Short-chain fatty acid content and pH in caecum of rats fed various sources of starch

Caecal pH and contents of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were registered in rats fed three potential sources of resistant starch (RS); raw pea starch, raw potato starch, and an RS-enriched preparation obtained from wheat starch by autoclaving and enzymatic incubation. Small intestinal digestibility and delivery of RS to the hind-gut in the case of raw starches were determined by analysis of faecal starch in animals treated with antibiotics to prevent hind-gut fermentation. RS content in the RS-enriched preparation was determined as total starch remaining in an enzymatic gravimetric dietary fibre residue. The fermentability of RS was estimated from the faecal recovery of starch in normal animals with intact hind-gut microflora. Approximately 35 g per 100 g and 32 g per 100 g were RS in the case of raw potato starch and the RS-enriched preparation, respectively, versus only 1 g per 100 g in the case of raw pea starch. The caecal pH decreased with all test diets, being most significant with raw potato starch. SCFA production and faecal bulking were negligible with raw pea starch, whereas both raw potato starch and the RS-enriched preparation significantly increased these parameters. The fermentability of RS in raw potato starch and the RS-enriched preparation was similar, or about 60–70%. If calculated on basis of fermented amount, RS in raw potato starch was more potent in generating SCFA (49 μmol g^?1) than in the RS-enriched preparation (19 μmol g^?1). RS in raw potato starch also displayed the highest faecal bulking capacity. In fact, the faecal dry weight increased more than expected merely from delivery of RS. The relative proportion in caecal contents of acetic-, propionic- and butyric acid was 70, 17 and 8%, respectively, with no significant differences between the three sources of RS.     

Metabolomic approach to identifying bioactive compounds in berries: advances toward fruit nutritional enhancement

Plant polyphenolics continue to be the focus of attention with regard to their putative impact on human health. An increasing and ageing human population means that the focus on nutrition and nutritional enhancement or optimisation of our foodstuffs is paramount. Using the raspberry as a model, we have shown how modern metabolic profiling approaches can be used to identify the changes in the level of beneficial polyphenolics in fruit breeding segregating populations and how the level of these components is determined by genetic and/or environmental control. Interestingly, the vitamin C content appeared to be significantly influenced by environment (growth conditions) whilst the content of the polyphenols such as cyanidin, pelargonidin and quercetin glycosides appeared much more tightly regulated, suggesting a rigorous genetic control. Preliminary metabolic profiling showed that the fruit polyphenolic profiles divided into two gross groups segregating on the basis of relative levels of cyanidin-3-sophoroside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside, compounds implicated as conferring human health benefits.     

Antioxidants in Fish Oil Production for Improved Quality

There is an increasing demand for fish oil containing omega-3. By-products (e.g., heads, tails, belly flaps, backbones, and viscera) from fish fillet production are currently utilized for production of fish oil and fish meal for feed but can be a valuable source of omega-3 for human consumption. However, the quality of some oil is not good enough for human consumption due to oxidation during processing. The aim of this work was to decrease oxidation during oil production by adding antioxidants to herring by-products early in the production process. Of several antioxidants the most potent were selected by a fast screening test. Butylated hydroxytoluene, propyl gallate and citric acid were further evaluated on a labaroatory scale and pilot plant production of herring oil. The selected antioxidants resulted in lower total oxidation during processing [up to 71% reduction in TOTOX (2 times the peroxide value plus the anisidine value)]. In addition, higher oil stability was achieved by adding antioxidants during processing (improved stability up to 400%).     

Optimization of Multicomponent Cobalt Spinel Catalyst for N2O Abatement from Nitric Acid Plant Tail Gases: Laboratory and Pilot Plant Studies

The influence of Zn and K promoters on N₂O decomposition over Co₃O₄ was investigated by work function measurement and temperature-programmed surface reaction. The beneficial effect of the promoters resulting in spectacular decrease in the temperature of 50% conversion by 200 °C was found to be essentially of electronic origin. The strong correlation between the catalyst work function and deN₂O activity allowed for the optimization of the doping level of both additives. The pilot plant tests in real nitric acid tail gases revealed that the optimized double promoted (Zn, K) cobalt spinel catalyst maintained its remarkable activity in N₂O decomposition (conversion >95% at the target temperature of 350 °C) for more than 60 h.     

Preliminary evaluation of fumonisins by the Nordic countries and occurrence of fumonisins (FB1 and FB2) in corn-based foods on the Danish market

Experts from the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland) have carried out an evaluation of fumonisins. The working group members concluded that, at that time point, it was not possible to carry out a complete risk assessment. However, it was recommended that the human daily' intake of fumonisins should be less than 1 microg/kg bw/day. Subsequently, the presence of the Fusarium mycotoxins fumonisin B1 and B2 (FB1 and FB2) in corn-based food on the Danish retail market has been determined. A total of 70 samples were analysed and 37% contained FB1 and 21% contained FB2. No fumonisins were found in sweet corn (canned or frozen), corn-on-the-cob, corn starch or gruel powder for babies. FB1 was found in about half of the corn flakes, corn snack and popcorn (not popped) samples, whereas FB2 was seen to a lesser extent. Both FB1 and FB2 were found in 75% or more of the corn flour, tacos and polenta samples. In general, the content of FB1 was in the range of 1-1000 micro/kg and the content of FB2 was in the range of 4-250 microg/kg. Corn-based foods are consumed in rather low amounts and irregularly among the Danish population and therefore it is not meaningful to calculate an average daily funonisin intake. An estimate for an 'eater' shows that the intake of fumonisins will not exceed 0.4 microg/kg bw/day.     

