bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Process and financial considerations pertinent to hydrogel manufacture
Authors: Sorour Mohamed H. , El Sayed Marwa M. , Abd El Moneem Nabil M. , Talaat Hala A. , Shaalan Hayam F. , El Marsafy Sahar M. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractHydrogels are hydrophilic networks of crosslinked synthetic polymers or grafted natural polymers. The latter type involves grafting of a monomer onto a natural polymer using initiator and crosslinker. The present paper comprises of hydrogel manufacturing processes for starch grafted acrylamide (St‐g‐Am) using three different grafting techniques (conventional, microwave (MW), and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation). The prepared hydrogel has been characterized using XRD, FTIR, TGA, and SEM. Grafting indicators are compared on the basis of reported typical international and national studies. Moreover, economics and environmental aspects are addressed using the investigated manufacturing procedures. Recommendations for clean technology applications pertinent to hydrogel manufacture are included.
Starch metabolism in green algae
Authors: Busi María V. , Barchiesi Julieta , Martín Mariana , Gomez‐Casati Diego F. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractStarch plays a central role in the life cycle as one of the principal sources of chemical energy. This polysaccharide accumulates in plastids in green algae and land plants, and both organisms have acquired various enzyme isoforms for each step of the metabolic pathway. Eukaryotic green microalgae present the critical photosynthetic functions as higher plants. However, due to the small size of their genome, gene redundancy is decreased, a feature that makes them an excellent model for investigating the properties of photosynthetic physiology. In the last decade, there has been an increasing demand for starch in many industrial processes, such as food, pharmaceutical, and bioethanol production. Thus, a better understanding of starch biosynthesis, in particular the structure–function relationship and regulatory properties of the enzymes involved in its production may provide a powerful tool for the planning of new strategies to increase plant biomass, as well as to improve the quality and quantity of this polymer.
Comparison of microwave processing and excess steam jet cooking for spherulite production from amylose–fatty acid inclusion complexes
Authors: Felker Frederick C. , Kenar James A. , Fanta George F. , Biswas Atanu 
Published: October 2014

AbstractHelical inclusion complexes of amylose with fatty acids can form spherulites of various morphological types. Previous studies have described the spherulites obtained by cooling dispersions of steam jet cooked corn starch either by itself or supplemented with various fatty acids. In light of potential advantages of microwave processing, we investigated the use of a laboratory microwave instrument as an alternative method for spherulite production. With native high amylose corn starch (HAS), spherulites were formed with morphology similar to those observed previously by steam jet cooking. Adjustments to the reaction conditions led to a slight improvement in yield over jet cooking. Using solvent‐defatted HAS supplemented with straight‐chain fatty acids (C10:0 to C22:0), microwave processing produced only small, disc‐shaped spherulites in a gel matrix. However, when defatted HAS was supplemented with either capric or palmitic acid and processed by steam jet cooking, uniform dispersions of toroidal spherulites were obtained. These results show that although jet cooking is not required for spherulite formation when native HAS is used, defatted HAS requires the high‐shear steam jet cooking method of heating for optimal spherulite growth. Researchers and product developers could use the results of microwave experiments to refine jet cooking methods for large scale spherulite production.
On the differences in the granular architecture and starch structure between pericarp and endosperm wheat starches
Authors: Kalinga Danusha N. , Waduge Renuka , Liu Qiang , Yada Rickey Y. , Bertoft Eric , Seetharaman Koushik 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIn this study, the granular organization and structure of transitory starch from wheat pericarp was analyzed and compared to the storage starch from endosperm. Pericarp starch (PS) granules were small and spherical with fuzzy blocklets on the surface. Both starches possessed A‐type crystallinity, but the relative crystallinity and the stability of crystals were higher in PS. Iodine absorption was low in PS, but iodine slightly increased the crystallinity. PS had 14% AAM compared to 33% in endosperm starch (ES). Interestingly, the AAM (fraction II) in PS was branched as judged from the λmax value of the iodine complex, whereas ES contained linear and branched amylose. The amylopectin component (fraction I) in PS and ES mainly showed differences in the internal structure. PS amylopectin had longer chains and fewer A‐chains resulting in a less branched structure compared to ES amylopectin.
