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nœud coulissant
La loi relative au devoir de vigilance

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

matières plastiques

English translation:

building blocks

Added to glossary by liz askew
Dec 31, 2020 03:33
3 yrs ago
60 viewers *
French term

matières plastiques

French to English Science Nutrition
"A plusieurs reprises, j'ai entretenu nos lecteurs des matières plastiques avec lesquelles les êtres vivants du règne animal édifient et réparent leurs tissus." Ce sont les protides ou protéines ou corps azotés."

This is from a French article on amino acid content in soy, wheat and corn, published in 1942. This is outside of my field of expertise, and I am stumped by "matières plastiques." It can't actually be "plastic materials," can it?

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 building blocks
5 polymeric substances (biosourced polymers, biopolymers)
5 -1 plastic materials/plastic substances
4 albuminoids
4 -2 plastic substances
3 -3 plastics
References
see
Change log

Jan 2, 2021 11:37: liz askew Created KOG entry

Discussion

Johannes Gleim Jan 2, 2021:
With Althea's discussion entry on Dec. 31, 2020.
liz askew Jan 2, 2021:
Hello Laura,
Nice to read your comments.
Happy New Year to you!
liz askew Jan 2, 2021:
@ Daryo
Happy New Year! Life is too short:)
SafeTex Jan 2, 2021:
@ Daryo What are you talking about???
Liz's suggestion is "building blocks" and is therefore clearly not limited to proteins.
Her references too speak of "Proteins. Carbohydrates. Vitamins. &. Minerals. Water. Fats" and not just proteins
Daryo Jan 1, 2021:
@liz askew you are confusing a sub-class with the whole class.

This text does mention proteins as (an example of) "matières plastiques = materials used to build the body of various animals" but that doesn't mean that animal bodies are made ONLY of proteins, that all and any "matières plastiques" are proteins.

Just two examples to illustrate this: body fat is definitely NOT any kind of protein, and bone contains bound minerals (about 70%). So there you have two materials that are "bâtisseurs ou plastiques" but are not proteins. CQFD.

Ah well - instead of scraping what I remember of anatomy and physiology, there is your own reference saying in effect the the same:

Les substances plastiques sont:
- les protes,
- les glucides,
- les lipides,
- les minux,
- les vitamines,
Laura Friend (asker) Jan 1, 2021:
True, "nos lecteurs" here is "our readers." The tone of the article is somewhat conversational.
liz askew Jan 1, 2021:

Complete Proteins: 10 Sources for Vegans and Vegetariansgreatist.com › health › complete-vegetarian-proteins
The term “complete protein” refers to amino acids, the building blocks of protein. ... by fermenting the beans, but tofu is probably the best-known soy product. ... are combined with grains like wheat, rice, and corn, a complete protein is born.
liz askew Jan 1, 2021:

Les principes alimentaires (les nutriments)technologiepatisserie.blogspot.com › ...
Translate this page
Glucides ou sucres (nutriments énergétiques); Lipides ou matière grasses (nutriments énergétiques); Protides ou protéines (nutriments bâtisseurs ou plastiques) ...
liz askew Jan 1, 2021:
The text says

Ce sont les protides ou protéines ou corps azotés.
Daryo Dec 31, 2020:
Polymers are here a big fat red herring.

You have to go "back to basics".

The key characteristic of something that is "plastic" is that it can be made easily into any shape.

Some common synonyms of plastic are adaptable, ductile, malleable, pliable, and pliant.

The reason why first polymers got named "plastic" was that they could be made in any shape imaginable - far more easier than wood or metal.

The word "plastic" existed ways before first man made polymers.

As in "arts plastiques" / "plastic arts".

So "les matières plastiques" in a living organism are materials/ matter used to give a form / a shape to the body of this organism (as opposed to matter used to produce energy to move the body)

Literally it would be "matter than can be used to create (/ be put in) various shapes".

But "building blocks" makes no sense, unless you want to call individual molecules "building blocks".

More something along the lines of "matières plastiques"="body building matter / materials" - i.e. most literally used to "build the body" of a living organism (not like the "body building" in a gym, obviously ...)

As for "nos lecteurs" it's simply "our readers / our audience".
Althea Draper Dec 31, 2020:
Just read Liz's references. They looks good. I've found some more references on nutrition that back this up and equates "plastique" with "bâtisseur" and "constructeur" when talking about the roles of different food groups.
https://sa.maxime-cruzel.fr/sa_mc_bp_bl/co/besoins_nutrition...
https://www.slideshare.net/carlosalbertosolisherrera/les-gro...
Nikki Scott-Despaigne Dec 31, 2020:
Meaning of "lecteurs"? I'm uncertain of how the term "lecteurs" is being used here.
As for "plastic" and so on, note that the source term is "matières" and not "matériaux" so the intention may be closer to "matter".

