Corn Syrup Research Articles

Determining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice

The metabolic effects of sugars and fat lie at the heart of the “carbohydrate vs fat” debate on the global obesity epidemic. Here, we use nutritional geometry to systematically investigate the interaction between dietary fat and the major monosaccharides, fructose and glucose, and their impact on body composition and metabolic health. Male mice (n = 245) are maintained on one of 18 isocaloric diets for 18–19 weeks and their metabolic status is assessed through in vivo procedures and by in vitro assays involving harvested tissue samples. We find that in the setting of low and medium dietary fat content, a 50:50 mixture of fructose and glucose (similar to high-fructose corn syrup) is more obesogenic and metabolically adverse than when either monosaccharide is consumed alone. With increasing dietary fat content, the effects of dietary sugar composition on metabolic status become less pronounced. Moreover, higher fat intake is more harmful for glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity irrespective of the sugar mix consumed. The type of fat consumed (soy oil vs lard) does not modify these outcomes. Our work shows that both dietary fat and sugars can lead to adverse metabolic outcomes, depending on the dietary context. This study shows how the principles of the two seemingly conflicting models of obesity (the “energy balance model” and the “carbohydrate insulin model”) can be valid, and it will help in progressing towards a unified model of obesity. The main limitations of this study include the use of male mice of a single strain, and not testing the metabolic effects of fructose intake via sugary drinks, which are strongly linked to human obesity.

The Influence of Starch Sweeteners on Functional Properties of Cellulose Fat Mimetics: Rheological and Textural Aspects.

Starch sweeteners are commonly used in many confectionery food products. Usually, considering the trend of producing low-energy and low-fat products, these products include fat mimetics. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of fructose sweeteners on the development of functional properties of MCG fat mimetic, such as rheological and textural behavior. Fat mimetics made from Microcrystalline cellulose gel (MCG) consist of colloidal microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and were observed in five different concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10%). The amount of starch sweetener in the mixture with the fat mimetics was 20%. The effect of pure crystalline fructose and a mixture of crystalline-fructose and high-fructose corn syrup in a ratio of 1:1 was analyzed. Rheological parameters significantly decreased with the application of starch sweeteners. By adding a mixture of starch sweeteners, this decrease was further increased by 10%. At higher gel concentrations of 5, 7, and 10%, the dominance of the elastic modulus G' was preserved. Texture parameters such as firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and viscosity index were reduced accordingly. The presence of starch sweeteners significantly disrupted the networking of the three-dimensional structure of the MCG gel and the proper hydration process during the formation of fat mimetics.

Preliminary evaluation of hepatitis A virus cell receptor 1/kidney injury molecule 1 in healthy horses treated with phenylbutazone.

To investigate if hepatitis A virus cell receptor 1/kidney injury molecule 1 (HAVCR1/KIM1) in urine is detectable concurrently with increases in serum creatinine concentrations in horses receiving a recommended dose of phenylbutazone (PBZ) for 7days. Preliminary study. Ten clinically healthy horses with normal physical examination and laboratory work were randomly assigned to PBZ or placebo groups (5 each). The PBZ group received PBZ at 4.4mg/kg mixed with corn syrup orally every 12hours. The placebo group received corn syrup orally every 12hours. Both groups were treated for 7days. Kidney ultrasonography was performed, and venous blood and urine samples were collected prior to commencement and at the end of treatment. Samples from 1 additional healthy horse, 3 horses with acute kidney failure, and 1 horse with chronic kidney failure were also evaluated. None of the 10 horses had detectable HAVCR1/KIM1 in urine at baseline. Serum creatinine concentrations in placebo group did not increase, and HAVCR1/KIM1 was undetectable in urine. At the end of treatment, 3 of 5 horses receiving PBZ developed increases in serum creatinine of >26.5μmol/L (>0.3mg/dL), and HAVCR1/KIM1 was detectable in urine, despite normal findings on kidney ultrasonography in all horses. HAVCR1/KIM1 is detectable in urine and is associated with increases in serum creatinine concentrations of >26.5 μmol/L in horses following treatment with PBZ for 7 consecutive days. Thus, HAVCR1/KIM1 might aid in the early detection of acute kidney injury in horses.

