A global set of barley varieties shows a high diversity in starch structural properties and related gelatinisation characteristics.

The gelatinisation temperature and bimodal granule size distribution of barley starch are important characteristics regarding resource efficiency and product quality in the brewing industry. In this work, the diversity in starch amylose content and granule proportions in a set of modern barley varieties (N = 23) was investigated and correlated with their starch gelatinisation behaviour. Milled barley samples had peak starch gelatinisation temperatures ranging from 60.1 to 66.5 °C. Upon separating the barley starch from the non-starch compounds, sample-dependent decreases in starch gelatinisation temperatures were observed, indicating the importance of differences in barley composition. The peak gelatinisation temperatures of milled barley and isolated barley starches were strongly correlated (r = 0.96), indicating that the behaviour of the starch population is strongly reflected in the measurements performed on milled barley. Therefore, we investigated whether amylose content or starch granule size distribution could predict the gelatinisation behaviour of the starches. Broad ranges in the small starch granule volumes (13.9-32.0 v/v%) and amylose contents (18.2-30.7 w/w%) of the barley starches were observed. For the barley samples collected in the north of the USA (N = 8), the small starch granule volumes correlated positively with the peak gelatinisation temperatures of barley starches (r = 0.90, p < 0.01). The considerable variation in starch properties described in this work highlights that, besides starch content, starch gelatinisation temperature or granule size distribution might provide brewers with useful information to optimise resource efficiency.

The worldwide invasion history of a pest ambrosia beetle inferred using population genomics.

Xylosandrus crassiusculus, a fungus-farming wood borer native to Southeastern Asia, is the most rapidly spreading invasive ambrosia species worldwide. Previous studies focusing on its genetic structure suggested the existence of cryptic genetic variation in this species. Yet, these studies used different genetic markers, focused on different geographical areas and did not include Europe. Our first goal was to determine the worldwide genetic structure of this species based on both mitochondrial and genomic markers. Our second goal was to study X. crassiusculus' invasion history on a global level and identify the origins of the invasion in Europe. We used a COI and RAD sequencing design to characterize 188 and 206 specimens worldwide, building the most comprehensive genetic data set for any ambrosia beetle to date. The results were largely consistent between markers. Two differentiated genetic clusters were invasive, albeit in different regions of the world. The markers were inconsistent only for a few specimens found exclusively in Japan. Mainland USA could have acted as a source for further expansion to Canada and Argentina through stepping stone expansion and bridgehead events. We showed that Europe was only colonized by Cluster II through a complex invasion history including several arrivals from multiple origins in the native area, and possibly including bridgehead from the United States. Our results also suggested that Spain was colonized directly from Italy through intracontinental dispersion. It is unclear whether the mutually exclusive allopatric distribution of the two clusters is due to neutral effects or due to different ecological requirements.

Methylomic biomarkers of lithium response in bipolar disorder: a clinical utility study.

BACKGROUND: Response to lithium (Li) is highly variable in bipolar disorders (BD). Despite decades of research, no clinical predictor(s) of response to Li prophylaxis have been consistently identified. Recently, we developed epigenetic Methylation Specific High-Resolution Melting (MS-HRM) assays able to discriminate good responders (GR) from non-responders (NR) to Li in individuals with BD type 1 (BD-I). This study examined whether a combination of clinical and epigenetic markers can distinguish NR from other types of Li responders. METHODS: We recorded clinical variables that are potentially associated with Li response in 64 individuals with BD-I. MS-HRM assays were performed on DNA isolated from peripheral blood. We used backward stepwise logistic regression analyses, followed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to estimate the performance of the clinical variables, alone then in combination with the epigenetic biomarkers, to identify GR and partial responders (PaR) vs NR. RESULTS: Polarity at onset, psychotic symptoms at onset and family history of BD classified correctly 70% of individuals according to their Li response (PaR + GR = 86%; NR = 35%). When combined with the epigenetic biomarkers, these three clinical variables plus alcohol misuse (and one DMR: Differentially Methylated Region) correctly classified 86% of individuals, improving the prediction of PaR + GR (93%) and of NR (70%). The ROC analysis demonstrated an improvement in the area under the curve from 0.75 (clinical variables alone) to 0.87 (combination of clinical and epigenetic markers). CONCLUSIONS: Combining clinical predictors and DNA methylation markers of Li response may have greater utility in clinical practice than relying on clinical characteristics alone.

