Oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum JC7 alleviates OVA-induced murine food allergy through immunoregulation and restoring disordered intestinal microbiota.

PURPOSE: The incidence and prevalence of food allergy have sharply risen over the past several decades. Oral administration of probiotic stains has been proven as a safe and effective method to control food allergy. In this study, it aims to comprehensively investigate the anti-allergic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum JC7. METHODS: Balb/c mice were randomly divided into three groups and received OVA (20 µg/mouse, intraperitoneal injection), L. plantarum JC7 (2 × 108 CFU/mouse, intragastric administration) + OVA (20 µg/mouse, intraperitoneal injection) or 0.9% saline (intragastric administration) for 3 weeks. Body weight was monitored weekly, and allergic reactions were evaluated after challenge of OVA. Serum levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulins and various cytokines were tested using ELISA, and the cecum microbiota was analysed by 16S rRNA sequencing to explore the relationships between these indicators and OVA-induced food allergy. Western blotting was used to identify the expression levels of phosphorylated IκBα and nuclear factor kappa B p65. RESULTS: OVA-sensitised mice showed mitigation of respiratory manifestations, alleviation of lung inflammation and congestion, and the presence of an intact intestinal villus structure. Furthermore, OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), OVA-specific-IgG1, and plasma histamine levels were declined in mice treated with L. plantarum JC7 than in OVA-sensitised mice. In addition, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels were significantly increased, while IL-4 and IL-17A levels were clearly decreased in mice that had undergone oral administration of L. plantarum JC7, compared with OVA-sensitised mice. These findings indicated imbalances of T helper cell type 1 (Th1)/Th2 and regulatory T cells (Treg)/Th17, which were confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Western blotting demonstrated that the expression levels of phosphorylated IκBα and nuclear factor kappa B p65 were significantly increased in OVA-sensitised mice, but these changes were partly reversed after treatment with L. plantarum JC7. Oral administration of L. plantarum JC7 increased the richness, diversity, and evenness of cecum microbiota, characterised by higher Bacteroidetes abundance and lower Firmicutes abundance. Additionally, the intestinal microbial community composition was significantly altered in the OVA-sensitised group, indicating a disordered intestinal microbiota that was restored by the oral administration of L. plantarum JC7. CONCLUSION: Overall, L. plantarum JC7 can prevent food allergy by rectifying Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 imbalances, combined with modifications of disordered intestinal microbiota.

Optimisation of double-enzymatic extraction of arabinoxylan from fresh corn fibre.

Enzymatic extraction of arabinoxylans (AXs) is an attractive and environmentally friendly extraction option, in which technical considerations (yield and purity) have been coupled with environmental concerns. Amano HC 90 and Cellulase were combined to evaluate their interactive effects on AX extraction from destarched, deproteinised bran (DSDPB). A response surface methodology was used to obtain the optimal extraction conditions. The experimental data fit well with the predicted values and the model adequately represented the actual relationship among the measured parameters. The extraction yield and AX content in the extract under optimal conditions (double-enzyme dose of 920 U/g, pH of 3.0, extraction temperature of 35.0 °C; extraction time of 6 h; and DSDPB to liquid ratio of 1:30) were 40.73 ± 0.09% and 75.88 ± 0.11%, respectively. The double-enzymatic extraction method of AX from fresh corn fibre was more efficient than the chemical method.

Local Boundary Fuzzified Rough K-Means-Based Information Granulation Algorithm Under the Principle of Justifiable Granularity.

Information granularity and information granules are fundamental concepts that permeate the entire area of granular computing. With this regard, the principle of justifiable granularity was proposed by Pedrycz, and subsequently a general two-phase framework of designing information granules based on Fuzzy C-means clustering was successfully developed. This design process leads to information granules that are likely to intersect each other in substantially overlapping clusters, which inevitably leads to some ambiguity and misperception as well as loss of semantic clarity of information granules. This limitation is largely due to imprecise description of boundary-overlapping data in the existing algorithms. To address this issue, the rough k -means clustering is introduced in an innovative way into Pedrycz's two-phase information granulation framework, together with the proposed local boundary fuzzy metric. To further strengthen the characteristics of support and inhibition of boundary-overlapping data, an augmented parametric version of the principle is refined. On this basis, a local boundary fuzzified rough k -means-based information granulation algorithm is developed. In this manner, the generated granules are unique and representative whilst ensuring clearer boundaries. The validity and performance of this algorithm are demonstrated through the results of comparative experiments.

