Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention generally relate to a fuel composition, for example, that may be used as a fire starter for igniting barbecue charcoal, firewood, campfires, pellet stoves, and the like, and/or as a fuel material, e.g., for heating or cooking. A fuel composition is described in some embodiments that includes corn cob particles and/or other plant-derived particles in which a liquid fuel has been absorbed. The fuel composition may be used as a fuel material and/or to initiate combustion of a regular fuel material such as charcoal, firewood and pellet stove fuel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amphiphilic sterol- and fat-based particles, which can be dispersed in liquid foods and beverages such as milk. The compositions provided, when consumed, reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total plasma cholesterol (TC) levels.

Abstract: A dietary supplement is provided which includes at least one triglyceride-based edible fat and between 3% and 50% by weight of triglyceride recrystallized phytosterols. The dietary supplement can be in the form of a capsule, pill or wafer. Additionally, the dietary supplement can be combined with protein, vitamins, minerals, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A thermoplastic laboratory beaker that holds liquid in a reservoir portion of the beaker, in which the beaker includes a first upright, generally circular, outer sidewall and a second inner sidewall which are united at their upper limit height to form a lip edge or lip surface. The two sidewalls typically diverge from each other below the lip surface to create an air space between them. The outer sidewall extends downward a first distance D1 below the lip surface, and then usually bends outward to form a substantially planar supporting flange that at least partially supports the weight of said beaker on a laboratory surface. The inner sidewall extends downward a second distance D2 from the lip surface, and then bends inward to form a bottom wall for the reservoir portion that intersects the central vertical axis of said beaker, in which the inner sidewall and the bottom wall form the reservoir portion for holding a liquid.

Abstract: A nutritional fat or oil-based composition for increasing HDL cholesterol, decreasing LDL cholesterol and decreasing the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio in human plasma is described. The composition typically includes at least 1% by weight myristic acid esterified at the sn-2 position in triglyceride molecules, includes between 10% and 40% by weight linoleic acid, and further includes between 30% and 65% by weight oleic acid and between 15% and 40% by weight total saturated fatty acids. The ratio of sn-2 myristic acid to sn-2 palmitic acid is typically greater than 1:1 and the sum of weight percentages for saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids equals 100%. In desirable cases, the composition is substantially cholesterol-free.

Abstract: A food or beverage composition suitable for human consumption includes a cow's milk that has been supplemented and homogenized with an omega-3 fatty acid-containing milk supplementation oil, in which a milk supplementation oil includes one part by weight of an EPA/DHA fatty acid-containing enriching oil that has been combined and diluted with at least one part by weight of an oxidative stabilization oil, such as a low linoleic acid/high oleic acid-containing oxidative stabilization oil. As a result, the rate of oxidation of EPA/DHA fatty acids added to the milk via the milk supplementation oil can be reduced at least two-fold or even much more compared to the rate of oxidation of an equal quantity of the same EPA/DHA fatty acid-containing enriching oil homogenized into the same cow's milk without having been first combined and diluted with the oxidative stabilization oil.

Abstract: A method for disposing of liquid aqueous laboratory waste is described, which involves solidifying the liquid waste with a suitable isovolumic, space-filling superabsorbent polymer within a disposable impermeable film-type container held in an open top, reusable rigid outer container such as a laboratory beaker, and closing and removing the disposable container containing the solidified waste from the rigid outer container. The waste held in the film-type container can be finally disposed of through incineration or deposit in a suitable landfill.

Abstract: An edible composition for ingestion by mammals, especially by humans, that includes a fat-based blend containing: (a) at least one triglyceride-based fat, (b) a low level of diglycerides, for example, less than 3% by weight of diglycerides, e.g., diacylglycerol (DAG), and (c) at least 2% and in some instances at least 5% by weight of a mixture of fatty acid Ester Phytosterols (EPs), in which at least 65% by weight of the fatty acid EPs are Monounsaturated (oleate)-Ester Phytosterols (MEPs), and less than 20% by weight of the fatty acid EPs are Polyunsaturated (linoleate+alpha-linolenate)-Ester Phytosterols (PEPs). The increased proportion of MEPs and decreased proportions PEPs and diglycerides substantially increase the oxidative stability index (OSI), shelf life, and health benefits of the above mixture of fatty acid EPs, while providing an advantageous melting temperature and desirable mouth feel for this mixture of fatty acid EPs.

Abstract: A food or beverage composition suitable for human consumption is described which includes an aqueous acetic acid or acetate salt solution that has been supplemented with phenolic antioxidants, and may also contain an omega-3 fatty acid-containing supplementation oil in which a supplementation oil includes a blend of an omega-3 fatty acid-containing enriching oil that has been combined and diluted with an oxidative stabilization oil, such as a low linoleic acid/high oleic acid-containing oxidative stabilization oil or a high saturated fat/low linoleic acid-containing fat. The combination of aqueous acetic acid and phenolic antioxidants can result in reduction or elimination of astringency due to the presence of the phenolic antioxidants, and can further reduce the levels of damaging free radicals resulting from cooking processes. In addition, the acetic acid can provide chemical stabilization of the phenolic antioxidants.

Abstract: A fat-containing processed food composition is described that is suitable for human consumption, and that contains exogenously added microparticles of phenolic antioxidants dispersed but not dissolved in an antioxidant-protective edible oil/fat portion of the food composition. The oxidative stability of the phenolic antioxidants in the fat or oil portion of the food composition is substantially greater than when dissolved in an equal portion of water at pH 7.

