A Study on Nutritional Composition and Value Addition of Crab Apple (Malus baccata)

Abstract Apple cultivation is main occupation of farmers in dry and high hills of Himachal Pradesh but this species of crab apple (Malus baccata) is grown wildly in the state but due to their smaller size, improper shape, poor colour, the fruit could not fetch good market value and gone as waste. By considering these parameters of the fruit, the study was conducted to evaluate nutritive composition and to develop food products i.e. fruit bar/ gelatinized layers and apple jam from highly nutritious underutilized fruit. The fruit contain high amounts of vitamin C content (17.13 mg/100g) and pectin content (5.57 % as calcium pectate). The nutritive composition in crab apple based fruit bar/ gelatinized layers and jam were studied during storage interval of 9 months. The results for fruit bar/ gelatinized layers shows that the TSS ( , 3.06-2.96, 5.27-5.05, 64.67-62.49 and 8.26 -5.32, respectively while acidity and reducing sugars(%) increased from 1.20 -1.37 and 55.98 -58.60 with the increase of storage intervals. Similar trend was observed for crab apple jam during storage interval. The prepared products viz., fruit bar/gelatinized layers and apple jam was subjected for sensory evaluation to a panel of members at different storage intervals i.e. (fresh, 3, 6 and 9 months of storage period) and the products were found as acceptable in terms of colour, taste, consistency/texture even up to storage interval of 9 months at ambient conditions

Effect of varieties and storage on the quality parameters of nectarine (Prunus persica)-based intermediate moisture food (IMF) products

Fruits play an important role in maintaining a healthy life. Nectarine is a hybrid fruit of peach and plum, wherein efforts were made to develop intermediate moisture food products (jam and jelly) from nectarine varieties (May Fire, Snow Queen, and Silver King). The study aimed to determine the effect of storage on the nutritional (TSS, pH, acidity, ascorbic acid, and sugars) and sensory parameters (color, taste, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability) of jam and jelly at different storage intervals. Storage had a nonsignificant effect on the total soluble solids, with reported mean values of 69.670 Brix, while the pH content of jam varied significantly from 2.90-2.20 during 6 months of storage. The values for acidity and total sugars increased (P≤0.05) significantly from 1.92-2.03 percent and 57.04 to 56.93 percent, respectively. However, the ascorbic acid content decreased significantly from 4.64 - 1.66 mg/100 g. In the case of jelly, the total soluble solids and pH decreased from 67.78 – 67.440 Brix and 2.70 – 2.48, respectively, during storage for 6 months at ambient temperature. The ascorbic acid content decreased from 4.56-2.10 mg/100 g. Among cultivars, there was a nonsignificant difference in the nutritional parameters of jam, but in the case of jelly, different cultivars had a significant effect on TSS, pH, and ascorbic acid content. Organoleptically, the nectarine jam was rated as ‘liked very much’, while the jelly ‘liked slightly’, with good storage acceptance up to 6 months. Being nectarine as a superfood can be explored to develop speciality food products for vulnerable sections of society

Occurrence of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli in veterinary healthcare facilities in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) such as multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli are important pathogens associated with nosocomial infections in both human and animal health care facilities. Surfaces of inanimate objects in health care facilities can serve as sources of infection. However, studies on prevalence of these pathogens in veterinary settings are lacking in the country. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence of A. baumannii and E. coli and the occurrence of MDR isolates on surfaces of inanimate objects in veterinary health care facilities in Klang Valley, Malaysia. In this study, swab samples were taken from 65 surfaces of inanimate objects that included door knobs, examination tables, labcoats, stethoscopes and weighing scales. The swab samples were cultured and all isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility test. The study revealed that the occurrence of A. baumannii was 9.23% and 5 out of 6 (83.33%) A. baumannii isolates were classified as MDR. However, no E. coli was isolated. In conclusion, surfaces of inanimate objects can be a source of MDR A. baumannii in veterinary health care facilities that is of animal and public health concern

Mural Cells: Potential Therapeutic Targets to Bridge Cardiovascular Disease and Neurodegeneration

