Use of scanning electron microscopy to indicate the similarities and differences in pseudocereal and cereal proteins

Isolated and separated protein fractions from cereal and pseudocereal grains were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and scanning electron microscopy. Prolamin, the main storage protein in cereal such as maize, showed a difference in electrophoretic patterns and fine structure in comparison with those from amaranth and soybean. In contrast glutelins from amaranth, soybean and maize showed some similarity in the distribution of protein bands and in microstructure. Amaranth and soybean were closely similar in distribution of protein fractions and their microscopic structure. As an addition to chemical analyses, microscopy helped to understand and visualize structural changes and textural differences in protein fractions. Pseudocereals can be used as a nutritive substitute of some cereals in functional foods.     

Prevalence and aspects of arteriopathies in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with severe hypertension

Severe hypertension may lead to macroangiopathy complications especially when a major vascular risk factor as diabetes exists. We have studied the prevalence of macroangiopathy in a group of 40 consecutive NIDDM patients with severe hypertension (> or = 3 hypotensive drugs) (grS) that we have compared to 80 consecutive NIDDM patients with controlled hypertension (1 or 2 hypotensive drugs) (grC). All patients have had metabolic, blood pressure (ABPM) and vascular (color duplex) investigations. The two groups were similar for age (years): 61.9 > or = 9 versus 65.2 +/- 9.5, diabetes duration (years): 10.7 +/- 7 versus 12.1 +/- 8 and hypertension duration: (years) 8.9 +/- 8 versus 11.7 +/- 7.3. The mean level of blood pressure was the same in all patients (mmHg): SBP = 138 +/- 14 versus 144 +/- 20; DBP = 80 +/- 9 versus 83 +/- 13; MBP = 100 +/- 10 versus 105 +/- 15. The frequency (%) of escape SBP (> 140): 50 versus 80, p < 0.01), and DBP (> 90): 29 versus 35, p < 0.05 was significantly higher in grS. Twenty (25%) patients in grC and 20 (50%) in grS had one or more macroangiopathy which was dispatched as follow: coronary heart disease n = 8 (7%) versus 13 (32.5%), p < 0.01; lower limb arteritis n = 12 (15%) versus n = 9 (22%), NS; carotid atheroma n = 5 (25) versus n = 6 (15%), NS. All significant renal artery stenosis (RAS) n = 8 (20%) were found in grS (p < 0.001). Only plasma triglyceride level (mmol/L) was statistically higher in grS 2.5 +/- 1.2 versus +/- 1 while BMI, plasma cholesterol, HbA1C, and creatininemia were NS. The sex-ratio (F/M) 1.28 versus 3, insulin requirement (%): 11 versus 42.5, retinopathy (%) 14 versus 45 and micromacroalbuminuria were statistically significant p < 0.01. Conclusion: macroangiopathy is frequent in severe hypertension (50%) versus controlled hypertension (25%) in NIDDM patients especially coronary heart disease (32.5%); the prevalence of RAS is high in grS (20%). The following criteria are frequently noticed in high risk patients: insulin requirement, micro or macroalbuminuria and high plasma triglyceride.     

Does talk of race foster prejudice or tolerance in children?

Assessed how children's racial evaluations were affected by talking about these with a friend whose level of prejudice was different from their own. The authors compared the kinds of evaluative statements and explanatory strategies used by the high- (HP) and low-prejudice (LP) partners of a dyad, as well as the change in attitude that followed from the discussion. White children from the 3rd and 4th grades were identified as above or below the median for their class on the Multi-response Racial Attitude (MRA) measure, which assessed evaluations of White, Black, and Chinese children. They were then paired with a friend who differed in level of prejudice, and asked to discuss 1 positive and 1 negative item from the attitude measure. Instructions were to talk about how the 3 races should be evaluated and why. After the discussion, each child was privately reassessed on the MRA. Analyses indicated that LP children stated significantly more negative evaluations and examples of Whites and more cross-race similarity than HP children. HP children became significantly less prejudiced in their evaluations after the discussion. Changes were greater in children whose LP partner made more statements about cross-race similarity, along with more positive Black and negative White evaluations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Egocentrism, conformity, and agreeing to disagree.

The development of strategies for resolving peer disputes was studied by presenting 22 kindergartners and 22 2nd graders with self–peer disagreements, which varied on 2 factors: whether self and/or a peer had access to more valid information and whether the disagreement was about objective perceptions or subjective preferences. The self-valid and other-valid problems were accurately resolved by the youngest Ss. The both-valid problem was accurately resolved (evaluating both positions as right) both as a function of age and of the objectivity of the disagreement. It is concluded that the ability to differentiate the perceptual from the evaluative judgment was critical in distinguishing between egocentric/conforming Ss and nonegocentric independent/cooperative Ss. The finding that motivational factors increased conformity in older Ss is explained in terms of social comparison processes rather than in terms of the need of peer approval. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hesitant Fuzzy-Sets Based Decision-Making Model for Security Risk Assessment

