Carbohydrate Mixtures Research Articles

Adverse Effects of Energy Drinks, a Challenge for Medicine: A Case Report.

In Mexico, an estimate of the monthly average consumption of these drinks was 36,240,000 liters [1]. The use of these products is to increase energy levels during physical activity or exam periods to avoid sleep. Despite the increase in its use, there is ignorance in its consumers about its level of safety in its consumption [2]. Energy drinks (ED) appeared on the market as a mixture of carbohydrates, vitamins, and caffeine. Later, alcohol blends were made for cocktails, so their popularity increased. The high consumption of ED is due to the mental stimulating effect by the high levels of caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone [3].

A systematic comparison of commonly used stoichiometric equations to estimate fat oxidation during exercise in athletes.

Over the last half-century, different stoichiometric equations for calculating the energy cost of exercise based upon the combustion of mixtures of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins have been proposed and modified. With the means of indirect calorimetry, while measuring oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, and urinary urea nitrogen excretion, the contribution of specific substrates to overall energy production can be estimated. However, even with their long history of application, no previous studies have evaluated whether the use of different stoichiometric equations provides similar or distinct maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) responses and information regarding MFO location (FAT<inf>max</inf>) in male athletes. Twenty healthy male athletes performed graded exercise testing (GXT) cycle ergometry using breath by breath gas analysis to assess fat oxidation and maximal oxygen uptake. Analysis of variance followed by within-equation effects, within-equation factors, and post hoc pairwise comparisons were used to examine within-equation differences. Compared stoichiometric equations demonstrated significant differences in the mean and maximal fat oxidation rates, varying up to nearly 7%. FAT<inf>max</inf> differences, however, were not noticed. Our findings suggest that for within-study designs, the equation used appears to be less important, but when inter-study comparisons are planned, caution is in order due to the presence of inter-equation differences.

Моделирование интенсивного теплосилового воздействия газовой среды для испытаний образцов в широком диапазоне параметров

The results of the work extend the available range of the parameters of gas acting on the samples of materials and coatings being tested under intense heat and power loads to study their properties and resource characteristics under stationary and pulsed exposure. A feature of the conditions proposed in this work for testing samples, distinguishing them from most common existing methods, is the simultaneous impact of a high temperature flux and high-pressure flow on the sample surface, the possibility of obtaining an oxidizing or reducing medium with different chemical compositions, as well as a pulsed cyclic effect on a material sample. The high performance of the experimental setup allows for up to 10 sample tests per day. To perform the research of the samples, a supersonic gas jet with nominal mode regimes was modeled. The jet was generated by gas dynamics facility through carbohydrate and oxygen mixture combustion and flow acceleration in Laval nozzle. Test sample can be positioned under various angles relative to the jet axis and on the desired distance from the nozzle edge. If necessary, the sample can be provided with measurement devices allowing measurements of temperature, heat flow and pressure. In order to provide a calibrated effect on the samples, the fields of jet parameters were studied using calibration plates provided with surface pressure sensors and thermocouples for determining heat fluxes. As a result, parameter fields of pressure, heat fluxes, pressure gradients, and friction stresses on the surface of samples were obtained depending on samples orientation and gas jet thermodynamic properties. Considering these field of parameters, tests can be performed to study the properties of materials. Metal and composite materials can be used as test samples as well as samples for testing the durability of coatings, multi-layer structures and protective fabric materials.

Simple, Rapid Lipidomic Analysis of Triacylglycerols in Bovine Milk by Infusion-Electrospray Mass Spectrometry.

Bovine milk is a complex mixture of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and other factors of which lipids comprise 3-5% of the total mass. Rapid analysis and characterization of the triacylglycerols (TAG) that comprise about 95% of the total lipid is daunting given the numerous TAG species. In the attached methods paper, we demonstrate an improved method for identifying and quantifying TAG species by infusion-based "shotgun" lipidomics. Because of the broad range of TAG species in milk, a single internal standard was insufficient for the analysis and required sectioning the spectrum into three portions based upon mass range to provide accurate quantitation of TAG species. Isobaric phospholipid interferences were removed using a simple dispersive solid-phase extraction step. Using this method, > 100 TAG species were quantitated by acyl carbon number and desaturation level in a sample of commercially purchased bovine milk.

