Stearic Research Articles

Hydrophobic bio-composites of stearic acid starch esters and micro fibrillated cellulose processed by extrusion

Fatty acid starch esters are potential candidates for obtaining hydrophobic starch-based materials. The objective was to evaluate thermoplastic bio-composites with stearic acid cassava starch esters (SAE) as matrices reinforced with micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC). SAE with 0.11 and 0.14 of DS and native cassava starch were processed with 5 % and 10 % MFC by extrusion and then thermo-compression to obtain bio-composite films. Performance of bio-composites as a function of the degree of substitution (DS) of starch esters and the content of MFC, was evaluated. Starch esterification reduced the crystalline phase and glass transition temperature of bio-composites, as confirmed by structural and thermal analysis. The increase of DS reduced the degradation temperature, which was compensated by adding MFC, favoring thermal stability. The hydrophobicity of films increased with the degree of starch esterification. Treatments with 0.14 DS formed stiffer and less tensile strength films. There was an increase in the modulus of elasticity and a reduction in elongation by increasing MFC. Fracture microscopy of films showed defects by incomplete starch melting and lack of interfacial adhesion with MFC caused by starch esterification. Starch esterification and MFC dispersion were determinants in the performance of bio-composites. In consequence, starch esterification with stearic acid reduces the compatibility with the MFC and, consequently, the performance of composites.

Clostridium butyricum Prevents Diarrhea Incidence in Weaned Piglets Induced by Escherichia coli K88 through Rectal Bacteria–Host Metabolic Cross-Talk

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) on the prevention of the diarrhea rates and growth performances of weaned piglets induced by Escherichia coli K88 (E. coli K88). Twenty-four weaned piglets (6.92 ± 0.11 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups for a period of 21 days. Each group consisted of eight pigs, with each pig being housed in an individual pen. Group I received the control diet along with normal saline, Group II received the control diet along with E. coli K88, and Group III received the control diet supplemented with 5 × 108 CFU/kg of C. butyricum and E. coli K88. We examined alterations in rectal microbiota and metabolites, analyzed the incidence of diarrhea, and investigated the interactions between microbiota and metabolites through the application of Illumina MiSeq sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The results showed that, from days 14 to 21, the diarrhea incidence in Group III decreased significantly by 83.29% compared to Group II (p < 0.05). Over the entire experimental duration, the average daily feed intake of Group III decreased significantly by 11.13% compared to Group I (p < 0.05), while the diarrhea incidence in Group III decreased by 71.46% compared to Group II (p < 0.05). The predominant microbial flora in the rectum consisted of Firmicutes (57.32%), Bacteroidetes (41.03%), and Proteobacteria (0.66%). Administering E. coli K88 orally can elevate the relative abundance of Megasphaera (p < 0.05). Conversely, the supplementation of C. butyricum in the diet reduced the relative abundance of Megasphaera (p < 0.05), while increasing the relative abundance of unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.05). Rectal metabolomics analysis revealed that supplementing C. butyricum in the feed significantly altered the amino acids and fatty acids of the piglets infected with E. coli K88 (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the occurrence of diarrhea was inversely related to adipic acid (p < 0.05) and positively associated with (5-hydroxyindol-3-YL) acetic acid and L-aspartic acid (p < 0.05). Prevotella_1 exhibited a negative correlation with octadecanoic acid (p < 0.05). Prevotellaceae_UCG-005 showed a negative correlation with (5-hydroxyindol-3-YL) acetic acid (p < 0.05). The findings from this research study aid in probiotic development and the enhancement of healthy growth in weaned piglets.

Stearic acid as a potential interlayer at the FAPI/hole transport layer interface

In this study, we explore the potential of using an ultra-thin film of stearic acid (SA) as an interlayer at the interface between the active material and the hole transport layer (HTL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The FAPbI3 active material thin film was fabricated under ambient conditions using the antisolvent method, followed by the deposition of stearic acid overlayers of varying coverages/thicknesses. By adjusting the coverage/thickness of the SA overlayer, the electronic structure of the perovskite surface can be finely tuned, which may potentially lead to favorable energy level alignment at the perovskite/HTL interface. The interaction between the perovskite thin film and the stearic acid overlayer is expected to involve coordination between defects on the perovskite surface and the carboxyl group of stearic acid. The presence of the nonpolar alkyl chain of stearic acid on the perovskite surface enhances material stability by preventing water and oxygen ingress. Our findings suggest that introduction of SA interlayer at the perovskite/HTL interface may enhance operational stability and efficiency of PSCs by improving the charge transfer across the interface through optimization of energy level alignment and reduction of recombination sites, and protect the absorber from environmental factors like water and oxygen.

