Nutritional assessment of protein from beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L) processed at different pH values,in growing rats

The effect of the commonly used processing techniques of soaking (at different pH values) and cooking on the digestive and metabolic utilisation of protein from common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L) in growing rats was studied. Before the cooking step, beans were soaked in solutions of pH 2.6, 5.3 or 8.4. Analyses of beans soaked at moderately acid pH (5.3) showed a significant increase in essential amino acids, especially cysteine. Food intake and growth indices were also dependent on pH. All indices were better in animals fed with beans soaked in a basic pH solution than when an acid soaking solution was used. In contrast with the findings expected on the basis of the chemical analysis of protein composition of the food, the worst results for food intake and growth were found in rats fed with beans soaked at pH 5.3. There were no significant differences in apparent digestibility coefficient between different groups of animals. The highest metabolic utilisation of protein (balance) was found in animals fed with beans soaked in a basic solution; however, the values were insufficient to account for the faster rate of growth in this group. The better growth rate was probably due to the improved utilisation of carbohydrates in beans soaked in the basic pH (8.4) solution. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Measuring transient temperature of the medium in power engineering machines and installations

Under steady-state conditions when fluid temperature is constant, there is no damping and time lag and temperature measurement can be made with high accuracy. But when fluid temperature is varying rapidly as during start-up, quite appreciable differences occur between the true temperature and the measured temperature because of the time required for the transfer of heat to the thermocouple placed inside a heavy thermometer pocket. In this paper, two different techniques for determining transient fluid temperature based on the first and second order thermometer model are presented. The fluid temperature was determined using measured thermometer temperature, which is suddenly immersed into boiling water. To demonstrate the applicability of the presented method to actual data, the air temperature which changes in time, was calculated based on the temperature readings from the sheathed thermocouple.     

Inhibition of Carotenoid Biosynthesis by CRISPR/Cas9 Triggers Cell Wall Remodelling in Carrot

Recent data indicate that modifications to carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in plants alter the expression of genes affecting chemical composition of the cell wall. Phytoene synthase (PSY) is a rate limiting factor of carotenoid biosynthesis and it may exhibit species-specific and organ-specific roles determined by the presence of psy paralogous genes, the importance of which often remains unrevealed. Thus, the aim of this work was to elaborate the roles of two psy paralogs in a model system and to reveal biochemical changes in the cell wall of psy knockout mutants. For this purpose, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR associated (Cas9) proteins (CRISPR/Cas9) vectors were introduced to carotenoid-rich carrot (Daucus carota) callus cells in order to induce mutations in the psy1 and psy2 genes. Gene sequencing, expression analysis, and carotenoid content analysis revealed that the psy2 gene is critical for carotenoid biosynthesis in this model and its knockout blocks carotenogenesis. The psy2 knockout also decreased the expression of the psy1 paralog. Immunohistochemical staining of the psy2 mutant cells showed altered composition of arabinogalactan proteins, pectins, and extensins in the mutant cell walls. In particular, low-methylesterified pectins were abundantly present in the cell walls of carotenoid-rich callus in contrast to the carotenoid-free psy2 mutant. Transmission electron microscopy revealed altered plastid transition to amyloplasts instead of chromoplasts. The results demonstrate for the first time that the inhibited biosynthesis of carotenoids triggers the cell wall remodelling.     

An attempt to improve the evaluation of mechanical material properties from the Axisymmetric Tensile Test

This paper deals with new analytical modeling of the classical tensile test with an axisymmetric sample and determining the yield stress of elasto-plastic materials under the neck formation. Known for many years, classical Bridgman and Siebel-Davidenkov-Spiridonova's formulas provide certain errors, especially visible in the case of weakly hardening or ideal-plastic materials. Accurate numerical simulations of the process allowed verification of the analytical results. Based on the numerical simulations, some modifications of the analytical models and their derivation have been proposed which enabled the elimination of the two most questionable classic assumptions. Comparison of new results with well-known formulas shows that some progress is reached for small plastic deformations; however, for greater strain level further improvement is still advisable.     

Carbon Monoxide and Nitric Oxide as Examples of the Youngest Class of Transmitters

The year 2021 is the 100th anniversary of the confirmation of the neurotransmission phenomenon by Otto Loewi. Over the course of the hundred years, about 100 neurotransmitters belonging to many chemical groups have been discovered. In order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the confirmation of neurotransmitters, we present an overview of the first two endogenous gaseous transmitters i.e., nitric oxide, and carbon monoxide, which are often termed as gasotransmitters.     

