Mode of Action of Psyllium in Reducing Gas Production from Inulin and its Interaction with Colonic Microbiota: A 24-H, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Healthy Human Volunteers.

Background: Recent studies show that the increase in breath hydrogen (BH) and symptoms after ingestion of inulin are reduced by coadministering psyllium (PI).

Objectives: To determine if slowing delivery of inulin to the colon by administering it in divided doses would mimic the effect of PI. Primary endpoint was the BH area under the curve AUC.

Structuring white rice with gellan gum reduces the glycemic response in healthy humans.

White rice has a high glycemic index and its consumption has been linked to an increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes mellitus, increased diabetes associated complications and obesity. In recent in vitro studies we have shown that addition of food hydrocolloids, such as low acyl gellan gum (LAGG), when cooking white rice potentially modifies starch digestion kinetics. The impact in vivo remains to be investigated.

Journey of dietary fiber along the gastrointestinal tract: role of physical interactions, mucus, and biochemical transformations.

Dietary fiber-rich foods have been associated with numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Harnessing the potential to deliver positive health outcomes rests on our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that drive these associations. This review addresses data and concepts concerning plant-based food functionality by dissecting the cascade of physical and chemical digestive processes and interactions that underpin these physiological benefits.

Structure Response of Preadsorbed Saliva Pellicle to the Interaction between Dairy and Saliva Protein.

Using the surface characterization techniques of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, the structure of the salivary pellicle was investigated before and after it was exposed to dairy proteins, including micellar casein, skim milk, whey protein isolate (WPI), and a mixture of skim milk and WPI. We have shown that the hydration, viscoelasticity, and adsorbed proteinaceous mass of a preadsorbed salivary pellicle on a PDMS surface are greatly affected by the type of dairy protein. After interaction with whey protein, the preadsorbed saliva pellicle becomes softer.

Research in methodologies for modelling the oral cavity.

The paper aims to explore the current state of understanding surrounding in silico oral modelling. This involves exploring methodologies, technologies and approaches pertaining to the modelling of the whole oral cavity; both internally and externally visible structures that may be relevant or appropriate to oral actions. Such a model could be referred to as a 'complete model' which includes consideration of a full set of facial features (i.

The European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) research roadmap 2040: Advanced strategies for exploiting the vast potential of polysaccharides as renewable bioresources.

Polysaccharides are among the most abundant bioresources on earth and consequently need to play a pivotal role when addressing existential scientific challenges like climate change and the shift from fossil-based to sustainable biobased materials. The Research Roadmap 2040 of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) provides an expert's view on how future research and development strategies need to evolve to fully exploit the vast potential of polysaccharides as renewable bioresources. It is addressed to academic researchers, companies, as well as policymakers and covers five strategic areas that are of great importance in the context of polysaccharide related research: (I) Materials & Engineering, (II) Food & Nutrition, (III) Biomedical Applications, (IV) Chemistry, Biology & Physics, and (V) Skills & Education.

Comparative hydrodynamic and nanoscale imaging study on the interactions of teicoplanin-A2 and bovine submaxillary mucin as a model ocular mucin.

Glycopeptide antibiotics are regularly used in ophthalmology to treat infections of Gram-positive bacteria. Aggregative interactions of antibiotics with mucins however can lead to long exposure and increases the risk of resistant species. This study focuses on the evaluation of potential interactions of the last line of defence glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin with an ocular mucin model using precision matrix free hydrodynamic and microscopic techniques: sedimentation velocity in the analytical ultracentrifuge (SV-AUC), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

DEFECTIVE KERNEL1 regulates cellulose synthesis and affects primary cell wall mechanics.

The cell wall is one of the defining features of plants, controlling cell shape, regulating growth dynamics and hydraulic conductivity, as well as mediating plants interactions with both the external and internal environments. Here we report that a putative mechanosensitive Cys-protease DEFECTIVE KERNEL1 (DEK1) influences the mechanical properties of primary cell walls and regulation of cellulose synthesis. Our results indicate that DEK1 is an important regulator of cellulose synthesis in epidermal tissue of cotyledons during early post-embryonic development.

