title: Extraction of Lycopene from Tomato Paste and its Immobilization for Controlled Release

authors: Haroon, Saima

subjects: Lycopene

abstract: Lycopene is one of the 600 carotenoids found in nature and can be easily identified in tomatoes. Several epidemiological studies report that lycopene rich diets have beneficial effects on human health, showing strong correlations between the intake of carotenoids and a reduced risk of cancer, coronary and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and effective method for solvent extraction of lycopene from tomato paste, and to stabilise and encapsulate the lycopene in the form of sodium-alginate beads.

The Soxhlet method was used for the extraction of lycopene from commercially available tomato paste. Several solvents were tested, and ethyl acetate was found to be the best solvent for extraction, resulting in the separation of more lycopene than other solvents. 

Due to the presence of unsaturated bonds in its molecular structure, lycopene is susceptible to oxidation and degrades easily when exposed to light and heat. In the food processing field, microencapsulation techniques have been widely used to protect food ingredients against deterioration, volatile losses, or interaction with other ingredients and factors. 

Lycopene was encapsulated in 4% alginate (4g/100 mL), 1% agar-agar and chitosan. The stability of the resulting beads was tested under conditions to simulate those in the human intestine. The lycopene beads showed good survivability when exposed to the acidic conditions such as those in the gastric environment (pH 2.0–3.0).  The lycopene release rate was best at higher pH levels (pH 6.6) such as in the intestine, which is where nutrient absorption occurs. The release rate of chitosan-coated alginate-lycopene was found to be much faster at body temperature (37°C) than at 24°C. 

The experimental results show that Ca-alginate chitosan coated lycopene beads have a potential application as pH/temperature-controlled drug release carriers in the biomedical field.

text: Extraction of Lycopene from Tomato Paste and its Immobilization for Controlled Release Lycopene is one of the 600 carotenoids found in nature and can be easily identified in tomatoes. Several epidemiological studies report that lycopene rich diets have beneficial effects on human health, showing strong correlations between the intake of carotenoids and a reduced risk of cancer, coronary and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and effective method for solvent extraction of lycopene from tomato paste, and to stabilise and encapsulate the lycopene in the form of sodium-alginate beads.

The Soxhlet method was used for the extraction of lycopene from commercially available tomato paste. Several solvents were tested, and ethyl acetate was found to be the best solvent for extraction, resulting in the separation of more lycopene than other solvents. 

Due to the presence of unsaturated bonds in its molecular structure, lycopene is susceptible to oxidation and degrades easily when exposed to light and heat. In the food processing field, microencapsulation techniques have been widely used to protect food ingredients against deterioration, volatile losses, or interaction with other ingredients and factors. 

Lycopene was encapsulated in 4% alginate (4g/100 mL), 1% agar-agar and chitosan. The stability of the resulting beads was tested under conditions to simulate those in the human intestine. The lycopene beads showed good survivability when exposed to the acidic conditions such as those in the gastric environment (pH 2.0–3.0).  The lycopene release rate was best at higher pH levels (pH 6.6) such as in the intestine, which is where nutrient absorption occurs. The release rate of chitosan-coated alginate-lycopene was found to be much faster at body temperature (37°C) than at 24°C. 

The experimental results show that Ca-alginate chitosan coated lycopene beads have a potential application as pH/temperature-controlled drug release carriers in the biomedical field.

year: 2014

title: Understanding the extent in which NSSI and ODI-type  behaviour are ways of dealing with the same issues  for young people in New Zealand

authors: Aykroyd, Summer

subjects: NSSI

abstract: NSSI and some forms of aggression are behaviours that appear to have similar functions and risk factors. There is a gap in the research in understanding the extent of how these behaviours crossover and are ways of dealing with the same issues. 10 semi-structure in-depth interviews were conducted to understand ways of dealing with negative emotions and if this differed with engagement in NSSI or ODI-type behaviours. Overall this research found that while they were ways of dealing with the same issues, the individuals experience of emotion, interpersonal relationships and situational factors determined the extent of what behaviour they engaged in.

text: Understanding the extent in which NSSI and ODI-type  behaviour are ways of dealing with the same issues  for young people in New Zealand NSSI and some forms of aggression are behaviours that appear to have similar functions and risk factors. There is a gap in the research in understanding the extent of how these behaviours crossover and are ways of dealing with the same issues. 10 semi-structure in-depth interviews were conducted to understand ways of dealing with negative emotions and if this differed with engagement in NSSI or ODI-type behaviours. Overall this research found that while they were ways of dealing with the same issues, the individuals experience of emotion, interpersonal relationships and situational factors determined the extent of what behaviour they engaged in.

year: 2025

title: Audiences, referees, and landscapes: Understanding the use of Māori and English in New Zealand dual language picturebooks through a sociolinguistic lens

authors: Daly, Nicola

abstract: When non-dominant perspectives are represented in children's literature, it is labelled multicultural, and this form of literature has much potential for altering existing power structures in society. Bishop (1990) first introduced the metaphor of multicultural children's literature offering the possibility of windows - an opportunity to see into others' worlds; mirrors - an opportunity to see your own world being reflected back; and glass sliding doors - an opportunity to step into a world through a book. However, to date, any exploration of the extent to which language diversity contributes to the representation of non-dominant perspectives in multicultural children's literature has been limited, and the use of sociolinguistic theories to frame and theorise such explorations almost non-existent.

text: Audiences, referees, and landscapes: Understanding the use of Māori and English in New Zealand dual language picturebooks through a sociolinguistic lens When non-dominant perspectives are represented in children's literature, it is labelled multicultural, and this form of literature has much potential for altering existing power structures in society. Bishop (1990) first introduced the metaphor of multicultural children's literature offering the possibility of windows - an opportunity to see into others' worlds; mirrors - an opportunity to see your own world being reflected back; and glass sliding doors - an opportunity to step into a world through a book. However, to date, any exploration of the extent to which language diversity contributes to the representation of non-dominant perspectives in multicultural children's literature has been limited, and the use of sociolinguistic theories to frame and theorise such explorations almost non-existent.

year: 2017