Evaluation of anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities of essential oil collected from wildly growing Calotropis gigantea (Linn.) Aiton f. and its therapeutic applications: insights from chemical profiling, in-vitro and in-silico studies

Calotropis gigantea, often known as giant milkweed, the plant is widely known for producing herbal essential oils that are used as traditional and complementary medicine to cure various ailments. The aim of the present study was evaluation of anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities of essential oil collected from wildly growing Calotropis gigantea and its its therapeutic applications via chemical profiling, in-vitro and in-silico studies. After Calotropis gigantea (CEO) essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation, its phytochemical, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-diabetic properties were assessed. Fingerprint analysis and GC-FID were used to create a chemical profile. Various tests for antioxidants, such as DPPH, nitric oxide radical, and iron chelating activity, were conducted. The disk diffusion approach was used for antibacterial efficacy against Gram-negative (G-) bacteria. The test of α-amylase inhibition was utilized to investigate anti-diabetic efficacy. In-silico analysis was also conducted to find out interaction of some components to α-amylase enzyme. Chemical profiling indicated the presence of phytol (24%), stearic acid (10%), and cyclohexyl ketone (6%), as predominant components. There was notable antioxidant activity ranged from 82 to 97% for various assays. IC50 values for various assays were iron chelating activity: 18.610, DPPH scavenging activity: 28.246, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity: 58.113. CEO showed a zone of inhibition value of 0.5 cm and significant antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (G-) bacteria. CEO blocked α-amylase in dose-dependent way. At a higher amount of 250 µl, CEO inhibition was 63% and mode of inhibition un-competitive. In-silico analysis validated the blocking of α-amylase and interaction of phytocomponents to α-amylase enzyme which were further validated by UV and fluorescent quenching techniques. It was determined that CEO may be extensively used in many different industries, including as food, herbal medicine, cosmetics.

A Green Approach to Oil Spill Mitigation: New Hybrid Materials for Wastewater Treatment

This study focuses on the development of adsorptive materials to retain degraded 5w40 motor oil. The materials were prepared using xanthan (XG) and XG esterified with acrylic acid (XGAC) as the polymeric matrix. LignoBoost lignin (LB), LB esterified with oleic (LBOL), stearic acid (LBST) and montmorillonite (CL) were added into XG and XGAC matrices to obtain the adsorbents. Adsorption experiments revealed that XG/CL/LBOL had the highest adsorption capacity at 46.80 g/g, followed by XGAC/CL at 45.73 g/g, and XG/CL at 37.58 g/g. The kinetic studies, employing the pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, indicated rapid sorption rates with a good correlation to experimental data. FTIR spectra analysis have evidenced the physical nature of adsorption process, involving interactions such as hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and π–π interactions. Equilibrium data fitting to the Henry, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models showed that the adsorption occurs within materials diverse pore structures, enhancing oil retention. Structural parameters like density, porosity, and surface area were pivotal, with XG/CL/LBOL showing the most favorable properties for high oil adsorption. Additionally, it was found that the adsorption efficiency was influenced by the material’s morphology and the presence of chemical modifications. This comprehensive evaluation highlights the potential of these novel adsorptive materials for environmental remediation applications, offering an efficient and sustainable approach to reducing degraded motor oil pollution.

