The Oxygen Consumption Kinetics of Commercial Oenological Tannins in Model Wine Solution and Chianti Red Wine

One property of oenological tannins, oxygen reactivity, is commonly exploited in winemaking. The reactivity is mediated by the presence of catalysts (i.e., transition metals and sulfur dioxide) and protects wine against oxidation. This work compares the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of four commercial oenological tannins (two procyanidins from grape skin and seed, an ellagitannin from oak wood and a gallotannin from gallnut) in a model wine solution and Chianti red wine. All samples were subjected to consecutive cycles of air saturation at 20\ub0C to increase the total level of oxygen provided. After each cycle, the oxygen level was measured by means of a non-invasive luminescent sensor glued to a transparent surface (sensor dots) until there was no further change in substrate reactivity. The OCR followed first-order kinetics, regardless of the tannin. As expected, the ellagitannin showed the fastest OCR, followed by the two from grape seeds and skins and finally the gallotannin. The total O2 consumption in the red wine was almost double that of the model solution, due to the oxidation of wine substrates. The measurement of OCR is helpful for setting up an advanced winemaking protocol that makes use of tannins to reduce the use of sulfur dioxide

Morphometric characteristics of the neuro ns of the human subiculum proper

The human subiculum is a significant part of the hippocampal formation positioned between the hippocampus proper and the entorhinal and other cortices. It plays an important role in spatial navigation, memory processing and control of the response to stress. The aim of our study was identification of the morphometric characteristics of the neurons of the human subiculum proper: the maximum length and width of cell body and total dendritic length and volume of cell body. Comparing the measured parameters of different types of subicular neurons (bipolar, multipolar, pyramidal neurons with triangular-shaped soma and neurons with oval-shaped soma), we can conclude that bipolar neurons have the lowest values of the measured parameters: the maximum length of their cell body is 14.1 ± 0.2 μm, the maximum width is 13.9 ± 0.5 μm, and total dendritic length is 14597 ± 3.1 μm. The lowest volume value was observed in bipolar neurons; the polymorphic layer is 1152.99 ± 662.69 μm 3. The pyramidal neurons of the pyramidal layer have the highest value for the maximal length of the cell body (44.43 ± 7.94 μm), maximum width (23.64 ± 1.89 μm), total dendritic length (1830 ± 466.3 μm) and volume (11768.65±4004.9 μm 3) These characteristics of the pyramidal neurons indicate their importance, because the axons of these neurons make up the greatest part of the fornix, along with the axons of neurons of the CA1 hippocampal field

Sex dimorphism of postural parameters of the human acetabulum

The aim of this investigation was to examine normal acetabular morphometry, its sex dimorphism and the acetabular dysplasia rate in Serbian adults. For each hip, the centre-edge angle of Wiberg, the acetabular angle of Sharp, acetabular depth and acetabular roof obliquity were measured. The center-edge angle of Wiberg correlated negatively with the acetabular angle of Sharp and acetabular roof obliquity, but positively correlated with acetabular depth. Our results suggest that the prevalence of acetabular dysplasia in the Serbian population is lower than in Western countries. We confirmed the existence of significant gender differences in acetabular morphology among the subjects of our study. These sex-related differences in acetabular morphology were the cause for more dysplastic female acetabula compared with male acetabula

Hunt for Planet Nine: Atmosphere, Spectra, Evolution, and Detectability

We investigate the physical characteristics of the solar system\u27s proposed Planet Nine using modeling tools with a heritage of studying Uranus and Neptune. For a range of plausible masses and interior structures, we find upper limits on the intrinsic , from ~35 to 50 K for masses of 5–20 M ⊕, and we also explore lower values. Possible planetary radii could readily span from 2.7 to 6 R ⊕, depending on the mass fraction of any H/He envelope. Given its cold atmospheric temperatures, the planet encounters significant methane condensation, which dramatically alters the atmosphere away from simple Neptune-like expectations. We find that the atmosphere is strongly depleted in molecular absorption at visible wavelengths, suggesting a Rayleigh scattering atmosphere with a high geometric albedo approaching 0.75. We highlight two diagnostics for the atmosphere\u27s temperature structure: (1) the value of the methane mixing ratio above the methane cloud and (2) the wavelength at which cloud scattering can be seen, which yields the cloud-top pressure. Surface reflection may be seen if the atmosphere is thin. Due to collision-induced opacity of H2 in the infrared, the planet would be extremely blue instead of red in the shortest wavelength WISE colors if methane is depleted and would, in some cases, exist on the verge of detectability by WISE. For a range of models, thermal fluxes from ~3 to 5 μm are ~20 orders of magnitude larger than blackbody expectations. We report a search of the AllWISE Source Catalog for Planet Nine, but find no detection

Sexual dimorphism of medium-sized neurons with spines in human nucleus accumbens

The nucleus accumbens is a limbic nucleus, representing part of the striatum body, and together with the caudate nucleus and putamen, it lies on the septum. The aim of this study was to examine morphological sexual dimorphism in spine density and also to undertake an immunohistochemical study of expression for estrogen and progesterone receptors in the medium-sized neurons in the nucleus accumbens. The research was conducted on twenty human brains of persons of both sexes, between the age of 20-75 years. The Golgi method was applied to determine the types and subtypes of neurons, morphologies of soma, dendrites and axons, as well as the relations between the cells and glial elements. The following were quantitatively examined: the maximum diameter of the neurons, the minimal diameter of the neurons, and the total length of the dendrites. The expression of receptors for estrogen and progesterone, their distribution and intensity were defined immunohistochemically. The parameters of the bodies of neurons in the shell and core of the nucleus accumbens were studied in both men and women. No statistically significant differences were found. Examination of the spine density showed statistical significance in terms of a higher density of spines in women. Immunohistochemically, in the female brain estrogen expression is diffusely spread in a large number of neurons; it is extra nuclear, of granular appearance and high intensity. In the male brain, expression of estrogen is visible and distributed over about one half of different types of neurons; it is extra nuclear, of granular appearance, mostly of middle and low staining intensity. Expression of progesterone in the female brain was very discreet and on a very small number of neurons; it was extra nuclear and with a weak staining intensity. Expression of progesterone in the male brain was distributed on a small number of neurons. It had a granular appearance, it was extra nuclear, with a very low staining intensity. Our results show differences in the morphology as well as expression of receptors for estrogen and progesterone on medium-sized neurons with spines in the nucleus accumbens of men and women