Preparation of PET/LDH composite materials and their mechanical properties and permeability for O2

The terephthalate‐intercalated LDHs (TA‐LDHs) are used to improve the barrier properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) for their application in liquid food packaging. First, TA‐LDHs were synthesized from freshly prepared metal hydroxides. PET/LDH nanocomposites were then prepared by a masterbatch process. The structures and morphologies of TA‐LDHs and PET/LDH nanocomposites were characterized using X‐ray diffractometer, transmission electronic microscopy, and scanning electron microscope. The mechanical performances and the oxygen permeability of the PET/LDH composites were measured using a precision universal tester and differential pressure gas permeameter, respectively. The influence of TA‐LDH content on their structures and properties was studied. PET/LDH nanocomposites with 1 and 2 wt% of TA‐LDHs are partially exfoliated nanocomposites, while PET/LDH with 5 wt% of TA‐LDHs is an intercalated nanocomposite. The PET/LDH nanocomposites prepared by a masterbatch process show better mechanical properties and gas barrier properties. PET/LDHs‐m2 with 2 wt% of TA‐LDHs could offer up to a 29.4% improvement in tensile strength over PET and the Young's modulus is increased by 38.9%. The O₂ permeation of PET/LDHs‐m2 with 2 wt% of TA‐LDHs is decreased by 46.2%. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:E366–E371, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preventive effect of Lactobacillus plantarum KSFY02 isolated from naturally fermented yogurt from Xinjiang,China, on d-galactose–induced oxidative aging in mice

Yogurt from Xinjiang, China, is a traditional and naturally fermented food, and abundant microorganisms are produced during its fermentation process. In this study, we carried out in vivo animal experiments to explore the effect of a newly isolated lactic acid bacterial strain, Lactobacillus plantarum KSFY02 (LP-KSFY02), on oxidative aging. We used d-galactose to induce oxidative aging in mice and analyzed the serum and tissues of those mice using molecular biology detection methods. The results showed that LP-KSFY02 could inhibit the decreases in the thymic, cerebral, cardiac, liver, spleen, and kidney indices of mice caused by oxidative aging. The LP-KSFY02 strain increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione (GSH) and reduced levels of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde in the serum, liver, and spleen of the oxidative aging mice. Pathological observation demonstrated that LP-KSFY02 alleviated damage to the liver and spleen of oxidative aging mice. Quantitative PCR showed that LP-KSFY02 effectively upregulated mRNA expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (Nos1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Nos3), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Sod1), manganese superoxide dismutase (Sod2), catalase (Cat), heme oxygenase-1 (Hmox1), nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nfe2l2), γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (Gclm), and quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) in mouse liver and spleen and downregulated expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (Nos2). Western blot analysis revealed that LP-KSFY02 effectively upregulated protein expression of SOD1, SOD2, CAT, GSH1, and GSH2 in mouse liver and spleen tissues. Therefore, LP-KSFY02 can effectively prevent d-galactose–induced oxidative aging in mice. Its efficacy was superior to that of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (LDSB) and vitamin C, which are commonly used in the medical field as antioxidants. Thus, LP-KSFY02 is a high-quality strain with probiotic potential.     

Characterization of tannase activity in cell-free extracts of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 748T

In foods, tannins are considered nutritionally undesirable. Spectrophotometric methods have been used to detect tannin degradation by L. plantarum strains isolated from food substrates. Enzymatic degradation of tannic acid by L. plantarum CECT 748T was examined in liquid cultures and in cell-free extracts by HPLC. Significative reduction of tannic acid was not observed during incubation in the presence of L. plantarum cells after 7 days incubation. However, tannic acid was effectively degraded by cell-free extracts of L. plantarum during 16 h incubation. We have partially characterized L. plantarum tannase activity by measuring its esterase activity on methyl gallate. Tannase activity was optimal at pH 5.0 and 30 degrees C, and showed nearly 75% of the maximal activity at 50 degrees C. The biochemical characteristics showed by L. plantarum tannase are considered favourable for tannin biodegradation in the food-processing industry.     

Use of nisin-coated plastic films to control Listeria monocytogenes on vacuum-packaged cold-smoked salmon

