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The tumor suppressor p53-like protein p63 is required for self-renewal of epidermal tissues. Loss of p63 or exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation triggers terminal differentiation in keratinocytes. However, it remains unclear how p63 diverts epidermal cells from proliferation to terminal differentiation, thereby contributing to successful tissue self-renewal. Here, we used bottom-up proteomics to identify the proteome at the chromatin in normal human epidermal keratinocytes following UV irradiation and p63 depletion. We found that loss of p63 increased DNA damage and that UV irradiation recruited the cyclin-dependent kinase CDK12 and the serine/threonine protein kinase SMG1 to chromatin only in the presence of p63. A post-translational modification analysis of ΔNp63α with mass spectrometry revealed that phosphorylation of T357/S358 and S368 was dependent on SMG1, whereas CDK12 increased the phosphorylation of ΔNp63α at S66/S68 and S301. Indirect phosphorylation of ΔNp63α in the presence of SMG1 enabled ΔNp63α to bind to the tumor suppressor p53-specific DNA recognition sequence, whereas CDK12 rendered ΔNp63α less responsive to UV irradiation and was not required for specific DNA binding. CDK12 and SMG1 are known to regulate the transcription and splicing of RNAs and the decay of nonsense RNAs, respectively, and a subset of p63-specific protein-protein interactions at the chromatin also linked p63 to RNA transcription and decay. We observed that in the absence of p63, UV irradiation resulted in more ORF1p. ORF1p is the first protein product of the intronless non-LTR retrotransposon LINE-1, indicating a derailed surveillance of RNA processing and/or translation. Our results suggest that p63 phosphorylation and transcriptional activation might correspond to altered RNA processing and/or translation to protect proliferating keratinocytes from increased genotoxic stress.

The D614G mutation in the Spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 has effectively replaced the early pandemic-causing variant. Using pseudotyped lentivectors, we confirmed that the aspartate replacement by glycine in position 614 is markedly more infectious. Molecular modelling suggests that the G614 mutation facilitates transition towards an open state of the Spike protein. To explain the epidemiological success of D614G, we analysed the evolution of 27,086 high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from GISAID. We observed striking coevolution of D614G with the P323L mutation in the viral polymerase. Importantly, the exclusive presence of G614 or L323 did not become epidemiologically relevant. In contrast, the combination of the two mutations gave rise to a viral G/L variant that has all but replaced the initial D/P variant. Our results suggest that the P323L mutation, located in the interface domain of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, is a necessary alteration that led to the epidemiological success of the present variant of SARS-CoV-2. However, we did not observe a significant correlation between reported COVID-19 mortality in different countries and the prevalence of the Wuhan versus G/L variant. Nevertheless, when comparing the speed of emergence and the ultimate predominance in individual countries, it is clear that the G/L variant displays major epidemiological supremacy over the original variant.

Background The selection and the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors to the main classes of insecticides used in vector control tools are a major and ongoing challenge to malaria vector control programmes. This study aimed to determine the intensity of vector resistance to insecticides in three regions of Benin with different agro-ecological characteristics. Methods Larvae of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) were collected from September to November 2017 in different larval sites in three northern Benin communes: Parakou, Kandi and Malanville. Two to five-day-old, non-blood-fed, female mosquitoes were exposed to papers impregnated with deltamethrin, permethrin and bendiocarb at dosages of 1 × the diagnostic dose, 5 × and 10 × to determine the intensity of resistance in these vectors. Molecular frequencies of the kdr L1014F and ace-1R G119S insecticide resistance mutations and levels of detoxification enzymes were determined for mosquitoes sampled at each study site. Results Resistance to pyrethroids (permethrin and deltamethrin) was recorded in all three communes with mortality rates below 60% using the diagnostic dose (1x). The results obtained after exposure of An. gambiae to permethrin 10 × were 99% in Kandi, 98% in Malanville and 99% in Parakou. With deltamethrin 10x, mortality rates were 100% in Kandi, 96% in Malanville and 73% in Parakou. For the diagnostic dose of bendiocarb, suspected resistance was recorded in the communes of Malanville (97%) and Kandi (94%) while sensitivity was observed in Parakou (98%).Using the 10 × dose, mortality was 98% in Kandi, 100% in Malanville and 99% in Parakou. The frequencies of the kdr L1014F allele varied between 59 and 83% depending on the sites and species of the An. gambiae complex, while the frequency of the ace-1R G119S gene varied between 0 and 5%. Biochemical tests showed high levels of oxidase and esterase activity compared to the susceptible colony strain of An. gambiae sensu stricto (Kisumu strain). Conclusion Anopheles gambiae showed a generalized loss of susceptibility to permethrin and deltamethrin but also showed moderate to high intensity of resistance in different regions of Benin. This high intensity of resistance is a potential threat to the effectiveness of vector control.

Background Insecticide resistance is threatening the effectiveness of efforts to control malaria vectors in Benin. This study explores the levels and mechanisms of insecticide resistance in An. gambiae s.l. to pyrethroids. Methods Larvae were collected from August 2017 to July 2018 in five communes in southern Benin (Adjohoun, Allada, Bohicon, Cotonou, and Porto-Novo) representing diverse ecological regions, and were reared in Benin’s insectary. Two- to five-day-old female mosquitoes from each district were exposed to multiple doses of deltamethrin and permethrin (1×, 2×, 5×, and 10×) using the WHO insecticide resistance intensity bioassay. The effect of pre-exposure to the synergist, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), was also tested at different pyrethroid doses. Molecular allele frequencies of kdr (1014F) and ace-1R (119S) insecticide resistance mutations and levels of detoxification enzymes were determined for mosquitoes sampled from each study area. Results An. gambiae s.l. were resistant to pyrethroid-only exposure up to 10× the diagnostic doses in all the study sites for both deltamethrin and permethrin. Mortality was significantly higher in An. gambiae s.l. pre-exposed to PBO followed by exposure to deltamethrin or permethrin compared to mosquitoes exposed to deltamethrin or permethrin only (p kdr resistance allele (1014F) frequency was high (75–100%), while the ace-1 resistance allele (G119S) frequency was low (0–3%). Analysis of the metabolic enzymatic activity of An. gambiae s.l. showed overexpression of nonspecific esterases and glutathione S-transferases (GST) in all study sites. In contrast to the PBO results, oxidase expression was low and was similar to the susceptible An. gambiae s.s. Kisumu strain in all sites. Conclusion There is high-intensity resistance to pyrethroids in southern Benin. However, pre-exposure to PBO significantly increased susceptibility to the pyrethroids in the different An. gambiae s.l. populations sampled. The use of PBO insecticide-treated bed nets may help maintain the gains in An. gambiae (s.l.) control in southern Benin. Graphical Abstract

Human milk fat (HMF) is an important source of nutrients and energy for infants. Triacylglycerols (TAGs) account for about 98% of HMF and have a unique molecular structure. HMF is highly enriched in palmitic acid (PA) at the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone (more than 70%) and in unsaturated fatty acids at the sn-1,3 position. The specific TAG structure in HMF plays a valuable function in infant growth. Sn-2 palmitate (mainly 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol) is one of the structured TAGs that is commonly supplemented into infant formula in order to enable it to present a similar structure to HMF. In this review, the development of the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of sn-2 palmitate over the last 25 years are summarized, with a focus on reaction schemes in a laboratory setting. Particular attention is also paid to the commercialized sn-1,3 regioselective lipases that are used in structured TAGs synthesis, to general methods of TAG analysis, and to successfully developed sn-2 palmitate products on the market. Prospects for the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of sn-2 palmitate are discussed.

