Effects of feed composition,protein denaturation and storage of milk serum protein/lactose powders on lactosylation

During whey powder production, the feed is subjected to several heat treatments which can cause lactosylation of proteins. In this study, lactosylation of whey proteins was evaluated in spray-dried powders before and after storage by varying the native protein fraction as well as the serum protein/lactose ratio in the powders. The lactosylation of native α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin in the powders before storage was not affected to a large extent by the protein denaturation or if the feed had been heat treated in a high or low lactose environment. After storage (relative humidity of 23.5%, 30 °C, 25 days), the kinetic of lactosylation tended to increase with increasing native protein fraction and bulk protein content in the powders. An explanation could be that proteins dissolved in the lactose glassy structure might have a lower reactivity, while proteins present in the protein glassy structure with dissolved lactose may display higher lactosylation reactivity.     

Teff (Eragrostis tef) processing,utilization and future opportunities: a review

The demand for food production has been constantly increasing due to rising population. In developed countries, for example, the emergence of regional production of old grains that are rarely utilized, along with the production of commonly consumed grains, has gained importance in recent years. These grains, known collectively as ancient or heirloom grains, have offered both farmers and consumers novel ways of cultivation and products with interesting taste, characteristics and nutritional value. Among the 30 000 plant species known, only five cereals currently provide more than 50% of the world's energy intake – bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), rice (Oryza sativa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), millets (Panicum sp.) and maize (Zea mays). The excessive utilization of these selected species has a great potential to cause genetic losses and difficulty in bridging future agricultural demands. Teff (Eragrostis tef), an ancient grain extensively cultivated in countries like Eritrea and Ethiopia, provides promising alternatives for new food uses since its nutritional value is significantly higher than most others cereal grains. The absence of gluten allows flexibility in food utilization since it can be directly substituted to gluten-containing products. The grain also offers an excellent balance of essential amino acids and minerals, which can fulfil the recommended daily intake and eliminates the need for fortification and enrichment. This review provides a general overview of the physical properties and nutritional composition of teff grains related to processing and applications in the food and feed industries. The current status of teff utilization, as well as the challenges in production and commercialization, and future opportunities is presented and discussed.     

La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ nanofiber cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells by water-based sol-gel electrospinning: Synthesis and electrochemical behaviour

Water-based sol-gel electrospinning is employed to manufacture perovskite oxide La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ (LSCF) nanofiber cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. LSCF fibrous scaffolds are synthesized through electrospinning of a sol-gel solution employing water as the only solvent. Morphological characterizations demonstrate that the LSCF fibers have highly crystalline structure with uniform elemental distribution. After heat treatment, the average fiber diameter is 250 nm and the porosity of the nanofiber tissue is 37.5 %. The heat treated LSCF nanofibers are applied directly onto a Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 (CGO) electrolyte disk to form a symmetrical cell. Electrochemical characterization is carried out through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the temperature range 550?°C–950?°C, and reproducibility of the electrochemical performance for a series of cells is demonstrated. At 650?°C, the average measured polarization resistance R_p is 1.0 Ω cm². Measured performance decay is 1 % during the first 33?h of operation at 750?°C, followed by an additional 0.7 % over the subsequent 70?h.     

Effects of breed and age at slaughter on degradation of muscle lipids during processing of dry‐cured hams

Hams from Landrace, Duroc and Hampshire pigs slaughtered at ages 6, 7.5 and 9 months were processed to generate Norwegian Parma‐style hams. Lipid contents and the compositions of fatty acid classes (ΣSFA, ΣMUFA, ΣPUFA) within neutral lipids, phospholipids and free fatty acids were determined. Small differences in lipid degradation and composition of the classes were revealed. However, significant sensory differences related to lipids were observed. Breed was more important than age. Dry‐cured Hampshire hams gave a more intense mature odour that may be associated with higher overall lipid degradation. Unexpectedly, these hams also demonstrated high juiciness and tenderness, which could be related to the melting characteristics of the fat. Dry‐cured Duroc hams showed a higher susceptibility towards rancidity, presumably associated with preferential oxidation of n‐6 fatty acids relative to C18:1 n‐9. Dry‐cured Landrace hams showed the lowest juiciness and tenderness, likely due to their lower fat content (marbling).     

