Egg Consumption Modulates HDL Lipid Composition and Increases the Cholesterol-Accepting Capacity of Serum in Metabolic Syndrome

We recently demonstrated that daily whole egg consumption during moderate carbohydrate restriction leads to greater increases in plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and improvements in HDL profiles in metabolic syndrome (MetS) when compared to intake of a yolk-free egg substitute. We further investigated the effects of this intervention on HDL composition and function, hypothesizing that the phospholipid species present in egg yolk modulate HDL lipid composition to increase the cholesterol-accepting capacity of subject serum. Men and women classified with MetS were randomly assigned to consume either three whole eggs (EGG, n = 20) per day or the equivalent amount of egg substitute (SUB, n = 17) throughout a 12-week moderate carbohydrate-restricted (25–30 % of energy) diet. Relative to other HDL lipids, HDL-cholesteryl ester content increased in all subjects, with greater increases in the SUB group. Further, HDL-triacylglycerol content was reduced in EGG group subjects with normal baseline plasma HDL-C, resulting in increases in HDL-CE/TAG ratios in both groups. Phospholipid analysis by mass spectrometry revealed that HDL became enriched in phosphatidylethanolamine in the EGG group, and that EGG group HDL better reflected sphingomyelin species present in the whole egg product at week 12 compared to baseline. Further, macrophage cholesterol efflux to EGG subject serum increased from baseline to week 12, whereas no changes were observed in the SUB group. Together, these findings suggest that daily egg consumption promotes favorable shifts in HDL lipid composition and function beyond increasing plasma HDL-C in MetS.     

MODELLING ADSORPTION EQUILIBRIUM MOISTURE CHARACTERISTICS OF ROUGH RICE

Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) data for medium rough rice grain, Lido variety were obtained by equilibrating rice samples at different Equilibrium Relative Humidities (ERH) and Temperatures. The employed models to fit the data were GAB, modified Chung-Pfost, modified Halsey, Modified Henderson, and modified Oswin. The data were evaluated using the standard error of moisture content, mean relative standard error (%P) of the model and the correlation coefficient r². The GAB model by indirect regression described the EMC the best, however its parameters lacked of physical meaning. The modified Chung-Pfost and modified Henderson equations presented a similar fit of the EMCERH relationships. The modified Chung-Pfost equation had lower residual values than the modified Henderson equation and was considered the best model to explain the EMC-ERH relationships.     

Circulating Insulin-Like Growth Factor I is Involved in the Effect of High Fat Diet on Peripheral Amyloid β Clearance

Obesity is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but underlying mechanisms are not clear. We analyzed peripheral clearance of amyloid β (Aβ) in overweight mice because its systemic elimination may impact brain Aβ load, a major landmark of AD pathology. We also analyzed whether circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) intervenes in the effects of overweight as this growth factor modulates brain Aβ clearance and is increased in the serum of overweight mice. Overweight mice showed increased Aβ accumulation by the liver, the major site of elimination of systemic Aβ, but unaltered brain Aβ levels. We also found that Aβ accumulation by hepatocytes is stimulated by IGF-I, and that mice with low serum IGF-I levels show reduced liver Aβ accumulation—ameliorated by IGF-I administration, and unchanged brain Aβ levels. In the brain, IGF-I favored the association of its receptor (IGF-IR) with the Aβ precursor protein (APP), and at the same time, stimulated non-amyloidogenic processing of APP in astrocytes, as indicated by an increased sAPPα/sAPPβ ratio after IGF-I treatment. Since serum IGF-I enters into the brain in an activity-dependent manner, we analyzed in overweight mice the effect of brain activation by environmental enrichment (EE) on brain IGF-IR phosphorylation and its association to APP, as a readout of IGF-I activity. After EE, significantly reduced brain IGF-IR phosphorylation and APP/IGF-IR association were found in overweight mice as compared to lean controls. Collectively, these results indicate that a high-fat diet influences peripheral clearance of Aβ without affecting brain Aβ load. Increased serum IGF-I likely contributes to enhanced peripheral Aβ clearance in overweight mice, without affecting brain Aβ load probably because its brain entrance is reduced.     

Prediction of molecular weight distributions by probability generating functions. Application to industrial autoclave reactors for high pressure polymerization of ethylene and ethylene‐vinyl acetate

We develop a mathematical model able to describe the complete molecular weight distributions of polyethylene and elhylene‐vinyl acetate copolymers obtained in high pressure autoclave reactors. We apply probability generating function definitions to the mass balances of radical and polymer species in the reacting medium. We use three different definitions of probability generating functions, each one directly applicable either to the number, weight or chromatographic distributions. These probability generating functions are numerically inverted to obtain the corresponding calculated molecular weight distribution. The capabilities of two different inversion methods are compared. Predictions are compared with experimental data obtained in an industrial reactor; good agreement is obtained. The approach presented here is applicable to other types of polymerization reactors and post‐polymerization processes.     

