Content of amino acids and the quality of protein in Brussels sprouts,both raw and prepared for consumption

The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the content of amino acids and the quality of protein in Brussels sprouts. The investigation included the raw material, cooked sample and two types of frozen product stored at ?20 °C for 12 months and then prepared for consumption. The frozen products investigated were obtained using the traditional method (blanching before freezing) and the modified method (cooking before freezing, then defrosting and heating in microwave oven after refrigerated storage) of the ready-to-eat type. Brussels sprouts, both fresh and prepared for consumption, were a good source of protein and amino acids. Proline and glutamic acid were dominating; leucine and tyrosine with phenylalanine were limiting amino acids. The product obtained by modified method contained 16% less amino acids in 16 g N than the raw material and 14% less than the raw material after cooking, and also 10% lower than that of the traditionally obtained product.     

Some behavioral effects of 1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine, opipramol and sertraline, the sigma site ligands

1,3-Di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG), opipramol (OPI) and sertraline (SER), sigma site ligands, were studied in Wistar rats and Albino Swiss mice, mainly with regard to their interaction with dopamine drugs. DTG and SER (at the highest doses only) decreased the spontaneous locomotor activity. DTG did not change the amphetamine locomotor hyperactivity, while OPI and SER decreased it. The amphetamine stereotypy was slightly increased (prolonged) by all the three drugs. OPI antagonized the locomotor hyperactivity, stereotypy, aggression and climbing, all those being induced by apomorphine; DTG inhibited only the aggression, while SER-the aggression and climbing (the latter was also inhibited by paroxetine, which showed no affinity for sigma sites). DTG and SER (but not paroxetine) were able to increase the locomotor hyperactivity induced by quinpirole. That effect was antagonized by OPI which-when given alone-did not affect the quinpirole hyperlocomotion. The reserpine-induced akinesia was not affected by DTG, OPI or SER; the L-DOPA hyperactivity in reserpinized rats was changed (increased) by DTG only. DTG and SER (also paroxetine and citalopram), but not OPI, increased the cocaine locomotor hyperactivity. All the three sigma ligands given alone did not evoke catalepsy; the haloperidol- and spiperone-induced catalepsy was attenuated by DTG and OPI, but increased by SER. The MK-801-induced hyperactivity was decreased by DTG, but increased by OPI and SER. In the forced swimming test, only DTG slightly reduced the immobility time; the reduction of the immobility time induced by MK-801 was not changed by DTG, but increased by OPI and SER. Only DTG evoked a dose-dependent decrease in the body temperature, which was not changed by rimcazole. The above results indicate that the sigma site ligands studied differ in their pharmacological profile; however, it is still difficult to determine unequivocally whether they show agonistic or antagonistic properties.     

A numerical method for natural convection and heat conduction around and in a horizontal circular pipe

Natural convection around a horizontal circular pipe coupled with heat conduction in the solid structure is numerically investigated using a preconditioning method for solving incompressible and compressible Navier–Stokes equations. In this method, fundamental equations are completely reduced to an equation of heat conduction when the flow field is static (zero velocity). Therefore, not only compressible flows but also very slow flows such as natural convection in a flow field and heat conduction in a static field can be simultaneously calculated using the same computational algorithm. In this study, we first calculated the compressible flow around a NACA0012 airfoil with conduction in the airfoil and then simulated natural convections around a horizontal circular pipe with a different heat conductivity. Finally, we numerically investigated the effect of heat conductivity of the pipe on natural convection.     

Effect of RF magnetron sputtering parameters on the optimization of the discharge capacity of ternary lithium oxide thin films

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - The increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries has stimulated the investigation of new compounds in order to reduce the costs and the...     