Abstract: A nutritional fat or oil-based composition for increasing HDL cholesterol, decreasing LDL cholesterol and decreasing the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio in human plasma is described. The composition can advantageously include at least 1% by weight myristic acid esterified at the sn-2 position in triglyceride molecules, includes between 10% and 40% by weight linoleic acid, and further includes between 30% and 65% by weight oleic acid and between 15% and 40% by weight total saturated fatty acids. The ratio of sn-2 myristic acid to sn-2 palmitic acid is typically greater than 1:1 and the sum of weight percentages for saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids equals 100%. In desirable cases, the composition is substantially cholesterol-free.

Abstract: A method of supplementing a beverage or other edible aqueous medium with phytosterols, and the resulting phytosterol-supplemented edible media and other edible products, are described. The method includes admixing a dry powder of non-esterified phytosterol microparticles with triglyceride-based edible oil to produce a slurry of powder in oil. The slurry is optionally homogenized to disaggregate caked or otherwise aggregated phytosterol microparticles, allowing an increased proportion of the microparticles to be uniformly coated with the oil. The slurry is admixed and homogenized in the liquid aqueous phase of an edible aqueous medium with at least one exogenous emulsifier, surfactant or other agent that can stabilize the dispersion of oil-encapsulated phytosterol microparticles. The beverage or other edible aqueous medium may be pasteurized.

Abstract: A vitamin C-fortified processed aqueous food or beverage composition for human or animal consumption and methods for preparing such compositions are described. The composition includes at least one water-solubilized chemical source of vitamin C and at least one water-insoluble microparticulate chemical source of ascorbate. The water-soluble vitamin C and the water-insoluble source of ascorbate are both dispersed in the composition that is free of an amount of available solvent that would dissolve the water-insoluble source of ascorbate. The microparticulate ascorbate acts to reduce the rate of loss of vitamin C in the composition.

Abstract: A dry composition that is brewed with potable liquid to produce an infusion beverage and methods of using such compositions are described. The composition includes a first amount of fruit and/or vegetable-derived particulate solids combined with a second pre-measured amount of a particulate bioactive component-containing material, advantageously an antioxidant-rich material. When immersed in the liquid the composition releases the phenolic antioxidants to produce a serving of the beverage. The bioactive component-containing material is advantageously configured and sized to remain substantially uniformly distributed throughout the dry composition.

Abstract: A food or beverage composition suitable for human consumption includes an aqueous suspension such as cow's milk that has been supplemented and homogenized with an omega-3 fatty acid-containing supplementation oil, in which a supplementation oil includes one part by weight of an EPA/DHA fatty acid-containing enriching oil that has been combined and diluted with at least one part by weight of an oxidative stabilization oil, such as a low linoleic acid/high oleic acid-containing oxidative stabilization oil. As a result, the rate of oxidation of EPA/DHA fatty acids added to the aqueous suspension via the supplementation oil can be reduced at least two-fold or even much more compared to the rate of oxidation of an equal quantity of the same EPA/DHA fatty acid-containing enriching oil homogenized into the same aqueous suspension without having been first combined and diluted with the oxidative stabilization oil.

Abstract: Edible oils are described which are extracted from dried fermented grape seeds isolated from a fermented grape pomace that has undergone fermentation, e.g., primary fermentation during wine making. The edible oils contain distinguishing flavor and fragrance chemicals evidenced by organoleptic evaluation and chemical analysis, in which these chemicals are substantially lacking in grape seed oils that have been similarly extracted from grape seeds isolated from non-fermented grape pomace.

Abstract: Nutritional fat or oil-based compositions for increasing HDL cholesterol, decreasing total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol and decreasing the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio in human plasma are described. The compositions can advantageously include at least 10% of myristic acid and/or lauric acid in which at least 3% of said fatty acid composition is myristic acid and at least 3% is lauric acid; in some cases at least 1% by weight myristic acid and/or lauric acid is esterified at the sn-2 position in triglyceride molecules. The compositions also include between 5% and 40% by weight linoleic acid, and typically further include at least 10% by weight monounsaturated fatty acids and between 15% and 55% by weight total saturated fatty acids. The sum of weight percentages for saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids equals 100%. In desirable cases, the composition is substantially cholesterol-free.

Abstract: A nutritional fat or oil-based composition for increasing HDL cholesterol, decreasing LDL cholesterol and decreasing the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio in human plasma is described. The composition typically includes at least 1% by weight myristic acid esterified at the sn-2 position in triglyceride molecules, includes between 10% and 40% by weight linoleic acid, and further includes between 30% and 65% by weight oleic acid and between 15% and 40% by weight total saturated fatty acids. The ratio of sn-2 myristic acid to sn-2 palmitic acid is typically greater than 1:1 and the sum of weight percentages for saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids equals 100%. In desirable cases, the composition is substantially cholesterol-free.

Abstract: A dietary supplement is provided which includes at least one triglyceride-based edible fat and between 3% and 50% by weight of triglyceride recrystallized phytosterols. The dietary supplement can be in the form of a capsule, pill or wafer. Additionally, the dietary supplement can be combined with protein, vitamins, minerals, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A dietary supplement is provided which includes at least one triglyceride-based edible fat and between 3% and 50% by weight of triglyceride recrystallized phytosterols. The dietary supplement can be in the form of a capsule, pill or wafer. Additionally, the dietary supplement can be combined with protein, vitamins, minerals, or combinations thereof.