One-Pot Cu/TiO2 Nanoparticles Synthesis for Trans-Ferulic Acid Conversion into Vanillin.

In this study, the co-synthesis of TiO2 and Cu metallic nanoparticles obtained via one-pot cost-efficient hydrothermal process has been addressed. Different nanocatalysts with Cu contents were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The TiO2 and Cu metallic nanoparticles were synthesized with copper loading up to one (Cu/Ti atomic ratio). Synthesized catalysts exhibited pore sizes in the mesoporous range and high surface areas above 150 m2/g. The particle size for TiO2 presented a homogeneous distribution of approximately 8 nm, moreover, Cu nanoparticles varied from 12 to >100 nm depending on the metal loading. The nanostructured materials were successfully tested in the conversion of trans-ferulic acid into vanillin under sustainable conditions, achieving the best performance for 0.3 Cu/Ti atomic ratio (70% vanillin yield).

Influence of dietary fat and carbohydrates proportions on plasma lipids, glucose control and low-grade inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes-The TOSCA.IT Study.

PURPOSE: The optimal macronutrient composition of the diet for the management of type 2 diabetes is debated, particularly with regard to the ideal proportion of fat and carbohydrates. The aim of the study was to explore the association of different proportions of fat and carbohydrates of the diet-within the ranges recommended by different guidelines-with metabolic risk factors. METHODS: We studied 1785 people with type 2 diabetes, aged 50-75, enrolled in the TOSCA.IT Study. Dietary habits were assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire (EPIC). Anthropometry, fasting lipids, HbA1c and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. RESULTS: Increasing fat intake from <25 to ≥35 % is associated with a significant increase in LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c and CRP (p < 0.05). Increasing carbohydrates intake from <45 to ≥60 % is associated with significantly lower triglycerides, HbA1c and CRP (p < 0.05). A fiber intake ≥15 g/1000 kcal is associated with a better plasma lipids profile and lower HbA1c and CRP than lower fiber consumption. A consumption of added sugars of ≥10 % of the energy intake is associated with a more adverse plasma lipids profile and higher CRP than lower intake. CONCLUSIONS: In people with type 2 diabetes, variations in the proportion of fat and carbohydrates of the diet, within the relatively narrow ranges recommended by different nutritional guidelines, significantly impact on the metabolic profile and markers of low-grade inflammation. The data support the potential for reducing the intake of fat and added sugars, preferring complex, slowly absorbable, carbohydrates.

Sex differences in food choices, adherence to dietary recommendations and plasma lipid profile in type 2 diabetes - The TOSCA.IT study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Diabetic women have a more adverse plasma lipid profile than men. Sex differences in dietary habits may play a role, but are little investigated. The study evaluates the quality of diet, adherence to the nutritional recommendations of the Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group and their relation with plasma lipid in men and women with diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 2573 people, aged 50-75, enrolled in the TOSCA.IT study (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00700856). Plasma lipids were measured centrally. Diet was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Women had a more adverse plasma lipid profile than men. Women consumed significantly more legumes, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk, vegetable oils, and added sugar, whereas men consumed more starchy foods, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. This stands for a higher proportion (%) of energy intake from saturated fat and added sugar (12.0 ± 2.4 vs 11.5 ± 2.5 and 3.4 ± 3.2 vs 2.3 ± 3.2, P < 0.04), and a higher intake of fiber (11.2 ± 2.8 vs 10.4 ± 2.6 g/1000 Kcal/day) in women. Adherence to the recommendations for saturated fat and fiber consumption was associated with significantly lower LDL-cholesterol regardless of sex. Adherence to the recommendations for added sugars was associated with significantly lower triglycerides and higher HDL-cholesterol in men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Men and women with diabetes show significant differences in adherence to nutritional recommendations, but sex differences in plasma lipid profile are unlikely to be explained by nutritional factors. Adherence to the nutritional recommendations is associated with a better plasma lipid profile regardless of sex, thus reinforcing the importance of substituting saturated for unsaturated fat sources, increasing fiber and reducing added sugar intake.

