O objetivo desse estudo foi validar a aplicação da metodologia isotópica de identificação da origem dos gliceróis em gorduras presentes em requeijões e especialidades lácteas com o intuito de oferecer uma ferramenta de controle de qualidade, de fiscalização de mercado e detecção de fraudes. Para atingir esse objetivo, isolou-se o glicerol de compostos lácteos como requeijões, especialidades lácteas, leite e óleos vegetais (empregados como padrões de origem animal e vegetal, respectivamente) e aplicou-se a metodologia isotópica. O glicerol foi isolado através da centrifugação. Foram analisadas todas as marcas de requeijões e similares (28 marcas) disponíveis nos supermercados da cidade de Piracicaba, e depois, agrupadas conforme sua identificação: requeijão cremoso, especialidade láctea com requeijão cremoso, alimento à base de requeijão e creme vegetal, requeijão cremoso com amido e não identificado. Do total, cinco marcas apresentaram resultados com diferença significativa (p<0,05) quando comparados ao controle (padrão animal – leite). A metodologia isotópica permitiu identificar a origem do material analisado e detectar alterações nos padrões. Comprovou-se a eficácia da metodologia isotópica na identificação da origem da matéria graxa de requeijões e a aplicabilidade da técnica no controle de qualidade de lácteos, auxiliando tanto no recebimento de matéria-prima como de produto final. / The objective of this study was to validate the application of the isotopic methodology of identification of glycerol origin in the fat fraction of "requeijões" (Brazilian soft cheeses) and similar products aiming at the identification of a quality control instrument for market fiscalization and fraud detection. In order to pursue the specific objectives of this study, the glycerol was isolated from spreadable dairy products such as "requeijões" and others. Cow's milk and vegetable oils of known origins were adopted as standards. The isotopic methodology was applied to identify the origin of the carbon present in the glycerol molecule of the fats present in those foods. Glycerol was isolated according to a conventional based on centrifugation. Twenty-eight commercial brands of "requeijões" available in the supermarkets of Piracicaba city were classified according to the information provided in the lables and analyzed. Out of the total, 5 brands were significantly different (p<0,05) when compared to the control (animal pattern - milk), indicating absence of the milk fat in the formulation. The isotopic methodology allowed to identify the origin of the analyzed material and to detect alterations in the patterns. The effectiveness of the isotopic methodology in the identification of origin of the lipid constituents of "requeijão" was proven as well as the applicability of the technique in dairy industry quality control, both in the final product as well as in process supplies.

This diploma thesis deals with preparation and testing of biodegradable materials for use in the packaging indrustry. The task of this work is to prepare set of laboratory made films based on wheat starch, glycerol, polyvinyl alcohol with the addition of a suitable additive, which has been selected as citric acid. A suitable composition meeting the requirements of the packaging foils has been found. Quaternary blends from all components achieve the best results. It has been found that citric acid can influence the chemical structure and thus affect the mechanical and thermal properities and also the degree of solubility. The films were characterized in terms of mechanical properities by tensile testing and thermal stability by means of thermogravimetric analysis with respect to the phase structure. The structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The biodegradability of the film was tested by its solubility in aqueous medium.

Title: Acipimox during Short-Term Exercise Exerts A Negative Feedback of Growth Hormone on Ghrelin Secretion in Patients with Bulimia Nervosa and in Healthy Women: The Role of Lipolysis Objective: Eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa (BN) and anorexia nervosa (AN), are characterized by abnormal eating behavior. The main features of BN are binge-eating and inappropriate compensatory methods to prevent weight gain. The appetite-modulating peptide ghrelin is secreted by the stomach and shows a strong release of growth hormone (GH). A potential GH-ghrelin feedback loop between stomach and the pituitary has been recently reported. Acipimox (Aci), an analogue of nicotinic acid, inhibits lipolysis in adipose tissue (AT) and reduces plasma glycerol and free fatty acids (FFA) levels. Exercise and Aci are stimulators of GH secretion. We suppose that a negative feedback from increased GH levels during exercise may play a role in reducing plasma ghrelin levels. We surmised that altered baseline activity and exercise-induced activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) results in excessive stimulation of lipolysis associated with negative energy balance and may lead to abnormal AT metabolism in patients with BN. Disruption of the gut-brain-AT axis might be involved in the pathogenesis of BN. The...

No description available.

