A kinetic study on extraction and transformation phenomena of phenolic compounds during red wine fermentation

The aim of this work was both to model the kinetics of the extraction and transformation of phenolic compounds during fermentation and to propose an index to compare fermentation procedures. Six lots of Sangiovese grapes from five vineyards were used for red wine fermentation tests on lab and industrial scale during 2005 and 2006 vintages. Total phenol index, colour parameters, anthocyanin and pigmented polymer contents were measured during fermentations as variables related to phenolics. Microvinifications performed during vintage 2005 were used to model the evolution of total phenol index at 280 nm, malvidine content, colour parameter a* and pigmented polymer content during fermentation. Vinifications performed during vintage 2006 were used to validate the models. A specific adimensional number, called equivalent index, was set up to specify the operating conditions of red wine fermentation being a function of the extraction and transformation phenomena of phenolic compounds.     

Blue-back fish: Fatty acid profile in selected seasons and retention upon baking

The effects of the catching season (either Autumn/Winter or Spring) on lipid content, fatty acid profile and true retention values after oven baking were determined in anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus), sardine (Sardina pilchardus), sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) from the North Adriatic sea. In the raw state, the catching season induced significant changes in the flesh lipid contents of sardine and sprat. Anchovy was the species whose fatty acid composition of flesh lipids was most clearly affected by the season of catch. Oven baking had a significant, though rather modest, effect on some fatty acids and indices of sardine and anchovy lipids. When compared to the other species within the same season, spring sardine and winter sprat gave significantly higher true retention values for several individual fatty acids and some sums. Between 1 and 2.5 servings/week (depending on season) of either cooked anchovy, sardine, sprat, or 3 servings of cooked spring horse mackerel would suffice to satisfy human weekly requirements of EPA + DHA.     

New material for orthopedic implants: Electrochemical study of nickel free P558 stainless steel in minimum essential medium

Nickel, a component of stainless steels (SS) applied in orthopedic implants may cause allergic processes in human tissues. P558 nickel free SS was studied to verify its viability as a substitute for stainless steel containing nickel. Its performance is compared to ISO 5832-9 and F138 most used nowadays grades in implants fabrications, in minimum essential medium, MEM, at 37 °C. Potentiodynamic polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and “in vitro” cytotoxicity were used as techniques. From the electrochemical point of view P558 SS is comparable to ISO 5832-9 SS in MEM. It remains passivated until the transpassivation potential, above which generalized corrosion occurs. F138 presents pitting corrosion at 370 mV/SCE. The cytotoxicity results showed that P558, ISO 5832-9 and F138 do not present cytotoxic character. Therefore, these results suggest that P558 SS can be applied in orthopedic implants.     

Digit ratio (2D:4D) is associated with traffic violations for male frequent car drivers

Digit ratio (2D:4D) is a putative marker of prenatal hormone exposure. A lower digit ratio has been suggested as an index of higher testosterone relative to estrogen exposure during prenatal development. Digit ratio has been associated with a variety of psychological sex-dimorphic variables, including spatial orientation, aggression, or risk-taking behavior. The present study aimed to relate digit ratio to traffic violations for a male sample (N = 77) of frequent car drivers. Digit ratio was assessed via printout scans of the hand, and traffic offense behavior was assessed via self-reported penalty points as registered by the Central Register of Traffic Offenders in Germany. In addition, social desirability and sensation seeking were recorded. Results showed that digit ratio was inversely related to penalty point entries, suggesting more traffic violations for individuals with higher prenatal testosterone exposure. Sensation seeking was positively associated with traffic violations, but there was no relationship between sensation seeking and digit ratio, proposing additive effects of both variables. The results suggest that prenatal androgen exposure might be related to traffic violations for frequent car drivers.     

Government website service quality: a study of the Irish revenue online service

Online taxation systems have been among the most successful of e-government applications both in terms of citizen take-up and savings to the taxpayer. Understanding the factors that lead to high take-up is of potential interest to other public sector online service providers. This paper examines the quality of the online service provided by the Irish Revenue Commissioners’ tax filing and collection system, Revenue Online Service (ROS). A modified version of the recently operationalized E-S-QUAL instrument is used to examine online service quality from the point of view of the citizens and tax practitioners who use this eGovernment system. The findings show that efficiency and ease of completion are the dimensions of website service quality that most influence ROS users’ perceptions of value and convenience as well as their intentions to use and recommend the website to their peers. The practical implications of these findings include the fact that providers of public sector e-services should concentrate on communicating the functionality of their e-services. In addition, they should focus on reducing citizen concerns regarding misuse or mismanagement of personal data.     

Surface properties and biocompatibility of cellulose acetates

The article describes some properties of cellulose acetates (CAs) with different substitution degrees. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties, morphological aspects, and interface properties with red blood cells and platelets are affected by the substitution degree, synthesis conditions, history of the formed films from solutions in acetone/water nonsolvent/nonsolvent mixtures, and low pressure plasma treatment. The results obtained are useful in biomedical applications, including evaluation of bacterial adhesion onto surfaces, or utilization of CA for semipermeable membranes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012