Content of amino acids in fresh and frozen and cooked broad bean seeds (Vicia faba var major) depending on cultivar and degree of maturity

In broad been seeds (cultivars Comprimo RS and Threefoldwhite) harvested at four stages of maturity, which corresponded to dry matter content at the levels of I—25%, II—30%, III—35% and IV—40%, the content of amino acids was determined (g 16 g N⁻¹). The determinations concerned raw broad bean and frozen products cooked for consumption. The content of total and essential amino acids was similar in the two cultivars. With increasing maturity the content of total amino acids and essential amino acids varied, showing a tendency to increase between maturity stages I and IV in all the amino acids, except aspartic acid and alanine in Threefoldwhite. In both cultivars the content of cystine and glutamic acid showed the most rapid rise. Compared with raw broad beans, intact seeds cooked for consumption contained more total amino acids. In products of Comprimo RS the total content of amino acids and essential amino acids was similar in intact seeds and in the dehulled seeds. In products from Threefoldwhite the content of total amino acids and essential amino acids was higher in intact seeds than in dehulled seeds except in the most mature sample where these values were similar. The limiting amino acids were methionine with cystine in both raw broad bean and cooked seeds. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of cultivar and seed maturity on amino acid content in fresh and canned broad bean (Vicia faba v. major)

The content of dry matter, total nitrogen, and amino acids (except for tryptophan) in fresh and canned broad bean (Vica fabav. major) seedswas determined, in the canned product whole seeds or cotyledons without hull being analysed. Two Dutch bred cultivars, Comprimo RS with large seeds and medium sized Threefoldwhite, were investigated at four stages of maturity defined by the content of dry matter at levels of about 25% (stage I), 30% (II), 35% (III), and 40% (IV). Amino acid content in 100 g fresh weight was similar in the two cultivars, rapidly increasing with maturation. The value of protein expressed by the EAA index was almost the same for the investigated cvs, usually being slightly higher in the case of more mature seeds. Whole seeds from canned product contained slightly less amino acids than the raw material while the EAA index showed similar or slightly lower values for whole seeds than for the raw vegetable. The content of all the amino acids (except for tyrosine) was greater and the EAA indices were higher in the cotyledons of canned broad bean than in whole seeds. Methionine with cystine were the limiting amino acids in fresh and canned seeds.     

Physical fundamentals of external transient latch-up and corrective actions

Detailed transient latch-up (TLU) analysis of external test structures show that a DC trigger does not necessarily reflect worst-case conditions. Furthermore, the classical guard ring latch-up protection approach fails for a transient trigger. In this contribution, the physical mechanism of TLU triggering is presented. The knowledge of physical phenomenons causing TLU triggering enables the derivation of design recommendations for integrated circuits.     

Modification of physicochemical properties of actin filaments suppresses cell fragmentation in the execution phase of staurosporine-induced apoptotic processes

Effects of jasplakinolide (JSP), a stabilizer of F-actin, and latrunculin A (LTA), a destabilizer of F-actin, on a series of events occurring in the execution phase of staurosporine (STS)-induced apoptotic processes were studied using human osteosarcoma 143B cells. Time-dependent apparent increases of the population of cells with collapsed membrane potential of mitochondria (Delta Psi(m)) caused by STS treatment were not due to actual decreases in the Delta Psi(m) per cell, but due to the fragmentation of cells resulting in decreases in the number of active mitochondria per cell. Decreases in the Delta Psi(m) in fragmented cells occurred late in the execution phase. Both JSP and LAT failed to prevent STS-induced release of cytochrome c from mitochondria followed by the activation of caspases 3 and 9, the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and apoptotic nuclear fragmentation. However, both drugs prevented STS-induced apoptotic cell fragmentation and decreases in the Delta Psi(m). These results indicate that physicochemical states of actin filaments play a certain role in the execution phase of STS-induced apoptotic processes.     

