Physicochemical Properties of Lipase-Catalyzed Interesterified Fat Containing α-Linolenic Acid

Two substrate blends (8:6:6 and 6:6:9, by weight) of anhydrous butterfat (ABF), palm stearin (PS), and flaxseed oil (FSO) were interesterified by immobilized lipases. The reaction was carried out in the absence of solvent at 60 °C for 24 h in a 1-L tank stirred-batch type reactor. In terms of equivalent carbon number (ECN) of triacylglycerol (TAG), the areas of ECN 36-38 (from FSO) and ECN 48-50 (from PS) decreased during the interesterification while ECN 42–46 increased with increasing reaction time. As interesterification time increased, the decreased enthalpy (?H), peak temperature (T _P) and transition range were observed. After short path distillation, interesterified fat (IF) was produced in which α-linolenic acid contents (ALn, mol%) of the 8:6:6 and 6:6:9 IF were 15.7 and 21.7%, respectively. Tocopherol, cholesterol and phytosterol contents in each IF were significantly reduced after short path distillation. In this study, hardness of 6:6:9 IF and 8:6:6 IF were 217 and 800 g/cm², respectively. After interesterification, short spacing at 4.6 Å disappeared or weakened, indicating that the predominant polymorphic form had changed from the β form to the desirable crystalline structure of the β′ form.     

Probucol Suppresses Enterocytic Accumulation of Amyloid-β Induced by Saturated Fat and Cholesterol Feeding

Amyloid-β (Aβ) is secreted from lipogenic organs such as intestine and liver as an apolipoprotein of nascent triacylglycerol rich lipoproteins. Chronically elevated plasma Aβ may compromise cerebrovascular integrity and exacerbate amyloidosis—a hallmark feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Probucol is a hypocholesterolemic agent that reduces amyloid burden in transgenic amyloid mice, but the mechanisms for this effect are presently unclear. In this study, the effect of Probucol on intestinal lipoprotein-Aβ homeostasis was explored. Wild-type mice were fed a control low-fat diet and enterocytic Aβ was stimulated by high-fat (HF) diet enriched in 10% (w/w) saturated fat and 1% (w/w) cholesterol for the duration of 1 month. Mice treated with Probucol had the drug incorporated into the chow at 1% (w/w). Quantitative immunofluorescence was utilised to determine intestinal apolipoprotein B (apo B) and Aβ abundance. We found apo B in both the perinuclear region of the enterocytes and the lacteals in all groups. However, HF feeding and Probucol treatment increased secretion of apo B into the lacteals without any change in net villi abundance. On the other hand, HF-induced enterocytic perinuclear Aβ was significantly attenuated by Probucol. No significant changes in Aβ were observed within the lacteals. The findings of this study support the notion that Probucol suppresses dietary fat induced stimulation of Aβ biosynthesis and attenuate availability of apo B lipoprotein-Aβ for secretion.     

A Comparison of the Thermo-Physical Behavior of Engkabang (Shorea macrophylla) Seed Fat–Canola Oil Blends and Lard

A study was carried out to compare the thermo-physical behaviors of canola–Engkabang fat blends with those of lard (LD). Four blends were prepared by mixing canola oil with Engkabang fat (CaO/EF) in different ratios: EF-1, 75:25; EF-2, 70:30; EF-3, 65:35; EF-4, 60:40. The fat blends and LD were compared in terms of their basic physicochemical parameters, fatty acid and triacylglycerol (TAG) compositions, melting, solidification, hardness, and polymorphic properties. The slip melting points (SMP) of the fat blends were found to range from 24.8 to 31.2 °C; EF-2 was found to display an SMP value closer to that of LD. With respect to the melting curve of CaO, the melting curves of all fat blends were found to display an additional high-melting thermal transition in the temperature region above 10 °C. The peak maximum of the high-melting thermal transition of EF-3 was the closest to that of LD. The solid fat content (SFC) value of EF-3 was equal to that of LD at 25 °C, whereas the SFC values of EF-2 and LD were similar at 30 to 40 °C. According to textural analysis, EF-2 was found to display a hardness value somewhat closer to that of LD. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that LD and fat blends EF-1, EF-2, and EF-3 display β polymorphic forms.     