Biochemical and nutritional analysis of seaweed (Iyengaria stellata) and its therapeutic significance, using antioxidant, antimicrobial, and hypoglycemic activities

Seaweeds have gained significant attention for their bioactive compounds and extensive use in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals. Therefore, comprehensive analysis was conducted to investigate the nutritional composition, identify and quantify the Phyco-chemicals and to evaluate the pharmacological potential using hypoglycemic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Iyengaria stellata extract. The results of nutritional analysis revealed 39.72±2.60 % total ash, 14.54±0.44 % crude fat, 9.61±0.60 % proteins, 5.29±0.52 % crude fibers, 10.49±1.00 % moisture content, and total energy was 108.26±2.01 Kcal 100 g−1 of dry powder. Approximately, 15 compounds were tentatively detected in ethyl acetate extract with major compounds being Pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, easter (31.62 %), (Z) -9- stearic acid, methyl easter (13.36 %), Elaidic acid, methyl easter (11.46 %), Phytol (6.31 %), n-Hexadecanoic acid (7.47 %), Linolelaidic acid, methyl ester (5.64 %) and 1-octadecyne (5.34 %). Similarly, n-butanol extract contained 16 compounds with primary compounds being Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (25.96 %), Elaidic acid methyl ester (21.39 %), Linolelaidic acid methyl ester (11.53 %), Octadecanoic acid, methyl ester (5.89 %), and Hexanedioic acid, dioctyl ester (5.26 %). FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of similar groups of compounds i.e. alcohols, phenols, lipids, carboxylic acids, amines, aromatics, ketones and halogens. Total phenolic contents (TPC) in ethyl acetate and n-butanol extract were measured as 2.982±0.876 mg GAEg−1 and 1.538±0.711 mg GAE g−1, whereas Total Flavonoids contents (TFC) were 2.058 ± 0.121 mg QE g−1 and 1.614 ± 0.643 mg QE g−1, respectively. Ethyl acetate extract exhibited more antioxidant potential with an IC50 (2.59±1.34) compared to n-butanol extract (2.75±1.60). Moreover, n-butanol extract exhibited strong antimicrobial activity. The most susceptible strains were E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. In terms of in-vivo hypoglycemic activity, the n-butanol extract proved to be more effective which significantly reduced the blood glucose level up to 226.17±3.43, 201.33±4.63 and 265.17±3.92 at 300, 200 and 100 mg kg−1 doses respectively after 24 h. In conclusion, the seaweed I. stellata exhibited significant potential in terms of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and hypoglycemic properties.

Topically applied, fatty acid-containing formulations provide superior barrier benefits in an exvivo tape-stripped skin model.

Ex vivo skin has been used to study various skin conditions from atopic dermatitis to burn injury. The aim of this research is to identify a more effective barrier improvement strategy and to evaluate topical formulations in replenishing the skin. The skin can create new longer chain fatty acids and ceramides (CERs) from topically applied skin natural fatty acid to help renew the skin's barrier. An exvivo skin model damaged by sequential tape stripping of the stratum corneum (SC) was used to investigate the repair of the SC. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to assess the SC layers recovered. Ultrastructural analysis was performed using transmission electron microscopy to visualize the lamellar bodies and intercellular lipid lamellae. The data in this study provide the first direct exvivo evidence comparing different marketed formulations containing three CERs with those containing fatty acids. Free fatty acid (FFA)-containing formulations, but not CER-containing formulations, directly applied to the damaged skin, showed an increased number of repaired SC layers and this was reflected at the ultrastructural level by an increased intercellular lipid lamellae length and an increased number of lamellar bodies. These findings demonstrate that FFA-containing formulations can repair damaged exvivo skin and point to a repair mechanism in which topically applied palmitic and stearic acids, (which boost lipid levels and elongation) can increase the production and transport of lipids into a repaired SC and thus rebuild an effective skin barrier.

Biokinetic and microbial insights into regulatory mechanisms of long-chain fatty acid degradation during food waste-lipid co-digestion within anaerobic membrane bioreactor

This study investigated the effects of varying lipid ratios on the anaerobic co-digestion of high-lipid food waste (FW) in a mesophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). At a lipid concentration of 5 %, optimal biogas production (3.84 L/L/d) and lipid removal efficiency (78 %) were achieved; however, increasing lipid concentrations resulted in significant accumulations of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Batch tests further demonstrated the impact of various types of LCFAs, with stearic acid showing the slowest microbial growth rate (0.033d-1), confirming its role in the accumulation of acetate-dominated VFAs, potentially limiting the methanogenesis process at elevated lipid levels. Furthermore, at 8 % lipid content, the downregulation of key LCFA degradation enzymes and dominance of hydrogenotrophic methanogens indicate adverse conditions. The importance of the intricate interplay between LCFA degradation kinetics and microbial community for the system efficiency are evidenced, offering insights for optimizing and managing high-lipidic wastes.