Effect of shigella enterotoxin 1 (ShET1) on rabbit intestine in vitro and in vivo

The purpose of this study was to identify the optimal knot construction for interrupted dermal sutures. A synthetic braided absorbable suture, sizes 3-0 and 5-0, was selected for this evaluation. With reproducible mechanical performance tests, we determined that the construction of secure knots without ears required one additional throw as compared with secure knots with 3-mm ears. The direction of applied tension did not alter knot security, with the exception of granny knots, which required an extra throw when tension was applied parallel to the suture loop. Because interrupted dermal knot construction is accomplished without knot ears and with an applied tension parallel to the wound, one additional throw must be added to the knot to ensure knot security.     

High-dose busulfan, melphalan, thiotepa and peripheral blood stem cell infusion for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer

The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with high-dose busulfan (Bu), melphalan (Mel) and thiotepa (TT) followed by peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) infusion. Fifty-one patients with chemotherapy refractory (n = 32) or responsive (n = 19) metastatic breast cancer received Bu (12 mg/kg), Mel (100 mg/m2) and TT (500 mg/m2) followed by PBSC collected after chemotherapy and growth factor (n = 43) or growth factor alone (n = 8). The 100 day treatment-related mortality was 8% including one death from cytomegalovirus pneumonia, one from aspiration pneumonia and two from regimen-related toxicity (RRT). Seven of 28 refractory (25%) and 5/7 (71%) responsive patients with evaluable disease achieved a complete response of all measurable disease or all soft tissue disease with at least improvement in bone lesions (PR*). Fifteen of 51 patients (29%) are alive and progression-free a median of 423 days (range 353-934) after treatment, 5/32 (16%) with refractory disease and 10/19 (53%) with responsive disease. The probabilities of progression-free survival (PFS) at 1.5 years for the patients with refractory (n = 32) and responsive (n = 19) disease were 0.24 and 0.53, respectively. These preliminary data suggest that high-dose Bu/Mel/TT has significant activity in patients with advanced breast cancer and may be superior to some previously published regimens.     

Second-Order optical non-linearities of {4-(dimethylamino) stilben z & e 4'-yl} dimesityl borane

Samples of {4-(dimethylamino) stilben Z & E 4'-yl} dimesityl borane (BNS) were synthesised and investigated for their non-linear optical properties. The results show that the quadratic hyperpolarisability of the Z-isomer is smaller than that of the E-isomer, the beta value found for the latter being as high as 60 × 10^?30 esu.     

2D crack growth simulation with an energetic approach

It is well known that the tearing resistance curve J–Δa is not a material property. A recent approach, based on an energetic critical parameter to model ductile tearing propagation, is used to model 3D effects. The approach considered in this work aims to estimate the dissipated energy in the fracture process during ductile tearing represented by an intrinsic parameter G_fr. A fracture criterion, which accounts for the crack extension length, is defined and lies on a critical energy release rate, noted G_c, which is compared to G_fr. Previously, this parameter was obtained from a numerical local energy release rate, which handicaps the application field of the approach: a fine mesh for the whole propagation area was needed and the criterion allowed only to model 1D propagation. A new manner to estimate G_c is then proposed in this article, based on the J plastic part variation, which allows to model 2D propagation by defining a local criterion. This new calculation method is validated on a CT specimen made in Tu52b ferritic steel, by comparing the results obtained from the two methods of G_c calculation. Then, the 2D crack growth case is studied, by modelling the propagation in a ring, loaded in compression. It is shown that a 3D effect, such as tunnel effect, could be successfully represented with this approach.