Copper complexes grafted to functionalized silica gel as wood preservatives against the brown rot fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coniophora puteana</Emphasis>

Wood modification with siloxanes bearing amino groups with copper-linking function was carried out by a sol–gel process. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) were the main components. Two different procedures were followed: a two-step process (impregnation with the TEOS/APTES mixture followed by dipping into a copper sulphate solution) and a one-step process (impregnation with a homogeneous sol mixture of TEOS, APTES and copper (II) chloride). The obtained materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The determination of copper content before and after leaching was performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The efficacy against the brown rot fungus Coniophora puteana was tested by an accelerated procedure. SEM analyses showed that silicon penetrated into wood, while copper is effectively drawn into wood only in the one-step treatment. Copper fixation to the silica gel proved to be adequately strong. Both sol–gel treatments gave good protection against Coniophora puteana.     

Selecting the Packaging System for Liquid Foods Using an ANP Model

This paper provides a model to identify the most appropriate packaging system （i.e. the industrial process by which the product is hygienically coupled with the container） for different liquid foods. The model developed is grounded on the Analytic Network Process （ANP） methodology, a powerful and flexible tool used in decision making. To select the appropriate packaging system, the model takes into account several factors, including packaging material, cost, safety, performance （e.g., speed and accuracy）, plant reliability and flexibility, which may directly or indirectly affect the suitability of the process. Moreover, the chemical and physical properties of commercial liquid foods, and the packaging technology are included in the model as further variables to be considered for the final choice. We try to answer the following research questions： is a filling system appropriate for a given liquid food？ Is it compatible with a defined packaging technology？ When several filling systems are available for a given liquid food, how can the most appropriate one be selected？ The ease of application of the model and the robustness of the results provided have been tested on a sample of 59 commercial liquid foods, for which the model allowed to identify the most suitable packaging system, providing useful practical guidelines. The model was developed in close collaboration with a panel of experts, operating in the beverage bottling industry, and validated by the same experts; thus, the resulting tool is suitable for use as a decision support system by food and bottling industries.     

Essential cytoplasmic translocation of a cytokine receptor-assembled signaling complex

Cytokine signaling is thought to require assembly of multicomponent signaling complexes at cytoplasmic segments of membrane-embedded receptors, in which receptor-proximal protein kinases are activated. Indeed, CD40, a tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family member, forms a complex containing adaptor molecules TRAF2 and TRAF3, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc13, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins 1 and 2 (c-IAP1/2), IkappaB kinase regulatory subunit IKKgamma (also called NEMO), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase kinase MEKK1 upon ligation. TRAF2, Ubc13, and IKKgamma were required for complex assembly and activation of MEKK1 and MAPK cascades. However, these kinases were not activated unless the multicomponent signaling complex translocated from CD40 to the cytosol upon c-IAP1/2-induced degradation of TRAF3. This two-stage signaling mechanism may apply to other innate immune receptors, accounting for spatial and temporal separation of MAPK and IKK signaling.