Development of biscuits using purple rice flour, defatted green-lipped mussel powder and spices

Biscuits are the most popular bakery food consumed worldwide. The nutritional values of biscuits can be fortified by adjusting their formulations. Wheat flour is one of the main ingredients in a biscuit mix and biscuits can be fortified by using alternative flours containing a high nutritional value, such as Thai purple rice (Oryza sativa L.) flour. However, this has seldom been used in bakery products, i.e. bread or biscuits. Defatted green-lipped mussel powder (Perna canaliculus) is a by-product, which is a good source of protein to add to biscuits. Spices tend to give the biscuits a nice smell and taste, particularly in biscuits where defatted green-lipped mussel powder (P. canaliculus) has been added to the recipe to increase the protein content. Wheat-purple rice biscuits (50:50) supplemented with defatted mussel powder at 0-20%, together with spices, were evaluated by measuring their proximate compositions, physical characteristics and antioxidant contents along with their liking scores as derived from a standard tasting trial. This study was carried out in 5 stages: 1) substituting a portion of wheat flour with Thai purple rice flour, 2) producing biscuits from different flour mixtures, 3) incorporating defatted mussel powder to the biscuits containing purple rice flour, 4) using spices in the formulation of biscuits with defatted mussel powder, 5) studying changes in the quality of biscuits containing defatted mussel powder and spices during storage for four months. An increase in substitution levels of purple rice flour increased the level of dietary fibre from 2.3 to 5.6% and protein digestibility from 24.8 to 66.46%, and decreased the predicted glycaemic index (pGI) from 63.1 to 48.6 compared to refined wheat flour. Lower amounts of rapidly digested starch with higher slowly digested starch contents were found in whole flour made from purple rice with a 75% substitution of purple rice flour for wheat flour. In addition, antioxidant compounds (total phenolic compounds, anthocyanin and total flavonoid) and antioxidant activity significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the substituted flour compared to the refined wheat flour. The wheat-purple rice biscuits contained high fibre contents (4.1%) with small only changes in physical properties. The biscuits also showed positive characteristics using in vitro digestibility methods. The lowest pGI was found in the 100% purple rice flour biscuits. The change in colour of the biscuits was due to the antioxidant compounds from the purple rice flour. The total phenolics, anthocyanin and flavonoid contents of the fortified biscuits ranged from 0.8-3.0 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g dry weight (DW), anthocyanins 9.4-51.5 mg/kg DW and flavonoids 0.6-1.3 mg catechin equivalents/100 g DW, respectively. Sensory evaluation revealed that panellists liked the 50% substitution level of purple rice flour for wheat flour in the biscuit mix compared to the 75% and 100% substitution levels. The highest crude protein level (11.3%) with the highest protein digestibility (83.5%) was found in the 20% defatted mussel powder biscuits mixed with ginger and galangal compared to biscuits enriched with 10% and 15% defatted mussel powder. The antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity also significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the total starch contents decreased, when increased amounts of protein from defatted mussel powder were incorporated into the biscuit mix. Overall, the supplementation of 10% defatted mussel powder was accepted by all the ethnic groups with a higher score given than for the 20% supplemented biscuits. Pacific Islanders appreciated the mussel-supplemented biscuits more than the other three ethnic groups, Caucasian, Chinese and Thai. The fortified biscuits enriched with defatted mussel powder and spices contained higher protein (26.4%), fibre (52.9%) and ash (6.0%) contents with a lower fat (5.6%) content compared to the wheat-purple rice biscuits (50:50). The in vitro starch digestibility and pGI decreased in the fortified biscuits by 19% and 6.2%, respectively, while the protein digestibility increased by 3.7%, corresponding to the increased levels of defatted mussel powder present. The inclusion of defatted mussel powder at 15% showed no significant differences in liking scores in terms of colour and overall appearance; whereas, the flavour and overall acceptability scores were significantly lower than the control biscuits from 7.0 to 4.6 and from 7.4 to 5.3, respectively. Storage of the 15% defatted mussel biscuits at 21.6 ± 0.4°C and 34.2 ± 0.1°C in two different packaging types (polyethylene terephthalate, PET and aluminium foil laminate, AL) for 12 weeks showed small reductions in antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity (P < 0.05), but no changes were observed in the colour and physical parameters. Overall, substitution of purple rice flour can be used as an alternative flour in terms of functional properties to produce a good texture in biscuits with a higher antioxidant potential and lower predicted glycaemic index. Spices can be successfully incorporated into mussel-containing biscuits to improve the overall taste of the biscuits. A combination of lower temperature (21.6 ± 0.4°C) and AL pouches proved to be the best storage condition for biscuits giving, overall, acceptable rates of free fatty acid and peroxide values even after storage for 12 weeks

Perception of HIV risk-taking behaviors among youths incarcerated in a juvenile vocational training center : a qualitative study

Youths who are incarcerated often have high risk behaviors for HIV. A descriptive qualitative approach was used to gain an understanding about perceptions of HIV risk-taking behaviors among male youths who were incarcerated in a juvenile vocational training center in the north of Thailand. Multiple methods were employed to gather information from 42 male youth and included site document reviews, four focus group discussions (8 persons/group), 10 in-depth interviews, and participant observation. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Two themes emerged. The first theme was Personal perceptions of risky behavior and this had five subthemes: The nature of adolescents and risk behaviors, Stress in vocational training, Surviving the training, Needing the excitement of sex, and Sexual norms. The second theme, Social and environmental contexts encouraging HIV risk-taking behavior, involved three subthemes: Rules and regulations promoting risky behaviors, Incitement to risky behaviors, and Peer influence. Accurate understanding about HIV risk-taking behaviors of youths who are incarcerated will help nurses and other healthcare providers to provide sensitive health care to these youths and to mutually engage to support those incarcerated to reduce HIV risk-taking behaviors

Predictors for nurses and midwives' readiness towards self-directed learning: An integrated review

Aim. To systematically review the existing evidence on predictors for nurses and midwives' readiness towards Self-directed Learning (SDL). Background. Increased complexities in healthcare settings demand that nurses and midwives become involved in lifelong learning by means of self-directed learning (SDL) for delivering quality healthcare. More evidence is available for the self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) of nursing and midwifery students, less is systematically derived on predictors for nurses and midwives' readiness to SDL. Design. An integrative systematic review. Methods. Systematic searches were carried out using the following five electronic databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Ovid Medline and Embase. Studies published in English language from 2000 to 2017 were included. The integrative systematic review framework developed by Whittemore and Knafl (2005) was used to analyse and summarise the key themes. Results. Of 804 initial screening papers, in total of eight eligible studies (six quantitative and two qualitative) were found. Integrative analysis resulted in four themes as predictors for nurses and midwives' readiness towards SDL: 1) personal characteristics, 2) working environment, 3) online learning and SDLR, and 4) process of SDL. Review found that, although demographic characteristics of nurses and midwives do not influence their SDLR, work environment often influences their SDLR. Furthermore, nurses and midwives have a positive interest in online learning that is often used to improve their knowledge acquisition. Conclusion. The review concludes that qualified nurses and midwives have a unique SDL predictors and process; hence, a personalized SDL programme should be prescribed based on personality traits so as to achieve better SDL outcomes. Future research should address the facilitating factors for SDLR, barriers to SDLR and strategies to improve SDLR among nurses and more importantly midwives, as limited evidence is available with respect to the latter

In vitro suppression of the MMP-3 gene in normal and cytokine-treated human chondrosarcoma using small interfering RNA

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) synthesized and secreted from connective tissue cells have been thought to participate in degradation of the extracellular matrix. Increased MMPs activities that degrade proteoglycans have been measured in osteoarthritis cartilage. This study aims to suppress the expression of the <it>MMP-3 </it>gene in <it>in vitro </it>human chondrosarcoma using siRNA.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cells were categorized into four groups: control (G.1); transfection solution treated (G.2); negative control siRNA treated (G.3); and <it>MMP-3 </it>siRNA treated (G.4). All four groups were further subdivided into two groups - treated and non-treated with IL-1β- following culture for 48 and 72 h. We observed the effects of gene suppression according to cell morphology, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and hyaluronan (HA) production, and gene expression by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In IL-1β treated cells the apoptosis rate in G.4 was found to be lower than in all other groups, while viability and mitotic rate were higher than in all other groups (<it>p </it>< 0.05). The production of GAG and HA in G.4 was significantly higher than the control group (<it>p </it>< 0.05). <it>MMP-3 </it>gene expression was downregulated significantly (<it>p </it>< 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>MMP-3 </it>specific siRNA can inhibit the expression of <it>MMP-3 </it>in chondrosarcoma. This suggests that <it>MMP-3 </it>siRNA has the potential to be a useful preventive and therapeutic agent for osteoarthritis.</p

