Chemical‐Free Approach for Z‐Isomerization of Lycopene in Tomato Powder: Hot Air and Superheated Steam Heating above the Melting Point of Lycopene

Z‐isomers of lycopene exhibit higher bioavailability and antioxidant capacity than those of the all‐E‐isomer. Therefore, it is important to develop an efficient and environmentally friendly procedure for Z‐isomerization. The current methods for Z‐isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene use toxic chemicals such as organic solvents and catalysts. This study is aimed to develop a chemical‐free method for Z‐isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene in tomato powder by hot air and superheated steam heating. The Z‐isomerization reaction is promoted by heating above the melting point of lycopene. When heated with superheated steam, the thermal decomposition of lycopene is suppressed compared to that when heated with hot air. When tomato powder is heated at 240 °C for 5 min by superheated steam, the total Z‐isomer content and remaining lycopene are 69.0% and 90.7%, respectively, while with hot air heating, the total Z‐isomer content and remaining lycopene are 69.9% and 68.0%, respectively. These results indicate that the thermal Z‐isomerization of lycopene occurs in the molten state and heating in a low oxygen atmosphere suppresses the thermal decomposition of lycopene. Practical Applications: Tomato powder rich in lycopene Z‐isomers is an important ingredient for the food and animal feed industries. Since Z‐isomers of lycopene are more soluble in solvents including ethanol which is a low‐toxicity and environmentally friendly solvent, the efficiency of lycopene extraction with ethanol can be improved by using the Z‐isomer‐rich tomato powder as a raw material. The obtained Z‐isomer‐rich extract has a high added value because the Z‐isomers have higher bioavailability and antioxidant capacity than those of the all‐E‐isomer. In addition, since lycopene Z‐isomers exhibit higher accumulation efficiency and better color improvement in hen egg yolks than those of the all‐E‐isomer, Z‐isomer‐rich tomato powder is an effective animal feed.     

High-resolution multi-isotope imaging mass spectrometry enables visualisation of stem cell division and metabolism

MIMS visualises metabolism: A recent publication by Steinhauser and co-workers presents a novel application of multi-isotope mass spectrometry (MIMS) to visualise physiological metabolism in live mammalian organisms, and validate the "immortal strand hypothesis" of asymmetric chromosomal division of stem cells in the small intestine.     

Mechanical properties of B4C–CrB2 binary eutectic composites prepared by arc-melting

B₄C–CrB₂ composites were prepared by arc-melting using B₄C and CrB₂ powders as raw materials. The eutectic composition of B₄C–CrB₂ system was 30B₄C–70CrB₂ (mol%) with a labyrinth-like irregularly layered eutectic microstructure, composed of B₄C phase about 1–2 μm in thickness dispersing in CrB₂ matrix, much smaller than raw powders. The interface of the eutectic composite was well bonded, and there were edge dislocations at the interface to alleviate the interface mismatch. The eutectic temperature of B₄C–CrB₂ composites was approximately 2200 K. At the eutectic composition, the B₄C–CrB₂ composites showed the maximum Vickers hardness (24.6 GPa) and fracture toughness (4.3 MPa m^1/2) at room temperature.     

The effect of the N-linked glycans on structural features and physicochemical functions of soybean β-conglycinin homotrimers

β-Conglycinin is a trimeric protein consisting of three subunits, α,α′,and β, which are N-glycosylated. The α and α′ subunits contain extension regions in addition to core regions common to all subunits. We purified homogeneous trimers consisting of only α, α′, or β from mutant soybean cultivars containing β-conglycinin lacking one or two subunits: α homotrimers from an α′-lacking mutant, α′ homotrimers from an α-lacking mutant, and β homotrimers from an α-and α′-lacking mutant. Structural features and physicochemical functions of the three homotrimers were examined and compared with those of recombinant homotrimers having no N-linked glycans. The native homotrimers have secondary structures very similar to those of the recombinant ones. In analogy with the recombinant homotrimers, the native ones exhibit different thermal stabilities from one another (β>α′>α), and the native α and α′ homotrimers exhibit better solubility, emulsifying ability, and heat-induced association than the native β homotrimer. Further, the N-linked glycans contribute to solubilities of the three subunits at low ionic strength (μ=0.08) and to the emulsifying ability of the native β homotrimer. N-Linked glycans also prevent heat-induced associations of the native α and α′ homotrimers but do not contribute to the secondary structure and the thermal stability of β-conglycinin.     