The normal development and maintenance of central neural functions are highly correlated with the amount of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; ω-3 fatty acid) accumulated in the brain. DHA incorporated at the sn-2 position of lipids is well absorbed by intestinal mucosa and utilized efficiently in vivo. However, modern consumers have a reduced direct intake of DHA and increased intake of saturated fats or ω-6 fatty acid oils, resulting in behavioral and neurophysiological deficits. To provide an understanding of the integrated beneficial effects of DHA on the human brain, this review introduces the positional difference (sn-2 and sn-1,3 positions) of DHA on a glycerol skeleton in natural fats and oils, and further discusses the possible functional mechanism regarding DHA supplementation and the gut–brain axis. The multiple bidirectional routes in this axis offer a novel insight into the interaction between DHA supplementation, the gut microbiota, and brain health. To achieve high sn-2 DHA in diets, it is suggested that sn-2 DHA lipids be enzymatically produced in more efficient and economical ways by improving the specific activities of lipases and optimizing the purification procedures. These types of diets will benefit individuals with strong needs for sn-2 ω-3 lipids such as infants, children, and pregnant and lactating women.

In April 2012, groundwater and soil samples were taken in Kaltungo LGA in Gombe State to determine the quality of the groundwater (dry season).The goal of this study was to investigate some physicochemical parameters of drinking water samples from hand-dug wells and boreholes that had not been treated before consumption. As a result of reported dental fluorosis, the goal was to determine the quality of water from various sources. Dental fluorosis has been reported to be caused by intake of high doses of fluoride during the early childhood years when both the deciduous and the permanent dentition are developing. Ten soil and groundwater samples were obtained from four sampling sites, with two samples collected from Billiri LGA as a control. The parameters nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, chloride, fluoride, electrical conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, temperature, turbidity, total hardness, and total alkalinity were measured using a standard method on the samples obtained. The data revealed the following variations in the studied parameters in samples: temperature 24.5-27.3oc pH 5.47-7.50, electrical conductivity (EC) 700-20,000 \(\mu\)s/cm, total hardness 60.70- 979.6 mg/L, alkalinity 24.10-79.03mg/L, turbidity 0.06-95.40 NTU, phosphate 0.05-0.80 mg/L, fluoride 1.31-1.97mg/L, nitrate 19.40-168.9 mg/L, chloride 2.66-24.82mg/L, sulphate192-424mg/L, dissolved oxygen 0.77-2.10 mg/L, biochemical oxygen demand 0.10-1.37mg/L, and chemical oxygen demand, 81.67-420.00mg/L. The amounts of majority of the studied indicators in the Kaltungo samples were over the World Health Organization's permitted limits for drinking water quality guidelines. The data was described using analyses of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation.

Coronavirus disease 2019, an infectious viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has been declared a global pandemic by World Health Organisation. The race to find an effective cure for it is on. Most of the candidate drugs in various clinical trials are being re-purposed but none has been approved as at date. It is pertinent for the bedside physicians to understand the mechanisms of action of these agents and their peculiar adverse effects so they are properly guided on the risk/benefit of the drugs they choose in managing COVID-19 patients. In this review, we aimed to review the mechanisms of action and adverse effects of the major drugs in clinical trials for COVID-19 therapeutics. Clinicaltrials.gov, the international clinical trials platform of the WHO, the EU clinical trials register and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for registered clinical trials. Studies in therapeutic trials were considered eligible for the work. Frequency table was made for the most common trialled drugs and the mechanisms of actions and adverse effects of the selected drugs were reviewed. 10 studies were selected for review in a descending order of their frequency in different therapeutic trials and these are ritonavir, lopinavir, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, interferon, remdesvir, favipravir, umifenovir, darunavir, tocilizumab and methylprednisolone. The bedside physicians need to understand the mechanisms of action of these agents and their peculiar adverse effects so they are properly guided on the risk/benefit of the drugs they choose in managing COVID-19 patients.

Ammonia emissions are a worldwide major environmental concern. In 2017, ammonia emissions in the European part of Russia amounted to 80.9 thousand tons, of which up to 56.9 thousand tons came from agriculture. The main source of ammonia in this sector is the farm animal/poultry manure (slurry) utilisation technologies. Slurry acidification technology (SAT) is one of the methods to reduce ammonia emissions. ( Research purpose ) To assess the potential application of this technology in the Russian part of the Baltic Sea catchment area within the North-West Federal District of the Russian Federation. ( Materials and methods ) The area under study included Republic of Karelia, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Novgorod and Pskov Regions. The authors considered the statistical data on the farm animal stock and the slurry output in the pilot area. The dynamic pattern of pig slurry pH was experimentally determined. The economic efficiency of slurry acidification technology was calculated for two functioning livestock complexes. ( Results and discussion ) According to statistical data, around 11.8 million tons of animal/poultry manure is produced in the pilot area annually, including around 7.4 million tons of slurry, which could potentially be acidified. Three SAT options – in-house, in-storage and in-field application – were considered for the Russian conditions. The main limiting factors for SAR application were identified. The SAT introduction costs and economic benefits were compared. ( Conclusions ) The prospects of SAT introduction in the pilot region were estimated. The need for the integrated research under the Russian conditions involving engineers, biologists, soil scientists, ecologists and other specialists, who could prove the feasibility and economic efficiency of the slurry acidification technology, was established.

Tectonic forces generated during thrust emplacement along active margins may drive complex fluid-flow patterns in fold-thrust belts and foreland basins. Isotope data (d2Hand d18O) of fluid inclusions hosted in calcite vein cements are used to reconstruct regional fluid migration pathways in the Albanide fold-thrust system. The calcite veins used in this study developed in a sequence of naturally fractured Cretaceous-Eocene carbonate rocks as a result of episodic throughput of fluids fromthe early stages of burial onward. The acquired fluid inclusion isotope data demonstrate that fluids circulating in the carbonates were derived from an underlying reservoir that consisted of a mixture of meteoric water and evolved marine fluids, probably derived from deep-seated evaporites. The meteoric fluids infiltrated in the hinterland before being driven outward into the foreland basin and ascended as soon as fracturing induced a sufficient increase in permeability. Structural and petrographic observations provide time constraints for the various phases of fracture infilling and reveal an increasing dominance of meteoric water in the system through time as migration pathways shortened and marine formation fluids were progressively flushed out. Similar fluid-flow evolutions have previously been recorded in various fold-thrust belt settings elsewhere in the world.

