Rice bran (RB) is an important by-product from the rice production with a high valorization potential. The aim of the present work was to explore this potential by considering combined protein and ...phenolic fractions and enzymatic hydrolysis. The influence of different protocols in the recovery/fractioning of protein were evaluated, including defatting procedures, in rice brans from two very different locations: Portugal and Colombia. The different protein fractions achieved were characterized. Proteins were further hydrolyzed using trypsin and their hydrolysates were characterized in terms of degree of hydrolysis and peptide size. Moreover, the total phenolic content (TPC) and phenolic compounds’ profile on extracted fractions and hydrolysates of RB from Portugal and Colombia were determined. The functional potential was assessed in terms of antioxidant and antihypertensive activities. Though the protein concentrates had already significant potential bioactivities, protein hydrolysates showed that the TPC, antioxidant and antihypertensive activities significantly increased with the digestion by trypsin. Hydrolysates of RB from Portugal presented a higher antioxidant and hypertensive activities in comparison with hydrolysates of RB from Colombia, moreover it presented a higher content of TPC. This study indicated that the exploitation potential of rice bran can be increased with simple fractioning procedures, that combined protein/phenolic fractions are important to deliver functionality and that hydrolysis can be a relevant tool to release that functionality. Furthermore, regional differences in rice bran composition are also important factors to consider. Overall, this knowledge can be used to increase the industrial potential of valorization for this by-product.
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•Proteins were recovered by alkaline extraction and fractioned by the Osborn method.•Protein profiles of extracts, fractions and hydrolysates from trypsin were assessed.•Hydrolysis by trypsin increased the antioxidant and antihypertensive activities.•Interaction between TPC, proteins and antioxidant activities were evaluated.
Abstract
The Astropy Project supports and fosters the development of open-source and openly developed
Python
packages that provide commonly needed functionality to the astronomical community. A key ...element of the Astropy Project is the core package
astropy
, which serves as the foundation for more specialized projects and packages. In this article, we provide an overview of the organization of the Astropy project and summarize key features in the core package, as of the recent major release, version 2.0. We then describe the project infrastructure designed to facilitate and support development for a broader ecosystem of interoperable packages. We conclude with a future outlook of planned new features and directions for the broader Astropy Project.
Melatonin, a widespread substance with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been found to act as an antidiabetic agent in animal models, regulating the release and action of insulin. ...However, the molecular bases of this antidiabetic action are unknown, limiting its application in humans. Several studies have recently shown that melatonin can modify calcium (Ca(2+)) in diabetic animals, and Ca(2+) has been reported to be involved in glucose homeostasis. The objective of the present study was to assess whether the antidiabetic effect of chronic melatonin at pharmacological doses is established via Ca(2+) regulation in different tissues in an animal model of obesity-related type 2 diabetes, using Zücker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and their lean littermates, Zücker lean (ZL) rats. After the treatments, flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine Ca(2+) levels in the liver, muscle, main types of internal white adipose tissue, subcutaneous lumbar fat, pancreas, brain, and plasma. This study reports for the first time that chronic melatonin administration (10 mg per kg body weight per day for 6 weeks) increases Ca(2+) levels in muscle, liver, different adipose tissues, and pancreas in ZDF rats, although there were no significant changes in their brain or plasma Ca(2+) levels. We propose that this additional peripheral dual action mechanism underlies the improvement in insulin sensitivity and secretion previously documented in samples from the same animals. According to these results, indoleamine may be a potential candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with obesity.
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•MgO-Mg(OH)2 and Cu oxide nanoparticles were synthesized in a controlled and reproducible manner.•Some basic aspects of the mechanism of formation of the MgO-Mg(OH)2 and Cu oxide ...nanoparticles were indicated.•The effect of different concentrations of MgO-Mg(OH)2 and Cu oxide nanoparticles on Omphalia sp. fungus was evaluated.•The results indicated that these treatments generated important morphological changes in the mycelial area and texture of the pathogen.•The information obtained allows us to consider the potential use of these nanoparticles to control the Omphalia sp. fungus.
In this work, nanoparticles of magnesium oxyhydroxide and copper oxide were synthesized using the polyol method. The oxides of interest were obtained at 500 °C for the magnesium system and 400 °C for the copper system. A mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of the nanoparticles, taking account of the synthesis process. The synthesized powders were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The specific surface of the obtained powders was also determined using the BET technique, and the area and specific pore volume were determined via BJH analysis. The XRD results indicated that the solids contained MgO-Mg(OH)2 and CuO-Cu2O. In addition, the average size of the crystallite was determined, obtaining values of ∼13.2 nm for magnesium oxyhydroxide and ∼25.9 nm for copper oxide, with a surface area of ∼17.98 m2/g and ∼7.18 m2/g respectively. SEM characterization showed that the particles of the synthesized ceramic powders had a spheroidal morphology, with a primary particle size of ∼61 nm, the particles showing appreciable agglomeration. On evaluating the effect of MgO-Mg(OH)2-NPs and Cu oxide nanoparticles on the Omphalia sp. fungus, there was no complete inhibition of fungal growth for the concentrations used. Despite this condition, the presence of NPs generated important morphological changes in the mycelial area and texture of the pathogen, causing the mycelia to acquire an abnormal structure, evidence of NPs-pathogen interaction.
