Assessment of the lupin seed glucose-lowering protein intestinal absorption by using in vitro and ex vivo models

A lupin seed glycoprotein, termed γ-conglutin, has previously been found to display insulin-mimetic activity in myocyte models and reduce plasma glucose concentration when orally administered to both rats and humans. To envisage the possible metabolic fate of this bioactive protein, we used in vitro cell and ex vivo tissue models to monitor its transit through the intestinal barrier. Caco-2 cell monolayers and rat intestinal everted sacs were treated with purified γ-conglutin and the protein was immuno-assayed by chemi-luminescence-enhanced Western blotting. The in vitro approach showed that the intact protein can transit from the apical to the basolateral side of the cell monolayers. The unmodified lupin protein was also detected inside the intestinal everted sacs. Proper controls of cell monolayer and sac integrity ruled out the possibility of protein passive leakage.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Remote ortho‐C?H Alkenylation of Alkyl Aryl Sulfones: Access to Densely Functionalized Indane Derivatives

A practical method for the palladium‐catalyzed ortho‐olefination of benzyl and phenethyl 2‐pyridyl sulfones with electron‐deficient alkenes using N‐fluoro‐2,4,6‐trimethylpyridinium triflate ([F⁺]) as the terminal oxidant is described. The chelating auxiliary (2‐pyridyl)sulfonyl unit was demonstrated to be the key to the success of this reaction, which occurs efficiently with excellent regioselectivity and monosubstitution selectivity. A variety of steric and electronic changes to both coupling partners is tolerated, including substitution at the benzylic position of the sulfone compound. Furthermore, no appreciable loss of enantiopurity is observed when using non‐racemic substrates. This method provides access to indane derivatives holding three contiguous stereogenic centers with high diastereocontrol. The indane framework was constructed by intramolecular Michael addition of the α‐sulfonyl carbanion to the electrophilic alkene.

     

Effect of κ- and λ-Carrageenans as Fat-Replacers in Low-Fat Oaxaca Cheese

A mixture design approach was employed to determine the effect of κ - and λ-carrageenans of Oaxaca cheese fat reduction on melting (Schreiber and Melt Area), color, protein, moisture, and yielding. Melting was affected mainly by the fat content, but κ -carrageenan seems to improve this property. Color was affected by fat content, with a relatively profiting effect of λ-carrageenan, related to higher moisture content and higher cheese yielding. Incorporation of low concentrations of carrageenans allowed a considerable fat reduction with no detrimental effect on Oaxaca cheese overall quality.     

Crystallization of a Polyamide 6/Montmorillonite Nanocomposite at Rapid Cooling

The crystallization behavior of a polyamide 6/organo‐modified montmorillonite (PA 6/OMMT) nanocomposite has been investigated by scanning chip calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, with emphasis placed on the evaluation of the effect of supercooling/cooling rate on the crystal/mesophase polymorphism of the PA 6 matrix. Presence of OMMT has negligible effect on the kinetics of formation of α‐crystals of PA 6 at low cooling rate while there is observed enhanced nucleation of γ‐mesophase on fast cooling. Furthermore, addition of OMMT leads to a distinct increase of the cooling rate required to completely vitrify the amorphous state. The performed experiments demonstrate that the nucleating effect of OMMT in PA 6/OMMT nanocomposites is of particular importance at cooling conditions relevant in polymer processing.

     

Statistical parameters of the indicating surface of natural reflectance for biaxial transparent media

Abstract

The optical properties are an important characteristic of a mineral. These properties can be studied with a photometer microscope using the indicating surface of natural reflectance (ISRN). Transparent uniaxial media have been studied. Biaxial transparent media, in the same way as uniaxial media, can be analysed by knowing the statistical parameters of the ISRN. To analyse these media, we need the expressions that relate these parameters to the refractive index of the incident medium and to the principal indices of the medium under observation.     

Design and sensitivity analysis using the probability-safety-factor method. An application to retaining walls

This paper presents a new method for designing engineering works that makes the classical approach, based on safety factors, and the modern, probability-based, approach compatible, and includes a sensitivity analysis. The method consists of a sequence of classical designs, based on given safety factors, that (a) minimize cost or optimize an alternative objective function, (b) calculate the different failure mode probabilities or their upper bounds, and (c) update the safety factors to satisfy both the safety factors and the failure probability requirements. The process is repeated until convergence. As a result, an automatic design of the engineering work, the safety factors and the corresponding probabilities of failure for all failure modes are obtained. A double safety check is used and the correspondence between safety factors and probabilities of failure for the different modes are easily understood. An advantage of this approach is that the optimization procedure and the reliability calculations are decoupled. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed using a method that consists of transforming the data parameters into artificial variables and using the dual associated problem. The method is illustrated by its application to a retaining wall design.     

The characteristics of percolation olive oils produced with a new processing enzyme aid

Theee olive varieties ( Leccino , Coratina and Dritta ) were processed using the percolation–centrifugation system with a new olive enzyme processing aid, 'Cytolase 0'. The enzyme adjuvant led to oils characterized (with respect to reference oils) mostly by: (i) higher contents of total phenols, o -diphenols, tyrosol- and hydroxytyrosol-aglycones, tocopherols, trans -2-hexenal and other pleasant aromatic volatile compounds, and triterpene alcohols; (ii) higher values of oxidative stability and carotenoid colour index; (iii) higher ratios of 1,2-diglycerides/1,3-diglycerides, campesterol/stigmasterol, trans -2-hexenal/hexanal, and trans -2-hexenal/total aroma; (iv) lower values of turbidity; (v) similar values of acidity, peroxide index, carbonyl index, UV (ultraviolet) spectrophotometric indices and alcoholic index; (vi) similar contents of saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, triglycerides, diglycerides, sterols, and green lipochromes; and (vii) similar sensory score. Stigmastadienes, trans -oleic, trans -linoleic, and trans -linolenic acid isomers were not detected. Hence, the enzyme adjuvant produced better qualitative characteristics and higher extraction outputs.