A whole-grain cereal-based diet lowers postprandial plasma insulin and triglyceride levels in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Until recently, very few intervention studies have investigated the effects of whole-grain cereals on postprandial glucose, insulin and lipid metabolism, and the existing studies have provided mixed results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 12-week intervention with either a whole-grain-based or a refined cereal-based diet on postprandial glucose, insulin and lipid metabolism in individuals with metabolic syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-one men and women age range 40-65 years, with the metabolic syndrome were recruited to participate in this study using a parallel group design. After a 4-week run-in period, participants were randomly assigned to a 12-week diet based on whole-grain products (whole-grain group) or refined cereal products (control group). Blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the intervention, both fasting and 3 h after a lunch, to measure biochemical parameters. Generalized linear model (GLM) was used for between-group comparisons. Overall, 26 participants in the control group and 28 in the whole-grain group completed the dietary intervention. Drop-outs (five in the control and two in the whole-grain group) did not affect randomization. After 12 weeks, postprandial insulin and triglyceride responses (evaluated as average change 2 and 3 h after the meal, respectively) decreased by 29% and 43%, respectively, in the whole-grain group compared to the run-in period. Postprandial insulin and triglyceride responses were significantly lower at the end of the intervention in the whole-grain group compared to the control group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.05; respectively) whereas there was no change in postprandial response of glucose and other parameters evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: A twelve week whole-grain cereal-based diet, compared to refined cereals, reduced postprandial insulin and triglycerides responses. This finding may have implications for type 2 diabetes risk and cardiovascular disease.

Modelling drying kinetics of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.): theoretical and empirical models, and neural networks.

The drying kinetics of thyme was analyzed by considering different conditions: air temperature of between 40°C and 70°C , and air velocity of 1 m/s. A theoretical diffusion model and eight different empirical models were fitted to the experimental data. From the theoretical model application, the effective diffusivity per unit area of the thyme was estimated (between 3.68 × 10(-5) and 2.12 × 10 (-4) s(-1)). The temperature dependence of the effective diffusivity was described by the Arrhenius relationship with activation energy of 49.42 kJ/mol. Eight different empirical models were fitted to the experimental data. Additionally, the dependence of the parameters of each model on the drying temperature was determined, obtaining equations that allow estimating the evolution of the moisture content at any temperature in the established range. Furthermore, artificial neural networks were developed and compared with the theoretical and empirical models using the percentage of the relative errors and the explained variance. The artificial neural networks were found to be more accurate predictors of moisture evolution with VAR ≥ 99.3% and ER ≤ 8.7%.

Role of nutritional therapy on dietary habits and glycemic control in insulin-treated kidney transplant patients with diabetes.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of nutritional therapy on glycemic compensation and key cardio-renal risk markers in patients with diabetes and kidney transplant, on insulin treatment by Multiple Daily Injection (MDI) or Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII). METHODS: 34 patients with diabetes on insulin treatment and kidney transplant recipients were enrolled;12 participated in the structured nutritional program (intervention group), 22 patients (control group) did not receive nutritional protocol. Both groups were then divided into subgroups according to the method of insulin administration (MDI and CSII). RESULTS: Statistically significant reduction in fasting blood glucose values, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and glycosuria were observed in both groups at the end of the study. The intervention group, significantly reduced total cholesterolemia and the glycemic index, together with reduced dietary intake of lipids, cholesterol, soluble carbohydrates and increased consumption of carbohydrates and fiber. These improvements were even more pronounced in patients treated with CSII. CONCLUSIONS: A proper nutritional approach optimize glycometabolic outcomes and contribute significantly to the reduction of the major cardiovascular risk factors in renal transplant patients.

Electrochemical Deposition of Polypyrrole in the Presence of Silanes as Adhesion Promoters.

Polypyrrole adhesion to indium-tin oxide electrodes was improved by adding pre-hydrolyzed alkoxysilanes to the electrodeposition media. The pyrrole oxidation and film growth rates were studied by potentiostatic polymerization in acidic media. The morphology and thickness of the films were studied by contact profilometry and surface-scanning electron microscopy. The bulk and surface semiquantitative chemical composition was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Finally, the adhesion was studied by scotch-tape adhesion test, where both alkoxysilanes showed a significant improvement in adhesion. We proposed a hypothesis for the improvement in adhesion, that involves the formation of siloxane material as well as in situ surface modification of the transparent metal oxide electrode.