Nutritional management in cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2infection

Introduction. The new COVID-19 pandemics is posing unprecedented challenges and threats to patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Patients with the worst outcomes and higher mortality are reported to include immunocompromized subjects, namely patients with comorbidities, elderly patients, and malnourished people. Materials and methods . An analytical review of publications from recent years on the nutritional management of outpatient and hospital cancer patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemics was conducted. Results. The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) have published recommendations based on scientific and clinical evidence on nutrition as part of the treatment process in cancer patients, including those infected with COVID-19. Cancer patients are more likely to develop malnutrition than other patients, which is exacerbated by COVID-19 infection and is a factor in increased mortality. Cancer patients with COVID-19 represent a high-risk group for the development of malnutrition as a result of a combination of the infectious disease, tumor process and its management (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy). Oral nutritional support for cancer patients with malnutrition includes a fixed daily diet (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and fortified (functional) snack foods, as well as enteral nutrition or sip feeding. Enteral nutrition gives better clinical results than a diet without enteral nutrition - weight and BMI increase, the patient s physical and emotional self-assessment improves. Enteral feeding includes special mixtures of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements. Energy and protein consumption targets (total diet + enteral nutrition) can be used to maintain or restore lean body mass (LBM) in cancer patients: 25-30 kcal/kg per day and 1.2-1.5 g of protein/kg per day. To maintain the immune system and achieve clinical benefits, it is advisable to include omega-3 fatty acids (EPA + DHA) as well as vitamin D. In ICU for patients in a serious condition it is advisable to combine enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition (PN) with the use of three-in-one systems including an amino acid solution, fat emulsion with omega-3 fatty acids and glucose with added fat and water-soluble vitamins and trace elements. Conclusions. Outpatient and hospitalized COVID-19-infected cancer patients with malnutrition or a risk of developing it should be provided with adequate nutritional support based on a balanced daily diet supplemented with enteral nutrition (high-energy protein mixtures with micronutrients, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D) and, if necessary, parenteral nutrition.

Exploring the metabolic fate of medium-chain triglycerides in healthy individuals using a stable isotope tracer

Medium chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation is often recommended as treatment for patients with long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation (lcFAO) disorders, since they can be utilized as an energy source without the use of the defective enzyme. However, studies in mice and preterm infants suggest that not all medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are oxidized and may undergo elongation to long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). In this single blinded study, we explored the metabolic fates of MCT in healthy individuals using a 13C-labeled MCT tracer. Three healthy males in rest received on two test days a primed continuous infusion of glyceryl tri[1,2,3,4-13C4]-octanoate with either an isocaloric supplementation of 1) exclusively MCT (MCT-only) or 2) a mixture of MCT, proteins and carbohydrates (MCT-mix). Gas chromatography - combustion - isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS) was used to determine 13C-enrichment of long-chain fatty acids in plasma and of 13CO2 in exhaled air. When provided as single energy source, an estimated 42% of administered MCT was converted to CO2. In combination with carbohydrates and proteins in the diet, oxidation of MCT was higher (62%). In both diets <1% of 13C-label was incorporated in LCFA in plasma, indicating that administered MCT underwent chain-elongation to LCT. Although the relative MCT oxidation rate was higher when combined with carbohydrates and protein, quantitatively more MCT was oxidized when given an isocaloric meal with solely MCT. As these results were obtained in the resting state opposed to during exercise, it is too early to give a recommendation concerning the use of MCT in lcFAO disorders. The data show that in resting healthy individuals only a very small part of the MCT is traced back as LCFA in plasma, suggesting that MCT treatment does not result in a large LCFA burden, however further research on storage of MCT in tissues is warranted. The study was registered in the Nederlands Trialregister. Protocol ID: Trial NL7417 (NTR7650).

Mixed glycerol and orange peel-based substrate for fed-batch microbial biodiesel production

