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.     

DILIGENT: integrating digital library and Grid technologies for a new Earth observation research infrastructure

This paper introduces DILIGENT, a digital library infrastructure built by integrating digital library and Grid technologies and resources. This infrastructure allows different communities to dynamically build specialised digital libraries capable to support the entire e-Science knowledge production and consumption life-cycle by using shared computing, storage, content, and application resources. The paper presents some of the main software services that implement the DILIGENT system. Moreover, it exemplifies the provided features by presenting how the DILIGENT infrastructure is being exploited in supporting the activity of user communities working in the Earth Science Environmental sector. This work is partially funded by the European Commission in the context of the DILIGENT project, under the 2nd call of FP6 IST priority.     

Chances of cure are not compromised with sphincter-saving procedures for cancer of the lower third of the rectum

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to compare patterns of recurrence and long-term outcome after sphincter-saving procedures (SSPs) and abdominoperineal resection (APR) in patients with tumors located in the lower third of the rectum. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 1001 patients operated on for primary rectal adenocarcinoma between 1980 and 1991. All patients with tumors located between 5 and 7 cm from the anal verge and treated with curative intent were included. RESULTS: Of the 261 patients who met our criteria, 162 had undergone SSP and 99 had undergone APR. The local recurrence rates for SSP and APR were 8% and 11%, respectively (p = 0.41), and the distant metastases rates were 23% and 28%, respectively (p = 0.35). Recurrence and distant metastases rates for SSP and APR, respectively, did not differ by TNM classification: state I, 10% versus 9% (p = 0.9); stage II, 25% versus 43% (p = 0.13); and stage III, 56% versus 57% (p = 0.92). Five-year disease-free survival rates for SSP and APR patients were 70.5% and 62.3%, respectively (p = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Tumors in the lower third of the rectum can be treated with sphincter-saving procedures without compromising the chance of cure.     

Modeling of Moisture Behavior of Wood Planks in Nonvented Flat Roofs

A computer model was extended and adapted to simulate the hygrothermal behavior of building envelope-wood components. The model was used to predict moisture movement in wood planks forming the decks of nonvented flat roofs insulated with cellulose. The gradient of water potential was considered as the driving force for moisture movement in wood. The model required the determination of convective heat- and mass-transfer coefficients, the sorption curves, the effective water conductivity for different wood species, and the hygrothermal conditions within the assembly to characterize the mass-conservation equation. Once these parameters were integrated in the computer model, this approach was then validated by carrying a simulation of the drying process of wood planks using experimental data from a large-scale test.     

On the impact of physical layer awareness on scheduling and resource allocation in broadband multicellular IEEE 802.16 systems [Radio Resource Management and Protocol Engineering for IEEE 802.16]

Multicellular networks based on the IEEE 802.16 standard appear to be very promising candidates to provide end users with broadband wireless access. However, they also pose interesting challenges in terms of radio resource management, where several design choices are not specified in the standard, intentionally left open to implementors. For this reason, we focus in this article on scheduling and resource allocation, and investigate how they could operate in a cross-layer fashion. In particular, we describe the principles of joint scheduling and resource allocation for IEEE 802.16 operating in AMC mode, and discuss the critical role played by physical layer considerations, especially intercell interference estimation and channel state awareness, in the obtained performance. This leads to identifying key open issues and possible general solutions     

Spectral nephelometry for making extravirgin olive oil fingerprints

In spectral nephelometry, absorption spectroscopy and nephelometry are innovatively combined to provide simultaneous online monitoring of color and turbidity of edible oils. Spectral nephelometry instrumentation consists of an optoelectronic device that measures the absorption spectrum of the oil sample at different angles. Data processing, carried out by principal component analysis (PCA), allows identification of the oil sample and creates a two-dimensional map as a fingerprint of oil types.     

Surface tension as a limiting factor for aerobic n-alkane biodegradation

A new mathematical model for n-alkane biodegradation in crude oil, heavy oil and paraffinic mixtures is described. The pattern of n-alkane degradation as a function of the inverse of hydrocarbon chain length reported in this paper can be considered as general behaviour for many aerobic n-alkane biodegradation processes. A new interpretation of n-alkane biodegradation as a function of surface tension, is given. A mathematical expression was obtained starting from the degradation values of n-alkane and relative surface tension, which is a parameter independent of fermentation conditions. An interesting parameter, b, was identified which represented the accelerating conversion factor for n-alkane biodegradation. The findings suggested that the n-alkane biodegradation. The findings suggested that he n-alkane biodegradation rate may be affected by the fermentation condition (agitation, aeration, etc.) and by the strain of microorganism, while the behaviour pattern of n-alkane degradation was essentially linked to the substrate characteristics (molecular structure, molecular weight and density).     

The Blasius problem formulated as a free boundary value problem

Summary In the present paper we point out that the correct way to solve the Blasius problem by numerical means is to reformulate it as free boundary value problem. In the new formulation the truncated boundary (instead of infinity) is the unknown free boundary and it has to be determined as part of the numerical solution. Taking into account the partial inavariance of the mathematical model at hand with respect to a stretching group we define a non-iterative transformation method. Further, we compare the improved numerical results, obtained by the method in point, with analytical and numerical ones. Moreover, the numerical results confirm that the question of accuracy depends on the value of the free boundary. Therefore, this indicates that boundary value problems with a boundary condition at infinity should be numerically reformulated as free boundary value problems.