Effect of blanching treatments and dehydration methods on rehydration quality of khejri (Prosopis cineraria) pods

The khejri (Prosopis cineraria L. Druce), is a multipurpose leguminous tree of hot arid desert. Its tender pods are utilized for culinary purpose both in fresh and dehydrated conditions without ascertaining its quality aspect. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to find out the effect of blanching treatments and dehydration methods on rehydration quality of khejri pods. The experiment consists of three methods of drying and six blanching treatments replicated thrice under completely randomised design (CRD). Both tender pods (harvested within 20 days of fruit set at green stage) and mature pods (harvested after 25 days of fruit set at colour turning stage) were taken for the study. Among various methods of drying; sun drying took minimum time (11 hours) while other methods took comparatively longer period for drying. Moreover, recovery per cent of pods did not vary significantly within the drying methods and blanching treatments. In general, tender pods recovery was less compared to matured pods. The rehydration ratio was maximum in pods blanched in hot water (5 min.) followed by control. Among different methods, the rehydration ratio was maximum in shade drying followed by sun drying and the least in tray drier. The storage life of dehydrated pods was more than 52 weeks in blanching treatment than only about 8 weeks in control (un-blanched pods). The appearance of sun dried pods was not good as brownish and grayish colour pods were observed. Whereas in case of pods dried in shade and tray drier were green in colour. The protein content was also higher in pods dehydrated either in shade or in tray drier but the differences among the blanching treatments were non-significant. Thus, it can be concluded that the tender pods dried after blanching in 2 per cent salt solution (5 min.) or blanched in 2 per cent salt solution (5 min.) + 0.1 per cent KMS (potassium metabisulphite) either in shade or in tray drier have overall good acceptability because of retention of green colour, higher protein content, good storage life, better appearance after rehydration, good culinary taste, overall higher hedonic rating and more hygienic conditions than open sun drying

Theoretical study of the thermal behavior of free and alumina-supported Fe-C nanoparticles

The thermal behavior of free and alumina-supported iron-carbon nanoparticles is investigated via molecular dynamics simulations, in which the effect of the substrate is treated with a simple Morse potential fitted to ab initio data. We observe that the presence of the substrate raises the melting temperature of medium and large $Fe_{1-x}C_x$ nanoparticles ($x$ = 0-0.16, $N$ = 80-1000, non- magic numbers) by 40-60 K; it also plays an important role in defining the ground state of smaller Fe nanoparticles ($N$ = 50-80). The main focus of our study is the investigation of Fe-C phase diagrams as a function of the nanoparticle size. We find that as the cluster size decreases in the 1.1-1.6-nm-diameter range the eutectic point shifts significantly not only toward lower temperatures, as expected from the Gibbs-Thomson law, but also toward lower concentrations of C. The strong dependence of the maximum C solubility on the Fe-C cluster size may have important implications for the catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, higher quality figures can be seen in article 9 at http://alpha.mems.duke.edu/wahyu

Are traditional marketing channels of kinnow really bad?

846-860Kinnow is being widely cultivated in North-Western part of India comprising the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The analysis of 180 kinnow farmers of three districts of North Western India namely Fazilka and Bathinda districts of Punjab and Sirsa district of Haryana revealed the existence of several marketing channels for marketing of kinnow having varied efficiency levels. Contrary to the believe, the traditional marketing channels (TMC) offered 15 to 19% higher net benefit under the situation of price and yield risk associated with the farms. The efficiency of farms associated with strong value chain finance (TMC) is higher as compared to farms associated with the weak value chain finance comprising the emerging marketing channels (EMC). These facts explain the continued faith of farms in the TMC as revealed by the proportion of farms supplying their produce through different market channels. The study advocates the need for evolution of newer forms of marketing channels and also co-existence of all as each has its own merits and demerits. The study offers suggestions for strengthening of kinnow value chain so that all the stakeholders are benefited. The collectivization of farmers in the form of farmer producer organization, availability of technology from various governmental and non-governmental institutions, the effective implementation of e-marketing app, evolution of crop insurance scheme and price stabilization fund for risk reduction are strategies to improve the kinnow value chain

Are traditional marketing channels of kinnow really bad?

