Combined temperature–time parameters during the pressing of curd as a tool to modulate the oiling-off of Swiss cheese

Oiling-off is essential for the culinary functional properties of hard- and semi-hard cheeses. However, the parameters implied in the mechanisms leading to oiling-off are not well known. In Emmental cheese, a marked change in the supramolecular organization of fat occurs during the pressing of the warm curd and could be related to the oiling-off of cheese. To check this hypothesis and to determine the relative effects of the temperature and pressing strength, twin-cheeses were submitted to various cooling rates after the curd have been dipped from the vat. These cheeses were either pressed or non-pressed. Using this strategy, we showed that a higher heat load yields to larger inclusions of fat in the cheese matrix, which has been characterised using confocal laser scanning microscopy, and to higher oiling-off. The heat load applied to the curd (integral of the temperature vs. time curve) and oiling-off of cheeses aged of 5 days were linearly related with r² = 0.89. In contrast, the pressing strength did not influence oiling-off. As a conclusion, the heat load applied during pressing and acidification could be a tool to modulate the oiling-off of Swiss cheese.     

In-depth study of the Ruddlesden-Popper LaxSr2−xMnO4±δ family as possible electrode materials for symmetrical SOFC

The Ruddlesden Popper (RP) manganites La_xSr_2?xMnO_4±δ with compositions 0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.6 have been successfully synthesized as single phases by solid-state reaction in air. All those materials are not only stable in reducing atmosphere but they also maintain the K₂NiF₄-type structure with I4/mmm symmetry under redox cycling conditions with limited volume changes. The x = 0.5 phase was analyzed by in situ high temperature neutron powder diffraction (HTNPD), under flowing hydrogen, showing the formation of oxide-ion vacancies on the equatorial sites of the perovskite planes, during reduction process. The total electrical conductivity was optimized and found maximum for x = 0.5 with values of 35.6 S cm^?1 and 1.9 S cm^?1 at 800 °C in air and 3% H₂/Ar, respectively, what is judged to be sufficient for an active layer of symmetrical SOFC electrode. First Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements in both oxidizing and reducing conditions, using an YSZ electrolyte and a GDC buffer layer, are presented giving rise to promising values.     

Isotope and ion selectivity in reverse osmosis desalination: geochemical tracers for man-made freshwater

A systematic measurement of ions and 2H/1H, 7Li/6Li, 11B/10B, 18O/ 16O, and 87Sr/86Sr isotopes in feed-waters, permeates, and brines from commercial reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants in Israel (Ashkelon, Eilat, and Nitzana) and Cyprus (Larnaca) reveals distinctive geochemical and isotopic fingerprints of fresh water generated from desalination of seawater (SWRO) and brackish water (BWRO). The degree of isotope fractionation during the passage of water and solutes through the RO membranes depends on the medium (solvent-water vs. solutes), chemical speciation of the solutes, their charge, and their mass difference. O, H, and Sr isotopes are not fractionated during the RO process. 7Li is preferentially rejected in low pH RO, and B isotope fractionation depends on the pH conditions. Under low pH conditions, B isotopes are not significantly fractionated, whereas at high pH, RO permeates are enriched by 20 per thousand in 11B due to selective rejection of borate ion and preferential permeation of 11B-enriched boric acid through the membrane. The specific geochemical and isotopic fingerprints of SWRO provide a unique tool for tracing "man-made" fresh water as an emerging recharge component of natural water resources.     

Bone Marrow MSC Secretome Increases Equine Articular Chondrocyte Collagen Accumulation and Their Migratory Capacities

Equine osteoarthritis (OA) leads to cartilage degradation with impaired animal well-being, premature cessation of sport activity, and financial losses. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies are promising for cartilage repair, but face limitations inherent to the cell itself. Soluble mediators and extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by MSCs are the alternatives to overcome those limitations while preserving MSC restorative properties. The effect of equine bone marrow MSC secretome on equine articular chondrocytes (eACs) was analyzed with indirect co-culture and/or MSC-conditioned media (CM). The expression of healthy cartilage/OA and proliferation markers was evaluated in eACs (monolayers or organoids). In vitro repair experiments with MSC-CM were made to evaluate the proliferation and migration of eACs. The presence of nanosized EVs in MSC-CM was appraised with nanoparticle tracking assay and transmission electron microscopy. Our results demonstrated that the MSC secretome influences eAC phenotype by increasing cartilage functionality markers and cell migration in a greater way than MSCs, which could delay OA final outcomes. This study makes acellular therapy an appealing strategy to improve equine OA treatments. However, the MSC secretome contains a wide variety of soluble mediators and small EVs, such as exosomes, and further investigation must be performed to understand the mechanisms occurring behind these promising effects.     

