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Stabilized Natural Flavorant Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a method for stabilizing the common natural flavorant 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline and its homologues. The... Read More Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a method for stabilizing the common natural flavorant 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline and its homologues. The composition is significantly more stable than 2-AP and can be implemented without major expense.
A Method for Producing Microencapsulated Tributyrin Butyrate is naturally formed in the colon and is tremendously beneficial in promoting gut health. It is also, however, rapidly metabolized in the colon. Therefore... Read More Butyrate is naturally formed in the colon and is tremendously beneficial in promoting gut health. It is also, however, rapidly metabolized in the colon. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain therapeutically effective concentrations of the compound in the body. Tributyrin, a prodrug of natural butyrate, is much more chemically stable but it bears an unpleasant odor and flavor. This invention provides a dehydrated inclusion complex of tributyrin with ë_-cyclodextrin that masks the unpleasant odor and flavor of tributyrin. This material may be easily incorporated into food or taken as a supplement.
Corn Aleurone Oil and Other Unique products from Corn Aleurone Cells A method for preparing corn fiber oil. The method involves separating corn fiber from corn kernels (e.g., by a wet milling process), drying the corn fiber,... Read More A method for preparing corn fiber oil. The method involves separating corn fiber from corn kernels (e.g., by a wet milling process), drying the corn fiber, grinding the dried corn fiber to produce ground corn fiber having a particle size of less than about 100 microns, combining the ground corn fiber with an aqueous solution having a specific gravity effective to float aleurone cells, removing the floating aleurone fraction, drying the aleurone fraction to form a dried aleurone fraction, grinding the dried aleurone fraction to form a ground aleurone fraction, extracting corn fiber oil from the ground aleurone fraction by a way selected from the group consisting of an organic solvent and supercritical fluid extraction, and separating the extracted corn fiber oil from the extraction medium. Also shown is a method of recovering corn aleurone cells from corn fiber involving separating corn fiber from corn kernels by a wet milling process, drying the corn fiber, grinding the dried corn fiber to produce ground corn fiber having a particle size of less than about 100 microns, combining the ground corn fiber with an aqueous solution having a specific gravity effective to float aleurone cells, and removing the floating aleurone fraction.
Method of Removing the Hull from Corn Kernels A method of removing the hull from corn kernels wherein the method involves exposing the corn kernels to ammonia (e.g., gas-phase anhydrous) under conditions... Read More A method of removing the hull from corn kernels wherein the method involves exposing the corn kernels to ammonia (e.g., gas-phase anhydrous) under conditions effective to remove the hull from corn kernels.
Combined Overexpression of Arabidopsis ZEP/VDE/Psbs Professor Long's invention is a construct “VPZ”, expressed in a tobacco line (T1) which has a phenotype characterized by an optimized NPQ mechanism. The... Read More Professor Long's invention is a construct “VPZ”, expressed in a tobacco line (T1) which has a phenotype characterized by an optimized NPQ mechanism. The combined overexpression of VDE, ZEP, and PsbS^[1] results in increased relaxation rate, meaning the quenching mechanism occurs faster and oxidative damage to the plant is minimized. Benefits Increased photosynthesis Increased growth (biomass)
Production of 2-FL from Engineered Yeast Dr. Yong-Su Jin from the University of IL has developed a method for synthesis of 2-fucosyllactose (2-FL) using engineered yeast. 2-FL is human milk oligosaccharide that... Read More Dr. Yong-Su Jin from the University of IL has developed a method for synthesis of 2-fucosyllactose (2-FL) using engineered yeast. 2-FL is human milk oligosaccharide that has been shown to have properties. The method uses Fucose as the starting material for over-production of 2-FL and requires fewer downstream purification methods compared to conventional methods. 2'-fucosyllactose
Food Flows between Counties in the United States Dr. Megan Konar has developed an algorithm for mapping food flows between counties in the United States based on FAF data. This algorithm downscales FAF data to the... Read More Dr. Megan Konar has developed an algorithm for mapping food flows between counties in the United States based on FAF data. This algorithm downscales FAF data to the county level to provide a spatially-detailed map of food flows. By building on previous models with known network properties of food flows and the principle of mass balance, this algorithm improves spatial detail and accuracy of food flow mapping. Mapping flows of commodity with higher resolution enables detailed lifecycle and footprint assessments.This technology uses US Census Bureau data to provide realistic and high-resolution estimations of food flows between counties, providing information about distribution of food through complex supply chains, which underpins food security and has implications for the environment.
Paper-based Iron Assay Dr. Andrade from University of Illinois has developed a rapid, cost effective, paper-based assay that interfaces with a smartphone for the detection and quantification of... Read More Dr. Andrade from University of Illinois has developed a rapid, cost effective, paper-based assay that interfaces with a smartphone for the detection and quantification of common iron in fortified grains This invention can quantify iron content is a cheap cost-effective method for areas which lack access to laboratory equipment and trained personnel. Dr. Andrade's group has improved upon this technology by streamlining the sensor fabrication process and improved upon the detector sensitivity. Furthermore, this technology can now quantify iron released from Lucky Iron Fish, iron metal electrolytic, as well as Sodium Iron EDTA.