Emulsifier and antioxidant properties of by‐products obtained by enzymatic degumming of soybean oil

The enzymes used in degumming, called phospholipases, specifically act on phospholipids without degrading the oil itself. Degumming using a phospholipase C enzyme allows to meet all market specifications while it increases the oil yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant and emulsifier properties of the recovered gum (RG) obtained by enzymatic oil degumming process of crude soybean oil subjected to modifications as deoiling (RG deoiled) or ethanol fractionation (RG soluble and insoluble). RG soluble allowed obtaining more stable oil‐in‐water emulsions (30:70 w/w) in comparison with those by‐products assayed at different concentrations (0.1–1.0%). Also, deoiled soybean lecithin (DSL) and RG deoiled had a similar behavior in relation to the kinetic destabilization (% backscattering profiles), despite the different degumming processes used to obtain these samples. The study on induction times (Metrohm Rancimat) showed a significant antioxidant effect (p<0.05) against a refined sunflower oil associated with all the by‐products analyzed. However, RG soluble and DSL showed a strong effect on the oil stability at high concentrations (1000–2000 ppm). These results showed that the deoiled recovered gum and its derivates obtained by ethanol fractionation are a potential alternative for industrial application as additive. Practical applications: The economic benefits of enzymatic degumming process have also been quantified by several oilseed processors. This process allows obtaining a by‐product with a high concentration of different phospholipids. This study intends to increase the commercial value of this recovered gum contributing to the food industry with useful information about their functional properties.     

Bulk Sediment and Diatom Silica Carbon Isotope Composition from Coastal Marine Sediments off East Antarctica

Organic carbon occluded in diatom silica is assumed to be protected from degradation in the sediment. δ¹³C from diatom carbon (δ¹³C_(diatom)) therefore potentially provides a signal of conditions during diatom growth. However, there have been few studies based on δ¹³C_(diatom). Numerous variables can influence δ¹³C of organic matter in the marine environment (e.g., salinity, light, nutrient and CO₂ availability). Here we compare δ¹³C_(diatom) and δ¹³C_(TOC) from three sediment records from individual marine inlets (Rauer Group, East Antarctica) to (i) investigate deviations between δ¹³C_(diatom) and δ¹³C_(TOC), to (ii) identify biological and environmental controls on δ¹³C_(diatom) and δ¹³C_(TOC), and to (iii) discuss δ¹³C_(diatom) as a proxy for environmental and climate reconstructions. The records show individual δ¹³C_(diatom) and δ¹³C_(TOC) characteristics, which indicates that δ¹³C is not primarily controlled by regional climate or atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Since the inlets vary in water depths offsets in δ¹³C are probably related to differences in water column stratification and mixing, which influences redistribution of nutrients and carbon within each inlet. In our dataset changes in δ¹³C_(diatom) and δ¹³C_(TOC) could not unequivocally be ascribed to changes in diatom species composition, either because the variation in δ¹³C_(diatom) between the observed species is too small or because other environmental controls are more dominant. Records from the Southern Ocean show depleted δ¹³C_(diatom) values (1–4 ‰) during glacial times compared to the Holocene. Although climate variability throughout the Holocene is low compared to glacial/interglacial variability, we find variability in δ¹³C_(diatom), which is in the same order of magnitude. δ¹³C of organic matter produced in the costal marine environment seems to be much more sensitive to environmental changes than open ocean sites and δ¹³C is of strongly local nature.     

Lipoxygenase Products in the Urine Correlate with Renal Function and Body Temperature but not with Acute Transplant Rejection

Acute transplant rejection is the leading cause of graft loss in the first months after kidney transplantation. Lipoxygenase products mediate pro- and anti-inflammatory actions and thus we aimed to correlate the histological reports of renal transplant biopsies with urinary lipoxygenase products concentrations to evaluate their role as a diagnostic marker. This study included a total of 34 kidney transplant recipients: 17 with an acute transplant rejection and 17 controls. LTE4, LTB4, 12-HETE and 15-HETE concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Urinary lipoxygenase product concentrations were not significantly changed during an acute allograft rejection. Nevertheless, LTB4 concentrations correlated significantly with the body temperature (P ≤ 0.05) 3 months after transplantation, and 12- and 15-HETE concentrations correlated significantly with renal function (P ≤ 0.05) 2 weeks after transplantation. In conclusion, our data show a correlation for LTB4 with the body temperature 3 months after transplantation and urinary 12- and 15-HETE concentrations correlate positively with elevated serum creatinine concentrations but do not predict acute allograft rejection.     