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors drive differences in the gelatinisation behaviour of barley and malt starch.

We studied the impact of malting on barley starch gelatinisation properties and whether observed differences are due to changes in extrinsic or intrinsic factors. We isolated the total starch and large and small starch granules fractions from barley and malt samples and subjected them to DSC. The peak gelatinisation temperature for malt starch was, on average, 1.2 °C higher than for barley starch. The malting process and endosperm breakdown products were each responsible for half of this difference. The presence of water-extractable, non-starch components (sugars, minerals, protein and starch hydrolysis products,…) increased the intrinsic starch gelatinisation temperatures by 2.2-4.7 °C for barley and 3.6-5.3 °C for malt. The small starch granule fractions from barley had a 3.1 °C higher peak gelatinisation temperature than large granule fractions. No effect of malting was observed here. These findings indicate that matrix effects and starch granule size must be considered when addressing starch conversion during brewing.

The occurrence and structural heterogeneity of arabinoxylan in commercial pilsner beers and their non-alcoholic counterparts.

The impact of arabinoxylan (AX) on the brewing process and beer characteristics depends on its content and structure and is often overlooked in research and industry. This paper reports on the occurrence and structural heterogeneity of AX in a set of commercial pilsner beers and their non-alcoholic counterparts. Fractionation by graded ethanol precipitation allowed us to isolate AX-rich fractions from beer with a number-average degree of polymerisation of 4 to 308 and an average degree of substitution in the range of 0.43 to 0.88. Pilsner beers had a higher content of high-molecular-weight AX than their non-alcoholic counterparts. The structural heterogeneity among the various commercial beers differed. By comparing the chemical composition of the beers, differences in beer production methods and ingredient selection were deduced and used to tentatively explain the differences in AX content and structural heterogeneity.

A kinetic study on the thermal inactivation of barley malt α-amylase and ß-amylase during the mashing process.

To obtain an efficient conversion of starch into fermentable sugars and dextrins during the brewing process, mashing time-temperature profiles need to promote starch gelatinisation and enzyme activity while avoiding thermal inactivation of the amylases. This study focused on the second part of this balance by investigating the thermal stability of α-amylase and ß-amylase of Planet barley malt throughout mashing. Thermal inactivation in wort was modelled for both enzymes resulting in the estimation of thermal inactivation kinetic parameters such as rate constant of thermal inactivation kT (the rate of thermal inactivation of an enzyme at a constant temperature), activation energy for thermal inactivation Ea, decimal reduction time DT (the time needed to inactivate 90% of the enzyme activity at a given temperature) and the z-value. First-order inactivation was observed for α-amylase. For ß-amylase, fractional conversion inactivation occurred with a residual fraction of 13% of the ß-amylase activity that remained after prolonged heating at 72.5 °C. The ß-amylase protein population hence seems to consist of thermolabile and thermostable isoforms. The kinetic parameters for thermal inactivation of the enzymes were used to predict their residual activities throughout a laboratory-scale mashing process. The predicted residual activities met the experimentally determined residual enzyme activities closely, except for ß-amylase at temperatures higher than 72.5 °C. The results obtained in this work allow designing new mashing processes or tailoring existing processes towards variability in the input material, barley malt, without the need for trial-and-error experiments.

Starch hydrolysis during mashing: A study of the activity and thermal inactivation kinetics of barley malt α-amylase and ß-amylase.

