Pilot plant studies of biodiesel production using Brassica carinata as raw material

In recent years, the development of alternative fuels from renewable resources, like biomass, has received considerable attention. Biodiesel is defined as fatty acid methyl or ethyl esters from vegetable oils, when it is used as fuel in diesel engines and heating systems.

In this context, the cultivation of Brassica carinata as oilseed crop for biodiesel production in the south of Europe (Spain and Italy) and north of Africa has gained special interest, since it allows the use of set-aside lands, giving higher yields per hectare than the traditional Spanish crops.

Methyl or ethyl esters are the product of transesterification of vegetable oils with alcohol (methanol/ethanol) using an alkaline catalyst. In addition, the process yields glycerol, which has large applications in the pharmaceutical, food and plastics industries.

In the present work, the process of biodiesel production for pilot plant using B. Carinata oil as raw materials with methanol and using potassium hydroxide as catalyst has been studied.

The biodiesel quality meets European specifications defined by pr EN 14214:2002 (E). The obtained results have been used for industrial scale up of the process.     

香奈儿背后的家族

我们是一个很谨慎的家族,(对香奈儿)我们从来不说什么.香奈儿是关于可可·夏奈尔的,是关于卡尔的,是关于每一个在香奈儿工作、创作的人的,而不是关于维德摩尔家族的." --杰拉尔·维德摩尔     

Phytate degradation by Bifidobacterium on whole wheat fermentation

Whole cereal-based products have a beneficial effect on health, but they also contain high levels of phytate, defined as anti-nutrient. The possible use of different strains of bifidobacterial species (B. catenulatum, B. longum and B. breve) with phytate degrading activity as starters in the fermentation process was investigated. Fermentative parameters of doughs (pH, volume, total titrable acidity [TTA] and acetic and lactic acids production) and the hydrolysis profile of the phytic acid were determined during whole wheat dough fermentation. During fermentation in the presence of different bifidobacterial strains, the concentration of phytic acid showed a progressive decrease, leading to a higher release of hydrolysis products than in the control, within short fermentation time. According to the fermentative parameters bifidobacterial strains showed a good adaptation to the dough ecosystem. The range of TTA and lactic acid production was dependent on the strain. Among the tested bifidobacterial strains, those belonging to the species B. breve and B. longum induced a higher hydrolysis of phytic acid with simultaneous production of lower inositol phosphates. In addition, dough containing those strains had high pH and minor acidity than those containing a commercial starter (L. plantarum). Therefore, the tested bifidobacterial strains could be used as breadmaking starters contributing to different acidification degrees and promoting simultaneously the degradation of phytic acid in the whole wheat dough.     

Determination of tetracyclines in multi-specie animal tissues by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A specific, sensitive and robust pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for determining tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline and doxycycline in bovine, swine, poultry and lamb muscle tissues is presented. PLE was performed using an ASE^® 200 from Dionex and water as extractant, followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using an Oasis HLB cartridge. The method was validated for beef, chicken, pork and lamb meat in compliance with the requirements set by Commission Decision, 2002/657/EC [Commission Decision 2002/657/EC (2002). Implementing Council Directive 96/23/EC concerning the performance of analytical methods and interpretation of results. Official Journal of European Communities, L239, 66–98. (Available at: <http://europe.eu.int>)]. The average recoveries of the different meat samples, spiked with the four tetracyclines at three levels (1, 100 and 200 μg kg⁻¹ of each tetracycline), were always higher than 89% with intraday and interday precision lower than 15% and 17%, respectively. A good linearity was established for the four tetracyclines in the range from 5 to 10,000 μg kg⁻¹ with r > 0.995. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were between 0.5 and 1 μg kg⁻¹, which are well below the tolerance levels set by the European Union. The decision limit (CCα) and the decision capability (CCβ) were in the range 101–116 and 112–130 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. Compared with previous methods, sample preparation time required for the analysis and LOQs, are reduced. The method demonstrated its successful application for the analysis of 100 meat samples. Two samples of beef and one sample of chicken out of 25 of each type tested positive while none of 25 samples of either, lamb or pork, tested positive.     