Growth of all-carbon horizontally aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes nucleated from fullerene-based structures

All-carbon single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were successfully synthesized, nucleated using a fullerene derivative. A systematic investigation into the initial preparation of C₆₀ fullerenes as growth nucleators for the SWCNTs was conducted. Enhancement in the yield of the produced SWCNT has been achieved with exploring different dispersing media for the fullerenes, the period, and environment of the initial thermal treatment of the fullerenes in addition to the use of different fullerene-based structures. The systematic studies significantly advance our understanding of the growth of the all-carbon catalyst-free single-walled carbon nanotubes. Field-effect transistors were fabricated using the catalyst-free SWCNT and then electrically characterized, showing current capacity as high as the well-studied catalyst-assisted nanotubes.     

Kinetics of Mullite Grain Growth in Alumino Silicate Fibers

Grain growth kinetics of mullite in laboratory-produced and commercial (3M-Nextel 720) alumino silicate fibers was analyzed in the temperature range between 1500° and 1700°C. The lab fibers consist of mullite plus traces of α-alumina, while the phase content of the commercial Nextel 720 fibers is about 60 wt% mullite plus 40 wt%α-alumina. The temperature-induced grain coarsening of mullite follows the empirical law D ^{1/ n} − D ₀^{1/ n} = kt . Two different temperature regimes can be distinguished with respect to the grain growth exponents: above 1600°C the growth exponent is ≈1/3, while below 1600°C the growth exponent of ≈1/12 is exceptionally low. Laboratory-produced and commercial fibers show almost identical mullite grain growth kinetics.     

Identification and Optimization of the First Highly Selective GLUT1 Inhibitor BAY‐876

Despite the long‐known fact that the facilitative glucose transporter GLUT1 is one of the key players safeguarding the increase in glucose consumption of many tumor entities even under conditions of normal oxygen supply (known as the Warburg effect), only few endeavors have been undertaken to find a GLUT1‐selective small‐molecule inhibitor. Because other transporters of the GLUT1 family are involved in crucial processes, these transporters should not be addressed by such an inhibitor. A high‐throughput screen against a library of ～3 million compounds was performed to find a small molecule with this challenging potency and selectivity profile. The N‐(1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)quinoline‐4‐carboxamides were identified as an excellent starting point for further compound optimization. After extensive structure–activity relationship explorations, single‐digit nanomolar inhibitors with a selectivity factor of >100 against GLUT2, GLUT3, and GLUT4 were obtained. The most promising compound, BAY‐876 [N⁴‐[1‐(4‐cyanobenzyl)‐5‐methyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl]‐7‐fluoroquinoline‐2,4‐dicarboxamide], showed good metabolic stability in vitro and high oral bioavailability in vivo.     

Pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry of polyamide copolymers and blends

Nylon foils of PA 6, PA 66, PA 69, PA 12, the copolymer PA 666, and nine blends based on these polymides have been investigated by in-source pyrolysis (Py)–field ionization mass spectrometry (FIMS). These polymers and blends can be distinguished by characteristic molecular ions of oligomers, protonated amines and nitriles, and products terminated by olefinic end groups. Series of ions are formed differing in the number of additional monomeric units. Thus, polymers containing different chemical subunits were easily distinguished from each other in the spectra of the blends. Mass signals, only expected for copolymers, were found in the integrated blend spectra, indicating that amide exchange reactions occur under the experimental conditions employed. This observation was confirmed by pyrolysis of mixtures of pure polymers in the same crucible and under the same experimental conditions. Hence, the distinction by Py–MS alone between blends and copolymers with an identical averaged number of identical chemical subunits is not possible.     

Synthesis of 9,12-Dioxo-10(Z)-dodecenoic acid, a new fatty acid metabolite derived from 9-hydroperoxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid in lentil seed (Lens culinaris medik.)

The previously unknown linoleic acid peroxidation product 9,12-dioxo-10(Z)-decenoic acid (Z5) was detected in lentil seed fluor (Lens culinaris Medik.) by electron impact mass spectrometry (El-MS) after derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl-hydroxylamine-hydrochloride, methylation of acidic groups with diazomethane, and protection of hydroxylic groups with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide. The structure of the natural product was confirmed by synthesis of Z5, 9,12-dioxo-10(E)-decenoic acid, and derivatives. EI-MS, nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatographic data of these compounds and synthetic intermediates are discussed.