Methods for assessing quality characteristics of non-grain starch staples. (Part 3. Laboratory methods.)

This manual sets out in a four-part publication the main methods necessary to evaluate the quality characteristics of nongrain starch staple (NGSS) food crops (cassava, sweet potato, banana, plantain, yam and cocoyam) and their processed products. It is designed to be a reference source and laboratory guide for food analysis laboratories and those concerned with the quality of NGSS. It is hoped that the provision of this manual and its active promotion through workshops will assist in the uptake of quality assessment methodologies, the setting of quality standards and to the improved quality of fresh material and their processed products. It is expected that the audience for this manual will be wide ranging and include: • public sector research and development establishments such as universities, colleges and research institutes-this would include bodies responsible for NGSS breeding programmes and food and nutrition programmes; • bureaux of standards/quality standards boards and other bodies responsible for setting and monitoring the standard of foods and raw materials within the NGSS sector; and • private sector quality control laboratories wishing to implement quality assurance systems utilizing NGSS or their by-products as raw materials for food or industrial applications. Different groups may wish to use different parts of the manual. The manual is divided into four parts: • Part 1 Introductory section; • Part 2 Field methods: methods that require a minimum of equipment and are suitable for use in situations where a laboratory is not readily available; • Part 3 Laboratory methods: this part brings together most of the standard laboratory methods for the analysis of NGSS food crops; and • Part 4 Advanced methods: in this part a diverse range of techniques is brought together. It includes methods of a more advanced nature and possibly requiring more sophisticated equipment than described in Part 3. This section may be used for research purposes

Methods for assessing quality characteristics of non-grain starch staples. (Part 2. Field Methods.)

This manual sets out in a four-part publication the main methods necessary to evaluate the quality characteristics of nongrain starch staple (NGSS) food crops (cassava, sweet potato, banana, plantain, yam and cocoyam) and their processed products. It is designed to be a reference source and laboratory guide for food analysis laboratories and those concerned with the quality of NGSS. It is hoped that the provision of this manual and its active promotion through workshops will assist in the uptake of quality assessment methodologies, the setting of quality standards and to the improved quality of fresh material and their processed products. It is expected that the audience for this manual will be wide ranging and include: • public sector research and development establishments such as universities, colleges and research institutes-this would include bodies responsible for NGSS breeding programmes and food and nutrition programmes; • bureaux of standards/quality standards boards and other bodies responsible for setting and monitoring the standard of foods and raw materials within the NGSS sector; and • private sector quality control laboratories wishing to implement quality assurance systems utilizing NGSS or their by-products as raw materials for food or industrial applications. Different groups may wish to use different parts of the manual. The manual is divided into four parts: • Part 1 Introductory section; • Part 2 Field methods: methods that require a minimum of equipment and are suitable for use in situations where a laboratory is not readily available; • Part 3 Laboratory methods: this part brings together most of the standard laboratory methods for the analysis of NGSS food crops; and • Part 4 Advanced methods: in this part a diverse range of techniques is brought together. It includes methods of a more advanced nature and possibly requiring more sophisticated equipment than described in Part 3. This section may be used for research purposes

Methods for assessing quality characteristics of non-grain starch staples. (Part 1. Introduction.)

This manual sets out in a four-part publication the main methods necessary to evaluate the quality characteristics of nongrain starch staple (NGSS) food crops (cassava, sweet potato, banana, plantain, yam and cocoyam) and their processed products. It is designed to be a reference source and laboratory guide for food analysis laboratories and those concerned with the quality of NGSS. It is hoped that the provision of this manual and its active promotion through workshops will assist in the uptake of quality assessment methodologies, the setting of quality standards and to the improved quality of fresh material and their processed products. It is expected that the audience for this manual will be wide ranging and include: • public sector research and development establishments such as universities, colleges and research institutes-this would include bodies responsible for NGSS breeding programmes and food and nutrition programmes; • bureaux of standards/quality standards boards and other bodies responsible for setting and monitoring the standard of foods and raw materials within the NGSS sector; and • private sector quality control laboratories wishing to implement quality assurance systems utilizing NGSS or their by-products as raw materials for food or industrial applications. Different groups may wish to use different parts of the manual. The manual is divided into four parts: • Part 1 Introductory section; • Part 2 Field methods: methods that require a minimum of equipment and are suitable for use in situations where a laboratory is not readily available; • Part 3 Laboratory methods: this part brings together most of the standard laboratory methods for the analysis of NGSS food crops; and • Part 4 Advanced methods: in this part a diverse range of techniques is brought together. It includes methods of a more advanced nature and possibly requiring more sophisticated equipment than described in Part 3. This section may be used for research purposes

Assessing rural consumers’ WTP for orange, biofortified maize in Ghana with experimental auctions and a simulated radio message

Deficiencies of micronutrients such as vitamin A are widespread, expecially in Africa. Biofortified crops such as maize, bred for high levels of provitamin A might offer a solution, but these crops are often bright orange, and African maize consumers prefer white. To estimate the consumers interest in orange biofortified maize, sensory evaluations were organized in rural Ghana with white, yellow and orange maize. The effect of information on willingness to pay for biofortification was estimated using a simulated radio message. Results indicate that color preferences are highly regional, wide variation exist within regions, and the provision of information is able to change these preferences. The color of biofortified maize should therefore not be seen as major impediment, but proper information messages should be targeted at the right channels such as rural radio.maize, biofortification, consumers, experimental auction, sensory evaluation, Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis,

Bio-preservative activities of Lactobacillus plantarum strains in fermenting Casssava ‘fufu’