The aqueous extraction of orange peel waste (OPW), the byproduct of the juice extraction process generated annually in massive amounts (21 Mton), yields a carbohydrate-rich liquid fraction, termed orange peel extract (OPE). Several studies highlight that the combination of glycerol, a biodiesel byproduct, with carbohydrate mixtures might boost microbial lipid production. This study performed first a shaken flask screening of 15 oleaginous yeast strains based on their growth and lipid-producing abilities on OPE- and glycerol-based media. This screening enabled the selection of R. toruloides NRRL 1091 for the assessment of the process transfer in a stirred tank reactor (STR). This assessment relied, in particular, on either single- and double-stage feeding fed-batch (SSF-FB and DSF-FB, respectively) processes where OPE served as the primary medium and nitrogen-containing glycerol-OPE mixtures as the feeding one. The continuous supply mode at low dilution rates (0.02 and 0.01 h−1 for SSF-FB and DSF-FB, respectively) starting from the end of the exponential growth of the initial batch phase enabled the temporal extension of biomass and lipid production. The SSF-FB and DSF-FB processes attained high biomass and lipid volumetric productions (LVP) and ensured significant lipid accumulation on a dry cell basis (YL/X). The SSF-FB process led to LVP of 20.6 g L−1 after 104 h with volumetric productivity (rL) of 0.20 g L−1 h−1 and YL/X of 0.80; the DSF-FB process yielded LVP, rL and YL/X values equal to 15.92 g L−1, 0.11 g L−1 h−1 and 0.65, respectively. The fatty acid profiles of lipids from both fed-batch processes were not significantly different and resembled that of Jatropha oil, a vastly used feedstock for biodiesel production. These results suggest that OPE constitutes an excellent basis for the fed-batch production of R. toruloides lipids, and this process might afford a further option in OPW-based biorefinery.

A Novel Technique to Characterize and Quantify Crystalline and Amorphous Matter in Complex Sugar Mixtures

Sugar-rich foods are the complex mixtures of different carbohydrates in amorphous and crystalline forms. They are mostly not in equilibrium, and transition from amorphous form to crystalline form is very likely during their storage. It is essential to know the crystalline/amorphous fraction of sugars to study these undesirable changes. The existing techniques are not adequate owing to the nonideal interactions among these sugars. In this work, we propose a novel technique, which first segregates crystals from the amorphous matter by dispersing the food material in an appropriate solvent. This is followed by separation of crystals by filtration, and further quantification and characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter and microscopy. Non-centrifugal sugar and fondant, which are mixtures of sucrose, glucose and fructose, are chosen as representative examples to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method. On an average, 70–90% of the sucrose in NCS samples was found to be in crystalline state.

Vesicular Transport of Encapsulated microRNA between Glial and Neuronal Cells.

Exosomes (EXs) and extracellular microvesicles (EMVs) represent a diverse assortment of plasma membrane-derived nanovesicles, 30–1000 nm in diameter, released by all cell lineages of the central nervous system (CNS). They are examples of a very active and dynamic form of extracellular communication and the conveyance of biological information transfer essential to maintain homeostatic neurological functions and contain complex molecular cargoes representative of the cytoplasm of their cells of origin. These molecular cargoes include various mixtures of proteins, lipids, proteolipids, cytokines, chemokines, carbohydrates, microRNAs (miRNA) and messenger RNAs (mRNA) and other components, including end-stage neurotoxic and pathogenic metabolic products, such as amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides. Brain microglia, for example, respond to both acute CNS injuries and degenerative diseases with complex reactions via the induction of a pro-inflammatory phenotype, and secrete EXs and EMVs enriched in selective pathogenic microRNAs (miRNAs) such as miRNA-34a, miRNA-125b, miRNA-146a, miRNA-155, and others that are known to promote neuro-inflammation, induce complement activation, disrupt innate–immune signaling and deregulate the expression of neuron-specific phosphoproteins involved in neurotropism and synaptic signaling. This communication will review our current understanding of the trafficking of miRNA-containing EXs and EMVs from astrocytes and “activated pro-inflammatory” microglia to target neurons in neurodegenerative diseases with an emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease wherever possible.

Role of Surfactant for the Treatment of Alveolar Cells against Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the newly discovered coronavirus. Coronavirus affects human lung tissues. Covid-19 should be infection of the lungs, the virus infects alveolar cells resulting in reduced production of pulmonary surfactant. Pulmonary surfactant is a complex of lipids and proteins that line the alveolar epithelial surface and stabilize it during respiration. The surfactant helps to reduce the surface tension on alveoli. The surface-active components of the alveoli are a complex mixture of specific lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, which is produced in the lungs by type II alveolar epithelial cells. As a result, the lungs continue to collapse, reducing its own volume, but the collapse is prevented by the muscles of inspiration, which instead increase its volume. Covid-19 allows the surfactant to maintain the correct amount of surfactant during the acute phase of infection during lung infection and allows time to resume and allow individual surfactant production for type II cells. Surfactant degradation or inactivation may contribute to increased susceptibility to pneumonia and increased susceptibility to infection. Surfactant deficiency in patients with acute respiratory syndrome in adults and surfactant administration may be a useful therapy against Covid-19.