Effect of steeping additives on tef starch extraction and its quality
Authors: Nyakabau Tatenda , Wokadala Obiro Cuthbert , Emmambux Mohammad Naushad 
Published: October 2014

AbstractTef is an indigenous African cereal and considered as lost crop of Africa. There is no research on the effect of steeping additives on the quality of isolated tef starch. A white tef grain was milled and steeped in distilled water, sodium hydroxide, lactic acid, metabisulfite, and a combination of lactic acid and metabisulfite. A combination of metabisulfite and lactic acid improves the starch yield, but steeping with sodium hydroxide produces the highest starch purity (lowest protein content). Both the Rapid Visco Analyzer and a Rheometer showed similar pasting properties of starches independent of the treatment. The different steeping additives showed differences in pasting properties. Sodium hydroxide showed the highest peak, breakdown and set back viscosity compared to the other steeping additives. Extracted tef starches using sodium hydroxide as steeping additives also showed higher gelatinization temperatures. According to principle component analysis (PCA), the different properties of tef starch extracted with sodium hydroxide steeping is apparently due to its lower protein content. SEM and CLSM indicated that sodium hydroxide is a very effective solvent to solubilize the protein matrix surrounding the compound starch granule to produce more single starch granule during extraction. The low protein content probably result in faster water absorption and higher peak viscosity and lower pasting temperature. Different steeping additives can affect the functionality of tef starches and this need to be considered when comparing properties of starches extracted with different additives.
Maize and teff starches modified with stearic acid as potential fat replacer in low calorie mayonnaise‐type emulsions
Authors: Teklehaimanot Welday H. , Duodu Kwaku G. , Emmambux Mohammed N. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractFat replacers have been developed to produce low‐calorie foods due to the association of fat‐rich diet to lifestyle diseases. Teff (an underutilized and under‐researched cereal), and maize starch pastes modified with stearic acid could be used as fat replacers because of their reduced gelling ability and higher viscosity. The effects of teff and maize starch pastes modified with stearic acid on the rheological properties, microstructure, freeze–thaw, and high temperature stability of low‐calorie mayonnaise type emulsions (LCMTE) were investigated. Starch suspensions (10% w/v) containing stearic acid (1.5%) were pasted and used to prepare LCMTE with 50 and 80% oil replacement. LCMTE with modified teff and maize starches had lower yield stress and viscosity and larger oil droplets compared to LCMTE with unmodified teff and maize starches. Increasing oil replacement level (50–80%) increased the viscosity. LCMTE with maize starch had higher yield stress and viscosity and smaller oil droplets than LCMTE with teff starch. All samples showed shear thinning behavior (n < 1). All the LCMTE were more stable to freeze–thaw cycles and high temperature storage than full fat mayonnaise. At 50% oil replacement, unmodified and modified teff and maize starch with stearic acid could produce LCMTE. When the oil content replacement was further increased to 80% only the LCMTE with modified starches were similar to the full fat. The LCMTE made with unmodified teff and maize starches (especially those with 80% oil replacement) did not flow like a mayonnaise compared to LCMTE made with stearic acid modified starches.
Effect of fermentation periods on chemical and physicochemical properties of cocoyam starch
Authors: Obadina Adewale O. , Fegha Grace D. , Olugbile Adetola O. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe effect of fermentation time on chemical and physiochemical properties of two varieties of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta (white) and Xanthosoma sagittifolium (pink)) starch were evaluated. The cocoyam were fermented (24, 48, 72, and 96 h) and dried in cabinet dryer at 60°C for 24 h and subsequently milled into starch. The pasting properties, functional properties and chemical composition of the fermented starch were determined and compared with unfermented starch. Result showed that fermentation increased the peak viscosity of both varieties at 96 h with starch from white cocoyam having higher peak viscosity (6301), pink (5052). The pasting temperatures of fermented starch were not significantly different from unfermented starch for both pink and white cocoyam starch (84.0–82.0°C). White cocoyam starch had higher swelling power than pink starch (9.97–9.92) at 96 h. There were no significantly differences in the dispersibility value, bulk density, fat, crude fiber and carbohydrate for both varieties of control and fermented samples. Water solubility index (WSI) for white starch at control level was higher than that of pink (7.5, 4.5) but at 96 h, the pink variety was higher (3 and 1.5) and water absorption capacity increased markly due to fermentation period. Protein content was observed to increase during fermentation.