Achieving sustainable lubrication by using environmentally friendly formulated lubricants has became an essential component of the transition process from fossil-powered vehicles to electrified transportation. Mixtures, or aqueous solutions of molecules such as polyhydroxy alcohols, and glycols usually known as green lubricants make it possible to achieve low friction coefficients under different lubrication conditions, which constitutes a potential alternative to improve the tribological performance of moving parts in automotive systems, at the same time that the environmental requirements are satisfied. There is a need to improve the protection against mild-wear and micropitting offered by green-lubricants before consider using them in the transmission gear box of battery electric vehicles BEVs, where their low shear-stress resistance can potentially help to improve the vehicle efficiency. Therefore, this research work aims to gain understanding of the tribological behaviour of rolling-sliding elements under glycerol-based lubrication, with focus on assessing the influence of different glycerol-based lubricant formulations on the wear modes associated to rolling contact fatigue such as micropitting, and macropitting.  Micropitting tests were carried out by using a micropitting rig, with a roller on ring planetary configuration. The evolution of microcracks, and micropitting was studied for several glycerol-based lubricants at different slide-to-roll ratios (SRRs) 5-30%, and different load contact conditions 1.5-2.5 GPa. A comparison against a fully formulated transmission oil has been performed. A relationship between the surface damage morphology and the operating conditions has been established. The lubrication regimes of DLC coated contacts and uncoated contacts in presence of glycerol-based lubricants were investigated through the construction of 3D friction maps, and Stribeck curves in a wide range of rolling speeds, and SRR testing conditions. The capability of two different DLC coating systems to prevent micropitting onset due to rolling contact fatigue in presence of glycerol-based lubricants was studied: Cr/a-WC:H/a-C:H and a-C:Cr.  Under mixed-lubrication regime it was found that a reduction up to 51% of friction can be achieved by using glycerol-based lubricants compared to a commercial transmission oil. The initial low friction coefficients at low contact cycles was attributed to the low pressure-viscosity coefficient of the glycerol-based lubricants. Friction was even further reduced with the increasing contact cycles since glycerol aqueous solutions were found to promote mild-wear, causing a smoothing of the surface asperities and therefore an enhancement of the hydrodynamic effect due a higher lambda ratio (Λ), making possible to trigger superlubricity in the contact. Surface micro-cracking was found to decrease at low SRR values under glycerol-based lubrication contrasted to the contacts lubricated with a fully formulated transmission oil. Once microcracks were nucleated, micropitting progressed faster in the contacts lubricated with glycerol-based lubricants, while micropitting was null or significantly delayed in presence of transmission oil. With the increasing SRR surface microcracks density and micropitting was found to became higher. The reduction of microcracks density with a glycerol-glycol based lubricant was attributed to the adsorption of long glycol molecules on the steel surface that avoid the direct interaction between asperities. The faster micropitting progression was attributed to the presence of dissolved water in the contact. Thin DLC a-C:Cr coatings were shown to significantly mitigate the penetration of surface initiated pits into the steel substrate, which was translated in a lower volume loss. Local micro-delamination was found to be the main reason behind coating failure in presence of glycerol-based lubricants, as a result, pitting took place on the steel exposed areas.

No description available.

For peanuts, roasted at 170 °C, the formation of selected glycerol-bound oxidized fatty acids (GOFAs), namely 9-oxononanoic acid (9-ONA), azelaic acid (AZA) and octanoic acid, was observed by GC-MS (EI). The content of octanoic acid as well as AZA increased with continuous roasting time (from 59 mg/kg peanut oil to 101 mg/kg peanut oil and from not detectable to 8 mg/kg peanut oil, respectively), whereas the content of 9-ONA initially decreased from 25 mg/kg peanut oil to 8 mg/kg peanut oil (20 min) and increased again up to 37 mg/kg peanut oil following roasting for 40 min. Due to its aldehyde function, 9-ONA could contribute to amino acid side chain modifications as a result of lipation, which could directly influence the functional properties of peanut proteins. Both 9-ONA and octanoic acid are potential markers of thermal processes. Furthermore, in model experiments using methyl linoleate and methyl oleate, up to 18 oxidized fatty acids could be identified as methyl esters, 9-ONA as well as octanoic acid as major components and a faster formation of GOFAs under roasting conditions (170 °C, 20 min). In addition, 9-ONA contributes to the formation of AZA and octanoic acid in both free and bound form as a result of oxidative subsequent reactions in presence of iron (III).