The Microbiota and the Gut–Brain Axis in Controlling Food Intake and Energy Homeostasis

Obesity currently represents a major societal and health challenge worldwide. Its prevalence has reached epidemic proportions and trends continue to rise, reflecting the need for more effective preventive measures. Hypothalamic circuits that control energy homeostasis in response to food intake are interesting targets for body-weight management, for example, through interventions that reinforce the gut-to-brain nutrient signalling, whose malfunction contributes to obesity. Gut microbiota–diet interactions might interfere in nutrient sensing and signalling from the gut to the brain, where the information is processed to control energy homeostasis. This gut microbiota–brain crosstalk is mediated by metabolites, mainly short chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids or amino acids-derived metabolites and subcellular bacterial components. These activate gut–endocrine and/or neural-mediated pathways or pass to systemic circulation and then reach the brain. Feeding time and dietary composition are the main drivers of the gut microbiota structure and function. Therefore, aberrant feeding patterns or unhealthy diets might alter gut microbiota–diet interactions and modify nutrient availability and/or microbial ligands transmitting information from the gut to the brain in response to food intake, thus impairing energy homeostasis. Herein, we update the scientific evidence supporting that gut microbiota is a source of novel dietary and non-dietary biological products that may beneficially regulate gut-to-brain communication and, thus, improve metabolic health. Additionally, we evaluate how the feeding time and dietary composition modulate the gut microbiota and, thereby, the intraluminal availability of these biological products with potential effects on energy homeostasis. The review also identifies knowledge gaps and the advances required to clinically apply microbiome-based strategies to improve the gut–brain axis function and, thus, combat obesity.     

Effect of Osmotic Dehydration and Vacuum-Frying Parameters to Produce High-Quality Mango Chips

ABSTRACT:  Mango ( Mangifera indica  L.) is a fruit rich in flavor and nutritional values, which is an excellent candidate for producing chips. The objective of this study was to develop high-quality mango chips using vacuum frying. Mango (" Tommy Atkins ") slices were pretreated with different maltodextrin concentrations (40, 50, and 65, w/v), osmotic dehydration times (45, 60, and 70 min), and solution temperatures (22 and 40 °C). Pretreated slices were vacuum fried at 120, 130, and 138 °C and product quality attributes (oil content, texture, color, carotenoid content) determined. The effect of frying temperatures at optimum osmotic dehydration times (65 [w/v] at 40 °C) was assessed. All samples were acceptable (scores > 5) to consumer panelists. The best mango chips were those pretreated with 65 (w/v) concentration for 60 min and vacuum fried at 120 °C. Mango chips under atmospheric frying had less carotenoid retention (32%) than those under vacuum frying (up to 65%). These results may help further optimize vacuum-frying processing of high-quality fruit-based snacks.     

Monitoring of carboxylic carbon nanotubes in surface water by using multiwalled carbon nanotube-modified filter as preconcentration unit

In this paper, for the first time, the possibility of preconcentrating and determining carboxylic single-walled carbon nanotubes (c-SWNTs) from environmental water samples is demonstrated. The method is based on the preconcentration of c-SWNTs and their further electrophoretic analysis. The preconcentration of c-SWNTs has been successfully performed on a filter modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), which allows the use of high preconcentration rates. MWNT-modified filters were fabricated in the laboratory from a surfactant dispersion of MWNTs. The main variables affecting the preconcentration of analytes are studied and discussed in the paper. Electrophoretic separation of carboxylic SWNTs was accomplished by using a 50 mM ammonium acetate solution at pH 7.5 as a background electrolyte and a potential of 15 kV. Under these conditions, separation was completed within only 5 min. Recoveries for the analysis of spiked samples ranged from 70 to 85% and the precision from 6.4 to 7.3%.     

Influence of germination on the soluble carbohydrates and dietary fibre fractions in non-conventional legumes

Influence of light exposure during germination on structural and soluble carbohydrates including total dietary fibre (TDF), insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) and soluble (SDF) dietary fibre fractions and also raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) was studied in non-conventional legumes Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean), Stizolobium niveum (mucuna), and Lablab purpureus (dolichos), and compared to a well known and used Glycine max (soybean). Non-conventional legumes were rich in DF, mainly IDF, which represented 93–97% of TDF. It was relevant the proportion of protein that remained associated to the insoluble DF matrix. Non-conventional legumes exhibited important levels of RFOs but their profile was different depending on the tropical seed. The germination of seeds produced changes in the carbohydrate fraction, mainly an increase of TDF in most instances, except for soybean, and a drastic reduction of RFOs, from 98% to 63%, with the corresponding increase in the amounts of total soluble sugars.     

找一个支点，撬动奥运——大处着眼 顺势而动

当北京将奥运的旗帜转交给伦敦,很多国际品牌也将随之备战伦敦的奥运营销。所以,即使北京奥运会结束了,中国企业对于奥运的思考却不能停止,在零点研究咨询集团董事长袁岳看来,虽然中国汽车自主品牌没有赞助北京奥运会有一点遗憾,但是如果中国汽车企业没有好好地思考那些赞助企业是如何运营此次奥运营销的话,那才是真正的遗憾。中国的服装企业又何尝不是如此,对于它们来说,北京奥运会提供的思考机会大于实践机会。     

It Bag两要两不要

it bag的辉煌．离不开制造者们对包的特性把握、挖掘和高明的市场推广手段;it bag的走低．也只能说是制造者们的不当操作的结果。正所谓“成也萧何败也萧何”。