Oxidative stress in asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescent swimmers - a breathomics approach

We hypothesize that oxidative stress induced by trichloramine exposure during swimming could be related to etiopathogenesis of asthma among elite swimmers. Aim: To investigate the effect of a swimming training session on oxidative stress markers of asthmatic compared to non‐asthmatic elite swimmers using exhaled breath (EB) metabolomics. Methods: Elite swimmers annually screened in our department (n=27) were invited and those who agreed to participate (n=20, of which 9 with asthma) had EB collected (Tedlar® bags) before and after a swimming training session. SPME fiber (DVB/CAR/PDMS) was used to extract EB metabolites followed by a multidimensional gas chromatography analysis (GC×GC‐ToFMS). Dataset comprises eight metabolites end products of lipid peroxidation: five aliphatic alkanes (nonane, 2,2,4,6,6‐pentamethylheptane, decane, dodecane, and tetradecane) and three aldehydes (nonanal, decanal, and dodecanal). To assess exercise impact on lipid peroxidation markers, data were analyzed using principle component analysis (PCA), which was run on the original data set and on the data set constructed using differences in the metabolite total areas before and after exercise session. Results: Heatmap representation revealed that metabolites content decreased after exercise, both for control and asthma groups; however, the greater decrease was observed for controls. Asthmatics and controls did not form separated clusters; however, control swimmers demonstrated a more varied response to the exercise being dispersed along all score plot. Conclusion: In well‐trained athletes, swimming is associated with a decrease in oxidative stress markers independently of the presence of asthma, although a more pronounced decrease was seen in controls.European Regional Development Fund FEDER through the Competitive Factors Thematic Operational Programme (COMPETE) and FCT, Portugal, under projects PEST-C/QUI/UI0062/2013 (Research Unit 62/94 QOPNA) and PTDC/QUI-QUI/117803/2010

A comprehensive look into the volatile exometabolome of enteroxic and non-enterotoxic Staphylococcus aureus strains

Staphylococcal food poisoning is a disease that originates significant health and economic losses and is caused by Staphylococcus aureus strains able to produce enterotoxins. The aim of this work is to go further on the study of the volatile exometabolome of S. aureus using an advanced gas chromatographic technique. Enterotoxic and non-enterotoxic strains were assessed. The volatile exometabolome profile comprised 240 volatiles belonging to ten chemical families. This volatiles were mainly by-products of branched-chain amino acids and methionine degradation, pyruvate metabolism, diacetyl pathway, oxidative stress and carotenoid cleavage. Metabolites released by the first two pathways were produced in higher contents by the enterotoxic strains. This study add further insights to S. aureus volatile exometabolome, and also shows that by applying it, it is possible to distinguish strains of S. aureus by the number of produced enterotoxins, which is especially important from the food safety point of view.publishe

POLITICAL WORK IN THE SOUTHERN FRONT MILITARY FORCES THROUGHOUT THE RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR (1918-1920)

Purpose of the study: Recreation of a historically truthful picture, reflecting the role of educational work in the army during the Civil War (1918-1920), which currently continues to be the subject of sharp ideological and scientific discussions. Introduction of previously unknown to the scientific community documents concerning political work in the troops. Generalization of the experience of this work with the aim of shaping the scientific historical consciousness among young people in the context of the modern information struggle. Methodology: The conceptual basis for the study relies on the integral paradigm of historical analysis (introduced by the representatives of the RSSU historical school). It allows not only to compare polar versions of the description of the key problems of the Civil War history to create a multidimensional historical panorama but also to find a consensus between the methodological concepts that guided the development of the national historical science in the Soviet period and the modern paradigms of historical knowledge. Main Findings: 1. The experience of the activities of the political bodies of the Southern Front related educational work in troops during the Civil War has been considered in order to preserve historical heritage. 2. New archival documents, including leaflets that determine the scientific argumentation of the problem, as well as new concepts (“integral paradigm of historical analysis” and “cultural-historiographic space”) have been introduced into the scientific circulation. 3. The main approaches to assessing the events of the Civil War have been defined. Applications of this study: The study can be used in the implementation of various educational programs and projects, scientific and methodological research of problems of national history, as well as training and professional retraining of specialists in the field of history teaching. Novelty/Originality of this study: A holistic picture of the activities of the Red Army political agencies in carrying out party political work in the troops of the Southern Front during the Civil War has been presented. The main forms of cultural, educational and propaganda work carried out among the frontline troops and the enemy forces have been analyzed. An assessment of the effectiveness of the mass political work in the creation and strengthening of the Red Army during the period under study has been given

