Characterisation of Dioscorea bulbifera native starch

A non conventional source of starch, bulbs of Dioscorea bulbifera, was evaluated. Giving a yield of 28.48 g/100 g on dry weight, chemical composition, physical, physico-chemical and morphological characteristics were assessed, as well as its rheological properties. Chemical analysis showed a amylose content of 29.37%. Micrographies showed that most of the starch granules were of irregular shape, similar to a pyramid with rounded vertices, and a smaller number were elongated with smooth surface. Dioscorea starch showed a gelatinization temperature of 70.8 degrees C and maximum viscosity at 88.6 degrees C of 435 Brabender units (BU). It presented a relatively stable consistency to the cooking process and a low tendency to retrogradation; which suggest the starch possible use in food products that need a fast viscosity and a gel with a stable consistency.     

Argon Attenuates Multiorgan Failure in Relation with HMGB1 Inhibition

Argon inhalation attenuates multiorgan failure (MOF) after experimental ischemic injury. We hypothesized that this protection could involve decreased High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) systemic release. We investigated this issue in an animal model of MOF induced by aortic cross-clamping. Anesthetized rabbits were submitted to supra-coeliac aortic cross-clamping for 30 min, followed by 300 min of reperfusion. They were randomly divided into three groups (n = 7/group). The Control group inhaled nitrogen (70%) and oxygen (30%). The Argon group was exposed to a mixture of argon (70%) and oxygen (30%). The last group inhaled nitrogen/oxygen (70/30%) with an administration of the HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin (4 mg/kg i.v.) 5 min before aortic unclamping. At the end of follow-up, cardiac output was significantly higher in Argon and Glycyrrhizin vs. Control (60 ± 4 and 49 ± 4 vs. 33 ± 8 mL/kg/min, respectively). Metabolic acidosis was attenuated in Argon and Glycyrrhizin vs. Control, along with reduced amount of norepinephrine to reverse arterial hypotension. This was associated with reduced interleukin-6 and HMGB1 plasma concentration in Argon and Glycyrrhizin vs. Control. End-organ damages were also attenuated in the liver and kidney in Argon and Glycyrrhizin vs. Control, respectively. Argon inhalation reduced HMGB1 blood level after experimental aortic cross-clamping and provided similar benefits to direct HMGB1 inhibition.     

Myrosma cannifolia,chemical composition and physicochemical properties of the extracted starch

Myrosma cannifolia Lf (Maranthaceae) is a tuber‐producing plant which is native to Apure State in Venezuela and is consumed by the Pumé Amerindians of the region. Its chemical composition and physical characteristics were determined. The chemical, physicochemical, morphometric characteristics and rheological properties of starch isolated from Myrosma were studied. The starch yield was 438.6 g kg ⁻¹ (DW). Starch granules were oval, elliptical, irregular and polyhedric, with granules of 9.5–21.25 μm wide and 9.6–19.05 μm long. Scanning electron micrographs revealed the presence of smooth surfaces. The starch showed a characteristic ‘A‐pattern’ of cereal starches by X‐ray diffraction, with zones of high crystallinity. The amylographic study showed a rapid gelatinisation with high stability during heating and cooling cycles. The starch might be a potential ingredient for food products manufactured using different temperatures during processing. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Hypoxia Inhibits Subretinal Inflammation Resolution Thrombospondin-1 Dependently

Hypoxia is potentially one of the essential triggers in the pathogenesis of wet age-related macular degeneration (wetAMD), characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) which is driven by the accumulation of subretinal mononuclear phagocytes (MP) that include monocyte-derived cells. Here we show that systemic hypoxia (10% O₂) increased subretinal MP infiltration and inhibited inflammation resolution after laser-induced subretinal injury in vivo. Accordingly, hypoxic (2% O₂) human monocytes (Mo) resisted elimination by RPE cells in co-culture. In Mos from hypoxic mice, Thrombospondin 1 mRNA (Thbs1) was most downregulated compared to normoxic animals and hypoxia repressed Thbs-1 expression in human monocytes in vitro. Hypoxic ambient air inhibited MP clearance during the resolution phase of laser-injury in wildtype animals, but had no effect on the exaggerated subretinal MP infiltration observed in normoxic Thbs1^−/−-mice. Recombinant Thrombospondin 1 protein (TSP-1) completely reversed the pathogenic effect of hypoxia in Thbs1^−/−-mice, and accelerated inflammation resolution and inhibited CNV in wildtype mice. Together, our results demonstrate that systemic hypoxia disturbs TSP-1-dependent subretinal immune suppression and promotes pathogenic subretinal inflammation and can be therapeutically countered by local recombinant TSP-1.     

