Glycine N‐Methylation in NGR‐Tagged Nanocarriers Prevents Isoaspartate Formation and Integrin Binding without Impairing CD13 Recognition and Tumor Homing

NGR (asparagine–glycine–arginine) is a tumor vasculature‐homing peptide motif widely used for the functionalization of drugs, nanomaterials, and imaging compounds for cancer treatment and diagnosis. Unfortunately, this motif has a strong propensity to undergo rapid deamidation. This reaction, which converts NGR into isoDGR, is associated with receptor switching from CD13 to integrins, with potentially important manufacturing and pharmacological and toxicological implications. It is found that glycine N‐methylation of NGR‐tagged nanocarriers completely prevents asparagine deamidation without impairing CD13 recognition. Studies in animal models have shown that the methylated NGR motif can be exploited for delivering radiolabeled compounds and nanocarriers, such as tumor necrosis factor‐α‐bearing nanogold and liposomal doxorubicin, to tumors with improved selectivity. These findings suggest that this NGR derivative is a stable and efficient tumor‐homing ligand that can be used for delivering functional nanomaterials to tumor vasculature.     

13C nuclear magnetic resonance monitoring of free fatty acid release after fish thermal processing

¹³C Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was applied to the study of lipid hydrolysis occurring during industrial canning of tuna (Thunnus alalunga). An increase in the free fatty acid (FFA) level was observed after cooking and sterilization, and a different FFA pattern was found when storage of the frozen raw material and thermal steps (cooking and can sterilization) were compared. Lipolysis in raw muscle occurs preferentially in thesn-1 andsn-3 acyl positions of triacylglycerols, with a consequent cleavage of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. After thermal processing, an increase of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was found in the FFA fraction, as well as a relative decrease of the peak intensity of DHA in thesn-2 position of triacylglycerols. This finding indicates a different mechanism of FFA release during the frozen storage and thermal processing of raw fish.     

Innovative films with tunable permeability for fresh vegetable packaging applications

Blends of a commercial polypropylene (PP), typically used as food contact material, with increasing amounts of poly(4‐methyl‐1‐pentene) (PMP) are prepared in a twin‐screw extruder to obtain thin films with improved gas permeation for fresh vegetable packaging. Permeability, haze, and transparency of monolayer films produced by casting are investigated under conditions mimicking the industrial ones. O₂ and CO₂ permeability can be tuned by increasing PMP content in the blends from 5 to 20 wt %. Transparency and haze are practically unchanged in the presence of low content of PMP. Moreover, tensile and rheological tests show that PMP does not significantly affect the related properties of blends compared to the neat PP matrix, thus allowing for the industrial applicability of these new formulations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 39503.     

Atomic force microscopy imaging of Xenopus laevis oocyte plasma membrane purified by ultracentrifugation

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the native plasma membrane of Xenopus laevis (X. laevis) oocyte purified by means of ultracentrifugation on sucrose gradient and subsequently adsorbed on mica leaves through a physisorption process. Reproducible AFM topography images were collected, analyzed, and compared. AFM images showed the presence of large single or double bilayer membrane sheets covered with protein complexes. The lateral dimension and height of protein complexes imaged in air showed a normal distribution centred on 15.4 +/- 0.4 nm (mean +/- SE; n = 59) and 3.9 +/- 0.2 nm (mean +/- SE; n = 57), respectively. A density of about 270 protein complexes per square micron was calculated. Less frequently, ordered nanometer domains with densely packed protein complexes arranged in hexagonal patterns were also visualized in AFM images, confirming previously published data. Their lateral dimension and height showed a normal distribution centred on 23.0 +/- 0.4 nm (mean +/- SE; n = 42) and 1.5 +/- 0.6 nm (mean +/- SE; n = 90), respectively. A density of about 870 protein complexes per square micrometer was calculated. Advantages and drawbacks of this new sample preparation for AFM imaging are discussed.     

A comparison of collision-based and conflict-based safety evaluations: The case of right-turn smart channels

This study presents the results of a collision-based full Bayes (FB) before–after (BA) safety evaluation of a newly proposed design for channelized right-turn lanes. The design which is termed “Smart Channels” decreases the angle of the channelized right-turn to approximately 70°. Its implementation is usually advocated to afford drivers a better view of the traffic stream they are to merge with and to allow also for safer pedestrian crossing. The evaluation used data for three treatment intersections and several comparison sites in the city of Penticton, British Columbia. The evaluation utilized FB univariate and multivariate linear intervention models with multiple regression links representing time, treatment, and interaction effects as well as the traffic volumes effects. As well, the models were extended to incorporate random parameters to account for the correlation between sites within comparison-treatment pairs. The results showed that the implementation of the right-turn treatment has resulted in a considerable reduction in the severity and frequency of collisions.     

