Effect of retrograded rice on weight control, gut function, and lipid concentrations in rats

The effects of retrograded rice on body weight gain, gut functions, and hypolipidemic actions in rats were examined. When the retrograded rice was produced by repetitive heating and cooling cycles, it contained significantly higher amounts of resistant starch (13.9 ± 0.98%) than is found in common rice (9.1 ± 1.02%) (P < 0.05). Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either common rice powder or retrograded rice powder, and mean body weight gain was significantly lower in the retrograded rice group (P < 0.05). The liver weight of the retrograded rice group (14.5 ± 0.5 g) was significantly lower than that of the common rice group (17.1 ± 0.3 g, P < 0.05). However, the weights of other organs, such as the kidney, spleen, thymus, and epididymal fat pad were not significantly affected by rice feeding. Intestinal transit time tended to be lower in rats fed retrograded rice when compared to rats fed the common rice, but the difference was not significant. The retrograded rice diet significantly increased stool output when compared to that in the common rice powder diet (P < 0.05), whereas fecal moisture content (%) was significantly higher in the retrograded rice group (23.3 ± 1.2) than that in the common rice group (19.1 ± 1.2) (P < 0.05). The retrograded rice group had significantly lower plasma cholesterol (P < 0.05), liver cholesterol (P < 0.05), and triacylglycerol contents in adipose tissue (P < 0.05) when compared to those in the common rice group. In conclusion, retrograded rice had higher resistant starch levels compared with those of common rice powder, and it lowered body weight gain and improved lipid profiles and gut function in rats

Structural heterogeneities in starch hydrogels

Hydrogels have a complex, heterogeneous structure and organisation, making them promising candidates for advanced structural and cosmetics applications. Starch is an attractive material for producing hydrogels due to its low cost and biocompatibility, but the structural dynamics of polymer chains within starch hydrogels are not well understood, limiting their development and utilisation. We employed a range of NMR methodologies (CPSP/MAS, HR-MAS, HPDEC and WPT-CP) to probe the molecular mobility and water dynamics within starch hydrogels featuring a wide range of physical properties. The insights from these methods were related to bulk rheological, thermal (DSC) and crystalline (PXRD) properties. We have reported for the first time the presence of highly dynamic starch chains, behaving as solvated moieties existing in the liquid component of hydrogel systems. We have correlated the chains’ degree of structural mobility with macroscopic properties of the bulk systems, providing new insights into the structure-function relationships governing hydrogel assemblies

Relationship of cooked-rice nutritionally important starch fractions with other physicochemical properties

Sixteen rice cultivars representing five cytosine-thymine repeat (CTn) microsatellite genetic marker groups were analyzed for their cooked rice nutritionally important starch fractions (NISFs, which include rapidly digestible (RDS), slowly digestible (SDS), and resistant starch (RS)), basic grain quality indices (apparent amylose (AM), crude protein (CP), alkali spreading value (AS), and gel consistency (GC)), pasting characteristics, and thermal properties. Chemometric tools (bivariate correlation, principal component analysis, multiple linear regression, and partial least squares regression) were used to establish the association of NISF with other milled rice physicochemical properties. CT11 was generally associated with high percentages of RS and SDS, and a low percentage of RDS. CT14 was associated with low SDS; whereas, CT17 and CT18 were associated with low RS. The CT20 cultivars were similar to CT11 in SDS and RS; and to CT14, CT17, and CT18 in RDS content. RDS, SDS, and RS were loaded on three different quadrants of the principal component similarity map. RDS was not significantly correlated with any of the physicochemical properties; whereas, SDS was positively correlated with GC. RS was positively correlated with AM, setback (SB) viscosity, total setback (TSB) viscosity, and peak gelatinization temperature; and negatively correlated with breakdown (BD) viscosity. Multivariate techniques indicated lack of robustness in predicting RDS and SDS as the models only explained \u3c50% of the variance. More robust regression models were obtained for RS, explaining \u3e60% of its variation. Basic grain quality indices explained NISF variations better than pasting and thermal properties

Risk-efficient Planting Schedules for Corn in Matalom, Leyte, Philippines

The study was conducted to identify risk-efficient cropping schedules for corn farmers in Matalom, Leyte, Philippines using stochastic dominance analysis of simulated yields, given the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forecasts during the cropping period. Actual weather data, with missing observations estimated using a weather generating software, were used in constructing weather data sets. These data, together with crop parameters and soil characteristics in the study site, were used as inputs to generate probability distributions of yields during different planting schedules. The simulated yield distributions were classified according to the ENSO phases prevailing during the cropping period. Stochastic dominance analysis was applied on the yield distributions to determine the first-degree stochastic dominance (FSD) set and the second-degree stochastic dominance (SSD) set. Finally, stochastic dominance with respect to a function (SDWRF) was applied on the SSD set to identify risk-efficient schedules at different levels of risk aversion. Risk-efficient schedules were identified for each cropping season and under each ENSO phase. It was found out that some June-July schedules (during the first season) and some December schedules (during the second season) are more risk-efficient than traditional schedules.Philippines, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), irrigation, corn farmers, cropping schedule, stochastic dominance analysis