Characterisation of gold kiwifruit pectin isolated by enzymatic treatment

Pectin was extracted from gold kiwifruit by four commercial enzyme preparations (Celluclast 1.5 L, Cytolase CL, Cellulyve TR 400 and NS33048). The chosen enzymes were used either in single or in combination, with and without protease addition. The recovered pectin was characterised and compared for the yield, total nonstarch polysaccharide and neutral sugar composition, protein and ash, pectin, molecular weight distribution and the viscosity. Results indicated that enzyme‐extracted gold kiwifruit pectin was rich in galacturonic acid. Purified pectin yield, and their physicochemical composition and rheological property (viscosity), was significantly affected by the type of enzyme used. The pectin extracted by Celluclast 1.5 L demonstrated to be the most viscous and recorded the highest in molecular weight (M_w) (1.65 × 10⁶ g mol^–1) compared with the other extracts. The extract M_w and their distribution were discussed and related to their viscosity behaviour.     

Fractional channel reservation in mobile communication systems

A fractional channel reservation scheme is proposed. In conventional channel reservation schemes, the number of channels reserved for handoff calls has always been an integer. The proposed fractional channel reservation algorithm can be used to finely control the communication service quality. By varying the number of reserved channels for handoff calls by fractions of one     

Environmental impact of castor oil catalytic transfer hydrogenation

In the vegetable oil chemical industry, hydrogenation is one of the most important processes. An alternative method for vegetable oil hydrogenation is the use of catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH), which can utilize organic molecules as hydrogen donors at ambient pressure. These alternative processes should be optimized in relation to the variables required for a good conversion and impacts should also be known to be minimized. An assessment of the environmental impact of laboratory scale chemical processes is an important tool to improve the technological aspects of a process (increased yields, reduced production times, lower costs) and it can also lead to the creation of a cleaner technology. Using the Leopold Matrix, we have succeeded in developing a more efficient and cleaner process for the CTH of castor oil using Raney Ni as a catalyst and cyclohexene or isopropanol as a hydrogen donor solvent. The results of the technical and environmental assessments showed that the extent of conversion for the unsaturation reaction was high (>99 %), and the environmental impact of the process could be significantly reduced to create a cleaner technology. It was found, after process optimization, that the remaining environmental impacts were negative (67.48 %), local (78.95 %), temporary (95.33 %), direct (80.12 %), and reversible (95.32 %).     

Calcite Prisms from Mollusk Shells (Atrina Rigida): Swiss‐cheese‐like Organic–Inorganic Single‐crystal Composites

Biogenic single‐crystal composites, such as sea urchin spines and calcitic prisms from mollusk shells, contain organic macromolecules inside of inorganic single‐crystal matrices. The nanoscale internal structure of these materials, however, is poorly understood, especially how the biomacromolecules are distributed within the crystals without significantly disrupting the crystalline lattice. Here, annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography reveal, in three dimensions, how biomacromolecules are distributed within the calcitic prisms from Atrina rigida shells. Disk‐like nanopatches, whose scattering intensity is consistent with organic inclusions, are observed to be anisotropically arranged within a continuous, single‐crystalline calcite matrix. These nanopatches are preferentially aligned with the (000l) planes of calcite. Along the crystallographic c‐axis, there are alternating organic‐rich and ‐poor regions on a length scale of tens of nanometers, while, in the ab plane, the distribution of nanopatches is more random and uniform. The structural features elucidated in this work have relevance to understanding the structure–property relationships and formation mechanisms of biominerals, as well as to the development of bio‐inspired strategies to extrinsically tune the properties of single‐crystals.     

