Allelochemical Potential of Metopium brownei

Metopium brownei is a tree that grows in coastal tropical forests along the Gulf of Mexico and in the Yucatan Peninsula. This medicinal species produces a strongly irritant exudate, and sometimes forms pure populations favored by fire. The bioactivity of the aqueous leachates, organic extracts (leaves, bark, and wood), and mixtures of urushiols and flavonoids from M. brownei were evaluated on the growth of two plants: Amaranthus hypochondriacus and Echinochloa crusgalli, and four phytopathogenic fungi: Fusarium oxysporum, Helminthosporium sp., Alternaria sp., and Pythium sp. Alkylcatechols (urushiols) were isolated from an acetone extract of the bark. Dihydroquercetin and eriodictyol were isolated from the chloroform–methanol extract of the wood. In addition, masticadienoic acid was isolated from the leaves. The aqueous leachates, organic extracts, and the mixtures of flavonoids and urushiols were inhibitory to the growth of test plants and phytopathogenic fungi. The allelochemical role of the bioactive compounds from M. brownei is discussed in relation with other results reported in some studies on Anacardiaceae family and M. brownei.     

Effect of phytotoxic resin glycoside on activity of H+-ATPase from plasma membrane

A resin glycoside mixture isolated fromIpomoea tricolor inhibited radicle growth ofEchinochloa crusgalli. The effect of the resin was tested on the activity of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase fromE. crusgalli. For this purpose, plasma membrane vesicles were purified by the method of aqueous two-phase partitioning. The resin glycoside inhibited by 30% the activity of the plasma membrane ATPase. The same result was obtained with the purified main component of the resin. This indicates that the plasma membrane ATPase can be one of the cellular targets of the resin. Hence it is possible that the mechanism of action of the resin involves an inhibition of the plasma membrane ATPase.     

Formation of spherical protein nanoparticles without impacting protein integrity

Protein formulation at the nanoscale is challenging because of protein susceptibility to chemical and physical degradation during processing. Herein, we present a straightforward method to prepare spherical protein nanoparticles by co-lyophilizing five structurally different enzymes (horseradish peroxidase, carbonic anhydrase, lysozyme, subtilisin Carlsberg and α-chymotrypsin) with methyl-β-cyclodextrin followed by suspension of the powders in ethyl acetate. The size distribution was narrow and varied from 88 ± 14 to 148 ± 16?nm as determined by dynamic light scattering. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs confirmed the size and spherical morphology of the protein nanoparticles. Residual activities for all enzymes tested were 100% upon dissolving the nanoparticles in buffer and no insoluble aggregates were formed.     

Risk evaluation and management to reaching a suggested FSO in a steam meal

Steam meals are ready-to-eat meals composed of raw and semi-cooked ingredients, which get cooked while microwave heating. In this study, an Indian style meal was selected, Chicken Tandoori, from two different producers. These meals were first evaluated with the Risk Ranger^® to identify the main foodborne pathogens risks, which were Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium and Bacillus cereus. Thereafter, quantitative microbiology was applied using different models and verified with growth and inactivation challenge tests. It was observed that the gamma model and the ComBase program^® showed very similar results. However, in some cases the results obtained with the challenge tests showed different results. The information gathered was used to create different scenarios which indicate how to manage the risks by setting Performance Objectives during the different stages of the food chain of this product and hence reaching a suggested Food Safety Objective.     

Effect of drying conditions on the retention of phenolic compounds,anthocyanins and antioxidant activity of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) added to yogurt

To evaluate the use of lixiviate roselle calyxes as an alternative source of bioactive compounds, they were subjected to dehydration in a vibrofluidised bed dryer after which some chemical parameters such as the retention of monomeric anthocyanins (MA), phenolic compounds, polymeric colour and antioxidant activity were determined. Drying curves showed both a constant drying period and a decreasing falling rate period. The different drying conditions showed significant differences in the chemical parameters. Using the dry residue with the best bioactive compounds content, it was possible to develop a dairy beverage (yogurt). The results confirmed that lixiviated roselle calyxes could be a competitive alternative for traditional products, such as grapes or bilberries, in terms on their antioxidant activity and stability when it is added as a source of bioactive compounds.     

Recommender system in collaborative learning environment using an influence diagram

Giving useful recommendations to students to improve collaboration in a learning experience requires tracking and analyzing student team interactions, identifying the problems and the target student. Previously, we proposed an approach to track students and assess their collaboration, but it did not perform any decision analysis to choose a recommendation for the student. In this paper, we propose an influence diagram, which includes the observable variables relevant for assessing collaboration, and the variable representing whether the student collaborates or not. We have analyzed the influence diagram with two machine learning techniques: an attribute selector, indicating the most important attributes that the model uses to recommend, and a decision tree algorithm revealing four different scenarios of recommendation. These analyses provide two useful outputs: (a) an automatic recommender, which can warn of problematic circumstances, and (b) a pedagogical support system (decision tree) that provides a visual explanation of the recommendation suggested.     

Effect of agitated bed drying on the retention of phenolic compounds,anthocyanins and antioxidant activity of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

An agitated fluidised bed dryer was employed to dry lixiviated roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) calyxes. The effects of operational drying variables on the chemical attributes such as the retention of monomeric anthocyanins (MA), phenolic compounds, polymeric colour, antioxidant activity and drying rate were analysed. Drying curves showed only decreasing falling rate period. To determine the kinetic parameters, the drying data were fitted to a Page's model, based on the moisture content ratio vs. the drying time; the k values ranged from 1.58 × 10^?5 to 6.28 × 10^?2 s^?1. The different drying conditions showed significant differences in the chemical parameters. When processing wet feeds, as lixiviated roselle calyxes, the mechanical assisted fluidisation can be considered as an innovative concept.     

Total polyphenol extraction from red sorghum grain and effects on the morphological structure of starch granules

The aim of this study was to propose a treatment to reduce the content of total polyphenols (TPP) and to obtain flour without significant morphological changes in the starch granules. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to predict the influence of temperature and time on TPP extraction. Research work was conducted using the central composite design methodology. Results showed that the effect of temperature was more significant than that of time. A quadratic fit of data regarding temperature and linear data adjustment as to time was obtained. A scanning electron microscopy analysis of starch showed no morphological change in the granules at the temperature studied. Starch granules presented a size distribution ranging from 6 to 25 μm being 35% of granules <15 μm, and 65% of granules >15 μm in size, respectively.     

Production of cyclopiazonic acid by Penicillium commune isolated from dry-cured ham on a meat extract-based substrate

Penicillium commune, a mold frequently found on dry-cured meat products, is able to synthesize the mycotoxin cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). To evaluate the hazard due to CPA on such foods, the ability of P. commune to grow and produce CPA at water activities (a(w)) in the range of 0.99 to 0.90 with a meat extract-based medium from 12 to 30 degrees C was determined. CPA was quantified by high-pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. P. commune was able to grow at every a(w) and temperature tested. The optimal environmental conditions for growth were 20 to 25 degrees C, at 0.97 to 0.96 a(w), but the highest amount of CPA was produced at 30 degrees C, 0.96 a(w). No direct correlation between growth rate and CPA production was assessed. Temperature seems to be the most important factor influencing CPA production. However, there was an interaction between temperature and a(w) that significantly (P < 0.001) affected growth and CPA production. An a(w) of 0.90 had a marked effect, depressing growth and CPA production. Meat extract-based medium proved to be an appropriate substrate for CPA biosynthesis by P. commune under a wide range of conditions.