Wednesday, May 30, 2012

News and Notes for Wednesday May 30, 2012

Nobelist Speaks Out on Genetic Modification, Synthetic Biology, Stem Cell Research
MarketWatch (News release) -- Sir Richard Roberts, the eminent British biologist and Nobel Prize laureate, said today European opposition to genetically modified organisms is political rather than scientific in nature. Read the release.

Funding to highlight growth opportunities for synthetic biology
laboratorytalk.com--Through grants for feasibility studies, the funding aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using synthetic biology in a commercial setting and highlight the opportunities for UK industry created by technological advancements. Read more.

FDA orders cooking oil processor to stop airing TV advertisement
businessmirror.com--The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has ordered Southeast Asia Foods Inc. (Safi), maker of Golden Fiesta Cooking Oil, to stop airing its commercial for containing "misleading claims"  that the oil may be re-used for frying food for seven times without affecting the product’s quality, color, or appearance, and that it contains 50-percent less saturated fat than regular oil. Read more.

Food and Science at UCLA, Danish Gastro-physical Societies + Experimental Cakes
laweekly--Professor Amy Rowat (UCLA's Science & Food) is  a professor of integrative biology and physiology at UCLA, and as a physicist is an unlikely champion of modernist cuisine. LA Weekly interviewed her recently to talk about how she got into this in the first place, her take on emulsions, and where to get a centrifuge. Read more.

Is Mom's Lack of Vitamin D in Pregnancy Linked with Child's Weight?

TIME--A new study suggests that adequate levels of vitamin D could be one such protective factor. Some data have linked low vitamin D levels to weight gain and obesity in women and children, but in the new study researchers at the University of Southampton in the U.K. found that association may begin the womb. Read more.

Limonene can improve quality of reduced fat chocolate – study 

ConfectioneryNews.com--The oil extract limonene can improve the final product quality of reduced fat chocolate, according to researchers. The study 'Effect of Limonene on the Crystallization of Cocoa Butter' published in the Journal of American Oil Chemists' Society (JAOCS). Read more.

Food Price Shock Is Next

Wall Street Journal --With the rupee expected to slide further, analysts say it is just a matter of time before importers either hold off increasing imports even though the coming months are a time of peak consumption. Read more.

Consumers more likely to choose GM if benefits are clear
People are more willing to buy genetically modified (GM) foods than they may admit to, according to a new study. The study found a substantial difference between the number of people who said they would buy GM foods when surveyed and the number who actually bought [mislabeled] GM labelled products at fruit stalls ... These results suggest that surveys may have exaggerated the extent of negative feeling towards GM products. Read more (.pdf) 

Abstract Alerts

The rheological characterization of algae suspensions for the production of biofuels  

Victoria O. Adesanya, Damien C. Vadillo, and Malcolm R. Mackley . Journal of Rheology / Volume 56 / Issue 4. Read the abstract.

Have a news tip? Tip your editors at tips@aocs.org

Monday, May 28, 2012

News and Notes for Monday May 28, 2012

Widespread Rain in Europe Seen by USDA as Aiding Crop Prospects
Bloomberg--Widespread showers are lifting crop prospects for grains and oilseeds in northern Europe, while locally heavy rain in the Balkan region is boosting wheat and rapeseed, the US Department of Agriculture reported in its weekly weather report. Read more.

Grains and Oilseeds Market Report - 18th May 2012
Farming UK--Canola will have a greater impact for the oilseeds market in the coming season with the potential for Canada and Australia to produce record crops. Read more.

KFC buckets palm oil in Australia
ABC Online--Fast food company Kentucky Fried Chicken has switched from using imported palm oil to Australian canola oil in its Australian outlets. KFC won't reveal the exact amount of canola being purchased, as it says the information is commercially sensitive. Read more.
 
Olive Council Seeks Bids for Promotional Work in Brazil, China
Olive Oil Times--The International Olive Council (IOC) has called for tenders for the 2012/13 phases of its promotions in Brazil and China, both of which are to emphasize olive oil's health benefits and quality. Read more.

Is Algae DHA As Healthy as Fish Oil DHA?
Food Processing--A review of research earlier this year found mostly good news in this vegetarian source. Read more.

Saturated Fats Speed Up Cognitive Decline in Women
Food Product Design--Women who consume a diet high in saturated fats may experience faster cognitive decline over time compared to women who eat a diet rich in monounsaturated fats found in plant foods according to a new study published in the Annals of Neurology. Read more.

Castor Oil's Health Benefits Tied To Ricinoleic Acid Chemistry
Huffington Post--Castor oil contains fatty acid that may be responsible for purported health benefits, scientists say. Read more.

Hazelnuts: New source of key fat for infant formula that's more like mother's milk
Phys.Org--A "new" nutrient, based on hazelnut oil, also could boost nutrition for babies who are bottle-fed for other reasons. The report appears in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food ChemistryRead more.

Omega-3-acid ethyl esters - Comprehensive patent search
MarketWatch (News release)-- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalog: "Omega-3-acid ethyl esters - Comprehensive patent search." Pipeline Developer is a regularly updated, professional patent search. Find out more.

Heliae Breaks Ground on Commercial Demonstration Facility for Algae Production
MarketWatch (News release)--Heliae, an Arizona-based algae technology company, broke ground today on a commercial demonstration facility that will showcase the scalability and economics of its proprietary algae technology platform.  Read the release.

Algasol Renewables Partners with OriginOil
Domestic Fuel--Algasol Renewables, based in Palma De Mallorca, Spain, has agreed to work with OriginOil on the development of an integrated algae growth and harvesting system. Read more.

Evogene's Subsidiary, Evofuel, and T6 Industrial to Collaborate on Biodiesel Feedstock Production in Argentina
Marketwire (News release)--Evogene Ltd. and T6 Industrial S.A., a leading biodiesel producer in Argentina, today announced that Evofuel Ltd., Evogene's wholly owned subsidiary, and T6 Industrial S.A., entered a collaboration for development of castor bean seeds as a sustainable and cost competitive feedstock for biodiesel production. Read the release.

