Risk and benefit of different cooking methods on essential elements and arsenic in rice

Use of excess water in cooking of rice is a well-studied short-term arsenic removal technique. However, the outcome on the nutritional content of rice is not well addressed. We determined the benefit of different cooking techniques on arsenic removal and the associated risk of losing the essential elements in rice. Overall, we found 4.5%, 30% and 44% decrease in the arsenic content of rice when cooked with rice to water ratios of 1:3, 1:6 (p = 0.004) and 1:10 (parboiling; p<0.0001) respectively. All the essential elements incurred a significant loss (except iron, selenium, copper) when rice was cooked using 1:6 technique: potassium (50%), nickel (44.6%), molybdenum (38.5%), magnesium (22.4%), cobalt (21.2%), manganese (16.5%), calcium (14.5%), selenium (12%), iron (8.2%), zinc (7.7%), and copper (0.2%) and further reduction was observed on parboiling, except for iron. For the same cooking method (1:6), percentage contribution to the recommended daily intake (RDI) of essential elements was highest for molybdenum (154.7%), followed by manganese (34.5%), copper (33.4%), selenium (13.1%), nickel (12.4%), zinc (10%), magnesium(8%), iron (6.3%), potassium (1.8%), and calcium (0.5%), Hence cooked rice is a poor source for essential elements and thus micronutrients

The Potential of N-Rich Plasma-Polymerized Ethylene (PPE:N) Films for Regulating the Phenotype of the Nucleus Pulposus

We recently developed a nitrogen-rich plasma-polymerized biomaterial, designated “PPE:N” (N-doped plasma-polymerized ethylene) that is capable of suppressing cellular hypertrophy while promoting type I collagen and aggrecan expression in mesenchymal stem cells from osteoarthritis patients. We then hypothesized that these surfaces would form an ideal substrate on which the nucleus pulposus (NP) phenotype would be maintained. Recent evidence using microarrays showed that in young rats, the relative mRNA levels of glypican-3 (GPC3) and pleiotrophin binding factor (PTN) were significantly higher in nucleus pulposus (NP) compared to annulus fibrosus (AF) and articular cartilage. Furthermore, vimentin (VIM) mRNA levels were higher in NP versus articular cartilage. In contrast, the levels of expression of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and matrix gla protein precursor (MGP) were lower in NP compared to articular cartilage. The objective of this study was to compare the expression profiles of these genes in NP cells from fetal bovine lumbar discs when cultured on either commercial polystyrene (PS) tissue culture dishes or on PPE:N with time. We found that the expression of these genes varies with the concentration of N ([N]). More specifically, the expression of several genes of NP was sensitive to [N], with a decrease of GPC3, VIM, PTN, and MGP in function of decreasing [N]. The expression of aggrecan, collagen type I, and collagen type II was also studied: no significant differences were observed in the cells on different surfaces with different culture time. The results support the concept that PPE:N may be a suitable scaffold for the culture of NP cells. Further studies are however necessary to better understand their effects on cellular phenotypes

Inheritance of resistance to common bacterial blight in four selected common bean (\u3ci\u3ePhaseolus vulgaris\u3c/i\u3e L.) genotypes

Common bacterial blight (CBB) is the most serious bacterial disease of common bean in Uganda. It causes severe yield losses of up to 62%. Genetic resistance is the most effective option for controlling CBB in smallholder common bean production systems. This study was carried out to determine the inheritance pattern of CBB resistance in leaf and pod of four new resistance sources. The four resistant and four susceptible genotypes were crossed in a half-diallel mating design. F1 individuals were advanced to F2 and evaluated with the parents, in a randomized complete block design replicated twice. Combining ability analysis was performed according to Griffing\u27s (1956) method IV and model 1 using Genstat 12th. General combining ability effects were significant whereas specific combining ability was not suggesting that resistance to CBB in leaf and pod was primarily controlled by additive genes effects. The estimated narrow sense coefficient of genetic determination was moderately high (0.65) for the resistance in leaf and high (0.83) for resistance in pod suggesting that early-generation selection would be effective. Baker’s ratio estimates were relatively high for resistance in leaf (0.79) and pod (0.9) suggesting that hybrids’ performance can be predicted based on the parents’ general combining ability (GCA) effects

Effect of Dexrazoxane and Amifostine on the Vertebral Bone Quality of Doxorubicin Treated Male Rats

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used in combination cocktails for treatment of childhood hematological cancers and solid tumors. A major factor limiting DOX usage is DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. However, it is not known whether protectants like dexrazoxane (DXR) and amifostine (AMF) can prevent DOX-mediated bone damage. The present study investigated whether administration of AMF alone or in combination with DXR would prevent any DOX-mediated bone damage. Male rat pups were treated with DOX, DXR, AMF, and their combinations. On neonate day 38, the bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC) and the micro-architecture of the lumbar vertebrae were analyzed. We have shown that when male rats are treated with DOX, DXR, DOX+DXR, AMF, DOX+AMF or DOX+DXR+AMF, there is a decrease in lumbar vertebral BMD (p<0.05). Furthermore, the relative bone volume (BV/TV) was decreased by DXR, DOX+DXR, and DOX+AMF treatments. Interestingly, DOX+AMF significantly increased BV/TV when compared to DXR treatment (p<0.04). The trabecular number (Tb.N) decreased with DXR and DOX+DXR and increased with DOX+AMF treatments. This information will be useful in designing better cancer combination therapies that do not lead to vertebrae deterioration

