Studies on the antioxidative activities of Hsian-tsao (Mesona procumbens Hemsl) leaf gum

This study aimed at evaluating the antioxidative activity of crude hsian-tsao leaf gum extracted by sodium bicarbonate solutions and precipitated by 70% ethanol. The antioxidative activities, including the radical-scavenging effects, Fe(2+)-chelating ability, and reducing power as well as the inhibition of FeSO(4)-H(2)O(2)-induced malondialdehyde formation in rat tissue homogenate were studied in vitro. It was found that the antioxidative effect provided by hsian-tsao leaf gum was strongly concentration dependent. In general, the antioxidative activity increased with increasing gum concentration, to a certain extent, and then leveled off with further increase in gum concentration. A concentrtaion-dependent kinetics for the rate of change in antioxidative activity was proposed. The antioxidative activity constant (k) and the half-inhibition concentration (IC(50)) for each antioxidative reaction studied were calculated. From a comparison of the IC(50) values for different antioxidative reactions, it seemed that hsian-tsao leaf gum was more effective in scavenging superoxide radicals than chelating Fe(2+) or scavenging alpha,alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. As compared to the commercial antioxidants, hsian-tsao leaf gum showed less scavenging effect on the DPPH radical and reducing power but better superoxide radical-scavenging effect and Fe(2+)-chelating ability than alpha-tocopherol and BHT.     

玉米秸秆与油页岩混烧的热重试验

为了充分燃烧利用农业生物质与油页岩,采用热重-差示扫描量热(TG-DSC,thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry)技术对玉米秸秆与油页岩混合燃料进行了热重试验,对其各燃烧特性与燃烧机理进行了分析并计算了燃烧动力学参数。结果表明,混烧试样的微分热重(DTG,differential thermogravimetric)曲线出现4个峰值,主要分别是半纤维素热解、纤维素热解、木质素和油页岩热解,以及油页岩焦炭燃烧和油页岩无机盐热解。在DTG曲线第1至第3峰之间出现DSC曲线放热峰,在DTG曲线第3峰至第4峰之间出现DSC曲线吸热峰,需要强化混合燃料的前期燃烧;玉米秸秆与油页岩的质量比例为4∶1时的混合燃料S2,其混烧的可燃特性、着火特性及综合燃烧特性指数均最大,燃尽时间最短,燃尽特性指数较大;在前3个温度区段,混合试样的活化能及频率因子均随温度区段的升高而降低,体现了活化能与频率因子变化的一致性;低温阶段与高温阶段反应级数分别约为1.5及0.7。研究结果可为生物质和油页岩的混烧利用提供参考。     

Thermomechanical Behavior of Concentrated Starch-Water Preparations

The rheological behavior of concentrated starch preparations from various origins was studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Four types of starch were used: wheat, potato, normal, and waxy corn adjusted to moisture contents in the 42–49% (w/w) range. The thermal treatments of the starch-water mixtures consisted of heating to 85°C and cooling to room temperature, both at a rate of 1°C/min. During heating, the storage modulus (E′) appearance was first characterized by an increase with a maximum at ≈70°C (or potato starch at 63°C) followed by a decrease to 85°C. During cooling, storage modulus increased steadily down to room temperature. The magnitude of these variations depended on the starch type. Despite some differences, all the loss tangent curves showed a decrease during heating from 60–70°C to 85°C, followed by a plateau during cooling. To propose an interpretation for the DMTA results, we measured, by laser-light diffraction, the influence of heating (up to the maximum E′ peak) on the distribution of the granule sizes of the different starches. Moreover, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to measure the temperature range where the melting of starches ordered regions occurred. Partial melting enthalpies were plotted against temperature. The hypothesis of a relationship between swelling and an increase in rigidity during heating seemed to be confirmed by laser-light diffraction, whereas DSC indicated the decrease in rigidity was caused predominantly by order-disorder transitions. During cooling, amylose gelation plays a major role in the rigidity increase, but a contribution of amylopectin is not excluded.     