Upcoming Events / May 28-June 3, 2012
See the AOCS Events Calendar.

29-31 Metabolism, Diet and Disease 2012
Washington DC, USA

30-31 International Dairy Foods Association Dairy Sustainability Symposium
Chicago, Illinois, USA

30-31 Cosmetic Science: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful
Dublin, Ireland


Have a news posting or an upcoming event? Tip your editors at tips@aocs.org.


Friday, May 25, 2012

News and Notes for Friday May 25, 2012

'Sin taxes' must raise food prices by 20% for any effect, argue experts
foodnavigator.com--In order to have any effect on population health, fat taxes must raise food prices by 20% and should be combined with subsidies on healthy foods, say UK-based experts. However industry leaders have branded the calls as ‘irresponsible.’ Read more.

Biobased Chemicals: Commercialization & Partnering Conference
This conference examines new supply chain developments and business models being adopted for bringing biobased chemicals products to market. Topics covered include novel chemical production platforms, advantageous feedstock, end user applications, securing funding and strategic partnerships, and the trends and challenges in commercial scale up.  The keynote speaker is Carsten Sieden, Senior Vice President of Fine Chemicals & Biocatalysis Research at BASF. Find out more.

Cargill in new approach to buy Goodman Fielder 
Reuters--Commodities firm Cargill is looking to buy Goodman Fielder's edible fats and oils business, reviving a deal that Australia's competition watchdog rejected two years ago. Read more.

Specialty soybean varieties for niche markets
agprofessional.com--Arkansas soybean producers looking to diversify with a specialty crop may not have to look very far. One of the state's main specialty crops is soybeans for niche markets. Arkansas has the potential to be the major source of non-GMO (not genetically modified) soybean seed, beans and products in the United States. Read more.

U.S. Federal Regulators Initiate Research Studies into Risks of NanotechnologyAZoNano.com--Nanotechnology, which has widespread applications in various spheres such as electronics, food, health care products, personal products, pharmaceutical products and textiles has come under the scanner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration which has planned to launch a series of studies into the possible risks involved in nanotechnology.  Read more.

AOCS News

Hill honored by U of I ACES Alumni Association
cantondailyledger.com--Steven E. Hill (M.S. ’89, Ph.D. ’92 in food science) of Prospect Heights, Ill., was presented with an Award of Merit by the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Alumni Association. Read more. 

Institute for Food Safety & Health -New AOCS Corporate Member
AOCS welcomes the Institute for Food Safety & Health as  

Award Winning Journal Articles Available FREE
The journal articles receiving 'Best Paper Awards' at the 2012 AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo are now available free via SpringerLink until the end of May.

Abstract Alerts

Omega-3 fatty acids cause dramatic changes in TLR4 and purinergic eicosanoid signaling   
Paul C. Norris and Edward A. Dennis. PNAS 2012 ; published ahead of print May 14, 2012, doi:10.1073/pnas.1200189109. Read the abstract.

Imbibition of Soybean Seeds in Warm Water Results in the Release of Copious Amounts of Bowman–Birk Protease Inhibitor, a Putative Anticarcinogenic Agent
Manoj H. Palavalli, Savithiry S. Natarajan, Thomas T. Y. Wang, and Hari B. Krishnan
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2012 60 (12), 3135-3143. Read the abstract.


Have a news tip? Tip your editors at tips@aocs.org.




Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Award Winning Journal Articles Available FREE

The journal articles receiving 'Best Paper Awards' at the 2012 AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo are now available free via SpringerLink until the end of May.


Edwin Frankel Award for Best Paper in Lipid Oxidation and Quality
The AOCS Lipid Oxidation and Quality Division’s best paper award is presented annually to the authors of the best paper relating to lipid oxidation or quality published during the past year in an AOCS journal published by Springer.

This year’s recipients are Ann-Dorit Moltke Sørensen, Nina Skall Nielsen, Eric A. Decker, Mette B. Let, Xuebing Xu, and Charlotte Jacobsen for their article published in JAOCS vol. 88: 489–502, entitled “The Efficacy of Compounds with Different Polarities as Antioxidants in Emulsions with Omega-3 Lipids.”

Archer Daniels Midland Award
The Archer Daniels Midland Award is presented annually to the authors of the best paper relating to proteins and co-products published during the past year in an AOCS journal published by Springer.

This year’s recipients in the chemistry/nutrition category are Nana Wu, Lijuan Wang, Xiaoquan Yang, Shouwei Yin, Zi Teng, and Erli Zheng for “Comparison of Flavor Volatiles and Some Functional Properties of Different Soy Protein Products.” (JAOCS vol. 88:1621-1631)

This year’s recipients in the engineering/technology category are Pablo R. Salgado, Sara E. Molina Ortiz, Silvana Petruccelli, and Adriana N. Mauri for “Sunflower Protein Concentrates and Isolates Prepared from Oil Cakes Have High Water Solubility and Antioxidant Capacity.” (JAOCS vol. 88:351-360)

The American Cleaning Institute Distinguished Paper Award
The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) Award is presented annually to the authors of the best technical paper appearing during the preceding year in the Journal of Surfactants and Detergents (JSD), a publication of AOCS Press and Springer.

This year’s recipients are Mohammad Mahdavian, Ali Reza Tehrani-Bagha, and Krister Holmberg for “Comparison of a Cationic Gemini Surfactant and the Corresponding Monomeric Surfactant for Corrosion Protection of Mild Steel in Hydrochloric Acid.” (JSD vol. 14: 605–613)
 
Links

Maybe the best thing to happen at the AOCS Annual Meeting -Dr. Eskin RAPS "Lipids Get a Real Bad Rap: It's Just Not Fair."