Oleogels were produced using a phytosterol blend of β-sitosterol/γ-oryzanol or a blend of sucrose stearate/ascorbyl palmitate (SSAP) as oleogelators. Four lipid phases were compared in oleogel formation for each oleogelator blend: menhaden oil, structured lipid (SL) of menhaden oil and 30 mol% caprylic acid (SL-C), SL of menhaden oil and 20 mol% stearic acid (SL-S), and SL of menhaden oil and 14 mol% each of caprylic and stearic acid (SL-CS). All SLs were produced enzymatically using a recombinant lipase from Candida antarctica as the biocatalyst. Menhaden oil, SL, phytosterol, or SSAP oleogels were evaluated as alternatives to shortening in the preparation of yellow cake in terms of batter and cake physicochemical properties. The shortening, phytosterol, and SSAP oleogel batters exhibited statistically similar specific gravities (0.85). The shortening, and menhaden oil phytosterol and SSAP oleogel batters, exhibited similar Power-Law values (n: 0.78, k: 31 Pa sn ), while all SL (and respective oleogels) batters typically had lower flow index values (n: 0.68 to 0.72), and higher consistency index values (k: 45 to 79 Pa sn ). All SL (and respective oleogels) cakes exhibited lower hardness (5 to 8 N) and chewiness (4 to 6 N) than the shortening cake (12 N, 9 N). Menhaden oil and SL-S phytosterol oleogel cakes, and SL-CS SSAP oleogel cake, showed similar textural properties to the shortening cake. Both phytosterol and SSAP oleogels were acceptable as zero trans-fat substitutes for shortening in yellow cake. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The oleogels in this study may be a suitable replacement for shortening in yellow cake. These oleogels, which contain health beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have the potential to lower consumer consumption of total saturated fat when used in foods.

The effects of four different frying oils and three emulsifiers on oil absorption by steam-and-fried instant noodles were evaluated. The blended oil (high oleic sunflower oil/soybean oil/palm oil = 24:25:1 (v/v/v)) containing approximately 50% oleic acid was chosen as the proper frying oil due to lower oil absorption by instant noodle compared to palm, soybean, and high oleic sunflower oils. Among the four oils, the interfacial tension between high oleic sunflower oil and instant noodle was the lowest (0.073 mN/m), resulting in the highest oil uptake (15.47%), while the lowest interfacial tension (0.30 mN/m) between blended oil and instant noodle resulted in the lowest oil uptake by the fried product (12.63%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to observe surface properties and oil distribution. The instant noodle fried in blended oil was found to have uniform oil distribution and smooth surface. After selecting the proper frying oil, three emulsifiers (soybean lecithin, Tween-80, Span-80, at 0.2% (v/v)) were added to the blended frying oil. Adding emulsifier into frying oil significantly decreased the interfacial tension between frying oil and instant noodle. Among the three emulsifiers, addition of soybean lecithin resulted in the lowest interfacial tension (0.010 mN/m) and the highest oil uptake (18.36%). Therefore, from this study, we do not recommend adding emulsifier into frying oil.

The distribution of oxygen isotopes between calcite and fluid inclusions has demonstrated utility for reconstructing near-surface calcite precipitation temperatures. For calcite that formed at depth, however, the resilience of this paleothermometer to diagenetic oxygen isotope alteration is poorly constrained. Clumped isotopes also document calcite precipitation temperatures and are similarly vulnerable to diagenetic alteration. Post-entrapment isotope exchange between calcite and fluid-inclusions could alter the calcite-fluid oxygen isotope distribution (αc-fi), as well as the clumped isotope composition (Δ47) of calcite, and therefore these two seemingly independent paleo-thermometers are potentially linked via the same alteration process. Using closed-system batch fractionation equations, we have modelled various scenarios of oxygen isotope exchange between water and host-rock during burial, as well as internal oxygen isotope exchange between calcite and fluid inclusions during exhumation. Assuming both paleo-thermometers record concordant temperatures at the time of vein formation, our models predict that if a fraction of calcite is available for isotopic interaction with fluid inclusions, the fluid inclusion and clumped isotope-derived paleothermometers yield discrepant temperature estimates after exhumation. We show that the fluid inclusion thermometer is more sensitive to isotopic alteration than the clumped isotope thermometer and that the mass balance of oxygen between calcite and fluid inclusions determines the sensitivity of both paleothermometers as well as the vulnerability of fluid inclusions (δ18Ofi) to diagenetic overprinting. We applied coupled clumped isotope and fluid inclusion measurements on calcite veins from the External Albanides (Albania), which were formed at depth and subsequently exhumed, in order to compare natural samples to our isotope exchange model. These veins show strongly discrepant calcite-water equilibrium temperatures and clumped isotope temperatures, suggesting the fraction of calcite available for isotope exchange with internal fluids may indeed be a key parameter of diagenetic alteration during exhumation. Even though the clumped isotope temperatures of our samples appear to be insensitive towards internal oxygen isotope exchange, our model predicts that at low burial temperatures, the carbonate clumped isotope thermometer may be susceptible to alteration by diagenetic isotope exchange with fluid inclusions under certain conditions.

Monitoring vector resistance to insecticides is a major component of resistance management. Adults of Anopheles gambiae s.l. from larvae collected at thirteen sites were tested with papers impregnated with bendiocarb, permethrin; deltamethrin; pirimiphos-methyl and induced bottles of insecticide including bendiocarb; deltamethrin, permethrin and pirimiphos-methyl. Molecular analyses were performed and detoxification enzyme levels were determined for each study site. This study revealed a generalized distribution of resistance of An. gambiae s.l. to pyrethroids (permethrin and deltamethrin) and a clear resistance to carbamates (bendiocarb) especially in the northern region of the country. This vector is still susceptible to organophosphates, especially pirimiphos-methyl, but resistance is a dynamic phenomenon and it would be necessary to monitor the susceptibility of these anopheles to pyrimiphos-methyl and to find alternative vector control methods to slow down the spread of resistance genes.

