Stability of black carrot anthocyanins in the turkish delight (LOKUM) during storage

In this research, traditional Turkish delight (lokum) was colored with black carrot juice concentrate, and the variations in anthocyanin content, during storage at different temperatures (12, 20 and 30C) for 5-month periods, were observed by spectrophotometer and high-performance liquid chromatography. Analysis of kinetic data suggested a first-order reaction for the degradation of black carrot anthocyanins in Turkish delight. Degradation rates of anthocyanins of black carrot increased with increasing temperature. It was determined that the degradation rate of black carrot anthocyanins during the storage period at 12C increased faster than that of the other temperatures (20 and 30C). The k values for 12, 20 and 30C were found to be 6.91 × 10 -3, 4.21 × 10 -3and 9.21 × 10 -3/day, respectively. Effects of pH on the thermal stability of black carrot anthocyanins were also determined. Results showed that the stability of anthocyanins decreased as the pH value increased. Increase in pH values correlated well with the decrease in anthocyanin content of the samples during storage. In all of the samples, redness (a*) decreased during the storage at all temperatures; however, lightness (L*) increased. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Most of commercial anthocyanins used as a colorant in foods are obtained from fruits or vegetables such as: red grape, elderberry, blackcurrant, blackberry, raspberry, black chokeberry, red cabbage, black carrot, purple corn, red radish and purple sweet potato. Turkish delight (lokum), one of the most popular traditional food products in Turkey, is a famous Turkish desert known all over the world. Lokum is produced by using sugar, water, starch, citric acid, aromatic compounds, dried fruits and natural colorant. The color of foods, which is one of the initial properties noticed in foods, is one of the most important quality parameters affecting consumers. Because of consumer anxiety over the safety of synthetic food colorants, the demand for natural food colorants has increased. Particularly, there is an increasing request for natural red food colorants as alternatives to the most commonly used synthetic red colorant. Therefore, the availability and the suitability of black carrot juice concentrate as a natural colorant instead of synthetic colorants which are considered to have some negative properties for human health was investigated by this work. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Changes in the phenolic content and free radical-scavenging activity of vacuum packed walnut kernels during storage

In this study, the effects of storage temperature, O2 permeability of packaging materials and variety on phenolic content and free radical-scavenging activity of vacuum-packaged walnut kernels were studied over a 12 months storage period. Methyl gallate (23.70 . 93.75 mg/kg), ellagic acid (137.95 . 569.22 mg/kg), and an ellagic acid pentoside (270.59 . 637.17 mg ellagic acid equivalent/kg) were identified in walnut varieties. While a slight decrease in the amount of ellagic acid was observed during 12 months storage, decreases in the amount of ellagic acid pentoside, total phenolic content and free radical-scavenging activity were severe. The present study concluded that it is possible to protect the phenolic content and antiradical activity of walnut kernels by packaging in Polyamide/Polyethylene laminate pouches having an oxygen permeability lower than 63.40±0.40 (mL/m2/24h at 23°C) under vacuum at 20°C up to twelve months

Antibacterial Activity and Polyphenols Content of Methanolic Extract of Sapindus Rarak

The study focused on the methanolic extract of lerak fruit (Sapindus rarak DC.). The effect of varying extraction time and temperature on the polyphenols content of lerak extract was evaluated, that is by determining the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total saponin content (TSC). The increasing extraction temperature from 30°C to 70°C was found to give increase in TPC from 172 mg GAE/100 mg to 246 mg GAE/100 mg, further increase of extraction temperature to 90°C results in the decrease of TPC. Similar effect was also observed in TFC, where TFC was found to increase as the extraction temperature was increased to 70°C, with TFC of 79 mg QE/100 mg. TSC of lerak fruit extract at 70°C was found to be 17.6 mg/100 g. Antibacterial activity assay on the lerak fruit extract shows the potential inhibitory activity of the extract on the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, wherein 95% inhibition efficiency can be achieved after the incubation of the bacteria in media containing 15 wt.% of the extract. The more prominent inhibitory effect of the extract was shown against Escherichia coli than Staphylococcus aureus. Collectively, the results of this study has demonstrated the potential of lerak fruit extract as natural antibacterial agent with foaming ability, which can be used as detergent additive

