•Pure aluminum was reinforced with graphene-platelets by using mechanical milling.•The composites were studied after sintering condition.•Milling time and graphene-platelet enhance the mechanical ...behavior of the composites.
Graphene can be considered as an ideal reinforcement for the production of composites due to its outstanding mechanical properties. These characteristics offer an increased opportunity for their study in the production of metal matrix composites (MMCs). In this research, the studied composites were produced by mechanical alloying (MA). The employed milling times were of 1, 3 and 5h. GNPs were added in 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0wt% into an aluminum powder matrix. Milled powders were cold consolidated and subsequently sintered. Composites were microstructurally characterized with Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The hardness behavior in composites was evaluated with a Vickers micro-hardness test. A homogeneous dispersion of graphene during MA and the proper selection of sintering conditions were considered to produce optimized composites. The obtained results with electron microscopy indicate a homogeneous dispersion of GNPs into the aluminum matrix. Analyses showed GNPs edges where the structure of the graphene layers conserved after MA is observed.
We performed a time-resolved spectroscopic study of the VUV/UV scintillation of gaseous argon as a function of pressure and electric field, by means of a wavelength sensitive detector operated with ...different radioactive sources. Our work conveys new evidence of distinctive features of the argon light which are in contrast with the general assumption that, for particle detection purposes, the scintillation can be considered to be largely monochromatic at 128 nm (second continuum). The wavelength and time-resolved analysis of the photon emission reveal that the dominant component of the argon scintillation during the first tens of ns is in the range 160, 325 nm. This light is consistent with the third continuum emission from highly charged argon ions/molecules. This component of the scintillation is field-independent up to 25 V/cm/bar and shows a very mild dependence with pressure in the range 1, 16 bar. The dynamics of the second continuum emission is dominated by the excimer formation time, whose variation as a function of pressure has been measured. Additionally, the time and pressure-dependent features of electron-ion recombination, in the second continuum band, have been measured. This study opens new paths toward a novel particle identification technique based on the spectral information of the noble-elements scintillation light.
Risk variants of fat mass and obesity‐associated (FTO) gene have been associated with increased obesity. However, the evidence for associations between FTO genotype and macronutrient intake has not ...been reviewed systematically. Our aim was to evaluate the potential associations between FTO genotype and intakes of total energy, fat, carbohydrate and protein. We undertook a systematic literature search in OVID MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE and Cochrane of associations between macronutrient intake and FTO genotype in adults. Beta coefficients and confidence intervals (CIs) were used for per allele comparisons. Random‐effect models assessed the pooled effect sizes. We identified 56 eligible studies reporting on 213,173 adults. For each copy of the FTO risk allele, individuals reported 6.46 kcal day⁻¹ (95% CI: 10.76, 2.16) lower total energy intake (P = 0.003). Total fat (P = 0.028) and protein (P = 0.006), but not carbohydrate intakes, were higher in those carrying the FTO risk allele. After adjustment for body weight, total energy intakes remained significantly lower in individuals with the FTO risk genotype (P = 0.028). The FTO risk allele is associated with a lower reported total energy intake and with altered patterns of macronutrient intake. Although significant, these differences are small and further research is needed to determine whether the associations are independent of dietary misreporting.
Versatile peroxidase (VP) is defined by its capabilities to oxidize the typical substrates of other basidiomycete peroxidases: (i) Mn²⁺, the manganese peroxidase (MnP) substrate (Mn³⁺ being able to ...oxidize phenols and initiate lipid peroxidation reactions); (ii) veratryl alcohol (VA), the typical lignin peroxidase (LiP) substrate; and (iii) simple phenols, which are the substrates of Coprinopsis cinerea peroxidase (CIP). Crystallographic, spectroscopic, directed mutagenesis, and kinetic studies showed that these 'hybrid' properties are due to the coexistence in a single protein of different catalytic sites reminiscent of those present in the other basidiomycete peroxidase families. Crystal structures of wild and recombinant VP, and kinetics of mutated variants, revealed certain differences in its Mn-oxidation site compared with MnP. These result in efficient Mn²⁺ oxidation in the presence of only two of the three acidic residues forming its binding site. On the other hand, a solvent-exposed tryptophan is the catalytically-active residue in VA oxidation, initiating an electron transfer pathway to haem (two other putative pathways were discarded by mutagenesis). Formation of a tryptophanyl radical after VP activation by peroxide was detected using electron paramagnetic resonance. This was the first time that a protein radical was directly demonstrated in a ligninolytic peroxidase. In contrast with LiP, the VP catalytic tryptophan is not β-hydroxylated under hydrogen peroxide excess. It was also shown that the tryptophan environment affected catalysis, its modification introducing some LiP properties in VP. Moreover, some phenols and dyes are oxidized by VP at the edge of the main haem access channel, as found in CIP. Finally, the biotechnological interest of VP is discussed.
