Pea/whey protein complexes for microencapsulation of lipophilic bioactive compounds

Plant/dairy protein complexes have emerged as promising natural emulsifiers to mitigate sustainability and health issues. Improving the protein functionality by using the plant/dairy protein complexes enables their uses as emulsifiers and carriers for bioactive compounds in the form of emulsions and powders, showing potential applications to beverages, and delivery systems in the food industry. This PhD project aimed to design plant/dairy protein complexes for encapsulation of lipophilic bioactive compounds in food. Pea and whey proteins were selected as representative commercial plant and dairy proteins. Firstly, sodium alginate addition was found to enhance the stability of pea/whey protein-stabilised emulsions by promoting protein adsorption at oil/water interface and preventing pea proteins from being displaced by whey proteins. As a second step, enzymatic cross-linking between pea and whey proteins was attempted, demonstrating the modified structure of the pea/whey protein complexes upon cross-linking formed more stable emulsions and retarded the chemical degradation of β-carotene compared to non cross-linked protein complexes. Following this work, the structural changes of the pea/whey protein complexes subject to enzymatic cross-linking were analysed using microfluidic modulation spectroscopy (MMS), revealing the increase of β-sheet and random coil contents with cross-linking led to forming more stable emulsions due to amphiphilicity. Lastly, the surface composition of spray dried β-carotene microcapsules using pea/whey protein complexes was investigated using synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy, showing that the protein cross-linking and maltodextrin addition contributed to protecting β-carotene from degradation by reducing its amount on the surface. Overall, polysaccharide addition and enzymatic cross-linking enhanced the emulsifying and encapsulation properties of the pea/whey protein complexes. These processing techniques altered protein structures with the increase of β-sheet content and the exposure of buried hydrophobic sites of the proteins due to the formation of covalent and non-covalent bonds such as disulphide linkage, isopeptide interaction, and hydrogen bonding between heteroproteins. The thesis demonstrates the potential usefulness of pea/whey protein complexes to encapsulate lipophilic bioactive compounds with prospective applications in the emulsion-based food products and powder production

Quick freezing of sewage sludge using CO2 gas hydrates-dissociation energy and its application to cell lysis and dewatering

Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering (Environmental Science and Engineering)Sludge from wastewater treatment induces the increase of handling capacity and biological pollution due to its high water and microorganism content. This study investigated the effect of quick freezing method induced by gas hydrates-dissociation energy (QFGD) on microbial rupture and related dewatering effect of sludge. QFGD is the quick-freezing method induced dissociation energy of gas hydrate. Temperature, pressure, and guest molecule composition were analyzed for finding out the mechanism. Organic materials concentration, particle size distribution, Capillary suction time, filtering test, and coagulation-settling test were tested on dissociation of sludge and its related dewatering effect. The disinfection effect was examined by Confocal laser scanning microscopy with the Live/dead Baclight??? bacterial staining kit. As results, QFGD makes cell rupture in sludge and its related dewatering effect. At 0.2 ???, CO2 gas hydrate was formed in sludge sample with over 20 bar pressure. When CO2 gas hydrates was formed, Temperature in the system increased significantly and when gas hydrate was dissociated, the temperature decreased significantly with sludge frozen. Concentration of soluble organic materials from sludge sample treated QFGD increased significantly than from control. Average particle size from sludge sample treated QFGD decreased than from control. Conductivity and osmotic pressure of supernatant from sludge sample treated QFGD increased significantly than from control. Although these results show sludge dissociation, CST and TTF increased after QFGD than control. This was because fine particles from sludge block the filter pore and more compact sludge cake was formed by filtering. Particle size distribution shifted toward left after QFGD than control. Cake resistance was the major reason to form total resistance. However, as sludge particles were disintegrated into fine particles, the settled volume was reduced and the organic concentration in supernatant increased through QFGD. As treatment loading could be reduced and the supernatant could be used as organic source for growth, QFGD treatment made sludge easy to be treated. Last, live cell ratio decreased after QFGD than control. Therefore, with sludge dewatering effect and disinfection effect, QFGD could be considered as a new dewatering method with disinfection.ope

Functionality of plant-based proteins

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Investigation of a Gas Hydrate Dissociation-Energy-Based Quick-Freezing Treatment for Sludge Cell Lysis and Dewatering

A gas Hydrate dissociation-energy-based Quick-Freezing treatment (HbQF) was applied for sewage sludge cell rupture and dewatering. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) molecules in sewage create CO2 gas hydrates, and subsequently the sludge rapidly freezes by releasing the applied pressure. Cell rupture was observed through a viability evaluation and leachate analysis. The decreased ratios of live cell to dead cells, increased osmotic pressure, and increased conductivity showed cell lysis and release of electrolytes via HbQF. The change in physicochemical properties of the samples resulting from HbQF was investigated via zeta potential measurement, rheological analysis, and particle size measurement. The HbQF treatment could not reduce the sludge water content when combined with membrane-based filtration post-treatment because of the pore blocking of fractured and lysed cells; however, it could achieve sludge microbial cell rupture, disinfection, and floc disintegration, causing enhanced reduction of water content and enhanced dewatering capability via a sedimentation post process. Furthermore, the organic-rich materials released by the cell rupture, investigated via the analysis of protein, polysaccharide, total organic carbon, and total nitrogen, may be returned to a biological treatment system or (an) aerobic digester to increase treatment efficiency

