Peptides secondary structure prediction with neural networks: acriterion for building appropriate learning sets

Artificial neural networks have been recently applied with success for protein secondary structure prediction. So far, one of the two main aspects on which neural net performance depends, the topology of the net, has been considered. The present work addresses the other main aspect, the building up of the learning set. The author presents a criterion to build up suitable learning sets based on the α-helix percentage. Starting from a set of several well known proteins, the author formed 7 groups of proteins with similar helix percentages and used them for the learning of the same neural net. The author found that the best secondary structure prediction for each of the tested proteins (not belonging to the initial set) was the one obtained using the learning set whose helix percentage was closest to that of the tested protein. The accuracy of correct prediction of the author's method on 3 types of secondary structure (α-helix, β-sheet and coil), has been compared with the accuracy of other secondary structure prediction methods     

Chemical composition of a soybean cultivar lacking lipoxygenases (LOX2 and LOX3)

The nutrient, phytic acid, oxalate, trypsin inhibitors and isoflavones composition of a whole soy flour produced from a new cultivar (UFV-116), lacking lipoxygenases 2 and 3, compared to a conventional cultivar (OCEPAR-19) were determined. Protein and dietary fibres (total, soluble and insoluble) were similar for both cultivars. OCEPAR-19 was higher in lipids and UFV-116 in ash content (p < 0.05). Indispensable, dispensable and total aminoacid as well as Ca, K and Mg were higher for UFV-116. This cultivar also showed higher levels of phytic acid, oxalate and trypsin inhibitors (p < 0.05). Total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were similar between them. However, palmitic and linoleic acids were higher for UFV-116 and stearic, α-linolenic and oleic acids for OCEPAR-19 (p < 0.05). The higher concentration of isoflavones in UFV-116 (p < 0.05) could provide better benefit for human health. Experimental studies are necessary to evaluate health effects of this new soybean cultivar.     

饮用水生产设备中纳滤膜化学清洗的评估：联合使用化学组成物分析和荧光显微镜方法

通过联合使用化学组成物分析和荧光显微镜方法评估了Mery sur Oise的饮用水厂中从运行的NF膜表面去除污染沉积物的清洗效果。污染膜的ATR-FTIR光谱显示了在膜表面存在生物物质,主要包括多糖、核酸和蛋白质。与膜材料对应的取波段用于第一阶段的检测,而不是第三阶段。共焦激光扫描显微镜法（CLSM）观察证明了污染沉积的微生物源。化学清洗后,无机污染物的分析说明无机物含量明显下降。改良被污染膜的ATR-FTIR光谱,主要是与多糖和核酸对应的宽的综合区域。氨基化合物波段也因阶段1而改变,清洗后对应于阶段3的清洗膜的一些峰出现。     

Low prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in cull sows and pork

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in sows slaughtered at a single Midwestern plant on two occasions (trial 1, n = 179 sows; trial 2, n = 160 sows). Fecal samples collected antemortem (trial 1) as well as animal tissues, and carcass swabs collected at the abattoir (trials 1 and 2) were analyzed. Eight isolates of L. monocytogenes were recovered from five samples that represented 0.18% of the total samples (n = 2,775). In trial 1, L. monocytogenes was detected in a tonsil sample (0.6%; 1 positive of 181 tonsils), in a carcass (0.6%; 1 positive of 179 carcasses), which was sampled prior to the organic rinse, and in two chopped meat block samples (1.2%; 2 positive of 165 samples). In trial 2, L. monocytogenes was only detected in a single chopped meat block sample (0.15%; 1 positive of 688 total samples). These data indicate the low prevalence of L. monocytogenes in the cull sow.     

