An Optimization Procedure for Preparing Aqueous CAR/HP-CD Aggregate Dispersions

β-Carotene is a very important molecule for human health. It finds a large application in the food industry, especially for the development of functional foods and dietary supplements. However, β-carotene is an unstable compound and is sensitive to light, temperature, and oxygen. To overcome those limitations, various delivery systems were developed. The inclusion of β-carotene by cyclodextrin aggregates is attractive due to non-toxicity, low hygroscopicity, stability, and the inexpensiveness of cyclodextrins. In this study, β-carotene/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin aggregates were prepared based on the procedure of the addition of β-carotene in an organic solvent to the hot water dispersion of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and the following instant evaporation of the organic solvent. The best conditions for the aggregate preparation were found to be as follows: 25% concentration of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in water, 65 °C temperature, and acetone for β-carotene dissolution. The efficiency of entrapping was equal to 88%. The procedure is attractive due to the short time of the aggregate preparation.

Analogs of the Dopamine Metabolite 5,6-Dihydroxyindole Bind Directly to and Activate the Nuclear Receptor Nurr1 (NR4A2)

The nuclear receptor-related protein, Nurr1, is a transcription factor critical for the development and maintenance of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, a cell population that progressively loses the ability to make dopamine and degenerates in Parkinson's disease. Recently, we demonstrated that Nurr1 binds directly to and is regulated by the endogenous dopamine metabolite 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI). Unfortunately, DHI is an unstable compound, and thus a poor tool for studying Nurr1 function. Here we report that 5-chloroindoe, an unreactive analog of DHI, binds directly to the Nurr1 ligand binding domain with micromolar affinity and stimulates the activity of Nurr1, including the transcription of genes governing the synthesis and packaging of dopamine.

Revisiting the mechanism of β-O-4 bond cleavage during acidolysis of lignin VII: acidolyses of non-phenolic C6-C2-type model compounds using HBr, HCl and H2SO4, and a proposal on the characteristic action of Br− and Cl−

A non-phenolic C6-C2-type lignin model compound with the β-O-4 bond, 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanol (I), was acidolyzed in aqueous 82% 1,4-dioxane containing HBr, HCl, or H2SO4 with a concentration of 0.2 mol/L at 85 ℃ to examine the differences between these acidolyses. Compound I primarily converted to an enol ether compound, 1-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethene (II), via the benzyl cation followed by acidolytic β-O-4 bond cleavage regardless of the acid-type, although the disappearance rates of compound I were remarkably different (HBr > HCl >> H2SO4). Acidolyses of compound II using these acids under the same conditions showed a similar tendency, but the rate differences were much smaller than in the acidolyses of compound I. Acidolyses of the α-methyl-etherified derivative of compound I (I-α-OMe) using these acids under the same conditions suggested that the formation rates of the benzyl cation from compound I-α-OMe (also from compound I) are not largely different between the acidolyses using these acids, but those of compound II from the benzyl cation are remarkably different. Acidolysis of the α-bromo-substituting derivative of compound I (I-α-Br) using HBr under the same conditions showed a characteristic action of Br¯ in the acidolysis. Br¯ adds to the benzyl cation generated from compound I or I-α-OMe to afford unstable compound I-α-Br, resulting in acceleration of the formation of compound II and of the whole acidolysis reaction.

Analysis of Effect of Temperature on the Decay of Vitamin – C in Fruit Juices

Fruits and vegetables have long been considered as good sources of Vitamin C. But there is considerable decay in their Vitamin C content with time in proportion to the temperature they are stored at, which largely reduces their nutritional value. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of temperature on the decay of vitamin C content with passage of time. The samples considered for this study were orange juice, tomato juice and grapes juice. The content of vitamin C in these samples was determined by titration method with iodine solution. These samples were tested for vitamin C content individually in three temperature environments (hot, cold and room temperature). The results show that, initially, the vitamin C content was highest for tomato juice at 87.96 mg/100 ml and lowest for grape juice at 69.975 mg/100 ml with the intermediate being orange juice at 76.47 mg/100 ml. Finally, after four days of storage in certain temperature environments such as hot, cold and room temperature, the highest vitamin C content retained was found in orange juice at 49.48 mg/100 ml, 62.979 mg/100 ml and 62.97 mg/100 ml respectively. Therefore, from the evaluation of average percentage of decay of vitamin C per day for the individual samples, it has been found out that the hot environment provides the conditions for fast decay of vitamin C content and cold environment provides the conditions for slow decay of vitamin C content.. This analysis verifies the fact that vitamin C is an easily oxidizable and unstable compound at higher temperature conditions.

Wisdom

Human wisdom guides how we cope with perennial problems by relying on an unstable compound of often conflicting evaluations prompted by our personal history and the various social modes of evaluations prevalent in the context in which we live. For this we need to rely on considered judgments that weigh the relative importance of these conflicting evaluations. This is difficult because both personal and social evaluations change in response to changing conditions. And because making a considered judgment to override one of our own evaluations in favor of another requires violating one of our own s commitments. It makes matters even more difficult that no matter how well considered our judgments are, they may be mistaken and may themselves change in response to the changing internal and external conditions of our life. Human wisdom nevertheless enables us to make more reliable considered judgments by adhering to basic assumptions, cultivating reflective understanding, and growing in depth. These are the subjects of the following chapters.