Kinnow is being widely cultivated in North-Western part of India comprising the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The analysis of 180 kinnow farmers of three districts of North Western India namely Fazilka and Bathinda districts of Punjab and Sirsa district of Haryana revealed the existence of several marketing channels for marketing of kinnow having varied efficiency levels. Contrary to the believe, the traditional marketing channels (TMC) offered 15 to 19% higher net benefit under the situation of price and yield risk associated with the farms. The efficiency of farms associated with strong value chain finance (TMC) is higher as compared to farms associated with the weak value chain finance comprising the emerging marketing channels (EMC). These facts explain the continued faith of farms in the TMC as revealed by the proportion of farms supplying their produce through different market channels. The study advocates the need for evolution of newer forms of marketing channels and also co-existence of all as each has its own merits and demerits. The study offers suggestions for strengthening of kinnow value chain so that all the stakeholders are benefited. The collectivization of farmers in the form of farmer producer organization, availability of technology from various governmental and non-governmental institutions, the effective implementation of e-marketing app, evolution of crop insurance scheme and price stabilization fund for risk reduction are strategies to improve the kinnow value chain

Effect of nutrition, harvesting date and fruit canopy position on yield and quality of Kinnow mandarin (Citrus nobilis x Citrus deliciosa)

Attractive peel colour and quality development in Kinnow (Citrus nobilis Lour x Citrus deliciosa Tenara) is a prime requisite for its fair market price. The objective of study was to find out the impact of canopy position, date of harvesting and nutrition on yield and quality of Kinnow mandarin. A field experiment was conducted in a four year old Kinnow orchard using factorial randomized block design with three replications. There were nine treatments comprised of various N, P, K levels and one control; two canopy positions (external and internal) and three harvesting dates (06.12.13, 26.12.13 and 16.01.14). Statistical analysis using SAS 9.3 software and Tukey's HSD test revealed the significance of various treatments, canopy positions and harvesting dates (P<0.01).The treatment comprising 400g+600g+240g (N+P2O5+K2O/plant) was found the best among other treatments with respect to yield (20.06 kg/tree) and other quality parameters (TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid and total carotenoids). Fruits which are present on external canopy of tree were superior in terms of quality (TSS, ascorbic acid, total carotenoids) as compared to fruits present on internal canopy of the tree.The Kinnow fruits harvested during the last week of December were found superior in terms of total carotenoids in juice and peel and ascorbic acid content. While the fruits harvested in second week of January were found superior in terms of TSS and acidity. Application of 400g, 600g and 240g of NPK respectively was found beneficial for quality fruit production of Kinnow. Quality of Kinnow fruits vary as per canopy position and date of harvesting, hence they should harvest at different times and also from different canopy positions according to purpose

Infrared and optical spectroscopy of alpha and gamma-phase Ce

We determined the optical properties of alpha- and gamma-phase Ce in the photon energy range from 60 meV to 2.5 eV using ellipsometry and grazing incidence reflectometry. We observe significant changes of the optical conductivity, the dynamical scattering rate, and the effective mass between alpha- and gamma-cerium. The alpha-phase is characterized by Fermi-liquid frequency dependent scattering rate, and an effective mass of about 20 m_e on an energy scale of about 0.2 eV. In gamma-Ce the charge carriers have a large scattering rate in the far infrared, and a carrier mass characteristic of 5d band electrons. In addition we observe a prominent absorption feature in alpha-Ce, which is absent in gamma-Ce, indicating significant differences of the electronic structure between the two phases.Comment: 5 pages, REVTeX, 2 eps-figures, Phys.Rev.Lett., in pres

Effect of Coenzyme Q10 on ischemia and neuronal damage in an experimental traumatic brain-injury model in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Head trauma is one of the most important clinical issues that not only can be fatal and disabling, requiring long-term treatment and care, but also can cause heavy financial burden. Formation or distribution of free oxygen radicals should be decreased to enable fixing of poor neurological outcomes and to prevent neuronal damage secondary to ischemia after trauma. Coenzyme Q₁₀(CoQ₁₀), a component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, is a strong antioxidant that plays a role in membrane stabilization. In this study, the role of CoQ₁₀in the treatment of head trauma is researched by analyzing the histopathological and biochemical effects of CoQ₁₀administered after experimental traumatic brain injury in rats. A traumatic brain-injury model was created in all rats. Trauma was inflicted on rats by the free fall of an object of 450 g weight from a height of 70 cm on the frontoparietal midline onto a metal disc fixed between the coronal and the lambdoid sutures after a midline incision was carried out.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the biochemical tests, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly higher in the traumatic brain-injury group compared to the sham group (<it>p </it>< 0.05). Administration of CoQ₁₀after trauma was shown to be protective because it significantly lowered the increased MDA levels (<it>p </it>< 0.05). Comparing the superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels of the four groups, trauma + CoQ₁₀group had SOD levels ranging between those of sham group and traumatic brain-injury group, and no statistically significant increase was detected. Histopathological results showed a statistically significant difference between the CoQ₁₀and the other trauma-subjected groups with reference to vascular congestion, neuronal loss, nuclear pyknosis, nuclear hyperchromasia, cytoplasmic eosinophilia, and axonal edema (<it>p </it>< 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Neuronal degenerative findings and the secondary brain damage and ischemia caused by oxidative stress are decreased by CoQ₁₀use in rats with traumatic brain injury.</p

