Quality properties Of Vietnamese cocoa liquors

Vietnam (VN) is an emerging country targeting cocoa as a potential industrial domain. It is however still unclear how the quality of VN cocoa liquors can be positioned in the world cocoa supply. Three VN cocoa liquors exhibiting high to intermediate acidity (pH: 4.7 – 5.2) were selected to produce dark chocolate (48.0% sugar, 17.6% cocoa solids, 34.0% cocoa butter and 0.4% lecithin). A comparison study was conducted to investigate the difference between VN and Ghanaian (GH; pH: 5.6) dark chocolates in terms of Casson flow properties (yield stress sCA and viscosity hCA), hardness (F 20°C and F 30°C), water-soluble organic acid content, aroma profile and sensory evaluation. The impact of pre-treatments of cocoa liquor by ball-milling at different fat contents and conching (-C) was also examined

Molecular dynamics simulations of crystallization of Lennard-Jones nanoparticles

Crystallization of Lennard-Jones nanoparticles has been studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Spherical models with free surface are cooled from the melt to crystalline state. In the cooling process, thermodynamics, structural properties and atomic mechanism of the crystallization are investigated. We found that crystallization in nanoparticles follows the Ostwald’s step rule like that found in the past. Due to free surface contribution, the solidification exhibits non-homogeneous behavior which proceeds in different manners between core and surface: homogeneous crystallization in the core and heterogeneous one in the surface layer of nanoparticles. It is due to the discrepancy between structures of two parts: highly ordered structure dominates in the core region while the surface exhibits defective one with a high fraction of undercoordinated sites. Also, our results are consistent with previous ones about the free surface-induced phenomena

Polarity of Neuronal Membrane Traffic Requires Sorting of Kinesin Motor Cargo during Entry into Dendrites by a Microtubule-Associated Septin

Neuronal function requires axon-dendrite membrane polarity, which depends on sorting of membrane traffic during entry into axons. Due to a microtubule network of mixed polarity, dendrites receive vesicles from the cell body without apparent capacity for directional sorting. We found that, during entry into dendrites, axonally destined cargos move with a retrograde bias toward the cell body, while dendritically destined cargos are biased in the anterograde direction. A microtubule-associated septin (SEPT9), which localizes specifically in dendrites, impedes axonal cargo of kinesin-1/KIF5 and boosts kinesin-3/KIF1 motor cargo further into dendrites. In neurons and in vitro single-molecule motility assays, SEPT9 suppresses kinesin-1/KIF5 and enhances kinesin-3/KIF1 in a manner that depends on a lysine-rich loop of the kinesin motor domain. This differential regulation impacts partitioning of neuronal membrane proteins into axons-dendrites. Thus, polarized membrane traffic requires sorting during entry into dendrites by a septin-mediated mechanism that bestows directional bias on microtubules of mixed orientation

Erratum: Polarity of Neuronal Membrane Traffic Requires Sorting of Kinesin Motor Cargo during Entry into Dendrites by a Microtubule-Associated Septin

(Developmental Cell 46, 204–218.e1–e7; July 16, 2018) In the originally published version of this article, the landing rate units in Figures 4A, 6A, and 7E, as well as in the Quantification and Statistical Analysis section of the STAR Methods under the ‘‘In Vitro Motor Motility’’ subheading, were erroneously noted as ‘‘events mm 1 s 1’’ rather than as ‘‘events mm 1 min 1’’ due to mistaken changes made at the proof stage. These errors have now been corrected in the online version of the paper. The authors regret this error and apologize for any confusion that it might have caused

Erratum: Polarity of Neuronal Membrane Traffic Requires Sorting of Kinesin Motor Cargo during Entry into Dendrites by a Microtubule-Associated Septin

(Developmental Cell 46, 204–218.e1–e7; July 16, 2018) In the originally published version of this article, the landing rate units in Figures 4A, 6A, and 7E, as well as in the Quantification and Statistical Analysis section of the STAR Methods under the ‘‘In Vitro Motor Motility’’ subheading, were erroneously noted as ‘‘events mm 1 s 1’’ rather than as ‘‘events mm 1 min 1’’ due to mistaken changes made at the proof stage. These errors have now been corrected in the online version of the paper. The authors regret this error and apologize for any confusion that it might have caused