Response of microglial cells after a cryolesion in the peripheral proliferative retina of tench

We studied the glial response after inducing a lesion in the zone of the peripheral retina of tench, where there is proliferative neuroepithelium. In the retina and optic nerve, the microglial response was analysed with tomato lectin and the macroglial response with antibodies against GFAP and S-100. In lesioned retinas, there was a temporal-spatial distribution pattern of microglia. One day after lesion, primitive ramified cells appeared in the nerve fibre layer. These cells appeared progressively from the vitreal to the scleral layers until day 7 when cells appeared in all layers, with the exception of the outer plexiform layer. From this point, labelling decreased. In the optic nerve, 3 days after lesion, an increase in the number of microglial cells was observed, first in the nerve folds and from day 15 in specific areas of the optic nerve. In the central retina, in the optic nerve head and within the optic nerve itself, the appearance of microglial cells, after the lesion, near the blood vessels, could indicate a vascular origin of microglia, as has been proposed by many authors. However, we cannot discount the idea that some of the reactive microglial cells arise by proliferation of the microglia existing in the normal state. Using GFAP and S-100 antibodies, no important changes in the retina were observed, however in the optic nerve there was response to the lesion. Thus, the macroglial cells appeared to be involved in reorganisation of the optic nerve axons after lesion.     

Biosynthesis of growth hormone-releasing factor by fetal rat cerebrocortical and hypothalamic cells

The biosynthesis of growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) by cerebrocortical tissue is controversial. Although several reports have indicated its presence in certain rat cortical areas and in cultured rat hypothalamic cells, no data exist demonstrating its biosynthesis in these areas. In this study, we have investigated the capacity of fetal rat cerebrocortical and hypothalamic cells in culture for synthesizing GRF. Fetal cerebrocortical and hypothalamic cells were exposed to [3H]Arg for 48 h. Medium and cell extracts were processed and [3H]Arg-IR-rGRF was isolated by affinity chromatography and characterized by HPLC. Intracellular [3H]Arg-IR-rGRF from both hypothalamic and cerebrocortical cells exhibited four major peaks, one of them coeluting with synthetic rGRF. In cerebrocortical cultures, newly synthesized and released [3H]Arg-IR-rGRF showed a similar pattern to the cell content. However, in media from hypothalamic cells, higher hydrophobicity molecular forms were absent. The data demonstrated that fetal cerebrocortical and hypothalamic cells in primary culture synthesize GRF with similar posttranslational processing, but with different molecular patterns of secretion.     

Melting behavior,crystallization kinetics and morphology of random copolyesters of poly(2‐hydroxyethoxybenzoate) with ε‐caprolactone

The melting behavior after isothermal crystallization and the crystallization kinetics of random poly(2‐hydroxyethoxybenzoate/ε‐caprolactone) copolymers rich in 2hydroxyethoxybenzoate units were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and hot‐stage optical microscopy. The observed multiple endotherms, which are commonly displayed by polyesters, were found to be influenced both by crystallization temperature and composition. By applying the Hoffman‐Weeks method to the melting temperatures of isothermally crystallized samples, the equilibrium melting temperatures of the copolymers were obtained. Furthermore, isothemal crystallization kinetics was analyzed according to the Avrami treatment. Values of the exponent n close to 3 were obtained, independently of crystallization temperature and composition, in agreement with a crystallization process originating from predeterminated nuclei and characterized by three‐dimensional spherulitic growth. Space‐filling banded spherulites were observed by hot‐stage optical polarizing microscopy at all the crystallization temperatures explored, the band spacing being affected by both crystallization temperature and composition. As expected, the introduction of ε‐caprolactone comonomeric units in the polymer chain of PHEBA was found to decrease its crystallization rate.     

DRYING OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS WITH SIGNIFICANT VOLUME VARIATION. EXPERIMENTAL AND MODELING RESULTS FOR POTATO DRYING.

This work is devoted to the experimental investigation and theoretical modeling of biological products with high initial moisture content which implies significant volume contraction. Firstly, experimental equipment which was designed to continuously determine variations in the global moisture content and in the temperature of the sample is introduced. Furthermore, the equipment is controlled by a PC which records experimental information in real time. In particular, measurement of the radial and temporal distributions of moisture content and temperature during the drying process of the homogeneous porous media potato are given. The mean moisture content and temperature curves are also given.