Building adaptive capacity to cope with increasing vulnerability due to climatic change in Africa – A new approach

The world community faces many risks from climate change, with most scenarios indicating higher temperatures and more erratic rainfall in Africa. Predictions for southern Africa suggest a general decrease in total seasonal rainfall, accompanied by more frequent in-season dry spells that will significantly impact crop and livestock production, and hence economic growth in the region. The hardest hit will be the rural poor in the drier areas, where crop failure due to drought is already common and chronic food emergencies afflict the region in most years. Lessons can be learnt on how the rural poor currently cope with the vagaries of climate and these can be used to help them adapt their current production systems to the future threats of further climate change. But this assumes the institutions that work towards the economic empowerment of the rural poor have the requisite skills to understand their current coping strategies and how adaptation can be facilitated. A new initiative led by Midlands State University and the Zambian Meteorological Office proposes that improving the ability of institutions that train the ‘Future Change Agents’, who will subsequently support smallholder communities in adapting their agricultural practices to current climate variability, is the first step in building adaptive capacity to cope with future climate change. The capacity of African scientists, regional organizations and decision-makers in dealing with the issues of climate change and adaptation will be enhanced on a continuing basis, and the impacts of their agricultural development programs improve

Risk perception of arsenic exposure from rice intake in a UK population

In the UK, consumption of rice and rice-based products is on the rise but, notwithstanding public expressed concerns about such products as an exposure route for arsenic (e.g. BBC News report, 2017“Should I worry about arsenic in my rice?”) there are few, if any published data on public perceptions of risks associated with exposure to arsenic in rice. We therefore aimed to determine the risk perception of arsenic exposure from rice intake and factors that are associated with arsenic knowledge and whether or not this knowledge had an influence on rice consumption and cooking practices. A questionnaire, targeting participation of rice-eating ethnic minorities in Greater Manchester, UK, was administered to 184 participants. A multivariate generalized linear model was used to determine the factors associated with rice consumption behaviour, cooking practices, and risk perception. We show for the first time that the general population did not associate arsenic, which they perceive as toxic to health, with rice consumption. More than half of the participants knew about arsenic as a hazardous substance but less than ten percent knew that rice consumption could be an important route of arsenic exposure. Knowledge of arsenic was significantly lower in Asian/Asian British:Pakistanis (Pakistani) (OR: 0.006; 95% CI:0.00-0.03) and Asian/Asian British:Bangladeshis (Bangladeshi) (OR: 0.064; 95% CI:0.01-0.25) compared to White:English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British (White British). Moreover, Bangladeshis consumed three times more rice (OR: 2.92; 95% CI:1.73-4.93) compared to White British. Overall higher rice consumption was not associated with higher knowledge of the nutritional value of rice. Rinsing rice before cooking, an effective arsenic removal technique, was practised by 93% of the participants, however the most popular cooking method was the use of adequate water (rice to water ratio of 1:2) but not excess water (rice to water ratio of > 1:4), the latter being more effective in removing arsenic. Better education, higher weekly expenditure on food and prior knowledge of arsenic hazard were all significant factors positively influencing a change in behaviour to reduce arsenic exposure from rice intake

