Stability and consumer acceptance of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5, n-3 and docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6, n-3) in cream-filled sandwich cookies

ABSTRACT:  We formulated a filling for sandwich cookies containing 400 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5, n-3 (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6, n-3 (DHA) encapsulated in a matrix of starch and gelatin. Cookies were stored at 2 different temperatures (18 °C and 35 °C) and under 2 different packaging conditions (atmospheric and vacuum packed) for 28 d. At regular intervals, cookies were analyzed for moisture, water activity, and concentrations of EPA, DHA, and dienes. Results showed that there were no significant losses of EPA and DHA during storage under the conditions of study. A maximum loss of 5% was observed after 28 d of storage. The concentration of dienes obtained under different conditions were low (< 25 mmol/kg) as compared to a salmon oil sample with appreciable signs of oxidation (600 mmol/kg). Sensory evaluation of cookies by an untrained panel of healthy consumers and ulcerative colitis patients revealed no aftertaste and high acceptability of the cookies. Our results demonstrated that it is possible to make shelf-stable fortified foods with high levels of long-chain ω3FA.     

Effects of some drugs on hepatic glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in Lake Van fish (Chalcalburnus tarischii Pallas, 1811)

Inhibitory effects of some drugs on hepatic glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Lake Van fish (chalcalburnus tarischii pallas, 1811) were investigated. For this purpose, initially liver glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was purified 899-fold in a yield of 46.24% by using 2',5'-ADP Sepharose 4B affinity gel. In order to control the purification of enzyme was done SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band for enzyme. A constant temperature (+4 degrees C) was maintained during the purification process. Enzyme activity was determined with the Beutler method by using a spectrophotometer at 340 nm. Vankomycine, sulfanylamide, sulfanylacetamide, nidazole, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin and KMnO(4) were used as drugs. These drugs exhibited inhibitory effects on the enzyme. IC(50) values of vankomycine, sulfanylamide, sulfanylacetamide, nidazole, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin and KMnO(4) were 1.88, 0.037, 0.032, 1.178, 2.26, 643.5 and 0.0002 mM, and the K(i) constants 1.18+/-0.148, 0.119+/-0.021, 0.075+/-0.015, 1.15+/-0.21, 7.69+/-0.67, 1007+/-69, and 0.001+/-0.00022 mM, respectively. While vankomycine and nidazole showed competitive inhibition, others displayed noncompetitive inhibition. K(i) constants and IC(50) values for drugs were determined by Lineweaver-Burk graphs and plotting activity percentage versus [I], respectively.     

Unified formulation for web crippling strength of cold-formed steel sheeting using stepwise regression

This study presents the availability of a stepwise regression (SR) method for the unified formulation of web crippling strength of cold-formed steel decks for various loading cases. Existing design codes offer different formulations for each loading case. However, the objective of this study is to provide an alternative unified (single) formulation to related design codes which can be used for all loading cases at the same time and should be more accurate than the separate formulations of existing design codes. The unified stepwise regression formulation is based on well established experimental results from the literature. The proposed unified SR formulation results are compared with experimental results and current design codes and found to be more accurate.     

Statin use is associated with lower inflammation and erythropoietin responsiveness index in hemodialysis patients

Patients with end-stage renal disease are prone to inflammation and inflammation is related to erythropoietin-stimulating agent hyporesponsiveness and mortality in this population. Statins have been demonstrated to reduce cardiovascular mortality in selected populations of end-stage renal disease patients. These drugs have pleiotrophic effects such as anti-inflammation. In this retrospective analysis, we determined whether the use of statins improves inflammation and inflammation-related anemia in a cohort of hemodialysis patients. Data were analyzed from Fresenius Medical Care Dialysis Clinics in Turkey between 2005 and 2007. Seventy prevalent hemodialysis patients who were on statins at the start of the study and have been on statins during follow-up (statin users) and 1293 patients who were not on statin at the start of the study and had never been prescribed any lipid-modifying drugs during follow-up (statin nonusers) were included in the study. High-sensitive C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased in statin users (1.50±1.49 vs. 1.33±1.11 mg/L, P=0.05) compared with nonusers (1.93±3.22 vs. 2.05±2.77 mg/L). Hemoglobin levels and the rate of erythropoietin-stimulating agent users were similar. However, the prescribed erythropoietin-stimulating agent dose (31.6±27.5 vs. 47.3±45.2 U/kg/week, P<0.05) and the erythropoietin response index (2.90±2.73 vs. 4.51±4.48 U/kg/week/Hb, P=0.001) were lower in statin users compared with statin nonusers. On stepwise multiple regression analysis, gender, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, duration of hemodialysis, serum ferritin, and statin use were independent determinants of the erythropoietin responsiveness index. Our results suggest that statin treatment leads to lower inflammation and improves hematopoiesis in hemodialysis patients.     

Wind generator potentiality in Somalia

The wind data of several measurement sites in Somalia have been analysed in order to characterize the wind potentiality in relation to the type of wind generators; these have been defined by a simple model of the system output. The relation between machine and local frequency distribution as to energy extraction can be defined by a parameter (“site effectiveness”), which is maximized by a suitable combination of the rated and cut-in wind speed. On this basis it is shown that Somalia is characterized by wind frequency distributions that can be exploited in the best way by relatively slow rather than fast wind machines.     

Fatty acids of neutral and phospholipids of three endangered trout: Salmo trutta caspius Kessler, Salmo trutta labrax Pallas and Salmo trutta macrostigma Dumeril

Total (TL), neutral (NL) and phospholipid (PL) amounts and fatty acid (FA) composition of female Salmo trutta caspius, Salmo trutta labrax and Salmo trutta macrostigma were investigated during one year. Twenty-three FAs were identified in both NLs and PLs. The principal FAs of both fractions were palmitic acid in saturated fatty acid, oleic acid in monounsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and linoleic acid in n-6 PUFAs. The highest values for TLs, NLs and PLs were found in winter. As a general trend, the highest n-3/n-6 ratios and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + DHA amounts were found in the winter and this coincided with the lowest gonado-somatic index.     

Biochar supported manganese based catalyst for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - This research work aims to study the performance of biochar-supported manganese-based catalysts for conversion of NOx in the selective catalytic...