苹果多酚-壳寡糖微胶囊的制备表征及释放特性

为了有效提高未熟苹果多酚（apple polyphenols,APP）和壳寡糖（chitooligosaccharides,COS）多功能协调效应,该研究采用喷雾干燥法研制未成熟的苹果多酚-壳寡糖微胶囊（apple polyphenols-chitooligosaccharides microcapsule,APCM）,并测定了APCM的微胶囊粒度和分布,以及结构表征,并评价了模拟胃肠道消化模型对总多酚（total phenolic content,TPC）释放和健康益处功能的影响。激光粒度分析结果表明,APCM的平均粒径为32.98μm。跨度值最小为1.19,这意味着APCM比COS和APP更均匀、颗粒度更小。APP在1 237和1 194cm-1处观察到了清晰的峰形,在APCM中同一位置处未观察到。但是,APCM与APP具有相似的吸收带,这意味着APP与COS也可能通过范德华力和分子间氢键的方式形成APCM。模拟胃肠消化模型结果表明,APCM中多酚的释放发生在60 min以内。在模拟胃液消化系统（simulated gastric fluid,SGF）处理中,APCM释放的TPC从25.6%到76.5%不等,而在模拟肠液消化系统（simulated intestinal fluid,SIF）持续处理中,TPC释放量达到31.3%到97.6%。体外抗氧化活性和活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）清除活性结果表明,相比与APP和COS,APCM对抗氧化能力指数、清除DPPH自由基、铁离子还原抗氧化力、?OH清除活性、O2?-清除活性和H2O2清除活性表现出更出色的清除自由基活性。此外,与APP或COS相比,APCM不仅表现出更高的糖还原酶抑制活性（P<0.05）,而且具有更好的血管紧张素I转换酶（Angiotensin I converting enzyme,ACE）抑制活性（P<0.05）。结果表明,APCM今后可在功能性食品或药物领域更大的研发潜力。     

Solvent Retention Capacity Values in Relation to Hard Winter Wheat and Flour Properties and Straight‐Dough Breadmaking Quality

Solvent retention capacity (SRC) was investigated in assessing the end use quality of hard winter wheat (HWW). The four SRC values of 116 HWW flours were determined using 5% lactic acid, 50% sucrose, 5% sodium carbonate, and distilled water. The SRC values were greatly affected by wheat and flour protein contents, and showed significant linear correlations with 1,000‐kernel weight and single kernel weight, size, and hardness. The 5% lactic acid SRC value showed the highest correlation (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001) with straight‐dough bread volume, followed by 50% sucrose, and least by distilled water. We found that the 5% lactic acid SRC value differentiated the quality of protein relating to loaf volume. When we selected a set of flours that had a narrow range of protein content of 12–13% (n = 37) from the 116 flours, flour protein content was not significantly correlated with loaf volume. The 5% lactic acid SRC value, however, showed a significant correlation (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001) with loaf volume. The 5% lactic acid SRC value was significantly correlated with SDS‐sedimentation volume (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001). The SDS‐sedimentation test showed a similar capability to 5% lactic acid SRC, correlating significantly with loaf volume for flours with similar protein content (r = 0.72, P < 0.0001). Prediction models for loaf volume were derived from a series of wheat and flour quality parameters. The inclusion of 5% lactic acid SRC values in the prediction model improved R² = 0.778 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 57.2 from R² = 0.609 and RMSE = 75.6, respectively, from the prediction model developed with the single kernel characterization system (SKCS) and near‐infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy data. The prediction models were tested with three validation sets with different protein ranges and confirmed that the 5% lactic acid SRC test is valuable in predicting the loaf volume of bread from a HWW flour, especially for flours with similar protein contents.     

Slowly Digestible Starch from Debranched Waxy Sorghum Starch: Preparation and Properties

Effects of debranching time, storage time, and storage temperature on production and structural properties of slowly digestible starch (SDS) were investigated. Waxy sorghum starch was hydrolyzed by isoamylase for various times (0–24 hr), and the variously debranched products were stored at ‐30, 1, and 30°C for 1–6 days. Optimal conditions for SDS production were isoamylase treatment for 8 hr and storage at 1°C for three days, resulting in SDS content of 27.0% in the optimum product. Microscopic observation revealed that rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and SDS were removed from the edges and surfaces of the optimum product by α‐amylase digestion. Digestion conditions that removed RDS and SDS resulted in a residue with a higher transition temperature and enthalpy than raw starch on a differential scanning calorimetric thermogram. Removal of RDS alone did not cause distinct decrements of peak temperature (T_p) and enthalpy (ΔH) compared with stored starch. The optimum SDS product showed an amorphous type of X‐ray diffractogram. Digestive removal of RDS from the optimum product gave a residue with X‐ray peaks similar to B type, which supports that it is partly crystalline. Removal of RDS and SDS gave broader peaks in the X‐ray pattern.     