The D614G mutation of the Spike protein is thought to be relevant for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we report biological and epidemiological aspects of this mutation. Using pseudotyped lentivectors, we were able to confirm that the G614 variant of the Spike protein is markedly more infectious than the ancestral D614 variant. We demonstrate by molecular modelling that the replacement of aspartate by glycine in position 614 facilitates the transition towards an open state of the Spike protein. To understand whether the increased infectivity of the D614 variant explains its epidemiological success, we analysed the evolution of 27,086 high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from GISAID. We observed striking coevolution of D614G with the P323L mutation in the viral polymerase. Importantly, exclusive presence of G614 or L323 did not become epidemiologically relevant. In contrast, the combination of the two mutations gave rise to a viral G/L variant that has all but replaced the initial D/P variant. There was no significant correlation between reported COVID mortality in different countries and the prevalence of the Wuhan versus G/L variant. However, when comparing the speed of emergence and the ultimate predominance in individual countries, the G/L variant displays major epidemiological supremacy. Our results suggest that the P323L mutation, located in the interface domain of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), is a necessary alteration that led to the epidemiological success of the present variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Introduction We reviewed the types of monoclonal antibodies being repurposed for COVID-19 therapeutics, the clinical outcomes and adverse effects so as to provide evidence the bedside physicians, the health policy-makers and the general public could employ in the COVID-19 management protocol. Methods This systematic review was conducted following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s critical appraisal checklists for evaluation of the quality of studies were employed to assess the quality of the different types of primary studies included in the review. Results Our search strategy identified 396 potentially relevant articles which decreased to 322 after duplicates were removed. 281 articles were screened out due to lack of relevance. The full text of the remaining 41 relevant papers were retrieved for full text evaluation after which only 19 studies from eight countries met our eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Majority (42%) of the studies emanated from Italy. Also, 94.7% of the studies used tocilizumab. A total of 698 patients were included in all the studies with a male/female ratio of 1.94:1. 78.9% of the studies stated patients’ co-morbidities which include hypertension (80%), diabetes mellitus (73.3%), cardiovascular disease (53.3%) and obesity (26.7%). 75.9% of the patients recovered. Adverse effects reported included viral myocarditis, bacteraemia, candidaemia and invasive aspergillosis. Conclusion Monoclonal antibodies, especially tocilizumab and eculizumab hold some promise in the treatment of the disease but controlled clinical trials using them as monotherapy are needed to further evaluate this finding.

Few data-driven metabolomic approaches have been reported in sickle cell disease (SCD) to date. We performed a metabo-lipidomic study on the plasma and red blood cells of a steady-state mouse model carrying the homozygous human hemoglobin SS, compared with AS and AA genotypes. Among the 188 metabolites analyzed by a targeted quantitative metabolomic approach, 153 and 129 metabolites were accurately measured in the plasma and red blood cells, respectively. Unsupervised PCAs (principal component analyses) gave good spontaneous discrimination between HbSS and controls, and supervised OPLS-DAs (orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analyses) provided highly discriminant models. These models confirmed the well-known deregulation of nitric oxide synthesis in the HbSS genotype, involving arginine deficiency and increased levels of dimethylarginines, ornithine, and polyamines. Other discriminant metabolites were newly evidenced, such as hexoses, alpha-aminoadipate, serotonin, kynurenine, and amino acids, pointing to a glycolytic shift and to the alteration of metabolites known to be involved in nociceptive pathways. Sharp remodeling of lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylcholines, and sphingomyelins was evidenced in red blood cells. Our metabolomic study provides an overview of the metabolic remodeling induced by the sickle genotype in the plasma and red blood cells, revealing a biological fingerprint of altered nitric oxide, bioenergetics and nociceptive pathways.

The metabolomic profile of vaso-occlusive crisis, compared to the basal state of sickle cell disease, has never been reported to our knowledge. Using a standardized targeted metabolomic approach, performed on plasma and erythrocyte fractions, we compared these two states of the disease in the same group of 40 patients. Among the 188 metabolites analyzed, 153 were accurately measured in plasma and 143 in red blood cells. Supervised paired partial least squares discriminant analysis (pPLS-DA) showed good predictive performance for test sets with median area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves of 99% and mean p-values of 0.0005 and 0.0002 in plasma and erythrocytes, respectively. A total of 63 metabolites allowed discrimination between the two groups in the plasma, whereas 61 allowed discrimination in the erythrocytes. Overall, this signature points to altered arginine and nitric oxide metabolism, pain pathophysiology, hypoxia and energetic crisis, and membrane remodeling of red blood cells. It also revealed the alteration of metabolite concentrations that had not been previously associated with sickle cell disease. Our results demonstrate that the vaso-occlusive crisis has a specific metabolomic signature, distinct from that observed at steady state, which may be potentially helpful for finding predictive biomarkers for this acute life-threatening episode.

Background In May 2019, a confirmed dengue fever case was detected at the local hospital of Abomey-Calavi Commune in southern Benin. In Benin, there remains a dearth of literature concerning the distribution and biology of Aedes aegypti, the principal vector of dengue fever. This study was initiated by the Ministry of Health to partially fill this gap. The findings allowed us to assess the arboviral transmission risk incurred by the population of Abomey-Calavi to support programmatic decision-making. Methods Entomological assessments were conducted in 5% of the houses, meaning 314 houses selected from 11 boroughs in Abomey-Calavi Centre district and 9 villages in Hêvié district. The surveyed breeding sites were water containers located in (domestic) and around (peri-domestic) the dwellings. When a container was positive (housing larvae), a portion of the immature population was sampled with a larval dipper and poured into labeled jars. Immatures were then reared to adulthood at the Centre de Recheche Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC) insectary. Adult mosquitoes were morphologically identified to species level by site and, a subsample of the collected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were used for WHO susceptibility tube tests. Results Of the 1372 adult Aedes specimens which emerged from the collected larvae and pupae, 1356 Ae. aegypti (98.83%), 10 Ae. luteocephalus, and 4 Ae. vittatus were identified. The Breteau indices were 160.2 in Abomey-Calavi Centre and 150 in Hêvié, whereas the House indices were 58.5% and 61.6% in the respective districts. WHO insecticide susceptibility tube tests showed that the mortality rates were 38.71% in Abomey-Calavi Centre and 85.71% in Hêvié for permethrin, and 72.22% in Abomey-Calavi Centre and 100% in Hêvié for deltamethrin. Conclusion The two districts were highly infested by Ae. aegypti whose breeding sites were mostly man-made. Considering this, human behavioral change to substantially reduce the number of larval habitats is necessary to control the vector populations. As Aedes mosquitoes are day biters, the use of repellents such as ointments and smoke coils can also be useful.

