Extraction of oil from rapeseed using duo screw press

ArticleThis study was focused on the analysis of optimize the pressing process of rapeseeds ( B rassica napus L.) using screw press. For pressing of oil a screw press Farmer 20 – duo (Farmer 20, Farmet a.s., Ceska Skalice, Czech republic) was used. The screw rotation speed 10, 20, 30, 40, 55 and 65 rpm was used. Oil recovery efficiency and specific mechanical energy were decreased when the seed material troughput was increased. It has been found that the optimal operation point for screw press Farmer 20 – duo was at 20 kg h - 1 rapeseed throughput. The specific mechanical energy at the optimal operation point was 0.61 kWh kg oil - 1 Maximum oil recovery efficiency 82.6% was found at the lowest screw speed

Mechanical behaviour of Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) fibres

ArticleThe tensile strength of Sugar palm ( Arenga pinnata ) fibres was examined. Fibre samples were prepared and tested up to the point of rupture with a deformation rate of 0.05 min - 1 . The tensile device (Labortech, MPTest 5.050, Czech Republic) were used to determine the tensile force. The aim of the paper was to describe a mechanical behaviour of Sugar palm ( Arenga pinnata ) fibres. Measured values can be used as a basis for further research on the application of Sugar palm fibres

Linear pressing of coconut copra meal (Cocos nucifera L.) under different temperatures

ArticlePressing of vegetable oils plays an important role in the food processing. This study described the compression behaviour of copra (Cocos nucifera L.) using the universal compression testing machine and vessel diameter of 60 mm with a plunger. The influence of heat treatment on oil recovery efficiency and specific mechanical energy were determined. Compression tests at the rate of 1 mm s −1 under five different temperatures 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 °C were performed. The measuring range of force was between 0 kN and 50 kN. It has been found that the amount of obtained oil increased and specific mechanical energy decreased with increased temperature. Measured data were analysed by computer software Mathcad 14 (MathCAD 14, PTC Software, Needham, MA, USA). Mathematical model describing the mechanical behaviour of bulk copra under compression loading was represented

Genes Whose Gain or Loss-of-Function Increases Endurance Performance in Mice: A Systematic Literature Review

Endurance is not only a key factor in many sports but endurance-related variables are also associated with good health and low mortality. Twin and family studies suggest that several endurance-associated traits are ≈50% inherited. However, we still poorly understand what DNA sequence variants contribute to endurance heritability. To address this issue, we conducted a systematic review to identify genes whose experimental loss or gain-of-function increases endurance capacity in mice. We found 31 genes including two isoforms of Ppargc1a whose manipulation increases running or swimming endurance performance by up to 1800%. Genes whose gain-of-function increases endurance are Adcy5, Adcy8, Hk2, Il15, Mef2c, Nr4a3, Pck1 (Pepck), Ppard, Ppargc1a (both the a and b isoforms of the protein Pgc-1α), Ppargc1b, Ppp3ca (calcineurin), Scd1, Slc5a7, Tfe3, Tfeb, Trib3 & Trpv1. Genes whose loss-of-function increases endurance in mice are Actn3, Adrb2, Bdkrb2, Cd47, Crym, Hif1a, Myoz1, Pappa, Pknox1, Pten, Sirt4, Thbs1, Thra, and Tnfsf12. Of these genes, human DNA sequence variants of ACTN3, ADCY5, ADRB2, BDKRB2, HIF1A, PPARD, PPARGC1A, PPARGC1B, and PPP3CA are also associated with endurance capacity and/or VO2max trainability suggesting evolutionary conservation between mice and humans. Bioinformatical analyses show that there are numerous amino acid or copy number-changing DNA variants of endurance genes in humans, suggesting that genetic variation of endurance genes contributes to the variation of human endurance capacity, too. Moreover, several of these genes/proteins change their expression or phosphorylation in skeletal muscle or the heart after endurance exercise, suggesting a role in the adaptation to endurance exercise

Does a Hypertrophying Muscle Fibre Reprogramme its Metabolism Similar to a Cancer Cell?

In 1924, Otto Warburg asked “How does the metabolism of a growing tissue differ from that of a non-growing tissue?” Currently, we know that proliferating healthy and cancer cells reprogramme their metabolism. This typically includes increased glucose uptake, glycolytic flux and lactate synthesis. A key function of this reprogramming is to channel glycolytic intermediates and other metabolites into anabolic reactions such as nucleotide-RNA/DNA synthesis, amino acid-protein synthesis and the synthesis of, for example, acetyl and methyl groups for epigenetic modification. In this review, we discuss evidence that a hypertrophying muscle similarly takes up more glucose and reprogrammes its metabolism to channel energy metabolites into anabolic pathways. We specifically discuss the functions of the cancer-associated enzymes phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase muscle 2 in skeletal muscle. In addition, we ask whether increased glucose uptake by a hypertrophying muscle explains why muscularity is often negatively associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity

A novel mouse model for familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH1) reveals PTH-dependent and independent CaSR defects

The Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) senses extracellular calcium, regulates parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion, and has additional functions in various organs related to systemic and local calcium and mineral homeostasis. Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia type I (FHH1) is caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the CaSR gene, and is characterized by the combination of hypercalcemia, hypocalciuria, normal to elevated PTH, and facultatively hypermagnesemia and mild bone mineralization defects. To date, only heterozygous Casr null mice have been available as model for FHH1. Here we present a novel mouse FHH1 model identified in a large ENU-screen that carries an c.2579 T > A (p.Ile859Asn) variant in the Casr gene (Casr$^{BCH002}$ mice). In order to dissect direct effects of the genetic variant from PTH-dependent effects, we crossed Casr$^{BCH002}$ mice with PTH deficient mice. Heterozygous Casr$^{BCH002}$ mice were fertile, had normal growth and body weight, were hypercalcemic and hypermagnesemic with inappropriately normal PTH levels and urinary calcium excretion replicating some features of FHH1. Hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia were independent from PTH and correlated with higher expression of claudin 16 and 19 in kidneys. Likewise, reduced expression of the renal TRPM6 channel in Casr$^{BCH002}$ mice was not dependent on PTH. In bone, mutations in Casr rescued the bone phenotype observed in Pth null mice by increasing osteoclast numbers and improving the columnar pattern of chondrocytes in the growth zone. In summary, Casr$^{BCH002}$ mice represent a new model to study FHH1 and our results indicate that only a part of the phenotype is driven by PTH

Comparison of particle-exposure triggered pulmonary and systemic inflammation in mice fed with three different diets

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity can be linked to disease risks such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, but recently, the adipose tissue (AT) macrophage also emerges as actively participating in inflammation and immune function, producing pro- and anti-inflammatory factors. Connections between the AT and chronic lung diseases, like emphysema and asthma and a protective role of adipocyte-derived proteins against acute lung injury were suggested.</p> <p>In this study we addressed the question, whether a diet challenge increases the inflammatory response in the alveolar and the blood compartment in response to carbon nanoparticles (CNP), as a surrogate for ambient/urban particulate air pollutants.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mice were fed a high caloric carbohydrate-rich (CA) or a fat-rich (HF) diet for six weeks and were compared to mice kept on a purified low fat (LF) diet, respectively. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and blood samples were taken 24 h after intratracheal CNP instillation and checked for cellular and molecular markers of inflammation.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>The high caloric diets resulted in distinct effects when compared with LF mice, respectively: CA resulted in increased body and fat mass without affecting blood cellular immunity. Conversely, HF activated the blood system, increasing lymphocyte and neutrophil counts, and resulted in slightly increased body fat content. In contrast to higher pro-inflammatory BAL Leptin in CA and HF mice, on a cellular level, both diets did not lead to an increased pro-inflammatory basal status in the alveolar compartment per se, nor did result in differences in the particle-triggered response. However both diets resulted in a disturbance of the alveolar capillary barrier as indicated by enhanced BAL protein and lactate-dehydrogenase concentrations. Systemically, reduced serum Adiponectin in HF mice might be related to the observed white blood cell increase.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The increase in BAL pro-inflammatory factors in high caloric groups and reductions in serum concentrations of anti-inflammatory factors in HF mice, clearly show diet-specific effects, pointing towards augmented systemic inflammatory conditions. Our data suggest that extended feeding periods, leading to manifest obesity, are necessary to generate an increased susceptibility to particle-induced lung inflammation; although the diet-challenge already was efficient in driving pro-inflammatory systemic events.</p

The effect of sterilization on size and shape of fat globules in model processed cheese samples

Model cheese samples from 4 independent productions were heat sterilized (117 °C, 20 minutes) after the melting process and packing with an aim to prolong their durability. The objective of the study was to assess changes in the size and shape of fat globules due to heat sterilization by using image analysis methods. The study included a selection of suitable methods of preparation mounts, taking microphotographs and making overlays for automatic processing of photographs by image analyser, ascertaining parameters to determine the size and shape of fat globules and statistical analysis of results obtained. The results of the experiment suggest that changes in shape of fat globules due to heat sterilization are not unequivocal. We found that the size of fat globules was significantly increased (p &lt; 0.01) due to heat sterilization (117°C, 20 min), and the shares of small fat globules (up to 500 ÎĽm2, or 100 ÎĽm2) in the samples of heat sterilized processed cheese were decreased. The results imply that the image analysis method is very useful when assessing the effect of technological process on the quality of processed cheese quality

Finite element method model of the mechanical behaviour of Jatropha curcas L. bulk seeds under compression loading: Study and 2D modelling of the damage to seeds

This article is focused on comprehensive research of a pressing process ofJatropha curcas L. bulk seeds during linear compression. Compression experiments were performed and the strain and brittle fracturing of the seeds visualised. The mechanical behaviour and stress distribution at the volumetric strain of bulk seeds in pressing cylinders and semi-cylinders with diameters of 60, 80 and 100 mm were described by 2D FEM models. It has been determined that the study of nonlinear visco-elastic and plastic strain seed interactions and the damage and crack growth in such seeds can be significantly improved through computer simulations using an explicit FEM algorithm. In this study, the compressibility of ripe J. curcas L. bulk seeds was analysed and compared depending on the volume strain and energy performance of the linear pressing process. Empirical equations and differential deformation theory describing the seeds interacting beyond the oil point were reported. In addition, the issue of contact theory in numerical modelling of the point contact of interacting seeds was also described. Statistical results showed that the 2D FEM model can be used to study the volumetric strain, stress and damage of J. curcas L. bulk seeds. These studies suggest that FEM models may be considered an important tool to assess the energy performance of the pressing process of J. curcas bulk seeds and can provide valuable information for the design and optimisation of pressing equipment. (C) 2014 IAgrE. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic [L01201]; "National Programme for Sustainability I"; OPR&DI project Centre for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation [CZ.1.05/2.1.00/01.0005]; project "Development of Research Teams of R&D Projects at the Technical University of Liberec" [CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0024]; CREATex project [CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0321]; European Social Fund; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic; ESF operational programme "Education for Competitiveness" in the Czech Republic [CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0065