Process Optimization and Quality Analysis of Fermented Foxtail Millet Alcoholic Beverage with Liqueur Koji

In order to increase the utilization rate of foxtail millet resources, the brewing conditions of fermented foxtail millet alcoholic beverage were optimized by single-factor experiment and response surface methodology. For the fermentation of the liquor koji, foxtail millet was used as the primary ingredient. As part of the comprehensive evaluation index, which included the soluble solid, total acid, and sensory score, the nutritional value, antioxidant potential, and volatile flavoring compounds were also identified. Results showed that the optimal fermentation conditions of foxtail millet alcoholic beverage were as follows: addition amount of liqueur koji 1%, fermentation time 3 d, fermentation temperature 32 ℃. The soluble solids of the beverage were 22.05%, total acid was 19.33 g/L, sensory score was 89.37, alcohol level of 0.7%vol, flavone was 66.78 mg/L, and polyphenol was 65.13 mg/L. In the beverage, potassium was the most abundant mineral and nicotinamide was the most abundant vitamin. The clearance rates for DPPH radical, ABTS+ radical, and hydroxyl radical were 73.19%, 34.29% and 53.72%, respectively. In addition, a total of 46 volatile flavor compounds were found in the beverage, with esters and alcohols being the most prevalent ones. These molecules were recognized as flavor compounds giving the fermented foxtail millet alcoholic beverage a distinct scent. As a result, the product serves as a theoretical guide for the creation of functional foods using foxtail millet as a raw ingredient. It is nutrient-dense and has a pleasing aroma and flavor

Determination of Volatile Compounds in Foxtail Millet Sake Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The volatile compounds in foxtail millet sake were extracted by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Different methods of sample preparation were used to optimize this method (SPME fiber types, sample amount, extraction time, extraction temperature, content of NaCl, and rotor speed). For final method of sample preparation, 8 mL of sake was placed in a 15 mL headspace vial with addition of 1.5 g of NaCl; a 50/30 μm DVB/CAR/PDMS SPME fiber was used for extraction at 50°C for 30 min with 10 rpm continuous stirring. A total of 41 volatile compounds were identified from the sake sample, including 9 esters, 6 alcohols, 4 acids, 4 aldehydes, 9 hydrocarbons, 7 benzene derivatives, and 2 others. The main volatile compounds were ethyl acetate, phenylethyl alcohol, butanedioic acid diethyl ester, and hexadecane. According to their odors active values (OAVs), 10 volatile compounds were established to be odor active compounds and to contribute to the typical foxtail millet sake aroma. Hexanoic acid ethyl ester was the most prominent odor active compound

Hypothesis Paper Effects of Intracellular Superoxide Removal at Acupoints with TAT-SOD on Obesity

TAT-SOD is a recombinant protein of superoxide dismutase fused with TAT peptide. By pure accident, we discovered that topical application of TAT-SOD to acupoints could result in acupuncture-like action. This study aimed to validate the accidental discovery by investigating the effect on simple obesity of the topical application of TAT-SOD to acupoints in comparison with acupuncture. 90 subjects were divided into 3 groups for 12-week treatments. Regular hospital acupuncture treatment was given to Acupuncture Group 3 times a week. TAT-SOD Group were instructed first to locate acupoints and apply 0.1 ml of 5000u SOD/ml TAT-SOD cream in an area of 1 cm 2 to each of the same set of acupoints, which they then conducted at home three times daily. Placebo Group applied the vehicle cream the same manner as TAT-SOD Group. Both TAT-SOD and acupuncture treatments decreased adiposity with overall clinical effective rates of 60.0% and 76.7%, respectively. The placebo group showed no improvement. The results validate that the enzymatic removal of the intracellular superoxide at acupoints could generate acupuncture-like effects, and indicate a possibility of the new method as a simple substitute to acupuncture and an insight of superoxide modulation along meridians for acupuncture mechanism. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Introduction Superoxide is one of the main reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell, which act as second messengers in the intracellular signaling pathways involved in activation of proinflammatory responses and mediate degradation of aggregan and collagen Although a variety of exogenous anti-oxidant enzymes are available to protect against oxidative stresses, the major problem in using these enzymes is that they can not be delivered into cells, thus resulting in their inability to detoxify intracellular RO

Scintillation efficiency measurement of Na recoils in NaI(Tl) below the DAMA/LIBRA energy threshold