A Versatile ß-Glycosidase from Petroclostridium xylanilyticum Prefers the Conversion of Ginsenoside Rb3 over Rb1, Rb2, and Rc to Rd by Its Specific Cleavage Activity toward 1,6-Glycosidic Linkages.

To convert ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, and Rc into Rd by a single enzyme, a putative ß-glycosidase (Pxbgl) from the xylan-degrading bacterium Petroclostridium xylanilyticum was identified and used. The kcat/Km value of Pxbgl for Rb3 was 18.18 ± 0.07 mM-1/s, which was significantly higher than those of Pxbgl for other ginsenosides. Pxbgl converted almost all Rb3 to Rd with a productivity of 5884 µM/h, which was 346-fold higher than that of only ß-xylosidase from Thermoascus aurantiacus. The productivity of Rd from the Panax ginseng root and Panax notoginseng leaf was 146 and 995 µM/h, respectively. Mutants N293 K and I447L from site-directed mutagenesis based on bioinformatics analysis showed an increase in specific activity of 29 and 7% toward Rb3, respectively. This is the first report of a ß-glycosidase that can simultaneously remove four different glycosyls at the C-20 position of natural PPD-type ginsenosides and produce Rd as the sole product from P. notoginseng leaf extracts with the highest productivity.

An Exploration of the Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Role of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 106 via Improving Mitochondrial Function.

In this present study, bioinformatics analysis and the experimental validation method were used to systematically explore the antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum A106, which was isolated from traditional Chinese pickles, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. L. plantarum A106 had a good scavenging ability for DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, L. plantarum A106 could increase the activity of RAW264.7 macrophages; raise the SOD and GSH levels, with or without LPS sensitization; or decrease the MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. In order to deeply seek the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role and mechanism, bioinformatic analysis, including GO, KEGG, and GSEA analysis, was used to conduct an in-depth analysis, and the results showed that the LPS treatment of RAW264.7 macrophages significantly upregulated inflammatory-related genes and revealed an enrichment in the inflammatory signaling pathways. Additionally, a network analysis via the Cytoscape software (version 3.9.1) identified key central genes and found that LPS also disturbed apoptosis and mitochondrial function. Based on the above bioinformatics analysis, the effects of L. plantarum A106 on inflammation-related gene expression, mitochondrial function, apoptosis, etc., were detected. The results indicated that L. plantarum A106 restored the declined expression levels of crucial genes like TNF-α and IL-6; mitochondrial membrane potential; and apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related genes, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and Bax. These results suggest that L. plantarum A106 exerts antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects through regulating inflammatory and apoptosis-related gene expression, restoring the mitochondrial membrane potential.

Replacement of Loops at the Entrance of the Active Pocket of Streptococcus thermophilus 4,6-α-Glucanotransferase Changes Its Catalytic Activity and Product Specificity.

To explore the roles of loops around active pocket in the reuteran type 4,6-α-glucanotransferase (StGtfB) from S. thermophilus, they were individually or simultaneously replaced with those of an isomalto/maltopolysaccharides type 4,6-α-glucanotransferase from L. reuteri. StGtfB with the replaced loops A1, A2 (A1A2) and A1, A2, B (A1A2B), respectively, showed 1.41- and 0.83-fold activities of StGtfB. Two mutants reduced crystallinity and increased starch disorder at 2, 4, and 8 U/g more than StGtfB and increased DP ≤ 5 short branches of starch by 38.01% at 2 U/g, much more than StGtfB by 4.24%. A1A2B modified starches had the lowest retrogradation over 14 days. A1A2 modified starches had the highest percentage of slowly digestible fractions, ranging from 40.32% to 43.34%. StGtfB and its mutants bind substrates by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces at their nonidentical amino acid residues, suggesting that loop replacement leads to a different conformation and changes activity and product structure.

Potential of Lactobacillus plantarum A56 in relieving food allergy through immunoregulation, antioxidation, and reshaping intestinal microbiota.