Process Simulation of Ethanol Production from Jerusalem Artichoke Stalk

Lignocellulosic biomass can serve as raw material for ethanol production. However, lignocellulosic biomass is a complex mixture of carbohydrates that need additional processes for efficient ethanol production, such as pretreatment and hydrolysis before fermented into ethanol. Therefore, this work mainly focused on the creation and simulation of a model of ethanol production from Jerusalem artichoke stalk (JAS) following experimental data and using the commercial software ASPEN Plus with and without a heat exchanger network (HEN). Alkaline hydrogen peroxide pretreatment (AHP) was the first step for this process. The optimal conditions of AHP were a mixture of 2% w/w sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and 4% v/v hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 10% (w/v) solid-liquid ratio and 121°C for 90 min. After treatment, 10% AHP-JAS loading was fed to enzymatic hydrolysis at 50°C and the fermentation process at 30°C. The simulation suggested that a feedstock of 60,000 kg of JAS could yield 3,482.16 kg ethanol. The purification section by the extractive distillation system had 12 stages, a distillate to feed mole ratio (D/F) of 0.13, and a reflux mole ratio (R/R) of 1.5. The purity of the ethanol product was higher than 97 wt%. After the model simulation, HEN was designed by using Aspen Energy Analyzer. After the installation of HEN in this process, the ethanol plant with HEN showed a better result, which at 16.24 percentages reduced total cost compared to the process without HEN.

Influence of 2'-fucosyllactose and galacto-oligosaccharides on the growth and adhesion of Streptococcus mutans.

Human milk oligosaccharides, such as 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), a prebiotic carbohydrate mixture, are being increasingly added to infant formulas, necessitating the understanding of their impact on the oral microbiota. Here, for the first time, the effects of 2'-FL and GOS on the planktonic growth and adhesion characteristics of the caries-associated oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans were assessed, and the results were compared against the effects of xylitol, lactose and glucose. There were differences in S. mutans growth between 2'-FL and GOS. None of the three S. mutans strains grew with 2'-FL, while they all grew with GOS as well as lactose and glucose. Xylitol inhibited S. mutans growth. The adhesion of S. mutans CI 2366 to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite was reduced by 2'-FL and GOS. Exopolysaccharide-mediated adhesion of S. mutans DSM 20523 to a glass surface was decreased with 2'-FL, GOS and lactose, and the adhesion of strain CI 2366 strain was reduced only by GOS. Unlike GOS, 2'-FL did not support the growth of any S. mutans strain. Neither 2'-FL nor GOS enhanced the adhesive properties of the S. mutans strains, but they inhibited some of the tested strains. Thus, the cariogenic tendency may vary between infant formulas containing different types of oligosaccharides.

Carbohydrate determination in honey samples by ion chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPAEC-MS).

Honey is a complex mixture of carbohydrates, in which the monosaccharides glucose and fructose are the most abundant compounds. Currently, more than 20 oligosaccharides have been identified in different varieties of honey normally at quite low concentration. A method was developed and validated using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry detector to investigate the composition of carbohydrates in honey samples. The method was tested for linearity range, trueness, instrumental and method detection and quantification limits, repeatability, and reproducibility. It was applied to determine seven monosaccharides, eight disaccharides, four trisaccharides, and one tetrasaccharide in various honey samples. The present work describes the composition of sugars in unifloral, multifloral, and some honeydew honey, which were produced and collected by beekeepers in the Trentino Alto-Adige region. Statistical techniques have been used to establish a relationship based on levels of carbohydrates among different Italian honey. The results emphasize that mono- and oligosaccharide profiles can be useful to discriminate different honeys according to their floral characteristics and inter-annual variability.