Characterization of Biopharmaceuticals Focusing on Antibody Therapeutics

Biopharmaceuticals are highly complex molecules and also require high quality for safety and efficacy in human uses. For well-characterized products, the desired level of quality should be monitored and controlled during the manufacturing processes. A series of workflow for analytical characterization should be applied for product quality throughout those processes. In this chapter, several analytical techniques are introduced for assessing characteristics of biopharmaceuticals focusing on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Analytical characterization for primary structure was performed by mass spectrometry (MS), and assessment of post-translational modifications (PTMs) was done by conventional approaches. The analytical assessments were also done by multi-attribute method (MAM) approach using mass spectrometer (MS), and the performance of MAM was compared to conventional approaches

A Study on the Relationship between Servant Leadership, Organizational Culture, and Job Satisfaction in Fitness Clubs

In the fi eld of organizational behavior theory, the infl uence of servant leadership and organizational culture on the job satisfaction of organization members has been actively studied to eff ectively achieve the goals set by the organization. However, there is a severe lack of studies on the relationship between servant leadership, organizational culture, and job satisfaction in the sport industry. Therefore, this study empirically analyzed the causal relationships among the three variables by surveying 320 employees in fi tness clubs located in Pusan, Korea. Surveys were conducted using the convenience sampling method, and a total of 300 surveys were used in the analysis. Data analysis methods included descriptive statistics analysis, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS 19.0. Key results from this study were as follows. First, servant leadership in fi tness clubs had a positive infl uence on organizational culture. Second, servant leadership in fi tness clubs had a positive infl uence on the job satisfaction of their employees. Third, the organizational culture of fi tness clubs had a positive infl uence on the job satisfaction of employees. The results of this study can contribute to establishing strategies to advance the organizational performance and eff ective human resource management of fi tness clubs

An Index to Better Estimate Tropical Cyclone Intensity Change in the Western North Pacific

A revised predictor called the net energy gain rate (NGR) is suggested by considering wind dependent drag coefficient based on the existing maximum potential intensity theory. A series of wind speed dependent NGR, known as NGR‐w, is calculated based on pre‐tropical cyclone (TC) averaged ocean temperatures from the surface down to 120 m (at 10‐m intervals) to include the TC‐induced vertical mixing for 13 years (2004–2016) in the western North Pacific. It turns out that the NGR50‐w (NGR‐w based on temperature averaged over top 50 m) has the highest correlation with 24‐h TC intensity change compared with the commonly used sea surface temperature‐based intensification potential (POT), depth‐averaged temperature‐based POT (POTDAT), and constant drag coefficient in the NGR. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the NGR50‐w, we designed and conducted experiments for training (2004–2014) and testing (2015–2016). The model with the NGR50‐w shows greater skill than the model with POTDAT or POT by reducing prediction errors by about 16%

New parameterization of air-sea exchange coefficients and its impact on intensity prediction under major tropical cyclones

Understanding and quantifying air-sea exchanges of enthalpy and momentum fluxes are crucial for the advanced prediction of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity. Here, we present a new parameterization of air-sea fluxes at extreme wind speeds from 40 m s−1 to 75 m s−1, which covers the range of major TCs. Our approach assumes that the TC can reach its maximum potential intensity (MPI) if there are no influences of external forces such as vertical wind shear or other environmental constraints.This method can estimate the ratio of the enthalpy and momentum exchange coefficient (Ck/Cd) under the most intense TCs without direct flux measurements. The estimation showed that Ck/Cd increases with wind speed at extreme winds above 40 m s−1. Two types of surface layer schemes of the Hurricane Weather and Research Forecast (HWRF) were designed based on the wind speed dependency of the Ck/Cd found at high winds: (i) an increase of Ck/Cd based on decreasing Cd (Cd_DC) and (ii) an increase of Ck/Cd based on increasing Ck (Ck_IC). The modified surface layer schemes were compared to the original HWRF scheme (using nearly fixed Cd and Ck at extreme winds; CTRL) through idealized experiments and real-case predictions. The idealized experiments showed that Cd_DC reduced frictional dissipation in the air-sea interface as well as significantly reduced sea surface cooling, making the TC stronger than other schemes. As a result, Cd_DC reduced the mean absolute error and negative bias by 15.0% (21.0%) and 19.1% (32.0%), respectively, for all lead times of Hurricane Irma in 2017 (Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018) compared to CTRL. This result suggests that new parameterization of Ck/Cd with decreasing Cd at high winds can help improve TC intensity prediction, which currently suffers from underestimating the intensity of the strongest TCs

Food Emulsion Gels from Plant-Based Ingredients: Formulation, Processing, and Potential Applications

Recent advances in the understanding of formulations and processing techniques have allowed for greater freedom in plant-based emulsion gel design to better recreate conventional animal-based foods. The roles of plant-based proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids in the formulation of emulsion gels and relevant processing techniques such as high-pressure homogenization (HPH), ultrasound (UH), and microfluidization (MF), were discussed in correlation with the effects of varying HPH, UH, and MF processing parameters on emulsion gel properties. The characterization methods for plant-based emulsion gels to quantify their rheological, thermal, and textural properties, as well as gel microstructure, were presented with a focus on how they can be applied for food purposes. Finally, the potential applications of plant-based emulsion gels, such as dairy and meat alternatives, condiments, baked goods, and functional foods, were discussed with a focus on sensory properties and consumer acceptance. This study found that the implementation of plant-based emulsion gel in food is promising to date despite persisting challenges. This review will provide valuable insights for researchers and industry professionals looking to understand and utilize plant-based food emulsion gels