Improving PBL in Empowering Meta cognitive Skill of Students

Abstract Objective: Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is a potential constructivist learning strategy that empowers students’ Meta cognitive skill. PBL focuses on problem, involves thinking activity to solve problems, and correlates to cognitive function of students. Methods: The implementation of PBL reveals various benefits, but there are also some weaknesses in this learning strategy. Thus, it is necessary to implement a certain learning strategy that can cover the PBL weaknesses, such as Reading, Questioning, and Answering (RQA) learning strategy. RQA is a new learning strategy developed based on a fact that almost all students do not read the next lecture materials, causing failure of learning strategy planned and finally the students’ comprehension becomes low. RQA is also potential to empower students’ Meta cognitive skill. Findings: The integration of RQA and PBL learning strategy is called PBL-RQA learning strategy. This study was a quasi-experimental study designed to compare the effect of PBL, RQA, and PBL-RQA learning strategies on the students’ Meta cognitive skill of Faculty of Mathematics and Science, State University of Makassar. Application: The results of the study showed that the potency of PBL learning strategy in empowering the students’ Meta cognitive skill has been increased by integrating it to RQA learning strategy. The meta cognitive skill mean score of the students taught by PBL-RQA learning strategy was 21% higher than that of the students taught by PBL and 26.9% higher than that of the students taught by RQA learning strategy. Keywords: Answering, Meta Cognitive Skill, Problem-Based Learning, Questioning, Reading, PBL-RQ

Thai women's experiences of HIV/AIDS in the rural north : a grounded theory study

Thailand is a nation of some 60 million people, 2 million of whom are estimated to be HIV/AIDS infected and, of those who are infected, 80-90% were infected through heterosexual intercourse and 10-20% are women. In this research, the author discusses the situation in some detail.The experiences of HIV/AIDS infected Thai wives and widows in the rural north of the country are studied.A major contributing factor is the differential constructions of male and female status and sexuality in traditional Thai culture.These constructions are rooted in Theravada Buddhism, ancient mythology and folklore. Data was obtained from 24 participants in Chiangmai Province. The findings of the study revealed several problems with which participants were confronted and the processes they used to address them.It is suggested in the findings that any serious therapeutic interventions and interventionist research studies must be congruent with traditional Thai cultur

Effect of Substituting Purple Rice Flour for Wheat Flour on Physicochemical Characteristics, In Vitro Digestibility, and Sensory Evaluation of Biscuits

Purple rice flour contains high levels of a number of antioxidant compounds; however, it has seldom been used as an ingredient in bakery products. The aim was to increase the nutritional value of biscuits by adding purple rice flour to a basic wheat flour biscuit. The substitution of purple rice flour in place of wheat flour modified the characteristics of the biscuits in terms of increasing the nutritional values. They contained high fiber, antioxidants, and antioxidant activities, while slightly changing the physical properties such as hardness and spread ratio. The study showed that the protein digestibility increased as the content of the purple rice flour was increased in the biscuit mix. The 100% purple rice flour biscuits had the lowest predicted glycemic index (pGI) of all the biscuits. Sensory analysis showed that the overall acceptability of the blended flour biscuits at 25 and 50% substitution levels was slightly less than that of the control biscuits with only 9%; however, the scores were above 5 which means the panelists still liked the biscuits a lot. Overall, the inclusion of purple rice flour in biscuits mix increased crude protein content, protein digestibility, and bioactive compounds with acceptable sensory scores from consumers up to 50% substitution of purple rice

A Grounded Theory Study of Thai Family Caregiving Process for Relatives with First Episode Psychosis

This grounded theory study explored the family caregiving process for relatives with first-episode psychosis related to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The study was conducted during May 2013-March 2014 in lower northeastern region of Thailand using semi-structured interviews and observations, and involved 31 participants from 18 Thai families. The data were analyzed by using Strauss and Corbin\u27s constant comparative method until theoretical saturation was achieved. The core category emerging from the data was Balancing family life, which consisted of three phases: 1) Communicating to gain support and understanding, 2) Capturing solution, and 3) Engaging in the family caregiving role. To keep balance in their family life, family members needed to encourage and support each other and gain understanding toward the illness on Phase I. They also consulted one another; got suggestions from older or senior person; or depended on the primary caregiver\u27s decision for capturing solutions for care for their relatives in Phase 2. Finally, in Phase 3 they developed their sense of caring; shared care responsibility; provided essential care and controlling illness symptoms once they engage in the family caregiving role. These rich findings provide insight into caregiving in the Thai family context, especially in how they interacted and helped each other in order to provide care for relatives with first episode psychosis. Understanding of this process can assist with the development of interventions to enhance family members\u27 abilities to take on the caregiver role and to provide effective care for their relatives with first-episode psychosis