Introduction Arterial hypertension is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa due to its high frequency and to the cardiovascular risk that it entails. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of clinical and biological risk factors of hypertension in Bamako (Mali). Methods We conducted a case-control study, stratified in function of the sex, of 72 participants including 36 patients with hypertension and 36 controls. Twenty-two plasma biochemical parameters have been measured and analyzed using univariate and multivariate tests. Results Hyperhomocysteinemia was found in 55.6% of women (p = 0.03) and 100% of men (p = 0.007) with hypertension. High NT-proBNP was also found in 16.7% of women (VIP > 1 in multivariate model) and of men with hypertension (p = 0.00006). A good multivariate predictive model (OPLS-DA) was only obtained in women with high blood pressure, with Q2cum = 0.73, attesting severe sexual dimorphism associated with arterial hypertension. This model involved eight parameters whose plasma concentration was modified (homocysteine, NT-proBNP, potassium, urea, blood glucose, sodium, chlorine and total proteins). Conclusion We registered a significant association between hyperhomocysteinemia and arterial hypertension. Therefore, the assay of homocysteine associated with good management would decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases while improving the quality of life of hypertensive patients.

Mango kernel fat-third stearin (MKF-TS) is one of the most valuable cocoa butter improvers. Hard chocolate fats were prepared using MKF-TS, hard palm-mid fraction (HPMF) and cocoa butter (CB) via physical blending and enzymatic interesterification. The optimal physical blend (PB) produced from 10% HPMF, 55% MKF-TS and 35% CB contained 60.9 g/100 g 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol, 21.1 g/100 g 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-3-stearoylglycerol and 9.5 g/100 g 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoylglycerol. The optimal interesterified blend (IB) enzymatically synthesized from 20% HPMF, 60% MKF-TS and 20% CB shared similar triacylglycerol composition to PB. Both PB and IB showed improved thermostabilities compared to CB in terms of sold fat contents, melting and crystallization behaviors. They also exhibited β polymorphic forms and 50–120 μm featherlike crystals, which were close to those of CB. The melting of IB tended to be sharper than non-interesterified blend (Non-IB) and its crystals were more continuous and uniform, indicating that enzymatic interesterification is a potential technique for manufacturing hard chocolate fats.

Antioxidant activities of 1-o-galloylglycerol (GG), propyl gallate, rosmarinic acid (RA), tocopherols (TOC), and 1:1 combinations of GG/RA and GG/TOC were evaluated using in vitro assays including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS+), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Soybean oil stripped of TOC was utilized as bulk oil and as the oil phase in O/W emulsions for accelerated oxidation test with the selected phenolic compounds. Efficacies of antioxidants were evaluated by monitoring total oxidation (TOTOX) values and fatty acid profiles of oil and O/W samples during the accelerated oxidation. In bulk oil, GG outperformed other singular antioxidants, preventing 39.04% of oxidation for ω-3 fatty acids with a TOTOX value of 166.68. In emulsions, TOC outperformed other singular antioxidants, preventing 38.04% of oxidation with a TOTOX value of 196.72. Considering the polarities of the antioxidants and our testing systems, these results provide supporting evidence for the polar paradox theory.

Human milk fat (HMF) is a perfect nutritional source that includes all the required ingredients which are necessary for the growth of infants up to 6 months. Although its composition may differ among mothers or during lactation stage, its unique triacylglycerol (TAG) structure remains constant which is characterized by the presence of palmitic acid (PA) at the sn-2 position. Previous reports provided convincing information of higher PA and calcium absorption and efficient use of dietary energy when at this specific position in the TAG moiety than when PA is at the sn-1,3 positions. During the design of structured lipids (SLs) intended for infant nutrition, this unique property is taken into consideration. Human milk fat substitutes (HMFS) enriched with important fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are intended to better mimic the functions of HMF as well as provide associated health benefits. The use of microencapsulation technology and novel technologies such as ultrasound technology in conjunction with SL production and enzyme-catalyzed reactions are evolving and ongoing issues in infant formula production. Therefore, further studies should be directed towards new process improvements in order to increase the functional properties and oxidative stabilities of HMFS. Novel technologies in lipid biotechnology related to HMFS preparation should also be explored.

This study is the first report on the quality indices of Chinese wood-pressed rapeseed oil. Nineteen representative wood-pressed rapeseed oil samples (representing 80% of the factories that produce this oil in China) were collected and investigated for their physicochemical properties (acid value, peroxide value, color value, and oxidative stability index), fatty acid composition, as well as contents of tocopherols, phytosterols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), aflatoxin B1, arsenic, and lead. Significant differences were observed in the quality results of 19 wood-pressed rapeseed oil samples. The acid value, peroxide value, and color values, as well as the oxidative stability index were found in the ranges of 1.10–3.04 mg KOH/g, 0.84–9.34 mequiv O2/kg, 3.50–5.30 (Y = 35, R), and 4.43–10.34 h (120 °C), respectively. Sixteen of the analyzed oil samples had greater than 2% erucic acid. Tocopherols content ranged from 50.93 to 97.54 mg/100 g and phytosterols content ranged from 453.86 to 735.65 mg/100 g. Meanwhile, benzo[a]pyrene and PAH4 were 1.00–13.57 and 7.47–33.55 μg/kg, respectively. Fourteen samples exceeded the maximum allowable limit of benzo[a]pyrene and PAH4 (chrysene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluroranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) according to the European Union (EU) standards. However, the contents of aflatoxin B1, arsenic, and lead of the tested oil samples were all in conformance with the EU, Codex Alimentarius, and China national standards. Results showed that more attention should be paid to the problem of high PAH4 contents in wood-pressed rapeseed oil. The inspection and monitoring of raw materials and processing equipment, as well as the establishment of quality standards for the production of high-quality wood-pressed rapeseed oil are necessary.

Blends [60:40, 70:30, and 80:20 (w/w)] of coconut oil (CO) and high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) were interesterified using immobilized enzyme, Lipozyme® TL IM (Novozymes North America Inc., Franklinton, NC, USA). The structured lipids (SLs), referred to as interesterified products (IPs) IP60:40, IP70:30, and IP80:20, were compared to CO and HOSO for application in edible films. IPs were compared based on fatty acid profile, TAG molecular species, melting profile, moisture vapor permeability, mechanical properties, film transparency, density, and thickness. Interesterification increased oleic acid content at the sn-2 position of IPs. CO had 5.50 ± 1.67 mol% oleic acid at the sn-2 position, and when interesterified with HOSO (92.81 ± 1.10 mol% oleic acid) the amount of oleic acid significantly increased (p

International audience; There is current interest in utilizing oxygenated biofuels such as carbonates in blends with conventional oilderived liquid fuels. Carbonates, commonly used as electrolyte solvents in Li-ion cells, could ignite after abusive operating conditions. Improving the kinetic modeling of the oxidation of these bio-derived oxygenates requires further investigation under well-controlled conditions. An experimental and detailed chemical kinetic modeling study of diethyl carbonate (DEC) oxidation and combustion was performed. Experiments were carried out in a jet stirred reactor over a wide range of equivalence ratios, temperatures, and pressure. Mole fractions of stable species were measured in the jet stirred reactor at atmospheric pressure. Burning velocities of DEC/air mixtures were determined at elevated temperature over a range of pressures and equivalence ratios. A detailed chemical kinetic modeling was performed using the present experimental results and existing literature data and model. The model represents fairly well the present data. Sensitivity and reaction paths analyses were used to rationalize the results.

