Spray-drying to improve the functionality of amaranth protein via ultrasonic-assisted Maillard conjugation with red seaweed polysaccharide

Maillard conjugation has gained attention for its application in improving functional-properties of different plant proteins, including solubility and emulsification. Amaranth, a plant protein showing a higher lysine-content essential for conjugation, was conjugated with Gracilaria secundata polysaccharide via ultrasonic-assisted Maillard-conjugation. Post-ultrasonication, the outcomes from spray-drying as an alternative to freeze-drying were investigated. The comparison was based on conjugation-degree, solubility, water-or-oil holding capacity, and secondary structural changes in proteins. The protein: polysaccharide (w/w) of 1:1 and 2:1 displayed better conjugation, improved functional and structural aspects including the changes in the amide regions, oil-and-water holding capacity of the protein. Lower degree of conjugation, structural and functional changes for 1:2 samples can be the result of higher polysaccharide content leading to a shielding-effect over the reaction terminals of proteins. A significant difference between the properties was observed with different drying methods. Except for similar conjugation efficiency, the freeze-dried samples exhibited better oil-holding capacity, while the spray-dried samples performed better in water-holding capacity. The difference between spray-drying and freeze-drying could be due to the temperature difference resulting in protein denaturation, or the advancement of Maillard reaction. We demonstrated that spray-drying could be utilized as an alternative to freeze-drying step during ultrasonic-assisted Maillard conjugation, although a focus on optimization of conjugation and spray-drying parameters is required

Prediction of zeta potential of amaranth protein isolate via artificial neural networks using the electrostatic surface potential of 11S proglobulin

Plant proteins have attracted significant attention due to various health concerns and food safety issues related to animal-based proteins. Different physical and chemical approaches have been applied to plant proteins to improve their functionality, including chemical, physical, or combination of treatments. One of the main properties of interest is the zeta potential as a measure of surface charge. It can be used to optimize the suspension formulations, estimate the emulsion stability, or predict the food surface interactions. Here, we used a single protein database sequence of a plant protein (11S proglobulin) to obtain the net electrostatic surface potentials at different pH. These values were used for modelling a primary neural network to find a correlation between the measured zeta potential and the calculated electrostatic potential values. The network created by this approach had a high correlation coefficient (R = 0.99) for predicting the electrostatic or zeta potential at various pH for the Amarantin. The study demonstrates the potential use of an artificial neural network and its analysis to predict zeta potential values over a pH range, once the network is trained with appropriate datasets, which can potentially be implemented over a range of other plant proteins. The limitation in theoretical protein models, including the complexity of the protein structures and pH-dependent changes of amino acids, must be considered when developing such models. This approach can be explored further to consider protein interactions in the presence of buffer or with added electrolytes, including changes in the surface charge of the molecules

Assessing the effect of Maillard reaction products on the functionality and antioxidant properties of Amaranth-red seaweed blends

Plant-based proteins, represented by amaranth in our study, embrace a potential as an ingredient for the functional-food formulation. However, their efficacy is hindered by inherent limitations in solubility, emulsification, and antioxidant traits. The Maillard reaction, a complex chemical-process resulting in a diverse array of products, including Maillard conjugates and Maillard reaction products (MRPs), can employ variable effects on these specific attributes. To elucidate the influence of this reaction and the MRPs on the aforementioned properties, we used a complex blend of dehydrated seaweed Gracilaria and amaranth protein to create a conjugate-MRP blend. Our investigations revealed that the resultant incorporation enhanced solubility, emulsification, and antioxidant properties, while the intermediates formed did not progress to advanced glycation stages. This change is likely attributed to the dual effect of conjugates that altered the secondary protein structure, while the generation and/or preservation of MRPs post ultrasonication and spray drying enhanced its antioxidant potential

Tuning the pea protein gel network to mimic the heterogenous microstructure of animal protein