Chloroplast/thylakoid-rich material: A possible alternative to the chemically synthesised flow enhancer polyglycerol polyricinoleate in oil-based systems.

Chloroplasts are abundant organelles in a diverse range of plant materials; they are predominantly composed of multicomponent thylakoid membranes which are lipid and protein rich. Intact or unravelled thylakoid membranes should, in principle, have interfacial activity, but little has been published on their activity in oil-in-water systems, and nothing on their performance on an oil continuous system. In this work different physical methods were used to produce a range of chloroplast/thylakoid suspensions with varying degrees of membrane integrity.

Self-association of the glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin A2 in aqueous solution studied by molecular hydrodynamics.

The natural glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin is used for the treatment of serious Gram-positive related bacterial infections and can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, topically (ocular infections), or orally. It has also been considered for targeting viral infection by SARS-CoV-2. The hydrodynamic properties of teicoplanin A2 (M = 1880 g/mol) were examined in phosphate chloride buffer (pH 6.

Non-starch polysaccharides in beer and brewing: A review of their occurrence and significance.

It has become apparent that beer (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic) contains appreciable amounts of non-starch polysaccharides, a broad subgroup of dietary fiber. It is worth noting that the occurrence of non-starch polysaccharides in alcoholic beer does not imply this should be consumed as a source of nutrition. But the popularity of nonalcoholic beer is growing, and the lessons learnt from non-starch polysaccharides in brewing can be largely translated to nonalcoholic beer.

Root angle is controlled by in cereal crops employing an antigravitropic mechanism.

Root angle in crops represents a key trait for efficient capture of soil resources. Root angle is determined by competing gravitropic versus antigravitropic offset (AGO) mechanisms. Here we report a root angle regulatory gene termed () that encodes a putative AGO component, whose loss-of-function enhances root gravitropism.

Flavour compounds affect protein structure: The effect of methyl anthranilate on bovine serum albumin conformation.

This study aims to understand possible effects of flavour compounds on the structure and conformation of endogenous proteins. Using methyl anthranilate (a grape flavour compound added to drinks, confectionery, and vape-liquids) and bovine serum albumin (BSA, a model serum protein) we designed experimental investigations using analytical ultracentrifugation, size exclusion chromatography small angle X-ray scattering, and fluorescence spectroscopy to reveal that methyl anthranilate spontaneously binds to BSA (ΔG°, ca. -21 KJ mol) which induces a conformational compactness (ca.

Development of a separated-dough method and flour/starch replacement in gluten free crackers by cellulose and fibrillated cellulose.

Two strategies were combined and applied in this study to achieve a desired structure and texture of gluten free crackers and to reduce the calorie content. The first strategy is increasing structural heterogeneity of crackers and doughs and a separated-dough method was developed. A butter dough and a water dough were prepared separately and mixed together and the influence of mixing time was investigated.

Viscoelastic behaviour of rapid and slow self-healing hydrogels formed by densely branched arabinoxylans from Plantago ovata seed mucilage.

We report rheological characterisation of hydrogels formed by highly substituted brush-like arabinoxylans from Plantago ovata seed mucilage. Two arabinoxlyan fractions with similar molecular weight and linkage compositions are chosen to form gels with distinct rheological properties but a similar network structure. Small and large amplitude oscillatory shear rheology is used to characterise the sol-gel transition as a function of temperature and concentration.

Depletion of HP1α alters the mechanical properties of MCF7 nuclei.

Within the nucleus of the eukaryotic cell, DNA is partitioned into domains of highly condensed, transcriptionally silent heterochromatin and less condensed, transcriptionally active euchromatin. Heterochromatin protein 1α (HP1α) is an architectural protein that establishes and maintains heterochromatin, ensuring genome fidelity and nuclear integrity. Although the mechanical effects of changes in the relative amount of euchromatin and heterochromatin brought about by inhibiting chromatin-modifying enzymes have been studied previously, here we measure how the material properties of the nuclei are modified after the knockdown of HP1α.

Viscoelasticity of non-colloidal hydrogel particle suspensions at the liquid-solid transition.