Improvement of fonio dough properties through starch modification by sourdough fermentation
Authors: Edema Mojisola O. , Emmambux M. Naushad , Taylor John R. N. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractFonio is a West African millet with potential for gluten‐free products. Sourdough fermentation improves fonio bread quality. To determine the cause, the effects of sourdough fermentation on the dough quality and starch characteristics of two white and two black fonio types and a white sorghum type were investigated. Sourdough fermentation substantially improved the dough consistency making it more similar to bread wheat flour, as measured by the Mixolab. Sourdough fermentation also increased pasting viscosity, an indication of effects on starch. SEM indicated that sourdough fermentation caused some slight swelling and starch leaching from the fonio starch granules. This was confirmed by an increase in damaged starch. It also caused a substantial reduction in starch gel firmness. Principal component analysis clearly separated fermented and unfermented fonio flours. Damaged starch was associated with fermented fonio, as were Mixolab parameters related to dough stability. Sourdough fermentation thus improves fonio dough and bread quality by bringing about slight changes in the starch granules, which probably increase water absorption and hence improve dough strength and gas holding.
Strain improvement by mutation for enhanced production of starch‐saccharifying glucoamylase from Bacillus licheniformis
Authors: Ghani Maria , Aman Afsheen , Rehman Haneef U. , Siddiqui Nadir N. , Qader Shah A. U. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractA natural isolate, Bacillus licheniformis KIBGE‐IB3, was subjected to mutational analysis for the enhanced production of glucoamylase. Randomly generated mutants were initially screened for enzyme production and after secondary screening B. licheniformis KIBGE‐IB3M67 demonstrated maximum glucoamylase production with improved starch saccharifying capability. Enzyme activity from KIBGE‐IB3M67 reached up to 25 kU/mg by strain improvement, which was nearly twofold increase in enzyme production as compared to the parent strain. SEM revealed that raw potato starch is more profoundly hydrolyzed when treated with mutant glucoamylase. Successful mutation also reduced the fermentation time from 48 to 24 h for glucoamylase production, optimum fermentation pH and temperature slightly shifted from 7.0 (wild) to 7.5 (mutant), from 30 to 50°C (wild), and from 20 to 55°C (mutant), respectively. Reduction in fermentation time and enhanced starch saccharification ability makes this mutant (KIBGE‐IB3M67) an attractive candidate for the production of glucoamylase at commercial level.
Hydroxypropyl derivatives of legume starches: Functional, rheological and thermal properties
Authors: Oladebeye Abraham Olasupo , Oshodi Aladesanmi Augustine , Amoo Isiaka Adekunle , Karim Alias Abd 
Published: October 2014

AbstractHydroxypropyl derivatives were prepared from the native starches isolated from lima bean and jack bean. Both native and hydroxypropylated starches were evaluated for functional, rheological and thermal properties. Molar substitution (MS) value ranged from 0.24 to 0.37 while degree of substitution (DS) from 0.02 to 0.04. The values of swelling power, solubility and pasting parameters of the native starches were significantly different from the hydroxypropyl derivatives with deviations of insignificant difference obtained for lima bean starches. Non‐Newtonian shear‐thinning behaviour was exhibited by all the samples. Their viscosity consistency, K, deduced from Herschel–Bulkley model, increased progressively with MS. Starches at low‐substitution possessed high shear viscosities compared to the native and high‐substituted starches. Increase in yield stress (σo) was observed at low‐substitution level and decrease at high‐substitution level of hydroxypropylation. Upon hydroxypropylation, enthalpies of gelatinisation (ΔHgel) increased whereas the transition gelatinisation temperatures (To, Tp and Tc) decreased. Comparatively, lower values of transition temperature and enthalpy were obtained for retrograded starch gels than the gelatinised gels. Upon hydroxypropylation, native starches experienced increase in MW and polydispersity index (PDI). All the native starches exhibited type‐A XRD patterns, which remained unchanged after hydroxypropylation.