Security is an important component in the process of developing healthcare web applications. We need to ensure security maintenance; therefore the analysis of healthcare web application's security risk is of utmost importance. Properties must be considered to minimise the security risk. Additionally, security risk management activities are revised, prepared, implemented, tracked, and regularly set up efficiently to design the security of healthcare web applications. Managing the security risk of a healthcare web application must be considered as the key component. Security is, in specific, seen as an add-on during the development process of healthcare web applications, but not as the key problem. Researchers must ensure that security is taken into account right from the earlier developmental stages of the healthcare web application. In this row, the authors of this study have used the hesitant fuzzy-based AHP-TOPSIS technique to estimate the risks of various healthcare web applications for improving security-durability. This approach would help to design and incorporate security features in healthcare web applications that would be able to battle threats on their own, and not depend solely on the external security of healthcare web applications. Furthermore, in terms of healthcare web application's security-durability, the security risk variable is measured, and vice versa. Hence, the findings of our study will also be useful in improving the durability of several web applications in healthcare.     

Comparison of composition and antioxidant capacity of some cereals and pseudocereals

Polyphenols, phenolic acids, fibres and antioxidant capacity were determined in water, acetone and methanol extracts of buckwheat, rice, soybean, quinoa and 3 amaranth cultivars. Their antioxidant activities were comparatively assessed by total radical‐trapping antioxidative potential (TRAP), ferric ion‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric‐reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and nitric oxide (NO^?) assays, which comprised of contributions from polyphenols and phenolic acids (especially from the most abundant ferulic acid). The correlation coefficients between polyphenols and antioxidant activities of cereal and pseudocereal methanol extracts with FRAP, NO^?, CUPRAC and TRAP were 0.99, 0.97, 0.96 and 0.77, respectively. The weakest correlation was with dietary fibres, an average one exhibited with tannins and marked correlation was shown with the phenolics. All the applied methods have shown that pseudocereals have higher antioxidant activity than some cereals (rice and buckwheat) and can be successfully replaced by cereals in case of allergy.     

Natural Antioxidants Preserve the Lipid Oxidative Stability of Minimally Processed Avocado Purée

ABSTRACT: Lipid oxidation is one of the major phenomena that limit the shelf-life of avocado products. The effects of adding 100 ppma-tocopherol, 200 ppm ascorbic acid, and 200 ppm ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on he stability of the lipidic fraction of minimally processed avocado purées were evaluated throughout storage. α tocopherol, followed by ascorbic acid, reduced oil rancidity processes during storage. Peroxide formation was minimal when a-tocopherol was added to avocado pulp, prolonging the induction stage of oils for at least 12 wk. When preserved in vacuum, iodine and specific extinction coefficient at 270 nm (k₂₇₀) values were more stable, with changes of 5.87 g I₂/100 g oil and 0.237, respectively, during 24 wk. On the other hand, EDTA was not shown to be effective in preserving the stability of the lipid fraction of avocado preserved by combined methods.     

Total phenolic and total flavonoid content,antioxidant activity and sensory evaluation of pseudocereal breads

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of adding (in two different doses 15% and 30%) pseudocereal (buckwheat, amaranth and quinoa) flour on the antioxidant properties and sensory value of breads. Buckwheat flour had the highest phenolic content (7.25 ± 0.23 mg/g dw). The content of total flavonoids in flours was about 2–4 fold higher when compared to breads. The addition of buckwheat flour to wheat bread, particularly in higher dose, was more effective in enhancing antioxidant activity, as evaluated by means of FRAP and DPPH, which increased by 2.36 fold, and 3.64 fold respectively, in comparison with other pseudocereal flours (amaranth, quinoa), which caused, in higher doses, the changes of above parameters within the ranges 1.20–1.79 fold, and 0.60–1.71 fold. Analysis of sensory results of breads showed that addition of buckwheat flour to the dough might improve subjective properties of bread and increase acceptable quality attributes such as taste, colour or odour. All these observations suggest that addition of buckwheat flour into bread can improve antioxidant as well as sensory properties of bread. Bread fortified with pseudocereal flours, and especially with buckwheat flour, may be placed on the market as a functional food.     

Modular next generation fast-neutron detector for portal monitoring

Nuclear nonproliferation is of critical importance for global security.Dangerous fissile materials including highly enriched uranium and weapons-grade plutonium are especially important to detect.Active interrogation techniques may result in much better sensitivity but are difficult with conventional portal monitors that rely on detecting thermal neutrons.Also,most conventional portal monitoring systems rely on³He,which has a finite and continually decreasing supply.By designing a hig...     

Two exotic fruits positively affect rat’s plasma composition

The aim of this investigation was to determine the bioactive compounds and the antioxidant potentials of Snake fruit and Mangosteen and their influence on plasma lipid levels and antioxidant activity in rats fed cholesterol-containing diets. It was found that total polyphenols and antioxidant potentials of Snake fruit were significantly higher than those of Mangosteen (P < 0.05). A cholesterol-containing diet supplemented with the studied exotic fruits showed a positive affect on rat’s plasma lipid levels and on the antioxidant activity during 30 days of feeding. In rat’s plasma of the Chol/Snake diet group, the fibrinogen fraction showed a decrease in the amounts and compositions of electrophoretic protein bands in the range of 110 and 14 kDa. However, all the positive results of this experiment on animals could not be automatically applied to humans.