Time-aging time-stress superposition in soft glass under tensile deformation field

We have studied the tensile deformation behaviour of thin films of aging aqueous suspension of Laponite, a model soft glassy material, when subjected to a creep flow field generated by a constant engineering normal stress. Aqueous suspension of Laponite demonstrates aging behaviour wherein it undergoes time dependent enhancement of its elastic modulus as well as its characteristic relaxation time. However, under application of the normal stress, the rate of aging decreases and in the limit of high stress, the aging stops with the suspension now undergoing a plastic deformation. Overall, it is observed that the aging that occurs over short creep times at small normal stresses is same as the aging that occurs over long creep times at large normal stresses. This observation allows us to suggest an aging time - process time - normal stress superposition principle, which can predict rheological behaviour at longer times by carrying out short time tests.Comment: 26 pages, 7 figures, To appear in Rheologica Act

Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

SummaryBackground The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 provides an up-to-date synthesis of the evidence for risk factor exposure and the attributable burden of disease. By providing national and subnational assessments spanning the past 25 years, this study can inform debates on the importance of addressing risks in context. Methods We used the comparative risk assessment framework developed for previous iterations of the Global Burden of Disease Study to estimate attributable deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and trends in exposure by age group, sex, year, and geography for 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks from 1990 to 2015. This study included 388 risk-outcome pairs that met World Cancer Research Fund-defined criteria for convincing or probable evidence. We extracted relative risk and exposure estimates from randomised controlled trials, cohorts, pooled cohorts, household surveys, census data, satellite data, and other sources. We used statistical models to pool data, adjust for bias, and incorporate covariates. We developed a metric that allows comparisons of exposure across risk factors—the summary exposure value. Using the counterfactual scenario of theoretical minimum risk level, we estimated the portion of deaths and DALYs that could be attributed to a given risk. We decomposed trends in attributable burden into contributions from population growth, population age structure, risk exposure, and risk-deleted cause-specific DALY rates. We characterised risk exposure in relation to a Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Findings Between 1990 and 2015, global exposure to unsafe sanitation, household air pollution, childhood underweight, childhood stunting, and smoking each decreased by more than 25%. Global exposure for several occupational risks, high body-mass index (BMI), and drug use increased by more than 25% over the same period. All risks jointly evaluated in 2015 accounted for 57·8% (95% CI 56·6–58·8) of global deaths and 41·2% (39·8–42·8) of DALYs. In 2015, the ten largest contributors to global DALYs among Level 3 risks were high systolic blood pressure (211·8 million [192·7 million to 231·1 million] global DALYs), smoking (148·6 million [134·2 million to 163·1 million]), high fasting plasma glucose (143·1 million [125·1 million to 163·5 million]), high BMI (120·1 million [83·8 million to 158·4 million]), childhood undernutrition (113·3 million [103·9 million to 123·4 million]), ambient particulate matter (103·1 million [90·8 million to 115·1 million]), high total cholesterol (88·7 million [74·6 million to 105·7 million]), household air pollution (85·6 million [66·7 million to 106·1 million]), alcohol use (85·0 million [77·2 million to 93·0 million]), and diets high in sodium (83·0 million [49·3 million to 127·5 million]). From 1990 to 2015, attributable DALYs declined for micronutrient deficiencies, childhood undernutrition, unsafe sanitation and water, and household air pollution; reductions in risk-deleted DALY rates rather than reductions in exposure drove these declines. Rising exposure contributed to notable increases in attributable DALYs from high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, occupational carcinogens, and drug use. Environmental risks and childhood undernutrition declined steadily with SDI; low physical activity, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose increased with SDI. In 119 countries, metabolic risks, such as high BMI and fasting plasma glucose, contributed the most attributable DALYs in 2015. Regionally, smoking still ranked among the leading five risk factors for attributable DALYs in 109 countries; childhood underweight and unsafe sex remained primary drivers of early death and disability in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Interpretation Declines in some key environmental risks have contributed to declines in critical infectious diseases. Some risks appear to be invariant to SDI. Increasing risks, including high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, drug use, and some occupational exposures, contribute to rising burden from some conditions, but also provide opportunities for intervention. Some highly preventable risks, such as smoking, remain major causes of attributable DALYs, even as exposure is declining. Public policy makers need to pay attention to the risks that are increasingly major contributors to global burden. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation