Low Concentrations Of Ethanol Research Articles

작약 뿌리의 유용성분 추출을 위한 초음파 추출조건 최적화

Peony root is a medicinal plant containing potent bioactive compounds. This study used response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions of antioxidant compounds from peony roots. A central composite design consisting of extraction temperature (30-70°C), ethanol concentration (20-100% v/v), and extraction time (15-55 min) was used to determine the significance of each extraction condition on the total polyphenol, paeoniflorin, and myricetin contents and 2,2¢-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)- scavenging activity of the extracts. The ABTS-scavenging activity and myricetin content increased with an increasing extraction temperature. Further, at low ethanol concentrations, paeoniflorin and myricetin contents increased. Superimposition of 4D graphs revealed that an extraction temperature of 60-65°C, ethanol concentration of 40-50%, and extraction time of 40-50 min were optimal extraction conditions for peony root. A validation experiment was conducted using 45% ethanol at 63°C for 45 min. Under these UAE conditions, the experimental values of total polyphenol, paeoniflorin, and myricetin contents, and ABTS-scavenging activity were 101.80 mg GAE/g, 46.87 mg/g, 184.30 mg/g, and 23.13%, respectively. The validation experiment revealed slight differences between the experimental and predicted values (less than 10%), confirming the optimal UAE conditions for obtaining peony root antioxidant compounds via RSM. This study provides valuable information in developing functional food, medicine, and cosmetic using peony root extracts.

Effects of inoculation protocols on aroma profiles and quality of plum wine in mixed culture fermentation of Metschnikowia pulcherrima with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This study describes the first report of application of Metschnikowia pulcherrima combined with Saccharomyces cerevisiae to ferment plum wine. Variable factors studied include inoculum ratio (M. pulcherrima: S. cerevisiae = 10:1, 1:1, and 1:10), as well as simultaneous versus sequential inoculation, with tested trials spanning 10:1sim, 1:1sim, 1:10sim, 10:1seq, 1:1seq, and 1:10seq, respectively. The yeast growth kinetics, physicochemical characteristics, organic acids, aroma profiles, and sensory evaluation were investigated. During fermentation, M. pulcherrima growth was inhibited by S. cerevisiae. Compared to each simultaneous analog, sequential fermentation which was inoculated with the same yeast ratio consumed less sugar and produced lower ethanol content. Organic acids in each sample varied with the use of different inoculation strategies. A total of 48 aroma compounds were quantified, and 1:1seq sample was observed to be abundant in esters and terpenes but relatively low in higher alcohols, fatty acids, and phenols. Sensory evaluation of the variously-prepared samples revealed that 1:1seq sample featured a highly intense ‘global aroma’, ‘fruity’, and ‘alcohol’ notes. PCA illustrated that different inoculation protocols of mixed culture fermentation influenced plum wine aroma except 1:10sim. Ultimately, 1:1seq was identified as a promising candidate for production of high-quality plum wine.

Hydrophilization of polytetrafluoroethylene using an atmospheric-pressure plasma of argon gas with water–ethanol vapor

This paper presents an approach to improve the surface wettability of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) using an atmospheric-pressure plasma of argon gas with water–ethanol vapor. Plasma is generated by the dielectric barrier discharge of argon gas bubbled into a water-ethanol solution. Quadrupole mass analysis revealed that the plasma promoted the decomposition of ethanol and production of H2, CH4, and CO, which saturated at low ethanol concentrations. The modified PTFE surface was strongly influenced by the ethanol concentration in the solution and treatment time. Plasma treatment with 3%, 5% and 9% ethanol resulted in a significant reduction in the water contact angle from 115° to 16.5 ± 2.8° after 10 s of treatment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that oxygen-containing functional groups (hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups) formed on the plasma-treated PTFE surface, reflecting the hydrophilization of PTFE. At the beginning of the plasma treatment, the water vapor induced the breaking of the CF2 chain, and the additional ethanol vapor generated oxygen-containing polar groups on the PTFE surface. In addition to the modification of the PTFE surface itself, a low-molecular-weight oxidized material layer was deposited over the surface, which prevented further surface modification, and the deposited layer exhibited excellent wettability. The deposited low-molecular-weight oxidized material layer was easily removed by immersion in deionized water, and the exposed modified PTFE surface exhibited stable wettability with water contact angle of 52.7 ± 3.5°.

Higher Viral Stability and Ethanol Resistance of Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus on Human Skin.

Evaluating the stability of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses on human skin and measuring the effectiveness of disinfectants are crucial for preventing contact disease transmission. We constructed an evaluation model using autopsy skin samples and evaluated factors that affect the stability and disinfectant effectiveness for various subtypes. The survival time of the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus on plastic surfaces was ≈26 hours and on skin surfaces ≈4.5 hours, >2.5-fold longer than other subtypes. The effectiveness of a relatively low ethanol concentration (32%–36% wt/wt) against the H5N1 subtype was substantially reduced compared with other subtypes. Moreover, recombinant viruses with the neuraminidase gene of H5N1 survived longer on plastic and skin surfaces than other recombinant viruses and were resistant to ethanol. Our results imply that the H5N1 subtype poses a higher contact transmission risk because of its higher stability and ethanol resistance, which might depend on the neuraminidase protein.

Low Temperature Catalytic Oxidation of Ethanol Using Ozone over Manganese Oxide-Based Catalysts in Powdered and Monolithic Forms

Catalytic oxidation of low concentrations of ethanol was investigated in dry and humid air streams at low temperature (60 °C) over manganese oxide-based catalysts supported on a meso–macrostructured TiO2 using ozone as the oxidant. Ethanol was selected as a representative model VOC present in indoor air, and its concentration was fixed to 10 ppm. For that purpose, a series of Mn/TiO2 powder and monolithic catalysts was prepared, some doped with 0.5 wt% Pd. Whatever the catalyst, the presence of water vapor in the gas phase had a beneficial effect on the conversion of ethanol and ozone. The Pd–Mn/TiO2 catalyst containing 0.5 wt% Pd and 5 wt% Mn exhibited superior oxidation efficiency to the Mn/TiO2 counterparts by increasing ozone decomposition (77%) while simultaneously increasing the selectivity to CO2 (85%). The selectivity to CO2 approached nearly 100% by increasing the amount of catalyst from 20 to 80 mg. In a further step, alumina wash-coated cordierite honeycomb monoliths were coated with the 0.5Pd–5Mn/TiO2 catalyst. Full conversion of ethanol to CO2 without residual O3 emitted (less than 10 ppb) could be attained, thereby demonstrating that the proposed Pd–Mn/TiO2 monolithic catalyst fulfills the specifications required for onboard systems.

Transcriptomic profiling of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus reveals differentially expressed genes in response to ethanol

Pinewood releases ethanol and other volatile compounds after Bursaphelenchus xylophilus infection. In the current study, we examined the influence of different ethanol concentrations on B. xylophilus reproduction. Low-concentrations of ethanol (8.5, 17, and 34 mM) increased egg production in B. xylophilus, whereas higher-concentrations (156 and 312 mM) reduced egg production. Transcriptome analysis was conducted to explore the molecular response of a low concentration of ethanol on the nematodes. The results suggest that the nematodes use ethanol as an energy source, which may promote survival. Ethanol induced changes in the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of fatty acids and amino acids. Furthermore, ethanol promoted the expression of detoxification-related, cell wall-degrading, and reproduction-related genes. Such responses might contribute to the pathogenicity of B. xylophilus.

