Procédé de préparation de jus de noni

La présente invention se rapporte à un procédé de préparation de jus de noni comprenant les étapes de : a) broyage de fruits de noni lorsqu'ils sont au stade de maturité blanc translucide pour produire une purée de fruits de noni; b) traitement enzymatique de ladite purée de fruits de noni avec une préparation enzymatique présentant au moins une activité pectinase et au moins une activité cellulase à une teneur comprise entre 50 à 200 ml ou g/tonne de purée de fruits de noni à une température comprise entre 20 et 55°C pendant au moins 30 minutes; c) élimination de la pulpe et des graines présentes dans les fruits de noni par pressage de ladite purée conduisant à un premier jus; d) tamisage ou filtration grossière dudit premier jus obtenu à l'issue de l'étape c) conduisant à un second jus; e) microfiltration ou ultrafiltration tangentielle; la présente invention se rapporte également au jus de noni susceptible d'être obtenu par le procédé qui précède et tel qu'il présente une teneur en acide octanoïque inférieure à 200 de jus de noni et une teneur en acide hexanoïque inférieure à 200 μg/g de jus de noni. (Résumé d'auteur

Assessment of musculoskeletal abnormalities in children with mucopolysaccharidoses using pGALS

Background - Children with mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) often have musculoskeletal (MSK) abnormalities. Paediatric Gait, Arms, Legs, and Spine (pGALS), is a simple MSK assessment validated in school-age children to detect abnormal joints. We aimed to identify MSK abnormalities in children with MPS performing pGALS. Methods - Videos of children with a spectrum of MPS performing pGALS were analysed. A piloted proforma to record abnormalities for each pGALS manoeuvre observed in the videos (scored as normal/abnormal/not assessable) was used by three observers blinded to MPS subtype. Videos were scored independently and rescored for intra- and inter-observer consistency. Data were pooled and analysed. Results - Eighteen videos of children [12 boys, 6 girls, median age 11 years (4–19)] with MPS (13 type I [5 Hurler, 8 attenuated type I]; 4 type II; 1 mannosidosis) were assessed. The most common abnormalities detected using pGALS were restrictions of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, jaw (>75% cases), and fingers (2/3 cases). Mean intra-observer Κ 0.74 (range 0.65–0.88) and inter-observer Κ 0.62 (range 0.51–0.77). Hip manoeuvres were not clearly demonstrated in the videos. Conclusions - In this observational study, pGALS identifies MSK abnormalities in children with MPS. Restricted joint movement (especially upper limb) was a consistent finding. Future work includes pGALS assessment of the hip and testing pGALS in further children with attenuated MPS type I. The use of pGALS and awareness of patterns of joint involvement may be a useful adjunct to facilitate earlier recognition of these rare conditions and ultimately access to specialist care

Advances In Teaching The Time Value Of Money

Students frequently experience difficulty in identifying the appropriate time value of money (TVM) technique to apply to a TVM problem.  This paper offers a modification of a recently published TVM technique developed by Jalbert (2002) in order to help students understand and solve TVM problems.  The modified technique developed here simplifies the previously developed technique by reducing the number of questions that students must examine to arrive at the appropriate TVM technique for a problem.  In addition, the technique developed here eliminates the need for students to learn annuity techniques altogether.  As such, the technique developed here specifically intends to meet the needs of students who experience difficulty in understanding annuities.  Modified visual aids are provided to assist students in selecting correct techniques.  By using these techniques, students will find it much easier to identify appropriate TVM techniques

Multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis treatment regimens and patient outcomes: an individual patient data meta-analysis of 9,153 patients.

Treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is lengthy, toxic, expensive, and has generally poor outcomes. We undertook an individual patient data meta-analysis to assess the impact on outcomes of the type, number, and duration of drugs used to treat MDR-TB

The natural history of primary sclerosing cholangitis in 781 children. A multicenter, international collaboration

There are limited data on the natural history of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in children. We aimed to describe the disease characteristics and long-term outcomes of pediatric PSC. We retrospectively collected all pediatric PSC cases from 36 participating institutions and conducted a survival analysis from the date of PSC diagnosis to dates of diagnosis of portal hypertensive or biliary complications, cholangiocarcinoma, liver transplantation, or death. We analyzed patients grouped by disease phenotype and laboratory studies at diagnosis to identify objective predictors of long-term outcome. We identified 781 patients, median age 12 years, with 4,277 person-years of follow-up; 33% with autoimmune hepatitis, 76% with inflammatory bowel disease, and 13% with small duct PSC. Portal hypertensive and biliary complications developed in 38% and 25%, respectively, after 10 years of disease. Once these complications developed, median survival with native liver was 2.8 and 3.5 years, respectively. Cholangiocarcinoma occurred in 1%. Overall event-free survival was 70% at 5 years and 53% at 10 years. Patient groups with the most elevated total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index at diagnosis had the worst outcomes. In multivariate analysis PSC-inflammatory bowel disease and small duct phenotypes were associated with favorable prognosis (hazard ratios 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.5-0.9, and 0.7, 95% confidence interval 0.5-0.96, respectively). Age, gender, and autoimmune hepatitis overlap did not impact long-term outcome. CONCLUSION: PSC has a chronic, progressive course in children, and nearly half of patients develop an adverse liver outcome after 10 years of disease; elevations in bilirubin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index at diagnosis can identify patients at highest risk; small duct PSC and PSC-inflammatory bowel disease are more favorable disease phenotypes

The Interrelationship Of CEO Nationality With Financial Management, Firm Performance, And CEO Compensation

In this exploratory research, and driven by intense interest in media focused attention on the apparently wide differential in pay contrast between US top managers in large corporations versus their non-US top managers, we examined the backgrounds of the highest paid Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the United States. Specifically, we investigated the extent to which national origin, which we used as a proxy for cultural background, of CEOs affected salaries received, the way firms were managed and how firms performed. The data for the study was derived from the Forbes 800 CEO compensation data. The data extended from 1991-1997 and included 4,834 observations. Regressions were run to determine the extent to which the birthplace of the CEO affected the salary that the CEO received, along with the capital structure, dividend policy and return on assets of the firm. The results indicated that CEOs with differing nationalities were compensated differently, and operated their firms differently than U.S. born CEOs. The compensation of the CEOs was found to be higher for some groups of foreign born CEOs. Some evidence of differing capital structures was found. However, the results were not significant after incorporating the full set of control variables into the regressions. CEOs from Central and South America paid out larger percentages of firm earnings to owners in the form of dividends than other CEOs. Finally, the study found some evidence to suggest that Central and South America born CEOs, and Australian and New Zealand born CEOs earned a higher return on assets than other CEOs

The opto-mechanical design of the GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF)

The GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF) will be part of the first generation instrumentation suite for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). G-CLEF is a general purpose echelle spectrograph operating in the optical passband with precision radial velocity (PRV) capability. The measurement precision goal of G-CLEF is 10 cm/sec; necessary for the detection of Earth analogues. This goal imposes challenging stability requirements on the optical mounts and spectrograph support structures especially when considering the instrument's operational environment. G-CLEF's accuracy will be influenced by changes in temperature and ambient air pressure, vibration, and micro gravity-vector variations caused by normal telescope motions. For these reasons we have chosen to enclose G-CLEF's spectrograph in a wellinsulated, vibration-isolated vacuum chamber in a gravity invariant location on GMT's azimuth platform. Additional design constraints posed by the GMT telescope include; a limited space envelope, a thermal leakage ceiling, and a maximum weight allowance. Other factors, such as manufacturability, serviceability, available technology, and budget are also significant design drivers. G-CLEF will complete its Critical Design phase in mid-2018. In this paper, we discuss the design of GCLEF's optical mounts and support structures including the choice of a low-CTE carbon-fiber optical bench. We discuss the vacuum chamber and vacuum systems. We discuss the design of G-CLEF's insulated enclosure and thermal control systems which simultaneously maintain the spectrograph at milli-Kelvin level stability and limit thermal leakage into the telescope dome. Also discussed are micro gravity-vector variations caused by normal telescope slewing, their uncorrected influence on image motion, and how they are dealt with in the design. We discuss G-CLEF's front-end assembly and fiber-feed system as well as other interface, integration and servicing challenges presented by the telescope, enclosure, and neighboring instrumentation. This work has been supported by the GMTO Corporation, a non-profit organization operated on behalf of an international consortium of universities and institutions: Arizona State University, Astronomy Australia Ltd, the Australian National University, the Carnegie Institution for Science, Harvard University, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, the São Paulo Research Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas AM University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Chicago

