Removing isoflavones from modern soyfood: Why and how?

Estrogenic isoflavones were found, in the 1940s, to disrupt ewe reproduction and were identified in soy-consumers' urine in 1982. This led to controversy about their safety, often supported by current Asian diet measurements, but not by historical data. Traditional Asian recipes of soy were tested while assaying soy glycosilated isoflavones. As these compounds are water-soluble, their concentration is reduced by soaking. Pre-cooking or simmering time-dependently reduces the isoflavone: protein ratio in Tofu. Cooking soy-juice for 15 or 60 min decreases the isoflavone: protein ratios in Tofu from 6.90 to 3.57 and 1.80, respectively (p < 0.001). Traditional Tempeh contains only 18.07% of the original soybean isoflavones (p < 0.001). Soy-juice isoflavones were reduced by ultra-filtration (6.54 vs 1.24 isoflavone: protein; p < 0.001). Soy-protein and isoflavones are dissociated by water rinsing and prolonged cooking, but these have no equivalent in modern processes. As regards human health, a precise definition of the safety level of isoflavone intake requires additional studies. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

SEM characterization of nanodevices and nanomaterials

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) can be used to study and characterize a wide variety of materials used in nanoelectronic and photonic applications. Several different techniques make use of this versatile tool. These include voltage contrast in secondary electron imaging, charge collection for semiconductor samples and cathodoluminescence. These techniques are important in device nanofabrication process development and nanomaterials characterization. © 2006 IEEE