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The Wellens pattern is an electrocardiographic finding seen in patients with chest pain and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and is described as a symmetrical T-wave inversion or biphasic T-wave inversion in precordial leads. The deep inversion of the precordial T wave is a sign associated with various etiologies, including left ventricular hypertrophy, vasospasm, and pulmonary embolism. We present the case of a patient who debuts with chest pain and electrocardiographic findings consistent with the Wellens and McGinn-White patterns, who was subsequently diagnosed with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism after ruling out obstructive coronary artery disease. We discussed the differential diagnostic approach to T-wave inversion as a sign associated with high-risk conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust storms are known to be atmospheric phenomena that transport mineral dust but also airborne biological particles (bioaerosols) from desert areas to distant regions. These bioaerosols can influence atmospheric processes and they have the potential of changing the composition of the local aerobiome in urban areas, which, in recent years, have been associated with allergies and the exacerbation of respiratory syndromes. Here, we studied four dust events initiated in the Sahara Desert affecting the center of the Iberian Peninsula. The biological particles before and during the phenomena were analyzed by high-throughput DNA sequencing. The global composition of bioaerosols showed a marked seasonality. The relative abundances of the most predominant groups of bacteria and fungi were not significantly altered compared to the days prior the corresponding event. Nonetheless, we detected specific bacterial and fungal taxa associated with these events, whose composition and abundance were also related to the period of the year. Although a variety of plant and animal pathogens were identified both before and throughout the days influenced by dust storms, some were only detected during the latter, suggesting a long-range transport for these species. This work highlights the importance of analyzing the storm dust events separately, especially when they occur at different seasons, and the particular effect on an urban environment in the Iberian Peninsula as a model case, providing some recommendations for future studies. • Local aerobiome prevails over the changes in microbial communities caused by dust storms. • Foreign microorganisms contributed a low fraction to the local atmosphere. • Dust events may show particular features associated with intensity and seasonality. • The abundances of pathogenic species were not significantly altered by dust events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2004.08.011 Byline: Diego A. Moreno (a), Gemma Villora (a), Maria T. Soriano (b), Nicolas Castilla (b), Luis Romero (a) Abstract: Currently, pollution of our agricultural soils and waters is increasing and is often associated with many human health ailments. Soils contaminated with low levels of heavy metals and other trace elements are frequently used for growing vegetable crops and in such a situation, these toxic contaminants often accumulate in the edible portions of these agricultural plants and thereby enter the human food chain. In 3 consecutive years of field experiments (1994-1996), two different crop-covering treatments -- T (50[mu]m perforated polyethylene), and T.sub.2 (17gm.sup.-2 non-woven polypropylene) -- were used to modify the environmental conditions for the growth of Chinese cabbage 'Nagaoka 50' [Brassica rapa L. (Pekinensis group)]. Open-air plots (T.sub.0) were used as controls. Analytical determinations of chromium (Cr), selenium (Se), two forms of sulfur (total-S and sulfate-S), and amino acids (Isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, serine, threonine, and valine) were performed utilizing plant shoots for analysis. The T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 treated plants contained concentrations of lysine, methionine, serine, and threonine higher than in T.sub.0. Under T.sub.1, the extent of Cr and Se removal in the field was more favorable. Direct covers could be used in contaminated agricultural zones for a variety of plant species, not just for use with those plants previously reported to be efficient at bio-accumulating toxic elements because the thermal effect created by the covers favors phytoextraction processes. However, it is clear that the accumulation of these toxic substances in the plants (Cr) would deem the plant material unsuitable for human consumption and use as animal fodder. Author Affiliation: (a) Departamento de Fisiologia Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Fuentenueva S/N, E-18071, Granada, Spain (b) Departamento Horticultura, C.I.F.A. Camino de Purchil S/N-Apdo. 2027, 18004 Granada, Spain Article History: Received 20 September 2003; Revised 23 July 2004; Accepted 26 August 2004

A model in oligopoly where firms compete via supply functions equilibria is described. It is identified that the notion of coalition-proof supply function equilibrium is introduced.

The effect of information advantage of a firm on its profits in oligopolistic markets is studied. Under Cournot competition, superior information gives a competitive edge and leads to higher profits only when the firm's technology exhibits constant returns to scale.

The dynamics of trading patterns and market composition are characterized when trading is bilateral, trading partner is costly, bargaining determines the prices, and preferences are private information. Finding reveals that equilibrium is inefficient and exhibits delays as sellers price discriminate between buyers with different values.