Hydrolysis of starch is key in several industrial processes, including brewing. Here, the activity and inactivation kinetics of amylases throughout barley malt mashing are investigated, as a prerequisite for rational optimisation of this process. Varietal differences were observed in the activity of α- and ß-amylases as a function of temperature for six barley and malt varieties. These differences were not reflected in the resulting wort composition after mashing, using three isothermal phases of 30 min at 45 °C, 62 °C and 72 °C with intermediate heating by 1 °C/min. Thermal inactivation kinetics parameters determined for α- and ß-amylases of an industrially relevant malt variety in a diluted system showed that enzymes were inactivated at lower temperatures than expected. The obtained kinetic parameters could predict α-amylase, but not ß-amylase inactivation in real mashing conditions, suggesting that ß-amylase stability is enhanced during mashing by components present or formed in the mash.

Outcomes of primary total hip arthroplasty using 3D image-based custom stems in unselected patients: a systematic review.

To report clinical and radiographic outcomes of primary THA using three-dimensional (3D) image-based custom stems. This systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020216079). A search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane. Clinical studies were included if they reported clinical or radiographic outcomes of primary THA using 3D image-based custom stems. Studies were excluded if specific to patients with major hip anatomical deformities, or if not written in English. Fourteen studies were eligible for inclusion (n = 1936 hips). There was considerable heterogeneity in terms of manufacturer, proximal geometry, coating and length of custom stems. Revision rates ranged from 0% to 1% in the short-term, 0% to 20% in the mid-term, and 4% to 10% in the long-term, while complication rates ranged from 3% in the short-term, 0% to 11% in the mid-term and 0% to 4% in the long-term. Post-operative Harris hip scores ranged from 95 to 96 in the short-term, 80 to 99 in the mid-term, and 87 to 94 in the long-term. Radiographic outcomes were reported in eleven studies, although none reported 3D implant sizing or positioning, nor compared planned and postoperative hip architecture. Primary THA using 3D image-based custom stems in unselected patients provides limited but promising clinical and radiographic outcomes. Despite excellent survival, the evidence available in the literature remains insufficient to recommend their routine use. Future studies should specify proximal geometry, length, fixation, material and coating, as well as management of femoral offset and anteversion. The authors propose a classification system to help distinguish between custom stem designs based primarily on their proximal geometry and length.

Childhood maltreatment and HPA axis gene expression in bipolar disorders: A gene network analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Bipolar disorder (BD) is highly associated with childhood maltreatment (CM), the exposure to such early adversity being suggested to disrupt the expression of several biological pathways. This study aims at exploring associations between the mRNA levels of 9 HPA axis genes in lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with BD according to their self-reported exposure to CM. METHODS: The sample consisted of 33 Caucasian patients with a diagnosis of BD type 1, assessed for the exposure to CM with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Quantitative RT-PCR was performed on 9 transcripts of the HPA axis genes: DGKH, FKBP5, NR3C1, SGK1, SGK2, SGK3, SKA2, STAT5A and UCN. RT-qPCR data were analyzed using the method of disjoint gene networks with SARP.compo package for R. RESULTS: We found no associations between CTQ total score and the amount of HPA axis transcripts neither in univariate analyses, nor with network analyses. Emotional abuse (EA) was associated with a significant decreased expression of two transcripts, DGKH (p = 0.009) and NR3C1 (p = 0.04). This was confirmed by the disjoint network analysis, which showed that NR3C1 and DGKH were expressed differently from the rest of the HPA axis network in presence of emotional abuse. DISCUSSION: This study described the expression levels of a comprehensive set of HPA axis genes according to childhood maltreatment in a sample of patients with BD type 1 and suggested that emotional abuse decreased the expression of NR3C1 and DGKH. Our results require further replication in independent larger samples.

Arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides kick-start arabinoxylan digestion in the aging broiler.