Mural cells collectively refer to the smooth muscle cells and pericytes of the vasculature. This heterogenous population of cells play a crucial role in the regulation of blood pressure, distribution, and the structural integrity of the vascular wall. As such, dysfunction of mural cells can lead to the pathogenesis and progression of a number of diseases pertaining to the vascular system. Cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis, are perhaps the most well-described mural cell-centric case. For instance, atherosclerotic plaques are most often described as being composed of a proliferative smooth muscle cap accompanied by a necrotic core. More recently, the role of dysfunctional mural cells in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, is being recognized. In this review, we begin with an exploration of the mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases, such as mural cell plasticity. Next, we highlight a selection of signaling pathways (PDGF, Notch and inflammatory signaling) that are conserved across both diseases. We propose that conserved mural cell signaling mechanisms can be exploited for the identification or development of dual-pronged therapeutics that impart both cardio- and neuroprotective qualities

Physical properties and food value of rice varieties of Western Himalaya

340-349Six rice varieties namely Bhrigu Dhan, Begami, Desi Dhan, Paddy Karad, Sukara Dhan and Lal Dhan grown in the westeren Himalaya, as a dehulled rice grain, were evaluated with the aim of establishing their specific food value. Length, breadth, length/breadth ratio, thousand -kernel weight, density, and bulk density of all varieties were in the range of 7.80-8.70 (mm), 3.12-3.68 (mm), 2.15-2.74,13.79-28.66 (g), 0.10-1.25 (g/mL) and 0.477-0.657 (g/mL), respectively. Maximum length (8.70 mm), 1000 kernel weight (28.66 g) and bulk density (1.25g/mL) were observed for Bhrigu Dhan. Moisture content, crude fat, crude fibre and ash, were in the range of 11.21 to 12.92, 2.35 to 3.26, 2.22 to 2.69 and 1.60 to 1.79 per cent, respectively on dry weight basis. The highest and lowest value for crude protein was recorded in Desi Dhan (12.00%) and Bhrigu Dhan (7.66 %), respectively; and total carbohydrates were observed highest in Bhrigu Dhan (86.88%) and lowest in Desi Dhan (82.44%). The starch content ranged between 81.63 to 88.56%. The total sugar content was highest in Sukara Dhan (1.40%) followed by Desi Dhan (1.35%), Lal Dhan (1.32%), Paddy Karad (1.29%), Begami (1.25%) and minimum was in Bhrigu Dhan (1.05%), respectively. The highest content of free fatty acid was present in Begami (0.377%) and minimum in Sukara Dhan (0.293%) whereas, the maximum amount of free amino acid was present in Bhrigu Dhan (0.443% as glycine) and minimum was present in Begami (0.333% as glycine). Begami had highest content of iron and zinc (8.95 and 9.77 mg/100gm). However maximum values for phosphorus and copper were observed for Sukara Dhan 311.05 and 3.020 mg/100 g respectively. The maximum content of magnesium was observed in Paddy Karad 137.33 mg/100 g and manganese in Bhrigu Dhan 3.49 mg/100 g. The highest total phenolic content observed in Lal Dhan (297.45 mg GAE/100 g) and lowest in Begami (231.66 mg GAE/100 g). The amylose content of red rice varieties varied from 23.56 to 26.55%. Highest amylose value was recorded in Lal Dhan (26.55%) and lowest in Sukara Dhan (23.56%). The data for the sensory evaluation of cooked red rice revealed that the appearance score was highest in variety Lal Dhan, and Paddy Karad