Factors affecting starch utilization in large animal food production system: A review
Authors: Giuberti Gianluca , Gallo Antonio , Masoero Francesco , Ferraretto Luiz Felipe , Hoffman Patrick C. , Shaver Randy D. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractDietary starch from feed grains represent the major energy‐yielding sources in diets for large animals and starch effective digestion has a great impact on animal energy intake for meeting the substantial energy requirement to improve meat or milk productions. In general, site, extent and rate of starch digestion are affected by intrinsic and external factors that can be interrelated and are thus not easily defined. As a consequence, research to obtain a deeper knowledge on how starch chemical and structural compositions may affect starch digestion potential of feed grains and therefore their nutritional value has progressed recently. The objectives of this review are: (1) to give an overview on inherent starch primary structures and interactions with other compounds within feed grains; (2) to discuss factors affecting starch digestion potential in feed grains; (3) to explore starch digestion mechanism, and linkages with animal performances, both for swine and ruminants. The criticism of methods commonly used to estimate starch digestibility from feed grains for swine and ruminants are also discussed.
A survey of expert attitudes on understanding and governing energy autonomy at the local level
Authors: Radzi Anis 
Published: October 2014

Local governments around the world pursue a range of activities to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and promote locally generated renewable energy. Yet many underestimate the potential their locality possesses in becoming fully energy efficient and self‐sufficient, and in particular, tapping into the natural potential, which exists on rooftops, facades, underground, in streams, fields, and forests for locally generated renewable energy, harvested in a sustainable manner. This lack of awareness has effected the perception and motivation of local governments to pursue energy projects with more lasting environmental effects. This survey of international experts in energy, local governance, and urban planning reveals that most were of the opinion that existing structures within local government were capable of pursuing energy autonomy, provided that a thorough review of existing levels of knowledge, logistical arrangements, and financial capacities is carried out to determine whether they are indeed capable of fulfilling the necessary functions and to carry out the necessary activities. The establishment of energy development entities outside the established structure, that are also accountable to the local government, can only be considered once the aforementioned analyses show that adjustments within the existing organization would be difficult to achieve. This is an original review of international expert attitudes on local renewable energy autonomy, conducted in 2011 and 2012 among 77 local energy experts. WIREs Energy Environ 2015, 4:397–405. doi: 10.1002/wene.152This article is categorized under:

Energy and Climate > Economics and Policy
Energy Policy and Planning > Economics and Policy
Energy and Development > Economics and Policy
SERS Nanosensors and Nanoreporters: Golden Opportunities in Biomedical Applications
Authors: Vo‐Dinh Tuan , Liu Yang , Fales Andrew M. , Ngo Hoan , Wang Hsin‐Neng , Register Janna K. , Yuan Hsiangkuo , Norton Stephen J. , Griffin Guy D. 
