Beneficial Effects on Fasting Insulin and Postprandial Responses Through 7-day Intake of New Zealand Blackcurrant Powder

Background: Blood glucose and insulin are elevated after intake of carbohydrate, with levels returning to normal in about 2-3 hours after ingestion. We examined the effects of daily New Zealand blackcurrant intake over 7 days on fasting glucose and insulin levels and the responses of glucose and insulin during an oral glucose tolerance test (i.e. OGTT). Methods: Seventeen healthy participants (9 males, 8 females, age: 24±8 years, body mass: 75.4±16.4 kg, height 172±11 cm, body mass index: 25.3±3.3) consumed 6 g·day-1 New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) powder for 7 days. Every 6 g of the serving contained 138.6 mg anthocyanins, 49 mg vitamin C, and 5.2 g of carbohydrates with total phenolic content 271.6 mg. A cross-over design was used. Participants completed one OGTT before starting the supplementation (day 0) and another OGTT after 7 days of the supplementation (day 7). For the OGTT, participants were seated and consumed 75 g of glucose dissolved in 250 mL water. Finger prick capillary samples were taken before and every 30 minutes for a total of 120 minutes after consuming the glucose drink. Following duplicate glucose analysis, blood samples were centrifuged and then plasma was separated and frozen (-20°C) for triplicate insulin analysis using a human 96-well insulin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IBL international, Hamburg, Germany). Results: NZBC had no effect on fasting glucose (control: 4.46±0.45; NZBC: 4.41±0.44 mmol·L1, P=0.657), although there was a trend for fasting insulin to be 14.3% lower (control: 66.5±28.2; NZBC: 57.0±29.5 pmol·L-1) (P=0.091). HOMA-IR was not different between the control and NZBC (1.81±0.73 vs 1.58±0.83) (P=0.126). With NZBC during the OGTT, plasma glucose at 60 min was 8.1% lower (control: 6.68±1.13; NZBC: 6.14±1.41 mmol·L-1; P=0.016), insulin at 30 min was 18.4% lower (control: 337.1±228.3; NZBC: 275.0±136.4 pmol·L-1; P= 0.021), and insulin at 60 min was 39.2% lower (control: 297.8±154.3; NZBC: 181.2±97.4 pmol·L-1; P= 0.002). With NZBC during the OGTTs, areas-under-the-curve for plasma glucose (control: 752.6±79.4, NZBC: 709.8±93.3 mmol·L-1·120 min) and insulin (control: 28443±12816, NZBC: 20406±7985, pmol·L-1·120 min) were 5.7% (P=0.051) and 31.1% lower (P<0.001) respectively. Conclusion: A trend for lower fasting insulin with normal glucose and lower areas under the curve for glucose and insulin suggests that repeated intake of New Zealand blackcurrant powder increases insulin sensitivity. This is the first observation of a high-anthocyanin containing berry powder to increase insulin sensitivity. Regular intake of New Zealand blackcurrant powder may be beneficial for the postprandial responses in people with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome

Influence of availability of shade on testicular characteristics of Santa Ines rams

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of availability of artificial shading on testicular and seminal characteristics of Santa Ines crossbred rams. Twelve 8 month old rams at 38.1 ± 5.2 kg average weight, were used in a total random design with two treatments: areas with and without available artificial shading (black polyethylene mesh screen for a 50% reduction of solar radiation). The scrotal circumference, scrotal length, scrotal volume, rectal temperature and scrotal temperature were measured twice a week. Also a biweekly analysis of the semen was carried out, measuring the volume and spermatic concentration as well as the percentage of normal spermatozoa. The results show that available shading provided for lower scrotal temperatures and higher sperm concentration, without influencing the scrotal volume and the percentage of normal spermatozoa. The testicular measures, such as the scrotal circumference and length were higher in the rams that were subjected to the no available shading treatment. The absence of differences, in some of the analyzed variables, between the two treatments, with and without available shading, could be due to high adaptability of the animals

Reguladores Vegetais E Sombreamento Na Emergência De Plântulas De Macadâmia

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulators and shading on seed germination of macadamia nut trees. The experiment was conducted in a seedling production nursery of the company "QueenNut Macadâmia" located in the "Palmeiras" Farm, Dois Córregos, São Paulo (SP) state, Brazil. The Treatments were T1: water (control) under a shading screen, T2: GA4+7 + N-(phenylmethyl)-aminopurine (Promalin®) at 200 mL L-1 under a shading screen, T3: Promalin® at 400 mL L-1 under a shading screen, T4: gibberellic acid (GA3) + kinetin (Kt) + 3- indolebutyric acid (IBA) - Stimulate® at 5 mL kg-1 seeds under a shading screen, T5: Stimulate® at 10 mL kg-1 of seeds under a shading screen, and T6: water (control) under no shading screen. Seeds were soaked in the solutions or in water containing plant growth regulators for 24 hours. Then, they were dried and sown in sand. 450 seeds were used for each treatment. The evaluations began from seedling emergence by counting the total number of seedlings per treatment. A high average of macadamia nut tree seedling emergence was obtained in the treatments GA4+7 + N-(phenylmethyl)-aminopurine (Promalin®) 400 mL L-1 with Sombrite® (75.7%), GA4+7 + N-(phenylmethyl)-aminopurine (Promalin®) 200 mL L-1 (72.6%) Sombrite® and water (control) without Sombrite® (71.5%). © 2016, Universidade Federal de Uberlandia. All rights reserved.3251263126

Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay in Theories Beyond the Standard Model

Neutrinoless double beta decay pops up almost in any extension of the standard model. It is perhaps the only process, which can unambiguously determine whether the massive neutrinos are Majorana or Dirac type particles. In addition from the lifetime of this decay, combined with sufficient knowledge of the relevant nuclear matrix elements, one can set a constraint involving the neutrino masses. Furthemore, if one incorporates the recent results of the neutrino oscillation experiments, one can determine or set a stringent limit on the neutrino mass scale. In addition one may obtain usefull information regarding the presence of right handed currents and the right handed neutrino mass scale. One can also constrain the parameters of supersymmetry and, in particular, set limits in of R-parity violating couplings as well as get information about extra dimensions.Comment: Proceedings of the XXIst Int. Conf. on Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics, June 13-19, College de France, Paris, France. To appear in Nuc. Phys. B Proc. Supp

Knuth-Bendix algorithm and the conjugacy problems in monoids

We present an algorithmic approach to the conjugacy problems in monoids, using rewriting systems. We extend the classical theory of rewriting developed by Knuth and Bendix to a rewriting that takes into account the cyclic conjugates.Comment: This is a new version of the paper 'The conjugacy problems in monoids and semigroups'. This version will appear in the journal 'Semigroup forum

Poisson Algebra of Diffeomorphism Generators in a Spacetime Containing a Bifurcation

In this article we will analyze the possibility of a nontrivial central extension of the Poisson algebra of the diffeomorphism generators, which respect certain boundary conditions on the black hole bifurcation. The origin of a possible central extension in the algebra is due to the existence of boundary terms in the in the canonical generators. The existence of such boundary terms depend on the exact boundary conditions one takes. We will check two possible boundary conditions i.e. fixed bolt metric and fixed surface gravity. In the case of fixed metric the the action acquires a boundary term associated to the bifurcation but this is canceled in the Legendre transformation and so absent in the canonical generator and so in this case the possibility of a nontrivial central extension is ruled out. In the case of fixed surface gravity the boundary term in the action is absent but present in the Hamiltonian. Also in this case we will see that there is no nontrivial central extension, also if there exist a boundary term in the generator.Comment: LaTex 20 pages, some misprints corrected, 2 references added. Accepted for publication on Phys. Rev.

From Megawatts to Kilowatts: A Review of Small Wind Turbine Applications, Lessons From The US to Brazil

Increased use of fossil fuels has contributed to global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions, which has led countries to implement policies that favor the gradual replacement of their use with renewable energy sources. Wind expansion in Brazil is a success story, but its adherence to distributed generation is still a big challenge. In this context, the authors of this paper argue that the development of robust and viable distributed power grids will also depend in the future on improving small wind generation as an important alternative to the diversity of decentralized power grids. In this study, the authors present an overview of the small-sized Aeolic (or wind) energy market in Brazil, with the objective to support the debate regarding its expansion. Promoting the small wind market in Brazil is still a big challenge, but lessons can be learned from the United States. In this context, the article uses the United States learning curve, analyzing barriers that were found, as well as public policies implemented to overcome them. The lessons learned in the American market may guide public policies aimed at fostering this technology in Brazil. If technological improvements, certification and introduction of financial incentives were implemented in Brazil, the small wind industry chain could grow substantially, building a trajectory to promote the low carbon economy

Valorisation of kraft lignin by using vanillin and lignin-based polyurethanes: Use of the biorefinery concept

In kraft pulp mills, the capacity of the recovery boiler is very often a limiting factor to the increase of the pulp production. Until several decades ago, an upgrade to boiler system for dealing with higher quantities of black liquor was the only alternative. The possibility of lignin extraction from black liquor seems to be much more attractive, either for energy production or combustion elsewhere, or to serve as feedstock for chemicals production. Since the beginning of the 90’s, associate Laboratory LSRE/LCM has been focused on overcoming expansion limitations in pulp industries and, in this work, we show an alternative to this industry segment for the utilization of lignin and producing high added value chemicals from renewable biomass materials. Based on the biorefinery concepts, an integrated process for producing vanillin from kraft lignin oxidation has been proposed and each of the needed unit operations has been investigated to provide a deeper scientific understanding on this subject.FCT - projects POCTI/EQU/33198/99, POCI/EQU/61738/2004 and Grant SFRH/BD/18415/2004. CYTED IV.17/2002-2006. Luso-French actions F13/06 and F32/08

Electrodynamic Radiation Reaction and General Relativity

We argue that the well-known problem of the instabilities associated with the self-forces (radiation reaction forces) in classical electrodynamics are possibly stabilized by the introduction of gravitational forces via general relativity