Sources of error in dietary fibre analysis

The following error sources in the present dietary fibre (DF) analytical methods were investigated: (1) the omission of the protease treatment of samples may modify the results by increasing the Klason lignin fraction and altering the content and/or distribution of polysaccharides; (2) some soluble dietary fibre (SDF) constituents can be retained in the insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) matrix affecting the insoluble and soluble fraction distribution; (3) protein, ash and blank corrections in gravimetric analysis involve a lack of precision, over- or undervaluing the actual DF contents; (4) the Klason lignin fractions obtained by acid hydrolysis of DF residues are made up of different components and artifacts besides lignin.

These studies included both new observations and additional quantitative evidence on error sources previously mentioned in the literature. In some cases the published methods were modified to emphasize the methodological errors.     

Synthesis, Characterization and Cold Workability of Cast Copper-Magnesium-Tin Alloys

The use of Mg as an alloying element in copper alloys has largely been overlooked in scientific literature and technological applications. Its supposed tribological compatibility with iron makes it an interesting option to replace Pb in tribological alloys. This work describes the casting process of high-quality thin slabs of Cu-Mg-Sn alloys with different compositions by means of conventional methods. The resulting phases were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. Typical dendritic α-Cu, eutectic Cu₂Mg(Sn) and eutectoid non-equilibrium microstructures were found. Tensile tests and Vickers microhardness show the excellent hardening capability of Mg as compared to other copper alloys in the as-cast condition. For some of the slabs and compositions, cold rolling reductions of over 95 pct have been easily achieved. Other compositions and slabs have failed during the deformation process. Failure analysis after cold rolling reveals that one cause for brittleness is the presence of casting defects such as microshrinkage and inclusions, which can be eliminated. However, for high Mg contents, a high volume fraction of the intermetallic phase provides a contiguous path for crack propagation through the connected interdendritic regions.     

Implementation of the Decorrelating Receiver for Asynchronous DS-CDMA Systems over Multipath Fading Channels

This paper presents a decorrelating detector for DS-CDMAasynchronous systems over multipath fading channels. The decorrelatingreceiver applies the inverse correlation matrix of signature waveformsto detect the received signal. A procedure for finding such an inversematrix is developed. This procedure employs the reciprocal basis,derived from the basis of normalized user signatures, to cancelsimultaneously both the multiuser and the intersymbolinterference. The proposed multiuser detector operates over a finitedetection window, and the only restriction imposed on the set of signaturesis that the signatures must be independent at the receiver end. If the channelis slowly variant, the detectorcan be very efficient for high bit rate transmissions. Theoreticalbounds for the multiuser interference are obtained. Simulationresults, in which both binary and non-binary sequences are used,reveal that the behaviour of the detector approaches the single userbound when an adequate set of signatures is employed. The reducedcomplexity of this detector indicates that it could be a good candidatefor practical implementation.     

NMDA and P2X7 Receptors Require Pannexin 1 Activation to Initiate and Maintain Nociceptive Signaling in the Spinal Cord of Neuropathic Rats

Pannexin 1 (Panx1) is involved in the spinal central sensitization process in rats with neuropathic pain, but its interaction with well-known, pain-related, ligand-dependent receptors, such as NMDA receptors (NMDAR) and P2X7 purinoceptors (P2X7R), remains largely unexplored. Here, we studied whether NMDAR- and P2X7R-dependent nociceptive signaling in neuropathic rats require the activation of Panx1 channels to generate spinal central sensitization, as assessed by behavioral (mechanical hyperalgesia) and electrophysiological (C-reflex wind-up potentiation) indexes. Administration of either a selective NMDAR agonist i.t. (NMDA, 2 mM) or a P2X7R agonist (BzATP, 150 μM) significantly increased both the mechanical hyperalgesia and the C-reflex wind-up potentiation, effects that were rapidly reversed (minutes) by i.t. administration of a selective pannexin 1 antagonist (10panx peptide, 300 μM), with the scores even reaching values of rats without neuropathy. Accordingly, 300 μM 10panx completely prevented the effects of NMDA and BzATP administered 1 h later, on mechanical hyperalgesia and C-reflex wind-up potentiation. Confocal immunofluorescence imaging revealed coexpression of Panx1 with NeuN protein in intrinsic dorsal horn neurons of neuropathic rats. The results indicate that both NMDAR- and P2X7R-mediated increases in mechanical hyperalgesia and C-reflex wind-up potentiation require neuronal Panx1 channel activation to initiate and maintain nociceptive signaling in neuropathic rats.     