The Use of Recycled PET for the Synthesis of New Mechanically Improved PVP Composite Nanofibers.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste has become a major challenge for the conservation of the environment due to difficult degradation. For this reason, it is important to develop new recycling strategies for reusing this waste. In this work, the electrospinning technique was used to synthesize composite nanofibers of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), recycling PET (RPET) that was obtained from the chemical recycling of postconsumer PET with glycolysis and styrene (ST) as a crosslinking agent. The polymer solutions were analyzed by viscosity and frequency sweeping, while the composite nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC), and nanoindentation to compare their properties. The PVP nanofibers presented an average diameter of 257 nm; the RPET/PVP and RPET/PVP/ST composite nanofibers had average diameters of 361 nm and 394 nm, respectively; and the modulus of elasticity and hardness of the RPET/PVP/ST composite nanofibers were 29 and 20 times larger, respectively, than those of the PVP nanofibers. With the synthesis of these composite nanofibers, a new approach to PET recycling is presented.

Use of transient elastography (FibroScan®) for the noninvasive assessment of portal hypertension in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the gold standard for assessing portal pressure and correlates with the occurrence of portal hypertension (PH)-related complications. Transient elastography (TE) is a new, highly accurate noninvasive technique, which enables us to evaluate hepatic fibrosis to detect advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. We performed a hepatic haemodynamic study and TE in 38 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. The association between HVPG and liver stiffness was assessed by linear regression. The diagnostic value of TE was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. We considered clinically significant PH as an HVPG ≥ 10 mmHg and severe PH as an HVPG ≥ 12 mmHg. A total of 38 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were included. Twenty-eight patients (73.7%) had clinically significant PH (HVPG ≥ 10 mmHg), and 23 (60.5%) of these had severe PH (HVPG ≥ 12 mmHg). We found a statistically significant association between liver stiffness (kPa) and HVPG (r(2) = 0.46, P < 0.001, straight line equation HVPG=7.4 + 0.204*TE). The areas under the ROC curves were 0.80 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.64-0.97] and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.66-0.94) for the prediction of HVPG ≥ 10 and ≥ 12 mmHg, respectively. Our data suggest that TE can predict the presence of clinically significant and severe PH in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Mechanochemically Synthetized PAN-Based Co-N-Doped Carbon Materials as Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

We report a new class of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based Co-N-doped carbon materials that can act as suitable catalyst for oxygen evolution reactions (OER). Different Co loadings were mechanochemically added into post-consumed PAN fibers. Subsequently, the samples were treated at 300 °C under air (PAN-A) or nitrogen (PAN-N) atmosphere to promote simultaneously the Co3O4 species and PAN cyclization. The resulting electrocatalysts were fully characterized and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission (TEM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopies, as well as nitrogen porosimetry. The catalytic performance of the Co-N-doped carbon nanomaterials were tested for OER in alkaline environments. Cobalt-doped PAN-A samples showed worse OER electrocatalytic performance than their homologous PAN-N ones. The PAN-N/3% Co catalyst exhibited the lowest OER overpotential (460 mV) among all the Co-N-doped carbon nanocomposites, reaching 10 mA/cm2. This work provides in-depth insights on the electrocatalytic performance of metal-doped carbon nanomaterials for OER.

Mechanochemical Preparation of Magnetically Separable Fe and Cu-Based Bimetallic Nanocatalysts for Vanillin Production.

A highly sustainable method for the preparation of supported iron oxide and copper nanoparticles (NPs) on a biomass-derived carbon by solvent-free mechanochemical process is reported. In-situ mechanochemically obtained extracts from orange peel could behave as a green reducing agent, allowing the formation of Cu metal nanoparticles as well as generating a magnetic phase (magnetite) in the systems via partial Fe3+ reduction. At the same time, orange peel residues also served as template and carbon source, adding oxygen functionalities, which were found to benefit the catalytic performance of mechanochemically synthesized nanomaterials. The series of magnetic Cu-Fe@OP were tested in the oxidation of trans-ferulic acid towards vanillin, remarkably revealing a maximum vanillin yield of 82% for the sample treated at 200 °C.