Thank you Dr. Eskin for making lipids fun!

"Lipids Get a Real Bad Rap: It's Just Not Fair."
Michael Eskin raps about lipids on location at the 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Long Beach, CA.


Watch on YouTube.

News and Notes for Wednesday May 23, 2012

Academia Suppresses Creativity
the-scientist.com--By discouraging change, universities are stunting scientific innovation, leadership, and growth. read more.

Hold the oil
pressherald.com--Green startup Ecospan aims to replace the petroleum in plastics with natural ingredients like vegetables. Read more.

UK benefits from oilseed industry collaboration
farminguk.com--Oilseed rape growers and advisors had the opportunity to explore recent breeding developments in oilseed rape and see how they can improve on-farm production and market dynamics at this season’s first NIAB Innovation Farm workshop ’Producing Quality Oilseeds.’ Read more.

European Bioplastics industry group claims recent US report not scientifically valid
plasteurope.com--Europe’s bioplastics industry association European Bioplastics has responded to the results of a new study on biobased plastics published recently in the US, saying the study “includes political parameters that are not necessarily scientifically backed up and cannot be seen as societal or academic consensus.” The association adds that the study is based on a limited number of bioplastic material types, which results in unbalanced conclusions, and that its proposals are outdated, with many recommendations already in place. Read more.

Status Report: Green Chemistry for Polymers
sustainableplant.com--At Green Polymer Chemistry 2012 in Cologne, Germany, Applied Market Information Ltd. (AMI) brought together experts from agriculture, chemical engineering, biotechnology and the polymer industry as well as sustainability managers from brand owners and the automotive sector to hear all the angles on this topic. Read more.

Sunflower can replace soy lecithin claims Sternchemie
foodnavigator.com--Baked goods manufacturers can use sunflower lecithin as an alternative to identity preserved (IP) soy lecithin if they are concerned about the latter being contaminated by genetically modified variants, claims Sternchemie. Read more.

ADM Expanding Production of CLARISOY™ to Meet Growing Customer Demand
prweb.com--Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has opened its first commercial-scale plant to make CLARISOY™, the world’s first vegetable-based protein that offers clarity and high-quality protein nutrition. The transparent, isolated soy protein will be available for customers looking to purchase commercial-scale quantities beginning in June. Read more.

FDA Speaks to Nanotech in Cosmetics, Foods, and Drugs
fdalawblog.net--The US Food and Drug Administration issued two draft guidance documents worthy of close examination for those with an interest in the use of emerging technologies, including nanotechnology, in the cosmetic and food industries.  Further, FDA denied a citizen petition asking the agency to stop the marketing of sunscreen drug products that contain engineered nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Read more.

Groups drop lawsuit over food nanotechnology
Capital Press--A lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over nanotechnology has been dismissed as moot. Last year, several non-profit groups filed a lawsuit alleging the agency unlawfully ignored their petition to regulate nanomaterials.  Read more.

Bureaucrats Aim To Put Nanotech 'Under The Electron Microscope'
MarketWatch (News release)--Federal regulators want to launch a series of in-depth studies into the risks of nanotechnology and nano-scale materials. Read more.

What’s Up in Brazilian Biofuels? The 10-Minute Guide
biofuelsdigest.com--The top 20 trends and stories from biofuels’ most advanced commercial market, and its most intriguing focal point for expansion. Read more.

Advances in chromatography and spectroscopy
scientistlive.com--The best new releases focus on lower detection limits, better precision and improved productivity. Read more.

Global Surfactants Market is Changing
prweb.com--Over the next eight years, shares in demand of the individual world regions will shift significantly. The analysts from Ceresana forecast countries in Asia-Pacific to increase their shares in the global surfactant market - mainly at the expense of Western Europe and North America. In addition, South America will see strong growth, above all because of massive increases in production in Brazil. Read more.  

Have a news tip? Tip you editors at tips@aocs.org.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Seed Conditioning and Quality Workshops

Iowa State University is once again offering a series of workshops on seed conditioning and quality testing procedures this summer.  These are small group sessions that feature a mix of classroom and “hands on” equipment operation in our pilot plant at the ISU Seed Science Center.

            Commercial Popcorn Conditioning......................May 22-24
            Color Sorting - Satake......................................... June 4-5
            Color Sorting - Satake..........................................June 6-7
            Seed Corn Conditioning.......................................June 18-21
            Seed Treatment.................................................... June 27-28
            Soybean & Small Grain Seed Conditioning.........July 9-12
            Specialty Seed Conditioning…………………… July 17-19
            Soybean & Small Grain Seed Conditioning..........July 23-26
            Gravity Separation................................................ July 31
            Gravity Separation.................................................August 2
            Seed Corn Conditioning........................................ August 6-9
            Seed Corn / Soybean Quality Testing................ ...August 15-16

Additional details, including a PDF version of the workshop brochure and on-line registration can be found on the ISU Extension web site at http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/seedscience/home.html  Routine registration questions can be directed to Extension using the following contact information:

Iowa State University
Continuing Education and Professional Development
102 Scheman Building
Ames, IA 50011-1112
Phone: 515-294-6222
Fax: 515-294-6223
Email: cepd-info@iastate.edu

Monday, May 21, 2012

News and Notes for Monday May 21, 2012

Palm Oil Has Biggest Weekly Loss in 5 Months on Europe Concerns
Bloomberg--Palm oil had the biggest weekly decline in more than 5 months, on concern that Europe's worsening crisis may stall global economic growth and cut demand for commodities. Read more.

Resale pressure drags edible oil in dull trade
Business Line--Trade in edible oil markets remained dull on Friday as the market tracked weak foreign and domestic futures. Investors reduced riskier bets amid fears over Greece's political stability. Read more.

Algae cultivation could boost UK industry
Phys.Org--There is an increasing appetite from the government, businesses and the public for green energy technologies but there are currently very few UK companies with the expertise and capacity to cultivate algae for commercial uses. Read more.