Comparative LCA studies of simulated HMF biorefineries from maize and miscanthus as an example of first‐ and second‐generation biomass as a tool for process development

Abstract5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a versatile platform chemical for a fossil free, bio‐based chemical industry. HMF can be produced by using fructose as a feedstock. Using edible, first‐generation biomass to produce chemicals has been questioned in terms of potential competition with food supply. Second‐generation biomass like miscanthus could be an alternative. However, there is a lack of information if second‐generation lignocellulosic biomass is a more sustainable feedstock to produce HMF. Therefore, a life cycle assessment was performed in this study to determine the environmental impacts of HMF production from miscanthus and to compare it with HMF from high‐fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS from either Hungary or Baden‐Württemberg (Germany) was considered. Compared to the HFCS biorefineries the miscanthus concept is producing less emissions in all impact categories studied, except land occupation. Overall, the production and usage of second‐generation biomass could be especially beneficial in areas where the use of N fertilizers is restricted. Besides, conclusions for the further development of the on‐farm biorefinery concept were elaborated. For this purpose, process simulations from a previous study were used. Results of the previous study in terms of TEA and the current LCA study in terms of environmental sustainability indicate that the lignin depolymerization unit in the miscanthus biorefinery has to be improved. The scenario without lignin depolymerization performs better in all impact categories. The authors recommend to not further convert the lignin to products like phenol and other aromatic compounds. The results of the contribution analyses show that the major impact in the HMF production is caused by the auxiliary materials in the separation units and the required heat. Further technical development should focus on efficient heat as well as solvent use and solvent recovery. At this point further optimizations will lead to reduced emissions and costs at the same time.

Comparative evaluation of natural and artificial sweeteners from DNA damage, oxidative stress, apoptosis, to development using Drosophila melanogaster

The overconsumption of added sugars makes people vulnerable to a myriad of diseases. Several biochemical and developmental assays were performed in the current study to assess the effect of fructose on Drosophila melanogaster and to find substitutes for fructose by comparing it to well-known sweeteners. Drosophila was exposed separately to the same ratio of sugar 9.21% (w/v) of several types of sweeteners (sucrose, fructose, glucose syrup, high-fructose corn syrup and stevia). Results revealed that fructose might induce recombination, whereas stevia lacks genotoxic potential. No developmental delay, growth defects, or neurotoxic effects were recorded for any of the sweeteners. We also observed no striking differences in reactive oxygen species levels. Thus, stevia seems to be an alternative sweetener to fructose that can be consumed to reduce fructose-induced anomalies.

(m-CF3-PhSe)2 counteracts metabolic disturbances and hypothalamic inflammation in a lifestyle rodent model.

An unhealthy lifestyle is associated with metabolic disorders and neuroinflammation. In this study, the efficacy of m-trifluoromethyl-diphenyl diselenide [(m-CF3-PhSe)2] against lifestyle model-related metabolic disturbances and hypothalamic inflammation in young mice was investigated. From postnatal day 25 (PND25) to 66, male Swiss mice were subjected to a lifestyle model, an energy-dense diet (20:20% lard: corn syrup) and sporadic ethanol (3x/week). Ethanol was administrated intragastrically (i.g., 2g/kg) to mice from PND45 to 60. From PND60 to 66, mice received (m-CF3-PhSe)2 (5mg/kg/day; i. g). (m-CF3-PhSe)2 reduced relative abdominal adipose tissue weight, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia in mice exposed to the lifestyle-induced model. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 normalized hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and the activity of G-6-Pase increased in lifestyle-exposed mice. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 was effective in modulating hepatic glycogen levels, citrate synthase and hexokinase activities, protein levels of GLUT-2, p-IRS/IRS, p-AKT/AKT, redox homeostasis, and inflammatory profile of mice exposed to a lifestyle model. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 counteracted hypothalamic inflammation and the ghrelin receptor levels in mice exposed to the lifestyle model. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 reversed the decreased levels of GLUT-3, p-IRS/IRS, and the leptin receptor in the hypothalamus of lifestyle-exposed mice. In conclusion, (m-CF3-PhSe)2 counteracted metabolic disturbances and hypothalamic inflammation in young mice exposed to a lifestyle model.

