Theoretical Analysis of the Nutritional Value of Beet Biscuits (Beta Vulgaris) and Their Consumption and Marketing Trends

This study aimed to examine the nutritional value of beet biscuits and the trends in their consumption and marketing. Currently, adults, adolescents and children consume this vegetable without the intervention of any industrial process. To determine the nutritional value of beet biscuits, information from existing research was sought for a detailed comparison of the beet cookie and the stuffed and festival cookies. Based on these analyses, it was concluded that beet cookies have a considerable nutritional value, which provides important health benefits to the people who consume them. Nowadays, the desire to maintain a healthy diet is a trend, due to the risk of illnesses derived from inappropriate eating habits. The biscuit industry was analyzed, showing a growing trend in the marketing of biscuits. The main competitive advantage of beets is the vitamins they offer. Keywords: nutrition, health, consumption, marketing. RESUMEN La presente investigación tiene como objetivo realizar un análisis del valor nutritivo en galletas de remolacha, la tendencia de consumo y comercialización. En la actualidad adultos, adolescentes y niños consumen esta hortaliza, en forma natural, sin la intervención de ningún proceso industrial. Para determinar su valor nutricional se buscó información de investigaciones existentes para un análisis minucioso entre la galleta de remolacha y otras galletas de similares características; esta investigación es de tipo analítica y comparativa, el análisis bibliográfico realizado con información de fuentes secundarias y la comparación nutricional entre ellas permitió definir, que las galletas de remolacha tienen una riqueza nutricional muy considerable, que aporta importantes beneficios a la salud de las personas que las consumen. Actualmente, es tendencia el deseo de mantener una alimentación saludable, mediante la elección de productos sanos, debido a las enfermedades derivadas por hábitos alimentarios inadecuados. Se analizó la industria de la galletería, presentando una predisposición creciente en la comercialización de galletas, por lo que se prioriza las vitaminas que ofrecen los vegetales en esta investigación específica con la remolacha se destaca como principal ventaja competitiva. Palabras claves: nutrición, salud, consumo, comercialización. &nbsp

Economic Impact of Quinoa Consumption in the Diet of University Students Case: ESPOCH Agroindustry Career

Quinoa is an ancestral plant, originally cultivated in the Andes. It is a product with exceptional nutritional value and it has been important in the socio-economic evolution of the Andean population. Food is considered a natural, ecological and economic product. Since quinoa has the same amount of protein as meat, it can complement people’s daily food at a very low cost. The objective of this work was to carry out market research to determine the knowledge of university students about the protein value of quinoa in their diet and its purchasing power. The design was semi-experimental and descriptive. The study population was students of the Agroindustry degree of the Faculty of Livestock Sciences of the Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo. Data were collected through a questionnaire, which contained ten open and closed questions. 192 people were surveyed. Data were also collected through direct observations in the food laboratory. The results indicated a high level of ignorance of the benefits of quinoa. A lack of knowledge about quinoa can result in smaller economic benefits for those who produce this high protein food, which in most cases are indigenous communities. Keywords: economic, consumption, quinoa, incidence. Resumen El presente trabajo, tiene por objetivo realizar una investigación de mercado, para determinar el conocimiento de los estudiantes universitarios, sobre el valor proteico de la quinua en su alimentación y el poder adquisitivo de la misma. El diseño es de tipo semi experimental y descriptiva. La población en estudio, son estudiantes de la carrera de Agroindustria de la Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo; para la recolección de datos se utilizó la técnica de la encuesta, apoyado en el cuestionario de la encuesta, como instrumento, la cual contiene diez preguntas abiertas y cerradas, basados en los objetivos de la investigación, se consideró una muestra de 192 personas, con la finalidad de obtener datos importantes que han sido analizados y explicados de forma descriptiva en el proceso, así mismo la observación directa que se realizó en el laboratorio de alimentos, mediante pruebas que se realizaron. La quinua es una planta ancestral, cultivada originariamente en los Andes, producto con excepcional valor nutritivo, e importante evolución socio económica de la población Andina. Alimentariamente es considerado un producto natural, ecológico y económico, ya que tiene la misma cantidad de proteína como la carne, puede complementar el alimento diario de cada persona a un costo muy bajo. Los resultados obtenidos, permitieron identificar el nivel de desconocimiento de los beneficios de la quinua, dando como resultado el mínimo impacto económico en quienes producen este alimento proteico, que, en la mayoría de los casos, son comunidades indígenas que buscan emprender. Palabras clave: economía, consumo, quinua, incidencia

Creating a Micro-Enterprise for the Development and Marketing of a Chili Sauce Based on Sambo Seeds: Market Analysis

