494 research outputs found
High-pressure homogenization treatment to recover bioactive compounds from tomato peels
By-products of tomato processing are rich in bioactive compounds and their recovery might bring significant economic and environmental benefits. High-pressure homogenization (HPH) (1â10 passes at 100 MPa) was used as a disruption method to recover valuable compounds from tomato peels, using solely water as process medium. Micronization of tomato peels suspensions by HPH reduced their size distribution below the visual detection limit, because of the complete disruption of individual plant cells. With respect to high-shear mixing (5 min at 20000 rpm), HPH processing (10 passes) caused an increased release of intracellular compounds, such as proteins (+70.5%), and polyphenols (+32.2%) with a corresponding increase in antioxidant activity (+23.3%) and reduction in oil-water interfacial tension (â15.0%). Remarkably, also the release of water-insoluble lycopene in the aqueous supernatant increased, enabling the recovery of up to 56.1% of the initial peel content, well above what reported in the literature when using organic solvents or supercritical CO2
Influence of local fullerene orientation on the electronic properties of A3C60 compounds
We have investigated sodium containing fullerene superconductors Na2AC60, A =
Cs, Rb, and K, by Na-23 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy at 7.5 T
in the temperature range of 10 to 400 K. Despite the structural differences
from the Rb3C60 class of fullerene superconductors, in these compounds the NMR
line of the tetrahedrally coordinated alkali nuclei also splits into two lines
(T and T') at low temperature. In Na2CsC60 the splitting occurs at 170 K; in
the quenched cubic phase of Na2RbC60 and Na2KC60 we observe split lines at 80
K. Detailed investigations of the spectrum, spin-spin and spin-lattice
relaxation as well as spin-echo double resonance (SEDOR) in Na2CsC60 we show
that these two different tetrahedral sites are mixed on a microscopic scale.
The T and T' sites differ in the orientation of first-neighbor C60 molecules.
We present evidence that the orientations of neighboring molecules are
uncorrelated. Thermally activated molecular reorientations cause an exchange
between the T and T' sites and motional narrowing at high temperature. We infer
the same activation energy, 3300 K, in the temperature range 125 to 300 K. The
spin lattice relaxation rate is the same for T and T' down to 125 K but
different below. Both the spin-lattice relaxation rate and Knight shift are
strongly temperature dependent in the whole range investigated. We interpret
this temperature variation by the effect of phonon excitations involving the
rigid librational motion of the C60 molecules. By extending the understanding
of the structure and molecular dynamics of C60 superconductors, these results
may help in clarifying the effects of the structure on the superconducting
properties.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, submitted to PR
Performance of High Flow Rate Samplers for Respirable Particle Collection
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial hygienists (ACGIH) lowered the threshold limit value (TLV) for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure from 0.05 to 0.025 mg mâ3 in 2006. For a working environment with an airborne dust concentration near this lowered TLV, the sample collected with current standard respirable aerosol samplers might not provide enough RCS for quantitative analysis. Adopting high flow rate sampling devices for respirable dust containing silica may provide a sufficient amount of RCS to be above the limit of quantification even for samples collected for less than full shift. The performances of three high flow rate respirable samplers (CIP10-R, GK2.69, and FSP10) have been evaluated in this study. Eleven different sizes of monodisperse aerosols of ammonium fluorescein were generated with a vibrating orifice aerosol generator in a calm air chamber in order to determine the sampling efficiency of each sampler. Aluminum oxide particles generated by a fluidized bed aerosol generator were used to test (i) the uniformity of a modified calm air chamber, (ii) the effect of loading on the sampling efficiency, and (iii) the performance of dust collection compared to lower flow rate cyclones in common use in the USA (10-mm nylon and HigginsâDewell cyclones). The coefficient of variation for eight simultaneous samples in the modified calm air chamber ranged from 1.9 to 6.1% for triplicate measures of three different aerosols. The 50% cutoff size (50dae) of the high flow rate samplers operated at the flow rates recommended by manufacturers were determined as 4.7, 4.1, and 4.8 ÎŒm for CIP10-R, GK2.69, and FSP10, respectively. The mass concentration ratio of the high flow rate samplers to the low flow rate cyclones decreased with decreasing mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and high flow rate samplers collected more dust than low flow rate samplers by a range of 2â11 times based on gravimetric analysis. Dust loading inside the high flow rate samplers does not appear to affect the particle separation in either FSP10 or GK2.69. The high flow rate samplers overestimated compared to the International Standards Organization/ComitĂ© EuropĂ©en de Normalisation/ACGIH respirable convention [up to 40% at large MMAD (27.5 ÎŒm)] and could provide overestimated exposure data with the current flow rates. However, both cyclones appeared to be able to provide relatively unbiased assessments of RCS when their flow rates were adjusted
Utility of Plasma Protein Biomarkers and Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy for Diagnosing Fracture-Related Infections: A Pilot Study.
OBJECTIVES: To compare a large panel of plasma protein inflammatory biomarkers and mid-infrared (MIR) spectral patterns between patients with confirmed fracture related infections (FRIs) and controls without infection.
DESIGN: Prospective case-control.
SETTING: Academic, level 1 trauma center.
PATIENTS: Thirteen patients meeting confirmatory FRI criteria were matched to 13 controls based on age, time after surgery, and fracture region.
INTERVENTION: Plasma levels of 49 proteins were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of dried films was used to obtain MIR spectra of plasma samples.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Plasma protein levels and MIR spectra of samples.