Investigation of models for relating roundabout safety to predicted speed

Despite widespread recognition of operating speed as a key safety-related variable for roundabouts, there is no consensus on the best models for capturing the relationship between crashes and speed, or, for that matter, on how speed can be estimated in situations where it cannot be observed (such as when a roundabout is being designed or redesigned). This paper uses US and Italian roundabout approach-level data to investigate models relating safety to various measures of predicted speed. This is an indirect approach for developing safety models for estimating the effects of design features, the premise being that these features can better predict speed, which, in turn, can be used as a predictor of crash frequency. After exploring various possibilities, the approach average speed (AAS) – defined as the average of entry, upstream circulating and exiting speeds in this study – was found to be the speed measure that best predicts safety. US data were used to develop a Bayesian Poisson-gamma safety model based on predicted AAS with random coefficients and varying dispersion parameter. This model structure was not appropriate for the Italian data used to examine whether the approach could be generalized to data for another country. For that data, a zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) model was found to be suitable. Notwithstanding the heterogeneity of the model structure, the investigation suggests that the indirect approach for evaluating the safety of a roundabout is a sound one in that it can preserve model parsimony while capturing the effects of design changes that affect safety.     

Impact of Olive Harvesting Date on Virgin Olive Oil Volatile Composition in Four Spanish Varieties

The unique sensory characteristics of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) depend upon its volatile composition. This work investigates the impact of olive fruit harvesting time and growing location on the volatile composition of the obtained EVOO, on four typical Spanish olive varieties (Cornicabra, Picual, Castellana, Manzanilla Cacereña). Several growing locations within the Madrid region (Spain) are studied to assess the natural variability attributed to the environmental factors. Aroma compounds are analyzed by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry, and sensory analysis. A considerable different behavior is observed depending on the olive variety and ripening stage. Statistically significant differences are obtained for volatile compounds biosynthesized from the lipoxygenase pathway and other fatty acid metabolism routes, which results in significant differences in their aroma profiles. Practical applications: These results have practical applicability for the olive oil industry and regulatory bodies. For example, for protected designation of origin EVOOs the aroma profile needs to be consistent over different production lots. The outcome of this research is of interest to the olive oil industry to get a better insight into the expected variability and interactions among cultivars, small pedoclimatic differences within the same broader area, and the harvesting date on the sensory and volatile profile of the resulting EVOO.     

The Noble Method in the dairy sector as a sustainable production system to improve the nutritional composition of dairy products: A review

Sustainable production systems in line with consumer expectations are attractive for the dairy sector. The objective of this review is to examine the benefits of an Italian method, named the Noble Method (‘Metodo Nobile®’), in order to improve the nutritional properties of milk and environmental sustainability. The prohibition of silage and the use of polyphite pastures are some of the rules established by the Noble Method. The greater amount of unsaturated fatty acids and other beneficial compounds found in milk and dairy products produced by using milk from animals fed on well-managed pasture could have positive implications on consumers' health.     

Biophenol extracts from olive oil mill wastewaters by membrane separation and adsorption resin

The disposal of olive oil mill wastewater, the main effluent resulting from the production of olive oil, presents technical difficulties which are still unsolved. Several techniques have been proposed for the treatment of this effluent, but only a few processes have been applied at pilot or industrial scale and, nowadays, the management of olive oil mill wastewaters represents an environmental problem in the olive oil‐producing countries. Tests were carried out at pilot scale, by means of a plant with 1 m³ h^?1 capacity; a process for the treatment and valorisation of olive mill wastewaters was reported. By this process, it was possible to produce starting from olive mill wastewaters resulting from a three‐phase milling system, 62% of purified water, which could be reused in the industrial processes, and a concentrated phenolic extract (9.5% total phenols), which could be used in food, cosmetic or animal feed industry.     

Design of Plastic Bottles for Packaging of Virgin Olive Oil

ABSTRACT: In this work the performance of traditional plastic containers and that of 2 innovative materials containing an oxygen scavenger is evaluated by simulating the behavior of bottled virgin olive oil by means of a mathematical model able to predict the evolution of the profile of hydroperoxide and oxygen concentration inside bottled virgin olive oil. The model was successfully validated by comparing the model prediction with the experimental data. The results obtained show that it is possible to obtain a quality decay kinetic slower than that obtained for olive oil bottled in glass containers by either using an oxygen scavenger or reducing the concentration of oxygen dissolved in the oil prior to bottling.