Kinetics of the decomposition of total aliphatic waxes in olive oil during deodorization

Changes in the content of aliphatic waxes during industrial deodorization and/or physical refining of bleached olive oil were studied in an experimental discontinuous pilot plant of 250 kg deodorizer using nitrogen as stripping gas in place of steam. The kinetic constants for the decomposition of waxes during the deodorization process were determined. The reaction orders studied are zero (or can be considered zero) within the working interval. The values of rate constants, activation energy, frequency factor, increment of activation Gibbs free energy, activation enthalpy, and activation entropy are established.     

Sex pheromone specificity as a reproductive isolating mechanism among the sibling speciesArchips argyrospilus andA. mortuanus and other sympatric tortricine moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

MaleArchips argyrospilus (Walker) were maximally attracted to a 60404200 admixture of (Z)-11-tetradecenyl, (E)-11-tetradecenyl, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl and dodecyl acetates. The identification of (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, in addition to the other 3 components reported previously, is the first report of a 4-component pheromone system in moths.Archips mortuanus Kearfoot, a sibling species, was maximally attracted to a blend of the same components, but in a 90101 mix of the tetradecenyl acetates. Among a number of tortricine moths that co-occur on apples and other hosts in New York, British Columbia, and elsewhere, differences in diel rhythms of attraction and seasonal distribution are insufficient to maintain reproductive isolation. Although the attractant systems of these species often possess components in common, males are maximally attracted to a speciesspecific blend. In tortricine moths attraction specificity appears to be a paramount mechanism for species partitioning.     

Functional and nutritional properties of modified proteins of sesame (Sesamum indicum, L.)

A study on the functional and nutritional properties of sesame (Sesamum indicum, L.) flour, concentrate and enzymatic hydrolysates, demonstrated that nitrogen solubility of the hydrolysates is improved, in water (85%) and at different pHs (91-95%), by the action of neutrasa 0.5L and alcalasa 0.6L, yielding a product with good emulsifying and improved foaming properties. Hydrolysates produced by the pH-stat method, then freeze-dried and spray-dried presented a PER of 1.1 and 0.9, respectively. The flour and the concentrate had PER values of 1.2. Supplementation of one of the hydrolysates with soya hydrolysate (1:1), improved the PER to a value similar to that of casein. Use of neutrasa 0.5L and alcalasa 0.6L enzymes, enhances the sesame protein solubility without modifying extensively the PER. Besides, it yields a dehydrated product with improved emulsifying and foaming properties.     

Ozonation of Selected Molecules Constituting Cellular Matter

Ozonation of purine and pyrimidine bases and of carbohydrates was studies in laboratory experiments. The results showed that nucleobases are much more reactive with molecular ozone in aqueous solution than carbohydrates. Second order rate constants for direct reaction of ozone on purines (adenine and guanine) and on pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine and uracil) ranged from 0.76 × 10³ to 6.8 × 10³ M^-1s^-1at 2°C. The difference of reactivity between these solutes may be attributed to their substituents. As far as carbohydrates are concerned, direct reactions of ozone are very slow k₀₃ ? 0.1 – 0.3 M_-1s_-1 at 20°C, and the results indicated that free radical reactions are predominant in the degradation pathway of carbohydrates by ozone. Some ozonation by-products of monosaccharides (glucose, xylose) and disaccharides (cellobiose) also were identified in this study by means of GC/MS analyses.     

