Germination as a process to improve the antioxidant capacity of Lupinus angustifolius L. var. Zapaton

Antioxidant capacity, measured by glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase-like activity (SOD-like activity), peroxyl radical-trapping capacity (PRTC), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in unilamellar liposomes of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) has been evaluated in raw and germinated lupin seeds (Lupinus angustifolius L. var. Zapaton) for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 days. The content of antioxidant vitamins E and C has been also studied. The tripeptide GSH kept invariable for the first 5 days of germination and suffered a decrease of 20 and 78% after 6 and 9 days, respectively. During lupin germination, SOD-like activity increased slightly whilst PRTC doubled the amount after 9 days. TEAC values changed slightly up to 5 days of germination but after 6 and 9 days a significant increase (25 and 28%, respectively) was found. The oxidation of PC was inhibited by germinated lupin extracts and 9-day germination seeds provided the highest inhibition. Furthermore, germinated lupins provided more vitamin C, vitamin E activity and polyphenols than raw seeds, and the largest amounts of these bioactive compounds were found after 6 days of germination. Therefore, germination of lupin seeds (Lupinus angustifolius L. var. Zapaton) seems to be a good process to enhance their antioxidant capacity.     

Development of combinations of chemically modified vegetable oils as pork backfat substitutes in sausages formulation

Today’s consumers look for foods which provide nutrition and pleasure, while safeguarding their health, the result of which is that they increasingly avoid foods containing cholesterol and saturated and trans fatty acids. Chemically modified vegetable oils can help tailor meat products to meet this growing need and at the same time fulfil the technological needs of the meat processing industry. In this study, 16 backfat samples were characterised for their solid fat content (SFC) and melting point and these characteristics were used to design a mixture of chemically modified vegetable oils for use as a pork fat substitute for elaborating sausages. The mixtures were prepared with different vegetable oils bearing in mind with stearic acid content due to its close correlation with the SFC. The backfat was characterised as a function of its SFC and some modified vegetable oil mixtures were proposed, which led to a 10–20% diminution in saturated fatty acids and with a melting point similar to those observed in the backfat. The fatty acid profile pointed to a polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio higher than 0.4, and an n − 6/n − 3 fatty acid ratio of less than 4 in both modified vegetable oil mixtures proposed.     

Unusual η2‐Allene Osmacycle with Apoptotic Properties

Screening of a library of structurally unusual osmacyclic complexes for their antiproliferate properties in HeLa cells led to the discovery of a highly cytotoxic η²‐allene osmacycle. In this remarkably stable complex, osmium constitutes part of a metallacycle through the formation of a σ‐bond to a carbon in combination with coordination to an allene moiety. The osmacycle strongly induces apoptosis in Burkitt‐like lymphoma cells at submicromolar concentrations. The reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential, the induction of DNA fragmentation, and the activation of caspases‐9 and ‐3 reveal that programmed cell death occurs through the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. From the lipophilic and cationic nature of the osmacycle, in addition to a low oxidation potential (E_1/2=+0.27 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺, Fc=ferrocene) it is proposed that mitochondria are the cellular target where oxidative decomposition initiates apoptosis.     

Analytical Expressions for Hydraulic Calculation of Trapezoidal Drip Irrigation Units

Analytical expressions have been developed relating water distribution indexes in trapezoidal drip irrigation units to design variables which define these units: lengths and diameters of pipes, emitter and lateral spacing, slopes, emitter flow equation parameters, and equivalent lengths characterizing local losses. The proposed expressions are founded in classical hydraulics. They are more accurate than predictions in irrigation practice and are easier to handle than the simulation models frequently proposed to irrigation technicians. Unit design and irrigation decision making and evaluation can thus be furthered. An example for the application of the proposed expressions is presented. First, lateral and submain diameters are determined for different shapes of irrigation units to achieve a given water application uniformity. The irrigation time to supply the desired irrigation depth is then calculated. Results are finally compared with values obtained by simulations that take into account hydraulic and manufacture variations in the unit.     

Pedagogical utilization and assessment of the statistic online computational resource in introductory probability and statistics courses

Technology-based instruction represents a new recent pedagogical paradigm that is rooted in the realization that new generations are much more comfortable with, and excited about, new technologies. The rapid technological advancement over the past decade has fueled an enormous demand for the integration of modern networking, informational and computational tools with classical pedagogical instruments. Consequently, teaching with technology typically involves utilizing a variety of IT and multimedia resources for online learning, course management, electronic course materials, and novel tools of communication, engagement, experimental, critical thinking, and assessment.     

