Improvement of fuel properties of biodiesel with bioadditive ethyl levulinate

Biodiesel has poor cold flow properties due to their high saturated fatty acid content. Ethyl levulinate is used as bio-based cold flow improver additive in biodiesel. In this work, both ethyl levulinate and biodiesel were synthesized in the laboratory. Ethyl levulinate was added to the biodiesel at different rates, i.e, 5, 10, 15, 20 (vol %). The effect of ethyl levulinate addition on density, kinematic viscosity, acid value, cloud point and pour point was determined and compared to the EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 specification. Consequently, ethyl levulinate appears acceptable as a cold flow improver for biodiesel fuel.

Neurobehavioral Effects of Consuming Dietary Fatty Acids

Background: Research results on the neurobehavioral effects of consuming dietary fatty acids are mixed. Therefore, this study examined the effects of consuming dietary fatty acids on depression, mood, and anxiety. Methods: In this randomized crossover-design study, 37 university students served as their own controls, consuming each of the following diets for a 4-day period with a 2-week washout period between diets: (1) low fatty acid, (2) high saturated fatty acid (SFA), (3) high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and (4) control. The order of sessions was counterbalanced across dietary groups. Following consumption of each diet, participants were examined for within-subject differences in depression, mood, and anxiety. Measures included weighed dietary fat intakes, Zung’s Self-Rating Anxiety and Depression Scales, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Results: Participants had significantly higher positive affect scores ( p < .007) and were significantly less irritable ( p < .04) when they consumed diets rich in SFAs and PUFAs than when they consumed a low fatty acid or control diet. However, depression, anxiety, and negative affect scores did not differ significantly among diets. Analysis of participants’ serum lipid levels following their intake of the fatty acid and control diets indicated significantly higher levels of total cholesterol ( p = .006) and serum triglycerides ( p = .003) with the control diet. Conclusions: These results highlight the neurobehavioral benefits of consuming dietary fatty acids among healthy individuals. By concentrating on the positive effects of diet on affective processes, health professionals can also provide support for at-risk individuals.

Phytochemical Contents of Five Artemisia Species

In the present study, the fatty acid compositions, vitamin, sterol contents and flavonoid constituents of five Turkish Artemisia species (A. armeniaca, A. incana , A. tournefortiana, A. haussknechtii and A. scoparia) were determined by GC and HPLC techniques. The results of the fatty acid analysis showed that Artemisia species possess high saturated fatty acid compositions. On the other hand, the studied Artemisia species were found to have low vitamin and sterol contents. Eight flavononids (catechin, naringin, rutin, myricetin, morin, naringenin, quercetin, kaempferol) were determined in the present study. It was found that Artemisia species contained high levels of flavonoids. Morin (45.35 ± 0.65 – 1406.79 ± 4.12 μg/g) and naringenin (15.32 ± 0.46 – 191.18 ± 1.22 μg/g) were identified in all five species. Naringin (268.13 ± 1.52 – 226.43 ± 1.17 μg/g) and kaempferol (21.74 ± 0.65 – 262.19 ± 1.38 μg/g) contents were noted in the present study. Present research showed that the studied Artemisia taxa have high saturated fatty acids and also rich flavonoid content.

Season-induced variation in lipid composition is associated with semen quality in Holstein bulls

Season-induced variation in fatty acid and cholesterol composition in bovine semen has been associated with semen quality. Given the specific roles of the various semen compartments (seminal fluids, sperm head, and sperm tail) in fertilization, we hypothesized that environmental-stress-induced alterations in the lipid composition of a specific compartment might impair semen quality and sperm function. Semen samples were collected from five mature Holstein–Friesian bulls during the summer (August to September) and winter (December to January). Semen was evaluated by computerized sperm-quality analyzer, calibrated for bulls' semen, and centrifuged to separate the spermatozoa from the seminal fluids. The spermatozoal fraction was sonicated to separate the sperm head and tail compartments. Cold lipid extraction was performed with chloroform:methanol (2:1, vol/vol). Lipids were identified and quantified by gas chromatography. Seasonal variation was found in both physiological and structural parameters. The proportion of spermatozoa defined as morphologically normal was higher in the winter, with higher motility, progressive motility, and velocity relative to summer samples. Lipid composition within fractions varied between seasons with prominent impairment in the tail compartment, characterized by high saturated fatty acid, low polyunsaturated fatty acid, and low cholesterol concentrations during the summer. Given the association between alterations in lipid composition and reduced sperm motility and velocity during the summer, it is suggested that lipid composition might serve to predict sperm quality.