Quality attributes of dark chocolate produced from vietnamese cocoa liquors

This study provides the quality aspects of Vietnamese (VN) dark chocolates produced by cocoa liquors exhibiting different degrees of acidity. Hereto, the impact of preconching the highly acidic cocoa liquors was investigated. Results show that three out of four VN chocolates attained comparable solid fat content at 35C, particle sizes and flow properties to a Ghanaian reference, ensuring a similar volatile release and taste perception. Principal component analysis of the aroma compounds obtained using headspace solidâ phase microextraction gas chromatography massâ spectrometry clustered the chocolates into three groups: those from GH and VN liquor with intermediate acidity, those from preconched VN liquors and that from highly acidic VN liquor. A more detailed interpretation of the flavor profile revealed that VN chocolates exhibit more profound acidic, fruity and flowery aroma. Furthermore, liquor preconching positively affected chocolate flow and decreased volatile acids, however, partly removed both highly and less volatile, desired aroma compounds. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: As the demand and deficit for chocolate are increasing worldwide, the hunt for additional highâ quality cocoa resources will bring added value for both farmers and chocolate industry. Vietnamese (VN) cocoa, as a newcomer, is recently expanding its global market potential, however, how its quality can be positioned in the world supply is not assessed yet. The results of this study could reveal the applicability of VN cocoa liquors varying in acidity for the production of highâ quality dark chocolates with specific aroma notes. However, the typical high acidity in Southeast Asian cocoa is regarded as detrimental flavor attribute, thus inspiring this work to study whether cocoa liquor preconching could improve the overall aroma as well as mouthfeel perception.status: publishe

Quality attributes of dark chocolate produced from Vietnamese cocoa liquors

This study provides the quality aspects of Vietnamese (VN) dark chocolates produced by cocoa liquors exhibiting different degrees of acidity. Hereto, the impact of preconching the highly acidic cocoa liquors was investigated. Results show that three out of four VN chocolates attained comparable solid fat content at 35C, particle sizes and flow properties to a Ghanaian reference, ensuring a similar volatile release and taste perception. Principal component analysis of the aroma compounds obtained using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass-spectrometry clustered the chocolates into three groups: those from GH and VN liquor with intermediate acidity, those from preconched VN liquors and that from highly acidic VN liquor. A more detailed interpretation of the flavor profile revealed that VN chocolates exhibit more profound acidic, fruity and flowery aroma. Furthermore, liquor preconching positively affected chocolate flow and decreased volatile acids, however, partly removed both highly and less volatile, desired aroma compounds. Practical Applications: As the demand and deficit for chocolate are increasing worldwide, the hunt for additional high-quality cocoa resources will bring added value for both farmers and chocolate industry. Vietnamese (VN) cocoa, as a newcomer, is recently expanding its global market potential, however, how its quality can be positioned in the world supply is not assessed yet. The results of this study could reveal the applicability of VN cocoa liquors varying in acidity for the production of high-quality dark chocolates with specific aroma notes. However, the typical high acidity in Southeast Asian cocoa is regarded as detrimental flavor attribute, thus inspiring this work to study whether cocoa liquor preconching could improve the overall aroma as well as mouthfeel perception

Long-term outcome in survivors of neonatal tetanus following specialist intensive care in Vietnam

Abstract Background Neonatal tetanus continues to occur in many resource-limited settings but there are few data regarding long-term neurological outcome from the disease, especially in settings with critical care facilities. Methods We assessed long-term outcome following neonatal tetanus in infants treated in a pediatric intensive care unit in southern Vietnam. Neurological and neurodevelopmental testing was performed in 17 survivors of neonatal tetanus and 18 control children from the same communities using tools previously validated in Vietnamese children. Results The median age of children assessed was 36 months. Eight neonatal tetanus survivors and 9 community control cases aged < 42 months were tested using the Bayley III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley III-VN) and 8 neonatal tetanus survivors and 9 community controls aged ≥42 months were tested using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. No significant reductions in growth indices or neurodevelopmental scores were shown in survivors of neonatal tetanus compared to controls although there was a trend towards lower scores in neonatal tetanus survivors. Neurological examination was normal in all children except for two neonatal tetanus survivors with perceptive deafness and one child with mild gross motor abnormality. Neonatal tetanus survivors who had expienced severe disease (Ablett grade ≥ 3) had lower total Bayley III-VN scores than those with mild disease (15 (IQR 14–18) vs 24 (IQR 19–27), p = 0.05) with a significantly lower cognitive domain score (3 (IQR 2–6) severe disease vs 7 (IQR 7–8) mild disease, p = 0.02). Conclusions Neonatal tetanus is associated with long-term sequelae in those with severe disease. In view of these findings, prevention of neonatal tetanus should remain a priority