Argentina Sends Letter to EU Trade Head on Spain Biodiesel Ban
Bloomberg--Argentina has “deep concern” about Spain's decision to restrict biodiesel imports after the South American nation took control of the local unit of Repsol YPF SA. (REP) The move will affect 10 percent of its biodiesel exports to the European Union. Read more.

Why Omega-3 Oils Help at the Cellular Level
 ScienceDaily--Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have peered inside a living mouse cell and mapped the processes that power the celebrated health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.  Their findings suggest it may be possible to manipulate these processes to short-circuit inflammation before it begins, or at least help to resolve inflammation before it becomes detrimental. Read more.

Jobs

General Manager – Edible Oils and Fats
selbyjennings.com--An Asian agricultural commodity group is growing their presence in the Edible Oil and Speciality Fats markets across the Asian Pacific region. Read the job posting.

Abstract Alerts

Physicochemical and microbiological characterization of linolenic acid-rich oils from seeds of two tropical plants: Corchorus olitorius L. and Hibiscus sabdariffa L.   
Lessoy Zoué, Micael Bédikou, Betty Faulet, Jean Gonnety and Sébastien Niamké.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 11(39), pp. 9435-9444, 15 May, 2012. Read the abstract.

Upcoming Events May 21-28, 2012
See the AOCS Events Calendar.

21-22 The Science of Science Communication
Washington, D.C., USA

22-24 Vitafoods Europe Conference 2012
Geneva Palexpo, Switzerland

23-24 Round Table on Responsible Soy Association
London, United Kingdom

23-24 2012 Home and Personal Care Ingredients Exhibition and Conference
Istanbul, Turkey

25-26 Global JojobaWorld 2012
Jaipur, India

25-28 80th European Atherosclerosis Society Congress
Milan, Italy

26-30 10th Congress of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL)
Vancouver, British Columiba, Canada

27-29 Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology 50th National Conference
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada


Have an upcoming event or news posting? Tip your editors at tips@aocs.org.

Friday, May 18, 2012

News and Notes for Friday May 17, 2012

Cellular secrets of plant fatty acid production understood; discovery could boost bioeconomy
Phys.org -- Research groups from Iowa State University and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have uncovered the function of three plant proteins, a discovery that could help plant scientists boost seed oil production in crops, thereby benefitting the production of food, biorenewable chemicals and biofuels.  Read more.

Ecospan has plan for vegetable-based plastics
Bioplastics account for less than 1 percent of total global plastics use, according to the SPI Bioplastics Council. Prospects are promising. The council anticipates yearly market growth of more than 20 percent through 2015. One estimate valued the entire plastics industry at $1.6 trillion. Read more.

Global Biolubricants Industry Report
prnewswire.com--This report analyzes the North American and European Markets for Biolubricants both by volume  and value. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2009 through 2017. Read the report.

New Report Outlines Double-Digit Growth for the Global Biodiesel Market
soyatech.com--The global biodiesel market has experienced robust growth over the last five years and is expected to continue its momentum, reaching approximately US $64 billion by 2017with a CAGR of 19% over the next five years. Read more.

Neste Oil produces premium-quality NExBTL renewable diesel from waste fat
Reuters--A particular strength of Neste Oil's NExBTL technology is that it is capable of processing a very wide variety of different bio-based raw materials - such as vegetable oils, waste animal fat, and by-products from vegetable oil production - into NExBTL. Read more.

Discovery of plant proteins may boost agricultural yields, biofuel productionR & D Magazine-- Researchers identified three related proteins in thale cress plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) that regulate the metabolism of fatty acids, chemical components of all cell membranes and vegetable oils. Read more.
 

India's New Olive Oil SectorOlive Oil Times--Olive oil in India is in its nascent stage accounting for just about 0.1 percent of the 3.5 million tons of the branded edible oil market in the world's second most populous country. Read more.

Jobs

Account Manager at NovozymesWe’re looking for a person with high energy to function as the primary interface between Novozymes and the current/prospective customer base in the Household Care/Detergent industry. You will provide a critical conduit of information to and from the customer with an emphasis on clearly identifying and communicating customer needs, and working to develop and execute solutions. You will also be responsible for achieving agreed upon sales targets. Find out more.

Research Chemist For Cargill- Wayzata, MN, Minnesota, United States 
This is an exciting opportunity to be an integral part of a multidisciplinary Global Characterization team, which resides within our Global Food Research organization.  This position will support both innovation and core technology development by providing technical leadership and support in the lipid chemistry field for medium-and long-term research projects, and for the business unit (BU) time critical investigations.  it is expected that this person will be working with scientists, research scientists, senior scientists, project managers, and BU team leads laser focused on value creation and realization. Find out more.

QA Coordinator for TRT-ETGO in Bécancour, Quebec, G9H 2Y8, Canada 
Reporting to the Superintendent of Quality Assurance, and working closely with the QA Supervisor, the successful candidate will work to develop, implement, and monitor the Food Safety Program, liaise with various departments to implement improvements, and assist in procedure and policy development. The Quality Assurance Coordinator is responsible for developing, improving, and maintaining various quality programs (i.e. SQF 2000, Good Manufacturing Practices and HACCP) and other procedures to support the company's Food Safety and Quality requirements.  Find out more.

AOCS News

AOCS Keynote address now Available
Get the presentation by Dr. Jackie Freiberg (best-selling author and leadership expert) that was presented at the 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Long Beach, California.

Your May issue of inform is online. Log in for access. 

­AOCS Welcomes Duratech Industries as a Bronze Corporate Member
Learn more about Duratech at http://duratech.biz.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Contribute to the AOCS Blog!

Would you like to contribute to the AOCS blog? Are you a student that has a seminar or journal club and would like your research synopsis posted for a wider audience? Or perhaps you would like to reach others in the fats and oils community with a regular column? Well you have come to the right place!