A Top Dog Tale with Preference Complementarities

The emergence of a winner-take-all (top dog) outcome is generally due to political or institutional constraints or to specific technological features which favour the performance of just one individual. In this paper we provide a different explanation for the occurrence of a top-dog equilibrium in exchange economies. We show that once heterogeneous complementarities (i.e. Scarf’s preferences) are analysed with general endowment distributions, a variety of equilibria different from the well-known symmetric outcome with full utilisation of resources can emerge. Specifically, we show that stable corner equilibria with a winner-take-all (top dog) individual arise that are Pareto optima although the remaining individuals are no better off than with zero consumption and resources can be unused. Because of heterogenous complementarities, market mechanisms are weak and cannot overcome the top dog’s power. Voting mechanisms or taxation policies can reduce the top dog’s privileged position

Expression Profiles of 2 Phosphate Starvation-Inducible Phosphocholine/Phosphoethanolamine Phosphatases, PECP1 and PS2, in Arabidopsis

Phosphorus is essential for plant viability. Phosphate-starved plants trigger membrane lipid remodeling to replace membrane phospholipids by non-phosphorus galactolipids presumably to acquire scarce phosphate source. Phosphoethanolamine/phosphocholine phosphatase 1 (PECP1) and phosphate starvation-induced gene 2 (PS2) belong to an emerging class of phosphatase induced by phosphate starvation and dephosphorylates phosphocholine and phosphoethanolamine (PEtn) in vivo. However, detailed spatiotemporal expression pattern as well as subcellular localization has not been investigated yet. Here, by constructing transgenic plants harboring functional translational promoter–reporter fusion system, we showed the expression pattern of PECP1 and PS2 in different tissues and in response to phosphate starvation. Besides, the Venus fluorescent reporter revealed that both are localized at the ER. Characterization of transgenic plants that overexpress PECP1 or PS2 showed that their activity toward PEtn may be different in vivo. We suggest that PECP1 and PS2 are ER-localized phosphatases that show similar expression pattern yet have a distinct substrate specificity in vivo

A Novel DC Therapy with Manipulation of MKK6 Gene on Nickel Allergy in Mice

BACKGROUND: Although the activation of dermal dendritic cells (DCs) or Langerhans cells (LCs) via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of metal allergy, the in vivo molecular mechanisms have not been identified and a possible therapeutic strategy using the control of dermal DCs or LCs has not been established. In this study, we focused on dermal DCs to define the in vivo mechanisms of metal allergy pathogenesis in a mouse nickel (Ni) allergy model. The effects of DC therapy on Ni allergic responses were also investigated. METHODS AND FINDING: The activation of dermal DCs via p38 MAPK triggered a T cell-mediated allergic immune response in this model. In the MAPK signaling cascade in DCs, Ni potently phosphorylated MAP kinase kinase 6 (MKK6) following increased DC activation. Ni-stimulated DCs could prime T cell activation to induce Ni allergy. Interestingly, when MKK6 gene-transfected DCs were transferred into the model mice, a more pronounced allergic reaction was observed. In addition, injection of short interfering (si) RNA targeting the MKK6 gene protected against a hypersensitivity reaction after Ni immunization. The cooperative action between T cell activation and MKK6-mediated DC activation by Ni played an important role in the development of Ni allergy. CONCLUSIONS: DC activation by Ni played an important role in the development of Ni allergy. Manipulating the MKK6 gene in DCs may be a good therapeutic strategy for dermal Ni allergy

PENGARUH CURRENT RATIO (CR), DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO (DER), RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI), EARNING PER SHARE (EPS) DAN DIVIDEND PAYOUT RATIO (DPR) TERHADAP RETURN SAHAM PERUSAHAAN DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA

Di Bursa Efek Indonesia, informasi keuangan dapat mempengaruhi perkembangan saham yang dilihat dari return saham. dalam penelitian ini pengaruh informasi keuangan dianalisa melalui Current Ratio (CR), Debt to equity Ratio (DER), return on investment (ROI), earning per share (EPS), dan dividend payout ratio (DPR) secara parsial maupun simultan terhadap Return Saham perusahaan di Bursa Efek Indonesia. Tipe penelitian yang digunakan adalah tipe explanatory research. sampel yang digunakan sebanyak 53 perusahaan dengan jumlah data 159. penentuan sampel dengan teknik purposive sampling. data dianalisis dengan statistik deskriptif dan statistik inferensial menggunakan uji asumsi klasik, regresi sederhana, regresi berganda, koefisien determinasi, uji t dan uji F dengan bantuan program SPSS. hasil analisis dengan perhitungan SPSS dapat disimpulkan sebagai berikut: (a) Current Ratio (CR) tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Return Saham; (b) Debt to Equity Ratio (DER) tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Return Saham; (c) Return On Investment (ROI) berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Return Saham; (d) Earning Per Share (EPS) tidak berpengaruh terhadap signifikan terhadap Return Saham; (e) Dividend Payout Ratio (DPR) berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Return Saham; (f) Current Ratio (CR), Debt to Equity Ratio (DER), Return On Investment (ROI), Earning Per Share (EPS), dan Dividend Payout Ratio (DPR) berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Return Saham