Small-angle scattering studies of PVC and PVC blends

Small-angle X-ray and small-angle neutron scattering studies have been carried out on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), and blends of PVC with solution-chlorinated polyethylene (SCPE) and poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA). The PVC used was commercial (suspension-polymerized) or bulk-polymerized. The blends of PVC with PBA were prepared by solvent-casting and those with SCPE by in situ polymerization. PVC samples show shoulders in the scattering spectra, presumably due to crystallites, which persist even in samples which have been solvent cast. Blends of PVC with PBA also show a peak but at a higher ‘d’ spacing. The blends with SCPE which were prepared by in situ polymerization show no such peak. This suggests that the method of preparation prevents the formation of crystallites. An increase in scattering of the PBA blends was observed when the samples were heated to the temperature of phase separation. Neutron scattering studies were also carried out using 2% deuterium labelled PVC in PVC and in the blends. In the PVC this showed chain dimensions in good agreement with predicted values. In the blends, dimensions of the same order were obtained, confirming a molecular dispersion of chains in the single phase, but there was an apparent reduction in the chain dimensions. This could be explained by a true reduction in dimensions or a non-zero A₂ value in the blends.     

Flavonoids released by carrot (Daucus carota) seedlings stimulate hyphal development of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the presence of optimal CO2 enrichment

Carbon dioxide has been previously identified as a critical volatile factor that stimulates hyphal growth ofGigaspora margarita, a vesiculararbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, and we determined the optimal concentration at 2.0%. The beneficial effect of CO₂ on fungal development is also visible in the presence of stimulatory (quercetin, myricetin) or inhibitory (naringenin) flavonoids. Sterile root exudates from carrot seedlings stimulate the hyphal development ofG. margarita in the presence of optimal CO₂ enrichment. Three flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol, rutin or quercetin 3-rutinoside) and two flavones (apigenin, luteolin) were identified in carrot root exudates by means of HPLC retention time. Flavonols like quercetin and kaempferol are known to have stimulatory effects on hyphal growth ofG. margarita.     

Interactions Between Ozone,Halogens and Organic Compounds

During drinking-water treatment, ozone used as a preoxidant and chlorine required for final disinfection, lead to competing chemical reactions, in the case of raw water containing both organic compounds and inorganic salts (such as bromides and ammonia).

The study of the interactions between those reactants has been made according to the following main topics :

As for THM formation, experiments conducted on simple organic compounds or on natural fulvic acids show important decreases in THM or TCAA formation after ozonation. It may be noticed, however, that the ozonation of surface waters may induce the formation of haloform precursors, usually with a low level of reactivity.

In water supplies containing bromide ions, oxidation of the latter through hypobromous acid may take place during the ozonation stage. Failing preozonation treatment, hypobromous acid is generated very rapidly during chlorination, thus inducing the formation of chloro- brominated organic compounds.

During the ozonation of fulvic acid solutions, the presence of small amounts of bicarbonate was found to improve precursor removal significantly.

It can be concluded that the partial analogy of the action of ozone or chlorine on aromatic structures, whether simple or complex (such as humic and fulvic acids), seems to indicate that the consequence of preozonation is the destruction, at least in part, of the most reactive sites for THM production, thus leading to a decrease of the volatile organochlorinated compounds formed during the post-chlorination. However, some ozonation products of natural waters are THM precursors, though of low reactivity. Then, in the presence of bromide ions, the formation of volatile organobrominated compounds may be observed during ozonation.     

Relation of socioeconomic and environmental indicators to the nutritional status of preschool children in a community of Sierra Norte de Puebla, México

A brief discussión on "the social" approach in nutritional research is presented. The relevance that socioeconomic factors have acquired in recent years for this type of studies, is also discussed. The main purpose of our communication was to identify and validate some socioeconomic and environmental indicators and their association with the nutritional status of preschool children in a Mexican indigenous community (Sierra Norte de Puebla). A total of 89 children below five years of age were studied and classified according to their nutritional status. A socioeconomic questionnaire was applied to their parents. Results revealed ample correlation between the degree of malnutrition of the preschool child and the following indicators: housing conditions, father's main occupation, land tenure, income, etc. It is argued that the analysis of these indicators is relevant, emphasizing the importance that the combination of anthropometrical, food consumption and socioeconomic data have for detecting population groups vulnerable to malnutrition. The obtention of these indicators is therefore highly recommended, but should not imply great obstacles; on the contrary, they should be highly sensitive and easy to detect.