Evaluation of the effect of processing on cocoa polyphenols: antiradical activity,anthocyanins and procyanidins profiling from raw beans to chocolate

The content and composition of anthocyanins and procyanidins in fermented cocoa beans (from different geographic origins: Ecuador, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria), roasted nibs, cocoa mass and chocolate were determined, beside the determination of the total antiradical capacity. Concerning geographic origin, cocoa beans and processed products from Ecuador showed the highest levels of anthocyanins, followed by Nigeria and Cameroon. Generally, as cocoa beans were further processed, the levels of anthocyanins and flavan‐3‐ols decreased. The largest observed losses of phenolics occurred during roasting. A progressive decreasing trend in polyphenol concentration was observed in the other processed samples as well. Despite the original content of polyphenols in raw cocoa beans, technological processes imply a significant impact on cocoa quality, confirming the need of specific optimisation to obtain high value chocolate.     

Alternative branching rules for some nonconvex problems

Following Linderoth (A simplicial branch-and-bound algorithm for solving quadratically constrained quadratic programs, Math. Program. 103 (2005), pp. 251–282), in this paper we show how a preliminary theoretical analysis about the quality of convex and concave envelopes over different regions may suggest branching rules alternative to the traditional ones based on boxes. For two nonconvex problems (minimization of the sum of products of affine functions and maximization of the sum of ratios of affine functions, in both cases over polytopes), we show how the indications of the theoretical analysis lead to computational results which confirm the superiority of the alternative branching rules with respect to those based on boxes.     

Image blur and energy broadening effects in XPEEM

We report image blurring and energy broadening effects in energy-filtered XPEEM when illuminating the specimen with soft X-rays at high flux densities. With a flux of 2×10¹³ photons/s, the lateral resolution in XPEEM imaging with either core level or secondary electrons is degraded to more than 50 nm. Fermi level broadening up to several hundred meV and spectral shift to higher kinetic energies are also systematically observed. Simple considerations suggest that these artifacts result from Boersch and Loeffler effects, and that the electron-electron interactions are strongest in the initial part of the microscope optical path. Implications for aberration corrected instruments are discussed.     

Visual evoked potentials generator model derived from different spatial frequency stimuli of visual field regions and magnetic resonance imaging coordinates of V1, V2, V3 areas in man

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to pattern reversal vertical bar stimuli were recorded from 24 scalp derivations (including zygomatic and inion) referenced to digitally linked earlobes in 50 controls. 1, 2 and 4 cpd patterns were presented as full field (FF) stimuli, on Upper Hemifields (UHF) and Lower Hemifields (LHF), upper and lower quadrants and with the occlusion of central and peripheral UHF and LHF. VEPs to octant stimuli were also recorded with 2 cpd patterns. N1, P1 and N2 components were recorded from posterior and inion derivations with FF stimuli, from posterior derivations with LHF stimuli, only from inion leads with UHF stimuli, from derivations ipsilateral to stimuli with quadrants and octants, and consistently from midline derivations only with lower quadrants. Polarity inverted sequences (iN1-iP1-iN2) were recorded from the other scalp derivations, with similar latency and spatial frequency sensitivity as N1-P1-N2. Single Equivalent Dipole (ED) calculations were performed on N1 and P1 recorded in the different stimulus conditions. Our findings contradict previous hypotheses on VEP generators and contradict the predictions of VEPs polarity and distribution based on the "cruciform model" of VEPs generators. In order to explain the distribution of VEPs to upper and lower half fields and to quadrant and octants, we propose a model based on the position of the medial and occipito-polar surface of visual cortex in man.     

A heuristic approach for packing identical rectangles in convex regions

In this paper we propose a heuristic approach for the problem of packing equal rectangles within a convex region. The approach is based on an Iterated Local Search scheme, in which the key step is the perturbation move. Different perturbation moves, both combinatorial and continuous ones, are proposed and compared through extensive computational experiments on a set of test instances. The overall results are quite encouraging.     

Multipurpose modular experimental station for the DiProI beamline of Fermi@Elettra free electron laser

We present a compact modular apparatus with a flexible design that will be operated at the DiProI beamline of the Fermi@Elettra free electron laser (FEL) for performing static and time-resolved coherent diffraction imaging experiments, taking advantage of the full coherence and variable polarization of the short seeded FEL pulses. The apparatus has been assembled and the potential of the experimental setup is demonstrated by commissioning tests with coherent synchrotron radiation. This multipurpose experimental station will be open to general users after installation at the Fermi@Elettra free electron laser in 2011.     

Assessment of intradialysis calcium mass balance by a single pool variable‐volume calcium kinetic model

Introduction: A reliable method of intradialysis calcium mass balance quantification is far from been established. We herein investigated the use of a single‐pool variable‐volume Calcium kinetic model to assess calcium mass balance in chronic and stable dialysis patients. Methods: Thirty‐four patients on thrice‐weekly HD were studied during 240 dialysis sessions. All patients were dialyzed with a nominal total calcium concentration of 1.50 mmol/L. The main assumption of the model is that the calcium distribution volume is equal to the extracellular volume during dialysis. This hypothesis is assumed valid if measured and predicted end dialysis plasma water ionized calcium concentrations are equal. A difference between predicted and measured end‐dialysis ionized plasma water calcium concentration is a deviation on our main hypothesis, meaning that a substantial amount of calcium is exchanged between the extracellular volume and a nonmodeled compartment. Findings: The difference between predicted and measured values was 0.02 mmol/L (range ?0.08:0.16 mmol/L). With a mean ionized dialysate calcium concentration of 1.25 mmol/L, calcium mass balance was on average negative (mean ± SD ?0.84 ± 1.33 mmol, range ?5.42:2.75). Predialysis ionized plasma water concentration and total ultrafiltrate were the most important predictors of calcium mass balance. A significant mobilization of calcium from the extracellular pool to a nonmodeled pool was calculated in a group of patients. Discussion: The proposed single pool variable‐volume Calcium kinetic model is adequate for prediction and quantification of intradialysis calcium mass balance, it can evaluate the eventual calcium transfer outside the extracellular pool in clinical practice.     

Two fault‐tolerant control problems for multiple‐integrator networks

The paper considers a network of agents with multiple‐integrator internal dynamics, which share partial information on their states according to an arbitrary topology. For this system, two control problems are addressed and solved. The first consists in assigning the dominant closed‐loop poles. The second consists in achieving a specified consensus with arbitrary dominant dynamics. In both cases, the regulator is required to be decentralized, and the controlled network has to result tolerant with respect to faults in the communication apparatuses of the agents. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unraveling the Dynamic Nanoscale Reducibility (Ce4+ → Ce3+) of CeOx–Ru in Hydrogen Activation

The interaction of molecular hydrogen with ceria is of important relevance for heterogeneous catalysis related to green chemistry and renewable energy. Here, the complex structural transformations of a well‐defined cerium oxide model catalyst are followed in situ and in real time when exposed to a reactive H₂ environment. By using electron spectromicroscopy and diffraction with chemical and structural sensitivities, it is demonstrated that the transition from CeO₂ to crystalline Ce₂O₃ occurs through a mixture of transient, coexisting phases on the nanoscale. The findings establish a clear relationship between structure and functionality for hydrogen dissociation over ceria(111), bearing profound implications on the nature of the reduction (Ce⁴⁺ → Ce³⁺) and mechanism for H₂ scission.