Postprandial oxidative stress is modified by dietary fat: evidence from a human intervention study

Previous evidence supports the concept that increased oxidative stress may play an important role in MetS (metabolic syndrome)-related manifestations. Dietary fat quality has been proposed to be critical in oxidative stress and the pathogenesis of the MetS. In the present study, we investigated whether oxidative stress parameters are affected by diets with different fat quantity and quality during the postprandial state in subjects with the MetS. Patients were randomly assigned to one of four isoenergetic diets distinct in fat quantity and quality for 12 weeks: a high-saturated-fatty-acid (HSFA) diet, a high-mono-unsaturated-fatty-acid (HMUFA) diet and two low-fat/high-complex carbohydrate diets [supplemented with 1.24 g/day of long-chain n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LFHCC n−3) or with 1 g/day of sunflower oil high in oleic acid (LFHCC) as placebo]. The HMUFA diet enhanced postprandial GSH (reduced glutathione) levels and the GSH/GSSH (oxidized glutathione) ratio, compared with the other three diets. In addition, after the HMUFA-rich diet postprandial lipid peroxide levels, protein carbonyl concentrations, SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity and plasma H2O2 levels were lower compared with subjects adhering to the HSFA-rich diet. Both LFHCC diets had an intermediate effect relative to the HMUFA and HSFA diets. In conclusion, our data support the notion that the HMUFA diet improves postprandial oxidative stress in patients with the MetS. These findings suggest that the postprandial state is important for understanding the possible cardioprotective effects associated with mono-unsaturated dietary fat, particularly in subjects with the MetS.

The Fatty Acid Composition of Different Lamb Genotypes

We compares the fatty acid composition of five different genotypes. The maternal line was Hungarian Comb Merino x British Milksheep and this genotype was crossed with different terminal breeds, like: British Milksheep, Suffolk, Ile de France, German Mutton Merino, German Blackheaded. We compared the intramuscular fatty acid composition of different body parts like: leg, loin and shoulder. We can name that there are significant differences between the genotypes in the fatty acid composition. The suffolk crosses has the best UFA/SFA rate. In the meat of German Mutton Merino crosses has a high saturated fatty acid ratio, but there is a high polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio as well. There are only small differences between the meat parts in the view of fatty acid composition. Despite the small differences, the loin showed the best picture while the shoulder had the worst.

GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SUNFLOWER MUTANTS WITH HIGH CONTENT OF SATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN SEED OIL / CARACTERIZACION GENETICA DE MUTANTES DE GIRASOL CON ALTO CONTENIDO EN ACIDOS GRASOS SATURADOS / CARACTÉRISATION GÉNÉTIQUE DES MUTANTS DE TOURNESOL À HAUT CONTENU D’ACIDES GRAS SATURÉS DANS L’HUILE

SUMMARY The genetic control of the high saturated fatty acid content in sunflower seed oil has been studied in the high palmitic acid (C16:0) mutant line CAS-5, and in the high stearic acid (C18:0) mutant line CAS-3. This review summarizes the pertinent results. The high saturated fatty acid content in sunflower seed oil is controlled by partially recessive alleles at two loci (Es1, Es2) for the high C18:0 content and at three loci (P1, P2, P3) for the high C16:0 content. The high C16:0 and the high C18:0 traits are not inherited independently. When their combined segregation was studied, the expected phenotypic expression of both high C16:0 and high C18:0 levels was not observed. This fact was attributed to the existence of an epistatic effect of the loci controlling the high C16:0 trait on the loci controlling the high C18:0 trait. The results obtained indicate that sunflower hybrids with a high saturated fatty acid content in their seed oil can be developed and will be in cultivation in a few years.