Chemical and functional characteristics to detect sugar syrup adulteration in honey from different botanical origins

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to detect the changes in physicochemical and functional properties of raw and processed divergent honey varieties after adulterating with different sugar syrups. Specifically, when 25% to 55% cane syrup was added to raw Acacia honey, the HMF content increased from 46.25 to 101.6 mg/kg. In processed honey that contained 55% cane syrup, HMF content was even higher, reaching up to 402.47 mg/kg. The reported values for HMF (>80 mg/kg) content and DN (>8 DN) were above the described quality evaluation standard of honey. The results indicated that adulterating Acacia honey with up to 55% corn and corn syrup caused a reduction in diastase content to below 3.5 DN, and an increase in HMF content above 93.28 mg/kg. Similarly, adding 10% corn syrup to raw Ziziphus honey resulted in a decrease in both DPPH and ABTS+ values from 83.16% and 88.58%, respectively, to 72.83% and 76.97%. The findings in this study demonstrated that the addition of malt syrup (55%) to raw Trifolium honey resulted in an increase in the phytochemical content, with the TPC value reaching 805.15 mg GAE/100 g. However, processing Trifolium honey caused a significant decrease in TPC content to 505.15 mg GAE/100 g. This work highlights the need for more research into unexplored honey varieties and adulteration methods to improve quality evaluation standards and mitigate authenticity issues.

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF MEDICATED HERBAL CANDY OF MAHUA FOR SORE THROAT

Madhuca longifolia commonly known as Mahua belonging to family Sapotaceae, is an Indian tropical tree, known for its sweet flowers which are edible and used by tribals for its medicinal purpose. The known pharmacological activity of the flowers of Madhuca longifolia are anti- inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, analgesic, anti-pyretic and wound healing properties and has no side effect even after consumption of larger doses. The prevalence of throat infections is rising day-by-day due to the increasing pollution, bacterial infection, gastro- intestinal disease, injury, allergies etc. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate medicated herbal candy of Mahua flowers for sore throat. The candy was prepared using a combination of natural ingredients such as dried Mahua flowers, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, honey, corn syrup and lemon juice. The candies were evaluated for their physicochemical parameters and antibacterial properties. The antibacterial property was evaluated by measuring the Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) obtained from the experiment. The results showed that the candy had desirable taste, color, and texture and can be an alternative to conventional sore throat remedies. KEYWORDS: Madhuca longifolia, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial

YÜKSEK FRUKTOZLU DİYETİN KARACİĞERDE GHRELİN VE KİSSPEPTİN DÜZEYLERİNE ETKİLERİNİN İNCELENMESİ

Aim: High fructose corn syrup has been used commonly in the food industry and it is related to many diseases including obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, fatty liver, and metabolic syndrome. Ghrelin is an orexigenic hormone besides it has widely spread receptors in many tissues which have various central and peripheral effects. Food intake may reduce its synthesis. Kisspeptin plays a major role in reproductive hormones and its receptor are expressed in tissue with high metabolic activities including the liver. It is aimed to examine the effects of HFCS consumption on liver tissue and its relationship with kisspeptin and ghrelin levels.
 Material and Method: Eight-ten weeks old, 14 adult Wistar albino male rats were used in the study and divided into 2 groups (Control, HFCS). Caspase 3, TNF-α, Ghrelin, and Kisspeptin levels in the liver tissues of the rats were measured by immunohistochemical method and then analyzed by histoscoring. 
 Results: According to our data, it was observed a significant increase in the levels of kisspeptin, Caspase 3, TNF-α and a decrease in ghrelin levels in the HFCS group compared to the control group. 
 Conclusion: In conclusion, in our study, changes in liver kisspeptin levels caused by a high fructose diet were shown for the first time. In addition, the use of HFCS in food caused inflammatory activation, tissue damage, and reduced ghrelin levels.
 Keywords: Apoptosis, Proinflammatory cytokines, Immunohistochemistry,