Links between equilibrium allocations with rational expectations and ex-post exchange economy cores are examined, in a model characterized by asymmetric information.

Research is presented concerning the relationship which exists between the ex-post core of the economy and the fine core of an atomless exchange economy which contains differential information.

Ljung's theorem, projection algorithm, has been used by economists to establish convergence to rational expectations equilibrium. The study shows that this theorem is not applicable to decentralized learning or forecasting. Ljung's theorem does not apply if the algorithm allows differing information among individuals. Despite the existence of any theorem similar to Ljung's which could provide for differing information, there still exists the requirement that individual beliefs should be closely related to the equilibrium and to one another.

• Glucosinolates are metabolized in great extension and are absent in urine samples. • Sulphoraphane-N-acetylcysteine is a good biomarker of intake of cruciferous. • 3,3′-Diindolymethane is the main metabolite of the indolic glucosinolates. • Post-menopausal women showed higher levels of broccoli sprouts metabolites. Broccoli sprouts rich in glucosinolates have shown interesting properties mitigating the inflammatory status linked to obesity. Studies performed in healthy lean subjects have shown that these compounds possess good bioavailability, however long-term studies in overweight populations are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of broccoli sprouts in overweight adults: men, non-menopausal women and post-menopausal women. An in vivo controlled parallel study was performed in 69 healthy overweight subjects that consumed broccoli sprouts (30 g/day) during 5 weeks, with a follow-up phase of 5 weeks of normal diet without broccoli sprouts. Trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03390855. Metabolites from glutathione detoxification pathway increased in all groups after 5 weeks of broccoli consumption, especially in post-menopausal women (Sulphoraphane-N-Acetyl cysteine levels from 0.0656 nmol/mg creatinine to 1.8191 nmol/mg creatinine, p < 0.001) and similar behaviour was observed for Sulphoraphane and Sulphoraphane-Cysteine. Post-menopausal condition was associated with higher levels of metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background & aims Broccoli sprouts represent an interesting choice of healthy food product as they are rich in glucosinolates and their cognate bioactive metabolites, isothiocyanates able to counteract the negative effects of diverse pathologies. As obesity is linked to an inflammatory component, the aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of broccoli sprouts in overweight adult subjects. Methods An in vivo controlled study was performed in 40 healthy overweight subjects (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT 03390855). Treatment phase consisted on the consumption of broccoli sprouts (30 g/day) during 10 weeks and the follow-up phase of 10 weeks of normal diet without consumption of these broccoli sprouts. Anthropometric parameters as body fat mass, body weight, and BMI were determined. Inflammation status was assessed by measuring levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and C-reactive protein. Results IL-6 levels significantly decreased (mean values from 4.76 pg/mL to 2.11 pg/mL with 70 days of broccoli consumption, p < 0.001) and during control phase the inflammatory levels were maintained at low grade (mean values from 1.20 pg/mL to 2.66 pg/mL, p < 0.001). C-reactive protein significantly decreased as well. Conclusions This study represents an advance in intervention studies as the broccoli sprouts were included in a daily dietary pattern in quantities that reflect a real consumption. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of this healthy rich and nutritious food product, but these promising results support the current evidence on the healthy properties of Brassica varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US and Mexico share a common history in many areas, including language and culture. They face ecological changes due to the increased frequency and severity of droughts and rising energy demands; trends that entail economic costs for both nations and major implications for human wellbeing. We describe an ongoing effort by the Environment Working Group (EWG), created by The University of California’s UC-Mexico initiative in 2015, to promote binational research, teaching, and outreach collaborations on the implications of climate change for Mexico and California. We synthesize current knowledge about the most pressing issues related to climate change in the US-Mexico border region and provide examples of cross-border discoveries and research initiatives, highlighting the need to move forward in six broad rubrics. This and similar binational cooperation efforts can lead to improved living standards, generate a collaborative mindset among participating universities, and create an international network to address urgent sustainability challenges affecting both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activity patterns in ectotherms rely on the structure of the thermal environment and thermoregulatory opportunities during activity periods. A dichotomy between diurnal and nocturnal