Potential bile acid metabolites. 24. An efficient synthesis of carboxyl-linked glucosides and their chemical properties

A facile and efficient synthesis of the carboxyl-linked glucosides of bile acids is described. Direct esterification of unprotected bile acids with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-d-glucopyranose in pyridine in the presence of 2-chloro-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene as a coupling agent afforded a mixture of the α- and β-anomers (ca. 1∶3) of the 1-O-acyl-d-glucoside benzyl ethers of bile acids, which was separated effectively on a C₁₈ reversedphase chromatography column (isolated yields of α- and β-anomers are 4–9% and 12–19%, respectively). Subsequent hydrogenolysis of the α- and β-acyl glucoside benzyl ethers on a 10% Pd−C catalyst in acetic acid/methanol/EtOAc (1∶2∶2, by vol) at 35°C under atmospheric pressure gave the corresponding free esters in good yields (79–89%). Chemical specificities such as facile hydrolysis and transesterification of the acyl glucosides in various solvents were also discussed.     

Ethylene carbonate-based organic electrolytes for electric double layer capacitors

A new electrolytic solution based on a mixed solvent of ethylene carbonate (EC) with sulfolane (SL) or -butyrolactone (-BL) has been examined as an electric double layer capacitor. Fundamental properties, such as electrolytic conductivity, viscosity, and thermal stability, were measured for solutions containing quaternary alkylammonium salts as the supporting electrolyte. Maximum conductivities were obtained for the solutions with mixed solvent of 20–40 mol % EC in the EC+-BL system: 1.2–1.3×10^–2S cm^–1 for EC+-BL dissolving 0.5 M Et₄ NBF₄ (Et=C₂H₅). The electrochemical and the thermal stabilities of the solution were dependent on the electrolytic salt as well as the solvent composition. A stable discharge capacitance and a high coulombic efficiency were obtained in a model capacitor using carbon fibre electrodes and the organic electrolyte of EC+-BL/Et₄NBF₄ (or EC+-BL/Et₄NPF₆).     

Chemical modification of silk with aromatic acid anhydrides

Bombyx mori silk fibers were chemically modified by acylation with aromatic acid anhydrides, such as phthalic and o-sulfobenzoic anhydrides. We examined the reactivity of these modifying agents toward silk fibers, the physical and thermal properties, and the dyeing behavior with acid and cationic dyes. The o-sulfobenzoic anhydride was more reactive toward silk fibroin than phthalic anhydride. The amount of both basic and acidic amino acid residues decreased after modification with aromatic acid anhydrides. The moisture regain of silk treated with phthalic anhydride remained almost unchanged, while that of the samples modified with o-sulfobenzoic anhydride increased linearly as the weight gain increased. Chemically modified silk fabrics showed improved crease recovery behavior, even though phthalic anhydride seemed more effective at comparatively low weight gain. The modification of silk with o-sulfobenzoic anhydride caused a drastic a reduction of acid dye uptake and enhanced the affinity of silk for cationic dye. Silk fibers did not show any significant change in thermal behavior, regardless of the modification with o-sulfobenzoic anhydride. Silk fibers modified with phthalic anhydride showed on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves a minor and broad endothermic peak at around 210°C, attributed probably to the breaking of the crosslinks formed between adjacent fibroin molecules.     

Formation of a Third Liquid Phase and Its Reuse for Dibenzyl Ether Synthesis in a Tetraalkylammonium Salt Phase Transfer Catalytic System

This paper describes the formation of a third liquid phase in a phase transfer catalytic system in the presence of benzyl alcohol and potassium hydroxide, where dodecane and tetraalkylammonium bromide serve as organic solvent and catalyst, respectively. In this kind of system, a symmetrical ether (dibenzyl ether) was synthesized from benzyl chloride and benzyl alcohol at 323 K. In particular, the investigation demonstrates that the observed reaction rate constant depends on the length of the alkyl group of the catalyst. Tetrabutylammonium bromide exhibits the highest catalytic activity among the catalysts explored. With respect to the reuse of the third liquid phase, the results confirm that there is no decrease in phase transfer catalytic activity in three consecutive runs.     

Tensile fatigue of a laminated carbon-carbon composite at room temperature

The tensile fatigue behavior of a cross-ply carbon-carbon (C/C) laminate was examined at room temperature. Tension-tension cyclic fatigue tests were conducted under load control at a sinusoidal frequency of 10 Hz to obtain stress-fracture cycles (S-N) relationship. The fatigue limit of the C/C was found to be 213 MPa (93% of the tensile strength), and no fracture was observed at over 10⁴ cycles. The residual tensile strength of specimens that survived fatigue loading was enhanced with increase in fatigue cycles and applied stress. Observations of the fatigue-loaded specimens revealed that the formation of micro-cracks at the fiber-matrix interfaces was facilitated during fatigue loading. These interfacial cracks were concluded to protect the fibers from being damaged by matrix cracks and this behavior was considered to be the governing mechanism of strength enhancement by fatigue loading.