Influence of rare sugar syrup on quality attributes and acceptability of bread

SummaryRare sugar syrup (RSS) prepared by alkaline isomerisation of high‐fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contains rare sugars as well as D‐glucose (Glc) and D‐fructose (Fru) and has antiobesity and antidiabetic effects. RSS was used in making bread, and the quality of the final bread product was compared with bread with added sucrose (Suc). 20°Bx RSS‐ and 20°Bx HFCS‐added breads had lower loaf height and volume, moisture content and water activity compared with 20°Bx Suc‐added bread and had higher hardness and gumminess of bread crumb. In contrast, adding 2°Bx RSS did not affect the physical and texture characteristics of the bread. GC–MS analysis of the RSS‐added bread showed that acetol, 3,5‐dihydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one, 5‐methylfurfural and acetic acid were the main volatiles, and the amounts were higher than in the Suc‐ and HFCS‐added breads. The addition of 20°Bx RSS resulted in the lowest liking scores for the bread texture, hardness and elasticity. The RSS‐added bread, with a lower evaluation than the 20°Bx Suc‐added bread, was acceptable in overall preference as the 20°Bx HFCS‐added bread. Moreover, after processing, the 20°Bx RSS‐bread retained 86% of the rare sugar D‐allulose with its health functions, so it could be beneficial to consumer health compared with HFCS and Suc.

The Metabolic Effects of High-fructose Corn Syrup in Dental Tissues and Parotid Glands of Rats and the Therapeutic Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid

The Metabolic Effects of High-fructose Corn Syrup in Dental Tissues and Parotid Glands of Rats and the Therapeutic Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid

What the Lactate Shuttle Means for Sports Nutrition

The discovery of the lactate shuttle (LS) mechanism may have two opposite perceptions, It may mean very little, because the body normally and inexorably uses the LS mechanism. On the contrary, one may support the viewpoint that understanding the LS mechanism offers immense opportunities for understanding nutrition and metabolism in general, as well as in a sports nutrition supplementation setting. In fact, regardless of the specific form of the carbohydrate (CHO) nutrient taken, the bodily CHO energy flux is from a hexose sugar glucose or glucose polymer (glycogen and starches) to lactate with subsequent somatic tissue oxidation or storage as liver glycogen. In fact, because oxygen and lactate flow together through the circulation to sites of utilization, the bodily carbon energy flow is essentially the lactate disposal rate. Consequently, one can consume glucose or glucose polymers in various forms (glycogen, maltodextrin, potato, corn starch, and fructose or high-fructose corn syrup), and the intestinal wall, liver, integument, and active and inactive muscles make lactate which is the chief energy fuel for red skeletal muscle, heart, brain, erythrocytes, and kidneys. Therefore, if one wants to hasten the delivery of CHO energy delivery, instead of providing CHO foods, supplementation with lactate nutrient compounds can augment body energy flow.