ectotherms is not clear in every case, and temperature can directly affect the daily activity period in these organisms during both photophase and scotophase. In the present study we evaluate the thermal ecology of six tropical night lizards (genus Lepidophyma ) from Mexico. Our results indicate a thermoconformer strategy in most of the studied species. In these species, thermal tolerances are associated with environmental temperatures to which they are exposed. Furthermore, thermal quality of the environment directly determines the daily activity period. Therefore, we argue that diurnal activity in Lepidophyma species is determined by local thermal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of polymeric composites from recycled thermoplastic with natural fibers is an interesting alternative that contribute for preservation of natural resources, decrease of pollutant waste and production of low cost materials. Low-density polyethylene waste (LDPEW) from packaging films presents low index of mechanical recycling, generating several environmental problems and for their management after discard. On the other hand, wood waste as such as pine wood waste (PWW) are also produced in large scale and their recycling potential is not very explored. The aim of this study was the preparation of LDPEW/PWW composites in presence of coupling agent maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE- g -MA) and to evaluate their mechanical, morphological and thermal properties. LDPEW/PWW composites were prepared by extrusion processing and specimens obtained by injection molding for after characterization by tensile testing, impact testing, scan electronic microscopy and thermal analysis. The mechanical properties of the LDPEW/PWW composites are depending of the PWW content in the material, allowing the adjustment of the composition according to the potential for practical application, while the thermal stability of the composites is compatible with the required conditions for thermomechanical processing. The preparation of LDPEW/PWW composites showed viability for production of low cost materials from recycled waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An arc-coloring of a strongly connected digraph D is a strongly monochromatic-connecting coloring if for every pair u , v of vertices in D there exist an ( u , v ) -monochromatic path and a ( v , u ) -monochromatic path. Let s m c ( D ) denote the maximum number of colors that can be used in a strongly monochromatic-connecting coloring of D . In this paper we prove that if D is a strongly connected oriented graph of size m , then s m c ( D ) = m − Ω ( D ) + 1 , where Ω ( D ) is the minimum size of a spanning strongly connected subdigraph of D . As a corollary of this result, we see that a strongly connected oriented graph D of order n is hamiltonian if and only if s m c ( D ) = m − n + 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great quantity of music content available online has increased interest in music recommender systems. However, some important problems must be addressed in order to give reliable recommendations. Many approaches have been proposed to deal with cold-start and first-rater drawbacks; however, the problem of generating recommendations for gray-sheep users has been less studied. Most of the methods that address this problem are content-based, hence they require item information that is not always available. Another significant drawback is the difficulty in obtaining explicit feedback from users, necessary for inducing recommendation models, which causes the well-known sparsity problem. In this work, a recommendation method based on playing coefficients is proposed for addressing the above-mentioned shortcomings of recommender systems when little information is available. The results prove that this proposal outperforms other collaborative filtering methods, including those that make use of user attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monopolistic market games may have asymptiotic nucleoli, and the effect of this phenomenon is examined in detail in a context of continuum economies.

[Display omitted] • Nanoencapsulated Bimi® extracts showed a high preservation of DIM, I3C and SFN under an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. • Nanovesicles from cauliflower reduce their size under acidic pH conditions, followed by a cargo release under neutral pH in an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. • LPS-stimulated HepG2 cells were able to metabolize a higher number of ITCs from the nanoencapsulated Bimi® digestates. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) have low stability in aqueous conditions, reducing their bioavailability when used as food ingredients. Therefore, the aim of this work was to increase the stability of the ITCs present in extracts of Bimi® edible parts by nanoencapsulation using cauliflower-derived plasma membrane vesicles. The bioactivity of these nanoencapsulates was evaluated in a HepG2 hepatocyte cell line in a model for low-grade chronic inflammation. The vesicles showed a higher capacity of retention in the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion for 3,3-diindolylmethane (DIM), indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and sulforaphane (SFN). Furthermore, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis of the vesicles revealed a decreased size under acidic pH and a release of their cargo after the intestinal digestion. The HepG2 experiments revealed differences in metabolism under the condition of chronic inflammation. The cauliflower-derived plasma membrane vesicles are able to enhance the stability of ITCs through the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, improving their bioaccesibility and potential bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Phytochemical and biological evaluation of Latin-American fruits. [•] Maqui berry performed best in alpha-glucosidase inhibition assay. [•] Maqui and acai berries showed high antioxidant capacity. [•] Latin-American fruits are rich sources of pigments and bioactives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bioactive substances found in numerous foods can be successfully and safely used to modify various cellular functions and affect the oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of a citrus-based juice (juice citrus (95%) with 5% of aronia extract (Aronia melanocarpa)) on biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with metabolic syndrome compared with healthy individuals. The study comprised 20 healthy subjects and 33 patients with metabolic syndrome. Eighteen patients consumed daily 300mL of a citrus-based juice during 6months and 15 patients consumed 300mL of a placebo beverage. The control group consumed a citrus-based juice (CJ). Before, and at sixth months after consuming of a citrus-based juice the following parameters were determined: 15-isoprostane F2, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSH), carbonyl groups and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL). After consuming CJ during 6months the values of 8-OHdG, carbonyl groups and LDL-ox decreased in both analyzed groups and the values of GSH/GSSH increased. Significant differences were observed in both groups. Thus consumption of citrus-based juice improved the biomarkers of oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Broccoli has risen as rich in bioactive phytochemicals (glucosinolates and phenolic compounds) closely linked with the reduction of cancer risk. Green tea infusion is a beverage that also contains anticarcinogenic compounds, mainly represented by flavanols. The compounds present in new broccoli-enriched green tea drinks and their potential antitumoral activity in vitro were evaluated. The distinct compounds present in the prepared beverages were identified by HPLC–PAD–ESI-MSn and quantified by HPLC–PAD. Caco-2 and CCD-18Co cell lines were exposed to growing percentages (0.2–5%) of infusions of distinct combinations of plant material. The time-dependent cytotoxicity on the malignant cells was also achieved. Cell death was evaluated by trypan blue dye exclusion and a more efficient specific cytotoxic effect on Caco-2 cells was observed on the cells incubated with the mixture of broccoli and green tea than on cells exposed to control infusions. Broccoli added to green tea resulted in a combination of phytochemicals with antitumoral activity with potential for further developments in mechanistic models and the design of novel foods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Background & aims: Inflammation and oxidative stress plays a critical role in cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome often occurs with these two variables. The aim of the study is to estimate variations on cardiovascular risk factors in Metabolic Syndrome patients after consume of a citrus-based juice compared with control groups. Methods: The study comprised 20 healthy subjects and 33 patients with Metabolic Syndrome. 18 patients consume daily 300 mL of a citrus-based juice during 6 month and 15 patients consume 300 mL of a placebo beverage. The control group consumes a citrus-based juice. Before, at fourth month and at sixth month after treatment the following parameters were determined: lipid profile, oxidized LDL, C-Reactive Protein and Homocysteine. The study was carried out in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration, and the Ethical Committee of the San Antonio Catholic University and approved the protocol (6 November 2006, register number: 1424). Results: After six months of citrus-based juice consuming, there is significant differences at 95% confidence in oxidized LDL, C-Reactive Protein, and Homocysteine in Metabolic Syndrome patients who consume citrus-based juice. We have not found significant differences in other groups. Conclusions: Consume of citrus-based juice improve lipid profile and inflammation markers in Metabolic Syndrome patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to increase the concentrations of bioactive compounds in broccoli sprouts, exogenous elicitors: methionine, tryptophan, chitosan, salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were sprayed at different concentrations during germination. The effects of the elicitors on vitamin C, phenolic compounds and glucosinolate levels were assessed in 3, 5 and 7-days old seedlings. The application of 200, 300μM SA and 0.01% chitosan induced increases, by 26%, 18% and 54%, respectively in the content of vitamin C in 5days old broccoli sprouts. Flavonoid concentration was also increased by 31% and 33% after 10μM MeJA and 100μM SA treatments, respectively in 7days old broccoli sprouts. In contrast, methionine or tryptophan solutions did not positively affect