Sugar and Protein Profiles of Omani Honey from Muscat and Batinah Regions of Oman

Fifty-one samples of Omani honey were analyzed for their contents of glucose, fructose, maltose, and sucrose. The Fructose/glucose ratio and its role in honey crystallization were also studied, as well as the protein content of the honey samples. This study has shown that the mean percentage of reducing sugars lie within the limits set by local Omani legislation. Fructose and glucose represented the largest portion. Maltose and sucrose levels were low 3.62 kg/100 kg and 1.29 kg/100 kg, respectively. Most honey samples did not crystallize after 18 months of storage. Protein content in all samples was low with an average of 2 kg/100 kg. Fructose, glucose, and sucrose levels were higher in summer honey samples (69.7 kg/100 kg) than the winter ones (60.6 kg/100 kg).     

Metastatic ability of MXT mouse mammary subpopulations correlates with clonal expression and/or membrane-association of gelatinase A

A vacuolar degeneration affecting primarily the gray matter in the central nervous system (CNS) of young Australian Cattle Dogs is described. An initial presentation of seizures was followed by a progressive spastic tetraparesis. Grossly evident bilateral and symmetrical foci of malacia were in the nuclei of the cerebellum and brain stem and the gray matter of the spinal cord. Microscopically, vacuolation of glial cells, dilation of the myelin sheaths and reactive astrocytosis characterized mild CNS changes. More advanced lesions displayed progressive dissolution of the neuropil, prominent vacuolation of reactive astrocytes, numerous glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive coiled astrocytic processes, neuronal vacuolation and loss with relative sparing of large neurons. Ultrastructurally marked mitochondrial accumulation and swelling were seen in astrocytes. In the appendicular muscles, changes interpreted as long-term denervation atrophy accompanied by widespread expression of the neonatal isoform of myosin were observed. The character of the neurological sings, the nature and the distribution of the lesions within the neuroaxis have not been reported in domestic animals. An inherited biochemical defect, possibly mitochondrial, is proposed as the cause. Selected conditions with a bilateral and symmetrical distribution affecting the gray matter of domestic animals are summarized.     

Effect of oleo-disaturated triacylglycerol content on properties of palm mid fraction,sal stearin and borneo tallow blends

Binary blends of palm mid fraction (PMF) with Borneo tallow (IP) and PMF with sal stearin (SLs) showed eutectic behavior. To produce a cocoa butter extender with steep melting profiles and containing not less than 70% solid fat at 20°C, the maximum amount of PMF1 (IV=49.2) and PMF2 (IV=39.8) that could be added to IP in PMF:IP binary systems were about 10% and 33%; whereas the amount of PMF2 that could be added to SLsl (IV=33.4), SLs2 (IV=31.7) and SLs3 (IV=30.3) in PMF2:SLs binary systems were about 7%, 10% and 38%, respectively. Blends of any PMF with an iodine value of 37 or lower with IP could fulfill the above specifications at any blend ratio.     

Ensuring that potential Gulf farmland investments in developing countries are pro-poor and sustainable

This paper provides an overview of Gulf investments in foreign farmland, mainly in developing countries, and the motivation behind these investments. The literature suggests that private entities in Gulf countries are engaging in these investments for portfolio diversification, while Gulf governments are investing to ensure food security challenges resulting from the limited agricultural resources of these countries. The paper also discusses examples of farmland investments in Sudan, Indonesia and Pakistan, and their consequences. The main recommendation is the need to ensure that these investments provide positive externalities to the host countries and local communities involved, in order to ensure the continuity and acceptability of these investments.     