Measurement and modeling of the solubility of [formula omitted]-lactose in water-ethanol electrolyte solutions at 298.15 K

The present work reports experimental data of the solubility of α-lactose in solutions of water-ethanol-NaCl and water-ethanol-CaCl2 at 298.15 K. For low ethanol contents, the salts decrease the solubility of α-lactose, whereas for high ethanol contents the salts increase the solubility of α-lactose. The experimental solubility data are successfully modeled using two approaches, both of which are based on the UNIQUAC model. A modified UNIQUAC model extended by a Debye-Hückel term as well as a UNIQUAC model extended by a general perturbation scheme are used.

Fabrication of zein-modified starch nanoparticle complexes via microfluidic chip and encapsulation of nisin

A microfluidic chip is a micro-reactor that precisely manipulates and controls fluids. Zein is a group of prolamines extracted from corn that can form self-assembled nanoparticles in water or a low concentration of ethanol in a microfluidic chip. However, the zein nanoparticles have stability issues, especially in a neutral pH environment due to the proximity of the isoelectric point. This study was designed 1) to evaluate the effect of octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) modified starch on the stability of zein nanoparticles formed using a microfluidic chip and 2) to apply the zein-OSA starch for encapsulation of nisin and evaluate its anti-microbial activity in a model food matrix. A T-junction configuration of the microfluidic chip was used to fabricate the zein nanoparticles using 1% or 2% zein solution and 0–10% (w/w) of OSA starch solution. The stability of the nanoparticles in various ionic strength environments was assessed. Encapsulation efficiency and anti-microbial activity of nisin in the zein nanoparticles against Listeria monocytogenes in a fresh cheese were measured. As the concentration of OSA starch increased from 0 to 10%, effective diameter increased from 117.8 ± 14.5 to 198.7 ± 13.9 nm without affecting polydispersity indexes and zeta-potential changed toward that of the modified starch indicating the zein surface coverage by the OSA starch. The zein-OSA starch nanoparticle complexes were more stable at various sodium chloride concentrations than the zein nanoparticles without OSA starch. The encapsulation efficiency of nisin was positively correlated with the OSA starch concentration. The anti-microbial activity of nisin in the fresh cheese also increased until 3-days of storage as the concentration of the OSA starch increased, which presented both a potential and challenge toward applications.

Ethanol and Acetic Acid Induces Conformational Changes in Zebrafish Dihydrofolate Reductase Protein

An equilibrium unfolding research of the recombinant zDHFR would provide information on the conformational changes of protein. In present work, the conformation of recombinant zDHFR was investigated in presence of ethanol and acetic acid. Equilibrium unfolding of recombinant zDHFR was monitored by enzymatic assay after denaturation by ethanol and acetic acid at 340 nm. Changes in secondary and tertiary structure of zDHFR with increasing ethanol and acetic acid concentrations were investigated in far-UV circular dichroism (CD) (190 to 250 nm) and fluorescence spectroscopy (emission spectra from 300 to 400 nm with an excitation wavelength of 295 nm) methods. It has been observed that in case of acetic acid-induced denaturation of zDHFR, the shift from native to denatured state occurs in a single step, whereas intermediates or non-native states are found at low concentrations of ethanol. The recent findings have significant implications for understanding how ethanol and acetic acid affect protein structure.

High-Resolution, Sensitivity-Enhanced Active Resonator Sensor Using Substrate-Embedded Channel for Characterizing Low-Concentration Liquid Mixtures

