Carrageenan Gels in Skim Milk: Formation and Rheological Properties

Phase behavior and mechanical properties of gels of three (kappa-, iota-, and lambda-) carrageenans in skim milk are thoroughly studied. The measurements were performed with the aid of a dynamic rheology in different regimes including determination of frequency dependences of rheological parameters, creep, and critical strain and stress at which the gelled systems are destroyed. Temperature dependences of the rheological parameters were also measured. A set of obtained data allowed to quantitatively characterize the mechanical properties of milk gels and compare the gel-forming properties of various carrageenans. In addition to gels of individual polysaccharides, their mixed gels were studied for the first time. It is shown that kappa-carrageenan formed the most stiff and brittle gels. Its mixing with iota- or lambda-carrageenans made gels softer. This effect is observed when the degree of substitution of kappa-carrageenan was higher than 50% that indicates its prevalent role in the mixed systems. The gelation is explained by the formation of crosslinked structure where the nodes are the casein micelles connected by polysaccharide chains. Their binding occurs due to electrostatic interactions between the sulfo groups of carrageenans and amino groups of kappa-casein. In the case of kappa- or iota-carrageenans, network structure is additionally stabilized due to crosslinking of segments of their molecular chains by the double helices at the gaps between casein micelles.     

High-Performance Gel-Permeation Chromatography of Bovine Skim Milk Proteins

Abstract

The separation of bovine skim milk proteins by gel-permeation high performance liquid chromatography was examined. Toya-Soda TSK-GEL (Type SW) columns were used with an eluent of .05 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.80) containing .1 M sodium sulfate at .5 ml/min. Bovine whole milk was centrifuged to remove lipids, and the resultant skim milk directly injected. A 2000SW column yielded three protein peaks: 1 = casein, IgG and BSA; 2 = 6-lactoglobulins and BSA; and 3 = α-lactalbumin and BSA. A 3000SW plus 2000SW column system with a 30 μl injection volume yielded four protein peaks: 1 = minor amounts of α - and β-casein; 2 = casein, BSA and IgG; 3 = β-lactoglobulins; and 4 = α¹-lactalbumin. A 3000SW plus 2000SW column system with a 10 μl injection volume yielded five protein peaks: 1 = casein; 2 = IgG; 3 = BSA; 4 = β-lactoglobulins; and 5 = α-lactalbumin. Both the single column and dual column applications yielded three nonprotein peaks, which were dialyzed from solution. Thus, a high speed analytical separation of milk proteins was achieved according to molecular size, but this application is highly dependent on sample size.     

紫外光度法间接测定脱脂乳中的芽孢数量

为了有效控制乳制品生产过程、保证质量,克服芽孢杆菌传统计数方法周期长的缺点,本实验通过分光光度法检测芽孢中特异性物质2,6-吡啶二羧酸(DPA)。根据DPA浓度与芽孢数量的关系,建立了快速检测脱脂乳中芽孢数量的方法。本研究对脱脂乳及其芽孢处理、DPA释放及采用紫外分光光度法检测做了研究。通过准确度和加标回收率检验,建立DPA含量与芽孢数的线性关系,回归方程为y=0.2084x-0.9363,r=0.6998,经验证可有效估测脱脂乳中芽孢数量(P<0.05)。     

Hydrodynamic Model for Plasmonics: A Macroscopic Approach to a Microscopic Problem

In this concept, we present the basic assumptions and techniques underlying the hydrodynamic model of electron response in metals and demonstrate that the model can be easily incorporated into computational models. We discuss the role of the additional boundary conditions that arise due to nonlocal terms in the modified equation of motion and the ultimate impact on nanoplasmonic systems. The hydrodynamic model captures much of the microscopic dynamics relating to the fundamental quantum mechanical nature of the electrons and reveals intrinsic limitations to the confinement and enhancement of light around nanoscale features. The presence of such limits is investigated numerically for different configurations of plasmonic nanostructures.     