While arabinoxylans (AX), an important dietary fiber fraction of wheat-based broiler diets, are known for exerting antinutritional effects in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of broilers, the prebiotic potential of arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides (AXOS) is also well-documented. However, inconsistent performance responses as well as the effectiveness of low amounts of AXOS used in diets of previously conducted experiments put into question the classical prebiotic route being the sole mode of action of AXOS. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary AXOS addition on the rate of AX digestion in the gastrointestinal tract of broilers as a function of broiler age to gain more insight into the mode of action of these oligosaccharides. A feeding trial was performed on 480 one-day-old chicks (Ross 308) receiving a wheat-based diet supplemented with or without 0.50% AXOS, containing no endoxylanases. Digesta samples from ileum and caeca and fecal samples were analyzed for AX content, AX digestibility, intestinal viscosity, and microbial AX-degrading enzyme activities at 6 different ages (day 5, 10, 15, 21, 28, 35). Chicks fed from hatching with 0.50% AXOS demonstrated a higher ileal viscosity (P < 0.05). Also higher levels of AX solubilization and fermentation compared to control birds at 10 D were observed. This was noted by the higher total tract AX digestibility of water-extractable AX (WE-AX) and total AX (TOT-AX) at this age (P < 0.05). Although no significant difference in AX-degrading enzyme activities was observed among the dietary treatments, AXOS supplementation in young broilers was shown to stimulate or "kick-start" dietary AX digestion, thereby speeding up the development of a fiber-fermenting microbiome in the young broiler. This stimulation effect of AXOS could enable greater functional value to be extracted from dietary fiber in broiler feeds.

Accurate quantification of small and large starch granules in barley and malt.

The proportion of small and large starch granules in barley and malt is often neglected, leading to underestimation of their importance in processes in which they are used. This study aimed to accurately determine the volume and number based percentages of small and large starch granules for three barley varieties, their micro-malted malts and three commercial malts. Quantitative starch isolation was performed and starch granule proportions were estimated using microscopic and image analysis, taking the non-sphericity of the large starch granules into account. Results show that barley starch consists of 32-39 volume% of small starch granules. Upon malting, this percentage is reduced to 17-27 volume%, showing that small granules are hydrolyzed faster than large granules during this process. The analyzed commercial malt samples have a small starch granule content of 22-25 volume%. Malt hence still contains a substantial amount of small starch granules, which can be expected to impact processing.

Diabetic Foot Management: How Could a Procedural Pathway Improve the Surgical Outcome?

@#Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcer is the main aetiology for non-traumatic amputation, which is a major public health care concern. A multidisciplinary approach in the management of this pathology has been shown to improve the surgical outcome. However, there are little data available on the tools we can use to pursue this multidisciplinary approach. The main goal of this cross-sectional study was to find out whether the implementation of a specific management pathway could improve the treatment outcome in the treatment of diabetic foot. Materials and Methods: From 2012 to 2014, we consecutively recruited patients with diabetic foot referred to Orthopaedic surgery department of our university for surgical opinion. A specific diabetic foot pathway was introduced in 2013. One group of patients who were treated with previous method were evaluated retrospectively. Another group of patients who were treated after implementation of the pathway were evaluated prospectively. We compared treatment outcome between the two groups. Results: We included 51 patients. Amputation rate was similar both the groups: 74% in the retrospective group not using the new pathway versus 73% in a prospective group that used the new pathway. Revision surgery was 39% in the retrospective group and 14% in the prospective group (p=0.05). Conclusion: We recommend the use of this simple and costeffective pathway to guide the interdisciplinary management of diabetic foot. A prospective study with more subjects would provide a better overview of this management pathway.

Diabetic Foot Management: How Could a Procedural Pathway Improve the Surgical Outcome?

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic foot ulcer is the main aetiology for non-traumatic amputation, which is a major public health care concern. A multidisciplinary approach in the management of this pathology has been shown to improve the surgical outcome. However, there are little data available on the tools we can use to pursue this multidisciplinary approach. The main goal of this cross-sectional study was to find out whether the implementation of a specific management pathway could improve the treatment outcome in the treatment of diabetic foot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2012 to 2014, we consecutively recruited patients with diabetic foot referred to Orthopaedic surgery department of our university for surgical opinion. A specific diabetic foot pathway was introduced in 2013. One group of patients who were treated with previous method were evaluated retrospectively. Another group of patients who were treated after implementation of the pathway were evaluated prospectively. We compared treatment outcome between the two groups. RESULTS: We included 51 patients. Amputation rate was similar both the groups: 74% in the retrospective group not using the new pathway versus 73% in a prospective group that used the new pathway. Revision surgery was 39% in the retrospective group and 14% in the prospective group (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of this simple and cost-effective pathway to guide the interdisciplinary management of diabetic foot. A prospective study with more subjects would provide a better overview of this management pathway.