Monovarietal extra virgin olive oils. Correlation between thermal properties and chemical composition: heating thermograms

Extra virgin olive oils from drupes of three Sicilian varieties (Biancolilla, Cerasuola, and Nocellara del Belice) collected at three different harvesting periods were analyzed upon heating by means of DSC, and thermal properties were related to the chemical composition of the samples. All thermograms exhibited multiple transitions with a minor exothermic peak, followed by a major endothermic event. Cerasuola samples showed higher overall enthalpy and narrower range of transition at all harvesting periods, as compared to the other oils. A more ordered crystal structure originating from a more uniform chemical composition, with higher triolein content, in Cerasuola may be hypothesized. At different harvesting periods, thermal transitions started at lower temperatures and developed over a narrower range in all cultivars, probably due to the insertion of molecules derived from triacylglycerol lysis (diacylglycerols and free fatty acids) and lipid oxidation products into the triacylglycerol crystal lattice. All heating thermograms were deconvoluted into one exothermic and five endothermic constituent peaks, and the effect of chemical components on thermal properties of the peaks was evaluated. DSC application upon heating appears to be very promising in discriminating among oil samples from olives of different cultivars and/or harvesting periods.     

Comparative Study of Substrate-Based and Commercial Formulations of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Romaine Lettuce Subjected to Salt Stress

To compare the effect of substrate-based and commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in salt stress tolerance of Romaine lettuce a bifactorial analysis was carried out. Under non-saline conditions, only plants inoculated with formulation 1 stimulated shoot weight but not related with greater root AMF colonization. Phosphorus and potassium concentrations in leaves were improved by mycorrhizal association. Irrigation with 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) did not affect leaf relative water content and we observed no osmotic adjustment in leaves from non-mycorrhizal plants. However, root dry biomass and its starch content decreased, while leaf starch and root soluble sugar concentrations were enhanced. Lettuce inoculated with formulation 2 and substrate-based Glomus intraradices showed the highest root colonization percentages. Nevertheless, none of the mycorrhizal treatments induced a significant improvement on growth of lettuce subjected to salt stress. Romaine lettuce seems to be a moderately tolerant variety to salinity and therefore, the contribution of AMF was minimized.     

Steady and Dynamic Shear Rheological Properties of Starch and Decolorized Hsian‐tsao Leaf Gum Composite Systems

Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) and dynamic rheological measurements were performed on a mixture of decolorized hsian‐tsao leaf gum (dHG) and starch as a function of starch‐to‐gum ratio (S/G 0:6, 1:5, 2:4, 3:3, 4:2, 5:1, and 6:0), starch type (wheat, corn, and tapioca), and total solid content (2, 3, and 4%). Under S/G of 5:1, 4:2 and 3:3, dHG interacted with starch synergistically, which resulted in a marked increase in viscosity during cooling. The storage modulus of the resulting mixed gel was higher than the loss modulus, and both moduli were almost frequency‐independent throughout the frequency range tested, indicating that the composite gels could be classified rheologically as elastic gels. Mixed systems with tapioca starch showed higher pseudo‐gel viscosity in the RVA test, but lower storage modulus in the dynamic test than those with wheat or corn starch. Such results implied that tapioca starch contributed a more viscous property but wheat and corn starch contributed a more elastic property to the mixed systems.     

Effect of salts on the gelatinization and rheological properties of sago starch.

The effects of various salts on the gelatinization and rheological properties of sago starch have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry, small deformation oscillation, and large deformation techniques. The presence of salts affected the gelatinization peak temperature, T(p), gelatinization enthalpy, DeltaH, swelling properties, storage modulus, G', gel strength, GS, and gelation rate constants, k, depending on the type of salt and the concentration. Their influence followed the Hofmeister series, and the effect of anions was more pronounced than that of cations. Sulfate ions increased T(p), G', GS, and k and reduced the swelling properties, whereas iodide and thiocyanate ions reduced T(p), G', GS, and k but increased the swelling properties. For all of the salts studied except for Na(2)SO(4), T(p) increased to a maximum and then decreased again at higher salt concentrations while DeltaH reduced with concentration. In the presence of MgCl(2), CaCl(2), and LiCl complex behavior was observed such that at approximately 3.5 M MgCl(2) and CaCl(2) and 8 M LiCl the starch samples were gelatinized at room temperature, whereas at much higher concentration T(p) increased again and the transition became exothermic.     