Physical properties and food value of rice varieties of Western Himalaya

Six rice varieties namely Bhrigu Dhan, Begami, Desi Dhan, Paddy Karad, Sukara Dhan and Lal Dhan grown in the westeren Himalaya, as a dehulled rice grain, were evaluated with the aim of establishing their specific food value. Length, breadth, length/breadth ratio, thousand -kernel weight, density, and bulk density of all varieties were in the range of 7.80-8.70 (mm), 3.12-3.68 (mm), 2.15-2.74,13.79-28.66 (g), 0.10-1.25 (g/mL) and 0.477-0.657 (g/mL), respectively. Maximum length (8.70 mm), 1000 kernel weight (28.66 g) and bulk density (1.25g/mL) were observed for Bhrigu Dhan. Moisture content, crude fat, crude fibre and ash, were in the range of 11.21 to 12.92, 2.35 to 3.26, 2.22 to 2.69 and 1.60 to 1.79 per cent, respectively on dry weight basis. The highest and lowest value for crude protein was recorded in Desi Dhan (12.00%) and Bhrigu Dhan (7.66 %), respectively; and total carbohydrates were observed highest in Bhrigu Dhan (86.88%) and lowest in Desi Dhan (82.44%). The starch content ranged between 81.63 to 88.56%. The total sugar content was highest in Sukara Dhan (1.40%) followed by Desi Dhan (1.35%), Lal Dhan (1.32%), Paddy Karad (1.29%), Begami (1.25%) and minimum was in Bhrigu Dhan (1.05%), respectively. The highest content of free fatty acid was present in Begami (0.377%) and minimum in Sukara Dhan (0.293%) whereas, the maximum amount of free amino acid was present in Bhrigu Dhan (0.443% as glycine) and minimum was present in Begami (0.333% as glycine). Begami had highest content of iron and zinc (8.95 and 9.77 mg/100gm). However maximum values for phosphorus and copper were observed for Sukara Dhan 311.05 and 3.020 mg/100 g respectively. The maximum content of magnesium was observed in Paddy Karad 137.33 mg/100 g and manganese in Bhrigu Dhan 3.49 mg/100 g. The highest total phenolic content observed in Lal Dhan (297.45 mg GAE/100 g) and lowest in Begami (231.66 mg GAE/100 g). The amylose content of red rice varieties varied from 23.56 to 26.55%. Highest amylose value was recorded in Lal Dhan (26.55%) and lowest in Sukara Dhan (23.56%). The data for the sensory evaluation of cooked red rice revealed that the appearance score was highest in variety Lal Dhan, and Paddy Karad

Endomicroscopic and transcriptomic analysis of impaired barrier function and malabsorption in environmental enteropathy

Introduction: Environmental enteropathy (EE) is associated with growth failure, micronutrient malabsorption and impaired responses to oral vaccines. We set out to define cellular mechanisms of impaired barrier function in EE and explore protective mechanisms. Methods: We studied 49 adults with environmental enteropathy in Lusaka, Zambia using confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE); histology, immunohistochemistry and mRNA sequencing of small intestinal biopsies; and correlated these with plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a zinc uptake test. Results: CLE images (median 134 for each study) showed virtually ubiquitous small intestinal damage. Epithelial defects, imaged by histology and claudin 4 immunostaining, were predominantly seen at the tips of villi and corresponded with leakage imaged in vivo by CLE. In multivariate analysis, circulating log-transformed LPS was correlated with cell shedding events (β = 0.83; P = 0.035) and with serum glucagon-like peptide-2 (β = -0.13; P = 0.007). Zinc uptake from a test dose of 25mg was attenuated in 30/47 (64%) individuals and in multivariate analysis was reduced by HIV, but positively correlated with GLP-2 (β = 2.72; P = 0.03). There was a U-shaped relationship between circulating LPS and villus surface area. Transcriptomic analysis identified 23 differentially expressed genes in severe enteropathy, including protective peptides and proteins. Conclusions: Confocal endomicroscopy, claudin 4 immunostaining and histology identify epithelial defects which are probably sites of bacterial translocation, in the presence of which increased epithelial surface area increases the burden of translocation. GLP 2 and other protective peptides may play an important role in mucosal protection in EE

High-resolution radiation hybrid mapping in wheat: an essential tool for the construction of the wheat physical maps

ArtigoO poema épico da época moderna nasce na literatura portuguesa como oceânico logo a partir da sua gestação. Este estudo enquadra a sua génese num contexto europeu.Università di Roma, La Sapienz

Measurement of the cross-section and charge asymmetry of WW bosons produced in proton-proton collisions at s=8\sqrt{s}=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents measurements of the $W^+ \rightarrow \mu^+\nu$ and $W^- \rightarrow \mu^-\nu$ cross-sections and the associated charge asymmetry as a function of the absolute pseudorapidity of the decay muon. The data were collected in proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC and correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 20.2~\mbox{fb^{-1}}. The precision of the cross-section measurements varies between 0.8% to 1.5% as a function of the pseudorapidity, excluding the 1.9% uncertainty on the integrated luminosity. The charge asymmetry is measured with an uncertainty between 0.002 and 0.003. The results are compared with predictions based on next-to-next-to-leading-order calculations with various parton distribution functions and have the sensitivity to discriminate between them.Comment: 38 pages in total, author list starting page 22, 5 figures, 4 tables, submitted to EPJC. All figures including auxiliary figures are available at https://atlas.web.cern.ch/Atlas/GROUPS/PHYSICS/PAPERS/STDM-2017-13