Influence of maturation and cooking treatments on the nutritional value of bovine meats: Water losses and vitamin B12

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of maturation and of cooking processes on water losses and on the vitamin B12 content of meat. Three types of muscle (Longissimus lumborum, Longissimus thoracis and Triceps brachii) were sampled from a total of 16 animals, representative of animals raised for meat production in France. Three durations of maturation were compared: 1, 3 and 14 days. Different cooking processes were applied: Longissimus lumborum was deep-fat fried or roasted, Longissimus thoracis was pan fried or grilled and Triceps brachii was braised. The cooking yield averaged 55-56% for Triceps brachii, 73-77% for Longissimus lumborum and 85-87% for Longissimus thoracis. Vitamin B12 concentration in raw meat was significantly higher in Triceps brachii than in Longissimus lumborum and Longissimus thoracis (20.86, 11.53 and 9.21ng/g wet tissue, in the same respective order). When expressed on a wet weight basis, all concentrations were significantly increased by cooking. When expressed on a lipid-free dry basis, significant losses in vitamin B12 were measured only in the braised Triceps brachii (-25%) and in the deep-fat fried Longissimus lumborum (-5.5%) as a result of long duration and high temperature of cooking, respectively. Maturation did not affect the vitamin B12 content of meat, whether raw or cooked.     

Impact of 20∶4n−6 supplementation on the fatty acid composition and hemocyte parameters of the pacific oyster crassostrea gigas

Arachidonic acid (20∶4n−6, ArA) and its eicosanoid metabolites have been demonstrated to be implicated in immune functions of vertebrates, fish, and insects. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of ArA supplementation on the FA composition and hemocyte parameters of oysters Crassostrea gigas. Oyster dietary conditioning consisted of direct addition of ArA solutions at a dose of 0, 0.25, or 0.41 μg ArA per mL of seawater into tanks in the presence or absence of T-Iso algae. Results showed significant incorporation of ArA into gill polar lipids when administered with algae (up to 19.7%) or without algae (up to 12.1%). ArA supplementation led to an increase in hemocyte numbers, phagocytosis, and production of reactive oxygen species by hemocytes from ArA-supplemented oysters. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of Vibrio aestuarianus extracellular products on the adhesive proprieties of hemocytes was lessened in oysters fed ArA-supplemented T-Iso. All changes in oyster hemocyte parameters reported in the present study suggest that ArA and/or eicosanoid metabolites affect oyster hemocyte functions.     

Fabrication of g-C3N4 with Simultaneous Isotype Heterojunction and Porous Structure for Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Performance Toward Tetracycline Hydrochloride Elimination

Topics in Catalysis - In this study, the g-C3N4 with simultaneous isotype heterojunction and porous structure showed superior photocatalytic decomposition of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) under...     

A combination of 3D printing and PCB technologies in microfluidic sensing device fabrication

Microsystem Technologies - Microfluidic devices are increasingly being used as analytical systems, biomedical devices, chemistry and biochemistry instruments, and basic research systems....     

Cu–Fe Incorporated Graphene-Oxide Nanocomposite as Highly Efficient Catalyst in the Degradation of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) from Aqueous Solution

Topics in Catalysis - Fe/graphene oxide and Cu–Fe/graphene oxide nanocomposite were synthesized by the atomic implantation method to study the photocatalytic degradation of...     

Associations between the Complement System and Choroidal Neovascularization in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness affecting the elderly in the Western world. The most severe form of AMD, wet AMD (wAMD), is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and acute vision loss. The current treatment for these patients comprises monthly intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies, but this treatment is expensive, uncomfortable for the patient, and only effective in some individuals. AMD is a complex disease that has strong associations with the complement system. All three initiating complement pathways may be relevant in CNV formation, but most evidence indicates a major role for the alternative pathway (AP) and for the terminal complement complex, as well as certain complement peptides generated upon complement activation. Since the complement system is associated with AMD and CNV, a complement inhibitor may be a therapeutic option for patients with wAMD. The aim of this review is to (i) reflect on the possible complement targets in the context of wAMD pathology, (ii) investigate the results of prior clinical trials with complement inhibitors for wAMD patients, and (iii) outline important considerations when developing a future strategy for the treatment of wAMD.     

Matching mechanical response for a MEMS vibratory tuning fork gyroscope

Microsystem Technologies - This paper introduces the configuration of the MEMS tuning fork gyroscope with the connecting diamond-shaped frame to achieve the anti-phase mode in the driving...     

Stability of rare earth oxides in a moist environment at high temperatures—Experimental and thermodynamic studies. Part I: The way to assess thermodynamic parameters from volatilisation rates

A methodology based on a weight loss measurement was used to quantify the volatility of yttria in high temperature water vapor. This method was first assessed on silica. Sintered materials with a shape of pellets were exposed at temperatures between 1000 and 1400 °C in air with 50 kPa of water at atmospheric pressure, under a flowing gas velocity of 5 cm s^?1. Besides the volatilisation rate, the nature of the volatile gaseous species was determined using a kinetic study. Knowing the nature of flows in the furnace, partial pressures of yttrium (oxy-)hydroxide in equilibrium over Y₂O₃ were calculated, and used to assess the enthalpies of formation of YO(OH) and Y(OH)₃.