Rheological Behavior of Hot-Air-Puffed Amaranth Seeds

Force-deformation and force-relaxation experiments were performed on amaranth seeds puffed at 290, 330 and 370°C. Less force and energy was required to cause a given deformation in seeds processed at 290°C than in those puffed at 330 and 370°C. It was also observed that the forces and energies required to produce a given deformation did not differ significantly (p ≤ 0.05) for seeds puffed at 330 and 370°C. The three-element generalized Maxwell model and Peleg model were applied for modeling force relaxation of puffed amaranth seeds. It was found that the generalized Maxwell model predicted the experimental data better than the Peleg model. The elastic parameters and asymptotic residual force of the generalized Maxwell model were significantly affected by puffing temperature, showing an increase with its rise. Relaxation times were not significantly affected by the puffing temperature. It was concluded that a higher puffing temperature resulted in a more rigid material and less viscous behavior.     

Adhesion of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells under Fluorescent and Soft X-ray Contact Microscopy

Understanding cancer cell adhesion could help to diminish tumor progression and metastasis. Adhesion mechanisms are currently the main therapeutic target of TNBC-resistant cells. This work shows the distribution and size of adhesive complexes determined with a common fluorescence microscopy technique and soft X-ray contact microscopy (SXCM). The results presented here demonstrate the potential of applying SXCM for imaging cell protrusions with high resolution when the cells are still alive in a physiological buffer. The possibility to observe the internal components of cells at a pristine and hydrated state with nanometer resolution distinguishes SXCM from the other more commonly used techniques for cell imaging. Thus, SXCM can be a promising technique for investigating the adhesion and organization of the actin cytoskeleton in cancer cells.     

Action of γ-irradiated patulin onSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary The action of-irradiated patulin onSaccharomyces cerevisiae OCK 2144 in liquid culture was studied. Patulin irradiated in an aqueous solution with doses ranging over 0.34–1.36 kGy inhibited the yeast growth in a proportion to the concentration of undestroyed toxin. Patulin disappearance in the growth medium occurred between 12–72 h of incubation at 30° C. The patulin content did not essentially change in the period of log phase of yeast growth which is accompanied by rapid glucose uptake.

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Einfluß des -bestrahlten Patulins aufSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Wirkung von-bestrahltem Patulin aufSaccharomyces cerevisiae OCK 2144 in Flüssigkultur untersucht. Patulin beeinflußte nach der Bestrahlung in wäßrigen Lösungen mit Dosen von 0,34 bis 1,36 kGy das Hefewachstum entsprechend dem Toxininhalt. Der Patulinabbau im Zuchtmedium erfolgte zwischen 12 und 72 h der Inkubation bei 30 °C. Der Patulingehalt veränderte sich nicht in der logarithmischen Phase des Hefewachstums, in dem der schnelle Glucoseverbrauch erfolgte.

     

Suitability of Dukat strawberries for studying effects on shelf life of irradiation combined with cold storage

Summary A new Dukat variety of strawberries was used to study the effect of irradiation combined with cold storage on their shelf life and chemical composition. Strawberries, with or without stems, were irradiated with a dose of 2.5 or 3.0 kGy within 6–10 or 20–24 h after harvesting. Results of the sensory evaluation showed that the minimum storage time for the fruits could be extended by a minimum of 9 days. If the time between harvest and irradiation was shorter, better results for storage experiments were obtained. Fruits with stems were more suitable for cold storage after irradiation than those without stems. Irradiation of strawberries did not change the titratable acidity and content of the reducing sugars. Colour intensity and ascorbic acid levels decreased in proportion to the absorbed dose and storage time.

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Die Eignung von Erdbeeren der Sorte Dukat durch Bestrahlung die Lagerstabilität bei der Kaltlagerung zu verlängern

Zusammenfassung Bei der neuen Erdbeersorte Dukat wurde der Einfluß der Bestrahlung zusammen mit der Kaltlagerung auf ihre Lagerstabilität und chemische Zusammensetzung untersucht. Die Erdbeeren mit oder ohne Stiele wurden mit 2,5 und 3,0 kGy Bestrahlungsdosen innerhalb 6–10 bzw. 20–24 h nach der Ernte bestrahlt. Die sensorischen Ergebnisse haben gezeigt, daß die Lagerstabilität der Früchte um mindestens 9 Tage verlängert werden kann. Wenn die Zeit zwischen Ernte und Bestrahlung kürzer war konnten bessere Ergebnisse erzielt werden. Die Früchte mit Stiel waren zur Kaltlagerung nach der Bestrahlung besser geeignet als die ohne Stiele. Die Bestrahlung von Erdbeeren beeinflußte nicht die Titrationsacidität und den Gehalt an reduzierenden Zuckern. Die Intensität der Farbe und der Ascorbinsäuregehalt verminderten sich im Verhältnis zur Bestrahlungsdose und Lagerungszeit.