Cold-smoked (Salmo salar) salmon samples were surface-inoculated with a cocktail of three nisin-resistant strains of L. monocytogenes (PSU1, PSU2 and PSU21) to a level of approximately 5 x 10(2) or 5 x 10(5) CFU/cm2 of salmon surface. The inoculated smoked salmon samples were vacuum-packaged with control film (no nisin) or nisin-coated plastic films and stored at either 4 or 10 degrees C. When the inoculated smoked salmon samples were packaged with film coated with 2000 IU/cm2 of nisin, a reduction of 3.9 log CFU/cm2 (compared with control) was achieved at either temperature for samples inoculated with 5 x 10(2) CFU/cm(2 of L. monocytogenes after 56 (4 degrees C) and 49 (10 degrees C) days of storage while reductions of 2.4 and 0.7 log CFU/cm2 were achieved for samples inoculated with a high level of L. monocytogenes (5 x 10(5) CFU/cm2) after 58 (4 degrees C) and 43 (10 degrees C) days, respectively. For samples packaged in film coated with 500 IU/cm2 of nisin, reductions of 0.5 and 1.7 log CFU/cm2 were achieved for samples inoculated with a low level of L. monocytogenes (5 x 10(2) CFU/cm2) after 56 (4 degrees C) and 49 (10 degrees C) days of storage while reductions of 1.8 and 0.8 log CFU/cm2 were achieved for samples inoculated with high level of L. monocytogenes after 58(4 degrees C) and 43 (10 degrees C) days, respectively. In addition, nisin inhibited the proliferation of background microbiota on smoked salmon in a concentration-dependent manner at both storage temperatures although the bacteriostatic effect was more pronounced at refrigeration temperature. This work highlights the potential for incorporating nisin into plastic films for enhancing the microbial safety of smoked salmon as well as controlling its microbial spoilage.     

速生杨枝桠材P—RC APMP浆的酶促磨浆

研究了纤维素酶和木聚糖酶对速生杨枝桠材P—RCAPMP酶促磨浆性能的影响。实验结果表明酶预处理可以改善P—RCAPMP浆的磨浆性能和成浆质量。纤维素酶和木聚糖酶预处理纸浆打浆度提高3-11°SR,磨浆能耗明显降低。最佳酶用量为25IU／g。与未经过酶预处理速生杨枝桠材P—RCAPMP浆相比,纤维素酶预处理纸浆裂断长提高12％,撕裂指数提高13％,耐破指数提高14％,耐折度提高50％,白度提高1．2％ISO。木聚糖酶预处理纸浆裂断长略有提高,撕裂指数提高15％,耐破指数提高12％,耐折度提高75％,白度提高1．9％ISO。酶预处理可抑制纸浆返黄。纤维素酶的酶促磨浆效果好于木聚糖酶。     

Impact of mild acid hydrolysis on structure and digestion properties of waxy maize starch

In this study, the molecular structure of acid-treated waxy maize starch residues was investigated, and the in vitro digestibility of the residues with 2.2 N HCl at 35 °C for different time periods, was assessed. The granular appearance of waxy maize starch was destroyed and small fractions formed aggregates. A change in chain-length distribution profiles occurred with the degradation of shortest A chains and long B chains in amylopectin. The rise in the ratio of absorbance height at 1047 cm⁻¹ to the height at 1022 cm⁻¹, the intensities of major peaks, X_c, T_p, T_c, and ΔH were observed during mild acid hydrolysis, but the X-ray diffraction patterns displayed A-type for all starches. The amount of rapidly digestible starch increased, whereas the amounts of slowly digestible and resistant starch decreased. These results demonstrate that the amorphous regions of starch granules, including the shortest A chains and long B chains, are preferentially hydrolysed and affect the slow digestion and resistance properties of waxy maize starch.     

Densification and joining of a (HfTaZrNbTi)C high-entropy ceramic by hot pressing

A bulk (Hf_0.2Ta_0.2Zr_0.2Nb_0.2Ti_0.2)C high-entropy ceramic (HEC) with a high density was prepared by hot pressing (HP), and through a robust joining technique, large-sized piece was fabricated. A hot-pressed carbide HEC with a single-phase and homogeneous composition was obtained at the sintering temperatures from 1800 to 1950 °C for 30 min under a pressure of 30 MPa. The influence of sintering temperature on the mechanical properties of the HEC was investigated, and the flexural and compressive strengths were reported. Additionally, the feasibility of active brazing of this HEC was studied and solid joints with high shear strength were obtained by atomic diffusion and chemical reaction at the interface, providing a key approach to fabricate complex components of HECs.     

Improvement of thermal,microwave and ultrasonication pretreatment on the production of antioxidant peptides from sweet potato protein via in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

Effects of thermal (boiling, steaming and autoclaving), microwave and ultrasonication pretreatments on the production of sweet potato protein hydrolysates (SPPH) through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID) were investigated. All pretreatments significantly increased the degree of hydrolysis (DH), antioxidant activities and molecular weight (MW) <3 kDa peptide fractions contents of SPPH in the order of autoclaving > microwave, steaming > boiling > ultrasonication (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis between peptides content and antioxidant activity suggested that antioxidant activity of SPPH mainly attributed to MW <3 kDa peptides. Diverse peptides ranged from 487.24 to 1477.74 Da with 7–13 amino acids were identified in the MW <3 kDa peptides fraction with autoclaving pretreatment and matched sporamins A, A precursor and B sequences from LC–QTOF–MS/MS analysis. Conformational structures of nine peptides were predicted with well-known antioxidant amino acids. There is a high potential for SPPH used as a functional supplement in food system.