Anthocyanins,total polyphenols and antioxidant activity in amaranth and quinoa seeds and sprouts during their growth

Total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic contents (TP) and anthocyanins contents (ANT) were determined in Amaranthus cruentus and Chenopodium quinoa seeds and sprouts. Antioxidant activity of the investigated seeds decreased in the following order: quinoa, amaranth v. Rawa, amaranth v. Aztek for FRAP and quinoa, amaranth v. Aztek, amaranth v. Rawa for both ABTS and DPPH. Sprouts activity depended on the length of their growth, and the peak values were reached on the fourth day in the case of amaranth and on the sixth day in the case of quinoa. The data obtained by the three methods showed significant correlation between TP content in seeds and sprouts. In sprouts grown in the daylight and in the darkness we observed some significant changes of TP, ANT and antioxidant activity. Amaranth and quinoa seeds and sprouts can be used in food, because it is a good source of ANT and TP with high antioxidant activity.     

Uranium isotopes in public drinking water and dose assessment for man in Poland

238U, 234U and 235U were determined in tap water from municipal water pipes that drew their supply from surface water or ground water in various locations in Poland. Average activity concentrations of 238U, 234U and 235U in tap water from surface water were 9.6 +/- 7.1, 12.8 +/- 9.7 and 0.41 +/- 0.31 Bq m(-3), respectively, whereas from ground water they were 4.5 +/- 6.0, 5.7 +/- 6.9 and 0.19 +/- 0.27 Bq m(-3), respectively. Activity concentrations of 234U were higher than 238U. Ratios of 234U/238U ranged from 1.07 to 2.60, indicating the lack of equilibrium between these isotopes. The average 235U/238U ratio was 0.043 +/- 0.008, being close to 0.046 for natural uranium. Average annual intake with water and food was 7.6 +/- 5.1 Bq for 238U and 9.5 +/- 6.6 Bq for 234U. Annual committed effective doses calculated from these intakes for adults were 0.34 +/- 0.23 and 0.47 +/- 0.32 microSv, respectively; 235U contributed to the total dose from the uranium isotopes by about 2%.     

Sleepiness in professional drivers: effect of age and time of day

The effect of age and time of day on objective and subjective sleepiness in professional drivers was investigated during a simulated driving task. Thirty-six young and middle-aged professional males drivers, free from any sleep disorder, took part in two simulated driving sessions; one carried out in the afternoon (between 2 and 4 p.m.) the other in the evening (between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.). Half of each age group drove in a low traffic condition while the second half drove in a heavy traffic condition. Throughout the driving task, subjects' electroencephalogram and Karolinska sleepiness scale (KSS) scores were recorded. Visual analog scales measuring alertness and sleepiness levels were also completed before and after the driving. After each session, subjects filled out the NASA-TLX questionnaire and were asked if they had felt sleepy during the driving. Young professional drivers presented a significant decrease in alertness (raise of the spectral power in the alpha band) in the low traffic condition and a strong propensity to sleep during the evening test in contrast to middle-aged professional drivers.     

Surface Engineered Carboxymethylchitosan/Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimer Nanoparticles for Intracellular Targeting

Novel highly branched biodegradable macromolecular systems have been developed by grafting carboxymethylchitosan (CMCht) onto low generation poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers. Such structures organize into sphere‐like nanoparticles that are proposed to be used as carriers to deliver bioactive molecules aimed at controlling the behavior of stem cells, namely their proliferation and differentiation. The nanoparticles did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity in the range of concentrations below 1 mg mL^?1, and fluorescent probe labeled nanoparticles were found to be internalized with highly efficiency by both human osteoblast‐like cells and rat bone marrow stromal cells, under fluorescence‐activated cell sorting and fluorescence microscopy analyses. Dexamethasone (Dex) has been incorporated into CMCht/PAMAM dendrimer nanoparticles and release rates were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Moreover, the biochemical data demonstrates that the Dex‐loaded CMCht/PAMAM dendrimer nanoparticles promote the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells, in vitro. The nanoparticles exhibit interesting physicochemical and biological properties and have great potential to be used in fundamental cell biology studies as well as in a variety of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.