Chemical composition,antioxidant capacity and functionality of raw and processed Phaseolus lunatus

The nutrients, non‐nutritional components and bioactive compounds, as well as the antioxidant capacity of raw, cooked, tray and drum‐dried Phaseolus lunatus have been quantified. Likewise, the minerals, soluble carbohydrates, total polyphenols and tannins in the soaking and cooking waters were quantified. In addition, the functional properties such as the water and oil absorption indexes and the emulsifying and the foaming capacities were studied. The protein content of the raw beans was 24.98% and decreased, like calcium, magnesium and potassium, with the soaking and cooking processes; these losses are found in the soaking and cooking waters. Drum drying decreased anti‐nutritional factors like trypsin inhibitors (66.09%) and cyanhydric acid (50.36%). Similarly, soluble fiber, available starch, total starch, and soluble sugars diminished, while total and insoluble fiber and resistant starch increased. The content of total polyphenols, tannins and antioxidant capacity decreased with thermal processing, being drum drying the process that least diminished antioxidant capacity. Likewise, the water absorption index was increased by 85% and 161.5% with processing. It was shown that P. lunatus is an important source of nutrients and can be consumed in whole bean form or used as a functional ingredient to be added in the development of new products. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Determination of CYP450 Expression Levels in the Human Small Intestine by Mass Spectrometry-Based Targeted Proteomics

The human small intestine can be involved in the first-pass metabolism of drugs. Under this condition, members of the CYP450 superfamily are expected to contribute to drug presystemic biotransformation. The aim of this study was to quantify protein expression levels of 16 major CYP450 isoforms in tissue obtained from nine human organ donors in seven subsections of the small intestine, i.e., duodenum (one section, N = 7 tissue samples), jejunum (three subsections (proximal, mid and distal), N = 9 tissue samples) and ileum (three subsections, (proximal, mid and distal), N = 9 tissue samples), using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based targeted proteomics. CYP450 absolute protein expression levels were compared to mRNA levels and enzyme activities by using established probe drugs. Proteins corresponding to seven of sixteen potential CYP450 isoforms were detected and quantified in various sections of the small intestine: CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2J2, CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP4F2. Wide inter-subject variability was observed, especially for CYP2D6. CYP2C9 (p = 0.004) and CYP2C19 (p = 0.005) expression levels decreased along the small intestine. From the duodenum to the ileum, CYP2J2 (p = 0.001) increased, and a trend was observed for CYP3A5 (p = 0.13). CYP3A4 expression was higher in the jejunum than in the ileum (p = 0.03), while CYP4F2 expression was lower in the duodenum compared to the jejunum and the ileum (p = 0.005). CYP450 protein levels were better correlated with specific isoform activities than with mRNA levels. This study provides new data on absolute CYP450 quantification in human small intestine that could improve physiologically based pharmacokinetic models. These data could better inform drug absorption profiles while considering the regional expression of CYP450 isoforms.     

Excessive adventitial stress drives inflammation-mediated fibrosis in hypertensive aortic remodelling in mice

Hypertension induces significant aortic remodelling, often adaptive but sometimes not. To identify immuno-mechanical mechanisms responsible for differential remodelling, we studied thoracic aortas from 129S6/SvEvTac and C57BL/6 J mice before and after continuous 14-day angiotensin II infusion, which elevated blood pressure similarly in both strains. Histological and biomechanical assessments of excised vessels were similar at baseline, suggesting a common homeostatic set-point for mean wall stress. Histology further revealed near mechano-adaptive remodelling of the hypertensive 129S6/SvEvTac aortas, but a grossly maladaptive remodelling of C57BL/6 J aortas. Bulk RNA sequencing suggested that increased smooth muscle contractile processes promoted mechano-adaptation of 129S6/SvEvTac aortas while immune processes prevented adaptation of C57BL/6 J aortas. Functional studies confirmed an increased vasoconstrictive capacity of the former while immunohistochemistry demonstrated marked increases in inflammatory cells in the latter. We then used multiple computational biomechanical models to test the hypothesis that excessive adventitial wall stress correlates with inflammatory cell infiltration. These models consistently predicted that increased vasoconstriction against an increased pressure coupled with modest deposition of new matrix thickens the wall appropriately, restoring wall stress towards homeostatic consistent with adaptive remodelling. By contrast, insufficient vasoconstriction permits high wall stresses and exuberant inflammation-driven matrix deposition, especially in the adventitia, reflecting compromised homeostasis and gross maladaptation.     