Grafting of Triphenylmethyl Group onto Polyurethane and the Impact on the Shape Recovery and Flexibility at Extremely Low Temperature

The bulky and rigid triphenylmethyl group was grafted onto polyurethane (PU) to reduce the molecular attractions between hard segments and to improve the mobility of the PU chain under freezing conditions. The triphenylmethyl-grafted PU exhibited improvement in the cross-link density, solution viscosity, maximum tensile stress, shape recovery at 10 °C, and low temperature flexibility compared with the plain PU. The soft segment melting was not affected by the grafted triphenylmethyl group, whereas the soft segment crystallization disappeared with the increase of the triphenylmethyl group content. The glass transition temperature (T_g) increased with the increase of the triphenylmethyl group content. The rapid increase of the tensile strength and shape recovery at 10 °C resulted from the cross-linking effect, whereas the strain at break and shape retention at -25 °C slightly decreased with the increase of the triphenylmethyl group content. The triphenylmethylgrafted PU displayed an excellent low temperature flexibility even at -50 °C due to the improved mobility of the PU chain compared to ordinary PU.     

Three-dimensional porous collagen/chitosan complex sponge for tissue engineering

A three-dimensional, porous collagen/chitosan complex sponge was prepared to closely simulate basic extracellular matrix (ECM) constitutes, collagen and glycosaminoglycan. The complex sponge was prepared by a lyophilization method and had the regular network with highly porous structure, suitable for cell adhesion and growth. The pores were well interconnected, and their distribution was fairly homogeneous. The complex sponge was crosslinked using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) to increase its biological stability and enhance its mechanical properties. The crosslinking medium had a great effect on the inner structure of the sponge. The homogeneous, porous structure of the sponge was remarkably collapsed in an aqueous crosslinking medium. However, the morphology of the sponge remained almost intact in a water/ethanol mixture crosslinking milieu. Mechanical properties of the collagen/chitosan sponge were significantly enhanced by EDC-mediated crosslinking. The potential of the sponge as a scaffold for tissue engineering was investigated using a Chinese hamster ovary cell (CHO-K1) line.     

Development of nanofibrous membranes with far-infrared radiation and their antimicrobial properties

This study investigated the incorporation of nanoscale germanium (Ge) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂) particles into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers with the aim of developing nanostructures with far-infrared radiation effects and antimicrobial properties for biomedical applications. Composite fibers containing Ge and SiO₂ were fabricated at various concentrations of Ge and/or SiO₂ using electrospinning and layered on polypropylene nonwoven. The morphological properties of the nanocomposite fibers were characterized using a field-emission scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscope. The far-infrared emissivity and emissive power of the nanocomposite fibers were examined in the wavelength range of 5-20 μm at 37 °C. The antibacterial properties were quantitatively assessed by measuring the bacterial reductions of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. Multi-component composite fibers electrospun from 11 wt% PVA solutions containing 0.5 wt% Ge and 1 wt% SiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited a far-infrared emissivity of 0.891 and an emissive power of 3.44·102 W m^?2 with a web area density of 5.55 g m^?2. The same system exhibited a 99.9 % bacterial reduction against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and showed a 34.8 % reduction of Klebsiella pneumoniae. These results demonstrate that PVA nanofibrous membranes containing Ge and SiO₂ have potential in medical and healthcare applications such as wound healing dressings, skin care masks, and medical textile products.     

Constitutive equations based on cell modeling method for 3D circular braided glass fiber reinforced composites

The cell modeling homogenization method to derive the constitutive equation considering the microstructures of the fiber reinforced composites has been previously developed for composites with simple microstructures such as 2D plane composites and 3D rectangular shaped composites. Here, the method has been further extended for 3D circular braided composites, utilizing B-spline curves to properly describe the more complex geometry of 3D braided composites. For verification purposes, the method has been applied for orthotropic elastic properties of the 3D circular braided glass fiber reinforced composite, in particular for the tensile property. Prepregs of the specimen have been fabricated using the 3D braiding machine through RTM (resin transfer molding) with epoxy as a matrix. Experimentally measured uniaxial tensile properties agreed well with predicted values obtained for two volume fractions.     