Published: October 2014

This article provides an overview of recent developments and applications of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanosensors and nanoreporters in our laboratory for use in biochemical monitoring, medical diagnostics, and therapy. The design and fabrication of different types of plasmonics‐active nanostructures are discussed. The SERS nanosensors can be used in various applications including pH sensing, protein detection, and gene diagnostics. For DNA detection the ‘Molecular Sentinel’ nanoprobe can be used as a homogenous bioassay in solution or on a chip platform. Gold nanostars provide an excellent multi‐modality theranostic platform, combining Raman and SERS with two‐photon luminescence (TPL) imaging as well as photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT). Plasmonics‐enhanced and optically modulated delivery of nanostars into brain tumor in live animals was demonstrated; photothermal treatment of tumor vasculature may induce inflammasome activation, thus increasing the permeability of the blood brain‐tumor barrier. The imaging method using TPL of gold nanostars provides an unprecedented spatial selectivity for enhanced targeted nanostar delivery to cortical tumor tissue. A quintuple‐modality nanoreporter based on gold nanostars for SERS, TPL, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and PTT has recently been developed. The possibility of combining spectral selectivity and high sensitivity of the SERS process with the inherent molecular specificity of bioreceptor‐based nanoprobes provides a unique multiplex and selective diagnostic modality. Several examples of optical detection using SERS in combination with other detection and treatment modalities are discussed to illustrate the usefulness and potential of SERS nanosensors and nanoreporters for medical applications. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2015, 7:17–33. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1283This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing
Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices
Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
Pharmacokinetics of metallic nanoparticles
Authors: Lin Zhoumeng , Monteiro‐Riviere Nancy A. , Riviere Jim E. 
Published: October 2014

Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely applied in the field of nanomedicine. A comprehensive understanding of their pharmacokinetics is crucial for proper risk assessment and safe biomedical applications. This review focuses on gold and silver (Ag) NPs, and briefly discusses iron oxide, titanium dioxide (TiO2), and zinc oxide NPs. Pharmacokinetics of metallic NPs depends on the particle type, size, surface charge, surface coating, protein binding, exposure route, dose, and species. Generally, blood half‐life is shorter in rodents than in larger laboratory animals (e.g., rabbits or monkeys) and differs between intravenous and oral exposures. Oral, dermal, or inhalational absorption is low (≤5%), but may increase with smaller sizes, negative charge, and appropriate coatings. Metallic NPs can be distributed throughout the body, primarily accumulating in the liver, spleen, and lymph node due to nonspecific uptake by reticuloendothelial cells, and could remain in the body for ≥6 months. Metallic NPs (≤100 nm) can cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB), favored by coating with BBB‐permeable neuropeptides. Placental transfer depends on the stage of embryonic/placental maturation and surface composition, and may be enhanced by coating with biocompatible molecules (e.g., ferritin or polyethylene glycol). Renal and biliary excretion is generally low due to persistent accumulation in tissues, but renal elimination could be substantially increased with smaller sizes and specific coatings (e.g., glutathione). Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models for gold/dendrimer composite nanodevices, AgNPs, and TiO2NPs have been developed in rats and the AgNP and TiO2NP models have been extrapolated to humans to support risk assessment and nanomedicine applications. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2015, 7:189–217. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1304This article is categorized under:

Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials
Synthesis and Characterization of Few‐layer Nanosheets of GaN and Other Metal Nitrides
Authors: Sreedhara M. B. , Vasu K. , Rao C. N. R. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBy making use of the fact that single‐ and few‐layer nanosheets of GaS and GaSe are readily obtained by micromechanical cleavage because of their mica‐like morphology, we were able to prepare GaN nanosheets by the reaction of these chalcogenide nanosheets with ammonia at 600–650 °C. The nitride nanosheets were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and other methods. Few‐layer VN was obtained by high‐temperature ammonolysis of exfoliated V2O5 sheets. Ammonolysis of MoO3 and MoS2 nanosheets yields the nitride nanosheets.
Multiple stacking of InGaAs/GaAs (731) nanostructures
Authors: Xie Y. Z. , Kunets V. P. , Wang Z. M. , Dorogan V. , Mazur Y. I. , Wu J. , Salamo G. J. 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
We studied the multilayering effects of InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) on GaAs(731), a surface lying inside of the stereographic triangle. The surfaces after stacking 16 InGaAs layers were characterized with highly non-uniformity of QD spatial distribution. The bunched step regions driven by strain accumulation are decorated by QDs, therefore GaAs(731) becomes a good candidate substrate for the growth of QD clusters. The unique optical properties of the QD clusters are revealed by photoluminescence measurements. By adjusting the coverage of InGaAs, a bamboo-like nanostructured surface was observed and the quantum dots aligned up in clusters to separate the “bamboo” into sections.