Fatty acid intercalated layered double hydroxides were used as additives for Jojoba oil and polymer matrices. The first phase of the study was to intercalate carboxylic acids (C14 to C22). These were successfully intercalated into layered double hydroxides (LDHs), with the formula [Mg0.7Al0.3 (OH) 2](CO3)0. 15•0.5H2O. The one-pot synthesis consistently yielded a bilayer intercalated product for the range of acids employed. The intercalated anions had an orientation tilt angle of 55–63°, depending on the length of the fatty acid chain. However, there is an indication that the anion exchange process employed in this study is accompanied by probable dissolution and recrystallisation of the LDH. This is supported by the different growth habits and sizes of platelets observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the organo-LDH platelets were found to have varying MII/MIII compositions, ranging from 1.65 to 6, indicating that the one-pot synthesis yields an array of mixed metal hydroxides. Polymer composites, containing 5% and 10 wt.% of stearate intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDH-stearate) and neat layered double hydroxides (LDH-CO3), were prepared via melt-compounding to explore the use of LDHs as an additive. The stearate modified starting material was bilayer-intercalated clay. During melt compounding, excess stearates were released and the clay reverted to a monolayer-intercalated form. Comprehensive characterisation and study of the fatty acid-intercalated LDH showed that these organoclay hybrids exhibit thermotropic behaviour. This behaviour ultimately leads to the exudation of excess fatty acid. The exuded stearates were found to have lubricating and plasticising effects on the poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrices. Strong hydrogen bond interactions between the chains of poly(ethyleneco- vinyl alcohol) (EVAL) and the clay platelet surfaces overwhelmed the lubrication effect and caused an increase in the melt viscosity of this matrix. The notched Charpy impact strength of this composite was almost double that of the neat polymer. It appears that this can be attributed to the ability of the highly dispersed and randomly oriented nanosized clay platelets to promote extensive internal microcavitation during impact loading. The creation of a large internal surface area provided the requisite energy dissipation mechanism. The study also considered fatty acid-intercalated LDH as an argillaceous mineral for potential use as a rheological additive in Jojoba oil. A minimum of 20 wt.% LDH in Jojoba oil formulation was found to be stable, i.e. it did not form separate layers on standing. The viscosity of the neat Jojoba oil demonstrated Newtonian behaviour, whereas the modified LDH/Jojoba oil formulation shear thinned, which is a typical non-Newtonian behaviour. Viscosity as a function of temperature showed complex rheological behaviour for the long chain fatty acids C16 to C22. The viscosity increase is assumed to be due to a combination of three events, which include the formation and changes of LDH microstructures within the oil, the loss of excess fatty acids into the oil matrix, and the formation of fatty acid crystal networks. Shear action also induced some delamination of the clay platelets. / Thesis (PhD(Eng))--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

In westernized culture, there is a deficit of healthy fats in the average person’s diet. Decreased intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been correlated to many different conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic inflammatory issues. The “Mediterranean Diet” has been proposed as an ideal way to combat these issues. This diet promotes fish as a protein source and as a way to increase intake of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Due to location and dietary trends, fish is less often the main component of Northeast Tennessee's diet. This study investigated ways to fortify a more commonly consumed food in western culture, marinara sauce, with flaxseed oil, walnut oil, or anchovies. These fortified marinara sauces were compared to a commercial sauce, Paul Newman’s Marinara. We hypothesized that adding omega-3 rich ingredients to a base marinara sauce recipe will significantly vary the fatty acid profile and increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids and decrease the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio. Marinara sauces were prepared and analyzed using proximate analysis methods to evaluate each variant sauce for macronutrient distribution. Preparation included cooking, freeze-drying, and grinding the variants into a fine powder. The tests that we performed included: bomb calorimetry, Kjeldahl protein analysis, Soxhlet fat analysis, ash/mineral analysis, FRAP Assay of antioxidant content, and gas chromatography to characterize fatty acid profiles. The focus of our proximate analysis was investigating the fatty acid composition to answer our main research question. Other tests conducted allowed us to understand better the nutrient composition of the 3 variants for possible future studies. The three variants showed a better omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio than the Paul Newman’s sauce. Samples with the highest to lowest omega-6 to omega-3 ratio were Paul Newman's Marinara, Anchovies, Walnut Oil, Flaxseed Oil, respectively. Gas chromatography showed different concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids as (% area under the curve): flaxseed oil (32.42%), walnut oil (7.637%), anchovies (3.018%), and Paul Newman’s Marinara (1.599%). All three variant sauces, flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and anchovy, compared to the commercial Paul Newman's sauce, had better omega-3 fatty acid content and lower omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. In conclusion, simple additions of omega-3 ingredients to marinara sauce could decrease the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in the diet.

Prostate cancer is the most common newly diagnosed non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. It is a unique neoplasm because of the large discrepancy between its clinical incidence and the much higher incidence of latent cancer. Predicting the prognosis of prostate cancer, especially the cancers detected incidentally or by screening, remains a clinically important problem. Immunoreactivity for Onco-antigen 519 (OA- 519), a recently described fatty acid synthase (FAS), has been associated with poor prognosis in breast cancers. The authors have previously shown that its detection in prostate cancer correlated with high-grade, large volume, and advanced stage tumors. This study examines the association between OA- 519 immunoreactivity in primary prostate cancer and disease progression. The authors used immunohistochemistry with an affinity-purified anti-OA-519 antibody and examined primary prostate cancers (stages A1 to D1) from 99 men with a mean follow-up of 4 years (range= 2 to 9.3). Survival analysis was used to evaluate differences in progression-free survival. OA-519 immunoreactivity was seen in 56 (57%) of the 99 primary prostate cancers examined. OA-519-positive cancers were more likely to progress than the OA- 519-negative cancers (P < .04). Univariate survival analysis showed that OA- 519 (FAS), histological grade (Gleason score), and clinical stage were significant predictors of disease progression. Multivariate analyses of all cases showed that only histological grade was significant. However, multivariate analysis of the 85 cancers with Gleason scores 2-7 (ie, low to intermediate grade) showed OA-519 (FAS) immunoreactivity to be the only statistically significant predictor of cancer progression (P<.02). Expression of the fatty acid synthase OA-519 by prostate cancers is potentially a clinically useful predictor of disease progression. It appears to be independent of histological grade (Gleason score), at least in cancers with low to intermediate grades. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of fatty acid synthase in malignancy and the potential therapeutic implications of enzyme blockers.

