Investigation of the pH effect and UV radiation on kinetic degradation of anthocyanin mixtures extracted from Hibiscus acetosella

The major anthocyanin pigments extracted from Hibiscus acetosella flower were investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopy and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). Pure spectra and kinetic of the species present at different pH values were recovered for anthocyanins transformation and degradation products, found with and without UV radiation exposure. In the absence of UV radiation, up to seven different species were detected and by UV radiation exposure, this number increased to up to nine. The species detected in the absence of radiation were also detected when pigments samples were exposed to UV radiation, where degradation occurred faster and two new species appear. The kinetic profiles obtained at different pH values allowed the proposal of a reaction mechanism and pathway.     

Quality traits and lipid composition of meat from Nellore young bulls fed with different oils either protected or unprotected from rumen degradation

The qualitative characteristics, lipids and chemical composition of the meat of 35 Nellore young bulls were analyzed. These bulls had an average slaughter weight and fat thickness of 532.17 ± 30.2 kg, and 7.00 mm, respectively. Significant differences were found only in the meat's water holding capacity (WHC), which was higher for animals fed with fresh linseed oil. More conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was found in the meat of animals fed with unprotected soybean oil, while better omega-6/omega-3 ratios were noted for those fed unprotected linseed oil. The addition of different vegetable oils to the bulls' diet (soybean or linseed, either protected or not protected from rumen digestion) did not interfere with the qualitative characteristics of their meat while improving the lipid composition of the longissimus muscle. Of the oils examined, unprotected linseed oil most improved the omega-6/omega-3 ratio, thus producing the healthiest meat for human consumption.     

Contribution to future metropolitan access network planning considering link failures in photonic switched networks

Photonic switching for traffic optimization in Metropolitan Access Optical Networks using technologies of optical packet/burst switching (OPS/OBS) seems to be a future-proof solution considering high capacity and the highly variable traffic in these networks. Looking for this future, we propose a study based on the analyze of survivability of traffic unconsidering protection mechanism but considering mesh and ring efficient topologies with node architecture to OPS. The results are obtained through computer modeling and simulation. The main parameters analyzed are as follows: capacity, average number of hops, packet loss fraction, and link utilization for each topology. These parameters are adopted to evaluate the performance of each topology considering failures. Minimum electronic buffering is included at node ingress (client side) to avoid packet loss in the access to the optical layer: high throughput and low latency. It is also observed that optical buffering is not necessary for adequate network performance.     

Leak detection in petroleum pipelines using a fuzzy system

A methodology for pipeline leakage detection using a combination of clustering and classification tools for fault detection is presented here. A fuzzy system is used to classify the running mode and identify the operational and process transients. The relationship between these transients and the mass balance deviation are discussed. This strategy allows for better identification of the leakage because the thresholds are adjusted by the fuzzy system as a function of the running mode and the classified transient level. The fuzzy system is initially off-line trained with a modified data set including simulated leakages. The methodology is applied to a small-scale LPG pipeline monitoring case where portability, robustness and reliability are amongst the most important criteria for the detection system. The results are very encouraging with relatively low levels of false alarms, obtaining increased leakage detection with low computational costs.     

Proteomic Landscape of Extracellular Vesicles for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Subtyping

The role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) proteome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) pathology, subclassification, and patient screening is unexplored. We analyzed by state-of-the-art mass spectrometry the whole cell and secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) proteomes of different molecular subtypes of DLBCL, germinal center B cell (GCB subtype), and activated B cell (ABC subtype). After quality control assessment, we compared whole-cell and secreted EVs proteomes of the two cell-of-origin (COO) categories, GCB and ABC subtypes, resulting in 288/1115 significantly differential expressed proteins from the whole-cell proteome and 228/608 proteins from EVs (adjust p-value < 0.05/p-value < 0.05). In our preclinical model system, we demonstrated that the EV proteome and the whole-cell proteome possess the capacity to separate cell lines into ABC and GCB subtypes. KEGG functional analysis and GO enrichment analysis for cellular component, molecular function, and biological process of differential expressed proteins (DEP) between ABC and GCB EVs showed a significant enrichment of pathways involved in immune response function. Other enriched functional categories for DEPs constitute cellular signaling and intracellular trafficking such as B-cell receptor (BCR), Fc_gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, ErbB signaling, and endocytosis. Our results suggest EVs can be explored as a tool for patient diagnosis, follow-up, and disease monitoring. Finally, this study proposes novel drug targets based on highly expressed proteins, for which antitumor drugs are available suggesting potential combinatorial therapies for aggressive forms of DLBCL. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD028267.     

Speed of sound in liquid R134a

The speed of sound for liquid R134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) has been measured along isotherms at temperatures from close to the triplee point to above the critical temperature (180–380 K) at pressures from near saturation to 70 MPa. The measurements were made by using a pulse-echo-overlap technique at 3 MHz. A rational approximant fits the data with a standard deviation of 0.45 m s⁻¹. Because the speed of sound depends on the molar volume and the adiabatic compressibility, these data may be used with density and heat capacity data to construct accurate thermodynamic property tables.     