the vitamin C or the phenolic compounds in the sprouts. The individual classes of glucosinolates respond differently to the elicitor treatment. Methionine, a sulphur-containing amino acid, applied at 5mM, significantly increased, by 32%, the levels of aliphatic glucosinolates. However, indole glucosinolates presented a significant response to the induction with tryptophan, SA or MeJA treatments. Tryptophan at 10mM concentration augmented by 1.8-fold the indole glucosinolate concentration in 7days old broccoli sprouts, and the treatments of 100μM SA and 25μM MeJA also induced significantly higher amounts of indole glucosinolates (by 33% and 51%, respectively) in 7days old treated broccoli sprouts. Therefore, the application of elicitors could be a useful tool for improving the bioactive metabolites in broccoli sprouts for fresh consumption or functional ingredients for nutraceuticals foods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Organic green tea, one of the most-consumed beverages worldwide, is rich in bioactive compounds (flavonols and flavanols) with healthy properties. Broccoli byproducts, consisting of leaves and stalks, are rich in bioactive compounds, including nitrogen–sulphur compounds (glucosinolates and isothiocyanates) and phenolics (chlorogenic and sinapic acid derivatives, and flavonoids), as well as essential nutrients (minerals and vitamins). They are of high interest as a source of health-promoting compounds, useful as ingredients for the development of functional foods. This work analyses minimally-processed broccoli byproducts as a source of bioactive ingredients to design novel beverages, using organic green tea as a food matrix. Green tea enriched with broccoli concentrates showed improved physical quality, phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. The functional quality of these novel beverages depends on the proportion of broccoli extracts added to the green tea. The results obtained in the present work should encourage the use of broccoli byproducts as ingredients in novel functional foods. Industrial relevance: The industrial use of broccoli byproducts as an ingredient in the development of novel, functional foods may help to add value to the large amount of plant wastes generated in every cropping season, thus reducing their environmental impact. The objectives and aims of the EU producers, industry and stakeholders on the relationships between foods, nutrition and health, and therefore, the use of suitable ingredients from the agriculture to have impact on human health and the environment, with a sustainable use of natural resources are in agreement with this work, adding value to broccoli byproducts and encouraging the production of novel products and applications for nutritional and/or health claims under the EU Regulations (EC) No. 1924/2006 and 834/2007. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Different tomato cultivars (Solanum lycopersicum L.) with differences in tolerance to drought were subjected to moderate water stress to test the effects on flavonoids and caffeoyl derivatives and related enzymes. Our results indicate that water stress resulted in decreased shikimate pathway (DAHP synthase, shikimate dehydrogenase, phenylalanine ammonium lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, 4-coumarate CoA ligase) and phenolic compounds (caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, quercetin and kaempferol) in the cultivars more sensitive to water stress. However, cv. Zarina is more tolerant, and registered a rise in querc-3-rut-pent, kaempferol-3-api-rut, and kaempferol-3-rut under the treatment of water stress. Moreover, this cultivar show increased activities of flavonoid and phenylpropanoid synthesis and decreased in degradation-related enzymes. These results show that moderate water stress can induce shikimate pathway in tolerant cultivar. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Determining ontogenic diversity in vegetables, in general or Brassicas in particular, regarding the bioactive content, is an interesting task since the most promising Brassicaceae foods could have the highest nutritional and health-promoting properties. Therefore, vitamin C, phenolic compounds, glucosinolate content, and total antioxidant capacity were evaluated in commercial cultivars of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica; cv. Nubia, cv. Marathon and cv. Viola) seeds and during the sprouting period. Vitamin C was not detected in dormant seeds and its content increased with the germination, reaching values ranging from 53 (cv. Nubia) to 64 (cv. Marathon) mg/100g FW, at the end of the monitored period (14days). The total glucosinolate content in seeds and 3-day-old sprouts was higher in cv. Marathon (1005 and 556mg/100g FW, respectively), however cv. Viola sprouts registered the highest glucosinolate content 7 and 14days after sowing (235 and 208mg/100g FW, respectively). Aliphatic glucosinolates were more affected by genetic factors than the indolic glucosinolates, being glucoraphanin the predominant glucosinolate in cv. Nubia and cv. Marathon, whereas glucoiberin was the major glucosinolate in cv. Viola. The flavonoid and total phenolic content was significantly higher in cv. Viola. Also, seeds of this cultivar showed the highest antioxidant capacity (2.7mg Trolox/g FW). This study confirmed that the potential value of edible