The enrichment of wheat cookies with high-oleic sunflower seed and hull-less barley flour: Impact on nutritional composition,content of heavy elements and physical properties

Cookies prepared with white or wholegrain wheat flours and substituted with high-oleic sunflower seed (10 g/100 g and 30 g/100 g supplementation levels) and hull-less barley flour (30 g/100 g and 50 g/100 g levels) were evaluated for nutritional properties, physical and sensory attributes. Sunflower seed significantly increased the contents of Se, Zn, Mg, and Ca, as well as the contents of α-tocopherol and fat in cookies. The contents of Se, Cu, Fe, Zn and β-glucan were raised in cookies by barley supplementation. It was estimated that 100 g of barley and sunflower seed-supplemented cookies can meet about 18–49% of dietary reference intake (DRI) for Se. Both supplemented cookies were found not to pose a significant risk, with regard to excessive intakes of heavy elements (Pb, Cd, As, Hg). In addition, the supplementation with sunflower seed improved sensory properties of the cookies.     

Properties of TaSiN thin films deposited by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering

TaSiN is a promising material for application as electrically conductive diffusion barrier for the integration of high permittivity perovskite materials in integrated circuits. TaSiN thin films were deposited by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering using TaSi and TaSi_2.7 targets in an Ar/N₂ atmosphere. The sputter power was varied in order to achieve different TaSiN compositions. The stoichiometry of as-deposited films was estimated using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. The as-deposited TaSiN thin films are amorphous. Their crystallization temperature is above 700 °C and increases with higher nitrogen content. They have metallic conduction and ohmic behavior. The resistivity of as deposited films is in the range from 10^− 6 Ω m up to 10^− 3 Ω m and increases with nitrogen content. It was found that p⁺⁺-Si/Ta₂₁Si₅₇N₂₁ develops unacceptable high contact resistance. Introducing an intermediate Pt layer the stack p⁺⁺-Si/Pt/Ta₂₁Si₅₇N₂₁ had a good conductive properties and good thermal stability at 700 °C.     

Cold-Pressed Pumpkin Seed Oil Antioxidant Activity as Determined by a DC Polarographic Assay Based on Hydrogen Peroxide Scavenge

Antioxidant (AO) activity of cold pressed pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed oil, produced from three naked and one hulled variety, was assessed using a DC polarographic assay based on a hydrogen peroxide scavenge (HPS). Results are expressed as the decrease of the anodic oxidation current of hydrogen peroxide obtained upon addition of methanolic extract of the investigated oils. Strict correlations of HPS and (1) radical scavenging capacity against the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (0.99), (2) the induction period estimated by a Rancimat test (0.99) and (3) total phenolic content estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) assay (0.99) were obtained. In addition, a significant correlation of HPS and the content of δ-tocopherol (0.87), squalene (0.67) and color CIE a* (−0.89) was found. Based on the results reported, the polarographic assay was found to be suitable for determination of AO activity as an indicator of the quality and oxidative stability of oil.     

Characterisation of leucyl aminopeptidase from Solanum tuberosum tuber

Potato juice (a waste product from the starch industry) is a potential source of novel enzymes for food applications. For use in the production and improvement of food protein hydrolysates, commercially available exopeptidases, predominantly aminopeptidases, are recommended. The present study was performed to explore possible biotechnological interest of leucyl aminopeptidase (LAP) activity in the potato tuber. The LAP from potato tuber was purified and characterised. Specific LAP activity was increased 200-fold by purification of the crude extract. The purified enzyme had a pH optimum of 9.0 and temperature optimum of 45 °C. LAP hydrolysed leucine-, alanine- and lysine-p-nitroanilide to a similar degree. The most efficient inhibitor was 1,10-phenanthroline. Almost all divalent cations tested inhibited the enzyme activity, while Co²⁺ stimulated LAP activity by over 100%. The purified LAP had a molecular weight of 90 kDa with an isoelectric point of 5.45. Sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed one band of 48 kDa.     

The advantages of solid fat content determination in cocoa butter and cocoa butter equivalents by the Karlshamns method

This paper describes the preparation of samples and the evaluation techniques applied to determine the Solid Fat Content (SFC) by means of pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in confectionery fats characterized by distinct polymorphism (cocoa butter, cocoa butter equivalents and their mixtures). Due to the deviation of SFC values in certain softer cocoa butter equivalents at the temperature of 20 °C, an internal method devised at Karlshamns Oils & Fats AB is applied as well. When compared to the official IUPAC 2.150 (b) method, Karlshamns' method involves a lower temperature and a prolonged period of time at the stage of the final SFC stabilization in the pre-treatment of fat samples. The calculation of SFC in the analysed samples for the purposes of this paper was carried out by employing both methods (the indirect method and a serial procedure). The results are presented graphically. Differences were reflected in the SFC of the fats and their mixtures that were under observation depending on the method and temperatures applied. The obtained results indicated a considerable advantage of employing the Karlshamns method since the results yielded by this method are more lucid. Moreover, the behaviour of fats in the production process can be more easily predicted on the basis of these results.