Otherwise, going back to my biology studies, then maybe Althea has a good take on this one.
Althea Draper Dec 31, 2020:
Monomers are smaller chemical building blocks that, when 'joined together', form polymers. For example, ethylene is the monomer that forms the plastic, polyethylene (polythene). Most plastics contain organic polymers. Amino acids are the monomers that make up the polymers that are called proteins. Similarly, nucleic acids (which make RNA and DNA) are polymers of nucleotides. My suspicions would be that 'matières plastiques' relates to these polymers but I don't know why you wouldn't use 'polymères'.
Carol Gullidge Dec 31, 2020:
I like the sound of building blocks as well ... just not totally sure how scientific it is; although it is describing what the animal kingdom uses to "build and repair" our tissues, so why not?
Bokani Hart Dec 31, 2020:
@philgoddard I like the sound of building blocks
Carol Gullidge Dec 31, 2020:
Plastic in this context I imagine this is relates to the word plasticity (malleability) rather than anything synthetic or man-made, which I don’t believe is the original meaning of the word. The text goes on to define these particular plastic materials. But I’m not a scientist and don’t know how to express this without confusing it with the plastic matter that is currently destroying our environment!
philgoddard Dec 31, 2020:
Could it be metaphorical, something like "cement" or "building blocks"?

Proposed translations

+4
10 hrs
Selected

building blocks

https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/nutraceutical/about/nutrition/sp...

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Note added at 11 hrs (2020-12-31 14:33:51 GMT)
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Building Blocks of Nutrition - Colorado Foundation for ...www.growingyourfuture.com › sites › default › files
PDF
Building Blocks of. Nutrition. Proteins. Carbohydrates. Vitamins. &. Minerals. Water. Fats ... Fat is the major source of stored energy for the body. Some foods ...

Minerals are essential nutrients for the human body.www.foodnutritiontable.com › whatiswhat › minerals
They are building blocks of our skeleton, cells and tissues, as well as important components of enzymes, vitamins and hormones. When dissolved in a watery ...

Nutrition | Building Blocks Vitaminswww.bbvitamins.com › nutrition
Building Blocks Vitamins-Essential Bariatric Vitamins has developed a simple daily bariatric supplement regime to help you achieve and maintain a healthy balance of the essential vitamins and minerals that “Help Build a Healthier You.” Based on the type of surgery you had, you can quickly identify which daily bariatric ...

The Body's Need for Vitamins and Minerals in the Diet

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2020-12-31 14:38:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------


II. Les besoins nutritionnels [Cours de Sciences appliquées ...sa.maxime-cruzel.fr › sa_cap › besoi...
Translate this page
On distingue les besoins énergétiques, plastiques, fonctionnels. ... les lipides et les protides apportent de l'énergie (constituants alimentaires énergétiques).

I. Les besoins nutritionnels [BP/MC BL Cours]sa.maxime-cruzel.fr › sa_mc_bp_bl
Translate this page
Pour vivre, les cellules de l'organisme ont trois types de besoins : Les besoins énergétiques. **** Les besoins plastiques (ou bâtisseurs)****. Les besoins fonctionnels ..

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2020-12-31 14:39:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

OR

building materials



Nutrients, Energy, and Building Materials - Advanced | CK-12 ...www.ck12.org › book › section
11 Dec 2015 — The body needs these nutrients for three basic purposes: energy, building materials, and ... The main function of simple carbohydrates is to provide the body with energy. ... Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.


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Note added at 11 hrs (2020-12-31 14:42:46 GMT)
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I would go for

building blocks
Note from asker:
Thanks again, Liz. Your examples are tremendous.
Peer comment(s):
agree Michele Fauble : Subject matter understanding and context support this answer, whereas a narrow dictionary definition of “plastiques” can lead one astray.
3 hrs
Thank you for your support
agree philgoddard : I think this is supported by your reference, "besoins plastiques ou bâtisseurs".
5 hrs
Thank you for your support. It is always best to research terms.
disagree Daryo : just because what we TODAY call "plastics" are in fact polymers - made by repeating simple building blocks (monomers) doesn't mean that the meaning of "plastic" [that predates "polymers" few centuries!] has ANYTHING to do with building blocs
8 hrs
I am afraid you don't understand the context at all.
agree SafeTex : I now think that this answer is almost certainly the right one. See "biomolecules" as buidlig blocks on reputable medical websites.
14 hrs
Thank you for your support.
agree Kim Metzger
1 day 6 hrs
Thank you!
agree Yvonne Gallagher
1 day 9 hrs
Thank you!
neutral Johannes Gleim : Vitamins and Minerals are 'building blocks' in this context, but monomers like amino acids.
2 days 2 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, Liz. This is just what was needed. It sounds great to me, and my client called it a "very nice solution." "Building blocks" had actually come to mind, but I had not ventured to use it because it is more metaphorical, as Phil pointed out. You encouraged me to take the leap. Thank you also to all who commented and made other suggestions. This turned out to be a lively and productive discussion! I appreciate your involvement and support. Happy New Year!"
-1
2 hrs

