Production of bioactive proteins and peptides from the diatom Nitzschia laevis and comparison of their in vitro antioxidant activities with those from Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris

This research focuses on green production of bioactive proteins and hydrolysates from Nitzschia. A comparison of antioxidant activities was established between protein extracts and hydrolysates from Nitzschia and two other well‐known microalgae, chlorella and spirulina. Protein hydrolysates from these microalgae were produced using Alcalase^®, Flavourzyme^® and Trypsin. The hydrolysis process enhanced the antioxidant activities in general, especially those obtained using Alcalase^®. Nitzschia showed the highest (P < 0.05) total phenolic content/reducing capacity (2.4 ± 0.02 mg GAE/100 g) after 90 min of hydrolysis with Alcalase^®. The ABTS [2,2′‐Azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid)] radical scavenging activity (66.77 ± 0.00%) was highest (P < 0.05) after 120 min of hydrolysis, but DPPH (2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical) was low (29.59 ± 0.02%). A correlation between ABTS activity and total phenolic contents was the highest (P < 0.05) for protein hydrolysates from all three organisms using Alcalase^®, but superoxide anion radical scavenging activity was intermediate for Nitzschia. Therefore, Nitzschia protein hydrolysates have the potential to be used as antioxidants.     

Development of an innovative monitoring system for spray fields in hot forging processes

In the field of forging the production processes are subject to extreme influences. This leads to failures in process steps or part qualities. To guarantee a high product quality and process stability it is necessary to measure and evaluate the process parameters during the manufacturing process. Online monitoring systems are especially required to avoid high scrap costs. In this paper an innovative concept for monitoring the spray field of massive forming processes is presented. So far a practical method to monitor the lubrication process for purpose of quality assurance and process fault diagnosis in forging processes does not exist. With the sensor system developed at the Institute of Forming Technology and Machines a qualitative and quantitative assessment of spray fields used for cooling and lubrication of forging die processes is possible. The sensor system operates on the basis of current flow measurements and is able to realize a local determination of the spray field. Furthermore an artificial neuronal network (ANN) was programmed to collect, evaluate and analyze the signal of the sensors automatically. Such networks have already been proven to detect and analyze process failures. Especially in the analyses of systems depending on many parameters and their interactions with each other ANN offer the advantage to deliver the desired statements on the basis of suitable test series.     

Food group intake patterns and nutrient intake vary across low-income Hispanic and African American preschool children in Atlanta: a cross sectional study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The food group intake patterns of low income Hispanic and African American preschool children are not well documented. The aim of this study was to perform a food group intake analysis of low income minority preschool children and evaluate how macronutrient and micronutrient intake compares to Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). METHODS: A cross sectional study design using three-day food diaries analyzed by dietary analysis software (Nutrient Database System for Research) was used. Children were recruited from well-child clinics at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding and North Dekalb Grady Satellite Clinic, Atlanta, GA. Low-income, African American and Hispanic preschool age children (n = 291) were enrolled. A total of 105 completed the 3-day food diaries were returned and analyzed. Chi-squared tests were used to assess demographic variables. The mean percentage of intake per day of specific food groups and sub-groups were obtained (servings of given food group/total daily servings). Food intake data and proportion of children meeting DRIs for macro- and micronutrients were stratified by race/ethnicity, nutritional status, and caloric intake, and were compared using t-tests. Regression models controlling for age, BMI and sex were obtained to assess the effect of total caloric intake upon the proportional intake of each studied food group. RESULTS: The mean age of African American children was 2.24 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 1.07 years and Hispanic children 2.84 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 1.12 years. African Americans consumed more kcal/kg/day than Hispanics (124.7 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 51 vs. 96.9 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 33, p < 0.05). Hispanics consumed more fruits (22.0 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 10.7% vs. 14.7 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 13.7%, p < 0.05), while African Americans consumed more grains (25.7 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 7.8% vs. 18.1 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 6.4%, p < 0.05), meats (20.7 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 9.0% vs. 15.4 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 6.1%, p < 0.05), fats (9.8 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 5.4% vs. 7.0 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 5.8%, p < 0.05), sweet drinks (58.7 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 17.1% vs. 41.3 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 14.8%, p < 0.05) and low-fat dairy products (39.5 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 19.3% vs. 28.9 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN] 12.6%, p < 0.05). Among Hispanics, the proportional intake of fruits, fats and grains varied by total caloric intake, while no difference by total caloric intake was found for the dietary patterns of African Americans. Micronutrient intake also differed significantly between African American and Hispanic children. CONCLUSIONS: Food group intake patterns among low-income children differ by ethnic group. There is a need for more research to guide program design and target nutritional interventions for this population.     