Effects of the regular consumption of wholemeal wheat foods on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy people.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The intake of wholemeal foods is consistently associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in epidemiological studies, although the mechanisms of this association are unclear. Here we aim to compare in healthy subjects the metabolic effects of a diet rich in wholemeal wheat foods versus one based on the same products in refined form. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen healthy individuals (12 M/3 F), mean age 54.5+/-7.6 years, BMI 27.4+/-3.0 kg/m(2) (mean+/-SD), participated in a randomized sequential crossover study. After 2 weeks run-in, participants were randomly assigned to two isoenergetic diets with similar macronutrient composition, one rich in wholemeal wheat foods and the other with the same foods but in refined form (cereal fibre 23.1 vs. 9.8 g/day). After the two treatment periods (each lasting 3 weeks) plasma glucose and lipid metabolism, antioxidant activity, acetic acid, magnesium, adipokines, incretins and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured at fasting and for 4h after a standard test meal (kcal 1103, protein 12%, CHO 53%, fat 35%) based on wholemeal or refined wheat foods, respectively. After the two diets there were no differences in fasting nor in postprandial plasma parameter responses; only glucose was slightly but significantly lower at 240 min after the refined wheat food meal compared to the wholemeal wheat food meal. Conversely, after the wholemeal diet both total (-4.3%; p<0.03) and LDL (-4.9%; p<0.04) cholesterol levels were lower than after the refined wheat diet at fasting. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of wholemeal wheat foods for 3 weeks reduces significantly fasting plasma cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol levels in healthy individuals without major effects on glucose and insulin metabolism, antioxidant status and sub-clinical inflammation markers.

Potato shrinkage during hot air drying.

Shrinkage is one of the most important physical changes that occur during the dehydration of foods. In this work, the effect of the temperature (35, 40, 50, 60 and 70 °C) and air velocity (7, 8, 9 and 10 m/s) on bulk volumetric shrinkage was investigated. Volume changes were evaluated by image analysis. It was found that neither temperature nor air velocity had any significant effects on bulk shrinkage in this system. The bulk shrinkage of the potato cubes was well correlated with the moisture content of the sample during drying (R(2) = 97.28). Volume varied linearly with the moisture content changes under the studied conditions. The volume of lost water and the decrease in volume of the samples during dehydration were similar.

Experimental evidence of space charge driven emittance coupling in high intensity linear accelerators.

In high intensity linacs emittance exchange driven by space charge coupling may lead to the well-known "equipartitioning" phenomenon if the stop band at sigma(parallel) = sigma(perpendicular) is crossed at sufficiently slow rate. This Letter is the first experimental evidence of this phenomenon in a high intensity linear accelerator, here the UNILAC at GSI. Measurements of emittances at the entrance and exit of one drift tube linac tank comprising 15 lattice cells are taken for a set of transverse and longitudinal tunes. The onset of exchange on the stop band of previously derived "stability charts" confirms theoretical predictions. The measured transverse emittance growth also compares well with results from the beam dynamics simulation codes DYNAMION and TRACEWIN.

Desorption isotherms and isosteric heat of desorption of previously frozen raw pork meat.

Some meat products involve drying previously frozen pork meat, which makes the knowledge of sorption characteristics very important for the design and management of meat dehydration processes. The sorption isotherms of raw pork meat from the Biceps femoris and Semimembranosus muscles were determined at four temperatures: 25, 30, 35 and 40°C. The experimental results were modelled using the GAB (Guggenheim, Anderson and De Boer) model. The effect of temperature was also taken into account to model the experimental sorption isotherms using four models (GAB, Oswin, Halsey and Henderson). The best results were provided by the GAB model. From the experimental sorption isotherms the isosteric heats of sorption were determined. For a moisture content higher than 0.15kgwater/kgdm, the isosteric heat of meat was similar to the latent heat of vaporization for pure water. For a lower moisture content, an increase in the isosteric heat was observed when the moisture content decreased.

Humoral and cellular immune monitoring might be useful to identify liver transplant recipients at risk for development of infection.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a successful therapy for patients with end-stage liver disease, and infection remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing this procedure. To assess humoral and cellular immunity markers as potential risk factors for development of infection, 46 consecutive liver transplant recipients (hepatitis C virus cirrhosis [n=17], alcoholic liver disease [n=15], hepatocellular carcinoma [n=9], autoimmune hepatitis [n=2], and other [n=3]) performed at a single center were prospectively studied. Maintenance therapy included tacrolimus (n=37) or cyclosporine (n=9) and prednisone. During follow-up, 27 patients had at least 1 episode of infection (58.7%). Pre-OLT immunoglobulin G (IgG) hypergammaglobulinemia (relative risk [RR] 2.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-6.60, P=0.02), pre-OLT IgA hypergammaglobulinemia (RR 2.77, CI=1.24-6.19, P=0.012), and pre-OLT C3 hypocomplementemia (RR 3.02, CI=1.21-7.55, P=0.018) were associated with an increased risk for development of infection. Monitoring of Ig and complement levels might help to identify the risk of developing infection in OLT.