The aim of this study was to discriminate the geographic origin of Korean, Chinese, and Indian sesame oils distributed in Korea using 1H NMR spectroscopy in combination with canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). 1H NMR spectra were obtained from 84 roasted oil samples prepared from 51 Korean, 19 Chinese, and 14 Indian sesame seeds. The integration values of 26 peaks observed in the NMR spectra were determined and normalized on the basis of the peak derived from the terminal CH3 of the fatty acids (0.7446-1.0445 ppm). The variables selected for the CDA include the integration value of one peak (2.7208-2.8533 ppm) that signifies the CH2 between two C=C bonds from linoleic acid and the integration values of three peaks (2.9811-3.1151 ppm, 3.5914-3.6819 ppm, and 5.9471-5.9625 ppm) attributed to the protons of sesamolin. The CDA results showed that 80 of the 84 oil samples and five of the six additional commercial sesame oil samples were correctly classified based on their production site. This study demonstrated that 1H NMR spectroscopy is a useful tool to simultaneously analyze the relative abundance of linoleic acid and sesamolin in the sesame oils and good discrimination between the three Asian sesame oils could be achieved when the 1H NMR analytical data were used in combination with CDA.

The physical and oxidative stability of high-fat omega-3 delivery systems such as fish oil-in-water emulsions stabilized with combinations of sodium caseinate (CAS) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) was optimized. The influence of fish oil content (50, 60 and 70%, w/w), amount of total emulsifier CAS + PC (1.4, 2.1 and 2.8%, w/w) and ratio between CAS and PC (0.4, 1.2 and 2) on physical and oxidative parameters was investigated. Creaming and droplet size significantly decreased when the amount of fish oil, total emulsifier and ratio of CAS to PC were increased. Viscosity decreased significantly with decreasing fish oil content, whereas the ratio of CAS to PC did not have a significant influence. Decreasing the ratio of CAS to PC led to emulsions with a significantly lower concentration of 1-penten-3-ol, while no significant effect was found for other volatiles such as (E)-2-pentenal, (E)-2-hexenal and (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal.

Lipases and esterases are both versatile biocatalysts that catalyse and accelerate the hydrolysis of ester-linked compounds. Lipases preferentially catalyse hydrolysis of water-insoluble esters such as triacylglycerols (TAGs) whereas esterases hydrolyse water-soluble esters or short-chain fatty acid TAG. Their high selectivity with broad substrate range makes these biocatalysts an ideal catalyst for organic synthesis in comparison to conventional chemical catalysts. The present monograph covers topics such as the original sources and classification of lipases and esterases, their respective catalytic properties as well as their substrate selectivity. Moreover, the potential applications of these enzymes with reference to food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries in recent years are discussed extensively in this article.

This study investigates the stabilization of fish oil‐loaded electrosprayed capsules with different natural antioxidants: i) an ethanol extract from the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus; or ii) a combination of δ‐tocopherol and rosemary extract. The seaweed extract enhances the oxidative stability of fish oil‐loaded capsules with dextran as the main biopolymer wall material, but shows a prooxidant effect in fish oil‐loaded capsules having glucose syrup as the main biopolymer. These results can mainly be explained by the higher encapsulation efficiency of dextran capsules when compared to glucose capsules (90 vs. 83–85%), which prevents interaction of metal ions present in the extract with non‐encapsulated oil. On the contrary, the addition of a lipophilic radical scavenger such as δ‐tocopherol in combination with synergistic antioxidants such as carnosic acid and carnosol present in rosemary extract improves the oxidative stability of glucose syrup capsules during 21 day storage, but not when the capsules are added to mayonnaise. Moreover, the capsule‐containing mayonnaise presents a larger droplet size and higher apparent viscosity than mayonnaise enriched with neat fish oil. Both findings indicate that the structure of capsules may have been lost when added to a water‐based food matrix (e.g., mayonnaise) and this requires further investigation. Practical Applications: Novel omega‐3 delivery systems that are more easily dispersed and still maintain their oxidative stability are needed by the food industry. Electrosprayed capsules with a reduced size when compared to spray‐dried capsules, and which are produced without the need of heat for drying emulsions are promising omega‐3 powdered encapsulates. Moreover, the addition of natural antioxidants, commonly used by the industry to further stabilize omega‐3 encapsulates, deserves scientific attention. This study reveals the effect of seaweed antioxidants (e.g., phlorotannins) and commercial natural antioxidants (e.g., δ‐tocopherol and rosemary extract) on the oxidative stability of electrosprayed capsules loaded with fish oil. In addition, the effect of adding the capsules to a food matrix such as mayonnaise has been investigated. Although further development is necessary, these results will open up new strategies to enrich food products with omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fish oil‐loaded electrosprayed capsules stabilized with antioxidants. This study investigates the stabilization of fish oil‐loaded electrosprayed capsules with different natural antioxidants: i) an ethanol extract from the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus; or ii) a combination of δ‐tocopherol and rosemary extract.

The clonal INS-1E beta-cell line has proven to be instrumental for numerous studies investigating the mechanisms of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The composition of its culture medium has not changed over the years, although some compounds have been recently highlighted for their effects on tissue differentiation. The present study investigated the effects of long-term treatment of INS-1E cells with 1 μM resveratrol on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, testing an extended glucose dose response. The data demonstrate that chronic exposure to low-dose resveratrol expands the range of the glucose dose response of INS-1E cells beyond 15 mM glucose. We also assessed whether such beneficial effects could be retained after resveratrol withdrawal from the culture medium. This was not the case as INS-1E cells deprived of resveratrol returned to the phenotype of naïve cells, i.e., exhibiting a plateau phase at 15 mM glucose. Of note, although resveratrol has antioxidant properties, it cannot substitute for β-mercaptoethanol normally present in the medium of INS-1E cells as a reducing agent. In conclusion, the addition of resveratrol as a standard component of the culture medium of INS-1E cells improves glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

Neurology has always been one of the therapeutic areas with higher attrition rates. One of the main difficulties is the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) that restricts access to the brain for major drugs. This low success rate has led to an increasing demand for in vitro tools. The shear stress, which positively affects endothelial cell differentiation by mimicking blood flow, is required for a more physiological in vitro BBB model. We created an innovative device specifically designed for cell culture under shear stress to investigate drug permeability. Our dynamic device encompasses two compartments communicating together via a semi-permeable membrane, on which human cerebral microvascular endothelial (hCMEC/D3) cells were seeded. The fluidic controlled environment ensures a laminar and homogenous flow to culture cells for at least seven days. Cell differentiation was characterized by immunodetection of inter-endothelial junctions directly in the device by confocal microscopy. Finally, we performed permeability assay with lucifer yellow in both static and dynamic conditions in parallel. Our dynamic device is suited to the evaluation of barrier function and the study of drug transport across the BBB, but it could also be used with other human cell types to reproduce intestinal or kidney barriers.