Effect of the composition of combined solid lipid particles with gefitinib and a photosensitizer on their size, stability and cytotoxic activity

The creation of combined nanomedicines and their controlled release under the influence of photoinduction is an actively developing branch of scientific research. This work is devoted to the development of models of solid lipid nanoparticles for a well-known antitumor drug – gefitinib in combination with a photoindicating agent – a photosensitizer from the phthalocyanine group. Nanoparticles were obtained by several methods: hot homogenization with stearic acid, sesame oil and Tween 80 and by one-step dispersion with copolymers of lactic and glycolic acids and polyvinyl alcohol. In vitro experiments when irradiating particles with a laser in the near-infrared range (about 730 nm) proved the advantage of using combined nanoparticles with gefitinib and a photosensitizer compared to monotherapy, while the activity in terms of IC50 was 5.1-8.7 times higher for gefitinib and 1.5-1.8 times for the photosensitizer.

Evaluation of the qualitative properties of the oil extracted from the mixture of Helianthus annuus and Nigella sativa seeds during heating

The oil obtained from black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds has many health-effective properties, which is used in food applications and in traditional medicine. One practical method to extract its oil is mixing with other seeds such as sunflower (Helianthus anuus) seeds before oil extraction by press. The effectiveness of the cold-press oil obtained from the mixture of black cumin seeds (BS) and sunflower seeds (SF) in different proportions 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, 85:15 and 0:100 (w/w) was studied to evaluate their qualitative properties including peroxide value (PV), acid value, p-anisidine value (AnV), pigments (carotenoid and chlorophyll) content, polyphenols, and profile of fatty acids during heating process (30–150 min at 180 °C). The results revealed that the acid and p-anisidine value of the all samples enhanced with the extension of the heating time, and the peroxide value increased at the beginning of the heating and then decreased with the prolongation of the heating time (p < .05). With the increase of temperature and heating time, the peroxide of sunflower oil increased with a higher slope and speed than that of black seed and blends oil. Changes in the PV and AnV were the fastest in sunflower oil. Blending and heating caused considerable changes in the fatty acid composition of oils, especially myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Moreover, the levels of certain unsaturated fatty acids, namely linoleic, oleic, and linolenic acids declined after heating. The carotenoids, chlorophyll and total phenol content decreased gradually during heating treatments. Among extracted oils, SF:BS (15%) had the good potential for stability, with total phenol content of 95.92 (Caffeic acid equivalents/100 g), PV of 2.16 (meq O2/kg), AV of 2.59 (mg KOH/g oil), and AnV of 8.08 after the heating. In conclusion, oil extracted from the mixture of SF and BS can be used as salad and cooking oils with a high content of bioactive components and positive nutritional properties.

In silico studies on leishmanicide activity of limonoids and fatty acids from Carapa guianensis Aubl

The oil of Carapa guianensis showed leishmanicidal activity, with its activity being related to limonoids, but fatty acids are the major constituents of this oil. The present study evaluated the physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity profiles of limonoids and fatty acids already identified in the species. Based on these results, 2 limonoids (methyl angosinlate, 6-OH-methyl angosinlate) and 2 fatty acids (arachidic acid; myristic acid) were selected for the prediction of possible targets and molecular docking. Included in this study were: Gedunin, 6α-acetoxygedunin, Methyl angosenlato, 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin, Andirobin, 6-hydroxy-angolensate methyl, 17β-hydroxyazadiradione, 1,2-dihydro-3β-hydroxy-7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin, xyllocensin k, 11beta-Hydroxygedunin, 6α,11-11β-diacetoxygedunin, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitoleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, and Beenic Acid. Regarding physicochemical aspects, fatty acids violated LogP, and only limonoid 11 violated Lipinski’s rule. A common pharmacokinetic aspect was that all molecules were well absorbed in the intestine and inhibited CYP. All compounds showed toxicity in some model, with fatty acids being mutagenic and carcinogenic, and limonoids not being mutagenic and carcinogenic at least for rats. In in vivo models, fatty acids were less toxic. Molecular dockings were performed on COX-2 steroids (15 and 16) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha for limonoids (3,6), with this target being essential for the intracellular development of leishmania. Limonoids 3 and 6 appear to be promising as leishmanicidal agents, and fatty acids are promising as wound healers.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry profile and acute toxicity studies of Annona muricata leaf ethanol extract.

