Abstract: Described are methods for the assembly of monolayer, bilayer, or multi-layer structures composed of homogenous rod-like molecules and particles. Included are methods for tuning physical properties of the mono-or multi-layered structures by changing ionic conditions and the size or concentration of polymer used for self-assembly.

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: A method and composition for reducing the cholesterolemic effect in mammals of ingesting a blended nutritional fat composition containing a palm mid-fraction (PMF) hardstock fat combined with an unsaturated vegetable oil. The composition is solid or semi-solid at 20° C. and fluid at 35° C., and includes between 15% and 45% by weight linoleic acid. The weight ratio of disaturated triglyceride (DST) molecules to trisaturated triglyceride (TST) molecules is greater than 10:1, and the PMF hardstock fat contains approximately 50% to 95% by weight DST molecules, the majority of which contain either palmitic acid or a combination of palmitic and stearic acids at the sn-1 and sn-3 triglyceride positions and either oleic acid or linoleic acid at the sn-2 molecular position.

Abstract: A method and composition for reducing the cholesterolemic effect in mammals of ingesting a blended nutritional fat composition containing a palm mid-fraction (PMF) hardstock fat combined with an unsaturated vegetable oil. The composition is solid or semi-solid at 20° C. and fluid at 35° C., and includes between 15% and 45% by weight linoleic acid. The weight ratio of disaturated triglyceride (DST) molecules to trisaturated triglyceride (TST) molecules is greater than 10:1, and the PMF hardstock fat contains approximately 50% to 95% by weight DST molecules, the majority of which contain either palmitic acid or a combination of palmitic and stearic acids at the sn-1 and sn-3 triglyceride positions and either oleic acid or linoleic acid at the sn-2 molecular position.

Abstract: A method and composition for reducing the cholesterolemic effect in mammals of ingesting a blended nutritional fat composition containing a palm mid-fraction (PMF) hardstock fat combined with an unsaturated vegetable oil. The composition is solid or semi-solid at 20° C. and fluid at 35° C., and includes between 15% and 45% by weight linoleic acid. The weight ratio of disaturated triglyceride (DST) molecules to trisaturated triglyceride (TST) molecules is greater than 10:1, and the PMF hardstock fat contains approximately 50% to 95% by weight DST molecules, the majority of which contain either palmitic acid or a combination of palmitic and stearic acids at the sn-1 and sn-3 triglyceride positions and either oleic acid or linoleic acid at the sn-2 molecular position.

Abstract: An omega-3 fatty acid supplementation fat blend includes one part by weight of an omega-3 enriching oil containing EPA and/or DHA fatty acids that has been combined and diluted with at least one-half part by weight of a low linoleic acid content oxidatively stabilizing saturated fat. The omega-3 supplementation fat blend is incorporated into stabilized aqueous suspensions including beverages and foods.

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: Edible phytosterol-containing compositions include molecular complexes of non-esterified phytosterols (P) and glycerine (G) in the form of liquid crystalline microparticles. Addition of an emulsifier (M) such as a monoglyceride or a modified lecithin, and optionally an ionic surfactant, to the complex facilitates its dispersal in an aqueous medium. A composition containing either the binary PG or ternary PGM molecular complexes can be formulated as a beverage, food product, or nutritional supplement. When administered to a human subject, the complexes sequester cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract and reduce LDL cholesterol and total plasma cholesterol levels.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention generally relate to the field of rheologically modified fuels, including hydrocarbon, hydrophobic, and/or liquid fuels such as alkane-based odorless mineral spirits, paraffin oil and biofuels such as mono-alkyl esters of medium to long chain (C8-C18) fatty acids, that have been thickened or gelled, e.g., by precipitation of fatty acid monoglycerides such as glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl monopalmitate. A thickened fire lighting fuel composition is described in some embodiments which includes a hydrocarbon- or alkyl ester-based hydrophobic liquid fuel, and an effective amount of at least one saturated fatty acid monoglyceride. The monoglyceride may be thermo-precipitated in certain instances in the fuel composition causing a substantial increase in the viscosity of the fuel 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: An omega-3 fatty acid supplementation fat blend includes one part by weight of an omega-3 enriching oil containing EPA and/or DHA fatty acids that has been combined and diluted with at least one-half part by weight of a low linoleic acid content oxidatively stabilizing saturated fat. The omega-3 supplementation fat blend is incorporated into stabilized aqueous suspensions including beverages and foods.

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 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: The present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for thickening liquids, e.g., hydrophobic liquids, non-aqueous liquids, fuels, etc. In one set of embodiments, a composition is produced by combining in a mixture, at least one monoglyceride (abbreviated “MG”) and glycerine (abbreviated “G”), in which the molar ratio of G to MG in the mixture is between 1:1 and 4:1. The mixture may be melted and cooled to form solids containing a G2MG molecular complex in which two molecules of G are hydrogen-bonded to each molecule of MG. The composition may be substantially free, in certain embodiments, of contaminating reactants, catalysts, alkaline agents, and/or by-products of fatty acid interesterification that may interfere with the use of said composition as a thickening agent.

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: An omega-3 fatty acid supplementation fat blend includes one part by weight of an omega-3 enriching oil containing EPA and/or DHA fatty acids that has been combined and diluted with at least one-half part by weight of a low linoleic acid content oxidatively stabilizing saturated fat. The omega-3 supplementation fat blend is incorporated into stabilized aqueous suspensions including beverages and foods.

Abstract: Edible phytosterol-containing compositions include molecular complexes of non-esterified phytosterols (P) and glycerine (G) in the form of liquid crystalline microparticles. Addition of an emulsifier (M) such as a monoglyceride or a modified lecithin, and optionally an ionic surfactant, to the complex facilitates its dispersal in an aqueous medium. A composition containing either the binary PG or ternary PGM molecular complexes can be formulated as a beverage, food product, or nutritional supplement. When administered to a human subject, the complexes sequester cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract and reduce LDL cholesterol and total plasma cholesterol levels.

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: 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: Various aspects of the present invention generally relate to the field of rheologically modified fuels, including hydrocarbon, hydrophobic, and/or liquid fuels such as alkane-based odorless mineral spirits, paraffin oil and biofuels such as mono-alkyl esters of medium to long chain (C8-C18) fatty acids, that have been thickened or gelled, e.g., by precipitation of fatty acid monoglycerides such as glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl monopalmitate. A thickened fire lighting fuel composition is described in some embodiments which includes a hydrocarbon- or alkyl ester-based hydrophobic liquid fuel, and an effective amount of at least one saturated fatty acid monoglyceride. The monoglyceride may be thermo-precipitated in certain instances in the fuel composition causing a substantial increase in the viscosity of the fuel composition.