Acquired Tastes: Stories about the Origins of Modern Food

Acquired Tastes may be an edited collection, but it makes a single, convincing argument—the modern US food system is a product of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, not of the last seventy years, as so many food writers (e.g., Michael Pollan) have argued. The volume's editors and authors effectively trace to this earlier period many aspects we think of as integral to “modern” food, including celebrity endorsements, plant-based meat, transnational distribution, and the labeling of mass-produced foods as “natural.” Acquired Tastes is a fun collection of well-written pieces that will be useful for scholars, viable for the classroom, and entertaining for foodies.The collection is divided into three sections. The first concerns the constriction of time and space that made modern food possible. The second concerns contests over trust—in both industrialized food products and in the system that provides this food. The third and final section considers the scientific advances that made “modern” food possible—and how people sold those advances to consumers.The editors are (perhaps rightly) loose in their definition of “modern” food; hence, the topics covered by this collection are myriad and fascinating. Readers will learn about the replacement of “real” sugar by corn syrup, the selling of bananas through both sex and race, and the importance of urban food carts, which reduced the likelihood that transported fruits would decay. Authors introduce mysteries that readers might not have considered. Want to know why the United States fails to feature many Filipino restaurants or how European beer styles were invented? Readers will find intriguing answers in this volume. Despite the pieces' variety, many themes run through the collection, including the importance of light versus dark foods, the growing use of food science, and the significance of food justice before we had a name for it.The volume, of course, does not cover every aspect of modern food. The book focuses largely on the United States, with some attention to other locations, most of which are in Europe. Some of the authors discuss the growing and raising of food. For instance, we hear about the role of 4-H in bringing nutritional science to rural areas and about the “ghost acres” created when California's Central Valley became a wheat producer, but the book's authors place more of an emphasis on the roles played by industrial packaging, laboratory work, and advertisers than on farms and agricultural labor.This reader is a sucker for edited volumes—there is something wonderful about a shared intellectual project. Such collections do, of course, face common pitfalls, most of which this collection artfully avoids. One common issue for edited volumes concerns the often uneven quality of contributions, particularly of the writing. However, the editors of this book cared deeply about the craft of writing. The acknowledgments section explains that the editors held a workshop about nonfiction writing with many of the contributors. They even asked a writing coach to provide guidance! The result is a collection written mostly by academics (and hence with their attention to citations, historical context, and the research process), but its brief pieces read more like magazine essays than like scholarly articles. Acquired Tastes, therefore, provides an engaging set of snippets from exciting recent and forthcoming projects. It deserves wide readership.

184 Horses with previous episodes of laminitis have altered insulin responses to seasonal oral sugar testing compared to horses with no known history of laminitis

Forage is essential to the equine diet for overall health and performance. However, intake of elevated pasture nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) can cause metabolic dysfunction in horses. This study aimed to investigate the influence of laminitis history on metabolic and morphometric responses in grazing horses over 12 consecutive months. Twelve mares (15 ± 3.4 yrs) were selected for this study based on previous diagnosis of laminitis (PRELAM; n = 6) or no known history of laminitis (NOLAM; n = 6). Horses were maintained on 8.5-ha cool season pasture in northern Virginia with access to hay in winter months. Weekly pasture samples (200 g wet weight) were clipped at random, 2.5 cm from base of plant for nutrient analysis. Weekly blood samples were collected and analyzed for glucose and insulin concentrations. Morphometric data including body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), and cresty neck score (CNS) were evaluated weekly. Monthly, a modified oral sugar test (OST) was used to assess basal (T0) and 75-min (T75) insulin dynamics following 0.30 mL/kg BW Karo Light Corn Syrup administration. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED with repeated measures in SAS (v. 15.1., SAS Institute, Cary, NC) and presented as mean ± SEM. Initial BW, BCS, and CNS measures were higher in PRELAM compared with NOLAM (P = 0.004). Throughout the study, CNS was affected by month (P = 0.004) and PRELAMhad greater CNS than NOLAM (P < 0.001). Monthly BW was consistently heavier in PRELAM compared with NOLAM (P < 0.05). The PRELAM group also had higher BCS compared with NOLAM (P < 0.05) every month except January (P > 0.2). Weekly non-fasted glucose was influenced by month (P < 0.001) while non-fasted insulin concentrations were affected by group by month (P = 0.004). Non-fasted insulin concentrations were greater for PRELAM in May compared with all time points except June (P = 0.44). Fasted insulin concentrations (T0) were affected by month and group (P < 0.001) whereas PRELAM had greater concentrations compared with NOLAM. At T75, glucose and insulin concentrations were affected by month (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) and were higher for PRELAM compared with NOLAM (P = 0.003). These data suggest horses with greater general and regional adiposity, and a previous history of laminitis, exhibit greater insulin concentrations in response to grazing forage and OST compared with leaner horses with no known history of laminitis. Metabolic responses to grazing and OST fluctuate throughout the year and may be most useful for clinical interpretation during summer months in the northern hemisphere.

High Fructose Corn Syrup Accelerates Kidney Disease and Mortality in Obese Mice with Metabolic Syndrome.