Write for us! tips@aocs.org
We welcome guest bloggers and news tips. If you have a story you would like to share with our readers or would like to tip us on news please email tips@aocs.org

We are currently looking for: 
  • Guest bloggers 
  • Columnists
  • News tips 
  • Upcoming event tips
  • Meeting reports
  • and???? Let us know!

tips@aocs.org 


Monday, May 14, 2012

Your News and Notes for Monday May 14, 2012

CESIO 2013 Call for Papers: “Surfactants Today and Tomorrow – Mapping the Megatrends”
The period for submission of abstracts closes September 15, 2012. Read more and submit a paper.

Cooking-Oil Imports by India Seen Rising for Third Month
BusinessWeek--Indian vegetable-oil imports, 80 percent of which constitute palm oil, climbed 67 percent to 727706 tons in March, the association said last month. Read more.

Semen Quality Diminished by Too Much Saturated Fats
Renal and Urology News--Diets high in saturated fats may be associated with reduce semen quality, according to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital.  Read more.

Omega-3-Rich Diet May Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease
Medscape-- Increased consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) correlate significantly with lower plasma levels of beta-amyloid 42 (Aβ-42) in elderly individuals without dementia, researchers found. Read more.

Origin Oil : A new agreement. - Analyst Blog
NASDAQ--Origin Oil ( OOIL ) announced an agreement with Algasol Renewables to develop an integrated algae growth and harvesting system. Read more.

BASF buys omega-3 maker Equatec citing pharma potential
PharmaTechnologist.com--BASF has bought omega-3 fatty acid maker Equatec, citing its pharmaceutical and dietary supplements businesses as key beneficiaries. Read more.

Nature Highlights Advancements in Biocatalysis and its Potential Impact on the Production of Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, and Pharmaceuticals
marketwatch.com--Nature published a paper that discusses the recent advances in biocatalysis, and the impact it is having on the commercial development of biofuels, renewable chemicals, and pharmaceutical products. The paper was published by researchers at Codexis, Inc., Emory University, Greifswald University, Lonza AG, Merck, and Seoul National University.  Read more.

AOCS Member News

Food scientist studying the use of all-natural nanoparticles in food products
phys.org--Food scientist and AOCS member David Julian McClements at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently received a three-year, $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study the design and fabrication of all-natural nanoparticles for delivering oil-soluble vitamins and other nutrients in food products. Read more.

Upcoming Events May 14-20, 2012
See the AOCS Events Calendar.

14-16 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit 2012/Rio+20)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

14--16 International Conference and Exhibition on Biosensors & Bioelectronics
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

14-18 11th International Hydrocolloids Conference
West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

15-16 International Dairy Foods Association Dairy Accounting & Finance Workshop
Rosemont, Illinois, USA

16-19 2nd International Symposium on Microbial Lipids
Bern, Switzerland

17-19 Euro Fed Lipid 2nd International Symposium on Microbial Lipids
Bern, Switzerland

20-24 6th Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) World Congress / SETAC Europe 22nd Annual Meeting
Berlin, Germany


Do you have a news tip or an upcoming event? Tip your editors at tips@aocs.org.


Friday, May 11, 2012

AOCS Newsletter Highlights

The monthly AOCS email newsletter just went out. If you would like to receive it you may opt-in here.
  
Snapshot of the 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo
  • Over 1600 people attended the 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, with more than 45 countries represented
Want more sights and sounds from the Annual Meeting? Check out our Facebook photo galleries and our YouTube channel.

inform FREE Features
Learn the secrets of Belgian chocolate in this month’s free cover feature from inform, the AOCS member magazine. Next, discover how plants “remember” drought and adapt to it, in a free news item from the inform Biotech section.

AOCS/JOCS Releases First Validated Direct Method for Glycidyl Fatty Acid Esters
AOCS and the Japan Oil Chemists’ Society (JOCS) released the first validated direct method for glycidyl fatty acid esters in edible oils, AOCS/JOCS Official Method Cd 28-10. The method marks the first analytical collaboration between the two organizations.

AOCS/JOCS Official Method Cd 28-10 determines glycidyl fatty acid esters in edible oils using double solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. It is applicable for the determination of glycidyl fatty acid esters in commercial vegetable oils and fats.

Lipid Library Names New Editors
The AOCS Lipid Library is pleased to announce the appointment of John Harwood, Ph.D., D.Sc., and Randall Weselake, Ph.D., as Co-Editors-in-Chief, succeeding The Lipid Library’s founder, Dr. William Christie.

Dr. Harwood is professor and deputy director of the School of Biosciences at Cardiff University, Wales, U.K. He was the 2011 recipient of the Supelco/Nicholas Pelick-AOCS Research Award and serves on the editorial board of several peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Weselake is professor and Canada Research Chair in Agricultural Lipid Biotechnology at the University of Alberta. He is a member of the editorial board of The AOCS Lipid Library and serves as an associate editor for Lipids.

Book of the Month
Save $25 on the 4th Edition of Microscopic Analysis of Agricultural Products.
You will also receive by email — FREE — the eChapter, "Comprehensive 2D GC Methodologies for the Analysis of Lipids,” from Extreme Chromatography: Faster, Hotter, Smaller.

Use coupon code BOM0512 to receive the discount.


Pascal Veys discusses the AOCS Press book," Microscopic Analysis of Agricultural Products" at the 102nd Annual AOCS Meeting & Expo in Cincinnati, OH.




Your News and Notes for Friday May 11, 2012

FDA nanotechnology draft guidance represents 'marginal progress' – petition group
FoodQualityNews.com--US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) draft guidance on the use of nanotechnology in food and food contact substances represents only “marginal progress” towards regulation of the technology, a petition group has claimed. Read more.

