HPLC quantification of major active components from 11 different saffron (Crocus sativus L.) sources

Eleven certified saffron samples (Crocus sativus L.), one each from Azerbaijan, China, Greece, France, India, Iran, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Turkey and the Sigma Chemical Company, were analyzed by using an HPLC photodiode array detection method. This analysis quantified the 10 major saffron compounds in each sample and their concentration was analyzed at three different wavelengths. Results indicated that the Greek, Indian, New Zealand, and Spanish saffron extracts possessed the highest concentrations of water-soluble glycosidic carotenoids (?8.0%) suggesting that they could be a good source of this type of metabolites for further biological evaluation.     

NMR study of the slow dynamics and local structure in lyotropic micellar liquid crystals

The first experimental evidence of director fluctuations in a micellar lyotropic liquid crystal, studied by ¹H spin-lattice relaxation rate, is reported. The system is constituted by the ternary mixture: potassium laurate/1-decanol/water. With the aim to test the slow dynamics, the experiment has been performed over a broad range of Larmor frequencies (2 × 10³− 6.6 × 10⁶ Hz), using fast field-cycling NMR relaxometry. The results evidence that in the nematic and isotropic mesophases and the poliphasyc region, director fluctuations are responsible for the spin-lattice relaxation dispersion in the low Larmor frequency range (<10⁵ Hz). By increasing the intermicellar water content, a crossover was found between a quasi-isotropic 3D director fluctuations behavior to a 2D pseudo-lamellar undulation fluctuations. In order to explain the higher frequency range (>10⁵ Hz), two relaxation mechanisms are assigned: i) molecular reorientation by translational diffusion on the micellar surface, and ii) molecular exchange between the micelle and the bulk. Received: 30 March 2000     

Is sustainability achievable? Exploring the limits of sustainability with model systems

Successful implementation of sustainability ideas in ecosystem management requires a basic understanding of the often nonlinear and nonintuitive relationships among different dimensions of sustainability, particularly the system-wide implications of human actions. This basic understanding further includes a sense of the time scale of possible future events and the limits of what is and is not likely to be possible. With this understanding, systematic approaches can then be used to develop policy guidelines for the system. This article presents an illustration of these ideas by analyzing an integrated ecological-economic-social model, which comprises various ecological (natural) and domesticated compartments representing species along with a macroeconomic price setting model. The stable and qualitatively realistic model is used to analyze different relevant scenarios. Apart from highlighting complex relationships within the system, it identifies potentially unsustainable future developments such as increased human per capita consumption rates. Dynamic optimization is then used to develop time-dependent policy guidelines for the unsustainable scenarios using objective functions that aim to minimize fluctuations in the system's Fisher information. The results can help to identify effective policy parameters and highlight the tradeoff between natural and domesticated compartments while managing such integrated systems. The results should also qualitatively guide further investigations in the area of system level studies and policy development.     

“Digitalizing Walkability”: Comparing Smartphone-Based and Web-Based Approaches to Measuring Neighborhood Walkability in Singapore

We evaluated two digitally enabled approaches to measuring neighborhood walkability: a smartphone-based, on-site pedestrian environmental audit tool, WalkTracker (WTracker), and remote, Web-based (Web) observations. Specifically, we examined street segments and intersections of a neighborhood in Singapore assessing: (1) the Inter-Rater Reliability (IRR) of each approach; (2) the Inter-Method Reliability (IMR) across the two approaches; and (3) the average observation times of the two approaches. Each approach had high IRR for the land use and traffic-related domains, with the Web performing better than WTracker for land use. In these same two domains, the two tools were relatively consistent (high IMR), although higher agreement was found within the tools than across them (IRR higher than IMR). For subjective or fine-grained features, both approaches had low IRR, with the Web-based approach performing worse than the app-based approach. Performance across the instruments was also worse than the reliability of measurements within each instrument (IMR lower than IRR). Some items were not observable via the Web. In terms of observation time, there was no statistically significant time difference in measurements between the two observation methods, not including the round-trip travel time to the site. A hybrid approach, combining the two approaches, might be most appropriate.     

Calcite deposition at Miravalles geothermal field Costa Rica

The calcite deposition problem at Miravalles has been studied since it was observed in the first three wells drilled on the slopes of the Miravalles Volcano. Long-term tests have been carried out to study reservoir characteristics. The change in the production behavior of the wells with the restriction imposed by the deposited calcite has been studied trying to evaluate and quantify the scaling problem. Work is being done on predictions of the deposition rate, location and distribution of the deposited mineral inside the wells. This work was compared with real data obtained from caliper logs of the wells before and after production. The feasibility of the first 55 MW power plant has been demonstrated. It was considered that the solution for the calcite problem is the “reaming during discharge of the wells” trying at the same time to minimize the cleaning interventions with a new well design. A long-term inhibitor test has been scheduled by the beginning of 1989. The economic evaluation of this test may affect the decision of reaming the wells as a solution for the feasibility of the first and subsequent power units. It is also believed, due to the thermodynamics and chemical characteristics of the extracted fluids, that it is possible to find a “non-deposition zone” which will permit the drilling of wells without a scaling problem.     