Sensitivity and resolution are important parameters that pose a significant challenge in using microwave microfluidic sensors to monitor low-concentration binary liquid mixtures. This work presents a microwave split-ring resonator (SRR) sensor equipped with a substrate-embedded fluidic channel and an active feedback loop to enhance sensitivity and resolution, respectively. The substrate-embedded channel eliminated the impact of the liquid-carrying tubes’ wall and maintained a significant interaction between the liquid in the channel and the electromagnetic (EM) field confined between the SRR and ground plane. Therefore, embedding the channel inside the substrate of the SRR sensor, operating at 2.63 GHz, enhanced the sensitivity by 60%. The constructive energy from the active feedback loop boosted the quality factor of the passive SRR by over <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$100\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> (from 116 to 13 000), which significantly enhanced the resolution of the sensor. As a proof of concept, two prototypes of the sensor having different substrate-embedded channels with cross-sectional diameters of 1 and 0.762 mm were fabricated and used to detect low concentrations of ethanol (0–0.08 vol%) and salt (0–200 mM) in water. Embedding the channel inside the substrate of the active SRR sensor achieved a linear correlation ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$R^{2} = 0.99$ </tex-math></inline-formula> ) between the resonant frequency and the concentration of ethanol and salt in water with high sensitivity (19.95 MHz/vol% for ethanol and 4.35 kHz/mM for salt) and resolution (0.001 vol% for ethanol and 2.298 mM for salt). The achieved results demonstrate the feasibility of using the active SRR microwave sensor with a substrate-embedded channel for monitoring ethanol in fermentation broths and electrolytes in human sweat.

The effects of medicinal plants: “Viscum album, Juniperus communis and Xanthium strumarium” leaf extracts on fibroblastic L929 and BHK21 immune cells

Although reports indicate that Viscum album and Juniperus communis extracts affect immune system function, their impact on fibroblastic cells proliferation remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant capacity of Viscum album, Juniperus communis and Xanthium strumarium leaf aqueous and ethanol extracts and their cytotoxic effects on L929 and BHK21 cells.&#x0D; The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was measured using the DPPH method. L929 and BHK21 cells were treated with 0.001 mg/ml, 0.01 mg/ml, 0.1 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml of the extracts for 24h in a complete growth medium. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay and the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA.&#x0D; Lower concentrations (0.001, 0.01 and 0.1) mg/ml of Viscum album and Junipeurs communis leaf extracts exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and had no significant cytotoxic effects on L929 and BHK21 cells, however, higher concentrations (1 and 10) mg/ml had lower antioxidant activity and exhibited cytotoxic effects on the cells. Lower and higher concentrations of Xanthium strumarium leaf extracts significantly increased L929 and BHK21 cells viability.&#x0D; Despite higher concentrations, lower concentrations of ethanol and aqueous Viscum album and Junipeurs communis have positive effects on fibroblastic L929 and BHK21 cells viability; however, ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts of Xanthium strumarium have no cytotoxic effects on L929 and BHK21 cells, which, therefore, can improve immune system function safer than Viscum album and Juniperus communis.

Organosolv lignin aggregation behaviour of soluble lignin extract from Miscanthus x giganteus at different ethanol concentrations and its influence on the lignin esterification

BackgroundLignin is the second most abundant naturally occurring biopolymer from lignocellulosic biomass. While there are several lignin applications, attempts to add value to lignin are hampered by its inherent complex and heterogenous chemical structure. This work assesses the organosolv lignin aggregates behaviour of soluble lignin extract derived from Miscanthus × giganteus using different ethanol concentrations (50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% and 1%). The effect of two different lignin concentrations using similar ethanol concentration on the efficacy of esterification was studied.ResultsOverall, particle size of lignin analysis showed that the particle size of lignin aggregates decreased with lower ethanol concentrations. 50% ethanol concentration of soluble lignin extract showed the highest particle size of lignin (3001.8 nm), while 331.7 nm of lignin particle size was recorded at 1% ethanol concentration. Such findings of particle size correlated well with the morphology of the lignin macromolecules. The lignin aggregates appeared to be disaggregated from population of large aggregates to sub-population of small aggregates when the ethanol concentration was reduced. Light microscopy images analysis by ImageJ shows that the average diameter and circularity of the corresponding lignin macromolecules differs according to different ethanol concentrations. The dispersion of lignin aggregates at low ethanol concentration resulted in high availability of hydroxyl group in the soluble lignin extract. The efficacy of the lignin modification via esterification was evidenced directly via FTIR using the similar ethanol concentration of soluble lignin extract at different lignin concentrations.ConclusionThis study provided the understanding of detail analysis on particle size determination, microscopic properties and structural insights of lignin aggregates at wider ethanol concentrations. The esterified lignin derived at 5 mg/mL is suggested to expand greater lignin functionality in the preparation of lignin bio-based materials.