Effect of clinical and probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains on intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation in healthy and colitic rats

Lactobacillus rhamnosus is one of the most widely used probiotic microorganisms. Although this microorganism is not known for its virulence some rare cases of bacteraemia and endocarditis have been observed. Thus, it is important to identify the possible risks associated with each strain. Comparison of clinical and probiotic strains may give information on properties that could be a safety concern. A possible adverse effect is bacterial translocation. Animals with induced-colitis constitute a good model to assess translocation in the case of mucosal barrier disruption. We aimed at determining the ability of five L. rhamnosus strains, from clinical or probiotic origin, showing different in vitro properties, to induce in vivo translocation in both, healthy and colitic animals. We also tested the effects on the gut mucosal lining by measuring intestinal permeability. None of the in vitro parameters used for selection of the strains included in this study appear to be a risk for translocation or mucosal barrier disruption.     

The effect of germination process on the superoxide dismutase-like activity and thiamine,riboflavin and mineral contents of rapeseeds

Seeds of double low oilseed rape variety Mango (Brassica napus, var. oleifera) were subjected to a 7-day germination at 25 °C and 95% moisture content in darkness in a conditioning cabinet. The effects of the germination process on the superoxide dismutase-like activity (SOD-like activity), thiamine (vitamin B₁) and riboflavin (vitamin B₂) and minerals, such as Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe and Mn, were studied. Correlations between individual mineral contents, vitamin B₁ and B₂ contents, and the ability of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) extracts from germinated rapeseed to scavenge superoxide anion radicals in vitro were also investigated. SOD-like activity showed a gradual increase after the second day of germination, reaching a maximum level on the sixth day, and remained almost constant up to the end of the germination period. During germination, thiamine underwent a progressive decrease up to the sixth day, reaching a constant level between the sixth and the seventh day. In contrast, riboflavin content increased throughout the germination period up to the fifth day, and after that a constant level was observed. Levels of Ca and Mg were almost constant up to the fourth day and after that an increase of these minerals was observed. Cu and Mn increased during the germination process, and retentions of 33% and 22%, respectively, were observed at the end of germination. Fe content dropped after 1 day of germination and from there onward it started to increase gradually and an 18% retention was observed in 7-day germinated seeds. Positive correlations between SOD-like activity and riboflavin (r = 0.87), Cu (r = 0.74) and Mn (r = 0.87) were found during rapeseed germination.     

Quality characteristics of a non‐fermented dry‐cured sausage formulated with lemon albedo

Dry‐cured sausages were treated with two types of dehydrated lemon albedo (raw and cooked) at five concentrations (0–100 g kg^?1 in 25 g kg^?1 increments). Several physical and chemical analyses were made during the drying stage, and compositional, textural and sensory analyses were conducted on the finished products. The addition of albedo improved the nutritional properties as a result of fibre addition and may have beneficial effects due to the presence of active biocompounds as evidenced by a decrease in residual nitrite levels and delayed oxidation (based on TBARS values). The sensory properties of samples that resembled the control sausages were those that contained up to 50 g kg^?1 dehydrated raw albedo and 75 g kg^?1 dehydrated cooked albedo. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thermal properties of polynorbornene (cis- and trans-) and hydrogenated polynorbornene

Summary The thermal properties of trans-polynorbornene, cis-polynorbornene and hydrogenated polynorbornene were examined and its reversibility tested. Trans-polynorbornene samples, formed in various solvents, exhibit a softening range, from ambient temperature until 375 °C. However, syndiotactic cis-polynorbornene samples show a narrower melting range (between 150 and 375 °C). The fusion enthalpies of cis-polynorbornene samples are around 300-400 J/g. The temperature of decomposition is ca. 456 °C (minimum peak DSC) for trans-polynorbornene and ca. 466 °C, 10 °C higher, for cis-polynorbornene. The solvent used for the polymerization of norbornene has a negligible influence in the melting temperature range or in the decomposition temperature. The treatment with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol during the isolation of polynorbornene leads to materials with different thermal properties. Trans-polynorbornene isolated without 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol exhibited an exothermic peak accompanied by an slight increase in weight (1-2%), while samples treated with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol do not show these features.