Food allergy is an abnormal immune reaction triggered by food protein antigens. Relevant studies have suggested that probiotic supplementation was with the potential to alleviate food allergy. This study aimed to explore the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum A56 on the alleviation of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy via immunomodulatory function, antioxidation, and modification of intestinal microbiota. Balb/c mice were sensitized with OVA (20 µg/mouse) by intraperitoneal injection for 3 weeks and accompanied by oral administration of L. plantarum A56 (109 CFU/mL), subsequently with orally challenged twice by OVA at 50 mg/mL for 1 week. The results showed that oral supplementation of L. plantarum A56 could effectively relieve allergic symptoms of mice, and decreased OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 concentrations. It also declined interleukin (IL)-4 level, raised interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in serum, and splenocyte supernatant, and the qPCR results were consistent with above results. Moreover, L. plantarum A56 treatment also fortified superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) level in serum. The increased nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and forkhead box O1 (Foxo1) expression indicated that L. plantarum A56 exerted antioxidation through Nrf2-Foxo1 pathway. In addition, L. plantarum A56 treatment elevated Bacteroidetes richness, ASV/OTU number, species diversity, etc. Notably, Spearman correlation analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes displayed obviously negative correlation with IgE and IgG1, but Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria exhibited significantly positive correlation with IgG1 and IgE. Collectively, these results suggested that L. plantarum A56 could alleviate OVA-induced food allergy by regulating Th1/Th2 imbalance, antioxidation, and modulating intestinal microbiota.

Preparation and anti-icing behavior of superhydrophobic surfaces on aluminum alloy substrates.

It has been expected that superhydrophobic (SHP) surfaces could have potential anti-icing applications due to their excellent water-repellence properties. However, a thorough understanding on the anti-icing performance of such surfaces has never been reported; even systematic characterizations on icing behavior of various surfaces are still rare because of the lack of powerful instrumentations. In this study, we employed the electrochemical anodic oxidation and chemical etching methods to simplify the fabrication procedures for SHP surfaces on the aluminum alloy substrates, aiming at the anti-icing properties of SHP surfaces of various engineering materials. We found that the one-step chemical etching with FeCl3 and HCl as the etchants was the most effective for ideal SHP surfaces with a large contact angle (CA, 159.1°) and a small contact angle hysteresis (CAH, 4.0°). To systematically investigate the anti-icing behavior of the prepared SHP surfaces, we designed a robust apparatus with a real-time control system based on the two stage refrigerating method. This system can monitor the humidity, pressure, and temperature during the icing process on the surfaces. We demonstrated that the SHP surfaces exhibited excellent anti-icing properties, i.e., from the room temperature of 16.0 °C, the icing time on SHP surfaces can be postponed from 406s to 676s compared to the normal aluminum alloy surface if the surfaces were put horizontally, and the icing temperature can be decreased from -2.2 °C to -6.1 °C. If such surfaces were tilted, the sprayed water droplets on the normal surfaces iced up at the temperature of -3.9 °C, but bounced off the SHP surface even as the temperature reached as low as -8.0 °C. The present study therefore suggests a general, simple, and low-cost methodology for the promising anti-icing applications in various engineering materials and different fields (e.g., power lines and aircrafts).

A Unified Multi-Class Feature Selection Framework for Microarray Data.

In feature selection research, simultaneous multi-class feature selection technologies are popular because they simultaneously select informative features for all classes. Recursive feature elimination (RFE) methods are state-of-the-art binary feature selection algorithms. However, extending existing RFE algorithms to multi-class tasks may increase the computational cost and lead to performance degradation. With this motivation, we introduce a unified multi-class feature selection (UFS) framework for randomization-based neural networks to address these challenges. First, we propose a new multi-class feature ranking criterion using the output weights of neural networks. The heuristic underlying this criterion is that "the importance of a feature should be related to the magnitude of the output weights of a neural network". Subsequently, the UFS framework utilizes the original features to construct a training model based on a randomization-based neural network, ranks these features by the criterion of the norm of the output weights, and recursively removes a feature with the lowest ranking score. Extensive experiments on 15 real-world datasets suggest that our proposed framework outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms. The code of UFS is available at https://github.com/SVMrelated/UFS.git.

Preparation and bioactivity of the rare ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2: An updated review.

Ginseng, an ancient medicinal herb, is used in oriental medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Saponins are the main bioactive components of ginseng, but the multiple glucosyl side chains on its molecules prevent ginsenosides from entering the blood through the intestinal membrane, thus reducing the efficacy. The preparation of rare ginsenosides, which are easy to be absorbed by human body and have higher drug activity, has been widely practiced by removing the sugar group of natural ginsenosides in vitro. Rare ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 have been approved as drugs or health supplements to improve immune function. This review summarizes the preparation methods of ginsenoside Rg3 and Rh2 in recent years. Ginsenoside Rg3 and Rh2 were prepared by biotransformation of protopanaxadiol type ginsenoside, with the highest conversion rate of 98.19% and 95.89% in the laboratory, respectively. At present, improving the conversion rate and reducing the production cost are still the bottleneck of industrial scale production of Rg3 and Rh2 through the deglycosylation directly from Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc and Rd in the crude extract of ginseng. In addition, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 play anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardiovascular protective, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-fatigue, anti-allergic, anti-aging, antioxidant and other pharmacological effects by activating AMPK, JNK, NF-κB, MAPKs, P13K/AKT/mTOR and other signaling pathways. As potential drugs for prevention and treatment of various diseases, ginsenoside Rg3 and Rh2 need to further clarify other underlying mechanisms of action through in vitro and in vivo experiments.

A high-throughput phenotyping method for sugarcane rind penetrometer resistance and breaking force characterization by near-infrared spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the core crop for sugar and bioethanol production over the world. A major problem in sugarcane production is stalk lodging due to weak mechanical strength. Rind penetrometer resistance (RPR) and breaking force are two kinds of regular parameters for mechanical strength characterization. However, due to the lack of efficient methods for determining RPR and breaking force in sugarcane, genetic approaches for improving these traits are generally limited. This study was designed to use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration assay to accurately assess mechanical strength on a high-throughput basis for the first time. RESULTS: Based on well-established laboratory measurements of sugarcane stalk internodes collected in the years 2019 and 2020, considerable variations in RPR and breaking force were observed in the stalk internodes. Following a standard NIRS calibration process, two online models were obtained with a high coefficient of determination (R2) and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) values during calibration, internal cross-validation, and external validation. Remarkably, the equation for RPR exhibited R2 and RPD values as high as 0.997 and 17.70, as well as showing relatively low root mean square error values at 0.44 N mm-2 during global modeling, demonstrating excellent predictive performance. CONCLUSIONS: This study delivered a successful attempt for rapid and precise prediction of rind penetrometer resistance and breaking force in sugarcane stalk by NIRS assay. These established models can be used to improve phenotyping jobs for sugarcane germplasm on a large scale.

A high-throughput phenotyping assay for precisely determining stalk crushing strength in large-scale sugarcane germplasm.

Sugarcane is a major industrial crop around the world. Lodging due to weak mechanical strength is one of the main problems leading to huge yield losses in sugarcane. However, due to the lack of high efficiency phenotyping methods for stalk mechanical strength characterization, genetic approaches for lodging-resistant improvement are severely restricted. This study attempted to apply near-infrared spectroscopy high-throughput assays for the first time to estimate the crushing strength of sugarcane stalks. A total of 335 sugarcane samples with huge variation in stalk crushing strength were collected for online NIRS modeling. A comprehensive analysis demonstrated that the calibration and validation sets were comparable. By applying a modified partial least squares method, we obtained high-performance equations that had large coefficients of determination (R2 > 0.80) and high ratio performance deviations (RPD > 2.4). Particularly, when the calibration and external validation sets combined for an integrative modeling, we obtained the final equation with a coefficient of determination (R2) and ratio performance deviation (RPD) above 0.9 and 3.0, respectively, demonstrating excellent prediction capacity. Additionally, the obtained model was applied for characterization of stalk crushing strength in large-scale sugarcane germplasm. In a three-year study, the genetic characteristics of stalk crushing strength were found to remain stable, and the optimal sugarcane genotypes were screened out consistently. In conclusion, this study offers a feasible option for a high-throughput analysis of sugarcane mechanical strength, which can be used for the breeding of lodging resistant sugarcane and beyond.

Comparison of allergenicity among cow, goat, and horse milks using a murine model of atopy.

Due to the prevalence and severity of cow milk (CM) allergy (CMA), an ideal substitute is urgently needed to develop hypoallergenic infant formula for infants who experience anaphylaxis to typical whey-based CM formula. Goat milk (GM) and horse milk (HM) are considered appropriate substitutes; however, whether GM and HM are less allergenic than CM is unclear. In the present study, the difference in allergenicity among CM, GM, and HM was investigated using the Balb/c mouse model. The number of mice with severe respiratory symptoms was significantly lower in the GM- and HM-sensitised groups than in the CM-sensitised group. Furthermore, histologic examination of intestinal and lung tissues revealed a thinner lamina propria of the small intestine and obvious inflammation and congestion in lungs in the CM-sensitised group than in the GM- and HM-sensitised groups. CM-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, serum IgG1, and plasma histamine levels were also higher in CM-sensitised mice than in GM- or HM-sensitised mice. In addition, higher interleukin (IL) 4 and IL-17A levels and lower interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IL-10 levels were observed in CM-sensitised mice compared with GM- and HM-sensitised mice, according to qPCR, indicating Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 imbalances. The CM-sensitised group had a higher proportion of IL-4- and IL-17A-producing CD3+ T cells but a lower proportion of IFN-γ- and IL-10-producing CD3+ T cells compared with the GM- and HM-sensitised groups, confirming the Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 imbalances. In conclusion, GM and HM were less allergenic than CM in mice as a result of a shift in the Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 imbalances; however, HM was less allergenic than GM and can be used as an alternative milk to develop infant formulas for children with CMA.