A paradoxical population structure of <i>var</i> DBLα types in Africa

The var multigene family encodes Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), central to host-parasite interactions. Genome structure studies have identified three major groups of var genes by specific upstream sequences (upsA, B, or C). Var with these ups groups have different chromosomal locations, transcriptional directions, and associations with disease severity. Here we explore temporal and spatial diversity of a region of var genes encoding the DBLα domain of PfEMP1 in Africa. By applying a novel ups classification algorithm (cUps) to publicly-available DBLα sequence datasets, we categorised DBLα according to association with the three ups groups, thereby avoiding the need to sequence complete genes. Data from deep sequencing of DBLα types in a local population in northern Ghana surveyed seven times from 2012 to 2017 found variants with rare-to-moderate-to-extreme frequencies, and the common variants were temporally stable in this local endemic area. Furthermore, we observed that every isolate repertoire, whether mono- or multiclonal, comprised DBLα types occurring with these frequency ranges implying a common genome structure. When comparing African countries of Ghana, Gabon, Malawi, and Uganda, we report that some DBLα types were consistently found at high frequencies in multiple African countries while others were common only at the country level. The implication of these local and pan-Africa population patterns is discussed in terms of advantage to the parasite with regards to within-host adaptation and resilience to malaria control

Caracterizacion fisico-quimica y funcional del noni (Morinda citrifolia) cultivado en Costa Rica

El noni (Morinda citrifolia) pertenece a la familia de las Rubiaceae y es originario del sureste de Asia; se encuentra naturalizado en muchos países, incluyendo el continente americano. El interés principal de los consumidores de noni reside en una serie de propiedades medicinales que se le han atribuido. El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar el noni e identificar algunos compuestos que puedan estar relacionados con las propiedades benéficas atribuidas. Se analizó físico-químicamente el fruto, sus propiedades antioxidantes y se identificaron los compuestos volátiles responsables del aroma y sabor característicos. Se encontró que el noni es una fruta ácida (pH = 4.0 ± 0.1), con una humedad de 91.8 ± 0.4 g/100 g, sólidos solubles de 7.3 ± 0.3 g/100 g y lípidos de 0.016 ± 0.005 g/100g. El contenido de etanol (2663 ± 310 mg/L) y ácido láctico (658 ± 57 mg/L) sugiere que durante la maduración se presenta una fermentación. El contenido de metanol determinado (445 ± 66 mg/L) confirma que esta fruta es rica en pectina (&gt;1%) con un alto grado de esterificación (57%). El análisis de antioxidantes muestra que el noni es una fruta rica en vitamina C (316 ± 64 mg/100 g) y en polifenoles (51.1 ± 1.8 mg EAG/100 g). Se identificaron dos compuestos fenólicos, la rutina (6.06 ± 0.41 µg/g) y la escopoletina (27.9 ± 1.7 µg/g). Un valor de 8.0 ± 0.4 µmol Trolox®/g muestra que el noni tiene un importante poder antioxidante. El análisis de aromas muestra que los ácidos orgánicos, especialmente el ácido hexanoico y octanoico que constituyen el 70% de todos los compuestos volátiles identificados, son los responsables del aroma característico del noni. En conclusión, el noni es una fruta con una serie de características físico-químicas que la convierten en un alimento con propiedades funcionales importantes. Se deberán desarrollar alternativas de procesamiento para eliminar o reducir el contenido de los ácidos hexanoico y octanoico con el fin de mejorar sus características sensoriales. (Texte intégral