Warm asphalt mixtures produced with addition of CCBit

There is a growing concern with the environmental damage caused by the various types of industrial activities. Because of that, research in paving has sought alternatives to reduce fuel consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases generated by those. The warm mixtures have received increasing attention because they are capable of decreasing the mixture and compaction temperatures of asphalt mixtures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of CCBit from the mechanical characterization of asphalt mixtures. From the results, it was found that the incorporation of CCBit has the advantage of reducing mixing and compaction temperatures without harming their mechanical behavior.     

Dielectric and magnetic response of Fe3O4/epoxy composites

Magnetic and dielectric properties of Fe₃O₄/epoxy resin composites were studied as a function of Fe₃O₄ concentration. The Fe₃O₄ powder was milled using a planetary ball-mill in order to reduce the particle size. B.E.T. area of these particles was determined, and a structural characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Fe₃O₄/epoxy composites were prepared mixing the raw materials and pouring them into suitable moulds. Dielectric measurements were performed at different frequencies and temperatures, while magnetic properties were assessed at different temperatures. It was found that permittivity was strongly dependent on the filler concentration and frequency. Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars interfacial polarization, Intermediate Dipolar Polarization (IDE), and α relaxation process were responsible for the observed behavior. Magnetic measurements revealed the presence of magnetite nanoparticles in the composites, with a blocking temperature close to 170 K.     

Flavour compounds of Lavandula angustifolia L. to use in food manufacturing: Comparison of three different extraction methods

Sixty compounds of Lavandula angustifolia L. cultivated in Friuli Venezia Giulia (North-East Italy) were identified and quantified by GC-MS and GC-FID from essential oils obtained by means of hydrodistillation, and from extracts obtained by supercritical CO₂ extraction (SFE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (US). Using absolute calibration, a true quantification of 1-8 cineol, camphor, linalool, linalyl acetate and β-caryophyllene was carried out. The best extracts, in terms of amount of isolated compounds, flavour quality and stability were those obtained with SFE. Sonication performed at low amplitude for 5 min offered respect to high amplitude a promising alternative to hydrodistillation as a source of lavender flavouring ready to use for alcoholic beverages or/and confectionery products.     

Effect of commercial enzymatic preparation with pectolytic activities on conventional extraction and ultrasound‐assisted extraction of oil from grape seed (Vitis vinifera L.)

Conventional solvent extraction (CE) and ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE) in hexane for oil from untreated and enzyme‐treated grape seeds were investigated and compared. Among the output power tested (50, 100 and 150 W) in UAE on untreated seeds, UAE at 150 W for 30 min with liquid‐to‐solid ratio 8:1 (v/w) gave oil extraction yield comparable to CE (ca. 14% w/w) for 6 h with liquid‐to‐solid ratio 12:1 (v/w). CE and UAE at 150 W did not influence the fatty acid profiles of oil. CE oil was found to be the most oxidised. The enzymatic treatments (2, 4 and 6 g per 100 g seeds of Rapidase^® Expression) prior to CE enhanced by 2.5% of the oil yield. Enzymatic treatments higher than 2 g per 100 g seeds increased relative value of some fatty acids both in CE and UAE. Enzymatic pretreatment from 2 to 4 g per 100 g seeds significantly improved some physicochemical parameters of oil quality when extracted by CE, but not by UAE.     

Membrane topology of the Rickettsia prowazekii ATP/ADP translocase revealed by novel dual pho-lac reporters

Here, we report the construction and characterization of dual reporters, consisting of both an Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase (AP) gene and an alpha-fragment of the beta-galactosidase (BG) gene, for studying membrane protein topology by the gene fusion approach. Each of the reporters, when fused to periplasmic domains of polytopic proteins, produces fusions with high AP activity and, when fused to cytoplasmic domains, produces fusions with high BG activity in E. coli strains capable of alpha-complementation. The dual nature of these reporters simplifies interpretation of data obtained with poorly expressed fusions and allows one to evaluate the reliability of topological data. Deleterious effects resulting from the cell's attempt to export the full-length BG are eliminated in this approach. We describe dual indicator plates that allow for discrimination between colonies bearing cytoplasmic fusions, periplasmic fusions, and no fusions. We have generated a set of fusions to the topologically well-studied lactose permease of E. coli and demonstrated that topological information generated by these new reporters is in good agreement with the existing model. We used this new methodology for the determination of membrane topology of the Rickettsia prowazekii ATP/ADP translocase (Tlc). Our results were in agreement with the proposed in silico topological model in which Tlc traverses the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli 12 times with its N and C termini facing the cytoplasm.     

DNA polymerase fidelity: from genetics toward a biochemical understanding

This review summarizes mutagenesis studies, emphasizing the use of bacteriophage T4 mutator and antimutator strains. Early genetic studies on T4 identified mutator and antimutator variants of DNA polymerase that, in turn, stimulated the development of model systems for the study of DNA polymerase fidelity in vitro. Later enzymatic studies using purified T4 mutator and antimutator polymerases were essential in elucidating mechanisms of base selection and exonuclease proofreading. In both cases, the base analogue 2-aminopurine (2AP) proved tremendously useful-first as a mutagen in vivo and then as a probe of DNA polymerase fidelity in vitro. Investigations into mechanisms of DNA polymerase fidelity inspired theoretical models that, in turn, called for kinetic and thermodynamic analyses. Thus, the field of DNA synthesis fidelity has grown from many directions: genetics, enzymology, kinetics, physical biochemistry, and thermodynamics, and today the interplay continues. The relative contributions of hydrogen bonding and base stacking to the accuracy of DNA synthesis are beginning to be deciphered. For the future, the main challenges lie in understanding the origins of mutational hot and cold spots.