脱脂乳粉中硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐标准物质制备技术研究与评估

对脱脂乳粉中硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐标准物质样品制备技术进行了研究与评估。采用基体添加-真空冷冻干燥法制备标准物质候选物。选择乙酸沉淀蛋白-固相萃取/离子色谱紫外检测法对所制备样品进行评估。与国家标准中推荐的离子色谱电导检测器相比,采用紫外检测器可有效避免乳粉基质中存在的共洗脱组分对亚硝酸盐测定的干扰,且测量精密度得到改善,更有利于满足样品制备回收率、均匀性与稳定性评估的技术要求。经考察,样品中亚硝酸盐、硝酸盐目标制备值与测得值吻合,制备回收率分别为91%,101%;经方差分析,最小取样量1.0 g时,由样品中亚硝酸盐与硝酸盐均匀性引入的相对不确定度分别为2.9%和0.3%;-70,-20,4,20,35,45℃下同步、加速稳定性实验与线性回归趋势分析结果表明,样品短期稳定性及-20℃干燥、真空、避光保存条件下的长期稳定性预期良好。本研究确立了乳粉中亚硝酸盐与硝酸盐标准物质研究的可行性,所建立的制备技术可以确保标准物质定值结果的准确性。     

A Method for Rapid Identification of Whey Powder and Milk Powder

In the inspection of diary products, it is frequently required to distinguish between whey powder and milk powder,but there is no standard test method for this work now. According to Nation Standards,the concentration of fat could be used as a criterion for distinguishing between whey powder and milk powder. Meanwhile, the method of fat analysis is sophistic and not suitable to be used as a quick analysis. In order to overcome this problem, a rapid test method in following have be developed.     

Changes in Particle Size,Sedimentation, and Protein Microstructure of Ultra-High-Temperature Skim Milk Considering Plasmin Concentration and Storage Temperature

Age gelation is a major quality defect in ultra-high-temperature (UHT) pasteurized milk during extended storage. Changes in plasmin (PL)-induced sedimentation were investigated during storage (23 °C and 37 °C, four weeks) of UHT skim milk treated with PL (2.5, 10, and 15 U/L). The increase in particle size and broadening of the particle size distribution of samples during storage were dependent on the PL concentration, storage period, and storage temperature. Sediment analysis indicated that elevated storage temperature accelerated protein sedimentation. The initial PL concentration was positively correlated with the amount of protein sediment in samples stored at 23 °C for four weeks (r = 0.615; p < 0.01), whereas this correlation was negative in samples stored at 37 °C for the same time (r = −0.358; p < 0.01) due to extensive proteolysis. SDS-PAGE revealed that whey proteins remained soluble over storage at 23 °C for four weeks, but they mostly disappeared from the soluble phase of PL-added samples after two weeks’ storage at 37 °C. Transmission electron micrographs of PL-containing UHT skim milk during storage at different temperatures supported the trend of sediment analysis well. Based on the Fourier transform infrared spectra of UHT skim milk stored at 23 °C for three weeks, PL-induced particle size enlargement was due to protein aggregation and the formation of intermolecular β-sheet structures, which contributed to casein destabilization, leading to sediment formation.     

Multihyperspectral Microscopic Imaging for the Precise Identification of Pollen

We report a method for precisely identifying and locating the pollen of different species in a microscope based on multihyperspectral imaging. Since pollen species are complicated and difficult to identify by one feature, both fluorescence and transmission spectral images of the samples were obtained and used for the identification together with their morphologic features. Three different species of pollens were used as test samples for investigation. The results showed that the accuracy reached 99.5%, which was a significant improvement comparing with the single spectral detection. Because more information was taken into consideration, this method has great potential for the precise identification of biological specimens.     

Qualitative Identification of Milk Fat from Chromatographic Data

The data on the amount of fatty acids in milk, animal, vegetable, and mixed fats were obtained by capillary gas–liquid chromatography. Statistical data on the concentrations of myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids in milk fat were considered as criteria of its natural origin. Concepts were formulated for the detection of a multicomponent adulterating additive of variable composition in a product containing variable amounts of the same components. A graphical interpretation of the results of the analysis was proposed based on the identification zone.     

