Esters of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) in vegetable oils: Significance in the formation of 3-MCPD

3-Mono-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) is a contaminant that occurs in food in its free (diol) form as well as in an esterified (with fatty acids) form. Using a simple intestinal model, it was demonstrated that 3-MCPD monoesters and 3-MCPD diesters are accepted by intestinal lipase as substrates in vitro. Under the chosen conditions, the yield of 3-MCPD from a 3-MCPD monoester was greater than 95% in approximately 1 min. Release from the diesters was slower, reaching about 45, 65 and 95% of 3-MCPD after 1, 5 and 90 min of incubation, respectively. However, in human, the hydrolysis of 3-MCPD esters is unlikely to release 100% as 3-MCPD, as triglycerides and phospholipids are hydrolysed in the intestine liberating 2-monoglycerides. Assuming a similar metabolism for 3-MCPD esters as that known for acylglycerols in humans in vivo, the de-esterification in positions 1 and 3 would thus be favoured by pancreatic lipases. Therefore, 3-MCPD, and 3-MCPD-2 monoesters would be released, respectively, from the 1-/3-monoesters, and the diesters potentially present in food. Hence, information on the exact amounts of the partial fatty acid chloroesters, i.e. 3-MCPD mono- and diesters, is important to assess the contribution of foods to the bioavailability of 3-MCPD. Therefore, a rapid method for the determination of the ratio of 3-MCPD monoesters to diesters in fats and oils was developed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and isotopically labelled 3-MCPD esters as internal standards. The analysis of 11 different samples of fat mixes typically employed in food manufacturing demonstrated that a maximum of about 15% of the total amount of 3-MCPD bound in esters is present in the monoesterified form. The potentially slower release of 3-MCPD from 3-MCPD diesters, and the mono- to diesters ratio suggest that 3-MCPD esters may in fact contribute only marginally to the overall dietary exposure to 3-MCPD. Further work on the bioavailability, metabolism and possible toxicity of chloroesters per se is warranted.     

Alphaviruses induce apoptosis in Bcl-2-overexpressing cells: evidence for a caspase-mediated, proteolytic inactivation of Bcl-2

Bcl-2 oncogene expression plays a role in the establishment of persistent viral infection by blocking virus-induced apoptosis. This might be achieved by preventing virus-induced activation of caspase-3, an IL-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like cysteine protease that has been implicated in the death effector phase of apoptosis. Contrary to this model, we show that three cell types highly overexpressing functional Bcl-2 displayed caspase-3 activation and underwent apoptosis in response to infection with alphaviruses Semliki Forest and Sindbis as efficiently as vector control counterparts. In all three cell types, overexpressed 26 kDa Bcl-2 was cleaved into a 23 kDa protein. Antibody epitope mapping revealed that cleavage occurred at one or two target sites for caspases within the amino acid region YEWD31 (downward arrow) AGD34 (downward arrow) A, removing the N-terminal BH4 region known to be essential for the death-protective activity of Bcl-2. Preincubation of cells with the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD prevented Bcl-2 cleavage and partially restored the protective activity of Bcl-2 against virus-induced apoptosis. Moreover, a murine Bcl-2 mutant having Asp31, Asp34 and Asp36 substituted by Glu was resistant to proteolytic cleavage and abrogated apoptosis following virus infection. These findings indicate that alphaviruses can trigger a caspase-mediated inactivation of Bcl-2 in order to evade the death protection imposed by this survival factor.     

Local reinforcement of aerospace structures using co-curing RTM of metal foil hybrid composites

The increasing use of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites in aviation and automotive industries has led to the adoption of automated production methods such as pultrusion or resin transfer moulding (RTM) for cost reduction in the production lightweight structures. These processes however, offer limited freedom to locally reinforce structures. This paper describes an approach to utilise a basic geometry for several similar parts and add local reinforcement patches only in regions of load introduction or high local stress. The approach offers the benefit of being able to combine automated production methods with unprecedented design freedom. The specific bearing performance for three different local reinforcement using (1) add-on CFRP patches, (2) surface mounted steel foils and (3) steel foil interleaving in replacement of 90° plies with foils of the same thickness as the CFRP plies (0.125 mm) is compared by double lap bearing tests. The bearing strength improves with the addition of patches, for surface mounted steel foils, more so as CFRP co-cured patches, and most as an interleaved configuration. Quasi ductile failure of the bearing joints was maintained due to additional plasticity of the steel foils, producing a joint that fails safely while enhancing the bearing strength. When examining the hybrid laminates, all samples buckled and failed in bearing compression/shear. Brooming was evident on the compressive side of the hole where the bolt indented the laminate. Indentation led to shear kink bands along the washer supported region and appear as large compression/shear damage above the washer confined region of the laminate. When normalised by weight, the three approaches show similar bearing performance. However, each approach has specific advantages with regards to processing, electrolytic potential, or absolute bearing strength, depending on the design of the load introduction.     

