Study of Stability of Sesame Oil-In-Water Emulsions Determined using an Optical Analyzer and Measurement of Particle Size and Distribution

The aim of the study was to determine the optimal conditions, that is, the content of sesame oil and the amount of carboxymethylcellulose, to obtain stable dispersion systems. Emulsions were stored under different temperature conditions. For this purpose, six emulsions were prepared and their stability was examined empirically using techniques including particle size analysis, optical microscopy, and the Turbiscan test. The emulsion containing 40 g of oil and 0.6 g of thickener had the highest stability. No destabilizations in whole the range of stored temperature were observed for the emulsion with that composition. Emulsion was stable as well at cool temperature as at extreme environment (40°C). Nowadays, the use of O/W emulsions based on vegetable oil is continuously increasing. To date, sesame oil has been used mainly for direct consumption. The present work indicates a novel possibility for use of sesame oil as the fat base of an emulsion system. Besides, the study gave information about parameters of long-term stability emulsion what is the key in the quality of the dispersion systems. This knowledge is necessary for the industry in order to avoid destabilizing processes occurring in a new product.     

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation after Total Knee Replacement Surgery Using Sample Entropy and Classical Measures of Body Balance

Exercises in virtual reality (VR) have recently become a popular form of rehabilitation and are reported to be more effective than a standard rehabilitation protocol alone. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of adjunct VR training in improving postural control in patients after total knee replacement surgery (TKR). Forty-two patients within 7–14 days of TKR were enrolled and divided into a VR group and a control group (C). The C group underwent standard postoperative rehabilitation. The VR group additionally attended twelve 30-min exercise sessions using the Virtual Balance Clinic prototype system. Balance was assessed on the AMTI plate in bipedal standing with and without visual feedback before and after the four-week rehabilitation. Linear measures and sample entropy of CoP data were analyzed. After four weeks of rehabilitation, a significant reduction in parameters in the sagittal plane and ellipse area was noted while the eyes remained open. Regression analysis showed that sample entropy depended on sex, body weight, visual feedback and age. Based on the sample entropy results, it was concluded that the complexity of the body reaction had not improved. The standing-with-eyes-closed test activates automatic balance mechanisms and offers better possibilities as a diagnostic tool.     

Mouse thymidylate synthase does not show the inactive conformation,observed for the human enzyme

Crystal structures of mouse thymidylate synthase (mTS) in complexes with (1) sulfate anion, (2) 2′-deoxyuridine 5′-monophosphate (dUMP) and (3) 5-fluoro-dUMP (FdUMP) and N ^5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (meTHF) have been determined and deposited in Protein Data Bank under the accession codes 3IHI, 4E5O and 5FCT, respectively. The structures show a strong overall similarity to the corresponding structures of rat and human thymidylate synthases (rTS and hTS, respectively). Unlike with hTS, whose unliganded and liganded forms assume different conformations (“inactive” and “active,” respectively) in the loop 181–197, in each of the three mTS structures, the loop 175–191, homologous to hTS loop 181–197, populates the active conformer, with catalytic Cys 189 buried in the active site and directed toward C(6) of the pyrimidine ring of dUMP/FdUMP, pointing to protein’s inability to adopt the inactive conformation. The binary structures of either dUMP- or sulfate-bound mTS, showing the enzyme with open active site and extended C-terminus, differ from the structure of the mTS–5-FdUMP–meTHF ternary complex, with the active site closed and C-terminus folded inward, thus covering the active site cleft. Another difference pertains to the conformation of the Arg44 side chain in the active site-flanking loop 41–47, forming strong hydrogen bonds with the dUMP/FdUMP phosphate moiety in each of the two liganded mTS structures, but turning away from the active site entrance and loosing the possibility of H-bonding with sulfate in the sulfate-bound mTS structure.     

Spin and magnetic moment of 33Mg: evidence for a negative-parity intruder ground state

We report on the first determination of the nuclear ground-state spin of 33Mg, I=3/2, and its magnetic moment, mu= -0.7456(5) mu(N), by combining laser spectroscopy with nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. These values are inconsistent with an earlier suggested 1 particle-1 hole configuration and provide evidence for a 2 particle-2 hole intruder ground state with negative parity. The results are in agreement with an odd-neutron occupation of the 3/2 [321] Nilsson orbital at a large prolate deformation. The discussion emphasizes the need of further theoretical and experimental investigation of the island of inversion, a region previously thought to be well understood.     

TLC-MS versus TLC-LC-MS fingerprints of herbal extracts. Part III. Application of the reversed-phase liquid chromatography systems with C18 stationary phase

In the previous paper from this series, we proposed mass spectrometric fingerprinting of complex botanical samples upon the examples of the pharmacologically important phenolic acids and flavonoids selectively extracted from Salvia lavandulifolia. In this study, we explore fingerprinting efficiency with a novel two-dimensional analytical system composed of the reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography and the reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (2D RP-TLC-RP-LC-MS). We also compare its efficiency with that of the one-dimensional analytical system (the reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography with mass spectrometric detection; 1D RP-TLC-MS). As our present study is basically focused on the method development, we considered it as justified to carry out our comparison with the phenolic acid extracts selectively derived from the Salvia lavandulifolia species, similar as it was done in Part II from this series. Upon the results obtained, it was established that the 1D RP-TLC-MS mode and the 2D RP-TLC-RP-LC-MS mode can be applied to fingerprinting of herbal extracts, and that the 2D RP-TLC-RP-LC mode can provide a more abundant information than that originating from the 1D RP-TLC mode.     

Influence of Tea Brewing Parameters on the Antioxidant Potential of Infusions and Extracts Depending on the Degree of Processing of the Leaves of Camellia sinensis

The polyphenol content of tea depends on the growing region, harvest date, the production process used, and the brewing parameters. In this study, research was undertaken that included an analysis of the influence of the brewing process parameters on the content of total polyphenols (Folin-Ciocalteu), epigallocatechin gallate (HPLC), and antioxidant activity (against DPPH radicals) of fresh tea shrub leaves grown from Taiwan and of teas obtained from them (oolong, green in bags, and green loose from the spring and autumn harvest). The antioxidant potential was determined in the methanol and aqueous extracts, as well as in infusions that were obtained by using water at 65 or 100 °C and infusing the tea for 5 or 10 min. The highest content of total polyphenols and epigallocatechin gallate was found in green tea extracts from the spring harvest. However, in the case of infusions, the highest content of these compounds was found in green tea in bags. Steaming at 100 °C for 10 min, turned out to be the most favourable condition for the extraction. Oolong tea, brewed at 100 °C for 5 min was characterised by the highest antioxidant activity against stable DPPH radicals.     

Isochroman derivatives and their tendency to crystallize in chiral space groups

In methyl [5‐methoxy‐4‐(4‐methoxy­phenyl)­isochroman‐3‐yl]­acetate, C₂₀H₂₂O₅, (I), and methyl [4‐(2,5‐di­methoxy­phenyl)‐8‐methoxy­isochroman‐3‐yl]­acetate, C₂₁H₂₄O₆, (II), the heterocyclic rings adopt half‐chair conformations. The substituents at the 3‐ and 4‐positions are in a trans configuration in both (I) and (II), being in an axial conformation in (I) and in an equatorial conformation in (II). The crystal structure of (I) is stabilized by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonding, leading to the formation of an infinite three‐dimensional network. Compound (II) crystallizes in a chiral space group. This feature, which was also found in previously investigated isochroman derivatives, is related to the arrangement of substituents attached to the isochroman moiety.     

Cinnamon as a Useful Preventive Substance for the Care of Human and Plant Health

Cinnamon is widely used as a food spice, but due to its antibacterial and pharmacological properties, it can also be used in processing, medicine and agriculture. The word “Cinnamon” can refer to the plant, processed material, or an extract. It is sometimes used as a substance, and sometimes used as a mixture or as compounds or a group. This article reviews research into the effectiveness of various forms of cinnamon for the control of plant diseases and pests in crops and during storage of fruit and vegetables. Cinnamon acts on pests mainly as a repellent, although in higher doses it has a biocidal effect and prevents egg-laying. Cinnamon and its compounds effectively hinder bacterial and fungal growth, and the phytotoxic effects of cinnamon make it a possible herbicide. This article presents the wide practical use of cinnamon for various purposes, mainly in agriculture. Cinnamon is a candidate for approval as a basic substance with protective potential. In particular, it can be used in organic farming as a promising alternative to chemical pesticides for use in plant protection, especially in preventive treatments. The use of natural products is in line with the restriction of the use of chemical pesticides and the principles of the EU’s Green Deal.     

X‐ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy Applied to Nitrogenase and Related Models: Experimental Evidence for a Spin‐Coupled Molybdenum(III) Center

Nitrogenase enzymes catalyze the reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia utilizing a Mo‐7Fe‐9S‐C active site, the so‐called FeMoco cluster. FeMoco and an analogous small‐molecule (Et₄N)[(Tp)MoFe₃S₄Cl₃] cubane have both been proposed to contain unusual spin‐coupled Mo^III sites with an S(Mo)=1/2 non‐Hund configuration at the Mo atom. Herein, we present Fe and Mo L₃‐edge X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy of the (Et₄N)[(Tp)MoFe₃S₄Cl₃] cubane and Fe L_2,3‐edge XMCD spectroscopy of the MoFe protein (containing both FeMoco and the 8Fe‐7S P‐cluster active sites). As the P‐clusters of MoFe protein have an S=0 total spin, these are effectively XMCD‐silent at low temperature and high magnetic field, allowing for FeMoco to be selectively probed by Fe L_2,3‐edge XMCD within the intact MoFe protein. Further, Mo L₃‐edge XMCD spectroscopy of the cubane model has provided experimental support for a local S(Mo)=1/2 configuration, demonstrating the power and selectivity of XMCD.