推荐一个与生命科学有关的综合化学实验——牛奶中酪蛋白和乳糖的分离与鉴定

通过调节牛奶的pH分离出酪蛋白和乳糖,并采用醋酸纤维薄膜电泳、颜色反应、TLC和旋光性测定等方法鉴定酪蛋白和乳糖。使学生掌握分离纯化生物大分子物质的一些方法和手段,为参加生命科学研究打下基础。     

人奶样品中蛋白质种类的FT-MS鉴定

奶制品主要由蛋白质、脂肪、碳水化合物、维生素、矿物质组成,其中,蛋白质是生命活动的基础物质,也是构成人体新生组织、维持人体健康的重要成分,其含量直接决定奶制品的营养价值和质量.因此,研究奶制品中蛋白质的成分成为食品领域中的一个热门课题.     

中性人乳寡糖的分离及结构鉴定

以脱脂、除蛋白后的人乳为原料,联合运用阴离子交换色谱(AEC)、凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)和多孔石墨化碳色谱(PGC)等多种分离纯化技术制备了18种中性人乳寡糖,并采用电喷雾碰撞诱导串联质谱(ESI-CIDMS/MS)技术对其结构进行了鉴定.结果表明,所制备的中性人乳寡糖主要为三至九糖,含有半乳糖(Gal)、葡萄糖(Glc)、N-乙酰葡萄糖胺(GlcNAc)和岩藻糖(Fuc).所有寡糖的还原端均含有乳糖核心(Galβ1-4Glc),非还原端均含有乳糖胺(Galβ1-3/4GlcNAc),并且Fuc以α1-2,α1-3和α1-4连接于主链的Gal,Glc和GlcNAc上.     

Membrane Pretreatment: A Method for Reducing Fouling by Natural Organic Matter

The prevention of fouling of polysulphone ultrafiltration membranes, used for the purification of natural brown water, was investigated by pretreating the membranes prior to filtration. Polysulfone membranes were pretreated by commercial nonionic surfactants Triton X-100 and Pluronic F108. Specific characterisation techniques, developed by Maartens et al. (1998) and Jucker and Clarke, (1994), were used to determine and compare the effects induced by the adsorption of natural organic matter on the permeability of untreated as well as surfactant treated capillary ultrafiltration membranes. The extent of foulant adsorption and the quality of the resultant permeate solutions were determined by ultraviolet visible-light spectroscopy. The findings of this investigation provides information of importance for the operation of future natural brown water ultrafiltration plants. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Identification of Persuasive Antiviral Natural Compounds for COVID-19 by Targeting Endoribonuclease NSP15: A Structural-Bioinformatics Approach

SARS-CoV-2 is a positive-stranded RNA virus that bundles its genomic material as messenger-sense RNA in infectious virions and replicates these genomes through RNA intermediates. Several virus-encoded nonstructural proteins play a key role during the viral life cycle. Endoribonuclease NSP15 is vital for the replication and life cycle of the virus, and is thus considered a compelling druggable target. Here, we performed a combination of multiscoring virtual screening and molecular docking of a library of 1624 natural compounds (Nuclei of Bioassays, Ecophysiology and Biosynthesis of Natural Products (NuBBE) database) on the active sites of NSP15 (PDB:6VWW). After sequential high-throughput screening by LibDock and GOLD, docking optimization by CDOCKER, and final scoring by calculating binding energies, top-ranked compounds NuBBE-1970 and NuBBE-242 were further investigated via an indepth molecular-docking and molecular-dynamics simulation of 60 ns, which revealed that the binding of these two compounds with active site residues of NSP15 was sufficiently strong and stable. The findings strongly suggest that further optimization and clinical investigations of these potent compounds may lead to effective SARS-CoV-2 treatment.     

BHC Residues in Milk: A Gas Chromatographic Investigation

Abstract

BHC residues were determined in milk samples of cows and buffaloes (Indore, M.P., India), α-, β- and γ-BHC were identified in samples from four different localities using gas chromatography. All samples were contaminated with BHC, with the toxic gamma isomer appearing in the largest concentration. Buffalo milk was more contaminated than cow milk, with maximum values of 17 and 12 μg/l, respectively.     