Data on yields, sugars and glycosidic-linkage analyses of coffee arabinogalactan and galactomannan mixtures and optimization of their microwave assisted extraction from spent coffee grounds

The data presented here are related to the research paper entitled "Structural features of spent coffee grounds water-soluble polysaccharides: towards tailor-made microwave assisted extractions" [1]. Microwave assisted extraction conditions were applied to spent coffee grounds for recovery of polysaccharides, namely arabinogalactans and galactomannans. Following an experimental design testing temperature, time, and alkali conditions as influence factors during microwave assisted extraction, this article reports the response data for the total extracted mass, sugars yield (including arabinogalactans and galactomannans total content, and mass ratio), and structural features (including degree of polymerization and degree of branching) for each set of operating conditions. In addition, it provides gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) chromatograms (and respective GC-MS spectra) of arabinogalactan and galactomannan mixtures with different structural features corresponding to representative microwave treatment conditions.publishe

Determination of paralytic shellfish toxins using potentiometric electronic tongue

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are monitored in commercial bivalves in several countries in the world due to their toxicity to human consumers. The present work examines the application of an electronic tongue based on potentiometric chemical sensors to the quantification of PSTs in mussel extracts. The electronic tongue comprised six miniaturized sensors with solid inner contact and plasticized polyvinylchloride membranes. Calibration models were calculated by PLS regression using measurements in sixteen model mixed solutions containing four PSTs commonly found in bivalves from the Portuguese coast. Transfer of the calibration models to sample matrix was done by joint-PLS regression using measurements in five mussel extracts spiked with PST standards. Quantification of PSTs in extracts of naturally contaminated mussels, using the electronic tongue and updated calibration model, was in agreement with values of the chromatographic reference method. Those sensors alone or combined in an electronic tongue are useful tools for rapid screening of PST in bivalves.publishe

Professional Discourses in Information-Communicative Space of Russia: Publicistic Discourse - PR Discourse - Business Discourse

Social services are essential for the generation of professional discourse conditions. In the official sphere we identify structural parameters of two levels: the first level, we include a social institution - professional culture; to the parameters of the second level and subject - specific attachment - themed repertoire - genre diversity. In accordance with these arguments, the article discusses the structural parameters of journalistic discourse, PR-discourse and business discourse. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s2p7

Inhibitory activity of red and yellow araçá genotypes towards carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes: putative role of ellagitannins.

Abstract: Psidium cattleianum Sabine (araçá) is a species native to Southeast Brazil that grows under abiotic stress conditions conferring high content of bioactive compounds to its fruits. The presence of these compounds is thought to be responsible for the many health-promoting effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and antidiabetic activities. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory potential of 10 (red and yellow) araçá genotypes towards carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes (CHEs) using cell-free (α-glucosidase, α-amylase) and cell-based assays (sucrase). Araçá extracts displayed stronger inhibition towards α-glucosidase than α-amylase, and only 3 inhibited sucrase activity. The high variability towards the in vitro inhibitory CHEs activity was reflected in the total phenolics content with values ranging between 38.9 and 117 mg/100 g. Of the thirty compounds identified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESIMS/MS), including caffeic acids (9), organic acids (3) ellagitannins (15) and flavonoids (3), ellagitannins were the most abundant class. Statistical analysis showed ellagitannins were the main discriminators to the CHEs inhibitory activity. In summary, by expanding the panel of red and yellow araçá varieties studied, our results show that not all araçá genotypes inhibit CHE as only YA-23, RA-29, and RA-87 inhibited all 3 CHE which were related to the presence of ellagitannins. Information on the araçá genotypes with greater CHE inhibitory activity allied with the health-promoting effects of ellagitannin-rich foods, can be used to scale-up commercially exploitable genotypes with the aim to develop araçá-containing food formulations targeted to the pre-diabetic population