Grain Boundary Curvatures Measurements in Annealed Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia (3Y‐TZP) and Their Relation to Mean Grain Size

It was determined that the mean grain boundary radius of curvature in 3 mol% yttria‐stabilized zirconia isothermally annealed without and with a DC electric field  = 18 V/cm was uniquely proportional to the mean linear intercept grain size , the proportionality constant α = 3/2 being in accord with the Rios‐Fonseca stereological model.     

Effect of Ions and Sequence Variants on the Antagonist Binding Properties of the Histamine H1 Receptor

The histamine H₁ receptor (H₁R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and represents a main target in the treatment of allergic reactions as well as inflammatory reactions and depressions. Although the overall effect of antagonists on H₁ function has been extensively investigated, rather little is known about the potential modulatory effect of ions or sequence variants on antagonist binding. We investigated the dynamics of a phosphate ion present in the crystal structure and of a sodium ion, for which we determined the position in the allosteric pocket by metadynamics simulations. Both types of ions exhibit significant dynamics within their binding site; however, some key contacts remain stable over the simulation time, which might be exploited to develop more potent drugs targeting these sites. The dynamics of the ions is almost unaffected by the presence or absence of doxepin, as also reflected in their small effect (less than 1 kcal·mol⁻¹) on doxepin binding affinity. We also examined the effect of four H₁R sequence variants observed in the human population on doxepin binding. These variants cause a reduction in doxepin affinity of up to 2.5 kcal·mol⁻¹, indicating that personalized medical treatments that take into account individual mutation patterns could increase precision in the dosage of GPCR-targeting drugs.     

Power management system for a 2.5 W remote sensor powered by a sediment microbial fuel cell

One of the challenges in using wireless sensors that require high power to monitor the environment is finding a renewable power source that can produce enough power. Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) are considered an alternative renewable power source for remote monitoring, but current research on SMFCs has demonstrated that they can only produce several to tens of mW of continuous power. This limits the use of SMFCs as an alternative renewable remote power source to mW-level power. Such low power is only enough to operate a low-power sensors. However, there are many remote sensors that require higher power, on the order of watts. Current technology using a SMFC to power a remote sensor requiring watts-level intermittent power is limited because of limitations of power management technology. Our goal was to develop a power management system (PMS) that enables a SMFC to operate a remote sensor consuming 2.5 W of power. We designed a custom PMS to store microbial energy in capacitors and use the stored energy in short bursts. Our results demonstrate that SMFCs can be a viable alternative renewable power source for remote sensors requiring high power.     

ISSN exercise & sport nutrition review: research & recommendations

Sports nutrition is a constantly evolving field with hundreds of research papers published annually. For this reason, keeping up to date with the literature is often difficult. This paper is a five year update of the sports nutrition review article published as the lead paper to launch the JISSN in 2004 and presents a well-referenced overview of the current state of the science related to how to optimize training and athletic performance through nutrition. More specifically, this paper provides an overview of: 1.) The definitional category of ergogenic aids and dietary supplements; 2.) How dietary supplements are legally regulated; 3.) How to evaluate the scientific merit of nutritional supplements; 4.) General nutritional strategies to optimize performance and enhance recovery; and, 5.) An overview of our current understanding of the ergogenic value of nutrition and dietary supplementation in regards to weight gain, weight loss, and performance enhancement. Our hope is that ISSN members and individuals interested in sports nutrition find this review useful in their daily practice and consultation with their clients.     

Plastic deformation kinetics of electrodeposited Cu foil at low and intermediate homologous temperatures

The plastic deformation kinetics of electrodeposited (EP) Cu foil (grain size d=0.6 μm) were determined at 296–448 K and compared with those for vapor-deposited (VP) foil (d=0.5 μm) tested at 77–473 K. The apparent activation volume v=kT ∂ ln for both materials exhibited a minimum at ∼350 K, and at this temperature, there occurred a marked increase in the temperature dependence of the flow stress σ. The rate-controlling mechanism in both materials at T<373 K appears to be grain boundary shear induced by dislocation pileups at the grain boundaries. The results at T=373–473 K suggest that the dislocation pileups are relieved or prevented and that either cross slip or intersection of dislocations is rate controlling with stronger support for the latter. The determination of the rate-controlling mechanism at the higher temperatures is complicated by possible changes in defect structure due to thermal annealing, and therefore, the operative mechanism corresponds to a structure that may differ from the initial, as-deposited condition.     

Plastic deformation kinetics of fine-grained MgO in tension

The plastic deformation kinetics of 99.4% MgO (d _o = 5.3 m) was investigated at 1500°–1600°C in uniaxial tension. It was determined that the stress exponent n 1 and the activation energy Q = 204 kJ/mole. Neither the present results on MgO, nor data in the literature on MgO and other oxide ceramics, can be fully explained by the models usually proposed for the plastic deformation of fine-grained oxide ceramics. The present results are however in good agreement with the model for grain boundary diffusion plastic flow recently developed by Kim, Estrin and Bush.