Recruitment For Historic, Nationwide Vitamin D Trial
Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids are now in the spotlight for their potential ability to prevent disease. Many Americans, especially African Americans, are not getting enough of these nutrients, according to data from national surveys. Both nutrients can be found in fish, some fortified foods, and supplements, while vitamin D can also be produced from sunlight (ultraviolet-B light). To learn more or to see if you are eligible to participate, call 1-800-388-3963 or visit www.vitalstudy.org.

NSF grant will help scientists uncover hidden soybean genes
Online Athens--  Soybeans are the world's largest single source of vegetable protein and edible oil, already used to make livestock feed, soymilk, tofu, adhesives, alternative fuels, disinfectants, plastics and particleboard. Using a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, University of Georgia researcher Wayne Parrott hopes to uncover more uses for the popular legume.Read more.

Why Amyris Is Giving Up on Biodiesel, For Now
Technology Review-- Amyris, a company that uses synthetic biology to make alternatives to conventional petroleum products, recently decided to wind down its biofuels business and focus on selling higher-value products such as cosmetics. Read more.

EFSA Statement on the safety of the “conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) rich oils” Clarinol® and Tonalin® TG 80 as Novel Food ingredients
Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to update its opinions on the safety of the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-rich oils Clarinol® and Tonalin® TG 80 as Novel Food ingredients in the light of additional information provided by Member States to the European Commission. Read more.

Abstract Alerts

Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum beta-glucosidase: a glucose-tolerant enzyme with high specific activity for cellobiose
Pei J, Pang Q, Zhao L, Fan S, Shi H. Biotechnology for Biofuels 2012, 5:31 (9 May 2012). Read the abstract.

GMO detection using a bioluminescent real time reporter (BART) of loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) suitable for field use
Guy Kiddle, Patrick Hardinge, Neil Buttigieg, Olga Gandelman, Clint Pereira, Cathal J McElgunn, Manuela Rizzoli, Rebecca Jackson, Nigel Appleton, Cathy Moore, Laurence C Tisi and James AH Murray. BMC Biotechnology 2012, 12:15. Published: 30 April 2012. Read the abstract.


Have a news item? Email your editors at tips@aocs.org.


Thursday, May 10, 2012

AOCS/JOCS Release First Validated Direct Method for Glycidyl Fatty Acid Esters

AOCS and the Japan Oil Chemists’ Society (JOCS) released the first validated direct method for glycidyl fatty acid esters in edible oils, AOCS/JOCS Official Method Cd 28-10. The method marks the first analytical collaboration between the two organizations.

AOCS/JOCS Official Method Cd 28-10 determines glycidyl fatty acid esters in edible oils using double solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. It is applicable for the determination of glycidyl fatty acid esters in commercial vegetable oils and fats.

AOCS/JOCS Official Method Cd 28-10 was developed through the Expert Panel on Process Contaminants that AOCS established in December 2009. Process contaminants are a group of unrelated compounds formed in the production of finished food products. The panel is initially focusing on the direct measurement of two process contaminants – 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) esters and glycidyl (glycidol) esters. Glycidyl esters have been found in some oils, causing their temporary removal in certain markets. Of particular interest is the occurrence of variable levels of 3-MCPD esters in refined vegetable oils. Discrepancies among different measurement techniques for 3-MCPD esters are ascribed to the presence of the potential precursor, glycidyl (glycidol) esters. The exact relationship, if any, between these two groups of compounds is unclear.

The method was tested through two pre-studies and a full collaborative study that consisted of nine blind-duplicate samples and included participation from laboratories in Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, United Kingdom, and the United States. The results were statistically analyzed according to the AOAC-IUPAC Harmonized Protocol (AOCS M 1-92 and M 4-86).

For more information on this method, please contact AOCS Technical Director Richard Cantrill at Richard.Cantrill@aocs.org or +1 217-693-4830. AOCS Methods are world-renowned, used in hundreds of laboratories on six continents. The Official Methods and Recommended Practices of the AOCS, 6th Edition, 2nd Printing, contains over 400 fats, oils, and lipid-related methods critical for processing and trading.
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About AOCS (American Oil Chemists’ Society)
AOCS is a global professional scientific society for all individuals and corporations with interest in the fats, oils, surfactants, detergents, and related materials fields. For more than 100 years, AOCS has promoted the science and technology of lipids in the fats and oils industries through analytical methods, proficiency testing, peer-reviewed technical publishing, and by providing venues for technical discussions and educational opportunities. Today, AOCS is a global partner in the science and technology industry with over 4,500 members throughout 90 countries.
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Links

Soybeans soaked in warm water naturally release key cancer-fighting substance

Soybeans soaking in warm water could become a new “green” source for production of a cancer-fighting substance now manufactured in a complicated and time-consuming industrial process, scientists are reporting in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Hari B. Krishnan and colleagues explain that the substance, Bowman-Birk Protease Inhibitor (BBI), has shown promise for preventing certain forms of cancer in clinical trials. Those human tests resulted from evidence of BBI’s beneficial effects, including indications that BBI derived from the large amounts of soybeans in traditional Japanese diets might underpin low cancer mortality rates in Japan. However, the current method of extracting BBI from soybeans is time-consuming and involves harsh chemicals. The scientists set out to see if there might be a greener and more environmentally friendly way of obtaining BBI.

They found that soybean seeds incubated in water at 122 degrees Fahrenheit naturally release large amounts of BBI that can easily be harvested from the water. The protein appeared to be active, with tests showing that it stopped breast cancer cells from dividing in a laboratory dish. “The abundance of BBI in soybean seed exudates by incubating the seeds in warm water provides a simple and alternative method to isolate this low molecular weight protein,” the researchers said.

The scientists acknowledge funding from the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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This post was provided by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and the American Chemical Society (ACS).

If you would like to provide an article please email your editors at tips@aocs.org.