The dark matter interpretation of the DAMA modulation signal depends on the NaI(Tl) scintillation efficiency of nuclear recoils. Previous measurements for Na recoils have large discrepancies, especially in the DAMA/LIBRA modulation energy region. We report a quenching effect measurement of Na recoils in NaI(Tl) from 3keV$_{\text{nr}}$ to 52keV$_{\text{nr}}$, covering the whole DAMA/LIBRA energy region for light WIMP interpretations. By using a low-energy, pulsed neutron beam, a double time-of-flight technique, and pulse-shape discrimination methods, we obtained the most accurate measurement of this kind for NaI(Tl) to date. The results differ significantly from the DAMA reported values at low energies, but fall between the other previous measurements. We present the implications of the new quenching results for the dark matter interpretation of the DAMA modulation signal

Cannabinoid Receptor Subtype 2 (Cb2R) Agonist Gw405833 Reduces Agonist-Induced Ca2+ Oscillations In Mouse Pancreatic Acinar Cells

Emerging evidence demonstrates that the blockade of intracellular Ca 2+ signals may protect pancreatic acinar cells against Ca 2+ overload, intracellular protease activation, and necrosis. The activation of cannabinoid receptor subtype 2 (CB 2 R) prevents acinar cell pathogenesis in animal models of acute pancreatitis. However, whether CB 2 Rs modulate intracellular Ca 2+ signals in pancreatic acinar cells is largely unknown. We evaluated the roles of CB 2 R agonist, GW405833 (GW) in agonist-induced Ca 2+ oscillations in pancreatic acinar cells using multiple experimental approaches with acute dissociated pancreatic acinar cells prepared from wild type, CB 1 R-knockout (KO), and CB 2 R-KO mice. Immunohistochemical labeling revealed that CB 2 R protein was expressed in mouse pancreatic acinar cells. Electrophysiological experiments showed that activation of CB 2 Rs by GW reduced acetylcholine (ACh)-, but not cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced Ca 2+ oscillations in a concentration-dependent manner; this inhibition was prevented by a selective CB 2 R antagonist, AM630, or was absent in CB 2 R-KO but not CB 1 R-KO mice. In addition, GW eliminated L-arginine-induced enhancement of Ca 2+ oscillations, pancreatic amylase, and pulmonary myeloperoxidase. Collectively, we provide novel evidence that activation of CB 2 Rs eliminates ACh-induced Ca 2+ oscillations and L-arginine-induced enhancement of Ca 2+ signaling in mouse pancreatic acinar cells, which suggests a potential cellular mechanism of CB 2 R-mediated protection in acute pancreatitis

Critical role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α in promoting platelet hyperreactivity and thrombosis under hyperlipidemia

Platelet hyperreactivity and increased atherothrombotic risk are specifically associated with dyslipidemia. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is an important regulator of lipid metabolism. It has been suggested to affect both thrombosis and hemostasis, yet the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, the role and mechanism of PPARα in platelet activation and thrombosis related to dyslipidemia were examined. Employing mice with deletion of PPARα (Pparα-/-), we demonstrated that PPARa is required for platelet activation and thrombus formation. The effect of PPARα is critically dependent on platelet dense granule secretion, and is contributed by p38MAPK/Akt, fatty acid b-oxidation, and NAD(P)H oxidase pathways. Importantly, PPARα and the associated pathways mediated a prothrombotic state induced by a high-fat diet and platelet hyperactivity provoked by oxidized low density lipoproteins. Platelet reactivity was positively correlated with the levels of expression of PPARα, as revealed by data from wild-type, chimeric (Pparα+/-), and Pparα-/- mice. This positive correlation was recapitulated in platelets from hyperlipidemic patients. In a lipid-treated megakaryocytic cell line, the lipid-induced reactive oxygen species-NF-kB pathway was revealed to upregulate platelet PPARα in hyperlipidemia. These data suggest that platelet PPARα critically mediates platelet activation and contributes to the prothrombotic status under hyperlipidemia

Novel Zinc Matrix Nanocomposite as Biodegradable Material with Tunable Mechanical Properties

In the past decade, zinc-based biodegradable materials have gained tremendous attention from researchers due to their promising biodegradability and biocompatibility [1] [2]. However, there are several limitations to pure Zn and Zn alloys and their use as biodegradable implants. The most critical drawbacks of pure zinc as biodegradable structural support are its poor strength and low stability, making it unsuitable in most biomedical implant use. This work reports the homogeneous incorporation of WC nanoparticles into the Zn and Zn-Fe matrix as an effective method for mechanical strengthening, namely microhardness strengthening and Young’s modulus enhancement. This work also demonstrates the tunability of Zn-WC’s mechanical properties and discusses how this tunability makes Zn-WC an ideal candidate for the material selection of bioresorbable implants. Lastly, this study successfully designed and fabricated a novel high-performance implant spring made of Zn-WC biodegradable nanocomposite for the treatment of short bowel syndrome