Within the strategies of substitution of energy from fossil fuels by renewable energies, the research is based on second-generation ethanol production (2G ethanol). One of the raw materials ...considered for this is residual biomass of the coffee industry, being the subject of study here. The cellulose contained in the coffee husk (coffee husk or coffee skin or coffee exocarp or pericarp) was maximized using pretreatment processes. In dilute acid hydrolysis (DAH), using a fixed 1:6 w:v solid to liquid ratio (SLR), process times (35, 45, 55 min) and H
2
SO
4
concentrations (3, 4, 5% v/v) were evaluated, achieving 53.63% hemicellulose removal. A delignification process resulted in 58.82% lignin removal, evaluating the effect of process times (30, 35, 40 h) and SLR (1:8, 1:10, 1:12 w:v) at a fixed concentration of 8% v/v H
2
O
2
. A 115.59 g/L glucose concentration was obtained with an interaction of fixed concentrations of 4–6% w/w Cellic CTec3 enzyme and 6:1 to 1:12 v:w SLR. The fermentation process considered the composition variation of the culture medium (enriched culture C1 and non-enriched culture C2), generating ethanol at 48.19 and 29.02 g/L concentrations, respectively. Fermentation efficiency (
η
f
) was improved from 21.99 to 81.74% with the addition of inorganic nutrients (KH
2
PO
4
, (NH
4
)
2
SO
4
, and MgSO
4
·7H
2
O). These results confirmed that the optimization of the pretreatments in coffee husk waste favored the cellulose production and facilitated the enzymatic process to produce a high glucose concentration, revealing these residues as a carbon source promising for second-generation ethanol production.
Nutrigenetic research examines the effects of inter-individual differences in genotype on responses to nutrients and other food components, in the context of health and of nutrient requirements. A ...practical application of nutrigenetics is the use of personal genetic information to guide recommendations for dietary choices that are more efficacious at the individual or genetic subgroup level relative to generic dietary advice. Nutrigenetics is unregulated, with no defined standards, beyond some commercially adopted codes of practice. Only a few official nutrition-related professional bodies have embraced the subject, and, consequently, there is a lack of educational resources or guidance for implementation of the outcomes of nutrigenetic research. To avoid misuse and to protect the public, personalised nutrigenetic advice and information should be based on clear evidence of validity grounded in a careful and defensible interpretation of outcomes from nutrigenetic research studies. Evidence requirements are clearly stated and assessed within the context of state-of-the-art 'evidence-based nutrition'. We have developed and present here a draft framework that can be used to assess the strength of the evidence for scientific validity of nutrigenetic knowledge and whether 'actionable'. In addition, we propose that this framework be used as the basis for developing transparent and scientifically sound advice to the public based on nutrigenetic tests. We feel that although this area is still in its infancy, minimal guidelines are required. Though these guidelines are based on semi-quantitative data, they should stimulate debate on their utility. This framework will be revised biennially, as knowledge on the subject increases.
Optimal nutritional choices are linked with better health, but many current interventions to improve diet have limited effect. We tested the hypothesis that providing personalized nutrition (PN) ...advice based on information on individual diet and lifestyle, phenotype and/or genotype would promote larger, more appropriate, and sustained changes in dietary behaviour.
