Effect of I2/KI water solution to wheat seeds imbibition assessed by image analysis

ArticleWater plays key role in a seed germination due to its participation in starting of many metabolic processes that accompany the seed germination. Rate of water uptake into seeds is a usual basis for determination of the three germination phases. The water uptake into seeds during their germination was investigated by many researchers who used various methods (e.g. magnetic resonance mic ro - imaging, near - infrared hyperspectral imaging and visualization with I 2 /KI solution (Lugol's iodine)). The method of using I 2 /KI water solution for this purpose is quite popular for its relatively applicability. In this paper we compared the seed surface area projection and shape development of the seeds imbibed in the I 2 /KI solution and in the pure water via image analysis. It was found that the presence of the I 2 /KI in water changes the increase of seeds volume during germination and the effect is diffe rent during the initial imbibition and during the next germination phases. The seed shape development is similar for both variants, pure water and I 2 /KI solution

Effects of selected process parameters on the compaction of carob powder

ArticleThe effects of important process parameters on mechanical response during the densification of an industrial food powder were investigated and important phenomena described using the power rule. The factors studied had highly significant effects on mechanical response. The effects of the models in predicting the behaviour of the system were also highly significant. The findings are of relevance to processing and handling of food powders

Influence of Ruminant Amniotic Fluid Fractions on Fibroblast and Lymphocyte Proliferation

Different substances of amniotic fluid influence the cell proliferation and differentiation of developing animal fetus. The aim of this study was to determine the mitogenic effect of some peptide components of bovine amniotic fluid on bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes using methyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay. The next aim of our work was to determine the mitogenic activity of ovine amniotic fluid fractions of peptide nature on benzo-á-pyrene transformed BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts (BPA31 cells) by use of 3H-thymidine incorporation into nucleus DNA and in conclusion, to compare the mitogenic activity of ruminant amniotic fluid fractions on different indicator cells. According to our study, inhibiting effect was found only in the case of separated bovine amniotic fluid (Peak I) and ovine amniotic fluid (B fraction). On the other hand, we have observed activation of lymphocytes by other fraction of bovine amniotic fluid (Peak II) and also of BP- A31 cells by fraction A in case of ovine amniotic fluid. The proliferation of peripheral lymphocytes was not significantly changed after the addition of natural bovine amniotic fluid likewise when the delipidated ovine amniotic fluid was added to BP-A31 cells, there was no effect on 3H-thymidine incorporation. Our results suggest that with testing the proliferation effect, the selection of indicator cells is of great importance since various cell types respond in different ways to the same substances

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins and mitogenic activity of partially fractionated sheep amniotic fluid

Amniotic fluid collected from ewes on various days of gestation was examined for the presence of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding proteins. IGF-binding proteins with a molecular mass of 40–45 kDa appeared at day 41 of gestation. The level of these major IGF-binding proteins increased during pregnancy and reached a maximum at day 106. Smaller IGF-binding molecules with an approximate molecular mass of 35 kDa and 25 kDa appeared at day 90, also reaching a concentration peak at day 106. The mitogenic activity of sheep amniotic fluid after chromatography on Sephadex G-50 was separated into two peaks. The peak having lower molecular mass corresponded to an elution profile of 125I-IGF-I. The first peak, having higher molecular mass, was eluted immediately after the void volume of column. Electrophoresis and ligand blotting showed that proteins in the first peak had similar properties as IGF-binding proteins

Effect of mastication on lipid bioaccessibility of almonds in a randomized human study and its implications for digestion kinetics, metabolizable energy, and postprandial lipemia

Background: The particle size and structure of masticated almonds impact significantly on nutrient release (bioaccessibility) and digestion kinetics. Objectives: To quantify the effects of mastication on the bioaccessibility of intracellular lipid of almond tissue and examine microstructural characteristics of masticated almonds. Design: In a randomized, subject-blind, crossover trial, 17 healthy subjects chewed natural (NA) or roasted almonds (RA) on 4 separate mastication sessions. Particle size distributions (PSDs) of the expectorated boluses were measured using mechanical sieving and laser diffraction (primary outcome). The microstructure of masticated almonds, including the structural integrity of the cell walls (i.e. dietary fiber), was examined using microscopy. Lipid bioaccessibility was predicted using a theoretical model, based on almond particle size and cell dimensions, and then compared to empirically-derived release data. Results: Inter-subject variations (n=15, 2 subjects withdrew) in PSDs of both NA and RA samples were small (e.g. laser diffraction, CV = 12% and 9%, respectively). Significant differences in PSDs were found between these two almond forms (P 500 µm) in masticated almonds. Microstructural examination of the almonds indicated that most intracellular lipid remained undisturbed in intact cells post-mastication. No adverse events were recorded. Conclusions: Following mastication, most of the almond cells remained intact with lipid encapsulated by cell walls. Thus, most of the lipid (>88%) in masticated almonds is not immediately bioaccessible and remains unavailable for digestion and absorption. The lipid encapsulation mechanism provides a convincing explanation for why almonds have a low metabolizable energy content and an attenuated impact on postprandial lipemia. Trial registration number; ISRCTN58438021