A Robust Analytical Approach for the Identification of Specific Protein Carbonylation Sites: Metal-Catalyzed Oxidations of Human Serum Albumin

The formation of protein carbonyls in the metal-catalyzed oxidation of human serum albumin (HSA) is characterized using a new analytical approach that involves tagging the modification site with multiple hydrazide reagents. Protein carbonyl formation at lysine and arginine residues was catalyzed with copper and iron ions, and the resulting oxidation patterns in HSA are contrasted. A total of 18 modification sites were identified with iron-ion catalysis and 14 with copper-ion catalysis. However, with the more stringent requirement of identification with at least two tagging reagents, the number of validated modification sites drops to 10 for iron and nine for copper. Of the 14 total validated sites, there were only five in common for the two metal ions. The results illustrate the value of using multiple tagging agents and highlight the selective and specific nature of metal-catalyzed protein oxidations.     

A Reverse Vaccinology Approach for the Identification of Potential Vaccine Candidates from Leishmania spp

Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases with a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from cutaneous ulcers to visceral leishmaniasis, which results from the bite of an infected sandfly to human. Attempts to develop an effective vaccine have been shown to be feasible but no vaccine is in active clinical use. This study adopts a Reverse Vaccinology approach to identify common vaccine candidates from both highly pathogenic species Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum. Total proteome of both species were compared to identify common proteins, which are further taken for sub-cellular localization and transmembrane helices prediction. Plasma membrane proteins having only one transmembrane helix were first identified and analyzed which are non-homologous in human and mouse in order to avoid molecular mimicry with other proteins. Selected proteins were analyzed for their binding efficiency to both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II alleles. As a result, 19 potential epitopes are screened in this study using different approaches, which can be further verified through in vivo experiments in MHC compatible animal models. This study demonstrates that Reverse Vaccinology approach has potential in discovering various immunogenic antigens from in silico analysis of pathogen??s genome or proteome instead of culturing the whole organism by conventional methods.     

Evaluation of the Membrane Damage Mechanism of Chlorogenic Acid against Yersinia enterocolitica and Enterobacter sakazakii and Its Application in the Preservation of Raw Pork and Skim Milk

Plant-derived antimicrobial agents have adequate antimicrobial effects on food-borne pathogens, which can be used as food preservatives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial mechanism of chlorogenic acid (CA) against Yersinia enterocolitica and Enterobacter sakazakii. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CA was determined by employing the broth microdilution method. Then, the cell function and morphological changes of Y. enterocolitica and E. sakazakii treated with CA were characterized. Finally, the growth inhibition models of Y. enterocolitica in raw pork and E. sakazakii in skim milk were constructed through the response surface methodology. The results demonstrated that CA has a satisfactory inhibitory effect against Y. enterocolitica and E. sakazakii with a MIC of 2.5 mg/mL. In addition, CA inhibited the growth of Y. enterocolitica and E. sakazakii via cell membrane damage, such as depolarization of the cell membrane, reduction in intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and pH levels, and destruction of cell morphology. Moreover, CA reduced two log cycles of Y. enterocolitica in raw pork and E. sakazakii in skim milk at a certain temperature. According to the corresponding findings, CA has the potential to be developed as an effective preservative to control Y. enterocolitica and E. sakazakii-associated foodborne diseases.     

有特色的选修课教材——《色彩与微观世界》

颜色是物质的基本属性之一,是物质微观结构的宏观表现。围绕颜色这一广泛而生动的话题,化学工业出版社于2004年9月出版的《色彩与微观世界》一书较系统地论述了颜色与物质微观结构理论之间的关系。本书是编著者金增瑗在首都师范大学开设色彩与物质结构选修课9年后精心完成的。全书共9章:第1章,颜色的基本理论。第2章,物质的结构状态与光学颜色。以露珠彩虹、蓝天白云以及多种宝石的彩晕为例,剖析了色散、散射、干涉、衍射等物理效应产生的颜色与物质的微观结构的特有关系。第3章,原子的结构状态与简单激发产生的颜色。介绍了黑体辐射与彩色…