The presence of obesity and metabolic syndrome is strongly linked with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the mechanisms responsible for the association are poorly understood. Here, we tested the hypothesis that mice with obesity and metabolic syndrome might have increased susceptibility to CKD from liquid high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) by favoring the absorption and utilization of fructose. We evaluated the pound mouse model of metabolic syndrome to determine if it showed baseline differences in fructose transport and metabolism and whether it was more susceptible to chronic kidney disease when administered HFCS. Pound mice have increased expression of fructose transporter (Glut5) and fructokinase (the limiting enzyme driving fructose metabolism) associated with enhanced fructose absorption. Pound mice receiving HFCS rapidly develop CKD with increased mortality rates associated with intrarenal mitochondria loss and oxidative stress. In pound mice lacking fructokinase, the effect of HFCS to cause CKD and early mortality was aborted, associated with reductions in oxidative stress and fewer mitochondria loss. Obesity and metabolic syndrome show increased susceptibility to fructose-containing sugars and increased risk for CKD and mortality. Lowering added sugar intake may be beneficial in reducing the risk for CKD in subjects with metabolic syndrome.

Maternal High-Fructose Corn Syrup Intake Impairs Corticosterone Clearance by Reducing Renal 11β-Hsd2 Activity via miR-27a-Mediated Mechanism in Rat Offspring.

We previously reported that maternal fructose consumption increases blood corticosterone levels in rat offspring. However, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which maternal high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) intake increases circulating GC levels in rat offspring (GC; corticosterone in rodents and cortisol in humans). Female Sprague Dawley rats received HFCS solution during gestation and lactation. The male offspring were fed distilled water from weaning to 60 days of age. We investigated the activities of GC-metabolizing enzymes (11β-Hsd1 and 11β-Hsd2) in various tissues (i.e., liver, kidney, adrenal glands, muscle, and white adipose tissue) and epigenetic modification. 11β-Hsd2 activity decreased in the kidney of the HFCS-fed dams. Moreover, the epigenetic analysis suggested that miR-27a reduced Hsd11b2 mRNA expression in the kidney of offspring. Maternal HFCS-induced elevation of circulating GC levels in offspring may be explained by a decrease in 11β-Hsd2 activity via renal miR-27a expression. The present study may allow us to determine one of the mechanisms of GC elevation in rat offspring that is often observed in the developmental origins of the health and disease (DOHaD) phenomenon.

Differentiation of High-Fructose Corn Syrup Adulterated Kelulut Honey Using Physicochemical, Rheological, and Antibacterial Parameters.

Kelulut (stingless bee) honey (KH) possesses a wide range of benefits for human consumption and can exhibit medical effects. Due to its high value, this premium honey is often adulterated with different types of cheaper sugars, causing low nutrients and potential food safety threats in the final product. This study aims to determine the physicochemical, rheological, and antibacterial properties of sugar-based adulterated KH from the stingless bee species Heterotrigona itama. Adulterated samples were prepared using pure honey mixed with different concentrations of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), i.e., 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Water activity, colour, total soluble solids, pH, turbidity, viscosity, and antimicrobial activity of KH were determined. In addition, the primary sugar composition (fructose, glucose, and trehalulose) was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection (HPLC-ELSD). This study shows that the increasing percentage of HFCS addition in the KH samples significantly increases (p < 0.05) the total soluble solids, colour, pH, turbidity, viscosity, glucose, and fructose content; meanwhile, the water activity and trehalulose were reduced significantly (p < 0.05). Antimicrobial activity against S. aureus was reduced significantly (p = 0.006) by an increased percentage of HFCS compared to Control. Antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa was also found to be reduced significantly but showed non-significant effect from an increased percentage of HFCS in honey (p = 0.413). The bacterium S. aureus was more vulnerable to treatment with honey from both Control and adulterated groups compared to P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, HFCS-adulterated KH and authentic KH can be differentiated using all the parameters investigated. These data are vital for the governing bodies to ensure that KH sold in the markets is free from HFCS adulteration.

Development and Acceptability of Macaroons with Shoots from Different Species of Bamboo

The study focused on the development and acceptability of macaroons made from different varieties of bamboo shoots with four flavorings. This product development research includes two major areas: preparation of bamboo shoots, and preparation of twelve type macaroons using the bamboo shoots in four different flavors. To further appreciate the developed macaroons, the researcher investigated the acceptability of the products in terms of appearance, aroma, taste, and texture, and in terms of the sensorial evaluation of bamboo shoot macaroons flavored with corn syrup, corn kernel, honey and latik along with the following age groups: children, teenagers, adults and experts. The evaluators were randomly chosen. The statistical tools utilized in this study were mean, standard deviation, and One-way between Groups Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Pos Hoc Analysis Using Tukey HSD when a significant difference was revealed based on the result of ANOVA. A five-point Likert scale was used in the determination of the evaluators’ rating.

(m-CF3-PhSe)2 benefits against anxiety-like phenotype associated with synaptic plasticity impairment and NMDAR-mediated neurotoxicity in young mice exposed to a lifestyle model

Lifestyle habits including energy-dense foods and ethanol intake are associated with anxiety disorders. m-Trifluoromethyl-diphenyl diselenide [(m-CF3-PhSe)2] has been reported to modulate serotonergic and opioidergic systems and elicit an anxiolytic-like phenotype in animal models. This study investigated if the modulation of synaptic plasticity and NMDAR-mediated neurotoxicity contributes to the (m-CF3-PhSe)2 anxiolytic-like effect in young mice exposed to a lifestyle model. Swiss male mice (25-days old) were subjected to a lifestyle model, an energy-dense diet (20:20% lard: corn syrup) from the postnatal day (PND) 25–66 and sporadic ethanol (2 g/kg) (3 x a week, intragastrically, i.g.) from PND 45 to 60. From PND 60 to 66, mice received (m-CF3-PhSe)2 (5 mg/kg/day; i.g). The corresponding vehicle (control) groups were carried out. After, mice performed anxiety-like behavioral tests. Mice exposed only to an energy-dense diet or sporadic ethanol did not show an anxiety-like phenotype. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 abolished the anxiety-like phenotype in young mice exposed to a lifestyle model. Anxious-like mice showed increased levels of cerebral cortical NMDAR2A and 2B, NLRP3 and inflammatory markers, and decreased contents of synaptophysin, PSD95, and TRκB/BDNF/CREB signaling. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 reversed cerebral cortical neurotoxicity, the increased levels of NMDA2A and 2B, and decreased levels of synaptic plasticity-related signaling in the cerebral cortex of young mice exposed to a lifestyle model. In conclusion, the (m-CF3-PhSe)2 anxiolytic-like effect was associated with the modulation of NMDAR-mediated neurotoxicity and synaptic plasticity in the cerebral cortex of young mice exposed to the lifestyle model.

EFFECT OF MOLECULAR ENVIRONMENT ON PROTEIN RUBBER PROPERTIES

ABSTRACTMany natural organisms use “protein rubbers” to store and release an imposed strain energy with high efficiency to make motion easier. Protein rubbers exist in a complicated environment surrounded by water and other molecules such as sugars, implying that amino acid composition and its environment are important in protein rubber behavior. Gelatin, the hydrolysis product of animal collagen, is hydrated or “plasticized” with water, ethylene glycol, glycerol, corn syrup, and aqueous solutions of sorbitol, glucose, and fructose. The rubber formed is “dry”, that is, is not fully immersed in liquid, and has the appearance and feel of a soft rubber band. The mechanical and thermodynamic behavior of each rubber is characterized with low strain dynamic and high strain tensile experiments with good agreement between the two. Plasticized gelatin rubbers are incompressible and follow the neo-Hookean model for rubber elasticity up to moderate extension ratios. Higher molecular weight polyols with more hydrogen bond donors and acceptors create gelatin networks with lower crosslink density. Ethylene glycol–, glycerol-, sorbitol syrup–, and fructose syrup–plasticized gelatin rubbers have similar molecular relaxation mechanisms and are the most efficient rubbers when probed in the rubbery plateau region prior to approaching the glass transition. The other plasticizers have different molecular relaxation mechanisms that detract from the efficiency of energy storage and return that is not related to network formation but perhaps the individual solvation ability of each plasticizer.