Analysis of tannins in cowpeas and tea and their effect on protein and mineral metabolism in rats

Cowpeas [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] of Coronet, Mississippi Silver (MSC), and White Acre (WA) cultivars were harvested at 3 maturities. MSC had the greatest amount of tannins; WA, the least amount. Testa of cowpea had the greatest amount of tannins while whole cowpea and its cotyledons had the least amount. Measurements were made on cowpeas to determine effects of cultivar and maturity on color, cotyledon:testa ratio, hydration coefficient, tannin content, and tannin polymerization. Extraction efficiency of tannin increased as amount of sample decreased. A major portion of tannins may be removed from cowpea by cooking in water and discarding the liquid. Tannins were extracted from MSC and black tea and added to diets that were fed to rats. Diets contained 0.057, 0.171, and 0.570 mg tannins/g diet. Ingestion of tannin from MSC or tea did not affect PER, growth rate, in vivo apparent digestibility, nitrogen excretion, liver weight, or nitrogen content of liver. However, the source of tannin affected absorption of calcium, magnesium, and iron. Diets with tannins isolated from MSC caused higher concentration of plasma calcium and sodium, but not magnesium, than the control diet; tea tannin produced higher calcium concentration only. Source and level of tannins had no effect on ash and calcium contents of the rat\u27s left femur. MSC-derived tannins increased the concentration of magnesium in the femur when compared with control diet or tea-derived tannins

The Effect of Heat Treatments on Dietary Fiber As Assessed by Chemical Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy

Today it is generally accepted by many nutritionists that dietary fiber plays an important role in human health. Increased consumption of dietary fiber is advocated for beneficial effects on human health; thus food technologists and the food industry are interested in the use of fiber as an ingredient in food products and in the manufacture of high fiber foods. Numerous researchers have concentrated on the physiological effects of dietary fiber, while few have investigated the effect different processing parameters have on dietary fiber. Apple fiber, corn fiber, oat bran and soy fiber were prepared and analyzed after further processing (autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes, 100°C for 30 minutes, and microwave heating for 5 and 10 minutes) to study the effect heat processing has on dietary fiber fractions of the products. Unprocessed samples were analyzed as controls. The samples were analyzed for insoluble, soluble, and total dietary fiber by an enzymatic-gravimetric method. Photomicrographs were taken with a scanning electron microscope. Autoclaving significantly reduced insoluble dietary fiber of apple fiber, and total dietary fiber of apple fiber and oat bran. Microwave heat treatment resulted in a significant reduction of total dietary fiber in apple fiber and oat bran. The microwave heat also caused a decrease in the insoluble dietary fiber of oat bran, but caused an increase in the soluble dietary fiber of apple fiber. All processing treatments appeared to decrease the soluble dietary fiber content in corn fiber. The scanning electron micrographs showed structure differences between processed and unprocessed apple, corn, oat and soy samples. Increased processing generally produced more cracking and furrowing on the surface of the fiber which resulted in an increase in the fiber\u27s surface area. The increased surface area was indicated in the photomicrographs. This study demonstrates the effects heat processing has on different fiber sources. Results indicate the effect of processing on dietary fiber is dependent upon the fiber source and the processing conditions

Modeling Flood Perils and Flood Insurance Program in Taiwan

Taiwan had approximately 3,000 buildings damaged by floods with an economic loss of NT$12.8 billion annually, a figure 4.5 times more than economic losses due to fire damages. Many insurers become extremely cautious when underwriting their flood policies for people living in areas that are frequently struck by floods. The rising damages also trigger the demand for a mandatory national flood insurance program. This paper describes the development of an integrated flood risk assessment model for Taiwan which contains of a hazard, vulnerability and financial analysis module. We take the perspective that the mandatory program will be provided to fire policyholders as part of building and content insurance to mitigate the financial losses. The issue of a long-term balance between fund accumulations and its claim payouts will be addressed along with policy recommendations based on the modeling results.Risk Assessment, Typhoon, Flood Insurance, Financial Analysis, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Risk and Uncertainty,

Effect of Leverage on Firm Value and How the Contextual Variables Affect This Relationship: A Case of Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to investigate capital structure in the Pakistani corporate sector in light of the interest rate gap with other countries and emerging Islamic banking in the country. The study investigates the effect of leverage on firm value (Tobin’s Q) and how other variables impact this relationship. The study used the System-GMM-Fixed effect model for linear analysis and fixed effect panel threshold regression model by Hansen (1999) for quadratic analysis using data from nonfinancial firms listed on the Pakistan Stock exchange for the period 2005 to 2019. The results show that there is a negative relation between leverage and the value of the firm. In contrast, debt and non-debt tax shields have a positive relationship with the value of the firm. The study also found that there is quadratic nature of leverage with the value of the firm. The study supports Trade-off theory, pecking order theory, while it doesn’t support agency theory