plastic materials/plastic substances

Peer comment(s):
agree Carol Gullidge : plastic materials, but in the original scientific sense, before modern plastics were invented
3 hrs
disagree liz askew : I don't think "plastic" is suitable here.
8 hrs
neutral Daryo : you are on the right track, but I'm not sure that it's the usual wording used in biology
17 hrs
agree Nathalie Beaudelot
1 day 5 hrs
disagree Johannes Gleim : I don't think "plastic" is suitable here, too.
1 day 14 hrs
disagree Yvonne Gallagher : does not fit the context
1 day 17 hrs
Something went wrong...
-3
4 hrs

plastics

I guess you may use the term ''plastics'' where it refers to the end substance rather than its constituents. This may be handy as well if it enables you to refer to both ''plastics'', its constituents and/or alternative terms distinctively.
Example sentence:

''Plastics can help protect our food and prevent contamination from bacteria and chemicals''.

Reference:

http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Pl-Pr/Plastics.html

http://https://foodandnutrition.org/blogs/student-scoop/nutrition-sustainability-impacts-plastics-food-packaging-on-environment/

Peer comment(s):
disagree liz askew : This has nothing to do with "plastics"
6 hrs
disagree Daryo : nothing to do with what come to be called nowadays "plastics".
15 hrs
disagree Yvonne Gallagher : this does not fit the context
1 day 16 hrs
Something went wrong...
-2
11 hrs

plastic substances

Peer comment(s):
disagree liz askew : These "matieres plastiques" are proteins, as it says in the text
21 hrs
disagree Yvonne Gallagher : does not fit the context
1 day 9 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr

albuminoids

See reference.

"Plastiques" in this context is just a synonym for "albuminoïdes" (keratin, gelatin and collagen as per second reference)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 1 hr (2021-01-01 04:40:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think Liz's answer is probably right in this context as we have "...édifient et réparent leurs tissus."
But I'll leave my answer up as I think its reference does give an alternative interpretation in a similar context
Reference:

https://books.google.fr/books?id=UWiOgPKsTt4C&pg=PA32&dq=mati%C3%A8res+plastiques+alimentaire&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwil8pTntPftAhUWAGMBHWopAc

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/albuminoid

Peer comment(s):
agree Carol Gullidge : you might be on to something; sadly I don't have the time to research the difference between albumin and albuminoids, so this is only a 75% Agree!
5 hrs
thanks
neutral philgoddard : I think if they meant this, they'd say "albuminoïdes".
14 hrs
disagree Daryo : you are going too much into specifics - just an extreme example: are teeth made of "albuminoids"?
19 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 day 17 hrs
French term (edited): matières plastiques (substances plastiques)

polymeric substances (biosourced polymers, biopolymers)

Une matière plastique ou en langage courant un plastique, est un mélange contenant une matière de base (un polymère) qui est susceptible d'être moulé, façonné, en général à chaud et sous pression, afin de conduire à un semi-produit ou à un objet.
:
Bioplastiques
Le marché des polymères biosourcés [polymères pour lesquels une partie des matières premières provient de ressources renouvelables (surtout, le maïs, le blé, l'eucalyptus et la pomme de terre)] a connu une expansion importante depuis une dizaine d'années. Les bioplastiques commercialisés contiennent entre 30 et 100 % de ressources renouvelables.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matière_plastique

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) are natural polymers of high molecular weight secreted by microorganisms into their environment.[1] EPSs establish the functional and structural integrity of biofilms, and are considered the fundamental component that determines the physiochemical properties of a biofilm.[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extracellular_polymeric_substa...

2. Les substances plastiques
Ces substances peuvent être considérées comme des matériaux de construction. En effet, après leur transformation naturelle, elles seront utilisé par notre organisme pour la formation de nouvelles cellules pendant la croissance, en remplacement de celles qui sont usé, et pour la fabrication de produits divers, indispensables au bon fonctionnement de notre organisme, tels que les enzymes, les hormones, le mucus, le sème, etc. C'est le "énerplastique" des aliments. Les besoins en substances plastiques sont appelées "besoins plastiques".
http://www.nzdl.org/gsdlmod?e=d-00000-00---off-0fnl2.2--00-0...

