The Effect of Grape Temperature on the Sensory Perception of Méthode Cap Classique Wines

The production process of South African bottle-fermented sparkling wine, the Méthode Cap Classique (MCC), follows the traditional French method (méthode champenoise), although each cellar has its own unique additions to the method. South African winemakers use different techniques and blends to achieve their award-winning MCCs, but there have not been many scientific investigations of the science behind these wines. This project is one of the first scientific studies on MCC. MCC wines were made using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes harvested over two vintages (2014 and 2015) from two regions (Robertson and Darling) and stored at 0°C, 10°C, 25°C and 30°C before processing. The study was aimed at investigating the effect of grape storage temperature on the sensory characteristics of MCCs. The aroma and taste of the final nine-month old MCCs were evaluated, with each region analysed separately. The study showed a grouping of the MCCs according to temperature treatments for both vintages. There werevintage differences in terms of the attributes cited and the frequency of citations. Based on the frequency of citation, the MCCs made 2014 from grapes stored at 0°C and 10°C were described by the judges as having a fruity, fresh and crisp aroma, whilst those made from grapes stored at 25°C and 30°C were described as having oxidised fruit, volatile acidity and solvent-like aromas. The judges perceived less oxidation and volatile acidity (VA) (in terms of the frequency of citation) in the aroma of the 2015 MCCs, although treatments at higher temperatures were still associated with less desirable attributes compared to treatments at lower temperature. This study shown that the temperature of the grape at the time ofprocessing has a significant effect on the aroma of MCCs aged nine months, and not so much of an effect on the taste

Effect of Skin Contact Before and During Alcoholic Fermentation on the Chemical and Sensory Profile of South African Chenin Blanc White Wines

The volatile and phenolic composition of Chenin blanc wines made with different skin contact treatmentswas studied. One batch of grapes was used to make a dry white wine according to two different treatments,namely pre-fermentative skin contact and complete fermentation on the skins. A white wine fermentedwithout any skin contact was used as control. Fermentation on the skins and skin contact beforefermentation led to significantly lower levels of terpenes, esters, acids and thiols, and the highest significantlevels of alcohols and phenolic compounds. However, this effect was less pronounced in wines with skincontact before fermentation. Sensory analysis of all the experimental wines was also performed. The resultsshowed a significant shift from the sensory attributes of fresh and tropical fruits of the control Cheninblanc wines towards riper fruit notes in the skin contact treatments. This observation was correlated withthe length of the skin contact period. Possible reasons to explain the results observed in this study arediscussed

Phase Nanoengineering via Thermal Scanning Probe Lithography and Direct Laser Writing

Nanomaterials derive their electronic, magnetic, and optical properties from their specific nanostructure. In most cases, nanostructured materials and their properties are defined during the materials growth, and nanofabrication techniques, such as lithography, are employed subsequently for device fabrication. Herein, a perspective is presented on a different approach for creating nanomaterials and devices where, after growth, advanced nanofabrication techniques are used to directly nanostructure condensed matter systems, by inducing highly controlled, localized, and stable changes in the electronic, magnetic, or optical properties. Then, advantages, limitations, applications in materials science and technology are highlighted, and future perspectives are discussed

The effect of oxygen in the photocatalytic oxidation pathways of perfluorooctanoic acid

The influence of oxygen in the photocatalytic oxidation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) promoted by a commercial nano-sized titanium dioxide was studied by testing the reaction in different conditions: static air, oxygen flux, nitrogen flux and pre-saturated nitrogen flux. The reaction was monitored by Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis and Ionic Chromatography (IC). Shorter chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs; C-n, n = 1-7) intermediate degradation products were quantitatively determined by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography combined with Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis. The presence of shorter chain PFCAs in solution was also monitored by F-19 NMR. The experimental findings are in agreement with two major oxidative pathways: C-n -> Cn-1 photo-redox and beta-scissions routes mediated by COF2 elimination. Depending on the experimental conditions, the mutually operating mechanisms could be unbalanced up to the complete predominance of one pathway over the other. In particular, the existence of the beta-scissions route with COF2 elimination was corroborated by the isolation and characterization of carbonyl difluoride, a predicted fluorinated decomposition by-product

Minimum Information about a Neuroscience Investigation (MINI) Electrophysiology

This module represents the formalized opinion of the authors and the CARMEN consortium, which identifies the minimum information required to report the use of electrophysiology in a neuroscience study, for submission to the CARMEN system (www.carmen.org.uk).
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Replica symmetric evaluation of the information transfer in a two-layer network in presence of continuous+discrete stimuli