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Annual Meeting -A Family Reunion

This guest post regarding the AOCS Annual Meeting experience and Dr. Earl Hammond (long-time AOCS member and meeting attendee) was provided by Barb Semeraro (AOCS Area Manager, Membership). Thank you Barb for writing and thank you for reading!

Every year I meet new members, friends, and colleagues at the AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo. I always look forward to seeing the Bruce’s, Carol’s, Doug’s, Bill’s, Larry’s, Nurhan’s, Neil’s, and Amy’s - to mention just a few.
Dr. Earl Hammond 

I know that many members also look forward to seeing their colleagues and friends. It’s like a family reunion.  And many people mention that they feel very welcomed at our meetings.

One person who couldn’t attend this year’s meeting was Professor Earl Hammond. Dr. Hammond always attends the meetings and you can usually find him in the Expo Hall by the large crowd of people around him. Everyone knows professor Hammond. I asked him to write a few words about his meeting and AOCS experiences. This is his reply -
“During my career as a research professor the AOCS meetings have always been my favorites, and I have attended most of them during the past 59 years.   I made many good friends at these meetings with whom I could discuss our progress, and they have left many warm memories for my old age.  Even when I could not find a report on a topic of immediate interest, I could usually find one to educate myself on a new topic.  And when even that failed, I could always manage a refreshing nap.  The AOCS provides many prizes and honors for its members, and I have been privileged to receive a number of them.  This is always fun, and a salve to the battered ego of researchers who usually do not accomplish as much as they had hoped.  During my life as a professor I managed to introduce many of my students to the AOCS.  This has allowed me to visit many of them at AOCS meetings and renew our friendships, and sometimes they even pay for my lunch."
 -Earl Hammond, Emeritus Professor, Iowa State University     

I hope you enjoyed the AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo and I look forward to seeing you next year in Montreal, Canada.

Barb Semeraro
Area Manager, Membership
barbs@aocs.org


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If you would like to provide a guest post please email your editors at tips@aocs.org.


Your News and Notes for Wednesday May 9, 2012

USDA Celebrates One Year of Mobile Ask Karen, Food Safety on Your Smartphone
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is celebrating the first anniversary of Mobile Ask Karen (m.AskKaren.gov), the mobile app that allows consumers to ask food safety questions at any time of day, instantly from their smartphones. Read more.

VEGOILS-Palm oil higher on bargain hunting; euro zone fears weighReuters--Yet palm oil fundamentals look healthy as the latest export data showed that shipments jumped by almost 10 percent, signalling robust demand for the edible oil from Asia. Read more.

Increasing Focus on Biodegradable Chelating Agents to Drive the Global Chelating Agents Market
prweb.com--GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Chelating Agents market. The global market for chelating agents is forecast to reach 438 thousand metric tons by the year 2017. Biodegradable chelating agents are likely to capture a significant share of the chelating agents market in the coming years, owing to potential health and environmental hazards associated with non-biodegradable organic chelating compounds. Read more.

Air Products Introduces New Environmentally Friendly Superwetting Surfactants and Pigment Dispersant for Aqueous Coatings Applications
marketwatch.com-- Air Products (NYSE:APD) today has introduced two new superwetting surfactants and one new pigment dispersant for use in the coatings industry. These new alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) free surfactants are designed to deliver improved value and superior performance versus competing products.  Read more.

Olive Oil Analysis Discussed at American Oil Chemists’ Society Annual Meeting
Olive Oil Times--Olive oil analysis received more than its fifteen minutes of fame at this year’s annual meeting of the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) 30 April to 2 May in Long Beach, California. The weekend before the meeting there was a short course entitled Olive Oil Chemistry and Sensory Relationships, and Tuesday morning featured a technical group meeting and a session “Olive and Specialty Oil.” Read more about the course.

Synthetic Biology for the Next Generation – A Symposium
On June 12-13, 2012, The National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering is hosting the final symposium of an international three symposia series on synthetic biology.  Find out more about the event.

Abstract Alerts

Organogels: An Alternative Edible Oil-Structuring Method
Edmund Daniel Co and Alejandro G. Marangoni. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, 2012, Volume 89, Number 5, Pages 749-780. Read the abstract.

The Role of Mixing Temperature on Microstructure and Rheological Properties of Butter Blends
Patrizia Buldo and Lars Wiking. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. Volume 89, Number 5 (2012), 787-795. Read the abstract.

AOCS News

New Release: Cocoa Butter and Related Compounds
The last 10 years of progress and research on cocoa butter are covered in Cocoa Butter and Related Compounds, a recent release from AOCS Press. The book, edited by Nissim Garti and Neil R. Widlak, describes several aspects of cocoa butter, including physical characteristics such as rheology, hardness, and melt profiles studied by new and advanced technologies.
The polymorphism of cocoa butter is reconsidered in light of studies done by synchrotron, DSC, FTIR, and SAXS techniques. These data are complemented by new understandings on the cause of the crystallization and transitions of the polymorphs. Also covered in Cocoa Butter and Related Compounds is the effect of minor components, emulsifiers, and other fats.
If you would like to review this book, please contact Nicole Philyaw at nicolep@aocs.org. For more information on Cocoa Butter and Related Compounds, visit the website.

New Palm Oil Book Released: Palm Oil: Production, Processing, Characterization, and Uses
All aspects of working with palm oil are covered in Palm Oil: Production, Processing, Characterization, and Uses, a recent release from AOCS Press. The book serves as a rich source of information on the production, processing, characterization, and utilization of palm oil and its components. Oil palm genomics is covered as well, with details on tissue culture and genetic engineering of oil palm.
Palm Oil: Production, Processing, Characterization, and Uses should be of specific interest to researchers and food manufacturers, with discussions on the general uses of palm and kernel oils and their fractions in food, nutritional, and oleochemical products as well as the potential use of palm oil as an alternative to trans fats. Also included are sections on the physical, chemical, and polymorphic properties of palm oil and its components as well as the measurement and maintenance of palm oil quality.
If you would like to review this book, please contact Nicole Philyaw at nicolep@aocs.org. For more information on Palm Oil: Production, Processing, Characterization, and Uses, visit the website.


