Proteins in longissimus muscle of Korean native cattle and their relationship to meat quality

Proteomic profiling by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry of longissimus dorsi muscle tissue from Korean native cattle identified seven proteins that are differentially expressed in animals producing low and high quality grade beef. The expression level of alpha actin is increased in high quality grade beef and the expression levels of T-complex protein 1 (TCP-1), heat shock protein beta-1 (HSP27), and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type1 (IP3R1), a new protein to be associated with meat quality, are increased in low quality grade beef. In particular, the quantitation of HSP27 and IP3R1 by both silver staining and immunoblotting correlated well with intramuscular fat content, meat tenderness, and free calcium levels. The data suggest that HSP27 and IP3R1 are potential meat quality biomarkers and their identification provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms and pathways associated with overall beef quality.     

Grain size measurement methods and models for nanograined WC–Co

Development of nanograined WC–Co presents challenges for grain size measurement. In this study, standard and nanocrystalline WC–Co powders are processed by conventional and spark sintering. The resulting microstructures are characterized by image analysis of scanning electron microscopy micrographs, X-ray line broadening, and magnetic coercivity. The results are analyzed and a property map relating coercivity to WC grain size is developed. Equations for interface-controlled grain growth are transformed into the master sintering curve form and are used to analyze the grain size data from the three measurement techniques.     

Alliinase-independent Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus B33 by Heated Garlic

ABSTRACT: Heated (121 °C) garlic extract in which alliinase was inactivated before crushing exhibited complete bacteriostatic activity at 15% against Staphylococcus aureus. Garlic heated for 45 min showed the highest antibacterial activity and the relative peak areas of 4-heptenal, methyl allyl disulfide, diallyl disulfide, 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin, and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) were highest at 45 min of heating. Other than 4-heptenal, all these compounds are known to possess different degrees of antibacterial activity. DATS was thought to be the primary antibacterial compound in heated garlic extract. It was tentatively concluded that antibacterial compounds were formed from alliin unreacted by alliinase by marked heating. Diallyl compounds with more than three sulfur atoms and the oxidized form of allicin were not detected.     

The effect of steaming on the free amino acid contents and antioxidant activity of Panax ginseng

This study was carried out to investigate changes in the free amino acid contents and antioxidant activity of Panax ginseng induced by steaming at different temperatures. For this purpose, white ginseng (WG), red ginseng (RG, ginseng steamed at 100 °C) and ginseng steamed at 120 °C (SG) were prepared using an autoclave. Most free amino acids were decreased significantly by steam treatment, with the greatest reduction observed in SG. Total content of free amino acids, 17.9 mg/g in WG was reduced to 12.2 mg/g in RG and 2.79 mg/g in SG. As for Arg which is the most predominant amino acid in ginseng, the content, 10.4 mg/g in WG, decreased significantly to 1.38 mg/g in SG. In particular, β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP), a well-known neurotoxin, was reduced by 92.9% in SG. In contrast, the level of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) increased with steam treatment, which indicates that the reduction of most amino acids is attributed to the extent of the Maillard reaction. Based on MRPs being useful antioxidants, we assayed the scavenging activity against free radicals produced by 2,2′-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH). The radical scavenging activity of a ginseng extract increased with steam treatment, with the most potent activity in SG. Further, MRPs-rich fraction in SG showed powerful antioxidant activity, which indicates MRPs are major contributors to antioxidant activity enhanced by steam treatment.     

Emissions of metals associated with motor vehicle roadways

Emissions of metals and other particle-phase species from on-road motor vehicles were measured in two tunnels in Milwaukee, WI during the summer of 2000 and winter of 2001. Emission factors were calculated from measurements of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) particulate matter at tunnel entrances and exits, and effects of fleet composition and season were investigated. Cascade impactors (MOUDI) were used to obtain size-resolved metal emission rates. Metals were quantified with inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). PM10 emission rates ranged from 38.7 to 201 mg km(-1) and were composed mainly of organic carbon (OC, 30%), inorganic ions (sulfate, chloride, nitrate, ammonium, 20%), metals (19%), and elemental carbon (EC, 9.3%). PM10 metal emissions were dominated by crustal elements Si, Fe, Ca, Na, Mg, Al, and K, and elements associated with tailpipe emissions and brake and tire wear, including Cu, Zn, Sb, Ba, Pb, and S. Metals emitted in PM2.5 were lower (11.6% of mass). Resuspension of roadway dust was dependent on weather and road surface conditions, and increased emissions were related to higher traffic volumes and fractions of heavy trucks. Emission of noble metals from catalytic converters appeared to be impacted by the presence of older vehicles. Elements related to brake wear were impacted by enriched road dust resuspension, but correlations between these elements in PM2.5 indicate that direct brake wear emissions are also important. A submicrometer particle mode was observed in the emissions of Pb, Ca, Fe, and Cu.     

