botanical origins. The results together with glucose and fructose content and some physicochemical parameters have been studied in order to discriminate the botanical origin of honeys and in the future certified their quality. A statistical LDA was applied to the data, and differentiation of honey sources was possible with very good agreement. The vitamin C content found in thymus honeys was significantly higher than in other types. This fact makes vitamin C a special marker for thymus honeys that have a higher antioxidant effect than the others giving it special properties. The identification of honey sources is essential for beekeepers in order to certify honeys for consumers.     

Fabrication of aerogels from cellulose nanofibril grafted with β-cyclodextrin for capture of water pollutants

Journal of Porous Materials - Interactions at the molecular and surface chemistry are some of the key factors that determine the adsorption capacity of pollutants and emerging contaminants in...     

Energy management in solar cells powered wireless sensor networks for quality of service optimization

Sensor nodes equipped with solar cells and rechargeable batteries are useful in many outdoor, long-lasting applications. In these sensor nodes, the cycles of energy harvesting and battery recharge need to be managed appropriately in order to avoid sensor node unavailability due to energy shortages. To this purpose, we suggest sensor nodes to be programmed with alternative scheduling plans, each corresponding to a given energy requirement and meeting a given quality level. Thus, sensor nodes can select the scheduling plan that best suits to the expected energy production and the residual battery charge, in order to avoid sensor nodes' unavailability. We then propose an algorithm for the selection of the scheduling plan that aims at keeping the overall energy consumption neutral and that can sustain the sensor nodes’ activities uninterruptedly.