Physico-chemical and radioactive characterization of TiO2 undissolved mud for its valorization

In order to find a potential valorization of a waste generated in the industrial process devoted to the production of TiO(2) pigments, and as an essential and basic step, this waste must firstly be physically and chemically characterized. Moreover, the content of radioactivity is taken in to account due to it comes from a NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) industry. With this end, microscopic studies were performed by applying scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis (SEM-XRMA), while the mineralogical compositions were carried out by means of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The concentrations of its major elements were determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), while heavy metals and other trace elements were ascertained through Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results obtained for this waste have revealed several lines of research into potential applications. Firstly, with the refractory properties of mineral phases observed leading to a possible use in the ceramics industry or in thermal isolators. And secondly, attending to the characteristic particle-size spectra can be used as an additive in the manufacture of cement and finally, its high concentration of titanium may be used as a bactericide in brick production.     

Acorns (Quercus rotundifolia Lam.) and grass as natural sources of antioxidants and fatty acids in the “montanera” feeding of Iberian pig: Intra- and inter-annual variations

In two consecutive years (2006/2007 and 2007/2008), fortnightly samples were taken to characterise the antioxidant composition and fatty acid profile of acorns and grass on which Iberian pigs feed during the period of “montanera” (free-range rearing system of the south-western of Iberian Peninsula). The antioxidant parameters analysed were: α- and γ-tocopherol, total phenolics compounds (TPC), lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant activities (LAA, HAA) (acorn and grass) and condensed and hydrolysable tannins (CT, HT) and protein precipitating capacity (PP) (acorns). To characterise the fatty acid profiles, the thirteen major fatty acids were assayed. For the acorns, it was found that there was intra-annual variability in all the antioxidants studied except α-tocopherol, and inter-annual variability in all except the protein precipitating capacity. The fatty acid profile also varied depending on the sampling date and the study year, especially in the saturated fatty acids (SFA) and C18:1 n-9 content. For the grass, there was intra- and inter-annual variability in all the antioxidant parameters studied, and in the proportions of the fatty acids C18:0, and C18:1. It could explain variations in the antioxidant and fatty acids composition of Iberian pig tissues from animals raised in different “montanera” seasons and even in the same “montanera” season.     

Fate of toxic cyanobacterial cells and disinfection by-products formation after chlorination

Drinking water sources in many regions are subject to proliferation of toxic cyanobacteria (CB). Chlorination of source water containing toxic cyanobacterial cells for diverse treatment purposes might cause cell damage, toxin release and disinfection by-products (DBP) formation. There is limited information available on chlorination of different toxic CB cells and DBP formation potentials. This work: (1) determines the extent of lysis and toxins/taste and odor compound release in chlorinated natural water from CB cells (Anabaena circinalis, Microcystis aeruginosa, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, and Aphanizomenon issatsckenka) from laboratory cultures and natural blooms; (2) assesses the rates of oxidation of toxins by free chlorine under environmental conditions; (3) studies the DBP formation associated with the chlorination of CB cell suspensions. With chlorine exposure (CT) value of <4.0 mg min/L >60% cells lost viability causing toxin release. Cell membrane damage occurred faster than oxidation of released toxins. Kinetic analysis of the oxidation of toxins in natural water revealed significant differences in their susceptibility to chlorine, saxitoxins being the easiest to oxidize, followed by cylindrospermopsin and microcystin-LR. Furthermore, concentrations of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids (<40 μg/L) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (<10 ng/L) as chlorination by-products were lower than the guideline values even at the highest CT value (220 mg min/L). However, the DBP concentrations in environmental bloom conditions with very high cell numbers were over the guideline values.     

Inulin‐type fructans and whey protein both modulate appetite but only fructans alter gut microbiota in adults with overweight/obesity: A randomized controlled trial

Scope

Independently, prebiotics and dietary protein have been shown to improve weight loss and/or alter appetite. Our objective was to determine the effect of combined prebiotic and whey protein on appetite, body composition and gut microbiota in adults with overweight/obesity.

Methods and results

In a 12 week, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study, 125 adults with overweight/obesity were randomly assigned to receive isocaloric snack bars of: (1) Control; (2) Inulin‐type fructans (ITF); (3) Whey protein; (4) ITF + Whey protein. Appetite, body composition and gut microbiota composition/genetic potential were assessed. Compared to Control, body fat was significantly reduced in the Whey protein group at 12 wks. Hunger, desire to eat and prospective food consumption were all lower with ITF, Whey protein and ITF + Whey protein compared to Control at 12 wks. Microbial community structure differed from 0 to 12 wks in the ITF and ITF +Whey Protein groups (i.e. increased Bifidobacterium ) but not Whey Protein or Control. Changes in microbial genetic potential were seen between Control and ITF‐containing treatments.

Conclusion

Adding ITF, whey protein or both to snack bars improved several aspects of appetite control. Changes in gut microbiota may explain in part the effects of ITF but likely not whey protein.