The present work was carried out to promote a chili sauce made with the seeds of the sambo fruit – a local variety of pumpkin. Presently, the sauce is consumed only in Ecuador and is prepared using just the fleshy part of the fruit, while the seeds are discarded. The authors of this article see a larger potential application of the fruit in the food industry, as the fruit not only adds a pleasant flavor but is also full of nutrition. They have made a new chili sauce with a base of sambo seeds. The research was carried out using an inductive method, where people were selected at random. Variables such as gender, age, level, and consumption preferences, among others, were analyzed. The study was conducted in Riobamba canton on 164 people, aged 20 and over, considering various aspects. The instrument used was a questionnaire. The results showed that 71.95% of those surveyed consumed chili-based sauces, and 54.88% of them consumed it at least once a week. In addition, 63.41% of them consumed or had consumed sambo seeds, thus denoting that consumers were aware of and were consuming this product. The current research allowed us to innovate the product using correct methods and techniques, and adapt the best use of seeds in the food industry. Keywords: chili, sambo, economic analysis, consumption, commercialization. RESUMEN El presente trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de dar a conocer la aceptación y el beneficio económico de la salsa de ají con adición de semillas del fruto de sambo en el mercado, actualmente su consumo se da en todo el país y se aprovecha únicamente la parte carnosa de la fruta, las semillas son desechadas, por cuanto vemos una potencial aplicación en la industria alimentaria de estas, a más de aportar con sabor agradable aportan nutricionalmente, y se las han adicionado en una salsa de ají, al integrar al mercado una nueva salsa elaborada con este producto icónico además se busca utilizar las semillas de la calabaza local conocida como sambo. Esta investigación se realizó mediante un método inductivo, donde las personas fueron seleccionadas al azar, se analizaron variables como: género, edad, nivel y preferencias de consumo, entre otras. La búsqueda de información fue en el cantón Riobamba, a 164 personas, de 20 años en adelante, considerando varios aspectos; el instrumento aplicado fue cuestionario. Los resultados demuestran que el 71.95% de los How to encuestados consumen salsas elaboradas a base de ají, y de estos 54.88% lo consumen como mínimo una vez a la semana, además que el 63,41% consume o ha consumido semillas de sambo, denotando así que los consumidores conocen y consumen estos productos. La actual investigación nos permitió innovar el producto, utilizando correctamente métodos y técnicas adaptando el mejor uso de las semillas en la industria alimentaria. Palabras Clave: Ají, sambo, semillas, análisis económico, consumo, comercialización

Effect of tiotropium on health-related quality of life as a primary efficacy endpoint in COPD

Clinical manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including airflow limitation, dyspnea, and activity limitation, ultimately lead to impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This 9-month, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study compared the effect of once-daily tiotropium 18 μg and placebo on HRQoL, spirometric parameters, and exacerbations in 554 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. HRQoL was assessed using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the new 8-item Visual Simplified Respiratory Questionnaire (VSRQ), which is currently being validated. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving a reduction of at least 4 units in the SGRQ total score at study end (Month 9). Mean ± SD baseline SGRQ total score was 47.4 ± 18.1. Significantly more tiotropium-treated patients achieved a reduction of at least 4 units in the SGRQ score vs placebo at study end (59.1% vs 48.2%, respectively; p = 0.029). Tiotropium significantly improved spirometric parameters (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]: 0.11 ± 0.02 L vs 0.01 ± 0.02 L; between-group difference: 0.10 ± 0.03 L, p = 0.0001) and reduced exacerbations vs placebo. Maintenance treatment with tiotropium provided significant and clinically relevant improvements in HRQoL, as measured by the SGRQ

A diet rich in cocoa attenuates N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced liver injury in rats

The effects of cocoa feeding against N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced liver injury were studied in rats. Animals were divided into five groups. Groups 1 and 2 were fed with standard and cocoa-diet, respectively. Groups 3 and 4 were injected with DEN at 2 and 4 weeks, and fed with standard and cocoa-diet, respectively. Group 5 was treated with DEN, received the standard diet for 4 weeks and then it was replaced by the cocoa-diet. DEN-induced hepatic damage caused a significant increase in damage markers, as well as a decrease in the hepatic glutathione, diminished levels of p-ERK and enhanced protein carbonyl content, caspase-3 activity and values of p-AKT and p-JNK. The cocoa-rich diet prevented the reduction of hepatic glutathione concentration and catalase and GPx activities in DEN-injected rats, as well as diminished protein carbonyl content, caspase-3 activity, p-AKT and p-JNK levels, and increased GST activity. However, cocoa administration did not abrogate the DEN-induced body weight loss and the increased levels of hepatic-specific enzymes and LDH. These results suggested that cocoa-rich diet attenuates the DEN-induced liver injury. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This work was supported by the grants 200870I198, AGL2004-302, AGL2007-64042 and CSD2007-00063 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. A.B. Granado-Serrano is a predoctoral fellow of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education.Peer Reviewe

The HI content of the Eridanus group of galaxies

The HI content of galaxies in the Eridanus group is studied using the GMRT observations and the HIPASS data. A significant HI deficiency up to a factor of 2-3 is observed in galaxies in the high galaxy density regions. The HI deficiency in galaxies is observed to be directly correlated with the local projected galaxy density, and inversely correlated with the line-of-sight radial velocity. Furthermore, galaxies with larger optical diameters are predominantly in the lower galaxy density regions. It is suggested that the HI deficiency in Eridanus is due to tidal interactions. In some galaxies, evidences of tidal interactions are seen. An important implication is that significant evolution of galaxies can take place in the group environment. In the hierarchical way of formation of clusters via mergers of groups, a fraction of the observed HI deficiency in clusters could have originated in groups. The co-existence of S0's and severely HI deficient galaxies in the Eridanus group suggests that galaxy harassment is likely to be an effective mechanism for transforming spirals to S0's.Comment: 21 pages; Accepted for publication in Journal of Astroph. & Astron. March, 200