莲子热风干燥过程对其淀粉热特性及凝胶化的影响

为解决莲子干燥过程中淀粉形态结构变化造成莲子结壳、硬化,不利于干燥以及复水难、易返生问题,该文利用差示扫描量热技术(differential scanning calorimetry,DSC)对新鲜莲子以及不同热风干燥(70、80、90℃)莲子的淀粉热特性与凝胶化过程进行了研究.研究发现,莲子淀粉在低水分环境(42.2%,以质量比计)时存在2个明显的吸热峰,高水分环境(71.1%,以质量比计)时存在1个明显的吸热峰;莲子在干燥过程中不断失水,并伴随着淀粉凝胶化.方差分析(analysis of variance,ANOVA)表明,高温干燥显著影响莲子淀粉的热特性,其淀粉凝胶化温度(峰起温度To、峰顶温度Tp以及峰止温度Te)部分显著升高.相同干燥条件下,莲子淀粉糊化焓ΔH受水分显著影响,但干燥温度、升温速率对其影响不显著(P>0.01).采用Kissinger、Crane方程获得了淀粉凝胶化动力学参数(活化能Ea、指前因子Z以及反应级数n).莲子淀粉的非等温凝胶化反应可近似为一级反应,高温干燥后其Ea值出现增加,并随着水分增加呈现降低趋势.研究结果可为确定莲子高品质干燥工艺以及干莲子、莲子淀粉后续加工过程提供技术支持.     

玉米淀粉与黄原胶复配体系流变和凝胶特性分析

为考察胶体对淀粉流变及凝胶特性的影响,该文以玉米淀粉为原料,加入不同比例黄原胶,研究两者复配后流变及凝胶特性的变化,对其相互作用机理进行了初步探讨。结果表明,玉米淀粉及两者复配体系属于屈服-假塑性流体,随着黄原胶比例的提高,复配体系的稠度系数显著增加,流体指数降低,假塑性增强,但黄原胶比例大于10%时,增加不再显著。动态流变学试验显示,复配体系具有更为优越的黏弹性,黄原胶可与淀粉分子间相互作用形成氢键,使得分子链段间的缠结点增加,同时,可延缓及阻止部分直链淀粉分子间的重新排列,从而抑制淀粉凝胶体系的回生,复配体系形成了质地更为柔软的凝胶。综合考虑,在实际应用中选择玉米淀粉与黄原胶质量比为9.0∶1.0 g/g较为适宜。研究结果可为更好的在食品工业中应用玉米淀粉/黄原胶复配体系及品质控制提供参考。     

玉米淀粉与黄原胶复配体系流变和凝胶特性分析

为考察胶体对淀粉流变及凝胶特性的影响,该文以玉米淀粉为原料,加入不同比例黄原胶,研究两者复配后流变及凝胶特性的变化,对其相互作用机理进行了初步探讨。结果表明,玉米淀粉及两者复配体系属于屈服-假塑性流体,随着黄原胶比例的提高,复配体系的稠度系数显著增加,流体指数降低,假塑性增强,但黄原胶比例大于10%时,增加不再显著。动态流变学试验显示,复配体系具有更为优越的黏弹性,黄原胶可与淀粉分子间相互作用形成氢键,使得分子链段间的缠结点增加,同时,可延缓及阻止部分直链淀粉分子间的重新排列,从而抑制淀粉凝胶体系的回生,复配体系形成了质地更为柔软的凝胶。综合考虑,在实际应用中选择玉米淀粉与黄原胶质量比为9.0∶1.0 (g/g)较为适宜。研究结果可为更好的在食品工业中应用玉米淀粉/黄原胶复配体系及品质控制提供理论依据。     

回生抗性淀粉种类对米淀粉凝胶形成的影响

为寻找改善普通米淀粉制品的结构及品质的新型食品添加剂,该文以普通米淀粉为原料,采用快速黏度分析仪、扫描电子显微镜、质构分析仪、全自动X射线衍射仪及示差扫描量热仪等手段,研究添加锥栗、马铃薯与绿豆回生抗性淀粉(retrograded resistant starch,RSⅢ)对米淀粉凝胶微观结构及理化性质的影响。结果表明:添加锥栗、马铃薯及绿豆RSⅢ对米淀粉凝胶的结构及性质产生显著影响(P0.01),以锥栗RSⅢ的作用最为突出。添加锥栗、马铃薯与绿豆RSⅢ对米淀粉糊的黏度特性没有影响(P0.05)。未添加RSⅢ的米淀粉凝胶存在很多不规则、深浅不一的大洞,而加入RSⅢ使米淀粉凝胶的网状结构变得更为规整、致密,且其胶着性与黏聚性变化不大(P0.05);添加锥栗、马铃薯与绿豆RSⅢ后能加速米淀粉凝胶的形成,与未添加RSⅢ的米淀粉凝胶比,其硬度分别增加了2.38、1.97和1.25倍(P0.01),黏着性分别增加2.56、1.99和1.32倍(P0.01),弹性增加1.07、0.81和0.53倍(P0.01)。米淀粉以A-型晶体占优,锥栗RSⅢ以V-型晶体占优,马铃薯与绿豆RSⅢ均以B-型晶体占优;不加或加入RSⅢ的米淀粉凝胶粉末都转变为以V-型晶体为主,且总相对结晶度没有改变(P0.05)。加入RSⅢ后的米淀粉糊除有低温吸热峰外还出现高温吸热峰,是否添加RSⅢ对低温吸热峰的温度参数影响不大(P0.05),但吸热焓显著降低(P0.01);而对于高温吸热峰,添加马铃薯与绿豆RSⅢ的各项参数没有差别(P0.05),但比添加锥栗RSⅢ的显著增高(P0.01)。可见添加不同来源的RSⅢ可以有效改善米淀粉凝胶的结构与品质。该研究结果为抗性淀粉用于提高米制品品质与营养功能的研究和生产提供了重要参考。     

Starch Acetate‐Maleate Mixed Ester Synthesis and Characterization

A new starch acetate‐maleate mixed ester with different degrees of substitution (DS) for each ester group was prepared. High‐amylose (70%) corn starch was first reacted at 123°C with ≈4.5 equivalents of acetic anhydride for different times, and then the intermediate products were further reacted at 80°C with 0.27–1.1 equivalents of maleic anhydride for a fixed time. ¹H NMR and alkaline saponification were used to determine DS values of acetyl and maleate groups. Increasing the reaction time from 60 to 120 min for starch and acetic anhydride increased DS of the acetyl group, while DS of the maleate group increased with increasing amounts of maleic anhydride. There was a good agreement between the two methods for DS determination. The reaction efficiency of acetylation increased from ≈30 to 50% with reaction time, and maleation decreased from ≈30 to 20% with increasing amounts of maleic anhydride. The mixed esters were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, DSC, and TGA. Characteristic peaks in ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and FTIR spectra indicated the presence of acetyl and maleate groups in starch molecules. The exothermic peak in the DSC curve and the increase in thermal stability from the TGA curve were attributed to thermal cross‐linking of the double bond of the maleate group.     

Comparison of Amylose Determination Methods and the Development of a Dual Wavelength Iodine Binding Technique

It has long been recognized that limitations exist in the analytical methodology for amylose determination. This study was conducted to evaluate various amylose determination methods. Purified amylose and amylopectin fractions were obtained from corn, rice, wheat, and potato and then mixed in proportion to make 10, 20, 30, 50, and 80% amylose content starch samples for each source. These samples, considered amylose standards, were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), and iodine binding procedures to generate standard curves for each of the methods. A single DSC standard equation for cereal starches was developed. The standard curve of potato starch was significantly different. Amylose standard curves prepared using the iodine binding method were also similar for the cereal starches, but different for potato starch. An iodine binding procedure using wavelengths at 620 nm and 510 nm increased the precision of the method. When HPSEC was used to determine % amylose, calculations based on dividing the injected starch mass by amylose peak mass, rather than calculations based on the apparent amylose/amylopectin ratio, decreased the inaccuracies associated with sample dispersion and made the generation of a cereal amylose standard curve possible. Amylose contents of pure starch, starch mixtures from different sources with different amylose ranges, and tortillas were measured using DSC, HPSEC, iodine binding, and the Megazyme amylose/amylopectin kit. All the methods were reproducible (±3.0%). Amylose contents measured by these methods were significantly different (P < 0.05). Amylose measurements using iodine binding, DSC, and Megazyme procedures were highly correlated (correlation coefficient >0.95). DSC and traditional iodine binding procedures likely overestimated true amylose contents as residual butanol in the amylose standards caused interference. The modified two-wavelength iodine binding procedure seemed to be the most precise and generally applicable method. Each amylose determination method has its benefits and limitations.     

