Engineered Nanoscale Food Ingredients: Evaluation of Current Knowledge on Material Characteristics Relevant to Uptake from the Gastrointestinal Tract

The NanoRelease Food Additive project developed a catalog to identify potential engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) used as ingredients, using various food‐related databases. To avoid ongoing debate on defining the term nanomaterial, NanoRelease did not use any specific definition other than the ingredient is not naturally part of the food chain, and its dimensions are measured in the nanoscale. Potential nanomaterials were categorized based on physical similarity; analysis indicated that the range of ENMs declared as being in the food chain was limited. Much of the catalog's information was obtained from product labeling, likely resulting in both underreporting (inconsistent or absent requirements for labeling) and/or overreporting (inability to validate entries, or the term nano was used, although no ENM material was present). Three categories of ingredients were identified: emulsions, dispersions, and their water‐soluble powdered preparations (including lipid‐based structures); solid encapsulates (solid structures containing an active material); and metallic or other inorganic particles. Although much is known regarding the physical/chemical properties for these ingredient categories, it is critical to understand whether these properties undergo changes following their interaction with food matrices during preparation and storage. It is also important to determine whether free ENMs are likely to be present within the gastrointestinal tract and whether uptake of ENMs may occur in their nanoform physical state. A practical decision‐making scheme was developed to help manage testing requirements.     

Thermal decomposition and combustion of biofuels

The results concerning the thermal decomposition and combustion of hydrolytic lignin, spruce, and the organic components of wood in a fixed-bed reactor are reported. Data on the emitted gas components and fine particles were acquired. The formation of gas components from spruce exhibited a maximum in a temperature range of 430–450°C. This temperature range corresponds to the completion of the release of volatile substances and to the char oxidation. For the different test materials, the thermal decomposition and combustion processes were accompanied by the formation of a large amount of particles. Nanoparticles having a diameter below 0.1 μm dominate.     

Binding of aroma compounds with legumin. III. Thermodynamics of competitive binding of aroma compounds with 11S globulin depending on the structure of aroma compounds

This paper considers the prominent features in competitive binding of aroma esters from their mixtures to 11S globulin of broad beans (legumin) in aqueous medium at pH 7.2 and ionic strength of 0.05 mol dm⁻³. Series of alkyl acetates (C₄–C₈) and methyl esters of carbonic acids (C₅–C₉), differing in the length of hydrocarbon chain, have been under our studying. To accomplish the ends of the study, a combination of ultrafiltration and gas–liquid chromatography (GC) has been used. An increase in the length of hydrocarbon chain of the aroma esters brought about greater binding affinity for the protein, the occurrence of some structural restrictions in the interior of the protein molecule, preventing binding, and the change in the binding mechanism of the aroma compounds at the specific critical length of hydrocarbon chain. Differential scanning microcalorimetry data suggested that the revealed changes in the binding mechanism of the studied aroma compounds were attributable to the conformational modification of the protein globule as a result of binding with the aroma compounds. A distinguishing feature in binding of methyl esters of carbonic acids with legumin was their greater binding affinity for the protein as compared with alkyl acetates. The mutual effect of aroma compounds on binding from their equimolar mixtures to the protein made itself evident, firstly, as a drastic increase in the binding extent of aroma esters, having rather long hydrocarbon chain and, secondly, as a dramatic change in the binding mechanism of the aroma esters with relatively short hydrocarbon chain.     

Honeycomb-supported perovskite catalysts for high-temperature processes

Pechini route [US Patent No. 3,330,697 (1967)] was used for supporting perovskite-like systems on thin-wall corundum honeycomb support to prepare catalysts for high-temperature processes of methane combustion and selective oxidation into syngas. In this preparation, the surface of corundum monoliths walls was shown to be covered by strongly adhering porous perovskite layer formed by rounded crystals. At high temperatures when pore diffusion is expected to affect catalysts performance in fast reactions, this spatial distribution of the active component could be attractive. In the kinetically controlled region of methane oxidation, samples prepared via Pechini route possess activity comparable with that of samples made via support wet impregnation with mixed nitrate solutions, when an active component is uniformly distributed across the wall thickness. Corundum-supported lanthanum manganite and ferrite are the most active in the reaction of methane combustion, while its selective oxidation into syngas effectively proceeds on supported lanthanum cobaltite and nickelates. Corundum-supported perovskites are more thermally stable as compared with those on γ-alumina support.     

Analytic and numerical solution of fusion and crystallization problems of a thin metal surface layer

The process of fusion and subsequent crystallization is examined for a thin surface layer of a massive specimen subjected to an impulsive thermal load.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 52, No. 5, pp. 716–727, May, 1987.     

Cationic and radical polymerization of N-vinyl-2-phenylpyrrole: Synthesis of electroconducting,paramagnetic and fluorescent oligomers

Cationic polymerization of N-vinyl-2-phenylpyrrole (catalysts: Me₃SiCl, CF₃COOH, BF₃·OEt₂, HCl, WCl₆, FeCl₃, complex LiBF₄–dimethoxyethane, catalysts concentration 1–2 wt%, 20–70 °C, 24–48 h) affords oligomers (molecular weight 1400–1700) of a unexpected structure with alternating 2-phenylpyrrole and ethylydene units, the yields reaching 63%. The oligomers structure has been supported by isolation and identification of the corresponding dimer, N-vinyl-2-phenyl-5-[N-(2-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)ethyl]-1H-pyrrole. Radical polymerization of the same monomer (AIBN, 1.5–4 wt%, 60–80 °C, 40–60 h or UV irradiation or both) gives oligomers (molecular weight 2100–3000) of normal structure having polyethene backbone with pendant 2-phenylpyrrole groups in up to 40% yields. The oligomers of both types are semiconductors (1.3 × 10^?6–3.6 × 10^?6 S/cm) after doping with I₂, paramagnetic (4.2 × 10¹⁷–8.7 × 10¹⁷ g^?1) and fluorescent in a near UV region (λ 355–363 nm, acetonitrile).     

Isotope Effect on Properties of CMR Manganites

A unique feature of incredibly large magnetoresistance and also the properties, in which electronlattice interactions play a key role, has attracted a lot of attention to manganese oxides. Oxygen isotope effect has proved to be spectacular in this system and it gives insight into many characteristics of interactions and charge transfer in this system. This review concentrates on transformation of properties induced by oxygen ¹⁶O–¹⁸O isotope substitution and mechanisms leading to this extraordinary effect.     

Particle‐Based Optical Sensing of Intracellular Ions at the Example of Calcium – What Are the Experimental Pitfalls?

Colloidal particles with fluorescence read‐out are commonly used as sensors for the quantitative determination of ions. Calcium, for example, is a biologically highly relevant ion in signaling, and thus knowledge of its spatio‐temporal distribution inside cells would offer important experimental data. However, the use of particle‐based intracellular sensors for ion detection is not straightforward. Important associated problems involve delivery and intracellular location of particle‐based fluorophores, crosstalk of the fluorescence read‐out with pH, and spectral overlap of the emission spectra of different fluorophores. These potential problems are outlined and discussed here with selected experimental examples. Potential solutions are discussed and form a guideline for particle‐based intracellular imaging of ions.