Age-related arabinoxylan hydrolysis and fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract of broilers fed wheat-based diets.

Endoxylanases are frequently used in cereal-based broiler feeds to improve the nutritional quality of the feed. It is hypothesized that the age of broilers and the age-related development of their intestinal microbiota influence the efficacy of these enzymes. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify possible age-related changes in arabinoxylan (AX) digestion in the different parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of broilers. A feeding trial was performed with 240 1-day-old chicks (Ross 308) receiving a wheat-based feed containing no supplemented endoxylanase. Digesta samples from every section of the GI tract were collected at 5, 10, 15, 21, 28, and 35 d of age and analyzed for AX content, AX digestibility, intestinal viscosity, and microbial endoxylanase and arabinofuranosidase activities. In the first 2 wk, the microbiota were able to solubilize a part of the water-unextractable arabinoxylan (WU-AX), thereby increasing intestinal viscosity and water-extractable arabinoxylan (WE-AX) concentrations in the GI tract. In these young birds, WU-AX and WE-AX with low arabinose to xylose ratios were able to enter the caeca but were not yet extensively fermented by the caecal microbiota as indicated by the high caecal AX concentrations at 5 and 10 d (P < 0.01). Establishment of a more mature microbial community at 3 wk of age resulted in a further increase in both the solubilization of WU-AX and fermentation of WE-AX at the ileum and caecum (P < 0.10). Furthermore, the increase in AX degrading enzyme activities with age denotes the high AX degrading capacity of the caecal microbiota. Finally, a total tract AX digestion of 24% was achieved at slaughter age (day 35). Our results clearly indicate that the capacity of intestinal microbiota to degrade AX in the hindgut increases as the broiler ages. This suggests that the benefits of endoxylanase supplementation of broiler feeds depend on the interaction of the intestinal microbiota and AX present in the GI tract at specific broiler ages.

Study of the role of bran water binding and the steric hindrance by bran in straight dough bread making.

This study investigates the effect of the physical presence and water binding of wheat bran during bread making, and the possible mechanisms behind this effect. Regular bran, pericarp-enriched bran and synthetic bran-like particles with different water binding capacities and particle sizes were used. Incorporation of regular and pericarp-enriched bran in dough (15% dm) led to a lower oven rise than the control dough. Bread volumes decreased with 11% and 30%, respectively. Dough with synthetic bran, having a low water binding capacity, displayed a near to normal leavening and oven rise and resulted in a bread volume decrease of only 5% compared to the control. Particle size reduction of regular bran and synthetic bran to an average size of 200 µm did not affect final bread quality. Results indicate that water binding by bran affects bread quality the most, whereas steric hindrance by physical presence of bran particles is less determinative.

Study of biopolymer mobility and water dynamics in wheat bran using time-domain 1H NMR relaxometry.

In this study, the molecular mobility of water and biopolymers in coarse, ground, and pericarp-enriched (PE) wheat bran and refined flour was investigated using time-domain proton nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry, and related to their hydration properties. Several specific proton populations were present in the bran samples but not in flour. These populations were mainly assigned to protons of bran-related compounds such as arabinoxylan, cellulose, and lipids. All bran samples showed similar proton distributions at a 44% moisture level, although the chemical composition of coarse/ground bran and PE bran differed. When bran was further moistened up to 80%, an additional, more mobile water peak was noticed in coarse and PE bran, but not in ground bran. This can be explained by the fact that coarse and PE bran hold more weakly bound water than ground bran, which is most probably water entrapped in between bran particles.

Study on the effects of wheat bran incorporation on water mobility and biopolymer behavior during bread making and storage using time-domain 1H NMR relaxometry.