Medicinal plants are primary source of bio-active compounds applied in the management of diseases. The present work focuses on determining the acute toxicity of Annona muricata leaf ethanol extract and the volatile organic constituents using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The acute toxicity test of the extract of A. muricata was determined using standard method. The GC-MS profiling of the extract obtained 13 compounds at different retention times. The dominant chemical constituents in the extracts of A. muricata leaf include: Linoelaidic acid (30.69%), Oleic acid (12.98%), 6-octadecenoic acid (10.99%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (9.28%), Octadecanoic acid (7.73) and 10-Octadecanoic acid (6.69%). Acute toxicity studies showed that LD50 was &gt;5000 mg/kg body weight. The extracts of A. muricata are rich in a battery of bioa-active compounds that may be pharmacologically responsible for its known medicinal properties and considered generally safe.

Performance test of a heliostat field integrated PVT solar collector using organic phase change material and carbon black additives

The rising global awareness of environmental issues has brought about a rise in the adoption of green energy throughout our daily activities in recent decades. The radiation from the sun is utilized for thermal heating, electrical generation, and agriculture by Phase change materials (PCM) integrated PVT collector. However, the lower concentration ratio of solar radiation on flat plate collectors and the lower thermal conductivity of PCMs are the major drawbacks. In this present study, a Heliostat field concentrator was designed to integrate with a hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collector for the increase of the solar irradiance, and carbon black additives incorporated stearic acid (SA) were used in the underneath PVT collector to enhance the thermal conductivity of SA as well as the thermal efficiency of the system. The performance tests were carried out for both SA with carbon black and SA without carbon black additives for varying water flow rates of 0.0025 kg/s, 0.0035 kg/s, 0.0045 kg/s, and 0.0055 kg/s. The efficiency of the PV panels ranged from 10 % to 13 %. The maximum thermal efficiency was found to be 46.56 % when using SA with carbon black for the water flow rate of 0.0035 kg/s whereas the maximum thermal efficiency was 45.45 % in the case of SA without carbon black for that water flow rate. Especially contrasted with the other flow rates throughout the investigation, the average thermal efficiency increases by 6.83 % for the flow rate of 0.0035 kg/s after integrating carbon black with PCM. The experimented results showed the outlet temperature of water in the range of 50 °C-59 °C throughout the day which is sufficient for domestic hot water applications.

Integrating 16S rRNA Sequencing and LC-MS-Based Metabolomics to Evaluate the Effects of Dietary Crude Protein on Ruminal Morphology, Fermentation Parameter and Digestive Enzyme Activity in Tibetan Sheep

The dietary crude protein level could affect ruminal fermentation parameters and the microflora of ruminants. The present study’s aim was to investigate the effects of different protein level diets on ruminal morphology, fermentation parameters, digestive enzyme activity, microflora and metabolites of Tibetan sheep. Ninety weaned lambs (initial weight of 15.40 ± 0.81 kg, 2 months old) were selected and randomly divided into three groups (six pens/treatment, five rams/pen). Dietary treatments were formulated with 13.03% (high protein, HP), 11.58% (moderate protein, MP) and 10.20% (low protein, LP), respectively. Compared with LP, both papillae length and papillae width were significantly promoted in HP and MP (p &lt; 0.05). The concentrations of ammonia nitrogen, total VFAs, propionic acids and butyric acids in HP were significantly increased compared to those in MP and LP (p &lt; 0.05). The activities of protease and α-amylase in HP were significantly greater than those of LP (p &lt; 0.05). For the ruminal microbial community, higher proportions of phylum Prevotella 1 and Succiniclasticum and genus Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group and Ruminococcus 1 were observed in HP (p &lt; 0.05). A total of 60 differential metabolites (DMs) (28 up, 32 down) between HP and MP; 73 DMs (55 up, 18 down) between HP and LP; and 65 DMs (49 up, 16 down) between MP and LP were identified. Furthermore, four pathways of the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, tryptophan metabolism, bile secretion and ABC transporters were significantly different (p &lt; 0.05). The abundance of phylum Prevotella 1 was negatively associated with stearic acid and palmitic acid but positively associated with the taurine. The abundance of genus Ruminococcus 1 was negatively associated with stearic acid, oleic acid, erucic acid, Indole-3-acetamide and palmitic acid but positively associated with 6-hydroxymelatonin. In conclusion, a 13.03% CP level improved ruminal morphology, fermentation parameters and digestive enzyme activities through modulating the microbial community and regulating metabolism in Tibetan sheep.