Colour study for a lunar base

This colour design approach was conceived for a first generation lunar base for a multiculture crew planned by the Space Architecture Design Group of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Gary T. Moore. Within the limits of the necessary standardization, it attempts a flexible use of colour, a multi-stimulus material able to affect the impact of man's new anticipated environment on all three levels of perception, the physical, psychological, and metaphysical. This effect is directed not only toward comfort and productivity, but also toward pleasurability through a sense of belonging. The contribution of colour to space identification and personalization is beyond challenge, more so considering its flexibility. Above all, this approach lays emphasis on the structural, semiotic, and symbolic aspects of colour establishing throughout a constant shift from one to another. Through the creation of interrelated colour schemes and configurations endlessly integrating into bigger ones (detail, subdominant, dominant surfaces and uses) it tries to teach continuous evolvability and regeneration within the individual and the entity in view of two major goals: that men do not forget the glorious multicoloured scheme of life on earth, and that they live up to an overall honesty, environmental sensitivity, and cosmic concordance. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Integrated synthetic, pharmacological, and computational investigation of cis-2-(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid enantiomers as positive allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4

2‐(3,5‐Dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid ( 1 ) is a potent and selective positive allosteric modulator of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4). The activity of 1 was reported to reside in the cis diastereomer with equal potency between its enantiomeric forms (Niswender et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 2008 , 74, 1345–1358). In the present study, the asymmetric synthesis of each of the cis enantiomers was performed, and their activities were compared with that of the racemic trans. In our assays, the cis enantiomers differ in potency, with one of them (1R,2S) higher and the other (1S,2R) lower than the racemic trans. High‐level quantum chemical calculations were carried out to characterize the structures of minimum energy in all‐isomer conformational space as well as particular intermediates between conformational transitions. Computational analysis identified structural features of 1 that can play a role in mGluR4 functionality and establish the basis for subsequent work, in which molecular chirality constructed on conformations derived from those found for the active (1R,2S) enantiomer can provide new ideas for drug discovery. Comparison between experimental and theoretical circular dichroism spectra confirmed both the absolute configuration of the (1R,2S) compound and its calculated most stable conformation, thereby supporting experimental and theoretical work.     

Fe/N/C non-precious catalysts for PEM fuel cells: Influence of the structural parameters of pristine commercial carbon blacks on their activity for oxygen reduction

Fifteen commercial SRCC furnace carbon blacks of various grades, ranging from N1 to N9, were used as carbon supports in the preparation of Fe/N/C type electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEM fuel cell conditions. All catalysts were prepared by loading the various carbon grades with 0.2 wt.% Fe as iron acetate and heat-treating the resulting material at 950 °C in pure NH₃. This reaction provides the nitrogen content and the microporosity necessary to synthesize and host the Fe/N/C catalytic sites that perform ORR. The maximum catalytic activity (V_pr max) for each carbon grade was determined by optimizing pyrolysis time. The aim of this study is to determine which structural characteristics of the pristine carbon black are important for maximizing catalytic activity. Three structural parameters that influenced the catalytic site density on the carbon support were identified. They are: (i) the average particle diameter of the pristine carbon black, d_particle, available from BET area measurements; (ii) the amount of disordered phase which is proportional to W_D, the width at half maximum of the D peak in the Raman spectrum of the pristine carbon; and (iii) the mean size of the graphene layers characterizing the graphitic crystallites in the carbon black, L_a. The latter is available by Rietveld analysis of the XRD spectra of the pristine carbons. The best catalytic activities are obtained for the smallest d_particle, the largest W_D, and the largest L_a. Optimizing these three parameters maximizes the fraction of the pristine carbon black that becomes microporous upon reaction with NH₃ and, therefore, enables the formation of Fe/N/C catalytic sites. A FeN₂₊₂/C structure bridging two adjacent graphitic crystallites is proposed as a potential model for most of the catalytic sites present in such Fe/N/C type catalysts.     

Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of flour of orange (Citrus sinensis), tangerine (Citrus reticulata) and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) peels cultivated in Venezuela

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition and some bioactive compounds in the peel's flour of some of the most consumed citrus fruits cultivated in Venezuela. Chemical composition as well as some trace elements, ascorbic acid, carotenoids dietary fiber, total polyphenols and their antiradical efficiency, using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidracyl (DPPH) were assessed in the dried peels of orange (Citrus sinensis), tangerine (Citrus reticulata) and white grapefruit (Citrus paradisi). Moisture, fat, protein and ash content for all samples showed statistical differences (p < 0.05). Tangerine's peel showed the highest magnesium and carotenoid content, while highest ascorbic acid and carotenoid content was found in the grapefruit's peel. Dietary fiber content presented significant high value in the tangerine peel. All samples presented high content of extractable polyphenols (4.33; 7.6 and 5.1 g/100g). The highest antiradical efficiency was shown by the tangerine's peel, value which correlates with the polyphenol content. These results suggest that tangerine peel should be the most suitable, to reduce risk of some diseases such as cardiovascular and some associated to lipid oxidation. Studied samples are good sources of dietary fiber and phenolic compounds, whose use could be useful in the formulation of functional foods, taking advantage of the presence of dietary fiber and antioxidant compounds in only one ingredient.     

主板行情

微星本月推出了一款集成主板，这本来没有什么好引起关注的，但是由于该主板采用创新音效解码芯片，相当于Sound Blaster Audigy SE，因此不免令人非常好奇。集成声卡对于创新公司的冲击勿庸置疑，而此番创新再次选择配合集成主板，很可能预示着未来还会有更大的动作。凭借创新的号召力，预计搭配创新声卡的主板将在市场上非常抢手。     

主板行情

Intel退出中低端芯片组市场已经是公开的秘密，然而就在人们为其接替者争论不休时，似乎Intel心中早巳饮点了合作者。一向与Intel关系紧密的SiS成内了幸运者，继Intel在官方渠道宣布推荐SiS中低端芯片组之后，近期竟然宣布免受SiS芯片组权益金。2.5美元的权益金令SiS在面对VIA等芯片组厂商时占据很大的成本优势。