Effective Number of Samples and Pseudo-Random Nonlinear Distortions in Digital OFDM Coded Signal

This paper concerns the theoretical modeling of OFDM coded signal’s degradation caused by pseudo-random nonlinear distortions introduced by an analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog converter. A new quantity, the effective number of samples, is defined and used for the derivation of accurate expressions for the autocorrelation function and the total power of the distortions. The derivation is based on a probabilistic model of the signal and its transition probability. It is shown that for digital (discrete and quantized) signals the effective number of samples replaces the total number of samples and is the proper quantity defining their properties.     

SCR operation mode of diode strings for ESD protection

Diodes and diode strings in 90 nm and beyond technologies are investigated by measurement and device simulation. After a thorough calibration, the device simulator is utilised to achieve a better understanding and an enhanced device performance of diode strings under static and transient ESD conditions. Thereto, parasitic transistors and a so far neglected parasitic thyristor (SCR) in the diode string are regarded, exploited and optimised.     

Behavioral Fault Modeling and Simulation Using VHDL-AMS to Speed-Up Analog Fault Simulation

One of the main requirements for generating test patterns for analog and mixed-signal circuits is fast fault simulation. Analog fault simulation is much slower than the digital equivalent. This is due to the fact that digital circuit simulators use less complex algorithms compared with transistor-level simulators. Two of the techniques to speed up analog fault simulation are: fault dropping/collapsing, in which faults that have similar circuit responses compared with the fault-free circuit response and/or with another faulty circuit response are considered equivalent; and behavioral/macro modeling, whereby parts of the circuit are modeled at a more abstract level, therefore reducing the complexity and the simulation time. This paper discusses behavioral fault modeling to speed-up fault simulation for analog circuits.     

ZnO Nanoplatelets with Controlled Thickness: Atomic Insight into Facet-Specific Bimodal Ligand Binding Using DNP NMR

Colloidal nanoplatelets (NPLs) and nanosheets with controlled thickness have recently emerged as an exciting new class of quantum-sized nanomaterials with substantially distinct optical properties compared to 0D quantum dots. Zn-based NPLs are an attractive heavy-metal-free alternative to the so far most widespread cadmium chalcogenide colloidal 2D semiconductor nanostructures, but their synthesis remains challenging to achieve. The authors describe herein, to the best of their knowledge, the first synthesis of highly stable ZnO NPLs with the atomically precise thickness, which for the smallest NPLs is 3.2 nm (corresponding to 12 ZnO layers). Furthermore, by means of dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced solid-state ¹⁵N NMR, the original role of the benzamidine ligands in stabilizing the surface of these nanomaterials is revealed, which can bind to both the polar and non-polar ZnO facets, acting either as X- or L-type ligands, respectively. This bimodal stabilization allows obtaining hexagonal NPLs for which the surface energy of the facets is modulated by the presence of the ligands. Thus, in-depth study of the interactions at the organic–inorganic interfaces provides a deeper understanding of the ligand–surface interface and should facilitate the future chemistry of stable-by-design nano-objects.     

Evolutionary approach to development of collaborative teleconsultation system for imaging medicine

This paper presents an evolution of a modern collaborative teleconsultation system called TeleDICOM over the period of several years. We show how new features (required from a medical point of view) can be provided, which barriers have been identified, and how these factors influence the system's architecture. A turning point in the evolution of our system was the formulation of a new architecture, fully facilitating service-oriented architecture paradigm guidelines. We therefore show how the knowledge and experience gathered during utilization of previous versions of TeleDICOM positively stimulate procedures of service-based system decomposition and business processes definition.     

On reliability of a certain elementary safety system

The paper deals with the determination of reliability of an elementary safety system which consists of two identical elements used simultaneously (hot reserve) whereas for correct system operation is enough when one out of it is good. The operation time is so short that is assumed it is of zero length. Knowing the reliability of element, reliability of system is found.