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Biomedical subjects

A Mulet

Publications and source records attributed to A Mulet.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Use of the acoustic impulse-response technique for the nondestructive assessment of Manchego cheese texture.

Manchego cheese pieces were hit with an impact probe and the acoustic response was recorded, analyzed, and used to assess the textural characteristics of the cheese pieces. The textural parameters measured by traditional instrumental methods increased during ripening, although the pattern of the increase was different for different batches. For the 2 acoustic impact probes used in this study, a change in the frequency spectrum took place as cheese matured, increasing higher frequencies and the energy content. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and partial least square regression (PLSR), considering the acoustical variables extracted from the spectrum, allowed for a good estimation of cheese texture. The textural characteristics of the cheese surface and in particular the maximum force in compression experiments (R(2) > 0.937 for MLR and R(2) > 0.852 for PLSR) were accurately predicted by the acoustic method; however, the texture of the central layers of the cheese are poorly assessed (R(2) < 0.720). The results obtained show the feasibility of using acoustic systems to assess Manchego cheese texture, aiding its classification.

Acoustics↗
PubMed2004

Mass transfer enhancement in supercritical fluids extraction by means of power ultrasound.

The use of high-intensity ultrasound represents an efficient manner of producing small scale agitation, enhancing mass transfer on supercritical fluids (SF) extraction processes. In this way, a supercritical CO(2) extraction of oil from particulate almonds using power ultrasound was studied. To examine the effect of the acoustic waves all experiments were performed with and without ultrasound. A power ultrasonic transducer for a working frequency of about 20 kHz was constructed and installed inside a high-pressure 5 l SF extractor. The experimental tests were carried out with CO(2) at 280 bar and 55 degrees C. Grounded almonds with an oil content of about 55%, in an amount of 1500 g were deposited inside the SF reactor where the solvent was introduced at a flow rate of 20 kg/h. The results show that the kinetics and the extraction yield of the oil were enhanced by 30% and 20% respectively, when a power of about 50 W was applied to the transducer. The average time of each extraction process was of about 8 h and 30 min. In addition, the transducer was also used as a sensitive probe capable to detect the phase behavior of supercritical fluids when it was driven with low power signals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Epidermal growth factor-based cancer vaccine for non-small-cell lung cancer therapy.

BACKGROUND: The role that growth factors and their receptors play in human cancer growth and progression makes them interesting targets for novel treatment modalities. Our approach consisted of active immunotherapy with the epidermal growth factor (EGF). Two pilot clinical trials were conducted to examine the safety and immunogenicity of a five-dose immunization protocol and to compare different adjuvants and treatment designs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer were enrolled in both trials. They were randomized to be treated with aluminum hydroxide or montanide ISA 51 as adjuvants in the EGF vaccine preparation. The use of cyclophosphamide prevaccination treatment was evaluated in the second trial. RESULTS: Pooled data from both trials showed that the use of montanide as adjuvant increased the percentage of good antibody responders (GAR). Cyclophosphamide prevaccination treatment did not provoke improvements in antibody response. GAR had a significant increase in survival as compared with poor antibody responders. Response duration was also related to a significant improvement in survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination with five doses of EGF vaccine is safe and immunogenic. Montanide ISA 51 increased the percentage of GAR. There is a direct relationship between anti-EGF antibody titers and immune response duration with survival time.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2002

Application of low intensity ultrasonics to cheese manufacturing processes.

Ultrasound has been used to non-destructively assess the quality of many foods such as meat, fish, vegetables and dairy products. This paper addresses the applications of low intensity ultrasonics in the cheese manufacturing processes and highlights the areas where ultrasonics could be successfully implemented in the future. The decrease of ultrasonic attenuation during the renneting process can be used to determine the optimum cut time for cheese making. The ultrasonic velocity increases during maturation for those types of cheese that become harder during this manufacturing stage, thus being an indicator of the maturity degree. Moreover, ultrasonic measurements could be linked to sensory parameters. From the ultrasonic velocity measurements at two different temperatures, it is possible to assess cheese composition, thus allowing an improvement in the quality and uniformity of cheese commercialization. In addition, in pulse-echo mode it is possible to detect cracked pieces due to abnormal fermentations and also to assess the distance of the crack from the surface.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Use of ultrasound to assess Cheddar cheese characteristics.

Blocks of Cheddar cheese were matured in temperature-controlled chambers at 5 and 12 degrees C. The ultrasonic velocity increased during maturation ranging from 1657 to 1677 ms-1 at 12 degrees C and from 1684 to 1693 ms-1 at 5 degrees C. The ultrasonic velocity was related to the square root of the deformability modulus and the slope in puncture. The increase of velocity during maturation shows the feasibility of using an ultrasonic device to non-destructively monitor Cheddar cheese maturity. Ultrasound velocity was measured at different temperatures. The velocity decreased with increasing temperature, and from the slope of the first part of the temperature-velocity curves it was possible to non-destructively assess the moisture content of different types of cheese.

Cheese↗
PubMed2000

Cheese maturity assessment using ultrasonics.

The relationship between Mahon cheese maturity and ultrasonic velocity was examined. Moisture and textural properties were used as maturity indicators. The ultrasonic velocity of the cheese varied between 1630 and 1740 m/s, increasing with the curing time mainly because of loss of water, which also produced an increase of the textural properties. Because of the nature of low-intensity ultrasonics, velocity was better related to those textural parameters that involved small displacements. Ultrasonic velocity decreased with increasing temperature because of the negative temperature coefficient of the ultrasonic velocity of fat and the melting of fat. These results highlight the potential use of ultrasonic velocity measurements to rapidly and nondestructively assess cheese maturity.

Cheese↗
PubMed1999

Validation of a biophysical drug absorption model by the PATQSAR system.

Absorption rate constants (in situ rat gut technique) and in vitro antibacterial activities of twenty fluoroquinolones have been evaluated. A biophysical model that relates the absorption of the compounds with their lipophilicity was fitted. The model considers the absorption process from the intestinal lumen as the sum of two resistances in series: aqueous diffusional barrier and lipoidal membrane. Even if partitioning into the membrane and membrane diffusion are both enhanced for lipophilic compounds, the absorption rate constant is limited by the aqueous diffusion. To estimate the influence of structural modifications on each property and to establish the role of lipophilicity in controlling in situ absorption and in vitro antibacterial activity, the PATQSAR search system is used to construct structure-property relationships. The structural models, which explain 99% of the total variance of each physicochemical property and 96% of each in vitro biological activity, provide an explicit and precise interpretation of lipophilicity, absorption, and antimicrobial activity. The results confirm the important role of lipophilicity in controlling absorption, as pointed out by the biophysical model for the piperazinyl series, and suggest the introduction of electronic factors in order to extend the model to heterologues. They also justify the mechanism by which quinolones are assumed to induce antibacterial activity.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1990

[Evolution of the yeast microflora during the first days of fermentation in inoculated Majorcan musts].

Three fermentations were carried out with grape must of the Callet variety. This cultivar is considered autochthonous from the island of Majorca. Two tanks were inoculated with starting cultures of selected yeasts and the last was fermented spontaneously by wild yeasts. The frequency of yeast isolates during the early stages of the fermentation, showed that Candida stellata was more affected by the inoculation than the other wild yeasts with the exception of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The chemical analyses of wines showed a better alcoholic rate and less volatile acidity in the inoculated wines. Two sensorial analyses were performed and significant differences between the wines were noted.

Fermentation↗