Processing of tomato: impact on in vitro bioaccessibility of lycopene and textural properties

BACKGROUND: Human studies have demonstrated that processing of tomato can greatly increase lycopene bioavailability. However, the difference between processing methods is not widely investigated. In the current study different thermal treatments of tomato were evaluated with regard to their impact on in vitro bioaccessibility and retention of lycopene and β‐carotene as well as textural properties. Thermal treatments used were low (60 °C) and high (90 °C) temperature blanching followed by boiling. RESULTS: Lycopene was relatively stable during thermal treatment, whereas β‐carotene was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by all heat treatments except for low temperature blanching. In vitro bioaccessibility of lycopene was significantly increased from 5.1 ± 0.2 to 9.2 ± 1.8 and 9.7 ± 0.6 mg kg^?1 for low and high temperature blanching, respectively. An additional boiling step after blanching did not further improve lycopene bioaccessibility for any treatment, but significantly reduced the consistency of low temperature treated samples. CONCLUSION: Choice and order of processing treatments can have a large impact on both lycopene bioavailability and texture of tomato products. Further investigations are needed, but this study provides one of the first steps towards tomato products tailored to optimise nutritional benefits. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

贵港航运枢纽船闸建筑群的雷害及其避雷措施

介绍贵港航运枢纽船闸建筑群采用头部分裂均压式新型避雷针替代原有避雷针防雷,取得了较好的防雷效果。     

煤制脱硫剂的微孔结构及其对SO_2/N_2混合气的分离机理

研究了以不同挥发份含量的煤为原料、在不同炭化及活化条件下制成的脱硫剂的微孔结构特征和对SO_2的吸附容量,对脱硫剂的形貌进行了扫描电镜观察,根据煤制脱硫剂的孔径分布特征和SO_2分子尺寸,确定出SO_2/N_2混合气的分离机理应属平衡分离。     

Changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor immunoreactivity in rat dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord, and gracile nuclei following cut or crush injuries

In the present study, we evaluated changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) immunoreactivity in the rat lumbar (L) 5 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and areas where afferents from the DRG terminate, the L5 spinal cord and gracile nuclei, following unilateral sciatic nerve transection or crush. From 3 days to 4 weeks following cut or crush injury, the percentage of medium and large BDNF-immunoreactive neurons in the ipsilateral DRG increased significantly compared with those on the contralateral side. Following cut injury, there was no significant change in the percentage of small BDNF-immunoreactive neurons in the ipsilateral DRG; however, the intensity of immunoreactivity of these cells decreased. Following crush injury, however, both the percentage and intensity of small BDNF-immunoreactive neurons in the ipsilateral DRG significantly increased. Following cut injury, the expression of BDNF-immunoreactive axonal fibers decreased markedly in the ipsilateral superficial laminae of the L5 spinal cord and increased significantly in the ipsilateral deeper laminae of the spinal cord and gracile nuclei. Crush injury induced a marked increase in the expression of BDNF-immunoreactive axonal fibers in the superficial laminae of the spinal cord and gracile nuclei. These differences in BDNF response in the DRG and spinal cord after cut or crush injuries may reflect differences in trophic support to the injured DRG neurons and altered neuronal activity in the spinal cord and gracile nuclei following different types of peripheral nerve injury.     

A correlation based cloud-detection algorithm combined with an examination of some split-window assumptions

Twenty-six daytime NOAA-11 AVHRR images covering the Danish waters are analysed together with 99 cloud-free bulk temperature measurements. The images are cloud screened with a cloud-detection algorithm, which in excess of the usual threshold and variation tests consists of: a min_max-routine which among suspicious pixels points out the cloud contaminated pixels, and a separation of cloud pixels from cold water pixels by means of the correlation coefficient between the channel 4 brightness temperature and the channel 4-channel 5 brightness temperature. In the cloud screened images, the channel 4-channel 5 brightness temperatures do not increase with the satellite zenith angle and do not seem to carry any significant information about the true sea surface temperature (SST). Local meteorological and oceanographic effects are believed to be more important than the channel 4-channel 5 brightness temperatures.     