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious and fatal disease that ranks as the second leading killer worldwide. It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) which is an obligate intracellular parasite that colonizes the alveolar macrophages of the immune system. The major health concern associated with TB is its co-infection with HIV and the development of strains with multi-drug resistance. The elimination of TB has been hindered due to the lack of understanding of the survival strategies used by this pathogen. Thus, research towards discovering new effective antibacterial drugs is necessary and a group of Mtb kinase enzymes were targeted in this study because these enzymes are crucial for metabolism, pathogenesis and, hence, the survival of Mtb. Kinases are a group of structurally distinct and diverse proteins that catalyze the transfer of the phosphate group from high energy donor molecules such as ATP (or GTP) to a substrate. The phosphorylation of proteins modifies the activity of specific proteins which is subsequently used to control complex cellular processes within Mtb. The starting point of this research targeted eight specific Mtb kinases namely; Nucleoside diphosphokinase, Homoserine kinase, Acetate kinase, Glycerol kinase, Thiamine monophosphate kinase, Ribokinase, Aspartokinase and Shikimate kinase. The aim of this project was to subclone the gene sequences for these eight recombinant Mtb kinases and express them in Escherichia coli, to purify the proteins and determine their activity. In the effort to find new lead compounds, the final stage of this study focused on the basic screening of the TB kinases against an extract prepared from Pelargonium sidoides, a medicinal plant, to identify any inhibitory effects. Although this traditional medicinal plant has been broadly researched and extensively used to treat TB, there is still a lack of understanding of this plant’s scientific curative effect. Various molecular and biochemical methods were used to achieve the aims of this project. The putative gene sequence was obtained from the annotated genome of H37Rv, deposited at NCBI as NC_000962.2. The genes encoding the kinases were successfully PCR-amplified from genomic DNA, cloned into an expression vector in-frame with a C- or N-terminal 6-histidine-tag and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The purification of the protein was complex, but various different methods and techniques were explored to obtain sufficient amounts of protein. The functional characterization of the kinases involved an HPLC enzyme assay that showed that the recombinant kinases were active. These enzymes were then screened against the potential inhibitory compounds in P. sidoides using enzyme assays to generate dose-response curves. This allowed an effective comparison not only of the Mtb kinases’ activity under normal conditions but also the kinases’ activity in the presence of a potential inhibitor. Overall, the inhibition of the enzymes required the presence of higher concentrations of the P. sidoides extract. However, the SK enzyme results presented a significantly higher inhibition and the lowest IC50 value, in comparison to the other kinases, which makes this kinase an attractive potential drug target against TB. In summation, cloning and purification of SK was successful, resulting in a concentration of 2030 μg/ml of purified enzyme and its activity analysis demonstrated enzyme functionality. This activity was reduced to zero in the presence of 1 x 102 mg/ml dilution of P. sidoides plant extract. This research conducted has extended the quality of information available in this field of study. These interesting results, proposing and identifying SK as a suitable potential target can be a starting point to significantly contribute and progress in this field of research, with the eventual goal of developing a drug to combat this fatal disease. / Life Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