Testing an isolated system powered by solar energy and PEM fuel cell with hydrogen generation

Photovoltaic systems are widely used to power telecommunications systems in remote locations, but this is restricted by the irregular availability of solar energy. A European collaboration is developing and testing an autonomous system that combines a photovoltaic power system in combination with an electrolyzer that uses surplus power to produce hydrogen, which can be used in a PEM fuel cell when there is insufficient solar energy.     

CACNA1A Mutations Causing Early Onset Ataxia: Profiling Clinical,Dysmorphic and Structural-Functional Findings

The CACNA1A gene encodes the pore-forming α_1A subunit of the voltage-gated Ca_V2.1 Ca²⁺ channel, essential in neurotransmission, especially in Purkinje cells. Mutations in CACNA1A result in great clinical heterogeneity with progressive symptoms, paroxysmal events or both. During infancy, clinical and neuroimaging findings may be unspecific, and no dysmorphic features have been reported. We present the clinical, radiological and evolutionary features of three patients with congenital ataxia, one of them carrying a new variant. We report the structural localization of variants and their expected functional consequences. There was an improvement in cerebellar syndrome over time despite a cerebellar atrophy progression, inconsistent response to acetazolamide and positive response to methylphenidate. The patients shared distinctive facial gestalt: oval face, prominent forehead, hypertelorism, downslanting palpebral fissures and narrow nasal bridge. The two α_1A affected residues are fully conserved throughout evolution and among the whole human Ca_V channel family. They contribute to the channel pore and the voltage sensor segment. According to structural data analysis and available functional characterization, they are expected to exert gain- (F1394L) and loss-of-function (R1664Q/R1669Q) effect, respectively. Among the CACNA1A-related phenotypes, our results suggest that non-progressive congenital ataxia is associated with developmental delay and dysmorphic features, constituting a recognizable syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder.     

WWW accessible system for national/regional registries of clinical results of cord blood transplants: a tool to facilitate cooperative clinical research

A system, accessible via internet, has been developed to support the Spanish Registry of Cord Blood Transplants (RETSCU). The system includes a database of clinical results directly accessible by transplant centers (TCs) and cord blood banks (CBBs) (restricted to own cases regarding primary data and unrestricted regarding statistics derived from validated data) and gives open access to Web pages containing results approved for publication. It also includes internal mail for two-way and broadcast messages. Patients' data are essentially those included in Eurocord forms. Additional features of the system are: confidentiality; inalterability of validated primary data; identifiability of data sources. The Unix central computer is accessible via the WWW. For security, data transmission is encrypted and passwords are required for access. Copies are regularly updated. Data can be loaded from CBBs and TCs. The procedure for creating and updating records is user-friendly, with the possibility of errors being minimized by extensive automated checks. Validation of patients' records by a manager is required before making data available for general statistical analysis. TCs and CBBs may retrieve data on their own cases, regardless of validation, as individual records or in tables directly transferable to common statistical programs. Statistical analysis may be done on validated data from all the patients in the Registry or from groups selected according to HLA compatibility and disease, type of transplant (related/unrelated), or protocol. Several similarly designed and managed national/regional Registries might be networked and their data integrated into a multinational Registry. Our system would require some additional developments to be used in this way.     

Composition and potential uses of mesquite pods (Prosopis pallida L): Comparison with carob pods (Ceratonia siliqua L)

The composition of mesquite pods (Prosopis pallida L) (PP), a legume cultivated in the large desert areas of Peru, was studied. These fruits have at the present time very little practical or commercial use. Taking into account the morphological and compositional similarities to Mediterranean carob pods (Ceratonia siliqua L) (CS), which are widely used in the food industry, some applications of PP are considered. PP shows better nutritional properties than CS, mainly owing to its lower polyphenolic content and higher protein digestibility.