Monday, May 7, 2012

Your News and Notes for Monday May 7, 2012

New Proposed BioPreferred Regulation to Expand Biobased Products for Federal Purchase
USDA (News release)-- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the publication in the Federal Register of new proposed guidelines for the USDA BioPreferred program that could expand the ability of USDA to designate biobased products for Federal purchase. USDA is proposing to allow for the designation of intermediate ingredients such as fibers, resins, and chemicals so that the products made from them could more easily be designated for preferred Federal procurement. Read the release.

Vitamin E in Vegetable Oil May Help Fight Cancer
WebWire (News release)--There has been conflicting research presented regarding the effect of vitamin E consumption and cancer prevention; however, a study recently published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research indicates that it does indeed fight the disease. Read the release.

USPTO Affirms Key Claims of Gevo's "AFT" Patent
4-traders.com--Butamax fails to get reexamination of key claims Gevo believes Butamax and DuPont are infringing. Read more.

Dow In Deal For Bio-Based Transformer Fluids
CBS Local--Midland-based Dow Chemical Co. will buy renewable and biodegradable insulating fluids, made from algae, from a California company under a deal announced Wednesday. Read more.

Surfactant Sleuths Identify Key Ingredients in Stopping Corrosive Behavior
cleaninginstitute.org (News Release)--ACI recognizes the Best Paper published during the previous year in the Journal of Surfactants & Detergents; the award was presented at the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) 103rd Annual Meeting. Read the release.

Abstract Alerts

Solution properties of biobased hyperbranched polyols investigated by multiple-detection size exclusion chromatography.
Milic, J., Teraoka, I. and Petrovic, Z. S. (2012). J. Appl. Polym. Sci. Read the abstract.

Lipidomics of Intact Mitochondria by MALDI-TOF/MS
Roberto Angelini1, Rita Vitale, Vinay A. Patil, Tiziana Cocco, Bernd Ludwig, Miriam L. Greenberg and Angela Corcelli1, First Published on May 3, 2012, doi: 10.1194/jlr.D026203 The Journal of Lipid Research. Read the abstract.

Enhancement of Intestinal Permeability Utilizing Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Increases γ-Tocotrienol Oral Bioavailability
Bilal S. Abuasal, Courtney Lucas, Breanne Peyton, Alaadin Alayoubi and Sami Nazzal, et al. Lipids, 2012, Volume 47, Number 5, Pages 461-469. Read the abstract.

Statistical Methodological Issues in Handling of Fatty Acid Data: Percentage or Concentration, Imputation and Indices
Roel J. T. Mocking, Johanna Assies, Anja Lok, Henricus G. Ruhé, Maarten W. J. Koeter, Ieke Visser, Claudi L. H. Bockting and Aart H. Schene.Lipids. Volume 47, Number 5 (2012), 541-547. Read the abstract.

Upcoming Events May 7- May 14, 2012
See the AOCS Events Calendar.

07-08 LIPID MAPS Annual Meeting 2012: Lipidomics Impact on Cell Biology, Metabolomics and Translational Medicine
La Jolla, California, USA

07-09 Dietary Fibre 2012
Rome, Italy

08-10 Marine Fuels: Specifications, Testing, Purchase, and Use ASTM International Training Course
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

13-16 International Symposium on Supercritical Fluids (ISSF-2012)
San Francisco, California, USA

14-16 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit 2012/Rio+20)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

14-18 11th International Hydrocolloids Conference
West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Have a news tip or upcoming event? Tip your editors at tips@aocs.org.


Thursday, May 3, 2012

It's a wrap! Thank you for attending the 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting and Expo

Thank you for attending the 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo. We appreciate those who attended the meeting and we hope you enjoyed your visit to Long Beach. We are looking forward to seeing everyone April 28-May 1, 2013, in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Please visit Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AOCSFan) to see photos from the 2012 meeting. If you would like to share your photos please visit 'The Lab' (Hall A) or email your editors at tips@aocs.org.

Dates to Remember

104th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo
April 28-May 1, 2013 | Montréal, Québec, Canada 
  • Call for Papers Opens: August 1, 2012
  • Call for Papers Deadline: October 15, 2012
  • Online Registration Opens: November 29, 2012


See you in Montréal!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Your Annual Meeting Notes for Wednesday, May 2

Thank you for joining us for the 103rd Annual Meeting & Expo. Wednesday, May 2, is the last day of the 2012 Annual Meeting and we will close with excellent technical sessions from 7:55 am-12:00 pm and 1:55 pm-5:00 pm. The AOCS Pavilion will be open until 3:00 pm -shop for books and get your free souvenir photo at The Lab.

-Wednesday, May 2-

Student CIG Business Meeting and Mentoring Program 12:00 pm-1:55 pm in 104C.

The AOCS Pavilion, which includes email stations, free Wifi, the AOCS Press Bookstore, and The Lab is open 7:30 am-3:00 pm in Hall A.

Poster Viewing is available 7:30 am-3:00 pm in Hall A.

AM Quick Links
    • View presentations by focus area here.
  • See all blog posts related to Annual Meeting 2012 here.

Contact your bloggers at tips@aocs.org (or stop by The Lab in Hall A) to share Annual Meeting news and photos.

Photo Essay - AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo

A few photos from the 103rd Annual Meeting & Expo... Please visit Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AOCSFan) for many more. If you would like to share your photos please visit 'The Lab' (Hall A) or email your editors at tips@aocs.org.

Set Up...
The Expo "before"
Connie and Donna (AOCS meetings staff)
Portfolio Stuffing
 The Expo
Fun Photos from 'The Lab"


















Visit Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AOCSFan) for more.