Detección rápida de la adulteración de aceite de argán con aceites de fritura usando espectroscopía de fluorescencia inducida por láser combinada con herramientas quimiométricas

There is a contentious need for robust and rapid methodologies for maintaining the authenticity of foods. The aim of this study was to detect and quantify argan oil adulteration using Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy coupled with chemometric methods. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) were used to assess argan oil authenticity; PCA was used to classify samples according to their quality and the PLS model to determine the amount of adulterants in pure argan oil. The correlation coefficient of the obtained model was about 0.99, with Root Mean Square Error of Prediction (RMSEP) and Standard Error of Prediction (SEP) of 2%. This study demonstrated the feasibility of LIF spectroscopy combined with chemometric tools to identify adulterants in pure argan oil from a percentage of adulteration, of 0.35 % without the need to destruct samples.Existe una necesidad de metodologías sólidas y rápidas para determinar la autenticidad de los alimentos. El objetivo de este estudio es detectar y cuantificar la adulteración del aceite de argán mediante espectroscopia de fluorescencia inducida por láser (LIF) junto con métodos quimiométricos. Se utilizaron el análisis de componentes principales (PCA) y la regresión de mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLSR) para evaluar la autenticidad del aceite de argán. Se utilizó PCA para clasificar las muestras según su calidad y el modelo PLS se aprovechó para determinar la cantidad de adulterantes en el aceite de argán puro. El coeficiente de correlación del modelo obtenido fue de alrededor de 0,99, el error cuadrático medio de la predicción (RMSEP) y el error estándar de predicción (SEP) del 2%. Este estudio demostró la viabilidad de la espectroscopia LIF combinada con herramientas quimiométricas que permiten identificar adulterantes en aceite de argán puro, sin necesidad de destruir muestras, a partir de un porcentaje de adulteración del 0,35 %

GAD2 on chromosome 10p12 is a candidate gene for human obesity

The gene GAD2 encoding the glutamic acid decarboxylase enzyme (GAD65) is a positional candidate gene for obesity on Chromosome 10p11&ndash;12, a susceptibility locus for morbid obesity in four independent ethnic populations. GAD65 catalyzes the formation of &gamma;-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which interacts with neuropeptide Y in the paraventricular nucleus to contribute to stimulate food intake. A case-control study (575 morbidly obese and 646 control subjects) analyzing GAD2 variants identified both a protective haplotype, including the most frequent alleles of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) +61450 C&gt;A and +83897 T&gt;A (OR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.681&ndash;0.972], p = 0.0049) and an at-risk SNP (&minus;243 A&gt;G) for morbid obesity (OR = 1.3, 95% CI [1.053&ndash;1.585], p = 0.014). Furthermore, familial-based analyses confirmed the association with the obesity of SNP +61450 C&gt;A and +83897 T&gt;A haplotype (&chi;2 = 7.637, p = 0.02). In the murine insulinoma cell line &beta;TC3, the G at-risk allele of SNP &minus;243 A&gt;G increased six times GAD2 promoter activity (p &lt; 0.0001) and induced a 6-fold higher affinity for nuclear extracts. The &minus;243 A&gt;G SNP was associated with higher hunger scores (p = 0.007) and disinhibition scores (p = 0.028), as assessed by the Stunkard Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. As GAD2 is highly expressed in pancreatic &beta; cells, we analyzed GAD65 antibody level as a marker of &beta;-cell activity and of insulin secretion. In the control group, &minus;243 A&gt;G, +61450 C&gt;A, and +83897 T&gt;A SNPs were associated with lower GAD65 autoantibody levels (p values of 0.003, 0.047, and 0.006, respectively). SNP +83897 T&gt;A was associated with lower fasting insulin and insulin secretion, as assessed by the HOMA-B% homeostasis model of &beta;-cell function (p = 0.009 and 0.01, respectively). These data support the hypothesis of the orexigenic effect of GABA in humans and of a contribution of genes involved in GABA metabolism in the modulation of food intake and in the development of morbid obesity.<br /

Post Genome-Wide Association Studies of Novel Genes Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Show Gene-Gene Interaction and High Predictive Value

Recently, several Genome Wide Association (GWA) studies in populations of European descent have identified and validated novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), highly associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Our aims were to validate these markers in other European and non-European populations, then to assess their combined effect in a large French study comparing T2D and normal glucose tolerant (NGT) individuals. rs7903146 SNP, were combined (8.68-fold for the 14% of French individuals carrying 18 to 30 risk alleles with an allelic OR of 1.24). With an area under the ROC curve of 0.86, only 15 novel loci were necessary to discriminate French individuals susceptible to develop T2D. strongly associate with T2D in French individuals, and mostly in populations of Central European descent but not in Moroccan subjects. Genes expressed in the pancreas interact together and their combined effect dramatically increases the risk for T2D, opening avenues for the development of genetic prediction tests

Rat gene coding for heart 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase: characterization of an unusual promoter region and identification of four mRNAs.

