• Risager Sun posted an update 6 hours, 54 minutes ago

    A new water-soluble resistant dextrin (WSRD), fabricated by thermal-acid treatment following amylase hydrolysis from corn starch, was expected to strengthen the dietary fibers intake of flour products. This study was to investigate the effects of WSRD on flour processing quality, and further dissect its improvement mechanisms by farinographic and rheological analysis, SDS-PAGE, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, texture analyzer, etc. Results showed that WSRD greatly improved the viscoelasticity and strength of dough, which was predominantly contributed by its formation of gel-like networks. Meanwhile, the WSRD-induced increase of gluten aggregates and β-sheet conformation provided the structural basis for enhancing dough quality. Notably, WSRD greatly promoted the sensory appearance and crumb quality of baked breads. Moreover, the WSRD-treated breads resisted the hydrolysis of digestive fluid and enzymes. Therefore, WSRD can strengthen the processing qualities and nutritional values of flour products, which will broaden the application of the novel dietary fiber in flour industry. A triazole-stabilized fluorescence sensor is developed for copper detection in the study. Tris-(benzyltriazolylmethyl)amine (TBTA) is used to improve the sensitivity and stability for the sensing system. A series of comparative experiments are performed with and without TBTA. In the presence of TBTA, the fluorescence decrease ratio is enhanced from 2.46 to 118.25; the detection limit is reduced from 67 nM to 3.6 nM; the higher selectivity toward copper compared to the other metal ions is verified, including K+, Ca2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Pb2+, Hg2+, Fe3+ and Cr3+. Besides, the sensing system is successfully applied for copper determination in complex tea samples and chicken feed samples with the recovery range of 91.67-116.8%. A good consistency between the presented sensor and the flame atom absorbance spectrometry (FAAS) is confirmed by the low relative errors with the range from -2.39% to 7.02%. Herein, we developed a novel magnetic solid phase extraction method based on attapulgite-modified magnetic metal-organic frameworks (ATP@Fe3O4@ZIF-8), and this method could be used for the determination of benzoylureas when it was coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography. The established method was validated in terms of linearity (2.5-500 μg L-1, with correlation coefficient (R2) > 0.9994), accuracy (with satisfactory recovery of 88.29-95.99%) and precision (with relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 8%). In addition, the enrichment factors (EF) ranged from 63.6 to 72.2. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.7-3.2 μg L-1 and 2.3-10.7 μg L-1, respectively. Moreover, there was hardly any noticeable loss of the extraction efficiency when this extraction method undergoes five cycles. Finally, this method was successfully used for the determination of six benzoylureas in different tea infusions and the determined relative recoveries ranged from 78.8 to 114.3%. The toxicity of heavy metals in algal monocultures is well studied and is mediated by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). However, little is known about the toxicity of heavy metals and the mechanisms involved in mixed cultures. Here we examine the oxidative stress and toxic effects of Cu2+ on the green alga Dunaliella salina (DS) and the cyanobacteria Synecochoccus elongatus (SE) in both mono- and mixed cultures. We find that both species benefit in mixed cultures and acquire higher resistance to Cu2+ toxicity, with a particularly marked effect on SE. DS has a larger surface area than SE, so increases in the number of DS cells compared to SE diminishes the proportion of SE surface area exposed to Cu2+, and contributes to increasing cyanobacterial resistance in mixed cultures. However, these mixed cultures also display as an unexpected property an increased resistance of DS in mixed cultures. SE and DS cells showed significant differences on the kinetics of H2O2 production and antioxidant capacities. Rolipram nmr The integrated (overall) redox response of mixed cultures, in terms of total amount of H2O2 produced, was proportional to the total surface area of algal species exposed to Cu2+, independent of algal composition in mixed systems. However, mixed cultures display emergent properties, as the time course of H2O2 accumulation is not a simple function of the composition of the mixed cultures. Emergent properties are also observed in the speed of membrane lipid oxidation by the two species, as measured using mixed cultures in which only one of the two species is labeled using the membrane oxidation indicator C11-BODIPY581/591. We suggest that, in addition to H2O2¸ other redox signals (e.g. NO) and allelochemicals (auxins, cytokinins, etc.) may be used to construct a complex inter-species communication network. This could allow mixed algal systems, whatever their composition, to integrate their cellular responses and perform as a coherent unit against toxic Cu2+ ions. Value for Money (VfM) is an evaluative question about the merit, worth, and significance of resource use in social programs. Although VfM is a critical component of evidence-based programming, it is often overlooked or avoided by evaluators and decision-makers. A framework for evaluating VfM across the dimensions of economy, effectiveness, efficiency, and equity has emerged in response to limitations of traditional economic evaluation. This framework for assessing VfM integrates methods for engaging stakeholders in evaluative thinking to increase acceptance and utilization of evaluations that address questions of resource use. In this review, we synthesize literature on the VfM framework and position it within a broader theory of Utilization-Focused Evaluation (UFE). We then examine mechanisms through which the VfM framework may contribute to increased evaluation use. Finally, we outline avenues for future research on VfM evaluation. The lipids that make up biological membranes tend to be the forgotten molecules of cell biology. The paucity of data on these important entities likely reflects the difficulties of studying and understanding their biological roles, rather than revealing a lack of importance. Indeed, the lipid composition of biological membranes has a profound impact on a diverse array of cellular processes. The focus of this review is on the effects of different lipid classes on the function of mitochondria, particularly bioenergetics, in health and disease.