Objective: We aimed to summarize the up-to-date epidemiology evidence on biomarkers of long-chain (LC) n-3 fatty acid (FA) intake in relation to breast cancer (BC). Methods: Epidemiology studies determining FA levels in biospecimen (circulating blood or adipose tissue (AT)) were identified from PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases until March 2018. Multivariate-adjusted risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effect model. Difference in biospecimen proportions of LC n-3 FA between BC cases and non-cases were analyzed as a standardized mean difference (SMD). Results: Thirteen cohort and eleven case-control studies were eligible for the present meta-analysis. The estimated SMD was -0.14 (95% CI: -0.27, -0.11) for LC n-3 FA and -0.27 (95% CI: -0.42, -0.11) for LC n-3/n-6 FA ratio. When comparing the top tertiles with the bottom baseline levels, circulating LC n-3 FA was significantly associated with a lower risk of BC (RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.96), but not AT (RR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.48). Significant inverse dose-response associations were observed for each 1% increment of circulating 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. Conclusion: This meta-analysis highlights that circulating LC n-3 FA as a biomarker of intake may be an independent predictive factor for BC, especially 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3.

An investigation was carried out to study whether long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) have an effect on digestion of waste sludge under anaerobic conditions. Four different kinds of LCFAs were used in this study. The 18 carbon series with 0, 1, 2 and 3 double bonds were studied to evaluate the degree of saturation on fatty acid degradation. Due to their molecular structure, unsaturated LCFAs are more soluble than saturated LCFAs. Oleic, linoleic, linolenic acid with an ascending number of double bonds were tested as representatives for three different degrees of saturation. In addition, stearic acid, a saturated fatty acid was also tested. LCFAs were added to sewage sludge at concentrations ranging from 5% to 20% on a weight basis and the pH, solids reduction and COD reduction were determined. The results suggested that in addition to degrading in the digesters, all unsaturated acids contributed additional solids removal, compared to the control group. In contrast, stearic acid did not affect the solids removal. The COD reduction was similar to solids reduction in that additional COD was destroyed when unsaturated LCFAs were added to the sludge. The mechanism for additional solids reduction is not known. / Master of Science

Finding a source from which high-energy-density biofuels can be derived at an industrial scale has become an urgent challenge for renewable energy production. Some microorganisms can produce free fatty acids (FFA) as precursors towards such high-energy-density biofuels. In particular, photosynthetic cyanobacteria are capable of directly converting carbon dioxide into FFA. However, current engineered strains need several rounds of engineering to reach the level of FFA production for it to be commercially viable. Thus, new chassis strains that require less engineering are needed. Although more than 140 cyanobacterial genomes are sequenced, the natural potential of these strains for FFA production and excretion has not been systematically estimated. In relation to the above-mentioned problems, we developed the first in silico screening method (FFASC) that evaluates the cyanobacterial strains’ potential for FFA production based on the strains’ proteome, which for the first time allows non-experimental selection of the most promising chassis for cyanofactories. The solution is based on the original problem formulation, optimization and ranking. To provide developers and researchers easy means for evaluation and assessment of the cyanobacterial strains potential for production of FFA, we developed the BioPS platform. In addition to being able to compare capacity for FFA production of any novel strain against 140 pre-valuate strains, BioPS can be used to explore characteristics and assessment rules in play for an individual strain. This is the first tool of this type developed. Finally, we developed a novel generic in silico method (PathDES) for ranking and selection of the most suitable pathways / sets of metabolic reactions, which suggests genetic modifications for improved metabolic productivity. The method heavily relies on optimization and integration of disparate information in a novel manner. It has been successfully used in connection with FFASC for design of cyanofactories. In conclusion, this study has contributed novel and unique methods, and tools for the field of bioinformatics, with applications towards the metabolic design of cyanofactories. We believe that these will be of good use to researchers and technology developers in this field.

Millions of pounds of venison are harvested each year in the United States. Over 12,000,000 pounds of dressed venison are harvested during the regular season each year in the State of Utah. The hunters of venison contribute approximately 10 1/2 billion dollars to the economy of the state for licenses, lodging, transportation, and other expense of hunting. In many cases this source of meat is a significant part of the household meat supply. Venison is often wasted, however, because of its undesirable flavor. The lack of knowledge as to the causes of variation in venison flavor has prompted this study. Research into tho causes of variation in venison flavor can contribute significantly to the problems of undesirable flavors and waste by determining the cause and distribution of factors which are responsible for these variations. This primary basic information may aid the hunter in his selection of animals to harvest. Suggestions as to age, sex, season of harvest, and physical condition of the animal may be applicable.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第18327号 / 農博第2052号 / 新制||農||1022(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H26||N4834(農学部図書室) / 31185 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科食品生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 河田 照雄, 教授 金本 龍平, 教授 入江 一浩 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第18343号 / 農博第2068号 / 新制||農||1024(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H26||N4850(農学部図書室) / 31201 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生命科学専攻 / (主査)教授 小川 順, 教授 植田 充美, 教授 栗原 達夫 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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