Drying of persimmons (Diospyros kaki L.) and the following changes in the studied bioactive compounds and the total radical scavenging activities

Fresh persimmons were subjected to two different processes: sun-drying during 1 month and dehydration at 60 °C during 12 h. To assess the effect of this process on nutritional and health-related properties of persimmons dietary fibers, minerals, trace elements, polyphenols and the total radical scavenging activities (TRSAs) were determined before and after processing. It was found that the contents of dietary fibers, minerals and trace elements in fresh and dried persimmons fruits were comparable. Total polyphenols in fresh persimmons was higher than in dried fruits (1.3 vs. 0.9 and 0.8 mg/100 g FW, respectively) and percentage of inhibition was higher than in dried fruits (70% vs. 59% and 55% and 58% vs. 53% and 46% for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) [ABTS] radicals, respectively (P>0.05 in all cases). In conclusion: (1) the differences in the contents of dietary fibers, minerals and trace elements in fresh and dried persimmons are not significant; (2) the contents of polyphenols and the level of the TRSA are higher in fresh persimmons than in dried fruits; however, both variables are also high in dried persimmons; (3) when fresh fruits are not available, proper dried persimmons could be used as a valuable substitute.     

Correlation between esophageal motility and 24-hour pH recording in patients with gastroesophageal reflux

The relationship between manometric and pH-metric data was studied in a group of 50 patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. Using a multiple regression analysis, we found that the total percentage of reflux was significantly correlated to the infradiaphragmatic length and resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter and also to the mean amplitude of the contractile waves of the distal esophagus, thus revealing the important role of these factors in the antireflux mechanism. When the patients were divided into groups according to their manometric characteristics and the values of the various pH-metric parameters between these groups compared using a one-way analysis of variance, we found that the amplitude of the contractile waves and the percentage of deglutitions without response were related not only to the total percentage of reflux but also to the number of reflux episodes of greater than 5 min duration and to the duration of the longest episode. This shows that prolonged exposure of the esophageal mucosa to the refluxed material may be due, in part, to an alteration in the capacity for esophageal clearing.     

Defensive allomones in three species ofHypselodoris (gastropoda: Nudibranchia) from the Cantabrian sea

ThreeHypselodoris species,H. villafranca, H. cantabrica, and H. tricolor, have been studied in order to further investigate the defensive strategies of Chromodorididae mollusks from Iberian coasts. All animals possess large amounts of furanosesquiterpenoids, probably derived from their diet of sponges. The products are transferred and stored in specific sites of the mantle (mantle dermal formations, MDFs) to be used as chemical deterrents against predators. Chemical analysis of CantabrianHypselodoris species has led to the characterization of eight sesquiterpenoids. Among these, six have been found previously in both sponges and nudibranchs, while two are new natural products.Hypselodoris species cooccurring in the same area contained comparable mixtures of sesquiterpenoids. However, two populations ofH. cantabrica from different sites of the Cantabrian sea showed different metabolic patterns. All sesquiterpenoids induce feeding deterrence inCarassius auratus and two are also toxic toGambusia affinis.     

Kaolinite-mullite reaction series: a TEM study

The kaolinite-mullite reaction series in single crystal kaolinite has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The exotherm observed at 980° C is attributed to the formation of a spinel phase. Mullite crystallites have also been observed with the spinel phase and both phases have a composition near that of 32 mullite. Subsequent heat treatment leads to the growth of mullite crystallites on the original kaolinite plates with the c-axis perpendicular to the plate.     

A GRL-compliant iStar extension for collaborative cyber-physical systems

Requirements Engineering - Collaborative cyber-physical systems are capable of forming networks at runtime to achieve goals that are unachievable for individual systems. They do so by connecting to...     

Conductive PE-carbon composites by elongation flow injection moulding

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this paper the preparation of linear polyethylene (PE)-carbon black processed composites with conducting electrical properties was examined by means of elongation flow injection moulding. Mould geometry was optimized in the form of oriented double-armed bars so as to give enhanced mechanical properties combined with a high degree of electrical homogeneity. The present paper deals with composites using a high molecular weight PE matrix. It is shown that the injection-moulded composite material exhibits not only a lower percolation threshold, _c, than the conventionally pressure-moulded isotropic sample, but also conductivities two to three orders of magnitude larger than the latter. The radial and axial conductivity profiles, for concentrations well above _c, are discussed in the light of the molecular orientation variations across the bars as determined by birefringence. A segregation of primary filler particles, during flow-induced orientation, into axial channels has been shown to explain the enhancement of conductivity detected in the injected mouldings. In addition, for filler concentrations near 7%, -profile analysis indicates the development of a uniform conductive-stiff inner cylinder, several millimetres wide, homogeneously extending along the full length of the injected material.     

Homodyne detection and positive operator-valued measures

We describe the homodyne detector in terms of positive operator-valued measures (POV-measures) and show that in the limit the homodyne detector reproduces the detector of quadrature phase amplitude of a signal field.Work supported in part by The State Committee for Scientific Research, under the project no. 2 0227 91 01.     

Kinetic and spectral aspects in chemiluminescence system Eu(III)/HCO3/H2O2

Chemiluminescence (CL) of the systems containing Eu₂⁺ or HCO₃⁻ ions and hydrogen peroxide was studied. The kinetic curves and CL emission spectra of the systems were discussed. The emission spectrum of the system containing carbonates revealed two emission maxima: the first directly after initiation of the reaction by hydrogen peroxide and the second in several seconds after the first. On the basis of the characteristic bands in the CL spectrum the emitters in the system Eu₂⁺/HCO₃⁻/H₂O₂ were identified as: excited Eu³⁺ ions and excited products of carbonate decomposition. The emission bands for λ=600 and 420 nm appeared in a time distance of a few ten seconds.