Physiological Responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosa rubiginosa</Emphasis> to Saline Environment

The aim of this work was to analyse the response of Rosa rubiginosa to salinity induced by different concentrations of sodium chloride and calcium chloride (0, 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM). Besides salt accumulation and pH changes, other parameters were investigated including photosynthetic activity, leaf water content, the dynamics of necrosis and chlorosis appearance and leaf drying. The study was complemented with microscopic analysis of changes in leaf anatomy. R. rubiginosa was more sensitive to the salinity induced by calcium chloride than by sodium chloride. Plant response to salinity differed depending of the salt concentration. These differences were manifested by higher dynamics of necrosis and chlorosis appearance and leaf drying. CaCl₂ showed greater inhibition of the photosynthetic apparatus and photosynthetic activity. Treatment with CaCl₂ caused more visible deformation of palisade cells, reduction in their density and overall reduction in leaf thickness. The study demonstrated higher accumulation of CaCl₂ in the soil, and thus greater limitations in water availability resulting in reduced leaf water content and quicker drying of leaves as compared with NaCl-treated plants.     

Restriction of Starch Granule Swelling by Iodine During Heating

Differences in the degree of starch granule swelling and granule morphology are shown as a function of iodine concentration during heating. The observations reveal a restriction and delay in wheat and corn starch swelling in presence of iodine (0.02%) and a lack of swelling at higher iodine concentration (0.2%). The presence of iodine during heating did not influence waxy corn starch granule swelling, even at the higher concentration. A delay in the increase in paste viscosity during heating was observed, and gel formation was precluded after cooling at the higher iodine concentration. Waxy corn starch pastes formed a weak gel even at the higher iodine concentration. Spectrophotometric analyses showed that polymers leach into the solution when heated in the presence of 0.02% iodine, while no leaching was observed at 0.2% iodine concentration. Furthermore, the length and the amount of polymers leaching from normal corn were different from that observed for wheat starch. Thermal analyses reveal a shift in the onset of gelatinization temperature and an increase in the enthalpy in the amylose‐lipid region of the endotherm. While the iodine‐polymer complex did not appear to exhibit an endotherm during heating, the granules exhibited a diffused polarized cross, suggesting the presence of an ordered complex.     

Effect of Dry Heating on Physicochemical Properties of Pregelatinized Rice Starch

Japonica and indica rice starches (10% w/w) were pregelatinized in a boiling water bath for 5 or 10 min and subsequently heat‐treated in a dry state for 0, 1, 2, or 3 h at 130°C to examine the effects of dry heating on pasting viscosity, paste clarity, thermal properties, X‐ray diffraction pattern, and gel strength of pregelatinized starches. Heat treatment obviously changed the physicochemical properties of pregelatinized rice starch. The pregelatinized rice starches had higher peak viscosity and final viscosity than the corresponding native rice starches. Heat treatment of pregelatinized rice starch for 1 h increased the peak viscosity, but treatment for 2 or 3 h decreased the peak viscosity compared with the unheated pregelatinized rice starch. The indica rice starch exhibited more substantial changes in pasting viscosity than did japonica rice starch during heat treatment. The melting enthalpy of the endothermic peak occurred at 90–110°C, and the intensity of the X‐ray diffraction peak at 20° was increased by dry heating, possibly owing to the enhanced amylose‐lipid complexes. The dry heat treatment of pregelatinized starch caused an increase in paste clarity and a decrease in gel strength.     