The growth of three pathogens, namely Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhii were investigated in fermenting and non-fermenting cassava. The pH of the steeped cassava was also examined during fermentation. Antimicrobial effects of the Lactobacillus plantarum on the pathogens were also determined by agar diffusion method. All the pathogens were inhibited by L. plantarum strains with Staph. aureus having the highest inhibitory zone followed by E. coli and S. thyphii. However, in the fermenting cassava, the pathogens increased in population within the first 36 h of the process and decreased to complete extinction after the 96 h of fermentation. The L. plantarum exhibited high but varying degree of inhibition on the pathogens. The findings justify the bio-preservative roles of lactic acid bacteria in traditional cassava products.Key words: Bio-preservation, Lactobacillus plantarum, fermentation, cassava and pathogens

Elevation of conjunctival epithelial CD45INTCD11b⁺CD16⁺CD14⁻ neutrophils in ocular Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

PURPOSE. Ocular complications related to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)–Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) may persist and progress after resolution of systemic disease. This is thought to be related in part to persistent ocular innate-immune signaling. In this study, our aim was to characterize infiltrative conjunctival cellular profiles during acute (<12 months) and chronic (>12 months) disease. METHODS. Consecutive patients presenting with SJS-TEN over a 12-month period were followed for 1 year. Detailed clinical examination and conjunctival impression cell recovery was analyzed by flow cytometry for the presence of intraepithelial leukocytes and compared with healthy controls (n = 21). RESULTS. Ten patients were recruited of whom six had acute disease and five were classified as TEN (SCORTEN = 1, n = 4). Conjunctival inflammation was graded as absent/mild in a total of nine patients; but despite this, evidence of fornix shrinkage was observed in nine subjects. This inversely correlated with disease duration (P < 0.05). A reduction in percentage of CD8αβ(+) T cells compared with controls (80% vs. 57%; P < 0.01) was associated with a corresponding increase in the number/percentage of CD45(INT)CD11b(+)CD16(+)CD14(−) neutrophils (186 vs. 3.4, P < 0.01, 31% vs. 0.8%, P < 0.001). Neutrophils inversely correlated with disease duration (r = −0.71, P = 0.03), yet there was no absolute change in the CD8αβ(+) or neutrophil populations during the study period (P = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS. These data highlight that a neutrophilic infiltrate is present in mildly inflamed or clinically quiescent conjunctival mucosa in patients with ocular SJS-TEN, where neutrophil numbers inversely correlate with disease duration. Neutrophil persistence endorses the hypothesis of an unresolved innate-inflammatory process that might account for disease progression

Acceptance of exotic beverages with health benefits in Europe: a crosscountry comparison of hibiscus products

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sweet potato development and delivery in sub-Saharan Africa

n sub-Saharan Africa, more than 40% of children under five years of age suffer from vitamin A deficiency. Among several interventions in place to address vitamin A deficiency is biofortification, breeding vitamin A into key staple crops. Staple crops biofortified with beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, are orange in color. Given the natural occurrence of high levels of beta-carotene in many sweet potato varieties, breeding progress for biofortified orange sweet potato (OSP) has been much faster than for the other vitamin A enhanced staples. Nearly 3 million households have been reached with OSP. This paper reviews key factors influencing the uptake of OSP, the breeding investment, five key delivery approaches that have been tested in the region and efforts to broaden government and other stakeholder engagement

Comprehensive serial molecular profiling of an “N of 1” exceptional non-responder with metastatic prostate cancer progressing to small cell carcinoma on treatment

Abstract Importance Small cell carcinoma/neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NePC) is a lethal, poorly understood prostate cancer (PCa) subtype. Controversy exists about the origin of NePC in this setting. Objective To molecularly profile archived biopsy specimens from a case of early-onset PCa that rapidly progressed to NePC to identify drivers of the aggressive course and mechanisms of NePC origin and progression. Design, setting, and participants A 47-year-old patient presented with metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma (Gleason score 9). After a 6-month response to androgen deprivation therapy, the patient developed jaundice and liver biopsy revealed exclusively NePC. Targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE)-isolated DNA was performed from the diagnostic prostate biopsy and the liver biopsy at progression. Intervention Androgen deprivation therapy for adenocarcinoma followed by multiagent chemotherapy for NePC. Main outcomes and measures Identification of the mutational landscape in primary adenocarcinoma and NePC liver metastasis. Whether the NePC arose independently or was derived from the primary adenocarcinoma was considered based on mutational profiles. Results A deleterious somatic SMAD4 L535fs variant was present in both prostate and liver specimens; however, a TP53 R282W mutation was exclusively enriched in the liver specimen. Copy number analysis identified concordant, low-level alterations in both specimens, with focal MYCL amplification and homozygous PTEN, RB1, and MAP2K4 losses identified exclusively in the NePC specimen. Integration with published genomic profiles identified MYCL as a recurrently amplified in NePC. Conclusions and relevance NGS of routine biopsy samples from an exceptional non-responder identified SMAD4 as a driver of the aggressive course and supports derivation of NePC from primary adenocarcinoma (transdifferentiation).http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113670/1/13045_2015_Article_204.pd

EML4–ALK fusion transcript is not found in gastrointestinal and breast cancers

Fusion genes have been identified as chromosomal rearrangements in certain cancers, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and sarcoma. The EML4–ALK (EML4: echinoderm microtubule-associated-protein-like 4; ALK: anaplastic lymphoma kinase) fusion gene has been identified as an oncogene in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study examined the presence of this fusion transcript in gastrointestinal and breast cancers. We evaluated the expression of the EML4–ALK transcript in 104 lung cancer cases and in 645 gastrointestinal and breast cancer samples. Only one of the lung cancer samples tested positive for the EML4–ALK fusion transcript, whereas none were detected in 555 gastrointestinal and 90 breast cancer cases. Our data suggest that the EML4–ALK fusion transcript is not present in gastrointestinal or breast cancers and is specific to NSCLC