抗性糊精对κ-卡拉胶凝胶特性的影响

通过在κ-卡拉胶中添加不同浓度的抗性糊精,研究抗性糊精对κ-卡拉胶凝胶的冻融稳定性、热稳定性、压缩模量及微观结构的影响。结果表明,加入抗性糊精的κ-卡拉胶凝胶在冻融循环中水分析出明显减少,且与抗性糊精的添加量呈正相关。热稳定性结果显示,在抗性糊精添加量4%时,κ-卡拉胶凝胶的分解温度和反应活化能时达到最大（257.86 ℃,106.20 kJ/mol）。另外,κ卡拉胶凝胶的压缩模量随抗性糊精的添加量增加先增加后减少,在添加量为4%时达到最大值43.83 kPa。红外结果表明,抗性糊精的加入增加了凝胶体系中氢键的数量。扫面电镜结果表明,抗性糊精的加入使κ卡拉胶凝胶的蜂窝状结构变得更加光滑致密。然而,过量抗性糊精（5%）使κ-卡拉胶凝胶出现破损。抗性糊精的加入可以改善κ-卡拉胶的凝胶特性,且在抗性糊精添加量为4%时,κ-卡拉胶的凝胶特性最好。     

Mechanical properties of κ-carrageenan in high concentration of sugar solutions

While the mechanism of gelation of carrageenan in an aqueous environment, via a coil–helix transition followed by aggregation, is well accepted, its behaviour in highly concentrated sugar is still not well understood. Therefore, the effect of biopolymer and salt concentration on the gelling properties of κ-carrageenans in the presence of high concentrations of sugars was investigated rheologically. A solution of 1% κ-carrageenan in the presence of 10 mM KCl and 87.5% corn syrup did not form a measurable network whereas 1% κ-carrageenan in the presence of 10 mM KCl in aqueous solution forms a gel. Gelation was again observed as KCl concentration was increased to 40 mM KCl. An increase of κ-carrageenan concentration from 1 to 2% with 10 mM KCl present did not restore the capacity for gelation. The effect of type of the sugar solution was also investigated by substituting a corn syrup/glucose syrup mixture for the original corn syrup. In the presence of corn syrup/glucose syrup mixture and salt at concentrations higher than 40 mM KCl, a different gelation behaviour was observed: a gel structure was already present at high temperature and a glass transition was measurable at the lowest temperatures. We believe this study gives new insights into the molecular state of carrageenan in the presence of high concentrations of sugars.     

Ginger extract and zingerone ameliorated trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis in mice via modulation of nuclear factor-κB activity and interleukin-1β signalling pathway

Ginger is a commonly used spice with anti-inflammatory potential. Colitis is the common pathological lesion of inflammatory bowel diseases. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of ginger and its component zingerone in mice with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. Ginger and zingerone ameliorated TNBS-induced colonic injury in a dose-dependent manner. Pathway analysis of ginger- and zingerone-regulated gene expression profiles showed that ginger and zingerone significantly regulated cytokine-related pathways. Network analysis showed that nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were key molecules involved in the expression of ginger- and zingerone-affected genes. Ex vivo imaging and immunohistochemical staining further verified that ginger and zingerone suppressed TNBS-induced NF-κB activation and IL-1β protein level in the colon. In conclusion, ginger improved TNBS-induced colitis via modulation of NF-κB activity and IL-1β signalling pathway. Moreover, zingerone might be the active component of ginger responsible for the amelioration of colitis induced by TNBS.     

