High-intensity ultrasound processed acerola juice containing oligosaccharides and dextran promotes Lacticaseibacillus casei NRRL B-442 growth

In the present study, a prebiotic acerola juice containing gluco-oligosaccharides and dextran was produced and processed by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS). After a simulated in vitro digestion, the gluco-oligosaccharides and dextran maintained 90% and 80% of their initial concentration in all prebiotic’s juices. At the same time, Vitamin C and phenolic compounds concentration increased significantly by 19% and 7% (P < 0.05). After the in vitro digestion, the prebiotic juice HIUS processed by 10 min showed the highest increase in gluco-oligosaccharides and bioactive compound concentrations. The HIUS processing imparted some dextran hydrolysis and improved its fermentability by Lacticaseibacillus casei. Gluco-oligosaccharides were extensively consumed as substrate in simulated intestinal conditions, promoting the L. casei NRRL B-442 growth and production of organic acids and short-chain organic acids. The prebiotic juice HIUS processed for 6 min showed the best responses regarding the metabolism of L. casei NRRL B-442. The results showed high-intensity ultrasound processed acerola juices containing gluco-oligosaccharides and dextran as a prebiotic food.     

Influence of Ti Incorporation to Bimetallic Mesoporous Carbon in the Production of 2,5-Dimethylfuran from Biomass Derivatives

Catalysis Letters - Monometallic and bimetallic supported catalysts were developed to produce 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) trough hydrogenolysis of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF). Detailed...     

Static pentane extraction as a potential alternative to Soxhlet extraction for polypropylene olive oil overall migration limit measurements

Static pentane extraction of olive oil from polypropylene was evaluated as a safer, higher throughput alternative to pentane Soxhlet extraction for the recovery of olive oil from polypropylene for overall migration limit determinations. Static, ambient temperature, pentane extraction achieved quantitative recovery of olive oil from polypropylene plaques prepared by using the OM‐5 overall migration limit protocol. In addition to validation data for static extractions, a modified esterification procedure is presented as a means to accommodate the larger sample sets that are enabled with static extraction.     

Electrocatalytic hydrogen gas generation by cobalt molybdenum disulfide (CoMoS2) synthesized using alkyl-containing thiomolybdate precursors

Cobalt molybdenum disulfide, (CoMoS₂) catalysts are evaluated as active electrocatalysts for the production of hydrogen gas in acidic aqueous media. These highly-active hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts are obtained from pretreatment of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATM) with different amines precursors, and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their surface areas are determined by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analyses. Electrochemical studies indicate that these CoMoS₂ materials exhibit enhanced catalytic performance for hydrogen gas production with overpotentials ranging from 0.127 to 0.144 V, which are significant less than CoMoS₂ synthesized directly from ATM under the same synthetic techniques (0.173 V). These CoMoS₂ catalysts are also stable in the presence of strong acidic media after a considerably long period of time (10 h) for maintaining their efficiencies for hydrogen gas evolution.     

Pt/C containing different platinum loadings for use as electrocatalysts in alkaline PBI-based direct glycerol fuel cells

This study shows the influence of the Pt percentage in Pt catalysts (Pt/C) on their application in Direct Glycerol Fuel Cells (DGFC). Catalysts with 20, 30, 40 and 60% Pt were prepared by formic acid reduction. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of Pt fcc nanocrystals (with average sizes between 3 and 4 nm). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) corroborated the Pt loadings and the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images show a homogeneous distribution of the Pt nanoparticles, with larger particles at higher Pt percentages. Electrochemical measurements reveal that higher Pt percentages promote the activity of the glycerol electroxidation reaction, resulting in lower onset potentials, higher current densities and reduced poisoning of the Pt surface. Single cell tests confirm these results, with greater maximum power density at higher Pt percentages, although the glycerol crossover effect starts to become significant in the 60% Pt/C catalyst, owing to the reduced thickness of this catalytic layer. A final product selectivity analysis indicates that tartronate is the preferential glycerol electroxidation product, along with glycerate and oxalate in lower proportions, with minor amounts of glycolate and mesoxalate. In general, a thicker catalytic layer is associated with the formation of more oxidized products.     

Age-related deficits in auditory confrontation naming.

The naming of manipulable objects in older and younger adults was evaluated across auditory, visual, and multisensory conditions. Older adults were less accurate and slower in naming across conditions, and all subjects were more impaired and slower to name action sounds than pictures or audiovisual combinations. Moreover, there was a sensory by age group interaction, revealing lower accuracy and increased latencies in auditory naming for older adults unrelated to hearing insensitivity but modest improvement to multisensory cues. These findings support age-related deficits in object action naming and suggest that auditory confrontation naming may be more sensitive than visual naming. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)