Dynamic supramolecular polymers built from cucurbit[n]urils and viologens

This review article focuses on supramolecular assemblies involving cucurbit[n]uril‐based containers and viologen guests as key building elements. Cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n], n = 5–8,10) are fascinating hosts forming a wide range of inclusion complexes (caviplexes) with 4,4′‐bipyridinium salts, known as viologens, either as discrete 1:1 inclusion compounds with CB[7] or as ternary inclusion compounds involving two hosts or two guests (2:1 with CB[7] and 1:2 or 1:1:1 with CB[8]). This property is currently being actively exploited to design and prepare self‐assembled dynamic stimuli‐responsive supramolecular polymers including gels, vesicles, films and organized arrays of polymeric microspheres or nanoparticles. This review highlights the main benefits of such polymers and gives an overview of the achievements and progress made in this field over the past decades. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

β-Carotene and Milk Protein Complexation: a Thermodynamic Approach and a Photo Stabilization Study

The demand for bioactive molecules, such as β-carotene (β-car), has increased, but some characteristics such as low water solubility and low photo stability limit its application in many formulations. The bioactive entrapment into milk proteins may overcome this barrier. Thus, the aim of this work was to study the interaction between β-car and bovine serum albumin (BSA) or β-casein and the photo stability of this bioactive in the presence of the proteins. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that at pH 7.0, increasing concentrations of β-carotene reduced the fluorescence intensity of both proteins, and the fluorescence-quenching mechanism is mainly static. The stoichiometry of the β-car/protein complex varied between proteins, being 1:1 to native BSA, 1:3 to denatured BSA (d-BSA), and 1:2 for β-casein. The standard Gibbs-free energy (ΔG°) of complex formation was negative for all systems studied and followed the order ΔG°_BSA?<?ΔG°_β-casein?<?ΔG°_d-BSA. The formation of β-car/protein complex was driven by entropy increasing in all studied conditions. Both proteins improved β-car photo stability, but β-casein micelle was more efficient, reducing and increasing four times, respectively, the bioactive degradation constant and the half-time of β-car. The overall results pointed to the strategic use of milk proteins, especially β-casein micelles as nanovehicle for β-car in food and other systems.     

Effect of surface conditioning methods,adhesive systems and resin composite on repair strength of dimethacrylate and silorane resin composites

This study evaluated the effect of surface conditioning methods and adhesive systems on the repair bond strength of resin composites. Specimens (FLS: Filtek LS) (N = 144) were prepared using a silicone matrix. The specimens were stored in distilled water and then were randomly divided into the twelve groups (n = 12) according to the surface conditioning method (unground or diamond bur) and adhesive system (no adhesive, LS: Filtek LS, AS: Adper Scotchbond SE Plus) and resin composite (FLS: Filtek LS; FS: Filtek Supreme). The specimens were fixed in an hourglass-shaped silicone matrix and the other half of the specimen was restored. Hourglass-shaped specimens (n = 12) were used as positive control to measure the cohesive strength of the resin composite (Filtek LS). Microtensile bond test was performed (0.5 mm/min) and failure types were analyzed. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance, Tukey’s and Dunnett’s tests (α = 0.05). Adhesive protocol and resin composite significantly affected the results (p < 0.05). For the FS composite, the highest results were obtained using LS adhesive with (18.4 ± 7.7) and without (18.8 ± 4.8) bur roughening. For FLS composite, the highest results were obtained using AS adhesive with (33.2 ± 7.1) and without (25.7 ± 3.6) bur roughening. Without the use of adhesive resin, significantly lower bond strength results were observed with both LS (5 ± 2.1, 4.5 ± 1.5) and FLS (2.2 ± 1.2, 4.4 ± 1.1) for unground and diamond bur roughened groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). Cohesive strength of the FLS (52.3 ± 7.6) was significantly higher than any of the repaired groups (p < 0.0001). FS–LS combination and the groups repaired without adhesive presented more adhesive (Type I) failures.     

Poly(lactic acid) fibers obtained by solution blow spinning: Effect of a greener solvent on the fiber diameter

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibers has been obtained by solution blow spinning (SBS) using different solvents, however most of them are toxic and can be dangerous to human health or cause harm to the environment. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the use of dimethyl carbonate (DMC), a greener solvent, on the production of PLA fibers by SBS using surface response analysis to evaluate and compare the influence of three solvents (chloroform, DMC, and 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol, HFP) in the average fiber diameter. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the fiber morphology and different ranges of fiber diameter was observed when varying the solvents (chloroform: 260–970 nm; DMC: 240–650 nm; and HFP: 220–470 nm). Regression analysis showed the polymer concentration was significant for all solvents and the air pressure was significant when using chloroform and HFP. Regardless of the air pressure, increasing the PLA concentration increased the average fiber diameters for all solvents. Chloroform and HFP indicated a tendency of reduction on the average fiber diameter when the air pressure was decreased, however this behavior was not observed for DMC. It was also observed that the standard deviation indicated to be more affected by the polymer concentration than by the air pressure. The results also indicated that lower surface tension and viscosity can reduce fiber thickness. All solvents showed to be feasible to produce PLA fibers by SBS and DMC can be used to produce PLA fibers with an affordable price using a greener process. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43379.