Production of a yogurt-like product from plant foodstuffs and whey. Substrate preparation and fermentation

A mixed substrate composed of soya milk, oat flour and dried cheese whey (82, 11 and 7% respectively) had a content of lactose and protein similar to that of milk used for yogurt manufacture. Heat treatment for 20 min at 80°C resulted in a viscosity similar to that of yogurt whilst removing coliform and mesophilic aerobic bacteria, moulds and yeasts. Fermentation with traditional yogurt bacteria did not increase viscosity further, and the final product had similar acidity and texture to yogurt. Acid development, carbohydrate consumption, proteolysis and starters counts were followed during fermentation. The fermentation profile of the mixed substrate was very similar to that of milk.     

Ozonization of amides

Ozonization of various amides was carried out as a model reaction for the degradation of polyamides with ozone. N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides were found to be reactive compared with those amides which have no alkyl group on the nitrogen atom, and it was suggested that ozone attacks preferentially N-methylene or N-methyl group of amides in the first step of ozonization.     

Carbonization of aromatic hydrocarbons—V: Microscopic features of carbons obtained by the aid of catalysts

Microscopic observation of carbons obtained from pure aromatic hydrocarbons by the aid of carbonization catalysts was carried out to clarify the microstructure of these carbons of different features. Reflected polarized-light microscopy distinguished needle, mosaic and isotropic cokes, former two of which were produced with aluminum chloride and the last with potassium. High resolution microscopy revealed that these carbons calcined at 1250° had different degree of layered structure, corresponding to the crystallographic parameters of these samples graphitized at 2500°C. The reasons for the carbons produced with potassium to be non-graphitizable are discussed from the macro- and micro-features of the carbons.     

Modifying carbonization properties of pitches. 3. Carbonization of modified quinoline-insoluble matter from pitches

The carbonization of solubilized matter obtained from the hydrogenated and reductively alkylated quinoline-insolubles of pitches was studied to clarify the different carbonization properties shown by these materials. Dehydrogenation of hydrogenated QI started at 200 °C but continued until 400 °C, passing through a fused phase to give graphitizable carbon. In contrast, alkylated QI gave non-graphitizable carbon because it readily reverted to QI by dealkylation below 300 °C, before fusion. QI alkylated with butyl or benzyl groups was found to be nearly 80% soluble in benzene.     

Deoxycholic acid formation in gnotobiotic mice associated with human intestinal bacteria

In humans and animals, intestinal flora is indispensable for bile acid transformation. The goal of our study was to establish gnotobiotic mice with intestinal bacteria of human origin in order to examine the role of intestinal bacteria in the transformation of bile acids in vivo using the technique of gnotobiology. Eight strains of bile acid-deconjugating bacteria were isolated from ex-germ-free mice inoculated with a human fecal dilution of 10⁻⁶, and five strains of 7α-dehydroxylating bacteria were isolated from the intestine of limited human flora mice inoculated only with clostridia. The results of biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that seven out of eight bile acid-deconjugating strains belong to a bacteroides cluster (Bacteroides vulgatus, B. distasonis, and B. uniformis), and one strain had high similarity with Bilophila wadsworthia. All five strains that converted cholic acid to deoxycholic acid had greatest similarity with Clostridium hylemonae. A combination of 10 isolated strains converted taurocholic acid into deoxycholic acid both in vitro and in the mouse intestine. These results indicate that the predominant bacteria, mainly Bacteroides, in human feces comprise one of the main bacterial groups for the deconjugation of bile acids, and clostridia may play an important role in 7α-dehydroxylation of free-form primary bile acids in the intestine although these strains are not predominant. The gnotobiotic mouse with bacteria of human origin could be a useful model in studies of bile acid metabolism by human intestinal bacteria in vivo.     

Potato and soy peptides alter caecal fermentation and reduce serum non‐HDL cholesterol in rats fed cholesterol

We examined the effect of potato peptides (PPC) in rats fed a cholesterol‐enriched diet, in comparison with two cholesterol‐enriched diets containing soy peptides (SPC) or casein (CNC), and a cholesterol‐free diet containing casein (CN) for 4 weeks. The serum non‐high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level was lower in the PPC‐ (–18.39%) and SPC‐fed (–32.76%) groups (p <0.05) than in the CNC‐fed group at the end of the feeding period. The low‐density lipoprotein receptor mRNA level in the PPC‐fed group, and cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase and scavenger receptor class B type 1 mRNA levels in the SPC‐fed group, were higher (p <0.05) than in the CN‐ and CNC‐fed groups. Faecal neutral sterol and caecal short‐chain fatty acid concentrations in the PPC‐ and SPC‐fed groups were higher (p <0.05) than in the CN‐ and CNC‐fed groups. The faecal total acidic sterol concentration was higher in the SPC‐fed group than in the CN‐ and PPC‐fed groups. Caecal anaerobe and Bifidobacterium populations were higher (p <0.05) in the PPC‐ and SPC‐fed groups than in the CN‐fed group. This study suggests that potato peptides, as soy peptides, alter caecal fermentation and steroid absorption and reduce the serum non‐HDL cholesterol level in rats fed cholesterol.     

New type of phenolic resin: Curing reaction of phenol‐novolac based benzoxazine with bisoxazoline or epoxy resin using latent curing agent and the properties of the cured resin

In this study, we aimed to reduce the cure time, and to lower the cure temperature of the benzoxazine compound. Therefore, curing reaction of benzoxazine with bisoxazoline or epoxy resin using the latent curing agent and the properties of the cured resins were investigated. The cure behavior of benzoxazine with bisoxazoline or epoxy resin using the latent curing agent was monitored by differential scanning calorimetry and measurements for storage modulus (G′). The properties of the cured resin were estimated by mechanical properties, electrical insulation, water resistance, heat resistance, and flame resistance. As a result, it was confirmed that by using the latent curing agent, cure time of benzoxazine and bisoxazoline or epoxy resin was reduced, and cure temperature was lowered. And it was found that the curing reaction using phenol‐novolac based benzoxazine (Na) as the benzoxazine compound could proceed more rapidly than that using bisphenol‐A based benzoxazine (Ba) as the benzoxazine compound. However, the cured resins from Ba and bisoxazoline or epoxy resin using the latent curing agent showed good heat resistance, flame resistance, and mechanical properties compared with those from Na and bisoxazoline or epoxy resin using the latent curing agent. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Contribution of Invariant Natural Killer T Cells to the Clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Skin Wounds

Chronic infections are considered one of the most severe problems in skin wounds, and bacteria are present in over 90% of chronic wounds. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is frequently isolated from chronic wounds and is thought to be a cause of delayed wound healing. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, unique lymphocytes with a potent regulatory ability in various inflammatory responses, accelerate the wound healing process. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of iNKT cells in the host defense against P. aeruginosa inoculation at the wound sites. We analyzed the re-epithelialization, bacterial load, accumulation of leukocytes, and production of cytokines and antimicrobial peptides. In iNKT cell–deficient (Jα18KO) mice, re-epithelialization was significantly decreased, and the number of live colonies was significantly increased, when compared with those in wild-type (WT) mice on day 7. IL-17A, and IL-22 production was significantly lower in Jα18KO mice than in WT mice on day 5. Furthermore, the administration of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), a specific activator of iNKT cells, led to enhanced host protection, as shown by reduced bacterial load, and to increased production of IL-22, IL-23, and S100A9 compared that of with WT mice. These results suggest that iNKT cells promote P. aeruginosa clearance during skin wound healing.