Iodine Value and Fatty Acids Determination on Pig Fat Samples by FT-NIR Spectroscopy: Benefits of Variable Selection in the Perspective of Industrial Applications

In this work, FT-NIR spectroscopy was employed to determine iodine value (IV) and fatty acids (FA) content of pig fat samples, through the combined use of signal preprocessing, multivariate calibration, and variable selection methods. In particular, the main focus was on the use of variable selection methods, both in order to improve the predictive performance of the calibration models, and to identify relevant wavelengths that could be subsequently used for the development of simple, fast, and cheap hand-held devices, able to measure IV and FA content directly on the fat without the need of any sample pretreatment. Firstly, for each property of interest, partial least squares (PLS) multivariate calibration models were calculated considering the whole spectral range and testing different signal preprocessing methods. Then, once chosen the optimal signal preprocessing method, a two-step variable selection procedure was applied. In the first step, the interval-PLS variable selection algorithm was used to calculate a set of calibration models, whose outcomes were considered altogether in the second step, in order to select the optimal calibration model. The variable selection procedure allowed to lower the number of spectral variables retained by the model, and often led to an increase of the performance in prediction of the external test set samples.     

Mesoporous carbons supported non-noble metal Fe–N X electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cell oxygen reduction reaction

Three types of iron–nitrogen-containing non-noble metal catalysts, supported on an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis mesoporous carbon (USPMC), a hollow core mesoporous shell carbon (HCMSC), and a standard carbon (Ketjen Black CJ600, KB), respectively, are synthesized using a wet-impregnation method. The morphologies and structure as well as composition of the synthesized carbon supports and their corresponding supported Fe–N _X catalysts (namely Fe–N _X /USPMC, Fe–N _X /HCMSC, and Fe–N _X /KB, respectively) are physically characterized using EDX, SEM, FESEM, and BET analysis, respectively. The catalytic activities of these three electrocatalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are measured using rotating disk electrode technique in O₂-saturated 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution. The catalyzed ORR exchange current densities are also obtained using the Tafel method based on the measured data. Among these three electrocatalysts, Fe–N _X /HCMSC can give the best ORR performance, which is correlated to its higher nitrogen, mesopore, and micropore contents, compared to the other electrocatalysts. It is rationalized that the performance improvement of these electrocatalysts may be achieved as long as an optimal relationship among mesopores, micropores, and even macropores for increasing both ORR kinetics and reactant gases accessibility to the active sites can be found.     

Increased Valency Improves Inhibitory Activity of Peptides Targeting Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9)

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a clinically validated target for treating hypercholesterolemia. Peptide-based PCSK9 inhibitors have attracted pharmaceutical interest, but the effect of multivalency on bioactivity is poorly understood. Here we designed bivalent and tetravalent dendrimers, decorated with the PCSK9 inhibitory peptides Pep2-8[RRG] or P9-38, to study relationships between peptide binding affinity, peptide valency, and PCSK9 inhibition. Increased valency resulted in improved PCSK9 inhibition for both peptides, with activity improvements of up to 100-fold achieved for the P9-38-decorated dendrimers compared to monomeric P9-38 in in vitro competition binding assays. Furthermore, the P9-38-decorated dendrimers showed improved potency at restoring functional low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor levels and internalizing LDL in the presence of PCSK9, demonstrating significant cell-based activity at picomolar concentrations. This study demonstrates the potential of increasing valency as a strategy for increasing the efficacy of peptide-based PCSK9 therapeutics.     

Short communication: Intra- and inter-individual milk microbiota variability in healthy and infected water buffalo udder quarters

The concept that ruminant mammary gland quarters are anatomically and physiologically unrelated has been recently challenged by immunological evidence. How this interdependence reflects on individual quarter milk microbiota is unknown. The aim of the present study was to cover this gap by investigating the interdependence of quarters among the same mammary gland at the milk microbiota level using next-generation sequencing of the V4–16S rRNA gene. A total of 52 samples were included in this study and classified as healthy or affected by subclinical mastitis. Extraction of DNA, amplification of the V4–16S rRNA gene, and sequencing using Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) were carried out. We found that the intra-individual variability was lower than the inter-individual one. The present findings further support at milk microbiota level the hypothesis of the interdependence of quarters, as previously demonstrated following immunological studies, suggesting that individual factors (e.g., immunity, genetics) may have a role in modulating milk microbiota.     