broccoli sprouts for human health depends largely on the genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Broccoli is a nutritious vegetable and a good source of vitamins and minerals. It also contains important antioxidant phytochemicals like β-carotene and α-tocopherol, indoles and isothiocyanates. On the other hand, edible sprouts are novel nutritive plant-derived foods, good source of flavonoids and other polyphenols (). Anthocyanins have also been previously isolated from the Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) presenting unusually complex structures with one or more cinnamic acids but, as far as we are aware, never reported for broccoli sprouts. For this purpose, we studied the sprouts of commercial broccoli destined for head productions (‘Marathon’ and ‘Nubia’), a variety produced for edible sprouts (‘Intersemillas’ sprouts) and a purple broccoli sprouts (‘Viola’). Using HPLC–UV photo-diode array detection (PAD)–electrospray ionisation (ESI)-MS/MS (HPLC–PAD–ESI-MS/MS), acylated anthocyanins were characterised. The main peaks were cyanidin-3-O-diglucoside-5-O-glucoside acylated and double acylated with p-coumaric, sinapic, caffeic, ferulic or sinapic acids, with at least three predominant anthocyanins isomers of cyanidin 3-O-(acyl)diglucoside-5-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-(acyl1)(acyl2)diglucoside-5-O-glucoside, and cyanidin 3-O-(acyl1)(acyl2)diglucoside-5-O-(malonyl)glucoside, within the 17 different anthocyanins characterised in broccoli sprouts for the first time. The qualitative and quantitative differences in the anthocyanin composition between the ‘green head’ broccoli cultivars (Marathon, Nubia), the green variety-for-sprouts (Intersemillas), and the richest variety in anthocyanins, the early purple sprouting broccoli sprouts (‘Viola’), showed the dependence on cultivar to drive the phytochemical load of vegetable foods. The broccoli sprouts could be potential naturally-healthy functional foods at the seedling stage for delivering significant levels of bioactive compounds besides other flavonoids, glucosinolate-derived isothiocyanates, together with vitamins and minerals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two new MnIII complexes Na[Mn(5-SO3-salpnOH)(H2O)]⋅5H2O (1) and Na[Mn(5-SO3-salpn)(MeOH)]⋅4H2O (2) (5-SO3-salpnOH=1,3-bis(5-sulphonatosalicylidenamino)propan-2-ol, 5-SO3-salpn=1,3-bis(5-sulphonatosalicylidenamino)propane) have been prepared and characterized. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, UV–visible and 1H NMR spectroscopic studies showed that the two complexes exist in solution as monoanions [Mn(5-SO3-salpn(OH))(solvent)2]−, with the ligand bound to MnIII through the two phenolato-O and two imino-N atoms located in the equatorial plane. The E 1/2 of the MnIII/MnII couple (−47.11 (1) and −77.80mV (2) vs. Ag/AgCl) allows these complexes to efficiently catalyze the dismutation of , with catalytic rate constants 2.4×106 (1) and 3.6×106 (2) M−1 s−1, and IC 50 values of 1.14 (1) and 0.77 (2) μM, obtained through the nitro blue tetrazolium photoreduction inhibition superoxide dismutase assay, in aqueous solution of pH 7.8. The two complexes are also able to disproportionate up to 250 equivalents of H2O2 in aqueous solution of pH 8.0, with initial turnover rates of 178 (1) and 25.2 (2) mM H2O2 min−1 mM−1 catalyst−1. Their dual superoxide dismutase/catalase activity renders these compounds particularly attractive as catalytic antioxidants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nowadays, the interest in dietary antioxidants, mainly present in fruits and vegetables, has prompted research in the field of commercial polyphenol-rich beverages. The main objective of the present work was to produce new polyphenol-rich beverages using lemon and pomegranate juices in different proportions (at 25%, 50% and 75% for both juices). The bioactive composition (flavonoids and vitamin C) of the mixtures as well as its stability, antioxidant capacity and changes in colour over a 70 days storage period were studied. Our results suggest that the new drink made of 75% of pomegranate juice (PJ) and 25% of lemon juice (v:v), has potential for development of new healthy beverages or food products, emphasised by its high antioxidant capacity determined by its phenolic composition – punicalagin isomers, anthocyanins and vitamin C – and improved colour properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two clonal selections of lemon trees (‘Verna-62’ and ‘Verna-50-2’), were studied in aiming to ascertain the influence of genetic (clone) and environmental (season) factors on the human-health bioactive compounds of the lemon juice (vitamin C and flavonoids) and the possible relationship between composition and in vitro antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP) of the juice. The average values determined in bioactives were 13–26mg·100mL−1 in total of analysed phenolics and 23–29mg·100mL−1 in vitamin C content. Variability in the weather conditions and internal physiological phenomena of the fruits such as biosynthesis and transport, could determine, at least in part, differences in the contents of lemon juice bioactives more importantly than the genetic background, providing the food industry with phytochemically rich and nutritive lemons for processing and functional ingredients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]