Scale-up of lithium rechargeable batteries

Small-size lithium rechargeable cells in an envelope format were reported at the 20th International Power Sources Symposium [1,2]. This design offers the possibility of making cells using much lighter packing than cells with metal cans. The prismatic format allows good packing in rectangular boxes. Hence they offer the potential for high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities. The cells have now been developed to a size sufficient to form components of a large battery, built to power Army man-portable equipment. Lithium-ion cells have been manufactured using lithium cobalt oxide cathodes and other cathode materials are under investigation. Individual cells up to the 3 A h size have been successfully cycled, with further development possible. A 24 V battery has been constructed and its performance and prospects are described.     

Congenital encephalocele of the medial skull base

Intensive case management for severely psychiatrically ill patients is a relatively new phenomenon in the private sector. The authors describe a comprehensive case management program designed at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to meet the needs of the most severely ill psychiatric patients in a private managed care environment. The case management program emphasizes involvement of patients in creating comprehensive treatment plans; development of a relationship between case managers, patients and their families, and providers; and clinical coordination between the public and private sectors to create individualized treatment plans. The program's case managers are able to flex the benefit limitations of a managed care or indemnity plan to integrate public and private services and can enlist providers outside a managed care network. The paper describes service utilization by the first 33 patients who participated in the program for one year.     

Arterial-phase three-dimensional gadolinium magnetic resonance angiography of the renal arteries. Strategies for timing and contrast media injection: original investigation

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors review different imaging and contrast-media infusion strategies for arterial-phase three-dimensional (3D) gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (Gd-MRA). METHODS: The influence of physicochemical factors on the infusion of contrast media, including viscosity, flow rate, inline pressure, and cannula size, is assessed. The combination of manual or automated contrast-media administration with timing-dependent or -independent 3D Gd-MRA techniques is reviewed regarding the aspects of effectiveness, robustness, image quality, and costs. RESULTS: For effective bolus delivery with high flow rates, the type and temperature of the contrast media, the size of the cannula, and an immediate saline flush must be considered. Timing-dependent techniques based on a test bolus and using automated contrast-media infusion as well as timing independent techniques such as MR SmartPrep or multiphase 3D Gd-MRA by using a manual injection with a SmartSet tubing set, are all effective procedures for arterial phase 3D Gd-MRA. CONCLUSIONS: Manual contrast-media injection with a tubing set can be used for timing-independent MRA techniques. The multiphase 3D Gd-MRA approach seems to be favorable for different MR systems, robustness, and speed.     

Effects of mitomycin C on delayed adjustment in experimental strabismus surgery

We used C3-deficient (C3D) guinea pigs to evaluate the role of C3 in an active model of experimental nephritis. Normal strain 2 (C3N, n = 13) and C3D (n = 6) guinea pigs were immunized with cationized bovine gamma-globulin (CBGG). Fourteen days later (Day 0), daily intravenous injections of CBGG were given for 3 to 7 days and the animals were sacrificed on Day 10 or 21. Immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy of renal tissue revealed two patterns of glomerular IgG deposition: granular loop (11/13 C3N, 3/6 C3D), and predominantly mesangial (2/13 C3N, 3/6 C3D). Codeposited C3 was seen in all C3N and in no C3D animals. Electron microscopy showed subepithelial deposits in all. A significant correlation (P < 0.005) was seen between an animal's IF pattern and its level of serum antibodies to CBGG; those with lower antibody levels exhibited the mesangial pattern. C3D animals had lower mean antibody levels than C3N (P < 0.01), but both IF patterns were represented. Urine protein concentration, which was increased relative to controls, did not differ between C3N and C3D groups, but was significantly greater in those with loop IF. Serum albumin was significantly reduced in animals with loop IF. C3N animals showed a significant reduction in mean serum C3. In this model, immune deposit location and degree of proteinuria are independent of C3 deposition and dependent upon the level of antibody response to CBGG. Induction of antibody to CBGG is impaired in the absence of C3.