Development of low-alcohol isotonic beer by interrupted fermentation

Alcohol-free beer with isotonic properties is getting more popular and its production can be carried out by different production strategies; however, interrupted fermentation is still a challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a low-alcohol isotonic beer (<0.5% v/v) by interrupted fermentation. Moreover, the major objective is to compare the developed product to commercial beverages (sports drinks, ‘Pilsen' regular beer, alcohol-free beers and low-alcohol isotonic beer). The beverages were evaluated based on pH, alcohol content (% v/v), total titratable acidity (mEq L⁻¹), osmolality (mOsmol kg⁻¹), bitterness International Bitterness Units, colour European Brewery Convention, total phenolic compounds (mg L⁻¹ gallic acid), reducing and total sugars (%) and Na and K contents (mg L⁻¹). The developed low-alcohol isotonic beer presented characteristics similar to sports drinks, with the advantage of being richer in phenolic compounds and suitable osmolality. Despite salts were added in its formulation, the grades attributed to all beers employed in the sensory evaluation, as well as the purchase intention did not present significant differences.     

Hot-carrier reliability of 20V MOS transistors in 0.13 μm CMOS technology

This paper presents results of reliability investigation of 20 V N-Drift MOS transistor in 0.13 μm CMOS technology. Due to high performances required for CMOS applications, adding high voltage devices becomes a big challenge to guarantee the reliability criteria. In this context, new reliability approaches are needed. Safe Operating Area are defined for switch, V_ds limited and V_gs limited applications in order to improve circuit designs. For V_ds limited applications, deep doping dose effects in drift area are investigated in correlation to lifetime evaluations based on device parameter shifts under hot carrier stressing. To further determine the amount and locations of hot carriers injections, accurate 2D technological and electrical simulations are performed and permit to select the best compromise between performance and reliability for N-Drift MOS transistor.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and gallbladder cancer: a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma

The correct treatment strategy of patients with unsuspected gallbladder cancer undergoing laparoscopy, and the prevention of delayed diagnosis are current issues. We report a case of late diagnosis with umbilical metastasis and poor survival. A policy of careful inspection of the gallbladder and a cautious strategy in the case of gross alteration of its external morphology seems advisable during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Although no agreement exists concerning the best treatment in the event of delayed diagnosis, the adopted strategy is contingent on patient status, disease stage and the possibility of performing appropriate follow-up.     

Ultrafast Spectroscopy of La2−x Sr x CuO4 Single Crystals

We present measurements of the ultrafast optical response of La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ single crystals at two different doping levels (x=0.15, 0.07) as a function of temperature. Owing to the 40-fs time resolution of our experiment, we are able to measure both the build-up and the decay of the ultrafast signal. We show for the first time that the temperature dependence of the transient reflectance amplitude tracks the thermal depletion of the superfluid density. At low temperature we identify a new regime characterized by an extremely long, temperature-dependent rise-time (3 ps). The doping dependence of the relaxation rate suggests that this is sensitive to the scattering of quasiparticles by low-energy spin excitations.     

Developing wearable bio-feedback systems: a general-purpose platform

Microprocessors, even those in PocketPCs, have adequate power for many real-time biofeedback applications for disabled people. This power allows design of portable or wearable devices that are smaller and lighter, and that have longer battery life compared to notebook-based systems. In this paper, we discuss a general-purpose hardware/software solution based on industrial or consumer devices and a C++ framework. Its flexibility and modularity make it adaptable to a wide range of situations. Moreover, its design minimizes system requirements and programming effort, thus allowing efficient systems to be built quickly and easily. Our design has been used to build two brain computer interface systems that were easily ported from the Win32 platform.     

Stem cell factor enhances the adhesion of AML cells to fibronectin and augments fibronectin-mediated anti-apoptotic and proliferative signals

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells express the SCF receptor c-kit (CD117) on their cell surface and demonstrate enhanced adhesion to fibronectin (FN) following exposure to stem cell factor (SCF). Increased adhesion occurs within 5 min, is dose dependent, and persists beyond 2 h. Baseline and enhanced adhesion occur through the surface FN receptor very late antigen-5 (VLA-5, CD49e/CD29) which is expressed by AML cells. Unstimulated AML cells exposed to FN undergo less apoptosis than controls (inhibition 22.5 +/- 7.0%, P = 0.02, n = 8). Exposure to SCF alone without FN also inhibits AML cell apoptosis (by 19.0 +/- 7.7% compared to controls, P = 0.06, n = 8). Simultaneous exposure to SCF and FN increases the inhibition of AML cell apoptosis to 37.8 +/- 7.9% (P = 0.005 compared to control, P = 0.04 compared to FN alone, P = 0.06 compared to SCF alone) demonstrating that SCF not only enhances the propensity of AML cells to adhere to FN, but also results in an additive survival benefit following FN contact. Some but not all the reduction in apoptosis is mediated through VLA-5. The combination of SCF and FN also affects proliferation, resulting in a synergistic enhancement of AML cell proliferation in half the cases studied. When normal CD34+ human haemopoietic progenitors were studied, FN had little effect on their apoptosis and failed to enhance the anti-apoptotic effect of SCF. It did, however, synergise with SCF in promoting CD34+ cell proliferation. Exposure of AML cells to SCF and FN, both of which can be found in high concentration in the bone marrow stroma, inhibits apoptosis. Cytokines and extracellular matrix proteins augment each others' effects since SCF enhances adhesion to fibronectin, which in turn augments the survival signal delivered by the cytokine alone. Cytokine and adhesion receptors can combine to affect cell characteristics including proliferation and survival.     

Sleep and breathing disorders in patients with brain stem lesions

Most information about the structures within the brain stem that modulate respiration and sleep are gathered from animal experiments. Therefore we examined 10 patients several weeks after an infarction of the brain stem by means of polysomnography and tested the chemosensitive drives of respiration. None of these patients complained about symptoms of sleep disordered breathing. In each case polysomnographic measurements and ventilatory response curves revealed pathologic findings. The respiratory response to CO2 was diminished or completely abolished in each patient. In some cases hypoventilation or disturbances of the respiratory rhythmicity could be seen. In several cases missing REM sleep, sleep fragmentation or the reduction of slow wave sleep were observed. The study indicates that on the base of results from animal research the comparison of morphological and pathophysiological data is helpful to gain a better understanding on the coupling of the respiratory system with sleep at the brain stem level as well as on the pathomechanism of sleep related breathing disorder.     

Structural Investigation and Molecular Modeling Studies of Strobilurin-Based Fungicides Active against the Rice Blast Pathogen Pyricularia oryzae

The increasing emergence of fungicide-resistant pathogens requires urgent solutions for crop disease management. Here, we describe a structural investigation of new fungicides obtained by combining strobilurin and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor pharmacophores. We identified compounds endowed with very good activity against wild-type Pyricularia oryzae, combined in some cases with promising activity against strobilurin-resistant strains. The first three-dimensional model of P. oryzae cytochrome bc1 complex containing azoxystrobin as a ligand was developed. The model was validated with a set of commercially available strobilurins, and it well explains both the resistance mechanism to strobilurins mediated by the mutation G143A and the activity of metyltetraprole against strobilurin-resistant strains. The obtained results shed light on the key recognition determinants of strobilurin-like derivatives in the cytochrome bc1 active site and will guide the further rational design of new fungicides able to overcome resistance caused by G143A mutation in the rice blast pathogen.