Physiological response of sunflower seedlings to salinity and potassium supply

Abstract

Sunflower seeds (Helianthus annutis L. cv. Dwarf) were grown only with increasing saline solutions [0, 50, and 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)] and potassium (K) supply to determine how salinity and K supply will affect plant germination and growth. Potassium supply under highly saline conditions (100 mM) or nonsaline conditions had a beneficial effect on sunflower seedlings germination which was not significantly altered with moderate salt concentrations (50 mM). During the stage studied, K supply in the absence of salinity increased significantly seedling biomass which reflects what is happening in the aerial part and root. This increase was proportionally higher in the stem than in the leaf with no variations in the foliar surface. In a saline environment, K supply did not markedly alter plant dry matter production, but increased foliar surface with moderate salt concentrations (50 mM) in the root environment.     

Irrigation with salt water affects growth,yield, fruit quality,storability and marker-gene expression in cherry tomato

The use of saline water for plant production will become increasingly necessary over future decades. In some cases, fruit quality such as in tomato, can be improved by irrigation with saline water. The influence of different salt concentrations on physiological responses and the expression of some selected genes of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L), cv. West Virginia 106, was examined. Tomato plants were grown in peatmoss substrate and irrigated with 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 or 150?mM sodium chloride (NaCl) in a glasshouse. The NaCl treatments of 75, 100 and 150?mM salt resulted in shorter plants, decreased stem width, a lower plant dry weight, fewer flowers, and smaller leaf area, while yield was reduced by treatment with concentrations of 50?mM NaCl and above. Average fruit weight and fruit number were also negatively affected by treatment with 50?mM salt and above. Salinity treatment led to increased fruit total soluble solids, titratable acidity and firmness and improved the taste index. Salt-responsive marker genes identified in Moneymaker were also induced in cherry tomato but not at the highest salt concentrations. Our results indicated that cherry tomato treated with 25?mM NaCl produced fruit with improved quality in comparison with non-salinized control plants without compromising yield, while at 50 and 75?mM the improved fruit quality was accompanied by a reduction in yield.     

SOME DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM SALT STRESS ON GROWTH,NUTRITION, AND PHYSIOLOGY OF GERBERA (GERBERA JAMESONII L.) AND POTENTIAL INDICATORS OF ITS SALT TOLERANCE

Tolerance of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) to long-term sodium chloride (NaCl) salt stress was evaluated by subjecting plants to 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mM NaCl levels for ten weeks. Increased NaCl led to a significant decrease in leaf and stem biomass. Salt stress significantly affected sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺) concentrations in leaves, stems and roots leading to sharp declines in K⁺/Na⁺ ratios. Magnesium concentrations in stems and roots also showed significant declines. Adverse effect of salt stress on chlorophyll content was also significant. Proline seemed less effective in osmotic adjustment under long-term high salt stress. Switching from vegetative to reproductive growth phase was crucial for certain physiological functions. Leaf Na⁺ concentration showed significant correlation with important traits. These data suggest that NaCl threshold level in irrigation water for gerbera is around 10 mM. Leaf fresh weight, chlorophyll content and leaf K⁺/Na⁺ ratio are promising indicators of salt-sensitivity of gerbera.     

Simple purification (desalting) procedure to facilitate structural analysis of an alkali-solubilized/neutralized starch solution by intermediate-pressure size-exclusion chromatography

A technique was established to remove impurities (e.g., salts) from starch dissolved in strong alkali and neutralized with acid to accommodate starch structural analysis via intermediate-pressure size-exclusion chromatography (IPSEC). Starch (corn and wheat) subjected to an alkaline-microwave dissolution scheme (35 s microwave heating in a mixture of 6 M urea and 1 M KOH) was either treated with ion-exchange resin or passed through a desalting column to remove salt/urea contaminants. Control (untreated) starch solution analyzed by IPSEC displayed a significant interfering peak (attributable to salt/urea), which coeluted with the starch amylose peak. The interfering peak was most efficiently eliminated by first passing the starch solution through a desalting column, which process effectively removed impurities (e.g., salts/urea) without appearing to adversely impact the starch structural analysis. This simple technique coupled with the rapid alkaline-microwave starch dissolution procedure greatly expedites structural investigation of starch by facilitating analysis by IPSEC.