RESULTS: Multivariate analysis-based predictive model developed utilizing ELISA-based biomarkers had sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 69.2±0.0%, 99.9±1.0%, and 84.5±0.6%, respectively, with PDGF-AB/BB, CRP, and MIG selected as the minimum number of variables explaining group differences (P
CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of using a select panel of plasma proteins and FTIR spectroscopy to diagnose FRI. The preliminary data suggest that measurement of these select proteins and MIR spectra may be potential clinical tools to detect FRI. Further investigation of these biomarkers in a larger cohort of patients is warranted.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence
Electronic Raman scattering in a multiband model for cuprate superconductors
Charge-charge, current-current and Raman correlation functions are derived in
a consistent way using the unified response theory. The theory is based on the
improved description of the conduction electron coupling to the external
electromagnetic fields, distinguishing further the direct and indirect
(assisted) scattering on the quasi-static disorder. The two scattering channels
are distinguished in terms of the energy and momentum conservation laws. The
theory is illustrated on the Emery three-band model for the normal state of the
underdoped high- cuprates which includes the incoherent electron
scattering on the disorder associated with the quasi-static fluctuations around
the static antiferromagnetic (AF) ordering. It is shown, for the first time
consistently, that the incoherent indirect processes dominate the low-frequency
part of the Raman spectra, while the long-range screening which is dynamic
removes the long-range forces in the channel. In the mid-infrared
frequency range the coherent AF processes are dominant. In contrast to the
nonresonant response, which is large by itself, the resonant interband
transitions enhance both the and Raman spectra to comparable
values, in good agreement with experimental observation. It is further argued
that the AF correlations give rise to the mid-infrared peak in the
Raman spectrum, accompanied by a similar peak in the optical conductivity. The
doping behavior of these peaks is shown to be correlated with the linear doping
dependence of the Hall number, as observed in all underdoped high-
compounds.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures; to appear in Phys. Rev.
Caspofungin Increases Fungal Chitin and Eosinophil and γΎ T Cell-Dependent Pathology in Invasive Aspergillosis
The polysaccharide-rich fungal cell wall provides pathogen-specific targets for antifungal therapy and distinct molecular patterns that stimulate protective or detrimental host immunity. The echinocandin antifungal caspofungin inhibits synthesis of cell wall ÎČ-1,3-glucan and is used for prophylactic therapy in immune-suppressed individuals. However, breakthrough infections with fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus are associated with caspofungin prophylaxis. In this study, we report in vitro and in vivo increases in fungal surface chitin in A. fumigatus induced by caspofungin that was associated with airway eosinophil recruitment in neutropenic mice with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IA). More importantly, caspofungin treatment of mice with IA resulted in a pattern of increased fungal burden and severity of disease that was reversed in eosinophil-deficient mice. Additionally, the eosinophil granule proteins major basic protein and eosinophil peroxidase were more frequently detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of lung transplant patients diagnosed with IA that received caspofungin therapy when compared with azole-treated patients. Eosinophil recruitment and inhibition of fungal clearance in caspofungin-treated mice with IA required RAG1 expression and γΎ T cells. These results identify an eosinophil-mediated mechanism for paradoxical caspofungin activity and support the future investigation of the potential of eosinophil or fungal chitin-targeted inhibition in the treatment of IA
Commercials, careers and culture: travelling salesmen in Britain 1890s-1930s
Within the lower middle-class, British commercial travellers established a strong fraternal culture before 1914. This article examines their interwar experiences in terms of income, careers, and associational culture. It demonstrates how internal labour markets operated, identifies the ways in which commercial travellers interpreted their role, and explores their social and political attitudes
Gross renal morphology of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) (Marsupialia : Myrmecobiidae)
There is a strong correlation between the structure of the mammalian kidney and its urinary concentrating ability. We examine here the kidney of an endangered termitivorous marsupial (Myrmecobius fasciatus) and use the measured kidney morphometrics to calculate maximal urinary concentration. The relative medullary area (1.34) of the kidney of M. fasciatus is typical of other dasyuromorph marsupials, as is its predicted maximal urinary concentration of 3617 mOsm kgâ1 H2O, despite its historically semiarid/arid distribution. The termitivorous diet of M. fasciatus presumably provides it with sufficient water to limit selection for a high urinary concentrating capacity
The polymer phase of the TDAE-C organic ferromagnet
The high-pressure Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) measurements were preformed
on TDAE-C single crystals and stability of the polymeric phase was
established in the parameter space. At 7 kbar the system undergoes a
ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition due to the pressure-induced
polymerization. The polymeric phase remains stable after the pressure release.
The depolymerization of the pressure-induced phase was observed at the
temperature of 520 K. Below room temperature, the polymeric phase behaves as a
simple Curie-type insulator with one unpaired electron spin per chemical
formula. The TDAE donor-related unpaired electron spins, formerly
ESR-silent, become active above the temperature of 320 K and the Curie-Weiss
behavior is re-established.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Testing Technicolor Models in Top Quark Pair Production at High Energy Photon Colliders
We study pseudo-Goldstone boson corrections to top quark pair production
rates in technicolor models with and without topcolor at the E=0.5 teV and 1.5
TeV photon colliders. We find that, for reasonable ranges of the parameters,
the corrections are large enough to be observable, and the corrections in
models with topcolor are considerably larger than those in models without
topcolor, and they are all significantly larger than the corresponding
corrections in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) with tan(beta)
of the order of 1. So that the two kinds of technicolor models and the MSSM
with tan(beta) of the order of 1 can be experimentally distinguished.Comment: Version for publication in Phys.Rev.D with some references and
discussions added and some typos correcte
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