Sensitivity Analysis and Comparative Performance of Outfalls with Single Buoyant Plumes

This paper presents a new approach to analyze the performance of outfalls with single buoyant plumes in flowing ambient sea water, taking into account all three dilution mechanisms: the initial, the dispersion, and the effective dilution due to the decay of nonconservative substances. Simultaneous consideration of all dilution mechanisms, study of their functional relationships, sensitivity analysis of outfall behavior, and graphical presentation of the results, allows recognition of patterns of practical importance that remain otherwise obscure. The generated graphs afford an overview of the relative performance of outfalls with a single port and perpendicular line diffusers over a broad range of operating conditions, and portray the sensitivity of the single-port outfall behavior. The results show that, contrary to common belief, outfalls with a single port outperform those with perpendicular line diffusers over a broad range of operating conditions. They also show that higher rather than lower current speed is the critical factor in the design of single-port outfalls. These findings affect the construction cost of outfall systems and bear a significant impact on the sizing of new outfalls as well as on the performance evaluation of existing ones.     

Electrochemical characterisation of passive films on Ti alloys under simulated biological conditions

An electrochemical characterisation of the passive film on Ti, and its alloys Ti6Al4V and Ti6Al7Nb under simulated biological conditions is described. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and photoelectrochemistry were employed as in-situ techniques to monitor the evolution of the passive film on exposure to simulated body fluid environments. Of particular interest were the selective interactions of phosphate and calcium ions present in simulated body fluid with the oxide films, immediately after exposure. The effects of these ions on the TiO₂-electrolyte interface could be detected already within the first hour of exposure at 37 °C and were found to be the only ions present in simulated body fluid to interact with the titanium oxide surface. Photocurrent spectra showed no change in the semi-conductive properties of the passive films on Ti and the two alloys, but large variations on the intensity of the generated photocurrent indicated the presence of adsorbed ions on the surface. Different behaviour between the three metals investigated was also observed.     

New results for the fretting-induced stress concentration on Hertzian and flat rounded contacts

Recent work on fretting fatigue has emphasized the role of stress concentration on fretting damage, while previous work had concentrated on empirical parameters to assess influence of fretting on fatigue life. In particular, analogies with fatigue in the presence of a crack or a notch have been noticed, suggesting that the stress field induced by frictional contact per se may explain the reduction of fatigue life due to fretting.In the paper, new analytical and numerical solutions are produced for the stress concentration induced in typical fretting contacts involving the Hertzian geometry or the flat punch with rounded corners in view of application to the dovetail joints. Normal and tangential load (in the Cattaneo–Mindlin sense) is considered with “moderate” or “large” bulk stresses.     

Marital satisfaction across the transition to parenthood.

The purpose of the present study was to discriminate between the 2 dominant perspectives governing research on the nature of marital change over the transition to parenthood. Progress can be made in understanding this transition by recognizing the role of uncontrolled sources of variability in research designs, defining and using control groups, and timing of data collection around the child's arrival, and the authors conducted a study incorporating these methodological refinements. Growth curve analyses were conducted on marital satisfaction data collected twice before and twice after the birth of the 1st child and at corresponding points for voluntarily childless couples (N = 156 couples). Spouses who were more satisfied prior to pregnancy had children relatively early in marriage, and parents experienced greater declines in marital satisfaction compared to nonparents. Couples with planned pregnancies had higher prepregnancy satisfaction scores, and planning slowed husbands' (but not wives') postpartum declines. In sum, parenthood hastens marital decline--even among relatively satisfied couples who select themselves into this transition--but planning status and prepregnancy marital satisfaction generally protect marriages from these declines. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hydrogen Production by Photo-Induced Reforming of Biomass Components and Derivatives at Ambient Conditions

Hydrogen can be produced at ambient conditions via an efficient, technologically simple, ecologically benign, and potentially very low-cost process, with the use of a Pt/TiO₂ photocatalyst and three abundant and renewable sources: biomass, solar light, and water. The method combines photocatalytic splitting of water and light-induced oxidation of biomass compounds into a single process, able to produce hydrogen at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.     

A longitudinal investigation of the relationship between disordered eating attitudes and behaviors and parent–child conflict: A monozygotic twin differences design.

Few studies have examined nonshared environmental risk factors for disordered eating, and none have done so using a longitudinal design. The current project used a longitudinal, monozygotic twin differences design to examine parent–child conflict as a nonshared environmental risk factor for disordered eating. Participants included 468 monozygotic female twins (234 pairs) from the Minnesota Twin Family Study, who completed surveys every 3 years from ages 11 to 17 years. Twin differences in disordered eating were assessed with the Total Score, Body Dissatisfaction, Weight Preoccupation, and Binge Eating subscales of the Minnesota Eating Behavior Survey. Differences in parent–child conflict were assessed with the Parental Environment Questionnaire. Cross-lagged models were used to examine longitudinal associations among these variables, controlling for within-age associations. Only the longitudinal association between twin differences in disordered eating at age 14 years and differences in parent–child conflict at age 17 years were significant; twin differences in disordered eating predicted later differences in parent–child conflict rather than the reverse. Findings suggest differences in parent–child conflict between genetically identical twins may be a consequence of, rather than a risk factor for, differences in disordered eating. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)