Bio-inspired smart electronic-skin based on inorganic perovskite nanoplates for application in photomemories and mechanoreceptors.

The development of artificial skin, such as electronic skin, is critical to emerging artificial intelligence systems. Electronic skins reported to date are mechanically flexible, and can detect various stimuli, but lack the ability to regulate themselves and learn information from the outside world. The integration of bio-inspired multifunction in a single electronic platform is critical to the development of e-skin systems. Here, we demonstrate a self-powered, light-stimulated, smart e-skin based on a photosensitive perovskite material. The electronic skin implements the functions of both tactile sensing and photoelectric neural computing. The strategy for developing such a material system and architecture of the electronic skin meets the requirement of multifunctional smart human-machine interfaces and has promising potential for application in future artificial intelligence systems.

Precise high-throughput online near-infrared spectroscopy assay to determine key cell wall features associated with sugarcane bagasse digestibility.

BACKGROUND: Sugarcane is one of the most crucial energy crops that produces high yields of sugar and lignocellulose. The cellulose crystallinity index (CrI) and lignin are the two kinds of key cell wall features that account for lignocellulose saccharification. Therefore, high-throughput screening of sugarcane germplasm with excellent cell wall features is considered a promising strategy to enhance bagasse digestibility. Recently, there has been research to explore near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) assays for the characterization of the corresponding wall features. However, due to the technical barriers of the offline strategy, it is difficult to apply for high-throughput real-time analyses. This study was therefore initiated to develop a high-throughput online NIRS assay to rapidly detect cellulose crystallinity, lignin content, and their related proportions in sugarcane, aiming to provide an efficient and feasible method for sugarcane cell wall feature evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 838 different sugarcane genotypes were collected at different growth stages during 2018 and 2019. A continuous variation distribution of the near-infrared spectrum was observed among these collections. Due to the very large diversity of CrI and lignin contents detected in the collected sugarcane samples, seven high-quality calibration models were developed through online NIRS calibration. All of the generated equations displayed coefficient of determination (R2) values greater than 0.8 and high ratio performance deviation (RPD) values of over 2.0 in calibration, internal cross-validation, and external validation. Remarkably, the equations for CrI and total lignin content exhibited RPD values as high as 2.56 and 2.55, respectively, indicating their excellent prediction capacity. An offline NIRS assay was also performed. Comparable calibration was observed between the offline and online NIRS analyses, suggesting that both strategies would be applicable to estimate cell wall characteristics. Nevertheless, as online NIRS assays offer tremendous advantages for large-scale real-time screening applications, it could be implied that they are a better option for high-throughput cell wall feature prediction. CONCLUSIONS: This study, as an initial attempt, explored an online NIRS assay for the high-throughput assessment of key cell wall features in terms of CrI, lignin content, and their proportion in sugarcane. Consistent and precise calibration results were obtained with NIRS modeling, insinuating this strategy as a reliable approach for the large-scale screening of promising sugarcane germplasm for cell wall structure improvement and beyond.

A nonaqueous lyotropic liquid crystal fabricated by a polyoxyethylene amphiphile in protic ionic liquid.

The aggregation behaviors of oleyl polyoxyethylene (10) ether, Brij 97, in room temperature ionic liquids, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), pyrrolidinium nitrate ([Pyrr][NO(3)]), ethylammonium butyrate (EAB), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim][PF(6)]), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF(4)]), have been investigated. Only in the Brij 97/EAN binary system is the hexagonal liquid crystalline phase formed, and its ordering is found to decrease with increasing temperature. The lattice spacing values measured from the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) shrink with reduction of ionic liquid content at room temperature. The general rules for aggregate formation in these ionic liquids are discussed and compared with that in water. A degraded ability to produce the ordered self-assembly of Brij 97 from H(2)O to EAN to [Bmim][PF(6)], [Bmim][BF(4)], [Pyrr][NO(3)], and EAB is found and analyzed based on the molecular packing and Gordon parameters and also hydrogen-bonding or solvophobic interactions. Steady-shear rheological measurements combined with the frequency sweep data indicate the highly viscoelastic nature of this liquid crystalline phase.