Definitions of Normal Liver Fat and the Association of Insulin Sensitivity with Acquired and Genetic NAFLD—A Systematic Review

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) covers a spectrum of disease ranging from simple steatosis (NAFL) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis. “Obese/Metabolic NAFLD” is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance and therefore predisposes to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. NAFLD can also be caused by common genetic variants, the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) or the transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2). Since NAFL, irrespective of its cause, can progress to NASH and liver fibrosis, its definition is of interest. We reviewed the literature to identify data on definition of normal liver fat using liver histology and different imaging tools, and analyzed whether NAFLD caused by the gene variants is associated with insulin resistance. Histologically, normal liver fat content in liver biopsies is most commonly defined as macroscopic steatosis in less than 5% of hepatocytes. In the population-based Dallas Heart Study, the upper 95th percentile of liver fat measured by proton magnetic spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) in healthy subjects was 5.6%, which corresponds to approximately 15% histological liver fat. When measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based techniques such as the proton density fat fraction (PDFF), 5% macroscopic steatosis corresponds to a PDFF of 6% to 6.4%. In contrast to “Obese/metabolic NAFLD”, NAFLD caused by genetic variants is not associated with insulin resistance. This implies that NAFLD is heterogeneous and that “Obese/Metabolic NAFLD” but not NAFLD due to the PNPLA3 or TM6SF2 genetic variants predisposes to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.     

Non-conjugated cis/trans 18:2 in Beef Fat are Mainly Δ-9 Desaturation Products of trans-18:1 Isomers

Human liver cells (HepG2) were cultured with individual trans (t) 18:1 including t6‐, t12‐, t13‐, t14‐, t15‐ and t16‐18:1, and retention times of their Δ‐9 desaturation products were determined using 100‐m biscyanopropyl‐polysiloxane and SLB‐IL111 columns. Corresponding peaks were found in beef adipose tissues known to have different delta‐9 desaturase activities. Further lines of evidence indicating the presence of Δ‐9 desaturation products of t‐18:1 isomers in beef fat were developed by analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) fractionated using Ag⁺‐TLC, and by GC/MS. Some of the Δ‐9 desaturation products of t‐18:1 have been previously identified in ruminant fat (c9, t12‐ and c9, t13‐18:2). Some of the Δ‐9 desaturation products of t‐18:1 (c9, t14‐ and c9, t15‐18:2) have been previously tentatively identified as different fatty acids, and for the first time we provide evidence of the presence of c9, t16‐18:2, and where t6, c9‐18:2 may elute during analysis of FAME from beef fat.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-Cyclodextrin on <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis> Fats,CLA, PUFA and Phospholipids of Milk Fat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on trans C18:1 fatty acid isomers, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and phospholipids in pasteurized milk. The individual trans C18:1 isomers were not significantly affected by the β-CD. trans-11 C18:1 (vaccenic acid) was found to be the major isomer (1.31 ± 0.12%) followed by trans-15 C18:1 (0.35 ± 0.06%). Individual trans linoleic acids did not show differences from the effect of β-CD, representing the high amount of the isomer trans-11 cis-15 C18:2 (0.433 ± 0.087%). The main CLA isomer cis-9 trans-11 C18:2 (rumenic acid) did not show differences between the control milk (0.672 ± 0.080%) and β-CD milk (0.663 ± 0.074%). PUFA and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids were not also significant by the effect of β-CD. Total phospholipids were not significantly affected by effect of the β-CD (0.023 ± 0.001% vs. 0.022 ± 0.001%). β-CD is a effective oligosaccharide for cholesterol removal from pasteurized milk and does not significantly affect the lipid components of the milk fat.     