Suspensions of soft particles transition from a viscous fluid to a soft material upon increases in phase volume. The criteria defining the transition to this jammed state are difficult to define due to the porous and deformable nature of soft particles. Here, we characterise the rheology of aqueous suspensions of industrially relevant non-colloidal, polydisperse, frictional agarose microgels and evaluate shear and viscoelastic behaviour across a range of phase volumes from the dilute regime to the highly concentrated regime.

Understanding the lost functionality of ethanol in non-alcoholic beer using sensory evaluation, aroma release and molecular hydrodynamics.

Consumer sensory evaluation, aroma release analysis and biophysical protein analysis were used to investigate the effect of ethanol on the release and perception of flavour in beer (lager and stout) at different ethanol levels (0 and 5% ABV). Consumer study results showed no significant differences in orthonasal perception, yet retronasal results showed that 0% lager was perceived as maltier with reduced fruitiness, sweetness, fullness/body and alcohol warming sensation (p < 0.05).

Probing the effect of aroma compounds on the hydrodynamic properties of mucin glycoproteins.

Aroma compounds are diverse low molecular weight organic molecules responsible for the flavour of food, medicines or cosmetics. Natural and artificial aroma compounds are manufactured and used by the industry to enhance the flavour and fragrance of products. While the low concentrations of aroma compounds present in food may leave no effect on the structural integrity of the mucosa, the effect of concentrated aroma volatiles is not well understood.

Policy, toxicology and physicochemical considerations on the inhalation of high concentrations of food flavour.

Food flavour ingredients are required by law to obtain prior approval from regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in terms of toxicological data and intended use levels.

Wood hemicelluloses exert distinct biomechanical contributions to cellulose fibrillar networks.

Hemicelluloses, a family of heterogeneous polysaccharides with complex molecular structures, constitute a fundamental component of lignocellulosic biomass. However, the contribution of each hemicellulose type to the mechanical properties of secondary plant cell walls remains elusive. Here we homogeneously incorporate different combinations of extracted and purified hemicelluloses (xylans and glucomannans) from softwood and hardwood species into self-assembled networks during cellulose biosynthesis in a bacterial model, without altering the morphology and the crystallinity of the cellulose bundles.

The Effect of Dissolved Gases on the Short-Range Attractive Force between Hydrophobic Surfaces in the Absence of Nanobubble Bridging.

The short-range attractive forces between hydrophobic surfaces are key factors in a wide range of areas such as protein folding, lipid self-assembly, and particle-bubble interaction such as in industrial flotation. Little is certain about the effect of dissolved (well-controlled) gases on the interaction forces, in particular in those systems where the formation of surface nanobubble bridges is suppressed. Here, we probe the short-range attractive force between hydrophobized silica surfaces in aqueous solutions with varying but well-controlled isotherms of gas solubility.

Structural Insights into the Mechanism of Heat-Set Gel Formation of Polyisocyanopeptide Polymers.

One of the key factors influencing the mechanical properties of natural and synthetic extracellular matrices (ECM) is how large-scale 3D gel-like structures emerge from the molecular self-assembly of individual polymers. Here, structural characterization using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) of ECM-mimicking polyisocyanopeptide (PIC) hydrogels are reported as a function of background ions across the Hofmeister series. More specifically, the process of polymer assembly is examined by probing the structural features of the heat-set gels and correlating them with their rheological and micro-mechanical properties.

Investigating the influence of pectin content and structure on its functionality in bio-flocculant extracted from okra.

Okra extract is known to have potential application as a bio-flocculant for wastewater treatment. However, no research to date has given insight into the components responsible for the flocculating ability of okra extract or its flocculating mechanism. The work presented here addresses this knowledge gap showing that pectin, especially pectin homogalacturonan (HGA) regions, appear to be the polysaccharides responsible for the flocculating ability of okra extract.

Glycaemic, gastrointestinal, hormonal and appetitive responses to pearl millet or oats porridge breakfasts: a randomised, crossover trial in healthy humans.

Whole-grain cereal breakfast consumption has been associated with beneficial effects on glucose and insulin metabolism as well as satiety. Pearl millet is a popular ancient grain variety that can be grown in hot, dry regions. However, little is known about its health effects.