Evaluation of Antioxidant,Antidiabetic and Anticholinesterase Activities of Smallanthus sonchifolius Landraces and Correlation with Their Phytochemical Profiles

The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile of leaf methanol extracts of fourteen Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) landraces and their antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antidiabetic activities that could lead to the finding of more effective agents for the treatment and management of Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. For this purpose, antioxidant activity was assessed using different tests: ferric reducing ability power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (˙NO) and superoxide (O₂˙⁻) scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. Anticholinesterase activity was investigated by quantifying the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities, whereas antidiabetic activity was investigated by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition tests. To understand the contribution of metabolites, phytochemical screening was also performed by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) system. Among all, methanol extract of PER09, PER04 and ECU44 landraces exhibited the highest relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI). ECU44 was found to be rich in 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) and 3,5-di-O-CQA and displayed a good α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, showing the lowest IC₅₀ values. Flavonoids, instead, seem to be involved in the AChE and BChE inhibition. The results of this study revealed that the bioactive compound content differences could be determinant for the medicinal properties of this plant especially for antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.     

Seaweed Allelopathy Against Coral: Surface Distribution of a Seaweed Secondary Metabolite by Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Coral reefs are in global decline, with seaweeds increasing as corals decrease. Although seaweeds inhibit coral growth, recruitment, and survivorship, the mechanism of these interactions is poorly understood. Here, we used field experiments to show that contact with four common seaweeds induces bleaching on natural colonies of Porites rus. Controls in contact with inert, plastic mimics of seaweeds did not bleach, suggesting seaweed effects resulted from allelopathy rather than shading, abrasion, or physical contact. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the hydrophobic extract from the red alga Phacelocarpus neurymenioides revealed a previously characterized antibacterial metabolite, neurymenolide A, as the main allelopathic agent. For allelopathy of lipid-soluble metabolites to be effective, the compounds would need to be deployed on algal surfaces where they could transfer to corals on contact. We used desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) to visualize and quantify neurymenolide A on the surface of P. neurymenioides, and we found the molecule on all surfaces analyzed, with highest concentrations on basal portions of blades.     

Removal of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution using a cation exchanger derived from banana stem

BACKGROUND: Environmental pollution and its abatement have attracted much attention for some time. The problem of removing pollutants from water and wastewater has grown along with rapid industrialization. Formaldehyde polymerized banana stem (FPBS) having sulphonic acid groups was investigated as an adsorbent for cadmium(II) removal from aqueous solutions. RESULTS: The outstanding function of the adsorbent was demonstrated at pH 9.0. The adsorption efficiency of FPBS was compared with BS and results showed that FPBS was two times more effective than BS for cadmium(II) removal. Maximum recoveries of 97.3 and 90.3% for 10 and 25 mg L^?1 initial concentrations were obtained at pH 9.0. Kinetic studies revealed that adsorption occurred in two stages: external mass transport in the first stage and intra‐particular diffusion in the second stage. Adsorption was found to be rapid and equilibrium was attained in 60 min. Among the various desorbing agents tested, 99.2% cadmium recovery was achieved with 0.1 mol L^?1 HCl. CONCLUSIONS: The uptake efficiency of cadmium(II) by FPBS was determined. Repeated adsorption‐desorption study showed that FPBS can be used as an adsorbent for the removal and recovery of Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Interfacial characterization of silicon nitride/silicon nitride joints brazed using Cu-base active metal interlayers

Silicon nitride/silicon nitride joints were vacuum brazed at 1317 K for 5 min and 30 min using ductile Cu-base active metal interlayers. The joints were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). An inhomogeneous Ti-rich reaction layer (～2–3 μm thick) formed in 5 min at the Si₃N₄/braze interface. The inhomogeneity disappeared after brazing for 30 min and was replaced with a compact and featureless reaction zone. TEM studies revealed fine grains in the reaction layer, and larger grains in the inner part of the joint interfaces. The joints were crack-free and presented features associated with plastic deformation, which indicated accommodation of strain associated with CTE mismatch. Electron Backscatter diffraction (EBSD) revealed a highly textured braze alloy interlayer and its crystallographic orientation was determined. The formation of additional phases at the joint interface during brazing is discussed.     

Evaluation of the aromatic structure of coal tar pitch by solid and solution state n.m.r.

Rapid magic angle spinning has been used to obtain sideband-free high field ¹³C n.m.r. spectra of coal tar pitches in the solid state. However, the unfavourable cross-polarization and ¹H relaxation characteristics make it difficult to accurately estimate concentrations of quaternary aromatic carbon using the dipolar dephasing method. The concentrations of bridgehead aromatic carbon in the whole pitch and toluene-insoluble fraction investigated were deduced using a combination of solid and solution state n.m.r. and elemental analyses.