Sous contraintes industrielles, les micro-organismes sont soumis à différents stress technologiques, liés à leur culture en réacteur de grande taille, altérant leur viabilité et les performances des procédés. Les fluctuations des paramètres physico-chimiques (température, pH, …) sont responsables de cette baisse d’efficacité de la fermentation. Afin de contribuer à l’intensification des performances des procédés de production de bio-éthanol, ce projet de thèse propose d’améliorer la robustesse d’une souche industrielle de Saccharomyces cerevisiae productrice d’alcool vis-à-vis d’un stress environnemental : la température. La stratégie générale de ce projet réside dans l’obtention d’un mutant plus tolérant que la souche sauvage au stress appliqué par abaissement de son taux de décès. Un pilote original de culture en continu a été mis en place, couplant mutagénèse aux UV, générant des modifications génétiques et pression de sélection par des variations de température, permettant la sélection des variants les plus robustes. Un modèle phénoménologique a été développé afin de simuler les cinétiques microbiennes selon le mode de conduite du pilote et d’optimiser les conditions de fonctionnement nécessaires à l’obtention des futurs variants. Ce modèle cinétique fait intervenir l’influence de la température sur les cinétiques de croissance, de décès cellulaire et de production d’éthanol chez Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ces cinétiques ont été quantifiées expérimentalement en fonction de la température et des traitements de mutagénèse par UV. Grâce aux conditions obtenues par simulation, des cultures en mode continu ont été réalisées et des variants obtenus ont été caractérisés, en condition de production intensive d’éthanol, sur la base de leurs performances en termes de croissance, de décès et de capacités fermentaires. Cette stratégie a permis de sélectionner un variant possédant une meilleure robustesse vis-à-vis de la température, caractérisé par un taux de décès plus faible que celui de la souche sauvage. Néanmoins ce variant ne se caractérise pas par de meilleures performances fermentaires / Under industrial constraints, microorganisms are exposed to various stresses, due to their cultivation in large scale bioreactor, altering their viability and the performances of bioprocesses. Fluctuations in physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, ...) are responsible for this reduction in fermentation efficiency. This Ph.D project intends to improve the robustness of an industrial ethanol producer Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain under heat stress, in order to improve its industrial production of bio-ethanol under temperature fluctuating environment. The strategy of this project is to obtain a mutant more tolerant than the wild type strain to heat stress, possessing a lower death rate. An original continuous culture reactor has been designed, coupling UV mutagenesis (generating genetic modifications) and selection pressure (temperature) to select the most robust variant. A phenomenological model was proposed to simulate microbial kinetics based on the monitoring strategy of the chemostat and to optimize the operating conditions necessary for the generation of variants. This dynamic model involves the impact of the temperature on the kinetics of growth, cell death and ethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These kinetics were experimentally quantified as a function of the temperature and the UV treatment. Continuous cultures were carried out under the simulated conditions and some variants were characterized in very high ethanol performance fermentations in terms of growth, death and production performances. This strategy allowed us to select a variant possessing a better thermal robustness characterized by a lower death rate than the wild type strain under heat stress. However, the reduction of the death rate did not translate into better ethanol production performances

