An anion sensor based on calix[4]arene-Reichardt’s dye

A highly selective colorimetric displacement assay for anions, F⁻ and H₂PO₄ ⁻, based on calix[4]arene-Reichardt’s dye was studied in DMSO. When calix[4]arene forms a complex with Reichardt’s, the absorption peak at 386, 419 and 632 nm disappeared. Addition of anions to solution of calix[4]arene-Reichardt’s dye causes the blue color of Reichardt’s dye to return as it is displaced from the calix[4]arene. These results demonstrate that this displacement assay can be favorably utilized for the development of potential sensors for the detection of anion such as F⁻ and H₂PO₄ ⁻ in relation to the other anions.     

Changes in Ensembles’ Thermal Insulation According to Garment’s Fit and Length Based on Athletic Figure

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of design solutions on the thermal insulation of the garments and the ensembles. Previous studies investigated the microclimatic air gaps and volumes, however only under the first - and the second - layered clothing. Since none of the previous studies covered three - layered ensembles, in this study ensembles were accompanied by jackets of different fit and length to investigate the ensembles’ thermal insulation. Variants of bomber jacket differ in the amount of the ease allowance, while variants of the parka differ in length. The thermal insulation of the ensembles increased for 21.6 to 59.7 % when one of the jacket variants was added as the outerwear garment. A threshold volume, after which the thermal insulation will start to decrease due to convection, wasn’t determined for the outerwear third - layered garments nor was the impact of the length of the garment on the thermal insulation clearly stated. This study involved laboratory testing of garments and ensembles by 3D body scanning and thermal manikin measurements. To evaluate the volume of the microclimatic air volume the accurate 3D body scanning was used and the impact of the microclimatic volume on the ensemble’s insulation was tested. The thermal insulation for the selected outerwear garments and afterwards ensembles was measured by resting thermal manikin. Analysis of the results obtained from tests, showed that the garments’ fit and length can be used to model the overall thermal insulation of the ensembles. The ensembles insulation enlargement was measured for microclimatic volumes up to 33.57 dm³ (measured with ensembles accompanied with bomber jacket). The study proved that the limiting microclimatic volume is greater for three - layered clothing, than previously reported. The overall ensembles’ insulation increased simultaneously with the length enlargement (measured with ensembles accompanied with parka jacket). Findings will be of help in the future research on garments and ensembles thermal properties modelled through the design process and the construction.     

Hardness Distribution and Endosperm Structure on Polishing Characteristics of Brewer’s Rice Kernels

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effects of the hardness distribution and the endosperm structure on the polishing characteristics of brewer’s rice kernels. We used four brewer’s rice cultivars, Kairyo-omachi, Hattan-nishiki No. 1, Senbon-nishiki and Yamada-nishiki. The broken kernel ratios in Kairyo-omachi and Hattan-nishiki No. 1 were significantly higher than those in Senbon-nishiki and Yamada-nishiki. Vickers hardness (VH) values in white-core tissues in kernels differed among varieties, which were significantly lower in Kairyo-omachi and Hattan-nishiki No. 1. However, no varietal differences were observed in VH values in the peripheral translucent tissues surrounding the white-core tissues. The tissues along the dorsoventral axis were softer than those along the longitudinal axis of the kernels. The tissues on the ventral side were softer than those on the dorsal side. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed the presence of closely arranged compound starch granules and few varietal differences in the peripheral translucent tissues surrounding the white-core tissues. However, as compared with Yamada-nishiki and Senbon-nishiki, in Hattan-nishiki No. 1 and Kairyo-omachi, the starch granules were loosely packed and the airspaces between the starch granules were more numerous in the white-core tissues. A higher number of airspaces and less starch were present in the endosperm cells along the dorsoventral axis when compared with along the longitudinal axis and on the ventral side than on the dorsal side. The present study showed that polishing characteristics are closely related with the endosperm structure, which is characterized as the density of starch granules.     

Clinical Study on Plant Galactagogue Worldwide in Promoting Women’s Lactation: a Scoping Review

Human milk is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the general well-being of infants. However, many mothers face an insufficient milk supply to breastfeed their children. Galactagogue, in particular, plant galactagogue, serves as a method to promote lactation. This in-depth review examines the evidence supporting different plants’ galactagogic activity through clinical studies around the globe. A scoping review approach was adopted to establish the research questions, and define the findings, selection and analysis of the study. This scoping review highlights and compiles the clinical research performed globally involving plant galactagogue to better inform the medical practitioners, lactation consultants, nursing mothers, communities and relevant personnel on practicing, guidelines, policymaking and research. In general, a total of 1041 research publications were retrieved from different global bibliographic databases, of which only 13 articles were retained for analysis after applying the exclusion criteria. A total of 14 types of plants have undergone clinical studies in the past decade to verify their galactagogic activity. All but two showed a positive effect on promoting milk production. There were 42 articles categorised as excluded studies. The category includes review articles, surveys, case reports, introductory articles of regional plant galactagogue and preclinical studies, which involves animal testing and the studies exploring other issues related to plant galactagogue. The findings demonstrate that there is a significant research gap on the plant galactagogue using clinical studies. More clinical research is necessary to identify and verify the efficacy of various types of plant galactagogue for the benefit of humankind.

     

The Origin and Spread of Early-Ripening Champa Rice: It’s Impact on Song Dynasty China

Often overlooked is the importance of early-maturing rice varieties with their ability to escape droughts, avoid floods, and in some localities, open up the opportunity for double cropping. Most varieties grown in the tropics until the last half century matured in 150 to 180 days or longer and were photoperiod sensitive. However, non-photoperiod sensitive one-hundred-day varieties were grown in the Champa Kingdom in what is now Central Vietnam centuries ago. How these varieties moved into Song Dynasty China and the impact of the early-ripening rice on population growth in South China is well documented. However, the origin of the Champa varieties is less clear. According to a recent DNA test (see below), the Champa varieties belong to the aus sub-population. The aus have the characteristics of both indica and japonica and originated in the hill areas of what are now Eastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Because the Champa Kingdom adopted the Indian language and religion, at least in the higher courts, it seems logical that the Champa rice must have been disseminated from the hilly areas in the Indian sub-continent to Central Vietnam and eventually to China—first Fujian and later to the Yangtze region during the Song Dynasty in the eleventh century.     

Forty Years’ Development of Hybrid Rice: China’s Experience

China is the first country where heterosis of hybrid rice was successfully exploited commercially on a large scale in the world. Hybrid rice has been developed for 40 years since Prof. Yuan initiated it in China. It had been planted about 330 million hectares with an increase of nearly 400 million tons of rice during 1976–2002. China’s experience on hybrid rice could be attributed to utilization of various cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) resources, high outcrossing rate CMS lines and stable environmentally induced genetic male sterile (EGMS) lines, improvement of diseases resistance and grain quality, and combination of ideal plant type with heterosis in hybrid rice breeding program. Innovative breeding techniques, e.g. improvement in root system, molecular marker-assisted selection and wild hybridization should be considered in further development of hybrid rice in China.     

Replacing Wheat Flour with Debittered and Fermented Lupin: Effects on Bread’s Physical and Nutritional Features

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - In this study the breadmaking potential of lupin flour from L. mutabilis after being debittered (DLF) and solid state fermented (FLF) was evaluated in lupin-wheat...