In a previous report we have evaluated analytically the mutual information between the firing rates of N independent units and a set of multi-dimensional continuous+discrete stimuli, for a finite population size and in the limit of large noise. Here, we extend the analysis to the case of two interconnected populations, where input units activate output ones via gaussian weights and a threshold linear transfer function. We evaluate the information carried by a population of M output units, again about continuous+discrete correlates. The mutual information is evaluated solving saddle point equations under the assumption of replica symmetry, a method which, by taking into account only the term linear in N of the input information, is equivalent to assuming the noise to be large. Within this limitation, we analyze the dependence of the information on the ratio M/N, on the selectivity of the input units and on the level of the output noise. We show analytically, and confirm numerically, that in the limit of a linear transfer function and of a small ratio between output and input noise, the output information approaches asymptotically the information carried in input. Finally, we show that the information loss in output does not depend much on the structure of the stimulus, whether purely continuous, purely discrete or mixed, but only on the position of the threshold nonlinearity, and on the ratio between input and output noise.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure

Functional analysis of novel KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 gene variants found in a large pedigree with benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC)

Benign familial neonatal convulsion (BFNC) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in KCNQ2 and KCNQ3, two genes encoding for potassium channel subunits. A large family with nine members affected by BFNC is described in the present study. All affected members of this family carry a novel deletion/insertion mutation in the KCNQ2 gene (c.761_770del10insA), which determines a premature truncation of the protein. In addition, in the family of the proposita's father, a novel sequence variant (c.2687A>G) in KCNQ3 leading to the p.N821S amino acid change was detected. When heterologously expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, KCNQ2 subunits carrying the mutation failed to form functional potassium channels in homomeric configuration and did not affect channels formed by KCNQ2 and/or KCNQ3 subunits. On the other hand, homomeric and heteromeric potassium channels formed by KCNQ3 subunits carrying the p.N821S variant were indistinguishable from those formed by wild-type KCNQ3 subunits. Finally, the current density of the cells mimicking the double heterozygotic condition for both KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 alleles of the proband was decreased by approximately 25% when compared to cells expressing only wild-type alleles. Collectively, these results suggest that, in the family investigated, the KCNQ2 mutation is responsible for the BFNC phenotype, possibly because of haplo-insufficiency, whereas the KCNQ3 variant is functionally silent, a result compatible with its lack of segregation with the BFNC phenotyp

SEMA6C: a novel adhesion-independent FAK and YAP activator, required for cancer cell viability and growth

Transmembrane semaphorins are signaling molecules, controlling axonal wiring and embryo development, which are increasingly implicated in human diseases. Semaphorin 6C (Sema6C) is a poorly understood family member and its functional role is still unclear. Upon targeting Sema6C expression in a range of cancer cells, we observed dramatic growth suppression, decreased ERK phosphorylation, upregulation of cell cycle inhibitor proteins p21, p27 and p53, and the onset of cell senescence, associated with activation of autophagy. These data are consistent with a fundamental requirement for Sema6C to support viability and growth in cancer cells. Mechanistically, we unveiled a novel signaling pathway elicited by Sema6C, and dependent on its intracellular domain, mediated by tyrosine kinases c-Abl and Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK). Sema6C was found in complex with c-Abl, and induced its phosphorylation, which in turn led to FAK activation, independent of cell–matrix adhesion. Sema6C-induced FAK activity was furthermore responsible for increased nuclear localization of YAP transcriptional regulator. Moreover, Sema6C conferred YAP signaling-dependent long-term cancer cell survival upon nutrient deprivation. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that Sema6C elicits a cancer promoting-signaling pathway sustaining cell viability and self-renewal, independent of growth factors and nutrients availability

Biofeedback Signals for Robotic Rehabilitation: Assessment of Wrist Muscle Activation Patterns in Healthy Humans

Electrophysiological recordings from human muscles can serve as control signals for robotic rehabilitation devices. Given that many diseases affecting the human sensorimotor system are associated with abnormal patterns of muscle activation, such biofeedback can optimize human-robot interaction and ultimately enhance motor recovery. To understand how mechanical constraints and forces imposed by a robot affect muscle synergies, we mapped the muscle activity of seven major arm muscles in healthy individuals performing goal-directed discrete wrist movements constrained by a wrist robot. We tested six movement directions and four force conditions typically experienced during robotic rehabilitation. We analyzed electromyographic (EMG) signals using a space-by-time decomposition and we identified a set of spatial and temporal modules that compactly described the EMG activity and were robust across subjects. For each trial, coefficients expressing the strength of each combination of modules and representing the underlying muscle recruitment, allowed for a highly reliable decoding of all experimental conditions. The decomposition provides compact representations of the observable muscle activation constrained by a robotic device. Results indicate that a low-dimensional control scheme incorporating EMG biofeedback could be an effective add-on for robotic rehabilitative protocols seeking to improve impaired motor function in humans