Rosiglitazone,a PPAR-γ Agonist,Fails to Attenuate CLA-Induced Milk Fat Depression and Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Lactating Mice

Our objective was to investigate the combination of rosiglitazone (ROSI) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on mammary and hepatic lipogenesis in lactating C57Bl/6 J mice. Twenty-four lactating mice were randomly assigned to one of four treatments applied from postpartum day 6 to day 10. Treatments included: (1) control diet, (2) control plus 1.5 % dietary CLA (CLA) substituted for soybean oil, (3) control plus daily intra-peritoneal (IP) rosiglitazone injections (10 mg/kg body weight) (ROSI), and (4) CLA plus ROSI (CLA-ROSI). Dam food intake and milk fat concentration were depressed with CLA. However, no effects were observed with ROSI. The CLA-induced milk fat depression was due to reduced expression for mammary lipogenic genes involved in de-novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis, FA uptake and desaturation, and triacyglycerol synthesis. Liver weight (g/100 g body weight) was increased by CLA due to an increase in lipid accumulation triggering a compensatory reduction in mRNA abundance of hepatic lipogenic enzymes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase I and stearoyl-CoA desaturase I. On the contrary, no effects were observed with ROSI on hepatic and mammary lipogenic gene and enzyme expression. Overall, feeding CLA to lactating mice induced milk fat depression and increased hepatic lipid accumulation, probably due to the presence of trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomer, while ROSI failed to significantly attenuate both hepatic steatosis and reduction in milk fat content.     

Synthesis of Unsaturated Polyester Resin—Effect of Sequence of Addition of Reactants

Abstract

Unsaturated polyesters were synthesized in the laboratory by the condensation of maleic anhydride and phthalic anhydride with propylene glycol. The condensate obtained was mixed with styrene monomer to get an unsaturated polyester resin formulation. The properties of the polyester resin synthesized were found to be affected by the synthesis parameters. In this study, the effect of sequence of addition of reactants on the properties of resin was investigated. Properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break, toughness, impact strength, surface hardness, abrasion resistance, and water absorption were evaluated after curing the resin. Propylene glycol necessary for esterification of both the anhydride fractions was initially reacted with phthalic anhydride. Later, the esterification was completed by reaction with maleic anhydride. This sequence of addition of reactants was found to give the best mechanical properties among all possible methods of reactant addition. Moreover, it was found that this sequence of addition of reactants gives the shortest reaction time.     

Sida rhomboidea. Roxb Leaf Extract Down-Regulates Expression of PPARγ2 and Leptin Genes in High Fat Diet Fed C57BL/6J Mice and Retards in Vitro 3T3L1 Pre-Adipocyte Differentiation

Sida rhomboidea. Roxb leaf extract (SRLE) is being used by the populace of North-East India to alleviate symptoms of diabetes and obesity. We have previously reported its hypolipidemic and anti-diabetic properties. In this study, we report the effect of SRLE on (i) in vivo modulation of genes controlling high fat diet (HFD) induced obesity and (ii) in vitro 3T3L1 pre-adipocyte differentiation and leptin release. Supplementation with SRLE significantly prevented HFD induced increment in bodyweight, plasma lipids and leptin, visceral adiposity and adipocyte hypertrophy. Also, SRLE supplementation reduced food intake, down regulated PPARγ2, SREBP1c, FAS and LEP expressions and up-regulated CPT-1 in epididymal adipose tissue compared to obese mice. In vitro adipogenesis of 3T3L1 pre-adipocytes was significantly retarded in the presence of SRLE extract. Also decreased triglyceride accumulation, leptin release and glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate dehydrogenase activity along with higher glycerol release without significant alteration of viability of 3T3L1 pre-adipocytes, was recorded. Our findings suggest that prevention of HFD induced visceral adiposity is primarily by down regulation of PPARγ2 and leptin gene expression coupled with attenuation of food intake in C57BL/6J mice. SRLE induced prevention of pre-adipocytes differentiation, and leptin release further substantiated these findings and scientifically validates the potential application of SRLE as a therapeutic agent against obesity.     

