Dispersions of attractive semiflexible fiberlike colloidal particles from bacterial cellulose microfibrils.

We prepared dispersions from bacterial cellulose microfibrils (CMF) of a commercial Nata de Coco source. We used an ultra-high-energy mechanical deagglomeration process that is able to disperse the CMFs from the pellicle in which they are organized in an irregular network. Because of the strong attractions between the CMFs, the dispersion remained highly heterogeneous, consisting of fiber bundles, flocs, and voids spanning tens to hundreds of micrometers depending on concentration.

Effect of mechanical and thermal treatments on the microstructure and rheological properties of carrot, broccoli and tomato dispersions.

Background: The food industry has shown an increased interest in the manufacture of healthier and more natural food products. By tailored processing fruit and vegetables can be used as structurants thus reducing artificial gums and stabilisers. The effect of different thermal and mechanical treatments, including high-pressure homogenisation, on the microstructural and rheological properties of carrot, broccoli and tomato dispersions was studied.

Exogenous gibberellins inhibit coffee (Coffea arabica cv. Rubi) seed germination and cause cell death in the embryo.

The mechanism of inhibition of coffee (Coffea arabica cv. Rubi) seed germination by exogenous gibberellins (GAs) and the requirement of germination for endogenous GA were studied. Exogenous GA(4+7) inhibited coffee seed germination.

Water distribution and related morphology in human stratum corneum at different hydration levels.

This study focused on the water distribution in human stratum corneum and on the swelling of the corneocytes. For this purpose stratum corneum was hydrated to various levels and used either for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy or for cryo-scanning electron microscopy. The images were analyzed with respect to water localization and cell shape.