Beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallography

Serial crystallography (SX) enables the visualization of the time-resolved molecular dynamics of macromolecular structures at room temperature while minimizing radiation damage. In SX experiments, the delivery of a large number of crystals into an X-ray interaction point in a serial and stable manner is key. Sample delivery using viscous medium maintains the stable injection stream at low flow rates, markedly reducing sample consumption compared with that of a liquid jet injector and is widely applied in SX experiments with low repetition rates. As the sample properties and experimental environment can affect the stability of the injection stream of a viscous medium, it is important to develop sample delivery media with various characteristics to optimize the experimental environment. In this study, a beef tallow injection matrix possessing a higher melting temperature than previously reported fat-based shortening and lard media was introduced as a sample delivery medium and applied to SX. Beef tallow was prepared by heat treating fats from cattle, followed by the removal of soluble impurities from the extract by phase separation. Beef tallow exhibited a very stable injection stream at room temperature and a flow rate of < 10 nL/min. The room-temperature structures of lysozyme and glucose isomerase embedded in beef tallow were successfully determined at 1.55 and 1.60 Å, respectively. The background scattering of beef tallow was higher than that of previously reported fat-based shortening and lard media but negligible for data processing. In conclusion, the beef tallow matrix can be employed for sample delivery in SX experiments conducted at temperatures exceeding room temperature.

Study on crystallization kinetics of dry fractionation products of beef tallow

The dry fractionation beef tallow and their products were analyzed in the dynamic thermodynamic analysis, isothermal analysis and crystallization kinetics analysis in this experiment. Through the dynamic thermodynamic analysis by DSC, the possibility of fine fractionation of beef tallow at 25 °C and 42.9 °C crystallization temperature was obtained. The dynamic thermodynamic analysis of dry fractionation products was carried out, and the linear functions of peak temperature and melting/crystallization rate of beef tallow and its stearic acid mixture were constructed. The crystallization temperature and melting point were obtained by linear function. The isothermal crystallization kinetic model was used to calculate and fit the experimental data by the Avrami model. Beef tallow and its stearic mixture were fitted with the Avrami equation to obtain R 2 ≥ 0.98. This analysis provides an innovative idea and method for thermodynamics and crystallization kinetics of beef tallow.

Effect of Dietary Lipid Sources on Feed Utilization, Growth Efficiency and Carcass Composition of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles

This study was designed to investigate plant and animal lipid that can enhance feed utilization, growth, and survival of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles. Juveniles with mean weight 32.50±0.5g were stocked randomly to seven tanks replicated thrice, with each tank having seven fish each and were fed with the prepared diets with varied lipid. 40% crude protein and isocaloric diets with digestible energy of 2,933.76Kcal were formulated and labelled Diet 1-7 with different sources of plant and animal lipids. Diet 1, 2 and 3 contained palm oil, Groundnut oil and soybean oil respectively, while diet 4, 5 and 6 contained Pork lard, Cod Liver oil and Beef tallow. Diet 7 (Control diet without any lipid source). The result showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survival rates among the diets. The mean weight gain was highest in fish fed with pork lard (22.12g) while the lowest value of 15.36g was recorded in fish fed with soybean oil. Relative weight gains and feed intake showed no significant difference (P>0.05) between fish fed lipids of plant origin. However, there was significant difference (P<0.05) among fish fed lipids from animal origin. The Highest Total Cholesterol (28.18 mg/dl) was recorded in fish fed beef tallow as lipid sources while the least value of low-density cholesterol (value of 2.26 mg/dl) was recorded in fish fed with soybean oil. In conclusion, C. gariepinus was able to utilize animal-based lipid sources more in terms of growth and feed utilization while the lipid profile result of the individual carcass after the culture period showed that C. gariepinus fed lipid from plant sources had a slightly better cholesterol level than those fed lipid of animal sources.

The effect of various high-fat diet on liver histology in the development of NAFLD models in mice

Objectives Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is exceptionally common around the world. The development of NAFLD is increasing rapidly in the world, along with changes in lifestyle. Excess lipid intake is one of the risk factors for NAFLD. The NAFLD model is induced by a high-fat diet contains SFA, MUFA, and ῳ-6 PUFA. This study aims to assess the effect of high-fat diet variation on liver histology in developing NAFLD models in mice. Methods Thirty-six male mice (Balb/c) were divided into six groups fed a high-fat diet containing beef tallow 60%, beef tallow 45%, vegetable ghee, animal ghee + corn oil, vegetable ghee + corn oil for 28 days and compared to a control group fed a chow diet. All of the mice were fed with a high-fat diet in the form of pellets ad libitum for 28 days. Bodyweight and food intake were measured every day. At the last day of treatment, animals were sacrificed and the Liver were taken for histological analysis. Results This study showed that NAFLD model development was achieved in all group mice fed a high-fat diet with different degrees of NAFLD. Beef tallow 60% had the worst liver histology. Conclusions Thus, based on this study, we found that high-fat diet variations influenced the development of NAFLD models in mice, particularly concerning liver histology.