Terrestrial Trapping of the Interstellar Gas, Phosphorus Nitride

The N2 analogue phosphorus nitride (PN) was the first phosphorus containing compound to be detected in the interstellar medium, however this thermodynamically unstable compound has a fleeting existence on Earth. Here, we show that reductive coupling of iron(IV) nitride and molybdenum(VI) phosphide complexes assembles PN as a bridging ligand in a structurally-characterized bimetallic complex. Reaction with C≡N^tBu releases the mononuclear complex [(N₃N)Mo-PN]⁻, N₃N = [(Me₃SiNCH₂CH₂)₃N]³⁻), which undergoes light-induced linkage isomerization to provide [(N₃N)Mo-NP]⁻, as revealed by photocrystallography. While structural and spectroscopic characterization, supported by electronic structure calculations reveal PN multiple bond character, coordination to molybdenum creates nucleophilic character at the terminal atom of the PN/NP ligands. Indeed, the linkage isomers can be trapped in solution by reaction with a Rh(I) electrophile.

Terrestrial Trapping of the Interstellar Gas, Phosphorus Nitride

The N2 analogue phosphorus nitride (PN) was the first phosphorus containing compound to be detected in the interstellar medium, however this thermodynamically unstable compound has a fleeting existence on Earth. Here, we show that reductive coupling of iron(IV) nitride and molybdenum(VI) phosphide complexes assembles PN as a bridging ligand in a structurally-characterized bimetallic complex. Reaction with C≡N^tBu releases the mononuclear complex [(N₃N)Mo-PN]⁻, N₃N = [(Me₃SiNCH₂CH₂)₃N]³⁻), which undergoes light-induced linkage isomerization to provide [(N₃N)Mo-NP]⁻, as revealed by photocrystallography. While structural and spectroscopic characterization, supported by electronic structure calculations reveal PN multiple bond character, coordination to molybdenum creates nucleophilic character at the terminal atom of the PN/NP ligands. Indeed, the linkage isomers can be trapped in solution by reaction with a Rh(I) electrophile.

The prophylactic granola development with increased iodine content

The article is dedicated to development of dry breakfasts meals technology with a high nutritional value in order to prevent iodine deficit and its unfavorable affects in Ukrainian nation. The research purpose is a scientific justification and development a new recipe composition and technology of a new prophylactic dish – granola with increased iodine content. The implementation became possible due to successful combination, in terms of nutrient content optimization in the new dish recipe from natural raw material with high nutritional value, as candied feijoa, honey, oat flakes, sesame seeds, flax, pumpkin, sunflower and chia. The article substantiates the feasibility of producing and introducing innovative dry-breakfast production technologies, including granola, using iodine-containing plant components, namely candied feijoa, since this will solve an important problem of the iodine deficiency and other important essential nutrients in diets, as well as increase of efficiency their digestibility, which will improve the population health. Feijoa fruits contain almost a daily dose of iodine (70–100 μg/100 g) and a complex of biologically active substances. The potassium iodide is a very unstable compound, it destroys as a result of temperature rise, which leads to significant iodine los. Owing to this, in order to maximize the useful properties of Feijoa fruits in the production of candied fruits, we used a savvy technology of infrared drying at relatively low temperatures (T = 55–60 °C) in AVERNO drier. To form a clearer and more complete picture of the candied feijoa influence on the change of the new dish properties, there were developed recipient granola formulations, containing this fruit component in the amount of 22% to the mass of the finished dish, as well as without it. The study’s results have shown that the candied feijoa adding improves the organoleptic characteristics of the granola. It was established that,due to the addition of candiedfaijoa,the granola’s titrated acidity increases by more than 2.6 times. Thehumidity of granola samples with candied feijoa is increased by 6.8% and is within the recommended limits for a dry fruit breakfast. It has been proved that the candied feijoa granola addition in the formulation allows the product to be substantially enriched with iodine. Thus, iodine content in candied feijoagranola is 26 μg/100 g. Based on the comparative analysis of the organoleptic, physicochemical and microbiological parameters, the optimum ratio of the recipe components was substantiated and the technology of prophylactic granola with high iodine content was developed.

APPROACHES TO TOXICOLOGICAL AND HYGIENE ASSESSMENT OF UNSTABLE METAL-ORGANIC COMPOUNDS ON THE EXAMPLE OF MAGNESOCENE (CP2MG) (BIS (CYCLOPENTADIENYL) MAGNESIUM)

Approaches to the evaluation of toxicity and hazard of unstable substance bis(cyclopentadienyl) magnesium MAGNESOCENE (Cp2Mg)) are presented . The toxicity of the substance is determined by its main transformation products -magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and cyclopentadiene. Due to the instability of the substance (it exists only in an inert environment) it is not possible to conduct studies on its sensitizing effect ,its reprotoxic, teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic action on the organism. Control of the unstable compound bis (cyclopentadienyl) magnesium in the air of the working area and human habitat should be based on its transformation products: magnesium oxide and cyclopentadiene.