Plasma FGF21 Levels in Rats Are Dependent on Dietary Proteins but Not on Dietary Carbohydrates or Fats

Abstract Objectives Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21), a response to metabolic stress, is influenced by the dietary protein content. Previous studies have shown that a protein level below 10% of energy increases FGF21 hepatic secretion in mice, and increases food intake and energy expenditure. However, it has also been shown in vitro that glucose stimulates FGF21 secretion in liver. The objective of this study was to determine the respective roles of dietary protein and carbohydrate contents on FGF21 secretion and associated metabolic responses. Methods 70 male Wistar rats were subjected at one to 12 diets with various milk protein contents (3, 5, 8, 15 and 30% P of energy) and a mixture of carbohydrates and fats in which carbohydrates amounted 30, 45, 60 or 75% of energy. Body weight and energy intake were measured twice a week, and energy expenditure was measured one time after 2 weeks by indirect calorimetry. After 3 weeks, plasma was collected and an ELISA test was used to determine plasma concentration of FGF21. Tissues were dissected and weighed to determine body composition. Pieces of liver were frozen for measuring expression of Fgf21 mRNA by RT-PCR. Statistical analyzes were done by analysis of variance. Results The decrease in %P in diets increased liver Fgf21 mRNA. Using the 30% P fed group as a reference, Fgf21 mRNA were increased not significantly 3x in 15% P, but significantly 19x in 8% P, 44x in 5% P and 60x in 3% P (P &amp;lt; 0.001). This was related to an increase of plasma FGF21. In contrast, dietary carbohydrate contents did not affect FGF21. In response to the increased of FGF21 secretion, energy intake was increased at 8% and 5% P and was decreased in 3% P fed mice; and energy expenditure was increased in 5% and 3% P. Finally, weight gain was negative at 3% P, and lower in at 8% and 5% P than in 15% and 30% P, consequently to a lean body mass smaller in 3%, 5% and 8% P. Conclusions Liver expression of Fgf21 mRNA and plasma FGF21 increased sharply in response to the decrease in dietary protein levels confirming the role of FGF21 in signaling protein deficiency and associated metabolic and behavioral responses. The lack of effect of the carbohydrate content of diets suggests that, in vivo, only protein content affects FGF21. At last, it should be noted that despite an apparently optimal growth at 15% P, FGF21 secretion is already higher than at 30% P. Funding Sources The funding of the experiments is provided by UMR PNCA.

ICP-MS characterization of seven North American snake venoms

Snake venoms are inherently complex. They are mixtures of multiple enzymes, peptides, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleosides, and metal ions. Metal ions make up a small portion of a snake's venom but play outsized roles in enzyme function and stability. Unlike enzyme primary structure, which is easily predicted from genomic sequences, a venom's metal ion content must be measured directly. We leveraged the high throughput and sensitivity of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to analyze the metal ion content of seven North American snake venoms. All venoms were collected from snakes reared at one location, so we could discount variation from environmental or geographical factors. We profiled 71 metal isotopes. Selenium isotopes were consistently high across all venoms tested. When each venom's toxicity was graphed as a function of each different metal isotope, the only strong relationships between metal content and toxicity were for magnesium isotopes.

The effect of carbohydrates on nutritional preference and development of Mediterranean flour mouth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

In this study, the effect of different carbohydrates on food consumption, growth and development duration of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) larvae was investigated. 13 diets containing different carbohydrates were prepared. Control diet did not contain carbohydrates. The 8 diet contains 3% concentration of glucose, galactose, maltose, starch, arabinose, mannose, sucrose or fructose. 2 of the diets contains 10% or 30% starch. 2 of the diets contain a mixture of carbohydrates (2 Glucose: 1Fructose; 2 Fructose: 1 Glucose). According to the results, only the increase in food consumption does not indicate that a carbohydrate is a feeding stimulus. The conversion of carbohydrates is also important. Although the dietary consumption of arabinose is high, pupa dry weight, pupa lipid and pupa protein are not high. Conversely, although the consumption of the glucose-containing diet is low, the pupa dry weight and pupa lipid content are high. The glucose-fructose mixture is stimulant for E. kuehniella larvae. G2-F1 diet is the diet with high food consumption and growth performance. In addition, it was determined that as the starch concentration in the diet increased, the amount of consumption increased but the pupa dry weight, which is an indicator of fecundity, decreased. It is important result that the amount of pupa protein does not differ in diets except carbohydrate free diet and G2-F1 diet.