Weighted-object ensemble clustering: methods and analysis

In recent years, research on provenance has increased exponentially, and such studies in the field of business process monitoring have been especially remarkable. Business process monitoring deals with recording information about the actual execution of processes to then extract valuable knowledge that can be utilized for business process quality improvement. In prior research, we developed an occurrence-centric approach built on our notion of occurrence that provides a holistic perspective of system dynamics. Based on this concept, more complex structures are defined herein, namely Occurrence Base (OcBase) and Occurrence Management System (OcSystem), which serve as scaffolding to develop business process monitoring systems. This paper focuses primarily on the critical provenance task of extracting valuable knowledge from such systems by proposing an Occurrence Query Framework that includes the definition of an Occurrence Base Metamodel and an Occurrence Query Language based on this metamodel. Our framework provides a way of working for the construction of business process monitoring systems that are provenance aware. As a proof of concept, a tool implementing the various components of the framework is presented. This tool has been tested against a real system in the context of biobanks.     

Metacluster-based Projective Clustering Ensembles

Machine Learning - The Projective Clustering Ensemble (PCE) problem is a recent clustering advance aimed at combining the two powerful tools of clustering ensembles and projective clustering. PCE...     

Unusual essential oils with aromatic properties III. Volatile components of gentian roots

Summary The essential oil obtained by steam distillation of gentian roots (Gentiana lutea L.,Gentianaceae family) - a plant well know for its pharmacological properties and employed in the food industry, especially in making liqueurs - was investigated. The oil, after separation into fractions on a silica gel column, was investigated by GLC and GLC/MS. Limonene (34.68%), linalool, carvacrol, cis-linalyl oxide and aterpineol were the main components of the oil, totalling 50.04%. Several other minor components have been identified and are listed.

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Ungewöhnliche etherische Öle mit aromatischen Eigenschaften III. Flüchtige Aromastoffe der Enzianwurzeln

Zusammenfassung Es wurde etherisches Öl analysiert, das durch Wasserdampfdestillation aus Enzianwurzeln (Gentiana lutea L.,Gentianaceae) gewonnen wurde. Die Pflanze ist aufgrund ihrer pharmakologischen Eigenschaften bekannt und wird auch in der Lebensmittelindustrie verwendet, ganz besonders für die Likör-und Magenbitterherstellung. Das Öl wurde durch Säulenchromatographie an Kieselgel mittels GLC und GC/MS analysiert. Limonen (34,68%), Linalool, Carvacrol,cis-Linalyloxid und -Terpineol bilden 50,04% des Öls. Darüber hinaus wurden weitere Bestandteile identifiziert.

     

'History-friendly' models of industry evolution: the computer industry

The model presented in this paper is the first of a new generationof evolutionary economic models: 'history-friendly' models.History-friendly models are formal models that aim to capture,in stylized form, qualitative and 'appreciative' theories aboutthe mechanisms and factors affecting industry evolution, technologicaladvance and institutional change put forth by empirical scholarsof industrial economics, technological change, business organizationand strategy, and other social scientists. In this paper wehave analyzed the long-term evolution of the computer industry.In particular we have examined the emergence of a dominant firmin mainframes, the introduction of a major innovation (microprocessor),the opening up of a new market segment (personal computers),ad the competition there between newcomers and diversified oldestablished firms. We have taken a body of verbal appreciativetheorizing, developed a formal representation of that theory,and found that the formal version of that theory is consistentand capable of generating the stylized facts the appreciativetheory purports to explain. Going through this analytic exercisehas significantly sharpened our theoretical understanding ofthe key factors behind salient aspects of the evolution of thecomputer industry.     

Modulation of CD14 and TLR4⋅MD‐2 Activities by a Synthetic Lipid A Mimetic

Monosaccharide lipid A mimetics based on a glucosamine core linked to two fatty acid chains and bearing one or two phosphate groups have been synthesized. Compounds 1 and 2 , each with one phosphate group, were practically inactive in inhibiting LPS‐induced TLR4 signaling and cytokine production in HEK‐blue cells and murine macrophages, but compound 3 , with two phosphate groups, was found to be active in efficiently inhibiting TLR4 signal in both cell types. The direct interaction between compound 3 and the MD‐2 coreceptor was investigated by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling/docking analysis. This compound also interacts directly with the CD14 receptor, stimulating its internalization by endocytosis. Experiments on macrophages show that the effect on CD14 reinforces the activity on MD‐2 ? TLR4 because compound 3 's activity is higher when CD14 is important for TLR4 signaling (i.e., at low LPS concentration). The dual targeting of MD‐2 and CD14, accompanied by good solubility in water and lack of toxicity, suggests the use of monosaccharide 3 as a lead compound for the development of drugs directed against TLR4related syndromes.     

Development of a thermal neutron detector based on scintillating fibers and silicon photomultipliers

We propose a technique for thermal neutron detection, based on a (6)Li converter placed in front of scintillating fibers readout by means of silicon photomultipliers. Such a technique allows building cheap and compact detectors and dosimeters, thus possibly opening new perspectives in terms of granular monitoring of neutron fluxes as well as space-resolved neutron detection.