A large volume cell for in situ neutron diffraction studies of hydrothermal crystallizations

A hydrothermal cell with 320 ml internal volume has been designed and constructed for in situ neutron diffraction studies of hydrothermal crystallizations. The cell design adopts a dumbbell configuration assembled with standard commercial stainless steel components and a zero-scattering Ti-Zr alloy sample compartment. The fluid movement and heat transfer are simply driven by natural convection due to the natural temperature gradient along the fluid path, so that the temperature at the sample compartment can be stably sustained by heating the fluid in the bottom fluid reservoir. The cell can operate at temperatures up to 300?°C and pressures up to 90 bars and is suitable for studying reactions requiring a large volume of hydrothermal fluid to damp out the negative effect from the change of fluid composition during the course of the reactions. The capability of the cell was demonstrated by a hydrothermal phase transformation investigation from leucite (KAlSi(2)O(6)) to analcime (NaAlSi(2)O(6)?H(2)O) at 210?°C on the high intensity powder diffractometer Wombat in ANSTO. The kinetics of the transformation has been resolved by collecting diffraction patterns every 10 min followed by Rietveld quantitative phase analysis. The classical Avrami/Arrhenius analysis gives an activation energy of 82.3±1.1?kJ mol(-1). Estimations of the reaction rate under natural environments by extrapolations agree well with petrological observations.     

Semantic Wikipedia

Wikipedia is the world’s largest collaboratively edited source of encyclopaedic knowledge. But in spite of its utility, its content is barely machine-interpretable and only weakly structured. With Semantic MediaWiki we provide an extension that enables wiki-users to semantically annotate wiki pages, based on which the wiki contents can be browsed, searched, and reused in novel ways. In this paper, we give an extended overview of Semantic MediaWiki and discuss experiences regarding performance and current applications.     

Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 synergize in patterning the hindbrain, cranial nerves and second pharyngeal arch

The analysis of Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 null mutants suggested that these genes are involved in distinct aspects of hindbrain segmentation and specification. Here we investigate the possible functional synergy of the two genes. The generation of Hoxa1(3'RARE)/Hoxb1(3'RARE) compound mutants resulted in mild facial motor nerve defects reminiscent of those present in the Hoxb1 null mutants. Strong genetic interactions between Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 were uncovered by introducing the Hoxb1(3'RARE) and Hoxb1 null mutations into the Hoxa1 null genetic background. Hoxa1(null)/Hoxb1(3'RARE) and Hoxa1(null)/Hoxb1(null )double homozygous embryos showed additional patterning defects in the r4-r6 region but maintained a molecularly distinct r4-like territory. Neurofilament staining and retrograde labelling of motor neurons indicated that Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 synergise in patterning the VIIth through XIth cranial nerves. The second arch expression of neural crest cell markers was abolished or dramatically reduced, suggesting a defect in this cell population. Strikingly, the second arch of the double mutant embryos involuted by 10.5 dpc and this resulted in loss of all second arch-derived elements and complete disruption of external and middle ear development. Additional defects, most notably the lack of tympanic ring, were found in first arch-derived elements, suggesting that interactions between first and second arch take place during development. Taken together, our results unveil an extensive functional synergy between Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 that was not anticipated from the phenotypes of the simple null mutants.     

Ontologies for enterprise knowledge management

Several challenges exist related to applying ontologies in real-world environments. The authors present an integrated enterprise-knowledge management architecture, focusing on how to support multiple ontologies and manage ontology evolution.     

Enantioselective hydrogenation of α-ketoesters using cinchona modified platinum catalysts and related systems: A review

The state of the art for the heterogeneous enantioselective hydrogenation of α-ketoesters using cinchona modified Pt catalysts and related systems is reviewed. The effect of the following elements of the catalytic system are well known: Catalyst. Supported Pt catalysts with relatively low dispersion (particle diameter >2 nm) are preferred for the hydrogenation of α-ketoacid derivatives, Pd catalysts for functionalized olefins. Most support materials are suitable. Substrate. The reacting function is preferentially a ketone or a C=C bond, a carbonyl group in a-position is necessary for good optical yields. Modifier. The minimal requirements for an efficient modifier for the hydrogenation of α-ketoesters is the presence of a basic nitrogen atom close to one or more stereogenic centers and connected to an extended aromatic system (preferentially quinolyl or naphthyl). The presence of an alcohol or ether in β-position to the basic nitrogen often gives better enantioselectivities. Solvent. Solvents with adielectric constant between 2 and 10 give best selectivities for a-ketoesters with best e.e.'s in acetic acid. For the hydrogenation of substrates with a free acid function aqueous polar solvents are preferred. The highest optical yields for the different substrate types: 95% e.e. for α-ketoesters, 85% for a-ketoacids and 70% for α,)-unsaturated acids. Practical problems for the use of the catalytic system are low e.e.'s at the start of the reaction, the instability of the modifier and some side reactions as well as the purity of the ethyl pyruvate. Mechanistic investigations have established interactions between substrate and modifier in solution and adsorption of the ethyl pyruvate and cinchonidine on the catalyst. The dependence of rate and e.e. on catalyst, cinchonidine, ethyl pyruvate and hydrogen concentration has been established for ethyl pyruvate hydrogenation using Pt/Al₂O₃-cinchona. A Langmuir-Hinshelwood scheme is well suited for explaining the observed kinetic results. Based on the kinetic results, the effect of modifier and substrate structure, and molecular modeling studies, the following mechanistic model has been developed: On the unmodified catalyst, the a-ketoester and hydrogen are reversibly adsorbed and the addition of the first hydrogen atom is rate determining. A modified active site is formed by adsorption of one cinchona molecule. It is postulated that a protonated adsorbed modifier interacts with the α-ketoester and forms a stabilized half hydrogenated intermediate. The rate determining step for the preferred enantiomer is the addition of the second hydrogen. The rate acceleration and the enantiodiscrimination is therefore due to the preferential stabilization of one of the two diastereomeric intermediates. Alternative mechanisms are discussed but considered to be less satisfying.