Relationship Between Circulating Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Ethanolamide Levels After a Single 2-h Dietary Fat Feeding in Male Sprague–Dawley Rats

Previous studies show that long term variations in dietary fat consumption impact circulating fatty acid ethanolamide (FAE) concentrations, however, few studies have investigated short term effects of dietary fat feeding on FAE levels. The trial’s objective was to explore the effect of acute feeding of varying amounts of dietary n-9 and n-3 fatty acids on plasma and organ levels of FAE. Sixty-four rats were assigned to four groups fed meals containing 40% of energy as either safflower oil (control), canola oil (CO), or DHA rich oil (DRO), each consumed as a bolus within a 2-h window. Plasma and tissue FAE levels were measured at 3, 6, 12 and 24 h following the bolus. FAE profiles over time exhibited patterns that were specific both to FAE and to dietary fat type provided. At 3 h, plasma and liver OEA levels were higher (p < 0.05) in the 95% CO:5% DRO compared with other groups. At 12 h, plasma PEA levels were lower (p < 0.05) in the 50% CO:50% DRO group compared to the 95% CO group. Plasma DEA levels showed an increase (p < 0.05) only after 24 h of feeding. All four dietary groups manifested increased DEA levels in a dose-dependent manner. Data demonstrate that a single meal feeding of diets with different ratios of fat types impacts tissue levels of FAE within a short time frame, which could further influence the physiological roles of FAE on appetite regulation and energy expenditure.     

Mechanism of the Initial Stage of Thermal Decomposition of Nitroguanidine

A theoretical and experimental study of the thermal decomposition of nitroguanidine(NQ) has been carried out. Various thermolysis channels were studied by quantum chemistry methods at the CCSD(or DLPNO-CCSD) level using the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. It is shown that the lowest activation enthalpies(170—180kJ/mol) are characteristic of the reactions of NO₂ abstraction from the initial NQ and the reaction channel with the transfer of oxygen from the nitro group to carbon in the limiting st...     

The impact of the discovery of the polymerization of the α-olefins on the development of the stereospecific polymerization of vinyl monomers

After a short survey of the first indications on the existence of stereoregularity in the main chains of the vinyl polymers, the first syntheses of stereoregular poly(vinylethers) and polystyrene are briefly summarized. The difficulties encountered in the early investigations of the propylene polymerization by the CoO/MoO₃/Al₂O₃ and CrO₃/SiO₂/Al₂O₃ catalysts are considered and the isolation and identification of a crystalline component in the mixture of diastereomeric macromolecules thus obtained, are discussed. The results obtained by different research groups, independently investigating the stereospecific polymerization of vinyl monomers, are compared and finally an attempt is made to explore the origin of the very rapid progress made in this field by Natta and coworkers in connection with their discovery of the stereospecific polymerization of α-olefins with the ‘Ziegler-Natta catalysts’.     

Effect of Addition of Al and Mg on properties of Periclase-Spinel-Carbon Brick

Periclase-spinel-carbon brick was made from sintered spinel,fused magnesia and flake graphite as principal raw materials,the influence of Mg/Al(w/w) ratio and the addition of Al,Mg in the matrix of periclas-spinel-carbon brikc on the carbonization and thermal expansion coeffi-cient and the weight los of the brick after heating at 1500℃ in a flowing stream of dry N2for 1.5 h have been studied.The results show that to control Mg/Al(w/w) ration and to add both Al and Mg appropriately can obvi-ously improve the properties of the bricks.     