Fibers in the Mediterranean diet. An epidemiological study of the Campania Region

BACKGROUND: The authors have evaluated: a) the survival of the "mediterranean diet" as way of life; b) the comparison between fiber content in the diet of adult or school children of the Campania Region. METHODS: To study nutritional epidemiology of adults, a new method consisting of publishing a 24-hour recall dietary chart in a new paper with big regional circulation, Il Mattino, and analyzing all the charts from the different towns of Campania was used. For that, the ZIP code of the subject was used as an informatics button. Data were housed in a computer using Food Meter (an informatics program by Bayer-Medimatica). RESULTS: Differences statistically significant were found between adults or children residing in various district of the Campania Region and Naples town. CONCLUSIONS: Finally, it is important to underline that the amount of fibers of children's diets was higher than adult diets.     

Fibers based on cellulose‐chitin blends

Fibers made of cellulose (CE) and chitin (CH) in different proportion were wet spun from solutions in dimethylacetamide containing 5% LiCl (w/w). Polymer concentration was purposely maintained as low as possible (?2.4% w/w). Moreover, dope temperature was 60°C to have good spinability. Comparison of the elastic modulus (E) of fibers “as spun” at different CE/CH ratio showed a synergy between the components: at CE/CH ? 50/50, E is ?15 GPa with respect to ?9 and ?11 GPa for neat CE and CH fibers, respectively. Application of a pull‐off ratio during the coagulation allows the E value to increase further. These results, as well as the electronic microscopy of fibers section, agree with a complete miscibility of two polymers at the solid state, probably enhanced by the presence of LiCl. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1825–1831, 2002     

Phosphonates Meet Metal−Organic Frameworks: Towards CO2 Adsorption

Here we report a new highly microporous zirconium phosphonate material synthesized under solvothemal conditions. The specific Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of the “unconventional metal−organic framework” (UMOF) is measured to be ∼900 m²/g, after following an appropriate activation protocol. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) shows that the material bears a free −OH functionality on the phosphonate linker that may interact with CO₂. CO₂ adsorption isotherms were collected and a measured heat of adsorption of 31 kJ/mol was obtained. In addition, adsorption isotherms of CO₂, N₂, and CH₄ at 298 K combined with Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST) show that the material can be expected to display high selectivities for uptake of CO₂ versus N₂ or CH₄.     

Interpreting reinterpretation: the 13th conference of the European Association for Urban History,Helsinki, 24–28 August 2016

A sunny Helsinki was the backdrop for the 13th biannual conference of the European Association for Urban History (EAUH). The EAUH was established in 1989 with the aim to create a common platform to historians, geographers, sociologists, planners, and other scholars working with a multidisciplinary approach on urban history in different time periods. The first EAUH conference took place in Amsterdam in 1992 and the next one will take place in Rome during 2018 (for further information about EAUH, please visit the website: http://www.eauh.eu/). The ambitious theme of the 13th conference was Reinterpreting Cities. For planning historians, this theme held ample promise on programmatic, methodological, and theoretical levels. With 592 participants, 44 main sessions, and 30 specialist sessions, we decided to look at the conference through a specific lens. Based on a selection of relevant panels, therefore, we formulated two questions: first, how can a reinterpretation of cities lead to new theories on the city and connect to existing theories in other disciplines? And second, how can a reinterpretation of urban history connect to the ‘real world’, for example, planning practices? This conference report explores the ways in which this conference actually reinterpreted the city, in particular, how it connected to the spatial dimension and planning history.     

Remediation of waters contaminated with ionic herbicides by sorption on polymerin

This study investigated the sorption of paraquat and 2,4-D on polymerin, the humic acid-like fraction of olive mill wastewater. Effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration and sorbent dosage on the sorption of both herbicides were studied. The sorption mechanism of paraquat on polymerin was consistent with the ion exchange of this herbicide with Ca, Mg and K natively occurring in the sorbent; in contrast, 2,4-D was bound to polymerin by hydrogen bonding. Simulated wastewaters contaminated with paraquat were purified after three sorption cycles on polymerin renewed at each cycle, at a solid/liquid ratio of 0.5, whereas those containing 2,4-D showed a maximal residue removal of 44% after two sorption cycles at the same ratio. The possible application of this model to other water-soluble herbicides, as well as the possible exploitation of polymerin as a bio-filter for the decontamination of pollution point sources is briefly discussed.