Protein, Essential Amino Acid, and Fatty Acid Composition of Five Target Fishery Species of Central Mediterranean Sea

The protein, essential amino acid, and fatty acid composition of European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), surmullet (Mullus surmuletus), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), and deep water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) from the central Mediterranean Sea were investigated. All the species showed an essential amino acid content of about 50% of total amino acids, while the protein and total fatty acids content varied from 19.9 to 24.8% and from 1.4 to 5.1%, respectively. The fatty acid profile mainly followed the order SFA (39.1–52.6%) &gt; PUFA (21.0–39.3%) &gt; MUFA (15.6–24.3%). Palmitic and stearic acids were predominant among saturated fatty acids (38–52% and 21–25%, respectively), while palmitoleic and oleic acids were the most represented of the total monounsaturated acids (10–21% and 55–68%, respectively). All the species, as expected, showed a more significant proportion of n-3 PUFA (EPA + DHA) of about 81–93% of the total PUFA, with the highest values was found in European pilchard. Also, several fat quality index values, such as n-6/n-3 ratio, PUFA/SFA, the index of atherogenicity (IA), the index of thrombogenicity (IT), the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (HH), and fish lipid quality/flesh lipid quality (FLQ) were calculated to assess the nutritional quality. All the obtained results, along with the fat quality indexes, indicated the excellent nutritional values of the selected species.

The Impact of Boron Nitride Additive on Thermal and Thermochromic Properties of Organic Thermochromic Phase Change Materials

Thermochromic phase change materials (TPCMs) are gaining increasing interest among scientists. These multifunctional materials can store thermal energy but also, at the same time, during the phase transition, they can change colour. Thermal conductivity is also extremely important for this type of material, which is why various additives are used for this purpose. This work aimed to study the properties of thermochromic phase change materials with an inorganic modifier. Stearic acid, behenyl alcohol, and bromocresol purple were used as thermochromic system components, while boron nitride particles were used as an additive. The key tests for such systems are thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which allow determining the thermal stability of the materials (at around 170 °C) and phase transition parameters (thermal energy storage of 300 J/g in the range of 40–75 °C). The thermochromic properties were tested, and satisfactory results were obtained. In the end, laser flash analysis (LFA) tests indicated that boron nitride improves the thermal conductivity of the organic thermochromic phase change material by almost 30%. The results showed that the tested materials have great potential as thermochromic phase change materials for thermal energy storage.

Targeted Metabolomic Analysis of Serum Free Fatty Acids: Lipidomics Disturbance in Patients with Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis

This study aimed to identify and quantify free fatty acids (FFAs), secretory phospholipase A2 group IIa (sPLA2-IIa) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in serum of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK) patients and explored the association between FFAs, sPLA2-IIa and cPLA2 variations and SLK. Targeted metabolomic analysis of FFAs in serum was performed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis on 16 SLK patients (43.88±7.88 years; female: 62.50%) and 25 healthy controls (43.12±7.88 years; female: 64.00%). Qualitative and absolute quantitative results of FFAs were obtained and classified according to gender and thyroid tests. Differential lipid metabolites, metabolomic pathways and biomarkers were further evaluated. The serum sPLA2-IIa and cPLA2 were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Among 40 FFAs identified, 6 FFAs showed significant changes (P<0.05) in SLK patients, including 4 decreased and 2 increased. They were mainly related to unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis. When dividing the data by gender or abnormal thyroid tests, some comparable FFAs alterations displayed in SLK patients. The ROC analysis revealed that the AUC values of linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid, were all greater than 0.8. The serum concentrations of sPLA2-IIa and cPLA2 in patients with SLK were significantly higher than that in healthy controls. Lipidomics disturbance might be the potential mechanism of SLK. Serum FFA biomarkers associated with SLK have potential for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Augmented ocular uptake and anti-inflammatory efficacy of decorated Genistein-loaded NLCs incorporated in in situ gel