: Adults from seven European countries were recruited to an internet-delivered intervention (Food4Me) and randomized to: (i) conventional dietary advice (control) or to PN advice based on: (ii) individual baseline diet; (iii) individual baseline diet plus phenotype (anthropometry and blood biomarkers); or (iv) individual baseline diet plus phenotype plus genotype (five diet-responsive genetic variants). Outcomes were dietary intake, anthropometry and blood biomarkers measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months' intervention.
At baseline, mean age of participants was 39.8 years (range 18-79), 59% of participants were female and mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.5 kg/m 2 . From the enrolled participants, 1269 completed the study. Following a 6-month intervention, participants randomized to PN consumed less red meat -5.48 g, (95% confidence interval:-10.8,-0.09), P = 0.046, salt -0.65 g, (-1.1,-0.25), P = 0.002 and saturated fat -1.14 % of energy, (-1.6,-0.67), P < 0.0001, increased folate 29.6 µg, (0.21,59.0), P = 0.048 intake and had higher Healthy Eating Index scores 1.27, (0.30, 2.25), P = 0.010) than those randomized to the control arm. There was no evidence that including phenotypic and phenotypic plus genotypic information enhanced the effectiveness of the PN advice.
Among European adults, PN advice via internet-delivered intervention produced larger and more appropriate changes in dietary behaviour than a conventional approach.
Aims/hypothesis We analysed the factors that determine the outcomes of surgical treatment of osteomyelitis of the foot in diabetic patients given early surgical treatment within 12 h of admission and ...treated with prioritisation of foot-sparing surgery and avoidance of amputation. Methods A consecutive series of 185 diabetic patients with foot osteomyelitis and histopathological confirmation of bone involvement were followed until healing, amputation or death. Results Probing to bone was positive in 175 cases (94.5%) and radiological signs of osteomyelitis were found in 157 cases (84.8%). Staphylococcus aureus was the organism isolated in the majority of cultures (51.3%), and in 35 cases (36.8%) it proved to be methicillin-resistant. The surgical treatment performed included 91 conservative surgical procedures, which were defined as those where no amputation of any part of the foot was undertaken (49.1%). A total of 94 patients received some degree of amputation, consisting of 79 foot-level (minor) amputations (42.4%) and 15 major amputations (8%). Five patients died during the perioperative period (2.7%). Histopathological analysis revealed 94 cases (50.8%) of acute osteomyelitis, 43 cases (23.2%) of chronic osteomyelitis, 45 cases (24.3%) of acute exacerbation of chronic osteomyelitis and three remaining cases (1.6%) designated as 'other'. The risks of failure in the case of conservative surgery were exposed bone, the presence of ischaemia and necrotising soft tissue infection. Conclusions/interpretation Conservative surgery without local or high-level amputation is successful in almost half of the cases of diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Prospective trials should be undertaken to determine the relative roles of conservative surgery versus other approaches.
Abstract Evaluation of specific antibody (Ab) response to polysaccharide antigens is essential for diagnosis of primary immunodeficiencies. We assessed the specific Ab responses to the ...pneumococcal-polysaccharide (PPV) and to Salmonella typhi-polysaccharide (TyphimVi) vaccines in a prospective study (EMPATHY) in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID-Group, n = 22), hypogammaglobulinemia (HYPOG-Group; n = 27) and healthy controls (HC-Group; n = 16). Specific Ab concentrations in response to PPV and to TyphimVi vaccines were measured by ELISA (The Binding Site, UK), defining 3-fold increase as normal response (Ratio:3 ×). The RatioTyphimVi:3 × was significantly greater in HC than in CVID-Group ( p < 0.0001), but not than HYPOG-Group ( p = 0.138). However, the RatioPPV:3 × showed no significant differences among the three groups. By ROC analysis, TyphimVi better differentiated HC from CVID (AUC:0.893, IC95%: 0.791–0.996, p < 0.0001) than PPV. Our results suggest that the use of specific Ab response to TyphimVi could represent a complementary assay for the diagnosis of anti -polysaccharide Ab production deficiency in patients with CVID.
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