Interesterification is widely employed as an effective technique to modify oils and fats. This study utilizes palm-based oil (palm olein: palm kernel oil: palm stearin, 5:3:2, w/w/w) as the raw material for the interesterification process performed in a pilot-scale packed bed reactor. Enzymatic interesterification (EIE) was catalyzed by Lipozyme TL IM (813.0 g) at 60℃ with reaction flow rate of 100 mL/min. Chemical interesterification (CIE) was catalyzed using sodium methoxide (0.3 wt%) as catalyst at 105 °C for 30 min. The results showed that the EIE fats had lower solid fat content tendency compared to that of CIE fats. The crystallization onset temperature was higher in EIE fats (23.09℃) compared to that of CIE (19.08℃). The results were consistent with the crystallization kinetics whereby the Avrami K constants of EIE fats were higher than that of CIE fats at various temperatures, indicating rapid crystallization and instant nucleation. Linear growth mechanism was dominant and the crystals formed were smaller in size as observed using polarized light microscope. The interesterified fats exhibited the presence of β and β′-crystals. While most of the tocopherol content was retained after EIE (386.18 ug/g), the molecular distillation process reduced the tocopherol concentration (110.01 ug/g) which consequently affected the oxidative stability. The findings in this work contribute to the fundamental understanding on the differences between CIE and EIE fats and provides data to support the preparation of modified fats via EIE that shows great potential as a controllable technique for industrialization.

A novel diacylglycerol-based galloyl structured lipid, 1,2-dipalmitoylgalloylglycerol (DPGG), was synthesized using the enzymatic transesterification of propyl gallate (PG) and tripalmitin under solvent-free condition. An immobilized and commercially available food-grade Candida antarctica lipase B, Lipozyme® 435, was used as the biocatalyst. The reaction variables that affect the yield of DPGG were optimized using a 33 full factorial design. At 70 °C, DPGG was obtained at a yield of 33.0 ± 2.0% with PG conversion at 44.8 ± 1.8% when the following condition was used: 25 substrate molar ratio of tripalmitin to PG, 120 h reaction time, and 25% enzyme load relative to the total substrate weight. The structure of reaction product was elucidated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), electrospray ionization high-resolution accurate-mass tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-HRAM-MS/MS), and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The effects of different lipases and galloyl donors/acceptors on the transesterification were also investigated.

Phenolic compounds, including propyl gallate, 1-o-galloylglycerol, ferulic, gallic, caffeic, rosmarinic, and carnosic acids, tocopherols, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), were investigated as antioxidants to improve the oxidative stability of a structured lipid (SL) produced by the enzymatic acidolysis of menhaden oil with caprylic and stearic acids. SL had similar physical properties to butterfat but was more susceptible to oxidation. The above phenolic compounds were each added to SL as antioxidants. SL with 1-o-galloylglycerol, rosmarinic acid, or BHT showed the highest oxidative stability during an accelerated oxidation test with the total oxidation (TOTOX) value around 250 after 18 days. Oxidation induction time (OIT) using differential scanning calorimetry showed a good correlation with the accelerated oxidation test. A mixture of 1-o-galloylglycerol and tocopherols at 50:50 ppm had the strongest protective effect on SL (OIT = 115.1 min) compared to the other tested compounds or combinations at the same concentration (OIT 100 min).

The objective of this study was to induce crystallization in enzymatically interesterified fats (IE) with 20 and 30% palmitic acid at the sn-2 position using high intensity ultrasound (HIU). The physical blends (PB) used to prepare these two IE were consisted of tripalmitin and high oleic sunflower oil and contained 13.2 and 27.1% tripalmitin, respectively. Crystallization behavior of IE was compared with PB at supercoolings of 9, 6 and 3 °C. Results show that the melting point, SFC, and crystallization rate of PB were higher than IE and were driven mainly by tripalmitin content. HIU induced crystallization and generated small crystals in the IE samples. At 9 °C supercooling, sonication did not increase the viscosity of IE C16:0 20%, while that of the IE C16:0 30% increased significantly from 192.4 ± 118.9 to 3297.7 ± 1368.6 Pa·s. The elastic modulus (G’) for IE C16:0 30% increased from 12521 ± 2739.8 to 75076.7 ± 18259 Pa upon sonication at 9 °C supercooling, while the G’ of the IE C16:0 20% did not increase. Similar behavior was observed for the other supercoolings tested. This research suggests that HIU can improve the functional properties of IE with low content of C16:0 creating more viscous and elastic materials. These fats with low C16:0 content and improved functional properties could be used as trans-free fat alternatives.

A glucose-cysteine Maillard reaction product (MRP) was produced and its antioxidant effects on lipid oxidation were determined for a structured-lipid enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids in a complex emulsion. Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacities (TEAC) were determined for MRP heating intervals of 2, 4, and 6 h and were compared to α-tocopherol (TOC), MRP with TOC (TOC-MRP), and TOC with ascorbyl palmitate (TOC-AP). Emulsions were produced with total antioxidant additions of 0.02% of the oil, and lipid oxidation was monitored by peroxide and p-anisidine values over 56 d. Positive correlations between browning and heating time as well as TEAC were observed. Total TEAC values for the MRP at 6 h, TOC, TOC with the MRP at 6 h, and TOC-AP were 2.51, 3.87, 2.68, and 2.76 mg trolox eq/g, respectively. Oxidation results indicated a possible antioxidant effect for the MRP at 6 h on secondary oxidation for days 14 to 28. These results suggest that the MRP at 6 h could be useful in inhibiting secondary oxidation in complex emulsions.

Cyclopentanone oxidation was studied in a jet-stirred reactor at 1 and 10 atm and over the temperature range of 730–1280 K for fuel-lean (φ = 0.5), stoichiometric, and fuel-rich (φ = 2) mixtures. A total of 16 reaction intermediates and products were identified and quantified using online Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and offline gas chromatography. A kinetic submodel was developed, supported by theoretical calculations for the rate constants of hydrogen abstraction reactions by H atoms and OH and CH3 radicals at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. The resulting model consisting of 343 species involved in 2065 reactions was used to simulate the present experiments and showed good agreement with the data. The main oxygenated intermediates are aldehydes, and cyclopentenone was also found to be an important species for cyclopentanone oxidation. The rate of production analyses showed that cyclopentanone is mainly consumed by a sequence of reactions producing CO and the but-1-en-4-yl radical. Unimol...