A New Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Mimetic Improves Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathy and Global Tolerance in Mice

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by every aerobic cell during mitochondrial oxidative metabolism as well as in cellular response to xenobiotics, cytokines, and bacterial invasion. Superoxide Dismutases (SOD) are antioxidant proteins that convert superoxide anions (O₂^•−) to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and dioxygen. Using the differential in the level of oxidative stress between normal and cancer cells, SOD mimetics can show an antitumoral effect and prevent oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy. New Pt(IV) conjugate prodrugs (OxPt-x-Mn1C1A (x = 1, 1-OH, 2)), combining oxaliplatin and a Mn SOD mimic (MnSODm Mn1C1A) with a covalent link, were designed. Their stability in buffer and in the presence of sodium ascorbate was studied. In vitro, their antitumoral activity was assessed by the viability and ROS production of tumor cell lines (CT16, HCT 116, KC) and fibroblasts (primary culture and NIH 3T3). In vivo, a murine model of colorectal cancer was created with subcutaneous injection of CT26 cells in Balb/c mice. Tumor size and volume were measured weekly in four groups: vehicle, oxaliplatin, and oxaliplatin associated with MnSODm Mn1C1A and the bis-conjugate OxPt-2-Mn1C1A. Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) was assessed using a Von Frey test reflecting chronic hypoalgesia. Tolerance to treatment was assessed with a clinical score including four items: weight loss, weariness, alopecia, and diarrhea. In vitro, Mn1C1A associated with oxaliplatin and Pt(IV) conjugates treatment induced significantly higher production of H₂O₂ in all cell lines and showed a significant improvement of the antitumoral efficacy compared to oxaliplatin alone. In vivo, the association of Mn1C1A to oxaliplatin did not decrease its antitumoral activity, while OxPt-2-Mn1C1A had lower antitumoral activity than oxaliplatin alone. Mn1C1A associated with oxaliplatin significantly decreased OIPN and also improved global clinical tolerance of oxaliplatin. A neuroprotective effect was observed, associated with a significantly improved tolerance to oxaliplatin without impairing its antitumoral activity.     

Histological Methods to Assess Skeletal Muscle Degeneration and Regeneration in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive disease caused by the loss of function of the protein dystrophin. This protein contributes to the stabilisation of striated cells during contraction, as it anchors the cytoskeleton with components of the extracellular matrix through the dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPC). Moreover, absence of the functional protein affects the expression and function of proteins within the DAPC, leading to molecular events responsible for myofibre damage, muscle weakening, disability and, eventually, premature death. Presently, there is no cure for DMD, but different treatments help manage some of the symptoms. Advances in genetic and exon-skipping therapies are the most promising intervention, the safety and efficiency of which are tested in animal models. In addition to in vivo functional tests, ex vivo molecular evaluation aids assess to what extent the therapy has contributed to the regenerative process. In this regard, the later advances in microscopy and image acquisition systems and the current expansion of antibodies for immunohistological evaluation together with the development of different spectrum fluorescent dyes have made histology a crucial tool. Nevertheless, the complexity of the molecular events that take place in dystrophic muscles, together with the rise of a multitude of markers for each of the phases of the process, makes the histological assessment a challenging task. Therefore, here, we summarise and explain the rationale behind different histological techniques used in the literature to assess degeneration and regeneration in the field of dystrophinopathies, focusing especially on those related to DMD.     

Interpretation of the Superpave IDT strength test using a viscoelastic-damage constitutive model

This paper presents a new interpretation for the Superpave IDT strength test based on a viscoelastic-damage framework. The framework is based on continuum damage mechanics and the thermodynamics of irreversible processes with an anisotropic damage representation. The new approach introduces considerations for the viscoelastic effects and the damage accumulation that accompanies the fracture process in the interpretation of the Superpave IDT strength test for the identification of the Dissipated Creep Strain Energy (DCSE) limit from the test result. The viscoelastic model is implemented in a Finite Element Method (FEM) program for the simulation of the Superpave IDT strength test. The DCSE values obtained using the new approach is compared with the values obtained using the conventional approach to evaluate the validity of the assumptions made in the conventional interpretation of the test results. The result shows that the conventional approach over-estimates the DCSE value with increasing estimation error at higher deformation rates.     

Implementation of Thermoelectric Generators in Airlinersfor Powering Battery-Free Wireless Sensor Networks

In recent years, wireless sensor networks (WSN) have been considered for various aeronautical applications to perform sensing, data processing and wireless transmission of information, without the need to add extra wiring. However, each node of these networks needs to be self-powered. Considering the critical drawbacks associated with the use of electrochemical energy sources such as narrow operating temperature range and limited lifetime, environmental energy capture allows an alternative solution for long-term, deploy and forget, WSN. In this context, thermoelectricity is a method of choice considering the implementation context. In this paper, we present hands-on experience related to on-going implementations of thermoelectric generators (TEG) in airliners. In a first part, we will explain the reasons justifying the choice of ambient energy capture to power WSN in an aircraft. Then, we will derive the general requirements applying to the functional use of TEG. Finally, in the last section, we will illustrate the above issues through practical implementations.     

On emulated nonlinear reduced-order observers for networked control systems

We consider a general class of nonlinear reduced-order observers and show that the global asymptotic convergence of the observation error in the absence of network-induced constraints is maintained for the emulated observer semiglobally and practically (with respect to the maximum allowable transmission interval) when system measurements are sent through a communication channel. Networks governed by a Lyapunov uniformly globally asymptotically stable protocol are investigated. Our results can be used to synthesize various observers for networked control systems for a range of network configurations, as we illustrate it by considering classes of immersion and invariance observers which include the circle-criterion observers.