Unclonable Perovskite Fluorescent Dots with Fingerprint Pattern for Multilevel Anticounterfeiting.

Anticounterfeiting techniques based on physical unclonable functions exhibit great potential in security protection of extensive commodities from daily necessities to high-end products. Herein, we propose a facile strategy to fabricate an unclonable super micro fingerprint (SMFP) array by introducing in situ grown perovskite crystals for multilevel anticounterfeiting labels. The unclonable features are formed on the basis of the differential transportation of a microscale perovskite precursor droplet during the inkjet printing process, coupled with random crystallization and Ostwald ripening of perovskite crystals originating from their ion crystal property. Furthermore, the unclonable patterns can be readily tailored by tuning in situ crystallization conditions of the perovskite. Three-dimensional height information on the perovskite patterns are introduced into a security label and further transformed into structural color, significantly enhancing the capacity of anticounterfeiting labels. The SMFPs are characterized with tunable multilevel anticounterfeiting properties, including macroscale patterns, microscale unclonable pattern, fluorescent two-dimensional pattens, and colorful three-dimensional information.

Novel gel phase formed by mixing a cationic surfactive ionic liquid C(16)mimCl and an anionic surfactant SDS in aqueous solution.

The phase behavior of a catanionic system composed by a cationic surfactive ionic liquid (IL), 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C(16)mim]Cl), an anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and water has been investigated. A novel gel phase with quite high water content can be fabricated showing similar rheological properties to vesicles usually formed in traditional catanionic systems. The lamellar structure could also be constructed in SDS-rich region. Both the hydrophobic interaction of alkyl chains and interactions between oppositely charged head groups play important roles for the gel formation. Such a facile method to form gels directly from the catanionic system at relative low surfactant concentrations is novel, which should be related to the specific molecular structure of imidazolium ILs. The obtained results are expected to be helpful for better understanding of catanionic systems.

Lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases formed by Pluronic P123 in ethylammonium nitrate.

Aggregation of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer, Pluronic P123, is promoted in a room temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN). A series of lyotropic mesophases including normal micellar cubic (I1), normal hexagonal (H1), lamellar (Lalpha), and reverse bicontinuous cubic (V2) are identified at 25 degrees C by using polarized optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering techniques. Such self-assembly behavior of P123 in EAN is similar to those observed in H2O or 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMim(+)][PF6(-)]) systems except for the presence of the V2 phase in EAN and the absence of the I 1 phase in [BMim(+)][PF6(-)]. This suggests that the ionic solvent of EAN plays similar roles as H2O and [BMim(+)][PF6(-)] during the aggregation process and solvates the PEO blocks through hydrogen-bond interaction. Furthermore, the hydrogen bonds are considered to form between the ethylammonium cations and oxygen atoms of the PEO blocks as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectra of P123-EAN assemblies. This deduction is also consistent with the results from differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The additional V2 phase appearing in the P123-EAN system is attributed to the higher affinity for the relatively hydrophobic PPO blocks to EAN than to water, which might reduce the effective area of the solvophilic headgroup and increase the volume of the solvophobic part. The obtained results may help us to better understand the self-assembly process for amphiphilic block copolymers in protic solvents.

Preparation of low digestible and viscoelastic tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) starch by Bacillus acidopullulyticus pullulanase.

Tigernut starch is an underutilized food resource. In this study, pullulanase (PUL) hydrolysis was used to change its physiochemical properties for different food applications. The content of low digestible fractions, resistant starch and slow digestible starch, in PUL modified tigernut starch significantly increased from 2.03% to 25.08% (P<0.05) using 100U/g starch of PUL in the debranching reaction. The paste or dispersion of PUL modified tigernut starch had a significantly decreased viscoelasticity (P<0.05), but the paste still exhibited a typical property of pseudoplasticity. Molecular weight, amylopectin A B2 and B3 chain of PUL modified starch were lower, while amylose content, amylopectin B1 chain were higher than those of natural tigernut starch. The low digestible and viscous tigernut starch is highly valued as a component in some functional foods.