COMPOSITION AND VARIATION OF FATTY ACIDS AMONG GROUNDNUT CULTIVARS IN UGANDA

Groundnuts ( Arachis hypogaea L.) contain approximately 44-56% oil made up of fatty acids. Oleic and linoleic acids comprise about 80% of fatty acids in groundnuts. Groundnuts with &gt;80% oleic are beneficial health-wise and also improve groundnut quality, flavour, and extended shelf-life, which is beneficial to traders. In Uganda, however, little is known about the fatty acids content of commercially available cultivars. This study was undertaken to determine the fatty acid composition of the most recently released commercially available groundnut cultivars in Uganda. Eleven groundnut genotypes were profiled for different fatty acids using gas chromatography (GC). Data were recorded in percentages from chromatographs and totaled up to about 100%. Oleic to linoleic ratios (O/L) and iodine values were calculated from fatty acid data. Groundnut genotypes tested differed significantly (P&lt;0.05) in oleic, linoleic, palmitic, behenic, gadoleic, arachidic and palmitoleic acids. Oleic acid was highest in Lot 197 line, and linoleic acid was lowest in the same line. Oleic acid was lowest in Serenut 7 (43.19%) and linoleic acid was highest in the same line (33.45%). The lowest iodine value was observed in 197 (84.14); and the highest in Serenut 9T (96.59). Significant correlations (P&lt;0.001) were observed between most of the fatty acids, except between arachidic versus gadoleic, stearic and gamma linoleic.L\u2019Arachide ( Arachis hypogaea L.) contient approximativement 44-55% d\u2019huile faites d\u2019acides gras. Les acides ol\ue9ique et linol\ue9ique constituent environ 80% des acides gras dans l\u2019arachide. Les arachides avec plus de 80% d\u2019ol\ue9iques sont b\ue9n\ue9fiques pour la sant\ue9 et aussi am\ue9liorent la qualit\ue9 de l\u2019arachide, le go\ufbt, et une longue dur\ue9e de conservation, avantageux pour les commer\ue7ants. En Ouganda, toutefois, tr\ue8s peu d\u2019informations sont disponibles concernant la teneur en acides gras des cultivars commercialement disponibles. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 entreprise pour d\ue9terminer la composition en acide gras de la majorit\ue9 des cultivars d\u2019arachides r\ue9cemment lib\ue9r\ue9s et commercialement disponibles en Ouganda. Onze g\ue9notypes d\u2019arachide ont \ue9t\ue9 profil\ue9s pour les diff\ue9rents acides gras en utilisant le gaz chromatographie (GC). Les donn\ue9es ont\ua0\ue9t\ue9 collect\ue9es des chromatographes en pourcentages et additionn\ue9es jusqu\u2019\ue0 environ 100%. Les rapports d\u2019ol\ue9iques au linol\ue9iques (O/L) et les valeurs d\u2019iode ont \ue9t\ue9 calcul\ue9es \ue0 partir des donn\ue9es des acides gras. Les g\ue9notypes d\u2019arachide test\ue9s ont \ue9t\ue9 significativement (P&lt;0,05) diff\ue9rents en acides ol\ue9ique, linol\ue9ique, palmitique, b\ue9h\ue9nique, gadol\ue9ique, arachidique et palmitoleique. L\u2019acide ol\ue9ique \ue9tait le plus \ue9lev\ue9 dans la lign\ue9e Lot 197, et l\u2019acide linol\ue9ique \ue9tait le plus faible dans la m\ueame lign\ue9e. L\u2019acide ol\ue9ique \ue9tait le plus faible en Serenut 7 (43,19%) et l\u2019acide linol\ue9ique \ue9tait le plus \ue9lev\ue9 dans la m\ueame lign\ue9e (33,45%). La plus faible valeur de l\u2019iode \ue9tait observ\ue9e dans 197 (84,14)\ua0; et la valeur la plus \ue9lev\ue9e dans Serenut 9T (96,59). Des corr\ue9lations significatives (P&lt;0,001) \ue9taient observ\ue9e entre la majorit\ue9 des acides gras, sauf entre l\u2019acide arachidique contre les acides gadol\ue9ique, st\ue9arique et gamma linol\ue9ique

Trends in DNA barcoding and metabarcoding

This open-access special issue features 12 full articles representing emerging trends from the international DNAbarcoding community. Several articles highlight how DNA-based techniques are elucidating the species diversity,biogeography, and conservation status of Africas biodiversity. Another prominent theme is the movementtowards big biodiversity data using high-throughput, individual-based DNA barcoding methods, which preservevoucher specimens and abundance data, as well as bulk sample-based metabarcoding. Methodological developments are enhancing the detection of specific species and whole communities using environmental DNA(eDNA) barcoding and metabarcoding. Data are also expanding in terms of genetic coverage; in this issue, a newdatabase is established for a secondary fungalDNAbarcode marker, and multi-kingdom, multi-marker biodiversitysurveys are gaining traction. DNA barcode sequence data, often combined with complementary markers or taxonomic information, are increasingly contributing to large-scale phylogenetic projects, with implications for understanding evolutionary history, community structure, and conservation priorities.Fil: Adamowicz, Sarah J.. University of Guelph; CanadáFil: Boatwright, James S.. University of The Western Cape; SudáfricaFil: Chain, Frédéric. University of Massachusetts; Estados UnidosFil: Fisher, Brian L.. California Academy Of Sciences.; Estados UnidosFil: Hogg, Ian D.. Polar Knowledge Canada; CanadáFil: Leese, Florian. Universitat Essen; AlemaniaFil: Lijtmaer, Dario Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Mwale, Monica. South African National Biodiversity Institute; SudáfricaFil: Naaum, Amanda M.. The Queens University of Belfast; IrlandaFil: Pochon, Xavier. University of Auckland; Nueva ZelandaFil: Schubert, Dirk W.. University of Guelph; CanadáFil: Wilson, John James. National Museums Liverpool; Reino UnidoFil: Wood, Susanna. Cawthron Institute; Nueva ZelandaFil: Xu, Jianping. Mcmaster University; CanadáFil: Xu, Sen. University of Texas at Arlington; Estados UnidosFil: Zhou, Xin. China Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Van Der Bank, Michelle. University of Johannesburg; Sudáfric