Emulsion stabilization mechanism of combination of esterified maltodextrin and Tween 80 in oil-in-water emulsions

Food Science and Biotechnology - Esterified maltodextrins (EMs) were prepared using enzyme-catalyzed reaction of maltodextrin (DE of 16 and 9) and palmitic acid. The emulsion stabilization...     

Bovine serum albumin-sugar conjugates through the maillard reaction: effects on interfacial behavior and emulsifying ability

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was employed as a model protein emulsifier to conjugate with aldohexose (D-glucose (Glc) or D-allose (All)) and sugar fatty acid ester (6-O-octanoyl-D-glucose (GlcC8)) through the Maillard reaction. It was found during the reaction that rate of decrease of free amino groups in BSA was almost the same for the BSA-sugar mixtures whereas browning and protein aggregation developed in the following order: Glc < All < GlcC8. It was thought that the rate of degradation of the Amadori compound could have been influenced by the OH-group stereochemistry at the C3 position of aldohexose, while denaturation of BSA by GlcC8 enhanced the browning and protein aggregation. To understand the emulsifying ability of the BSA-sugar conjugates, hexadecane-water interfacial tension and the oil droplet size of emulsions prepared by homogenizing hexadecane and aqueous solution of the conjugates were examined. BSA-GlcC8 showed greater improvement in interfacial and emulsifying activity than did BSA-Glc and -All. However, no improvement in emulsion stability was observed for any of the BSA-sugar conjugates, suggesting the weakness of the film formed at the oil droplet interface.     

ANALYSIS OF CUTTING CHARACTERISTIC OF POLYCARBONATE SHEET SUBJECTED TO WEDGE INDENTATION BY KNIFE EDGE AND GROOVED PLATE

Asymmetric plunge cutting by using a grooved knife edge plate was proposed for advanced die cutting of a polycarbonate (PC) sheet. By varying the tip angle α_U and the tip thickness w _U of knife edge in the counter plate, and combining a standard steel cutting rule of 42° center bevel blade, a cutting load response of PC sheet was experimentally investigated, and the deformation was also observed by a CCD camera. Furthermore, an FEM simulation was carried out by varying the lower tip thickness for revealing the effect of interference of lower grooved counter plate. Through this work, the following were found: 1) there were two deformation modes of sheared profile; 2) the lower tip thickness w _U was a primary factor, compared to the lower tip angle of α_U; 3) the equivalent wedge angle effect was revealed with respect to the upper/lower angles α and α_U, while the PC sheet was bent up by the lower knife indentation.     

Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of d-Psicose Fatty Acid Diesters and their Emulsification Activities

The diesterification of d-psicose (the C-3 epimer of d-fructose) with fatty acid vinyl esters of selected acyl chain lengths (C₈, C₁₀, and C₁₂) was successfully carried out using Candida antarctica lipase (Novozym 435) at 45 °C for 24 h to give the 1,6-diacyl-d-psicofuranoses with a high regioselectivity in good yields (83–90%). These diesters of d-psicose have hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values (6.5–8.2) similar to HLB values of monoglyceride compounds which constitute the largest single type of emulsifiers employed by the food industry. Ability of the d-psicose diesters to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions and the weight-averaged oil-droplet diameter in the emulsions was evaluated in this study. Emulsion stability of oil droplets stabilized by d-psicose dicaprylate (0.3%, w/v in oil phase) was comparable to d-fructose dicaprylate (0.2%, w/v). It was further confirmed that the d-psicose diesters exhibited an emulsification activity depending on the chain length of fatty acid; d-psicose dicaprate showed better emulsion stability than the other diesters.     

Sperm arylsulfatase A binds to mZP2 and mZP3 glycoproteins in a nonenzymatic manner

We have shown previously that sperm surface arylsulfatase A (ASA) of mouse, pig, and human is involved in sperm-egg zona pellucida (ZP) binding. By treating capacitated mouse sperm with A23187 to induce the acrosome reaction, we demonstrated by immunoblotting that ASA also existed in the acrosomal content and on the inner acrosomal membrane. Since mZP2 and mZP3 are known as sperm receptors, whereas mZP1 as a cross-linker of mZP2/mZP3, we determined whether purified ASA bound to mZP2 and mZP3 selectively. The three mZP glycoproteins were purified from solubilized ovarian ZP by size exclusion column chromatography. Immuno-dot blot analyses revealed that purified sperm ASA bound to mZP2 at the highest level followed by mZP3, whereas the binding of ASA to mZP1 was minimal. The results confirmed the physiological significance of sperm ASA in the ZP binding process. The binding of ASA to mZP2 and mZP3 was, however, not dependent on the active site pocket amino acids, Cys69, Lys123, and Lys302, which are pertinent to the capturing of an arylsulfate substrate, since ASA mutant with Ala substitution at these three residues still bound to mZP2 and mZP3. The availability of the active site pocket of ASA bound to the ZP suggested that ASA would still retain enzymatic activity, which might be important for subsequent sperm penetration through the ZP.     

Oxidation and Colloidal Stability of Oil-in-Water Emulsion as Affected by Pigmented Rice Hull Extracts

Extracts from the hull of pigmented rice were prepared using a mixture of methanol–water (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1, v/v) for different extraction times (0–180 min). Total phenolic content (TPC) of the extracts increased with increasing concentration of methanol and extraction time (P < 0.05). A positive correlation between TPC and antioxidant activities, i.e., DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing power, was observed. The extracts prepared using methanol–water at the ratio of 3:1 for 180 min at 50 °C, referred as rice hull phenolic extract (RHPE), showed the highest TPC and free radical scavenging abilities and reducing power (P < 0.05). When the effects of RHPE on physicochemical stability of the emulsions stabilized by different emulsifiers, i.e., Tween 20 and bovine serum albumin (BSA), were examined, the collapse of emulsion was retarded when RHPE was applied in BSA‐based emulsions, whereas a negative effect was noticeable in Tween 20‐based counterpart. Lower oxidative degree was found for BSA stabilized emulsions, compared to Tween 20 containing system. RHPE (1–3 %) markedly improved the oxidative stability, particularly for BSA stabilized emulsions. Therefore, RHPE could be employed along with the selected protein to increase physicochemical stability of emulsion.     

Melatonin Regulates Aging and Neurodegeneration through Energy Metabolism,Epigenetics, Autophagy and Circadian Rhythm Pathways

Brain aging is linked to certain types of neurodegenerative diseases and identifying new therapeutic targets has become critical. Melatonin, a pineal hormone, associates with molecules and signaling pathways that sense and influence energy metabolism, autophagy, and circadian rhythms, including insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Forkhead box O (FoxOs), sirtuins and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways. This review summarizes the current understanding of how melatonin, together with molecular, cellular and systemic energy metabolisms, regulates epigenetic processes in the neurons. This information will lead to a greater understanding of molecular epigenetic aging of the brain and anti-aging mechanisms to increase lifespan under healthy conditions.     

Effect of tea catechin derivatives on stability of soybean oil/tea seed oil blend and oxidative stability of fried fish crackers during storage

Food Science and Biotechnology - Effect of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and (−)-epicatechin (EC) at different concentrations (100–300&nbsp;ppm) on frying stability of...