Mind over milkshakes: Mindsets, not just nutrients, determine ghrelin response.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 30(4) of Health Psychology (see record 2011-13978-002). In the second paragraph on the first page, the Allison & Uhl 1964 citation is incorrect. The corrected sentence and full citation is in the erratum. All versions of this article have been corrected.] Objective: To test whether physiological satiation as measured by the gut peptide ghrelin may vary depending on the mindset in which one approaches consumption of food. Methods: On 2 separate occasions, participants (n = 46) consumed a 380-calorie milkshake under the pretense that it was either a 620-calorie “indulgent” shake or a 140-calorie “sensible” shake. Ghrelin was measured via intravenous blood samples at 3 time points: baseline (20 min), anticipatory (60 min), and postconsumption (90 min). During the first interval (between 20 and 60 min) participants were asked to view and rate the (misleading) label of the shake. During the second interval (between 60 and 90 min) participants were asked to drink and rate the milkshake. Results: The mindset of indulgence produced a dramatically steeper decline in ghrelin after consuming the shake, whereas the mindset of sensibility produced a relatively flat ghrelin response. Participants' satiety was consistent with what they believed they were consuming rather than the actual nutritional value of what they consumed. Conclusions: The effect of food consumption on ghrelin may be psychologically mediated, and mindset meaningfully affects physiological responses to food. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimal network dimensions for energy conservation in clustered 3D WSN

Wireless Networks - In this paper, the optimal network dimensions of clustered-routing three-dimensional (3D) wireless sensor networks is provided. The derivation for such dimensions is based upon...     

A VLSI structure forX(modm) operation

High-computing speed and modularity have made RNS-based arithmetic processors attractive for a long time, especially in signal processing, where additions and multiplications are very frequent. The VLSI technology renewed this interest because RNS-based circuits are becoming more feasible; however, intermodular operations degradate their performance and a great effort results on this topic. In this paper, we deal with the problem of performing the basic operationX(modm), that is the remainder of the integer divisionX/m, for large values of the integerX, following an approximating and correcting approach, which guarantees the correctness of the result.We also define a structure to computeX(modm) by means of few fast VLSI binary multipliers, which is exemplified for 32-bit long numbers, obtaining a total response time lower than 200 nsec. Furthermore, such a structure is evaluated in terms of VLSI complexity and area and time figuresA=(n ² T _m ² ) andT=(T _M ) for the parameterT _M in are derived. A simple positional-to-residue converter is finally presented, based on this structure; it improves some complexity results previously obtained by authors.This work has been supported by the National Program on Solid-State Electronics and Devices of the Italian National Research Council.     

Energy calculations and analysis of HIV-1 protease-inhibitor crystal structures

The interactions between HIV–1 protease and its boundinhibitors have been investigated by molecular mechanics calculationsand by analysis of crystal structures of the complexes in orderto determine general rules for inhibitor and substrate bindingto the protease. Fifteen crystal structures of HTV–1 proteasewith different peptidomimetic inhibitors showed conservationof hydrogen bond interactions between the main chain C=O andNH groups of the inhibitors and the C=O and NH groups of theprotease extending from P3 C=O to P3' NH. The mean length ofthe hydrogen bonds between the inhibitor and the flexible flapsand the conserved water molecule (2.9 À) is slightlyshorter than the mean length of hydrogen bonds between the inhibitorand the more rigid active site region (3.1 À) of theprotease. The two hydrogen bonds between the conserved waterand P2 and P1' carbonyl oxygen atoms of the inhibitor are theshortest and are predicted to be important for the tight bindingof inhibitors. Molecular mechanics analysis of three crystalstructures of HIV-1 protease with different inhibitors withindependent calculations using the programs Discover and Brugelgave an estimate of 56-68% for the contribution of all the inhibitormain chain atoms to the total calculated protease–inhibitorinteraction energy. The contribution of individual inhibitorresidues to the interaction energy wascalculated using Brugel.The main chain atoms of residue P2 had a consistently largefavorable contribution to the total interaction energy, probablydue to the presence of the two short hydrogen bonds to the flexibleflap. The contribution of individual inhibitor side chains dependedon the size of the side chain and the presence of specific hydrogenbond interactions with the protease.