Effect of microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity on the extractionof phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of blackberries (Rubusspp.): scale-Up extraction.

The phenolic compounds of blackberries extracted with organic solvents cause environmental damage. Therefore, the objective of thepresent study was to verify if microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity obtain a blackberry extract with a high concentration of phenoliccompounds and antioxidant capacity without the addition of any solvent. The results showed that it was possible to reach the objectivewith 500 W and 10 min of extraction by employing a method that meets green chemistry principles. The extract has a lower cost thanthe exhaustive method, is microbiologically safe, and is mainly composed of anthocyanins (85%). The presence of 5 anthocyanins and17 non-anthocyanin phenolic compounds were identified, including hydroxyresveratrol, which was first extracted in blackberries bymicrowave hydrodiffusion and gravity. The phenolic compound content and antioxidant capacity were lower in the last fractions,which reduced the extraction time to 8 min. The coproduct showed phenolic, antioxidant capacity, and microbiological quality. Thisstudy presented a fast, efficient, economical, sustainable, and solvent-free method to extract phenolic compounds from blackberries.Published online: 20 November 2020

Using Transcription Modules to Identify Expression Clusters Perturbed in Williams-Beuren Syndrome

The genetic dissection of the phenotypes associated with Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS) is advancing thanks to the study of individuals carrying typical or atypical structural rearrangements, as well as in vitro and animal studies. However, little is known about the global dysregulations caused by the WBS deletion. We profiled the transcriptomes of skin fibroblasts from WBS patients and compared them to matched controls. We identified 868 differentially expressed genes that were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix genes, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, as well as genes in which the products localize to the postsynaptic membrane. We then used public expression datasets from human fibroblasts to establish transcription modules, sets of genes coexpressed in this cell type. We identified those sets in which the average gene expression was altered in WBS samples. Dysregulated modules are often interconnected and share multiple common genes, suggesting that intricate regulatory networks connected by a few central genes are disturbed in WBS. This modular approach increases the power to identify pathways dysregulated in WBS patients, thus providing a testable set of additional candidates for genes and their interactions that modulate the WBS phenotypes

Application of polymeric nanoparticles in food sector

Nanotechnology presents opportunities to create new and better products. Nano technology has huge impact in many applications including food industry. Product of nanotechnology, such as polymeric nanoparticle, can be utilized to improve food quality by extending food shelf life, increase food safety, lower the cost and enhance the nutritional benefits. This chapter provides an overview of the properties of polymeric nanoparticle, preparation techniques, as well as the role polymeric nano-particles in the food industr

Supercritical fluid and pressurized liquid extractions of phytonutrients from passion fruit by-products: economic evaluation of sequential multi-stage and single-stage processes

This work presents the economic evaluation of two processes to obtain: i) four extract fractions from passion fruit bagasse by sequential multi-stage process comprising three steps of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and one step of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE); ii) one extract from passion fruit rinds by single-stage PLE process. The economic simulation and sensitivity study were performed for plants containing two extraction vessels of 1, 5, 50 and 500 L. The scale-up led to a decrease in the cost of manufacturing (COM). COMs of extracts from sequential multi-stage and single-stage processes decreased from US$220.51/kg to US$ 26.33/kg and US$71.03/kg to US$ 11.96/kg, respectively, when the system capacity increased from 2 × 1 L to 2 × 500 L. Itemized costs related to materials, facilities, labor and utilities are also presented. Both processes are economically promising, especially when the extracts are produced in large scale and sold by the current market price1228898COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP2952/20112014/00372-8; 2013/02203-6; 2015/11932-