Cannabis is often used by people with HIV (PWH) for pain, yet study results are inconsistent regarding whether and how it affects pain. This study examines whether greater cannabis use frequency is ...associated with lower pain interference and whether cannabis use modifies the association of pain severity and pain interference among 134 PWH with substance dependence or a lifetime history of injection drug use. Multi-variable linear regression models examined the association between past 30-day cannabis use frequency and pain interference. Additional models evaluated whether cannabis use modified the association between pain severity and pain interference. Cannabis use frequency was not significantly associated with pain interference. However, in a model with interaction between cannabis use frequency and pain severity, greater cannabis use frequency attenuated the strength of the association between pain severity and pain interference (p = 0.049). The adjusted mean difference (AMD) in pain interference was +1.13, + 0.81, and +0.05 points for each 1-point increase in pain severity for those with no cannabis use, 15 days of use, and daily use, respectively. These findings suggest that attenuating the impact of pain severity on pain-related functional impairment is a potential mechanism for a beneficial role of cannabis for PWH.
The Satellite for Orbital Aerodynamics Research (SOAR) is a CubeSat mission, due to be launched in 2021, to investigate the interaction between different materials and the atmospheric flow regime in ...very low Earth orbits (VLEO). Improving knowledge of the gas–surface interactions at these altitudes and identification of novel materials that can minimise drag or improve aerodynamic control are important for the design of future spacecraft that can operate in lower altitude orbits. Such satellites may be smaller and cheaper to develop or can provide improved Earth observation data or communications link-budgets and latency. In order to achieve these objectives, SOAR features two payloads: (i) a set of steerable fins which provide the ability to expose different materials or surface finishes to the oncoming flow with varying angle of incidence whilst also providing variable geometry to investigate aerostability and aerodynamic control; and (ii) an ion and neutral mass spectrometer with time-of-flight capability which enables accurate measurement of the in-situ flow composition, density, velocity. Using precise orbit and attitude determination information and the measured atmospheric flow characteristics the forces and torques experienced by the satellite in orbit can be studied and estimates of the aerodynamic coefficients calculated. This paper presents the scientific concept and design of the SOAR mission. The methodology for recovery of the aerodynamic coefficients from the measured orbit, attitude, and in-situ atmospheric data using a least-squares orbit determination and free-parameter fitting process is described and the experimental uncertainty of the resolved aerodynamic coefficients is estimated. The presented results indicate that the combination of the satellite design and experimental methodology are capable of clearly illustrating the variation of drag and lift coefficient for differing surface incidence angle. The lowest uncertainties for the drag coefficient measurement are found at approximately 300 km, whilst the measurement of lift coefficient improves for reducing orbital altitude to 200 km.
•The design of the experimental CubeSat SOAR (Satellite for Orbital Aerodynamics) is presented.•SOAR is due to be launched in early 2021 to the ISS and subsequently deployed into orbit.•The mission will perform the aerodynamic characterisation of materials in very low Earth orbit (VLEO).•The aim is to improve understanding of the fundamental gas–surface interactions in the VLEO environment.•Materials able to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve aerodynamics-based control will be tested.
Operating satellites in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) benefit the already expanding New Space industry in applications including Earth Observation and beyond. However, long-term operations at such low ...altitudes require propulsion systems to compensate for the large aerodynamic drag forces. When using conventional propulsion systems, the amount of storable propellant limits the maximum mission lifetime. The latter can be avoided by employing Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) system, which collects the residual atmospheric particles and uses them as propellant for an electric thruster. Thus, the requirement of on-board propellant storage can ideally be nullified. At the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) of the University of Stuttgart, an intake, and a RF Helicon-based Plasma Thruster (IPT) for ABEP system are developed within the Horizons 2020 funded DISCOVERER project. To assess possible future use cases, this paper proposes and analyzes several novel ABEP-based mission scenarios. Beginning with technology demonstration mission in VLEO, more complex mission scenarios are derived and discussed in detail. These include, amongst others, orbit maintenance around Mars as well as refuelling and space tug missions. The results show that the ABEP system is not only able to compensate drag for orbit maintenance but also capable of performing orbital maneuvers and collect propellant for applications such as Space Tug and Refuelling. Thus, showing a multitude of different future mission applications.
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