Non-extrusion texturization technology is essential to broaden the application of alternative proteins to advance sustainability and address the challenges of climate change. We propose a gelation technique to texturize non/low-gelling plant protein using curdlan gum, and to manipulate the gel texture by controlling thermal history. Pea protein and curdlan gum can form soft gel at 55–60 °C, but will form rigid gel at 80 °C. Isothermal incubation for up to 1 h could further develop the gel network with significantly higher storage modulus (e.g. 1.3 kPa without incubation, 288 kPa with 1-h incubation at 80 °C). Although curdlan-pea protein gels formed at 55–60 and 80 °C showed similar modulus ranges after 1-h incubation, the microstructure is noticeably different under microscopes (optical, CLSM, SEM). At 60 °C, large pea protein particles are still visible and only partially embedded into the curdlan network; at 80 °C, smaller protein particles are fully embedded into the gel network. When protein concentration increased from 4% to 8% w/w, the gel network became less organised as more space was occupied by protein particles. We demonstrated that heterogenous structures could be achieved by controlling the thermal history of curdlan-pea protein gels to mimic animal tissue with different stiffness (modulus) between the layers. This gelation technique can potentially be applied to other plant-sourced or alternative proteins without the need of an extruder

Towards outperforming conventional sensor arrays with fabricated individual photonic vapour sensors inspired by Morpho butterflies.

Published onlineJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.Combining vapour sensors into arrays is an accepted compromise to mitigate poor selectivity of conventional sensors. Here we show individual nanofabricated sensors that not only selectively detect separate vapours in pristine conditions but also quantify these vapours in mixtures, and when blended with a variable moisture background. Our sensor design is inspired by the iridescent nanostructure and gradient surface chemistry of Morpho butterflies and involves physical and chemical design criteria. The physical design involves optical interference and diffraction on the fabricated periodic nanostructures and uses optical loss in the nanostructure to enhance the spectral diversity of reflectance. The chemical design uses spatially controlled nanostructure functionalization. Thus, while quantitation of analytes in the presence of variable backgrounds is challenging for most sensor arrays, we achieve this goal using individual multivariable sensors. These colorimetric sensors can be tuned for numerous vapour sensing scenarios in confined areas or as individual nodes for distributed monitoring.We would like to acknowledge H. Ghiradella (University at Albany), M. Blohm and S. Duclos (GE) and V. Greanya, J. Abo-Shaeer, C. Nehl and M. Sandrock (DARPA) for fruitful discussions. This work has been supported in part from DARPA contract W911NF-10-C-0069 ‘Bio Inspired Photonics’ and from General Electric’s Advanced Technology research funds. The content of the information does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the US Government

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Tualang honey in alkali injury on the eyes of rabbits: Experimental animal study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alkali injury is one of the most devastating injuries to the eye. It results in permanent unilateral or bilateral visual impairment. Chemical eye injury is accompanied by an increase in the oxidative stress. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents play a major role in the treatment of chemical eye injuries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory (clinical and histopathological) and antioxidant effects of Tualang honey versus conventional treatment in alkali injury on the eyes of rabbits.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A preliminary study was carried out prior to the actual study to establish the alkali chemical injury on rabbit's cornea and we found that alkali chemical injury with 2 N NaOH showed severe clinical inflammatory features. In actual study, alkali injury with 2 N NaOH was induced in the right eye of 10 New Zealand White rabbits' cornea. The rabbits were divided into two groups, Group A was given conventional treatment and Group B was treated with both topical and oral Tualang honey. Clinical inflammatory features of the right eye were recorded at 12 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours, 5^thday and 7^thday post induction of alkali burn on the cornea. The histopathological inflammatory features of the right corneas of all rabbits were also evaluated on day-7. The level of total antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation products in the aqueous humour, vitreous humour and serum at day-7 were estimated biochemically. Fisher's Exact, Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney test were used to analyse the data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was no statistically significant difference in clinical inflammatory features (p > 0.05) between honey treated and the conventional treated group at different times of examination. Histopathological examination of the cornea showed the number of polymorphonuclear leucocytes was below 50 for both groups (mild grade). There was also no significant difference in the level of total antioxidant status as well as lipid peroxidation products in aqueous humour (p = 0.117, p = 0.382 respectively), vitreous humour (p = 0.917, p = 0.248 respectively) and serum (p = 0.917, p = 0.332 respectively) between honey treated and the conventional treated group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Tualang honey has almost the equal effects when compared with the conventional treatment in treating alkali injury on rabbit's eye. Future research with more number of rabbits and control group is warranted to explore the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Tualang honey.</p