Inactivation Kinetics of Food Poisoning Microorganisms by Carbon Dioxide and High Hydrostatic Pressure

The inactivation kinetics of food poisoning microorganisms using a combined treatment of carbon dioxide (CO₂) with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) was investigated. Staphylococcus aureus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium sporotrichioides were totally inactivated by a combined treatment of carbonation and HHP at 500 MP_a. Bacillus subtilis, a spore forming bacteria, were not completely inactivated after the combined treatment. The microorganisms treated by carbonation and HHP were exponentially reduced in a pressure range and the D_p ‐value, the Z^p‐value, and the activation volume were determined. UV absorbing materials leaked from injured cells. Morphological changes of the cells were observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.     

Effects of various pretreatments for enhanced anaerobic digestion with waste activated sludge

The purpose of this study was to enhance the efficiency of anaerobic digestion with waste activated sludge (WAS) by batch experiments. We studied the effects of various pretreatment methods (thermal, chemical, ultrasonic and thermochemical pretreatments) on the biogas production and pollutants reduction owing to solubilization enhancement, particle size reduction, increased soluble protein, and increased soluble COD. The thermochemical pretreatment gave the best results, i.e., the production of methane increased by more than 34.3% and soluble COD (SCOD) removal also increased by more than 67.8% over the control. In this case, the biogas production, methane production and the SCOD removal efficiency were about 5037 l biogas/m3 WAS, 3367 l methane/m3 WAS and 61.4%, respectively. Therefore, it is recognized that higher digestion efficiencies of the WAS were obtained through thermochemical pretreatment of the sludge.     

A rapid method for the simultaneous determination of 25 anti-hypertensive compounds in dietary supplements using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography

A novel, stable, simple and specific ultra-performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection (205 nm) for the simultaneous analysis of 25 anti-hypertensive substances was developed. The method was validated according to the International Conference of Harmonisation guidelines with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ) and stability. From the ultra-performance liquid chromatography results, we identified the LOD and LOQ of solid samples to be 0.20–1.00 and 0.60–3.00 μg ml^?1, respectively, while those of liquid samples were 0.30–1.20 and 0.90–3.60 μg ml^?1, respectively. The linearity exceeded 0.9999, and the intra- and inter-day precisions were 0.15–6.48% and 0.28–8.67%, respectively. The intra- and inter-day accuracies were 82.25–111.42% and 80.70–115.64%, respectively, and the stability was lower than 12.9% (relative standard deviation). This method was applied to the monitoring of 97 commercially available dietary supplements obtained in Korea, such as pills, soft capsules, hard capsules, liquids, powders and tablets. The proposed method is accurate, precise and of high quality, and can be used for the routine, reproducible analysis and control of 25 anti-hypertensive substances in various dietary supplements. The work presented herein may help to prevent incidents related to food adulteration and restrict the illegal food market.     

Characterization of wines from grape varieties through multivariate statistical analysis of H NMR spectroscopic data

¹H NMR spectroscopic analysis coupled with multivariate statistical data was used to characterize wines vinified from four grape varieties: Muscat Bailey A (Vitis labrusca), Campbell Early (V. labrusca B.), Kyoho (V. labrusca L.) and Meoru (Vitis coignetiae). Pattern recognition methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projection to latent structure discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), showed clear differentiation between wines made from these grape varieties. Metabolites responsible for the differentiation were identified as 2,3-butanediol, glycerol, malate, citrate, tartrate, succinate, lactate, proline, alanine, choline and trigonelline. The PCA score plot of quantitative analysis of targeted profiling data also showed clear separation between the wines. The highest levels of glycerol, 2,3-butanediol, succinate and alcohol were found in Kyoho wines, suggesting higher sugar content in the Kyoho grape berry compared to other grape varieties. Higher contents of citrate and trigonelline in Muscat Bailey A wines, alanine in Campbell Early wines and proline, malate and choline in Meoru wines demonstrated that the metabolites of the wines vary with the grape variety. This study provides insight into the relationship between grape variety and its wine through global and targeted analysis of ¹H NMR spectral data.     

Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol isolated from Pae (Ishige okamurae) protects high glucose-induced damage in RINm5F pancreatic β cells via its antioxidant effects

Pancreatic β cells are very sensitive to oxidative stress and this may play an important role in β cell death in diabetes. The protective effect of diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC), one of phlorotannin polyphenol compound purified from pae (Ishige okamurae) against high glucoseinduced oxidative stress was investigated using RINm5F pancreatic β cells. High glucose (30 mM) treatment induced RINm5F pancreatic β cells cell death, but DPHC, at concentration 10 or 50 μg/mL, significantly inhibited the high glucose-induced glucotoxicity and apoptosis. Furthermore, treatment with DPHC dose-dependently decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and nitric oxide level increased by high glucose. In addition, DPHC treatment increased activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in high glucose pretreated RINm5F pancreatic β cells. DPHC treatment improved the secretory responsiveness following stimulation with glucose. These findings indicate that DPHC might be used as potential nutraceutical agent which will protect the glucotoxicity caused by hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress associated with diabetes.