We have cloned previously a 22-kb rat gene which codes for heart 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase from an ATG located in exon 2. To characterize the promoter of the gene, we have now cloned and sequenced 1.9 kb of its 5' region and show here that it has an unusual structural and functional organization. By S1 nuclease mapping and primer extension we found that this region contains the first, noncoding, exon of a mRNA that we call R3. The sequence upstream from this exon behaved as a promoter in transient transfection assays. These assays also suggested that the gene possesses more than one promoter. Indeed, by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction techniques we identified three additional mRNAs that differ by their 5' noncoding exons upstream from the common, coding, exon 2. mRNA R1 contains two 5' noncoding exons located upstream from the first exon of mRNA R3. mRNA R2 contains one 5' noncoding exon located upstream from, and partially overlapping with, the first exon of mRNA R3. mRNA R4 contains one 5' noncoding exon located downstream from the first exon of mRNA R3 but overlapping partially with it. The distribution of these mRNAs in rat tissues was evaluated by reverse transcription--polymerase chain reaction. We conclude that the gene contains four more exons than the 16 previously described and at least three promoters, two of which correspond to exonic sequences. The gene gives rise to at least four mRNAs which are expressed not only in heart but also in most tissues

Efficiency of Sawdust as Low-Cost Adsorbent for Dyes Removal

In recent years, the removal of dyes from wastewater has attracted considerable attention due to their harmful effects to ecosystem and human health. Adsorption as a facile and effective technique has been widely used to eliminate a large variety of dyes from aqueous solutions. Activated carbon is the most preferred adsorbent to treat wastewater but its use is limited because of high cost. Therefore, several low-cost and natural materials and wastes have been used as precursors for the preparation of alternative adsorbents. Among them, sawdust as an abundant and low-cost by-product has been explored as adsorbent for the removal of dyes from wastewater. This review focuses on the various sawdust used as a precursor for the preparation of activated carbons. Extensive literature information about sawdust, its compositions, activation methods, its efficiency for dyes removal, and environmental conditions effects has been reviewed. The applicability of various adsorption kinetic models and adsorption isotherm models for dye removal by sawdust-derived activated carbons has been also reported. Finally, this paper highlights the use of sawdust as base material for various composites and mixture which can be used as granular activated carbon

Adsorption Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies of Methyl Orange onto Sugar Scum Powder as a Low-Cost Inorganic Adsorbent

In the present study, batch adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the removal of methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solution using sugar scum powder as an effective inorganic adsorbent which is a cheap precursor and abundant. The characteristics of this material were determined using XRD, SEM/EDX, and FTIR. The adsorption performance of sugar scum powder was evaluated using MO as the model adsorbate. Effects of various parameters such as initial dye concentration, contact time, and adsorbent dose were studied. The adsorption process can be best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models. Maximum monolayer adsorption capacity for MO removal was found to be 15.24 mg/g at temperature 22°C and pH 7.2. Moreover, thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption of MO onto sugar scum powder was a spontaneous and exothermic process. The results demonstrated that sugar scum is a suitable precursor for the preparation of efficient adsorbent for dye removal from wastewater

Activated Carbon for Dyes Removal: Modeling and Understanding the Adsorption Process

Batch adsorption experiments have been conducted to investigate the removal of methyl orange from aqueous solution by an activated carbon prepared from prickly pear seed cake by phosphoric acid activation. The adsorption process has been described by using kinetic and isotherm models. The kinetic of adsorption was examined by pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models. Adsorption isotherm was modeled using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherms. The adsorption process of methyl orange was well explained by the pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich isotherm. Also, pseudo-n-order model has been applied to estimate the order of adsorption kinetic and it was found equal to 2 which confirm the good accuracy of the pseudo-second order. Moreover, Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm reveals that the adsorption of methyl orange onto activated carbon was a physisorption process in nature. The adsorption capacity of activated carbon was found to be 336.12 mg/g at temperature 20°C and pH∼7. These results demonstrated that the prickly pear seed cake is a suitable precursor for the preparation of appropriate activated carbon for dyes removal from aqueous solution

A rat gene encoding heart 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase.

There are at least 3 isozymes of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase, a bifunctional enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis and degradation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. A 22-kb rat gene that encodes the heart isozyme has been identified and compared with the 55-kb rat gene encoding the liver and muscle isozymes which had been described earlier. Although these 2 genes include 12 successive similar exons, they contain dissimilar exons at both ends, consistent with the occurrence of different regulatory domains at the N- and C-termini in the 3 isozymes

Blockchain-based medical and water waste management conception

The revolutionary technology blockchain began with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin but has since expanded beyond the worlds of finance and banking. One relatively unexplored application domain is medical and water waste. The production of medical/water waste is an integral part of healthcare operations. However, Health care and water waste management methods can also pose a health and environment risk if the various steps in the management process are not carried out correctly. The objective of this paper is to propose conception of a system, based on the Blockchain and IoT, that ensures the control of these wastes in order to effectively manage, coordinate and monitor their disposal. An initial design of this system and an evaluation of the system's performance are also presented

Changements climatiques et ressources en eau Bassin versant de I'Ouergha (Maroc)

Les changements climatiques, prévus avec l'augmentation des gaz à effet de serre, pourraient avoir un impact certain sur les ressources en eau, en particulier dans les régions arides à semi-arides, comme celle du Maghreb. Tenant compte des connaissances actuelles concernant le réchauffement probable de la région, et en vue d'évaluer l'impact possible sur la ressource en eau de tels événements, la recherche dont les résultats sont présentés ici, a consisté à : $\ast$ Simuler à l'aide d'un modèle, le comportement hydrique d'un bassin versant pilote au Maroc (bassin de I'Ouergha) $\ast$ Utiliser ce modèle pour estimer le déficit hydrique probable en cas de changement climatique dans ce bassin Les premiers résultats indiquent une diminution des ruissellements annuels à l'exutoire de ce bassin atteignant les 8% d'ici à 2050 : déficit important dans un pays où la ressource est particulièrement rare