Some physical and nutritional characteristics of genetically modified potatoes varying in amylose/amylopectin ratios

Transgenically modified potatoes with a large spread in amylose/amylopectin ratios were analysed both as tubers and in the form of isolated starch. Different microscopic techniques were used to study starch granules and tuber tissue. Starch gelatinisation properties and recrystallisation of amylopectin and amylose were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Starch bioavailability and resistant starch (RS) were evaluated using enzymatic in vitro procedures. Glycaemic indices (GI) were predicted from low molecular weight carbohydrates (LMWC) contents and the in vitro hydrolysis rate of the starch moiety. For many of the examined parameters, differences of varying magnitude were found between the potato lines, especially for high amylose lines. High amylose starch granules had irregular shapes and showed only a limited swelling. Moreover, contents of RS and recrystallised amylose were elevated. GI’s for the starch moiety were reduced, though elevated contents of LMWC caused a high over-all predicted GI.     

Addressing users' health issues in software development - an exploratory study

In this paper we argue that occupational health expertise should be directly involved in the software design process, and describe an exploratory study where health experts and users participated in the analysis, design and evaluation of a prototype. We addressed the problem of poor overview and control in electronic case handling. We used methods primarily from the participatory design field in combination with a framework describing some of the main risk factors for stress-related disorders in VDU work. We conducted observation interviews where the questions were based on the risk factors of high demand, low control and poor support. The interviews were the main lever for addressing these factors and making them 'visible' in the process. They could then be turned into requirements, design criteria and scenarios that we used as a basis for our design.     

Wrist movements among females in a repetitive,non-forceful work

Wrist positions and movements were measured and a physical examination was conducted in 12 female operators in an industrial quality-control work. The handled products are of very low weight, thus, the work can be considered as non-forceful. The work was highly repetitive; 0.54Hz for the right wrist/hand and 0.41Hz for the left. The angular velocities were also high; for the right wrist/hand median value was 30 degrees /s and peak value 108 degrees /s, for the left wrist/hand 24 degrees /s and 88 degrees /s, respectively. The frequency of musculoskeletal disorders was high, especially for the right wrist/hand. Although the work was non-forceful and there were minor extreme positions in the wrists, the results are consistent with reported exposure-response relations in other high-risk jobs. Thus, the repetitiveness and the high velocities are the likely causes for the high prevalence of disorders in the wrists/hands among the operators.     

Enzymatic synthesis of phosphatidylcholine with fatty acids,isooctane, carbon dioxide,and propane as solvents

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) was synthesized from lyso-PC and long polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with phospholipase A₂. In previous investigations, performed in small glass tubes, the enzymatic synthesis reaction was optimized. This paper presents results from experiments performed in a high-pressure reactor filled with an immobilized enzyme (Im.E.). Fatty acids were used as the main solvent while isooctane, CO₂, or propane was used as an additional solvent. The water content was carefully controlled over wide ranges. The temperature was kept constant at 45°C for up to 50 h. The highest initial reaction rate was attained with pure fatty acids under relatively humid conditions (water=35% of dry Im.E.). The reaction rates were more than three times as high in the high-pressure reactor than in previous experiments in glass tubes. In all solvent systems, the best yield was attained after long times under dry conditions (water <15% of dry Im.E.). Addition of CO₂ to the PUFA reduced the yield, while addition of isooctane or propane increased the yield. After 20 h at 45°C, the best yield (25%) was attained at a solvent composition of 91% PUFA and 9% propane.     

Chemical vapour deposition of silanes

Chemical surface modification of oxide-covered surfaces by silanization is a well-known technique in such fields as gas and liquid chromatography, electro-chemistry and immobilization of biomolecules. In the commonly used silanization technique the silane is reacted with the surfaces in a liquid phase. If strict anhydrous conditions do not prevail, however, this technique often results in polymerization, irreproducibility and instability of the silane films. We report here on a gas phase silanization of silicon surfaces at elevated temperatures. The method comprises a washing and surface activation step followed by silanization at about 0.5–1 Nm^?2 and 80–190 °C depending on the type of silane. The silanized surfaces were characterized by ellipsometry, contact angle measurements and scanning electron microscopy, which revealed smooth, stable and reproducible silane films of monolayer character. A comparison of surfaces that were silanized in the gas phase with those that were silanized in the liquid phase was also made.