Toona sinensis and its major bioactive compound gallic acid inhibit LPS-induced inflammation in nuclear factor-κB transgenic mice as evaluated by in vivo bioluminescence imaging

In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of a nutritious vegetable Toona sinensis (leaf extracts, TS) and its major bioactive compound gallic acid (GA) by analysing LPS-induced NF-κB activation in transgenic mice, using bioluminescence imaging. Mice were challenged intraperitoneally with LPS (1 mg/kg) and treated orally with TS or GA (100 or 5 mg/kg, respectively). In vivo and ex vivo imaging showed that LPS increased NF-κB luminescence in the abdominal region, which was significantly inhibited by TS or GA. Immunohistochemical and ELISA analyses confirmed that TS and GA inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB, interleukin-1β, and tumour necrosis factor-α expression. Microarray analysis revealed that biological pathways associated with metabolism and the immune responses were affected by TS or GA. Particularly, LPS-induced thioredoxin-like 4B (TXNL4B) 2 expression in the small intestine, and TXNL4B, iNOS, and COX-2 expression in RAW 264.7 cells were significantly inhibited by TS or GA. Thus, the anti-inflammatory potential of TS was mediated by the downregulation of NF-κB pathway.     

水溶性豆渣酸性多糖对RAW264.7细胞的免疫调节作用及其机制

研究水溶性豆渣多糖(water-soluble soybean polysaccharides,SSPS)对RAW264.7细胞的免疫调节作用.首先,以NO浓度为指标,明确SSPS、水溶性豆渣酸性多糖A1(soluble soybean acidic polysaccharide A1,SSPS-A1)和水溶性豆渣酸性...     

Short communication: Simultaneous identification of five kappa-casein (CSN3) alleles in domestic goat by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism

Until now, a total of nine polymorphic sites corresponding to six different alleles have been described at the κ-casein (CSN3) locus in the domestic goat (Capra hircus). A protocol for the rapid and simultaneous genotyping of five goat CSN3 alleles by using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique was developed. Moreover, the developed test was validated by screening the CSN3 variability in four Italian breeds, Garganica, Jonica, Maltese, and Camosciata. Seven different patterns were readily identifiable. These corresponded to five known alleles and two newly identified variants. The G/A substitution at nucleotide position 471, which is not identifiable at the protein level but was found to be very frequent in the typed breeds, is easily detectable by the protocol developed. The PCR-SSCP analysis is a powerful tool for the genetic study of CSN3 variability in domestic goats, allowing both the simultaneous identification of different alleles, and the detection of new variants.     

Desalted duck egg white nanogels combined with κ-carrageenan as stabilisers for food-grade Pickering emulsion

There was an extensive interest in food-grade Pickering emulsions formulated by natural stabilisers owing to the gradual growing demand for pursuing green-label products. Based on this, the desalted duck egg white nanogels (DEWN) combined with κ-carrageenan (CAR) (CAR/DEWN) were used as stabilisers to prepare environment-friendly Pickering emulsions. The DEWN and CAR/DEWN as well as the particles-stabilised emulsions were all characterised. Compared with the DEWN- and CAR-stabilised emulsions, Pickering emulsions based on CAR/DEWN were investigated to illustrate the long-term stability according to the results of visual appearance, static multiple light scattering and centrifugation experiments. In addition, CAR/DEWN could prepare stable high internal phase emulsions, which may give a new perspective for nutraceutical or drug encapsulation and delivery. Adding CAR to the DEWN not only increased the apparent viscosity of the emulsions to 122.2% but also enhanced the thixotropic recovery rate to 87.7%. In general, CAR/DEWN as stabilisers significantly promoted the Pickering emulsions' properties, and provided a possibility for the application of Pickering emulsion in foods.     

Interface traps and random dopants induced characteristic fluctuations in emerging MOSFETs

In this work, we study the effect of interface traps (ITs) and random dopants (RDs) on characteristics of 16-nm MOSFETs. Totally random generated devices with 2D ITs between the interface of silicon and HfO₂ film as well as 3D RDs inside the silicon channel are simulated. Fluctuations of threshold voltage and on/off state current for devices with different EOT of insulator film are analyzed and discussed. The results of this study indicate ITs and RDs statistically correlate to each other and RDs govern device variability, compared with the influence of ITs. Notably, the position of ITs and RDs induces rather different fluctuation in spite of the same number of ITs and RDs are investigated.