Microstructure of Matrix of High technology Castable

Microstructures of matrixes of a series of high technology castables have been analyzed.In these low cement ,ultra-low cement and non-cement castable matrixes,which were sintered respectively at 1350℃ and 1500℃， silica ulrtafine and α-Al2O3 ultrafine were added ,The results show that the non-cement castable had the best properties at high temerature;adding α-Al2O3 ultrafine was helpful to calcium-feldspar deveoping and growing;and highly purified silica ultrafine stiumulated mullite crystal developing while the common one stimulated its growing.     

Identification of the pathway of α-oxidation of cerebronic acid in peroxisomes

Cerebronic acid (2-hydroxytetracosanoic acid), an α-hydroxy very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) and a component of cerebrosides and sulfatides, is unique to nervous tissues. Studies were carried out to identify the pathway and the subcellular site involved in the oxidation of cerebronic acid. The results from these studies revealed that cerebronic acid was catabolized by α-oxidation to CO₂ and tricosanoic acid (23:0). Studies with subcellular fractions indicated that cerebronic acid was α-oxidized in fractions having particulate bound catalase and enzyme systems for the β-oxidation of VLCFA (e.g., lignoceric acid), suggesting peroxisomes as the subcellular organelle responsible for α-oxidation of cerebronic acid. Etomoxir, an inhibitor of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, had no effect on cerebronic acid α-oxidation. Further, cerebronic acid oxidation was found to be dependent on the presence of NAD⁺ but not FAD, NADPH, ATP, Mg²⁺, or CoASH. Intraorganellar localization studies indicated that the enzyme system for the α-oxidation of cerebronic acid was associated with the peroxisomal limiting membranes. Studies on cultured fibroblasts from normal subjects and patients with peroxisomal disorders indicated an impairment of α-oxidation of cerebronic acid in cell lines that lack peroxisomes [e.g., Zellweger syndrome (ZS)]. On the other hand, α-oxidation of cerebronic acid was found to be normal in cell lines from X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, adult Refsum disease, and rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata. Our results clearly demonstrate that α-oxidation of α-hydroxy VLCFA (cerebronic acid) is a peroxisomal function and that this oxidation is impaired in ZS. Furthermore, this α-oxidation enzyme system is distinct from the one for the α-oxidation of β-carbon branched-chain fatty acids (e.g., phytanic acid).     

Effect of spatial confinement on the development of β phase of polypropylene

The focus of this study was the effect of spatial confinement on the development of nucleating agent-induced β phase polypropylene (PP) in the dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers (TPVs) based on dynamically vulcanized PP/ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) blend. The melting behaviors, crystalline structures and the morphologies of the blends were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the EPDM phase undergoes a series of changes from the dispersed phase to a continuous one, and again to the dispersed phase with increased content of curing agent, and the PP component always shows itself in a continuous phase. In this process, with the content of the nucleating agent unchanged, the content of β phase PP in the blends initially increases a little and then decreases with increasing PF (Phenolic resin) content. We believe spatial confinement provides a good explanation for the development of β phase PP.     

Prediction of Swelling Behavior of AT-Isopropylacrylamide Hydrogels in Aqueous Solution of Sodium Chloride

In this paper, a model is presented to correlate and predict the swelling behavior of hydrogels in aqueous solutions of electrolytes. The model is a combination of VERS-model, "phantom network" theory and "free-volume" contribution. The VERS-model is used to calculate Gibbs excess energy; "phantom network" theory to describe the elastic properties of polymer network, and "free-volume" contribution to account for additional difference in the size of the species. To test the model, a series of N-isopropylacrylamide based hydrogels are synthesized by free radical polymerization in oxygen-free, deionized water at 25℃ under nitrogen atmosphere. Then, the degree of swelling of all investigated gels as well as the partition of the solute between the gel phase and the surrounding coexisting liquid phase are measured in aqueous solution of sodium chloride. The model test demonstrates that the swelling behavior correlated and predicted by the model agrees with the experimental data within the experimental uncert