Detection of internal cracks in Manchego cheese using the acoustic impulse-response technique and ultrasounds.

Nowadays, due to the more global nature of markets, the commercialization of cheese relies on the high quality of the product. Internal defects such as cracks or flaws may affect quality. Two different nondestructive inspection techniques (ultrasonic and acoustic experiments) were used to detect cracks in Manchego cheese. The existence of small eyes in this type of cheese limited the use of ultrasonic pulse-echo experiments due to high scattering, and only cracks close to the surface of the cheese could be detected. The acoustic impulse-response technique, however, allowed us to study wheel pieces with cracks located elsewhere in the cheese. Two different impact probes (A and B) were assayed. The energy content of the acoustic spectrum was higher for cracked wheel pieces (7,116 and 17,520 V Hz(1/2) for probes A and B, respectively) than for normal ones (6,841 and 16,821 V Hz(1/2)). The differences were mainly found for frequencies higher than 150 Hz, which made the centroid for cracked pieces higher (162 and 170 Hz for probes A and B, respectively) than that for normal cheeses (132 and 148 Hz for probes A and B, respectively). Discriminant functions were developed to classify wheel pieces, and the input variables used were the acoustic parameters from the spectrum and the principal components extracted from the whole spectrum. The best classification procedure used the principal components from the principal components analysis of the spectrum for probe B. In this case, the 50 wheel pieces used in this study were correctly classified. These results showed that a simple and low-cost acoustic impulse-response technique could be used to detect cheese cracks, formed at different moments of Manchego cheese maturation.

Modalities for assessing the nutritional status in patients with diabetes and cancer.

Epidemiological data have shown that an increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with a higher risk of various cancers, especially in obese diabetic patients. However, oncologic patients often present nutritional alterations that can worsen their prognosis. The aim of this review is to propose the use of cheaper and easy to use tools to assess the nutritional status of patients with cancer with altered glucose metabolism. Based on a literature review, we propose anthropometric measures to classify the degree of malnutrition. Moreover, the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group's performance index (ECOG) are useful to assess the functional status of the body; the achievement of nutritional needs can be analysed with the PG-SGA questionnaire, while the quality of life can be investigated using the DTSQ, SF36, EQ-5D questionnaires and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System. Pre-albumin dosage and lymphocyte count are proposed as nutritional parameters. The degree of hydration can be evaluated through the Bio-Impedance Test (BIA), and energy intake through the dairy food diary, which considers the type of nutrition and the consistency of the meals. It is possible to use a score for each tool used, which is useful to plan an adequate nutritional intervention.

Prognostic value of hepatic venous pressure gradient for in-hospital mortality of patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) has prognostic value in complications and survival of patients with liver cirrhosis. However, the relationship between HVPG and the outcome of acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH), as well as the specific features of portal hypertension syndrome in this setting, have not been defined. AIMS: To evaluate the prognostic value of HVPG and to analyse the degree of portal hypertension and hyperdynamic circulation in patients with severe AAH. METHODS: Early measurements of HVPG were performed in 60 patients with severe AAH, and compared with the haemodynamic findings of 37 and 29 liver transplantation candidates with alcoholic or viral end-stage cirrhosis respectively. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (38%) died during hospitalization. Portal hypertension and hyperdynamic circulation were more severe in AAH patients. HVPG was greater in non-survivors [26.9 (7.4) vs. 19.4 (5.2) mmHg, P < 0.001]. Only 4/31 (13%) patients with HVPG 22 (P < 0.001). Encephalopathy (OR 9.4; CI 1.4-64.8), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score > 25 (OR 7.4; CI 1.4-39.9) and HVPG > 22 mmHg (OR 6.7; CI 1.1-39.9) were independently associated to in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Early measurement of HVPG provides important prognostic information on the short-term outcome of patients with severe AAH. In addition, MELD score also seems to be a strong prognostic factor in these patients.