Development of low-alcohol isotonic beer by interrupted fermentation

Alcohol-free beer with isotonic properties is getting more popular and its production can be carried out by different production strategies; however, interrupted fermentation is still a challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a low-alcohol isotonic beer (<0.5% v/v) by interrupted fermentation. Moreover, the major objective is to compare the developed product to commercial beverages (sports drinks, ‘Pilsen' regular beer, alcohol-free beers and low-alcohol isotonic beer). The beverages were evaluated based on pH, alcohol content (% v/v), total titratable acidity (mEq L⁻¹), osmolality (mOsmol kg⁻¹), bitterness International Bitterness Units, colour European Brewery Convention, total phenolic compounds (mg L⁻¹ gallic acid), reducing and total sugars (%) and Na and K contents (mg L⁻¹). The developed low-alcohol isotonic beer presented characteristics similar to sports drinks, with the advantage of being richer in phenolic compounds and suitable osmolality. Despite salts were added in its formulation, the grades attributed to all beers employed in the sensory evaluation, as well as the purchase intention did not present significant differences.     

Study of the effect of BDMA catalyst in the epoxy novolac curing process by isothermal DSC

Epoxy novolac/anhydride cure kinetics has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry under isothermal conditions. The system used in this study was an epoxy novolac resin (DEN431), with nadic methyl anhydride as hardener and benzyldimethylamine as accelerator. Kinetic parameters including the reaction order, activation energy and kinetic rate constants, were investigated. The cure reaction was described with the catalyst concentration, and a normalized kinetic model developed for it. It is shown that the cure reaction is dependent on the cure temperature and catalyst concentration, and that it proceeds through an autocatalytic kinetic mechanism. The curing kinetic constants and the cure activation energies were obtained using the Arrhenius kinetic model. A suggested kinetic model with a diffusion term was successfully used to describe and predict the cure kinetics of epoxy novolac resin compositions as a function of the catalyst content and temperature. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Continuous-wave quantum yields of various cobalamins are influenced by competition between geminate recombination and cage escape

Quantum yields of photolysis of the cobalt-carbon bond for three cobalamin compounds were measured with a continuous-wave laser at 442 nm under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Aerobically, the initial homolysis product, Co(II) cobalamin, is trapped by oxygen to form aquocobalamin. Use of an excess of the radical trapping reagent 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl, under anaerobic conditions, scavenges the carbon radical and allows detection of the cobalt(II) photoproduct. Quantum yields measured under anaerobic conditions for 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin (phi (Co-C alpha),442 = 0.20 +/- 0.03) and methylcobalamin (phi (Co-C alpha),442 = 0.35 +/- 0.03) are in agreement with the values obtained under aerobic conditions (phi (Co-C alpha),442 = 0.19 +/- 0.04 and phi (Co-C alpha),442 = 0.36 +/- 0.04, respectively). Additionally, the quantum yield values for 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin and its base-off derivative (phi (Co-C alpha),442 = 0.045 +/- 0.015) match those obtained on a nanosecond time scale [Chen, E., & Chance, M. R. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 12987-12994]. A comparison of quantum yields obtained anaerobically for 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin in H2O versus ethylene glycol shows a 4-fold decrease for the former cobalamin and no change for the latter. These quantum yields are evaluated in terms of time-independent radical separation distances.     

Spontaneous rise of fetal platelet counts despite increasing anti-HPA-5b antibodies

A 47-year-old woman with seronegative polyarthritis, diarrhea, and photosensitivity dermatitis was found to have Crohn's disease and pellagra. The presence of high values of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid in the urine began the exhaustive investigations and finally enterotomy. No mass lesion was found. Argyrophilic cells were not increased in areas of inflamed intestinal mucosa or the normal mucosa. The disagreement between biochemical and histologic findings was attributed to sampling error. Antiinflammatory treatment for Crohn's disease was given and the gastrointestinal and articular symptoms improved, excretion of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid returned to normal and there was no relapse of pellagra. Pellagra as a complication of Crohn's disease has been described in 4 cases; malnutrition and intestinal malabsorption were the proposed mechanisms for the niacin deficiency and pellagra of those patients. In the current case, the pathogenesis of pellagra may be accounted to wastage of tryptophan by an increased pool of intestinal argyrophilic cells, suggested by increased urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid.     

Improved atrial function in bicaval versus standard orthotopic techniques in cardiac transplantation

Atrial geometry is preserved in the bicaval technique of cardiac transplantation. Using Doppler echocardiography, we investigated the impact of this technique on preservation of atrial function and found that echocardiographic indexes of atrial function are improved in bicaval cardiac transplants versus the standard orthotopic transplants.     

Changes in pain perception and pain-related somatosensory evoked potentials in humans produced by exposure to oscillating magnetic fields

cDNA selection was used to isolate coding sequences from cosmids mapping to the gene-rich telomeric region of human chromosome 21q. A novel cDNA, termed SMT3A, was isolated and mapped between the loci PFKL and D21S171, about 2.2 Mb proximal to the telomere. The predicted protein of 103 amino acids appears to be a homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SMT3 protein, whose gene was previously isolated as a suppressor of mutations in the MIF2 gene. The yeast MIF2 gene encodes an essential centromeric protein and shows homology to mammalian CENP-C, an integral component of active kinetochores. SMT3A was found to be highly homologous to two other recently isolated human genes, suggesting the presence of a new gene family. Homologous sequences were also found in protozoa, metazoa, and plants. Moreover, all predicted proteins show significant homology to ubiquitin. The proposed role of yeast SMT3 as centromeric protein and the strong evolutionary conservation of the SMT3A gene suggest an involvement of the encoded protein in the function and/or structure of the eukaryotic kinetochore.     

Recurrent gains of 1q, 8 and 12 in the Ewing family of tumours by comparative genomic hybridization

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to detect copy number changes of DNA sequences in the Ewing family of tumours (ET). We analysed 20 samples from 17 patients. Fifteen tumours (75%) showed copy number changes. Gains of DNA sequences were much more frequent than losses, the majority of the gains affecting whole chromosomes or whole chromosome arms. Recurrent findings included copy number increases for chromosomes 8 (seven out of 20 samples; 35%), 1q (five samples; 25%) and 12 (five samples; 25%). The minimal common regions of these gains were the whole chromosomes 8 and 12, and 1q21-22. High-level amplifications affected 8q13-24, 1q and 1q21-22, each once. Southern blot analysis of the specimen with high-level amplification at 1q21-22 showed an amplification of FLG and SPRR3, both mapped to this region. All cases with a gain of chromosome 12 simultaneously showed a gain of chromosome 8. Comparison of CGH findings with cytogenetic analysis of the same tumours and previous cytogenetic reports of ET showed, in general, concordant results. In conclusion, our findings confirm that secondary changes, which may have prognostic significance in ET, are trisomy 8, trisomy 12 and a gain of DNA sequences in 1q.