     

The study on the impact of glycated pea proteins on human intestinal bacteria

The traditionally perceived function of nutrition includes supplying the consumer with the appropriate quantity and quality of substrates. As nutritional substrates, proteins are prone to spontaneously occurring non-enzymatic glycosylation (glycation) which can alter their molecular structure, making them highly bioactive. Glycated food proteins are able to modify the bacterial intestinal ecosystem, which is of great importance for the optimal usage of nutrients and maintenance of both intestinal homeostasis and balanced health status of the consumer. This study aimed to determine the impact of glycated pea proteins on the intestinal bacteria from a healthy human. The analyses were conducted with the use of experimental batch-type simulator models imitating human intestinal conditions. The glycated pea proteins affected the growth of gut commensal bacteria, particularly lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, whose levels increased significantly. There was a corresponding shift in the bacterial metabolites with increased levels of the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs); acetate, propionate lactate and butyrate. Intestinal bacteria were able to utilize these pea proteins thus indicating that the energy encrypted in glycated pea proteins, partially inaccessible for gastric enzymes, may be salvaged by gut microbiota. Such changes in microbial composition may beneficially impact the intestinal environment and exert a health-promoting effect in humans.     

Physical and organizational provision for installation, regulatory requirements and implementation of a simultaneous hybrid PET/MR-imaging system in an integrated research and clinical setting

The implementation of hybrid imaging systems requires thorough and anticipatory planning at local and regional levels. For installation of combined positron emission and magnetic resonance imaging systems (PET/MRI), a number of physical and constructional provisions concerning shielding of electromagnetic fields (RF- and high-field) as well as handling of radionuclides have to be met, the latter of which includes shielding for the emitted 511 keV gamma rays. Based on our experiences with a SIEMENS Biograph mMR system, a step-by-step approach is required to allow a trouble-free installation. In this article, we present a proposal for a standardized step-by-step plan to accomplish the installation of a combined PET/MRI system. Moreover, guidelines for the smooth operation of combined PET/MRI in an integrated research and clinical setting will be proposed. Overall, the most important preconditions for the successful implementation of PET/MRI in an integrated research and clinical setting is the interdisciplinary target-oriented cooperation between nuclear medicine, radiology, and all referring and collaborating institutions at all levels of interaction (personnel, imaging protocols, reporting, selection of the data transfer and communication methods).     

Limit Cycles for Multidimensional Vector Fields. The Elliptic Case

We consider polynomial vector fields of the form and their polynomial perturbations of degree n. We present a sufficient condition that the perturbed system has an invariant surface close to the plane z = 0. We study limit cycles which appear on this surface. The linearized condition for limit cycles, bifurcating from the curves y ² – x ³ + 3x = h, leads to a certain 2- dimensional integral (which generalizes the elliptic integrals). We show that this integral has a representation R ₁(h)I ₁ + + R _e(h)I _e, where R _j (h) are rational functions with degrees of numerators and denominators bounded by O(n). In the case of constant and one-dimensional matrix A(x,y) we estimate the number of zeros of the integral by const n.     

The Poincaré Center Problem

We present two examples of real planar polynomial vector fields with an orbitally linearizable saddle point such that they are neither rationally reversible nor Liouvillian integrable. We show that vector fields from one of these examples form an isolated component of the so-called integrable saddle variety. Next, we discuss the problem of partial duality between real centers and real integrable saddles and the problem of continuous moduli for the center variety. The first author is supported by the Polish MNiSzW Grant No. 1 P03A 015 29, and the second by a MCYT/FEDER grant number MTM2005–06098–C02–01 and by a CIRIT grant number 2005SGR 00550.     

Determination of Hexanal—an Indicator of Lipid Oxidation by Static Headspace Gas Chromatography (SHS-GC) in Fat-Rich Food Matrices

Lipid oxidation is one of the most detrimental processes in food, occurring during production and storage, and influences food aroma and taste. Analysis of volatile lipid oxidation products provides an insight into the oxidation and some volatiles, such as hexanal can be markers of undergoing oxidation processes. A method for hexanal determination in oil, potato chips, and mayonnaise matrices with high fat content was developed. Water was used as a matrix for comparison of performance of oil, emulsion, or nonhomogenous matrix in hexanal release. Sample weight, mixing with water, equilibrium temperature, and time were determined for each matrix to provide the highest extraction efficiency. The developed method is characterized by detection limits of 0.06, 0.07, and 0.09 mg/kg for rapeseed oil, potato chips, and mayonnaise, respectively, and linearity for all matrices was 0.999 for a range of 0.1–50 (potato chips) or 200 mg/kg (rest of matrices). Repeatability of the method was in a range of 3.11–5.43 % and intermediate precision of 3.59–5.96 % depending on a fat-rich product analyzed. The developed method presents an easy and automated approach to determine hexanal as a marker for lipid oxidation in oils and high fat products.