Effectiveness of omega-3 supplementation in cystic fibrosis (CF) remains controversial. This study sought to evaluate clinical status, exercise tolerance, inflammatory parameters, and erythrocyte fatty acid profile after 1 year of oral omega-3 supplementation in CF patients. Fifteen ΔF508-homozygous patients undergoing chronic azithromycin were randomized to receive omega-3 fish oil supplementation at a dose of 60mg/Kg/day or placebo. In comparison with the previous year, in the supplemented group, the number of pulmonary exacerbations decreased at 12 months (1.7 vs. 3.0, p

The physicochemical properties and volatile profiles of cold-pressed Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim (T. kirilowii) seed oils from four regions in China were determined in this study. The total oil content and cold-pressed oil yield of the four different sourced seeds were 38.06–44.33% and 15.17–30.97%, respectively. All the cold-pressed oil samples were found to be rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, with content ranging from 45.41 to 75.32% of the total fatty acids. Punicic, α-eleostearic and catalpic acids were the main conjugated linolenic acid isomers in the cold-pressed T. kirilowii seed oils. The results of melting and crystallization profiles indicated that each oil sample exhibited different transitions steps due to its triacylglycerol composition, crystal structure and total unsaturation. Analysis of volatile profiles showed that 2,4-nonadienal was one of the most important aldehydes in the cold-pressed T. kirilowii seed oils, and less short chain acids (0.20%) but more esters (5.48%) were found ...

An infant formula fat analog with capric acid mostly esterified at the sn-1,3 positions, and substantial amounts of palmitic, docosahexaenoic (DHA), and arachidonic (ARA) acids at the sn-2 position, was prepared by physically blending enzymatically synthesized structured lipids (SL) with vegetable oils. The components of the blend included high sn-2 palmitic acid SL enriched with capric acid (SLCA), canola oil (CAO), corn oil (CO), high sn-2 DHA (DHAOm), and high sn-2 ARA (ARAOm) enzymatically modified oils. Each component was proportionally blended to match the fatty acid profile of commercial fat blends used for infant formula. The infant formula fat analog (IFFA1) was characterized for total and positional fatty acids (FA), triacylglycerol (TAG) molecular species, thermal behavior, and tocopherol content. IFFA1 contained 17.37 mol% total palmitic acid of which nearly 35 % was located at the sn-2 position. The total capric acid content was 13.93 mol%. The content of DHA and ARA were 0.49 mol% (48.18 % at sn-2) and 0.57 mol% (35.80 % at sn-2), respectively. The predominant TAG were OPO (24.09 %), POP (15.70 %), OOO (11.53 %), and CLC (7.79 %). The melting completion and crystallization onset temperatures were 18.65 and −2.19 °C, respectively. The total tocopherol content was 566.45 μg/g. This product might be suitable for commercial production of infant formulas.

High sn-2 docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid oils (DHAOm and ARAOm, respectively) were produced independently via enzymatic interesterification of DHA-rich and ARA-rich single cell oils (DHASCO and ARASCO, respectively) using a mix of immobilized lipases, Lipozyme® TL IM and Novozym® 435 (weight ratio 1:1) as the biocatalyst system. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to model and optimize the reactions conditions. Three independent variables, namely reaction time, reaction temperature, and enzyme load, were investigated in DHAOm and ARAOm models. The prediction power of the model was further confirmed by solvent-free scale-up reactions of 100 g per batch. Final results showed that DHAOm contained 46.53 mol% of total DHA (49.70 % at the sn-2 position), while ARAOm contained 47.25 mol% of total ARA (36.08 % at the sn-2 position). This represents a significant increment in the amount of DHA and ARA at the sn-2 position when compared to DHASCO (47.8 mol%; 30.30 % at the sn-2) and ARASCO (47.79 mol%; 28.50 % at the sn-2), respectively. These products have potential as additions to infant formulas where DHA and ARA supplementation is required.

Youtiao, or oil stick, is a typical, traditional and widely-consumed fried food in China. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in youtiao from different origins was determined. The dietary exposure and cancer risk associated with benzo[a]pyrene equivalents from youtiao consumption were estimated using Monte Carlo simulation. Analysis of 16 PAHs in youtiao was completed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Concentrations of the sum of 16 PAHs were between 9.90 and 89.97 μg/kg. The sum concentrations of PAH4, including benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chr), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), ranged from 1.41 to 26.56 μg/kg. The median dietary exposure of BaPeq concentrations from youtiao for children, adolescents, adults and seniors in China, were 0.0147, 0.0101, 0.0561 and 0.0106 ng/(kg·day), respectively. Health risk estimates expressed as the 95th percentile incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCRs) with respect to PAHs indicated a slight potential carcinogenic risk for children in northern China and adults in both the north and south.

In this work, a synergistic effect of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polypyrrole (PPy) was studied in terms of their promotional role to enhance the capacity and cyclic stability of hollow SnO2 anodes in lithium-ion batteries. The core–shell structured hollow SnO2/rGO/PPy nanocomposites were synthesized using a hydrothermal method followed by an in situ chemical-polymerization route. Substantially improved cycling stability and rate capabilities are achieved on the SnO2/rGO/PPy ternary anodes. The exceptional cycling performance is due to the hollow ternary core–shell structure covered with PPy buffer layers along with the graphene frameworks further benefiting Li+ diffusivity and electrical conductivity. The significantly increased Li+ diffusion coefficient improves rate performance and the large current charge and discharge. Thus, taking all of these benefits together including the hollow structures of SnO2 particles, role of the buffer of PPy, and effective matrix of graphene, the ternary nanocomposites yield a robust architecture for anode materials in high-performance Li-ion batteries.

Blood samples from 1-, 5- and 10-year-old broad-breasted white turkeys were used to determine haematological and serum values. There were 8 turkeys in each age group.Mean haematocrit, haemoglobin and creatinine values were higher in the 1-year-old than in 10-year-old turkeys.Mean alanine aminotransferase was greater in 1 year old than in 10 year olds and greater in 5 year olds than in 10 year olds. Aspartate aminotransferase values were significantly different between all age groups.Mean alkaline phosphatase was less in 1-year-old than in 10-year-old turkeys. There were no significant differences between the three groups for cholesterol, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, calcium and bilirubin.All male turkeys had higher haemoglobin and haematocrit values than age-matched females.These data will help establish basic background references values in geriatric turkeys used in research.

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of herring roe phospholipids (PLs) on the oxidative stability of cod liver oil during storage. The effect of PLs on the oxidative stability of cod liver oil was assessed in terms of peroxide value, free fatty acids, secondary oxidation products and pyrrolisation. The results show that the PV was lower in cod liver oil containing PLs (P