ESSAYS IN CONSTITUTING ISLAMIC MORAL ECONOMY: ISLAMIC VALUE THEORY, MODE OF PRODUCTION AND ISLAMIC TRANSDISCIPLINARY KNOWLEDGE

The aggravating socio-economic inequality and nature's revenge via environmental crises in contemporary times have eroded trust in the problem-solving power of the market economy. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have officially demonstrated that these complex problems should not be regarded as temporary market failures, as the crises are endemic to the market system. Therefore, the research presented in this study adopts an alternative political economy approach to explore the substantive ethical causes of such modern problems. To do that, this research aims to deconstruct one of the building blocks of political economy, namely value theory, to debunk the economic power differentials influencing the inclusion and exclusion of specific stakeholders in the value creation process. This research, hence, aims to develop a theoretical ground within the main thrust of Islamic ontology and epistemology, namely justice and ihsan, by constituting the foundation of a conceptual and theoretical framework that will lead to an Islamic moral political economy. In doing so, this research aims to theorise Islamic value theory (Chapter 3) and Islamic modes of production (Chapter 4) by constituting also the Islamic transdisciplinary methodology (Chapter 2). This research initially adopts the theory of deconstruction to reveal the philosophical presumptions and impact of power differentials on the knowledge creation process. The modes of production have determining power over the representation of the extended reality on the formation of knowledge, organisations, and institutions. Accordingly, the research articulates the Islamic transdisciplinary approach to constitute an Islamic mode of production and value theory, in which different factors and parameters determine production relations and, ultimately, social totality. This research is structured around three interrelated theoretical essays: Islamic value theory is constituted, which is used as a structural ground in constituting Islamic modes of production. The proposed Islamic theory of value is also designated to conceptualise the ultimate objective, the Islamic theory of distribution. In order to ensure a holistic theoretical framework, this research developed Islamic transdisciplinary (in Chapter 2) as the overarching cognitive system of Islam in shaping knowledge stricture and construction in Islamic moral and political economy. As proposed in this research, Islamic value theory transcends the dominance of both capital and labour by embracing the Islamic moral economy frame. These axioms shaping Islamic moral economy, rooted in Islamic ontology and epistemology, unite diverse social domains, rejecting the fragmentation of reality and its representation as disciplinary knowledge. It is suggested that the compartmentalised nature of the Western system of thought hinders its ability to address so-called complex problems effectively. In contrast, Islamic transdisciplinary knowledge envisions a unity of existence in the external world, incorporating transdisciplinary subjects as integral parts of that unity. This theory holds the potential to transform our approach to these complex issues. To liberate land, labour, and capital from the grip of hegemonic structures, the Islamic ethical framework meets the conditions of an impartial spectator, ensuring fair distribution of surplus among all stakeholders. The tawhid concept suggests stakeholders' complementarity, transcending the binary oppositions that structure Western political economy. This paper initially redefines the authentic factors of production—Human, Earth, and Society—concerning Islamic ontology and epistemology. To counter the impact of structural power differentials in the articulation of value theory, the Islamic mode of production proposed in this study proposes a new production relation in which the absolute ownership of Allah is reinterpreted as the communal ownership of natural resources by all stakeholders, reassuring a fair and inclusive system. As proposed in this study, the Islamic value theory recognises both the inherent value of these stakeholders as a distribution factor and their contribution to the value creation process. In the second equation, the individual falah (salvation in this world and the hereafter) function is subject to their contribution to social capital, ensuring further emancipation and empowerment of the excluded stakeholders to achieve the Islamic moral political objective, within the initial ‘balanced order’ (mizan) conditions. This recognition of stakeholders’ value and their potential contribution to the value-creation process instils a sense of optimism and emancipation and empowerment vis-à-vis resource permissibility and accessibility within the system