Polycrystal CuO Curved Nanowires with Photocatalytic Antibacterial for Highly Sensitive Photoelectrochemical Detection of Ultralow-Concentration Ethanol in Solution

The polycrystal CuO curved nanowires on Cu mesh were synthesized by a facile alkalization method. This visible light-driven CuO curved nanowires were observed to have highly sensitivity for non-enzymatic ethanol sensing in solution and fast antibacterial property under flashlight irradiation. In order to reveal the mechanism of polycrystal CuO curved nanowires, the comparison between polycrystal CuO nanowires and single-crystal CuO nanowires were investigated based on the analysis of the morphology, nanostructure, theoretical modeling and photoelectrochemical performance. As a result, the highest photocurrent densities were obtained by polycrystal CuO curved nanowires, as the facet heterojunction in curved nanowires played a key role, which existed in the interface between facets CuO (111) and CuO (110) resulting in the effectively separation of photoelectron-holes, thereby increasing of the charge carrier density. Herein, the CuO curved nanowires were assembled as a photoelectrochemical sensor to detect the low concentration ethanol ranging from 10 to 100 nM, and then showed a highly sensitivity. The fast antibacterial performance of CuO curved nanowires was found to completely kill 107 CFU ml−1 E. coli under flashlight irradiation in 20 min. The proposed CuO curved nanowires electrode with self-cleaning performance can be ideal for monitoring the low concentration ethanol in real-time at room temperature as photoelectrodes.

Modulatory Actions of the Glycine Receptor β Subunit on the Positive Allosteric Modulation of Ethanol in α2 Containing Receptors.

Alpha1-containing glycine receptors (GlyRs) are major mediators of synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord and brain stem. Recent studies reported the presence of α2-containing GlyRs in other brain regions, such as nucleus accumbens and cerebral cortex. GlyR activation decreases neuronal excitability associated with sensorial information, motor control, and respiratory functions; all of which are significantly altered during ethanol intoxication. We evaluated the role of β GlyR subunits and of two basic amino acid residues, K389 and R390, located in the large intracellular loop (IL) of the α2 GlyR subunit, which are important for binding and functional modulation by Gβγ, the dimer of the trimeric G protein conformation, using HEK-293 transfected cells combined with patch clamp electrophysiology. We demonstrate a new modulatory role of the β subunit on ethanol sensitivity of α2 subunits. Specifically, we found a differential allosteric modulation in homomeric α2 GlyRs compared with the α2β heteromeric conformation. Indeed, while α2 was insensitive, α2β GlyRs were substantially potentiated by ethanol, GTP-γ-S, propofol, Zn2+ and trichloroethanol. Furthermore, a Gβγ scavenger (ct-GRK2) selectively attenuated the effects of ethanol on recombinant α2β GlyRs. Mutations in an α2 GlyR co-expressed with the β subunit (α2AAβ) specifically blocked ethanol sensitivity, but not propofol potentiation. These results show a selective mechanism for low ethanol concentration effects on homomeric and heteromeric conformations of α2 GlyRs and provide a new mechanism for ethanol pharmacology, which is relevant to upper brain regions where α2 GlyRs are abundantly expressed.

Chronic Low-Dose Alcohol Consumption Promotes Cerebral Angiogenesis in Mice.

Chronic alcohol consumption dose-dependently affects the incidence and prognosis of ischemic stroke. We determined the influence of chronic alcohol consumption on cerebral angiogenesis under physiological conditions and following ischemic stroke. In in vitro studies, acute exposure to low-concentration ethanol significantly increased angiogenic capability and upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in C57BL/6J mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (MBMVECs). The increased angiogenic capability was abolished in the presence of a VEGFR2 inhibitor. In addition, the increased angiogenic capability and upregulated VEGF-A and VEGFR2 remained in chronically low-concentration ethanol-exposed MBMVECs. In in vivo studies, 8-week gavage feeding with low-dose ethanol significantly increased vessel density and vessel branches and upregulated VEGF-A and VEGFR2 in the cerebral cortex under physiological conditions. Furthermore, vessel density, vessel branches, and expression of VEGF-A and VEGFR2 in the peri-infarct cortex were significantly greater in low-dose ethanol-fed mice at 72 h of reperfusion. Although low-dose ethanol did not alter cerebral vasoreactivity and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) either before or during ischemia, it significantly augmented post-ischemic hyperemia during reperfusion. In contrast, exposure to high-concentration ethanol and 8-week gavage feeding with high-dose ethanol only had a mild inhibitory effect on angiogenic capability and cerebral angiogenesis, respectively. We conclude that heavy alcohol consumption may not dramatically alter cerebral angiogenesis, whereas light alcohol consumption significantly promotes cerebral angiogenesis.

Chemical Exposure-Induced Developmental Neurotoxicity in Head-Regenerating Schmidtea mediterranea.

The growing number of commercially used chemicals that are under-evaluated for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) combined with the difficulty in describing the etiology of exposure-related neurodevelopmental toxicity has created a reticent threat to human health. Current means of screening chemicals for DNT are limited to expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive traditional laboratory animal models. In this study, we hypothesize that exposed head-regenerating planarian flatworms can effectively and efficiently categorize DNT in known developmental neurotoxins (ethanol and bisphenol A [BPA]). Planarian flatworms are an established alternative animal model for neurodevelopmental studies and have remarkable regenerative abilities allowing neurodevelopment to be induced via head resection. Here, we observed changes in photophobic behavior and central nervous system (CNS) morphology to evaluate the impact of exposure to low concentrations of ethanol, BPA, and BPA industry alternatives bisphenol F, and bisguaiacol on neurodevelopment. Our studies show that exposure to 1% v/v ethanol during regeneration induces a recoverable 48-h delay in the development of proper CNS integrity, which aligns with behavioral assessments of cognitive ability. Exposure to BPA and its alternatives induced deviations to neurodevelopment in a range of severities, distinguished by suppressions, delays, or a combination of the 2. These results suggest that quick and inexpensive behavioral assessments are a viable surrogate for tedious and costly immunostaining studies, equipping more utility and resolution to the planarian model for neurodevelopmental toxicity in the future of mass chemical screening. These studies demonstrate that behavioral phenotypes observed following chemical exposure are classifiable and also temporally correlated to the anatomical development of the CNS in planaria. This will facilitate and accelerate toxicological screening assays with this alternative animal model.

Selectivity of a ZnO@ZIF-71@PDMS Nanorod Array Gas Sensor Enhanced by Coating a Polymer Selective Separation Membrane.

It is important for noninvasive diagnosis of diabetes to develop acetone gas sensors with high selectivity. ZnO@ZIF-71 has been reported as a highly sensitive and selective gas sensor on acetone detection. However, it is difficult to exclude the interference with similar molecular sizes gas in the gas-sensing process, like ethanol. To solve this problem, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was synthesized on the surface of ZnO@ZIF-71 to form a ZnO@ZIF-71@PDMS sensor by vapor deposition. The new sensor shows inert response to ethanol and effective response to acetone simultaneously. The PDMS membrane acts as a molecular sieve, which shows the acetone selectivity performance and can totally eliminate the response to low concentration ethanol at low temperature. Theory calculations and solubility test are also employed to prove the role PDMS plays in this process. It demonstrated that the acetone selectivity performance comes from the hydrogen bond interaction between the ethanol gas molecules and PDMS, which increases difficulty for ethanol gas molecules to penetrate the PDMS membrane. Further, this work provides a new method for enhancing gas-sensing selectivity and promoting for miniaturization of gas sensors.

Tradition as a Stepping Stone for a Microbial Defined Water Kefir Fermentation Process: Insights in Cell Growth, Bioflavoring, and Sensory Perception

A process development from a traditional grain-based fermentation to a defined water kefir fermentation using a co-culture of one lactic acid bacterium and one yeast was elaborated as a prerequisite for an industrially scalable, controllable, and reproducible process. Further, to meet a healthy lifestyle, a low ethanol-containing product was aimed for. Five microbial strains—Hanseniaspora valbyensis, Dekkera bruxellensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Liquorilactobacillus nagelii, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides—were used in pairs in order to examine their influence on the fermentation progress and the properties of the resulting water kefir products against grains as a control. Thereby, the combination of H. valbyensis and L. mesenteroides provided the best-rated water kefir beverage in terms of taste and low ethanol concentrations at the same time. As a further contribution to harmonization and reduction of complexity, the usage of dried figs in the medium was replaced by fig syrup, which could have been proven as an adequate substitute. However, nutritional limitations were faced afterward, and thus, an appropriate supplementation strategy for yeast extract was established. Finally, comparative trials in 5-L scale applying grains as well as a defined microbial consortium showed both water kefir beverages characterized by a pH of 3.14, and lactic acid and aromatic sensory properties. The product resulting from co-culturing outperformed the grain-based one, as the ethanol level was considerably lower in favor of an increased amount of lactic acid. The possibility of achieving a water kefir product by using only two species shows high potential for further detailed research of microbial interactions and thus functionality of water kefir.

Pectic polysaccharides extracted from sesame seed hull: Physicochemical and functional properties

The objective of the present investigation was to extract pectic polysaccharides from sesame seed hull and to determine their physicochemical and functional characteristics. The pectic polysaccharides in the seed hull were extracted with HCl and then collected at three ethanol concentrations of 30% (SSP30), 50% (SSP50), and 90% (SSP90). We found that SSP30 represented 75.6% of the total polysaccharides, and that it contained 76.39% galacturonic acid, with many HG domains and few short side chains in the RG-I domains. SSP30 exhibited the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity among the three fractions, and was better able to stabilize the emulsions. Higher Mw pectic polysaccharides were firstly precipitated at lower ethanol concentrations, and the Mw of the precipitated pectic polysaccharides decreased with increasing ethanol concentration. These results provide important information on the structure and functional characteristics of sesame hull polysaccharides. This information can contribute to the future development of sesame hull polysaccharides for industrial purposes.

Comparison of the ionic effects of [formula omitted] and [formula omitted] on nucleic acids in liquids

Alkli-earth metal ions play an important role in life activities. Molecular dynamics simulation method was used to compare the characteristics and differences of calcium ions and magnesium ions binding to dsDNA. The 12-mer DNA fragment (CGCGAATTCGCG) was dissolved in normal or less polarised water solvent containing calcium or magnesium ions. The results showed that compared with Mg2+,Ca2+ had a stronger tendency to compress and assemble DNA strands into compact structures. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis of ionic solvation and binding sites, we found that although the smaller magnesium ions are more likely to appear near the DNA backbone due to steric effect, the hydrated shell of DNA hinders the interaction between ions and DNA, weakening the neutralization of counterions on DNA chain. Thus, DNA presents a (A-B) mixed state in less polarised water solvent. Calcium ion has a more dynamic solvent shell and strong coordination with free oxygen atoms of phosphate, which limits the electrostatic repulsion to the backbones and is favorable to the formation of A-type DNA. Our simulation provides a simple explanation for the AFM experimental results observed at low ethanol concentration, i.e., the length of DNA strand in alkaline earth metal ions is Ca2+Mg2+. In addition, the competition between two coexisting divalent ions in solution is also discussed.