Valorization of Irrigation Water in A Basin with Large Hydropower Production through Coupled Hydrological and Electric System Modelling

The problem of allocation of limited water resources for multiple and diverse activities with growing demand calls for the need to develop appropriate tools for water valorization. This work develops a methodology to estimate the economic value of water in a basin with large hydropower production and a growing demand for rice irrigation, based on a coupled hydrological and electric system modelling approach. Inflow deficits to the hydroelectric system induced by the irrigation reservoirs within the basin are simulated under different irrigation scenarios. The simulated inflow deficits are integrated to an existing model of the interconnected electric system to evaluate the associated increase in generation costs under different energy scenarios. The impact of inflow deficits in turbinated and spilled flow and generation costs are comprehensively explored. Both annual mean and interannual variability of overcosts increase with increasing irrigation demand. However, if normalized by yearly varying rice planted area, the distribution of additional costs does not change substantially. Moreover, the distribution of normalized overcosts per unit irrigated area is also invariant to energy scenarios, although the relative impact in total costs decreases as the proportion of hydroelectric generation diminishes.     

Chelation of Cu(II), Zn(II), and Fe(II) by Tannin Constituents of Selected Edible Nuts

The tannin fractions isolated from hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds were characterised by colorimetric assays and by an SE-HPLC technique. The complexation of Cu(II) and Zn(II) was determined by the reaction with tetramethylmurexide, whereas for Fe(II), ferrozine was employed. The walnut tannins exhibited a significantly weaker reaction with the vanillin/HCl reagent than hazelnut and almond tannins, but the protein precipitation capacity of the walnut fraction was high. The SE-HPLC chromatogram of the tannin fraction from hazelnuts revealed the presence of oligomers with higher molecular weights compared to that of almonds. Copper ions were most effectively chelated by the constituents of the tannin fractions of hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds. At a 0.2 mg/assay addition level, the walnut tannins complexed almost 100% Cu(II). The Fe(II) complexation capacities of the tannin fractions of walnuts and hazelnuts were weaker in comparison to that of the almond tannin fraction, which at a 2.5 mg/assay addition level, bound Fe(II) by ~90%. The capacity to chelate Zn(II) was quite varied for the different nut tannin fractions: almond tannins bound as much as 84% Zn(II), whereas the value for walnut tannins was only 8.7%; and for hazelnut tannins, no Zn(II) chelation took place at the levels tested.     

Natural Polyphenols as Modulators of Etoposide Anti-Cancer Activity

Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found in abundance in fruits and vegetables. Their health-promoting properties and their use in the prevention and treatment of many human diseases, including cancer, have been known for years. Many anti-cancer drugs are derived from these natural compounds. Etoposide, which is a semi-synthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin, a non-alkaloid lignan isolated from the dried roots and rhizomes of Podophyllum peltatum or Podophyllum emodi (Berberidaceae), is an example of such a compound. In this review, we present data on the effects of polyphenols on the anti-cancer activity of etoposide in in vitro and in vivo studies.     

ICP/MS and ICP/AES elemental analysis (38 elements) of edible wild mushrooms growing in Poland

Thirty-eight elements, including toxic cadmium, lead, mercury, silver and thallium, were determined in 18 species of wild edible mushrooms collected from several sites in Pomorskie Voivodeship in northern Poland in 1994. Elements were determined by double focused high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), after wet digestion of the dried samples with concentrated nitric acid in closed PTFE vessels using a microwave oven. K, P and Mg were present at levels of mg/g dry matter; Na, Zn, Ca, Fe, Cu, Mn, Rb, Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb, Cs, Sr, Al and Si were present at µg/g levels, while Tl, In, Bi, Th, U, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, La, Lu and Ba were present at ng/g levels.     

Tocopherols and Tocotrienols—Bioactive Dietary Compounds; What Is Certain,What Is Doubt?

Tocopherols and tocotrienols are natural compounds of plant origin, available in the nature. They are supplied in various amounts in a diet, mainly from vegetable oils, some oilseeds, and nuts. The main forms in the diet are α- and γ-tocopherol, due to the highest content in food products. Nevertheless, α-tocopherol is the main form of vitamin E with the highest tissue concentration. The α- forms of both tocopherols and tocotrienols are considered as the most metabolically active. Currently, research results indicate also a greater antioxidant potential of tocotrienols than tocopherols. Moreover, the biological role of vitamin E metabolites have received increasing interest. The aim of this review is to update the knowledge of tocopherol and tocotrienol bioactivity, with a particular focus on their bioavailability, distribution, and metabolism determinants in humans. Almost one hundred years after the start of research on α-tocopherol, its biological properties are still under investigation. For several decades, researchers’ interest in the biological importance of other forms of vitamin E has also been growing. Some of the functions, for instance the antioxidant functions of α- and γ-tocopherols, have been confirmed in humans, while others, such as the relationship with metabolic disorders, are still under investigation. Some studies, which analyzed the biological role and mechanisms of tocopherols and tocotrienols over the past few years described new and even unexpected cellular and molecular properties that will be the subject of future research.