A grounded theory study of the narrative behind Indian physiotherapists global migration

It is estimated that an additional 6.4 million allied health professionals are required to address India's health challenges. Physiotherapy is amongst the largest of these professions. Over the last decade, thousands of Indian physiotherapists have sought to study and work overseas. In this study, 19 physiotherapists from across India were interviewed. Data were collected and analysed using construct+ivist grounded theory methods. The findings indicate that the Indian physiotherapy profession faces many political and clinical hierarchical challenges within the Indian healthcare infrastructure. The profession's education provision has developed, and the private clinical sector has grown, but there are significant disparities in quality and standards across the sector. The profession in India has variable autonomy, is not nationally regulated, is poorly paid, and the leadership has been divided. The political, educational, and clinical context in Indian physiotherapy impacts upon physiotherapists' ability to practise effectively to their professional satisfaction. Individual physiotherapists are frustrated by their workplace and travel overseas where they hear that the physiotherapy profession and practice is different. Whilst the disjunctures influencing these factors continue, and overseas physiotherapy practice is perceived as different and superior, Indian physiotherapists will continue to seek to migrate overseas, and facilitating their return will be challenging

Highly exposed {001} facets of titanium dioxide modified with reduced graphene oxide for dopamine sensing

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) with highly exposed {001} facets was synthesized through a facile solvo-thermal method and its surface was decorated by using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets. The morphology and chemical composition of the prepared rGO/TiO2 {001} nanocomposite were examined by using suitable characterization techniques. The rGO/TiO2 {001} nanocomposite was used to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE), which showed higher electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA), when compared to unmodified GCE. The differential pulse voltammetric studies revealed good sensitivity and selectivity nature of the rGO/TiO2 {001} nanocomposite modified GCE for the detection of DA in the presence of AA. The modified GCE exhibited a low electrochemical detection limit of 6 μM over the linear range of 2–60 μM. Overall, this work provides a simple platform for the development of GCE modified with rGO/TiO2 {001} nanocomposite with highly exposed {001} facets for potential electrochemical sensing applications

The Challenges, Opportunities, and Imperative of Structured Reporting in Medical Imaging

Despite dramatic innovation in medical imaging and information system technologies, the radiology report has remained stagnant for more than a century. Structured reporting was created in the hopes of addressing well-documented deficiencies in report content and organization but has largely failed in its adoption due to concerns over workflow and productivity. A number of political, economical, and clinical quality-centric initiatives are currently taking place within medicine which will dramatically change the medical landscape including Pay for Performance, Evidence-Based Medicine, and the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. These will collectively enhance efforts to improve quality in reporting, stimulate new technology development, and counteract the impending threat of commoditization within radiology. Structured reporting offers a number of unique opportunities and advantages over traditional free text reporting and will provide a means for the radiology community to add value to its most important service deliverable the radiology report

Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by Foliar Broths: Roles of Biocompounds and Other Attributes of the Extracts

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles has arisen as a promising alternative to conventional synthetic methodologies owing to its eco-friendly advantages, and the involved bioprotocol still needs further clarification. This research, for the first time from the standpoint of statistics, confirmed an electrostatic force or ionic bond-based interaction between the chloroauric ions and the involved bioconstituents and manifested that reducing sugars and flavonoids were both important reductants responsible for conversion of Au(III) to Au(0). The result also demonstrated that the proteins were not the reducing agents, yet they might be protection agents in biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Besides, a significant linear relationship was found between the anti-oxidant ability of the foliar broths and their capability to reduce Au(III) into Au(0). Furthermore, the preliminary investigation based on the boxplot on the size/shape distribution of the biosynthesized GNPs revealed that gold nanospheres with higher degree of homogeneity in size tended to be promoted by foliar broths containing higher content of reducing sugars/flavonoids and proteins. Otherwise, i.e., for those broths with lower content of the above biocompounds, sphere GNPs of wider size distribution or even gold nanotriangles tended to be fabricated