Dans cette étude, les fruits du Nephelium Lappaceum L. (ramboutan) ont été récoltés en Mars 2015 à Boko, dans la zone sud de la République du Congo. Plante à graines oléagineuses avec un noyau riche en huile (36 %), particulièrement composée d’acides gras saturés et monoinsaturés à longues chaines : C16:0 4,84 %, C18:0 5,48 %, C18:1 45,62 %, C18:2 2,70 %, C20:0 26,53 %, C20:1 9,27 % et C22:0 2,64 %. L’huile de ramboutan a été hydrolysée par voie enzymatique en présence de lipase Candida rugosa, les acides gras libres sont obtenus avec un ratio acides gras saturés (AGS)/acides gras monoinsaturés (AGI) de 0,67. La disponibilité des acides gras saturés et monoinsaturés des familles en C20 et C22 a stimulé nos investigations vers l’élaboration des shortenings et biotensioactifs à haut point de fusion. Deux stratégies ont été mises en place à partir des concentrats en acides gras libres issus de l’hydrolyse enzymatique de l’huile de ramboutan en présence de lipase de Candida rugosa. La première a consisté à la cristallisation à froid des acides gras saturés par la technologie de gélification/dégélification. On observe à l’issu de ce procédé une séparation physique du mélange d’acides gras en deux fractions. Une étude thermique des fractions solide et fluide a été effectuée et a montré que les AGS (To = 15, 86 °C ; Tf = 18,49 °C) refroidissent plus vite, mais fondent moins vite que les AGI (To = -19, 46 °C, Tf= 3,87 °C). Les teneurs des AGI passent de 55,6 % après hydrolyse à 63,53 % dans la fraction fluide et celles des AGS passent de 39,1 % après hydrolyse à 45,13 %. Les résultats de la SFC indique une teneur en AGS de 25,98 % dans la fraction fluide mais de 38,24 % dans la fraction solide ; Et le rendement massique de la fraction fluide passent de 16% à 55 % et de 84 % à 45 % respectivement de la fraction fluide et la fraction solide. La deuxième stratégie a consisté à réaliser l'insertion allylique de l'oxygène singulet dans les acides gras libres monoinsaturés à longues chaines C18:1 et C20:1. Elle est réalisée dans un milieu émulsionné constitué d'un système multiphase NaOH/H2O2/Na2MoO4. Le produit de réaction, au moyen de la GC, montre la présence des acides gras non conventionnels, deux isomères d’hydroperoxydes d’acides gras respectifs de chaque AGMI (C18:1 et C20:1) de conformation trans. Il en résulte une augmentation de la teneur en acides gras saturés à longues chaines C20: 0 (26,21% à 56,46%) et C22 (2,48 % à 3,77 %). Le produit de cette réaction présente un ratio AGS/ AGT (acides gras totaux): 0,82. La valorisation séquencée des acides gras de l'huile de noyau de ramboutan permet de proposer deux plateformes de biomolécules shortenings à haut point de fusion: Une plateforme de composition bien définie en acides gras saturés C20:0 et C22:0 et une autre constituée par un bulk en acides gras saturés C20:0-C22:0 et acides gras insaturés monohydroxyperoxydés trans. Les investigations sur l'hydroperoxydation des acides gras insaturés ont révélé un intérêt particulier sur l'impact du radical hydroxy peroxyde sur le mouvement de la configuration trans et cis dans ces acides gras modifiés en présence de glycidol en monoesters de glycérol et d'acides gras hydroxy peroxydes insaturés cis. C'est une autre plateforme de synthèse originale de biotensioactifs hydroxy peroxydes insaturés cis nouveaux qu'offre la valorisation séquencée des concentrats d'acides gras insaturés de l'huile de ramboutan. / In this study, the fruits of Nephelium Lappaceum L. (Rambutan) were harvested in Boko, in the southern area of the Republic of Congo. Oilseed plant with an oil-rich core (36 %), particularly composed of long chain fatty acids: C16:0 4.84 %, C18:0 5.48 %, C18:1 45.62 %, C18:2 2.70 %, C20:0 26.53 %, C20:1 9.27 % and C22:0 2.64 %. Rambutan oil was hydrolyzed enzymatically in the presence of lipase Candida rugosa, the free fatty acids are obtained with a ratio of saturated fatty acids (AGS)/monounsaturated (AGI) of 0.67. The availability of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids of the C20 and C22 families stimulated our investigations towards the development of shortenings and biotensioactives with a high melting point. Two strategies have been implemented using free fatty acid concentrates derived from the enzymatic hydrolysis of rambutan oil in the presence of Candida rugosa lipase. The first was to achieve the cold crystallization of saturated fatty acids by gelation / defrosting technology. At the end of this process, a physical separation of the fatty acid mixture into two fractions is observed. A thermal study of the solid and fluid fractions was carried out and showed that the AGS (To = 15, 86 °C, Tf = 18.49 °C) cool faster, but melt slower than the AGI (To = -19 46 °C, mp = 3.87 °C). The contents go from 55.6% after hydrolysis to 63.53 % of AGI in the fluid fraction and 39.1 % after hydrolysis to 45.13 % of AGS. The results of the SFC indicate an AGS content of 25.98 % in the fluid fraction but of 38.24 % in the solid fraction ; And the mass yield of 16 % to 55 % and 84 % to 45 % respectively of the fluid fraction (enriched in AGI, in particular in MUFA) and the solid fraction (enriched with AGS). The second strategy was to perform the allyl insertion of singlet oxygen in long-chain monounsaturated free fatty acids C18:1 and C20:1, carried out in an emulsified medium consisting of a multiphase NaOH / H2O2/Na2MoO4 system. The reaction product, using GC, shows the presence of unconventional fatty acids, two isomers of respective fatty acid hydroperoxides of each trans-conforming MUFA (C18:1 and C20:1) and an increase in saturated fatty acids content with long chain C20:0 (26.21 % to 56.46 %) and C22:0 (2.48 % to 3.77 %). The product of this reaction has an AGS/AGT ratio of 0.82. The sequential evaluation of the fatty acids of the Ramboutan core oil makes it possible to propose two platforms of biomolecules shortenings with a high melting point: A platform with a well defined composition of saturated fatty acids C20:0 and C22:0 and another constituted by a bulk of C20:0-C22:0 saturated fatty acids and transmonohydroxyperoxide trans unsaturated fatty acids. Investigations on the hydroperoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids have revealed a particular interest on the impact of hydroxyperoxide radical on the movement of the trans and cis configuration in these fatty acids modified in the presence of glycidol in monoesters of glycerol and hydroxyperoxide fatty acids unsaturated cis. This is another novel synthesis platform of new cis-unsaturated hydroxyperoxyd biotensiatives offered by the sequenced recovery of unsaturated fatty acid concentrates from rambutan oil.