Water binding is suggested to be key in the deleterious effect of wheat bran on bread quality. This study investigates water mobility and biopolymer behavior during bran-rich bread making and storage, using 1H NMR. Coarse, ground, and pericarp-enriched bran were incorporated in bread dough, and their impact on freshly baked and stored bread properties was assessed. Compared to wheat flour control dough, bran incorporation resulted in a progressive immobilization of water during dough resting, which could be linked to changes in evolution of dough height during fermentation and oven rise. This, together with modified starch gelatinization behavior upon baking, can be related with the inferior quality of bran-rich breads. The impact was most pronounced with pericarp-enriched bran. Textural quality during storage was less affected for coarse or ground bran-rich bread compared to wheat flour bread, which could be principally attributed to retardation of amylopectin retrogradation in the presence of bran.

Reduced particle size wheat bran is butyrogenic and lowers Salmonella colonization, when added to poultry feed.

Feed additives, including prebiotics, are commonly used alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters to improve gut health and performance in broilers. Wheat bran is a highly concentrated source of (in)soluble fiber which is partly degraded by the gut microbiota. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of wheat bran as such to reduce colonization of the cecum and shedding of Salmonella bacteria in vivo. Also, the effect of particle size was evaluated. Bran with an average reduced particle size of 280µm decreased levels of cecal Salmonella colonization and shedding shortly after infection when compared to control groups and groups receiving bran with larger particle sizes. In vitro fermentation experiments revealed that bran with smaller particle size was fermented more efficiently, with a significantly higher production of butyric and propionic acid, compared to the control fermentation and fermentation of a larger fraction. Fermentation products derived from bran with an average particle size of 280µm downregulated the expression of hilA, an important invasion-related gene of Salmonella. This downregulation was reflected in an actual lowered invasive potential when Salmonella bacteria were pretreated with the fermentation products derived from the smaller bran fraction. These data suggest that wheat bran with reduced particle size can be a suitable feed additive to help control Salmonella infections in broilers. The mechanism of action most probably relies on a more efficient fermentation of this bran fraction and the consequent increased production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Among these SCFA, butyric and propionic acid are known to reduce the invasion potential of Salmonella bacteria.

Cementless lateralized stems in primary THA: Mid-term survival and risk factors for failure in 172 stems.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing the femoral offset when performing total hip arthroplasty (THA) theoretically increases the stresses and risks of the stem not integrating itself into bone. But this concept has not been validated for cementless stems; this led us to conduct a retrospective study to determine: (1) the risk factors for the occurrence of symptomatic femoral radiological abnormalities, (2) the incidence of these abnormal radiological findings, (3) the revision rate for aseptic non-integration of a cementless lateralized stem. HYPOTHESIS: Young patients with significant femoral canal flare and a small cementless lateralized stem have a higher risk of abnormal osseointegration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 172 consecutive lateralized stems (KHO, Corail™ product line) implanted during primary THA between 2006 and 2012 in 157 patients (mean age 68years±12.6 (20-95), 89% men). Radiographs were used to evaluate osseointegration scores, offset restoration and the Noble index. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed using "symptomatic femoral radiological abnormalities" and "revision for aseptic stem non-integration" as endpoints. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 5.9years±2.7 (range, 2-12.4years). Being more than 70years of age (HR=0.7, 95% CI: [0.3-0.9], P=0.004) and having a larger stem (HR=0.6, 95% CI: [0.4-0.9], P=0.03) were protective against symptomatic femoral radiological abnormalities, while increasing the postoperative femoral offset (HR=1.1, 95% CI: [1.01-1.2], P=0.02) was deleterious. The survival free of "symptomatic femoral radiological abnormalities" was 93% (95% CI: 89-97) at 5years and 84% (95% CI: 75-95) at 8years. The survival free of "revision for aseptic stem non-integration" was 98% (95% CI: 96.8-100) at 5years and 97% (95% CI: 95.2-100) at 8years. DISCUSSION: In this study, the risk factors for symptomatic radiological abnormalities were being less than 70years of age, having a small lateralized stem and restoring a large femoral offset. Lateralized stems used in this study had a 10% rate of symptomatic radiological abnormalities and a 4% rate of revision for aseptic non-integration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective study.