Effect of ethanedioic acid functionalization on Ni/Al_2O_3 catalytic hydrodeoxygenation and isomerization of octadec-9-enoic acid into biofuel: kinetics and Arrhenius parameters

The effect of ethanedioic acid（Ed A） functionalization on Al2O3 supported Ni catalyst was studied on the hydrodeoxygenation（HDO）, isomerization, kinetics and Arrhenius parameters of octadec-9-enoic acid（OA） into biofuel in this report. This was achieved via synthesis of two catalysts; the first, nickel alumina catalyst（Ni/Al2O3） was via the incorporation of inorganic Ni precursor into Al2O3; the second was via the incorporation nickel oxalate（Ni Ox） prepared by functionalization of Ni with Ed A into Al2O3 to obtain organometallic Ni Ox/Al2O3 catalyst. Their characterization results showed that Ni species present in Ni/Al2O3 and Ni Ox/Al2O3 were 8.2% and 9.3%, respectively according to the energy dispersive X-ray result. Ni Ox/Al2O3 has comparably higher Ni content due to the Ed A functionalization which also increases its acidity and guarantees high Ni dispersion with weaker metal-support-interaction leading to highly reducible Ni as seen in the X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, TPR and Raman spectroscopy results. Their activities tested on the HDO of OA showed that Ni Ox/Al2O3 did not only display the best catalytic and reusability abilities, but it also possesses isomerization ability due to its increased acidity. The Ni Ox/Al2O3 also has the highest rate constants evaluated using pseudo-first-order kinetics,but the least activation energy of 176 k J/mol in the biofuel formation step compared to 244 k J/mol evaluated when using Ni/Al2O3. The result is promising for future feasibility studies toward commercialization of catalytic HDO of OA into useful biofuel using organometallic catalysts.

ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF β-N-OXALO-L-α,β-DIAMINOPROPIONIC ACID AND ITS ISOMER α-N-OXALO-L-α,β-DIAMINOPROPIONIC ACID FROM PANAX SPECIES

The neuroexcitotoxic nonprotein amino acid β-N-oxalo-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid (β-N-ODAP)and its isomer a-N-oxalo-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid (α-N-ODAP)in Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer(cultivated ih Northeastern China), Panax quinquefolius L., Panax notoginseng F.H. Chen (cultivated in Southwestern China), Korean red ginseng and Jilin red ginseng were isolated and identified. Efficient separation and purification methods for β-N-ODAP and α-N-ODAP were developed.

Studies on mechanism of cis9,trans11-CLA and trans10,cis12-CLA inducing apoptosis of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

Objective： The aim of the study was to explore the activities of cis9, trans11-CLA （C9, t11-CLA） and transl0, cis12-CLA （t10, c12-CLA） inhibiting tumor, and investigate their relationships with PPARy and apoptotic proteins, and mechanism of anti-cancer. Methods： The inhibitory rate, cell growth curve and apoptotic morphological observation of MCF-7 cells were obtained by MTT assay, trypan blue staining and Hoechst33342 fluorescence staining. The apoptotic rate and cell cycle were detected with flow cytometry. Transcriptional level of genes was detected with RT-PCR semi-quantitative method, and Western blot was performed to detect proteins levels. Results： The two CLA isomers could reduce cell proliferation （P 〈 0.05）, increase apoptotic rate （P 〈 0.05）, and increase obviously the transcriptional and protein levels of PPARy （P 〈 0.01）. The synchronism and correlation between the effects of CLA to PPARy and apoptotic proteins Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase 3 changes were found with the dose- and time-dependent manners. There was cooperative relation between the levels of PPARy and the rates of Bax/Bcl-2, Caspase 3 （small fragment） by experiments of PPARy inhibitor GW9662 and ligand Rosiglitazone. Conclusion： The apoptotic pathway of PPARy-Bcl-2-Caspase 3 signaling was found. The C9, t11-CLA and tl0, c12-CLA could inhibit MCF-7 cell proliferation and promote apoptosis via activating PPARy-Bcl-2-Caspase 3 pathway. CLA may be a kind of activator of PPARv.

Tracking IBU Through the Brewing Process:The Quest for Consistency

International Bitterness Units(IBUs)were measured with a spectrophotometer throughout the brewing process for a wide variety of beer styles.Most of the data were collected at our 50BBL Scripps Ranch facility,although some data were also gathered from our 5 BBL R&D brewery and 150 BBL production facility.It was determined that mash hops add a small amount of IBUs to wort with an average utilization of 9.1%.As expected,60 min hop additions added substantially more IBUs;the average hop utilization was 44.0%.Whirlpool hops also contributed high IBUs w让h an average utilization of 29.9%.In addition,hot-side wet hopping had 8.0%utilization.A large amount of IBUs are lost during the first 2 days of fermentation.Losses were also observed during filtration.It was discovered that high amounts of dry hopping resulted in an increase of IBUs.However,the average overall IBU loss in the cellar was 33.7%.