Genistein (Gen); a naturally occurring isoflavone, acts as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and efficiently downregulates inflammatory cytokines, which are pivotal in eye inflammation. Also, Gen suffers from sparse ocular bioavailability due to poor solubility. In this work, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were successfully fabricated by using solid (stearic acid and compritol) and liquid (oleic acid) lipids. The optimized Gen-loaded NLCs showed a nanosize range of 140–246 nm, ≥ 98 % entrapment efficiency, and controlled release over 48 h. The ζ-potential of NLCs was increased from −27.3 mV to 25–27.4 mV due to surface modification with chitosan (CS) or eudragit RS100 (ERS 100). All NLCs showed prominent biocompatibility with enhanced cellular uptake on corneal stromal fibroblasts. Moreover, the different NLCs were incorporated into a mucoadhesive in situ gel. The optimized in situ gel (G9), containing 20 % poloxamers and 0.5 % hydroxyethyl cellulose, exhibited excellent gelling ability within 10.5 s, gelling temperature at 33.1 ± 0.6 ℃, spreadability diameter of 4.73 ± 0.12 cm, shear-thinning behavior, and 20 min ex vivo mucoadhesion time with drug release for 120 h. The in vivo results showed distinguished permeation and distribution potential for ocular delivery. In vivo anti-inflammatory effects after 3 days of treatment with CS-Gen-NLCs/G9 and ERS-Gen-NLCs/G9 revealed a downregulation of interleukin-6 levels in the cornea and retina compared to the untreated group. Our research highlights the promising anti-inflammatory potential of ERS-Gen-NLCs/G9 as an efficient, non-irritant Gen nanodelivery system for managing anterior and posterior ocular inflammation.

Quantity and Quality Evaluation of Girardinia Diversifolia and Girardinia Bullosa Seed Oil

Kenya imports more than 65% of its edible oil requirements. This is due to low oil production and limited sources that cannot adequately meet the high demand by the ever-increasing population. This study aimed to determine the fatty acid profile and assess the quantity and quality of Girardinia diversifolia and Girardinia bullosa seed oil. Its quality was assessed in terms of iodine value (IV), saponification value (SV), acid value(AV), peroxide value(PV), unsaponifiable matter, refractive index (RI), specific gravity(SG) and moisture content and volatile matter. The percentage oil content (18.4 to 21.2/100g dry) was low relative to most common edible oil plants. The highest moisture content recorded was 39.60 with the lowest being 31.24g/ 100g air-dried seeds. The RI ranged from 1.4662-1.4704. The IV ranged from 166-192. The PV was in the range of 8.68 to 13.6. The SV (164-179) was comparable to that of corn oil (187-147). The AV varied from 4.58-7.22. The percent unsaponifiable matter of the oil varied from 2.14-4.10. The fatty acids detected in the oil were decanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, 9-octadecaenoic acid, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, eicosanoic acid and heneicosanoic acid. The results showed that Girardinia oil is stable in the first two hours of heating. The results indicated that the oil had a high content of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, and this guarantees the possibility of using the oil in the food industry.

Exploration of GmDof11-lncRNA13082 Module Regulating Oil Synthesis in Plants.

Soybean (Glycine max [Linn.] Merr.) is an important oilseed crop. Although transcription factors (TFs) can coordinate the expression of mRNA and lncRNA, their coordination in the soybean oil synthesis pathway remains unclear. This study examined the interaction between the TF GmDof11 and lncRNA13082 and found that overexpression of GmDof11 led to an increase in the number of Arabidopsis seeds, thousand seed weight, crude protein, hydrolysis amino acid, and soluble sugar. Additionally, it reduced the triglyceride and starch contents and affected the proportion of fatty acids, increasing the contents of palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linolenic acid. The yeast two-hybrid experiments revealed that GmDof11 interacts with GmBCCP1, GmLEC1b, and GmFAB2 proteins. In the RT-qPCR analysis of transgenic soybean roots, it was found that GmDof11 can activate the production of lncRNA13082 and work in conjunction with lncRNA13082 to oversee oil synthesis and nutrient storage. Our research provides robust theoretical evidence for a comprehensive resolution of TF-lncRNA regulation in the soybean oil synthesis network.