Safety of 3'-Sialyllactose (3'-SL) sodium salt as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panelon Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on 3'-Sialyllactose (3'-SL) sodium salt as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF is mainly composed of the human identical milk oligosaccharide (HiMO) 3'-SL but also containing D-lactose, sialic acid and a small fraction of other related oligosaccharides resulting in a fully characterised mixture of carbohydrates. The NF is produced by fermentation with a genetically modified strain of Escherichia coli K-12 DH1. The information provided on the manufacturing process, composition and specifications of the NF does not raise safety concerns. The applicant intends to add the NF in a variety of foods, including infant and follow-on formula, foods for infants and toddlers, foods for special medical purposes and food supplements. The target population is the general population. The anticipated daily intake of 3'-SL from the NF at the maximum proposed use levels is unlikely to exceed the intake level of naturally occurring 3'-SL in breastfed infants on a body weight basis. The intake of 3'-SL in breastfed infants on a body weight basis is expected to be safe also for other population groups. The intake of other carbohydrate-type compounds structurally related to 3'-SL is also considered of no safety concern. Food supplements are not intended to be used if other foods with added NF (as well as breast milk, milk, fermented milk-based products and selected cheeses retaining milk sugar (e.g. curd cheese) for infants and young children) are consumed on the same day. The Panelconcludes that the NF is safe under the proposed conditions of use for the proposed target populations.

FtmsRanalysis: An R package for exploratory data analysis and interactive visualization of FT-MS data.

The high-resolution and mass accuracy of Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FT-MS) has made it an increasingly popular technique for discerning the composition of soil, plant and aquatic samples containing complex mixtures of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, lignins, hydrocarbons, phytochemicals and other compounds. Thus, there is a growing demand for informatics tools to analyze FT-MS data that will aid investigators seeking to understand the availability of carbon compounds to biotic and abiotic oxidation and to compare fundamental chemical properties of complex samples across groups. We present ftmsRanalysis, an R package which provides an extensive collection of data formatting and processing, filtering, visualization, and sample and group comparison functionalities. The package provides a suite of plotting methods and enables expedient, flexible and interactive visualization of complex datasets through functions which link to a powerful and interactive visualization user interface, Trelliscope. Example analysis using FT-MS data from a soil microbiology study demonstrates the core functionality of the package and highlights the capabilities for producing interactive visualizations.

Heavy Metal Content in PolyfloralHoney and Potential Health Risk. A Case Study of Copșa Mică, Romania.

Honey is both a complex food and medicine as well as a healthy alternative to refined sugar. Besides a complex mixture of carbohydrates, honey contains other minor substances which may threaten human health in excess concentrations. Several environmental conditions can affect the quality of honey. This research paper aims to measure the degree of heavy metals (Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), and Copper (Cu)) in some polyfloral honey from an industrial area of Romania, considered to be one of the most polluted regions in Eastern Europe. The samples were collected from six stationary apiaries and analysed using the atomic absorption spectrometry method. The content of Pb was higher in the sampling areas exposed directly to the polluted air masses. Cd concentration decreases exponentially while Cu concentration increases as the distance from the source of pollution increases. The checking of the quality of polyfloral honey from local producers is imperative because this product is intended to be consumed by the beekeeper’s family or the local community without being sold to an authorised processor. The results of the study can help to set a threshold for the concentration of Pb and Cd in honey marketed in the European Union.

Lactobacillus plantarum-derived biosurfactant: Ultrasound-induced production and characterization.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonic treatment (25kHz) on biosurfactant production by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014. The impacts of the ultrasonication (with a frequency of 25kHz and power of 7.4W for 30min time duration) were examined at different stages of the fermentation process to obtain the optimum stimulation instant(s). The optimum scenario was found to be one-time sonication at the 12th hour of fermentation which can be beneficial from an economic point of view (compared with multiple applications of sonication). Ultrasonic treatment at this time resulted in enhancement of the productivities of biomass (4.5g/L) and biosurfactant (2.01g/L) which was almost 1.3 times higher than those of the non-sonicated control samples. According to our results, it was clearly observed that glucose consumption increased after ultrasonic treatment representing the improved substrate uptake and progression of the cellular metabolism. Furthermore, the transmission electron microscopic images immediately after sonication clarified the pore formation on the cell surfaces. The results also indicated the enhancement of plasma membrane permeability of the sonicated cells. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analyses also disclosed respectively no structural differences before and after ultrasonic exposure in the produced biosurfactant and bacterial cell membrane. The biosurfactant was characterized to be a mixture of carbohydrate (28%), protein (23%) and lipid (specified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) known as glycolipoprotein. The sustainable critical micelle concentration and the stability of the synthesized biosurfactant can feature its potential applicability in various processes in the food and pharmaceutical industries.