Surface and subsurface losses of N and P from salt-affected rice paddy fields of Saemangeum reclaimed land in South Korea

The present study was carried out to evaluate nutrient losses that occur during the course of agricultural activity from rice paddy fields of reclaimed tidal flat. For this study, we chose a salt-affected rice paddy field located in the Saemangeum reclaimed tidal area, which is located on the western South Korean coasts. The plot size was 1,000 m² (40 m × 25 m) with three replicates. The soil belonged to the Gwanghwal series, i.e., it was of the coarse silty, mixed, mesic type of Typic Haplaquents (saline alluvial soil). The input quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus (as chemical fertilizer) into the experimental rice paddy field were 200 kg N ha⁻¹ and 51 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ per annum, and the respective input quantities of each due to precipitation were 9.3–12.9 kg N ha⁻¹ and 0.4–0.7 kg P ha⁻¹ per annum. In terms of irrigation water, these input quantities were 4.5–8.2 kg N ha⁻¹ and 0.3–0.9 kg P ha⁻¹ per annum, respectively. Losses of these nutrients due to surface runoff were 22.5–38.1 kg N ha⁻¹ and 0.7–2.2 kg P ha⁻¹ for the year 2003, and 26.8–29.6 kg N ha⁻¹ and 1.6–1.9 kg P ha⁻¹ for the year 2004, respectively. Losses of these nutrients due to subsurface infiltration during the irrigation period were 0.44–0.67 kg N ha⁻¹ and 0.03–0.04 kg P ha⁻¹ for the year 2003, and 0.15–0.16 kg N ha⁻¹ and 0.05–0.06 kg P ha⁻¹ for 2004. When losses of nitrogen and phosphorus were compared to the amount of nutrients supplied by chemical fertilizers, it was found that 11.3–19.1% of nitrogen and 0.5–1.7% of phosphorus were lost via surface runoff, whereas subsurface losses accounted to 0.2–0.8% for nitrogen and only 0.02–0.04% for phosphorus during the 2-year study period.     

Formation of highly branched hyphae by Colletotrichum acutatum within the fruit cuticles of Capsicum spp.

This study showed that Colletotrichum acutatum penetrates the cuticle layer of Capsicum spp. fruits by forming a previously uncharacterized structure from appressoria. This unusual structure was localized in the cuticle layer. The structure, formed within 24 h post‐inoculation (hpi), was a highly branched, well‐differentiated hypha which penetrated the epidermal cell at 72 hpi. The novel structure, with abnormally thick walls (about 250 nm), often formed multiple branches in the affected chilli pepper. This dendroid structure, probably required for penetration, was formed exclusively in the cuticle layer of chilli pepper fruits and was not found when C. acutatum was inoculated onto pepper petals, mango leaves, or fruits of tomato and aubergine. Colletotrichum acutatum produced similar dendroid structures within resistant chilli pepper fruits, but eventually these structures turned dark brown and no further infection in the epidermal cells occurred, implicating the presence of inhibitors of the formation and development of the dendroid penetration structure in the resistant line.     

Seasonal variations of bromophenols in brown algae (Padina arborescens,Sargassum siliquastrum,and Lobophora variegata) collected in Hong Kong

Distributions and seasonal variations of the key seafood flavor compounds including 2-bromophenol, 4-bromophenol, 2,4-dibromophenol, 2,6-dibromophenol, and 2,4,6-tribromophenol in three species of brown algae (Padina arborescens, Sargassum siliquastrum, and Lobophora variegata) found in Hong Kong waters were investigated. Bromophenols were extracted by simultaneous steam distillation and solvent extraction apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. On a dried weight basis, the total bromophenol content (TBC) determined varied widely with seasons (from 40.9 to 7030 ng/g). The TBCs detected were higher in winter and lower in summer. Except for 2-bromophenol, the rest of the bromophenols were detected in all of the algal samples. The TBC of L. variegata was generally the highest among all of the algae collected. Relatively high concentrations of bromophenols in algae supported the fact that marine algae were major producers of bromophenols in the marine environment.