Conclusion: As the term is used in biologic context, the term « substances plastiques » is better appropriated than « matiéres plastiques »

Ces cellules sont souvent enrobées dans une matrice amorphe de substances polymères extra-cellulaires, les protégeant des influences chimiques défavorables [31, 32, 47, 52, 53].
La figure 4 montre un épais biofilm trouvé la surface d'un tuyau en cuivre partie constitutive d'un système général de distribution hospitalier des désinfectants [31].
:
These cells are often embedded in an amorphous matrix of slimy extra-cellular polymeric substances protecting them from unfavourable chemical influences [31, 32, 47, 52, 53].
Fig. 4 shows a thick biofilm found on the inner surface of a copper tube which was part of an extended hospital distribution system for disinfectants [31].
https://vdocuments.mx/la-prevention-dinfections-en-endoscopi...

Le marché des polymères biosourcés [polymères pour lesquels une partie des matières premières provient de ressources renouvelables (surtout, le maïs, le blé, l'eucalyptus et la pomme de terre)] a connu une expansion importante depuis une dizaine d'années. Les bioplastiques commercialisés contiennent entre 30 et 100 % de ressources renouvelables. L'utilisation de biomasse renouvelable atténue le réchauffement climatique par réduction d'émission de gaz à effet de serre (CO2).

Différentes substances plastiques et synthétiques ont été soumises une étude in vivo au sujet de la possibilité de les utiliser comme substances de plombage. Parmi les cinq substances employées, la cellulose et le "néoprène" semblèrent causer une inflammation et des réactions toxiques, elles furent vite éliminées.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/835a/4255447f9d944082507d3b...

Le lancement de nouvelles applications issues de la R&D du Groupe en particulier dans les énergies renouvelables (gamme photovoltaïque, polymères biosourcés) et les développements en Asie (H
coatex.com
the launch of new products from the Group's R&D, in particular in renewable energies (photovoltaic range, biosourced polymers, etc.) and developments in Asia (H
coatex.com

technologie nécessaire» au «développement», à la «production» ou à l'«utilisation» de «biopolymères » ou de cultures de cellules spécifiques visés au point ML7.h
eur-lex.europa.eu
Technology' 'required' for the 'development', 'production' or 'use' of 'biopolymers' or cultures of specific cells controlled by ML7.h.
eur-lex.europa.eu
https://www.linguee.fr/francais-anglais/search?source=auto&q...

context translation:
"On several occasions I have told our readers about the polymeric substances (biosourced polymers, biopolymers) with which living beings in the animal realm build and repair their tissues." These are the proteins or proteins or nitrogenous bodies."
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

10 hrs
Reference:

see

Les protides - Caducée.net
www.caducee.net › Fiches-techniques

1.
Translate this page
Le point complet sur les protides : . ... Les proteines sont un assemblage complexe et ordonné d'acides aminés. ... La synthèse des protéines par notre organisme produisant des déchets azotés, il est indispensable de ... Rôle des protides dans le corps humain. Ils jouent un rôle essentiellement plastique et énergétique.
Missing: matières ‎| Must include: matières
Les lipides ont un rôle important, puisqu'elles sont le principal constituant des membranes de nos cellules (rôle plastique). De plus, les lipides fournissent de l'énergie à notre corps et, contrairement aux glucides, peuvent être stockées dans notre corps (rôle fonctionnel).
http://www.nzdl.org/gsdlmod?e=d-00000-00---off-0fnl2.2--00-0...
1. Les substances énergétiques
Dans notre organisme elles sont duites par l'intermaire de l'oxyg (oxydation). Cette destruction fournit l'rgie nssaire pour faire fonctionner nos organes et pour travailler. C'est le "rrgque" des aliments. Les besoins en substances rgques sont appel "besoins rgques" Les substances rgques sont:
- les glucides,
- les lipides,
- les protes.

2. Les substances plastiques
Ces substances peuvent e consides comme des mataux de construction. En effet, aprleur transformation ntuelle, elles seront utilis par notre organisme pour la formation de nouvelles cellules pendant la croissance, en remplacement de celles qui sont us, et pour la fabrication de produits divers, indispensables au bon fonctionnement de notre organisme, tels que les enzymes, les hormones, le mucus, le sm, etc. C'est le "rplastique" des aliments. Les besoins en substances plastiques sont appel "besoins plastiques".
Les substances plastiques sont:
- les protes,
- les glucides,
- les lipides,
- les minux,
- les vitamines,
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree Althea Draper : The roles of different food groups include the 'plastiques' and other references say that the 'plastique' group can also be called "bâtisseur" or "constructeur" group
1 hr
agree Michele Fauble
3 hrs
agree Daryo : especially the part: Les substances plastiques sont: - les protes, - les glucides, - les lipides, - les minux, - les vitamines,
1 day 7 hrs
Something went wrong...
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